Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Worst is Over! Or Is It?

So we come out of our difficulties with a 9W-13L record. Since this team is at pace with giving me high blood pressure and cholesterol from all the stressful nights let's not put anything past them. This upcoming stretch seems very mild compared to what we've had to deal with. We play Minnesota and Milwaukee back to back(Milwaukee being on the road!). Then we have a chance at revenge facing Atlanta at home. Converting that Atlanta game would be an achievement for these guys. Being blown out really puts a dent in your pride and I know they have this game in their minds as an important win. I'm looking forward to it because no matter what, it will certainly be an intense one.

The Raptors can play ball. When they are on it's exciting basketball no doubt. All these on and off court communication issues were blown out of proportion. I could not imagine a locker room divided into two continents. It sounds unrealistic. Antoine Wright spoke up to the media about this communication issue. I just love how the one guy who has done nothing special this year speaks up the most. In Chicago he was more capable but if anyone is having communication problems it's Antoine Wright with Antoine Wright. When he jacks up three's or decides to take it to the rim it seems like a rather selfish effort to pad his stats. He is on a contract year. Wouldn't it suffice to play your ass off on defence because teams do have game tape.

Is it a communication problem or has Bryan Colangelo assembled a group of guys that are laid back and passive-aggressive? Look at the roster from top to bottom and you really only have maybe one or two guys that are fiery. Maybe Calderon or Wright? When you watch the scene unfold during the Bosh, Paul Pierce incident you can see my point. I think it's on Triano to challenge these guys. If one player is having communication problems with another it's not a language barrier on this team. Do you think Kevin Garnett would have trouble communicating with anyone? I think it's a symptom of new team, new place and undefined roles. The only defined role on this team is Triano's.

I think these guys have the same destiny as the 06-07 Toronto Raptors. They will have a winning record and get in around 4-6 in the standings. The only chance we have in advancing to the second round has to do with who we match up against. The best case scenario would be Atlanta or Boston in the first round. I guess we are a long ways away from that.

Cool Hand Luke

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Who the Heck Is Driving This Bus?

It's 8:30pm. The Raptors are playing and I'm contemplating. Contemplating whether I should turn off the game or keep watching the train wreck before my eyes. As the season roles on I'm certain there aren't many of us who thought it would start like this. At 7W-13L and a light schedule ahead this team is in disarray. This is the NBA and anytime a team drops 140 points on you and your no where near in it, there is something horribly wrong.

With the tough road schedule at the start, it was obvious it would either make or break team chemistry. We've got 4 losses in a row, players calling each other out and a coach with a failed defensive strategy. The "House" has been ram shackled by almost every NBA team we've faced. The living rooms been taken over. The kitchen's been raided and the toilet has been used and abused.

Who is driving this bus? His name is Bryan Colangelo. The architect of this team. Will he blow it up and reconstruct barely into the quarter of a season? I highly doubt it. He will not give up on his first round pick. He will not give up on his newly acquired big money free agent and he will not give up on his newly appointed coach. Not yet. He admitted to the Jermaine O'Neil mistake and barely found a trade. Struggling through last season if you can recall, it wasn't until after the all-star break we swapped for Shawn Marion. No team will make big trades this early in the season, it's never quite a busy market(the only changes we ever see are coaching changes).

The odd-man out in the group in my mind is Jose Calderon. He hasn't been consistent and he's the only player other than a 4 time all-star that is from the Babcock era. Although he was given an extension, there could very well be something in the works later this year. Do I think it's the best idea? Sure, it depends on the right deal.

If you can remember in the 06/07 season the Raptors struggled in the first quarter. We had a similar situation with a lot of new players. They found their niche and finished 47W-35L. I'm not predicting success but there is a lot of Basketball to be played. Right now everyone is playing for themselves. There is no team when they are struggling. I see them forcing too many shots, getting demoralized and blaming each other. Instead they could be listening, communicating and taking responsibility. As players trying to get used to each other this is a tough moment. It could however bring them to a turning point as a group instead of individuals. They are athletes after all. They have played their whole lives as competitors at different levels to bring them where they are today. Losing in Atlanta they way they did could be a bottom for them. The splash of cold water in the face. This ain't no joke. The fun's over and there is time to make things work. They can be better.

Do we bring in another defensive specialist assistant coach? I'm not sure that would work because the "House" strategy was our best option. It was supposed to play to our strengths and keep players out of the lanes. I think the only wild-card here is Reggie Evans. He's yet to play in a game and his interior toughness has been needed. It doesn't end there. Antoine Wright needs to stop calling people out and realise that he hasn't done anything special. He was preaching defense when he was traded to Toronto but I've yet to see him dominate his man and shut him down. I'd rather he understand that offense is not needed on this team and the only way he gets more than a minimum value contract next year is if he plays sound defense.

The only asset we have right now Is Bosh and there is no way I'd move him. One thing I know for sure is Bryan Colangelo will not sit idle while this team starts to endanger their playoff hopes. Once the playoff picture gets murky I'm looking at the trading wire. Until then, these players are stuck with each other and we fans are stuck with this team.

Cool Hand Luke