Tip In: Raptors Struggle Again; Drop Second Consecutive Game
by Scott Campsall on Jan 8, 2012 8:01 AM EST
in Tip-In (Post Game Reports)
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The Toronto Raptors dropped their second consecutive game last night against the Philadelphia 76ers. The HQ takes a look at the Raptors' struggles, including some areas where the Raptors are going to have to improve if they hope to survive their next stretch of games.
We knew things were going to get more challenging for the Toronto Raptors when they embarked on a 7 games in 9 nights stretch that started Friday night against the Cavs. Despite how daunting the next week of the schedule looks, i am not sure we expected things to turn out quite so bad, so quickly. The Raptors are only two games into that stretch and are already 0-2; loosing by a combined 47 points in those first two games.
This was certainly not the start to a challenging stretch that the Raptors would have hoped for, yet with the nature of the schedule, performances such as the one we witnessed last night are perhaps, to be expected.
Last night the Toronto Raptors got outplayed in almost every facet of the game by the Philadelphia 76ers in a contest that ultimately will stand as 97-62 pummeling of the Dinos.
For the second consecutive game the Toronto Raptors flat out struggled to shoot the ball. The Dino's shot 32% from the floor and a miserable 8% from three-point territory.
The struggles for Toronto were much of the same we have seen thus far this season. Toronto lost the turnover battle; coughing up the ball 17 times and forcing just 8 76er turnovers. The offense was again plagued by a lack of movement and dribble penetration which lead bad shot choice and the inevitably poor shooting percentage that goes along with it.
The free throw disparity was again an issue for the Raptors and is becoming a trademark for the 2011-2012 Toronto Raptor club. The 76ers made 20-27 free throws, while the Raptors made it to the line only 12 times, making 7 of them. Half of Toronto's free throw attempts were made by Andrea Bargnani.
The Raptors also failed to get any meaningful contribution from their bench. The Raptors bench was outscored 45 to 14, a truly insurmountable deficit for any team to overcome. The poor bench performance was highlighted low-lighted by another bad game for Leandro Barbosa--his 3 point, 13 minute performance was as awful to watch during the game as it is to look at in the box score.
The Raptors worked hard, and actually competed in the first half; trailing by just 7 at halftime. The Raptors opened the second half with a run that brought them to within 4, however that was closest they would come. The 76ers answered with a 30-8 run that pushed this game out of reach, where it would stay for the remainder of the tilt.
The two biggest positives for the Dinos, in a game where there weren't many, were the play of Andrea Bargnani and Amir Johnson. Bargnani's offensive output was a tad inefficient, yet his 21 points was a team high as he was the only Raptor to answer the call offensively. Andrea's 11 rebounds were the more impressive statistic as he tallied his first double-double of the season and looked extremely active on both the offensive and defensive boards
Amir Johnson played outstanding, grabbing a game high 14 rebounds and was the only Raptors besides Andrea Bargnani to score in double figures. Johnson was impressive defensively and gave the Raptors another option on offense with Derozan and Calderon struggling.
The game was a match-up of very different Atlantic Divisional foes, that appear to be headed in opposite directions.
The contrast between the two teams is was an interesting one, and it showed why the 76ers are 5-2 and atop the Atlantic division and the Raptors are 3-4 and second from the bottom. The 76ers biggest strength, their depth, was on full display against the Raps; the Sixers had 5 players score in double figures, and two others that came close with 9. Conversely, the Raptors had just two double figure scorers with the next closest scorer being Derozan, who had only 8.
Philadelphia's great start this season has been due in large part to that depth, and it will continue to be an asset as they attempt to navigate their way through the grueling 66 game schedule.
The Raptors, on the flip side, showed a glaring lack of depth last night-a problem that has plagued the team during each of their losses this season. With the schedule the way it is, there are going to be nights when the starters cannot find their legs, and struggle to get their shots to fall. On those nights, the bench is going to have to show some life, otherwise the Dinos will not stand a chance when their schedule get's more compact in the coming days.
