Gone Garbo Gone

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Jun 17, 2008 12:00 AM EDT in General

It feels like a lifetime ago since this guy suited up.....

Let’s go back a couple of summers when BC took the reigns of this team. Every single Raps fan was suddenly excited about the future of their beloved Raps. We the arrival of Colangelo suddenly the Toronto Raptors were relevant again.

Then something bizarre happened. That something bizarre was the signing of Jorge Garbajosa.
For most the first question that was asked was "Who?"

That question was a fair one even for the most avid Raptors fan. When the signing was first announced we here at the HQ scoured the web to figure out who this mystery man was. The results based on our research were mixed.

Just weeks after the signing we had our first opportunity to really watch and focus in on the Raptors newest million dollar man. It was time for the World Championships. Suddenly this tournament took on a whole new meaning for Raps fans as guys like Calderon, Garbo, Rasho and others were all key parts of their respective teams. The problem was, after the tournament there were still more questions than answers about the "Garbage Man". We were legitimately concerned, despite Spain’s big win.

When Jorge first donned a Raptors jersey people remained sceptical. By all accounts Garbo essentially looked like that older guy who continued to play pick-up ball at your local YMCA - shaggy hair, average athleticism and all. Many of you have to admit you never expected squat from this guy and early returns were not exactly spectacular, hell they may have even been a little sub-par.

As the season progressed however, Raptors fans started to see what BC and Gheradini had hoped for when they inked this 28 year old rookie. Garbo started to get more comfortable, he was in the starting line-up, and the results looked more and more promising as the season wore on.

Late in the 2006-07 season he put up 22 against the Nuggets was doing a solid job on the glass on a nightly basis. Perhaps more importantly however, was that he was playing smart basketball. Each game you could count on Garbo taking a change, roughing up the other teams SF, and believe it or not more than a steal a game. In the 69 games he played he averaged 8.5 ppg, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals. These numbers are strikingly similar to those put up by Jamario Moon this season.

Of course Moon and Garbo couldn’t be any more different. One relies on his raw athleticism while the other relies on his grey matter and knowledge of the game. Garbo played with his head. He could force people to leave their feet, force the defence to react and make the smart play time and time again. Rarely did he force a shot, turn the ball over or play outside his comfort zone. He was a steady hand. Garbo wasn’t the sort of player that you would see on the highlights later that night. His influence on the game however was usually never in doubt.

As the season wore on fans started to appreciate what Garbo brought to the table and we here at the HQ and others started to call him the "x-factor". How Garbo played we thought, would have a tremendous impact on how far this team went in the post-season. With a possible first round match-up with the Nets many of us truly believed that Garbo could make life tough on Vince Carter on both ends of the court. He was tough, capable offensively, and posed an interesting match-up.

Then suddenly, everything changed. A gruesome injury on the floor of the Boston Garden slammed the door shut on Garbo’s season. So long "x-factor". So long steady hand.

Since that injury Jorge has become an afterthought. After the injury there was some hope that Garbo would make a full return. His playing in the Olympic Qualifier seemed like a good indication that he was ready to contribute to the Raps in the 07-08 season. Although there was some dispute over just "how" healthy he was things looked better than one would have expected given the look on Al Jefferson’s face when Jorge originally went down.

Unfortunately the questions surrounding Jorge’s health have lingered. After playing in the summer of 07 for the Spanish team, when the NBA season started up again things went sour quickly. Garbo played less than 10 games and then was shut down again. People then forgot about Jorge Garbajosa.

What’s interesting is when you look back on the season past Garbo’s disappearance had a tremendous impact on the season. The best example of this is with regards to Jamario Moon.

Without Garbo's injury no-one would know this guy.

Without Garbo’s injury there likely wouldn’t have been a Jamario Moon story to tell. I also can’t help but wonder how different the playoff match-up would have been against the Magic. In my opinion the Raps would have had more success with Jorge manning the three against Hedo than Moon. Would the Raps have won the series? Unlikely in my opinion (as I discussed on the site I expected a 4-1 result) but it would have been a better contested battle. In fact his steady play would have been more than welcome at many points during the season.

Now it looks like Garbo won’t be coming back at all. What was a three year commitment essentially boiled down to one full season of play. The return on this investment was not as was hoped. Years from now when you look back at this era of Raptors basketball Garbo will be nothing more than a blip on the radar. Besides these will be known as the times when CB4 made the Raptors his own.

What is disappointing is that many of the characteristics he showed on the court are those that this team is searching for this off-season.

It’s like we barely knew the guy, and that’s a shame.

HOWLAND

- Don't forget to check raptorsdrafthq.com for all the latest updates on the workouts and draft news as it happens!

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Nice piece.

What a huge opportunity missed to lose this guy's playmaking skills.

by axl on Jun 17, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

from Detroit Bad Boys blog more Raptor rumours

[…] The craziest rumor is, however, the possible return of Primoz Brezec to his home country of Slovenia. Apparently, a very rich entrepreneur wants to pay Brezec’ salary while he would play for Olimpija Ljubljana. How true this is, has yet to be verified but Brezec has already stated that he won’t stay in the NBA for less than USD 3 million (about EUR 1.5 million net), a salary that top European teams like Barcelona where he is rumored to go, can pay.

by Davl on Jun 17, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Heh, if i recall correctly, that "Who is Jorge Garbajosa" article was how i first met this site. I was just a spanish bball fan curious to know how canadian fans were reacting to the signing... and look at me two years later I am a convinced Raptors fan and will stay so, even if/when Calderon eventually leaves and they field no spanish players at all... Go Raps go!

About Garbo, when he joined the NBA I was skeptical he'd get more than garbage minutes because of how little highlightish his game is. So it was a nice surprise that people came to appreciate what he brings to the court. Also I must say that, as critical as I've been of Mitchell, I felt it was a big reason for Garbo's success that the coach gave him a lot of confidence from the beginning, even when he was bricking most of his 3p attemps...

On the negative side, the injury of course and I still think he was a quite better 3p shooter than he showed here, he didn't seem to adapt to the extra length of the NBA 3p line. That's more of less what we've seen in Europe: the intangibles guy you saw here + a +40% 3p shooter.

by Sergi P on Jun 17, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

i dont usually commen at all but i visit this blog often. this was well written. very nice read. i will miss garbo aswell i was preaching this guys name to my buddies all last season. he was consistant, and thats somthing we sorely lacked this season.

by drew on Jun 17, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

UPDATE!!

Spanish websites reporting the buyout papers have been signed by the Raptors and the Spanish Baskeball Federation and that Garbo has been waived:

http://www.as.com/baloncesto/articulo/garbajosa-rescinde-contrato-raptors/dasbal/20080617dasdasbal_5/Tes','651'
(in Spanish)

by vulcanoboy on Jun 17, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

OT.

Watched many playoff games and other than the first 2 rounds in the east and watching New Orleans I found the playoffs quite boring Kobe sure is no MJ in fact He is not as good as Pierce (which I have a new found respect for) Odom from LA is a very good player. Looking forward to the off season and Next Fall but the C's will be hard to beat again next year. They are clearly a "TEAM" and are the deserving champions. Congratulations Boston Celtics.

by Davl on Jun 18, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats to the Celtics,well deserved,...at the end of the day it was defence,and the extra pieces they brought in (House,Posey,Brown)to complement the big three.
Rondo was amazing ,ya made some mistakes but his defense(which reminded me of TJ was awsome.
The boys in green played like a blue collar team,not pre madonas.
Sad to see Garbo done,he will be remembered for his grit and I guess his passion to play for his country.

by d279 on Jun 18, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

I couldn't believe the ease at which Boston destroyed LA last night. Tough finals to watch as a Raptors' fan in some respects (those preseason ideas of being neck and neck with Boston in the Atlantic seem like decades ago now) but I was just glad not to see Kobe win. And yeah, kill the MJ talk please.

On another note, sounds like the Garbo buyout is nearly official.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/445183

With the draft around the corner and Toronto conducting another free-agent camp this weekend, it sounds more and more like BC expects to have a number of new roster spots open this fall.

http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/freeagent_061708.html

Does that mean therefore taking a look at a second round pick? Well considering that a number of the players listed as participants for the pre-draft camp were former second rounders, I wonder if Toronto would rather have one of these journeymen who slipped through the cracks than a raw college prospect to fill out their bench.

Hey...it worked out well with Jamario right?

by Franchise on Jun 18, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

I dislike the Boston Celtics....alot. The way they were put together last off season puts a bad taste in my mouth.
Brian Scalabrine has a ring?!? Whaaaat!?!?
Some thoughts: The Lakers really didn't play like a Phil Jackson team.
Could Jordan's Bulls have beaten the Celtics?
Without Paul Pierce the Celtics were toast. KG(GM 6 notwithstanding) and Ray Allen were just supporting cast. I think we know now why KG and Ray Ray were unable to win championships on their own.

by OneandDone on Jun 18, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

OneandDone says:
June 18th, 2008
I dislike the Boston Celtics....alot. The way they were put together last off season puts a bad taste in my mouth.

I am with U there. I only root for 3 teams Raptors Pistons and anybody playing the Celtics

Brian Scalabrine has a ring?!? Whaaaat!?!?

So does Matt Bonner etc.....

There are supporting casts on every winning team getting rings.

by Davl on Jun 18, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Sad to see Garbo go, as he brought an identity to the team. But, the injury was horrible, and I have my doubts if he would be useful if he came back.

I also have NO problems with anyone who wants to play for their country. It shows a passion, and love of the game, that few ahve these days.

by Scott on Jun 18, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Did anyone else notice KG pocket an extra few million on the court at the end of the game?

He got asked by ABC right after the buzzer how he felt, and put on a show screaming..."Anything is possible"

Hmmm...isnt that an Adidas tagline? Funny how at the apparent most important time in his playing career...he is thinking $$ signs and business.

by Blue Edwards on Jun 18, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Garnett doing a dance for adidas? I can't believe it! Even after him changing his number from 21 to 5 (I heard he asked for it to be written as 5ive too) Coincidence?

Doesn't he pitch Viagara too?

by Ethan on Jun 18, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions