Tip-In, Toronto Raptors Post-Game: Stopping the Bleeding

Nice recap. I had always thought the reason TJ & Jose were never on the floor together was that Jose couldn't handle 2-guards defensively. But when you think about it the Raps never handle 2-guards defensively anyway, so why not have our 2nd and 3rd best players out on the floor together and take the defensive pain as it comes?

Jose...class act. A refreshing change from the general attitude among NBA players. Big win regardless of Detroits situation.

Lets start winning and put an end to all the drama. Its gets a little tiresome at times. Lets NBA!

The Chinese has a term for people like TJ: "Shiao Qi" (literally, lack of chi): a person who's ego is eaily bruised, who thinks the whole world is out to get him if he doesn't get his way. A great talent, nevertheless, but a cancer for the team. I hope he plays out of his mind for the rest of the way and help us into the second round. As for Jose, what more needs to be said.

All the good things said about Jose is terrific but does not change the fact all the bad things said in article about selfish Me first players is a good example TJ?

They really had some rhythym last night.

Joses defense on Hunter was amazing. A little payback for Hunter's defense on him the last time they played?

To bad Bargnani couldn't score a little, he had a nice stop and a block and attracted a lot of attention after the three.

Leo put it perfectly on the broadcast last night..he was talking about Garbojosa calling home after a game last year and immediately his family asked "did you win?!" It shows that Europeans care more about winning than individual stats because all you hear in America is "how many points did you score?"

Good for Jose!

Toronto will sign free agent Linton Johnson to a 10-day contract today. D-Mart has been waived.
tp://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/377416

This will be my last TJ rant of the regular season.

Now that he's Vince-Carter'd his way out of the second unit (the same way VC pouted his way out of town), hopefully this team can get back on track and advance a round in the playoffs.

Clearly TJ was dogging it while playing on the second unit. I find it so annoying that when TJ gets his starting role back, he instantaneously rediscovers his magic. Just as once VC was traded, he immediately began driving to the hoop again proving his jumper's knee was pure BS all along.

In TJ's mind, his ego is more important than the team. I can force myself to understand that type of mentality from an MJ, a Kobe, a Shaq .... but not from a PG, who's job is put his teammates ahead of himself. What an unbelievable contrast between him and Jose.

I've lost a tremendous amount of respect for TJ these past few months, which is really saying something when I consider how impressed I was that he worked his way back from a near career-ending injury.

I'm hoping he plays amazing these next few weeks, so he can boost his trade value in the off-season.

Sorry to be a downer after such a great win, but it had to be said.

Undrafted after spending four years at Tulane, Johnson's also been with Chicago, San Antonio, New Jersey and New Orleans in the last five seasons.

Looks like a player every team wants lol

2 things:

-Anyone find it weird that it has only been a few days since Smitch said he didn't want to take Jose out of the starting lineup because he didn't want to 'screwup' the good chemistry he had with the starting unit?

-Everyone is trashing TJ, but keep in mind, he 'gave up' his starting spot to Jose as well when he came back from injury and didn't force the issue and demand to be started. i'm guessing that's what TJ meant when he said 'everyone has had to make sacrifices for the team this year'.

This whole senario proves that the players run the team. In the early part of the season, they moved Bargnani to the bench where he played lousy and then was put back in the starting line up reasoning that he was the key to their sucess and must be a starter to develop. He did not accept the bench role. Ford gets religated to the bench where he performs like an idiot and they cave in and start him because Calderon goes to bat. Now, chilish Ford is happy, Calderon has established himself as the real team leader and we may very well see Bargnani pull a Ford on them in an attempt to get back in the starting line up.

"A great talent, nevertheless, but a cancer for the team" TFAN is fans like you that make me ashamed to tell people that I am a Raptor fan..How is TJ a cancer on the Raptors he is the one of the best players on the team and just like Jose all TJ wants to do is win. We as fans held players accountable for their play and their actions but no one hold the fans accountable for being moronic..last night with the Raptors down a point, 1 point, TJ missed a shot and fans like yourself Tfan started to boo, that was another one of those moments where i was totally ashamed to be group with fans like those. The media never gets on the fans, except for last night on the Fan590 during the game ERIC SMITH with all his basketball knowledge realizes that that was rediculous of the fans to be booing TJ...and I quote what Eric said at the time..."These fans that are booing need to give their head a shake"..I would go further and said that those fans need to be beheaded..but seriously the point I am trying to make is just like Jose putting himself second to make the team first, the fans need to realize that booing a player for missing a shot when the team is down one point cannot be goog for that player's confidence when we are at the stage where the fans need to be the sixth man for the Raptors not the other team. I will forever be a Raptor fan and I will always be a JC fan for what he did, he is the epidimy of a team player and every player in the NBA that speak about team need to step back and take a look at Jose Calderon.....Raps4Life.

