Tip-In: Kings Crown Raps

Very dissappointing game. I was excited about TJ comming to the Raptors, but now I'm having my doubts. Calderon is playing better then him, but there seems to be some politicking going on, as no matter what Calderon does, TJ has to come back in the game. There is something very wrong with the way TJ played, he was reckless. Word to Franchise on the lack of a jump shot. I don't feel bad for Sam Mitchell though, he has to go. The sooner the better to salvage a decent record for the next coach. The media needs to put some pressure on the Mitchell situation. This was a horrific game. It seems that every team that plays the Raptors seems to be putting up season highs in some stat category. There was a point in the fourth quarter where the Calderon and Bargnani were on the floor, and they got the lead down to 14 from 22, and after a time out Mitchell took both of them out. I just can't understand his logic. Bosh barely got any touches in the 4th quarter, very odd. This team with the players that it has is definitely not suitable to play a running up tempo game, and lets face it, its seldom that we see this team running. That 100 shots a game is the most retarded thing I've ever heard, as there is absolutely no offensive rebounding. Something has to change quickly and I hope that its coaching. Horrific game. Probably worst then any game I've seen last season from the Raptors. TJ has to get better, and get other involved, he's turning into Mike James with his shooting.

TJ shows flashes of brilliance (that drive when it was 77-62 was sick ... my eyes couldn't keep up) - but Calderon is running the show steady and smooth. I'd start John Stockteron in GS just to get TJ thinking.

Sam - playing all 12 guys with 6 minutes left in the second quarter is something a high school coach does - and is unheard of in the nba. Pick a squad and run with it!!

Did he think putting in cold players would help with missed jump shooting? Let you're shooters find their rythme ... like MoPete. Once he caught it he scored plenty. Had he heated up like that in the second it would have been a different game. Instead I am watching Tucker and Humphries turn the ball over.

I'd like to see more of Calderon, Parker, Bargnani, Bosh and Rasho out there together. With TJ, MoPete, Jones and perhaps Garbajosa coming off the bench. That's it. Everyone else can watch the game like me and Derrick Martin.

Parker and Bosh should be running the pick and rolls. He can get the ball into the big guy and can shoot the ball if needed. Something Calderon and TJ aren't famous for.

So, this game begs the question: is this team just as bad as last year, or are these the "growing pains" that we heard so much about in the off-season?

I'd have to say that I am quite worried. Losing is one thing, but losing without passion is another. It's a miracle that we kept Bosh, because he should have left as soon as he got the chance--another 40 games like this (let's say 12-34 by then) and I think we could start hearing the rumblings that Bosh wants out. As long as Mitchell goes first . . .

As discussed above it just looks like chaos out there. The half-court set is disgusting. I look at this team and I can't help think that they should do a little more of what they did last year....pick and roll....but not with TJ, with Calderon, and when Bosh is not it Calderon and Bargnani.

Just going to throw a name out there and I see some similarities between the Kings of old and the new Raps: Ric Adelman.

Here here...that game was U-G-L-Y...it's the first time in a long time I've actually listened to my girlfriend begging me to change the channel before the game was actually over because it was obvious to her that the game was already over as a competition before the 4th started.

In fact I'm not sure that has even happened before. Last season at least the Raptors would tease me by coming back from a 20 point deficit and suddenly making a game of it in the 4th.

That was not going to happen last night when the players behind the slight push were taken off (Calderon specifically) too early. And our best player is not getting touches....wtf? Bosh looked pissed last night during the timeouts, and I don't blame him.

TJ needs to improve (although I will give him a pass on his assist numbers....we can't make a shot, so they are bound to be low), and Calderon absolutely needs more burn.

The Sam watch may well start pretty soon. I genuinely like the man, but watching last night I did start to wonder what a different coach could do better? And would a different coach be able to get more out of this group of players? If someone would like to do an in-depth analysis of that I'd love to read it.

"TJ has to get better, and get other involved, he's turning into Mike James with his shooting."

TJ's not turning in Mike James with his shooting because James actually made his shots from time to time...TJ struggles to make layups....

I don't think this run and gun thing is going to work with T.J, if he doesn't start stroking some J's. I think even Mike James would have fit better into this offense. The Raptors just don't seem to have enough credible shooters in order to justify the type of offense they're trying to run.

I've got an idea...let's keep Garabagassa on the bench. He hasn't been hitting shots, doesn't (ever) box out, is too slow for the NBA and can't jump. As a result, he is being dunked on like 4 times a game off offensive boards. Humphries should be the first big man off the bench.

I used to be a big fan of the TJ-CV3 trade. I shrugged off the low fg% stat, assuming that a legitimate NBA point guard could hit open jumpers and pass the ball to our All-Star power forward. Sadly, these are the two things which TJF isn't doing well. I don't blame Sam - he has even resorted to calling TJ out with reporters present for his unwillingness to put in extra work on his shot. Some 'true point guard.'

I don't believe the mistake was trading CV3 for TJ. I think it was when we signed TJ to a long term contract without evaluating his performance for this year. If he keeps playing the he has been. We would have had few offers to match this off-season; and, had we chosen to, could have signed Ford for a lesser amount.

In any case, the problem for the Raptors is not just TJ Ford. It's the fact that they can't hit open shots. I think the Ray Allen rumours need to start. We need shooters and soon!

I always thought that Ford and Jones should be on the same line, but thought that it should be done with Calderon moving to the starting position, and Ford moving to backup. I know, technically, they can't do it, but I think his style actually works better with a smaller lineup without an established post player, which is essentially the 2nd unit. We'll see how things go in Tonights game with Jones and Peterson making the swap, but it should benefit Ford having Jones with him.