Comments on: Old versus new guard play

By: Acie

Acie — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:51:03 +0000

Interesting comments about the 2nd line of new players and jelling. Don`t forget, out of that line-up, Rasho and Jack played together last year and Rasho-Delfino the year before. While Rasho and Delfino are technically new, you can also look as it as if they just took the year off.

By: TH

TH — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:01:35 +0000

Please. Bargnani was PUNISHED by decent big men. Bosh is a much better defender. Bargnani improved a lot, but seriously, his defensive awareness and rebounding awareness are subpar.

By: LukeCage22

LukeCage22 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:22:27 +0000

The beauty of the NBA is that a 5 for 5 sub pattern does not have to happen, so the likely hood of all 5 of the bench guys being on the floor at the same time is very slim. I am trusting that through training camp and pre season the coaches will be able to distinguish the best line ups and match ups after the intital starting line up. Gelling is a question with any group of players on any team anyways, so that being a question is not so much of a factor.

The biggest thing when looking at that line up is making sure that when the bench players are being subbed in that there is a solid balance of offense and defense so that they can sustain a lead (or even build on a lead) while not being concerned with losing a lead or falling further behind in a game. I am confident that a bench of Jack, Wright, Delfino, Evans and Rasho, when subbed in with some of the starters, will be able to be very effective.

They will gell by mid December the latest, but even saying that, i still believe they will be a solid team from the beginning of the season.

By: Hardcore Raps

Hardcore Raps — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:30:42 +0000

Putting a lot of new players together can work. Example, the 07-08 champs… they had a alot of new players and rookies. They still turned out ok.

Im not saying this team will or wont work… but dont jump to conclusions about them not gelling.

By: Hardcore Raps

Hardcore Raps — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:23:31 +0000

I don’t know how many games, rounds, years a player needs to become experienced in the playoffs…. that is always up to the individual player or team. But I can say that 0 playoff games means no experience, and 1 round does not mean experience. Thats pretty simple.

Not taht this is really relevant but, as for this year I dont know how it will go… but I would say we have added alot of playoff experience (Hedo, Evans, George etc). And I would prefer if you didnt try to put words in my mouth….

By: FAQ

FAQ — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:07:37 +0000

LukeCage22:

Your starting lineup has 3 team veterans, a new veteran and a rookie.

Your bench backup has 5 absolutely new players.

What do you think would happen if the bench of Jack, Wright, Delfino, Evans, Rasho were sent out on the floor as a squad??

If the Ratpors jell by January, that will be a miracle. Let us pray ….

By: Macy O'Baston

Macy O'Baston — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:34:13 +0000

Give the fans what they want every 4th game…because he’s not playing ahead of Bosh, Bargs, Evans or Rasho. Not a lot of minutes for the 5th big man on any team.

Look, I loved Pape Sow too, but it doesn’t mean he added any Ws to the team. Spending extra cash for the guy is fiscally irresponsible.

By: LukeCage22

LukeCage22 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:36:51 +0000

Couldn’t the Raptors use the remaining money left from the mid level exception to sign Pops. His qualifying offer for for $1 mill. Isn’t the remainder of the mid level approx 1.6 mil or something, now that the Jack deal is finalized. That way they could get Pops (remaining mid-level), Rasho (bi-annual exception) and Delfino (bird rights) and then perhaps colangelo could just cut POB or maybe do a 2 for one trade of ukic and POB or ukic and banks or (Best case scenerio) Banks and POB, for maybe 1 scrub reserve big leaving the line up as

PG – Calderon/Jack/Douby/
SG – Derozen/Wright
SF – Turkoglu/Delfino/George
PF – Bosh/Evans/Pops
C – Bargnani/Rasho/ 1 extra big in a 2 for one deal with another team

I would be proud to call that team my 2009-2010 Raptors.

By: Edgar

Edgar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:56:28 +0000

I dont think theirs enough sample size to accurately evaluate anyone’s ability to hit the cutters with passes since the Rap’s have never had any consistant off-the-ball cutters!! I think Calderon could prolly do a pretty decent Steve Nash impression given the opportunity… Bosh is good at it too for a Big…

By: tonious35

tonious35 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:56:18 +0000

To think back, the division in 2006 and 2007 just sucked ballz to the MAX. Boston and Philly are legit teams now, and Boston is the impenetrable wall that will never make us win the division.

By: AltRaps

AltRaps — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:11:21 +0000

Since you like to quote, I guess you missed this one:

“Are the playoffs played with a different mindset? Of course.”

