Game Day Preview – Raptors vs Pistons

Hopefully the Raps can jump on them early. I think if they do, Detroit will send out the bench warmers and let this one go.

I have to say, I was looking forward to this game quite a bit. but seeing as the pistons are shutting things down to get ready for the playoffs, I'm afraid we're not going to really see anything special here.

I would have to agree with archibald in that if the raps manage to jump on them early enough, that flip will just shut it down. I can't see them working too hard for a W at this point.

and on the new jersey match-up...let's just say I don't think this city is ready to lose in the first round to vince. it would be devastating. I'll take a pass on that, thanks.

I agree completely with what Jack was talking about on Full Court Press....why would you now suddenly tighten the rotation when through the entire season it's been our main advantage. I think 99/100 I'd take Jack's opinion over Smith's but 100/100 over Buffrey (that guy was just terrible, might have been just me, but I don't think he added any value to that show - other than making the other 3 look great!)

My $0.02, I think for the playoffs the raps really need to add to their bread and butter play of a high pick and roll. I know teams have been expecting it all year long and haven't necessarily solved the raps combo of Ford and Bosh, but I think the playoffs will be harder to run off that screen. Ford/Bosh arn't quite Stockton/Malone just yet.

I think they should utilize Bargs passing ability on the low side like they do with C.Webb in Detroit. He's the quarterback once they get into the half court. I think Bargs can surpise everyone playing with his back to the basket. He's shown some ability to do a little, and I have an instinct he'd beat whoever is guarding him off the dribble or take a step back J. Run Bosh off a screen and try and get a mismatch while you let Parker stretch the defence.

raps always seem to have trouble coming of long layoffs. not sure if they get out of sync or if all the hype and back patting affects their edge, but hopefully they can be over that now...

papa, not to be critical, but this isn't last year; Raps have home court in Round 1 and no way are Sam and CB4 going to let Wince get off any game-winning shots again, as hopefully the game won't come down to that.

Looked at the season series, it's a 2-2 split with the home team winning all 4 games. Having attended both Wince games, he was truly rattled by the Toronto crowd and had bad games (for him).

Also, the first game between them was the first of the season, in which the Nets still had Krstic and the Raps were trying out the 100-points-a-night thing which failed. Without Krstic, the Nets lack of inside game (Moore? Collins?) is beyond weak, which is nice for the Raps since their inside D isn't that much better. That's why I'd want either series over the Bulls, Cavs or even Indiana, who have much better rebounding (not that it's the only defensive stat).

Given all that, I'd prefer the Wiz since they're in free-fall without Gilbertology and Caron.

RE: Keys to success

Maybe it's just me, but I'm beginning to think that rebounding isn't as big a key for the Raptors as everyone thinks.

I'd have to take a deeper look at the stats to confirm my suspicions, but from the games I've seen creating turnovers plays a bigger role for the Raptors than rebounding. On the whole, I feel that outside of Bosh, the Raptors are a relatively poor rebounding group (that said, Hump, Kilo-Graham, Rasho and even Bargnani have all come up with decent games), and that the real key is to use the Raptors defensive speed (Parker, Ford, Calderone) to create steals, and disrupt offensive sets, and for Bosh and Rasho to continue that block-party mentality they've shown lately.

I guess what I'm saying is that I always expect the Raps to come off poorly on the glass vs most other good squads (especially Detroit and Miami), but that I don't think it's as big a deal as it would be for other clubs that have fewer ways to get the rock back in their hands.

Anyone have any data to put this theory out of its misery?

Oh yeah, did I mention this blog totally rules? Franchise, Howland, take a bow.

There is a good interview with Colangelo re the Raptors & Mitchell at ESPN.com/Raptors Club House. Also with Gherardini re Bargnani.

I agree with papa. I think 60-70% chance the Raptors would beat the Nets in a Round 1 series. But that still is a 30-40% chance I'm going to committ suicide sometime in May. No thanks. Bring on the Wiz.

(Silently taking a bow.)

Some interesting points about rebounding Bedhead. It's true, when the Raps are on top of their game getting into lanes and forcing turnovers, then rebounding doesn't seem to matter as much. I guess for tonight I was thinking that if Detroit starts getting on the O glass, that's really going to burn the Raps. Some stats like this would be solid...still looking for some stats on "winning the opening game tip-off" too...

