Tip-In: Toronto Raptors Post Game - Ok...so can we move on?

good point? what is up with JO? He's gone completely AWOL? No news, no sightings. Is there any issues with him and the team? Is he getting treatment? What up?

Maybe O'Neal was getting worked on in the dressing room? I know I'm looking for excuses at this point.

Great recap - actually looking forward to the celtics who suddenly look like theyre selfdestructing.

Was switching back and forth between rappies and cavs games and cs look lost right now so hopefully t o can jump on them.

Id hate for toronto to be the team that helps boston get back on track against en route to another 19 straight wins.

um, just a while we we openly speculating about being lottery-bound. Win's were pretty rare, and we did lose against Okla, so I am happy about this.

Bargs had some NICE moves in this game. And he was shooting it inside, outside, posting, driving, the whole skill set.

It really looked to me like the team was communicating better to me. Nice to see. Yeah, it was memphis, but maybe the team has finally turned the corner?

The pushing back against Garnett led teams isn't new. One of the more interesting moments in recent Raptor history was Matt Bonner getting ejected over his involvement with Garnett in a game the Raptors won handily, and if memory serves me correctly, Minnesota was a playoff team that year. I don't know what's up with the Cs, really. Perhaps it's just their talent showing itself for what it is over the course of a long season, a well complemented top heavy team with a collection of role players that play in sync, heavily reliant on chemistry and each player buying into his place on the hierarchy. The chemistry is off, the intensity has subsided, and the confidence has shifted slightly so they are susceptible to losing streaks. You still have to be sharp to beat them though. I'm not sure of the timing but this slide seems to coincide with the Big baby Davis melt down on the bench after being chewed out by Garnett. Maybe subconsciously the team has grown tired of the Big Ticket's way of doing things.

Doug Smith says JO was in the locker room getting treatment and says nothing sinister is afoot, for whatever that's worth.

Another key to tomorrow - push the tempo.

That's how Toronto was effective against the C's in the game they lead right up until the final minutes. And in their last bunch of losses, teams kept pressing Boston in transition, getting easy baskets and exploiting the team's lack of athleticism, especially off the bench.

Best example was Charlotte.

Augustin, Wallace and Felton gave the Celtics fits and when those three missed attacks at the hoop, Okafor was there to clean things up since all the defensive attention had been drawn to whoever was attacking the rim.

Toronto doesn't have the same composition in terms of back-court speed and athleticism but it might not be a bad idea to let Roko get some major run tomorrow. He's the one guy who's quick and crafty enough to consistently get into the paint, especially since we don't know how confident Jose will be to attack the basket.

I for one would love to see Bargs come out and take it to the Celts. This would be a true indicator of just how far he has come. Even if he has an off game, I would love to see some hard aggression from him.

are there not 24 hours in a day? and can JO not get treatment when his teammates are practicing or on his downtime? I mean seriously, it has to be during the game? when it looks really bad that the most expensive player on the team isn't around?

I don't think its a question anymore. O'Neal should come off the bench. And most definately will. Sincerely hope he buys into it and actually think he will adapt.

Triano is coaching for his future and will not screw around. The other day in an interview he danced around the question of Bargnani starting over JO. To me thats as good as saying yes Bargnani will start. Why not come out clearly and support the injured starter? Fact is this is probably the best chemistry Bosh and Bargnani have shown. Is that not the key to the Raptors future success?

This is not an anti JO rant. I think he has played really well in his time here. I love his toughness, inside presence and even his offence. Don't forget prior to his recent injury he was dropping 20 a game. BUT, we weren't winning. We were actually losing pretty ugly.

Bargnani is finally playing to his potential and playing with more confidence than ever.(knock freaken wood) His defence has improved vastly and even the refs seem to be giving him more of the benefit of the doubt. There is no way the Raps dick around with his role now.

Voshkul,in his brief time here, has deservedly earned a spot in the game rotation. As popular as Humphries is, Voshkul's contribution is more valuable than Hump's. Triano must find a way to keep his minutes while he continues to contribute.

