Tip In, Raptors' Post Game: No Heart

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Mar 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT

Oh, so THIS guy took the heart of the Raptors...

When you're good, your identity lets you specialize in specific aspects of basketball which overcome your weaknesses; how your team wins is a signature of who you are.

When you're bad, you find different weaknesses from game to game that overshadow the good that you do. How your team loses becomes a footprint of your unspectacular year.

In revisiting the Charlotte Bpbcats after a ridiculous 3-day break (after a back-to-back no less) the Raptors laid out a turd of a game in a 102 to 89 loss. Sure, Chris Bosh showed the most heart in a while, and Andrea Bargnani threw a nice shoulder check on Gerald Wallace that would have made even Wendel Clark proud, but the Raptors just didn't play with any intensity.

Nobody managed to keep their man in front of them.

Not one.

Fundamentally, defense in basketball is getting in a position between your man and the basket at all times and it didn't matter who it was, the Raptors simply couldn't do this.

I mean points in the paint might as well have been total points scored by the Bobcats.

There was just too much for me to pick apart from yesterday's game. At the end of the day, you have to feel for the fans who came out in droves to watch this one. They got about six minutes of actual basketball energy from their Raptors and while I understand that no athlete likes to be booed in their own building, you have to take your lumps when you play without purpose. As much fun as it is to talk about trade scenarios and how to get this team back on track, the Raptors have a fundamental problem that's going to take more than just a change of personnel.

After all, how do you teach a dog to fight?

I've resisted throwing Jay Triano under the bus in all this time, but something has to give. Jay's a guy that has passion, who's well respected by his peers and players, and has shown good acumen for the game. In the end, Jay's now had four months with the Raptors, and we still seldom see any of the pick and roll plays that the Bobcats abused us with. Will that change just from getting a slashing guard? No. These are fundamental tactics the Raptors have to employ on a day-to-day basis that almost all good teams use in the NBA. The Bobcats are not a team that should be outscoring the Raptors 7 out of 8 quarters in the past two games, but here we are. Either Jay Triano hasn't been teaching the Raptors the right thing or the team isn't listening to him. Either way, it looks real bad on Triano.

I mean Gerald Wallace is a good player, but the rest of the Bobcats should not be schooling the Raptors in their own building.

Which brings me to this thought: Sometimes you pay for the trade you make and sometimes you pay for the trade you don't. Against the Bobcats, the Raptors faced two players that they possibly could have had last year. Much has been made about the lack of execution on the trade for Gerald Wallace, but the Raptors also had the ability to acquire the services of Boris Diaw, another player that burned the Raps in these past two contests. Or should I say, another affordable player that burned the Raptors, especially last night.

So how do we wash this horrible taste from our mouths?

How about a visit from the L.A. Clippers on Sunday? To defeat a team that actually has a worse record than the Raptors, we'll have to see some changes:

1) Move your feet.

It's pretty simple. In basketball, the best teams are the teams that move. They move to get in front of their man to take a charge. They move to cut off position on a dribble penetrator. They move to cover their teammate's man on a defensive rotation. The Raptors did none of that last night, and unless the players move with purpose, it'll just be another 48 minute pylon drill that will see guys like Baron Davis completely carve up the Dinos like Fred Flinstone.

2) Move. Again.

On offense, the Raptors just love to stand around watching while their teammates make a play. For a team that is pretty bad at one-on-one plays thanks to a lack of athleticism, the Raptors sure find themselves in that situation a lot. Sure, stand around until Chris Bosh or Andrea Bargnani make a play. Why not move, set a pick for a man that DOESN'T have the ball, and free some people up for open looks? Or heck, find that guy named Parker that's camped out in the corner. Yesterday, the ball was once again "sticking to the players' fingers" rather than being moved around quickly and efficiently.

3) You're at home. Play like it.

The Bobcats are a team that are about to finally make the playoffs and they can barely boast a half-filled building. The Raptors are second worst in the Eastern Conference and still managed a near sellout against a team that was never projected to do much. Chris Bosh says that if the fans were more into the game, it would help the Raptors. I don't entirely disagree with him on that point. Sometimes, a spark has to come from somewhere if the Raptors can't find it within. In Japanese baseball, crowds sing pop songs that are each player's personal background music whenever they're up to bat.

