Much thanks to Jose for showing up against the Bulls and stealing one in Chicago. I thought the Raptors were going to blow that lead until Parker and Bargnani hit two big threes and Jose nailed a jumper off of a screen to ice things. All were perimeter shots and if they were missed it might’ve been a different story. As things stand we’re back to 11 games under .500 with a chance to make it 10 as the lowly, and I do mean lowly, Kings come to town. This bunch lost a close one to Milwaukee last night and are in the midst of a 4-game Eastern swing where they’ll play Boston and Cleveland next. If there’s a winnable game for them on this roadtrip it’s tonight at the ACC (6PM tip-off, TSN). The Kings have lost 4 straight and 10 of 12 but their last two losses were 3 and 2 point affairs. They also beat Dallas at home and GSW on the road recently.
The injury report for the game is thin, Kris Humphries is out indefinitely with a fractured right fibula. For the Kings, Shelden Williams (AP’s brother-in-law) has a sprained right wrist and missed the Milwaukee game. Kevin Martin who had missed the earlier meeting in Sacramento is playing. That was the game Jermaine O’Neal exploded against Brad Miller and Spencer Hawes for a season-high 36 points. Jose’s play is the big story of the weekend and Jay Triano talked about his importance:
It’s completely different with him on the floor. He’s in control of the ball. He’s in control of the other players on the floor. He makes shots. He makes plays. He defended extremely well for being out as long as he was. We had to manage his minutes and that was a little cumbersome at times, but he just played great.
He’s right but with or without Jose this team has issues, we’re 13-20 (.39) with him in the lineup and 4-8 (.33) without. There’s no doubt that we’re a better team with him in the lineup and that those crazy chants of starting Will Solomon were just that – craaazy. But expecting the Raptors to have a resurgence just because of Jose is unrealistic, the goal of the season should be to off-load O’Neal to free up cap space and play the free agent market this summer in hopes of satisfying Bosh’s craving for winning. If not that then tank for a high pick. I prefer the former but that’ll only work if Colangelo is able to make shrewd FA signings and so far his record in Toronto is: Jason Kapono, Will Solomon, Hassan Adams and Jermaine O’Neal.
Kevin Martin who is coming off an injury apparently has had suspect lateral movement of late so maybe the Raptors could take advantage by forcing a switch and having Jose turn the corner against him.
This is odd, when Jermaine O’Neal hears the trade rumors he can’t help but reminisce when he was coming out of high school and everybody said that he wouldn’t last three years. Is it just me or are they two entirely unrelated thoughts that should never be the result of each other? According to the Sun article, the Marion trade is the most likely to happen but I’m guessing he’s just basing it on the rumor mill and no inside information. Shawn Marion did sit last night with a sprained appendage of some sort. As Michael Grange so diligently pointed out the other day, Marcus Banks’ contract might be a deal breaker as he’s supposed to be a bit of a clubhouse cancer with a bad contract. This trade is far more desirable.
The Raptors are favored by a ridiculous 9 points. This is a tough call because as I said the last two Kings’ games were decided by 3 and 2 points, but then again this is the back-end of a back-to-back. I would still take the Raptors.
The Raptors are still 4 games back of the final playoff spot with five teams in-between. The projected win total for the final spot is 39 which means the Raptors would have to go 22-15 and hope the other teams in the mix don’t make a run. After this we got Milwaukee which currently holds the 8th spot before we hit a tough stretch where we play Orlando, Cleveland, Lakers and New Orleans. That will take us to February 6th and give 100% indication whether there’s an outside shot of salvaging this season. The trade deadline is February 22nd and that should give BryCo enough time to do something. Anything.
This TSN2 thing is getting ridiculous. I don’t think MLSE, Rogers, TSN or anybody cares about the fans and are all willing to bide their time in hopes of getting exactly deal each of them wants out of this mess. How the Raptors organization can allow fans to be starved of Raptors basketball despite having their own TV channel is an indication of just how much the fans mean to this team. This is unprecedented in the NBA and the only thing that comes close is NFL blackouts. Still, we’ll try to have the streams around game-time. You can also check the chat where somebody always has something. If you’re in the downtown area, Philthy’s McNasty’s on King St. West has the game.
