That was a forgettable week in every sense. You could see the Boston and Phoenix defeats coming, but the shellacking in Charlotte wasn’t exactly on the horizon when this segment was written last week. The scoring differential for the week was -14 and we gave up 114.25 points per game. Our defensive rating went down by 0.5 to 116.9 (worst in the league by a good 2.5 points). The Indiana win which came after we resisted their furious third quarter comeback was the only bright spot as the Raptors ended November 7-11, just around most people’s expectations.
Let’s get the podcast with AltRaps and RapsFan out of the way, we discuss the criticism of Bosh, Triano’s take on defense, and wonder whether things really are that bad. Click on the play button below or listen directly in iTunes, you can also download the file.
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Small mistake in the podcast: Turkoglu did take a shot in the first half.
Positives
Jarrett Jack: Take the horrible Charlotte game where everybody struggled and he averaged 15.33 points on 74% shooting. We’re seeing more of the drive game and less of the off-balance floaters and quick jumpers. The defense isn’t up to par yet but asking him to defend taller SGs (Daniels, Richardson) isn’t helping. As Calderon struggled in the latter half of the week, Jack looked to come in and make an immediate impact with this energy and intent to drive the ball. If our two PGs repeat last week’s performance for December, expect the ‘Start Jack’ calls to get louder.
Negatives
This section could be very long but I’ll pick one player and two general things.
Marco Belinelli: 4-21 FG (19%) for the week, 13 of those were threes and he only made one. I like him, I appreciate the effort he brings and the swagger he plays with. After lighting it up the week before last, he struggled this week even though he wasn’t doing anything different. That’s just how jump-shooting works, you’ll always end up playing your percentage. Hunting down shots behind screens is his thing, he’s good at it, he looks for them aggressively and when he’s making them he’s the toast of the town. What to expect this week? No idea, that’s just how his game works. He did injure his groin last week so perhaps that had a bearing on his play.
Defensive Schemes: This has already been beaten to death so I’ll keep it short. Preemptive helping is destroying us, asking high court-awareness from Bargnani, Belinelli, Calderon and Turkoglu is asking too much. Triano’s over-helping, protect-the-paint, zonal marking strategy works great on paper, maybe even in NBA Live, but when you have below-average defensive players that aren’t the sharpest tools in the drawer, you might want to switch to more simpler sets. I vote for simple man-marking and 1/2, 2/3 and 4/5 switches and the occasional zone so we’re not exhausted when the third quarter starts (We were -13 -12, -16 and -7 in third quarters this week). Something needs to be done, a team dead last in defense will not make the playoffs. Guaranteed.
Timeouts & Subs: Never made a big deal about calling timeouts because they’re big boys. However, you can’t wait till it’s a 14-2 run before deciding to stop the bleeding, we lost three games in the third quarter this week and I can’t help but think if a well-timed timeout had taken place, we’d have been in it longer. The bench performed well against Boston and Phoenix in the second quarters but as the starters struggled in the third, they weren’t inserted too boost the energy. If the starters aren’t performing, especially in the crucial third, you have to go with what’s proven to work in the game. Jack and Johnson were both effective but could’ve have had a bigger say in both games.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jose Calderon, Hedo Turkoglu, Antoine Wright.
Coming along…
Chris Bosh: 21pts, 14rebs on 46% shooting. The offensive numbers scaled back a bit due to the poor jump shooting but the dedication to offensive rebounding sees his percentage remain respectable. Is he padding his stats? What does that even mean?
Andrea Bargnani: 15pts, 5.5rebs on 47% shooting. That sounds about right for him, he had a big impact in the Phoenix game where he mixed his game up regularly against Lopez and Frye. Still got burned by Frye on a few threes but not sure if that’s Bargnani being out of position or Triano making Bargnani be out of position. The Boston performance was something to forget. Some suggest that we start Johnson, you think that’s going to fly with Colangelo who inked him to a $10M/yr deal? Just ask Mitchell.
Looking Ahead
Tue v WAS: Jamison, Arenas, Butler, Haywood and Foye. The record might be 5-10 but we don’t matchup well against them or similar athletic teams (see Charlotte), especially Jamison who has historically torched Bosh. He averaged 26/9 against us last year while Butler averaged 21/7. We have blown them out a few times at the ACC so there’s reason for optimism. They’re 25th in offensive rating which means we have a chance of holding a team to under 100 points, something we haven’t done for 9 straight games. Last time it happened was against the Clippers when we won 104-89. They also got hammered by the Bobcats and Arenas is apparently shying away from taking shots.
