Tip-In: Raps Take Bite Out of ‘Cats
by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST
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Pape Sow saw his first game-time action last night and was greeted by the ACC faithful (although the smallest crowd of the season considering the Raptors’ opponent) with open arms...not to mention his own GM, Bryan Colangelo, who made a special presentation to Sow in the locker-room after Toronto’s dominant win.
Oh yes, the game itself.
After a back and forth first-half, the Raptors used an impressive display of zone defence to limit Charlotte to only eight third quarter points en route to a 105-84 win.
Let the broken record spin but this was yet another game last night that Toronto had to win. Even when healthy the Raptors should be able to manhandle squads like Charlotte and here’s hoping that Toronto continues this dominance on Wednesday night.
Jose Calderon and Chris Bosh led the way for Toronto statistically and in another feel-good ending, every Raptor got some time and ended up scoring in this one which was over really before the five minute mark of the fourth quarter.
What most impressed me however in a game that bears very little discussion, was Toronto’s leadership from top to bottom.
At one point in the second quarter, the Raptors were lagging behind the Bobcats in terms of energy level and weren’t getting it done on the defensive end of the court. Seeing this, Chris Bosh who had been forced to sit with two fouls, popped back up off the bench looking for Mitchell to re-insert him. It was as if CB4 was saying "look, there’s no way we’re losing this game." He promptly picked up a third foul of course but this was a case of "actions speaking louder than words."
And besides Bosh, Jose Calderon provided a steady hand for the club, even early on when it was struggling. You just can’t say enough about Jose’s energy at both ends of the court (how about that block on Wallace??) and his ability to get everyone else involved. In fact Jose’s recent play is bound to start the "maybe TJ Ford should be coming off the bench" talk again.
Finally, Sam Mitchell also did a great job last night. Yes, the zone defence that was so effective against the Bobcats was put in place slightly by accident due to CB4’s foul trouble. But Mitchell stuck with it and you could really tell how hard Toronto has been working on this scheme in practice. The rotations were crisp, the double-teams down low came fast and hard and the Raptors did a great job of forcing turnovers and tough shots.
Speaking of turnovers, let’s end this Tip-In with some thoughts on Adam Morrison.
Morrison came into the league as a possible number one draft pick and was one of the greatest scorers the NCAA has ever seen. While he didn’t seem to have the long-term NBA potential of the likes of Rudy Gay and Tyrus Thomas, many experts believed that he was more ready to contribute right away in the NBA and that the Rookie of the Year race would come down to him and either Portland’s Brandon Roy, or Minnesota’s Randy Foye. However while both Foye and Roy have turned it on lately, Morrison has had a disappointing rookie season so far. He’s shooting only 37.7 per cent from the field and after seeing him last night, it’s obvious that he’s got a long ways to go before being a dominant scorer at this level. For one, his ball-handling skills are atrocious and he carries quite a bit. He also seems to have a real problem creating space, something that most scouts theorized prior to last summer’s draft.
Perhaps if Charlotte can continue adding players around him to help open up shots for the former Bulldog then Morrison can become more effective. But as of right now, he simply looks like a much scruffier version of Kyle Korver.
In fact one of the HQ’s long-time correspondents relayed this message to me this morning as he knew someone seated next to Charlotte’s bench last night.
Apparently Morrison was asked why he cried on the court after the loss to UCLA...
Morrison didn’t respond and was hardly pleased with the question.
Raymond Felton on the other hand, started cracking up...
FRANCHISE
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Okay, where are the Morrison lovers around here? I know you're hiding somewhere. A bunch of folks here claimed not drafting Morrison for Bargs was a epic mistake that demostrated that BC wasn't the guy.
Whoa, DAMN LAMOND MURRAY! He still haunts us. I didn't realize that if we make the playoffs this year that we lose our first rounder to Charlotte as part of that Cleveland deal oh so many moons ago! I think the Cats were tanking yesterday on purpose (kidding! seesh).
The Cats however are looking to shop the Cleveland/Toronto pick now, just in case Toronto doesn't make it to the post season. Should we trade for it?
by ustation on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
Great article guys. Love reading your posts everyday.
Ustation, it's interesting you joked about the Cats tanking it. There might be a strong possibility that they are intentionally tanking their season in order to win the Greg Oden sweepstakes. Here's an article:
http://www.thebrushback.com/scoreless_full.htm
by dieselwire on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
I may rue the day I said this but I still think that Tyrus Thomas is going to be a stud down the line...although Bargnani's play is making it harder and harder to admit that TT was my top choice for Toronto in last summer's draft.