Update: The game has been switched to TSN.
40 Raps
TSN has changed the game from TSN2 to TSN reg for this game per Smith at the Star.
Current Line: TOR -9 O/U 210
The Raptors should win outright … but getting the cover at -9 is too dicey for my liking. Keep your money in your pocket, or lay it on the Kings.
Arsenalist, I have been extremely vocal on the Rogers/TSN2/MLSE fiasco, sending countless e-mails to Rogers on it and also e-mailing the press to express my frustration. I do not even bother with MLSE because they are the most guilty here by far and I never even saw a chance that I would be listened to. At least Rogers gave me a monthly discount on my bill for the year and has responded to my concerns.
I just exchanged e-mails yesterday with Bill Houston from the G&M, who is being given a package. Here is what he wrote me:
Thanks for the note Brian. Yes, Marty, as usual has impeccable sources. Early retirement. Happy to go. I may rise from the ashes with a blog. Re TSN2-Rogers, it’s clearly not going well. I’ll get something on this later. Bill
You may recall, Bill wrote that a deal was very close in December, and he is as disullusioned as the rest of us how it has not happened. It will be interesting to see what he says once he is not affiliated with the G&M because I have a feeling he knows who is really responsible for a deal not being struck but can’t come clean.
——————-
re: He’s right but with or without Jose this team has issues, we’re 13-20 (.39) with him in the lineup and 4-8 (.33) without. – by Arsenalist
——————-
The Raptors are 1-0 with …
* Jose Calderon as the Starting PG, plus
* Anthony Parker as the primary Back-up PG, plus
* Jason Kapono as a Reserve Wing off the bench, plus
* Chris Bosh as the Starting Center, plus
* Jermaine O’Neal as the 3rd or 4th Big off the bench.
Diagnosing correctly what’s been wrong with this team isn’t rocket science. In fact … it’s been clear since the off-season.
Hopefully they can keep things going and play at least .500 ball the rest of the way with a variation of the line-up they SHOULD have been using since the beginning of the season … regardless who their coach was or the type of defensive and offensive systems they’ve been using.
The NBA Game is about getting the right pieces in the first place and then using them in the correct way to maximize their individual strengths while minimizing their individual weaknesses. : )
khandor-
honest to god been enjoying your posts lately.
but i dont know where you stand with bargnani?…you always seem on and off with him and i personally think he is the perfect compliment to chris bosh (so long as he tries to rebound the ball).
do you not think that he is becoming a live or die component of the raptors success?
You enjoy his posts? He’s the least knowledgeable poster on here IMO.
The only thing unprecedented about the Raptors broadcasts is that Raptors fans can receive all 82 games in stunning HD.
Just be glad you can stream games.
Brian – thanks for that. Tim Chisholm who works at TSN was very optimistic too but last I talked to him was resigned to the fact that TSN2 just won’t be happening for Rogers anytime soon.
Taylor – I do appreciate that but whats the point of you don’t get 30+ of those games?
khandor – I don’t mind that lineup because it gives Bargnani more PT but one game is not a sample size that proves a damn thing. Given how we have to trade JO I’d say we put wins and losses aside and play him 35 minutes irregardless of position so he can put up a few big games. Once he’s out then we can worry about what the correct lineup is. Also, what are the chances AP is NOT traded? I’d say pretty low so having Parker as the backup PG isn’t even an option.
Looking forward to Cleveland, Orlando and New Orleans.
I guess it’s clear you are a proponent of starting all over, that nothing can be accomplished this season.
That’s not true at all! We can make a run for the 6th/7th/8th playoff spot and get wiped by Orlando/Cleveland/Boston! Yay accomplishment!
McGuinty stepped in to end the bullshit at York U. Next on his agenda should be this TSN2 fiasco.
Wishful thinking aside, I think it’s sad that I’ve actually resigned myself to not getting every Raptors game. If MLSE’s addicted to greed, we’re their enablers.
