Tip-In: Toronto Raptors Post-Game – A Much Needed W

Great write-up as usual (from all three of Franchise, Howland, and Viscous D)

I never thought that Bosh could be one of those top tier players. One that takes his team over the top. One that you rely on for 30 points. Not a Kobe, Malone, Shaq, Duncan, Jordan, Lebron etc, but he is certainly proving me wrong. I would have thought Bosh would be a great big man, but not a franchise altering player (there are few of those). But is there ANY other bigman you would want on your team this year (maybe howard)?? He has been playing out of his mind.

On another note with the coaching. Many people want to fire Sam. Some nights I do, some nights I dont. But when I think of coaching....I truely only belive there are 2 great coaches out there. #1 Sloan, #2 Popovich. These coaches have proven time and time again they are the best at what they do. Even with bad players, they do amazing things. Look at their history. Its amazing. No one else is a great coach (Lawrence Frank after a few more years (read decade haha) could be up there with them in my opinion). The rest of the coaches are all average. Some are good at x's and o's, some are good at motivation, some offence, some defense. They try and mask their shortcomings with assistant coaches. I don't believe that Phil Jackson is a good coach (come-on...Jordan and Pippen, Shaq and Kobe) BUT he is great with player management and ego's. He has/had Tex Winter for the x's and o's from my understanding.

The problem as I see it with Mitchell is having the wrong assistants...or not listening to them enough. People want Triano to take over? How is he going to change x's and o's? Sam can listen to the same x's and o's from Triano right now! In my opinion, Sam is great at motivating his players...and to a degree player development. Let's keep him around a bit...and hope that he learns to use his assisstants better...or alternativly gets assistants who he will listen to.

Sorry for the long post, its been a long time coming.

Great to see JG produce! It's about time he was given the chance to show what he can do. Let's just hope we get to see more. What is up with the other 4 starters if they continue to play like they did last night CB4 will be done by the all star braek. Someone help the man please!!

Well, a stay of execution for Sam. Great to see Joey last night. Bargs was impressive in actually fighting for rebounds (normally, his rebounds are the passive kind); and CB4 was amazing! Sloppy game but great win all the same.

How good would Gerald Wallace look in a Raptors? Forget Joey Graham, we all know he plays well one in ten games and nothing else. (and he picked up about 7 or 8 "real" fouls on Wallace, they just weren't called down the stretch for some reason).

I agree with tru . . . make a trade and make it now.

(yes dad, it's me

Graham getting minutes from smitch for no apparent reason? Classic Showcase Move. I think a trade is brewing.

And for the first time in a year or so, I really Beieve Bargs is gonna be something special. Probably more like a Rasheed Wallace than a Dirk Nowitski.

Joey getting minutes may have had something to to do with the chat BC and Sam had the day before. Bryan had to push Sam to give Bargs minutes last year and I'm betting the same will be happening with Joey going forward.

Joey could be the missing link for this team but I’m going to reserve my judgement for a few more games…I’ve seen this tease before.

I also figured out the mystery as to why Graham is always touted as the "best player in practice"…because he's going up against the rest of the 3’s on our team (they make every 3 look like an all-star). I wonder if that has hindered his development.

Raptoronto: I also feel that BC probably suggested that Joey should get some more minutes.

Anyways. Bosh is on fire. Can't really say anything more.

Bargs d was impressive. Taking charges, blocks, rebounding and not leaving his feet on up-fakes.

Roko looked good again. I really think Sam has got to realize that he is a better option than Soloman.

Joey looked good. Conversely Moon did not. I think he has fallen so far as he wouldn't even be in my rotation.

Unfortunately as much as I like him, AP is lost on D. Chasing people all over to double team especially late in the clock leaving his man like a fat chick at the dance. (in the corner alone.) Smitch centered him out after the game for his great? defense which left me scratching my head. If Carrol had even an average night we would all be bitchin'.

Who would be your fianl 5 on the court protecting a 2 point lead. mine (JO, Bosh, AB, Will and by default Hassan Adams.) Will I ever see it? Nope.

PS. Someone please muzzle Leo. I honestly can't stand him.

Bend but don't break defense? Man. Bosh was right in saying that they needed a win by any means necessary after the game, but really, the Raptors needed THAT kind of performance from Bosh to win against the Bobcats?

I'm really surprised that Mitchell couldn't find some rest for Calderon at the end of the game. Looked gassed and made some questionable plays in the 4th. Heck, Roko showed another game of good play with some better defense.

Joey's game play should be enough reason to let him play more minutes over Moon hopefully, but more importantly, I was just completely impressed with Barg's defense again. It's becoming a trend, and I'm really happy for him.

Two Things:

One of my biggest problems with players not getting minutes is that the organization puts itself in a weaker position when it comes to trades because other teams don't see as much value in those players. Somehow when a player doesn't seem to be working in your system, at least try to improve that players value by allowing him to work to his strengths (for instance, if you intend to trade Kapono, implement plays that will get him shots instead of highlighting his weaknesses)

Secondly
In college Joey Graham was an undersized four who played well. The Raptors in recent history seem to like drafting players and playing them out of their natural position, so the payoff isn't always immediate, if it's realized at all. This approach is also hindered by the fact that there doesn't seem to be much time for actual teaching in the NBA during the season. When you compare the trajectory of Bargs to Aldridge and Roy, you have to acknowledge that neither Aldridge or Roy are playing a position different from the one they played in college. I think when it comes down to it, the question of who was the best from that draft class will come down to two choices, Bargs vs. Roy.

Actually, I think their defense looked good as a whole last night. Charlotte made some easy baskets as a result of players getting out of position to make a nice defensive play (blocked or altered shots). It’s just that the help defender’s man was able to get the offensive board for a quick basket. Yes, I am taking a negative and trying to make it into a positive, but at least the Raps were hustling on D and trying to take away the easy play. I also attribute Augustin and Felton having a tough time driving the lane to the Raps making a concerted effort to shut the lanes down. Even Wallace was mostly driving from the outside in.

In addition, I am glad Joey finally got some burn. He played well and I loved what he brought defensively. The score differential could have been a lot greater if guys who normally make their shots weren't missing. At least they brought something else to the table. I just never doubted the outcome last night, even when Charlotte started to make their run.

There were a lot of positives to take away from last nights game.
1. Even though I felt the wing play was weak overall once again Joey really stepped it up and for once Smitch didn't yank him on every mistake. His scoring and Defence were not what impressed me most however. It was his unselfishness on offense. In the past he would get the ball and jack it up but last night I counted at least 3 occassions where he passed the ball to someone with a better opportunity (twice to Hump) or was a better shooter (parker in the corner). If he can play like that consistently and provide the energy he did, we may finally see why he was drafted.
2. I felt that Calderon may have played his best defensive game that I can remember. Even though he was hurt he really worked hard to keep the Bob Points in front of him. True he got blown by a few times but they are quick so it is to be expected. His effort was definitely there though and as he gets healthy that could really help the team.
3. Not enough can be said about Bargs d this year. Every game I see him do tons of little things that make for a good d player. My favourite was when he got stuck on Augustine on a switch. He flat out played it perfectly and it was only the fact that someone didn't rotate to (I think it was okafor or dudley) that the Bobs scored. The fact that I have seen him play some crazy d against much smaller and faster players just amazes me.
My biggest complaint falls on Toronto's Backcourt. Defensively there is just no excuse not to rotate when Toronto's Bigs move to help on a drive. Too many times last nights Bosh or Bargs would rotate to snuff the drive only to have the ball handler dump off to their man who was completely uncovered. This has to stop or our bigs will stop helping.
The second thing that bugs me about our back court is the lack of rebounding. How many times this season have we seen a Raptor big tap a rebound out only to have it a) go out of bounds, or b) to someone on the other team. Our guards just do not position themselves effectively to get those loose rebounds that make a difference in a game. The issue isn't just their positioning however as that would be easy to fix. It is the effort that isn't there. There was a prime example of this last night as someone tapped it out and Calderon and someone else (I can't remember who) just stood there watching it bounce for a few seconds before reacting too late and Charlotte ended up with the ball. I really believe this is why we lose too many battles of the boards. It's not that teams are outrebounding us strongly, it is all the loose rebounds that we don't pick up and that is just effort.

Anyone else think that more balanced minutes will give our starting PG and SG more energy to rebound and do those small things? I think taking a risk and expanding Roko and Joey's minutes will change things. Having Joey play more will hopefully allow Kapono to back up Anthony Parker.

quote Dave Feschuk

"At the risk of pouring cold water on Joey Graham’s 4th Annual Good Game"

LOL I know everyone hates Feschuk here, But i burst into laughter when i read this. With all fairness to graham i think he deserves a last shot and he should be getting moon's min.

Quote Arsenalist

"Same can’t be said for Moon who is now officially my least favorite Raptor. He’s a lazy basketball player and it pisses me off to even look at his gum-chewing ass when he’s standing on the perimeter waiting for someone to pass him the ball so he can fake a drive (haha) and launch his ugly jumper. His jumper at 10:53 of the 3rd quarter might be the worst one he’s taken yet and did not reflect well on Mitchell as we had just come out of the half. This guy’s in a contract year and playing with Vince’s attitude the year after he signed his deal. Cut him, trade him, bench him. Just get him out of my face."

When benching is not enough.

Why is it just when Mitchell finally thinks a player understand their role in the offensive schemes by offer more floor time, player reverts back to plays that got him benched in the first place, i.e. Humphries, Moon? I really don’t understand. Is someone other than the coach talking in their ear? Did that brain cramp not result in Humphries being dumped by Utah before his arrival here?
I really want to see more of these guys but really…

Yeah, there have been quite a few Bosh haters lurking in the shadows that said Bosh was never going to be top tier.

One of my best friends who is a basketball junkie as well, didn't even think he'd ever become all-star material, even after his first season !

But of course you know I called it all along, it's fun to watch him this year.

However, unfortunately for our new top tier star, this team is tragically mediocre, and will be treading water at .500 the whole season; injuries or not. If the team remains as constructed. Or Sam coaches the entire season, which is probable.

A lot has been said about Jose's defence against other guards but let me be the first to say JC did a hell of a job on those 2 guards last night, he stayed in front and turn them into help all night. I think all the talk about Jose's defence has pissed him off because he is a very intense player who realizes that his defence is a lot better than the last 2 or 3 games...Kodo's to JC. I personally feel that if Joey gets more playing time he will be more consistent, its hard to get your confidence up when you get pulled everytime you take a bad shot or miss a defensive assignment. Sam need to let Joey plays through his mistakes like he did last night...Like I said yesterday I truly believe that the Raps can win 50 games or more with the current roster of players..
One more thing Sam needs to shake up his starting 5 because the wings and guards (except pg) is not getting it done..last night their shooting was again brutal..a little change for a while might be just what the team needed....to get energy at the start of the games....raps4life

VD - I absolutely agree. Calderon and AP know they have to play extended minutes and are likely pacing themselves instead of going all out all the time...and knowing there is no one decent to back you up adds a ton of pressure every game.

I have always felt that Colangelo put this roster together to force Smitch to play the players BC wanted to develop (Kapono, Hump, Roko, Bargs) as Mithcells history shows he's got a short leash on young players. If anything will cost Smitch his job it will be the distribution of minutes for his young players IMO...like interloper said, a GM needs to know the value of his assets and without minutes, it's not possible.

I'm totally annoyed at the play of Parker and Moon. They are so inconsistent offensively, and they can never handle their defensive assignments (especially Parker). Right now, Joey is clearly the better option than Moon. There is no other option for Parker (other than signing Candice).

What stuck out at me was that Gerald Wallace is the complete opposite of Moon. He drive all the time and gets to the line. Moon on the other hand will only drive if he's in a dunk contest.

I was checking Moon's stats from last year. What jumped out at me was his lack of free throw attempts. This shows that even last year he did not drive to the basket. But, his rebound numbers was second to Bosh. That shows that Jermaine O'Neal has probably limited his rebounding opportunities. This should not have limited his overall game, rather expanded it to work on another element (ie. dribble penetration).

There is no point in having two shooting guards starting because Moon is does not make any effort to get to the bucket. The Raptors should look for a TRUE SF that plays defense and drives 70% of the time on offense.

I was one of those who thought that Bosh was not, and probably wouldn't become a top-tier game defining kind of player. How wrong I was! It's a beautiful thing seeing what a lot of talent and determination will yield.

BargsBust... I mean BargsBench... I mean BargsStarter where are you?

Smitch Stated at the post game presser that Joey has earned and will see more minutes. I'm pretty sure it was Doug Smith who asked him the question. Atlanta is just the team that we need Good Joey to play well against! Here's hoping!!!

The problem with Moon is the fact that he can't dribble!

What a waste of an offseason...

I was in ACC yesterday and there's something caught my attention.

Before the start of the 3rd quarter, Bosh and Kapono were the first two coming out from the locker room and do some shootaround. After a few shots, Bosh just throw the ball HARD on the board and walked to the bench. He looked tired, and upset. This is not a good sign to me. He looked tired, mentally and physically...

VictorD: 39 points and 11 reb's. He looked ok to me.

Start Joey Graham. It's a no brainer. Do it for a block of games and leave him out there even if he's terrible. Give him a chance to work through his mistakes. This guy finally deserves an open door out of the doghouse.

VICIOUS "D"

Your last comment is Bang-On about it being time for Roko and Kapono to really step up and take the weight off Jose and AP.

I'm convinced more than ever that our PG situation is not-problematic; but our SG situation is. I like your idea of really pushing the AP/Kapono tandem. It will take some work - but who ever said good things come easy. I would like to see how Solomon reacts to being limited to a SG role too. He should be banned from ever thinking he can be anything more than a band-aid PG in the NBA.