Can't think of a better time to meet the defending champ Celtics. They are reeling and boy does it look good on them. Can we out tough them? Push them around? A really good test at a really good time.
Am hoping for a split but if we win first in Beantown, would not a sweep be sweet? Turn the corner for this team? Get us back in the playoff picture?
Here's hoping Jose is healthy, the drop off between him and Will is to great.

Great recap and preview Howland. I'm completely in agreement that this will show whether this team has had a breakthrough or just bargnani.... On the other hand, Calderon's not 100% and probably out of rhythym, so we're still not seeing this team as it's meant to be.

As far as JO goes, he's a team player and I'd bet money he's staying in the locker room so that he's not a distraction while bargnani starts. He knows he's coming off an injury and that he will probably be traded next year, so sitting on the bench and being a cheerleader is not worth the potential distraction...

Making WAY too much about JO not on the bench. Calderon would not have been there either if he hadn't been getting treatment before the game so he could try to play (thankfully he's close).

I still want to see this team at full strength and in a rhythm before we make any JO move. The longer we hold on to JO, the more valuable his contract becomes . I also think he will be key down the stretch and in the playoffs when play starts getting more physical. His value could skyrocket if (big if at this point) stays healthy and shows some moxie when it really counts.

Torn about starting AB versus JO but, man, do I love the dilemma. I though we would be having this debate because JO wasn't performing and we needed to give AB more minutes to develop, but both are playing well.

Question: With JO healthy, do we have the best big man rotation the league?

Well, I can't afford to go to many b-ball games (I spend my money on baseball tickets)--usually only one or two a year. Yesterday was my first one this season, and while certainly a generally boring game, it wasn't so bad for those of us who can't go all the time.

(the crowd was the most boring part--much worse than at Jays games where fans are at least talking and laughing rather than mindlessly staring at all the corporate promotions that the ACC throws at you.)

Bargnani is far from a finished work of art but it apears to me that a greater committment to defense has led to a greater awareness all over the court. Kudos to Bargs on the blocked shot late in the last game when he ran from one side of the court to the other to make the block. That takes awareness and desire. I love to see players with fire in their eyes (Bosh!). Keep it up Bargs, it's spreading.

I forgot to add - the announcers yesterday mentioned how Bargnani has slowed his offense down a bit to get into a better rhythm. I think that Parker and especially Kopono could use the same advice. Quick on the gun is nice but the idea is to hit the target. Good team play by P&K though.

I think Andrea is responding to Trianno more than anything. No one mentions the fact that Smitch was a hard ass coach on Bargs, and he just couldn't take it. The boy (and let's face it, he's still just a kid) was a bit too sensitive to the in-your-face approach coaching style of Mitchell. And now with the kind hand holding of JT, plus the extra minutes in JO's absence (and he's really absent--why isn't he on the bench, hmmm?), il mago is feeling better about life.

From espncom this morn:

They're still strongly against parting with Andrea Bargnani, but they're also still looking to upgrade on the wing (Chicago's Andres Nocioni is a possibility) while also trying to determine if the Chris Bosh/Jermaine O'Neal experiment -- which hasn't worked out as a high-post/low-post combo like Toronto imagined -- can be salvaged or is best abandoned quickly.

I love Jose but foe God sake please back off Rando and keep him in front of you.

He can't shoot!!!

Bosh needs a pink dress!

This one is on Triano Jose is struggling he is not helping at this point please sub in Will or the kid....

I can't believe I'm asking for Will !
>:!

Why, if Jose is not completely healthy, is he in the game at all? Stupid.

Just a few quesions:
Where is the real Anthony Parker?
Is J Moon really that much better than Joey G?
Should Will get more minutes than Roko?
Is there anyway we can have Bosh shoot more threes?
Is there anyway to disquise our only "crunch time" offence?( throw it in to Bosh and everybody turn and walk back)

we soooooo had a chance in this game... calderon shouldn't have played I guess, we lost in the first quarter