“What do you expect me to do?” Arenas said. “Go out there and score 30? I’m not going to go out there and try to score 30 when we have a lot of offensive players here. Last game, I was 4 for 7, [on Saturday] I was 3 for 11. I’ll take the shots I feel are sufficient for me. Other than that, the offensive load’s on everybody else.”
Wed @ ATL: We’re 0-4 in back-to-backs and they’ve shown us nothing to believe that we won’t be 0-5 after this one. Atlanta, just as expected, is getting more and more comfortable as the 4th seed in the East, they’ve got a 2.5 game lead over Miami which you’d think will steadily increase. They lost a home test against Orlando and have dropped 3 of 4, most recently to Detroit, so will look to set things right against the Raptors. They’ll be playing after two off-days.
Fri @ WAS: See above, a split sounds reasonable.
Sat @ CHI: This is a back-to-back for both teams, the Bulls are in Cleveland the previous night. They’re 6-8 and have lost four straight, they’re 27th in the league in offense and one of the few teams we’ve kept to under 100 points, 89 on November 11th. Why are the Bulls struggling? Apparently they have one of the weakest “top threes” in the league.
I’m going with a very optimistic 3-1, AltRaps agrees and RapsFan supplies the buzzkill by picking 1-3 and hinting at an 0-4 week.
39 Raps
I am with RapsFan and I think it is a 1-3 week for us. Lets hope I am wrong.
Turkoglu didn’t attempt any shots in the first half??? He went 1-8!
I’m going to say 3-1 with the loss coming in Atlanta. Washington hasn’t proven anything despite having tons of “weapons” on their team. Really, on paper they look great, but so did the Raptors last year. We can take Chicago. Derrick Rose is great and all, but he hasn’t really been All-star material lately, and Salmons, Miller have also been weak.
3-1.
Perhaps the Raptors have peaked and it’s all downhill from now on. I just don’t see any upside to the Raptors … a team filled with individual performers and no real playmakers. Just look at Bosh padding his stats for max money status .. you really can’t believe he’s doing it to stay with the lugubrious Raptors … do ya ..??!!!!
what, pray tell, would you suggest he do? pass up his shots? focus all energy & attention to defense & rebounding? become the player he was with the olympic team? i guess you can look at it as ‘padding’ his stats, and i’d be inclined to agree with you…if, that is, he was looking entirely at padding his offensive stats. but he’s doing the tough stuff…he’s banging in the post, he’s working, he’s showing some effort. he’s putting himself out there to be dunked on & kneed in the sack. i mean, let’s be honest…bargnani never would have let pierce dunk on him, let alone knee him. of course, that’s because he wouldn’t have been in the picture. but yeah, let’s quibble over WHY bosh is putting up the numbers. it’s easier to do that than focus on the guys are doing DIDDLY FUCKING SQUAT.
I agree 100%, thank you.
I laud Bosh for his outstanding performance this season!!! Last summer he put on 20lbs of muscle (most likely using roids + HGH) and came out with a monster game never before seen. The point I’m making is that BC and MLSE will not invest $130+Million on one player for this extreme Raptor roster.
Just look at the salary structure of the Raptors, and you will see Jose, Bargs, Hedo and even Jack have big long term contracts … leaving no room for an All-Star max money contract because the Raptors need a couple more $10 Million p.a. players to rescue it from it’s lack of defensive athleticism. Why do you refuse to see the reality …??!!!
Besides, Bosh will be testing the FA market in 2010 anyway, and that means the Raptors may be out of the picture for his future. That may be why the Rap players didn’t want to rally around Bosh when Pierce dissed him baaaad..!!!
That “padding the stats” bs is a canard. Was Bosh padding the stats last year and the year before as well? I am no big booster of Bosh (a leader-typea-tough guy he is not) but he has been the team’s highest scorer when it wasnt his contract year.
But Bosh was lousy under the basket in previous seasons … so he went on a rapid weight gain program and now he’s fighting it out for rebounds and getting points too. Unfortunately, his monster effort rebounding has somewhat ruined his 15-20 foot jump shooting touch.
It’s all done in an effort to get teams bidding for his services for max money … something that BC will not offer Bosh, but will be more than willing to trade off for good athletic players.
I’ve suggested that Bosh could be traded to the NYKs for Lee, Gallinari and Darko .. and then the Knicks could use Bosh as enticement to LeBron in 2010.
What most here can’t seem to get through their dense skulls is that Bosh has no real reason to stay in Toronto … and then look at Hedo, Bargs, Jose, Marco for the next 5 years … and those Euros are not tradeable either …!!!
You do have to wonder why would they pay $8 or $10 for players who don’t appear to have 30 minutes a game in them. Mistake after mistake, or could it be said that every move is trying to extricate themselves from the 2006 draft blunder. Not criticizing the player the drafted mind you, but Bosh was here already. The organization isn’t trying to win anything.
