Get the Opening Tip, make a thousand copies of it and distribute it at the game. We’d appreciate it.
Orlando was great, Milwaukee was terrible and Washington and Memphis were routine, today and tomorrow is what people will remember. I’m thirsty for some C**tics blood and I pray the Raptors are too. The results of the next two games could either give purpose to our season or further endorse our status as wannabe-contenders. We’ve played these sorry excuses for human beings twice already and sad to say, got beat quite convincingly. In the first game we had a 16-point lead but then we sat back and expected to coast only for them to up their defense and for us to fold. That’s of course the same game Garnett pulled this stunt which I still can’t believe didn’t receive a technical. In the second game in Toronto, Rondo pushed the ball against Calderon early and the Raptors were under too much defensive pressure to do anything on offense, we were out of it so early that those classless creatures started working on their golf game. Insulting? You bet. Humiliating? For sure. Motivation for this game? I sure hope so. In both games Chris Bosh was neutralized and then some by Kevin Garnett. Those two games put a real damper on his MVP talk and reignited the “Bosh is a choker” chant, and rightfully so.
I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing but the C**tics have lost 7 of 9 and 4 straight. Its good because by all indications they’re struggling and we might be able to capitalize. It could also be bad because seeing the whimpering Raptors might give them some design ideas about a quick 2-game win streak. Whatever the case may be, Chris Bosh needs to show up against Kevin Garnett. I’m tired of him calling in choke for these games and putting up meaningless stats in meaningless stretches of these games which is usually good enough to earn a reprieve in the eyes of the Toronto media. That stare-down after the Memphis game is still rubbing me the wrong way, those things should be saved for games like today.
That Orlando win has given us some reason to have hope. We were actually able to hang with a damn good team in the fourth quarter and come away victors by executing our offense for points and coming up with stops. Wins like those are rare in Raptorland and if we’re able to replicate the offensive efficiency we displayed in that game we could stay close and that’s all you can ask for. We’re not going to be blowing them out, best we can do is NOT get blown out in the first half, play a tight third to stay close till the fourth and then play great possession-by-possession basketball from there.
Tony Allen missed the defeat in Cleveland and Jose Calderon is a game-time decision. Jermaine O’Neal is doubtful as he’s still nursing his <insert body part> and is day-to-day-to-week-to-month-to-season.
Some keys to the game:
Big 3 Containment: All three matchups are are won by the Celtics, Pierce and Allen on pure talent and Garnett on intensity. Pierce is the best in the business when it comes to creating space between him and hid defender for a jumper and Moon/Graham are going to have their hands full. Pierce is a fourth quarter player who wants to take the shot in crunch time and it’s important that we force somebody else other than him to beat us. Even if we’re having success with single coverage on him in the first three quarters, I’d still send help in the fourth. Success through single coverage is rather unlikely but it’s something we should aim for, if it doesn’t happen then the doubles need to be smart and the rotations tight.
Anthony Parker leaving Ray Allen to help out on Garnett in the post was drawing Oh Nos from the AC crowd before Garnett even kicked it out back to Allen. They put Allen on the strong-side corner and posted up Garnett on the block. Parker inexplicably left Allen who received simple passes and drained back-breaking first half threes. Then again that was under Sam Mitchell and so far we’ve only seen one bone-headed moves by Triano (pulling Roko against Milwaukee).
Garnett owns Bosh. Sad to say but its true. He gets in his head, makes him take bad shots, pressures him out of the paint and to the perimeter where Bosh just wants to get rid of the ball. Garnett has success fronting him because Bosh is unable to fight for proper position and our guards are unable to make a proper lob or entry pass and end up wasting half the shot clock. When Bosh does catch the ball in a face-up or post-up situation, Garnett remains one of the few players that doesn’t need help when checking Bosh so there goes the double and ball-movement that comes from providing help. It’s already a tough matchup for Bosh basketball-wise but when you add Garnett’s trash-talking, intensity and desire to the mix, Bosh ends up looking like he wants to crawl into a corner and close his eyes. Will today and tomorrow be different? I hope so. Whatever Triano’s strategy pertaining to Bosh is, I hope it’s not as dumb as the “decoy” idea Mitchell had. I know it’s already been said a million times but Bosh needs to catch and make his move instantly, waiting around with the rock works against him every time and I’m surprised he hasn’t figured this out yet. If his jumper isn’t clicking against Garnett he needs to abandon it and start attacking, he’s third in the league with 9.0 FTA per game and that number needs to be around 20 if he hopes to make up for a bad shooting night.
