The road to respectability continues.The Raptors notched another confidence-building, team-bonding, towel-waving win in the stretch of very winnable games, disposing of the Indiana Pacers 117-102. The Pacers turned out to be a pesty opponent, one that seemed to be improved from earlier battles with a healthy Mike Dunleavy and a pine-riding TJ Ford. But this Rap team has become even better in the last couple of months, due to whatever you want to call it, the schedule balancing out, players starting to gel, Andrea Bargnani’s acknowledgement that defense is that phenomenon that occurs between offensive possessions, the improved play of Jarrett Jack, or the return of Jose Calderon as the Super Sub we all came to know and love a couple of years ago. Whatever the reasons are, you knew it would take something special from the Pacers to steal this one.
The Raps got lucky with Danny Granger getting into foul trouble early on in the game. I don’t know if lucky is the right word, because Granger was assigned to cover Bosh. This worked quite well when the Pacers beat the Raps back in Indiana, and Jim O’ Brien predictably went back to it to start off the game. The difference was that the coaching staff were quite prepared for this and looked to establish Bosh early with some high-low passes.
Not sure about the wisdom of putting your best player (Granger) in a unconventional matchup on defense, against the other teams best player, to boot. Granger picked up quick 3rd and 4th fouls as well. After the 4th foul, he was kept in the game and the Raps did a good job of going at him on defense as he provided minimal resistance in fear of picking up the fifth. It’s important that Chris Bosh had a good game in this situation, because it makes some sense, to put a smaller, quicker player on him to take away his drive. This did happen to an extent, Bosh did only attempt 2 free throws, but his jumper was dead-on tonight, and that made up for it. If his shot’s a little cold, it looks like something that might work on him, but tonight’s performance should serve as a deterrent.
Without Granger as a major factor, the Pacers employed the 2008 Raptor offense: shats, shats, and guess what, some more shats. To their credit, they made a whole bunch of them. The Raps didn’t do a horrible job at closing out, as the Pacers were shooting with even a little bit of daylight, but the realization that they had to play tighter on guys like Luther Head and Troy Murphy did help in the 3pt % falling in the 4th quarter. Antoine Wright did a great job defending Granger in the fourth, just as he did on Wade a few nights ago. Makes you wonder if he’s not a much better fit for this team than the Man of Few Words, Actually Just One Word: BALL. Had to do it. This is a team that’s got a couple of very capable ball handlers, but is still pedestrian when it comes to defence. You know what else? He’s playing smart, responsible ball. There are fewer of those wtf? moments on offense. Much better spot up shooter recently. He’s hitting that corner three that Anthony Parker used to with such effectiveness. That open set shot is the one the Man has not been able to hit this year.
Another thing of note, Chris Bosh is developing some court vision and this team is going to become even deadlier on offense because of it. Seven assists today. He found Andrea on more than one occassion. You know how people say that the Lebrons and Wades of the world make players around them better, and that’s one of the reason why that are “true” franchise players? Performances like these take CB4 one step closer to that designation. And it’s a valid argument. Tonight was overall one of his best games of the year, great balance of aggression and finesse tonight.
Speaking of finesse, Amir Johnson continues to tease us with skilled offensive moves. He’s too quick for guys his size, kind of like Chris, and now he’s beginning to exploit it. The usual energy was there, and he even made Jose Calderon look competent in throwing a lob pass. I kid, I kid, we all love Jose right now, just as much as Jose loves playing off the bench. That’s what he’s telling everyone, at least.
Finally, let’s not forget the former Pacer Jarrett Jack. This signing is starting to look like a real bargain. He’s been aggressive at all the right times and his shot is really starting to fall now. Earl Watson and A.J. Price are adequate NBA point guards, but JJ they’re not. He looks like he really enjoys playing against Indiana, and I’m sure he would enjoy nothing more than picking up a season-high 6th consecutive victory at the Conseco Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
Or maybe he’s just happy that there was so much BALL to go around. Teehee.
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71 Raps
The big question that always stood in my head before the game was over….—>
Was the very minor facial injury on Turk a small blessing in disguise?
