Tip-In: Blurred Vision

If we'd started calderon, we might lost by less. That start really killed raps since they had to use all their energy just getting back to within ten. And on game 2 of a back to back.

Mavs outrebounded Raps by 13? Erick Dampier outweighs CB4 by 40 lbs. Whoever thought Bosh could stop him better share what they're smoking. Meanwhile one of the Rap's best rebounders, 7'0, 260 lbs Rasho road the pine most of the night. Insert him into the starting lineup to guard dampier and keep A Parker as your 6th man to go up against Stackhouse and ... the Raps still would have lost cuz Dallas is that good, but it would have been a amore competitive game. Sam's got to do a better job at the matchups.
PS What's up with Darrick Martin? How come he doesn't see more time?

Eric Dampier absolutely KILLED the Raptors on the inside in this game. The defense you can live with, but offensive rebounds and dunks and putbacks, you cannot. Why is it that Nesterovic didn't see any time against Dampier in this game. I know you have to get minutes for Bosh and Bargnani, but neither of them have a shot at guarding Dampier down low....Nesterovic does. This is exactly the situation we got him for isn't it?

Another thing that was killing me was the use of Calderon and Ford, and then Martin and Ford, in the backcourt. I understand the thinking "they're going small and this is the only way to match them", but it absolutely kills the offense, making any defensive gains you make inconsequential. One of these two end up having to play the shooting guard on offense, but neither can do it....so the other team just packs it in and dares the Raptors to shoot.

A zone had a chance if it was the right zone. At least to me, it looked like the Raps were in a 2-3 zone. That works against a team that doesn't have any perimeter shooters like NOK, but against Dallas, that won't fly. Maybe I'm wrong and they were using it, but don't think I saw them attempt a 1-3-1 zone when the Mavs went 4 guards & 1 big? Then you could've used bigger guards on the wings and only had to use 1 PG at the top. Would've provided a different look at the very least.

This sounds like petty complaining but as Jerry Stackhouse was killing us I was just thinking...How the hell can all of these players fit under the cap? The answer is, of course, they can't. In fact Dallas pays over $40 million (3rd highest in the league) more for it's team than the Raps (4th lowest). While that includes Findley's $15 mil, add the remaining $25 mil of veteran firepower to the Raptors and see what happens. Yeah...I'm bitter. Sorry.

This was one of those games that you prove to yourself you're a fan ... raps missed the first 5 or 6 shots - I hadn't even opened my beer yet and was already pissed cause it was 21-4.

Never in my life have I seen an NBA team shoot the lights out like that. At one point they were 11 for 16 from 3. 88% from the field at one point in the 3rd quarter. My goodness!

Note to Chuck / Leo and Jack: Nobody wants to hear your inside jokes all game long. I almost muted the game last night. Also - absolutely NO ONE - not the fans and especially not the players / coaches gives a crap about the "3 point streak". I was hoping they wouldn't hit one - just to shut chuck up. It s a nothing record and I'm sure every player on the team would rather have a team that can shoot, oh I don't know - 20% from beyond the arc. Raps should be banned from shooting 3 pointers from now on or should be given a college 3 point line exception.

Although it was funny to see Derrick Martin heave a 3 at the buzzer - you know - cause they were down by 20!!!, hold the ball, put your head down and leave the court sir - he was loving the PT. Martin should show Fred Jones and Parker (and co) how to come off the bench and shoot.

Rasho should have been on vs. Dampier.
This weekends games will be an early sign of where they'll end up.

The raptors definitely should have used Rasho, this would have given Sam a chance to see the lineup of Rasho, Bosh, Andrea, Jose and Parker. It baffles me why you would leave Parker on the bench when Stackhouse is just running down the floor backing Jose or Ford at the FT line and taking a jumper right over top. The combination of Ford and Calederon doesn't seem to work very well, it gives the raps a huge disadvantage on the defensive end. I'd throw those two on together if your trying to extend a lead, not if your down.

Good defense translates into good offense.

hate to mutilate a dead horse after it's been beaten to death by a biker gang, but god almightly what in the name of all things saintly is Sam Mitchell still doing coaching this team?!?!?! calderon and martin?? martin playing in the 3rd??? martin at all?? rasho riding the pine while cb4 is dying a slow death trying to rebound all by himself??
but in all seriousness, mitch just didn't know what to do. he was out-coached plain and simple.
I think he'd make a great assistant, maybe even a great head coach one day. but right now we need a real coach who can get us to where we need to go right now. not 3 years from now. and that's what games like last night show more than anything. tough, tough game to watch it was.

Some great comments...love the "mutilate a dead horse...by a biker gang" line and yes, Mitchell was out-coached last night. Rasho might have helped on the glass but even when he was in the game, smaller guys like Josh Howard were grabbing boards over him. I also think that Mitchell is trying to walk the thin line between developping players and win games. Even with Rasho getting more minutes, I don't think Toronto would have won this game so as a coach I guess you gotta ask yourself what's better in the long run...to get major minutes for Bargs and let him take his lumps or keep Rasho out there to try and keep the game within ten. Not that I'm an ardent Mitchell defender but I remember that classic line: "It's always easy to get out-coached when the other team has better players." In fact, I was thinking this morning about the game and if we had Deveon George instead of Anthony Parker on our club, would there be much difference? And he's like their tenth guy right now!

Yes, as you mentioned Jimbo, these next two games will REALLY give us an idea of what to expect this season.

Last point - Utes...don't get me started. I purposely didn't mention this stupid 3-point streak. WHO CARES. The way Chuck was carrying on about it made me sick. In fact, after that, combined with the innane studio discussions courtesy of RaptorsTV, I started a huge rant about Chuck and co to end the article. In the end I took it out but I'm going to discuss this at length in the next week or so. I mean, it's completely out of control at this point and frankly, embarrassing.

Yes, Martin's 3 was amusing because he waited so long to shoot it...but it's not like Toronto's on a streak that will never be broken...the Mavs are only five or six games behind it!!!

AAHHHHHHHHHHH!

"I thought Mitchell moved players in and out as best as he could tonight"

were we watching the same game? sam's still trying this calderon/t.j. combination and it's not working. they're both TRUE point guards, calderon looks lost playing SG. and as if that wasn't enough, he decides to throw d-mart into the mix.

and where was rasho? dampier's good - defensively -but when he kills your team offensively you've gotta make adjustments.

i think that was one of mitchell's weakest games to date. whenever we face a well-coached team you're gonna see how glaringly bad mitchell is.

"In fact, after that, combined with the innane studio discussions courtesy of RaptorsTV, I started a huge rant about Chuck and co to end the article. In the end I took it out but I'm going to discuss this at length in the next week or so. I mean, it's completely out of control at this point and frankly, embarrassing. " - Franchise

The Raptors TV studio is getting to be cringe-worthy at this stage. I wish they'd be more professional and talk about ball rather then trying to be comedians all the time. Individually I like the team, and I actually enjoy most of what Raps TV has to offer, but this season they keep trying to be funny (and it's usually inside jokes too), when I'd rather some good analysis. Norma in particular comes out with some strange comments, that seem awkward to me. Lately I've imagined being from another city and watching our "post up" show, and it makes me embarassed!

good point. you're probably right about the rasho/bargs thing - it's just tough to watch. the kid doesn't have nearly enough strength or experience yet to handle the bigs of this league. and he won't for a while. but some of the other rotations just baffle the mind. it's almost as if he's just closing his eyes and pointing down the bench. no rhyme, no reason.
would a more experienced coach know the limitations of his players and certain rotations without actually having to try them? maybe, maybe not. but what worries me is that this one doesn't.
I like mitch - he seems like a perfectly nice man. but for this team to spend so much money and effort on bringing top executives, a whole bunch of new players, and even an overhaul to the players physical space with the locker rooms and such, it just seems ridiculous to have a rookie(ish) coach still be leading the charge.
we've had a tough stretch with tough teams lately, no doubt; but I'm sure a better coach could have had us in a better position right now.

Attention Raptor fans, we have no business beating a team like Dallas. The only games we should care about are the ones against the east, specifically the Atlantic (like Fridays game against the Celts.) Phil Jackson couldn’t have coached us to a win over Dallas. I too think Rasho should play more, but in that game who cares? Joey G should have probably gotten some more minutes in the 2nd half as well. As far as D-Mart playing, I think he initially came in when TJ Ford got that cut on his eye. But he played well, so Sam let him play a little more. Nothing wrong with that. With everyone saying a TJ Ford injury is inevitable, it doesn’t hurt to get your backups some time in a blow out. Plus that three at the buzzer made my night. I was listening to the Dallas feed on League Pass, and you could hear their Homer announcers’ spirits break when he hit it. They were genuinely upset, because Dallas is right behind the Raps in that active streak. They were getting giddy about it from about 8 minutes to go. Fantastic! Sure it’s a meaningless streak, but if you really think about it, they all are.

just thinking..its too bad sam didn't walk into the same situation avery did. avery has it made. think if the situations were swapped each team would be where they are at now (assuming mlse would be willing to spend as much as cuban; hard to imagine i know)? i think avery would be in the same spot sam is now.

Regarding the Raptors' commentators, what the heck is Norma doing as part of the panel of analysts? In what bizarro universe does Norma qualify to be anything put a crummy sideline reporter? Has she even bounced a basketball before?

As for the game, you guys are giving the Mavs way too much respect. They didn't have Dirk Nowitzki last night. Taking away an MVP candidate from a top team and we should AT LEAST be competitive. But getting blown out by the Mavs last night is completely unacceptable.

"Impossible is nothing...but at Mavs is nearly impossible", do you remember? Be realistic.

No way Toronto beats Dallas the way the two teams were playing especially in Dallas.

BC will give Sam until the All Star break to prove that he can make it work with 9 new players in the mix. But Sam is not ready to be a head coach. He failure to recognize mismatches was painfully clear in the Dallas game.

Secondly, I don't know if the team just doesn't listen to him but when your jump shots aren't falling you need to pound the ball inside and attack the rim. I not talking delicate finger rolls, I mean pick and rolls and slamming down some dunks or at least drawing the foul.

I can't wait until the Raps get a more experienced coach and can we get Bosh some help rebounding? Rasho anyone? Even Humphries maybe?

OK, I will bash Raps TV more than anyone. The studio team is painful. The shows are repetitive. It's bad.

But....

They do show the TNT Thursday games on Friday. Usually, I don't like that.

Not today.

Had to study last night and missed Lakers-Jazz. Kobe goes off in the 3rd...bananas show, apparently.

So, I'll set the PVR for 1:30 this afternoon to catch what I missed.

Dallas 117 Toronto 98
Not a surprising result with Dallas the best team in the NBA on a 10 game win streak.
Raptors with no intesity.
Results for the 1st 6 Mins
Tor 2 for 11 Dal 8 for 11
Score Dal 21 Tor 4 GAME OVER
Bosh 1/5 Ford 1/3 - 9 jump shots & 2 lay-ups

For the game Ford 2AST 3TO & 18Pts from our pass 1st PG
still very much a WIP.
Parker/Jones 0/3 for the game. Untill our starting 5 get it together wins will be few & far away.
Starters outscored by Dallas by 18. Bench outscored by 1
Players have to perform.