Rondo v Solomon/Calderon: Solomon can’t play any worse than Calderon did in our last meeting, if he’s able to stop Rondo from penetrating the paint just once, he’s already done a better job. The message is simple: keep him in front of you so you don’t have to send help because you can’t afford to. It’s acceptable to help off of Rondo so that Pierce doesn’t get a clean look, entirely unacceptable to help off of Garnett so Rondo doesn’t get a layup. Fine line there. Roko Ukic and his lanky 6′ 5″ frame might be able to do the best job of applying ball-pressure and recovering in time to prevent the drive. Maybe we could play Moon on Rondo but then who guards Pierce? Jay Triano’s got some decisions to make, whatever he does I do suggest doing a whole lot of this.
Bargnani’s got the advantage: If Kendrick Perkins wasn’t an NBA player he’d be the prison guard that intercepts women on conjugal visits. Hardly relevant but true. In this game he’s going to have a clear bulk advantage against Bargnani and will be able to slowly and unattractively take Bargnani to the post and get his shot on him. Nothing we can do about it but ask Bargnani to play the solid man-to-man defense he’s been playing all year, except that we’d also like him to help on the glass if Perkins misses. Whatever we do we can’t afford to send help on Perkins, our defense is barely good enough to handle rotations and recovery for one double-team threat. Jermaine O’Neal took it to Perkins in the first half in Boston but later gave it all back in the second. Bargnani needs to win this matchup because it’s the only one we have a realistic shot at, he needs to be doing more of what he did against Yao and Howard which of course means that his jumper needs to be working. If it’s not then his entire game goes in the tank because he’s not good enough to find offense exclusively through his low-post or blow-by game.
Don’t let Tony Allen et al kill you: Tony Allen’s the type of player that can give our wings fits. He loves to drive and can finish in traffic as we saw in the game in Toronto. Joey Graham could be matched up with him and happens to have a strength advantage which we’d be foolish not to at least look at. Rebounding and second-chance points haven’t been a problem in the first two games, rebounding was even in the first game and -7 in the second. Second-chance points were in favor of the Raptors 11-2 and 15-8 in both games. The real problem was that we couldn’t score against their set defense and allowed way too many point in the paint which is always demoralizing: -8 and -26 in the two games. Sometimes it just comes down to playing solid man-defense and that’s what Humphries and Rasho-lite need to do against Baby Davis, Leon Powe and Kendrick Perkins. Of course they don’t get their points by posting up and executing moves, they’re usually buckets created by Pierce or Rondo penetration so it does go back to PG defense.
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If you’re going to the game, Chris Bosh has some words for you:
I keep saying this but I still don’t think our crowd knows how much of a difference they can make. It’s very hard to go into another building, let alone play against some rims and backboards you’re not used to, but when the crowd is going crazy and stuff it just makes it very tough.
This is no doubt a team-defining game. They’ve made us look bad this season and we should be angry and looking for salvation in these two remaining encounters. We need to be blood-thirsty, focused and ready to compete. All this has to start with our leader, if he comes out passively then the team will follow suit, if he brings the energy and inspires his teammates through his play and his words, then we’ll have a shot. These are the Raptors, they’re not going to razzle and dazzle you with their slashing drives to the rim followed by strong finishes or in-your-face defense that makes you feel proud of the team you support, all we can hope for is an honest 48-minute effort where we maintain intensity, execution and don’t shoot ourselves in the foot by playing right into the hands of the C**tics by taking contested jumpers.
Throw the stats, records and streaks out the window, this is a game that needs to be won and the Raptors must to do whatever it takes to continue their misery.
36 Raps
I expect Moon to be guarding Rondo, with AP on PP and Will on Rayray.
A few teams have had success against Boston putting bigger players on Rondo to take the penetration out of their game plan (Jared Jeffries did a great job in the NY win a week ago) so I don’t see why we wouldn’t try something similar.
Will can definitely guard Ray since it’s mostly just running around screens. Makes sense to me at least.
…payback.
I think Jay should try some different things to improve the defense.
The bottom line is , I would like to see them compete and put on a show for the fans.
The Dalembert(to Raptors)rumor:
“The rumor mill has had Dalembert on the move of late, but moving him is not as easy at it looks and because of the way the salary caps and rosters are assembled nowadays that task might be called impossible.
