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by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Nov 12, 2009 1:52 PM EST in Daily Links

Last night's Toronto Raptors win over the visiting Chicago Bulls was notable for what appeared to be actual defensive effort in the second half. Check out the reaction from Raptors.com, Raptors Republic, the Zan Tabak Herald, Hoops Addict and Mediocre Forever.

For the Bulls perspective, head on over to Blog a Bull, Bulls.com blogger Sam Smith, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Herald.

Ball Don't Lie's Kelly Dwyer goes Behind the Box Score to bemoan the fact that the Bulls couldn't even score 90 on the Raptors.Yes, that is quite sad - but we'll take it!

According to Yahoo Sports, the Knicks have turned their 2010 attention to Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson.

T.Jose Caldesports' Chris Black weighs in on the similarities between Andrea Bargnani and... Steve Nash. He also looks at the exclusive club Bosh will join if he maintains averages above 25 points and 10 rebounds for the entire season.

SLAM imagines Joakim Noah as a Toronto Raptor.

For some NBA players -- like former Raptors Jason Kapono and Morris Peterson -- there's no such thing as a slam dunk.

Last night, the Raptors were all on the same page and feeding off rookie DeMar DeRozan's high energy. DeRozan's blog has a couple of those highlight reel plays.

Toronto's second-half defence was key to winning against the Bulls.

Dave Berri's Wages of Wins Journal tries to assign blame in Cleveland, with former Raptors Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon being singled out for their below average play.

Searching for the perfect gift idea for your special lady? Air Jordans now come in hooker boot form.

Nervous flyer Delonte West is B.A. Baracus from the A-Team, apparently.

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If Noah was a Raptor, it would have been the biggest waste of a #1 pick. Worse than Bargs. Urg. I can’t believe I even bothered to read through that.

Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Nov 12, 2009 2:45 PM EST reply actions

Those “woulda, coulda, shoulda” stories are always tough (Andrea Iguodala instead of Hoffa, anyone?).

But man, I would rather have a rebounding, shot-blocking centre playing alongside Chris Bosh right now.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Nov 12, 2009 2:58 PM EST reply actions

That’s noah? Bleh. I never liked his game. Or hair.

Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Nov 12, 2009 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

Wow, there sure is a lot of junk out there. I don’t think my comment on that Noah story will please the moderators on the Slam site. It’s really ridiculous how anyone with an email address has become a freaking journalist nowadays, or even an editorialist! Makes me appreciate the writers on this site that much more, not because of the lack of homerisms (cause there sure are), but simply for keeping things to the point and not forcing jumps shots :)

As for our beloved Raptor community, I think we’re all doing what we do best, that is take everything out of proportion and kill ourselves with this team. In reality, and I think we all know this deep inside, it’s just a game. We should find a way to enjoy these displays – I mean imagine what it would be like if we were losing games 85-75 instead of 150-140?

by Vlad C on Nov 12, 2009 3:39 PM EST reply actions

Good point

85-75 scores would take us back to the days of crazy Kevin O’Neill pacing the sidelines. Not a good look from a fans’ perspective.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Nov 12, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

I will admit, Noah is a better player, right now, that I ever expected him to be. I wasn’t a big fan of his coming out, and figured he’d be not much more than a high energy guy who would only really work on a high scoring team where he didn’t need to score (I thought he’d do well in Phoenix), but the guy guy has become one of the better centers in the east. Quite frankly, on this team, I’d rather have him and Bargnani.

Tim W.
The Picket Fence

by Tim W. on Nov 12, 2009 4:45 PM EST reply actions

I still believe in Bargs though. I just think this team doesn’t encourage him in the areas he needs to be playing in. People complain about his shots, positioning and such, but especially on the offensive end, we’ve seen him post up like a center should, and then never get the ball. Then of course, he doesn’t get any offensive rebounds because the only time he gets the ball is if it’s in the outside.

Noah, I still want to see have a good playoffs without making boneheaded plays… He still just makes the wrong move at the wrong time, so I’m still not a believer in him.

Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Nov 12, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, the Raptors passed up on Bargnani in the posts more than they should have, but his offense is the least of my problems with him. It’s his defense and lack of boards that keep me from wanting to keep him, and I don’t see that ever changing. I don’t expect him to be a monster on the offensive boards, but it’s not just his offensive rebounding that is, er, offensive. He doesn’t rebound nearly enough on the defensive end, despite generally guarding the opposition’s biggest player, which means he GIVES UP offensive boards to them. If you don’t grab defensive boards, it means you’re allowing someone else to grab that board, and a lot of times, that guy is on the other team.

On defense, he just doesn’t seem to be getting it. Bosh isn’t a great defender by any means, but Bargnani is just plain awful. I thought he would actually be half decent this year but he hasn’t even come close to that. He’ll make a couple of blocks and his backers will start pointing to them, apparently ignoring all the times he allowed the opposition to score.

No doubt, he’ll have some good scoring games and the criticism will wain, but his weaknesses will always hurt his game.

Tim W.
The Picket Fence

by Tim W. on Nov 12, 2009 5:07 PM EST reply actions

The ongoing theme this season is going to be rebounding and second chance points by Raptors opponents. That’s part of the reason why the Bulls horrible offence was able to hang 60 on the Raps in the first half last night. Spurs did the same thing.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Nov 12, 2009 5:12 PM EST up reply actions

Ha ha ha… Cleveland finally figuring out why the Raps let those two go eh?

Nothing against AP, but he’s old and Moon… well, enough said.

by dhackett1565 on Nov 12, 2009 9:16 PM EST reply actions

I still think Parker wasn’t a bad pickup (but he is getting old), but I thought Moon was horribly overpaid from the start. He’s not a bad 10 or 11th man, but you don’t pay them what he got AND kill your cap room for next summer.

Tim W.
The Picket Fence

by Tim W. on Nov 12, 2009 9:38 PM EST up reply actions