Tip-In: Getting It Done

I havnt posted in long time, as I havnt felt the need to, but this is cause for celebration. Good job Raptors. And keep up the amazing work with the blog guys!

PLAYOFFS!!!! Finally we can start building up some rivalries and be seen as a real team! Under BC we have earned respect, we should be lining up to kiss the ring!

I am really loving the depth on this team, we don't seem to miss a beat when a player goes down. Since the beginning of the year we have been 3 deep at every position, with real players too! This has to help for injuries and even in practice too!

Now that we have legit player at each position, it is time for us to start looking at ways to improve certain positions.

We are more than set at PG, I love that we have two amazing pass first PG's, I only hope TJ continues to improve his decision making. I think AP is the real glue guy on this team (sorry Garbs) and has more to contribute on O, and Dixon backs him up nicely. Bosh, beyond how good he is on paper, he is just the type of player you want leading your team!

At center, I like what Rasho has brought on D and he is the first real center we have had here in forever. However, if Bargs is our C of the future, I think our backup has to rebound better and be tougher (would Etan Thomas or our Local boy Magloire cost us much? I even like Gadzuric a fair bit, but I doubt the Bucks wanna dance with BC again).

As for SF, Garbs has been fine (until the injury), but I think he is better suited to a back up for Bosh. With Bargs not being the best rebounder, I think we can get help from the SF position, preferably an athelete that can play some D and create his own shot. Joey will have the rest of the season to prove that he can't do this, then we have to look around in the offseason (In a dream world we might get Wallace, but what would we need to give up for Hakim Warrick?).

I think Mitchell has earned himself a job here next year. I have not been the biggest Smitch backer, but we all know his strengths. This is still a young team and hopefully he can have the same effect on Bargs and Parker as he has with with Bosh and Garnett. If the Smitch decides to leave us to go to Charlotte (another team that should be due for a big jump in their level of play) then we can go out and get the next coach all us haters have been demanding - I still like Iavroni.

Another game not on real TV--but, who cares? The Raps are in the playoffs. I guess the American announcers are going to have to learn some pronunciations, because they can't ignore the Raps anymore. (or, at least for a minimum of four games.)

What's up with the Mitchell situation? I can't believe that Colangelo hasn't said anything yet. That must mean he's gone, right? Does it even matter? With the effort Bosh, Calderon, Parker, Nesterovic and Garbajosa put out every night, I can't imagine this team wouldn't be good for any coach, so I'm not too worried. And yet, doesn't Mitchy deserve 3 more years for what has been accomplished?

Do you guys have a list of NBA coaches who have been fired/left the job after great seasons? (obviously the Larry Brown-Pistons situation jumps out) . . . all stuff to think about later . . .

Congrats everyone.

So the Raps are winning the battle on the glass since Bargnani & Garbajosa went down... coincidence?

First wish has come true. Raps in the playoffs. As Austin Powers would say, "Groovy, baby, groovy!"

Next wish, the Leafs miss the playoffs. I am sick of the puckheads in this city.

Some interesting links I've spotted around the web about the Raptors:

Seems the DancePack needs our help people:
http://www.nba.com/features/dance07_east2_tor-v-ind.html
Voting is today (apparently) for Raptors v Pacers. Last year's winners??? The Heat .. coincidence??

I also just saw a clip from Stephen Colbert about how the Toronto Raptors are "Dead to him" because the mascot was voted ahead of his Eagle mascot. RaptorsHQ.com should challenge him to a bet about something ... you would get some serious hype on his TV show if he accepted.

Just a thought.

Yesterday's win for me was not just a "we made the playoffs" win. It showed that you can start counting on this team to win games like this and I can't wait for tomorrow night's match! 2nd place isn't out of the question!!

Raps looked terrific last night. I was at the game. I think the atmosphere was a little subdued as the Raps were always in control. Nice to secure the playoff spot.

Rubik, dare I suggest a conspiracy theory?

The puck heads who control the sports media in Toronto have a vested interest in minimizing the success of the Raptors. Think of all the controversy going on in hockey. Lot’s of debate about fighting in the game, the mess with the player’s union, the constant debate about altering the game and how to make it better, losing market share in the US where really, if there was no hockey, not many would care (as was proven during the last stoppage of play). Lots of money is invested in hockey and no one wants to see if fail. Basketball is a league that is doing very well and any kind of success in Toronto, the NHL’s flagship city, may take a way from hockey. In the US, they discovered they don’t need hockey, what if the same thing happens here?

Most of the media is strongly connected to hockey. Networks have invested lots of money and many decisions makers in the media are connected to the league through growing up in Canada and being emotionally attachment to the sport. Some may have actually being part of the league as well.

How else do you explain the lack of talk about the Raptors over the last week in which they beat Miami, had a great finish to the game against Washington and on Sunday clinched a playoff birth? How do you explain the back of the sports pages status of the team (in the Globe)? How do you explain removing hoops talks from the airwaves in the heat of the playoff race in favour of a preseason baseball game? How else do you explain waiting till 1:22am early Saturday morning to watch the replays of the Washington game on the 1am sportsnet broadcast? How do you explain the cancellation of many post game talk shows on the Fan? How do you explain airing the Mets game instead of the Raps post game talk on a night when they clinched a playoff spot for the first time in 5 years? Seriously? Game 1 of 162? Mets vs. Cardinals?????

Ask yourself this question, if you were in charge of all the media in the city and your mandate was to minimize the success of basketball while still pretending you cared and honoring your contractual commitments. Could you do any more than is already being done?

Conspiracy? Probably not, but you have to wonder…

Now that we've so easily gotten into the playoffs I find myself expecting more out of this team. I don't think anyone can sleep on us in a seven game series. This road trip should be a great test of that theory.

Randon thoughts
mo probably got more boards last night than he did in the last five games. c'mon mo, we need that effort every night!!

bad joey was back, but it didn't matter - although even bad joey seems to have a little more swagger than a few weeks ago, a good sign.

I can't believe the production we're getting out of humphries. Kid doesn't back down from anyone, gotta love it.

Luke jackson missed his first three. The fact he's not playing says to me we're keeping him as a bencher/role player and not evaluating him. I'd rather see slokar get some meaningful minutes though myself. If we clinch the division, hopefully mitchell will give him a shot.

I would not want to face this Raptors team in the first round. They really don't think they should lose to anybody.

Bring the Heat!

I was a long time hockey fan but got tired of the game no offence hate the fighting and the constant talk of it being part of the game, heat of the battle stuff. I always tell my work mates hockey a game of brawn but basketball a game of brains. Rather watch the smart game!

Erezona, you may have a point. Hockey is uniquely ingrained in Canadian (& Toronto) culture and thats fine. Lots of cities are that way including Dallas (football), St Louis (baseball). But the fact that any other sport gets ZERO billing in TO does not sit well with me. I bet you, even when the Leafs don't make the playoffs, Bob mcClown will still be able to pick up one some minor NHLPA bylaw and make a two hour show out of it. This is the difference with Toronto and other places. Dallas is Cowboyz country, but the Mavs get fair billing. Here, it seems for the media to accept basketball is doing well is to somehow foreshadow the death of hockey. Funny thing is, the Toronto economy is built of immigration and in 20 years, soccer will prpbably rule hockey.

Woo! FINALLY!

I still can't believe that we were able to pawn Hawful off on the Jazz while getting Kris Humphries in return. In my mind Humphries has already paid for himself.

I'm still not buying into Sam Mitchell, I mean the while the team at times appears well coached, Mitchell has made some ridiculously boneheaded moves out of time-outs and while his rotations have been much improving I still think it takes him way too long to find out what works and what doesn't in terms of matchups.

Rubik, outside the media it almost already does. I used to live on Warden between Danforth & Danforth, right on the edge of greektown practically. The place got crazy during the World Cup. We're talking the entire road shut down, people out partying, etc., for one of the first wins in the tournament. The difference is Toronto media serves the bedroom communities too, and in the case of the FAN, they serve the rest of Canada as well on their network hour.

In terms of the last nine:
I'm betting the Raps finish 6-3, hit 45 wins, but probably drop both their games against Detroit, and maybe their Chicago game.

Rubik, you are right on with the "mcClown" comment. I’ve never realized how many useless hockey facts can be discussed for hours at a time. But that’s an interesting point that when they go national, Raptors are not in play.

