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

hey Franchise, Howland,
if you missed the game in an hour you can still get it here:
http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=852904

Thanks renato - we caught the final quarter at the Sports Book and I caught the game in an hour yesterday after getting back. Really excited about tonight's match-up. As D mentioned, these two teams are very similar on paper in many respects so it should be a good test.

I have a feeling that we might not see that much of the "3 Bigs" lineup -- I don't see Bargnani being able to keep up with Lewis or Hedo for an extended stretch, and I don't think that you want Bosh chasing those guys around screens all game.

I see Moon (and maybe even Graham) getting some time at the 3 pretty early in the game.

Hopefully someone can get a few quick fouls on Howard, because the Magic bench is a major weak spot.

BC,
of course it is a speculation (but everything written beforehand is, isn't it?) but the same could be said at the other side of the court, moreover I like particularly the added creativity that it is added when Andrea has the ball in his hands and the screens he and JO and Bosh can create for him that can result either in a bucket from down low from Andrea or him reopening for Jose (Will), Kapono, Parker. This particularly is not affected by the presence of Howard. I see the Raps involving more and more Andrea and taking advantage of his passing skills once the defense has been moved because of his slashing.... (if you think back a few months you really could not see this coming :) )

Definately a good test for Bargnani.

Anyone knows Jose's situation?

Think this might be torontos best test yet. I dont expect the raps to be better than boston and i think philly is overrated so its teams like detroit, cleveland and orlando that i really want to see them play well against. Think that might be the best way to get an idea of where the season will go.

REALLY looking forward to this game!

Big test for JO tonight. He was brought in specifically for games like this (regular season and playoffs). To even the playing field against the elite post-players such as the Man-child (D Howard), to add a litlle muscle and to change the demeanour of a team that was much to accommodating in the past. I especially loved this quote from Feschuk’s article this morning:

"O'Neal seemed surprised at the admiration for Howard by certain members of Toronto's media – "You guys seem like (his) biggest fans," said O'Neal – and it's great to hear the local starting centre express just-another-game indifference in the face of an impending collision with human granite."

What is most encouraging regarding this quote is JO’s "so what" attitude. That’s the type of attitude or "swag" that has been missing from this team over the years and this is another opportunity for O’Neal to lead by example and change this team’s mindset. Let’s hope the "swag" translates into a win.

Mark my words, if JO leads by example and challenges this team to follow suite, and they are able to contain Howard and win this game… This could be a watershed moment. The team has yet to formulate an identity but its wins like this (if they do win of course) that forge that identity. By simply exercising the ghost of last season, they have an opportunity to shed the label of being a "soft" team. Big game indeed!

Did anyone hear MLSE CEO Richard Pettie on the Fan590 yesterday saying the "door is open" for BC to go over the tax level, if the right deal comes along, at the trade deadline?

Read it on Ryan Wolstat's Courtside blog @ the Sun.

I know orlando is playing some decent team defense as of late, (stats wise,) but I don't remember either hedo or lewis being lockdown defenders.

I think it's good to remember that bosh usually goes wild against this team. and now that he doesn't have to bang with superboyman as much - watch out. as long as jermaine 'the headband' o'neal can stay on the floor with howard, bosh wins.

and then there's andrea. if he can bring even half the stuff he's been bringing as of late, hedo don't stand a chance.

so yeah, call me crazy but I won't be too surprised if it's the magic whom should be a little more worried about the match-ups.

(now please don't make a fool of me bargs or headband)

"Vicious D"

I'll pay you cold-hard cash to change your name

Watch for crappy homer calls designed to give superman an advantage forcing O'neil rides the bench.

I'm hoping to see a little of Bargs on Howard just to see how far his interior big man defence has come along. After the job he did on Brand I think he has the potential to really handle big bodies well, and I bet we'll get a chance to find out when JO gets in foul trouble. Go Raps.

Are there any Philthy McNasty plans for this Friday against New Jersey??

Interesting about the luxury tax John. Somehow I don't quite believe Petty, mostly because of his past dealings with the club, but at least the door might be open in that regard. The real question then becomes what area does the team need to address the most if they CAN go over the tax limit; the back-up point guard spot, the 3, or even the bench, especially if Jawai is done. And Bargs' play the next while will go a long ways in determining that.

Also - while we were away, did any of the local media press Mitchell as to his flip-flop on starting Andrea? It's something he said he wasn't going to do earlier this year...

RA - It'll be interesting to see Bargs on Howard, but for other reasons. It's not going to be the same as Brand unfortunately, because Brand and Howard's games are really quite opposite of one another. I just don't see Bargnani being able to push Howard out far enough before he starts backing down Bargs. But I hope he figures out something. What they can hope for is just that Bargnani will make him take enough time so a help defender can try and come over and strip the ball away or trap him before he gets into the post. That, and give Howard some hard fouls.

kinnon yee, have to agree with you. can't see bargs doing much to stop howard. that's one tough, tough match up for him.

and franchise yeah, the media did give him the business but because it was only made official the day of the maimi game, and because the gamble worked, it was pretty much left alone.

now had it not worked, like in the playoffs last year...the guy probably would have needed a personal security detail to get out of the building.

still might, actually. cause the first game it doesn't work, (like, say, tonight against the other biggest front court in the east,) stuff could hit the fan in a real quick minute.

Put me in the camp of people who thinks that going big might be a bad idea. with the current line up, and Bargs' improvements, then maybe.

But last year in the play offs, it was a tactically stupid move. They would give Howard the easy match up against Rasho, and then have Bosh and Bargs trying to guard Hedo and Rashard on the perimeter. It was like watch a slow stupid trainwreck.

I would have gone small, forcing a Boward/Bosh macth up. While we'd be giving up a lot on D, Howard can't keep up with Bosh. Never could, never will. It would have been quick fouls and then pine for Howard. Or atleast, that was our best chance in my estimation.

it's hard to be too upset about this loss. it stings, no doubt, but 24 turnovers would just never happen with jose on the floor.

it's just a shame for bosh. he put in an MVP worthy effort. o'neal did what he was supposed to do in keeping howard in check.

the wings. no production. ugh.

If this game didn't convince Sam to use Joey Graham then nothing will. I am now convinced that Joey tried to mack on Sam's wife and thats why he can't get any burn.

ONeil plays like a man

Bosh is a true leader and superstar no quit in Him

Anybody else play for the raptors tonight?

Someone needs to tell Sam its 6 to foul out, not 5. Way too quick on the hook.

hmmmm, just thinking and I know you guys here at the HQ always bring up the doc rivers thing when talking about coaching not really being the be all, end all...but looking at this game, I can't help but wonder how reliant this team is on a PG that essentially runs one play. (to perfection, no doubt. but still.)

even phoenix with nash, when he went down, the system sort of kept going. not as well, obviously, but still.

and now with new york playing half decent basketball??

a few more plays wouldn't hurt.

Wow. How long do you think this Bargnani at the 3 thing will go on. Painful.

I, for one, am ready to drink Joey G. Koolaid. I have about as much hope that he will be the answer as I do of dating Jessica Alba (if she'd just go out with me once...). Well, if Sam just once gave Joey a 5 game run! He's done okay in the times he's played this year - usually earns him the hook? What the hell? We know what Moon, Kapono, and Bargs will give us. Give Joey a chance. We really have nothing to lose.

Thought I was listening to Chuck again tonight when the talk turned to keeping the 3 pt streak alive.Even in the post game crap! Bosh and O'Neil was the Raptor highlights tonight not the dam streak being kept alive

For this particular game it was about timing. This game should have been over early in favour of the Raptors but the point guards held the ball too long, or didn't get the pass into the post when the big was in position to make something of it. They were playing well enough to accomplish a major run early and they just didn't do it. Another winnable opportunity lost, which is the most concerning aspect of the season thus far.

It would be interesting to see how good of an indicator a team's record after ten games is of the projected season success. Watching this team so far, I just don't get the sense that it is playing at the level of the really good teams, and the strange thing is the rosters of those really good teams aren't necessarily awe inspiring. They simply play to their strengths and get the most out of what they have each night (Cleveland). This team hasn't done that...for years. Hmmm..Jays brought back Cito Gaston and realized some success, Cliff Fletcher did an ok job with the Leafs. Dare I say Butch Carter? Maybe I'm just a tired young man spouting crazy, experiencing a revisionist moment of purple haze, but that man could coach and I'm sure he's following the Raptors and could get up to speed in no time with the same group of assistants as is currently in place. Ten games in, just get a feel it's not going to work. Time for change.

If this site could ever land a Butch Carter interview, that would be GOLD.

This was the game we knew was coming. 24 turnovers !
It was 2 on 5 for most of the night.
Bosh was simply amazing and I think the O'Neal doubters have a little less to talk about.

Interloper says:

good teams "simply play to their strengths and get the most out of what they have each night (Cleveland). This team hasn't done that...for years."

How many years has Sam Mitchell been here?

I think solomon's play was much less at fault for this loss than our wing play.

He spazzed out a bit, but really he's in over his head at this point and I think there's reason to hope he'll come along as a backup. Especially if he can score efficiently like he did early - before he fell apart. Roko too in a couple years.

The complete no-show by bargnani was really frustrating though. Hard to know who to blame, him or the game plan, but he was a non-factor on both ends.

Anybody want to set up an over-under for how many games below .500 it would take for Sam to go? I would love to know what BC expected in the first 10 games with this roster, albeit without Calderon for two. I am so torn currently, as an extended losing streak may actually deliver a new coach, but I hate feeling like I have wasted 3 hours of my life watching games they lose.

I'm hoping two things:

That this is just another slow start for Parker and not his age catching up to him.

Solomon's left hand is just more nervous than his right. How many NBA PG's can't dribble with both hands? That's a serious whole in his game that will be exposed nightly.