Tip-In: Toronto Raptors Post Game Report - On a Roll
by RaptorsHQ - Howland on Jan 7, 2010 8:00 AM EST
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PrintBiggest win of the year?
In a game full of ups and downs the Raptors beat Orlando to continue their current hot-streak.
Barely.
The HQ breaks down last night's win.
I'll be honest, I am starting to believe.
When the Raps won 5 in a row in December I was not all that impressed. The victories were coming against lesser opponents and given the team's record against opponents with records .500 it was difficult to be anything more than cautiously optimistic. The reality was if the Raps couldn't build off those five wins they would be all for not.
It's not all for not.
With the exception of the egg laid in Boston the Raps have suddenly beaten San Antonio and Orlando, both considered top tier teams.
Last night's win may be been even more impressive than that against San Antonio on Sunday. Given Orlando had absolutely destroyed the Raptors in their three prior meeting this season there was little one could point to that would suggest last night would be any different. Well it was different. Everything about the Raps looks different right now.
Right from the opening tip the Raps looked dialled in and full of energy. Perhaps the return of Jose Calderon, who came off the bench as the second string PG, picked up team spirits or maybe guys realized his return would mean fewer minutes to go around. Either way the Raps came out ready to play.
In the first half the Raps were efficient on the offensive end and surprisingly active on the defense end. Outside of a few occasions when Dwight Howard got position in the paint making him unstoppable the defense created turn-overs and closed out on Orlando shooters. In the second quarter the team started to click on all cylinders as they outscored the Magic 35-22. It was arguably the team’s best quarter of the season, at least until the third quarter rolled around.
In the third quarter the Raps withstood an Orlando run and by quarter's end continued to lead by double digits. The team was showing some resolve which was surprising not only to me but to the Magic as well. What was incredibly surprising was how Orlando seemed to come apart at the seams when the Raps showed they were not simply going to fold-up tent and head home despite Rashard Lewis hitting back to back threes to make it a game again. Both Carter and Howard lost their cool after being called for their third and fourth foul, respectively, and both were given technicals. Carter ended up on the bench where he sulked like a child who had its soother taken.
All looked rosy as the game headed into the fourth quarter...and then things got interesting.
Real interesting.
After managing to withstand earlier runs it was the Raps who started to fall apart. As quick as you can say "Arenas is a Moron" the Magic were back in the game. The team was suddenly slow on close-outs and had troubles finding an open look on the other end of the floor. The game hung in the balance right down to the final moments of the game where a big rebound and free-throws by CB4 sealed the deal.
Although it is on the players to execute both on the offensive and defensive ends, this game was close down the stretch because of (a) the refs, and (b) Jay Triano.
The officiating in the second half of last night's game was so one-sided in favour of the Magic I couldn't help but wonder if Tim Donaghy had suddenly been re-instated and was holding a whistle. While making questionable call after questionable call against the Raptors (Bargnani in particular) we didn't see a fourth quarter foul called against the Magic until there was ONE MINUTE left in the game. Apparently the Magic didn't commit a foul in 11 straight minutes of game time. Riiiiiiiight.
Despite the officiating it was Jay Triano's substitution patterns that left me shaking my head. I still can't figure out why he felt having Calderon on the court during crunch time was a good idea. Calderon didn't suddenly become a solid defensive player while nursing the hip injury yet Triano was happy to see him match-up against both Jameer Nelson and Raptor killer JJ Redick. Not surprisingly, Calderon did little to prevent Redick from getting open looks and was also responsible for giving up a critical offensive rebound. Having Calderon matched-up against any two guard in the league is simply a BAD idea.
Now I understand that DeRozan was responsible for blowing a couple of assignments earlier in the game but it would have made way more sense to have him on the floor not just for defensive reasons but for offensive reasons as well. In the closing minutes of the game the Raps were struggling to find an open look. Hell, even Weems would have been better. In short, Triano's coaching last night was suspect when it mattered the most.