I think comparing TJ to VC is just wrong. TJ always plays hard and is aggressive. His decision making and body language are the only thing a fan can really comment on...

I think the problem has more to do with rythym, matching player's styles and executing the plan that this team has had since training camp two years ago than it does with TJ's ego, which is also a factor of course.

The second unit can't keep up with TJ and he can't slow down for them.

I'm sick of you people. Who gives a shit who starts and who doesn't. Winning is winning and they won last night. If you were real fans you'd be cheering for everyone to do well every night no matter who they are, and where they start.

And for all those fans at the ACC who boooed TJ when he grazed the rim on a wide-open 3-point attempt... you're morons. You're booing your own player!!! Think about that.

When people get all huffy that nobody takes the Raptors seriously it has nothing to do with the dinosaur logo, the colour purple, the Canadian dollar, the American bias ect... it has everything to do with this nonsense.

Honestly, the real joke is on you people. You're the reason a player might not want to play here.

Gotta agree with Sonic Super.

Sorry, but I think the booing was the fans venting a little frustration that we simply don't like crybabies, especially ones that earn 8 million per year.

So what IS the most overdue move in Raptor history?

a) Firing deadbeat Wilkins

b) Trading deadbeat Araujo

c) Sacking Babcock

I can't decide between those three, I'm sure there are others.

So some people are ashamed to be a fan because of my comments. Too bad, I call it the way I see it. I used to be a fan of TJ (still is as a baller) but now I'm not. Hey, people change, maybe he win us over again.

"-Anyone find it weird that it has only been a few days since Smitch said he didn't want to take Jose out of the starting lineup because he didn't want to 'screwup' the good chemistry he had with the starting unit?"

I do.

That's what I was trying to get at in my post the other day "mixed messages."

I mean, which is it? You just said that you don't want to screw up your starting line-up and then you go and change TWO of the five pieces??

WHY DOESN'T ANYONE IN THE MEDIA EVER ASK HIM THESE KIND OF THINGS???

tfan - Not sure I'm going agree with you as far as TJ being a "cancer" to the team...more of a paper-cut. but I like your Chinese terminology. Might start referring to him as Shio Qi...solid.

Raps4life - Glad you brought up the booing...heard that last night and shook my head. Same thing as the free pizza debacle. I rewound the prior possesions and it wasn't like Ford forced five bad shots in a row...embarassing.

Oneanddone - thanks for the udpate on the signing - like Linton, solid defender. Wouldn't be surprised to see him eat into some of Moon's playing time. Also, the fact that Martin was waived is pretty significant in many ways...going to expand on this topic in tomorrow morning's post.

"Cancer: something (evil) or malignant that spreads destructively." Other than the evil factor, I think Merriam Webster is bang on.

Raps4Life was probably on vacation the last few weeks to understand our plight.

I do completely agree that booing someone is never the answer, especially on your home court. That being said, please refrain from calling someone a moron for sharing the sentiment that many fans having been feeling over the last month...just my two cents.

Good win, but lucky. If we play Pistons in the playoffs the Raps will be lucky to squeeze out one win. detroit just looked disinterested. Even then they almost pulled it out near the end of the game until a missed three by Billups (I think).

I have a question, though, after a missed shot by Detroit with about minute and a half left to play, CB4 got the ball at the top of the key. He drove, made a tough lay up and a foul was called. The production crew went to some highlights and when the came back Rasho was taking a foul shot. Does anyone know what happened on that play? How is it possible that Rasho was shooting the foul shot? I was so confused I had to rewind the play on my PVR and make sure I saw what I saw. Little help, please.

raps4life: they were booing because TJ Ford was just put in and literally jacked up that shot without passing to anyone. The crowd was letting him know that they've seen this movie before.

