Raptorland is currently under a state of uncertainty. While some blogger's and beat writers called for a record of around 7W-11L, the Raptors fandom is starting to waver in it's hope for a successful season. I think many of us see this season as a "Statement Season". With so many different scenarios that could play out by the end of the year, it is stressful to see this team have it's struggles. Nobody wants an unhappy Chris Bosh. At least I don't! I sure as heck would love to see him in a Raptors Jersey for a long time. I'd rather see the likes of Bargnani and Jose Calderon traded away than see a 4 time all star who puts up a double double almost every night walk away for nothing. If Bosh re-signs there is no reason to think we are stuck with the likes of Turk, Bargs and Calderon for 4 years as a core. Barnani being a 7 foot Centre with a shooting stroke could find a home on numerous teams in this league. If the Raptors don't see a rebounding improvement or a defensive role for Andrea he would be a great bargaining chip at the table. Calderon is a steady Point Guard in this league. Out of the 30 teams there is no way Colangelo wouldn't be able to find a GM in need of a solid point. There are 100's of variables for the big chip players. I thought I'd go over a few small deals we could make come trade deadline(since Raptorland is abuzz with trade scenarios).
4 Players we could Use:
Matt Barnes
Currently under a 1 year contract worth $1.6mill. He can play a variety of positions but is best used as a wing. He can shoot the three and is a shot blocking rebounding presence. He is buried on the bench in Orlando behind Pietrus and Lewis. He would be a great addition to this team and the rotation behind Turkoglu. The problem in acquiring him is the fact that Orlando has to pay him so little just to keep him and he may stay as insurance in case of injury. But, with Brandon Bass competing for the same minutes of playing time he ought to give a call to his agent seeing as it's another contract year for him. Starting for Orlando he put up some solid numbers while Lewis was suspended. I'm not sure why they don't use him more often. It's probably a testament to how deep Orlando are as a team.
Brandon Rush:
Currently on a Rookie scale contract with a Team Option for 2010-2011. The Pacers acquired Dahntay Jones in the off season to be a primary backup behind Rush. Unfortunately for Rush, Jones is having a career year and giving reason for Jim O'Brien to start him over the second year player. Jones has 4 years on his contract with a player option in his 4th year. When Mike Dunleavy steps back into his starting spot, things will get tight in Indiana. I see Rush being the one to go seeing as he is having his inconsistencies this year. What could he offer us? He is a great defender who isn't afraid to get tangled up with the opposition. He would also be great at relieving either Turkoglu or DeRozan off the bench.
Rasual Butler:
The lesser known Butler(the other one being Caron) has a contract of around $3.9mill ending this year. While Eric Gordon was out with an injury he had his share of good games for the Clippers starting at Small Forward. He can rebound and defend with vigour. The Clippers don't regard Butler as being part of their future. There is a great chance they would be willing to part with him for the right deal. What could we offer for him? I'm sure B.C. could put something together.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute:
With a salary of a mere $736,420 with a Non-Guaranteed 2010 year he could be a cheap and reliable addition to this team. Our old friend Carlos Delfino has found his niche on the team and won himself a starting spot while Moute was injured. Moute can rebound and guess what? He can defend his man. A great young guy to have on this team.
As you can see the trend, these pickups would adhere to our problems of defending the wing and transition. All these players have rebounding skills which would help Turks lack there of. Unless Antoine Wright gives us anything and Sonny Weems turns into a reliable back up, there is just no way we can keep struggling along with the rotation at the wings. Guys like DeRozan and Belinelli have major upsides to their game but Antoine Wright has been in this league long enough to know what he's got to do and he's just isn't doing those things. I don't see Colangelo doing anything in the near future. We have 4 games in 5 nights coming up and we haven't been much of a team when the schedule gets tough losing all our back to backs so far. After this stretch we should have a clear definition of this squad and their capabilities. The games are all winnable. Do the players want it bad enough? In my opinion they are under achieving and could be at 9W-9L or 10W-8L easily. If things don't get better on the defensive end look for Colangelo to make a last ditch switch around the trade deadline.
Cool Hand Luke
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Panic & Peril the De-Evolution of a 3rd Quarter
The last two games offensively have been dismal. Particularly in the 3rd quarter. Both in Boston and Charlotte at the end of the half we had competitive and winnable games. In the 3rd quarter we were outscored 66 to 38 by both teams. There has been fairly good production by this team in the 3rd quarter so far this season. Triano has made some great adjustments in games past. But, that quarter alone in a close game on the road will take the life out of you when/if you don't stick to the refined game plan. During the first half coaches on both teams are analyzing opponents for weaknesses to exploit and preparing to veil the deficiencies of their respective teams. Instead of bucking up and tightening the chains we've collapsed like a house of cards in the wind.
How do we fix this?
-We are 3W-6L trailing at halftime
-1W-6L trailing after 3 quarters of play
-0W-5L when trailing on the road after the 3rd quarter
-we're averaging 25.3pp 3rd quarter (second lowest quarter other than the 4th which would be the average because teams play hard defense)
-we are 0W-2L on the road when leading at halftime
-we are 2W-4L if trailing after halftime*
*Both those wins came with strict adjustments in the 3rd quarter that were followed. Against the Clippers, we gave Chris Kaman the double team coming from the weak side and forced him to make bad passes out of the lane forcing turnovers. In New Orleans, they came out of the half aggressive on defense and gave Paul no room.
