Download the Opening Tip here. It’s a good one and contains a picture of an NBA girlfriend. Those are always interesting.
Brandon Roy’s Blazers are at the ACC tonight and the last time they were here this happened. It was the best game of the year and hopefully we see something similar, at this point anything but a blowout will do. We’re 9th in the East and 3rd in the division, 2.5 games behind the Nets who are only showing signs of getting better as their young talent starts to gel. Portland is coming off a loss in Boston prior to which they had won 6 straight so they’ll be seeing this as a winnable game and rightfully so. When Brandon Roy openly disses Toronto I can’t take much offense because he’s 100% right, after the Celtics game he was asked about his offensive struggles and said:
Half of those moves I did tonight. They are going to work against Toronto.
Ouch. Really, that hurt. The Raptors should stick that quote in their locker-room whiteboard (assuming they have one) to pump up the motivation levels. Anthony Parker’s going to be matched up with him and should take this as a personal insult and only allow Roy to only drive by him on every other possession. We’re playing poor basketball in every sense of the word and are ripe for the picking. The first home game back from the West is always a tough one so its surprising that Las Vegas only has us as a 2.5 point underdog. They were wrong about putting us as a 5 point underdog against Utah and counted on us some sort of inner spirit and coach-being-fired-motivation to guide us. They got to watch Raptors ball more often.
Jermaine O’Neal’s asking the fans to be patient and stay with the team during this transition period:
I’m just asking that people that have supported us keep supporting us. We’re changing from two different coaching styles, especially on the defensive end. Even small things, such as how we close out opposing shooters are being done differently now. That’s why I hope the fans will be patient. I know they’ve been really patient already, but this team is really working. No one is trying to get embarrassed.
I get the feeling Triano is blowing everything up and starting over. It speaks volumes when the new head coach who used to be the assistant coach is changing things so drastically that simple closeouts are being re-examined. It’s almost like Triano told Mitchell, “We should closeout like this” and Mitchell said, “Naaah…here’s how you closeout” and employed his failing strategy despite the warnings of the assistant coaches. I’m just putting 2 and 2 together. The Raptors have fallen into very bad habits over the last two years and it’s going to be tough to “forget” what Mitchell taught them and start doing things the right way.
Chris Bosh also had his shot at Mitchell:
“I just want a system”
Bosh’s 42+ minutes under Mitchell was a sign of desperation by a coach who was trying to get as many wins while ignoring the long-term impact of stretching out a player. Bosh is welcoming the idea of playing fewer minutes as long as there’s a “system” to hold the fort down as he gets more than a 2 minute breather. I understand his insinuation that Mitchell was having a negative impact but until he puts up strong performances against good teams, anything he says won’t be taken too seriously.
I don’t know Ira Winderman’s writing that well but he’s got the Raptors figured out in a paragraph and is putting the blame entirely on a very weak SG and SF rotation which happen to be the two positions that are filled with the most talent in the league. Colangelo can’t be serious when he calls this a “deep” team and that’s probably whey he’s looking to deal, although somewhat less aggressively as we’d like. Again, trade motivation levels of a GM will never be known to the fans because that would be showing your hand.
The sense around the club is a wait-and-see approach as in we wait to see how the Raptors do in the games leading up to December 22nd – a stretch that will see us play 9 games in 15 nights. That should be more than enough time to at the very least, see what Triano is trying to do with the team and whether the team is responding. After all if you can’t get them to play hard or pay attention after their coach of 4+ years gets fired, you’ll never get them to do anything. There aren’t going to be as many practices as Jay Triano would hope in this stretch but that’s just too bad, everybody team ends up playing the same schedule and as Triano said, we need to suck it up.
That’s tough, but it’s no excuse, we have to play basketball, we have to expect to win every time we come out on the court. It’s a tough schedule, but this is the NBA. You’re always looking at a back-to-back, or games on the road against tough teams or teams playing very well.