Calling TJ a cancer or even accusing him of tanking it is not a fair statement. The man's head just wasn't right since recovering from a potentially very serious injury and it was obvious since his return he has struggled. Lets hope the struggle is over.
Its no secret I prefer Jose over TJ, if we ever had to choose, but TJ is not the freaken anti-Christ. Saying he purposely tank'd is a ridiculous statment. Claims that he is a Cancer seem to differ from what his teammates say.
Do I agree with TJ starting? When comparing the skills of both- no. Believe I 've made that clear to Marcia several times. But man, something definately has not been going good this past month.
Boy do we have something special in Calderon.

The point about no easy baskets in the paint last night were spot on. Even on made Pistons baskets, he was in the right place, at the right time, and sometimes that's all you need from that position, esp. with an All-Star like Bosh at pf.

Linton Johnson, does look like he's a veteran of the 10 day contract. However, esp. within the last few years, he's been called up by winning programs like the Spurs and Suns, who aren't necessarily scouring the minors for talent to develop.

If he's being brought in, its because he can pick up the system quickly and contribute in the here and now.

I'd even go out on a limb and link up the Andrea-Rasho sub with the LJ signing. I think it's a decision by BC to end the evaluation phase (at least for this season)of Bargs and Moon. If they get minutes from this point on, I see it being completely on merit, as opposed to potential.

None of us, knows whats going on behind closed doors. The only information we have to go on is whats spoon fed to us by "journalists" such as Doug Smith. So when sweeping remarks such as "TJ is a cancer" are made, I ask "How do you know"? For all we know TJ is getting along just fine with everyone.
The boos yesterday were disgusting. The guy took one bad shot!! Booing the guy for all we know will be counter productive.

Clawed,

That threw me for a loop as well. A quick check to NBA.com's play by play for the answer:
2:56 [DET 75-80]

2:41 Bosh Driving Layup Shot: Made [TOR 82-75]

2:41 Wallace Foul:Away From Play(4 PF)

2:41 Nesterovic Free Throw 1 of 1 [TOR 83-75]

Just to respond to a few of the people above me:

andrew lafleur: TJ did force the issues and demand to be started. He dogged it and obviously didn't give 100% on the floor, because coming off the bench is beneath him.

raps4life: TJ can be a cancer because when your floor general puts himself above the team (by pouting and dogging it), it negatively influences teammates.

axl: You make a fair point. It's just one I disagree with.

Mazel: I completely disagree with you. Being a fan is not all about unconditional support. When a player is not trying his hardest, he deserves to be boo'd. When a player cares more about himself and his bruised ego than about winning, he should be boo'd. When he puts himself above the team and the organization and "dogs it" until he gets his way, he should be boo'd. It's that simple. L'Chaim!

Thanks OneandDone and totally agree with RT. This is just another example of a player running the show.

Again, not trying to be negative after a huge victory. Obviously a ton of positives came out of last night's game. Just voicing my opinion.

Have to agree OneandDone - sometimes (well, almost all the time) I think Mitchell just says the answer that will end the interview quickest. He obviously can't even be completely honest with the players, because he has to motivate them and the truth is not always the best way to do that. So the media gets vagaries and cliches.

Franchise - I think "Paper cut" sums it up nicely.

Just to reiterate one point. TJ magically rediscovers himself as a starter after weeks of sucking off the bench.

This is why I believe he wasn't trying his hardest as a 2nd unit player. I don't think he was tanking and I do not thing he was intentionally sabotaging the team, but he certainly was pouting with his play, and in my mind, that is just as bad.

Mazel Tov says...Its fans like Mazel that knows basketball why I read and put post on this site. A true basketball/Raptor fan..I can't believe these fans they should start screening the fans that go to the game with a few simple questions and if they fail refund their ticket and sell it to a real Raptor fan...Booing your own team one point down is so Moronic thinking about it makes me so #$#$$$ mad. But cudos to you Mazel you restore my faith in these fans.....raps4life...GO TJ, GO JOSE...GO RAPS

