It’s normal.

So, what’s wrong?

I can’t help but feel that the Raptors are a group of talented individuals who phase in and out of the team concept. Can this lack of consistency by placed at the feet of Coach Triano or should we be looking elsewhere?

Players play. That tired bromide explains a lot. What this team needs is the same thing that has been missing for some time – Player Leadership.

Who best to lead than our best player? Bosh has been in the league for over 450 games. This summer we heard that he was putting 20 pounds of muscle on and was preparing to go to war. And, Bosh has been tougher and arguably is having a career year – in a contract year! But still we are looking for answers to inconsistent team play.

The outstanding question in my mind is – can Bosh lead a championship team or at the least a playoff winning team? Many of the bloggers give Bosh a pass on leadership failings. But many of those same bloggers know that something is missing from this team. A heightened sense of awareness about Reggie Evan’s return is not for the missing attributes of his floor play but I believe in a misplaced hope that a bench player can bring the required leadership attributes that this team is searching for.

Until we find that missing player leadership, I am afraid we can get use to more inconsistent play – brilliance followed by indifference.

The offense in the first half was ridiculous. We were moving the ball and everyone was getting involved. Also everyone hit their shots outside Bosh (2-9 in the first half). Even Rasho looked like offensive menace. Great ball moving by both PG’s + Hedo and Belli there.

The third Q was craptastic. We stopped playing together and just started giving the ball to Bosh and waiting for him to score. And he wasnt scoring as he didnt get calls his way and started taking jumpers. Defensively Bosh played great last night, but you would hope that he could understand that in a game where everyone else is hot and you are not, you shouldnt take all the shots. I guess he needed to get his stats :)

And people are saying AB had a bad game. I dont think so. We had offense clicking in the first half so Im ok with him not forcing it that much. He only had few points in the half, but didnt take many shots either. And couple of times he tried going in strong (once he was fouled while trying to dunk and other time got the ball slapped away from him). In the fourth when we needed him to score he did. His offense was efficient (6-10 fg, 1 turnover) and he got 7 rebounds, two of which were important offensive ones in fourth. Compared to Bosh, he had two less points, but 9 less field goal attempts. He didnt hurt our offensive good flow, but was able to come through in fourth. Id say pretty good game.

It would have been nice to keep the lead through 3rd just to let starters rest before tonight game, but its also nice to see that we can easily finish these teams of even when losing a big lead (something we have done consistently this year).

I wonder to myself why a certain coach of the year is currently unemployed…

It will not so much be what Reggie brings, but what he does.
He could be the perfect tonic in encouraging some toughness in Bargnani. And help keep that 9.25 Rebound average (in the past 4 gaems) going.

Evans is there at the games – cheerleading an all — but it’s at the practices that he will help guys like Andrea, and Amir. Toughness that Reggie will bring to the games, along with a little motivation. Something that needs to be demonstrated to AB.

As for tonite’s game, I had the feeling like Post # 1 …. when does this end?

Nice to see we scored 74 points and the BB guys only contributed 12. Have we become the slow version of Phoenix North?

.

Even scoring 39 in the third didn’t really give the Pacers any life. They are a dead team right now!

Jose only has eyes for Bosh!

The Pacers have NO Heart.

AND THE LOWER BOWL DOES NOT SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best seats in the house are lower bowl behind the basket across from the Raptors bench.

Who do you think leads the cheers – VC Sucks Fire Mitchell BULLSHIT (at the Refs)

It’s not the Upper Bowl – It’s All from Sections 113 & 114 Lower Bowl – The best fans in the house!

Jose looks Bargs off 9 times out of 10. Bosh would rather attack 3 swarming defenders than kick it out, or take a jumpshot when Andrea’s trying to postup. Jay has designed one play to get AB open in the midrange area and that’s used once every other game.

Bargnani could easily be an elite scorer at the C position right now, but so far he’s been used primarily as a decoy/outside threat.

Chris shot 26% today and still took 3 more FGAs than Bargnani’s season high. Even when the guy is lighting it up he’s still only getting 12-14 shots in a game…. that’s f’n ridiculous.

Overall I think they are getting better, they seem like a team that could win 12 in a row but they also seem like they could just as easily go 0-12 as well.

Also, just imagine, our offence cant get better than how we played tonight, and still it was a 10 point game at the end against INDIANA! Are you kidding me? If we just played a little defense, this game should have been a 40 point blow out. This is just scary. Even, play this kind of defense, we might make the playoffs, but don’t expect us to win more than 2 games in the playoffs….

1. What is up with our 2nd halves. 3 nights in a row where we look lost, disintrested and generally lazy on the defensive side

2. Jack’s stroke is coming along, when he’s agressive early it seems to make his outside shooting better. it seems like its all confidence with him

3. Marco and Amir have some great chemistry so far this season

********Question to Raptors Republic*********

How much difference will Reggie Evens bring to the defensive side of things in terms of difference in points allowed, FG% and turnovers created. Can we expect the entire team to improve defensivly or just better individual defense from 1 guy (6 Reb, 1 steal, and alot of hustleplays)