Toronto Star – Raptors’ Jay Triano sees good in the bad
It may seem entirely counter-intuitive to imagine Jay Triano would be pleased with what’s transpired with the Raptors of late but coaches are an odd lot and sometimes they don’t really think like regular folk. So in the wake of a 101-82 pasting at the hands of the Boston Celtics at the Air Canada Centre Sunday afternoon, Triano was thinking of the good that can come of it.
Toronto Sun – Raps foiled by fatigue
All yesterday’s game really proved is that Hedo Turkoglu’s conditioning is a far cry from where he or the Raptors need it to be. Turkoglu, who sat out the first three weeks of training camp, played just under the first six minutes of yesterday’s game before calling for a sub.
Yahoo! Sports – Garnett and Allen lead Celtics past Raptors 101-82 in NBA pre-season
If we win ugly right now what are we going to get from it? They’re going to come in feeling all good tomorrow, I don’t want them feeling good. I want them coming in ready to practice.
Globe and Mail – Starting five look good, when together
The Raptors have eight more practice days split by just one more exhibition game before they open the season at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“We just have to keep pounding away over the next 10 days and I kind of like it. I have their attention,” said Raptors head coach Jay Triano. “If we win ugly right now, what do we get from that? Guys are going to come in feeling all good tomorrow. I don’t want them feeling good. I want them ready to practise.”
There is some room for encouragement. Yesterday, Triano got some positive feedback on what he might have to work with at the top end of his rotation.
Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon, DeMar DeRozan and Hedo Turkoglu, for example, played the Celtics’ starters even or just a little bit better as the Raptors were up five points for an afternoon when they had their top unit on the floor.
Hoopsworld – Bosh Not Sold On Big Markets
Toronto has one core player that’s not under contract next year, All-Star forward Chris Bosh. While Bosh is ready to play out the season, he’s standing firm to his stance on free agency – next summer is next summer and he’s not overly concerned with anything other than his new teammates and winning games.
Bosh is pleased with how aggressive his club was in adding new talent and getting the business done, but said he tried to stay out of it and let GM Bryan Colangelo do his job.
“I just trust people who do that stuff are going to do their job,” explained Bosh to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. “Bryan doesn’t want to lose, he’s very competitive himself, he’s going to make the right move.
Globe and Mail – Who will win first – Raptors or Leafs?
You want a look-ahead? On Oct. 28, the Toronto Raptors open the NBA regular-season at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers while the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Dallas Stars. The Leafs have just two games before then (in Vancouver and Anaheim) so if they can continue losing and the Raptors can pull off an upset, there you’d go: Toronto’s NBA team has its first win before its NHL team. You don’t like the Raps’ chances against the Cavs? Neither do I, but not to worry: On Oct. 30 the Raps are in Memphis and the Leafs are in Buffalo. Lookahead? There’s your stinkin’ lookahead ..
National Post – New NBA officials the same as the old ones, apparently
Third quarter, we were on borrowed time,” Triano said. “This team, right now, due to the injuries and the late start of training camp, we’re just over a half-game ready.
TSN – GARNETT, ALLEN LEAD CELTICS PAST RAPTORS IN PRE-SEASON TILT
The Toronto Raptors still have one pre-season game and 10 days left left before opening the regular season on Oct. 28 — time coach Jay Triano says his team plans to maximize to the fullest.
Boston.com – Garnett, Allen help Celtics beat Raptors
I was like ‘This is a dress rehearsal but you’ve got to get it right,’ Allen said. “We want to get it right and we want be perfect in preseason games, regardless of who is on the floor and regardless of who we’re playing against. You don’t want to have to be trying to figure it out when the real stuff starts.
The Star – Raptors run out of gas against the Celtics
Still trying to coax as much as they can out of two key team members who are weeks behind their teammates in conditioning, the Raptors ran out of gas in a 101-82 loss to the Boston Celtics before 13,607 fans.
Sportsnet – Raps fall short vs. Celtics
I’m feeling much better every day,” said Turkoglu. “Today, I played a little bit more and I was feeling good after. We are getting close to the start of the season. We have 10 days and, hopefully, I will get myself in the best shape and ready to go.
Brothersteve’s Green & Red Raptor Blog – Raptors vs Celtics: Preseason Rematch, Positives For Both Teams
For the first time this preseason, Turkoglu looked comfortable on the floor. He played better defense and struggled less on the offensive end. There remains lots of room to get back to in mid-season form, but Hedo Turkoglu looked like he could be the most valuable Raptor on the floor this season.
Dino Nation Blog – My Day at the ACC
I will get into the game itself tomorrow but I thought is might be cool to share my experience in covering the game today. It has been a long time between visits to the Raptors locker room. I have mentioned in the blog before that I covered the Charity games Vince Carter use to do in the summer time. I will never forget my first time interviewing Vince. It was not a great start for me in working with NBA Players. I asked what seemed to me like a fair question. Vince had ended the season injured and this was the first time anyone had seen him out on the floor in a long time. So I asked him if he felt that he had anything to prove going out there on the floor even though it was just a charity game. Vince did not exactly take kindly to the question and basically said he had nothing to prove to anyone and basically that he was Vince Carter. I have to say I kind of felt bad, as back in the days of Vinsanity I was a huge fan. So, I quickly asked him a funny question about golf and how he compared to Tiger Woods on the golf course and got the heck out of dodge. Vince had played in some charity golf thing the day before so I figured that question would make him laugh and it did.
15 Raps
Ray Allen has the right attitude about pre-season, and it looks like too few of the Raptors have it. Ten days and one pre-season game to get ready for a game that actually counts. Leaving it to the last minute is NOT a sign of belonging in the top four of the East! Wake up, Raptors!! The first month is your toughest, and you came to camp NOT in optimal shape?! That bodes poorly on what the results will probably be. Are we looking at a team that’ll be sub .500 at the end of November? Please, prove me wrong!!!
Well, Turk and Bosh sat out for a while. Jose hadn’t played since April. It’s not like they came to camp fat like Chris Childs, they were recuperating.
The Raptors will likely be sub-.500 at the end of November – that’s because it’s a crazy-tough schedule, not because the players are lazy and don’t care about the pre-season.
raptors getting outworked and being out of shape with 10 days left til opening night is hard to watch. at least the cavs will be tired opening night from playing the c’s the day b4
Observation….Is it just me or does anyone else think that Bosh needs to seriously adjust his thinking? He has this attitude that he can’t foul as if the team is lost without him. In the past I understoud his unwillingness to pick up fouls early but now with the increased depth I think its time for him to realize that he needs to be a defensive presence and if that means having some foul trouble in return for attempting to block a few shots or grabbing an offensive rebound or 2 I say go for it. Blake Griffin defended his defense in college with the thinking that he couldn’t risk picking up cheap fouls and having to sit.
Bosh is a great player and used it be the the only good thing on the menu but he has help now and I tihnk he needs to change his thinking to get the Raptors into contention.
I think Bosh needs to take the scoring back a touch and focus on rebounding and blocking shots. I would gladly trade 5 points for a block and a couple of offensive rebounds!
I agree with what your saying about Bosh taking more chances and asserting himself at the defensive end…but that also might come from Triano.
It’s interesting to me when teams ask their best offensive player to be their best defensive player. LA does it. The Bulls did it. Arguably Cleveland does it as well…and Wade is also amazing for Miami.
And that’s the max money problem. Until Bosh takes both ends of the floor as seriously as those guys, it becomes harder to see him as a max/franchise player.
Excellent point. When Demar has used his speed to get to the hole, while he may beat his man, he gets hammered by the opposing bigs. They know they’re committing fouls, but they do it anyway. Bosh usually just watches them dunk. There’s no “not in my house” mentality from him very often. I’ve seen him do it in the past, I just wish he’d do it more often.
Great point.
Bosh doesn’t use his fouls to make a point.
If he got a couple of flagrant fouls per season knocking someone to the floor, fans and opposing teams wouldn’t think of the Raptors as soft anymore.
How about I’m a nice guy off the floor!