Now if you didn't see last night's game you are probably thinking I am crazy for wanting DD in the game for offensive reasons. Lately he has been more or less invisible but last night he was in the zone. DeRozan started the game hitting his first six shots and looked uber confident. When you add in the fact that Hedo Turkoglu was providing sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the name "Mr. Fourth Quarter" is a misnomer, the Raps could have used a hot hand.
Given how this game played out one could focus on the fact that the Raps were extremely fortunate to pull this one out. I on the other hand feel like the real story is that the Raptors beat Orlando in Orlando.
This was no small feat. Neither is winning seven of the last eight games.
I am starting to believe.
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Why Jose
Calderon was on the court at crunch time because………. he is our best poin guard.
I question the 4th quarter lineup as well but not in the way you do. You put it all on one player, Jose. My problem is why was the combination of Jose, Jack, Turkoglu and for a period, Antoine Wright. Three ball handlers(and a 4th wannabe).
That being said – a big win.
Other 4th qtr issues
It was either 4 or 5 straight possessions where Jack either threw up bricks or turned the ball over outright in the 4th that had me screaming for a substitution. Marco and DeMar were both providing solid offense earlier in the game and should have been in for him to provide energy and a willingness to attack the rim. Speaking of which, Bosh needs to learn to go up strong when a) he is being guarded by a guy with 5 fouls, b) your team hasn’t had a foul shot all quarter and c) when the jumpers aren’t falling. Numerous times he got the ball in the low post, then just turned and dished it back outside. I understand the double team and threat that Howard can block shots, but seriously, he is a star and will get calls, especially when Dwight had already pissed off the refs with his attitude.
Great read … Completely agree, the calderon as shooting guard experiment is a failure. His defense is just too easily exploitable and the players behind him are just not good enough to hide his deficiencies.
by axl t on Jan 7, 2010 9:07 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Don't agree
Axl – between Jose and Jack, who hurt us more in the 4th quarter? Jack was on Reddick, who hit some big shots. Two key possessions late in game were Jack turnovers trying to force Bosh the ball.
I am not here to bash Jack. I like his play and consider him a key part of this team but his shit stinks as much as anybodies.
Points well taken in this game in particular … my point was totally based on my opinion of jose’s body of work post-hammy against elite teams.
The key for me is that jose can be straight-up beaten off the dribble too easily and the guys behind him can’t hide that with defence, nor is the offense money enough to cancel it out.
Jose
I guess some of you just lock on to a player you don’t like for some reason and just pick away at it . For some of you, Calderon might walk on water but it won’t be enough. He gained this unwarranted “no defence rep” when he was injured and God forbid any of you should take an objective veiw now.
The truth about guarding “point guards” in the NBA is that 90 + percent of teams have point guards who can not be guarded one on one, Parker, Paul, Nelson, Rondo, Jennings, Wade, Billups – the list goes on. But you piss all over Jose and look the other way when Jack or TJ (when he was here) can’t stop these guards from penatrating to the paint either. Do you really think Nash or even John Stockton when he played were any faster than Jose. They’re all non jumping white guys who happen to be pretty good.
The were a number of you ,a year or two ago, who were down on Bargnani. Perhaps it’s the same group on a new whipping boy.
agreed
Ain’t nothing like a T-dot whipping boy. My brain shoots out the front of my head when I read comments at various blogs/newspapers that we should have kept TJ and traded Jose (this being the same TJ who is now the 3rd-stringer in INDIANA for goodness’ sake. AND they’re trying—unsuccessfully—to trade him! Eesh).
That said, I’d love to see Jose coming off the bench – he, Belli, Weems, and Johnson (and whomever else) would be entertaining as hell, plus it’d give a great offensive kick to the bench crew. Especially if he mixes it up with drives and outside shooting. Not to mention I feel better about having Johnson (and maybe someday, Evans) in the paint while Jose’s out top.
Then JT can ride the hot hand in the 4th; I’d kind of rather have Jack in there most nights, personally…I just can’t understand how on earth we’re STILL running Jose/Jack to close it out. Too many cooks in the kitchen, Triano.
balls
It all comes down to JT not having any…why does he continue to play three ball handlers and even 4 at one point last !!! is he afraid to hurt someones feelings?
In the battle of the guards last night I would rank them,JC,Hedo,and last JJ.
God at one point JJ had 4 masive turnovers,at which time I thought the game was over and we were done.
I have to say this team did not roll over,and theyve done that a few times this year,maybe its a nice mix off young ones and some grizzled vets,I know Rasho isn’t getting that much playing time,but I truly feel he has a calming effect.
Even though we have had a nice little run,I still dont feel comfortable with JT,wonder why the Magic were geting all the calls? just look over to the pussy coach ,who do you think intimidates the r
Calderon???
I don’t get it – Calderon is great point guard???
But…
Turkoglu is a better passer and playmaker
Bellinelli is a much better passer and playmaker
Jack is a better passer and playmaker
Calderon is terrible defensively.
Calderon is a very good shooter when he’s fit, and good going inside.
Calderon is definitely at the low end in the NBA in terms of his playmaking ability.
He also frankly seems to have gotten lazy since he’s gotten the starting role – he walks the ball stands there and waits to make a play instead of trying to create offensive imbalances by being aggressive (and that’s offensively, defensively he’s a disaster).
It's statements like these that drive me crazy
Calderon is definitely at the low end in the NBA in terms of his playmaking ability.
he walks the ball stands there and waits to make a play instead of trying to create offensive imbalances by being aggressive
Let’s deal with the first one. JC generally gets a high number of assists with few turnovers. How is that anything but an indicator of good playmaking? Now, there’s many who argue that JC is too safe with his passing but that is a different criticism.
Second, JC walks the ball because he is waiting for someone on the team to be open for a pass. He’s reducing the number of moving parts in the whole equation of the offense. The onus is on his teammates to set up the screens or to get open. His style of play is to wait for an opportunity and then deliver rather than create the opportunity. Because the Raptor offense over the last few years has generally been pretty good when JC is running it, I’d say it’s a perfectly valid way of playing. It just may not be a style that you like. The other thing about having a pass-first PG is that it starts to get everyone involved with passing. That’s when the Raptor offense really gets humming.
Ugghhh.
“Bellinelli is a much better passer and playmaker”
Is this a serious statement? While I maintan my opinion from my post the other day that Jack should start and Jose come off the bench as this fits the overall substitution pattern of the team better… But Bellinelli is a “MUCH better passer and playmaker”?!?! That is ridiculous. Can we get a ruling on banning a commenter… or even suspensions (I vote for at least 5 games).
You gotta love Raptor Fans
The team has just won 7 of 8. They beat one of the NBA’s “elite” on their home court on a night where every call went against them. Yet virtually every comment posted is negative. I know we are not yet a championship calibre team and have some ways to go but can we not enjoy the progress. We have a big man that is slowly developing in front of our eyes. We have a high ceiling rookie who while inconsistent (what 20 year old is not), is clearly taking forward steps. We had a point guard return from lengthy injury who actually didn’t look too bad last night. Nine new pieces…it takes time. Yet we are at 500 with the hardest part of the schedule behind us. What were people expecting, a seventy win team? Surely, you have to feel better today than 3 weeks ago.
Look, at the end of the day, the problem is having both on the floor. It doesn’t matter which one is at fault because both are going to be switching and both are liabilities in their own way. Having ONE liability isn’t too bad, but having two? That’s a lot of ground to make up.
The problem is that the coaches don’t seem to be able to make up their mind as WHO is going to be their point guard come crunch time. We didn’t have as many defensive issues during the last little while largely thanks to the fact that the Jack-Calderon lineup wasn’t around anymore and we had an actual shooting guard defending the opponent’s own SG. Regardless of their lack of defensive prowess, neither is an athletic marvel and both are undersized. When you have DeRozan, Weems, Wright, or even the quicker Belinelli, you lose a lot less in defense. Just about everyone else in the fanbase can see it, so there can only really be two real explanations if we take it that the staff isn’t totally out to lunch:
1) There’s a political reason to get both players at a certain amount of minutes to placate egos. It also means both players are playing the "most important" minutes of a game in crunch time.
2) The staff believes that they can foster a lineup with the two that will create mismatches eventually once everyone plays to their full strength. This is back to the beginning of the year when the philosophy of the team was to teach and to try and create chemistry rather than trying to put the best group on the court.
And both reasons, annoy the hell out of me.
Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious
by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Jan 7, 2010 1:05 PM EST reply actions
To speak more about your second point, the thing that bugged me the most about watching last night’s fourth quarter meltdown was the fact that Jay Triano wasn’t the one creating the mismatches. He was simply reacting (poorly) to the mismatches being created by Stan “The Hedgehog” Van Gundy.
I would’ve liked to see Triano take more of the lead there, and create his own mismatches. And it starts with not having a poor defender of a point guard checking an opposing two guard (as Vicious D also mentioned).
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 7, 2010 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
That’s a big part of why I think the Raptors have shot themselves in the foot the last few years. They tend to follow mismatches of the other team rather than exploit and impose their own on others.
Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious
by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Jan 7, 2010 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
And this is the big argument in favour of Bargnani, right? That’s he’s a sweet-shooting seven-footer who should create mismatches. But here are the Raptors following the lead of their opponents time and time again.
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 7, 2010 1:40 PM EST up reply actions
Now my boy DS is back in full force
This is ALL Andrea’s fault :)
Haha. Actually that comment you replied to was a criticism of Triano’s coaching/rotation, not Bargnani. I’m feeling very positive towards the big Italian this afternoon.
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 7, 2010 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
The scariest thing is…i dont even think its to placate anyone’s egos. If you recall during Jose’s injury, Triano had Banks and Jack on the court at the same time.
I mean…I think the sad fact is that Triano thinks its somehow beneficial to the team to have at least 2 “playmakers” on the floor. Is he blind to the fact that it completely kills any momentum the team has? Everyone else seems to see it, what the hell is wrong with him? BANKS? To close out a game? Really?
And then we have one reason then.
But despite what they say, I’m sure there is more than a little ego involved there.
Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious
by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Jan 7, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
I would like to remind everyone that JT is a still growing as a coach so I am willing to let him make coaching mistakes. I am a believer that it takes years as a head coach to gain the experience and confidence to make the right decisions throughout a game that separates the average coach from the great coaches in the league. I am tired of people complaining about our coaching when there is almost no chance that we are going to get a great coach off the street anytime soon. Let him make his mistakes and hope he will learn from them eventually. Maybe it is because my expectations were so low going into this season that I am willing to give JT some rope to play with before I come down on him. Of course, I didn’t think we should fire Smitch at the time either so maybe I am just crazy.
As for the PG situation, I have never been sold on Calderon as the starter for this team (at least as it is currently made up) and I cannot help but wonder if the Raptor brain trust feels the same way as they went out and signed JJ and HT in the offseason. I think Calderon has a lot of potential but he just doesn’t seem to be progressing lately and I think a little time coming off the bench might help him to make the adjustments. If you think I am nuts just think about how this team functioned with attacking PGs over Calderon since he became a starter. I admit I haven’t watched a lot of games this year but from the little I have seen and from what I have read in the comments, Calderon is not playing like he did 2 years ago when he stole the job from TJ Ford. It was that Calderon that was effective as not only did he shoot a high percentage but he actually penetrated on a regular basis, something that I haven’t seen him do as much lately.