I have no doubt that this change in the point guards will have a positive short term impact on the team. Bu, while I know that Calderon suggested the idea of TJ starting, I still think this was the wrong decision by management for the following reasons:
1. TJ is rewarded for his unhappiness as a backup. It sends the wrong message to the team.
2. Calderon has outplayed TJ and earned the starter's job. Putting aside the issue of who starts, it makes no sense whatsoever that Calderon who was playing better is now going to be playing fewer minutes than TJ who wasn't playing well. 3. The starting lineup previously consisted of 3 three point shooters and now has just 1 (Parker) while the 2nd unit has 4 three point shooters (Bargnani, Kapono, Calderon and Delfino) which is an imbalance.
4. The new starting unit does not have enough scorers. The offensive strategy is centred around Bosh getting the ball and either scoring or when Bosh gets double teamed he sets up the team's shooters for some open shots. Before, Bosh was able to get good looks for Bargnani and Calderon. With the current lineup the only true shooter is Parker. In fact, there was a sequence in yesterday's game against Detroit that Bosh got double-teamed and passed it out to TJ for a wide open shot. I don't blame TJ for missing but the ball should be going out to a shooter.
5. The team's recent losing streak related more to the loss of Bosh and their horrendous defense, not their offense and this move doesn't address their defensive issues.
6. When teams need a shakeup, they remove players who struggle not a player (Calderon) who was playing well.

Bball - interesting point four. I think a problem with TJ everyone noticed before the injury is that parker doesn't get the ball a) enough or b) in the right spots. TJ seems to have blinders to him or they just don't sync well or something(and same with bargani, but that's not as big a deal since he's now with calderon in 2nd unit)

What everyone is forgetting is that the Raptors have done their best when TJ starts and Jose comes off the bench. Before TJ's injury, things were going really well. I admit Jose stepped in and did an admirable job, but the last few weeks, he hasn't been that consistent. His play has suffered and the Raps always seemed to start out a little slow.

But returning to the original roster (TJ starting) is what's best for the Raps. With TJ's speed and driving abilities, it causes the defence to be sucked into the paint, thus opening things up for Bosh, Parker, etc. And with Jose coming off the bench, his offensive skills dominate the opposing bench players, and he gets everyone else involved. With Jose on the second unit, it returns it's status as one of the better benches in the East. And I think that's what was sorely missing, our bench play. Jose brings instant credibility to the bench now, and I see them producing a lot more now.

Also, I noticed Jose driving a lot more with his patented leaning lay-up. It may just be me, but he seemed a lot more aggressive against Detroit's second unit, something I hadn't seen for a while.

Forget metaphors like "Paper Cut" or "cancer". That's just silly.

T.J Ford did not suddenly re-discover his form last night. He had a solid game, nothing special, nothing to brag about. He played well.

But, for every solid game, T.J. will play 5 bad games, and maybe one really bad game.

So this move of T.J. to starting line up doesn't mean much yet, if you ask me. Last night, it was more important that T.J. and Calderon were on the floor TOGETHER for significant time in 2nd half. I think that having Calderon in the game helepd T.J. to play more under control, as it wasn't only up to him run the offense. That was the key to victory; plus, Rasho starting and playing 40+ mins.

I still think we should trade T.J. in the off-season because he cannot play as a backup and we currently have a better starting PG. Also T.J.'s attitude is not good for team chemistry.

Couple points:

When I heard fans booing TJ I laughed, then I felt bad for him, then I ended up not caring.

Who cares if fans boo you...you still play the sport all of us play for free and you make 8 million a year doing it. Ohh noo the fans booed you....you don't make it to the nba especially after breaking your neck and being severly undersized without having tough skin. Fans are allowed to express themselves...if they want to boo let them...it shouldn't impact TJ. He knows as well as all of us know that the only way to get the fans on your side is to do what is best for the team.

There should be some type of award (if there already isn't) for guys like Jose who always put the team first.

Moving on to the important stuff (some might think the whole TJ/Jose or TJ/fans thing is important) the raps are still neck and neck with the 76ers and Wizards.

The raps have the most favourable sched. remaining of the three teams.

We have shown that we can beat the Hornets...and we did it on the road. Now is the time for this team to step up and show what they are made of....

TJ needs to get his head out of his butt and play like he did last night.

Chris Bosh needs to show why he is a franchise player and lead this team and make things happen down the stretch.

Andrea needs to show he is not a bust and play decent defence and make shots on the other end.

Jamario Moon needs to show why the raptors decided to give him a chance and why he deserves a pay increase...take it to the basket and play some some good man to man defence.

Sam Mitchell probably needs to do all of that. Get your head out of your butt and make good decisions, show why your the head coach, COY and show why you got that new contract...and just try not to screw up (please don't have 5 bench players all on the floor for like 8 minutes)

Don't need to worry about guys like Rasho, AP, Calderon they are steady players who will do whatever it takes to win the game and will do the little things this team needs whether its scoring, rebounding, defending, letting guys take their playing time when they shouldn't (had to get that in there).

