What a way to close out Movember: losses to Phoenix, Boston and Charlotte, one tougher than the other to stomach. We can chalk it up to a bad stretch against a team that got hot and two of the best teams in the league. December starts off with two back-to-back’s, (which the Raptors are 0-3 for on the second half) starting tonight with the Raptors hosting the Wizards at the ACC.
We talked about Triano’s system in Monday’s podcast, and how it wasn’t really working, and what he is going to do about it. Well we got our answer yesterday during practice when he was asked about it:
The stuff that we’re doing is basic. Do we think about tweaking things a little bit? Yes, but at the same time we were committed to this at training camp and want to give it a chance. If we need to tweak it at some point that’s what we’ll do.
I worry that we wont make any changes until it is too late for the Raptors this season. Triano doesn’t seem to be a change-on-the-fly kind of guy, which is ok because not many coaches are fluid in what they do. The good ones are on the good teams already I suppose. Bosh doesn’t seem to be worried, which is great, and he echoed what AltRaps said in our podcast yesterday that it is about that few minutes of horrible play in the 3rd that needs to be fixed:
Those five or six minutes, that is kind of what dictates the game. Even if we lose a game by 20 points, the five points the other team might go on a 10-run and not look back, and next thing you know they have confidence and they’re hitting everything. I think we just have to pay attention to detail the whole, entire game.
This is the first of two games against Washington this week, with the Raptors hosting them tonight at the ACC. The Wizards got pounded by Charlotte on Saturday and are having the same sorts of woes the Raptors do, namely energy and flatness in stretches.
The Match-up
The Point: Arenas is finally back after missing two seasons, and he is looking good early. He seems a step slow from the two games I’ve caught so far, but he seems to be playing a more mature game (in control). I, ughh, don’t know what to say about Calderon. 2pts 7ast against Nash on Sunday in some of the most uninspired ball I have seen – but in his defense, he had to switch onto Stoudemire off of every single screen which couldn’t have helped. Jack has been a little better, but only because he attacks the rim more. Otherwise his jumper sucks and he isn’t doing much to win the starting role. Even though I expect both of these guys to turn it around tonight, the Wizards back-court has quick reserves in Boykins and Foye who will be a handful when Arenas is resting during posting season highs in everything.
The Edge: Washington
The Talent: I would like to see plays run for DeRozan. Triano needs to utilize his athleticism (Jose has been tossing him perfect oops lately) more. I actually look forward to watching DeRozan and Young chase each other around the court tonight. Not expecting big things from either, but young athletic kids kids are always fun to watch. Belinelli is due a break-out game after three horrible ones in a row, and should be getting some good looks against the Wizards bench who are the type of folk that haven’t been doing much lately, but have the ability to light up the Raptors. I can see Foye going off today, he has done well against us in the past (who hasn’t though right?).
The Edge: Toronto
The Wing: Turk, we hardly know you, but we want to see more. Tonight though, you have your hands full with Butler. Less shooting and more driving/dishing off the pick-n-roll, I think that’s your style for the rest of your time in Toronto. The jumper; take it when you’re open, but don’t look for it unless you’re inside 15ft. Just remember, Butler is good, really good, and you can’t be floating off him, or he will make you pay. Wright should never shoot the ball, ever. I hate him shooting more then I hate Jack shooting.
The Edge: Washington
The Big: Bosh’s match-up with Jamison is going to dictate who wins this game. I hate to say it, but Bosh needs to pay careful attention to this ‘old’ man, he still has lots of life in his legs. After missing the first few weeks of the season, Jamison is putting up all-star numbers again (21pts 9rebs), and will be looking to atone for his wretched game against the Bobcats on Saturday. Bad news for us, but the good news is that he has to deal with Bosh on the defensive end of the court. Jamison has made a living of rebounding the hell out of the ball against the Raptors, but I like Bosh to keep him under control off the glass. Our boy has been great at boxing out and rising above everyone to rip those bad boys down. Johnson will need to keep doing what he’s been doing so far this season. He holds it down, and will have his hands full with Blatche off the bench. Blatche will probably get Johnson into foul trouble, which will give Triano a tougher time managing minutes for his forwards.