Can you coach a team into developing focus? Is it up to veteran leadership to take a stance? It's difficult to decipher what really went on in the locker room at half in the last two games. It's still early and there are plenty of games ahead. Unfortunately, the "9 new players" excuse is starting to run its course. Simple execution is brought on during tough times on the road by effort and commitment to the plan. If shots aren't going in, you have the crowd against you and your opponent seems to be making all the right moves. You still dig in. You make the stops. You impose your will. It's desire.
A certain play comes to mind where Bargnani was not willing to drop to the floor for a loose ball that was right in front of him. Isn't that just a plan for mediocrity and passivity? What would KG do? He would sacrifice a bum knee and a career for his team I'm sure. Every time I watch Garnett play I am truly amazed at how dedicated he is to defense. He has an elbow on his man at all times and never loses focus. He plays with blood lust in his eyes and is a true warrior in every sense. Now, Bargnani on a scale with Garnett would be on the opposite end. He loses sight of his man and is completely lost at the defensive end most nights. If he's not producing offensively, he's not doing much of anything out there. Bargnani needs to watch game tape of Garnett at work. Seriously, your shot won't go in every night but your defensive effort is with you at all times. You just have to tap in and ask yourself: "What would KG do?"
How important are fouls in this game? Turkoglu going into the half shooting(I think) 6/7 from the field and simply on fire gets his forth foul in the 3rd and sits. There is a flow to this offense when it works and Turkoglu took that flow with him when he received his 4th and took a seat. From then on Boston solidified theie grip on Bosh and no other Raptor could get going. Where were we when KG got his 5th foul to knock him out? What about attacking Wallace who was also in foul trouble? We do that and all of a sudden Boston has no one left who can possibly guard Bosh.
On a side note I'm not going to get into the Paul Pierce dunk on Bosh(that's the full video with melee afterwords). It's not surprising to me no one got into it from our side. Intimidation during the game when it matters is what counts not in between.
Phoenix comes to the ACC tomorrow and these guys need to show the fans that they can win against a competitive team.
Cool Hand Luke
How do we fix this?
-We are 3W-6L trailing at halftime
-1W-6L trailing after 3 quarters of play
-0W-5L when trailing on the road after the 3rd quarter
-we're averaging 25.3pp 3rd quarter (second lowest quarter other than the 4th which would be the average because teams play hard defense)
-we are 0W-2L on the road when leading at halftime
-we are 2W-4L if trailing after halftime*
*Both those wins came with strict adjustments in the 3rd quarter that were followed. Against the Clippers, we gave Chris Kaman the double team coming from the weak side and forced him to make bad passes out of the lane forcing turnovers. In New Orleans, they came out of the half aggressive on defense and gave Paul no room.
Can you coach a team into developing focus? Is it up to veteran leadership to take a stance? It's difficult to decipher what really went on in the locker room at half in the last two games. It's still early and there are plenty of games ahead. Unfortunately, the "9 new players" excuse is starting to run its course. Simple execution is brought on during tough times on the road by effort and commitment to the plan. If shots aren't going in, you have the crowd against you and your opponent seems to be making all the right moves. You still dig in. You make the stops. You impose your will. It's desire.
A certain play comes to mind where Bargnani was not willing to drop to the floor for a loose ball that was right in front of him. Isn't that just a plan for mediocrity and passivity? What would KG do? He would sacrifice a bum knee and a career for his team I'm sure. Every time I watch Garnett play I am truly amazed at how dedicated he is to defense. He has an elbow on his man at all times and never loses focus. He plays with blood lust in his eyes and is a true warrior in every sense. Now, Bargnani on a scale with Garnett would be on the opposite end. He loses sight of his man and is completely lost at the defensive end most nights. If he's not producing offensively, he's not doing much of anything out there. Bargnani needs to watch game tape of Garnett at work. Seriously, your shot won't go in every night but your defensive effort is with you at all times. You just have to tap in and ask yourself: "What would KG do?"
How important are fouls in this game? Turkoglu going into the half shooting(I think) 6/7 from the field and simply on fire gets his forth foul in the 3rd and sits. There is a flow to this offense when it works and Turkoglu took that flow with him when he received his 4th and took a seat. From then on Boston solidified theie grip on Bosh and no other Raptor could get going. Where were we when KG got his 5th foul to knock him out? What about attacking Wallace who was also in foul trouble? We do that and all of a sudden Boston has no one left who can possibly guard Bosh.
On a side note I'm not going to get into the Paul Pierce dunk on Bosh(that's the full video with melee afterwords). It's not surprising to me no one got into it from our side. Intimidation during the game when it matters is what counts not in between.
Phoenix comes to the ACC tomorrow and these guys need to show the fans that they can win against a competitive team.
Cool Hand Luke
Thursday, November 26, 2009
With the Charlotte Debacle behind us...Could We Spoil the Boston Tea Party?
Seems like an interesting position we have found ourselves in once again. A winnable game in Charlotte turns into an ugly Raptor whipping at the hands of Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace. Back to back games can be rough but losing the Charlotte game will make the game in Boston mean a lot more. The powerhouse Celtics could stampede over us because we have been non-existent in parts of road games(Denver, Utah, Memphis come to mind) this year going 2-7. Boston has the defense to stop us.
Just like Charlotte, Boston is at the top of the defensive world in the NBA. One thing I'm certain of is the Celtics had some trouble covering Turk last year in the playoffs and we could see Turk being a factor in the game tomorrow. Boston is no push over on offense either. These guys can score and push the action but they sure like to control the tempo. It will be yet another tough assignment for DeRozan as he'll be chasing the sharp shooting Ray Allen around. I'd like to think Bargnani could have a big game against Perkins. That is an exploitable match up which would leave Boston having to counter and switch up. Yet Bargnani is prone to disappear against physically imposing teams.
