Slippery slope not up to Raptors’ liking | Toronto Sun
The Raptors morning shootaround was limited to spot shooting and a walk-through when players complained about the court at the AT&T Center being slick and too unpredictable. "Whatever we could walk through both offensively and defensively we did," head coach Jay Triano said summing up the workout. "We couldn't risk anybody moving."
The hope was that things would be better come game time. They were not.
The pre-game warm-up was a mass of bodies on the court with players trying to get their shots in around a slew of arena staff workers who were walking the court with towels and mops.
Jose Calderon said it felt like there were oily spots everywhere.
Marco Belinelli was having a little fun with the situation as he showed off with a few break dance spins on his back.
Triano wasn't enjoying it at all. A postponement of the game would undoubtedly be a huge opportunity missed for the Raptors.
Tomorrow is Swirsky night at the ACC | Toronto Sun
Charles Oakley got his moment of recognition for his role in the 15-year history of the Raptors and now one-time voice of the Raptors Chuck Swirsky will have his. Swirsky, now a team broadcaster for the Chicago Bulls on ESPN 1000, returns to Toronto with the Bulls tomorrow night. Like Oakley, Swirsky will be the focus of a short video montage during tomorrow night's game.
Star-less Spurs sink Raps | Toronto Sun
And don't try to tell Bosh, it's about technique or positioning. He was having none of that.
"It's all about wanting the ball and wanting to finish the possession," he said. "Their guys were hungry for the ball and they got second-chance points."
Head coach Jay Triano was just as blunt in his assessment of the Raptors' rebounding effort.
"It takes a real nose to go to the ball," Triano said. "There are guys that are born to go get the basketball and we have one that can't play right now in Reggie (Evans, out with a mid-foot strain).
"It's disappointing," Triano continued. "Everyone has to go get it. We don't have guys who are leaking out. We are supposed to stick with our man and go get the basketball but obviously we didn't do a very good job of that."
Doug Smith’s Toronto Raptors blog
Yes, offensively they were fine but that’s the easy part of the game. It’s doing the, pardon the expression, grunt work that separates bad teams from even mediocre ones and the Raptors failed miserably in San Antonio.
Sixteen offensive rebounds surrendered? It was like volleyball at times on the glass and all it would have taken was a modicum of effort.
And it’s even more than just putting a body on someone.
Raptors take one on the chin – thestar.com
"It's just focus," said a dejected Chris Bosh. "We forced a lot of jumpers and they missed a lot. It's all about wanting the ball and wanting to finish the possession; their guys were hungry for the ball and they got second-chance points.
"I saw some times, (San Antonio guard Keith) Bogans was getting down there and trying for a rebound and they retained possession. No offence to him, but that can't happen. That's just lack of focus."
The Raptors actually shot a far better percentage from the floor than the Spurs did (59.2-48.3) and made 11 of the 17 three-pointers they took. But as good as the offence was – and 124 points should win every NBA game – the defensive rebounding was worse.
Ginobili Leads Spurs To Win Over Raptors – ESPN Video – ESPN
SPURS: Quotes: Spurs vs. Raptors: November 9, 2009
On missing an opportunity with Duncan and Parker out – “We weren’t hungry for it. I don’t know if we underestimated them, but we didn’t come out and play hard like we needed to play. I think the opportunity was there for us. We missed a lot of early shots but we didn’t finish the job by getting the rebounds. That kind of kept them in the game. No matter what, they’re a good team and they have a lot of players who can play. Like I’ve said before, when guys have a chance to step up, usually they’re going to play well because they want to play. We just got caught standing around today.”
Ginobili powers Spurs past Raptors – My San Antonio
The last time Ginobili felt so good with a ball in his hands?
“It was against Toronto, too,” Ginobili said. “I remember it pretty vividly.”
Ginobili had 32 points in a loss at the Raptors last February. The next day, he would begin treatment for a sore right ankle and would never be the same again.
Until Monday night, with the Spurs staring down a losing streak, and needing him most.
NBA.com: Minus two-thirds of the ‘Big Three,’ Spurs win shootout
He even outdid Chris Bosh, who scored 32 points in 32 minutes along with 10 rebounds.