The Raptors will have only one day off before they take on the Timberwolves Monday night at the ACC. That game marks the beginning of the Raptors' only back-to-back-to-back of the season. If the Raptors are going to have any success against Kevin Love and the T'Wolves they are going to have to show the ability to put these past two games behind them and come out with some energy on Monday night.
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New offensive play for the Raps
Pass the ball to Barbosa in the corner so he can drive baseline and:
a) drop the shoulder for the charge
b) throw up a wild prayer that leads to a fast break for the opponent
c) try and kick it out with an arrant pass that leads to a fast break for the opponent
d) loose the handle and knock it out of bounds
by Al Bundy is my hero on Jan 8, 2012 8:56 AM EST reply actions
Exactly Al
Barbosa’s play is absolutely puzzling. Why the coach hasn’t fixed that attitude may be due to the idea that his strength is in coaching defense. Hopefully it will not turn out that this year is a 180 from last where they now play better D but struggle to score. They need an “offensive” set designed to score only on cuts and drives to the bucket. Under that set there is a “red” light on jump shots. They need a means to end that funk of jump shooting that happens.
Coaching offense may be his weakness, we’ll see
Philadelphia's great start this season has been due in large part to that depth
depth…exatly!
But are they bit by the ingury bug like the Raps?
I mean one guy out with an ankle.
Gray out with…I dunno, sometimes fast beating heart.
Look, without a really solid big like Gray, we don’t have a chance. Even at 15 minutes…that is a BIG 15 minutes for breathing if you are a starter.
Plus we were manhandled inside last night.
I JUST want Gray back!
Amir Inflicts A Little Pain
Nets shooting guard Anthony Morrow spent this morning in a dentist’s chair after he was jarred Friday by Toronto Raptors forward Amir Johnson.
Morrow started tonight, but not before needing a root canal after the roots of two of his front teeth were pushed up into his gums. The procedure included the insertion of a retainer to help keep the teeth, which Morrow said felt loose, in place.
Reggie
As most here know I live in Los Angeles and am a Clippers fan. That means I get to watch Reggie do his thing again.
His first game in a Clippers uniform was last night. Got extended minutes for not having played since last season. I think he finished with 6 rebounds in about 19 minutes. He is the Clippers first Big off of the bench.
I will try and post occasional updates of his Clippers doings if I think there is something of note or interest to Reggie fans here that one might not find easily on the Internet
That was U-g-l-y...
Some numbers:
Sixers Starters 52 points, Raptor Starters 48 points (Including Butler)
Sixers Starters Fg% 39.5, Raptors Starters Fg % 37.5
Turnovers 10 – 3 For the Sixers
Rebounding 31-25 for the Raptors
We actually had 10 Oboards to their 3.
Our Bench: 6/29 for 20% shooting from the field and 14 points.
Sixers Bench: 19/40 for 47.5 % and 45 points.
The turnovers definitely hurt us but I think what is going to be our achilles heal this year is the lack of bench production that is becoming a trend. James Johnson is starting to stall the offence and when he puts the ball on the floor his awareness becomes significantly worse and he is starting to force his game more and more.
Andrea had a good numbers game 21/11/1, a stl and only 1 turnover. He wasn’t nearly as aggressive on O as he has been and settled for Jumpers. Nice to see the rebounding numbers pick up, but he has to be our leader on O and when he shoots 4 threes in the first half, (more than all of last game) it seems like a regression to the old Bargnani. He wasn’t the reason we lost this won so bad but definitely could of been better but he is not a franchise player and can’t carry us. He is going to be a nice piece but he does need help which he didn’t get last night.
I don’t live in Toronto anymore so, can someone tell me if DD’s face is on milk cartons because he is definitely missing the last two games. It wouldn’t be that big of a deal is Barbosa wasn’t playing as awful as he is.
I am sure someone will elaborate on it later but he has been brutal. The last 5 games he is averaging 5.4ppg, 1.6 turnovers and shooting a cool 27% with 0.6apg. When he is our first option off the bench I think that says everything about how the bench is playing. If that isn’t enough Davis is averaging 5points/4rpg, barely half a stl and almost no blks and shooting 42% and has only shot free throws in only one game out of the last 5.
As much as I thought out starters could have played better and we need to give Jose and Bargnani rest, the bench has to step up. I know the expectations were low with the signings Colangelo made because they were stop gaps to keep flexible and young but they are still NBA players and Barbosa is a veteran and Davis is part of the future. I know Bayless has been hurt but Casey has made an effort to keep Bargnani, Derozan or Jose on with the second unit and they still aren’t producing.
Very Interesting Article In The Star On Last Nights Game
Last night, long after his team had been swamped by the 76ers in an ugly 32-11 third quarter run, he (Casey) did it with substitutions. More precisely, he did it with the lack thereof.
Afterwards, Casey emerged from the locker room power bombing throat lozenges and staring at a stats sheet as if the answer might be written on it.
"I wanted to let our guys know, hey, we’re not giving in to anybody. We’re going to go down swinging," Casey said.
"I guess you could say that was a message — that we have to keep playing until the buzzer sounds," said Amir Johnson, sounding as if the non-verbal communiqué had both been received and judged sound reasoning.
Beforehand, Casey wanted proof that Friday night’s wobble at home against New Jersey was not the new normal.
"I thought our disposition (in the Friday night loss to the Nets) was similar to last year. We can’t let that slip in," Casey warned his team. "Our theme today was that we have to change our disposition."
Casey judged the disposition better — at least for a while — though the result was even more one-sided.
"I don’t think we reverted back to last year. In the first half, we did compete. I thought the third was more mental and physical fatigue than it was disposition. After that, it snowballed," Casey said.
Even though all teams have similar difficult schedules last night was in affect the fifth game in a row that the Raptors played on the road. How can I say this when they played at home on Friday vs the Nets?
I have maintained for years that when a team goes on a road trip of three or more games, which the Raptors did, and then comes only for one game before immediately going back on the road that the home game is physically and mentally like a road game even with the home fan support.
It was still a case of play one game packing your suitcase getting on an airplane etc. IMO the continuous travel is almost as physically and mentally draining as the actual games are. Yes they didn’t have to cross a lot of time zones during those five games but still they were in affect living out of their suitcases, in airports and on airplanes etc.
hate to say it...
thats an excuse. by that reasoning, the nets had played 6 games in 8 days with 5 of those on the road and were in 6 different cities.
Everyone has to deal with this schedule, and it can’t be an excuse.
Sean Connery said it best, “Losers always whine about their best, winners go home and **** the prom queen.”
As was Humphries
If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.
by RapthoseLeafs on Jan 8, 2012 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
Our lack of depth will show some nights
Our lack of talent (overall) will also show some nights as well. This is why I want us to acquire some top notch talent in the draft. Any 2 of Barnes, Gilchrist, Teague or Ross will improve the Raps.
I think Davis, 3mil cash, our 2012 second round pick, and if necessary our 2013 first round pick should be used on draft night to acquire a high draft pick to grab a guy we like if we are picking to low to get him. This while keeping our original 2012 pick. If we can come away with 2 lottery picks this year that would be awsome and both depth and talent issues would be solved.
Totally agree, felt that the lack of depth and talent was extremely evident. Philly might actually be one of the worst matchups for TO because of the depth. A team like Miami might actually be better because the Raps bench might not be so out-talented. But Philly keeps coming. Even Vucevic looks good as a tenth man.
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
Philly
has 6 players averaging double digit scoring. Raptors have 3.
.
If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.
by RapthoseLeafs on Jan 8, 2012 3:35 PM EST up reply actions
Barbosa/Bayless and Amir? I think that LA sun is affecting you. Thought the kool-aid you were drinking only extended to the Clips and Amir.
Five
Andrea
DeMar
Bayless
Klieza
???
I still think five
Bayless and Kleiza? Not Jose?
He’s had 10 a game for 3 of last 4 years. Last he had 9.8.
I can see Bayless but Klieza is a bit of stretch, I think the minutes will be hard to come by with the log jam of mediocrity we have on the wings.
Kleiza
His career average is about 16 points per 36 minutes.
He averaged over 11 PPG last season even though he played injured the entire time
Once he gets up to speed he will probably play 30+ mpg.
JJ provides no offense other an occasional layup. Kleiza can score from all over the court and give Jose another legit scoring option to pass to.
What JJ brings on defense and in passing does not make up for his turnovers and lack of shooting ability. JJ is an energy guy off the bench and nothing more. Heck he isn’t starting ahead of R. Butler who sucks rotten eggs.
If Butler could score he would play more minutes. The only reason JJ gets all the minutes he does now is because Butler sucks rotten eggs and Forbes is not a legitimate NBA rotation player or at least hasn’t been up until now and he is 26 or 27.
Raptors fans overrate JJ.
If Kleiza averages more than 10 a game and plays more than 20 games this season...
I will fly to LA and take you out for pancakes…
I Will Pass
Better yet you can send the money to charity.
I agree with both of you. Probably not happening for Kleiza. But JJ is awful on offence and Butler couldn’t hit hte broad side of a barn.
Almost Definitely Happening For Kleiza
unless he forgot how to shoot and got a lot weaker which I doubt
30+ mpg once he gets up to speed probably by the end of January if not before.
Kleiza (knee) will travel to Colorado to visit with his doctor
Posted: 1 days 1 hrs 27 mins ago. | Source rotowire.com
Linas Kleiza
Kleiza (knee) will travel to Colorado to visit with his doctor Monday, and it’s expected he’ll be cleared to play after the examination, the Toronto Sun reports. […]
I would side with Buddha on this one. I do not want to see Kleiza the extended version, but I think we will soon enough…
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by JumpShootersRUS on Jan 8, 2012 9:49 PM EST up reply actions
They need to add a helluva lot more than Valanciunas to this current mix. C’mon high lottery pick!
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 8, 2012 6:25 PM EST up reply actions
Well the cap space is there to sign some veterans to our be nch (not named Magloire). But a lottery pick plus JV and a couple of good veterans on the bench.
Landry Fields, Antawn Jamison and Chris Kaman are a few names that popped up into my head. While Fields needs a little longer commitement Jamison and Kaman could get big short term deals. 15mill/2 yrs with a team option or something of the sorts. Gives us felxibility still and no long term commitements and some solid veterans to ease the growing pains behind a line up of Jose, Derozan, Barnes (can hope?), Bargnani and JV.
But fortunately we do have the cap room to do that.
A Little Early
Why I think the Raptors could beat the Timberwolves on Monday
Jose
Jose knows Rubio’s game better than probably any NBA player. Rubio is leading the way for the Timberwolves today working toward a triple-double at half-time Love is great player but he was a great player last season. However, the T-Wolves still stunk . This season they are competitive and the difference has been the addition and play of Rubio.
If anyone in the NBA knows Rubio’s game it is Jose. To beat the Timberwolves you need to stop Rubio. I am not saying Jose can do it by himself. In fact Rubio is still coming off the bench. However, Jose knows what plays he likes to run and can impart all this stuff to the Raptors coaching staff. Whether the Raptors unit on the floor playing against Rubio can execute it is another story. However, they will at least know best how to stop him.
First half stats today
Points 9
Rebounds 5
Assists 8
Plus/Minus +18
Final Rubio Line Today
MP – 30
Points – 13
Rebounds – 5
Assists – 14
Plus/Minus +29
It will all come down to the bench unless Bargnani takes over. Realistically Love cannot handle him and they don’t have a shot blocking big, so he could have a good game, but when is the last time Jose locked down a pg? While he has been better he is not a lockdown pg and our bench is weak and we are in that crazy stretch of the season everyone has to go through.
So We Agree
since Rubio comes off of the bench
"Realistically Love cannot handle him..."
I would say the same on the flip side. Love might have another 30 rebound night!
30 Rebound Night?
Love is going to have some serious pain laid on him tomorrow night.
He will be lucky to play 30 minutes. LOL
How do we agree? You said Jose can guard Rubio. While Jose has been better on D this year, I still think his defence is below average. Really doubt he will lock him down. So I don’t think we agree especially since the people trying to execute that game plan will be Anthony Carter and Barbosa.
Love will have a huge game undoubtedly but that has nothing to do with Bargnani or Amir and more Love being a monster. Minnesota is 3-5 but also has alot of close loses to Miami and OKC who are title favourites by many. Adelman is a fantastic coach at getting the most out of his players. May never win a title but one of the best in the business. Love put up 20 boards on Bogut, so what is the point? Is Bogut a bad rebounder or soft? No.
I am pretty willing to bet Love won’t get 30 rebounds, probably won’t get 20 tomorrow to be honest.
If you look at Love’s 30/30 game. There was a total of 193 shots and both teams shot a poor % (41% avg), there were also 46 fts, and 27 turnovers. So it is safe to assume there was close to 230 possessions in that game.
There were approximately 120 missed shots meaning Love was actaully above average but not extrodinary (25% rebound rate) because he played 41 minutes that game which is over his avg. There was just more shots at a higher pace.
The Raptors play at a slow pace 92 possesions a game. Assume each team has 10 turnovers, and shots 42 . Which is a total of 95 shots. Love plays 40 minutes which is 83 of the time. Which means there will be 79 shots missed with Love on. If he rebounds at his rebound rate from last year (25%) he would get 19 rebounds.
Care to share any more opinions?
BTW Marquis Teague has really impressed me over his last month and half
He’s simply my kind of PG. He does everything well but not flashy or spectacular. He can score, pass and most impressively, keep his man in from of him on the perimeter. He’s finally begun to shoot the 3 better and can knock down the mid range shots already. What impressed me the most about this guy was his demeanour during a close game away from home (in November) where they should have been crushing this team but instead were losing. He looked incredibly composed even though the crowd was going wild for the other team, he brought the ball up under a half court press, set the offense up and made the right play. He did that for FIVE straight trips down the floor under intense pressure, 2 of those trips he ended up taking his guy off the dribble and scoring because no one got a shot off after a few passes. From that game I started to wonder who this kid was; the entire Kentucky team was excited and jumpy while he was calm as can be and just kept running the team. I noticed he had above average handles, he could shoot, had good vision and most impressively for me, had a really calm approach to the game. Anyway, I’ve watched all of Kentucky’s games since and he hasn’t disappointed. Nothing spectacular about the kid, but he runs the show really well for Kentucky. Could you imagine a guy like that with 3 years of NBA experience? PG of the future right there.
We Will Have A Better Idea Next Saturday
PG of the future right there.
Teague and Atlanta will be facing off against Rubio and the T-Wolves
I meant his brother from Kentucky
Hoping the Raps can draft him
Raptors Lead The League
In fewest points allowed in the paint per game
Orlando with D12 is second.
so are you saying?
Orlando has D12
Toronto has A15
by Not so Friendly Stranger on Jan 9, 2012 8:30 AM EST up reply actions
Does Anyone Know Why Ed's Rebounding Rate Is Way Down This Season?
10.4 rebounds per 36 minutes to 8.4 rebounds per 36 minutes
and dropped from
17.1% to 13.6% in rebounding percentage
He’s just looked bad all over since the season started – wonder if he is out of shape from the off season? We’ll see if he picks his game up as the season goes on.
Think alot of guys are out of shape.
I think the veterans didn’t want to start over exerting themselves too early. Steve Nash says it takes him 6 weeks to get into shape and that is the time period we are starting to enter now.
If this year is about building our youth why have Davis’s minutes gone down? I just don’t see room for both Davis and Johnson in our rotation next year when Jonas comes over. While at first I was pro Davis, I am now drinking that Buddah juice and have loved Amir. He would be a great forward off the bench (Assuming AB and JV start); it would probably help his offence to compete against second unit teams. He can play either the 4/5, has a shot out to the free throw line that is pretty automatic and still improving. Plus he is only two years older than Davis and much more ‘seasoned’ (thank you pistons?).
Over kill
I hope Casey takes a page out of Popovich’s book and starts benching his starters during blowouts. It keeps the team fresh, and sends the message that you sit when things are not going well…I know our bench is not strong with injuries, but still what is the point in piling the minutes on.
Good on Casey for getting Bargnani playing harder, but sit him and the rest of the guys when the game is in hand…
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