Would you not think a win in Boston would heal the wounds of Charlotte? It would be an impressive road win and it's perfectly doable. We are competitive against Boston on most nights and with a revamped line-up it could be a stellar game.
Antoine Wright should be in this game early. We don't want Ray Allen getting hot because he's burned us before. He just plays great against the Raptors partly due to the lack of talented wings we've had in the past. So, Wright getting in there and doing his job is key. I'm not sure Belinelli will be as effective with his risky play. His style is suited for the uptempo and Boston knows how to slow it down.
Rajon Rondo 1 on 1 against Calderon is an ugly match up for us. Calderon needs to sag off of him and cut off the lanes. Nuff said.
Key Factors for the Raptors:
-Exploit Perkins inability to defend Bargnani.
-Keep things up tempo and don't let the Celtics dictate the pace.
-Keep Ray Allen quiet and don't let him go off on the stat sheet.
-Bait Rondo into shooting and keep his dribble penetration at bay
Cool Hand Luke
Just like Charlotte, Boston is at the top of the defensive world in the NBA. One thing I'm certain of is the Celtics had some trouble covering Turk last year in the playoffs and we could see Turk being a factor in the game tomorrow. Boston is no push over on offense either. These guys can score and push the action but they sure like to control the tempo. It will be yet another tough assignment for DeRozan as he'll be chasing the sharp shooting Ray Allen around. I'd like to think Bargnani could have a big game against Perkins. That is an exploitable match up which would leave Boston having to counter and switch up. Yet Bargnani is prone to disappear against physically imposing teams.
Would you not think a win in Boston would heal the wounds of Charlotte? It would be an impressive road win and it's perfectly doable. We are competitive against Boston on most nights and with a revamped line-up it could be a stellar game.
Antoine Wright should be in this game early. We don't want Ray Allen getting hot because he's burned us before. He just plays great against the Raptors partly due to the lack of talented wings we've had in the past. So, Wright getting in there and doing his job is key. I'm not sure Belinelli will be as effective with his risky play. His style is suited for the uptempo and Boston knows how to slow it down.
Rajon Rondo 1 on 1 against Calderon is an ugly match up for us. Calderon needs to sag off of him and cut off the lanes. Nuff said.
Key Factors for the Raptors:
-Exploit Perkins inability to defend Bargnani.
-Keep things up tempo and don't let the Celtics dictate the pace.
-Keep Ray Allen quiet and don't let him go off on the stat sheet.
-Bait Rondo into shooting and keep his dribble penetration at bay
Cool Hand Luke
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Times They Are A-Changin' In Raptorland...
I doubt I can find one fan declaring this team a is bore to watch. The Raptors have become one exciting bunch. With more ball handlers than ever on this roster, we have such a poignant offense that has some sweet flow.
How exciting is Marco Belinelli to watch? I have mentioned on this blog before, that he could potentially be a solid contributor. From reading about his desire to work hard in the gym to his on-court prevails he is truly hitting his stride. I see resemblances of Manu Ginobli in his game. Especially when he dribbles and cuts in between two defenders or his on-court vision for finding a teammate. We knew this guy could shoot. We knew he could handle the ball. All the kid needed was a chance. His minutes have gone up since Wrights injury and he could be a valuable asset during close games. He has been a good sub in when our offense is stagnant or when we need that little push to get a solid rhythm. He's only 23 years old and he has a lot of upside.
Our defense is showing glimmers of improvement. We're yet to see Reggie Evans on the court in regular season play. I wonder what he can contribute to our lackadaisical defense. I know our rebounding numbers will be higher. But, what about the flow of the game? How will they use Amir Johnson? Will his numbers diminishes? I'd frankly be sorry to see the kid lose playing time. It's still one of the mysteries of this young season. It would however have been nice to have Reggie playing with us against Boston that's coming up in the schedule. He is the perfect fit to go against the Celtics and bang bodies. Inside presence is certainly not our strong point by far.
What do we do with DeRozan? I've heard more chants for a point guard change than a DeRozan for either Wright or Belinelli. Why could we not get Wright in when we play Wade, Carter, Granger or Kobe? Why could we not start Belinelli when we have a match up we can exploit from the start? I'm not sure about the stance they have taken on this starting line-up. Of course I'm no NBA coach nor do I pretend to be. I as a fan don't understand the hard line stance against trying different things. Its glaringly obvious the Rookie is struggling and having some serious growing pains. I personally would love to see either Wright or Belinelli start things off with us. Having another strong shooter in Belinelli to work with could give even more space for Bosh, Hedo and Bargnani. As I've mentioned before, having Wright start could give us a defensive attitude that would help control the pace of the game. This would be especially important during road games where we don't want the Home team to get on a roll and wake the crowd up. I just don't see DeRozan staying in the starting line-up for too much longer. Unless I'm proven wrong. Which I would love to be! They invested their ninth pick and the future of that position in DeRozan. I plain and simple would not want him getting demoralized each and every night.
Cool Hand Luke
How exciting is Marco Belinelli to watch? I have mentioned on this blog before, that he could potentially be a solid contributor. From reading about his desire to work hard in the gym to his on-court prevails he is truly hitting his stride. I see resemblances of Manu Ginobli in his game. Especially when he dribbles and cuts in between two defenders or his on-court vision for finding a teammate. We knew this guy could shoot. We knew he could handle the ball. All the kid needed was a chance. His minutes have gone up since Wrights injury and he could be a valuable asset during close games. He has been a good sub in when our offense is stagnant or when we need that little push to get a solid rhythm. He's only 23 years old and he has a lot of upside.
