Tip-In: Toronto Raptors Post-Game Report - Fool's Gold
by RaptorsHQ - Franchise on Dec 12, 2009 9:33 AM EST
21 comments
Franchise has seen enough. After a second straight lopsided loss to the Hawks, it's clear that this team needs some major changes if they hope to return to the post-season...
Last year after the season had concluded, I wrote a piece asking if the Raptors were really as good as the Hawks, who last year had sewn up a fourth place position in the playoffs.
After all, when Bryan Colangelo spoke to the media at season's end, he stated that he felt last year's Raptors' club should have been on par with teams like Atlanta, fighting for one of the 4 to 8 seeds in the East.
While a 111 to 89 loss wasn't a throttling on the same level as the last time these clubs met, last night's loss to Atlanta was further proof of just how far this Dino team has to go to be on par with the Hawks. I said it last night and I'll say it again; the Raptors could take on the Hawks 10 times this season and I'm completely convinced they'd get throttled each and every time; this is just a nightmare match-up for Toronto between Atlanta's advanced talent and superior athleticism.
However that alone doesn't explain yet another lackluster effort by the Raps in a short season already full of them. While Toronto kept things close in the first quarter, they were unable to get much help from their bench (outscored 55 to 31 by the Hawks last night) and once again, the game was essentially over by halftime.
Last night's loss ran Toronto's record to 3 and 15 when they allow opponents to score 100 or more points. (Their record is 7-0 when holding teams below that 100 point plateau.)
The defence isn't there, and hasn't been all season really, and now even the offence is floundering. Toronto for the second straight game barely extended their "3-pointers made" streak, and in fact took only 10 long-range bombs last night. Simply put, this team is not nearly athletic or aggressive enough to score without a heavy dose of 3-point shooting so 10 on a night is not going to cut it.
And that three-game winning streak from last week sure looks hollow now doesn't it?
The club beat up on a terrible Bulls' team, lucked-out of an OT loss to Washington after Gilbert Arenas blew a game-winning lay-up, and barely beat a 3 and 20 Minnesota club.
And now, with a slew of tough games on the horizon, it's possible that win number 11 doesn't come until next Friday against the Nets.
The frustrating thing from my perspective, is the effort first and foremost.
It just ain't there.
I've been a Triano backer all season but it's getting pretty hard to defend him and his staff. I mean, last night marked the ninth time already this season that the Raps have been beaten by 13 or more points! I was never a big Sam Mitchell fan but it was pretty hard to argue with the effort he got out of his club on a nightly basis. Even in the Mike James era on a club devoid of talent, at least you knew you were getting a max effort each and every time the team stepped on the floor. The team scrapped and clawed on every possession and ended up upending some teams despite relying on a journeyman chucker at the 1, Chris Bosh...and Rafael Araujo. There's no arguing that this team is a lot more talented, however they don't have the fight previous incarnations of the Raps had.
That's a pretty strong statement in itself considering that it's been years since one could refer to Toronto as being a "tough" team.
At some point, and soon, something needs to be done here as it's pretty obvious that even after the vaunted "closed door meeting" the team had recently, some things haven't been fixed.
Unfortunately, aside from moving some starters around (which now seems a sure thing at least at the 1; Jose Calderon re-injured himself last night and while I have no idea why he played at all last night, he's likely to miss a big chunk of time), I'm not sure what else can be done. The problems start with this team's composition and the players themselves, and a coaching change or line-up swap is again only a band-aid solution.
The reality in my books is that once again Bryan Colangelo has put together a team in his own image; flashy on the outside but hollow beyond that. Sure, the offence looks nice most of the time, but that's all for naught if the defence is beyond paper-thin, the effort isn't there every night, and the team wilts at the slightest challenge. The Raptors shot over 55 per cent from the field in the first quarter last night, but again were still behind on the scoreboard. That's simply absurd, but a defining statement about this club, who again fell to pieces as soon as Atlanta made their second quarter push.
That's why it still blows my mind that Toronto thought maxing out on Hedo Turkoglu was a good idea. The team is already chalk-full of players in his ilk; ones who can do a bit of everything, but who can't take over games when need be or defend and get stops.