Franchise, just read in the Sun that Raptors will be releasing more tickets tomorrow (Saturday):

http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Basketball/2007/04/13/4002479-sun.html

Take that for what it's worth (it is the Sun) but it would be nice to have more true fans like yourself at the playoff games instead of MLSE cronies and sundry other corporate whores, if you haven't gotten tix already.

There's a nice article about Sam Mitchell @ Sports Illustrated. Sounds more and more like Colangelo will be looking to keep Mitchell around.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/paul_forrester/04/12/mitchell.notes/index.html

Raps six point faves tonight? Looks like Detroit Basketball is going to be resting some key guys (read: Billups) tonight...so much for tonight being a "good test"...ah well.

Go Raps!

Re: Mitchell

More and more I'm convinced its going to go down like this;

- Mitchell wins or comes close to winning COY (deservedly so)

- Colangelo wins or comes close to winning Exec of the year (deservedly so)

- Colangelo will not seek to retain Mitchell, but will instead work to create the best possible exit strategy for him, with my first bets being Charlotte or Minnesota.

- Mitchell will graciously exit the organization on a high note, and move on to his next coaching gig with a great looking award, the respect of his ex-team and fans.

- Colangelo having handled Mitchell in as classy a manner as possible, will then be free to hire his first choice for coach Suns asst coach, Iavaroni.

That way, everybody wins. Mitchell gets the contract and respect he's earned, Colangelo gets his man, and the Raptors get a coach who can install a Phx suns type of attack, or failing that (cuz elite distribution point guards from Victoria don't grow on trees) improve the X and Os play of a talented international group of players.

It's all speculation, but given the classy way Colangelo does everything an everybody wins scenario like the above would be my best guess.

That said, maybe Mitchell has won him over.

BedHead I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on the way you see things panning out.

Especially the Iavaroni part. Why do people seem to think
1. Colangelo even wants him?
2. That he is an improvement on Mitchell?

He's a the defensive coach on a team that is known for playing little defence. We should be careful what we wish for.

Re: Mitchell

Iavaroni has long been rumoured to be Colangelo's boy for several reasons;

- He was part of Colangelo's crew in Phx

- Colangelo was more or less specifically forbidden from raiding the Suns coaching staff as part of his departure to run Toronto

- That prohibition on Iavaroni being courted by Colangelo is up at the end of the year.

Take those two things together and I would say that indicates a good likelihood that Colangelo has eyes for Iavaroni.

But you make a good point, nobody can read BC's mind, and for all we REALLY know BC may hate Iavaroni.

As for your second point, that Iavaroni may not be an improvement on Mitchell, I'd say the following;

- From what I can see with my own eyes Mitchell just isn't a great tactical coach. He's more of a (excuse the hockey referrence) 'a players coach', one who is good at building a team atmosphere, instilling a work ethic, etc.

- The rep on Iavaroni is the opposite; that he is a tactician and strategist, and that he is a key part in the Suns having the league's best offense.

Do I think we'll miss Sam if he goes elsewhere? Yeah, maybe. Am I cheering for his departure? Maybe once upon a time (during pre-season especially), but not anymore.

But in BC I trust, and if he prefers Iavaroni...

i guess it's good to know the raps are able to beat the pistons' scrub players. rip is, apparently though, unstoppable. if we get to the conference finals, which would obviously be out of this world, the pistons have the raps' number. no doubt.

k-hump with 18 of the glass cleaner kind. not bad at all.

I think we're looking at a bidding war whether BC go for mitchell or iavaroni. there's a lot teams looking for some fresh coaching blood

One thing I find curious is that people seem to have this perception that Iavaroni is a great X's and O's guy. I read an article recently in which he stated the opposite; that he wasn't a big x's and o's guy. From what I gathered, (and perhaps someone can weigh in on this) his offensive approach seems to be rather similar to Smitch's: keep it simple and let the players play.

He did mention that he likes to take advantage of an unset defence. However, Smitch has expressed similar sentiment.

Which is not to say that he isn't, as has been suggested in this thread and elsewhere, tactician and strategist. Just that he doesn't identify himself as an "x's and o's" guy.

Re Mitchell vs Iavoroni

We do not need another "rookie" head coach who will want to do things his way, and take another year or two to get to know how to handle the players.