Our defense is showing glimmers of improvement. We're yet to see Reggie Evans on the court in regular season play. I wonder what he can contribute to our lackadaisical defense. I know our rebounding numbers will be higher. But, what about the flow of the game? How will they use Amir Johnson? Will his numbers diminishes? I'd frankly be sorry to see the kid lose playing time. It's still one of the mysteries of this young season. It would however have been nice to have Reggie playing with us against Boston that's coming up in the schedule. He is the perfect fit to go against the Celtics and bang bodies. Inside presence is certainly not our strong point by far.
What do we do with DeRozan? I've heard more chants for a point guard change than a DeRozan for either Wright or Belinelli. Why could we not get Wright in when we play Wade, Carter, Granger or Kobe? Why could we not start Belinelli when we have a match up we can exploit from the start? I'm not sure about the stance they have taken on this starting line-up. Of course I'm no NBA coach nor do I pretend to be. I as a fan don't understand the hard line stance against trying different things. Its glaringly obvious the Rookie is struggling and having some serious growing pains. I personally would love to see either Wright or Belinelli start things off with us. Having another strong shooter in Belinelli to work with could give even more space for Bosh, Hedo and Bargnani. As I've mentioned before, having Wright start could give us a defensive attitude that would help control the pace of the game. This would be especially important during road games where we don't want the Home team to get on a roll and wake the crowd up. I just don't see DeRozan staying in the starting line-up for too much longer. Unless I'm proven wrong. Which I would love to be! They invested their ninth pick and the future of that position in DeRozan. I plain and simple would not want him getting demoralized each and every night.
Cool Hand Luke
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
15 Games Into the Season...are the Raptors who we thought they were?
15 games have gone by and it's fair to say we have been an inconsistent bunch. There was much hype surrounding the Toronto Raptors due to the reconstruction of our line-up. Speculation has surrounded this team and it's franchise player. Big league contracts where dished out to Bargnani, Turkoglu and Jack. Were they worth the cap space and future? Our bench is revamped and energetic at times. Will they stay the course through 82 games? Our rookie is extremely raw and has struggled through some ugly games. Is it worth benching him and potentially stunting his growth? Many standards were set for this team by Bryan Colangelo. We certainly could not expect all of the moves to pan out. It's just unrealistic. But, what have we done right and what have we done wrong so far in this still uncertain season?
Chris Bosh is having the year he was hoping for so far. Contract year usually equals contract numbers. In my opinion he is certainly a max player on the "right team". The problem is that I'm not sure this team is the right team for him and us to succeed. I'm not sure what MLSE and Colangelo have in their minds as a standard of success. I consider success not to be a 2nd tier team in this league. I consider success to not be a guaranteed win for Orlando and Boston when they face us. I follow this team with pride. Chris Bosh I feel plays with pride. We as a team have committed our cap space to Turkoglu, Calderon, Jack and Bargnani as our core. Does Bosh fit into the long term? There are too many scenario's that could play out so it's not an easy answer. Let's look at the top tear teams:
Boston:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Kendrick Perkins
Success came quickly with a championship title. How did they get there? They teamed up the big three.
Orlando:
PG: Jameer Nelson
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Michael Pietrus
PF: Rashad Lewis
C: Dwight Howard
They were representing the East in the finals last year and had a record of 59W-23L. The Finals were not enough for them and they made a big trade acquiring Vince Carter to push them all the way. Maybe we could learn something from that?
Los Angeles(Lakers of course)
PG: Derek Fisher
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Ron Artest
PF: Pau Gasol
C: Andrew Bynum
The Lakers are defending champions and represented the Western conference in the last two NBA finals. In 2007/08 they stole Pau Gasol in a game changing deal with Memphis and he elevated them to the upper echelon instantly.
Toronto:
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: DeMar DeRozan
SF: Hedo Turkoglu
PF: Chris Bosh
C: Andrea Bargnani
This is a team riddled with uncertainty and what if's. With Calderon's defensive woes and Bargnani's weak rebounding game could we manifest ourselves that one true goal for a professional sports team? To win the championship?
We picked up Hedo Turkoglu this off season to boost our starting line-up. It looks great on paper and so far we have reaped the benefits of a stellar offense that can shoot the lights out with consistency. We are currently standing in 4th place for points per game. That's very impressive. He looks great in the 4th quarter and almost won us the game back in Phoenix. I'm sensing Triano will use Turkoglu as the main ball distributor in the 4th quarter and we will see a lot of Calderon and Jack in the corner's. Unfortunately Calderon and Jack are both struggling with their shot.
Bargnani's offensive game is still on the rise. Right now he's averaging around 17ppg and 6rpg. His free throw percentage is one of the best in the league. Yet he is a defensive liability and does not look to be improving on the other end. He is best against slower offenses but seems to get lost too easily against uptempo teams. His rotation is weak and he manages to get out rebounded by his opponent more than not. What does he need to do? Defense generally is about focus and a solid plan that's executable. By executable I mean having able bodies playing to their strengths instead of their weaknesses. The house system they implemented is slowly coming together. If the Raptors honed their focus in crucial parts of the Orlando game on Sunday they could have pulled out a win. Focus and execution of a plan.
Triano is smart. He adapts to the moment and is not afraid to change things up. It's very admirable. With the "House" style of defense he is playing to the strengths of our team. Dribble penetration is a major issue and he implements a strategy that forces players to make shots by blocking off the lanes with clever rotation. The problem we have had is often enough the fellas seem to lose their man. The opponent slips into the key for an easy put back or a gimmie offensive rebound and a fresh shot clock. What happens next is demoralization and mental exhaustion which leads to more defensive lapses. We need to give them time to gel on this but I think change must come soon.
Our guards have been an intriguing story. Calderon and Jack sharing back court duties has failed. Some are calling for a simple point guard rotation and that the experiment should end. I'd have to find a grey area in this argument. I believe once Jack becomes more comfortable we could see much success out of the combo guard. He played well for Indy last year and could find his form soon. I do however believe we are seeing some of Belineli's best so far in the NBA. When his shot is on he knows how to get open. He is extremely active which I'm sure gives Jay something to smile about. If we see more of Belinelli's emergence, there may not be a need for the Combo guard in Jack and the pressure is off. However, there is no offensive game in Antoine Wright and he tries to do too much. You can't play a guy who's taking shots away from your key starters. It's a shame because he is our best defender and most nights should be defending the best wing players in the league. If Triano can pursue a more defined role for Wright I could see him starting over DeRozan. It's only a matter of time before we start the Vet over the Rook.
Cool Hand Luke
Chris Bosh is having the year he was hoping for so far. Contract year usually equals contract numbers. In my opinion he is certainly a max player on the "right team". The problem is that I'm not sure this team is the right team for him and us to succeed. I'm not sure what MLSE and Colangelo have in their minds as a standard of success. I consider success not to be a 2nd tier team in this league. I consider success to not be a guaranteed win for Orlando and Boston when they face us. I follow this team with pride. Chris Bosh I feel plays with pride. We as a team have committed our cap space to Turkoglu, Calderon, Jack and Bargnani as our core. Does Bosh fit into the long term? There are too many scenario's that could play out so it's not an easy answer. Let's look at the top tear teams:
Boston:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Kendrick Perkins
Success came quickly with a championship title. How did they get there? They teamed up the big three.
Orlando:
PG: Jameer Nelson
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Michael Pietrus
PF: Rashad Lewis
C: Dwight Howard
They were representing the East in the finals last year and had a record of 59W-23L. The Finals were not enough for them and they made a big trade acquiring Vince Carter to push them all the way. Maybe we could learn something from that?
Los Angeles(Lakers of course)
PG: Derek Fisher
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Ron Artest
PF: Pau Gasol
C: Andrew Bynum
The Lakers are defending champions and represented the Western conference in the last two NBA finals. In 2007/08 they stole Pau Gasol in a game changing deal with Memphis and he elevated them to the upper echelon instantly.
Toronto:
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: DeMar DeRozan
SF: Hedo Turkoglu
PF: Chris Bosh
C: Andrea Bargnani
This is a team riddled with uncertainty and what if's. With Calderon's defensive woes and Bargnani's weak rebounding game could we manifest ourselves that one true goal for a professional sports team? To win the championship?
We picked up Hedo Turkoglu this off season to boost our starting line-up. It looks great on paper and so far we have reaped the benefits of a stellar offense that can shoot the lights out with consistency. We are currently standing in 4th place for points per game. That's very impressive. He looks great in the 4th quarter and almost won us the game back in Phoenix. I'm sensing Triano will use Turkoglu as the main ball distributor in the 4th quarter and we will see a lot of Calderon and Jack in the corner's. Unfortunately Calderon and Jack are both struggling with their shot.
Bargnani's offensive game is still on the rise. Right now he's averaging around 17ppg and 6rpg. His free throw percentage is one of the best in the league. Yet he is a defensive liability and does not look to be improving on the other end. He is best against slower offenses but seems to get lost too easily against uptempo teams. His rotation is weak and he manages to get out rebounded by his opponent more than not. What does he need to do? Defense generally is about focus and a solid plan that's executable. By executable I mean having able bodies playing to their strengths instead of their weaknesses. The house system they implemented is slowly coming together. If the Raptors honed their focus in crucial parts of the Orlando game on Sunday they could have pulled out a win. Focus and execution of a plan.
Triano is smart. He adapts to the moment and is not afraid to change things up. It's very admirable. With the "House" style of defense he is playing to the strengths of our team. Dribble penetration is a major issue and he implements a strategy that forces players to make shots by blocking off the lanes with clever rotation. The problem we have had is often enough the fellas seem to lose their man. The opponent slips into the key for an easy put back or a gimmie offensive rebound and a fresh shot clock. What happens next is demoralization and mental exhaustion which leads to more defensive lapses. We need to give them time to gel on this but I think change must come soon.
Our guards have been an intriguing story. Calderon and Jack sharing back court duties has failed. Some are calling for a simple point guard rotation and that the experiment should end. I'd have to find a grey area in this argument. I believe once Jack becomes more comfortable we could see much success out of the combo guard. He played well for Indy last year and could find his form soon. I do however believe we are seeing some of Belineli's best so far in the NBA. When his shot is on he knows how to get open. He is extremely active which I'm sure gives Jay something to smile about. If we see more of Belinelli's emergence, there may not be a need for the Combo guard in Jack and the pressure is off. However, there is no offensive game in Antoine Wright and he tries to do too much. You can't play a guy who's taking shots away from your key starters. It's a shame because he is our best defender and most nights should be defending the best wing players in the league. If Triano can pursue a more defined role for Wright I could see him starting over DeRozan. It's only a matter of time before we start the Vet over the Rook.
Cool Hand Luke
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The Bench That Turns the Smoldering Ash Into a glorious Blaze!
They may not need good performances from all the starters to win games this season. It is a new day in Raptor land with a decisive victory over the struggling Miami Heat. I had the pleasure of attending this game and was able to choose what I stare at instead of a camera lens choosing for me.
How better off are we to not have an inconsistent bench? I don't miss the 08/09 season and I think I will pay for extended psychotherapy to remove it from my psyche. How I never have to worry about Jason Kapono the shooting specialist that couldn't buy a shot and thinks he's Michael Jordan. To never have another big man named Kris Humphries taking jumpers because he thinks he's Michael Jordan and to never have another athletic wing player named Jamario Moon who is scared shitless to drive the ball and convinces himself he is the second coming of Reggie Miller. Special mention goes out to Joey Graham who actually had marginal talent but had no Basketball I.Q.
Yes, my fellow Raptor fan's it brings a tear of joy to my eye every time I see DeRozan, Weems and Belinelli drive the ball without hesitation. It brings ease to my shell shocked Raptor fanatic body to see the rebounding machine and athletic big man Amir Johnson respect his team and play his role without Shakespearean tragedy(a quick note to you Amir I saw that shot you took from the top of the key in the 3rd. Please don't.). To see Reggie Evans though wounded the warrior, still supporting the troops in the march to certain victory. Special mention goes out to Antoine Wright who thinks he's Michael Jordan.
The Raptors are at the ACC on Sunday facing the Magic. With Carter in the line-up we are looking at a true battle. He definitely lights it up when he takes on the Raptors so it should be entertaining. I'm looking at two keys to us stealing this game. Our bench needs to play solid and we need to expose the weakness at the point. Jason Williams is starting in place of the injured Jameer Nelson. If we get ahead early and keep a good pace we could steal this one. Hopefully the majority of the building will be awake at 12:30pm for the game.
Cool Hand Luke
How better off are we to not have an inconsistent bench? I don't miss the 08/09 season and I think I will pay for extended psychotherapy to remove it from my psyche. How I never have to worry about Jason Kapono the shooting specialist that couldn't buy a shot and thinks he's Michael Jordan. To never have another big man named Kris Humphries taking jumpers because he thinks he's Michael Jordan and to never have another athletic wing player named Jamario Moon who is scared shitless to drive the ball and convinces himself he is the second coming of Reggie Miller. Special mention goes out to Joey Graham who actually had marginal talent but had no Basketball I.Q.
Yes, my fellow Raptor fan's it brings a tear of joy to my eye every time I see DeRozan, Weems and Belinelli drive the ball without hesitation. It brings ease to my shell shocked Raptor fanatic body to see the rebounding machine and athletic big man Amir Johnson respect his team and play his role without Shakespearean tragedy(a quick note to you Amir I saw that shot you took from the top of the key in the 3rd. Please don't.). To see Reggie Evans though wounded the warrior, still supporting the troops in the march to certain victory. Special mention goes out to Antoine Wright who thinks he's Michael Jordan.
The Raptors are at the ACC on Sunday facing the Magic. With Carter in the line-up we are looking at a true battle. He definitely lights it up when he takes on the Raptors so it should be entertaining. I'm looking at two keys to us stealing this game. Our bench needs to play solid and we need to expose the weakness at the point. Jason Williams is starting in place of the injured Jameer Nelson. If we get ahead early and keep a good pace we could steal this one. Hopefully the majority of the building will be awake at 12:30pm for the game.
Cool Hand Luke
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Things To Do In Denver When Your a Toronto Raptor
Man, was that an exciting game over in Phoenix or what? You can't be mad at that performance whatsoever. I will say this group has been by far the most entertaining of teams we've had since the Carter era. They have more heart, desire and focus than last year. They play to win and don't let their opponent dictate the game. A lot of the credit should rest on Triano's shoulders. He does an excellent job adjusting to the nature of the moment. We really don't know what to expect from the lads other than an entertaining shoot out most nights. I thought Phoenix had a chance of looking ugly(especially when Turk was questionable for the night) but they pulled out the heart and went toe to toe with a hot team. Now, the mile high city is a whole other ball game.
I think Denver could be compared to a team like Atlanta. Both teams have haven't made too many line up changes in the last couple of years other than a couple key moves. Both teams have had a steady rise in their respective conferences and now are on the cusp of being considered title contenders.
Can the Raptors pull out a win tonight? I would be very impressed. If Wright is out tonight Jack and Belinelli will have to step up against Anthony and Smith. Denver is unbeaten at home and getting the hometown crowd out of the game surely makes a difference as we saw in Phoenix for large stretches. This could make itself out to be a high scoring affair. But I think both teams should try and control the tempo and I don't expect much more scoring than the other night.
Some keys to the game....
-Jack needs to step up in this one. If he gets his shots early look for this game to be his best so far.
-Belinelli & Johnson need to continue being the energy guys off the bench. This will basically be a bench game. Bench scoring is critical.
-Help defense is always big but look at these match ups(not sure if Triano will have guys cover positionally)
Chauncey vs. Calderon
Carmelo vs. Turk
Nene vs. Bargnani.
Those are three reasons to help your teammate tonight. If not than lets hope it's a race to 150points and we finish first.
Enjoy the game.
Cool Hand Luke
I think Denver could be compared to a team like Atlanta. Both teams have haven't made too many line up changes in the last couple of years other than a couple key moves. Both teams have had a steady rise in their respective conferences and now are on the cusp of being considered title contenders.
Can the Raptors pull out a win tonight? I would be very impressed. If Wright is out tonight Jack and Belinelli will have to step up against Anthony and Smith. Denver is unbeaten at home and getting the hometown crowd out of the game surely makes a difference as we saw in Phoenix for large stretches. This could make itself out to be a high scoring affair. But I think both teams should try and control the tempo and I don't expect much more scoring than the other night.
Some keys to the game....
-Jack needs to step up in this one. If he gets his shots early look for this game to be his best so far.
