Tip-In: Lost in New York

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Mar 18, 2007 12:00 AM EDT

Can I get even a miniscule portion of Isiah Thomas’ salary?

I’m entitled to it aren’t I?

Because it was the exact things I mentioned on Thursday’s Raps-Knicks "Tip-in" that Isiah changed in today’s game that helped to lead New York in a 92-74 lambasting of the Raps.

Last time these teams met I couldn’t understand for the life of me why Thomas wasn’t using Renaldo Balkman more against Toronto considering the problems the Raptors have with athletic 4’s. And Thomas unfortunately listened as Balkman played 33 minutes and racked up 15 points and 12 rebounds.

On top of this, seeing the ineffectiveness of Eddy Curry early on, Thomas went small and let Channing Frye operate at will as Toronto was helpless against the Knicks’ ball movement and inside/outside game. And to top it off, when Toronto did make good defensive plays, the Knicks still dropped in impossible shots totally deflating the club.

After witnessing the single best day of college basketball ever yesterday, to view the performance by Toronto today was appalling to say the least.

The Raptors performed like a JuCo team, especially in the second half and allowed New York to get whatever they wanted offensively. In fact Toronto had only 13 points in the decisive third quarter yet allowed New York to shoot 68 per cent ending the game before the fourth quarter had started.

At fault? I'm not sure you can exclude anyone.

-Chris Bosh - not nearly aggressive enough considering Eddy Curry sat for almost the entire game.

-Juan Dixon - three for 11 shooting wasn’t my main issue - it was the fact that Dixon took only one less shot than Bosh in 14 less minutes and had three turnovers and four fouls (many of them absolutely needless.)

-Andrea Bargnani - made too much of his "Magician" nickname and essentially pulled a disappearing act.

-Rasho Nesterovic - without Eddie Curry getting much playing time Rasho was rendered ineffective and limited to nine minutes.

-Morris Peterson - please report to Dave Hopla. Yes he’s still my favourite player, but no more excuses, there’s a reason you wouldn’t have seen minutes today Mo if this game had stayed close, zero for eight from the field for zero points in addition to zero attempts to get to the line or play defence.

-TJ Ford - from his best game of the season on Wednesday to his worst today. SEVEN TURNOVERS to only three assists, way too many contested jump shots and an effort that had me begging to see Darrick Martin since Jose was a no go again.

Raptor fans did see the return of Anthony Parker but he hardly looked like himself playing only 16 minutes, grabbing only one rebound and missing all four of his shots.

So was it his ineffectiveness and the absence of Calderon that made the difference? How can you explain a team that’s won eight of its last 15 games by a margin of 12.4 points yet lost the other seven by 15? It seems like this club since the All-Star break either comes with maximum focus or none at all.

I’m sure some of this comes down to youth and inexperience but more and more I’m noticing two things with this club:

1) If Toronto doesn’t get a complete effort from its seven main players, it’s really hard for this team to have success. This does not mean that the Raptors need seven players in double figures scoring to win, it just means that its core group all has to contribute in some manner be it on the offensive or defensive end. Today Chris Bosh put up close to his usual numbers but just didn’t demand the ball and attempt to dominate the way he can. And besides Kris Humphries, who had nine rebounds and five points in only five minutes, CB4 really didn’t get any help from his team-mates.

2) Secondly, point guard play. Without Jose Calderon, Toronto needs to get great play from TJ Ford. When Ford’s darting into the lanes, feeding his team-mates, creating havoc with his speed and hitting his mid-range floaters without forcing them, the Raps follow suit and the game just gets easy for them. Wednesday night was a perfect example of this as the Raptors were getting almost any shot they wanted offensively as a result of Ford’s handy-work. The problem is when TJ starts trying to do too much and takes on more of a scoring role. Today unfortunately was an example of this as from the tip-off Ford was looking for his own offence far too often and as a result none of the other Raptors got involved. I’m not sure if anyone else noticed this but it wasn’t until the second quarter when I realized that Andrea Bargnani was even in the game! It was the TJ Ford show and besides forced jumpers and turnovers, there wasn’t much else to see.

A week or so ago when the Raptors had lost three in a row, I wrote a rather scathing piece on some of the issues I saw concerning the club. It wasn’t meant to be a doom and gloom piece regardless of what some readers thought, but rather a cautionary tale considering some of the things I was seeing. In Toronto’s last two blowout losses I’ve seen these same issues and I maintain that in order for Toronto to secure a solid spot in the playoffs and hope to advance, they need to be addressed.

