Tip-In, Toronto Raptors Post-Game: Mixed Messages

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT

King James surpassed one of Franchise's former faves, Brad Daugherty, in the Cavs win last night...

Lacing Them Up –

Well Raptors’ fans, you got what you wanted.

With the Toronto Raptors’ loss last night to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Washington Wizards’ win over the Miami Heat, the Dinos suddenly find themselves precariously hanging onto the sixth playoff spot in the East.

And yet it seems like only a week ago there was still talk of a shot for the Raps to grab the third overall spot.

Now, with games against Denver, Detroit and New Orleans representing three of their next four matches, Toronto needs to start gutting out some wins to prevent losing any more ground.

The 76ers lost last night to the Magic, but are still only a game back of Toronto with both teams suddenly hovering around the .500 mark.

So from here on out, it’s going to be time to see what this Raptor club is made of.

They put up a good fight last night against Cleveland, but with Chris Bosh still playing at less than 100 per cent, this team needs more contribution from the rest of its supporting cast.

As I wade my way through the last 48 hours of March Madness (which we'll be discussing more later this weekend) this "complete team effort" is even more apparent.

Beasley couldn't do it alone against USC, and Belmont's team effort almost did in my Blue Devils. Having a single superstar at the Kobe or Lebron level is one thing, but in their absence, you need everyone on your squad to step up.

A Numbers Game – 39.5 and 16

It’s pretty hard to win games in the NBA when you a) shoot just under 40 per cent from the field and b) get outrebounded by 16 on the glass.

In a game where Toronto played some of their best defence in weeks, poor shooting and board work were the two main reasons the club came up short.

The main culprits however weren’t the Raptors’ wings, the usual underachievers, but Toronto’s bigs. Starters Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani had but seven rebounds between them in 54 minutes, not exactly numbers that lend themselves to W’s. Had it not been for Rasho’s seven off the bench and Jamario Moon’s 10 in only 20 minutes of action, things could have been a lot worse.

The Turning Point –

Tough to call an exact turning point in this one. Lebron started taking things over late in the game and Damon Jones made some big back-to-back 3’s that felt like a momentum swing. But Toronto still managed to keep this one close down to the end. So an exact turning point? I’m not sure there was one as Cleveland was simply the better team last night. Toronto just didn’t seem to have the juice to go all four rounds with Cleveland and even when the Raps briefly took the lead, it never felt safe.

But perhaps I’ve been watching too much March Madness…

Temperature Check –

In a game that was mostly a defensive struggle, I’m not going to go with our usual "hot and cold" descriptions.

Instead, I thought it might be interesting based on this game to think about the possible playoff situation should these teams meet.

On the plus side, I’m still not convinced that Cleveland is a better team post the Hughes, Gooden trade and in fact, I think they’ve regressed offensively. Prior to the trade for Big Ben and co, the Cavs were averaging about 97 points per game. Since the trade? Try 96. No, not a huge difference but it’s only been 16 games since Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes were dealt. If Big Z can’t stay healthy (he’s been battling back problems) than a front line of Wallace, Varejao and Smith is one of the least worrisome offensively in the league.

However the flip side to this obviously is that the team is now huge up front, and a real problem on the glass. Toronto always had problems in this department against Cleveland but now, and as we saw last night, this is even more of a concern.

So am I saying I’d rather Toronto face Cleveland now than Orlando?

No, simply because of Lebron James. He seemed to be content to let his team-mates do their thing last night and then took his play to another level with the game on the line. Sure overall right now Cleveland might not be as dangerous offensively…but I just think avoiding Lebron James in the playoffs is almost more important than avoiding the Pistons and Celtics.

The other piece of the puzzle here is Cleveland’s health. Daniel Gibson has been out of the lineup for a while, Ilgauskas as mentioned has missed time, and Sasha Pavlovic is still working his way back. With these three healthy, Cleveland gets a lot more dangerous and if Wally Szczerbiak would stop shooting like Larry Hughes, the team’s O should become a lot more potent.

Moving On –

During last night’s game, viewers were treated to an excerpt from an interview with Sam Mitchell.

The questions for Sam all revolved around TJ Ford and most specifically, about the media and fans’ criticism of the now back-up point guard’s play.