-Belinelli & Johnson need to continue being the energy guys off the bench. This will basically be a bench game. Bench scoring is critical.
-Help defense is always big but look at these match ups(not sure if Triano will have guys cover positionally)
Chauncey vs. Calderon
Carmelo vs. Turk
Nene vs. Bargnani.
Those are three reasons to help your teammate tonight. If not than lets hope it's a race to 150points and we finish first.
Enjoy the game.
Cool Hand Luke
Friday, November 13, 2009
L.A. L.A. big city of dreams but everyone in L.A. forgets they have two teams...
Big showdown tonight between the Raptors and Clippers. Yeah, I do think it is by the standards set for both teams. This is a game that should be winnable for our boys. It is the first of 4 road games against tough western conference opponents. The Clippers are the only team that are do or die to make the playoffs. After this we play a rejuvenated Phoenix Suns team and I expect that game to be a 157 - 135 loss, since both teams are like 1 and 2 for best offensive squad in the league right now. Lets continue where we left off with this roster so far...
Jose Calderon
The fiery Spaniard has crept back into our hearts with his recent play. Scoring in double digits the past three games will definitely erase his poor start to the season. The man has been trying on defense and that's about all we can ask of him. There is only so much athleticism he has and I don't expect him to go Raja Bell on anyone anytime soon. If anyone honestly thinks Calderon at this point in his career will be putting a defensive lock down on Rondo or Paul better start following another squad. Colangelo and co. have invested in him and believe he will be a great starting point guard for many years. Now I'm not completely sold on him leading us to the glorious NBA finals but I'd still take him over T.J. Ford.
DeMar DeRozan
He shows flashes of brilliance. His athleticism is undoubted yada yada yada...
Now, one thing I just don't understand or care to understand is why they start the kid. I'm pretty sure he will develop at the same pace if he came off the bench. The difference would probably be so insignificant that I'd rather have confidence over raw athleticism and that's where Antoine Wright comes in(more on that later). DeRozan will be great in a couple of years. There is no need to start him just so he can play significant minutes with our main guys. If he comes off the bench he's still playing NBA professionals who are far better than the college kids he played with and against last year. I've heard the argument that those are the best minutes for his development and I just disagree. Bargnani in his first year came off the bench and Bosh if I'm not mistaken came off the bench. Both the B's were far more seasoned than DeRozan when they came into this league so...where am I wrong here?
The Bench
The bench has been quite inconsistent this season. They are by far the deepest we've had for some time but they are a group that's still finding their way.
The disappointments so far have been Marco Belinelli and Jarret Jack. Both have not found their shots and are forcing play. Jack is not looking worthy of the mid-level exception he's being payed. Marco was brought in for his shot and his shooting is inconsistent.
Props should go out to Antoine Wright and Amir Johnson. Both have been steady defensive anchors. I do think Wright deserves that starting 2 spot in the line-up. We need a good role player to off set our scoring power. I think he would be well-suited in being a guy that starts and sets the defensive tone early. Amir Johnson is my man. The guy just never gives up on a play. He is constantly a bothersome presence for the opposition when he is on the court. He forces turnovers and is all around a guy who has received well deserved playing time.
Rasho Nesterovic is at the end of his career. Yet, I feel he is still of importance to this team whether it be veteran leadership or wily play to shutdown opposing Centers. I still think we will see glimmers of old Rasho this year but I do expect him to only be used for certain match ups.
How will they handle the Clippers? Tune in tonight 10:30 eastern time.
Cool Hand Luke
Jose Calderon
The fiery Spaniard has crept back into our hearts with his recent play. Scoring in double digits the past three games will definitely erase his poor start to the season. The man has been trying on defense and that's about all we can ask of him. There is only so much athleticism he has and I don't expect him to go Raja Bell on anyone anytime soon. If anyone honestly thinks Calderon at this point in his career will be putting a defensive lock down on Rondo or Paul better start following another squad. Colangelo and co. have invested in him and believe he will be a great starting point guard for many years. Now I'm not completely sold on him leading us to the glorious NBA finals but I'd still take him over T.J. Ford.
DeMar DeRozan
He shows flashes of brilliance. His athleticism is undoubted yada yada yada...
Now, one thing I just don't understand or care to understand is why they start the kid. I'm pretty sure he will develop at the same pace if he came off the bench. The difference would probably be so insignificant that I'd rather have confidence over raw athleticism and that's where Antoine Wright comes in(more on that later). DeRozan will be great in a couple of years. There is no need to start him just so he can play significant minutes with our main guys. If he comes off the bench he's still playing NBA professionals who are far better than the college kids he played with and against last year. I've heard the argument that those are the best minutes for his development and I just disagree. Bargnani in his first year came off the bench and Bosh if I'm not mistaken came off the bench. Both the B's were far more seasoned than DeRozan when they came into this league so...where am I wrong here?
The Bench
The bench has been quite inconsistent this season. They are by far the deepest we've had for some time but they are a group that's still finding their way.
The disappointments so far have been Marco Belinelli and Jarret Jack. Both have not found their shots and are forcing play. Jack is not looking worthy of the mid-level exception he's being payed. Marco was brought in for his shot and his shooting is inconsistent.
Props should go out to Antoine Wright and Amir Johnson. Both have been steady defensive anchors. I do think Wright deserves that starting 2 spot in the line-up. We need a good role player to off set our scoring power. I think he would be well-suited in being a guy that starts and sets the defensive tone early. Amir Johnson is my man. The guy just never gives up on a play. He is constantly a bothersome presence for the opposition when he is on the court. He forces turnovers and is all around a guy who has received well deserved playing time.
