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

You nailed it with the point about three point shooting teams tearing up the raps. You can add in the running teams, phoenix and denver, gsw (double whammy) that always destroy us, the teams who can defend the pick and roll, indiana again, lakers, utah, san antonio, boston, detroit, plus the reckless abandon, nothing to lose teams, philly, charlotte, etc damn list is long already. Hard to imagine the raps beating anybody right now.

Gotta hold seventh at worst.

Love the list axl. I really just don't see us hanging on to 7th. Philly is just playing out of their minds man. I hate to call the season a lost cause, but it's getting close. I will be crazy-surprised if we play anyone else other than Boston in the 1st round, and even more surprised if the series goes past 5. But on the bright side, Sam will almost have to get the hook if that is the way things unravel. Hallelujah!!! I am not a religious person so I definitely had to look up the spelling on that one.

Sorry, didn't realize Hot-lanta was still 5 games back. Apologies for offering opinion without research. So change 7th to 6th in last post and Boston to Detroit. Really though, same $%#@, different pile.

yes, the raps need to hit the glass and defend against one of the best offensive teams in the league. sorry but I am so distracted by march madness...Go BRUINS!

Bad Matchup For the Raps, Denver Rebounds Well, Has two wing scorers, and leaks out constantly. All weaknesses for the Raps. Im not gettin my hopes up.

Yall are acting like missing the playoffs would be the worst thing in the world. I have been convinced since about Mid January that this team as it is constituted is not going anywhere and that missing the playoffs would actually be a good thing. There is a reason why there are so many good teams in the west and not many in the east. Most of the best teams have more than 1 star on their team and we barely have 1. Don't get me wrong, Bosh is an elite player and an AllStar but he is not a superstart (at least so far) and if you don't have a superstart then you need more than 1 All star type player on your team to help out and Saying Jose is an allstar is a bit of a stretch.
This brings me back to the point that the Raps missing the playoffs might be a good thing for a number of reasons.
1. The PG situation cannot continue. TJ is a starter (at least in his mind) and Calderon has established he is one too. It is all well and good to say they "should" get along and be happy in their roles but lets get real here. How would you like to get sick miss some time at work and come back and find yourseld assisting someone else do your job? A job you feel you are better at than the person you are assisting. If the Raps miss the playoffs they will need to make a decision and trade one of them.
2. Get Bosh the help he needs. Either through trade or Free Agency the Raps will have to make a move as they will not be able to delude themselves with idiotic statements like "if we shoot over 50 % from the floor we won't miss as many shots to rebound". Who the hell ever shoots 50% from the floor every game? The raps as constitued are currently the Memphis Grizzles in the good days of the Gasol Era. One good player and a bunch of role players. A second star would be a huge boon to this team and BC should do whatever it takes to get one.
3. Bargnani is not a bust. He just isn't cut out to play centre at this stage of his development. He might get there one day but continuing to shove him into the starting lineup in a position it will take years to learn (if ever) is a huge mistake. Not only are hurting the Raptors but they are killing his development and some of the chemistry on the team. I still think of a game (I think it was in Orlando) a few weeks ago where Bargs came to the bench and all of the players were trying to make him move to the end of the bench. The message as I read it was "you don't belong in the section with people who play, you belong with the guys in street clothes and garbage time." He has some great moments and flashes of what he can do but it is time to admit that on a playoff team (which the Raps supposedly are) he shouldn't be starting until he can show consitency.
4. Superior draft position. At least if the raps dont make the playoffs they will have a shot at a good draft pick. What would really piss me off is if the raps fell so bad as to finish in 8th, get creamed in the first round then watch Portland or Denver with 50 win records win the lottery. OUCH. Let Atlanta or Indiana have that distinction. Winning even a 2nd or 3rd pick would be a huge boost to this team talent wise and actually make the Raptors better over the long haul.

Just some thoughts.

Yes, there is no way the raptors will miss the playoffs and I doubt they will ever be the 8th seed. However 7th is realistic. The raps will fall a game or two below .500 because the next couple games are though but they should be able to finish well ahead of .500.

Philly is an interesting situation, I'm a firm believer that they have overachieved thus far and will eventually come back down to earth (Sort of like Portland did and Houston is doing)

I expect a much better game from the raps after getting completely destroyed against the nuggets.