His weight program can be construed any which way (neither of us have a real insight in the true purpose). Anectdotally it is true that many of these guys get xtra amped up in their walk year for the obvious reason. On the other hand, like many of us, Bosh could just as easiy have been enthused with the makeover of the team and pumped some iron so he wouldnt be quite so abused or have a bit more gas in the tank beyond January!! In anycase, this is neither here nor there for me…he could avg. 30 pts. a game but if he isnt impacting on the team and the win box, who g a f. Good players make others around him better. Thats my assessment credo. Nash of course being a prime example. The history of the NBA is littered with many a player with gaudy stats and not much to show for it. Karl Malone, arguably one of the best power forwards (real one) of all time had a great time playing the perfect PnR with Stockton but did not win the biggie. And Bosh is no Malone.
My own on this team so far is that it is playing far below its capability on the defensive side. I dont know if it is the system that has them confused, lack of heart or just plain lacking athletic ability. My fear is that it is an equal dose of all. Only another couple of months to fully confirm this since one cannot discount that this is a brand new team. But when one does not see/hear a simple necessity like communication (loud) on the floor…weeell…I think they talk more during offensive sets than on defense.
I am afraid I dont share your enthusiasm for that trade scenario with the Knicks (3 Italians on one team! Gallinari has been bombing). Darko hasnt shown much (again) and Lee while being a decent player has elevation problems (not real athletic). Besides I dont think Bosh is enuff to have Lebron wet his pants for a move to NY. Simply put, Bosh in my view is no better than a Pau Gasol or a Carlos Boozer…an important piece of the puzzle but not the main man.
Triano has going to have to get more involved and vocal on defensive sets even if he comes across as a kindergarten teacher…..or he may soon become the first ex canadian nba coach.
Bosh is gone after this season because nothing is going to keep him in Toronto and playing out his career with a bunch of Euro players … so get that through your thick skull …!!!!
Bosh knows that if BC gave him max money, that would cripple the Raptors and there would be no way the team could consistently be a playoff team … so obvious. Bosh would find life very ugly as a max money player on the current Raptors.
Those t.h. fans who think Bosh will stay with the Raptors for the money are sadly deluded, because Bosh has said “.. it’s not just the money!” in a past interview. Bosh is gonezo … believe it.
FAQ,
I thought the same thing about Bosh. (roids and HGH) I’d really like to know what miraculous program he was put on. Perhaps the Starbury work out?
Yo’ FLUX …. I think Arseholeist had me banned for a while today to defend his tribal honking fans so I don’t know if this posting will get through … but you can’t put on muscle at the rate Bosh did without a little help from a doctor. The most Bosh could increase his weight cleanly would be 7-10 lbs in 12 months of pumping iron .. no more … and now we find out he did that and more over the summer. My suspicion is that he was shooting HGH … so he could be stronger under the bucket.
Umm…nobody banned you. The internet must’ve intervened and finally said enough is enough.
Too bad the internet didn’t keep it up ;-)
Arse wouldn’t, IMO.
==
I’ve had this muscle discussion with a Euroball watchin, NBA casual observer buddy of mine and D12 & LeBoom /PEDs in sports were the subject. In short, his stance was the same as yours regarding the math and the un-natural look.
I couldn’t help to think of that when I heard of Arnold SchwarzBosh.
So, it’s funny you brought it up.
And why, Bosh The Used Car Salesman didn’t give us a Starbury like/Pumping Iron tour of his journey to dominance of the under the bucket game? Unless, of course, I missed it.
Bosh did make a DVD. Google/Youtube it
i was thinking the same thing…like when barry bonds gains 15 pounds of muscle over the summer, it was obvious it was because of steroids, but when bosh does it, no one bats an eyelash? But then i was thinking…the guy’s 6′10″ or something….maybe 15 pounds to someone that tall isn’t the same as an average person gaining 15 pounds….i dunno, and honestly, he doesn’t look that much bigger to me…
I think he does look bigger in the upper body. I don’t know what that does for his knees though, carrying more weight.
1) the schedule is going to get easier
2) the guys are going to know each other better
3) Reggie Evans will come back eventually
If I had to bet the home, I’d bet against your conclusion.
1. So instead of getting spanked by 30 , they’ll only lose by 15?
2. Isn’t training camp for “getting to know each other”??
3. Oh Reggie Evans, the saviour…
You must be fun to live with.
