Raptors Rapid Recap - Toronto 100 - Cleveland 108

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Jan 19, 2010 10:25 PM EST in Game Day

- The Raptors had opportunities but this was a game where you never felt Toronto had control of the game. As much as the Raptors fought tooth and nail and went the distance, they also showed lots of issues keeping the Cavaliers from doing what they wanted to do.

- Substitution patterns and matchups continued to be problems for Triano as I felt that he wasn't quite tight enough with his rotations and used the wrong personnel at odd times. He was caught with Rasho for a few possessions towards the end of the game because he chose to substitute offense for defense.

- Both Bosh and Bargnani were hot and cold throughout the game. Bosh faded as the game went on and the Raptors started to go to Bargnani. Unfortunately, the Raptors didn't seem to ride their stars quite enough to put up enough offensive numbers to win.

- Hedo Turkoglu continues to absolutely disappoint. Besides being a doormat, picking up a lot of quick fouls, a technical, and hoisting a plethora of questionable shots, he also shows a sort of impish grin about it all. Yeah, it's not in his personality to show focused anger, but being just flippant and sort of mailing it in is not acceptable either.

- Overall though, the game was well fought, with the bigger, badder team taking the win.

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Hedo blows goats

He even missed the wide open shots: several open 3’s didn’t even come close.

Can we trade him to Portland?

by B.C. on Jan 19, 2010 11:49 PM EST reply actions

Trade him to Cleveland for Jamario Moon!

Seriously though, he was horriawful today. I just about threw my remote at the TV when he got T’ed up. If you are going to be useless, just sit on the bench and shut your mouth. 5 more years hey?

NFL Conference Championship predictions:
Vikings 31 Saints 30 ~ Colts 23 Jets 17

by craig in calgary on Jan 20, 2010 12:01 AM EST up reply actions

I Also Almost Threw My Remote at the TV When He Got T'ed Up

I completely agree with you. When he mocked the ref by raising his hands and clapping about his foul call and got his T, which by doing so you will get 100% of the time, I nearly lost it. It is one thing to do that if you are actually playing hard and contributing to your team, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. This contract makes Jerome O’Neil’s look good in comparison. At least with his we were able to do something with it since it was expiring, even if it was worth twice as much as Turkoglu’s for the one year left on it.

When we signed him I had reservations strictly due to the softness of the team and I did not see how this signing would help us with regards to that. I did give BC a pass on it though, mainly based on his play with Orlando, and how he would be able to contribute to the Raptors in the same way. WIth Johnson and Evans signed I was hopeful that the toughness we desperately needed would be able to come from them, along with Bargnani being more aggressive.

At this point I barely recognize Turkoglu and have no idea what happened to him by switching jerseys. Had we not signed him and played this year without him so far, saving $53 million to use for other players I guarantee that our record would likely be 24-17 or 25-16 now, as I can attribute about 3-4 losses directly to him, and am having a hard time coming up with any W’s I can give him credit for.

Bottom line is this. Triano had better find a way to get this guy going. If not, then BC should shop him arond now, and although his trade value is at an all-time low now, with his ridiculous contract, maybe BC can work another miracle and find a sucker (trading partner) to take him.

I am also sick and tired of the way his supporters are finding stats to substantiate how his numbers are really not that bad and how he is contributing in other ways to the team. I watch all their games and I know what I see. That is a lazy player making excuses for his play who came into training camp not ready to play, this after signing a massive contract. If he plays for Turkey this summer I will really lose it once again, as regardless of how deep the Raptors go in the playoffs, this past year has shown his body can’t handle it. The Raptors if they can’t unload him must demand that he not play in the World Championships for Turkey but rest up so he can actually show up and play with his team when camp opens up in 10/11. I know this is not going to happen with the games being played in Turkey, so we will have to endure another year with him coming in with “Fatigue” – give me a break!

by briangerstein.com on Jan 20, 2010 4:35 AM EST up reply actions

Would one more year of Kirilenko @ 16M be better than 4 more of Hedo @ 9M?

a package of Wright, Hedo, & Banks works in exchange for AK47. He plays defense and outside of the scoring is as much of a stat stuffer as Hedo can be sometimes and he’s 28. Offensively, they could call more plays for DeRozan and Kirilenko can pick up the garbage points from the SF position much like Marion did last year. Next year would be the last year of his contract, so it could work nicely for the Raps long term. I suppose it comes down to whether BC believes Hedo will eventually fit.

Utah does this to avoid tax implications and Hedo might fit very nicely in that system as a point forward, and Sloan’s personality would seem like the sort to get the most out of his game (like Van Gundy).

At best utah looks destined for a short playoff run so this might be the shakeup they need to push forward to more serious contention.

Toronto does this to avoid a long term burden and it knows how a player of this type should perform with Calderon, Bosh, and Bargs (again, Marion from last year).

I think one of Calderon or Turkoglu won’t be here come Feb 19.

by HQ Interloper on Jan 20, 2010 12:39 AM EST reply actions

I would do this in a heartbeat.

I also agree that Turk or JC is going to go. Two weeks ago, I thought Jose for sure, and pushed for it; in retrospect, I’m a bit of an idiot. In fact, trading Hedo solves our problems that much more quickly. And if it could bring AK47 (exactly what what we need)? Yes please.

I also agree that Hedo needs a taskmaster of a coach, which I don’t really think Jay is. Playing for Sloan would do him well.

by RaptorsAddict on Jan 20, 2010 7:58 AM EST up reply actions

I would too, but I’m not convinced Utah would. I’m sure BC’s wheels are churning too, trying to work out a little something to patch the Raps’ gaping hole on the wings.

by benjibopper on Jan 20, 2010 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

P.S.

Thanks to our 3 trade exceptions, we could do it for only Hedo and Banks, which allows Utah to take back about 3 million less, which I"m sure would make them very happy.

by RaptorsAddict on Jan 20, 2010 8:04 AM EST reply actions