The Edge: Toronto
The Strong: I hate Brendan Haywood…the guy is the poster child for Raptor killer. He has probably had his best games of his career against us. Unfortunately, he is also rebounding the hell out of the ball, which Bargnani will need to deal with. This needs to be a big area of concentration for Bargnani tonight since Haywood is a league leader in boards, and McGee is a long-athletic freak who also has a nose for the ball. Pops will probably see some minutes because of his athleticism, but who knows, and frankly who cares if Bargnani doesn’t make a commitment to rebound tonight. Yes yes, he will get his on offense, but if we don’t limit Washington’s offensive rebounding, we can kiss this one goodbye.
The Edge: Toronto
Injury Report
Toronto
Reggie Evans
Washington
Nobody
The Line
The Raptors are a 7 point favourite with an over/under of 212
Simulation
Visser’s sims are 13-5 this year and this time the crystal ball is predicting a 114-92 Raptor win:
Andrea Bargnani had the best game of his NBA career, scoring 36 points (12-of-17 from the field, 5-of-5 from deep) and adding 11 rebounds to lead Toronto to a 114-92 win over the Wizards.
Bargnani picked up the slack for Chris Bosh, who struggled from the field but still managed 14 points and 15 boards in the win. Hedo Turkoglu had 19 points, six rebounds and four assists and Jose Calderon had 10 points and seven assists. Jarrett Jack added 15 off the bench for the Raptors.
Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler carried the scoring load for Washington, scoring 24 and 20, respectively. Gilbert Arenas struggled from the field, finishing with 11 on 5-of-17.
Prediction
Who am I to dispute a career night by Bargs? Raptors take it 108-89.
50 Raps
Hope the sim works out, Bargs 36 for 11 :P. Anything is possible, though.
It’s just another game, in many ways. If Raptors can take their 3pt shots when they present themselves and stick to the man on defence then follow through on rebounds we’ll be fine. Any fancy tweaking isn’t going to happen in a game intensive schedule we’re facing in the next two weeks. But peripheral issues will -proper rest, health, fitness and mental tenacity. At a certain point, we just gotta wanna win it more than the other team does. We just gotta wanna take the ball from them and put it where WE want it.
so, just to make sure i’m following – if they hit their shots, play good D, and rebound, they’ll win? oh, and we have to ‘wanna’ win it more? have you let jay know about this? gold, baby, GOLD!
If the Raps score more points that the Wizards, I think we’ll win.
” Impossible is nothing” right? But I think for raptors it has always been something!
I think for the Wiz Boykins, Blatche and Pamela McGee’s not so little son, should get some mention.
Boykins has been bringing a lot of energy and some decent scoring 9.9 ppg since he joined the Wiz. I don’t think the Raptors have anyone that stay with him so if he is hot he could easily go for 15 – 20. Of course defense is his weakness especially defending the post up play. On that play he creates a favorable mismatch for every other NBA player in the league. LOL
Blatche is good, very good. However he is still inconsistent being held back now primarily by occassional foul problems. Not as bad as Johnson’s problem in this area but he still needs to work on staying on the court.
When he stays out of foul trouble he can also go for 15 – 20 no problem when he gets the minutes.
Finally there is Pamela McGee’s (she was one hell of a baller) son Javale. He has become a shot blocking force and can give the Wiz solid minutes on the defensive end as a backup to Haywood.
I really like the Wiz and their coach. They have started slowly like the Raptors but I expect to see the Wiz in the playoffs and maybe even into the second round. If I recall correctly Saunders has never failed to make the playoffs as a NBA head coach in any year that he coached a team for all 82 games.
I think McGee and Blatche will have a huge impact on this game. Bargnani needs to bring it, especially on the boards.
What about this for a match up….the coaches !!!!
JT said “do we think about tweaking things a little bit? yes,but at this time we are committed to this from training camp….IF !!!!! we need to tweak at some point we will ….
WOW!!!! the worst defense in the league,anf JT says “IF WE NEED TO” ???
That says it all,the numbers are stairing him in the face and we hear “if we need to !!!! at what point would he think the system needs tinkering !!
The next four games are huge, and will ,no doubt in my mind shape some very big decisions.
Go clipboard go !!!
I didn’t want to make a big deal out of that, but it did concern me that he said maybe, and was alluding to the fact that because they decided on it during training camp, that they have to stick to it now.
If I was him I would have lied a little bit. Said there were a few wrinkles were testing out. Something. What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result…
Let’s hope his rational is that they haven’t run the sets properly yet and he doesn’t want to change them until he sees them run perfectly.
What would you have Jay do instead? He’s tried switching on PNRs, he’s thrown in some zone here and there, he’s had the bigs hedge on PNRs on other occasions, what else can he do? I think he just doesn’t have the players to have a decent defensive team without giving up anything on the offensive end.
Listen I like Jay. I don’t think he’s responsible for the world of woe, that other people do, but he hasn’t run much if any zone because this team hasn’t practiced it. He talked about it one of the interviews.
Considering that everybody and their mother knew this team was going to be defensively challenged, and particularly with man to man coverage, don’t you think they should have put a little more work in to the zone during preseason?
I think he was expecting Jose to be better then he has been. I don’t think he was expecting them to be great, but I don’t think he was expecting them to be historically bad (well if they keep it up it will be historic). I don’t think anybody was expecting the Raptors would be resorting to a zone to make up for their lack of defense.
There are no clipboards left. He’s broken all of them already.
Worried about Haywood tonight, I think this is a good night to go to Rasho early if Andrea isn’t bringing it.
THIS IS TIRING. TEAM LIKE WASHINGTON THAT GOT OFF TO A ROUGH START, ALWASY BATTLING INJURIES. AND THEY STILL GIVE THE RAPTORS PROBLEMS. IF WASHINGTON IS A PROBLEM FORGET ABOUT THE PLAYOFFS NOW, AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THREE PLAYERS WE CAN KEEP AND REBUILD ONCE AGAIN. THANKS COANGELO, MAYBE WE SHOULD HIRE HIS DAD INSTEAD!!
your like my 50 year old manager who has never figured out how to use the T9 function of his cell phone texting. The CAPs Lock button is right next to your “A” key… hit it and see what happens…
Just an injury update for Washington…Miller, Crittenton and our old buddy Mike James. Miller’s probably the only consequential one.
A lot of caps and exclamation marks. Are we debating the Copenhagen Conference? FAQ is starting to make sense.
Let’s all STFU and watch what happens tonight … and then pass gas and judgement on the Ratpors.
Something here needs to be adressed about conditioning and fatigue in the case of the Raptors.
The thing is that they play a style of play that can be really fatiguing. It is really fast-paced, and with all the new players it is a new style. For example, with Turk, he played in Orlando with more of a half-court style of play.
I say we be like Orlando and jack up 3’s while bosh is working in the post. Oh wait we do that except we keep missing. I don’t know why you consider that raptors as fast-paced since Calderon walks up the floor and stops at the 3 point line, picks up his dribble, and passes the ball. Really tiring for him to do that.
Actually we’re one of the best 3 point shooting teams in the NBA. We just sucked the last couple of games.
I think we’re slightly above average in terms of “pace”. 11th in the L according to Hollinger:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats?sort=pac&seasonType=2&league=nba&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fhollinger%2fteamstats%3fsort%3dpac%26seasonType%3d2%26league%3dnba
Golden State’s 1st, Phoenix 5th
We’re sixth in 3 point percentage at .381
Raptors HQ has put this together
=================================
We’ve questioned the composition of this team multiple times, but I think that a month into the season we can now take a look and really try to analyze the club in terms of its aggressiveness.
In general, there are three categories of Raptor players when it comes to aggression in my books; those that change the tempo of games, there are those that wait for others to change the momentum and they get pulled along for the ride, and there are those that may have a good aggressive game once in a blue moon. Keep in mind that this list is purely subjective.
Tempo-changing
——————–
Chris Bosh
Reggie Evans
Sonny Weems
Amir Johnson
Pops Mensah-Bonsu
Aggressive
—————-
Marco Belinelli
Andrea Bargnani
Jarrett Jack
Passive
——————-
Rasho Nesterovic
DeMar DeRozan
Hedo Turkoglu
Patrick O’Bryant
Antoine Wright
Jose Calderon
http://www.raptorshq.com/2009/12/1/1178061/3-in-the-key-toronto-raptors-game#storyjump
Why would Bargnani be in angressive? And Derozan be in passive?
Because Bargs for all his faults still works to make things happen. The only time he really disappears is when Jose goes in to 24/7 Bosh mode.
Derozan is still finding his place and because of that he disappears for stretches.
Alt Raps …. the above posting is an imposter … please delete… thanks.
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just to be safe, i’m thinking all postings under ‘FAQ’ should be deleted. to be sure.
hey did u guys read this article on a.i fitting in t.o? here is the link
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/vince_thomas/12/01/ai.possibles/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1
anyway what do u think? will it happen or is this bs?
- Geo4
I hope not.
He is terrible.
His defense makes Calderon look like the best defensive guard in the league
His offense is: “How many shots can I chuck up tonight, Let me count the ways”
Hmmm. I think we can win this game.
However, I think we should sign A.I. to a 10-day contact, couldn’t hurt! Calderon as point guard and A.I. as shooting guard would be a good combo, as Jose and Turk can create plays, A.I. can just score!
What do you guys think?
When is Evans coming back?
Hmmm. I think we can win this game.
However, I think we should sign A.I. to a 10-day contact, couldn’t hurt! He wouldn’t Calderon and A.I. as shooting guard would be a good combo, as Jose and Turk can create plays, A.I. can just score!
What do you guys think?
When is Evans coming back?
No way AI signs a ten day. He wont come off the bench…
I think signing Iverson is exactly what this team needs. a player that can dominate the game on the offensive end, get to the free throw line. Defensively he’s not any worse then Calderon, he has the respect of the refs(getting calls) he brings excitement and energy to a team full of lames. it will never happen.
I don’t know if I’m feeling that. Why is every GM in the league treating the guy like he’s radioactive. Let’s be serious, all of them have way higher Basketball IQ’s than we do…and they wont touch him with a ten foot pole.
Good point. There must be something going on that we as fans will never know, because he still has some game left. Lots actually. It won’t happen, but I’d love watching Iverson as a Raptor. And I’m really tired of the excuses – he’s a ball hog; he’s a head case; he’ll take minutes away from DeRozan (like DeRozan’s minutes are actually helping the team at this point) … bottom line, as the writer of the article states, he brings something that the team does not have – machochismo. We’re a baby’s bottom soft 7 – 11 team – how does having a guy who plays his balls off who can put up 30 a game hurt our team? For one season? And, wouldn’t hurt the entertainment value of games or numbers in the stands either. But, there must be something more going on, because GM’s aren’t stupid.
here is an article from nba.com suggesting the reason why we should sign iverson
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/vince_thomas/12/01/ai.possibles/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1
Toronto: There’s definitely 30 mpg available in Toronto. With Jose Calderon and Hedo Turkoglu, Iverson would have little-to-zero facilitating responsibilities and could focus strictly on scoring. And, although a Calderon/Iverson backcourt is about as bad defensively as Nash/Iverson, what Iverson would bring with him is more important. The Raptors have been soft and essentially swag-less since Charles Oakley bounced and Vince Carter gave up. What you have now is fairly talented team with a lot of potential, but missing a strut in their steps. If nothing else, Iverson gives the Raptors some machismo. And the hoops-crazed fans in Ontario would love him. In terms of effort, he’s the anti-VC.
Or, since I would prefer to win, let DD take those shots for awhile until he shows some improvement or not, and go from there. Sure, he will miss a lot, but why not find out now if he wants to make them or not. In other words, let’s not stop him if he can actually shoot. I mean, what are we doing with him now? Teaching him defense? 50 wins – LOL.
Why would you post something that was posted an hour earlier (look about 3 posts up) and also in the links section?
Sigh.
i think there’s a lot of politics involved. understand that the league is attempting to change the culture of the league without watering down the game too much. i say go against the grain and get an all star caliber guard/HOF. That’s something that Toronto has never had.
Apparently Jack Armstrong told Bargnani to sit his ass down on his radio show:
For any of us that have thought of trading Bargs as a solution there is a good read about why CP3 can’t be traded easy and the same deal applys to Bargnani. It’s a provision in the CBA called the “poison pill”. Good read.
Sorry, forgot to mention the article is at hoopsworld.com
i think you also forgot to mention that this would be good reading for 99% of doug smith’s readers.
Jamison is such a competitive player. I wish we could trade Bosh for him.
Think about this: Jamison is making 12 million per. Bosh is asking for 10 million more dollars per season than Jamison.
This comparison is even better:
Jamison and Turkoglu are making about the same :)
The maximum that Bosh can make next year is 16 million in the first year of a new contract if the cap projection is what they predict. That’s 4 million dollars more, not 10.
and i would still take jamison over bosh.