It’s an early 12:30 PM start today against the Hornets so we’ll keep this short since we’ll be doing some proper live blogging for the game not too long from now. Check out the Opening Tip to find out how David West stays in shape during the off-season.
There’s not much going on, we’re still gleaming after the win over the Nets and talking about how great out defence was and how everything’s gradually getting better. The Nets might be a nice win but we still haven’t beaten a solid team all year long. Yeah, that’s right, not a single win against a legitimate playoff team. The opening night Philly win felt really right but then we found out that Philly’s worse than us. Oh yeah, they also fired their coach just like us. Cheeks would’ve been gone early last season if they hadn’t made that second-half run to salvage a playoff spot.
Dave Feschuk is talking about Jay Triano and his lack of a quick hook which allowed Jason Kapono to stay in the game despite starting 0-6 and the resurgence of Joey Graham. Nothing new really but he does report a pretty funny zinger from Jay Triano directed at Jamario Moon. A modest two game win streak can change a lot of the negative atmosphere around a club but it can all end with a loud thud with another uninspired home performance against Mo Pete and New Orleans.
The Knicks could look to bring in Carlos Delfino who has an out in his contract with BC Khimki and would be allowed to return to the NBA. The Raptors do still hold his rights so the Knicks would have to go through us. There was talk of a Delfino return earlier in the year when Moon and Graham were producing zilch for us. I still think it would be a good idea to have him on the bench, especially since we have two open roster spots. Colangelo needs to release Will Solomon, deal with Nathan Jawai and acquire another big in case O’Neal goes down. Bosh and Humphries are not enough to sustain this team through any kind of a playoff push.
Last year David West went off for 32 against Bosh making him look rather fragile through aggressive post-play. Bosh’s body is too wiry to handle David West and last year I thought we made the mistake of sticking Rasho on Chandler and Bosh on West. To give Bosh a breather I’d put O’Neal on West and let Bosh handle the less threatening Chandler. I’m sure Jay Triano will adjust if there’s early abuse.
There’s talk that Steve Nash might be heading for an exit in Phoenix and his likely destination could be in the Atlantic with the Knicks. As nice as a player David Lee is, I don’t see him running the two-man game with Nash ala Amare. Would the Raptors be interested in a Jose-Nash swap? Bryan Colangelo just might be crazy enough to make the switch, Nash’s salary comes off in 2010 along with O’Neal’s so you won’t be tying yourself down to salary more than you already have. Jose’s got a much longer and potentially rewarding career ahead of him so it would be a risky swap. On the other hand you have to wonder if you pass up acquiring a two-time league MVP, imagine Nash and Bosh on the screen ‘n roll?
No TSN2 on Rogers yet. That’s about your Sunday morning wrap-up. Live blog and chat at 12:30 PM EST.
13 Raps
No roll call vs. New Jersey? We could’ve had a guest appearance for VC in the “under the bus” category.
if the Raps win today is it official that Sam was the issue? I’m not saying everything was his fault but maybe there is truth to the turnaround…
well, it’s not nash, but this guy’s pretty damn good.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=879
right?
I wouldn’t say that it would be official that Sam was THE only issue, but he was definitely a large part of the problem apparently. Remember that we’ve only watched a few games against overall mediocre teams, and if NO has an off night then it doesnt say much about team progress. On the other hand, if the raptors pull out a few big wins, grinding out games against a few top teams, then I think that would be more definite proof.
This game is going to show if Sam was the problem..
Sam was not THE problem, he was A problem. This team is still at best first-round fodder under Triano if they face any of Boston, Cleveland, Detroit and maybe even the Magic so we should all check ourselves. Is this team better under Triano? No doubt, but as I said in the post, let’s win a meaningful game before we think that our problems are fixed by firing Sam.
I hate to admit it, but I agree that Sam was not the only problem. However, if this team grinds out high quality wins against top tier teams, Joey Graham turns into the player we thought he was, Kapono stays hot, and Bargs shows continuous improvement, then the longer that goes on the more blame will (and should) be placed on Mitchell. It was clear that Mitchell was using our starters as meatshields against his getting fired and his refusal to give other players a chance while haphazardly running our starters down were all horrible, desperation moves. I said earlier (around game 4 or 5) in the season that I thought the players were tuning Sam out and that was possibly linked to how Sam was managing the roster. Anyway..
If we survive this season with a reasonable upgrade in our system and bigger blowouts of crap teams with smaller losses against good teams, then it will be clear that Sam was a piece of the problem. But, if there is a large improvement with no drastic personnel changes, then I’ll be the waterboy handing out Sam hatorade.
Any word on whether Tyson Chandler will play today? He didn’t suit up against the Celtics the other day.
Trading jose calderon for steve nash screams like devin harris for jason kidd, albeit calderon does not have the same high-end potential harris has. What would be the point as even if we make that trade, we would not be ahead of cleveland, boston, magic and detroit.
I hope we play solid today and grind out a win. I think the best way to play paul is to ’show’ him passes that look open and quickly close the man. It would limit the creative aspect of his game and he would play right into our defense.
Hopefully we do not try to play the ’sag the paint’ strategy against these guys as peja would kill us deep. He has before.
Go raps!
Jesus christ..the captain obvious parade continues apace…”Sam was not the only problem” really? you think?? Jesus, with the crew of dominant, dynamic All-Star winners on this team that are the desire of every other team??
“They MIGHT not get past Orlando” in the first round?? MIGHT??? Do you have amnesia? dementia???
….2 so-so wins (the defense in New Jersey game was improved…it was by NO means a “compleat game”) over two non-contending teams and the Toronto dweep delusion patrol is on full alert!
Toronto is one of the “crap” teams you seem to have no problem recognizing elsewhere…the kind of team that OKLA looks at on the schedule and thinks “phew, at least we have a shot”.
The Raptors can win the next three games and it means zip all….THIS is NOT a contending team…this is NOT a good team.
Just striving for mediocrity….
Jose for Nash…no chance. Captain Canada is too old. He is just as bad defensively as Jose as well.
Crazy rumour:
http://firechrismullin.blogspot.com/2008/12/warriors-and-raptors-set-to-make.html
Hey,
no chance that deal is true. I looked at the site and he also says that there are heavy discussions that the warriors are going to trade for Dirk, AK, as well as this trade, all involving maggette and wright. I don’t believe him.