This is the type of fan that only comes around when we lose to play out the doom and gloom
start jack & amir in place of jose & bargs, play a zone-trap (full-court) D for the first 4-6 minutes until guys are clutching their shorts – bring in jose & bargs to play against tiring starters or 2nd stringers. look, i know it ain’t gonna happen, and i know it seems as though moving bargs/jose to the bench is ‘blaming’ them for the team’s defensive shortcomings (the others – bosh, hedo, DD – are hardly blameless; but realistically, there’s no way hedo or bosh moves to the bench, and you’d want demar starting if the plan is to press cause you need a young guy with legs/athleticism who can recover on D or finish on the break).
i know pressing in the NBA is, for some reason, taboo, but it is highly effective when a weaker team plays against a superior foe. and newsflash…that’s the case most games. we’ve seen it work in spurts earlier in the regular season & pre-season, i just don’t understand why they’ve been so loathe to go back to it. what, are they afraid they’ll get tired? give up easy transition hoops? WHAT THE FUCK? they do that already…might as well use a bit of their perceived strengths (decent athleticism & decent depth in their bench) and try to get some easy buckets. even if they only manage to break even while pressing, at worst they’re tiring out the opposition or frustrating them into dumb fouls.
i guess the time to try something different isn’t until they’re completely out of it. at this rate, that’ll be another 3 weeks or so.
this does seem to be the best strategy for this team. if jose and bargs are all about what is best for the team to produce wins, like they both continuously say, they shouldn’t have a problem with this.
I havent figured out why Triano has a defensive scheme which has Bargs marking moving out on a guard at the perimeter. More often than not- his man gets loose and scores an easy hoop in the paint. As many others have said what about switching to a Two-Three zone? After all the Raps are getting killed in the paint.
The Pistons beat the Hawks pretty easily yesterday. It wasn’s a blowout but the Pistons were up around 10 points for most of the game except when the Hawks made a couple of runs and evened up the score or went slightly ahead but then the Pistons almost immediately went on runs to move their lead back to around 10 points.
The Pistons came out with a ton of energy led by Big Ben and kept up the energy for almost all of the 48 minutes except during those Hawks mini runs. The Pistons got offensive fouls galore and wound up with over 60 points in the paint.
I don’t see the Raptors playing that kind of game against the Hawks. As almost always the Raptors live and die by their outside shooting more specifically their three point shooting.
Correction:
It should have read: The Pistons got offensive rebounds galore, not fouls like I accidently typed. LOL
The Raptors will probably go 2-2 or 1-3 this week.
got to lower expectations based on we’ve seen thus far (the inability to win on the road especially on a back to back).
Hedo is not the biggest free agent signing this year but in Raptor’s history.
oh and Atlanta is going to beat us bad regardless.
the less sign and trade I remember that a team got something good was Detroit trading Grant Hill for Ben Wallace. In fact Detroit won the trade.
The Magic should have kept Hill the trade would have been a bit closer but the Pistons would still have gotten the better of.
Hill has been a lot better than Wallace the last 2 years.
This year so far I give the edge though a small one to Wallace
if were not above 500 after december they’re gonna need to do something drastic. just looked at our schedual and dec is as eas as november was hard.
“Is he padding his stats? What does that even mean?”
I’ve been asking myself that same question everytime I hear it brought up.
if I may … what it means is, instead of his first order of business being getting the ball to someone who might look to have a higher percentage shot or play available than what he himself might have, he’ll instead, take the lower percentage shot for himself. Not that I necessarily agree with the theory, but that, I believe, is what they mean when it’s suggested that he ‘pads his stats’. But … you had to have known that.
Calderon is out of shape after taking 5 months off at the Raps request.
Colangelo said that he was unhappy with the heavy offseason schedule and lack of rest by Turk. Supposedly that is why he seems exhausted.
I agree that the defensive system seems to require better athletes than the Raps have, and that it was a bad idea to begin with.
I also agree that Triano’s hands-off low-key style doesn’t seem to suit this group. I wonder what would happen if a Van Gundy was on the bench constantly harping at them to take care of the little things?
I want to hold back cuz I like this site – when it’s rocking, it’s easily the best of the interactive type of Raptors blog-sites – but I just can’t. I listened to that podcast and I’ve gotta say … it sucked so bad, I was actually pissed that I let it play for the 45 or so minutes that I did. I’ve heard a few that you’ve done in the past so I know that you can do waayyy better than that. Not gonna point specific fingers cuz nobody needs that, but … c’mon! And make a new T-shirt that just says Raptors Republic or something and I’ll buy five. “Lower Bowl Sucks” is just trying way too hard to be edgy or … I don’t even know what, but it comes off to me as boring and childish. And anyway, a lot of your readers sit in the lower bowl when they can … just like you do. And lastly for the rant, why does it take so long to load your site these days? Maybe it’s my Mac, I dunno, but I don’t have that problem with any other site (at all) that I go to.
Suddenly today, back up to usual quick speed.