In many ways he's the perfect Bryan Colangelo player, a fool's gold specimen if you will. 12 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists with a block looks beautiful on paper (or on your fantasy team), but again this came in a very lopsided loss, one in which he barely had an impact.
He's not alone in this boat though as we're 25 games into the season and this team still has no identity. The team has been outplayed badly in over a third of the games they've played, and risk running their lone bright spot right out of town.
Something's gotta give here.
Unfortunately, I'm just not sure what BC can do to get out of the corner he's boxed himself into.
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most likely We will have a host of posts today from trade everybody fire coaches but this team is still performing like they did in preseason when we all here were up in arms and was blaming it on having so many new faces, Last night I watched the Portland Cleveland game the Portland only had 9 players and max effort to the last second was given by all.U gave no solution for the problems here but I am not surprised based on what I seen in preseason. This team is not fun to watch, I wait for their undoing every game. No reason to be pumped about this team making playoffs before the season started and more so now, 60 wins 50 wins 40 wins who were we kidding try 35 maybe. It’s going to be a long season unless something changes. Van Gundy mentioned in the Portland game He feels JT might not last much longer Most likely He will be the first then a few players if They can be traded with their payroll then We will be saying it will take time for the new players and coach to gel. I am afraid our trade bait players are the ones We want to keep like A Johnson Really it’s BC who maybe should go?
I don’t know what will happen but like Most here frustration is at an all time high. when I plan My time around watching the raptor games and turn it off game after game before half time. Maybe time to root for a new team like Portland who plays hard.
At least the streak is alive if that is meaningful to anything.
Post of the year
Franchise, you captured my perspective on this team almost perfectly in this post. Those who were calling for Smitch’s head last season, thinking his firing would be a cure-all never realized that the Raptors’ issues are deaper than X’s and O’s.
The problem is, Brian Colangelo’s view of how to build a winning team in today’s NBA is fundamentally flawed. He overvalues certain competencies (i.e. jump shooting) while core basketball skills that are difficult to quantify (athleticism, defensive awareness, toughness, offensive aggressiveness, PRIDE, commitment, team play) are almost completely ignored. Look at the three guys BC has given big money to over the last few years: Calderone, Turk and Bargani. All of which are more “part of the problem” on this team than anythign else.
I watched “Behind the Draft” and there was a scene that irked me at the time. When Golden State drafted Curry, BC almost jumped out of his chair in excitment, exclaiming to Gharadini “Bellinelli will be available!”. Realy, with all that was going on last year, where it was completely obvious that Belli was not what this team needed, that is what excited him?!? I said it last year, and unfortunately I’m saying it again. I don’t like watching this team play. I could go to the YMCA and watch a lay-up line, or jump shots… Bosh not included.
Post of the year x2
BC has done four good things since becoming GM
1. He signed Calderon long term
2. He got Garbajosa
3. He got Parker
4. Flip Araujo for something
And here’s the list of the dumb moves he did
1. Draft Bargnani over Rudy Gay and Lamarcus Aldridge
2. Trade Villanueva for TJ Ford
3. Trade TJ Ford for Jermaine O’Neal
4. Sign Hedo Turkoglu
5. Not have found a way to get ANY COMBINATION of Von Wafer, Linas Kleiza, Channing Frye, Zaza Pachulia, Jamal Crawford.
6. Not getting a more proven coach to replace Sam Mitchell
I think that’s what I remember BC for. Now we have a team who even if they give their best effort will never be able to contest the likes of the Lakers, Nuggets, Celtics or Magic. Let alone the Hawks
we forgot...
The Kapono signing… Another head scratcher. Throw in the Triano hiring as well.
Triano
The man doesn’t excude one bit of confidence,he looks like a man that knows his days are numbered ,and in all fairness they should be…and guess what the players sense it as well.
Grow a set of balls,who is running this team,from what I see its the inmates and they are hanging him out to dry.
Its been one excuse after another,people arriving to camp tired,and out of shape,learning a new system,all these new bodies….man up for chr… sake.
Nobody expected to beat the Hawks,but effort like the first quarter for 48 minutes would of been nice…I look at his face,and I just want to….and I dont play for him..
Starts at the top….BC you assembled this team its up to you to figure out you intend to blow it up !!!
As usual I might be in the minority here but I think we need to keep the coach, keep all of our players and keep going till the end of the season. This organization lacks continuity & commitment; we need to stay committed to our coaching staff and the players. This isn’t a bad team when they play hard, the problem right now is they don’t play hard often enough. Firing the coach and make “lateral” trades has never and will never turn our season around. Having said that, if a trade is available that clearly & truely makes us better than thats the only move that should be made at this point.
Also, having a lottery pick in the next draft isn’t a bad thing, this team needs appreciating talent badly. The Hawks are a good example of picking guys in the draft who grow into solid pros thus improving a little bit every yr.
by Member29 on Dec 12, 2009 12:19 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I agree that we should fire the coach, I don’t think Triano is a bad coach, it’s just that the team will need to learn at the same time he’s learning.
This team DOES NEED some trades, They need a more solid center (PACHULIA), they need a more explosive SG (either move Weems to a more predominant role or get someone, Von Wafer), they need to let go of Turkoglu somehow. They need to make trades bad.
I don't know if Jay is any good
I don’t know enough about hoops to tell if the problem with the team is something that falls under the coach’s mantle: getting effort out of players, coaching em up in practice, creating and calling plays and defenses, etc., or whether it’s a problem with the players/talent/chemistry.
That being said, I think that a Phil Jackson or a Pop would have a huge impact on this team, especially the defensive end. But upgrading JT to a failed retread from the NBA coaching carousel is unlikely to make a damn bit of difference.
Triano
I haven’t posted in quite a while (formerly Jeff but apparently that name is taken) because usually everything’s been thoroughly covered by the time I can post. However, I saw something in the second quarter last night that set me off. Atlanta was running a play where Jamal Crawford was being guarded at the top of the key by Derozan; Pachulia, who is being guarded by Bosh comes up and stands beside Derozan (it was the laziest attempt at a pick I’ve seen in a long time). Although TOTALLY unnecessary, Bosh and Derozan switch, leaving Derozan on Pachulia in the post (which is bad) and Bosh on Crawford at the top of the key (which is worse). They ran this “play” 4 times in a row in the second quarter and scored on 3. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR A SWITCH, yet we did it anyway. If that’s coaching, the coach should be fired, if that’s the players making that call, then they should be sat. But in a nutshell, that’s what’s wrong with our defense.
To Aaron’s comment about bringing in a quality, experienced coach, forget it. Colangelo would never do that because if it didn’t work, it would all fall on him. With a guy like Triano, Colangelo can always throw the coach under the bus and spin it that it will be different when we get new inexperienced coach X in here. Good survival skill; terrible for building a winning team.
That’s the coaching, my friend. It’s the vaunted “system” that we keep hearing about.
Well, guess what? The system is not working.
I’m not claiming to be any kind of coaching guru here, but i don’t see how switching on everything is an effective defensive strategy. Phoenix was another team that absolutely exploited this foolishness. You end up with Calderon guarding Amar’e in the post, etc.
And remember the Paul Pierce dunk on Chris Bosh — which has to be one of the lower points of the season so far — started with Rasho checking Pierce at the top of the arc. Just retarded.
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Dec 12, 2009 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
If we’re not athletic enough to fight through (over) picks and catch up and get back in front of the ballhandler, then there’s a need to switch. The only alternative is an open path to the basket, followed by — Bargs leaving his man to help = open pass to big man = lay-up.
I’d rather see us going under picks some time and giving up the open 18 footer.
There’s a need to switch sometimes. I mean, a guy can set a good pick and at that point, sure, go ahead. But this Raptors team is switching on EVERYTHING. It just makes no sense.
Instead of switching all the time, perhaps teach guys to yell “right” or “left” to call out when a pick is coming, and then have the defender go over or under the pick. That’s a pretty simple bit of basketball that you’d probably be able to witness at the local Y.
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Dec 12, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
I certainly agree that sometimes a switch is necessary. What bugs me is that we seem to have pre-determined what we are going to do (switch EVERY time). It puts us in mismatches all over the place. In the example I gave, the first two times Crawford blew by Bosh for a layup, then the third time everybody collapsed on Crawford and he kicked it out and after a swing pass, got a wide open 3. Derozan staying on Crawford may not have produced a better result, but it couldn’t have produced a worse on, and he’s certainly more equipped to deal with Crawford than Bosh is.
As a general rule, a teams switching strategy should be based on the quality of pick and then the skills of player with the ball. If he can’t shoot, go under. If he’s Ray Allen or Steve Nash, go over. They just need to read a basic scouting report.
This “system” reeks of Coaches overvaluing their own importance. Don’t make it harder than it needs to be. Basic is good sometimes.
Agree about the switching
it is absolutely ridiculous that this team switches on every half-pick. This is all on Triano. If he employed a basic defensive strategy, at least we will get a fair assessment of each player’s defense (most likely still terrible). What ticks me off is that nobody is held accountable when this crazy hyper switching and over-helping defense is used.
props to RaptorsHQ though
by the way. Keep up with the great work. I’ve been reading for years and this still is the best raptors site around. Level-headed, well-written, and does not try to hard to be funny. Love it.
Much better than the other Raptors blog.
give them a break
Yeah, I know the record right now isn’t the best. Nevertheless, this was a better showing than the last time out against the Hawks, who of course did come into Air Canada center with a lot of swagger, quite understandable after the drubbing they laid on us last time. Let’s hope that practice time starts paying more solid dividends… but also let’s get behind this team. Why should we expect exceptional change if we ourselves are not willing to take exceptional measures to let them know we believe in them? We pay our tickets, but when has anyone ever said “that was gutsy support by the Raptor fans”? Remember: “Ya gotta believe!”… let them know it.
Sure, we can be upset about Hedo because his shooting has been cold lately. But guess what people? This happens to even the best. He’s still the man to have in there in clutch time; a three-week dry spell doesn’t change the man’s character.
Bargnani is Bargnani… a unique mix of talent but not your regular fiesty low-post type center. He’s actually most potent beyond the arc… plus has the goods for spectacular, soaring drives to the rim. However, this usually means one less rebounder on the offensive boards. When his shot is on, the Raptors are unstoppable. When it’s off… well, you live and die by the 3 ball.
Bosh, on the other hand, gives 100% every night and has the muscle and desire to fight inside. I mostly feel bad for him, but he also has to call out guys who are not pulling their weight.
Triano is plenty smart for the job and with more experience maybe he’ll be less intellectually oriented with the players. But, hell, they’re all grown men in a physical battle out there; he shouldn’t be the only one taking the heat when the shots and desire fall off.
As individuals the three big men get great respect around the league. The problem is that with their particular mix of talent the team is still short one under-the-basket star rebounder, and no bench player right now plays fiercely enough to think that they will be the person to sub in and take control of the boards.
If we’re looking to trade, we might be able to grab rebounding muscle via a DeJuan Blair from SAS or Chris Wilson from DET or pick up youthful athleticism in a JaVale McGee (or even a Andre Blatche) from WAS.
It just seems that this year more than others the elite teams really are outstandingly tough. The Raps can’t be expected to change that in only two months.
Panic Time?
Still not convinced its panick time quite yet, so I guess I will wait until the end of this month to join the choir.
No, it hasn’t gone as good as we had hoped these first 20(ah, I guess its 25 now). Next few games won’t make it any better. This team loses to better teams and we are playing better teams.
I do not want to over-react to a loss to the Hawks. I don’t like repeating what several have said, but they just have our number. I think the Hawks are finally ready to maintain near the top of the Eastern standings( remembering that these guys were in the lottery for years).
The Raptor’s are not. I thought there might be a chance going into this preseason that we might creep up, but thats as laughable as Jay’s top 6 defence now.
triano isnt a good coach
Triano is a smart guy he knws wht to say but he isn a good coach he doenst knw how to get after ppl hes not hard noised n thts wht we need
i think we should go after avery johnson and trade calderon i agree with chad ford calderon is the worst defensive point guard ever
by raptors_run_the_show on Dec 12, 2009 7:24 PM EST reply actions
Was at the game last night
regardless of which combination was out there the hawks were running full speed against 5 guys going 80% ALL NIGHT.. they defended 4/5 of the court, getting beat to the baseline like a dj (see what i did there).. so frustrating to watch and the worst part was half atlanta’s misses were actually on open looks not even a hand in the face forcing the tough shot.. Could have been so much worse
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