Lunchbox Links

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Dec 4, 2009 1:09 PM EST in Daily Links

Dave Berri's Wages of Wins Journal thinks maybe it is time to stop blaming the coach in Toronto. The team’s efficiency differential – offensive efficiency (points scored per possession) minus defensive efficiency (points surrendered per possession) – of -5.9 suggests the Raptors are only going to win about 26 games in 2009-10. Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon are on pace to produce 19.2 of those wins.

So yes, the rest of the lineup -- outside of Amir Johnson and possibly Rasho Nesterovic -- sucks.

The Raptors boast one of the tallest lineups in the NBA. So it makes sense to pay attention to Kevin Pelton's examination of height in the NBA. Although there is a positive relationship between effective height and winning percentage, it is not very strong. And height actually correlates slightly better with offensive efficiency (.169) than at the defensive end (.141).

Bryan Colangelo doesn't pass the buck.

Former Raptors coach Sam Mitchell has advice for Jay Triano.

Check out previews of tonight's Toronto-Washington game from NBA.com and the National Post. Yesterday, members of the Wizards and Raptors helped to distribute 26 tractor-trailer loads of food, clothes, personal items and toys to about 10,000 people Thursday during a massive holiday giveway sponsored by the NBA Players' Association and Feed the Children.

A Miami Sun-Sentinel reader asks columnist Ira Winderman whether Michael Beasley-for-Bosh still make sense?

Tim from The Picket Fence concludes his look at how to fix the Raptors.

RaptorBlog's Scott Carefoot recaps the season so far, in quotes.

Demar DeRozan believes he could beat LeBron James in the dunk contest. It's nice to dream about beating somebody at something, I guess.

Tweet Comment 5 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

updates

Some updates…
1) Devlin is reporting via Twitter that Triano will be making between 1-3 changes in the starting lineup.
2) Raptors players and coaches held a 1 hour team meeting to air out some issues.

by OneAndDone on Dec 4, 2009 1:37 PM EST reply actions

roster change

just speculating:

C- Bosh
PF- Amir Johnson
SF – Turk
SG – Wright
PG – Calderon

1st off the bench – Bellini for Wright
2nd of the bench – Bargnani for Bosh
_

by Oldskewl on Dec 4, 2009 1:51 PM EST reply actions

Wright would actually be a downgrade over DeRozan.

It would be nice if this organization paid a little more attention to advanced stats instead of taking one step forward, two steps back all the time.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Dec 4, 2009 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

Ya, I agree that DeRozan us better than Wright. Wight is shooting 28% from the field. I’d love to find out whether that is the worst shooting percentage from anyone playing at least 15 mpg. I’m guessing it would be. It would help his case a whole lot if he simply stopped shooting unless he was open.

Tim W.
The Picket Fence

by Tim W. on Dec 4, 2009 7:02 PM EST up reply actions

Dunk Contest

Who’s to say Derozan couldn’t beat James in a dunk contest? I mean, sure the whole judges panel will be biased as I am sure everyone has already assumed James will win and the league has probably already engraved LeBron’s name onto the trophy. But stranger things have happened.
Personally, I’ll be pulling for anybody but James. Mostly cause I want to see Baby Bron Bron take his ball and go home again when he doesn’t win. A ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!

by Posterized on Dec 4, 2009 6:19 PM EST reply actions