I've been an NBA (and to a lesser extent NCAA) basketball fan ever since we first lived in Southern California in 1977. We were within decent driving distant to the LA Lakers stadium and after our first visit I was astonished that both of us were immediate converts. OK, astonished that the OH enjoyed it. So we went back regularly.

We were lucky enough to be around for the seasons when Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson were playing together. Mind boggling stuff.

Now, I used to go to the Raptors games on occasion (at the SkyDome) back when they played there, and I once was on the same panel as Vince Carter (don't ask), but in recent years they've been so bad that I've stopped watching even on TV.

But Christ, they're looking pretty good right now.

As a big-league sports fan, what are you going to do in the wilds of Normandy? Village boules club ?

I have ESPN and BEIN channels and several other sports channels (Eurosport etc.,) on TV Orange. Did you know that they play football & rugby in France?

I went to my first Raptors game last year and I preferred the experience to Iced Hockey and have been back twice.

The remarkable thing about the Raptors was they traded out their more expensive and bigger named players and then started winning.

In an interview with the president of Maple Leaf Sports he said that it could take 2 to 3 seasons to turn them around.

I liked NCAA basketball and the NBA for awhile until they started showing all the football games on tv. Went to see the Knicks a lot, and luckily I was at three different universities that had vey good basketball teams so the tickets were free. I can't be arsed to watch now unless on the those teams makes to the Final Four. Apparently Vancouver had a NBA team but they left before I was moved here. Are the Raptors going to the title?

Not a chance, but they'll make the playoffs and might well win a series. Honestly, they've clicked and understood defence and teamwork since the trade that James mentioned. Very unexpectedly.

football or "football"?

I went to see them a couple of times. It was certainly a different experience to any other sport I have seen. Every moment that was not playing time seemed to be filled with some sort of entertainment. Considering how bad the Grizzlies were I suppose that was some respite. But there was no time to go and get a beer.

Watching them warm up was the best. The players would spread out over their half of the court and start lobbing balls at the basket. Unless two balls arrived at the basket at the same time they did not miss. Even once. Of course, once they started playing the Grizzlies couldn't hit the basket to save their lives.

I used to enjoy playing basketball but find watching it is rather boring. The fact that the players are clearly beyond what the dimensions of the court were originally designed for only adds to my lack of interest. A slam dunk used to be an achievement but these days with everyone being 7 foot something it can be done with your eyes closed.

It's marginally better than baseball though...i'll give it that!

I don't think there are any current NBA centres significantly taller the the aforementioned Kareem Abdul Jabbar who was 7'2".

The players today aren't any different in terms of the dimensions the court was designed for (but there are many more outstanding athletes in the sport than there were 30 years ago).

Also, a slam dunk, while entertaining, counts exactly the same as a lay-up.

But no one plays the sky hook no more.

A game being marginally better than baseball is not a very high benchmark. Personally, I rank baseball and golf at the bottom.

Oh, it's there even today, but nobody has it down like Kareem.

Funnily enough I both agree and disagree about baseball (I won't disagree about golf).

There are many pleasures in actually going to a baseball game in the summer. However I'd hardly ever watch non-playoff games start to finish on TV.

It might be on the radio in the car though if I'm driving a long distance.

Golf I can watch on the TV because it goes from person to person. Dunno how anyone goes to an event...you must see literally nothing. A bit like F1.