But Toronto's defense had trouble keeping up with the slashing Ginobili and Hill.
"I thought their smalls went past our smalls," Raptors coach Jay Triano said. "Our bigs had a hard time keeping their smalls in front of them. We're just having a hard time stopping the penetration right now."
The Raptors gave up 129 points to Dallas in their last game coming into to San Antonio.
Only New York, Memphis and Golden State give up more points than Toronto (108 per game). The Raptors also are 25th in opponent field-goal percentage and 28th in opponent 3-point percentage.
"Toronto's a great offensive team," Ginobili said. "They're not so good defensively yet. We knew we were going to have to score. But I didn't think I would be out there making six threes."
Raps get an Argentinian slap to the face « The Zan Tabak Herald
Without Duncan and Parker the Raptors decided to make Matt Bonner and George Hill look like Hall of Famers. Seriously these guys looked like Kobe and Wade out there slahing and scoring at will. I love the Red Rocket but he isn’t an NBA starter and the Raps made him look like Dr. J. It was a night the Raps should have been able to shut down the Spurs, yet the defense was abysmal, and at times the game resembled the Washington Generals playing against the Globetrotters.
Sometimes I Don’t Like Being Right : The Picket Fence
The Raptors are currently undefeated when keeping an opponent under 100 points. The problem is that they’ve only done it three times. You can look at it one of two ways. One is that when the Raptors play defense, they win. The other way to look at it is that when they play an opponent that doesn’t score much, they have a better chance of winning because they won’t HAVE to play much defense. The three teams the Raptors have won against are in the bottom ten in scoring in the league. Cleveland, New Orleans and Detroit all average less than 98 ppg. The good news is that Chicago, their next opponent, hasn’t even cracked 100 points yet, this season, and is 3rd last in points per game. The bad news is that the next four opponents (Clippers, Phoenix, Denver and Utah) all average over 100 points per game.
NBA Courtside Blog – Raptors vs Spurs
Chris Bosh did not seem to take tonight's loss particularly well. He was visibly frustrated in the locker room afterwards. You can't help but wonder if a night like tonight will stick with him when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Raptors are nearly 100% healthy yet tonight they couldn't beat the San Antonio Spurs without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. There's a long time left in the season and the Raptors hold the potential to improve a lot from within, but CB4 is definitely not content with the way the team is playing right now.
Raptors Game Recap – The FAN 590 Toronto – Audio on Demand
THE FAN presents all of the highlights (1) and Eric Smith's game recap (2) of Monday's 131-124 Spurs win, in which San Antonio emerged victorious despite the absences of stars Tony Parker and Tim Duncan.
FAN590 – Blogs – The Rap » No Parker – No Duncan – No Problem!
Smith says:
- “Part of me wonders if Jay Triano might switch up the starting five on Wednesday (Antoine Wright? Even Sonny Weems?) to bring a little more D to the floor right off the bat. The intensity needs to get amped up.”Jones Says:
- “The defence MUST improve and ‘roles’ have to be defined.”
CBC News – Toronto – Ginobili busts out against Raptors defence
Turkoglu scored 20 points and Andrea Bargnani added 17 for the Raptors, who gave up more than 125 points for the third time this season. Though off to their best offensive start in team history, the Raptors are also among the five worst defensive teams in the NBA.
"You can't give them any confidence," Bosh said. "We did the opposite, we gave them confidence. We gave them points right off the bat. They scored a lot of points."
HIP HOOP JUNKIES – I have to get a pair of Air Bonners
By half, the Raptors maintained their 63% shooting percentage to the Spurs 42% but the game was tied at 63.
The Spurs pulled away late in the fourth as Manu Ginobili had the hot hand with his monster line: 36 points, 4 boards, 8 assists, 6 threes and 4 blocks. Four of Manu's threes came in the fourth quarter which built the Spurs lead to 11 with 2:41 to play. Bosh and Turkoglu hit back to back threes late in the fourth to cut the lead to five but couldn't get it any closer in the closing minutes
Mediocre Forever – A Toronto Raptors Blog: What DON’T They Get!!??