So, how many playoffs do Bosh and Jose have to play in for them to acquire your grandiose idea of *playoff experience*? 3? 4? 5? If it takes 4 or 5 appearances for a player to gain the desire or acumen that encompasses playoff ball, I question his value. You certainly can’t apply the team concept of your theory to a Raptor squad since BC has been here since he has never kept a consistent starting roster from one year to the next.

I wonder how your theory applies to individuals. Say, McGrady.

I guess looking at the roster, as currently constructed, we shouldn’t worry about going to the second round this year, correct? We haven’t added much playoff experience, so we are doomed.

By: Raptorsfreak

Raptorsfreak — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:09:05 +0000

I would argue that Bargnani’s improved development did start happening last year, it’s just it started mid season once Smitch was cut loose.

By: Hardcore Raps

Hardcore Raps — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:56:31 +0000

-If your theory held water, we would have more second round appearances as a franchise since we’ve had our fair share of round 1 appearances.-

You are comparing Apples and Oranges here. Most of our playoff experience was on COMPLETELY different teams (ie. the Vince years). Bosh, Jose , TJ etc. only had 1 round of playoffs to draw off of… and then had to compete with D.Howard who we had no answer for. Funny how our best player was Kapono that round who… guess what… HAD more playoff experience than anyone else on that team (except Rasho). I would never say that 1 round of playoffs makes players playoff veterans. In fact I would say it proves my point that they needed more playoff experience.

Even if you feel T.O. battled for the atlantic division title (and it wasnt much of a battle)… that in NO WAY translates into playoff experience.

-you’d have to believe that a desire to win is already in place.-

And I do not beleive they didnt have desire to win… that is just ridiculous statement.

I really have no idea how someone who obviously watches and knows basketball can not appreciate the value of playoff expereince…. it boggles my mind. It seen time and time again… year after year… and yet you talk like it doesnt exist.

By: Arsenalist

Arsenalist — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:42:02 +0000

Yeah, I don’t know if the team looked great last year. I think we were hopeful that a lot of the 50-50 things went our way like JO’s health, Bargnani’s development, Calderon’s durability as a starter, Roko backing up Jose properly, Bosh playing like an All-Star etc. All the things that we were counting on to happen didn’t happen, looking back I’d say those were unrealistic expectations, partially caused by media and fans who were madly in love with the JO trade.

Re: Calderon’s defensive weakness. I think we saw just exactly how weak he was in the playoffs when Jameer Nelson tore him a new one. Ford was equally guilty there too. Is he as bad as he was lat year? No. Can he guard his position? Remains to be seen but signs point to him needing help.

By: TM Williamson

TM Williamson — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:36:04 +0000

Thank you. I love Pops. Love his energy, love his excitement. But the inclusion of Pops on this team will have very, very little impact on the eventual outcome. He would be a 3rd stringer. There is not one 3rd stringer in the NBA that is a “difference maker”.

There are two roster spots left, and Delfino and Rasho are available. Delfino and Rasho are decent basketball players who fill a need on the team (backup wing and backup centre). Pops is a borderline NBA talent (as much as you may love him, he’s never played more than 22 games in a season) who doesn’t address a need for the team.

Furthermore, if Rasho or Delfino doesn’t work out, there are better options out there than Pops. Guys that would better address a need, and are simply better basketball players.

As I said, I love the type of game Pops plays, but I’m sorry to say that there’s a reason he has never been re-signed by anybody in his NBA career.

By: Edgar

Edgar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:30:12 +0000

Well Roko is definately on the bottom of the list with our other scrubs close behind (POB, Banks, etc) – like maybe a 2/10 and the top would be close, but I would say Bosh – he can play MVP when he wants to, he just needs the motivation/stamina to play that way on both ends All season… so maybe 7/10? Its hard to rate since you generally compare Bball IQ to their relative skill…

By: Mash

Mash — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:59:22 +0000

Not unless your name was Bryan Colangelo.

By: Mash

Mash — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:58:25 +0000

It’s comments/mini-discussions/threads like this that also contribute to the awesomeness of this site.

LOL!

By: ChrisR

ChrisR — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:33:03 +0000

There are lots of ways for BC to work it out, take the 4 team trade as exhibit A

By: AltRaps

AltRaps — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:30:32 +0000

We’ll agree to disagree. If your theory held water, we would have more second round appearances as a franchise since we’ve had our fair share of round 1 appearances.

Are the playoffs played with a different mindset? Of course. However, if a team has battled to win a divisional title over the course of 82 games, you’d have to believe that a desire to win is already in place.

People ripped the Raps for a poor showing against Orlando and that team featured “playoff experienced” players. Surprised they didn’t move on to the next round then….