A Few Things
Remember that test Bargnani supposedly scored really well on going into his draft year suggesting that he would react well to high pressure situations or something along those lines? Has his play of late shown that evaluation to have some merit? It’s interesting to see him matched up against highly regarded players like Duncan and Howard and fare so well.
What bothers me about Triano is that he is either proving to be somewhat stubborn or not assertive enough in making a choice between Calderon & Jack. If it were really about having ball handlers, he could have gone with Jack & Banks (who might have handled guarding a small 2-guard better), but it seems more about not hurting feelings.
I think we’ve discussed this before and Franchise alluded to it the other day in referencing Simmons book about the secret of championship-calibre basketball teams: It’s not always about talent. There is also a clear hierarchy and role acceptance/buy-in that makes for a cohesive productive unit. The talent is here, but with Calderon’s return the hierarchy has to be re-jigged.
Also, since I am a proponent of the influence of match-ups determining wins and losses, I think we lose to Philly on Friday, even though our team is better.
stats on the Calderon jack. Food for thoughts
I am copying this from a poster on realgm.
1. Jack has played enough as a started to give a good picture of which PG handles the spot
2. Turk has finally been used as a play-maker and the numbers are more indicative of him
3. Jose’s injury is offset by Jacks terrible beginning of the season so they both come out even
4. Bargs has gone hot, down to ice cold and back to where he should hopefully be for the season
5. All significant bench guys have played minutes
Let me say this, looking at these numbers, you would figure most of us are blind when we watch games. I’m going to bring in some of these numbers (you can also check them yourself) and see if we should all collectively go and get our eyes checked.
First the battle of JACK vs JOSE
Jose and Jack have both ran our starting lineup so we have a good number set for what they can do with our starting unit. I looked at our five men units and here is what the numbers say.
Calderon/DeRozan/Hedo/Bosh/Bargnani – This lineup scores 1.17 points per possession and gives up 1.14 points per possession. It has outscored the opponent in 11 of the 21 games it has played together in at some point. Here is where it gets interesting. This unit has an eFG% of .492 while the opponents eFG% is .462. It has taken 12 less freethrows than the opposition. The unit has scored 35% of its points in the paint while the opposition has scored 39% of its points against this unit in the paint. This unit brings down 49% of the total rebounds and is turning the ball over 1% more of the opponent.
Now with Jack as the starting PG.
Jack/DeRozan/Hedo/Bosh/Bargnani – This lineup scores 1.01 points per possession while giving up 1.06. It has been outscored 7 out of the 12 times it has been on the floor. Its eFG% is is .460 while the opponents is .437. It has attempted 3 more freethrows than the opponent. It gets 36% of its points inside while giving up 37% of the opponents points inside the paint. It pulls down 45% of the rebounds available and turns the ball over 2% more than the opposition.
Much of our recent run has been attributed to Jack and Jose not being on the floor. (I thought this had something to do with it as well) As it looks, yes our defense is a lot better with Jack on the floor. However the offense also putters when Jose is gone. Basically it comes down to scoring more and giving up more or scoring less and giving up less, however teams usually score more than we do with Jack as the PG. What surprised me is that the Jose lineup pulls down more of the available rebounds than the Jack lineup and both lineups score the same amount of points on the inside. So is Jack really the reason for our success and was Jose the reason for our downfall? Take a look at the numbers yourself.
You might also be surprised to see that our best lineup seems to be Caldy/Beli/Turk/Bosh/Bargs. This unit has outscored the units it faces 77.7% of the time. Opponenets eFG% is only .411%.(better than our starting lineup with Jack as PG) The best on the entire team. This lineup attempts 10 more freethrows than the opponent. Scores 32% of its baskets inside while the opponent scores 36% on the inside. pulls down 50% of all rebounds and averages 3% less TOs than the opponent. Go figure, our best lineup offense/defense wise is the 4 euros and Bosh. HMM.
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