What more did the Spurs need to do in order to give us an even better chance of taking this game? Ginobili catches Rabies? We knew Parker wasn't going to play, which was a blessing. Then Duncan was announced to be out as well – that's a Godsend. Seriously, its like the heavens went out of their way to give us a dream scenario – win in San Antonio and be 2-1 in this road trip, and the real plus is that team morale would be up after getting blown worse than a porn star in Dallas. But of course, the Raptors, in their classic style, had a meltdown in the fourth quarter.
Jawai played 22 1/2 minutes against Portland on Sunday night and scored 16 points. Both totals more than quadrupled his previous career highs.
"It was a great experience for me," Jawai said.
Jawai, who is 6 feet 10, 280 pounds, showed a nice shooting touch. He also matched up well against Portland center Greg Oden and set a series of workable screens on offense.
His work ethic and quick assimilation with the Wolves' ball-moving system have earned praise.
"He has impressed the entire coaching staff from Day One," said coach Kurt Rambis. "He has a very high basketball IQ. He's very light on his feet. He can move well. He understands the game. It's just a matter of him getting some time on the floor to understand what we expect of him offensively and
defensively."
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich speaks with the media following his team's win over the Raptors on Monday.
Watch the Raptors vs. the Spurs, all in six minutes.
Chris Bosh speaks with the media following the Raptors' 131-126 loss to the Spurs in San Antonio on Monday.
The Raptors head coach speaks with the media following Tuesday's loss to the Spurs.
Toronto Raptors vs. San Antonio Spurs – Box Score – November 09, 2009 – ESPN
Raptors outhustled in loss to Spurs – thestar.com
In what was a delightful game for fans of offensive basketball, the Spurs got 32 second-chance points and a brilliant night from Manu Ginobili to drop Toronto to 3-4 on the season and end a two-game slide of their own.
Without Duncan (ankle) and Parker (ankle), the Spurs simply had more energy on the glass than the Raptors, repeatedly outhustling them for errant shots that always seemed to end in San Antonio baskets.
That usually ended with Ginobili hitting an open shot as he went off for 36 points to lead all scorers.
Raptors miss chance against undermanned Spurs – National Post
Based on statistics, the Raptors should have been in control at the half: Toronto was shooting a bullish 63% from the floor, while the Spurs were stuck at an average 43%. However, the Spurs managed nine more offensive rebounds than Toronto – and not entirely coincidentally, nine more field-goal attempts – as the teams went into the locker rooms tied 63-63.
Much of that glass domination was brought on by Spurs reserve DeJuan Blair, the rookie who slipped to the second round of the 2009 draft as teams were afraid to take a chance on his unreliable knees. The Spurs eventually took him, and he paid dividends against the Raptors. He is the type of bruising forward born to give Andrea Bargnani a headache. Blair had four offensive rebounds on his own in the opening half, or twice the number the Raptors earned.
30 Raps
Bosh is our leader but it took him 2,3 minutes in the third quarter to get his second rebound . May be, just may be he influenced the rest of the team in thinking that they can outscore the Spurs in the end and rebounding is not important (at least in this game) . It is not in Andrea make up (but he should do much better) to show the way in rebounding.
As Andrea goes, so go the Raps. He’s a lethal offensive player and when his rebounding and help D is even average we will usually win.
Slightly related as it deals with 2010, but not really:
I think it is highly suspect LeBron hints that he will take less money in order to win. Are we talking much less? I mean, the one thing stopping owners from assembling super-teams is that players are to be paid according to their worth, in a cap-system. When a player is willing to take a lot less money in order to go where he wants, say hello to a team with LeBron, Wade and Bosh. This is as if there were no cap. And you can bet that super-team will be in New York or Brooklyn or Miami. And if you are David Lee, wouldn;t you re-sign with the Knicks for peanuts just to be on that team?
Very confusing , if LBJ is willing to take less money why should Wade ,Bosh ,Stoudemire also be willing to take less money . Wouldn’t they rather go where max money is offered to them ?.For LBJ the championship is of primary importance , for some others max money is more important.