Rasho Nesterovic is at the end of his career. Yet, I feel he is still of importance to this team whether it be veteran leadership or wily play to shutdown opposing Centers. I still think we will see glimmers of old Rasho this year but I do expect him to only be used for certain match ups.
How will they handle the Clippers? Tune in tonight 10:30 eastern time.
Cool Hand Luke
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
What if...the Raptors were the number 1 offensive team in the league and the worst defensive team?
The Raptors are a tough team to watch. They make you laugh, cry and shriek in terror. These guy's have made me sweat watching them play. To get an idea of where this team could be at the end of the year is complicated and riddled with What ifs...
Chris Bosh
What can we say about him? This guy is a franchise player. He's come running out of the gate like a bull looking for blood. I enjoy his new found focus and determination on the court. This is a big year for him and he knows it. His averages are at the MVP level and I think it's safe to bet on his 5th all-star appearance this year. I do think the team needs to find him even more on the court and exploit the match-ups he's given night in night out. With Duncan out of the line-up on Monday night against the Spurs I think he could have scorched McDyess and Blair for 40+points if they gave him more looks. He had 16 shot attempts but it should have been around 25. He did however get to the line 17 times which put the Spurs in foul trouble. That will be a key to success for these guys. Both in Dallas and San Antonio they did not take advantage of being in the bonus during certain moments in the game. That's when you hit the post heavy and rake in gimmie's. Look for CB4 to continue his recent success. There is no stopping him.
Andrea Bargnani
I've stated before if he averages 22points per game I won't be so upset about his rebounding woes. As we now know our defence is non-existent. Frankly, I knew our defence wouldn't be the best in the league I certainly didn't expect them to be this bad. So, I will need a mulligan on that one. He is shooting great averaging 20points but I'm not sure what we can do about his rebounding. The Spurs killed us with second chance points and it's tough to fix that when your out at the three point line with your hands up. I'm definitely not hating on him for scoring. I'm just concerned that there may not be a fix for that in his game because he's not a traditional big man. Hopefully when we see Reggie Evans back in the line-up his rebounding stat won't be such a glaring mark on this team.
Hedo Turkoglu
I thoroughly enjoy watching the game when the ball is in his hands. This offence becomes exciting and unpredictable with a high rate of success. There are still some kinks in his game but it's coming together. I am pleased he received that time off from basketball during training camp because we could have ended up with the Gasol situation in L.A. I was reading a few post's from fans comparing Hedo and Pau. Both had played the finals and both had teams in the Eurobasket go deep. Hedo opted to rest and Pau started training camp right away. Now we are 2 weeks into the season and Gasol is yet to play a game. Goes to show you a little rest goes a long way. I'm not completely sold on the fact Hedo was the best option this summer. I really liked the way this team looked with Marion and was disappointed that there was no way he would stay on. Hedo does not have the best defensive skill set. Although, not having any trouble keeping his man in front of him, he does give up on a play far too often. I'm not sure if it's a mental thing or simply fatigue but it can be tough to watch when the team is still in the game.
I will get into Calderon, DeRozan and the bench with my next post.
Cool Hand Luke
Chris Bosh
What can we say about him? This guy is a franchise player. He's come running out of the gate like a bull looking for blood. I enjoy his new found focus and determination on the court. This is a big year for him and he knows it. His averages are at the MVP level and I think it's safe to bet on his 5th all-star appearance this year. I do think the team needs to find him even more on the court and exploit the match-ups he's given night in night out. With Duncan out of the line-up on Monday night against the Spurs I think he could have scorched McDyess and Blair for 40+points if they gave him more looks. He had 16 shot attempts but it should have been around 25. He did however get to the line 17 times which put the Spurs in foul trouble. That will be a key to success for these guys. Both in Dallas and San Antonio they did not take advantage of being in the bonus during certain moments in the game. That's when you hit the post heavy and rake in gimmie's. Look for CB4 to continue his recent success. There is no stopping him.
Andrea Bargnani
I've stated before if he averages 22points per game I won't be so upset about his rebounding woes. As we now know our defence is non-existent. Frankly, I knew our defence wouldn't be the best in the league I certainly didn't expect them to be this bad. So, I will need a mulligan on that one. He is shooting great averaging 20points but I'm not sure what we can do about his rebounding. The Spurs killed us with second chance points and it's tough to fix that when your out at the three point line with your hands up. I'm definitely not hating on him for scoring. I'm just concerned that there may not be a fix for that in his game because he's not a traditional big man. Hopefully when we see Reggie Evans back in the line-up his rebounding stat won't be such a glaring mark on this team.
Hedo Turkoglu
I thoroughly enjoy watching the game when the ball is in his hands. This offence becomes exciting and unpredictable with a high rate of success. There are still some kinks in his game but it's coming together. I am pleased he received that time off from basketball during training camp because we could have ended up with the Gasol situation in L.A. I was reading a few post's from fans comparing Hedo and Pau. Both had played the finals and both had teams in the Eurobasket go deep. Hedo opted to rest and Pau started training camp right away. Now we are 2 weeks into the season and Gasol is yet to play a game. Goes to show you a little rest goes a long way. I'm not completely sold on the fact Hedo was the best option this summer. I really liked the way this team looked with Marion and was disappointed that there was no way he would stay on. Hedo does not have the best defensive skill set. Although, not having any trouble keeping his man in front of him, he does give up on a play far too often. I'm not sure if it's a mental thing or simply fatigue but it can be tough to watch when the team is still in the game.
I will get into Calderon, DeRozan and the bench with my next post.
Cool Hand Luke
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
