Raptors Fight off Struggling Lakers

For only the 7th time in the history of the franchise, the Toronto Raptors were able to come away with a victory against the Lakers of Los Angeles.

The Raptors were able to win the game by doing things they have not done in their previous 4 (all losses).  The Raptors played better defense, specifically on Kobe Bryant, who was not able to be the game changer that he usually is against Toronto.

They shared the ball well. Whether it was Calderon or Lowry at the point, the ball was moving to the right places.  Even Alan Anderson chipped in with 8 assists off the bench.  The team was unselfish and every single player was able to get on the score sheet as a result.

Finally, they closed out the game.  The Raptors gave big leads away against Milwaukee, Chicago and then another on Friday in devastating fashion to the Sixers.  Today they let their 19 point first half lead slip away, but fought back, regained control and then held off a very talented team in the 4th.

There is still much work to be done, but the Raptors can really hang their hat on a game like this.  If this team has serious playoff ambitions, this is the type of effort they are gonna need game in and game out.

Especially going into Miami.

Zan for Three

Landry to the Rescue

The Toronto Raptors’ difficulty playing against Kobe Bryant is well documented.  He has owned us throughout his career and that doesn’t even take into account his 81 point, history making performance in 2006.  The Raptors have tried every which way to defend Bryant, but nothing has really worked.  He always seems to pick us apart.

Today Landry Fields was able to do something we haven’t seen a Raptor defender do since the inception of the team; he contained Kobe Bryant.

For the most part.

Fields played him extra close and bothered every single one of his shots.  Yes, Kobe still had 26, but on 10 of 32 shooting. Fields really rattled Kobe today.

In addition to his stellar defensive effort, Fields was also very active on the offensive end.  He did a great job cutting to the basket, breaking down the Lakers D, and finished when the Raptors needed him to.  He’s not shooting particularly well away from the basket, but today he didn’t need to.

When Bryan Colangelo brought Fields over in the off-season for big money, this is the effort he imagined on a regular basis.  Now that Fields is healthy, he is starting to play his style of game.  Today he looked like the Landry Fields of old, the player that opened eyes in his rookie year.

That’s the player we are going to need down the stretch, if the playoffs are to remain within reach.

Being Ready

Despite the fact he was a trending topic on Twitter this week, not enough credit is being given to Aaron Gray, Quincy Acy and the rest of the Raptors bench.

These guys are always ready to play, no matter how long they sit on the bench or how brief their appearances are.  Aaron Gray was a DNP-CD in 4 of the 10 games the Raptors have played in 2013, but when asked to move into the starting spot, did not miss a beat.  He’s played very important minutes for the Raptors as a starter and is helping to give the overworked Raptor bigs; Davis and Johnson, much-needed rest.

Quincy Acy has also been ready when thrust into duty and John Lucas has also handled his lack of playing time well, being ready to come in off the bench at the drop of a hat.  Clearly the conditioning of this team is not an issue. The depth of this bench gives Dwane Casey a number of options and very valuable opportunities to rest some of his overworked starters.

The struggling Lakers are not used to losing in Toronto, but on Sunday their lacklustre effort wasn’t enough against an inspired Raptors squad.

Who are These Guys? 

This has arguably been one of the worst starts to the season in recent memory for a team expected to do so much coming into the season.  The Lakers have looked lost on both ends of the floor.  They can’t seem to figure out what to do with the ball and they haven’t yet found a way to share the ball well.

Today, with the early ejection of Dwight Howard, the ball got stuck in Kobe Bryant’s hands.  He had 32 shots.  32 SHOTS!!!  An unreal number for a player with the talented teammates he has around him.

Dwight Howard looked lost early in the game and then his frustration got him kicked out.  Nash looked a little discombobulated on offense and was a complete sieve on defense.  D’Antoni is not running an offense that he is used to running and this team is becoming  a mess.

It took Miami and Boston the better part of a year (in Miami’s case two)  to figure out how to share the ball with a “Big Three”, but LA might be running out of time if they want to make a serious run at the top of their conference.  Right now, they are in danger of falling out of the playoff conversation entirely.

When chatting with reporters after the game, D’Antoni didn’t hold back either: “We’ve got a lot of issues…Offensively the ball sticks and we don’t take very good shots. Defensively, ups and downs, we forget guys.”

It is clear that something is rotten in the state of California.

Zan of the Night

Landry Fields/Jose Calderon

Hard to decide between these two.  Both played solid minutes and did the things they needed to in order to win.  Fields played great D on Kobe and Jose contained Nash.  Fields made some excellent cuts to break down the Lakers D and Jose was fearless on the offensive end scoring points and dropping dimes at will.   Complete efforts from both of these players was the difference in the game today.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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No Need for Controversy at the Point

The city of Toronto is no stranger to a good old-fashioned point guard controversy.  Whether it was TJ Ford and Jose Calderon, Jose Calderon and Jarryd Bayless or the rarely talked about Vincenzo Esposito/Damon Stoudamire battle, the Raptors franchise seems to have an unhealthy attraction with turmoil at the point.

This year was supposed to be different.  Bryan Colangelo and Dwane Casey did everything they could to spell it out to the fans and the players themselves in the pre-season that this was Kyle Lowry’s team and Jose Calderon would be backing him up.  A slow start and injury trouble, however, changed all that.

Jose Calderon’s inspired play over the last 10 games has created a bit of a problem for coach Dwane Casey.

Lowry was injured for much of the first part of the year and when he was on the court the team chemistry didn’t spell victory.  He called his own number quite  bit, took shots early in the clock and did not involve his teammates as much as he could have.  Calderon took over after Lowry’s injury and the team has responded winning 7 of their last 8 games and looking very convincing in doing so.

Dwane Casey had to make a decision going forward with regard to the point guard position.  Keep Calderon as the starter and ride this wave of strong play or put Lowry back into the spot he earned during training camp.

There are arguments to be made for both players as starters.

Calderon is a steady hand, moves the ball well, shoots a high percentage and limits turnovers.  It was his addition to the starting lineup that prompted the change in fortune for the Raptors.  He has inspired his teammates, playing team basketball.  Since Calderon took over the Raps are communicating on the court more than they have all season and are happily sharing the ball. Most importantly they are winning games.