I told you! I told you! The Raptors need a defensive center to win. Take out crappy Bargnani and insert a center that has won the championship, and what do you get? You get an awesome victory. Bargnani is a bust. All of his stats have been worse this year than last And the draft of Bargnani is going to hurt the franchise. Drafting Bargnani last year has already hurt the team this year and for years to come.
I can't wait until we trade Bargnani. Then maybe our team won't be the laughing stock of the NBA.

There is an award, WTF..its called free agent contract. Teams not only crave pass-first QBs but TEAM-first QBs. I, for one, will be physically sick if JC is not back with the Raps next year.

But the support for the fans booing is moronic in my view. The fans in the stands are supporting the team with their $$ (trust me the corporate fatcats are not booing but sipping Chardonnay)! And I would like to know in history when booing your own player actually made them play harder and better.

Whether fans appreciate TJF or not, the fact is the future of TJ and Raps are intertwined and symbiotic..the success of one breeds success in the other. Booing him is so f*&king counterproductive is not even funny.

Bargsbust, you are mixing the Raptors with Leafs. We are NOT the laughing stock of the NBA :-)

Segment of an interesting blog by Mike Ulmer:

"All this makes Calderon, a marvelous person, look absolutely saintly.

But Ford has lost one season to a neck injury and this year missed 24 games because of a re-occurrence. What happened to T.J. Ford should not happen to any of our sons or daughters. He was carried off the floor on a stretcher both times. He wondered if he would have a normal life, let alone play basketball. He is an emotional, driven player who throws himself into the redwoods under the basket when given the slightest opening.

He has to start. Is it ego? Absolutely, the same ego that he used to pull himself out of the stretcher, the same ego that made him the point man on every team he has ever graced.

I would like to be a better golfer, a sharper wit, more patient with my kids. While we’re at it, I wish I had the same hair and waistline I had in my youth. No sentence ends more poorly than the one that starts with ‘If’.

The qualities we don’t have, as well as the ones we do, define us, and not always in a bad way.

They say the very things that make you rich, will make you poor. But you know what? It works the other way too. The Raptors understood that in T.J. Ford. It’s good that they did."

The only reason this change to TJ starting makes sense is the team is struggling now. Last year they played very well with TJ starting & Jose running the 2nd unit.

They are desperate to win now, so why not go back to what worked before with TJ and Rasho starting. No guarantees, but what's to lose?
Jose only want's to win now, and will do anything to help the team win.
Next year is a new year, and will see what happens with a new contract.
Calderon is a MAN, trying to help a spoiled CHILD grow up and be a man.

SuperSonic: Disagree all you want, but at least take a look at this nugget from Doug Smith's mailbag:

"Here’s the difference between Salt Lake and Toronto. The visitors are making a run, cutting the halftime lead to 52-51 and you know what would have happened in Toronto, right. Boos. Probably lots of them. What happened in Utah? The fans started cheering louder. Same thing at the end of quarter, after Raptors tie it.

I guarantee you that never happens in the Air Canada Centre."

It's true, it doesn't happen at the ACC, Utah has only lost 4 games at home this year.

You haters are losers... I mean that literally.

Bargsbust:
Not sure the Raps are the laughing stock of the NBA (umm...Miami? NY?) - however, I take your point re: Bargnani.

My question is: why does he get a free ride re: his lack of production? Everyone on the Raptors is fair game for criticism- except Bargs it seems. He connects on a three, and you have Swirsk and his ilk pretty much filling out his HOF application.

Has there ever been a number 1 draft pick so insulated from criticism before?

Lest people think I'm being negative - lovin' the Rasho promotion! Hope he stays a starter until the Raps are done playing for '08.

oh and I completely agree with Mazel Tov re: Raptor fans at the ACC. Lame and embarassing at times. I really wonder if there are any real sports fans in Toronto or just a bunch of Leaf fans who couldn't afford booing the Leafs.

Great insight in this post. In regards to TJ starting over Jose, I have to clarify one thing. TJ was quoted a few weeks back that Jose had played well in his absence and that Jose deserved to remain the starter for the rest of the season. So I don’t think it is fair to say that TJ didn’t "accept his role" coming off the bench. Did he struggle in his role and comeback in general? Yes. Did the team struggle recently? Yes. Was TJ being a malcontent and demanding his starting job? No.