It’s called a trade kicker. If the 76ers do decide they wanted to move Dalembert, his contract states that a 15% jump will be taken into effect on the overall dollar amount. If a trade would come about, the team accepting Dalembert would have to pay the remaining $23 million on top of the kicker for the next two years left on his contract. For a guy who is averaging less than 25 minutes and playing inconsistent basketball that could be a huge risk.”
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=11188
Getting the Celtics at the perfect time. If we can’t win at least one of these, they have our number.
I’ve waiting on this game all weekend like it’s a playoff game. I can only pray to david hasselhoff that bosh comes out like a raving mad lunatic against garnett and once and for all has a good and angry game against a better player. same for bargs.
two games like that would be even better. but as a wise old man once said, ‘let’s not start sucking each other’s d**ks quite yet’. there’s a lot of work to be done this afternoon.
papa – a wise old man didn’t say that, that’s a line by the wolf from Pulp Fiction. I guess he was wise though.
Screw matchups, matchups only come into play once you stop playing scared and put the effort out. In the last game in TO we didn’t even do that, Bosh shied away, Parker jacked up shots and nobody cared to step-up to Rondo. We need to maintain intensity and treat it like a playoff game and not just for the first quarter.
Simon – I would dread putting Solomon on Ray, do you honestly think we can afford to give up a height advantage to him? He’ll jack up 25 shots.
As for Dalembert, I pass on him. We’ve already tried integrating JO and its not working out, why would we try the experiment again? Our biggest need is still a wing, I’d focus on addressing that. Hell, where’s Rodney Carney?
Arse, nice write up. Glad you included those youtube links. The golf clip is an embarassment.
Hoping for big games out of Bosh and Bargs. (Refuse to call them the killer B’s since that name is the sole property of B Brian Blair and Jumpin Jim Brunzell in mind). A split in this series would be huge. Another two miserable losses to the annoying C’s will be tough to swallow.
no doubt Wolf was wise. which is why another one of his lines applies today: ’so, pretty please…with sugar on top. Clean the f**king car.’ (except it’s win the game.)
and just say no to dalembert. that isn’t even worth talking about.
If Bosh still can’t manage to have a huge game and actually make crucial plays in this game, I don’t know how it would be possible for even the dumbest Toronto fan to keep thinking he’s in the LeBron/Duncan class rather than the McGrady/Nowitzki choke championships.
Being a big scorer does not make you a superstar MVP….LEADING your team to a win in important games against tough teams does.
Watch him. But if they start Caldy…
I don’t know what the big deal was with Bosh’s staredown the other day. Bosh is a funny dude, I’m pretty sure he was joking around, and I for one laughed my ass off.
i seem to remember years ago when kg was on the twolves bosh dominated him a few times. am i wrong?? he needs to take it right to him, cause if we win that match up i think we win the game. and i agree with dj augustine if we dont back down there vulnerable bully asses will fold. we almost beat them twice last year and once this year i think we can match up. am i wrong?? or am i still drunk from lastnight??
GO RAPS!!!
when bosh was a rook he dominated kg for many starts,untill kg went to boston.kg now facefucks bosh on the regular.lets hope it ends today….also,according to doug smith caldy is starting today.lets hope he keeps shit rollin…..my nerves are shot.
The difference Wes was that when KG was on the Wolves he didn’t have Paulie P and Ray Ray, oh yeah and a championship, and a shitload of confidence. However that confidence has gone down faster than wisky dick on bar night, but like a prick their confidence is sure to rise again! Lets hope it’s after this home and home.
1. THAT STUPID FUCK DEVLIN USED KILLER B’S WITHIN 90 SECONDS OF STARTING TO FLAP HIS JAW
2. SCALABREEEEEEEEEEENEEEEEE IS STARTING, HENCE, THE END OF THE WORLD IS NIGH
We should really send him emails and tell him to stop that nonsense.
Friedman just used it too BTW
Live chat is here BTW:
http://raptorsrepublic.com/liveblog/chat.php
How many fucking times do yo fucking cretins have to see Bosh look like a 12 year old girl when he isn’t playing against fucking rookies and scrubs before you get it into your fucking mediocrity loving heads that he isn’t a guy that can fucking carry a team???
He’s a fucking Robin.