I have faith in Triano that he’ll try to do the right things with the Raptors but if he still can’t get this team to play at the level Colangelo dreams of, then he’ll be forced to make a move because there’s only so many coaches you can blame until you start looking at the GM, as some have already started to do. The Jermaine O’Neal move was a calculated risk which fans could live with, but the signings of Hassan Adams and Will Solomon were a slap in the face to every supporter who wanted to see the team get deeper, not funnier. If we had simply retained Carlos Delfino instead of Hassan Adams and acquired a veteran PG, that alone could’ve helped this team. Colangelo is a frustrating GM and I sincerely miss Glen Grunwald who could always be counted on doing practical things.
One minor game note, Kris Humphries has right knee tendinitis and is doubtful for the game. In addition to the usual chat, we’ll be doing a live blog. Let’s get a win you Raps, please?
20 Raps
I for one am surprised at all the veiled barbs being thrown at Mitchell by the players. Considering that nobody doubted he had the players on his side, this all sounds like a huge surprise.
I might be reading too much into a 5-word statement from Bosh, but it sounds to me like he’s done caring what happens, he’s just punching time. He doesn’t care who the coach is, he just wants a system. Pretty non-committal.
“this team is really working”
HAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAH
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHHA
Oh man…that’s great stuff.
So, all the observers have been wrong and H to the O is telling it like it is? Tell you what, if I see you sprint down the floor at least 5 times in one game, I’ll buy what you’re selling. Deal?
“Jermaine O’Neal’s asking the fans to be patient and stay with the team during this transition period” Jermaine O’Neal has no right to open his mouth. He is horrible. Imagine, just imagine this team without him,Capono,Moon,Solomon and the cheerleading monkey (what’s his name?) and, instead of them, Rasho, Charlie,Garbo and Delfino!?
Glen Grunwald? The guy that took the Raps into cap hell.
Do we really have a prayer of winning this game? Really? Our team is still playing YMCA ball against a focused, young, talented team. No doubt about it, they are going to kick our asses and laugh in our faces because we have to face the facts: Brandon Roy can say whatever he wants and we have to take it because it is true.
I’m heading off to the game shortly and am looking for a few things:
- Test Oden early: Even though he’s a 35-yr old rookie, he’s still a rookie and will pick up a few early fouls if we’re aggressive against him early.
- Feed off the crowd: The last two games were played by a lifeless team, defeated in their own minds before they ever stepped onto the court. After more drama than a teenage breakup, the Raptors return home to their red-wearing faithful. The crowd will be loud and supportive from the get go, hoping to get our boys going. But if the game starts turning the way of the West Coast, well, I think there could be a chorus of boos that would break the ACC decibel record.
D-FREAKING-FENCE!!!!: Portland’s long, young, and athletic. At the same time, they’re a disciplined half court team with excellent coaching. If we let them run on us like Denver did, we’re dead. If we let them execute in the half court like Utah did, we’re dead. When I’m the old guy playing pickup against the young guys, I bump them around on screens. Hold their jerseys. Step on their toes. Do whatever I can to get the ‘veteran advantage’. That’s the type of message we need to bring early on in this game. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it’s in our constitution.
I’m optimistic about this afternoon. Steve Blake makes Jose look like Donovan Bailey, and Ocho should be up for this one against two of his Spanish nationals. I think we’ll see a return to form for Calderon, sore hammy or not.
Prediction: Raptors 98, Portland 91
# 2 gave me a good chuckle Alt. Another good laugh is that one of the writers at Basketbawful(?) calls JO, Jremaine “The Drain” O’Neal.
Portland by 14.
I expect a return to good play today. This team ain’t as bad as its last few performances. Back at home, although against a tough opponent, lets look for a Raps win today.
Key matchup – Oden vs O’Neal
Shut Roy down – cram them words down his throat.
Portland bench:
PG – Sergio Rodriquez
SG – Rudy Fernandez
SF – Nicolas Batum
PF – Channing Frye
C — Joel Pryzbilla
How would the Raptor starting lineup stack up against this Portland bench five? Just a thought ….