For me the bigger story is Rasho’s re-insertion to the starting line-up and I have to agree with Franchise, this is pretty f’n frustrating. This should have been done back in January and the blame here lies with BC. You are absolutely right, last night’s rotation is probably what Sam has wanted all year.

Mazel: Ah come on, quit hating on us haters. Maybe if you and I converted to mormon-ism and sang kumbaya at every game, the Raps would have a better home record? I'm game if you are.

Hey guys,
I haven't been around to comment much as of late.

I def agree with your observation that Colangelo and Smitch are not on the same page. It would be nice to see our personnel strategically used to maximize their strengths. I just don't feel Smitches strategic approach to the game complements BC's management style.

It is a little strange that Tj gets a lot of heat because he played a good game. I understand that Tj struggled for the past few games, but he was trying to come back from injury and the raptors are without bosh. It is one thing to say that Tj didn't adjust well playing with second unit, but it is another thing to say that he intensionally played poorly to get the starting job back. Like franchise said, if toronto nails the 6 spot and mange to get past first round, all is forgiven. If not, we will have personal change sooner. To me it looks Tj tried to play hard, it is just he is lost without bosh, he is having difficulty deciding when to score and when to pass. And I have to give credit to what Calderon did, it is the most classy act I have ever seen in sports recently.

You guys are not criticizing my comments about Bargnani, looks like someone has knocked some sense into you! Just remember, I told you first. He's a bust.
Anyway, the Raptors are a laughing stock. Go ask anyone in the States or the rest of the world for that matter how good of a team the Raptors are and they will either answer, does Michael Jordan play for that team or say that it's crap. Either way our team is a joke.
We get very little publicity for our team in the states, we are hardly ever on TNT, our spanish player is not even the best spanish player in the league, our italian player is a bust, and we don't even have the best international players in the game.
Sum it up, the Raptors are a joke.
What I like about the Fans of Toronto is that they don't care about what everyone else thinks, says, or writes about us, they are good fans. They are loyal fans. But this also comes with the blind judgment of prejudice towards your team players and knowledge of the game. Although, I guess that can be said about any fans. It's just that other teams get more respect.

Not critizing your comments bargsbust because a while ago, after bargs had a couple good games, you came on and said you actually liked bargs and the raps and just wanted to yank peoples' chains.

Everyone seriously needs to chill out. What's with all the venom, we beat the pistons. Who cares why Mitchell made the changes, the whole team looked more comfortable last night. Both T.J. and Jose played their best games in a while. And Bargnani is not a bust, I watched him last night and he's doing a lot of the little things right. Does he need a lot of work? Of course, but he definitely has talent is up to the coaching staff to find a way to utilize him properly.

SuperSonic: Let's do it. Anything to keep you clowns from booing players, crying for a slice of pizza and looking like a bunch amateurs.

Is there such a thing as a professional fan? I mean, If I'm an amateur, what does that make you? Besides, an elitist snob, I mean.

Bargsbust, you are like Marcia part II sometimes I swear. Not even sure why im bothering to respond to your last post in fact but the laughing stock thing irks me. Stephen A Smith, who I despise by the way, was going on and on just a few weeks ago on sattelite radio about Toronto when healthy being able to beat any team in the East. One of the most ignorant people in the biz knew enough about the Rapz to discuss. Yep, Toronto sure is a joke.

The biggest joke in the league are the Knicks without question. Here you have one of the most famous franchises in all of sport and they have been one nonstop joke for the past six years with no relief in sight. Imgaine being a Knicks fan and having to read every day about how messed up your team is?

Also on my joke list in order:

Clippers
Bucks
Hawks
Bobcats

Why does Bargnani get a relative pass by most media? Two words- B r y a n C o l a n g e l o. Very few will criticize his decisions, especially his pet projects.

Calderon will keep playing like the pro he is for the rest of the season. If I were him, though, and I kept seeing the Raps hand over the keys to a pouting, egotistical baby, I might pack up my bags at the end of the season, and play as a true starter on a team that rewards team players, under a reasonable coach.

And if the coach isn't making reasonable decisions and subbing out players who have been playing very selfishly over the long term, it IS the job of fans to boo and applaud as they see fit. What is this?! We're not MLSE employees on company time... We're fans!

And by the way, fans don't tend to boo players who are giving their all, and having an off night. They are pretty good at identifying selfish pricks, aka. VC.

To me if fans boo a player its because they actually care. You see it with all types of people...for example there are those parents who yell at teenagers when they do something bad there are others who take a more supportive approach.

It doesn't mean their not good fans...it doesn't mean they don't care. And thats what a fan is....its a person who cares about the team....some people just re-act differently.

BargsBust: Why do we have to recieve special attention from the states to not be considered a joke?

To me a franchise which should be considered a joke is one that spends too much and still sucks (knicks) or ones that continue to miss the playoffs year after year (Hawks, Bobcats)

Please explain to me how the raptors are a bigger joke than the Hawks, Bobcats, Knicks, Sonics, Grizz??

And if you actually read up on the raptors (especially on espn) you'll see that the Raptors actually do get a lot of press. Hollinger actually listed the raps as his dark horse team in the east.

Secondly Rasho replaces Bargs...they win against the Pistons and you scream that Bargs is a bust.

So by that logic would it make sense for me to come out here after bargs put up 25,7,7 and helped beat the Celtics and say Bargs is an allstar?

No Bargs will not be Dirk Nowitzki....however he won't be Darko either. Its still way to early to tell....

And didn't you say you were going to stop posting??

it's hilarious, with the tj hate, the jose love, and the ignoring of bargs. i think by now we know the weaknesses of all. the media has made tj a villian and jose a saint. With feschuk's article on tj awhile back, smith's declaration for jose 2day.....it's hilarious the bias in these newspapers/blog.

Jose Is a Good Offensive Player, he can shoot the ball, gets his teamates involved and is an example for the rest of his teammates. a coach's/analyzt's wet dream of a player.

Meanwhile, jose is weak on one on one defense, has some size but lack foot speed to keep his defender in front of him. therefore teammates must constantly rotate when the pg penetrates, leaving them out of position for rebounding, or when they collapse (e.g. lakers game), leaves 3 pt shooters open.
Foot speed is not something you can improve much, maybe positioning, defensive awareness (jose's biggest weakness).
Right now, at the top of their game, tj and jose are comparable at the very least, but tj has so much more to improve while jose is very much close to his ceiling.

I still believe BC see tj/bargs/bosh as the future, and jose as a valuable trading piece. Mostly cause TJ is much more valuable to the raptors then he is in a trade (immaturity/injury, won't fetch much). I think the only thing bryan realized this year is neither tj/bargs are the cornerstones he envisioned, and he must attain a star wing to go with his young nucleas.

Calderon will be traded next trading deadline or this draft/summer as apart of a deal for a star wing player. You can book that brotha.

p.s. if TJ can fetch something back, and BC trades him i would be completely shocked

OK this changes everything:

It's an interview in spanish, but basically Calderon is saying that he didn't request the change, that the Raps asked him (not the other way round) and he accepted:

http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/baloncesto/nba/es/desarrollo/1105022.html

Translation of key sentences:

Q: What happened:
A: I have to clear some things up [...] They called me and asked me to give up the starting job in favour of TJ. I said no problem, that it can be good for the team.

Q: But you could have said no
A: Yes, or I could have made a big fuss, but that's not my style. And it wouldn't be the best for the team

[...]

Q: But your contract...
A: I have renounced (given up?) something for the good of the team. I hope the Raps will give me that something back in return.

oh whoop de do sergi, still sounds for sure it was a mutual decision. seriously, it doesn't matter who first made the suggestion, it had to be the elephant in the room.

Is BargsBust even a Raptors fan? I mean it's completely obvious that he is in Grade 7 judging by his bizarre (and I mean bizarre) logic!

Let me get this straight...in order to not be a joke/ laughingstock, you need to have MJ on your team????

FYI, I was in Beantown for the long weekend, and Celtic's fans still have this uneasiness about meeting us in the playoffs. Go figure after the way we've been playing. I guess THEY don't believe that we're a joke.

P.S. They don't think that Bargs is a bust....

...and from a previous post...they still aren't thrilled with Doc Rivers, but they don't believe in messing with team chemistry.

Axl: yeah but this makes more sense now. I know Jose is a class act, but to me it sounded like he had gone a bit overboard when it was reported that it was him who had made the suggestion. It's also newsworthy when he more or less says he expects this decision to be compensated come contract negotiation time.

And by the way, isn't it funny that both big Franchise (and others) suggestions regarding starting TJ and Rasho have now been followed almost to the letter? Are they really reading us or what? Shall we begin making polls charting up the starting lineups and minutes played? :-)

well for sure I think all of us believe we could do a better job (gm/coach/president, bring it on), lol :)

Funny thing is that Calderon gives up the starter spot, TJ finally gets what he wants, and Calderon still gets the accolades and looks like a saint.