I’m sure the New York nightlife was particularly enticing last night but I don’t think this was the reason for Toronto’s dismal performance. The team didn’t look a step slow today or tired - they just didn’t look ready to play. Some of this is going to fall on Sam Mitchell but I’m not sure it’s going to be warranted. He wasn’t the one making the on-court decisions resulting in 18 turnovers through the first three quarters! The Raptors need to realize that Miami is coming on very strong, Chicago and Washington are hanging around, the Nets are finally healthy and therefore the Raptors can ill afford to continue to waltz through these games by not coming to the arena prepared.

Mitchell’s post-game words echo as much:

"I can't point to one guy that did what he was supposed to do today," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said. "It was just a bad team game all the way around.

The problem is that there’s been far too many of these lately...and there are still plenty of games to be played.

FRANCHISE

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Comments

Now that was one to be upset about...

It was like last years raps all over again: "hey, let's take turns going one on five - and hey don't forget to butter your own toast this morning."

I think they're choking under the pressure a bit, expecially the reality check delivered by rocket mail.

C'mon RAPS!!

by axl on Mar 18, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

I'm not sure where the pre all-star raps are, but I'm now officially starting to worry.

1) teams are making the adjustments necessary after losses to the raps, and the raps are not responding well. I dare say coaching is at fault here.

2) I'm so mad I can't even write anymore right now.

how with so much on the line can they be giving up games like this so easily?? I need a few days off...

by papa on Mar 18, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

MO Pete looks disinterested
Parker still hurt
Dixon and Ford playing 1 on 5
Bargs putting the ball on the floor instead of shooting
Garbs shooting garbage
all in all the team sucked today.

by Davl on Mar 18, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Wow. I hope MLSE isn't printing playoff tickets yet. At this rate, we may not need them!

Just appalling. Appalling.

by raptorman on Mar 18, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

well, going one on five is about playbook from one side and about your "play" attitude on the other. I would say this team needs the best Parker and the best Calderon and a change of attitude towards defence, the Knicks were not bigger than the Raps, just much more aggressive

by renato on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

oh man ... I actually turned off the TV for the fourth quarter ... awful stuff boys!!

Raptors need to step up their energy levels. Did they hit some sort of wall? MoPete did catch FredJonesitis - although Fred looks good out west now. Bargnani looked like he had a St. Paddies day hangover.

by utes on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

I've become convinced that the team can win without Ford, Calderone, and can even win for stretches without Bosh or Bargnani.

But take away Anthony Parker and they seem to fall apart.

I don't think I've ever seen a player more deserving of the 'glue-guy' reputation (Ok, Shane Battier), cuz when he is on his game (12-20 pts, 6-10rebs, inspired D) the Raps seem to be able to beat anyone. But take him out and they can't even beat Isiah and his team of billionaire headcases.

Please, please, get healthy AP!

by Bedhead on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

one way to alleviate the blues: why not introduce pape sow and uros slokar (pj - although he is on d-league assignment) more readily into the rotations?

by agape777 on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, that was a wretched, wretched performance yesterday. The time off before the next game better be put to good use.

by datpif on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

The thing that pisses me of (well, among the things) are the walks taken by Garbo and Andrea. Guys, you have played 70 games now including preseason, and you are still walking! And whats up with stepping on the sideline at least twice a game for the last three games. Il Mago did pull a disappearing act (well said). He appears so tentative on the move its not even funny. When the three is not dropping, he seems to be immobile as Aroujo. Right now, forget standing in the East, I would be happy to just scrape in to the playoffs.

by rubix kube reposted on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Ladies and Gents: Just a word of warning - Although we love the comments and many of them ring VERY true please keep them (along with you name) clean, or else we will be forced to remove them or repost them edited as done today. Thanks the HQ TEAM.

by The HQ TEAM on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Wow - what fickle fans. I presume none of you will be back on the bandwagon when Raps beat the Magic on Wed.?

by D on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

I mentioned this before, the post all-star break version of the Raptors looks a lot like last year’s version than the pre all-star break team. They have won post all-star game, but it’s been against bad or beat up teams. Pre all-star, they were beating everyone, good or bad.

