Tip-In: Toronto Raptors Post Game: Opportunity Missed

The wings are stone cold because they are not part of the game flow anymore. They need a rythm as much as the bigs and just don't have the chance to develop it during the game.
Last night Portland packed the paint in the second half daring us to beat them from the outside. That's exactly the kind of scenario why BC brought in players like Kapono and AP, who are in the first 10 percentage-wise from 3pt. The problem is with our new offensive strategy they get no touches and it's hard to make shots when you are cold.
There was times when Jose would look specifically for AP or Kapono in consecutive plays to make sure they are part of the game. Not anymore. I believe we are wrong in blaming the wings in this kind of game: no slasher would have had a chance to attack the rim against a lengthy and strong Portland team who packed it inside. In the end, Roy got his points from jump shots: I can remember only one lay-up in the second half for him.
We need to find a balance in our offense and in our defence. In offense we have to keep the wings involved in the game while keep playing inside-out. In defence we have to protect the 3 pt. line while keeping the points in the paint as low as possible. With practically no practice time it will be tough for Triano to find that balance.

Tough loss, but as you said, it's hard to fault the Raps on this one. I'm not really sure why the NBA schedules games back to back like this - you're really up against it as a road team.

And Brandon Roy is SICK.

we just need a better wing. I don't care who goes, just someone who can make a tough play and defend a little better...

You're spot on in O'Neal & Bosh working better together. Nothing happens overnight but when they look for each other it's fun to watch. I can't say it was fun to watch Roy in the 4th quarter but that was some show.

please oh please can we please please have a guard that can either slash or defend??? they don't have to do both. it would be nice, but I'll settle for one or the other.

please.

I had a sinking feeling as soon as Outlaw hit that buzzer beater at the half. The raps had dominated the first half to that point and then gassed in the second.

As soon as the Raps gassed, Roy took over with his silky smooth moves and jumpers. Damn that kid can play.

Saw some great things in the first half though.

Anyone else wishing we could blend Moon and Graham into our own Outlaw clone? He's a decent young player with upside for sure.

If we are going to blend players into one biological organism, how about:

Maggette + Walton = the starting SF we so crave.

Speaking of which - when are we going to do some kind of swapping action with GSW?

Fodder for thought: The worse we seem to be doing, the greater value our 1st rounder in 2009 becomes. Do we really need to go there?

just wanted to see what others said first but didn't we get completely hosed on no-calls on obvious fouls? JO alone should've went to the line 3 more times - I'm talking about obvious no-calls. Maybe it's just me...

As much as we could've won a game like this, there are some consolations.

CB and AB had decent games. AB's stats may not show that, but if you adjust his minutes to reflect Bosh's, his numbers are good. I even liked the 3 big line-up, in it's minimal role last night. We need to be creative.

The fact that Bosh and Andrea might be rounding back into form, takes me to my point.

With O'Neil showing great form, I see his trade value get better and better. And for those who think we CAN'T trade him ... should we wait until he blows out his knee? Or something else.

He's a fill-up at this point -- a good one mind you -- someone who won't be there for a big run, should we get that chance. Why not maximize his top value right now, for a top flight 3, and whatever else in some kind of package. His 22.9 million dollar "cap relief" for that big 2010 sweepstakes must be an asset somewhere. And I don't necessarily mean we do this now. But certainly closer to the trade deadline, when teams realize the obvious.

Anyways, it's time to think about the future.

interesting audio clip from eric smith, talking to jack armstrong about bargs. (and JO.)

http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/ericsmith/2008/12/28/audio-blog-jack-on-jo-and-bargs/

Okay... so let's move to whose up next for the raps.... GSW.

GSW have no true point guard to rely on but more than enough athletic scoring SG and SF to exploit the raps again and again (Jackson, Crawford, Azubuike, Belinelli...).

Let's hope the raps clog the paint yet again and force the GSWs guards and forwards to shoot jumpers. And for the love of God please keep Belinelli in check.... I don't want to see him go off for a career high against the raps, but I'm half expecting it.

(btw... I'm on day 6 of no ridiculous trade suggestions...I guess the 'Marquis' program is working..."Hi, my name is mcclarky and I'm a lineup addict."

axl says:
December 28th, 2008
just wanted to see what others said first but didn't we get completely hosed on no-calls on obvious fouls? JO alone should've went to the line 3 more times - I'm talking about obvious no-calls. Maybe it's just me...

I've been saying that for months don't believe TO getting fair treatment. Even Bosh not getting as many calls u=but He is not going to the basket as much either.

About Refereeing:

I totally agree with what folks seem to be saying about the lack of calls.

I try not to let it burn me up.

Watching Garnett get shitty calls is one thing that lights my fuse.

As an aside: who has more championship rings?
Bonner or Garnett? lol

PS - Anthony Randolph on GSW is considered a Tayshaun Prince clone. I hope he gets some court time - or traded to us.

I prefer the latter.

RapthoseLeafs, I agree completely. If we're building for the long term, JO won't be around, and even if he is, we won't be playing at the level he is now. However, if our plan is to cobble a few pieces together, hope everything breaks our way in the draft, free agency, and development of our own players, then you keep JO and you overpay him in the summer of 2010. Bryco's got two more years left on his deal, and I don't think he's willing to take a step back to take two steps forward. Here's hoping I'm wrong.

(from wiki)
Sustainable Development: Development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

After listening to Jack talk about Andrea, I had a thought. Maybe Bargnani just needs a nice summer with his Italian Team and hope that it all clicks. Kinda like Steve Nash, gaining confidence with great play with Team Canada. Or even like a Chris Bosh gained a little swagger from the Olympics. I just hope that it all clicks and he really does improve every game. Whether you WANT to believe it or not, he does have to be successful in year 3 and especially next year just so BC's plan can work on schedule. Let's go Bargs

Axl,
It it the thing that burns me the most, the way the subjective calling goes against the Raps so often. Anyone who does not see it isn{t looking. The negative side of it is the frustration the stars seem to get with this. Anyone remember Vince getting chucked a few times driving to the hoop against the Lakers. Ridiculous. Remember Wade getting calls when there was noone else on his side of the key. This has been a problem that the NBA has never dealt with, not even with Donaghy.

Anyway, I think back to Kidd hand checking Jose and TJ the entire Nets series and look at my own teams when the reffing seems unfair to them, they are hard to keep in the game. Players get dispirited and we see that happen with the Raps. Smitch tried to take the high road, but it never buoyed his players.

I too have been commenting about the one-sided officiating for some time now. I actually managed to get my wife into the Raps a couple of years back. But after the Nets series and then Howard bodychecking Bosh in game 2 last year, which would have sent him to the line and potentially given us a late game lead, forced her off the Raps bandwagon. She would get so frustrated at the porous officiating and couldn't handle the heartbreak. JO and Bosh get pummeled driving the lane and get no calls (both a former and present allstar), yet unproven players with less pub seem to get favourable calls when playing the Raps. Aldridge and Oden get more respect than CB4. Go figure!

Re: the game.

I actually thought the Raps played well. If not for Roy making every ridiculous shot whether off balance or not in the fourth, the Raps have a chance to win this game.

davl, jenge and emp - I'm hearing you guys. Though I don't actually think the reffing problem is that they are anti-raps... there are just bad refs and bad refs let home crowds, a team's "prestige", and who-knows-what-else influence them too much. I say refs have a hand in keeping perpetually struggling teams perpetually struggling... at any rate it's just another obstacle to be overcome... but it's unfair and frustrating to watch...

javie
bavetta
crawford
palmer
forte
- that guy who infiltrated the mob, yeah I trust that guy right