Mc Guinty is a snake. Why do voters keep electing him I have no clue. All he does is raise taxes ( car insurance, health premium, car licensing, land transfer tax ) and break promises. And this York U thing could have been solved 3 months ago but he waited so long. It’s because had he intervene then, students could get there tuition back but now they can’t.
Second post I agree. Stop going to the games and then changes will be made. It’s the same scenerio with all sports franchises. Bulls are worse then we are right now.
stfu
LOL!! ;D
Khandor, you are too full of yourself.
I really like our chances of not making the playoffs this year. Way to go BC. Hopefully he can correct some of his mistakes this summer and get us back on track, to being a decent/good team.
Raptors by 9 points tonight. Big game from Joey G.
His posts are meaningless and lack depth and brains
Never read that idiots posts.
You think Cuban would repatriate Texas Bosh for Dirk
Yes, I think he would but it depends a lot on how Dallas does this year in the playoffs. If he deems that the franchise has already gone as far as it can go under Dirk, then he’s going to look in a different direction. Kinda like what Detroit did with Billups.
They still haven’t recovered from the shock of blowing a finals lead and getting knocked out by GSW. Dallas is looking a lot like the Raptors of last year – beat the bad teams, lose to the good ones.
No Dirk please.
I was on basketball-reference and Jose has the NUMBER ONE OFFENSIVE RATING IN THE LEAGUE!!!!!
For comparison sake Jose is at 127 (estimated points produced per 100 posessions) Lebron F’n James is at 120.
Oh and Jose’s true shooting % is 3rd in the league.
Somebody get this kid Mo Shats.
I was reading another post somewhere where it was indicated that the raptors would be 1 of only 4 or 5 teams with significant cap space this off season if the Marion trade goes down.
IMHO, I would rather compete with 4 other teams versus a plethora of other ones this off season as compared to 2010.
Just another reason to like the Marion trade.
http://www.sportscity.com/nba/2009-nba-free-agents has a list of unrestricted free agents. My first choice would be Marion and then a complementary scoring piece but since I’m not sure he would want to sign in Toronto, I’d still take Artest (at a reduced salary) and a scoring piece.
What would my fellow posters do??
This is what I’m worried about. No free agent/all star will sign here once Bosh goes to Cleveland or Miami. He can play with Lebron and Mo Williams and/or Dwayne and Beasley.
Bosh will not be traded, period. MLSE would rather he walk for nothing. So with the cap space Bryan will sign vets for cheap from Europe. Delfino, Milt Palacio, Juan Carlos Navarro of that sort. As well as Messina our new bench boss and would know our new players inside out
I would, under no circumstances take Artest. Our team is fragile enough at this point without the 1-man implosion himself. I would much rather take the Camel Clutch, Hedo if he can be had in 2010.
That is also my primary concern with Marion, is that he just likes to complain. He wanted out of Phoenix, now he wants out of Miami. He stopped playing hard some time ago. I see no reason he will like it better in TO, other than the fact that BC is here.
If Marion wants to play in Toronto beyond the end of the year, he does not deserve anything close to a max contract. In an ideal world, after 2010, our roster would consist of Bosh plus another all-star (because in this league, 1 is not enough), Jose, Bargnani and a good defensive 3.
I would encourage Colangelo to sell MLSE and Bosh on the prospect of breaking the bank in 2010. I just think that there are not enough options to pick up this summer to fit this team – no one we can pick up this summer will make us winners next year. We need to pick up some nice players that do not tie up too much money…i still have my sights set on 2010…that is my opinion anyways…
I think that a lot of teams will have much tighter budgets than they might project, but I think Toronto will be in a better position than most.
MY IDEAL post 2010, which I think can be done by they way…(but i reiterate, there are many good reasons I am not a GM…we don’t know all the ins and outs, but it is fun to come up with rosters anyway):
Jose / Ukic / Anthony Parker (Nash? doubtful)
Joe Johnson (yes, he is available in 2010) / Anthony Parker
Marion or Hedo/ Joey Graham
CB4 / Hump
Bargnani / Joel Anthony (who I would like to see as part of the Marion deal – he is a decent player)
. . . . . .
