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The Raptors were off on Thursday after their back-to-back split so there’s no practice to talk about. It’s New Jersey tonight and this one gets classified in the winnable category. A home game against the worst team in the division should be routine business, let’s pray we don’t make this any more interesting than what it should be - a shellacking of an inferior team.
Jermaine O’Neal’s been great so far, anybody who disagrees with that has unfair expectations of the man and is expecting his play to be reflective of his high salary. Unfortunately that’s not how the NBA works anymore. He’s averaging 13.5 pts, 9.5 rebs and 1.5 blocks and he’s in the middle of 5 straight double-doubles. The stats don’t tell the whole story, even if you’re the Anti-JO you have to concede that he’s brought a strong defensive presence and what some might even call lane intimidation to the Raptors. When was the last time somebody used the word intimidation when talking Raptors ball? His offense hasn’t fully arrived yet but if you look at his last five games he’s scored 23, 19, 11, 16, 16. As he shakes off the result and learns the shooting tendencies of his teammates it’ll allow him to be in better positions for rebounds and more aware of where his offense will come from. Barring injury, by January he’ll be an indispensable component of the team. There’s a great quote filled article by Michael Grange which talks more about O’Neal’s impact.
Anthony Parker’s coming off a good game against the Heat where he hit some clutch shots down the stretch to ice things off. I was shocked that he nailed those threes, I’m too used to seeing him come up short on his jumpers and FTs in crunch time and expect any offense from him to come in the first half when his legs are fresh, not late in the fourth quarter on the back end of a back-to-back. Every dog has his day and Wednesday was Parker’s. Up next for him is Vince Carter, a defensive assignment that can range from being very easy to very difficult depending on whether Carter’s bothered enough to play. I realize Parker’s got a tough job, he checks the best wing-scorer every night but that doesn’t excuse his offense which has the important by-product of making the other SG play some defense, thus taking away from their offense.
There was a lot of talk of us getting an athletic wing in the second round and as the night went along the possibility of netting CDR grew until the Nets snatched him just before us. So how’s he doing? Well, he injured his knee after playing three games and in his first three games he didn’t grab a rebound.
G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% REB RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG 3 0 11.7 0.40 0 0 0.0 0.0 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.67 1.3
We’ll get a look at Devin Harris who’s in his contract year and playing like it: 23/6/4 on 45% shooting. He’s the team’s leading scorer (0.4 behind Carter) and is second in the league in FTAs behind Dwight Howard. Chew on that. What this means for us is that our PG trinity will be tested once more. Calderon’s not 100% so you expect Will “Ugh” Solomon to get minutes and Harris will easily be the quickest guy Solomon has ever played against. Things could turn ugly if Harris isn’t played right, I’d start off by testing his jumper and see if he’s brought it with him and go from there. Note to Sam: Play Roko, he’s the future PG of the team and there’s no reason to invest in a 30 year old when he’s as bad as this. On a similar note, a Florida writer can’t believe how open we left Jameer Nelson on simple pick ‘n roll plays. I’m with him.
It’s China vs. Italy at the SF spot where Bargnani is up against Yi who’s having a nice rebounding year but is shooting a miserable 36%. I think if Yi’s on his game he could be a good test for Bargnani’s untested SF defense (Yi, Bargs). The Magic attacked via the point and the Heat stuck with Wade so Bargnani’s gotten off scott free so far. It’ll be even more interesting if Carter matches up with him and tries to challenge him, hopefully it does happen so we can see if Bargnani can handle defensive responsibilities under duress.
So do you boo Carter when you’re at the game? Do you really mean it or are you just doing it because you’re supposed to? Is there any genuine hate for him or are you just mad that he’s not here anymore? I think the booing would carry a lot more venom if Carter was actually a star player in the NBA and would show us what we’re missing every time we play. Such is not the case, he’s drifted off into mediocrity and most fans are thankful that he’s not here. Picture the Raptors with Vince’s $17M salary over the next four years, it’s not pretty. When I watch Vince play I’m not angry, I’m sad. I’m sad that here is a talent that had the potential to be one of the greatest players ever and so far has been completely wasted because of lack of commitment or direction. It’s the “what could’ve been” that bugs me more than anything, I wouldn’t even care if he became a superstar with another club, I just wanted to see his potential realized because it would’ve been spectacular and something to behold. That year when he was on the cover of ESPN The Magazine, I was sure he’d end up in the Hall of Fame, how wrong I was. It’s important to note that when he left he didn’t diss the city or the fans, he dissed the organization which is something we do on a daily basis. But hey, boo away, it makes for a great atmosphere.
Jack Armstrong is rating the top 10 road cities and I am very surprised at #6. I’ve been there once and almost got mugged by a cab driver.
Yesterday The Score announced that it has created a new “federation” of blogs. No, the Republic is not part of it for a few reasons but mostly because we want to keep this site ad-free and don’t want any restrictions on content - something that’s important to all of us. Since we don’t have a big channel like The Score to back us up we’re relying a lot on you to spread the word.
There’s a new poll on the site about Bargnani’s new position, the results from the old one are here. Finally, today is Friday which means we’ll be at Philthy McNasty’s watching the Raptors kick some Nets ass while downing a few. Try to make it out, it’s good times. We’ll also be running the live blog as usual.
Gunning for two games over .500 - let’s go you Raps!!!
khandor
Dino Gunners
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77 Raps
Here’s the story DR is talking about:
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.basketnet.it%2Fnews%2F%3Fid%3D97581&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=it&tl=en
We still own Delfino’s rights to play in the NBA so if he does return the Raptors will have first dibs. We bought Garbo out so there’s no contract there, the only remnant from that transaction is his salary counting against the cap this year (bummer).
Would I like to see Delfino on this team? At the right price, yes. His only problem was that he fell in love with the 3-pointer too much and never got reprimanded for it so he continued launching them. He was a smart defender and a better slasher than AP, Moon or Graham. Best part about him was that he could run the point for 5-7 minutes a game. Then again its never a good sign when you’re bringing back mediocre players into an apparently mediocre team. There are better options out there but if you have to settle you have to settle.
Woo -hoo.
Just got a call from my neighbor who has an extra ticket.
Look for me in the nosebleeds!
#43 - this is in fact right. If one is to assume what BC’s next move might be, he may want to go with that one. Seems like a pretty safe bet anyway. Again, I wonder who the new coach will be and who will coach in the meantime? Does Jay get a crack at it?
#45 - truth is, we all have unique perspectives of the game and we all have different degrees of it’s understanding. Some more, some less and ultimately we can all learn from each other, in some way shape or form.
I’ll be the first one to admit I’m the least knowledgeable on here, (and even the most knowledgeable person will tell you they are (still) learning), but that doesn’t prevent me from having an opinion or perspective. I’ll do my best not to bring the discussion down to RealGM levels.
Re:VC - to each his own, but for me the worst act he committed was giving away that play to Seattle. I don’t care how obvious it was what we were running, that is the highest act of traitorship one can commit. I saw that as an insult to the organization, fans, city, team mates, everyone. INEXCUSABLE. You are dead to me, Vincenzo Lamar!!! You hear me? DEAD! (TO SMOOCHY..lol)
Tinman, have a good time tonight. And I don’t care how lame it may be to some… LET’S GO RAPTORS - VC SUX!!
is harrington to the knicks for crawford so ho-hum no one’s cares enough to mention it?
Raptors should kick some canadian arse tonight.
Flux - your right that was the end for VC in eyes as well. I had him down to a 3 on my 1 to 10 hate scale, that memory alone brings him back up to a five maybe 6…it never ends!
Yertu - I think it’s more about the teams involved (non-contenders) than it is about the players….but it’s very sad when the NY Knickerbockers are trading a starter for a starter and no one cares. Zeke’s shadow still looms!!
This is completely off-topic, but has anyone else noticed that the author of the Dino Nation blog apparently never learned to use a comma in grammar school? I was reading a linked-to post there, and i swear it was like reading an essay written by a developmentally-challenged ninth-grader.
Well, I don’t get the deal from NY’s perspective. I haven’t seen them play much all year but isn’t Jamal Crawford one of the two Knicks that people would pick from that team if they had to. The other being David Lee. They’re trading away a guy who actually plays hard and has talent that isn’t hidden behind layers of fat for a complainer. But I’m not thinking about it, I learned a long time ago not to make sense of what the Knicks are doing. But as d279 said, gotta love the Knicks not giving a shit about the salary cap.
BTW, check out Jamal Crawford’s contract structure, he’s got a player option followed by a guaranteed year. Don’t see that much.
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/golden_state.htm
tkfu, go, easy, on, him. He’s, a, good, guy. Hopefully, I, made, up, for, the, lack, of, commas. :) ,
re. the deal - just looks like the knicks are clearing space for ‘10 & a run & bron-bron, while being able to continue a (marginal) upward trend improvement-wise.
Yeah, you’re right. Holy shit the Knicks have a lot of player options, they even gave Jerome James one!
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_york.htm
im skittish with anticipation of tonights game….man,my nerves,i fucken hate vc that much.i want us to destroy the nets tonight. jo with a nice hard foul on vc in the lane…id bust a nut.
Trade Bargs, Hump, Solomon & Delfino’s rights to MIN for Mike MIller & Foye!
umm negative on the Minny trade…
Oh good. O’Neal banged his knee.
Oh… no…
12 points in 33 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!! VC IS THE BEST!!! YEAAAAAHHHHHH!!
12 points in last 44 seconds for VC! Flashes of Isiah, Reggie & T-Mac there!!! Bosh with the crazy three! BEST GAME OF THE YEAR!!!
CARTEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR
WHAT THA FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OHH NOOOESS
SMITCH: You noe Vance Kotta juss made some shats…
KILLER ENDING!! You’d think the Raptors wouldn’t let Vince brutally rape ‘em in the ass like that TWICE but then again it’s the Raptors we’re talking about. 12 in .44 & 2 game winners for VC. What was that washed-up stuff you were talkin about again Arse????
What a waste of a career games by Bosh & Bargs. DAMN! I hate this garbage team. Will Solomon & Hassan “Gap Teeth” Adams are fuckin USELESS.
how are your nuts, andiamo?
Hell…we don’t even have to wait to play the elite teams to lose ugly…I suspect Oklahoma is looking at the schedule praying for their meetup with the Raptors…after all they did beat us last year…
Toronto fans enjoyed a brief moment of misguided arrogance after a half a Cinderella season and there are still dopes around who assume for some reason it is a playoff team(and no…barely scraping into the 8th seed does not a playoff team make)….I guess because the insipid Raptor shills on Raptor TV tell them so and there are no real basketball writers in this country…
where o where did vc man’s go?
You’re right! Where DID Jamario “our best perimeter defender” Moon go!?
time to start up the Artest in 09 movement. anything else would be premature.
As I alluded to yesterday, in Comment #29 [above] …
The brightest STAR in the history of the Raptors’ franchise was driven out of Toronto by the way MLSE chose to run its business, after taking control of the operation from Mr. Steve Stavro and, ultimately, following the dismissal of Glen Grunwald [former Raptors' GM]. Since that time, the principal people responsible for the way in which this franchise conducts its business, are Misters Peddie & Tanenbaum [not the OTTPP, which is an entity rather than an individual person], representing the Board of MLSE, who have made the decisions to hire Rob Babcock, in the first place; fire Rob Babcock; and most recently, hire Bryan Colangelo.
The people responsible for the current state of the Raptors’ team are not the players on the roster, nor the coaching staff.
In this franchise, the buck stops now with the names Larry Tanenbaum, Richard Peddie, and Bryan Colangelo.
It is going to be a very interesting season in Raptorville.
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