Mo Pete is not NBA talent anymore. I also really like the guy, but like Alvin Williams, liking the guy is no reason to give him minutes. He is hesitant, disinterested and unable to defend like he used to. Thoughts of him being a key contributor in the playoffs are not based in reality. He may contribute ala Darrick Martin in the locker room, but to think he will somehow rediscover his at best of times inconsistent skills is a dream. For the month 14 of 48 FGs; 9 of 32 3pt; 5 of 9 FT.

Bosh has it backwards. What he needs to do is go strong to the hole. Once he’s established this move, he can take the jumper to keep the defence honest. What he’s been doing since the all-star break is shooting the jumpers first and then trying to establish inside presence. It doesn’t work this way. What ends up happening is threefold:
1. The opposing team does not get in foul trouble
2. He does not get the respect from the officials as he didn’t set up the inside presence early enough.
3. Once he knocks down a couple of jumpers, he doesn’t go inside anymore. So if he starts on the outside, he generally isn’t aggressive in the game.
Pre all-star, he was far more aggressive in going inside early.

Some good news? Boston was officially eliminated from the race for the Atlantic division. The magic numbers as of this morning are: NJ 11; NY 10 and PHI 6.

Despite all of the above negativity, the reality is that barring a catastrophic collapse, this division is ours. If we just win 7 more games of the 15 remaining, NJ has to go 12 and 3 and NY has to go 14 and 2 to beat us out. I think what’s more concerning is how we are stumbling into the playoffs with no momentum or confidence.

by Erezona on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

let's keep in mind that bosh is still only 22. let's also give credit to opposing defenses, which are starting to play bosh much stronger. the guy now routinely faces double and triple teams. I don't think that's mentioned enough. he's adapted before, and he'll probably do it again.

he'll more than likely come back bigger and stronger next year, (at the still very young age of 23,) and he'll be fine. (hopefully having worked on his right hand drives too.)

by papa on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

erezona - how can bosh go hard to the hole when he's getting triple teamed and neither of the open men can hit a shot? even when they win, the raps can't rebound or play much D. add poor shooting and tough defense to that and you get yesterday's debacle.

renato & bedhead - I think that's an important point about calderon. it seems like when tj struggles, calderon can come in and change momentum. when tj or calderon is playing well, I think we can survive without the other.

saw tj on "raps today" basically saying they tried to play one-on-one and it didn't work because "it's not their style".

Even bargnani was doing it, but I don't blame him. seemed like tj kept overlooking him even when he had good position. The knicks did a good job of taking away the three for him, but there was a few times he 'presented' himself and tj dribbled past to force it into bosh.

I watched the game in a hour today and really we were ok until the third. Some really bad no-calls on the knicks defense(imo) didn't help as well. (although nothing can redeem that bad of shooting)

by axl on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

I agree about the foul calls axl, but from my observations, the team with higher energy and greater movement on the floor tends to get the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it's because they do a better job of being in position, maybe everything just looks cleaner when they try harder, but the low-energy team usually gets screwed by the refs.

by raptorman on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Axl, agreed about the teammates not hitting open looks complicating things. But if you look at Bosh when he gets the ball, he waits for the double/triple team to get to him. When teammates aren't making shots, he has to be quicker and get in the lane the second he gets the ball without hesitation.

by Erezona on Mar 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

raptorman, your comments make perfect sense, I just hate that though. a foul is a foul, so I like it when they call them regardless of who commited it, how many minutes are left on the clock or what stadium they're in. I was reading an article somewhere (sorry can't remember where) that said that statistically refs at MSG favor the home team by a wider margin than any other stadium. That just sucks. The refs didn't need to change the outcome of this one though.

erezona - I see what you're saying, but (and this might be oversimplifying) that's never been bosh's game. He's never had the get-to-the-rim creativity of a kobe or a t-mac. He's a read and react player who has patience and always tries to make the best play whether he scores or not.

At a game like this one though,I feel your frustration. I wish he would just attack the paint like a bull in a china shop and draw some fouls, not caring if he gets stripped a couple times or doesn't score. He's the best player on the team and he needs to be more selfish when his team is faltering that badly. And I think he should just shoot that top of the key jump shot until it starts falling. Even his misses look picture perfect.

Anyways, if it comes to that we're already in trouble, the raps strength is team play.

by axl on Mar 20, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions