Dave Berri's Wages of Wins Journal thinks maybe it is time to stop blaming the coach in Toronto. The team’s efficiency differential – offensive efficiency (points scored per possession) minus defensive efficiency (points surrendered per possession) – of -5.9 suggests the Raptors are only going to win about 26 games in 2009-10. Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon are on pace to produce 19.2 of those wins.
So yes, the rest of the lineup -- outside of Amir Johnson and possibly Rasho Nesterovic -- sucks.
The Raptors boast one of the tallest lineups in the NBA. So it makes sense to pay attention to Kevin Pelton's examination of height in the NBA. Although there is a positive relationship between effective height and winning percentage, it is not very strong. And height actually correlates slightly better with offensive efficiency (.169) than at the defensive end (.141).
Bryan Colangelo doesn't pass the buck.
Former Raptors coach Sam Mitchell has advice for Jay Triano.
Check out previews of tonight's Toronto-Washington game from NBA.com and the National Post. Yesterday, members of the Wizards and Raptors helped to distribute 26 tractor-trailer loads of food, clothes, personal items and toys to about 10,000 people Thursday during a massive holiday giveway sponsored by the NBA Players' Association and Feed the Children.
A Miami Sun-Sentinel reader asks columnist Ira Winderman whether Michael Beasley-for-Bosh still make sense?
Tim from The Picket Fence concludes his look at how to fix the Raptors.
RaptorBlog's Scott Carefoot recaps the season so far, in quotes.
Demar DeRozan believes he could beat LeBron James in the dunk contest. It's nice to dream about beating somebody at something, I guess.