What can people come up with in terms of a decent team next year that could be better than this?
Verbatim,
I completely agree with all of your points. But consider, why not try to get Ariza instead of Hedo/Marion. He’s younger, defensively-minded and is constantly improving his j.
Add him to that team and I firmly believe we could be a championship-level contender for a good 5-7 years, maybe even more.
JJ would be nice but you can’t pin your hopes on a signing like that. I don’t want anything to do with Marion, he’s a good defender and an OK three-point shooter but we need our SF to be more than that and also remember there’s no way he’s settling for anything less than 12M per and that’s way too much for him.
Dino – I dont’ get peoples love affair with Ariza, he can’t dribble, isn’t a great shooter and can’t create his own shot. I think he’s a great role player when you already have the major pieces, we got to work on the major pieces first.
Now I know I’ll get killed for this but I wanted the Raptors to go after Richard Jefferson in the offseason because he was available as we all now know. You put him on a team like the Raptors and he’ll slash his way to 20/6 if he’s healthy. Go ahead, rip me up.
essentially, yes, my entire theory of what the Raps could be depends on JJ. But I think he is gettable. He would compliment the team really well, and eliminate the need for the Raps to have a stellar #3. Just a solid rebounding guy who can slide in when Andrea moves to the perimiter on offence, and a guy who can also knock down the 3. we don’t need a duplicate of JJ if we can get him.
That is basically my hope though. JJ+Bosh+Calderon+Bargnani+(rebounding #3) = contender in 2010!
By the way, nice win by the Raps. Needed to win if for nothing else than to remind everyone that Jose is good player.
Ariza works too. Essentially, that spot needs to be filled by a defensive-minded guy, who can shoot and occasionally drive. His primary role is to defend and to rebound and hit open threes. In terms of driving, that is what Joe Johnson is for. I like Hedo though, for some reason. He is a clutch player, but probably will cost more than Ariza too.
If the Hawks offer JJ a max contract, I think he’ll take it.
As for Artest, I’d take him next season in a heartbeat. There’s no other player available that can bring us his scoring and defence.
I think Artest is somewhat crazy, but is gradually maturing as he approaches his 30th birthday.
Dirk will have a deep mental scar for the rest of his life after the last 3 years of post season ball. Too be up 2-0 in the finals and a cunt hair away from making it 3-0 against Miami and in the end, loose the series? I bet the guy made the bar his new home for a month or so.
Following season the guy earns 67 wins and gets eliminated in the first round against GS. Oh Boy. All the media scrutiny he must have gone through and maybe his own family talking behind his back……….
Yes, he should leave Dallas and get a fresh start elsewhere. Preferably, as a second option.
That finals was crap, if not rigged. Wade got every single call and imaginary calls.
True.
But that doesn’t excuse Dirk for going MIA, no pun intended
Thanks for posting the pic of Talisa. She was and still is my fave from all the Dance Pak(s).
Totally agree, I didn’t want to sound like a perv but since you already said it, I’ll second that.
From what I saw (the 2nd half) BC was right to try to get Salmons. Assuming he played consistently, he was the (and still is?) the wing the Raptors needed.
Of course, he’s going up against OUR perimeter D. I would like to see what he does with guys who actually try to stay in front of him. But yeah, he looked decent tonight.
Verbatim,
The Raptors won’t have enough money available to sign a max contract free agent, and another $10+mil player (like Hedo/Marion), and keep Bosh/Bargnani/Calderon.
It looks like it is either the max contract player or the $10+mil player. Or else, Bargnani or the $10+mil player.
Great posts, I like the pieces you’re thinking of, particularly Joe Johnson. I too, think 2010 is the key, and best opportunity, to the Raps future.
I just have a quick question. Do we think that Bosh can be persuaded to stay after 2010 or is his leaving a forgone conclusion. Cause if his leaving is, then what would be the optimal solution?
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