#11
he’s more like yang to lebrons ying…2010 baby…Bron Bron in Tdot!
like i said yesterday calderone should not have played today!! his D is worse than his hair!! that 1st quarter is all his fault. almost all of rays 3s started with a caldy breakdown. sooo mad!!! we should have stayed with what was working. an unscoutable noname energy backcourt. show me ROKO now!!! and we can thank jose for 1 of bargnanis fouls..
Hopeful that they can still figure this out.
me too.. bargs also has to take it stronger. would have had a block on pp if he tried to jam
Celtics are not Memphis Grizzlies… There is no reason for Bosh to shoot a 3 when your team is struggling in 3rd quarter. With the poor % and him being a post player, that’s not the way to get yourself or your team going when fuckin down 20 and looking for a spark.
Anyways , Ukic to the rescue…the other 2 were pathetic, embarassing in the first half and start of the second. Rondo chewed them up.
U gotta push the ball with good teams…
not an excuse but bosh is getting raped in the tush by these fucking refs. they owe us 4 free throws
Yeah, that’s hardly an issue in this game though. Gotta love the obligatory Bosh 3.
….fucking pathetic.if jose wasnt 100% why risk the chemistry we had going?the celtics turn this team into bitches.this was ugly and pathetic all rolled into one big ball of shit….pathetic,i knew this game was done when jose looked off a wide open bargs(with out stretched arms calling for the ball) in the 1st qtr to get his and clank one…………….dont pg’s realize that they gotta get the o involved before they get theirs?AND…i never really said shit but,jose’s matador d was glaringly BRUTAL.if he aint 100% sit his fucking ass….look what joses ill advised return did to will.a chain of events of shit.
Furious 4th quarter comeback by Raps mainly brought about by Roko’s sub and new energy. After being owned and down by 21.
Smart decision by Triano not playing this guy early on in the game..dumbass can’t evaluate potential and plays the two special olympics guys aka CaldeMon for 3 quarters.
Watched the game on Celtics Comcast Sportsnet, their commentators wouldnt shut up how embarrassing it is when your PGs (calderon and solomon) cant stay in front of rondo at all.
It’s ok tho Raptors will get another crack at it Monday… somehow I suspect the same outcome as caldemon will be ready and back to dig them down another -20.
Andiamo quotes:
“we will be leaps and bounds ahead of a sam coached team.we will be prepared,we will run plays,we will make sensible sub patterns,we will be better.”
“lmfao…u dumb fucks.this team will be a million times better with triano in charge.we will make the playoffs”
Let’s hear all the excuses for why the Raptors got aggressive and made a run with Bosh on the bench yet again…
You dumb fucks who have no instinct for personality…and only look at stat sheets….how many times do you need to see this movie before you get a fucking clue??
Leaders have to be strong and mentally tough…
Why don’t you cretins do yorselves a favour and watch the tape of what LeBron did to the Celtics 2 days ago?
He defended every fucking position and finished while being mauled at the basket. He had 38 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists….that is a fucking superstar…..
Bosh will never win anything until he has someone to carry him.
calderon is still bloody injured, and the stupid fucking Raps let him play anyways. Don’t they realize he is HURTING the team? He looks lost out there – and against Boston and Rondo is not the time to try to hit the ground running. Assholes. And watch, he is going to start again tomorrow.
If Raps bring it tomorrow like they did in the 4th – i.e. Bosh is not a black hole, but is solid on defense, and a menace in the lane on offence; Kapono starts hitting from beyond the arc; Graham brings the energy and ROKO or (hopefully Solomon) can give us quality minutes, then the Raps won’t have a bloody 20 point deficit to work with.
Good 4th quarter: pissed off the Raps didn’t bring the energy sooner. I guess everyone decided to keep JO company at the strip club last night, and stayed a little too late.
and, in case you are wondering, i am not looking for excuses for the Raps poor play by calling on injuries. They played like ass for three quarters. But i do want to highlight my opinion that calderon should not be playing games until he is healed more than he is now, because his already poor D, becomes unacceptably poor when he can’t bloody sidestep.
agree 100%
Arsenalist,
re: Our biggest need is still a wing, I’d focus on addressing that. Hell, where’s Rodney Carney?
FYI … he’s right here … and getting better all the time. : )
Arsenalist,
re: Our biggest need is still a wing, I’d focus on addressing that. Hell, where’s Rodney Carney?
FYI … he’s right here … and getting better all the time. : )