If this kind of mentality becomes commonplace, where a player of LeBron’s ilk is willing to get paid half (assuming that is what he meant, and not a slight reduction) then the competitive marketplace created by having a cap is completely destroyed. It is like violating anti-trust laws. If LeBron, Wade and Bosh all get together and decide to take drastic paycuts so they can be on the same team, then the rich will only get richer, and the cap can no longer stop that from happening.
It is a problem when the best player in the league doesn’t get the most money available, if he is talking with his friends with him and teaming up create a monopoly of talent.
“… the competitive marketplace created by having a cap is completely destroyed”
I don’t think you’ll see that many players give up something like $50m+ over 5 years to take half of a max contract just to win. Maybe it’s just me.
Agreed. If LBJ hinted at being willing to take less money in order to win, it doesn’t mean a drastic reduction. It simply means signing with a new team, since that new team can only offer a 5 year deal with 8.5% raises. It’s way too early in LBJ’s career to take a paycut.
I don’t see a problem with this at all. With free agency and trades, why shouldn’t players have the ability to band together, in a legal/appropriate manner of course, to put together a team they want to be a part of?
LeBron can take less money in NBA salary, because he can more then offset that loss of income in endorsements and other deals he makes where he attaches his celebrity to a brand.
The CBA came about to limit what the richer teams could do. If players want to take less to play with other players, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they go to New York, LA, Chicago. They could go to Dallas or Miami, where income tax is less then other teams, and put together a winner there. Just something to think about.
Just like the “real” world, we all have choices based on salary, quality of work, who we work with etc.
If a player wants to take less to join a winning environment, fill your boots. It’s refreshing actually.
In the “real world” we have anti-trust laws.
There’s nothing anti-trust about this though. People get together and join new companies all the time. Like I said; if this is done when everyone is a free agent, and it doesn’t compromise their play during their current contract, nothing wrong with it. Tom Liston is right, it is refreshing.
Not an antitrust issue at all.
In the real world, people who “job hop” sometimes get punished. The Lebrons of the business world get to “job hop” all they want.
The problem is that even if you get 3 major stars together, their egos soon get the best of them.
Was it Kobe or was it Shaq? Was it Pippen or was it Jordan?
These dynasties never seem to stay together now a days. Once the rings are dished out, than the players start bickering as to who did what. Marion being a fine example of that mentality without the ring.
That’s why you build teams like the Spurs or Pistons…no superstars with big egos. Just a lot of great talent working together for one goal…a championship ring.
Pippen and Jordan I believe won 3 titles
Kobe and Pau have a good shot at a second just Garnett, Pierce and Allen do.
Parker, Duncan and Manu have I believe 4 titles.
At his point onnly Shaq and Kobe and Shaq and Wade will definitely be limited to one titles.
In any case one title is better than none.
The Pistons without superstars but 5 all star players in Billups, Sheed, Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Prince only won one title.
I doubt that we will ever seen any more dynasties in the NBA like the old Celtics, Lakers Show Time, Michael and Pippen and the Spurs.
The Pistons got to the ECF finals 6 years running and yet got only one title out of it.
It is very difficult today today to build a dynasty.
Jordan and Pippin won 6 titles 91-93, 96-98); Shaq and Kobe won 3 titles (2000-2002); Duncan, Ginobli, and parker have won 3 titles (2003, 2005, and 2007) and you can argue they weren’t even a big three for the first title (really more a Robinson – Duncan big two).
Bring in Wade to Toronto and I say we win the title and are contenders for the next 5 years. He’s the missing piece in all this.
Calderon/Jack
Wade/Demar
Turk/Wright
Bosh/Evans
Bargs/Amir/Rasho
4 elite scorers (that offer different things) complemented with a pass-first PG. Nice :)
I’m day dreaming….
It is a very nice dream though, isn’t it?
We’d still find a way to lose to the Grizz
You’re reading into it all wrong. When he says he’s willing to take less money, it means he’s willing to sign for the max with another team. Note that by doing this he’s not getting the “real max” which is what Cleveland could offer him.
