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Tip-In: Work to Do, Chicago beats Toronto 110-103

The Raptors didn't come out with a win, but there was a lot to like in the Toronto loss to the Bulls.  As we count down to the final pre-season game in Montreal, last night's game gave us some more food for thought.

Star-divide

In what is to be the final preseason game in the ACC, I have to really thank the Bulls for giving me some additional ideas and thoughts about this year's Raptors team.  After all, they helped expose that the Raptors are going to have some pretty ugly rebounding nights if they aren't careful.  And last night, they showed they could still win even if they lost their rebounding advantage.

Yes, there wasn't any Joakim Noah or Carlos Boozer, nor was there even a Kyle Korver, but the Bulls still put on quite the display in the ACC.  With guys such as Derrick Rose, Omer Asik, Kurt Thomas and James Johnson, they exposed some nasty areas where the Raptors need to clean up before the season starts.

And even if it sounds odd, I'm totally up for it.

For one thing, the Bulls showed that the Raptors are going to have a ton of trouble if teams clog up the key on drives as many of our players have difficulties figuring out ways to escape traps, not to mention creating their own shots.  Andrea Bargnani, Amir Johnson, Jose Calderon, and many others got caught into this trap in the third quarter when Chicago made their push that eventually won them the game. 

It also exposed a need for the Raptors to read this kind of defense and perform more draw-and-kicks to 3-point shooters to break this crowding of the interior.  With our wings being a sophmore and rookie, both of whom are trying to extend their range, a streaky Lithuanian who hasn't shot more than 34% from beyond the arc, and a Brazillian who shoots just under 40% but is known for his streakiness, there just aren't many options.  If Bargnani or Andersen are outside shooting those threes, we will sacrifice offensive rebounding bodies.  Thus, the Bulls exposed a glaring weakness in our offense.

Toss in some lane intimidation by Omer Asik, and the Raptors were caught between a rock and a hard place.

On the defensive side, things weren't very much prettier.

The Raptors started to blow defensive assignments in the second half after the Bulls turned things around and tried to take the fight to the Raptors much in the same way that the Raptors did to them in the first half.  Toronto especially had a tough time in reigning in athletes such as Luol Deng and James Johnson, and speed monsters such as Derrick Rose and CJ Watson.  

But it wasn't all bad news for the Raptors.  For one, the Dinos definitely came out swinging.  While the second unit entered with a deficit, the Raps' starters had little to be ashamed about.  Andrea Bargnani looked much more confident and composed in the post, and DeMar DeRozan did his best Vince Carter imitation for most of the night with a variety of beautiful and aggressive shots, taking it to the inside of the Bulls.  Reggie Evans continued to show that he could become our rebounding champion who "knows his role" and Linas Kleiza was his usually "glue" self. Jarrett Jack came in and was his magic again for the second unit and Leandro Barbosa showed a little somethin'-somethin' on defense...not to mention his team-leading 22 points.  There was a lot to like in the first half and early second half, and the Raptors should commend themselves for doing some things that made Chicago have to make adjustments later in the match.

And I think that's going to be key moving forward.  Opponents of the Raptors are going to be in for a surprise as this team is going to be constantly growing and changing throughout the year.  How well this team continues to adapt and learn will absolutely be key this year.

I can't wait to get this season started.

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Watching Raptor game will be like pulling out teeth.

by Jeffrey Thompson on Oct 21, 2010 8:41 AM EDT reply actions  

Totally disagree. But to each his own.

by dhackett1565 on Oct 21, 2010 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions  

+1

I’m much more excited to get this season started than I was the previous two.

by Posterized on Oct 21, 2010 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

There may be a lot of heart breaking losses, but I think they will make the games interesting almost every night.

by K-Dawg976 on Oct 21, 2010 9:18 AM EDT reply actions  

If by interesting you mean falling behind early and having the second unit attempt to make up the difference, then I agree. Haha.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 21, 2010 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

C’mon now — tell me you honestly disagree with that statement after watching the preseason. The second unit has done solid work so far.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 21, 2010 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions  

I will concede that there may be a small nugget of truth to your comment. Thruthfully, I was just looking for an excuse to use your new nick name.

by Posterized on Oct 21, 2010 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

Small nugget of truth? Fine — I’ll take it. Haha.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 21, 2010 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

By design

Hasn’t Colangelo always done a decent job of having an above average bench? It was always our 1st unit that had the biggest question marks.

by CamHilton on Oct 21, 2010 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

They gotta decide what to do with Jose starting…he’s been a bigger issue than Bargs in my books, because when he’s playing at a high level (ok, so that hasn’t happened for 3 years), he makes a HUGE difference for this team because of his offensive efficiency. Andrea has never been a very efficient player, but Jose’s shooting can really be a difference maker in that starting unit.

Right now, he looks like a 3rd stringer.

Check the stats:

He’s shooting 28% from the field including 9% from long range and is getting killed on D. There was one play last night that I thought summed things up for the coming season in terms of Jose’s chances against premier starting PG’s;

Derrick Rose raced past all of the Raptors except Jose and I think Kleiza, and immediately took it to the rim against both. He missed the shot, but first got past Jose to make it, then before Jose landed off his block attempt, Rose rebounded the miss off the glass and laid it back in.

Ugh.

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Oct 21, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions  

I know fans were hurt when JC didn’t make that all-star team the year he was on fire, and everyone else (a la Barkley and Kenny Smith) didn’t think he belonged and scoffed at the idea, but they were right.

I remember a dinner conversation where I was lambasted for not considering JC an elite top 10 PG. Boy I wish I could have showed them future JC @ the time.

by Ustation on Oct 21, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

I lobbied for him as an All-Star that year, but maybe I was drinking the Kool-Aid a bit too much as well. He just looks like a shell of his former self.

It’ll be hard to do with that contract, but really I think Jack should start and Banks should be the back-up right now.

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Oct 21, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

I had this exact conversation with a buddy last night while watching the game!! Jack/Banks/Calderon…Honestly, he has no legs anymore (defence/jump shot/screen & roll). I’m not sure he even belongs in the league anymore…

by Ikelore on Oct 21, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions  

Isn’t that bad to say Ikelore? But man, it sure looks like he’d have a tough time in the D League at this point!

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Oct 21, 2010 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

I think my issue with JC all along had been his Defence. Even during his “all-star” season, he was atrocious on D, he was getting broken down, which was really my main argument why he wasn’t an all-star, and he wasn’t very durable (which I then got lambasted for saying last year here).

What I didn’t anticipate was his huge drop off on offense.

by Ustation on Oct 21, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed…And I’ve been a staunch Calderon supporter/defender in the past. I just can’t fool myself this year and I’m becoming more and more disappointed that the Bobcats deal fell through this past summer with each passing game.

by Ikelore on Oct 21, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oh, me too....

That would have been perfect. Actually, that would have been Hedo-esque (which is looking like a more amazing trade by the day)

I agree with what everyone is saying too about him being #3, which leads me to my next point: Marcus Banks can still play a bit. Having him back next year on a much lower deal (vet. min or thereabouts) as a #2b pg wouldn’t be so bad, especially since I"m all-for at least 2 seasons of straight tankage to get high draft picks. Right now, I’m really scared we’re not going to be bad enough for long enough. Of course, when I’m complaining in January about how much we suck, this comment will seem absurd. REally though, I want them to strip the team to the “core”, which I see really as amir, dd, weems and davis, and possibly kleiza and jack. Really though, Kleiza and Jack are probably two of our better trade chips, although I also believe Andrea would actually fetch something respectable, such as a high draft pick, and Barbosa will likely bring something at the deadline. And that’s how it should be done – start the rebuild now, instead of waiting 2-3 years to realize that we still suck, only now are trade assets are worth much less. Draft picks and young players, that is all we should want, OKC style.

by RaptorsAddict on Oct 21, 2010 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

because a player

looks worse 3yrs later (hell even a year later) than the year he ‘deserved’ (and I use that loosely) to be, doesn’t mean he didn’t deserve to be on the all-star team at that time.

by Not so Friendly Stranger on Oct 21, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

I don’t disagree that he shouldn’t have been considered. My thoughts at the time was he was so defensively deficient that he didn’t deserve to be. But at the time, his offense was so good that no one gave a flying fadoo.

by Ustation on Oct 21, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

0-6 doesn’t help that stat. And notice, he’s been driving to the basket a whole lot less this year.

Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Oct 21, 2010 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

Franchise – I actually watched that play – and Rose threw it of the backboard (kobe style) to grab the board and put it in because jose/kleiza altered his shot mid air – cant blame jose for that
overall they want to showcase him as a starter – so that some team can pick him up – but he is definitely looking 3rd string now – behind banks

by Rapster on Oct 21, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

See, Devlin SAID that…but on the replay it didn’t look like that’s what went down for sure. And regardless, it was the fact that Rose did all of this before Jose could even begin to react…something that we’ll probably see a lot with Jose matched up against the East’s speedsters like Rondo, Rose, Wall, Harris etc…

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Oct 21, 2010 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

I agree – bring him in for a change of pace against a slower second string guard but its a catch 22 because we are looking top get rid of him and his all-star contract

by Rapster on Oct 21, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions  

Honestly… Jose looked awful against Rose. But even more honestly? Jack looked pretty brutal himself, on defense. Usually I would expect Jack to look good compared to Jose on a night like this, but I really didn’t see that.

Now, obviously Jack had a better offensive night…

by dhackett1565 on Oct 21, 2010 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

You can’t seriously be putting Jack and Jose in the same conversation defensively… What is your agenda here? While Rose makes everyone look slow including Jack, he made Jose look like a corpse!

by MAS11 on Oct 21, 2010 12:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

A very interesting point here.

So to me, Jack is the superior of the two far and away at this point…however I agree dhack – Jack’s hardly starting material either, it just happens that there are no other legit options.

And really, I think this point guard issue encaptures the entire team situation – average or bench types playing starting roles because of a lack of other options.

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Oct 21, 2010 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

re JC vs JJ and defensive play of the 2nd unit

If you were watching the game you would have noted that the Rap’s starters were leading 68-63 with about 4-1/2 min to go in the 3rd, when Jack and the 2nd unit were subbed in for Calderon et al, and Chi went on a 15-7 run to end 78-75 and Rap’s never led again. Not saying JC is better defensively than Jack, but the numbers say Jack is not much better.

Given Calderon really played poorly in this game, probably the worst in a couple of seasons for some reason, he definately can, and will play better.

by Johnn19 on Oct 21, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

You mean how Bryan Colangelo wants Doug Smith to feel about Jose? Because Smith wouldn’t write a dissenting opinion.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 21, 2010 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

HA!

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Oct 21, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well he did point out JC today and also said this about AB,

“Now, his defence, especially his weak-side help, was atrocious but offensively he showed more variety to his game against the Bulls than he did in any other game.”

If Doug is calling a raptor “atrocious”, that’s saying something. :)

by Ustation on Oct 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

If Doug is calling a raptor "atrocious", that’s saying something. :)

True enough. Haha.

But how long did it take Smith to recognize that Bargs’ weak-side help was atrocious? I think he’s last to the party on that one.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 21, 2010 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

Tune in next week for Doug’s critique of Reggie Evans’ post game!

by dhackett1565 on Oct 21, 2010 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oh I don’t know.. I think Renato is still watching a few more replays before making that final call. ;)

by Ustation on Oct 21, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oh man

that is rude from you hahah :)

by renato on Oct 21, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

This should have been the focus of today's recap

Jack is absolutely out playing Jose and it’s not even close. It’s now blatantly obvious to all watching and surely everyone on the team, Jose is starting simply to solidify what ever trade value still exists. This has the potential to be a chemistry issue. Imagine you’re Jack and you are raping Jose in practices and scrimmages yet you don’t get the staring nod… He’ll imagine you’re Banks and your destroying Jose yet you can’t get on the court! I still maintane that a buy out may be the only option – use the fact that Jose could still be an all-star in the relatively terrible Euro league and earn good money to get him to agree to cancel a year on his deal. Jose could probably sign a multi-year deal and come out on top…

by MAS11 on Oct 21, 2010 12:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

Question:

IF you were correct….. you seem to sell it as a bad thing….. is it?

by renato on Oct 21, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions  

But are they beating him in practice? We have no evidence of this. Seems likely, but maybe he just matches up well with them, since Banks is not really an offensive threat, and Jack isn’t exactly the type of speed-demon point guard that gives Jose fits.

by dhackett1565 on Oct 21, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

OK fine, you got me. No, I am not sitting in on Raptors practices, so no, I don’t have direct empirical evidence of this. However, if you extrapiolate everything we know (EVERYTHING) about Jose’s game based on his play against every other point guard in the league, although it may be supposition, I am pretty dam confident Jack is eviscerating him in practices/scrimages just like everyone else. Further, I would not at all be suprised if Banks was outplaying him as well.

You can hope against hope that Jose’s issues are “match-up” based, or there is a possibility that he matches up well against Jack, however that would mean that he matches up against one particular player in the entire NBA and is shit against EVERYONE else. Who’s hypothesis is more probable?

by MAS11 on Oct 21, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

Jose’s biggest issue, far and away, is with fast point guards. Jack is moderately quick at best, and Banks really doesn’t have much of an offensive arsenal. So I don’t think it is a stretch that, say Jose is running Triano’s offense better and doing alright on D against those 2.

by dhackett1565 on Oct 22, 2010 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

Not to prop up JC but didn’t he pull his groin or hammy or something at the Worlds? I pulled my hammy last summer playing Aussie Rules and i can still feel the twinge every once in awhile. Groin injuries are pretty similar. Maybe what the team need to do is tell him to rest for a month. No Basketball. No Ski. No ATV riding.

by McGateway on Oct 25, 2010 7:16 AM EDT up reply actions  

One of the more interesting themes this pre-season has been how much we underestimated the defensive abilities of Leandro Barbosa. He’s far from a stopper, and alot of his defence is played in a high risk style. What I didn’t anticipate is just how good he is at it. The rate at which he knocks the ball loose is crazy; glad to have him on the team.

by HDave on Oct 21, 2010 9:40 AM EDT reply actions  

Omar Asik

Is the perfect example of a tall man who because of being so tall is trying to be a basketball player.

He would be a better brick layer. Horrible player.

Dave "Howland" Randell
Co-Creator of RaptorsHQ.com

by RaptorsHQ - Howland on Oct 21, 2010 10:15 AM EDT reply actions  

were you watching the same game – Asik altered a dozen shots – clogged the lane – blocked some – looked like he was years ahead in defense than bargs…he dosent have an offensive game but makes up for it defensively.

by Rapster on Oct 21, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions  

Coaching for success

I believe that the system that the Raps use and how they apply it will be critical to any success they may have this year. That means:

  • feeding the hot hand
  • recognizing “jumpshotitis” and stopping it quickly during the game
  • rewarding effort
  • having a system to isolate certain players to place them in positions best for them to score (ie, Derozen,Jack or Barg).
  • more trapping and selective zones on “D”
     So, again, I think the most important element of this year’s team is the coach. So far so good.

by raptball on Oct 21, 2010 10:18 AM EDT reply actions  

that’s almost the same plan we use at my rec league night.

by Ustation on Oct 21, 2010 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions  

Sweet. You’re as good as Jay Triano :)

Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Oct 21, 2010 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

We have this other play, where I stand at the top of the three point line and wait… then on transition D since we play a 2-3 zone, I run to our side of the three point line.

Ahhhh.. I love it when we recognize I suck.

by Ustation on Oct 21, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

actually.. I think we should try a new strategy. The bizzaro world one:

actually.. I think we should try a new strategy. The bizzaro world one:* Feed the cold hand

  • Only jump shoot
  • Punish effort
  • Have Bargs shoot from centre court
  • Play 8 feet off the man on man.

by Ustation on Oct 21, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions  

Jose

It sucks that Jose has become such a liability now…your not the only one drinkng the kool-aid franchise..just a few years ago Jose was this close to being an all-star and to me should have made it. Now he does seem to be no more than a 3rd stringer now and it sucks saying that. I think the only reason he’s still a starter is to show the rest of the league he can still run a team and be good trade bait..just like how Evans is playing now..what team wouldn’t want a rebounding machine/expiring contract.

by sherwin316 on Oct 21, 2010 11:40 AM EDT via mobile reply actions  

Triangelo!!!!

Heres my take on what’s going on – I think colangelo is forcing Triano to play certain players in order to justify his stupid mistakes (Bargs) or to showcase them to get a better trade value (Jose/Reggie). Until BC stops meddling and starts to rebuild the raps gonna be crap

by Rapster on Oct 21, 2010 11:42 AM EDT reply actions  

Actually, that’s what I thought as soon as I heard they were sticking with their pre-season starting 5. A trade is afoot (or coming), and it involves Reggie and Jose.

by dhackett1565 on Oct 21, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oh, and if he is showcasing players for a trade, I would consider that a part of the rebuilding process. And the Raps being crap this year… also part of the rebuilding process.

by dhackett1565 on Oct 21, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

No one wants a $9 million backup or third stringer at point guard… but a $9 million starter? That’s a little easier to stomach.

Here’s hoping Jose turns it around November through February, and the Raptors can somehow get out from yet another horrific contract.

I didn’t think Colangelo could get rid of Turkoglu, and look what he got in return. So I remain skeptical about Calderon, yet somehow optimistic.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 21, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah well, I guess we can hope Jose’s agent becomes the GM of a team and trades for him. Happens all the time in the NBA.

by McGateway on Oct 25, 2010 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

not really – he wants to make the playoffs – keeps saying that
BC’s trying to get Dampier –
he will use that TPE and get someone good for half a season and then loose him after the season ends.
dosent sound like a rebuild –
if he gets rid of jose and evans/banks for someone young then great – but he is all about the band-aid when we really need some serious rehab

by Rapster on Oct 21, 2010 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

“Keeps saying that.” So? Even rebuilding GM’s never actually claim to be rebuilding. The goal is ‘always to make the playoffs.’

by dhackett1565 on Oct 21, 2010 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

I can’t wait for the day when a GM snaps and says “You know, you’re right, this team does suck! And you know what? I’m going to get rid of all the talent and be in the lottery for the next 3 years and hope I get lucky before I get fired.”

by Ustation on Oct 21, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

Isn’t that basically what Babcock said when he was GM.

by DW19 on Oct 21, 2010 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

Thats a stupid supposition, the coach Jay Triano determines who will play when and how many minutes from the players the GM provides.

Reggie is playing because Davis is unavailable and his rebounding is required.

Calderon is playing because Jack is better suited to play with the young guys Weems and Johnson and Barbosa for an up tempo change of pace against the other teams 2nd units.

by Johnn19 on Oct 21, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

Somebody gets it...

… the big picture that is.

Yes, Jack looks like a better starter at this point than Jose, BUT, he fits better with the guys currently coming off the bench.

If you’re going to change all the starters, by all means swap him too.

Just because he plays INDIVIDUALLY better at one position doesn’t mean he is a better fit for the team.

by Mikthaniel on Oct 21, 2010 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

If you truly believe Triano makes all playing time/rotation decisions with no direct/indirect influence from GM, you are absolutely naive.

by MAS11 on Oct 21, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions  

Actually Calderon is starting because they don’t know what else to do with him and he would kill the second unit. He is still under contract and nobody is going to trade for him if he is playing like drek so there is no point in upsetting him by sitting on the bench in the 12 man spot.
If he is injured then we can hope he can get over it to play well enough to deserve 20-25 minutes a night. Otherwise, ugh.

by McGateway on Oct 25, 2010 7:21 AM EDT up reply actions  

Ok, JC is not playing great

but aren’t you all a bit too quick to give up on players? If you have somebody you consider an asset and he is not performing you help him getting up to speed. Moreover, can you (most of you) please keep in mind, before hitting the “post” button that this is pre-season? I mean, the purpose of the pre season is NOT to win games……

by renato on Oct 21, 2010 12:09 PM EDT reply actions  

Not giving up on Jose…but seriously, the last 3 years he’s been in a MAJOR decline.

We’re hard on Bargs, but Andrea just hasn’t played up to many of our expectations. He’s not dropped off significantly each season.

Jose however has, and that really hurts this team because in his prime (which looks like it may have indeed been 3 years ago), he was one of the most efficient offensive players in the league.

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Oct 21, 2010 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

why are you trying to pull me into talking about Andrea?

Do you need for somebody to pick the other side of the fence? a little and animated flame war on him must be skyrocketing your web site hits (wink) :)))

by renato on Oct 21, 2010 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

Hey Renato

Before you hit post please ensure to watch the team play. Not sure how often you’ve seen Jose play this preseason but I have and he has been terrible. Not “his shot just ain’t falling” terrible but “his career might be over” terrible. So your post tells me you haven’t been watching the games recently.

by MAS11 on Oct 21, 2010 12:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

You are inded VERY correct

I am not yet in game shape to weak up at 3am for watching pre season games (I made an exception for the first with Boston). Yet, that is beyond the point (how bad he is playing) unless you come up with a reasoning on why sitting him (in pre season) would help him….

by renato on Oct 21, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

Pre-season is over and he hasn’t gotten better. At some point the team is going to have to bite the bullet and bench so do not be surprised when it happens (assuming his play continues on as it has).
As for your flame war comment, that was really uncalled for. He even really say anything bad about Bargs other than the fact that he hasn’t lived up to the expectations some people had of him. Just because you think he is the Italian Michael Jordan doesn’t mean you have to jump to his defense when he wasn’t even really dissed.

by McGateway on Oct 25, 2010 7:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT

My favourite moment of the game was a blown fast break actually…

Reggie knocked the ball loose and started a break, somehow looked good racing downcourt and making a good decision to dish to Kleiza on his right wing, and Kleiza (passing up a decent jumpshot) passed it back to a still streaking Evans…

Now Evans didn’t finish on the play, it got blocked/fouled, but both Linus and Reggie were grinning ear to ear and having FUN while giving it all they’ve got…

Kudos to Kleiza for trying to keep Reggie involved and (maybe Triano should take a note) REWARDING A GUY WHO BUSTS HIS BUTT.

Really good to see that even though they recognize they are overmatched they are having fun playing to the best of their abilities…

Now if they could host a team meeting (at least a Jose/Andrea meeting) to spread this attitude, I’d be ecstatic!

by Mikthaniel on Oct 21, 2010 12:30 PM EDT reply actions  

Random question

So post game, I listening to Jack Armstrong give a pretty non-partisan take on the game, team etc, which was nice.

But while Jack was talking I started thinking how strange this whole situation was. I mean Jack talking about the “good” in a game like this, and how much work this “young club” still had to do.

How did we get to this point?

Wasn’t this club just a few years ago (even last year in the eyes of most media) a playoff team?

Sorta felt like being back in 2005…

…minus the flashy new post-game show and Real Sports of course.

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Oct 21, 2010 12:51 PM EDT reply actions  

How'd we get here?

I can tell you when. July 7th, 2010.

by dhackett1565 on Oct 21, 2010 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

Garbajosa goes down with the broken leg. I’ll always point to that. In one fell swoop we lost our best SF for a few years (Mo Pete) and the guy we replaced him with (Garbajosa) and could never recover.

Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Oct 21, 2010 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

And out glue guy who did all the dirty work that everyone else on this team feels is beneath them.

by McGateway on Oct 25, 2010 7:27 AM EDT up reply actions  

About Davis

Is Ed Davis better suited for the 4 or 5 position?

by raptball on Oct 21, 2010 1:01 PM EDT reply actions  

I am not sure....

which one is the missionary ? (I kid, I kid)

by renato on Oct 21, 2010 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

He’s probably more suited to a 4, but needs a faceup game for that.

by Ustation on Oct 21, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

On this team? Going to go with a backup 4.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 21, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

Jose Calderon

Let’s at least give Calderon some regular season games that count for something before we bury him as usless and start Marcus Banks due to a poor practice game.

In an admittadly off year in 09/10 playing with a point fwd for the first time and only starting 39 games and averaging only 26.7mpg Jose’s rank among starting PG’s, was:
MPG-29th @ 26.7
APG-10th @ 5.9
ATO-3rd @ 4-1 (the amount of assists for each turnover)
Assist Ratio-7th @ 36.2% (the amount of possesions that result in a pass for a score)
PER-15th @ 16.58 Holister (ESPN) measure of overall efficiency.
PPG-22nd @ 10.3

I find it very hard to believe that over one offseason he has lost the complete ability to be an effective starting point guard in the NBA.

by Johnn19 on Oct 21, 2010 1:53 PM EDT reply actions  

Further about Davis

I asked about Davis because he looks kind of frail to play the center spot. So when he comes back then:
Bargnani and Davis at the 4 and Reggie and Imir at center?

by raptball on Oct 21, 2010 2:07 PM EDT reply actions  

Bargs will play C this year. If Davis is too thin to play C, then so is Amir. And Raggie’s too short to play C effectively against about half the league. Some small ball might see a pair of Amir-Davis-Reggie together, but not as a long term solution.

by dhackett1565 on Oct 21, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

Have the Raptors wasted an opportunity to maximize the contribution of Marcus Banks?

I wonder if that season he refused to play for them in the Vegas summer league left the organization so sour that they have basically relegated him to garbage time? Even based on salary, for an organization that seems to so badly want to get something out of money spent, Banks should be getting more playing time. He strikes me as one of those players who got a bad reputation that made folks think less of his actual game and it stuck, even to the point where he doesn’t seem to bothered to disprove it by getting on the court. However, each time he does play you see some useful things.

The minutes Calderon logged in the SoloRok years, plus the national team obligations, AND his professional playing life in Europe starting at a younger age than North American players, it is not beyond reasonable that the fall off is happening so quickly. Pride might be playing a part too as he is not being as honest about his injuries.

OR

The team is so hellbent on moving Reggie and Jose that they intentionally put them in the starting lineup for showcase purposes at the detriment of early season wins for long term benefits. All it takes is one exceptional Calderon game against a team with a poor point guard situation to get him moved (the Villanueva effect). Same thing applies for Reggie.

Happiness is that which gets lost in the details of its pursuit.

by HQ Interloper on Oct 21, 2010 3:44 PM EDT reply actions  

There must be some issue with Banks, maybe he’s just not a good practice player, maybe a lot of things, but probably there’s a basketball reason and a political reason. He is buried too deep though, it’s too bad.

Could see Jose having a turn around though. He just needs his shot back and everything else will open up. He used to be deadly…

by axl t on Oct 21, 2010 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

You also forget that when he first came over in the Marion trade that he absolutely looked like he didn’t want to play ball. Things have changed a bit since then but this team was already committed to 14 million at PG position already. If the Chandler deal had gone through, Banks would probably be playing more.

by McGateway on Oct 25, 2010 7:31 AM EDT up reply actions  

Jose needs to go

It just isn’t working. The one team I can see that could use Jose is Golden State to back up Curry. Biedrins has a similar contract and has fallen out of favour with the team. Toronto could be a fresh start for him, and Jose could start over in San Fran. It’s really hard to come up with any straight trade scenarios, but this one might work for both teams. We could try Biedrins out has our starting centre and move Andrea to the four.

I just don’t know if Biedrins got tired of Nelson and tanked or if he has lost it. I do know that it appears Jose has lost it.

by defensive rap on Oct 21, 2010 11:14 PM EDT reply actions  

Actually, I heard Biedrins is having a small revival under their new coach. Maybe I am mistaken.

by McGateway on Oct 25, 2010 7:32 AM EDT up reply actions  

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