Lowry,on the other hand, does many things well.  He drives the net and looks for contact.  He is one of the few Raptors who have consistently driven the ball to the basket and drawn fouls this season.  He is fast and plays strong on the defensive end, though he did not show off this skill much during the early part of the season.  He’s a great rebounder for his position and does allow the Raptors the option of kick-out passes to three-point shooters.

But Lowry has also drawn the ire of his teammates.  A t a team meeting earlier this season in Utah, Lowry was called out by his teammates for not moving the ball and calling his own number far too often.  The Raptors recent success has come from doing the exact opposite.  If Lowry can’t fit into that game plan, he can’t be the starter.

On the surface this looks like another point guard controversy in the making.  Fans point to Calderon’s great play over the last month while others focus on his weak defensive play.  Others want the faster, more uptempo Lowry running the show, even if he does call his number more than they would like. He’s younger and could be a big part of the teams’ future.

Fans are torn between the two.

But that doesn’t mean that Dwane Casey has to be.

In the last two games (both victories) the Raptors have used both point guards at different points in the game for long stretches.  Calderon starts the team off steady and focused.  He shares the ball and the other Raptors all get involved.  Lowry comes in with the second unit and is allowed to call his number a bit more.

Kyle Lowry seems to have lost his spot as the starting point guard, but may find more success coming off the bench.

Lowry has shown, thus far, a willingness to play within the system that is working for the Raptors.  Casey has Lowry buying in to what is happening on the court.  As a result the ball movement has been better and Lowry has been able to play more minutes.

The breakdown of minutes played by the two has been almost dead even in wins against New Orleans and Orlando.  Calderon has started the games, but Lowry has been finishing them. Both of those games also saw long stretches where both guards were on the floor.

If Casey can continue to keep the peace between the two point guards and both are willing to do whatever needs to be done for the team then I don’t see why this needs to be a controversy.  Both are playing significant minutes and  are being asked to play in critical fourth quarter minutes as well.

Calderon can start.  He’s had great success in that role over the last 10 games and his teammates trust him in that role.  Lowry can come in and change the pace when necessary and they have had success when playing together for stretches of time.

The two point guards play very different styles and by mixing and matching between the two, Casey has been forcing his opponents to make significant defensive adjustments quickly.  Facing the speedy Lowry right after guarding the more methodical Calderon is like facing a Brandon Morrow fastball right after trying to make contact with an R.A. Dickey knuckleball.

This situation could work out quite well for the Raptors.

Calderon is known as a unslefish player and will likely be very willing to let Lowry take more minutes. Calderon may be the better leader for the starting unit, specifically with DeRozan and Ed Davis who he is developing a formidable chemistry with.  Lowry can then play off the bench.  He has been noticeably sharing the court a lot with the team oriented Alan Anderson, who can also play with the ball, thus allowing Lowry to become more of a shooter.

There is no reason why this situation can’t work.

Of course, trade rumours seem to indicate that this duo will eventually be split up, but with the chemistry working right now, there is no need to rush a move involving either guard.  The Raptors can wait for the right deal, while both Lowry and Calderon continue to up their trade value.

For the first time in 4 years the Raptors may be able to avoid a controversy at the point.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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The Anderson Effect

The Toronto Raptors of the last two games are not the same team that lost 6 straight on the road and 13 of 14 dating back to Nov. 20th. This team is fighting, communicating with one another and getting results from unlikely sources.  On Sunday afternoon it was Jose Calderon, Ed Davis and Alan Anderson that stepped up, but the recent stretch has seen a change in the overall focus of the team. The Raps have been concentrating  on the defensive end of the ball, they’re sharing the ball well and are making smart basketball decisions. They also seem to be helping one another more and communicating on both ends.

So where did this change come from? The players did have a lengthy team meeting where they got a number of things off of their chest.  Perhaps that was the moment that caused this team to morph into what you now see on the court.

Perhaps it was addition by subtraction.  Both Andrea Bargnani and Kyle Lowry have been absent on this home stand due to injuries.  Both players were rumoured to be the focus of the vitriol during the team meeting and both players were admittedly not making good basketball decisions on their recent road trip.  Lowry was called out for calling his own number too much and Bargnani was called out for not delivering on the defensive end.  Bargnani has been the focus of so much negative press lately that his absence alone may have been a welcome blessing for both himself and the team.  Without the two stars, the Raptors look like a much improved team.

Or maybe it was the big meeting Casey, Colangelo and MLSE had this past week that was the impetus for change.  Maybe the players are playing with a bit of urgency because they know their job isn’t safe nor that of their coach or GM.

Alan Anderson doesn’t always play extended minutes, but when he does, he makes the most out them. Another strong effort on Sunday was one of the keys to victory for the Raptors.

One of the most subtle changes to the lineup during this time was the return of Alan Anderson.  He has played increasing minutes since his return and is doing the little things to get his teammates involved.  He makes the extra pass, fights for the ball, plays sound defense and encourages his teammates.

Anderson has been around a long time, bouncing in and out of the D-league, Europe and obscurity.  He came to the Raptors last season on a 10 day contract just hoping to do enough to earn another 10 days.  He did better than that, impressing Dwane Casey and Bryan Colangelo enough to offer him a brand new contract.

His work ethic, especially on the defensive end, is why he is a valuable asset to have hanging around a young team.  Anderson knows what is important for a team to focus on, knows how to play within a role and works hard every second he is on the floor. Having him on the court is like having a coach out there with the team.

Anderson, originally a point guard, is capable of playing many positions and has become known for his defensive intensity, a trait that surely earned the respect of Casey.  Casey often points to Anderson’s defensive effort as an example for the team to follow. 

When he is on the court the Raptors seem to have a clearer defensive identity. He energizes the rest of his team and gets them involved.  On Sunday he was one of the primary shooters, but he’s a smart player that plays within the flow of the game and knows when it is his place to take shots.  His timely play on Sunday was one of the keys to victory over the Rockets. It was his lay-up and free throws in the final minutes that sealed the victory for Toronto.

Anderson isn’t a player who is regularly asked to play heavy minutes.  This year he is averaging just over 20 minutes per game, but what he has been able to bring to the team in that time has been noticeable, just not always on the score sheet.  He puts defense first and this attitude is something that is beginning to rub off on his teammates. He is making use of his limited minutes and plays hard whenever his number is called.