Since I pretty much say this during every preview or post I'll say it again without any explanation.

Make a coaching change
Do something to move TJ Ford
Sign a backup (Duhon anyone? he'll cost peanuts)
Trade some expiring contracts/draft picks/tj ford if you can for an explosive wing player (Maggette? if he doesn't exercise his option just sign him)

I'm actually expecting the raptors to win this one. They're at home, Nuggets are inconsistant, Bosh is back and we will probably want to make up for our horrible performance.

Sam please don't have 5 bench players playing all at once for 5 minutes again. There is a reason they are your bench players (Rasho is the exception)

Either TJ is back or we lose this one. I have no faith that Mitchell will have our "best players" in during crunch time.

mcgateway - I think they just gotta get every win they can and soak up as much high pressure basketball experience as possible while the conference is weak and half the teams are one star and a year or two away from the elite level. The teams that can develop most from within will have the best chance.

In the end this is a league of stars, and toronto has one......and until we get another we will be mediocre......by drafting ab over gay/roy, BC set this franchise back a few years.
Hopefully we can get one soon.

I missed the 1st three quarters, so I'm wondering why AB didn't play in the 4th. Chuck & Leo kept talking about Nestervoic being on his game, but when I looked at his stats, he had 10 points, 3 rebounds, and a -15. All of this in about the same time as AB (16 pts,4 RB, +3).

Bargs may not be having his career year -- a definite sentiment with the AB bashers ... would've, should've, could've -- I have to wonder if we're cathing the Leaf virus. Play the veterans, who might never be around for that big day, and let the new guys spend all their time learning the theory side of the game.

NEWS FLASH -- Like the Leafs, we're not gonna win the big prize this year.

The say Patience is a virtue,
and Impatience is for Leaf fans.

Sorry .... that should have read

[but] I have to wonder if we're "catching" the Leaf virus.

RapthoseLeafs

AB got all his points I believe in 1qt and missed every shot there after Sitting Him was right move imo. Again JC did not get starters minutes.

Starting 5

Bosh 42 min
Moon 41 min
AB 26 min
JC 32 min
Parker 37 min

Ford 25 min no rebounds -14 4 assists 11 points 0 turnovers

JC 3 rb 6 assists 17 points 1 turnover

Make a decision Mitchell U are killing this team

Bosh turnover late in game
Parker turnover late in game
Moon fouls late in the game

Perhaps they were getting tired?

Davl,
Spending time worrying about the PG minutes right now, is like polishing the brass on the titanic. Our PG play is not the problem. Jose played the last EIGHT minutes of the 4th, he got starter minutes. The fact that he got less mins than the other starters is cause his backup doesn't suck.

Your attempt to list TJ's stat line to make it look like he played bad is a bit deceiving. Who cares if he grabs rebounds? 11 points, 4 assists and 0 turnovers... That's what you;re complaining about? He's the backup. Our bench sucked. Denver's played well. The +/- doesn't really apply here.

The bottom line is with Moon and Bargnani as starters, this team is too young and inconsistent. Without them, the Raptors ceiling is a first round loss to whomever...

So I guess what I'm saying is I can't wait for the playoffs come 2010.

Your attempt to list TJ's stat line to make it look like he played bad is a bit deceiving

Not trying to point out TJ played bad at all I am trying to say if JC is pg play him starter minutes quit sharing the minutes.(35 minutes mim.) I think TJ had a decent game.But JC played better. Like U said does not matter this year it is quite clear 4 or 5 games in playoffs and done.

Kapono would of been great in spurs uniform this year. (just an after thought after watching them beat dallas while shooting less than 40 percent) Kid is not going to do it for dallas.

Spending time worrying about the PG minutes right now, is like polishing the brass on the titanic.....

Just hate to lose Him and have TJ as starter (too injury prone)

I don't see what will be attraction for JC to stay in Toronto with current situation.

it was a decent game. if it weren't for the ugly stretch that it's coming off of, it wouldn't hurt as much.

they had a few crucial turnovers late in the game, which sucks, but overall I thought they played a decent game.

AI and melo were playin' out of their minds late in the game. 2 of the top 5 scores in the entire league were playing up to their abilities...and the raps were right in it.

not bad.