What I found interesting was that Mitchell explained that he would not switch TJ back into the starting line-up this season. Mitchell felt that Jose Calderon had earned the nod with his play while TJ was out, and furthermore, Jose had developed some great chemistry with the starting group which Mitchell did not want to "screw up."

I like this line of thought, and liked the fact that RaptorsTV sought Mitchell out to get his take on the Ford situation, but was anyone else getting mixed messages from this interview?

I mean, yes, on one hand I applaud Mitchell’s decision to reward Jose who clearly has played like the team’s starter. But to say that if TJ had not gotten hurt, he would have remained the starter, doesn’t that make you scratch your head as a fan? Knowing what Mitchell now knows in terms of how well Jose plays with the starting group, why would he still claim that Jose is essentially the back-up unless TJ gets injured?

Can anybody understand the method to Mitchell's coaching madness?

What happens next season?

Will Jose go back to the bench even though even the coach of the Raptors admits he plays better with the current starting five?

And taking that one step further, Mitchell claimed that he didn’t want to risk screwing up the starting line-up’s chemistry by re-inserting TJ. But now that the second unit is screwed up, and Mitchell clearly favours TJ as the starter barring injuries, why wouldn’t he change things back to try and give both units a boost?

I just don’t really understand the logic here. In most other situations, when the best player comes back from injury, the replacement returns to the bench. Mitchell isn’t keeping Rasho and Bargs in as starters now and bringing CB4 off the bench. So if he thinks TJ is the better starter of his two point guards, why is TJ now still coming off the bench?

I’m not saying I’m in favour of one situation over the other, but the more I watch TJ, the more I worry that the Raptors won’t ever be able to take advantage of his strengths in this back-up role. He comes into the game trying to do too much, and just doesn’t seem to be effective right now.

And really, this team needs TJ to be more effective. Watching Lebron last night I was reminded of something Brett from the Bratwurst.com mentioned to us in our TJ chat the other day.

"Even the biggest Ford basher among the Raptor fans has to admit that sometimes he can be unstoppable. Sometimes Ford is the best player on the floor. Not many players can do that, and only the LeBron's and MJ's can do it every night."

He’s right, and for that reason Toronto needs Ford to get back on the top of his game.

The Raptors don’t have a Lebron James, but a ducking and weaving Ford in combination with Bosh can be a pretty lethal one, two punch. Add in the play of Jose, Rasho, and Anthony Parker, all of whom have been playing quite well lately, and it’s this complete dynamic that made Toronto so deadly earlier this year and last season.

Oh…and a little of ANYTHING would be nice from Andrea against Denver on Sunday as well before I start a new website - www.startrasho.com.

Mitchell may have his own convoluted logic as to why Jose is starting for the remainder of the season, but he has yet to explain why someone averaging 15 points and almost seven rebounds a game over his last five is sitting behind someone averaging six and two…

FRANCHISE

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Comments

-If not for the very bad recent record and the tough schedule ahead, I would have labeled this game as a good effort. Pitty that now that's not enough.

-Devin Brown = poor man's Bonzi Wells

-Awful game by Bargnani. I am now convinced the Bargs-as-a-center experiment has been a total failure. Better use the kid as a sixth man, at SF or Bosh backup.

-Another notable game by Rasho, don't you think he is the Raps MVP for the last two months?

-Thinking about a possible Raps-Cavs matchup in the playoffs: is it a crazy idea to have Bosh defend Lebron sometimes? If the Cavs play two bigs we can have Rasho and Bargnani, with the italian and Bosh switching the 3/4 spots in offense/defense. Not for the whole game, but I think in some situations Bosh height and long arms might help against James.

by Sergi P on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Seems like we're happy now just to stay close with the Cavs, no Gibson.

Now even Alex English was saying at half, "We just gotta MAKE SHOTS."

At halftime each game Mitchell walks into the middle of the locker room, throws a trash can and scrawls on the chalkboard..."Ok Guys...now this half...make shots"

Check your toilets if your looking for this year's expectations, mine have already made their way down to the sewer.