I would even be happy if he just prevented the lay up. He always comes over and either does the straight up and down token (Don’t foul) defense or steps out of the way completely. I hate to complain about the best player but I really think it’s a mindset thing that the TEAM has put in his head and now he can’t stop doing it. If you’re as athletic as CB4 step over, get in the air and make the man adjust the shot. It’s amazing the effect it has on an offensive player coming in for a layup. Even if you don’t foul or block it you might make him double clutch, use a floater or dish how many times something goes wrong. We make it too easy.
I also agree with the comparisons to Wade, LBJ and Kobe stepping up the defense. I think Kobe is the best example. Its not like he can’t score 30 a night anymore but he has others who can score too. Where he can adjust and help out is on perimeter defense and he does it well. To ask anyone to be the #1 option on O and a stopper on D is a lot.
Bosh has Hedo, Calderon and Bargs to make up for a little less Bosh on Offense and he needs to use his versatility and expend a bit more energy on defense and a little less on offense.
I remember a play early last year where Stuckey for the Pistons came down the right wing after a turnover and Bosh was standing under the net. As Stuckey picked up the ball I was shocked at how he didn’t hesitate, shake, crossover…nothing….just straight to the rim and I thought Bosh wouldsend it 3 rows deep but he never even stepped in. It tells me 2 things.
1. Bosh doesn’t want to foul.
2. Everyone know it and don’t even respect the possibility.
The reason Bosh doesn’t want to give fouls is because he will be benched to save him for the remainder of the game. He can’t pad his stats sitting on the bench twiddling his thumbs. Alternatively, the coaches may have told him not to give fouls because the team is desperate to keep him on the floor.
When the talent pool is so low, you can’t afford to bench your top scorer to protect him from fouling.
Jeez, you people blather a lot but you don’t see the game from the pov of the coaches … instead you blurt about what you would like to see happen in your delusionary haze … sheeesh
I don’t believe anyone wants Bosh to get 5 fouls per night.
Just take at least one hard foul when someone is driving at him to send a message on a more regular basis. The possibility has to at least exist in the opponents mind. And let Evans or Amir foul out if needed to protect the paint.
DeRozan gets knocked down 2, 3 times per game driving in. (Great to see!)
How often does anyone on the Raptors knock down someone? We shouldn’t be pining for the return of the Red Rocket for toughness.
Bosh is a flopper … which means he completely relaxes when he is hit and flops to the floor. He get’s more foul calls on offense with this strategy of flopping and that makes him soft on defense … his legs are spindly, fast and soft, and that’s where tough defense starts. It’s his style of play .. he’s not going to be an enforcer on the defensive end so get that through your head..!!!
What everybody should be concerned about is the absence of Reggie and Wright with their ‘injuries’ … and that’s going to significantly weaken the team and any hope for a stronger defense.
FAQ, did you watch Bosh on Team USA? He rebounded, blocked shots & played superior D. With Bargnani & Turkoglu, he now has two team-mates that can score, too. When’s the last time the Raptors had 3 of them? Before he was drafted, I bet.
3 Raptors in the top 128 (8 players in a playoff rotation x 16 playoff teams) in efficiency (Johnson, Bosh & Bargnani).
Another 6 in the top 256 (8 x 32 NBA teams) in efficiency (O’Bryant, Turkoglu, Evans, Calderon, Weems, Banks).
No Jack, Nesterovic, Belinelli, DeRozan, or Douby. Does that look to you like a team ready to compete for the top 5 spots in the East? I wouldn’t bet the home on it right now.
Turkoglu is in the top 128 with the other threes you mentioned (check NBA.com again) and Calderon will be there when the real games start (he was #42 at the end of last season ). In any case the Raptors played Boston and the Phillies twice + Houston out of 6 games and that is not a balanced pre-season schedule where half of the games should have been played against the 15 non-playoff teams (based on last season results).
Just to let you know, I was using efficiency per minute played, to be fair to the schrubs, and the starters that weere injured and missed some of their usual minutes … Do I beleive that Turkoglu & Calderone will be there by season’s end? Of course. However, I still don’t like the Iverson-like attitute, and never will. Since all the teams are playing all their players, unbalanced schedules don’t really matter. What matters is playing good basketball. Right now, we really aren’t. If we want to be in the top five in the East, we should be bringing it even against the playoff teams of last year. If we can’t play them to .500, we don’t really belong at their level, nor in the playoffs.