Shep, the Raps are at 41 wins already. If they go 6-3, they will reach 47 which will tie them for the Raptors best ever records which they achieved back in the 2000 – 2001 season. They are just hitting their stride again after a little hiccup following the all-star break. They have won 5 of 6 including 4 playoff teams and I look for them to continue their winning ways. I predict 7-2 to reach a new all time high in wins.

I think they will beat Miami and they have owned Orlando all season. The Philadelphia game on Friday scares me the most this week. Philadelphia has been playing well of late and this is just the kind of game the Raps like to lose focus on (see NY and BOS games). We will beat Chicago as we need to win to keep home court hopes alive against them if we should meet in the playoffs. I look for us to go 3 of 4 this week. The Detroit games we will split.

Erezona, yeah, that's a typo, I meant to say 47 wins.

I just don't see us matching up against Detroit at all. If we get the right opponents, we could conceivably go to the conference finals. It really depends on who of Chicago, Cleveland, and Miami draw each other.

I'd like to see the following in the first round:
1 Detroit vs 8 (Orlando or NY)
2 Cleveland vs 7 (Orlando or NY)
3 Raps vs 6 Washington
4 Miami vs 5 Chicago

Unfortunately, unless we seed higher, we're looking at Detroit in round 2, unless I'm horribly mistaken.

YES!!! This is sweet. I agree with raps getting in and leafs not.

It is just great to see everyone speak and act like a team. It is awesome to see. Chris Bosh interview with Jack and Swirsk was great yesterda too.

I would really like to see us use Luke J. Lets see what he can do. How he didn't get more time yesterday I don't know.

As for Mitchell. I have said it before, I don't think he is the guy to take us to a championship. We are only missing a few pieces to be Phoneix/Dallas - 60 plus wins. But not under Mitchell.

Go raps.

Robert Archibald and Who ever is mentioning this
Iavroni guy, please remember how many coach we have been thru, if players decide to not play for a coach it will never work, and why would a team that has been to a playoff want a rooker coach, and I will tell you the Raptors has created a style of their own they don't want to play like the Suns we want SAM MITCHELL NOT Iavroni ok Robert Archibald .

Well Davl, believe me I think Basketball is much more fun and exciting than Hockey

Marcia

100 percent in agreement

Marcia, I have read enough of your previous comments to know better to be drawn in, however...

If you read my comment, I said we should re-sign Mitchell but Iavroni would be a good replacement if Sam decides to leave us. I don't know why you have a hate on for Iavroni, but there are a number of reasons why he would be a good fit here.

Iavroni is a Colangelo guy, when we got BC it was written into his contract that he could not plunder any staff from Phx until after this season. It has been largely rumoured that this was to protect Iavroni. Iavroni is an experienced coach in Europe and now several years as an assistant for an elite team in the NBA. These credentials sound exactly like the kind of coach the BC wants for this UN Raptors (read Gherardini's blog on the raps site). He is considered the brains behind the Phx system and will be very saught after this off season.

I did point out that Mitch has done an excellent job while here. I think he has developed a lot of young players nicely and the chemistry in the locker room has always been excellent. So good in fact, that I think the lockerroom can sort itself out now (players like Bosh, Parker and Garbo can police it themselves).

We might be ready for a technical coach that can teach these guys how to play on the floor at a higher level. When we signed Mitchell, we needed stability more than anything. We needed a culture change in a horrible locker room. We needed a coach to develop CB4 into what he became and not turn him into VC2. I think Sam has done a good job at that and will have no problem getting another job, we don't have to worry about him. Actually with all the youth in Charlotte, and his history with them, it sounds like a perfect match for Sam.

The average lifespan of a coach not named Sloan in the Association is less than the 3 years we've had Sam. If Smitch does bolt, we will have a lot of competition trying to get Iavroni. I am just saying we might have already learned as much as we can from Sam (ie-'how to play the game right') and a new voice with something new to offer might not be such a bad thing. I don't think I am alone on this one.

Anybody know what's up with the HD broadcasts? I have all the HD channels but none of the games are ever in HD....then all of a sudden i think it was last fridays game against miami on raptors hd WAS in HD. anyone else notice this? is my HD box just not working properly or what?

I noticed the same thing on the HD channels too. Don't know what's up with the home games not being in HD.