3 In the Key – Toronto Raptors Game-Day Preview vs.Pacers

Perimeter D: Why ARE the Raptors giving up so many treys? I wasn't surprised to see them near the bottom.
Other than that, their D has been pretty good at times this year, like the latest W streak.

Are they helping too much instead of sticking out on a shooter. I think it's simply recognition of who's out there.(i.e. maybe shadow on Allen around the line this Sunday; why not? Better them getting a two than three,etc.)

But I recall seeing us get lit up too many times this year due to open looks on the perimeter.

Transition:
With our low turnovers, good shooters, and hopefully someone going near the paint, we should become a team that can capitalize in this area.

I'm looking for a decisive road win tonight. Get that Offensive engine running in the garage folks, we're taking it out for a spin tonight.

"Why ARE the Raptors giving up so many treys? I wasn't surprised to see them near the bottom."

My belief is because they are making a big effort to keep the points in the paint down. Don't have numbers but I have asked the question here before

How is it that the Raps are this terrible in perimeter D, AND they are 23rd in the NBA in rebounding? One would think that if they were stepping off the outside shooters, they'd do a better job of taking care of the glass. Or vice versa.

Also, with the plethora of wing players (Delf, AP, Moon, JG, Kap etc), you would think they'd be at least one of the top 20 perimeter defenses?

In any event, if the Raps can keep up the stellar D that they played in the 2nd half against Houston and the full game against the Mavs, we can be sure they will climb up the standings in many team defense categories.

I'm hoping Bargs shows some life tonight. In my opinion its his growth (or lack of it) that's the difference between the Raps being a good team and great team.

Is that 3 consecutive games with a flagrant foul against the raps on breakaway layup attempts after a steal? Delfino (Houston) Ford (Atl.) Martin (Dallas) I think those were the last three games.

Are opposing teams just getting frustrated, careless, or do the raps have a rep of being intimidated with hard fouls?

It just seems to me that it is becoming a pattern lately. The intimidation idea doesn't really make sense because the raps have won all three. Or maybe it is just that they still have to prove to the league that they're not soft and winning these games is doing that.

It is possible that the Raps D is frustrating the opposition, forcing jumpshots, and the teams just haven't been able to take advantage.

I don't know the answer, so I guess I'm throwing the question out there.

All the flagrants have been questionnable and none appeared intentional or dirty.
Raptors do not come across as intimidated. My god, there is no fire with this smoke. You guys are trying to read something when the writing is just not there.

The Raptors need to pick up the full court pressure on Tinsley tonight. just hound him all the way up the court so he has to work to get the ball the his shooters and then just stick with your guy, if you have to leave your man, make sure you talk so the help can switch should in case JO find your guy. I don't think the Pacers will be a big problem for Toronto tonight...I see another W in the win column

(Re-posted by RaptorsHQ)

Some Salary Cap info

(numbers for this year)

Salary Cap
= 55.63m

Luxury tax
= 67.865m

Toronto's total salaries for this season (hoopshype)

=62,312,141

Total Guaranteed Salaries for next season
=55,090,685 (their data does not seem to include Hump's extension, so we add another 3m for

=58,090,685 with 11 players under contract.

The salary cap and the luxury tax are both dependent on league revenues. Recent history has had both increasing each year, but this year attendance is down around the league so I would argue that if there is an increase, it will be less than usual. This is all speculation, but for the purposes of settling this, let's say they both go up 2 million. (last year it went up 2.5 million, I know they don't increase uniformly, but whatever).

So for next year, the cap is at (roughly) 57.5m with the luxury tax near 70m. With guaranteed money at 58m+ already for 11 players, we can say goodbye to the cap, not that it matters, 80% of the league is over the cap, the REAL cap is the luxury tax because going over it adds up quickly.

So we get to the important part: can we keep Jose and Carlos. While we can argue until we are blue in the face about the merits/necessity of going over the luxury tax, I have seen nothing that indicates the ownership is ready to commit to that and I don't blame them. In my opinion going over the tax threshold is for championship caliber teams only. Except the Knicks, because Isiah is an idiot.

Back on point: doing our (very rough) math, we have 12 million to play with. Assuming Jose gets 8m (which is market value) we have 4m left for Delfino....or do we? One thing most people forget is that Jamario is going to be needing a new contract as well, AND we'll need a third-string PG, AND potentially another big/swingman to round out a 15 player roster. (Martin are Dixon are gone) This is where that extension to Joey Graham really starts to be annoying, because it eats up 2.5 million, money that could have gone towards "end of the bench" guys. (Which Joey is, but we could have THREE end of the bench guys for 2.5m)

Looking at market values, I think contracts in the neighborhood of around 3.5/4m are realistic for both Delfino and Moon. The free-agent market will be relatively busy next year, so hopefully that will drive contracts for role-players such as these down. However, even with bargain contracts, we are still over the tax threshold.

After looking at the numbers, it is my opinion that it will be VERY hard to keep all three (without unloading somebody), but two of them is very possible.
Whether or not we should try to re-sign these guys is a totally different argument, I just wanted to lay out the actual facts of the cap situation so that people can talk realistically about what can be done.

Addendum

I have assumed "market value"contracts, and this does not take into account the possibility of Jose, Carlos, or Jamario giving us "discounts"(a la TD in San Antonio), obviously I can't calculate how much goodwill is worth, but each of these players basically owes this franchise their career (brought Jose over and stuck with him during a rough first year, Delfino was going to leave the NBA after this season, gave Moon a shot at his dream) so maybe BC can bring them all home.

Assasin - just wanted to re-post your comment and thank you for the great breakdown of Toronto's possible salary situation next summer. Not to beat a dead horse but this should give everyone an idea of what Toronto may be dealing with next year or even sooner in terms of the trade deadline.

I also wanted to mention a point another reader commented on yesterday. This cap situation doesn't even begin to take into consideration re-signing Andrea. If he really is the number 2 piece on this team in the future, Toronto needs to keep money around to lock him up. Sonic Super I'm with you here...Andrea needs to start taking the next step, or even get back to where he was mid-season last year. If he can do that then this team will indeed have too many weapons for teams on most nights.

As a final note, I fully realize that all this salary projection seems like looking way too far into the future but unfortunately it's the reality of the NBA nowdays...something obviously that Isiah Thomas fails to grasp.

I believe that Moon on a team option for next year at app. $700,000.

Re the Horford suspension, a flagrent 2 foul is an auto 1 game vacation by NBA rules.

As far as the raptors salary cap, I think it all depends on how much Delfino gets.
Assuming Calderon's market value is 8million, that leaves only 4 million for delfino.

If a team forces Toronto's hand and signs Delfino to 5 million+ deal/year, (which is entirely possible given his recent play)we'd be over and have to make a roster move one way or another.

Thankfully the summer of 09 is when our cap hit goes wayyy down, so I believe the money will be there for Bargani and Moon.

Assasin's numbers look a little flawed to me. It looks like JC and Dalfino make nothing this year. The numbers presented for next year would be less if so. Did I read it wrong 2 times?

I was suprised to see we were that bad defending threes, but I think it just comes down to the fact you can't leave certain guys open at three point line. Gibson, jones, nowitzki, lots of others have been lighting us up that surely the raps knew would hit if left wide open. Based on the dallas game, I'd say the problem has been fixed and when your man is a three point shooter you don't leave him under any circumstances.

bluenoser - I like to think that toronto's defence if really frustrating teams and those flagrants are "frustration fouls" as leo likes to call them. I don't think it is an indication of perceived softness of the raps.

Assassin - great post. If Bargs keeps up his loren woods type effort, at least we won't have to worry about squeezing him under the cap.

Re Bargnani's salary he is in the 58mil for 08 @ 5.1mil with a team option of 6.5 for 09 & a qualifying RFA offer of 8.5 for 2010.

To clarify, we'd be over the luxury tax if we matched a Restricted FA deal to Delfino at 5+million / year.

Re Salary structure, BC has +/- 12 mil to sign Calderon, Delfino, and a 1st round draft pick in the summer, excluding any other transations. That's why he makes the big bucks as GM & President. I believe he has a team option on Moon in the 700K area. Dixon and Martin will be history or trade fodder, possibly Graham also.

Good post from yesterday, Stylin'. But as Johnn19 and bluenoser astutely pointed out, Jamario will (likely) get guaranteed next year at 700k (with performance bonuses that probably won't top $1 mil). THAT is why, in the Hoopshype grid, there is a blank space for Moon in 2008-2009:

http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/toronto.htm

Anyway, the scenario that I will have to reiterate ONCE AGAIN is that BC will DEFINITELY be clearing out roster space to get Jose and DEFINITELY Carlos signed (he even tried to resign the Dolphin before the season started).

And here's why. There is NO reason why BC extended Mediocre Joey for 2.5 million if NOT to package him in a trade (as an opposing example, Antoine Wright for NJ wasn't extended and he offers more value than Joey).

Rasho, AP, Garbo and Maceo, along with Joey, represent over $20 million that CAN be cleared. And yes, BC will certainly clear some of it -- he may have to give up our 2008 Rookie 1st rounder to do it, but I'd rather lock in Carlos and Jose than take on the crapshoot that is a first rounder in the 20s. For every Al Jefferson there are 2 Michael Bradleys.

And if Jamario turns into the Matrix or J-Smoove in 2008-2009, there will be plenty of room in 2009-2010 for him to be re-signed, along with Bargs' extension. It's really not that hard, just trickier this off-season than last, but, thankfully, less tricky in 2009-2010, when BC can sign Jamario, Bargs, and some kick ass $10+ million free agent with all the cap space the Raptors will have at that time. And that's the last I'll post on this matter. Go Raps tonight.

JC outstanding again!!!!

As did Humphries, CB4(playing through early foul trouble)and Kapono.
This team has so many scoring threats, lets credit Sam for learning how to use his lineup. Much improved since first dozen games or so. Defence has shown an ability to shut down teams through long stretches - must credit coaching staff as well. Took balls for Sam to keep Bargnani on the bench, where unfortunately with the depth of this team, he belongs.

Bargnani looks brutal out there! (no footwork at all) Runs towards the basket will he be able to play the centre position???

and oh ya forgot Hump da Man again!

jj, can't trade the '08 pick, we already traded the '07 pick and NBA rules prohit trading picks in two succesive years.

Also, BC would never give up the pick even if he could. You need growth, every team does. You always have to look 3 years ahead. You can trade it away sometimes to make something happen, but not after being shut out from last year's draft.

Give Kapono another 25 million! I have no idea why we don't run plays for him regularly. That last three, he hadn't even caught it and it was already out of his hands.

All in all Sam deserves credit. He couldn't find a lineup all night, but when he found it he stuck with it. This game was even sweeter, considering these are the types of games the Raptors usually lose. But they grinded it out.

And just to add more fuel to that fire started earlier here is what Lebron James said after seeing the video of Ford:

"Toronto didn't fight?" he said, watching the ugly replay. "Nobody on Toronto did nothing? That crazy."

Obviously Lebron didn't have all the "context" we enjoy, but yea...

Lebron James is still a kid in a mans body