See how high Moon got on that put back last night though?

by DayOner on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Marcia says:
March 22nd, 2008
I totally agree with what you said our team seems to be falling backward Philly is right behind us Washington has passed us

Just like U wanted 2 weeks ago Infact U posted U wanted raptors to miss the playoffs Anu U also wanted Jose to break his foot.

by Davl on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Back in Oct or Nov We were posting on this site about Raptors record for the season. I think I was the only one saying they won't make the playoffs. I was sorting of joking but now???They could find themselfs 3-4 games under 500 real quick.

by Davl on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Franchise, you lost me on this one.

You are often quick to call out Mitchell for the team’s ills but you are absolutely grasping on this one. Mitchell said that if TJ had not gotten hurt, Jose would not have had the OPPORTUNITY to start. He also said that Jose has taken advantage of the situation, played extremely well and developed chemistry with the first unit, and therefore should remain in the starting line-up. I don’t understand, what about that statement makes you scratch your head? All he was saying, from my perspective is that Jose has played his way into the starting line-up, before the TJ injury there was no way to know that Jose would be THAT successful as the starting guard.

Are you trying to argue that TJ deserves to be re-inserted into the starting line-up because he is not playing well, and Jose should be demoted because he is playing well?!?! Talk about mixed messages.

by MAS on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

As for the start Rasho over Bargs argument, couldn't agree more. The rationale has always been "Bargs has to be a starter and the sooner he learns to play with Bosh the better blah, blah, blah." We knew that when they made this decision (and I say THEY because this one is a Colangelo decision more than a Smitch decision) it would mean sacrificing some wins. Well it is now on the verge of sacrificing the season. Rasho, at this point is obviously the better fit for the starting line up and what would have been so wrong with Bargs, still 21 I believe, spending another season coming off the bench, providing instant offence and developing his big man game against the oppositions 2nd unit. No, this was a poor decision, forced by Colangelo who felt pressure to develop Bargnani ahead of schedule.

FREE RASHO!

by MAS on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

bosh missed a couple a couple and made some mistakes down the stretch, otherwise we had a very good chance.

My only beef was smitch waited too long to bring calderon back in. 5 minutes left, the lead evaporated. AP was already back in, rasho's in, bosh is in. tj's still not happening and mitchell could very well have cost the game by not playing calderon.

I'm ok with tj starting again, but if calderon's earned anything, it's the right to finish games.

I no longer care who the raps play in the playoffs, save boston (no hope at all). No matter what, we're going to have to see something new from this team to have a chance against anyone.

At least the defense was good last night. Not that u can stop lebron.

by axl on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

MAS - Bang on with Rasho, simply put, I feel this was a bad decision by BC to force Andrea into the starting role. I'm still not sure why having him come off the bench for Bosh/Rasho (thus still giving him minutes at the 4/5) in a sixth man role would be so terrible for his development. Early in last night's game I noticed a few situations where Bargs volleyed a rebound around without coralling it, or did something like leave his feet on Varejao's pump fakes to get called for a foul. Rasho doesn't make these same errors and I kept wondering last night how many of these "little things" that we may not have noticed cost Toronto wins this season. Frustrating as yes Sergi, he and Parker I find have been the team's MVP's the past while.

As for TJ, like I said in the post, I'm not arguing one way or another, I just don't understand Mitchell's logic. I'm almost 100 per cent sure Mitchell said that TJ would have BEEN the starter had it not been for his injuries, end of story. And this is what is confusing to me. What's the difference between putting TJ back in now as the starter versus next year (provided both are still around?) Rasho has played great while Bosh was out yet we're not seeing CB4 coming off the bench...doesn't this sort of seem like hypocracy?

Also, Mitchell talked about not wanting to "screw up the first unit" but wouldn't it be better to have a functional first AND second unit? Because TJ hasn't been as effective as Jose was in the back-up role and I'm not sure that will change. Just like a manager in baseball at times decides whether a promising starting pitcher is better served as a set-up man out of the bullpen, shouldn't Sam be considering similar tactics if it helps get Toronto more wins?

Just like the starting Andrea situation over Rasho, I'm just not sure some of the decisions being made or in the team's best interest right now...

by Franchise on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

AXL,

Doug Smith sums up a response to your argument perfectly in his blog today:

"In a shocking, truly stunning development, you’re killing Sam for leaving T.J. in the game until the final 4 1-2 minutes. Oh, and killing T.J., too, and you know what, it’s really getting tiring.
The only other stoppage when he could have got Ford out was with 6:36 to go and Toronto down three. Of course, he left him in and all Ford did was drill a three and then another bucket to pull Toronto into a tie each time.
So, Ford played two minutes at the end of the third and 7 1-2 to start the fourth. I’ve got no problem with that substitution pattern.
Of course, that’ll set the letter-writers off, but that’s what we’re here for, right?"