Regarding Joey, his athleticism, driving ability and college record for drawing fouls was never lost here. I just don't think he should ever be a starter because he draws fouls way to easily. Great for late 2nd, 3rd and 4th quaters for when the starters begin to tire.

You guys at HQ are doing a great job keeping the fan train 'on the rails'. Keep it up!

Oh, and if Kapono can't carry a SG role we should try and trade him + Moon + picks for someone who can really play the SG position with force. Jenge has ideas....

Someone give me one good reason why Joey shouldn't start and/or play play extended minutes? I don't care how bad or inconsistent he has been in the past he will definately be no worse than the alternative.

On the subject of defensive rotations and help side by bigs on guard blow byes the Raps should watch some film of the Lakers. Almost never is there a man out of position. The help is always there on the weakside when Gasol and Bynum help on dribble penetration. It is almost never there for the Raptors.

Coaching or personnel?

PS:

Joey G's college record of 'getting to the line' was outstanding. How about only playing him during 'bonus time'. Now that is 'surgical'.

As Howland will tell you, I was a Bosh doubter. I think before year 3 I told Howland that I never thought he'd be an All-World player and I think my exact quote was that "Bosh would be a slightly more athletic version of Abdur-Rahim." I still think Abdur-Rahim is one of the most underrated players of all time, but I was definitely off base with that one...just A BIT.

Moon - On the Moon topic, I don't think he's lazy, but I do think he's a) scared of contact, b) out of place with JO starting, and c) a terrible ball handler. The combination of these three things should make him a role player off the bench in an eighth man role, not a starting 3.

Joey - Loved what I saw from Graham last night, if he and Bargs can do that consistently it changes everything.

Roko - Anyone else think that Sam was a bit too quick on the hook with him last night? I actually thought he was doing a better job than Jose of getting movement in the offence as Jose is settling for jumpers far too often. Defensively Roko still has issues but I think when JO gets back, that should mean that Sam can give him a longer leash.

And finally - what about this trade idea.

Raps send Kapono to the Bulls for Ty Thomas and Thabo.

Kapono gives the Bulls a deadly outside shooter to play with Rose, and it clears up some of their logjam at the 2-3. Neither player looks to be in Chicago's future (they played a COMBINED 11 minutes last night against the Spurs) and would give the Raptors a big dose of athleticism.

Are they the answer though for all Toronto's problems?

No, but I'd much prefer Thomas at the 3, or as an energy guy and defender off the bench than Moon or Kapono. Toronto has enough guys who can dial it up from long-range. They DON'T have enough athletcism or defense, especially on the perimeter. And Thabo reminds me a lot of a younger Parker without the 3 point shot and would be a good back-up who can handle the ball. (He started at the 1 at times last year for Chicago.)

Small little move, but one that I think makes sense for all parties, and wouldn't drastically kill anyone's salary situation.

glad the Raps won. This is who they are without JO, a .500 team. But if Jose was around for that Orlando game, and JO for the end of the Jersey game, the Raps are 9-5 and Raptor fans are getting giddy instead of "the sky is falling". I still see this team doing great things with the big three healthy and Bargs development. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

PS- I guess I can throw in CB4's development as well as another reason for optimism.

Maybe Joey will remember all the defensive moves from his old college coach. Cause you know he was trained by THE best defensive coach. I'd love to see it all click for him, those dunks where fun too watch. Why doesn't Moon, ever try to make me leave my seat? Joey needs to step up right now, this moment and he's got the pedegree, All we need really is great defense and some offensive rebounds, that's all he needs to do. Bargs seems like he's just heating it up!

Franchise,
I like the idea of bringing over Thomas, although, Andrea at the three has been one of the bright spots of the Raptors season so far. Moreover I am still anxious to see how much of a game changer that move can be when we have both JO and JC healthy as I feel what we have seen so far is just an appetizer. That trade would anyway would make the team much deeper although I am not sure why Chicago would make it. I do not follow them much but I have to wonder how and why Thomas would have gone so low so fast in the team consideration not to be even worth it a Kapono straight up.

Good trade idea Franchise. I wonder though if the Bulls would give up on Tpulseaudio network authenticationhomas as he's still a young player and they might want to wait on his upside (kinda how the Raps feel about Bargnani). JK would help the Bulls now, but they're still a ways away so wouldn't they want to continue to build for the future.

Thomas would definitely help the raps against some of the more athletic teams (read: Atlanta), and if Thabo can beat his man off the bounce he'd be (almost) the only guy on the team with that skill