Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
We already know that this year’s Toronto Raptors team is a social experiment in NBA terms. No team has ever employed a half-court, spread-the-floor all-out offensive strategy like this before.
But what we maybe didn’t realize is that the Raptors are also a social experiment in terms of roster construction. Most teams have two or three international guys tops; the Raptors have six, four of which regularly play.
Chemistry has been slow to come by in the locker room, as the American players have insinuated that the European players are their own group. But fear not, the factions are starting to come together over — you guessed it — soccer.
The division Antoine Wright spoke of – he and other American-born Raptors have referred to the club’s European players as “those guys,” among other descriptors – is real, but not unworkable. And there are those who continue to reach out. On Monday, as practice was winding down, Italy’s Marco Belinelli swapped soccer kicks with Memphis’ Sonny Weems.
“Where I’m from, we don’t play soccer,” said Weems. “(But) I love watching soccer, especially during the World Cup.”
Next step: take Belinelli and the other international guys to an American football game. What’s that? There’s no football team in Toronto? Nevermind.
I guess Weems and the other Americans will have to settle for taking the Euros to a different American institution. Maybe a fast food joint?
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