Could the Raptors use some more fanatical support? Sure. But Toronto has always been a town that waits to see if there's at least a spark of life from the team. It's pretty telling that Pops Mensah-Bonsu has quickly become a fan favourite because he just shows energy. That's all the fans want to get started, and it can't be the entire responsibility of a bunch of Torontonians to spark a group of multi-million dollar athletes.

So if the Raptors at least try and start out quickly and take it to the Clippers, the crowd will surely get behind them.

Pizza or no Pizza.

Vicious D

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Comments

Cant say i watched the game last night but recap seems bang on based on recent play. Its at the point where the team is like a bug that got swatted that is still trying to walk with 2 legs.

Just end the misery.

by fromlongrange on Mar 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Coming from someone who knows "no heart" I have to agree.
Am not a fan aof huge contracts but gotta say that Wallace works hard for his money.
Are we back in the lottery?

by Tinman on Mar 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

RE: TRIANO

His record speaks for itself!

by Tinman on Mar 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

I understand the money part of the JO trade but what I don't understand is how I wish we had Moon back! SM is a waste and I hope their is no plans to resign Him. As bad as Moon decisions are sometimes as least His play was consistant. SM is a WASTE..........!

by Davl on Mar 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

On Boris Diaw. I am and have been a Boris's fan for ages and I always would have liked seeing him wearing the Raps uniform. I thought I was about the only on thought. Most of comments (from raps fans) about him were about a player "who got just one good season and who had a very bad contract". Just a thought, Chris Bosh, at the end of next season will be worth it (money wise) as Diaw and Gerald Wallace together. As we say in Italy: Those ones who have ears to hear will understand.

by renato on Mar 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Renato:

Interesting comments and way of looking at things.

I too was looking at salaries. How's this:

Kapono+Banks = G.Wallace = Diaw

Simmilar $$$ value; way different 'usefulness' value

by JENGE on Mar 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Going into next year, how many teams are projected to be better than the Raptors. Charlotte might do as Atlanta did, make the playoffs one year become a top 4 team in the conference the next. I really think they have to determine whether the game plan should be long term or short term. At this point, I don't care if it's about turning it around next year or turning it around 5 years from now, just lay out a plan and get to work on it. Always having to start over after a couple of years of middle of the pack play is disappointing and really not worth investing any real time in from a fan's perspective.

by Interloper on Mar 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

There really is no heart on this team. A coach can only say so much, it's really on the player's to step-up. Man to man defense was horrible as was help defense. A coach SHOULDN'T have to tell you about how to play basic concepts of defense.

Just atrocious.
This team needs a big kick in the @SS

by Jim Brown on Mar 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Jim Brown,

I think it was the team's braintrust that needed the kick in the ass. I remember BC commenting during the 2006 draft lottery, about how he "never wanted to be in that position again". The comment didn't sit well with me at the time, but ignored it while celebrating the arrival of a new architect. How exactly did the Suns acquire Amare Stoudamire and Shawn Marion? Both lotto picks during the Sun's down years.

Interloper,
I think things will get turned around this summer.
We need a commitment to getting the right pieces in place, and not throwing long term commitments at players who don't fit in well in the new scheme. An example I would use is GS throwing money at Maggette after losing Baron Davis. At the very least, we'll have a lottery pick coming in to develop, and that in itself makes the team more interesting next season. We can add him to Bargnani, and Ukic as players who are taking steps towards an unknown NBA identity. If we can bring in a MLE player who helps shape our new identity, commit to them. If not, its short term contracts for all.

If Bosh leaves, we have the luxury of time on our side. Here is the plan I'd follow.

Stay a mid- lottery team in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons and spend big in the summer of 2011 when Banks, Kapono, and Hump come off the books.

You end up with Bargnani, Calderon, and hope that 2 out of (2009 pick,2010 pick, 2011 pick, Ukic and Jawai) have shown potential to be to be top 7 rotation players on a good team. You also hope that one of your three mid- lotto picks has shown "star" potential.

With Banks and Kapono off the books, you start trading for / signing players with long term commitments, in the context of the talent you've accumulated thus far. Now you're in position to compete for the playoffs, with a gradual climb up the standings as the young players contribute more. And if the drafts turn out better then expected, that performance curve becomes that much more steep.

I could support that plan, no doubt. An absolute scorched earth rebuilding ala Seattle /OK City would yield much better picks, and the potential for an allstar but I can't bring myself to propose that.

by yardly on Mar 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

I wish Viscious D was what the Raptors played. You're comments are dead nuts on target. I'd like to point out that when Bosh is going good it means that they clear the side and he goes one on one. This is good in that when Bosh is hitting his foul line jumper it makes his drives to the basket more effective and he becomes unstoppable. This is also bad in that he takes a pounding and a Karl Malone body Chris doesn't have. It is also bad in that, as Viscious points out, everybody else stands around. It is also bad because "Jose can you see" anybody else but Bosh. This is bad because when the "stand arounds" finally do get they ball they instinctively think that they HAVE to shoot. The Raptor coaches are a million times smarter than any of us about basketball. With 3 days between games, it is a pity that the Raptors couldn't be better prepared to make a full game out of it with the Bobcats. The players aren't the only ones that need to have a sense of pride and competiveness.

by melon on Mar 22, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Will TJ never learn...

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/58040/20090321/feud_between_jack_and_ford_was_brewing/

Sure, Jose is having a rough year... the Raps in general are having a rough year, but at least no one is behaving like TJ.

by lessthanzero on Mar 22, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Lessthanzero - Glad you commented on this, what a mess. It really makes you wonder then about last year's "chemistry." It's possible that the same thing was occurring and because Jose is such a nice guy, he kept things under wraps, unlike Jack right now in Indy.

Seeing Jack then explode last night on Charlotte (think he was 13 of 14 from the field or something ridiculous) makes you wonder if Ford may be packing his bags again this off-season...

Everybody pumped about the Clippers today???

Me neither...still grinning about Duke's win over Texas last night though...

by Franchise on Mar 22, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

We all know that TJ can get some points. He gets some assists, as well. Most strikingly, he dribbles very very quickly and has mad natural abilities.

Unfortunately he often does all this at the expense of team cohesion and possible success. The image is tempting.

He gets his points on a lot of ill-advised shot attempts, and he has significant turnovers in comparison to his assists. In Toronto he got minutes at the expense of a team player.

His inflated value hurt us off the court as well (as fans), as we still had inflated estimations of his worth in a trade. We thought we were going to get something for him that would take us to the next level (myself included). I believe that BC fleeced Larry Bird, but even so, in hindsight I shouldn't have expected much in return for TJ.

I think Marion is a bit inflated as well. Looks good when the team seems to be doing well, but isn't a guy to get you over the hump. May in fact inhibit you by thinking he is the man.

You could sub "JC" for "Jarrett Jack" in all of those comments. They basically reflect what Toronto fans were saying last year.

At the time I wanted to keep CV4 and I wish we had.

by Observer on Mar 22, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

To spice things up for this afternoon's game, I'm going to liveblog both the Raps game, and some NCAA ball via twitter.

Feel free to follow along at:

http://twitter.com/raptorshq

by Franchise on Mar 22, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Should Toronto play only Sunday's from now on? Again, superior effort and combined with the fact that the Clippes are TERRIBLE = huge win.

We'll recap things in the AM however in detail as usual...

by Franchise on Mar 22, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

wow the clippers suck.

will the fans still pay money go to see another rebuilding project?

by wtf on Mar 22, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Observer "Looks good when the team seems to be doing well, but isn't a guy to get you over the hump."

Spot on assessment.

re: TJ, I think his improved shooting lead him to place less of an emphasis on being a pass-first pg. I doubt he was playing like this when with the Bucks.

WTF,
Its a catch-22. One one hand shortcuts don't lead to anything but temporary solutions. On the other hand, our last rebuilding period (2003-2006) wasn't that long ago, and only the first and last picks are making a significant contribution right now. I just have a hard time thinking up scenarios whereby we trade our way into top 4 Eastern Conference contenders. At least, not without a large dose of wishful thinking.

by yardly on Mar 22, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions