Tip-In: Toronto Raptors Post Game – Baby Wolves

continuing from yesterday: I don't buy Smitch not rewarding good play. How many other coaches would have started Moon? Can't remember which article I read earlier in the season, which insinuated that no coach in their right mind would let a "walk-on" get into their starting lineup over guys making million(s) of dollars. Doing that would destroy team chemistry, blah blah blah, etc., worst coaching move in history. And you know what? I believe that most NBA coaches would never risk doing something like that. And that's what has really won me over on Smitch, in which I wasn't a big supporter before.

Franchise, Howland, was hoping you guys would comment on JC of late. It seems his production, skill has dropped off a cliff of late, and I am a little bit concerned about what is going on. I would almost guess it is something mental, I don't know.

Should I be concerned? WHat do you guys think?

Gerry said.....It has not dropped off, TJ is back and he plays and up tempo style of BB, and it makes the opositions harder to score therefore the Raps will score more with TJ at the helm. With TJ in the mix it makes it a most enjoyable game for the fans all over, but it does not mean JC has dropped off, to be honest JC always prefer to come off the bench, but for right now leave it alone our point guards are doing just fine.

Gerry -

Jose has had a few less than stellar performances as of late but it is yet to concern me. The guy must be exhausted. Considering how many minutes he has played over the past few months it really should not be surprising for him to look a little bit tired as of late. This is when it is clearly obvious that at this moment in time having both JC and Ford is essential. My guess is a week or so from now both guys will be playing at a very high level.

I think Jose has probably been the most consistent Raptor night in and night out....so when he has an off game or two it really stands out.

That's my simplistic opinion. I've missed big chunks of the last two games so I'd like to hear what others think.

Saw TJ ripping it up though.

I think when JC was playing those 35+ minute nights there was time for him to both get his own game off and look to set everyone else up. In lesser minutes he seems to be passing it off first and not really looking to shoot. That'll decrease his numbers but as long as he keeps moving the ball to the right people in the right places I'll be happy.

What's with all these "are you playing your best basketball of the season?" questions from the media. They're on a 3 game win streak after beating up on 3 crappy teams.

On the other hand, did anyone see that home court margin of victory statistic for the past 7 or 8 games? Now that's impressive. Raps are completely mashing opponents on the home court.

I'm still a little baffled by Kapono. I know Leo keeps saying that Kap-one looks for the best shot, whether its a 2 or a 3. And I have no problem with that. But a mere 3 attempts in all of Feb (averaging 15+ MPG)? It's like he's consciously avoiding shooting the three. It's getting ridiculous.

I agree with other posters JC is suffering general fatigue. He's been pushing himself pretty hard and needs to relax a bit to get his legs back. I think indiana as well, defends the pick and roll very well.

On another note, I love how the guys mock the players on the court during garbage time... hilarious, and a good sign as far as team chemistry I think.

There is nothing wrong with Calderon's play. He had 7 ast and 6 pts vs Wolves, and played well with 4 ast in the 3rd qtr when Rap's took control. His shot looks a little off right now, but he did not need to score, so stopped shooting to make plays.

TJ had 16 pts but only 3 ast, as he has more opportunity for his own shot on the 2nd unit, where he will stay, per Sam.

While his massive hot streak in those 7 or 8 games there might have us tempted to say that he's cold right now and we should worry, I think the more accurate statement would be to say that that hot streak was the anomaly, and that now he's coming back down to his normal self a bit.

He's still an excellent player, but let's be honest... if the way he played in that mega-hot streak was really the norm for him, then he'd be on his way to the Hall of Fame. I'm about as big a fan of Calderon as there is, but even I know that we can't expect him to go an entire an entire season at .700 FG%, .600 3PT% and 10 dimes-per-game. Calderon had himself a nice efficient if unspectacular game at 7 assists with only on TO and a couple of driving buckets in limited minutes. This is what he does.

While I'd love for it to turn out that those out-of-this-world John-Stockton-on-steroids numbers he put up in that stretch of games straddling the All-Star break become a full season deal, my expectations are more realistic. Just like players can go through cold streaks, they can go through hot streaks.

If this is "Cold Calderon" and those crazy games were normal Calderon, then we have ourselves a hall of famer. I'm more inclined to believe that this is "mildly chilly Calderon" and those crazy games were Red Hot Calderon.

Re Calderon's numbers, they will go down as his mins go down. Jose and TJ are likely to split the mins in half now as long as both are playing well.
With TJ on the 2nd unit we may also see some decrease in the starters mins, and increase in the bench mins also, for the balance of the season, as long as the team continues to win.

Johnn19 beat me to it, with the comment about jose's shot. I think i got used to his shooting 6/8 and games like that... but it's seemed like his shots haven't had the legs these last 2 games, and have been flat and clanking the front rim. Not too worried tho, that's just what it's looked like from here.

Regarding Kapono, a couple of things. Other teams know he is the best 3pt shooter and he is usually covered. Also it looks like he is trying to show that he is a player, and not just a 3pt shooter. It is up to TJ to work with him and get him some open 3 shots, as he cannot create them himself.
Also he has to shoot till he makes them, when/if he is open.

Nice win however how we win is becoming more important in the remaining games.

Team healthy – check
Team rested – check
Playoffs entry – check
Dog days of winter months played – check

Ok, now the Raps now must practice and execute in preparation for the playoffs. It cannot be assumed that this team can just turn it on in playoffs. This team is not playing playoff style basketball yet and I’m sure they are all aware of it.

It will be interesting to see how they play the remaining regular season games.

One thing I can never understand...why do we match up to play small....let the other team match our bigs...we have enough of them !!!including Gangsta Pimp Beaker !!Pasta Butt,Hump,Rasho,pick your poisson.

Regardless of how individual players play, I am just happy that we have been winning more games than we have been losing as of late and that the team has been playing pretty good ball overall.

Re: Kapono

I made a comment a couple of months ago regarding Kapono's play during a few game stretch where Smitch was using him in the high pick and roll instead of Bosh, helping create space for him and he was very successful. Then suddenly, the experiment ended, which I found baffling. Someone else on this site suggested that as well recently. Interestingly enough, I was listening to Paul and Eric post game last night and a caller was expressing his disappointment at Kapono's overall play. I believe Eric responded with the fact that the Raps aren't calling any plays for him. He even described using him in a high pick and roll situation to get him free to shoot more open threes. Is Smitch really that blind...or just stubborn?

Franchise, Howland...your thoughts?

d279, "pick you poisson"...? Well, some days I prefer smoked salmon, other days I prefer sashimi (sorry, I just had to).

To maybe take what Assistant GM is saying one step further, perhaps (note: speculation to follow) it is BC who is showcasing Delfino for a big sign-and-trade in the offseason, along with some of the Raps' expiring contracts. BC knows that Kapono, given his contract, offers less overall value, but will be more valuable next season with a better perimeter defensive presence (so his own defensive deficiencies can be hidden better). Delfino, as a result, is being showcased as the 2/3 off the bench who plays the high pick and roll to perfection (hence, all his open 3s that Kapono's not getting).

Note that BC always says he's going to re-sign Jose but doesn't mention Delfino (note his interview yesterday with Swirsk, it's on Arsenalist's blog). I'm just saying, if Delfino wasn't around (and Kapono could play better D or could be hidden better), then Kapono would be getting more burn. Of course, I could be totally making it up, Carlos will be re-signed over the off-season, and BC will try to market Kapono somehow.

Hey, I'm a horse right? So I'll repeat myself again.
Bargs is a bust. Kenny Smith and Charles Barkely both say that Bags is a SF who is playing out of position.
Then we have a sports writer expert saying that the Center position is the hardest position to learn. 'Adnrea please report to training camp.'
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/nba_experts?pg=2
Written by a sports expert
And now we have another sports expert in John Hollinger saying that the Raps can contend in the East.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=Storylines-080228a&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dhollinger_john%26page%3dStorylines-080228a

But everyone knows we need a defensive center and Bargs is not one of them.

So one can make the logical deduction that Bargs is a bust. Unless of course he can stay on track with his progress like yesterdays game and still play physical and have a presence under neath the basket

This Article right here.. Is EXACTLY the respect we deserve... check it out!!

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=Storylines-080228a&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dhollinger_john%26page%3dStorylines-080228a

Everyone beat me to posting the Hollinger piece - great read as usual, beyond even the Raptors stuff. I'm not sure I entirely agree with him however as the Stats tend to mask what we fans have been seeing. Sure Toronto has blown out their last bunch of opponents...but besides Orlando and a few other games, most of these teams the Raps SHOULD be blowing out and sometimes they either haven't and have lost (ala Knicks), or even when winning, haven't played well defensively (last night.) They are simply outscoring people due to having better shooters. That's how they escaped in Indiana on Monday. In the playoffs things are ratcheted up defensively as we saw last year, so I'm not ready to put Toronto in with the Boston's and Detroits yet. The Celtics aren't losing to the Knicks anytime soon.

The encouraging thing however is the relative health of the club right now - knock on wood. TJ is bringing that added penetration ability that the team missed and guys like Kapono and even Delfino are playing better as a result.

Talking about Kapono specifically, I like what I've seen from him lately in terms of his moving without the ball. No, he's still not a focal point in the offense and like you Assistant GM, I'm not sure why they stopped that high screen and roll experiment. Kapono is not the greatest ball handler or passer, but it might be interesting for Mitchell to try some sort of double screen where Kapono gets free, Bosh comes off a screen, and another screen is set so that TJ or Jose are free as a "safety valve" if the play breaks down. Lots of options though and maybe as Ford and Kap-One keep getting comfortable with each other we'll see more of this.

Looks like Sportsguy is trying to rattle our cages again:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080227

And on a final note - very intersesting idea of Hollinger's about the playoff seeding...imagine a Toronto-San Antonio first round match-up though? Yikes.

Have to agree with franchise, hollinger needs to be taken with about 90kg of salt. He's also defending his stats based ranking systems (raps at no. 5 in the league) so of course he has to make a case for the raps. He also thinks that winning close games comes down to luck, but obviously personnel is just as important.

Nice to get some props though.

Bargs Bust. Give it up. Bargnani is not a "bust", at least not in the mold that the Kandy man and Kwame are busts. His numbers are ok considering he is learning a new position and he is only in his second year. I do not understand where you are coming from because at times it seems as if you are arguing against yourself. You say he is a bust then say it takes longer to learn the 5. Doesn't that mean it is too early to call him a bust?
Anyho, I am stil concerned that this team relies way too much on Plan A on most nights. Why did they have to wait until the 2nd half to start attacking the basket with any regularity? I find their play extremely frustrating at times. I keep thinking that Plan A should be Plan B and vice versa but for whatever reason they just jack up shot after shot and unless they are hot they end up in a hole. Is there someone on this damn team who can step up and night after night attack the rim with gusto? ARGGGGGGGH.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/51155/20080228/heat_would_have_interest_in_calderon/

However the article says Miami would offer calderon the mid level exception.

If that all he gets I will be suprised, Raps would be able to match and I think having a guy like jose for about 5-6 million a season would be an absolute steal especially considering its around the same range as mo pete and kopono make.

I think he'll be in the neighbourhood of 7-9 million a season.

Barg's isn't a bust. I'm not going to say anymore than that because its the same arguments back in forth.

And you mentioned Barkely....however never did you hear Barkley say Bargs is or is going to be a bust. Obviously he's having to make a tremendous adjustment....so just give it some time.

Good Game By the Raps, I can't Wait for that western road trip. if they can go .500 or better, they'd be in good shape for the 3rd spot.

As long as they dont play the cavs/pistons, this team can go far. AP/TJ/AB? its all rounding into form

I am a bust!

By John Hollinger
ESPN Insider...Raptor fans you have to read this piece on the Toronto Raptors, I so agree with this writer.

After the all star break is when teams are supposed to ramp it up for the playoffs. Yet the Raps have come out flat in their last two games. Still wins are wins however I have to believe that their best b-ball is yet to come. Their 5 game road trip out west will be the real test.

Kiki Vandeweghe being talked about as the Knicks new GM with one string attached. Keep Isiah as the coach. If Kiki has any kind of smarts he take a pass on that one.