This mentality could really come in handy for young players like Jonas Valanciunas or Terrence Ross, who have not seen consistent minutes this season.  They’re going to have to learn to make the most of their limited time on the court and earn those extra minutes.  Alan Anderson is a player they should watch and relish matching up against in practice.  He is not guaranteed minutes on this team, but earns them through his effort and commitment to the team philosophy.

If Jonas and Ross can put forth a more consistent effort on both ends of the floor and play within the flow of the game they are going to see a lot more minutes.  Ross, over the last two games, has looked more confident and has really let the game come to him.  In turn he has seen his minutes and production increase.  Anderson would be a great mentor for Ross.

Anderson also isn’t afraid to call out himself or his teammates when they need to be held accountable. This is a trait usually reserved for a teams’ star player or coach.   As of yet, not player on this team has become the vocal leader.  This may now be a role that Anderson has decided to take on.

Upon his return to the lineup this week he wasn’t afraid to call a spade a spade when discussing the teams misfortunes: “Our defense isn’t consistent as it can be and it should be…we’re playing three-quarters, three-and-a-half quarters and we disappear. So I think my experience…can sustain that and help us out some more.”

Whether it has been his words or his actions on the court, Anderson has clearly been inspiring his teammates. The effort of the team in the last two games has been a complete turnaround from the “road trip from hell”.  The last two games they’ve given up under 100 points and have held their opponents to 40% shooting.  They’re holding things together as a team and Anderson has been a big part of this resurgence.

On Sunday Jose Calderon was the best player on the court, recording a triple-double and playing some of his best basketball this season, but Anderson and his style of play, are beginning to make a larger impact on this young Raptors squad.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Pietrus a Welcome Addition

It wasn’t a major trade or a stunning “under the radar” move. In fact, the move has been rumoured since Landry Fields went down with injury. The signing of Mickael Pietrus may just turn out to be the energizer that the Raptors need to get themselves back into the conversation in the East.

Luck hasn’t been on the Raptors side when looking at the wing.  Landry Fields suffered an early season injury and has yet to make an impact for the team.  His replacement Alan Anderson, a capable veteran presence, also succumbed to injury.  The Raptors were left starting Dominic McGuire, a decent young player, but one who was barely able to make the roster out of training camp and one that certainly shouldn’t be starting in NBA games.

Linas Kleiza was also thrust into a larger role and has been unable to adapt to his increased playing time.  Pietrus may well end up as the starting small forward until the return of Landry Fields.

Mickael Pietrus is known as a smart veteran player and his addition to the Raptors roster will hopefully turn around the fortunes of the beleaguered squad.

Colangelo reached out to an old friend in Pietrus to fill the glaring hole in the Raptors starting five.

Pietrus infamously signed a contract with the Raptors a year ago only to have the Raptors back out when his knee appeared to be an issue.  He ended up in Boston and played a fairly insignificant role on their playoff team last year.  “I always wanted to be a raptor”, he told reporters after his first appearance in Raptor red on Friday night.

But what exactly does Pietrus give the Raptors?

Pietrus is known as a strong defensive player and one that, when healthy, is capable of guarding the premier small forwards in the league.  He can also score by driving the lane or shooting the three.  He is an unselfish player and has a high basketball IQ.  On a young Raptors squad he will fit in quite nicely.  He plays within the game and knows his role.  He won’t become a black hole on the offensice end and will be more than happy to defer to the younger stars in Toronto.

Pietrus’s most important role will be as a mentor for Terrence Ross and DeMar DeRozan.  He will be a tough matchup in practice and his presence means that neither of those two players will have to slide into the three.  He’s also very happy to be here.  Something that cannot be undervalued. Positivity is in short supply in Raptorland, they can use any positive presence they can get right now.

There was a very real chance that Pietrus could have been done in the NBA.  He was out of work and his knees have seen better days.  This gives him a chance to show once again that he can still make an impact in the league and it gives the Raptors a dependable fill in while they wait for the $6.5 million dollar man to return from injury.

A positive story all around for the Raptors.

This move was a no-brainer for Colangelo and judging by his immediate impact on Friday night (32min, 6pts, 2threes 2 reb, and  a +12 on the night) it could also help turn the fortunes of this team around.

Bienvenue à Toronto Monsieur Pietrus.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

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The Landry Fields Era Begins

The small Forward position, as it tends to be,  is filled with intrigue this year.  The Raptors went out this summer and added Landry Fields to the fold.  He provides defense, high basketball IQ and the ability to mesh with anyone you put on the floor with him.

His path to Toronto is well documented.  The short version of the story goes something like this.

The Raptors and Bryan Colangelo really wanted Steve Nash, but it looked as though Nash was going to head to the Knicks in a sign and trade deal that centered around Landry Fields.  The Raptors quickly moved to sign Fields to an offer sheet they knew the Knicks couldn’t match which effectively eliminated them from contention for Nash.  Toronto was then seen as the clear front-runner for Nash’s services until the Lakers entered the fray, stole Nash away from Toronto with promises of championship glory and the Raptors were left with a pretty large contract offer to Landry Fields which he was then signed to.

Some contend the Raptors contract to Fields was a huge mistake and will set the franchise back.  Others, myself included, feel that while they overspent to get Fields, he brings a work ethic and defensive presence that will markedly improve this team and will specifically bring tough wing defense, something the Raptors have not seen for a long time.  Though more expensive than he should have been, the Raptors are still likely to get decent return for their money.

Landry Fields has a lot of doubters in Toronto after signing a big contract. It will be interesting to see if his hard work and defensive intensity can win over fans the way he was able to in New York.

The Toronto Raptors haven’t really had a strong presence at the Small Forward since the days of Tracy McGrady.  Recent starters have included (in no particular order) Jason Kapono, Jamario Moon, Hedo Turkoglu, Shawn Marion and Sonny Weems.

While the small forwards for the Raptors have had varying degrees of success, a few (see Turkoglu) were cataclysmic failures, but  none made a significant impact for the club during their time as a starter.

Landry Fields may change that.

Fields is known around the NBA as a hard worker, a defensive presence and good teammate.  His his focus on the defensive side of the ball will certainly come in handy for a team that has had significant issues guarding the perimeter over the years.

Fields is a positive personality and will certainly endear himself to the Toronto media.  Truth be told, he already has.

But that contract….

Many pundits, bloggers and journalists choose to focus on the length and cost of the contract Fields has.  To be fair it is an expensive and longer term deal for a guy with only two years of experience under his belt, but certainly not a contract that is going to cause cap issues for a long period of time and it is likely flexible enough to become a tradeable asset if the situation presents itself.

Fields is an upgrade at the position and if he can improve on his woeful 3-pt shooting he could become a solid offensive piece to the Raptors game plan going forward as well.

If not, the Raptors have a host of solid pieces to back Fields up and offer the Raptors a number of different matchup possibilities.

Linas Kleiza is a pure scorer who brings instant offense off the bench.  There are some in the Raptors fan base that believe he should have been the starter to maximize Fields defense on the second unit with Jose Calderon, a noted deficiency on the defensive end.  Though Kleiza has had great success internationally, he has yet to put it together consistently for the Raptors.  He’s been injured and inconsistent in his time in Toronto, but still offers the Raptors great flexibility. He is a natural small forward and can also slide over to the 4 if need be and create a strong smaller lineup when Casey wants to go small.

If Kleiza can shoot the ball well and play the way he did in the World Championships then he may see increased minutes throughout the season, maybe even some time in the starting lineup.  Especially if Fields struggles on the offensive side of the ball where he has not been as effective.

Alan Anderson is another interesting option for Dwane Casey off the bench.  The journeyman really impressed the coach in limited time last season and continued his strong effort throughout the pre-season.  Anderson is a smart and savvy veteran who knows what his role is.  He provides strong defensive ability (like Fields) and can score, mostly because he has a knack for getting into great position to score.

Dwane Casey is going to have struggles at times finding enough minutes for everyone, but he has something a lot of coaches do not have: options. He can pull out an almost pure scorer in Kleiza or go for defense with Anderson and Fields.  If he wants to go small he can easily move Kleiza over to the 4 and both Fields and Anderson can slide over to the two if need be.

Casey has a great deal of depth at his disposal and can utilize it to exploit the matchups he wants.  The fact that these three players are versatile enough to play other positions and do not usually get into foul trouble could mean that we could see any of the three on the court in various positions.

The forward position is sure to be a strength for the Raptors and it is clear that with Landry Fields in the starting role the focus will continue to be on the defensive side of the ball.

Landry Fields will get his opportunity to prove fans and doubters wrong even if he isn’t a high scoring small forward in the mould of Tracy McGrady.

Hey, at least he isn’t Hedo Turkoglu.

***

ZTH

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Raptors are Worth Getting Excited About

It’s not easy being a Toronto sports fan.  Most of the time it actually feels like a condition, a sickness, an inescapable purgatory.  For years the fans in this city listen to the hype about their local teams and never see the results on the court, ice or field.  The Maple Leafs haven’t been relevant since the 1990’s and may not even play this year (I’ll let you decide whether that’s a good or bad thing), the Jays were decimated by injuries this season and despite the hope of an extra playoff spot in the AL have fallen miserably short of their goal.  The Raptors haven’t been exciting since Colangelo’s first year on the job and have struggled ever since winning the Atlantic division in 2006-07. Don’t even get me started on TFC and the Argos are a Doug Flutie and Rocket Ismail short of peaking anyone’s interest.  The city hasn’t had anything to truly celebrate since Joe Carter took a Mitch Williams offering into the left field bullpen.

But this year might be different.

Don’t go expecting a parade down Yonge street just yet, but there is certainly reason for optimism as the Toronto Raptors get set to start training camp.

The team has been relatively quiet the last couple of years but seemed to turn a corner last year under new head coach Dwane Casey.

The team is preaching something it has never preached before: defence; and for the first time in years, the Raptors are seeing improvement.

Dwane Casey has the Raptors realistically hoping for something that hasn’t been seen in Toronto for a long time: playoff basketball.

Under Casey last year the Raptors ranked 12th in defensive efficiency, improved to 9th in defensive rebounding and more importantly stressed these aspects of the game when talking to the media and each other in practice.

The “culture change” resulted in overall better play.  The Raptors were no longer a push over on the schedule, they quickly became a team you didn’t really wanna play.  They lost many close games last year, a staggering 14 games by 5 points or less.  Fans began to wonder if Dwane Casey was able to get as much production out of the roster he had, what could he do with an improved roster?

This summer Bryan Colangelo went out and changed the team’s look.  This is not exactly an uncommon occurrence when you’re talking about Colangelo and the Raptors.  It seems he does this sort of facelift every off-season, trying to find a perfect balance of players that are able to compete in the weaker Eastern Conference.

This summer was different though.  He didn’t make a splash for the sake of making a splash.  He didn’t try to build a team around a Power forward.  There were no Jermaine O’neals or Hedo Turkoglu’s, he didn’t waste money on unproven players like Jason Kapono and he didn’t go overseas looking for the next Jorge Garbajosa.

Colangelo looked to his coach and signed, drafted and traded for players that fit the system and philosophy that Casey is preaching in Toronto.  Casey wants to push the ball on offense and defend the ball well to take away opponents chances to score.

Enter Kyle Lowry, Landry Fields, John Lucas III, Terrence Ross and Quincy Acy.  Even smaller transactions to fill out the roster focused on the defensive side of the ball with the recent acquisition on Dominic McGuire and the re-signing of veteran Alan Anderson.

Colangelo is giving his coach pieces he needs to continue building a new culture in Toronto.  In Kyle Lowry the Raptors now possess one of the better defensive point guards in the league and one that is going to push the ball up the floor on the offensive side of the court.  In Landry Fields the Raptors have added a “glue guy”, a player that is happy to do whatever little things need to get done in order to help the team win.  He is a lockdown defender and happy to play without the ball in his hands.  Given the roster around him, he is likely to have every opportunity to improve his woeful shooting stats with open looks at the basket.

The drafting of Terrence Ross (a defensive specialist and solid 3pt shooter) and Quincy Acy (Reggie-lite) show further commitment to the defensive side of the ball.

With these strong new pieces in place, Dwane Casey can now build a much stronger system for this team to compete with.  Add to the fact that the additions will take a lot of pressure off of DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani.  They will now have others on the team to share the ball and offensive workload with and teammates who can cover for some of the weaker defenders.  DeMar can focus on slashing to the rim and Bargnani can rest assured that he will have open looks with opposing defenses collapsing onto a driving Lowry. Andrea will also not have players cruising to the rim on the defensive side of the ball.  Two of the best defenders on this team will be situated on the perimeter and have a knack for staying with their man.  This will mean Andrea won’t always need to be helping on the defensive end (something he just isn’t good at).

The addition of Kyle Lowry improves both the Raptors perimeter defence and their offensive capabilities. Both will be needed if the team intends to make a playoff run.

With the additions of Lowry and Fields it has made the Toronto bench that much more talented by moving Calderon and Kleiza to the second unit.  Both players are good enough to be starters on many teams in the league.  There are some who may even argue that Kleiza should open the season as the starting SF, but either way the Toronto bench now sports a lot more talent than it did before.  Amir Johnson, Ed Davis, Jose Calderon, Jonas Valanciunas, Linas Kleiza, John Lucas are a solid list of reserves for any roster.

Colangelo finally has a deep roster where everyone can focus on the things they do well and a coach on the sidelines who can keep it all organized in a system every player has bought into.

This roster still does not contain a superstar player though.  There isn’t that one guy out there who can take control of a game all by himself.  There is no Lebron, Durant or Kobe.  This is an undeniable fact.  Good thing the Raptors play in the Eastern Conference. With their level of talent they should be in the conversation come playoff time.

The Raptors will need to focus on the bottom half of the Eastern conference as the top half seems all but locked up.  There are a number of teams who are pretty much guaranteed a playoff berth.  Miami, Boston and Indiana are almost sure shots to make the playoffs.  You have to think that Atlanta and Brooklyn will be there as well.  Chicago is a big question mark without Rose and with a decimated bench. If Tom Thibodeau’s team is able to keep it together without Rose, that leaves 2 spots for  NY, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Washington or Toronto.

Now if you’re the optimistic side of the Mini-wheat you will say that the Knicks are weaker without Lin and Fields, Philadelphia is likely to have injury issues with Bynum and Cleveland and Washington simply isn’t ready for the next step. This leaves Toronto in a pretty good position.

If you’re the pessimistic side of the mini-wheat then you’re looking at NY thinking they are a lock with stars like Amare, Carmelo and Tyson Chandler and the other three teams, with improved young rosters, are also very dangerous threats. This leaves the Raps hoping for a collapse by one or more teams or some serious injury issues somewhere.

No matter what happens the bottom tier teams in the East are not setting the world on fire and could potentially leave the door just open enough for the Raptors to sneak into the playoffs.  This might not seem all that exciting when you consider they become likely first round fodder for the Miami’s and Boston’s of the Conference, but it would signify another step forward for this young team.  Another move in the right direction for the franchise and a feather in the cap for a coach who seems to be getting better as time goes by.

This team has a plan in place.  They have a system that works well, a deep roster with a lot of talent, a coach with vision and GM that is quick to fix problems.

No matter which way you look at it, the Raptors have a good chance of being a part of the postseason discussion this year.  There is a good chance they will be playing meaningful games in the Spring.  That’s reason to get excited.  It’s more than Raptors fans have had the last few years.

If that doesn’t increase attendance and TV numbers, the fact that the NHL is likely to face a long work stoppage could all add up to a year where the Raptors are the centre of attention in Toronto.  Something that hasn’t happened since the days of Vince Carter.

With an improved up-tempo roster, a group of players that fit very well into the system and style of play that the coach is preaching, some tradable assets (Calderon, Ed Davis) to potentially use down the road and a coaching staff with a clear vision and philosophy.  This might finally be the year the Toronto Sports fan gets to experience something that has been absent for a long time.

Playoff basketball.

Lord knows, this city has endured enough to deserve it.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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***

Raptors Season a Step in the Right Direction

I’ve taken my time in writing a year-end review for the Raptors.  There are things that have already been said much better than I and at the end of the day I’m not really sure how I even feel about the way this season transpired.

The Raptors were not a great team.  They lost a lot of games.  Hell, they lost twice to the lowly Charlotte Bobcats (quite possibly the worst team in history).  They missed the playoffs again and did not secure a great chance at a top three pick.

Still, I’m a “glass is half full” kind of guy and I still feel the team had enough positive this season to be hopeful for the future.

While we saw problems with the club like the lack of a bona fide star, poor wing play for most of the season and a rash of injuries, we also saw marked improvement in a number of areas.  Our defense was much improved, some unexpected players stepped up to show they belong here and our coaching staff showed that they can strategize with the best in the league.

Overall it was a tough year, but one that has given the fan base reason to beleive next year is going to be better.

Zan for Three

My Captain, My Captain

It was clear early in the year that Dwane Casey was going to be the voice of this team.  He addressed the media at every turn and preached the same philosophies over and over.  He talked about “building a culture”, improving the team defence and to keep working hard.  His mantra “pound the rock” was adopted by each of his players and became a rallying cry throughout the year in the locker room, interviews and on twitter.  In wins and difficult losses his players continued to stick to the plan.

The turnaround in this team is most notable on the defensive side of the ball.  Last year the Raptors ranked near the bottom in all defensive statistics.  This year they finished 9th in points allowed, 8th in Opponents field goal percentage, and 5th in opponents three-point field goal percentage.  They were also significantly improved in their rebounding numbers, soemthing that has plagued them since Charles Oakley left town. 

A nice improvement in a number of defensive areas.  What is also a credit to the coaching staff is that these improvements materialized all with a back court that many thought was too weak on the defensive end.

Who then should be credited with the turnaround?  Look no further than the coach and his staff.

Dwane Casey had a successful first year in charge of the Raptors. His message was simple and consistent and it stuck with his players. He has successfully changed the culture in Toronto.

Casey was able to mask the defensive shortcomings of Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani (two players that everyone thought were hopeless on the defensive end) in his zone defense and turned the Raptors into a tough team to score against.

The effort Casey put forth helped make Bargnani a top-tier player during the first half of the season and helped rejuvenate the career of Jose Calderon.

Casey, for his efforts, has already had his contract extended and bigger and better things should be expected from the team with improvements to the roster.

Had Casey been on a higher profile team he might even be a candidate for coach of the year. His extended contract was a no-brainer and a bigger pay day may be coming if the team keeps heading in the direction it is currently pointed.

In this shortened Raptor season Casey has given Raptor fans a reason to be hopeful for the future.

Jekyll and Hyde

So no one knows on any given night which Andrea Bargnani or which Demar Derozan will show up.  Both had polarizing years, to say the least, and neither player could put it all together for an extended stretch of games.

Early on it looked as though Andrea Bargnani was going to bust loose on the NBA.  He was shooting the ball with confidence, driving the lane, hitting shots and playing with confidence on both ends of the floor.

For the first month and a half of the season all of the Dirk Nowitzki comparisons were beginning to finally make sense.

Then he got injured.

Andrea wasn’t the same player when he returned.  He was hesitant, lost his confidence and could not find his rhythm.  Either the injury was not fully healed or opposing defenses made adjustments.  Either way he wasn’t a dominant player in the second half.

Raptor fans are now left wondering which player was the real Andrea Bargnani and which player is going to show up next year.

While Andrea was having a great start and rough finish, Demar Derozan’s season was almost the complete and utter opposite.

Demar started the season terribly.  By the all-star break he was averaging 40% shooting and averaged 15 points a game.  He was getting to the foul line 5 times a game.  He was sputtering and everyone in the city seemed to be noticing.  Journalists, bloggers, pundits, everyone was questioning whether Demar was going to be a significant part of this teams future.

He looked like a player destined for a career off the bench.

In the second half, he spent a lot less time trying to shoot three-pointers and started focusing on getting to the foul line.  He was able to draw contact and get to the stripe a lot more. In December Derozan averaged little over 2 free throw attempts per game.  Later in the year he averaged as high as 6 attempts per game. A small but significant improvement.

Demar has begun to learn what he does well.  Casey had him attacking the rim consistently in the second half. Although he didn’t always get the call, he kept attacking, kept “pounding the rock”.

By the end of the second half Demar began to look a lot more like the player Raptor fans were expecting when he was drafted out of USC. He was more in control, wasn’t afraid of contact and eased into his role as a number one option.

Now Raptor fans have to hope that ‘First half Andrea’ and ‘Second half Derozan’ are actually who these players really are.

Many question marks may remain, but one thing is certain; the success of this team next year depends on how Andrea and Derozan play. 

Supporting Players

The Raptors may not have a bona fide superstar at the moment.  They may have to steal that star from the draft or in free agency, but what the team does have a plethora of are character players.  Guys that come to the court and leave it all on the floor.  A squad of fighters that any coach would love to have coming off the bench.

Jerryd Bayless showed himself to be a very capable point guard and 2 guard this season and is perfectly suited to a bench role next season, if he stays in town. He can shoot, drive and dish and can potentially cause matchup nightmares for opposing teams.

James Johnson can play many positions as well and does a little bit of everything.  He can block, rebound, defend and occasionally score.  He plays the 3, 4 and occasionally the 5 and has a high basketball IQ when he’s on the floor.  If he has not burned bridges with coach Casey he will be a valuable part of the team next year.

Jose Calderon had one of his best seasons as a professional basketball player in 2011/12.  He distributed the ball with ease averaging 8.6 assists good enough for 4th in the league behind only Rondo, Nash and Chris Paul.  He established himself as a team leader going forward and one that Dwane Casey is not afraid to put full trust in.  He also became a much better defensive player under Casey.  Calderon may just retire here in Toronto and the fans, who have cheered and jeered him over the years, likely have no issue with him staying after the year he has had.

Plus the foul…

The Colangelo Factor

Raptors fans were subtlety reminded of the fact that they have one heck of a GM in Bryan Colangelo. Though his star is not nearly as bright as it once was in Toronto, Colangelo has positioned his team to be a player once again in 2012/13.  The steady GM has cleared capspace for his team and has drafted a number of strong young players to build around.  He’s also got all of his players signed to team friendly contracts meaning that they are very tradeable.

This kind of flexibility has given the Raptor faithful some hope for next year especially with the arrival of highly touted 2011 first round pick Jonas Valanciunas.  Jonas made Colangelo look even better this year by having a stellar year overseas and raising eyebrows with his strong play on both ends of the court in Lithuania.

Colangelo should also be credited with his very clever scouting of the D-league.  He brought over three players (Anderson, Uzoh, Dentmon) and  in the final two months of the season all three played valuable minutes and showed they belong in the league.  That kind of success in finding D-League players is a rarity in this league. Uzoh and Anderson may actually have a shot of sticking with the club next year while Dentmon will garner an invite to someone’s training camp. 

No Raptor player, outside of maybe Bargnani, has been as often criticiszed as Jose Calderon. This season may have helped to prove all the negative voices wrong once and for all.

If that doesn’t prove to people that Colangelo has got some skill as an executive, then hopefully his off-season moves will.

Zan of the Year

Jose Calderon

A tough call, but Calderon was the Raptors most consistent player.  He learned to minimize his weaknesses on the court and played to his strengths.  There isn’t a better veteran point guard than Calderon to be handing the ball out to young players like Ed Davis, Demar Derozan and Amir Johnson.  He protects the ball,  puts it where it needs to go and genuinely seems to care about his teammates.

He is, far and away, my favourite All-time Raptor, but this year he proved his worth on the court too.  Going forward Dwane Casey knows he has a great leader in Calderon.  Someone who will lead when asked and who also isn’t afraid to step aside for a teammate.

A great comeback year for Jose.

Not Zan of the Year

Tank Nation

Yeah, so that philosophy didn’t quite work out did it? The Raptors were playing Solomon Alabi and 3 D-League-ers at the end of the year, but even they couldn’t lose.  The Raptors were a team that over achieved in many ways.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but on draft night when Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Andre Drummund will likely be heading to the Bobcats, Wizards and Cavs the Raptors will be looking on wishing they had lost a couple more games (or played the Bobcats an extra game or two).

Still, a solid season that ended on a high note.  The team has Jonas,  a first round pick , tradeable assets and host of capspace.  This is definitely a team headed in the right direction.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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***

Raptors Finish Season with Reluctant Win

The final game of the season was not played without intrigue.  Both the Raptors and Nets came into the game looking more closely at the bottom of the standings than the top of it.  As the playoffs are still but a dream for the Nets and Raptors, the two teams could be forgiven if they were more focused on draft position than winning their final game.

Both the Raptors and Nets started a team that wasn’t quite the usual talent level.  Most players were former D-League players and emergency additions for injured players.  The Raptors only dressed 7 players six of whom actually saw considerable court time.  The Nets weren’t much better dressing only 8 players.

In the end, the Nets out-tanked the Raptors and took away valuable ping-pong balls in the draft lottery. It’s really hard for “Tank Nation” to fault the Raptors though.  There is probably no team in history that could have lost to the Nets on Thursday night.  They shot 30% from the field and looked like, what my writing partner called, a “turnstile” on defense.

Now it wasn’t all bad for Raptors fans.  Ben Uzoh played the game of his life and came away with his first career triple-double and Solomon Alabi, given a season high 40 minutes, had 11 points and 19 rebounds.  He may or may not ever play again in the NBA but it was a nice “Moonlight Graham Moment” for Alabi.

If nothing else Raptor fans may have gotten a really good look at some players who will be looking for a job in the summer.  Ed Davis, Gary Forbes and Alan Anderson all played significant minutes and showed the Raptors coaches why they should be considered for this team next year.

The better team won the game and hopefully the Raptors have earned themselves a little good karma for the draft lottery coming up.  A top five pick would really help this team moving forward, which is exactly the direction they’re heading.

Zan for Three

Auditions for Next Year

I was one of the few fans at the ACC on Thursday who wasn’t sure who to cheer for.  Did I want to see the Raptors win a game in front of their hometown fans one last time?, or did I want New Jersey to help increase our lottery chances? I was one very conflicted fan on Thursday night.

What I did enjoy was an opportunity to see “the fringe” members of our team.  Players like Ed Davis, Alan Anderson, Ben Uzoh and Solomon Alabi all get big minutes.

Ben Uzoh and the Raptors handed it to the Nets in one of the worst performances I've ever seen from a team. The season is done and lots of questions remain.

Basically it was a Summer League Game, a pre-season workout to get one last look to see if and where these players belong next year.

From my vantage point Alan Anderson and Ben Uzoh have done enough to stick with the club on a more permanent basis.  Uzoh, who had a triple-double, would make a fine 3rd point guard on this team.  He runs the offense well, can obviously do a number of different things and is fast as lightning.

Alan Anderson would be a nice player off the bench to cover a number of different positions and add some defensive energy.

As for Davis and Alabi; they may have been auditioning for other teams.  Alabi doesn’t seem to fit into the Raptors long term plans and Ed Davis may be the odd man out in the battle for minutes at Power Forward, especially with Jonas arriving next year.

No Wins til Brooklyn

What a way to end the Nets era in New Jersey.  A dismal, lazy, sad effort against the Raptors.  This team just could never put it together for the city.  The Nets legacy is one that doesn’t have many highlights.  A finals appearance and a good year out of Vince Carter once and that’s about it.  Derrick Coleman? Yi Jianlian? Mookie Blaylock?  Who will be the most remembered Net? None of them could get the team too far past a quick first round exit.  None will be entered in the hall of fame. Not even the one in our hearts.

Hopefully Brooklyn has better luck with the Nets.  As of now the city of Brooklyn is inheriting a team in disarray.  Especially if, as expected, they are forced to part with Deron Williams.

Hopefully they don’t replace DWill with Yinka Dare. Though you can’t completely rule it out.

A Change is Gonna Come

Fans last night were a little more upbeat than I would have originally thought.  The fans cheered the team on and enjoyed the energetic play from players like Ben Uzoh, Solomon Alabi and Ed Davis.  This certainly wasn’t the team you would have expected to see on the court to close a season if you had predicted it at the beginning of the year.

Yet, there is optimism around this team.

The Raptors have a coach that the players, organization and fans are fully behind.  He has changed the culture here and done some pretty amazing things with a fairly limited roster.

There is quite a bit of money to spend in the offseason and the Raptors have a number of contracts that could be easily moved should they choose to go that route.  They also have one first round pick this year, the position will be decided by our lesser number of ping-pong balls. And our first round pick from last year, Jonas Valanciunas, will finally join the team after a successful year in Lithuania.

There is reason to be hopeful despite the poor record our team had this year.

Change is on its way.  The GM’s job depends on this offseason.  He will be motivated to improve this team in more ways than one.

Plus the Foul…

Free Alabi…

So I’ve been on and on about Freeing Alabi and giving him minutes to find out what exactly he is able to do.  Last night we saw Alabi at the best of times (he went all Acie Earl on the ACC), but it wasn’t enough to support giving him another contract.

He is a hard worker, it sounds like he is a nice guy and he has some skill, but I think the reality is that he is going to be out of the league next year and hopefully can work his way back through strong play on the international stage.

Best of luck to him.

Zan of the Night

Ben Uzoh

If you didn’t know who Ben Uzoh was before last night you likely know him a little better now.  He started for the Raptors and went home with his first triple-double and the teams first since Alvin Williams.

He’s fast, can rebound, take the ball to the hoop and draw contact.  These are great traits in a reserve guard.  I think if he was brought back it would be in a limited role (likely 3rd PG) but I think he’s worth a shot.  It would certainly not be a major concern in my mind if he was handed spot duty next year off the bench.  I think he’s earned a little more time with the big club.

Not Zan of the Night

The New Jersey Nets

Thanks a lot jerks.  Even if the Raptors were trying to tank they still would have beat you.  New Jersey put forth one of the worst efforts I have ever had the misfortune to see.  It was an absolutely awful display of everything.  Hopefully some lottery karma comes back to bite them in the ass for the clear tank job. I mean how do you let Gerald Green shoot the ball that much?  No help from Jersey. Onward to Brooklyn.  Good luck! You’re going to need it.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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***

Who are These Guys?

So the Toronto Raptors are all of a sudden playing like a team that could put a scare into a higher seeded team in the playoffs.  What has happened? Or more to the point, what took so long?

No Bargnani, no Calderon, no Bayless, no Problem.

Dwane Casey started a lineup that would have been considered a joke at the beginning of the year and came away with an impressive and decisive victory over a very good Atlanta Hawks team.

The last time the Raptors won in Atlanta, it was 2007 and Peyton Manning was winning his only Super Bowl championship with the Indianapolis Colts.  Yep, it was that long ago.

I don’t know what Dwane Casey has told this team or what he has done to make them so much better than they should be, but he has really turned the fortunes of this team around.  He is winning with a roster that shouldn’t be.

On Sunday night his defensive system held the high-octane, playoff bound Atlanta Hawks to 86 points on 40% shooting.

Much will be made of the effect this game will have on the Raptors eventual first round draft pick and on the “Tank Nation” movement, but how can you not like the way Dwane Casey has this team playing?

Break up the Raptors!!

Zan for Three

Kudos to the Coach

While many will thumb their nose at another victory and chalk it up to hurting our chances at a top pick in the NBA draft, much needs to be made about the way Dwane Casey has turned this team around.  While (arguably) three of his best players were out with injury, Casey willed his band of castaways to consecutive victories over Boston and Atlanta; both teams heading to the playoffs in two weeks.  His defensive system and preparedness has got this team playing the best ball they have played all season regardless of the names on the back of the jerseys.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

With a roster that sports 3 D-League players and a host of others that would be hard pressed to crack the Bobcats lineup this year, Casey has gotten a lot out of this team.

Alan Anderson is playing his way into the hearts of the Raptor faithful and Justin Dentmon and Ben Uzoh are showing that they belong in the NBA.  Most importantly, for the Raptors moving forward, Demar Derozan is looking every bit a top flight player.

All of the success goes to the coach.

You may not know a lot them, but this Raptor team is playing some very inspired ball over the last few weeks. Dwane Casey deserves all of the credit for the turnaround.

Casey has his team playing hard and giving their all.  They’ve bought in to the “pound the rock” mantra and the results are becoming more and more consistent.

I don’t know about you, but I think it’s time to talk extension.

10 Day Factor

There are some out there who believe you have to be wary of players that are on 10 day contracts as they tend to play very hard until they get a full contract.  I say it’s time to test that theory.

All three of Toronto’s 10-day club have earned the right to be a part of the team this year and possibly beyond.  Alan Anderson has been an absolute revelation and deserves a guaranteed contract with the big club for next year.  His 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting has been a regular kind of statline and he is often the hardest working player on the court every night he plays.

If you’re a believer in rewarding hard work then you almost have to give this guy a guaranteed deal.  A great find by Colangelo and great faith shown by Casey.

Where do you buy the Anderson Jerseys?

Breaking out of the Dog House

James Johnson hasn’t been the same player since he was benched by Dwane Casey for unspecified reasons a few weeks ago.  He’s looked lost and he hasn’t seen anywhere near the minutes he was seeing before being benched.  He lost his starting spot to Aaron Gray and never got it back.  It’s been a bad month for JJ.

Tonight he got his groove back.  He played hard and made the most of his 23 minutes scoring 15 on 6 of 8 shooting and chipped in with 4 rebounds and a steal.  He was all over the defensive end and did a great job containing Atlanta’s high scoring forwards.

Hopefully, he’s back. 

Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

Not enough is being made of the complete turnaround in Derozans game over the last month.  He has shed his rough first half and is looking every bit the player the Raptors brass envisions him to be going forward.  Dwane Casey has cracked the code with Demar and has him playing the best ball, possibly of his career.

This all bodes very well for next year as the Raptors will be gunning for the playoffs.  With a confident, effective Derozan that goal becomes a lot more realistic.

Not Zan of the Night

Joe Johnson

A rough night at the office for Johnson.  One of the better veteran shooters around, he had a simply dreadful game shooting 2 for 12 with only 7 points.  He was held completely in check by the Raptors defense and could not get his team going at all.  A lopsided loss to the Raptors says a lot about Atlanta’s playoff chances.  If the Hawks have any hope in the Eastern conference playoffs it will be Joe Johnson that must lead them.  Tonight he was a non-factor.

…finally

An Alabi Sighting!  0 points in 2 minutes of play, but he did get a shot off! More to come, I’m sure.  Free Alabi!

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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***

Colangelo’s Dilema

So getting a better chance at the top pick this year is proving to be a difficult task for Bryan Colangelo and his Toronto Raptors.  No matter what they seem to do, no mater the obstacle in their way, the Raptors keep winning.

I’m not suggesting that Colangelo is trying to “tank”, but he has shut down Jarryd Bayless (in the midst of a hot streak), Andrea Bargnani and has filled the teams holes with D-League players and borderline NBA talent.  He seems to be forcing Dwane Casey’s hands a little bit and attempting to get this team closer to a high pick.

It doesn’t seem to matter what ingredients Colangelo gives Dwane Casey, because Casey he keeps making five-star meals.  Alan Anderson? No problem, Casey’s got Anderson playing like he belongs in this league for years to come.  Justin Dentmon? Well Casey’s got this kid playing better than anyone ever could have imagined.  Ben Uzoh? Well he posted a near triple-double against Celtics All-star Rajon Rondo.  Suddenly Raptor fans are including some of these unfamiliar names on their depth charts for next year.

It all starts with the coach, in my opinion. 

After one season together, it is clear that Bryan Colangelo hired the right guy to coach the Raptors. Now he needs to go out and get him some talent.

No matter what Colangelo gives him, Casey keeps winning.

The Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks were the latest victims of seemingly unimaginable play from a team full of D-League castaways.  Next is another chance at the Hawks and then a matchup with the Heat. 

 This team shouldn’t be winning games.  They should be losing a lot and yet they are playing great basketball and winning games they have no business being a part of.  Most of the success is due to the defensive system Casey has put into place.

Credit Dwane Casey for this surprise turnaround.

The Raptor organization needs to sit up and take notice of the fact that Casey is getting results with D-League players.  His system is working and whatever it is that he is using to motivate his team is getting through to the players.

Perhaps it is time to talk “extension” with our coach.

Colangelo is not likely getting the player he covets (a Kidd-Gilchrist or Harrison Barnes) but maybe that doesn’t matter.  Maybe he just needs to upgrade the talent on the team so that his coach has something more to work with.

If Casey can make magic with this lesser group of talent, imagine what he could do if he was given even a minor upgrade in personnel.

Colangelo can keep shutting players down and bringing in more D-league players to try to finish up the season with as many losses as possible, but I have a feeling it’s not going to matter.

Casey is going to keep fighting and he’s going to keep getting his players working hard no matter where they may have started the season.  He’s also likely to keep winning.

So what is Colangelo to do?

Maybe enjoy the ride and know that you hired the right guy to guide this team going forward.  And in the last year of your contract try to go out and give him a roster he can do some damage with next year.

Perhaps all this talk of a “tank” has actually revealed where this team’s true strength is going to come from going forward: Behind the bench.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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