Don’t get me wrong by thinking I want Turkey Ball injured. Due to the fact that he is a high IQ offensive coordinator and can make a difference for us, but with a team like Indiana coming in with their speedy perimeter oriented players, could he ever catch up with Dunleavy and Granger, and prevented a pretty James Posey-ish game from Antoine Wright?
Belinelli pisses us off again with shooting blanks, does his shots have to be off balance to go in and he can’t nail open 3-ball shots while standing still?
We NEED Turk, or someone else we can trade him for, if we are going to make a splash in the playoffs. Things really tighten up in the playoffs, and you need everyone on the floor to be a threat.
Why do you say the Raps have “got a dearth of capable ball handlers”? They have many that can handle the ball.
I said Ball.
Ball.
I didn’t know India had an NBA team :)
(Indian Pacers)
Punjabi
“Andrea Bargnani’s acknowledgement that defense is that phenomenon that occurs between offensive possessions”
“he even made Jose Calderon look competent in throwing a lob pass”
wow dude. Harsh.
Bargnani is a good.. even very good.. one on one defender. He has shut down big names..Team defense is not his problem its Triano’s.. Why the ##& is he out at mid court defending guards? We need to work more zone into the equation and stop the over-compensation for screen and rolls..
Although his effort and attention has improved considerably, Barg’s has just started def. rotating consistently, since December.
Bargs has realized he doesnt/rarely have to jump to block or change shots …just raise his arms and then time his swats. Less energy expended and less fouls called.
Antoine Wright a better fit then BALL? Are you insane?
Is it weird nowadays I feel that
1) Antonie Wright is our best spot-on shooter on the team
2) Weems sometimes shows flashes of Kobe Bryant moves (perfect shooting form)
3) Jose is one of the leagues best shooters (when he is open)
4) I would take Bosh over Carmelo any day..
5) Belli could be one of the nba’s best 3-point shooters but he is too dumb to realize it
6) I would pay the mid level exception to keep Johnson
7) Bargs is our best post defender on the team, and that he will one of the biggest bargains for a long time to come.
8) Larry bird should be fired for letting JJ go for refusing to pay him 4 mil/year
9) Hedo will be our Rasho in 2 years
10)Triano is becoming a smarter and smarter as the season progresses (As much as I hated his coaching in the first 3 months)
Now Am I insane to think these stuff?
spot-up
Some of the close-to-insane stuff:
2) Weems has a nice jumper, but I haven’t seen flashes of Kobe :P. More like flashes of Vince’s jump shooting days though.
6) The full mid-level might be a bit much. Glen Davis didn’t get the full mid-level and you can say his game is a little more polished.
9) I don’t think he’ll drop that far… I hope he doesn’t drop that far… oh god please don’t let him drop that far.
haha I know that
2) is a bit insane, but I am really liking his consistent ability to knock down those Js. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling he will turn out to be a good NBA player. I mean he has got the defense, and if he can just learn his limit on his range, and if he comes to realize his special ability to drive it to the rim, I would pay him 3-5 mill in 2 years.
6) I don’t think it is insane to pay him that much at all. I mean he is only 22 and he has played in the league for 5 years. Can you believe it? He is only 2 years older than DD, and 2 years younger than Bargs. He is playing really good ball right now, and he is one of those hustle guys that the Raps desperately need, and every team would want a guy like this on their team (people like Scola, Verejao, Noah, Davis( as much as I hate his guts)…) He is getting paid 3.7 mill right now. His contract expires this year, and I don’t think he will be staying in Toronto to come off the bench, if we don’t offer him at least +4.5 mill/year ( mid level will be at -6 mill/year).
9) Maybe not as much as today’s Rasho, and the Rasho we had 2 years ago. Now I would love to be wrong on this, but his contract looks to be Toronto’s only dark spot right now.
Remember Joey? Now why couldn’t he have been the Weems of 3 yrs. ago? He had a bigger body than W and I somehow feel had all the tools (except maybe leaping as high)….but I think it was a mental sharpness thing. Weems has been impressive and will be a good asset for a trade at some time.
Intelligence and hunger.
Weems is smart enough to understand his role, and what he needs to improve.
Also, he wasn’t a first rounder and realizes that he is fighting for his NBA life here.
Seems all of our bench players are putting in extra time with the shooting coaches to work on their shot.
He is paid too little to be a trade asset right now. Best thing to do is pick up his option, develop him for another year and see what he has.
I’m not too interested in trading our cheap bench players anyway, unless they are asking for too much money (or suck.)
Points 1 and 3-10 are reasonable, but number 2 is insane.
I like you “top 10″ rapman. I was surprised when Bird let Jack go for 4 million/year, especially with the career numbers he put up and that TJ was their only real pg at the time. Wright is the new and improved Anthony Parker and Id like to see Johnson in a raps uniform for years to come.
I like Sonny’s game within reason. the guy needs to remember that he is the 4-5th option on the floor and to take the shots given to him.
what I like the most about the raptors this season is Jose coming off the bench. he makes guys like Johnson, Bellinelli and Wright better by creating open shots by pushing the ball and penetrating D. Jack can do these things, but not as good and doesnt need to with the starters on the floor.
loving raptors bball right now
+1, right-on
As far as I know, Larry Bird wanted to keep JJ but the owners wouldn’t allow him to spend the bucks to keep him around. Not his fault.
That sound about right. Every time the Pacers coaches talk about Jack the seem to really like him.
so the owners are morons! JJ averages career numbers in his only year with the Pacers and they let him go for peanuts. well 4 million isnt peanuts, but when you look at salaries in the nba it is. Maybe BC hoodwinked the Pacers
BC didnt have to “hoodwink” anyone. JJ was signed as a f/a (restricted). Anyone else could have done the same and the Pacers could have matched. Indiana had too many bad contracts and attendance problems as well as going into the luxury tax area which didnt sit well. BC of course knew this also. The Pacers should have definitely retained him and then tried to shed payroll after that.
They went and signed Dahntay Jones to a big contract without considering that smart GM’s like BC will see that weakness and steal their RFA from them knowing that Indiana would NEVER go into the luxury tax…
Homerism at its finest…
1) really??? as long as there is no one for miles around
2) Weems=Kobe….seriously??? really??? i dont even want to spend the time to refute the rest, except that we wont need the midlevel to resign johnson…we have his rights…the midlevel is if we wanna go out and add someone new to the team
Weems isn’t Kobe. More like a bigger, more athletic Wade :P
1) well that is what spot-up shooting means… when you are open can you knock it down?
2) when did i ever say weems=kobe? ahaha that is hilarious. By flashes I meant some of his moves reminds me of him. Like the move when he is running in traffic, and suddenly stops and knocks down a J.
3) Yea you are right. I don’t know why I said that. But I would actually pay 4-6 million to make him stay!
No one has commented on this yet so here goes. A bit of excellent psychology by Triano.
Shortly after Johnson entered the game in the second half Triano took him out. Not for committing fouls or playing badly.
When Johnson passed Triano on the way to taking his bench seat Triano kind of smiled, said something to Johnson and gave him a pat.
I think what he said was something like. “You will be going back in shortly to finish the game”, which is exactly what happened.
Given Bargnani’s nagging injuries which are definitely negatively affecting his game and Johnson’s recent improved play Triano changed up the 4th quarter rotation and rewarded Johnson by letting him finish the game. The game was still in doubt when Triano reinserted Johnson in the fourth quarter.
The point of all of this is not Johnson’s play but how Triano handled the whole thing from telling Johnson he was going to be shortly reinserted in the game to finish it up By doing so he rewarded Johnson for his recent play and showed confidence in Johnson’s ability to be one of the five Raptors on the court to handle the fourth quarter closeout responsibility. Triano also used the opportunity to get Johnson some experience in being on the court in the fourth quarter to close out the game. Johnson did not disappoint as the Raptors pulled away after Johnson was reinserted.
I give an “A” to Triano, for a job well done in how he handled this.
+1. Hope Bargs gets healthy soon tho.
Coming soon
Hedo = Masquerade Ball
Who taught Antoine Wright how to shoot over Christmas?
The guy is a career terrible shooter! All of a sudden he’s Mr. Clutch. (Although someone should tell him his handle is not like MJ’s – lol)
2 years ago Hollinger says all Amir Johnson needs to become a good player is 20 minutes a night on a consistent basis. Is it possible he got this right?
Detroit has to be wondering why they gave up on Amir after paying him for 4 years and getting little to nothing for it.
Trust me on this.
When it comes to Johnson’s offense you guys ain’t seen nothing yet.
I have seen it before the Pistons screwed him over by totally freezing him out of the offense. The reasons are many mostly having to do with Dumar’s mentality when it comes to offense, so I won’t go into them here.
In any case give him the “ball” and let him go. I have seen him put up 25 in a game and after the game you don’t remember how he did it except for a one or two alley-oops.
He got game and it is nice to see that BC and Triano are finally giving him an opportunity to bring it.
He still needs to keep improving but the upside is huge compared to what people who didn’t see him play before the Pistons decided to freeze him out of the offense which was almost from the beginning of his time with them.
I am no way suggesting that he will become a major scoring force with the Raptors they already have Bosh and Bargnani.
What I am saying is that sometime in the future he will be putting up close around 18-20 points a game. It may not be for a few more years but it will happen.
The cat is now out of the bag and all the opposing GMs are watching.
I’m not sold Johnson will ever be a 20pt a game guy…. I can see him being a reliable 12pt 10 reb 2 blks kind of guy (on a real good %). He doesn’t have a jump shot, no post moves (except that ackward looking hook) and won’t be beating guys off the dribble.
But.. I conceivably see him as a reliable, efficient C/PF… and thats money in my books.
He is only 22, 2 years younger than Bargs.
He is averaging 11/10 now per 36 minutes, without any plays being run for him. At a very minimum, he should be at 15/10 per 36 within two years.
If he can stay on the floor, the sky is the limit for him.
You are correct. He has yet to show a post up jump shot. However, that does not mean that he isn’t working on it and can’t develop one. We are not talking about 20 foot jump shots but 10 foot post up jump shots.
Besides with minutes he is good for 8 or so hustle points per 30 minutes, which is what he as has always done. So there is no reason to think that he can’t over the next few years add consistently put up an additional 10 points per 30 minutes in low post moves especially if he ever starts to make free throws. LOL.
As far as beating his man of off the dribble. He has already done this at least twice in the last handful of games. At least a couple of times going to his right and finishing right handed and at least once going to his left with his left hand and finishing with his left hand.
Just because he hasn’t shown a low post jump shot doesn’t mean that he is not working on it in practice. He certainly has the talent and skills to develop one that he can use efficiently in games.
Rodman averaged 7.3 pts 13.1 rebounds over his career. Amir even runs a little like Dennis.
Does the man have a jump shot? Even a consistent 8-10 footer? Seems he has much of the rest of it but I havent seen the j. If he shows it plus some more weight he will be a force.
“pedestrian on defense” – remember a few short months (weeks?) ago when many people were saying that pedestrian defense was all the Raps needed to be pretty good? Now “pedestrian” seems like a bad thing.
At the start of the year 15th-20th rank defense was thought to be all the Raps needed! lol never happy
“Andrea Bargnani’s acknowledgement that defense is that phenomenon that occurs between offensive possessions”
LMAO
Yea, that was hilarious but true (at least past his second year in the nba)..
I really don’t see a big change in Barg’s defense over the year. Good on his man, poor on help defense. Thats what he’s always been… he was just the scapegoat early. The games against Dwight and Duncan just proved otherwise.
But maybe I’m completely wrong here. The team’s defense has noticably improved (especially in the 4th quarter of games), and team discussion in december was apparently ‘directed’ at him. It just seemed to me that the entire team has taken more pride in their defense since then.
It is not coincidence that Barg’s defensive improvements coincide with two things: 1) Jose out of the starting lineup and 2) Jay’s new defensive scheme…
1) When Jose is in, as I’ve said many times over, help doesn’t have time to react. They also lose their man because they’re so worried about what’s going on at the PG spot. Having JJ as the starting PG allows Bargs to focus more on his man and positioning himself on D appropriately.
2) Jay finally realized that the Celtics are a defensive powerhouse because of Rajon, Garnet, PP, and Perkins and NOT the scheme they run. If I had to watch poor Bargs try to run out to the corner 3 one more time I would have started a “Save Bargs on D” fund.
Kudos to Jay though for seeing his mistakes and fixing them. And grats to Bargs for capitalizing.
Andrea started improving his defense in the summer after his second year at some summer clinic for bigs . His improvement is continuing and everyone can see that . If he is slightly injured then that can account for some sub par performance in the last two games (but not in the last 2 minutes against NY). )
What about the “meeting”.
I noticed considerable improvement from him after they addressed the issue in the locker room.
Can’t put the blame on one player but it’s obvious there were some concerns about his efforts on that end of the floor.
In his clear defence, he’s taken the challenge and improved every game thereafter.
Yes I have posted and asked on Doug Smith’s blog…. but….
I know it is not important in the grand scheme of things, but how does the official scorer, the refs and the Toronto coaching staff miss counting fouls. We will always remember the Atlanta scorers who missed a basket, which may have cost Toronto a game a few years back.
Yesterday in the first quarter Indiana had fouls @ 5:40, 5:24, 5:07, 4:57 of the quarter. A fifth was picked up @ 2:01, which coincided with a timeout. Instead of 2 shots for Bosh, the Raptors got the ball out of bounds and missed the ensuing shot.
Really is it that hard to count to 5???? Does this happen often???? What if it was a tight game???
Also noted 7 Raptors in double figures (and only 117 points). What is the record for most players in double figures in a game????
really, didn’t notice that. Are you sure? Wow if its true, it is really sad!
Check the play by play. The third was an offensive foul on Granger, but that counts as a foul last time I checked, unless a team is over the limit (unless I have had a brain cramp).
I was at the game and couldn’t figure it out.
Offensive fouls don’t count as team fouls.
yep brain camp :)
Not buying the hype guys, Sorry. This team is in very deep trouble come playoff time. We haven’t proven anything yet. We can overachieve right now against non playoff teams and a few elite teams but I don’t see us being a threat in the playoffs. We were great in 2007 too remember? What happened with New jersey. And with Orlando in 2008. We couldn’t compete period.
Bosh, Bargnani, Triano. These are the guys we are trusting to get the Job done come April. That’s laughable
Fortunately, wiser minds than yours disagree:
http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings
If we draw Orlando in the first round, 7 game series.
Yeah thats a bit generous – they’re giving us about 5 spots because they want to look good when we beat the next 9 games against weak opposition…
why does this team have to go deep into the playoffs to be good? Everyone knew that Boston, Orlando, or Cleveland are the teams going to the finals (myabe Atlanta can be included now).
Because the Raptors likely (but not an impossibility) won’t beat them in a 7 games series does not mean there is not progress for the future.
This year is a stepping stone… and I doubt many fans think otherwise.
Not going ‘deep into the playoffs’ is the only excuse haters have left.
We still loose though LOL Who cares if it goes to 7. Vince and Dwight will castrate us.
And the playoffs is all mental. It’s a different game. When has Bosh and Bargnani shown any mental toughness? The only way they can beat an elite team is if that team beats themselves first. ( Cleveland, Lakers, San Antonio). Playoffs are what counts and we know what happens when Bosh is in a big statement game. He folds up like a tent.
Triano in the Playoffs ? LOL That’s laughable. He has no experience coaching in the big time. He’s going to out coach SVG? or Mike Brown or Larry Brown or Doc Rivers? This team is overachieving right now because Bosh decided to step up to a get a nice fat contract.
The guy wants his money,period. If the team happens to succeed in the playoffs, that’s a bonus too him but not his main focus.
What are you talking about? Bosh had a great series against Orlando in 2008.
The current reality is quite simple:
1) Dwight Howard is not particularly skilled.
2) Bosh has spent substantial amounts of time scrimmaging against Dwight in the Olympics, and thus knows his tendencies.
3) Bargs has shown he can defend Dwight 1 on 1. Bosh can defend him too in spot minutes.
4) Vince Carter is quite possibly done as a basketball player.
5) Orlando has absolutely no one on their roster who can guard Bosh or Bargs.
What is so hard to understand? They just do not match up well with us…their best player is not going to be as effective against Bosh+Bargs as most other lineups.
I’m not saying we are favored, but it should be a competitive series.
The cadence of your post, your strength in your convictions, your rampant negativity and doom-saying…are strangely familiar. I’ve heard this kind of stuff before….
Former Leaf fan? (kidding.) (sort of.)
As the old football (and by that I mean ‘soccer’)saying goes “The ball is round”. We really don’t know how this squad will meet a playoff challenge against a formidable first round team. Could choke badly. Could wipe the floor with ‘em.
At least we know we are getting a first round.
You are am idiot if you think Doc Rivers and Mike Brown are good coaches. Just because they have 50-60 win team, it doesn’t mean they are good coaches. \
Just look at Boston’s starting unit. Rando (all-star), Ray Allen (best 3 point shooter in the history of the league, hall of famer), Paul Pierce ( all-star, hall of famer), Pierkins (all out hustle guy, love having him on your team), Garnett ( one of the best Pfs to ever play the game, all-star, hall of famer), Wallace (former all-star). All of that and they are only 4.5 games up on the raptors after how horribly the raptors have played…
I am not saying Triano is an elite coach but please stop talking out of your ass…
Now about Bosh, you are an idiot if you think Bosh doesn’t want to win. Bosh is one of those guys who can’t stand losing, and he would not mind if he stats drop a bit, if his team is going to win…. He is the kind of guy who I would always would want on my team. Now if he leaves T.O because he doesn’t think Toronto will be a winning franchise, I would not blame him one bit, because I my self know the feeling, and I wouldn’t be staying in T.O if I knew they would not be a contender ever…
You couldve added…Rivers nearly got fired (because of the horrendous record) before that trade with Minnesota and Rondo falling in their laps.
Mike Brown….Lebron is the defacto coach of the Cavs (as well as gm..lol)
I stand by what I say. Bosh only looks great when he’s facing a team with chemistry issues or poor records. He’s a scorer first and foremost. I wouldn’t classify him as a winner.
How’s his “career” record against Boston, Utah, Phoenix, Denver, Lakers, Cleveland BTW? You know, teams that have players who can shut him down.
We got a win over the Lakers – who lost to the Clippers and Milwaukee before facing us. And we beat a Cavs team on opening night that was not able to integrate Shaq in the lineup at that time.
The only reason he looks like a superstar now is because it’s a contract year and he’s looking to get his.
Where was this player the last 3 years BTW?
Should we trade him for Alonzo Mourning?
… no comment, stop talking please..
This team is greatly overachieving right now just like in 2007 with Sam Mitchell. The East has some horrible teams and now we get to face them the next 10 games.
Nice analysis of Bosh. He’s by no means the black hole that we’ve come to dread over the last few seasons, he’s making really smart decisions with the ball and really working with what the other team gives him.
I think he has matured into a true franchise player this year. Inspiring effort lately.
Hey so what’s the deal with TJ not playing?
Why is he in the dog house now?
Notorious chucking.
A.J Price is turning out to be the same type of player, only with more control and a tighter jump shot. TJ’s actually a fourth string PG because Travis Diener is ahead of him in the rotation too.
Is it injuries that have caused TJ to regress? I didn’t watch a lot of basketball when he was drafted, but he was very good in college and as a rook, no?
Guys like that must be in such shitty frustrated moods all the time – they must go through FU*KING TRADE ME internal fits all the time but then again they gotta ask themselves where the hell would I go?