As for the draft pick coming up this summer, Chuck gave an overly simplisitc comment on it last night. We'll get into this some more tomorrow to clear the air however in terms of how Toronto keeps and loses the pick depending on their record.
by Franchise on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
Dieselwire: It may no longer be the Greg Oden sweepstakes. I've seen a few OH and UT games this year and Kevin Durant seems much more impressive!! Albeit I think I've only seen 2 or 3 games each. I saw the OH vs Gators game where Oden didn't do much and Joakim Noah had a better game.
See:
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxNjImZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwNjA4MDMmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2
http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/story/kevin_durant_national_player_of_the_year26270
by ustation on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
I for one am looking forward to a year where Raptor fans don't care about the draft. Think Phoenix or Dallas or San Antonio care where they draft?
Raptors don't need another rook. They need to change their roster through signings and trades.
I would much prefer to make the playoffs then get a 16th pick in the lottery.
by utes on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
PS - what I saw fromR asho last night is what I expected when he signed. Keep it up big man.
PSS - Bargnani will have a much bigger career then anyone else in the draft class.
by utes on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
Glad to see Pape back on the court. The cheer that arose for him was great and they got paid back with some pizza. Way to be insta-crows favourite huh?
You're dead on Utes -- Rasho's been great for the Raps this year. Exactly who we hired IMO. I gotta disagree with you on your point about the draft though. I don't think any team can really afford to not care about the draft.
Props to Smith & Jones for talking to Rasho last night. That guy deserved some mic time.
How about that third quarter? 8 points? They were at four with like ~2:00 left in the Q, which supposedly could've been history for the Raps.
Depending on how bad the injury is, Ford should just stay out indefinitely until he's completely healed. He'll be important to the team come playoff time, and we need a healthy Ford in March more than we need a healthy Ford now.
by Shep on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
utes,
just un case you did not know there are only 14 picks in the lottery you need to brush up on some basic things about basketball.
by Allan on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
I just read the report cards over at SI, done by Paul Forrester...I don't think this guy has even seen 1 Raptors game from seeing some of the comments that he made. He just makes it up from looking at the stats.
He said that Rasho is at the "Back of the Class" and that "Even someone as well regarded as Colangelo isn't perfect, and his deal for the increasingly ineffective big man is far from it."
Rasho is FAR from ineffective, and he is a big reason why the Raptors defense has improved so well this year...if Paul had watched last nights' game, he would be eating his words.
by GregV on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
Allan - thanks for the note :(.
My basics are fine thanks - the point is I don't care if the raps have the 16th pick or 14th or 20th - I care that they are in the playoffs more.
In BC I trust.
by utes on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
why would you chirp utes... every point he just made was smart and makes a lot of sense
by weezy on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
accoridng to hoopshype we have the 4th lowest team salary in the L. we should make a big move at the trade deadline which i think could push us to the point where we could come out of the East. even right now theres a chance i think we could beat the wizards in a 7 game series.
by f baby on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
I really like Bargnani, he's got a little fire in there brueing...Tyrus is going to be 1b from that draft, Roy being 3rd. Great game by Calderon, What a player, big drive to win. With these types of players, Bosh pushing himself the way he does, I think there really feeding off winning. I think the future looks bright for Mitchell, thanks to Coangelo & Embry working so well together. The Raps have quite the pedigree in the front office, the best in the NBA! Go raps.
P.S. Enough Salami and Cheese...who eats that shyte.
by Cizzelation on Jan 23, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
RE: Payroll -- 2 reasons that the Raps are lower than most of the league:
1) Two starters Parker and Garbs both have deals around $4M/yr
2) Bosh and TJ's big deals don't start until next year
Next year, I would expect the Raps to be closer to the middle of the league in terms of payroll.
One downside of Calderon's play of late: they will also have to give him more $$$ to stick around (he's an unrestricted free agent this summer I believe?)
by BC on Jan 24, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
Re Rap's Salaries '06/07 51.1mil with cap 53.1 '06/07
2007/08 56,578 with Bosh/TJ new rates and without Mopete,Sow,Martin, Slokar
Calderon signed thru '07/08
by Johnn19 on Jan 24, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
Re Rap's Salaries forgot to say '06 includes 4.5 for Alvin Williams & 4.2 for Alonzo Mourning. '07 includes 4.5 for Alvin.
Check out SI for more accurate info on NBA salaries
by Johnn19 on Jan 24, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions
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