If LeBron signs for 5 years 50 million, I’ll be extremely surprised.
My first Roland Ratings (my favorite NBA stats site) post this season
On court production for the Raptors
1st Bargnani + 7.9
2nd Bosh + 7.7
3rd tie Johsnon and Belinelli + 2.9
Best 5 man units
Calderon-Jack-Wright-Johnson-Bosh 3 – 0
Jack-Belinelli-Wright-Johnson-Bargnani 2 – 1
Notice neither of the top two have both Bosh and Bargnani
The 3 playes in both units are Jack-Wright and Johnson paired either with Bosh and Calderon or Bargnani and Belinelli
http://www.82games.com/0910/0910TOR.HTM
It’d help if you provided context. I don’t know how recent that data is, but the so-called top 5-man unit of Calderon-Jack-Wright-Johnson-Bosh have played 6.2 minutes together according to the site. The #2 lineup are just double that at 13.1 minutes. Can you really judge the effectiveness of a lineup based on 6 and 13 minutes worth of play? The starting unit of Calderon-DeRozan-Turkoglu-Bosh-Bargnani come in at 4-3 (57.1 win%) and have played 89.1 minutes together. That means a lot more than a 6 minute run.
And the on court production is a bit different from what you posted:
Bargnani 9.8
Bosh 9.7
Johnson and Belinelli 2.9
DeRozan 2.6
Maybe they updated the stats?
The 5 man unit data probably shouldn’t be used at this early stage – some of the combinations have VERY limited min.
You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat.
— Roger Kahn
Wow, how can we compete with the Bulls this year? Their big men bang on the boards. They aren’t the most talented big men, but they are a gritty team, who plays good D. Deng is a real defensive stopper. They are kind of like the anti-raps. Rose just weaves his way in and out like air. His movement on the court reminds me of Wade. I dread watching him cut through our defence like a hot knife through butter.
Come on Raps, play some D, and stop overhelping when it isn’t necessary!
Entertaining game by the way, between Denver and the Bulls.
If Raps (or any team) hits their 3s vs the Bulls, it will likely be a blow out.
Bulls looked like a wall every time Denver tried to go inside. Noah’s help defense was awesome to watch. No one on the Bulls is afraid to foul someone on a drive – put a lot of pressure on the officials.
Noah v Bosh inside should be a great match up.
Someone should ask the Bulls if offense is easy?
88.5 points per game, just lost to Denver 90-89 because they couldn’t score!
Bulls played great defense to stay in it but, so what? How many games is it reasonable to expect to win over a season if you can only score 93 (season high) against Charlotte? (Probably similar to what the Raps will if their defense doesn’t improve)
Bulls can’t score, We can’t defend. It’s too bad there isn’t a trade there to be had (especially considering we are such close rivals in terms of conference).
I hate to say this, but it’s time to trade Calderon and Bargs–now. I love both of them, but they can’t defend to save thier life and mine is being shortened with their approach to d.
Bargs is no scrub but bosh isn’t “rough and tumble” enough to make up for what he lacks. Caldy is great but Bargs ain’t a great shotblocker either.
Caldy and Bargs + Banks (salary filler) for captain jack and Ellis and Turiaf.
We go somewhat small (depending on matchups) with something like:
Turiaf/Rasho
Bosh/Evans/Turiaf
Turkoglu/Wright/Derozan
jackson/Bellinelli or Derozan
Ellis/Jack
Now THAT’s a team that can run, has very few pussies, can rebound (althought still not great defensively, can do it in the clutch) and won’t get taken off the dribble as easily, so it’s defending won’t really need to be nearly as good.
Sounds like a great fit for both teams. The problem of course being, you run the risk of taking on a guy in Captain jack who has a history, and if it doesn’t work out, Bosh is gone and then you’re left with only Ellis and Derozan and whatever you can get for Bosh as your building blocks. Plus, you’re stuck with two medium to bad contracts for a long time in Turkeyglue and Captain Jack…although they aren’t horrible pieces.
It’s not bad… I’d do it just to see us fight like mad dogs every night.
Anyone else in?