Almost makes you feel bad for TJ, that whiny little guy!

According to the Basketball Jones, we're all right...

http://www.thebasketballjones.net/2008/03/27/are-you-a-homer/

Sergi - Thanks for the post. Not sure how to take that simply because of some of the "lost in translation" pieces about players like Delfino, Darko and Gasol the past few years that were way off base. Not saying that this one is, but weird that Mitchell and co would be so "rah rah Jose for making the sacrifice" if the team came to him. Something I'll probably talk about a bit tomorrow morning.

In any event, that should make all the "homers" a bit uneasy ;)

Love Skeets and Tas' work on their site (and now on Yahoo for Skeets) and talking about teams that are a joke, interesting to see a few of the comments to the "homer" post:

-You’re a homer if you think Donnie Walsh makes a difference in New York any time soon with the minefield that is the NYK roster.

-you’re a homer if you blame the refs at a new york knicks game

Yep...definitely the league's running joke.

Wow, some emotion going on today. Great summary Franchise, nail on the head as usual. Disagree with Bargs being totally cold though. Especially coming off the bench, whatever he brings is a bonus. He had a nice stretch (3rd Q I think) where he hit a three and blocked a couple of shots.

By the way, we won! Beat the Pistons!

Day Oner - Firing Lenny was the longest overdue event IMO! Talk about disengaged.

Bargsbust - Giddy up little pony! I think Bargs is back in the role best suited to a sophomore center. And first big of the bench on a playoff team is not a bust. (Can't believe you got me to reply to you!)

Mazel-Maybe one day we can all be better fans. We don't boo to improve our team, we boo because we are frustrated. Just as the super fans in Utah booed AK47 when he played so poorly last year and their team was under achieving.

Art - I totally agree with you. I like Jose's game better, but think the raps are better with TJ starting. People shouldn't let this piss them off, they are both on our team.

Ustation, you out there?

Sergi - Saying it was Jose's idea was probably just damage control. Even if it wasn't his idea, I imagine Jose genuinely has no problem with the switch. Did the article imply he was angry to give up the starter spot?

WTF, Assistant GM, Mas, TJ Caino, sorail and axl - insightful comments as usual.

I think marcia was agreeing with this

I think the only thing bryan realized this year is neither tj/bargs are the cornerstones he envisioned, and he must attain a star wing to go with his young nucleas.

Detroit lost yesterday to raps good for raps but they just came off an overtime thriller against the suns that was the best game I seen all year

lets see what happens Sunday against a team with something to play for instead of an uninterested piston team

or was Marcia agreeing with this

Unfortunately, as you pointed out, the injuries and immaturity (and contract) make TJ much harder to trade

I Like Grange but his, "It's time to trade tj" article offered nothing of substance. If the media continues to be completely anti tj, i think the boos from the crowd whenever he takes a bad shot will only get louder.

i think the boos from the crowd whenever he takes a bad shot will only get louder.

lol... I threw my sponge brick at the tv when they announce him as a starter and threw it again at SM

TJ's a rare athelete and potential elite talent. He has huge expecations of himself and an ego to match. He's been a catalyst for the success of his team. Plus his next back injury will probably mean his retirement. As I've been saying for a while, you get forderon operating at as high a level as possible and you milk it for all it's worth and thank god every day he doesn't get taken away on a stretcher. Not to mention, we have the only NBA starter-level point guard in the entire universe who's seemingly willing to wait in the wings to see how far this core can go.

You don't forsake one of your core players for a little lacking maturity or you won't have a core. Teams that stay together, have a chance at winning year in year out. There has to be a limit on what TJ can expect, but this is the team (with him starting) from day one so it's not like jose has been betrayed.

I am ok with fans wanting TJ traded, and an offer BC can't refuse is an offer that BC can't refuse, but why not see what happens on the court before media people (grange/smith/feschuk) start clamouring for the ax to fall?

The Knicks on a Friday night - life is good.

So I heard that the Raptors just released D-Mart to make room for Linton Johnson who signed a 10 day contract yesterday. Hopefully, this lights a fire in the asses of Delfino, Kapono and Moon.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but Grange and Smith have finally seen the light on the Ford/Jose issue. As usually a few weeks behind some of the forward thinking posters on this excellent site.