There is a Klingon on proverb that ‘revenge is a dish best served cold’. You can be sure the Toronto Raptors have some revenge in mind as they take on the Washington Wizards in the nation’s capital south of the border. Three nights ago the Wizards were in TO and they edged the Raptors 106-102. The very following night Toronto was in Hot-lanta and they were pummeled 146-115, their worst lost this season and fifth worst in franchise history. The Raptors porous D has given up a hundred points in 11 straight games and have sunk to the very bottom of the league in points allowed (111). Chris Bosh was held to only two points in the loss. Following the slaying, reports began to surface that the players (Jarrett Jack and Antoine Wright) were unhappy with coach Jay Triano and how the lack of criticism he has for select players (maybe Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderone and Hedo Turkoglu?), especially on the defence side of things. On the other hand Washington played Milwaukee the next night and they squeezed out another close one, beating the Bucks 104-102. Gilbert Arenas lead the team with 22 points and 9 assists, but it was 5-5′ Earl Boykins who was the star. The game was tied and was one second away from going to overtime. Boykins was fouled and he drained both free throws to ice the game. Tonight will be a true test to see what the Raptors are made of and if they can bounce back from adversity.
In the things that make you go huh category, former Raptors coach Sam Mitchell watched the Atlanta game from the second row. Mitchell resides in the ATL so it’s not that odd, right? Well one year ago the day of the game with Atlanta, the Raptors were blown out in Denver 132-93 and Mitchell was fired the very next day, December 3, 2008.
So like their hockey brothers, the Toronto Raptors are in a tailspin. The Raps have lost their last 5 in a row, including an absolute spanking in Atlanta last night. So, 20 games in, roughly one quarter of the way, players are pointing fingers at their coach. So Raptors Fans, should the Raps dismiss Jay Triano?
Last season on December 2 the Toronto Raptors were 8-8 going into their game against the Denver Nuggets in the Mile High State. The Raptors got blown out 132-93 and then head coach Sam Mitchell was fired and Jay Triano took over as the intern coach. Fast forward 11 months, the Raps are 4-4 and face the Nuggets in Denver tonight. Toronto is coming off a tough loss to Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. Hedo Turkoglu had a chance to win the game on a last second shot, but rimmed out and the Raps lost 101-100. Turkoglu had a season-high 20 in that one. Chris Bosh also had another solid performance. For the fifth straight time he had a double-double, finishing with 25 points and 10 boards. Denver is a well rested team. Their last game was on Friday night and it was a 105-79 beat-down of the reigning NBA champs, the LA Lakers. Carmelo Anthony led the way for the Nuggets, scoring 25 points and that’s while being guarded by defensive specialist Ron Artest. Although both teams are among the top of the league in offensive production it will be a tough one tonight for Toronto. Denver hasn’t lost at home yet this season and the last time the Raps beat the Nuggets was March 23, 2007. That win as in TO.
On the ice it will be the battle of Ontario as the Toronto Maple Leafs face the Ottawa Senators tonight in the nation’s capital. The last time these two teams met was just over a month ago. The Senators scored two goals in 37 seconds and beat the Leafs 2-1 in Jonas Gustavsson first start in net. It will be the first game in this bitter rivalry for Phil Kessel. Kessel was still recovering from shoulder surgery and missed game one. Since his return he has by far been the best Leaf, scoring four goals and getting three assists in six games. If head coach Ron Wilson can find the right line mates, Kessel may end up being even more dangerous.
Chris Bosh will make the trip to Minnesota, and should play. Triano plans to limit his minutes, but says Bosh is excited to get going. The coaching staff asked if he’d like to sit out one more game, but Bosh declined.
Triano was much happier with Toronto’s defensive play on Wednesday. He also talked about careless fouls and trying to avoid bailing out the opposition.
Hedo Turkoglu won’t make the trip but he’s participating in 5-0 drills and is getting closer to action.
Triano was asked about Amir Johnson and said he’s pleased with Amir. He likes the energy Johnson brings to the floor, and wants to give him extended minutes throughout the pre-season.
When asked about integrating Bosh and Hedo, Triano said it could be interesting to see how Toronto’s ball-moving offense is affected. Hedo and Bosh both like to hold the ball and we’ll have to wait and see how they fit in.
For Raptors fans, the second pre-season game was undoubtedly better than the first. That’s not saying much, based on Toronto’s pathetic performance on Tuesday, but there were certainly encouraging signs. One night after giving up 65 first-half points, the Raps played impressive defense and held Philly to 35% shooting in the rematch. The energy level was higher, despite using a depleted roster on the second night of a back-to-back.
Some specific thoughts on the game:
While he showed flashes of potential, DeMar DeRozan has a long way to go. Expectations for this kid had gone way up since the draft, but fans should remember that he was never supposed to make a huge impact in year-one. It’s pretty obvious why, after seeing the rookie in person. He needs to develop his left-handed dribble if he wants to be an effective slasher, and it’s something Jay Triano is trying to enforce. DeRozan was yanked for the second straight game after settling for jumpers, and had some trouble getting involved in the flow of the offense. Still, there were positives – He filled the lane and finished with a power dunk off a pass from Quincy Douby, and he scored on a finger-roll after stealing the ball. DeRozan also knocked down a three-pointer for the second straight game, but I wouldn’t expect that to be a trend just yet. Defensively, he struggled against Andre Igoudala and is still adjusting to the speed and athleticism of the NBA. On one play, Igoudala grabbed an offensive rebound right over DeRozan – How often do you think that happened at USC?
Jose Calderon rebounded (somewhat) from a brutal first game, finishing with six assists and zero turnovers. That was the good news, but Calderon still looked passive on the offensive end. Remember when Jose would turn the corner on the pick-and-roll, going all the way to the basket for lay-ups? We need that guy back. There’s no doubt that Calderon is more effective when he’s surrounded by talent, and I expect improvement once Chris Bosh and Hedo Turkoglu are in the lineup.
I really like Marco Belinelli. He was out of control at times, but the kid is skilled. Belinelli scored 12 points, while struggling from the three-point line. I’m not worried about his shooting – Instead, I was impressed with his ballhandling and passing ability. With more playing time and an elevated comfort level, Belinelli should be a valuable part of Triano’s ball-movement offense. I also think his shot selection improves when Bosh and Hedo are on the court.
Andrea Bargnani was quiet, but continues to prove he’s the guy we saw in the final third of last season. He still can’t rebound, but has developed into a very good offensive player. Bargnani’s baseline drive for a dunk was beautiful, but it hardly seemed like he was trying for most of the night. Again, I’m excited to see what he can do with Bosh and Hedo attracting attention from opposing defenses.
The real bright spots for Toronto were Sonny Weems and Amir Johnson. Acquired together in the Carlos Delfino trade, both players brought a ton of athleticism and hustle to the building on Wednesday night. Both were all over the court, forcing Philly into tough shots, while running the floor and showing a nose for the rim. Johnson might have the agility to play a little bit of small forward, while Weems treated the crowd to three huge dunks. After leading the team in minutes (and deservedly so), he’s making a case for playing time when the real games begin.
I really can’t talk about the defensive end without mentioning Reggie Evans. Like JYD, the fans have fallen in love fast. Evans was a beast, grabbing nine rebounds to go along with four steals. On the other hand, he forced tough shots in traffic and TWICE dribbled up the court. While his work ethic and determination are much appreciated, this needs to stop. There is no way Reggie Evans should be leading the break, and grabbing an offensive rebound shouldn’t entitle him to shoot immediately after. If he can control his game, Evans will be a fan-favourite all year long.
Jarrett Jack was fine. He made a few nice plays in the second half, including a sweet behind-the-back pass to Weems on a fast break. Jack didn’t really stand out, but he was solid. He stole the ball twice and played good defense.
Once again, Marcus Banks played better than expected. It’s hard to imagine him seeing much of the court this season, but I expected absolutely NOTHING from him. I guess it’s a case of lowered expectations, but I was impressed with his overall game on Wednesday. Put it this way – Calderon and Jack were no better, while Quincy Douby was worse. I still think Douby can be an effective scorer in limited minutes, but he didn’t show it last night. Meanwhile, maybe (it’s a long shot) Colangelo can find a way to trade Banks if he plays decent for any extended stretch. Don’t count on it.
Up front, Patrick O’Bryant and Rasho Nesterovic both played like…well, themselves. O’Bryant still hasn’t figured out how to use his 7-foot frame, but did block three shots. Still, he has a long, long way to go. Rasho was solid in very limited minutes, reminding us that yes, he only shoots from the baseline.
Overall, the Raps were much, much better on Wednesday, but it’s tough to say much without Bosh and Hedo in the lineup. Without say, Igoudala and Elton Brand, the 76ers would have plenty of problems. Defensively, though, Toronto challenged Philly to make difficult shots, improving drastically from Tuesday’s weak effort. At the shooting guard spot, both DeRozan and Belinelli have room to improve, while Antoine Wright has yet to play. Hopefully, the Raps are healthy in the near future, so we can see what this team will really look like on the court.
With so many new faces in town (and a few of the same), here is one wish for each Toronto Raptors’ player:
For Jose Calderon to turn the corner on the high screen. Instead of pulling up for the jumper, I’d like to see Jose go all the way to the basket, like he did consistently two years ago. The hamstring excuse was only good for one season.
For Andrea Bargnani to play hard, all the time. I could have said anything to do with rebounding, but that’s too easy. Yes, I want the Italian to crash the boards, but more importantly, he needs to stay focused, even after starting slow on any given night. Too many times, Bargnani seemed to shrink away after bad starts, and the Raps need him to continue progressing.
For Hedo Turkoglu to make big shots. So often, NBA games come down to the last second, and too often, Toronto had nobody to take the final shot. Yes, Chris Bosh was forced into that role, but how many power forwards (with the exception of Dirk Nowitzki) have the ball in their hands with the game on the line? Now, the Raps have somebody with playoff experience, who has made his share of game-winning buckets. Let’s hope it continues.
For Demar DeRozan to play within his game. The best part about the rookie’s summer league performance was his patience and recognition of each situation. The highlight reel dunks will be great, but DeRozan will need to remember what he does well during his early days as a Raptor. That means no forcing 3’s, Jamario-style.
For Antoine Wright to be Toronto’s Dahntay Jones. Sub in any defensive-oriented player here. In any case, the Raps have more than enough scoring and will desperately need ANYBODY to lock down opposing stars. One day, DeRozan might be the guy, but Wright will need to handle the task early on. And while DeRozan appears to have a great opportunity at the starting job, Wright will get his chance to play the part if the rookie struggles against elite talent.
For Reggie Evans to knock somebody down, early. The Raptors have long been called soft, and Evans can go a long way towards erasing that label. How many times have fans in Toronto watched an opposing player embarrass the Raps (see Bryant, Kobe), with absolutely no resistance. You can bet that Evans won’t hesitate to make a statement.
That Jarrett Jack will run the team efficiently when Calderon leaves the game. No more of Roko’s over-dribbling please. Instead, with Ukic out of town and Jack backing up the point, the Raptors should remind fans of the Forderon days. The former Pacer will be one of the league’s top backup point guards, and should provide toughness, defence and scoring when he enters the game. Most of all, he needs to involve the entire second unit, unlike anything Raps fans saw last season.
That Marco Belinelli will be instant offence off the bench. Jack is the team’s best backup, but Belinelli can flat out score. Let’s hope to see him shoot without hesitation (making him the anti-Jason Kapono) and give the Raps a boost when the stars are out of the game. Nobody really knows what the Raptors have with Belinelli, but he’ll earn his paycheck by scoring in bunches when he gets his chance. The same goes for Quincy Douby, to a lesser extent.
That Rasho Nesterovic will continue to be awesome. Sorry, but I have nothing bad to say about this guy. Let’s hope the big man resigns at the same dollar value next season.
That Amir Johnson improves as the season goes on. At only 22, Johnson should give the frontcourt a boost of energy off the bench, and has a chance to move up in the rotation. He needs to stay with his man on defence and maintain his focus throughout each game, something that has been a problem in the past. This guy has potential, but he needs to harness it.
For Sonny Weems, Marcus Banks and Patrick O’Bryant to play hard in practice. Fans are already sick of “money in the Banks” and POB, but hopefully they will keep a positive attitude and play hard against the starters in the practice gym. As for Weems, who knows. My wish is that he plays like “Good Joey” if he ever gets into a game.
For Chris Bosh to be a leader. As the so-called “franchise player,” it’s time for Bosh to prove his worth. Heading into a contract year, CB4 has every reason to be motivated, and he will have the chance to show that he belongs in the discussion with other elite players. If this team can’t succeed, a lot of critics will look at Bosh. If the Raps win, he’ll get tons of the credit.
And finally, for Jay Triano to put the pieces together. Triano has a tough job. Even with all of the great acquisitions, it’s never easy for a coach to work with this many new players. Triano will have to allocate minutes properly and find the right on-court combinations. There are a lot of guys who could deserve minutes with strong play, and the coach will have plenty of options throughout the season. Like Bosh, much of the praise or blame will fall on Triano.
- open phones with McCown from 4:05 to 4:40
- co-host from 5:00 to 7:00 is Stephen Brunt
5:20 Bob Elliott, Toronto Sun
5:40 Dan Bickley, Arizona Republic
6:05 Don Banks, SI.COM
6:30 Mark Fainaru-Wada, ESPN on the new head of the NFLPA
6:45 Leigh Steinberg, Super Agent
On 640 with Brady and Watters thanks to Mike S.:
- Claude Julien, head coach of the Boston Bruins
- Bob Boughner, head coach of the Windsor Spitfires
- Jay Triano, head coach of the Toronto Raptors
There is no doubt that Toronto Raptors fans are passionate about their team. Even in bad years (most years), attendance is high at the ACC, while their online presence rivals and surpasses almost every other NBA community.
These fans are also quick to defend the Raps against criticism, usually from American news outlets (ESPN picking a 9th place finish, for example). The talk all summer has been mostly optimistic, with great expectations for the coming season.
But, this is nothing new.
Last year, Jermaine O’Neal was supposed to turn the Raptors into a legitimate contender, until the project blew up during another disappointing season. There have been plenty of other reasons for optimism in the past, most ending in failure.
In no way, shape or form and I saying this team will end up like last year’s edition. What I am saying, is that fans have their breaking point. And at that point, enough becomes enough.
That brings us to the 2009-2010 Toronto Raptors.
Outside of the Bosh-Andrea Bargnani-Jose Calderon core, it’s an entirely new team. And with the squad welcoming Hedo Turkoglu, Jarrett Jack, Demar DeRozan, Rasho Nesterovic, Marco Belinelli, Antoine Wright, Reggie Evans and Amir Johnson, the renewed enthusiasm is certainly justified.
My question to fans of the Toronto Raptors is this: How patient will you be with this team?
With so many new bodies, Jay Triano has the tough task of making it all work. How patient will you be with him?
Demar DeRozan is skilled but raw – Will you be frustrated if he struggles for 50 games?
Hedo Turkoglu will face the pressure of his high-profile signing – Will you worry if he struggles out of the gate?
Jose Calderon has yet to prove he can shoulder the starting point guard duties for an entire season – Will you (especially the old T.J. supporters) pine for Jack to start if Jose doesn’t cut it for the first 20 games?
What if Bargnani regresses in the early going? Will fans give up on him, again?
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I’m not saying fans should or should not do these things. Personally, I’m fairly patient with these things.
All I’m saying is that the Raptors open up with a very difficult stretch of games, with what is basically an entirely new roster.
When I think about my feelings towards Toronto Raptors’ head coach Jay Triano, it’s a little strange to think my opinions have changed without actually seeing his team on the court.
The man went 25-40 as “interim” head coach last season, with little evidence to suggest improvement was on the way. I, and many others, thought he was toast. It was a little surprising when Bryan Colangelo seemingly took the easy way out and hired Triano, especially because Toronto’s GM has never had much patience for failure.
In any case, Colangelo saw something – Triano’s relationship with the players, a late-season improvement…something – That led to Jay’s rehiring, and not everyone liked it. Again, it seemed like the safe move, that would keep the Raps mired in mediocrity for the next few years and beyond. After Sam Mitchell led the team to an 8-9 start, why hire back the guy who went 25-40?
But somewhere along the way, my feelings changed. At least until I see evidence to the contrary, I’m more confident in Triano’s ability to coach, and his basketball IQ, than I was before. I don’t think I’m alone (though maybe I am), and I think the change in attitude is largely based on the excellent two-part interview with TSN’s Tim Chisolm.
The interview, given in two parts (part 1 here, part 2 here), touched on everything from Chris Bosh, Jermaine O’Neal, Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani’s development, last year’s struggles, offensive strategies, using Hedo Turkoglu, and Triano’s feelings heading into the current offseason. It’s surprisingly candid, and well worth the read.
More importantly, it showed, at least for now, that Triano really gets it. Implementing his ideas with a completely new team is an entirely different task, but I really liked what I read.
For example, on using Turk:
“If he rebounds the basketball then he brings it up like he did in Orlando, and Jose is excellent off of the ball so he’ll know where to space. The other thing that they did is they would run what they called ‘thumb-down, five-special’, which is just a zipper to bring him up to the top and then it’s a high screen-roll for him. Well, now we’ve got Jose on the side, they zipper him up and get him [Turkoglu] at the top, spread the floor, and he goes. The day that we made the deal I said to Micah [Nori, assistant coach, NBA scout] and our coaches “thumb-down, five special”, we’re adding that one, put that one in our playbook! And I like the way that we run it equally as well as the way Orlando did it. They’d just zipper him up, it’s a high screen with Dwight [Howard] and then Dwight rolls. Well, we’re gonna put CB in that and they lifted Rashard Lewis, so we’re gonna lift Andrea, we’ll put Jose in one corner and Belinelli in the other corner – who are they gonna help off of on the screen-roll? That’s why we’re just gonna roll CB down, with shooters all around him, and he’s going to have a chance to go right to the basket. It plays to his strength, it plays to Hedo’s strength as a playmaker, to Jose’s by catching the ball and making a play.
Jose’s probably going to have to get used to not having the ball in his hands as much, but I don’t think that that’s a problem.”
On paper, it sounds good, and it gives me confidence. What about you?
If you haven’t read the interview, I suggest checking it out.
And I’ll ask it again – Where do you stand on Jay Triano?
