Tip-In: Giving it Away - Turnovers Kill Raptors in 96 to 85 Loss to Grizzlies

There are a number of you who always focus the discussion here on defense. So if it is the number one primary problem with the Raps, then lets look at it. The truth can only be one of two conclusions; the Raptor players either can’t physically play defense or will not play defense. If they cannot player defense because they are some how too slow or too weak then they should be traded away. If they refuse to play defense then it indicates that the coach or the players or both should go.
The other possibility is that the coaches are too stupid to teach it or the players are too stupid to learn it. This possibility pisses me off the most because it is not that complicated. On top of that is that these guys have been playing basket ball for years under some pretty impressive name coaches and still they don’t get it. So I can not accept that they are young and we need to be patient until they learn the defense because I really don’t think they are that stupid.
Last year they had a assistant coach (whos name I can’t spell) was supposed to be a defensive expert and that prooved to be a wash. Now this year, Carlissimo is there and he was supposed to be the second coming Christ but still people are whining about defense.
Some people say and rightfully so that defense is really about desire and effort. Then one must conclude that the Raptor team players do not have the desire or effort. Either motivate them or get rid of them.
Now when you say that Derozen has to be one of those players leading the charge, I assume you’re talking defensively as that is what you and your buddies at HQ always seem to talk about. Why would he suddenly become a much better player on defense? What would suddenly change?
As you know by now , I don’t agree that defense is the “be all end all” but for arguement’s sake lets hear your answers

For Raptors to win somewhere an average of 25PPG (Andreas contribution to 10 wins) has to be made up by the collective team. A total of 85/95 pts will lose everytime.
All of the experts who express the opinion that the Rap’s do better with AB off the floor than on it must be very happy now.

The Grizz only scored 96 poinjts vs Rap’s avg PAG of 105pts, even though the Rap’s offense gifted them 25 turnovers for 28pts. The Grizz made 21 turnovers also but the Rap’s only scored 18pts off, reason 1.

The Rap’s bench, such as it was was outscored 34-22 by the Grizz, reason 2.

Bayless with only 1 assist, and with Barbosa 1/11 from 3pts and Amir with zero points all failing to contribute, was reason 3.

The Free throw discrepancy of 28 to 14 FTA’s for the Grizz and 23 to 5 FGM is reason 4.

It’s a testament to the effort by Kleiza, DeRozan, Dorsey, and Calderon to compete that the Raptors were within 6 in the 4th, and only lost by 11pts, as the starters out scored the Grizz starters even without Amir contributing.

Prediction for the trip 0-3, and untill Bargnani is back lickely 0 for until.

not meaning to be picky, I can make and educated guess, but I have been told too many time I speak “spaghetti” English myself :)

ps that comes across as half English and half bash shell

Oj mayo just doesn’t look good. I know he’s having personal problems (with his dad) but again last he just didn’t look good and really hasn’t all season. I really wouldn’t be surprize if he’s traded soon a change of scenery would be good for him.

I intentionally omitted Bargs in my comments because I knew we would be right back on the same old track. Why is this team in general unable to be a defensive team. Do we need to get rid of the players or coaches. Are these players slow learners?

But where’s the actual solutions for this team other than to say they need to play better defense.

maybe he was still full of Christmas tapas, but who was the guy who wanted to offer “the other” Gasol the max?

That statement ladies and gentlemen is a quote from the great Defensive Stance. Incredible that there is even an acknowledgement of an other aspect of the game

Team injuries have taken it’s toll but lessons will be learned from it. Ball control is a major issue concerning the turn overs and they need practice on foul shots especially Dorsey the missed points can turn the tide. Good defense is your best offense in any game.

This team has a lot of talent and has to get of the flat footed game and get back into the basic of what each ones job is.

.
As my father always said, Defense is a function of Offense – if you have it, they don’t.

That point can best be illustrated by the high number of turnovers that seem more prevalent lately (with the Raptors). When the Offense is out-of-sync, Defense will not function properly. With turnovers, players have a more difficult time adjusting to the transition (back to Defense).

Boston may be symbolic of a top-level Defense, but it also ranks 1st in FG% and Assists. When they shoot, they score @ .501 clip. They control the ball better by movement. We don’t.

In the Memphis game, Raptor Offense was like a hot potato – "let someone else score". Add numerous turnovers, and that pretty much defines a lack of the big O … (more fake if anything).
.
Aside from the constant "Advisories" , that the score would not have been closer with Andrea, my belief is the opposite – not a big revelation coming from me (and other fans). Missing Andrea’s scoring, along with horrible 3 pt shooting, disrupted the Offensive flow of the game, and allowed the Grizzlies to focus their Defense on a tighter interior (in the Paint). It also allowed Memphis to take more chances … (granted – part of their persona).
.
For the Raptors, the absence of a typical 1st scoring option, is even more pronounced when your next option comes in at a 12.9 ppg clip. That’s not a true 2nd option, no matter how one looks at it. Boston’s 4th option comes in at that pace. Chicago’s 4th Scoring option ranks higher. Detroit’s 5th Option is one point below our 2nd guy. Washington’s 4th Option beats our #2 guy by two points. And on and on.
,
One can counter that Raps didn’t make the play-offs because our Defense sucked. Obviously I can’t say our Defense is just peachy, but there are a number of factors that need to be addressed (or need to evolve), outside of Defense:

• A true 2nd Option needs to come forward (hopefully Demar)
• 3 Point shooting needs a major upgrade (who’s guards us out there?)
• The rest of the Front Court needs to improve its’ offense (12th overall w/1st @ Centre … God knows how bad without Andrea. 4th last year)
• Get to the Line more often – our FT attempts (for December) have dramatically dropped. Getting the other team into foul trouble helps.
• Time – Inexperience hampers us, and Rap fans need to be patient – Gelling is not a 3 month process. Immediate Contenders like Boston are not typical.

All that being said, Raptor Defense needs an infusion of either talent, or direction. Guys like Andrea are paid to score against Opponents. Guys who don’t have such a speciality, need to stop opponents from scoring. We have the former, and not the latter. As much as Andrea needs to improve on his Defense, last night illustrated that we need much more than that – like say … the rest of the team. Add a Noah type, even Noah-lite, and we balance the issue with Andrea. But yes, AB needs to pick it up, along with EVERY OTHER PLAYER.
.
Hopefully, both Defense & Offense can be addressed with time – with an infusion of defensive minded players, and someone else who can score.
.

Memphis is over-rated … in my humble opinion. Take away our injuries, and I believe this game was ours.
 
Even with our “stumbling” of late, I still believe we’re a better team. We do suck against -500 teams (not a sign of a play-off team), but to me, that’s a function of youth, inexperience & leadership not developed (yet).
.
It goes without saying, that this has been a tough year (to watch). As much as developing is part of the process, it weighs on the psyche – especially for games like tonight. Meeting Dallas (at their absolute peak), while we’re not, almost seems pointless. Then you realize that this is an opportunity to see true character. It’s really all we have to look forward to. That’s why I sometimes see negativity as “piling on”, to the whole displeasure thing. It’s tough struggling through the latter – without the former rising to the top.
.