'Nuf said...

by MAS on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks for the clarification Franchise. Not sure I agree 100% but I better understand your argument.

I will add one or two comment: "I'm almost 100 per cent sure Mitchell said that TJ would have BEEN the starter had it not been for his injuries, end of story. And this is what is confusing to me. What's the difference between putting TJ back in now as the starter versus next year (provided both are still around?)"

Exactly right, TJ would have been the starter… but he got injured, Jose has played great, and its not entirely clear that TJ’s struggles are because he’s coming off the bench or the normal re-acclimation process coming back from a pro-longed absence (albeit a lengthy one). So why risk screwing up two units (bench and starting units) when right now at least one functions well. Also, the argument that Bosh came back directly to the stating line-up is pretty weak. Come on, Bosh comes back to the bench? Really? Ya, I could see that happening… Bosh is in a completely different stratosphere than TJ and Jose. I can’t see that as a relevant comparison.

by MAS on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Raptors lose by 7:

T.J. -13

Jose + 6

------
= -7.

by Graptors on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

MAS - Yeah, TJ and Bosh are in different stratospheres...but my point is the underlying philosophy doesn't make sense. Are your starters your best players? If so, then yep, makes sense that Bosh would go back into the top 5 when he returned. But if Sam is saying that TJ would have started had he not gotten hurt (if I interpreted him correctly) than why is the logic different for these two?

For me, it's more of the big picture that I don't understand. No Rasho in the top 5 when he's clearly more effective? And hearing Mitchell say that TJ would have been the starter had he not gotten hurt, how does TJ feel trying to understand his role with the team?

I don't know, love to hear what BC is thinking about...

by Franchise on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Mas - with all due respect there was a break, between the third and fourth quarters. In a big game like this, I would argue you play your best players the entire fourth quarter, especially the PG. We know jose can handle it.

I'm not neccessarily arguing it would have won the game, but just it one of the smitchisms I don't get.

by axl on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

agreed that Jose should of played the 4th q. What would happen to Chris Paul in a big game such as this? 45 minutes min. Tj did not cost the team the game but split minutes is a bad message to both point guards. JC is the starter play Him starter minutes. If I were Him I would try to leave Toronto next year with the message SM is sending. Raptors may be in 7th by Sunday night. Lots (most) has to due with coaching imho

by Davl on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Reason Why Lebron Won't Be As Great As MJ: Doesn't play with 48 of intensity in big games, Coasts on D. As Long as guys like duncan are in the league he'll never win.

It's hard to argue for bargnani anymore. How long does somebody have to struggle, before coaches/gm realize the kid is either injured, lost all confidence, or just sucks. I think its a combo of all three. If Sam Mitchell did what he preached, AB would not be playing at all.

by Sho on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

It took Daugherty 548 games to amass 10,389 points.

Trivia why did James next legal basket not add points to His total??

We know the answer lol think this might be a sports trivia question one day?

Duke gone now brackets must be a mess

by Davl on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

"T.J. Ford can be the best player on the floor on some nights."

So what? Vince Carter can be the best player on many more nights than T.J. and trading him was the best thing that happened to the Raptors.

The answer with T.J. is simple. Trade him and cut our loses. He's not mature enough to accept that he's second tier PG in this league; he can't/doesn't-want-to come off the bench, and no sane coach would make him starter over Calderon. The only solution is to trade him.

Ask yourself this: do Raptors have team chemistry issues?

I bet first name that came to your mind is T.J. Ford.

I give my vote to trading T.J. in the off-season and getting someone who doesn't mind coming off the bench, thinks pass-first, and doesn't disrupt team chemistry.

Who's with me?

by benjo on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

When is there going to be a breakdown of the march madness games? And how about the 2008 draft? Players I wanna see in a raps uniform Kevin Love, Bill Walker, and maybe Roy Hibbert.

by mike rapfan on Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions