3 in the Key – Toronto Raptors Game-Day Preview vs. Sonics

Hey guys, I saw a lot of comments about Marcia's comments, but not Marcia's comments that started it all.

If you are going to delete Marcia's comments, then wouldn't it be fair to delete the parts that are responding too? Otherwise the blog really loses its continuity, and starts to feel like a pile-on.

On the other hand, I for one would like to see the incomprehensible stuff. It is the only comic relief we can enjoy these days, what with the imploding Raps.

But hey, you're the bosses...

Gerry, sometimes it can be funny, but wishing for Calderon to break his foot like Marcia did yesterday was totally over the top, I'm fine with getting rid of that... so that the remaining 99% of this community who is adult enough to mantain a sometimes heated discussion but always in reasonable terms doesn't get distraught by that.

This sonics game is a totally must-win, looking forward to see if Bargs can keep it up, consistency in the next few games is key for his progress.

yeah today is a must win. And there better be some intensity, some effort SOMETHING! Compared to last year the raps were playing well now, and didn't play well at the end of the season. So maybe we struggle now, and get it together at the end of the season this year, and go into the playoffs hot.

Here's Hoping

I rarely call games a must win unless its at the end of season and playoff seedings are in doubt.

However without bosh the raps could lose every single game on the west coast trip so they do need to get this one.

Lastly in regards to TJ a lot of us want him traded myself included. However we have been very patient with Andrea. TJ is also part of this young core and has as many issues to deal with as anyone so perhaps we should give him a bit more time.

I'm sure he will be ok....however I don't think he'll be better than Calderon. I just don't like the idea of paying 8 million to a back up. Same reason I want Kopono moved.

Love the endless debates.

I've also been waiting for the run, like we saw last year, but oh well....I guess not.

It's tough to win consistently when there's glaring roster holes (although that's the case with most teams).

I suppose that's what lends to the frustration: we can get smoked by a crappy team that rebounds the ball, while at the same time beat a superior team when the shooting is on and defence is adequate.

I might have to admit to being slightly off track from where they should be....but again, as long as there's continued player development, I could stomach a 1st round loss to a defensively superior team...knowing that certain roster issues will be dealt with.

For all the TJ dissing, I wouldn't give up on him....think his trade value would be low anyway....In my opinion, his young age can't be stressed enough (and Calderon's for that matter.) Ok, he's not Tony Parker (similar age) but PGs develop and improve as they age moreso than other positions.....rarely a PG will enter the league and dominate as other positions can.

True, the squad needs the victory today for a lift though.

Enough Jose/TJ talk. As I see it, they're both good enough to be starting; and whoever comes off the bench will be unhappy. Colangelo will have to move one of them in the summer, hopefully, for some toughness. As for today's game, I agree its a must win or else we may be looking at a sub 500 team at the end of the upcoming western swing.

re: Trading T.J. - nobody was talking about trading him before he got hurt. Instead the rest of the league was jealous that Raptors had such a great two-headed monster in the back court - seemingly with no animosity over playing time. I think this is really what we fans should be hoping for because this is the type of development that will give us a great team to cheer for.
I noticed towards the end of the last game that the ball was being tossed over, around and away from Bargnani by the other players. To me this shows that they don't trust him to do the right thing with the ball in the crunch.

I honestly think Jose has already won the starting PG role. Not quite Wally Pip - because TJ will still get his minutes off the bench. Congrats to Jose because he's handles the whole situation classily. TJ's public comments have been classy as well. There has been speculation about whats been said behind closed doors, but I'll give him he benefit of the doubt. Our PG position has been one of strength, getting key contributions from both. I am not gonna write off TJ based on one weeks poor play. That being said he needs to rediscover his role.
My daughter is hosting a birthday party this afternoon, hoping I can watch.
Day 1er= guess we've all been waiting for that run. I am now hoping we go into playoffs on a role. Preferably meeting Orlando or Cleveland.

Why do I feel the need ---
Marcia "last year TJ was 90% part of the reason the Raptors make it to the playof a short while ago"
90 % ? Shows me your math is as good as your grammar.

" a short while ago they were screeming for Bargnani's head" Marcia -if one poster makes a comment please don't lump the majority in.

"American fans they will not like something but they stick to their team" - Raptors are near the top of attendance and have an extremely loyal, knowledgeable and growing fan base.

"and Sam will have TJ back into the starting lineup and the raptor will be eliminated in the first round if they make it to the play off" - not quite sure how to interpret. Are you saying if TJ is made the starter we will lose first round? Pointless question as Jose has now won the starting job.

Anyways - I wish you goog health(becausing wishing anybody to hurt themselfs is, is, I don't know, just wrong. Google "KARMA" for me and maybe you'll understand.

Franchise: Lets compare Rap's this year to last year.
06/07 47 Wins, PG TJ Ford
SF Garbo, lost 1st rnd Playoffs.
07/08 TJ missed 31 gms, still not right. Garbo missed season. 2 starters from last year gone, this is a different team. At this time last year after 61 gms 32-29, this year 33-28 for 1 more win. Not too bad considering all the changes. With 21gms to go @ current winning rate expect 11 wins 10 losses or .500 for 44pts and 5th or at worst 6th in playoffs. To tie Rap's Wiz need 14-6, 76ers need 16-4, Hawks need 18-2, none of which is very likley.
Rap's next 21 games, 9 vs winners,12 vs losers,10 home,11away. Not an impossible task to win 10/11 games even if Bosh misses the western trip.
Prob best to finish 6th and play Howard rather than LBJ.
Need TJ Ford to step up and play Raptor's TEAM basketball as he is the X Factor for the balance of the season and playoffs.

have to agree johnn19, and to add everyone got better offensively this year including the raps, who got worse defensively and that been all the difference. We just can't get stops.

Just a few notes.

Marcia - you're cut like Luke Jackson.

Please find another site to post your illegible and frankly, prejudicial comments. If you post, you will be deleted, simple as that. We're trying to encourage good basketball discussion on the site, not compete for the longest runtogethersentencespossible.

Not liking what I'm seeing so far in this game. I just don't understand why this team can't play with a sense of urgency. Totally agree with your stats Johnn19, on paper the team is on a similar pace all things considered. But does anyone really feel more confidant that Toronto can win a first round series this year than last? I don't anymore. This team needs to step it up...

Props to E.Friedman for asking the tough questions.
Excellent TJ Ford interview.

Marcia - you're cut like Luke Jackson.

Please find another site to post your illegible and frankly, prejudicial comments. If you post, you will be deleted, simple as that. We're trying to encourage good basketball discussion on the site, not compete for the longest runtogethersentencespossible.

Franchise THANK YOU

it could be a stuggle the rest of the way, although who would have thought the Rocketts would get their act together. Has the deletion of Wells and the Franchise made them that much better?

Marcia, how many of us don't like Chris Bosh? How many of us hate Jamario Moon?

Unfortunately, if anyone is a racist on this site, it would have to be you. Do you hate Jose Calderon and pray for him to break his ankle because he is white? You should really think about what you say before you post. YOU are showing everyone YOUR true colours.

By the way, I am white and I have two black god children who my wife and I adore.

Who cares about Marcia. She never makes sense anyways. How about this win? Anyone think that Parker is currently this team's MVP, hes been playin out of his mind!

Parker has been great. I posted many times last year around this time that if U need to score give the ball to Parker. I also think Mitchell will have to find Rashio the minutes He deserves when Bosh is back.One thing I noticed about Mitchell's coaching vs Mine is I never made a bad coaching decision while sitting on the coach having a pint. lol Love all the college ball this time of year basketball all day long.

I watched the entire game although I didn't get to pay much attention at most times because I was at the gym or doing some homework.

However I did notice a couple things:

I know we're developing and trying to get Andrea going but he played 47 and a half minutes. I was thinking to myself he's not kobe or lebron, however its nice to see the team has so much faith in him.

I wish he could hit some of those threes....seems to be on fire one game and ice cold the next but you got to love his confidence.

His second made basket showed why Brian invested so much in him. A quick dribble, through the legs, right around collison and finishes it with an acrobatic layup.

We were terrible defensively. No way Chris wilcox should be putting up allstar numbers against anybody. And Earl Watson shouldn't be looking like Steve Nash or Jason Kidd.

I understand that we are missing bosh however Bosh is not a defensive monster by any stretch. I would prefer to have our offence struggle as Bosh is an amazingly dynamic offensive force and our defence be top notch (for our standards).

I was also thrilled to see the starters who got sent to the bench stand up and cheer for Ford, Kopono, Delfino, Hump and Bargs during the first half.

I think a lot of guys in the media and us posters often get caught up in the in team battles. It was nice to see everyone getting along.

nice win, but it still sucked to watch that first half. awful.

as for the comparison to last year, I have to believe this team will be better come playoff time than last years squad.

bosh will be much more difficult to double and should be a force come playoff time. (looking for redemption.) the 2 man game he plays with calderon is almost unstoppable now. which brings us to the next guy: calderon. his play has been ridiculous - I think we can all agree on that. so what happens come playoff time? look for him to take it to another level.
I would imagine we're going to see delfino at the 3 come may as well. his international experience is going to trump moons hops.

all in all, I just think that come playoff time, we have a bunch of experienced players (international and otherwise) that makes this team way more likely to end up in the second round this year.

I have faith it's going to come together. (and if it doesn't, there better be some good shopping come summertime by BC!)

Was a busy sunday for me as well, so needed to rely on the boxscore to fill out the game story.

Wtf, I was pleasantly surprised by Bargnani's minutes played as well.

I think back to Bosh's early years, when Sam would leave him in for big minutes even when the Raps were getting blown out. His rationale was that it was to toughen Bosh up and make him really despise losing.

In Bargnani's case, an added benefit is that he REALLY needs the reps against NBA level competition. One thing I'll keep an eye out for is in games where the Raptors are just getting it handed it to them, ratchet up Bargnani's minutes and perhaps give Bosh the night off early. That way even if we're losing in the present, we're making progress towards a victory in the big picture.

On another note, while its nice to have the option of five shooters on the court at one time there are drawbacks. When EVERYONE's shooting to get hot, it makes for those demoralizing long rebounds and quick transition buckets the other way.

I agree on Delfino, he's got the higher bball IQ and is a consistant contributer in several areas.

As far as moon, I think he'll be more of a specialist, matching up against the bigger SFs.

Lucky for me I only got to watch the second half. It's nice to see Rasho playing well with significant minutes. I for one am quite happy to see Bargs getting a lot of burn. It is helping him get into the flow of the game. Considering he had a horrible first half (according to the stats), he seemed to get into a nice rhythm in the second. I still cringe when he misses those easy layups, which I attribute to not being used to driving to the lane. He is sometimes too quick for his own good in those situations...I know it will come soon enough.

I sure wish Kapono would shoot more though...more often than not, his shot tends to go in wherever he shoots from.

Much better game by TJ Ford tonite, although still too many TO's,looks like It's coming. Still feel he is the key to Rap's winning, with improved productivety from the bench, like this game with 43 pts and 14 rebounds.

How can you not like Jose? The guy has shown positive leadership on and off court.

I do wonder if Jose and TJ can coexist long term. Could TJ accept coming off the bench as his primary role? Considering his comments I guessing his ego would not accept it but this team’s future would be brighter if they could.

@aGM

Agreed, I've posted here before that the raps need to runs plays for Kap, but he really needs to just let the damn thing fly.
Jason, you only do one thing well: DO THAT THING. A LOT. IT AMUSES US.

also agreed that bench production is key, and I really do believe it is up to TJ to get them going....I like to think of the bench as our one entity: when the bench plays well, we have an extra all-star on the team. If you look at our wins/losses the correlation between bench production and victory is obvious. We are a deep team, and that makes up for our lack of star-power. We need to bench to out-perform the other teams, and I would like to see TJ make that his quest each night. He is good enough to make it happen.

TJ will slowly get back into the swing of things (happy to see him take it to the rim as much as he did). Awesome game by the Humpty Hump, dude came in and banged out 12 & 6 in 14 minutes of action. Got to love his bench production, I personally think Smitch should play him more. As for the Seattle game, it was a big WIN mentally, heading into the ‘Wild Wild West’. These next 5 games will give BC an idea of what our team is made up of- with our without CB4. We improved our bench for a reason right? I am hoping for 2-3 wins out West. Hopefully the RAPS can make it happen against some elite squads. Biggups to Rasho, Big Man doesn’t get enough credit for his wily veteran presence. As for TJ, until he’s back to his classic PG* form ala the HotLanta game- dude’s going to be coming off the bench. It’s going to be something he’s got to get used to if he already isn’t. Deep inside TJ knows that he’s been a starter his whole career and I think its getting to him. Slow your role baby, he’s got to come to grips with his current position… mental focus baby. These upcoming games will be huge for TJ’s learning curve as a player and person, to the coaches and to BC. The Western Road swing should be interesting. As the great Wilt the Stilt put it, "everybody pulls for David, nobody roots for Goliath." LET GO RAPS!

Not sure if anyone's currently watching the Bulls-Pistons game, but Juan Dixon is getting crunch time minutes and just sunk a silky smooth J...

...I'm now going to get out my flask...

Ddixon has played well as a Piston

A win is a win but this game was ugly early on. Once
again the Raps came out flat. No penetration, poor rebounding etc.

LA, Denver, and Golden State will beat the Raps like they stole somethin' if the Dinos play this way out west. They need to ramp it up or we're looking at 1-4 or 0-5 onthis trip.

Some props for Jose:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7892278/Suns-down-Spurs-with-passion,-energy

If you scroll down they rank the best pg's in the league. Jose is No. 9

Good for Dixon - handled himself like a pro. If he was unhappy, he didn't bring it to the arena.
Only caught the first quarter and have yet to see boxscore but just happy for the win.
Bargnani's shot wasn't falling in the 1/4 I saw, hearing 47 minutes surprises(pleasantly) me. Hope TJ did well.

With the road trip coming up, who knows what to expect. This team is good enough to win without CB4. Lets look for a big road trip. TJ, Andreas, we need you to step up.

yeah, dixon will have a nice honeymoon period for the pistons, like he did with raps and the wiz before them. Good for him, but it will pass. Not primoz has amounted to anything so far...