FEAR the one Joel “The Thrilla” Pryzbilla aka GHOSTFACEKILLA aka THE VANILLA GORILLA aka THE POLISH ASSASSIN. Love that guy.. he’s always getting mad.
Roy is going to be so pissed about the Celtic loss, he’s gonna have a career day… you know, maybe. :P
Since I’m up or mindless predictions: Jose misses a FT today.
LaMarcus and Frye scare me.
mindless prediction: Bargs career high.
Portland will rip us. I’m going to watch and see if I can see any changes or improvements. That’s all I’m looking for at this point.
I take it back…wow, is this the same team? The effort is outstanding on defense and in transition.
…and we’re back to same old thing. Come on boys!
Well, we showed some signs. We played almost two quarters of good defense, Joey looked good with the extra time, Kapono had some good looks, O’Neal was great, Calderon attacked the basket and had some nice kickouts.
What was Bosh doing though? Taking 3 pointers, matched up against Blake and shooting the fadeaway. Not a great game from the franchise.
“Steve Blake makes Jose look like Donovan Bailey”
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“but Steve Blake has managed to lose Calderon for two straight threes”
“Steve Blake is getting past Calderon a little too easily and has shown that he can get the open 16 footer anytime he wants.”
“Jose Calderon loses Steve Blake who makes his fourth jumper from the exact same spot.”
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Would the real Donovan Bailey please stand up?
Important to clear up a couple mis-interpretations/perceptions from my POV.
“I just want a system.” – Chris Bosh
… is not a dig at Coach Mitchell.
It’s an acknowledgement that CB4 is a “pro”, who learned his lessons well from his mentor, the departed coach, who emphasized with him that what’s MOST important, in the NBA, isn’t what specific “system” a team runs but, rather, that it simply has “a system” in the first place, from which to operate.
e.g. Bosh is saying here there’s no difference “forcing baseline” and “forcing middle” from a systemic standpoint … what matters is that a NBA has a “system” it uses either way.
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FACT IS … in the NBA … when a team has a shot-blocking presence in its line-up, like Jermaine O’Neal, the majority of solid defensive teams in the NBA might well favour a “force middle” philosophy, as opposed to a “force baseline” defensive gameplan.
Neither one is inherently superior to the other.
Bosh depend on execution, the head coach’s personal preference, and the team’s specific player personnel.
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re: the specific footwork on “little things” like close-outs
1. This isn’t little thing at all.
2. Close-out footwork when “forcing baseline” is the opposite of when “forcing middle”.
3. Specific “help responsibility” when “forcing baseline” is also different from a team is “forcing middle”.
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The Raptors are going to struggle defensively when they play relatively poor NBA athletes like Jason Kapono, Andrea Bargnani, Will Solomon, and Hassan Adams … regardless what specific system they use.
Defensive struggles from these players are acceptable as they do not generate a lot of assists for their teammates during the run of the game.
By comparison … although Jose Calderon’s individual defensive ability is not the strength of his game, it is of an acceptable nature due to the fact that he generates a large number of open shots for his teammates every game.
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The “poor” habits Jack Armstrong keeps mentioning during these TV broadcasts are a total Red Herring.
sorry … should read instead as,
“defensive struggles from these players are NOT acceptable”
Much better effort but same old things bite the Raps in the Butt. Key offensive rebounds for Blazers and giving up key open looks from the 3 point line. It has been a problem for the Raptors for a long time and it just seems to continue on no matter the coach or personal on the floor.
The frustrating thing is there are few games that the Raptors SHOULD win on the schedule. It is going to be tough times ahead and a win today could have went a long way in helping tread water in a rough December sked.
Unless an unexpected trade comes from ColangeloClaus it could be a very un-happy Christmas season.
BA HUMBUG. What the hell is a HumBug?
FAQ wrote
Portland bench:
PG – Sergio Rodriquez
SG – Rudy Fernandez
SF – Nicolas Batum
PF – Channing Frye
C — Joel Pryzbilla
How would the Raptor starting lineup stack up against this Portland bench five? Just a thought ….
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I do not have an answer but Batum starts, Outlaw comes off the bench at SF or PF.