Raptors were never a good defensive team. If their offense does not click, Raptors will have a very long season. Even the best player will have off nights. Bosh was off. Jack’s shooting sucks. There was no chemistry. Even when you are shooting .500, you were blown out of the game. This is when the best Rockets players were not on the floor. Men, Triano better teach these guys how to play defense.

One other positive I saw: Rasho had a nice second half.

But, of course, that’s little compensation for a horrible team showing.

Even Bosh with the added weight is now really a 1/2 to a full step too slow on defense. Of the current starting group only DeRozan is quick enough to ever become an effective NBA defender and as a rookie he has a lot still to learn.

The starting group is also not physically tough enough to become a good defensive unit.

The mindset for defense has almost always been a career after thought for the starters and it to expect a signficant change in that mindset from an applied effort perspective might be stretching it a bit.

For the Raptors to win most nights with the guys that they have on current roster the starters are going to need to have a very good shooting night.

At this point I can see the bench as basically a hold em unit. So whatever point spread exists when they come in should probably be about what it is when the starters return. On some nights there could be a swing to the plus or minus but for the most part the current 2nd unit seems to me to be basically a breakeven unit.

Only preseason folks so lets not get tooooo crazy here.

I agree that the team hasnt played well but i think that a lot of that has to do with players getting back in shape or learning roles etc.

Last night there were so many open 3s and i almost think that that had more to do with not understanding the system and roles than simply bad defense.

If this sort of performance happens in december ill be worried but for now, going to just enjoy the fact that ball is back.

I agree; he’s just not in game shape yet; he’ll be fine. I’m more worried about Jose.

When Weems and Amir and Bellinelli were on together last night it was a joy to watch. We were up and down the court, driving, dunking, passing beautifully and had an 11 point lead at one point. Things fall apart. But there are positive signs. I think it’ll boil down to lineups and chemistry.

I did not see this game, but it seems obvious this is another of those games (all preseason) the two teams were not trying to win, they were scrimmaging, so, all comments like: we lost because….“whatever” do not stand ground.
It seems apparent however THERE is a problem about gelling and about late availability/poor gaming shape of (in the case of the Raptors major) players and they actually feed into each other. This issues are real and they are reasonable. I am looking at you Howland and your other day article.
Renato

still think all judgement should be reserved until this thing goes live. and even then, until a few weeks afterwards.

let’s have faith that both the coaching staff and the players know what they’re doing. come the 28th, we’ll go at them hard.

so what about that full court press?? that was a thing of beauty. again, let’s have faith that we haven’t seen everything they’re going to be using just yet.

Rap’s were down 93-89 starting the fourth qtr. FOUR POINTS ? A winable game, even with all the poor defensive coverage on the 3pt shooters.
Bosh/Turkoglu/Calderon did not play the 4th (3 of the teams best scorers)
Bosh 25mins, Calderon 20mins, Turkoglu 22mins in the game.
DOES THAT LOOK LIKE A GAME JT WANTED TO WIN ?
Fourth quarter Johnson, Nesterovic, Jack, O’Bryant, Belinelli, etc
DOES THAT LOOK LIKE A GAME JT WANTED TO WIN ???

Twelve days to go for 2 games plus lot’s of practice.

I would think JT already has a pretty good idea of how CB/AB/JC and the Turk can and will be able to to score and defend.

However Jack, Weems, Johnson, Belinelli, Nesterovic, O’Bryant, etc playing together, on the 2nd unit, I would expect is something that he needs to see more of, and why they are playing the whole 4th quarter, win or lose. He is especially looking for Jack to lead that group and be a scorer, something he is struggling with.

Anyone that doesn’t know that either has been watching some other hoops league or has been on the kool-air while watching NBA games.

The open looks have got to be a concern. Looked like last season.
We losing the battle of the boards, again.
Judging by the minutes distributed in the fourth quarter, really not concerned of outcome.
Anyone else really, really concerned about the quality of refs?
Johnson and Weems have both deservedly climbed up the depth chart. Not too sure what that states for this season, but real good for the longterm of this team.
Wnat I’ve seen from Belinelli so far has dropped him down the depth chart.
Biggest X-Factor remains the coaching of Jay Triano. We all wish him success.
Bargnani plays better with Bosh off the floor. Am a long ways away frombeing convinced these two can play together. This is year 4!
DeRozan will play quality minutes this season. Rasho might not.

Scored tickets for the C’s on Sunday. My son is a huge Pierce fan. Look for me in section122.

Gotta say I agree with the thought that “taking time to gel” is an excuse, Season starts against the Cavs. Training camp and pre-season games is about warming up. All teams go through same adjustments, albeit Raptors really did overhaul their roster. Main goal out of preseason is to get familiarated with system and stay healthy. Sadly we’ve been hit with quite a few injuries to start the preseason.and it has and will continue to hinder our developement as a team.
That being said, take a look at our first ten games. Talk about getting tested early. Cavs, Pistons, Magic, @ Hornets, @ Mavericks, @ Spurs, @ Suns and Bulls. Through in road games against the Grizzlies(game 2) and Clippers. We sure as !! better be ready. Realistically it we come out with 4 W’s out of these first ten games you would have to be happy..
The next ten includes road games in Denver, Utah, Boston, Atlanta and Washington ansd home games against Heat, Magic and Suns.
Know I don’t have a crystal ball, but in all likelyhood, on Dec 5, after 20 games, the Raptors will be an under 500 ball club.
Full circle now, regarding taking time to gel. This team best gets busy because season starts October 28 and the first month is a freeken doozy!