Jose! Jose, Jose, Jose

Jose Calderon is, arguably, one of the most beloved Toronto Raptor players in the history of the franchise.  Fans have happily cheered him over the years, sometimes in spite of themselves and now he is finally coming back to the ACC for the first time as a member of the Detroit Pistons.

The crowd at the ACC hasn’t had much to look forward to lately as the Raptors continue to play out the rest of a lost season, but Jose’s return is definitely a reason to get excited.  Fans understood the trade that sent him to Detroit and brought Rudy Gay to Toronto, but it was still very hard to say goodbye to a player that has called Toronto home for his entire NBA career.

Jose wasn’t always a fan favourite in Toronto.  There were many times when it seemed he didn’t belong or would be better off somewhere else.  But every time this fan base doubted Jose or put him down, he came right back and reminded us all of why he was such an important part of this franchise’s history.

When you think of the Toronto Raptors you can’t help but think of “Numero Ocho” and his “Jose fingers” every time he or one of his teammates hit a three pointer.

This is one of my favourite Jose Calderon moments and one that demonstrates Jose’s team first mentality.

In a hockey town, he was an easy player to like.  He worked hard, he involved his teammates, he was humble and never had a negative word to say to anybody or about anybody.  There haven’t been many basketball players in this city that have left it all out on the floor the way Calderon did during his tenure here.

He was happy to involve the fans and loved getting the crowd fired up with a huge three pointer or big time pass at a crucial point in the game.  The fans loved him right back.

Many of the current Raptors team hold him in very high regard and felt he was one of the easiest players to play with because he always got them the ball in a place they could score.

It wasn’t always rosy for Jose here in Toronto.  Many times during his tenure he was counted out and not appreciated by fans, reporters and bloggers.  During his various battles for minutes with point guards on his team fans pointed out the fact that he was a terrible defender, didn’t push the ball up the court and played the game “too safe” and “too slow”.

No matter who took over for Calderon at the point, every single point guard that came in was eventually replaced by Calderon.  He was far too dependable and trustworthy for his coaches to hand the reins over to someone else.  Poor defensive ability aside, the team was better when he was on the floor.

Fans didn’t always agree.  Jose received his fair share of negativity over his tenure as a Raptor, but all of that will disappear when he returns on Monday night.

On Monday night the ACC will welcome Jose back the way he deserves to be.  The crowd will be standing on their feet cheering the work and effort Jose has put in as a member of this team.  Raptor fans love him and it appears from his letter to the fans, that the feeling is quite mutual. It is rare to find a player that misses a city as much as it misses him.

Jose came to Toronto in 2005 as an after thought.  An under the radar free agent signing by then GM Rob Babcock.  He was expected to maybe become the teams backup point guard, but most figured he’d be a 3rd point guard at best.  He stayed the course, worked hard and earned the respect of his coaches.  slowly he moved his way up, received more minutes and ultimately gave his coaches no choice but to start him.

Jose was a coaches dream.  Whether it was Sam Mitchell, Jay Triano, or Dwane Casey all of his coaches loved working with him.  He did what his coaches wanted and wasn’t afraid to take control when it was required.  Eric Koreen of the National Post wrote a great piece on Calderon’s time playing for Sam Mitchell and the relationship they developed.  His work ethic and ability to take criticism in stride made him easy to coach.

Young point guards coming into the league need to look at the example Jose Calderon has provided.  If you work hard, put in the time and never quit, listen to your detractors and take criticism in stride, you can earn the chance to show what you can do.

At the ACC on Monday night the crowd will thank Jose for all he has done.  At home, I will as well.  Numero Ocho has been my favourite all time Raptor and it has been a pleasure to watch him play.  Even though I will cheer tonight for the Raptors, as I always do, I hope Jose puts in a good game and hits a couple of threes.  The crowd will be happy to see it.

Welcome home Jose!

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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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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Crunch Time for Raptors

It is getting down to the point in the season where the Raptors are going to have to make a move in the standings now, if they hope to catch up to a playoff spot.  With four consecutive losses now, the last 2 in heartbreaking fashion, and a number of key injuries, the Raptors are really going to have to dig deep to find the will to win.

On Friday night in Philly, the Raptors twice gave up big leads and could not defend the basket on key plays at the end of the fourth quarter.  Jrue Holiday had a field day in the final frame and the perimeter defense could not stop him in overtime.  The Raptors essentially gift wrapped a victory for the Sixers.

The Raptors have now been leapfrogged by the likes of Orlando, Detroit and Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings and are still sit 5.5 games back of the current 8th seed Celtics.  Time is running out.  With two very difficult games this week against the Lakers and Miami Heat the Raptors may find themselves free-falling in the Eastern conference standings by as early as next week.

The raptors are beginning to fall farther and farther out of the playoff picture. Their lack of finish over the last week has seen them fall right out of the playoff conversation.

So what is wrong with this team?

What needs to change?

Firstly the Raptors need to get Kyle Lowry more involved in the game.  He needs to be the number one guy again.  Watching Jose play against quick opponents like Jrue Holiday really cemented the need for a stronger defensive presence on the perimeter.  Lowry is a much better defender and he was brought here to be that defender against elite point guards in the league.  Lowry was not good against the Sixers either, granted, but he has always got a better shot against the elite point guards in the league than Jose.  The Raptors will now face Steve Nash this week and Kyrie Irving next week.  Those two games need to have Lowry starting or, at the very least, playing the lion’s share of minutes.

The Raptors have done a terrible job protecting the ball, especially late in the game. While Calderon is generally good at protecting the ball, he isn’t anywhere near solid enough to defend quick athletic point guards like Jrue Holiday.  Lowry takes chances, but defends the perimeter much better than Calderon.  It is Kyle who needs to be on the floor for the Raptors at the end of the game, when it really matters.  Jose shoots well, but it is Lowry who is more likely to keep he defender in check.

Secondly, we need our bigs back.   I get the “Bargnani hate”, I’m not particularly fond of him right now either, but we sure could use his size and quickness on the defensive end.  If nothing else he provides greater opportunity to get Amir and Ed some rest.  Both have played incredibly well since being inserted into the starting lineup, but both play far too many minutes and it is beginning to catch up with them.  Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray have filled in admirably, but I’d much sooner see Bargnani and Jonas Valanciunas giving Amir and Ed a rest off the bench.

Size and toughness hasn’t been an issue for a little while. But we witnessed Carlos Boozer absolutely decimate the Raptors frontcourt on Wednesday and then Thad Young and Spencer Hawes both had strong games on Friday.  With games coming up against Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Big Baby Davis the Raptors frontcourt is going to be working hard. This unit of Davis and Johnson has held up the fort for the last few weeks and were instrumental in bringing this team back from the Eastern Conference basement, but they need some rest.

Let’s get Bargnani, despite his current villainy, back in this lineup backing up these two very tired front court players.  He’s not going anywhere in a trade just yet, so lets increase his value a little bit by bringin him in off the bench when he’s back and healthy.  And yes I did say “backing up” Amir and Ed.

Lastly, Dwane Casey needs to figure out what is going on with DeMar DeRozan.  It has been an up and down year for the Raptors star, but he hasn’t looked anything like himself the last two weeks.  His percentages are way down, he’s forcing up bad shots and is not playing within he flow of the offense.  He was a key component of the Raptors recent win streak, but he hasn’t been the same since the first half of the loss to Milwaukee.

Something is up

It could be adjustments to the change in point guards, the fact that so much of the offense now flows through the post, that opposing defenders are scouting his game a lot more than they were early in the season or maybe he’s just having a bad stretch.  Whatever it is, Dwane Casey needs to figure it out and get DeRozan back to his early season form.  If the Raptors are going to make a playoff push, they’ll need a more effective DeRozan.

Time is ticking for the Raptors.  If the playoffs really are the ultimate goal then they are really going to have to dig deep to find a way to get back on the winning side of things.  Whether a big trade is the answer, a major shakeup in the starting lineup or small adjustments, something needs to be done before the season is lost.

The time is now.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Opportunity Missed

Today’s game against Milwaukee was an opportunity to move into the playoff discussion, to cement this Raptors team as a playoff contender and to maybe give the fans of this playoff starved city a chance to believe that the playoffs weren’t a delusion of grandeur.

With a strong first quarter effort, the Raptors jumped out to an early 20 point lead.  But slowly and methodically, the Bucks came back.  They chipped away and chipped away at the Raptors lead and ultimately took over for good in the fourth quarter.  The Raptors, outside of Calderon, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis, lacked punch.  They had several opportunities to put the Bucks away and failed to do it.

A team with the likes of Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings cannot be left alone.  The Raptors defensive effort relaxed and the hot shooting Bucks made them pay for it.  Even the likes of Mike Dunleavy had solid shooting efforts against the Raptor D and then there was John Henson who wins the Acie Earl Award for beasting.  The Raptors had absolutely no answer for him and without Jonas Valanciunas and Andrea Bargnani lacked the man power to shut him down.

All is not lost for the Raptors.  They are still within striking distance of the playoffs and if they can take advantage of their upcoming schedule they can and will get into that playoff discussion. They are also enjoying some absolutely inspired play from Amir Johnson, Ed Davis and Jose Calderon.  I’ve watched this team for a long time and have not seen these three look as good or as cohesive as they have this year.

The future is bright.

Zan For Three

What’s up With Lowry?

Kyle Lowry has been one of my favourite players over the last couple of years. I enjoyed watching him lead Houston to a late season surge last year and loved the way he started this season for the Raptors.  He’s fast, works hard on the defensive end and isn’t afraid to take it to the rack.

We haven’t seen that Kyle Lowry for a while.

Today we saw Kyle trying hard to be somebody that he wasn’t.  He looks lost.

I applaud him for taking his teammates words to heart when they were critical of his selfish play back in Utah.  I applaud that he is doing his best to get his teammates involved, but he has lost all of the things that made Kyle Lowry fantastic.

He needs to find himself again.  His issues are not about coming off the bench or getting more minutes on the court, they’re completely in his head.

Not even one of Amir Johnson’s best games of the season could stop Monta Ellis and the Bucks from taking the wind out of the Raptors sails at the ACC on Sunday.

He is trying to force himself to be something he is not.  He has gotten away from the things that made him successful and as a result has not been nearly as effective.  What the Raptors really need him to be, if they are to make a strong push toward the postseason, is himself.  They need him to be the energetic force he was brought here to be.  They need him to shoot the ball, drive the lane and push the tempo, even if it is off the bench.

Lowry’s return to form will be a key to the Raptors fortunes for the rest of this season.

The Real DeMar 

DeMar DeRozan has been a revelation this year.  He has quieted his critics and proven to many that Bryan Colangelo wasn’t crazy or over shooting with the extension he was given before the season.

Over the last few weeks we have seen DeRozan go back and forth between good games and bad ones.  He’s played within the game and, then at times, has forced up shots.

Today we saw DeRozan play within the system and take charge of the game in the third quarter which helped the Raptors gain control of the game for a little while.  Then in the fourth he disappeared (with the rest of the team) and couldn’t hang on.

DeRozan needs to realize that this is his team now.  He is the leader.  He is number one.  There are times when he just needs to assume control of the offense.  He needs to be a little bit selfish and not out smart himself.

He is developing into a truly great player and needs to take that extra step of assuming leadership over this team.

To Trade or not to Trade? 

The rumours are swirling in Raptorland.  We are close to a playoff position, our general manager is on the hot seat and we have a few players that may be enticing to other teams.

Colangelo has a tough choice to make because the team is finally working together and playing as a team so adding another piece to that equation, no matter how talented, could disrupt all the things that are going right.  Then again adding a talented piece like Rudy Gay may be the nudge needed to get this team into the postseason.

The player that would make the most sense to send away (Andrea Bargnani) isn’t really someone who Colangelo is able to move and the one everyone wants (Jose Calderon) may be too valuable to the makeup of the current roster to trade away.

Definitely some tough decisions in the days ahead.

Zan of the Night

Amir Johnson – He plays through pain, works hard and does everything he is asked to do.  In a hockey centred town he really personifies everything Toronto wants to see in a basketball player.  Today he was once again one of the best Raptors on the floor and the chemistry he has developed with Calderon and Ed Davis is such a joy to watch in person.

Another contract that is looking a lot more like a bargain.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Becoming Number One

There has been no shortage of stories in Raptorland lately as they begin to put the pieces of their season back together again.  There has been the inspired play of Amir Johnson, the leadership of Jose Calderon and the energized return of both Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields. Of course, there is also the continued absence of Andrea Bargnani.

It is debatable which one of these stories has had the biggest impact in the Raptors recent turnaround.  But , possibly the most “feel good” story during the first half of the season (so far) may be the emergence of DeMar DeRozan.

Raptor fans have been waiting with bated breath for DeRozan to up his game and become the upper echelon player he was pegged to be when he was drafted 9^th overall out of USC in 2009.

DeRozan has begun to assert himself as the Raptors team leader and number one option on offense. In the process he is proving his naysayers wrong and justifying his large contract extension.

In the span of the last few months we have watched DeMar grow from a player, struggling to adjust to the pressures of being a top option, to a confident young man who is comfortably leading his team to some of the best basketball they have played in a long time.

When DeRozan first came to Toronto he was used as a complimentary player to the young core the Raptors had at the time.  At just 20 years of age and thrust into a starting role on a competitive Raptors squad, he was expected to take the ball to the rack off of cuts and provide steady defensive play.  He thrived in this complimentary role and earned the praise of then coach Sam Mitchell.

His efforts that first year were one of the key reasons the Raptors stayed in the playoff picture until the last day of the season.   In subsequent years he became an increased part of the Raptors offense and gained valuable experience along the way.

When Chris Bosh took his talents to South Beach, DeRozan was no longer looked at as a complimentary piece by the organization.  The Raps needed him to step up his game and become a top flight player to compliment the newly anointed number one, Andrea Bargnani. With the increased expectations, DeRozan struggled.

He was asked to become a top flight shooter, which he wasn’t yet. They needed him to shoot the three with some consistency, he could not.  They needed him to drive the lane more, but instead, he shied away from it.

As a top option in Toronto he garnered more attention from opposing defenses and he wasn’t ready for the adjustments he needed to make.  Questions began to swirl about whether DeRozan would ever become that top-tier player for Toronto, whether the Raptors would be better off letting him go as a free agent or packaging him in a trade.

Last season he was forced into an increased role when Andrea Bargnani went down with injury.  He needed, not only, to be a top scorer, but a team leader.  Though he struggled with his shot and continued to be marred by issues with his three-point range, the team developed an identity around him.  Much of this ‘change in culture’ was rightfully credited to Dwane Casey, but the Raptors were able to share the ball, play team defense and get along  with DeRozan as the number one option. DeMar is the type of unselfish player who is happy to defer to his teammates.  He isn’t a player that needs to have the ball in his hands all the time, the offense doesn’t need to flow through him.

Although DeRozan’s numbers were still mediocre on paper last year, he was beginning to show signs of maturity. He began taking the advice of coach Casey and kept driving the lane.  Slowly his free throw attempt numbers went up and he began to get more and more calls from the officials. Casey was tough on DeRozan, but in the process earned his respect.

“It was tough last year. Even though we did well on the defensive end, you still struggle at parts. You’re still learning. Casey is definitely good for us.”

Coach Casey has cracked the code with DeMar since arriving in Toronto and the forward has responded with inspired play.

This season, armed with a controversial 4 year contract extension, DeRozan has taken his game to the next level.  His numbers are better across the board, but it isn’t the modest increases in his percentages that have Raptor fans smiling; it’s the way he is carrying himself and his team.

Gone are the rushed shots taken early in the shot clock, the fear of driving the net and the reliance on a high number of mid-range jump shots.

Instead DeRozan is driving the net and demanding the respect of the leagues officials.  He is taking open jump shots within the flow of the offense, he’s using his size to take advantage of opposing defenses with impressive post-up moves and he is helping facilitate the ball movement that has inspired the Raptors recent play.

“I need to play within my game. I know if I get a shot in rhythm, I can knock it down. But for me, I’m an aggressive player. We’ve got a lot of 3-point shooters on this team. If I’m being aggressive, that can open up a 3-point shot for them.”

DeMar looks and sounds like a completely different player on the court.  He looks confident, aggressive and most of all he is taking control on the court. He is doing a better job of knowing when to shoot and when to make the extra pass.  He isn’t hesitating when he goes to the rim because he knows, if he keeps doing it, he’s gonna get the calls more times than not and he is learning how to exploit mismatches on both ends of the floor.

Dwane Casey has been impressed with his play and knows DeRozan is a key part of the Raptors future.  “He’s one of our core guys”.

Much of the credit for the Raptors recent run of good games has been, very fairly placed on the play and leadership of Jose Calderon, but quietly DeMar DeRozan has emerged as a leader as well.

He is the player the team looks to for guidance.  The ball flows through him. But he isn’t just taking more shots, he is getting his teammates involved as well.  They trust him, his coaches trust him and mot importantly he trusts himself.

So far this season DeRozan has erased any doubt that may have lingered over the max extension.  If he keeps up this strong play, his extension may turn out to be a bargain.

He’s becoming everything you want in an on-court leader.

The scary part is,  he’s still getting better.

***

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.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Where Do We Go From Here?

These are dark days for the Raptors and their fans.  Things have gone from bad, to worse, to downright awful really fast.  The Raptors now find themselves way out of contention and without many positives to rest their hat on.  Losses are piling up and the patience of the fan base is at an all-time low.  It’s getting Babcock bad.

Another loss in Portland, in what is fast becoming one of the worst road trips in recent memory, did nothing to instill any confidence in this team.

Raptor fans are openly wondering whether the team should “blow it up” and trade everyone with any ounce of value for whatever exchange they can get on the dollar and start fresh.  Or do they keep a select few of the young stars and try to retool for next season?

For the first time in his tenure as Raptor President and GM, Bryan Colangelo is facing the real possibility of being let go.

Fire the GM, fire the coach, trade all the players.  All of these bold suggestions have been made.

Many believe Bargnani is at the root of the problem and that he should be moved.  It is hard to argue with that logic as he has been disappointing at the best of times.  A change of scenery might be exactly what the doctor ordered for everyone involved.  There is still a good player in that seven-foot frame, but he will not become that player here.

But what becomes of everyone else? This isn’t the situation a lot of them signed up for.

Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have shown themselves to be solid, dependable NBA players.  Players that would be welcome on any team, but also players that are still very young and could fit into the plans of a rebuilding club.

To make matters worse, this team doesn’t have a first round pick unless they finish with one of the top three selections.  So the draft isn’t even a guaranteed option.

So what to do?

The GM, the one that makes the decisions, is not signed to a contract past this summer and is unlikely to earn a renewal if this debauchery keeps up. What do you do with him? Fire him now? give him the rest of the year?

And what becomes of Dwane Casey? He was brought in only a year ago to fix the Raptors defense and to turn this team into a defensively sound unit.  Is it his fault he couldn’t turn Bargnani into Dirk Nowitzki? Is it his fault he had to build a defensive system around Jose Calderon? Shouldn’t he get the benefit of the doubt here?

The Raptors have a lot of questions and there are not easy answers.

They could look for trades where they bring back older veteran players with expiring contracts. Try to make a run at a game changer like Pau Gasol and attempt to turn this ship around.  They could bust out their “tank Nation” flags and try to muster up enough luck to bring in Shabazz Muhammad.

No matter which route they choose, the fans are gonna rebel.  Even without the NHL attendance will likely drop if the Raptors “blow it up”.

It says here that there is a lot of basketball to be played yet and the Raptors should consider holding on to Lowry, DeRozan and Jonas long-term.  Trade any and all others for picks, young players and expiring contracts and hope the season turns around.  Try to sneak into the playoffs or get close enough that the lost draft pick doesn’t hurt so much.

Trade Bargnani.  Or maybe better put: Free Bargnani.  let him go somewhere where there isn’t so much pressure.  Where he can just blend in, come off the bench and be a small part of a bigger puzzle. The fans are done with him and he doesn’t deserve to be berated in his home arena.  A change of scenery to anywhere else will do him and this team a world of good.

Casey has not had a successful second season as the head man for the Raptors, but despite the terrible year, he deserves another shot.

Keep Casey.  When he was brought here, he was asked to turn water into wine.  He was asked to bring his defensive system that worked wonders for the World Champion Mavericks and build it around Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon.  It just didn’t work.  He didn’t have a Tyson Chandler to back up Bargnani, he didn’t have a Shawn Marion to take on the best offensive players on opposing teams.  He could not turn Jose Calderon into Jason Kidd, he couldn’t turn Bargnani in Dirk. He was asked to do too much.  He needs to be given a chance to work with better players.  It was only one short year ago that fans were calling for Casey to be among the COY candidates.

It takes longer than a year to implement a systematic change, especially when the players you have don’t fit the mould of that system.

Give him another year.

Let Colangelo go.  He needs to fall on his sword for this team.  He put them together, he hasn’t gotten results. I know he will not be out of work long and there may not be a significantly better replacement out there, but he needs to take the fall for the team.  In the end, he is responsible for the shortcomings of this team.

Acquire draft picks.  There is no guarantee, no matter where we end up in the standings, that our pick won’t land  in OKC, so get a few more, stock up and get as many good young players as you can.

Don’t lose hope.  It’s hard not to in these dark days, but at the end of the dark tunnel is light, however slight it might be.  Jonas Valanciunas is going to be a good NBA talent. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are solid NBA talents.  Enjoy watching them for however long they remain Raptors. Draft picks are on the horizon and capspace is likely in the forseeable future.

Things will get better, they have to.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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All Eyes on DeRozan

For the better part of three seasons DeMar DeRozan has been a little bit of everything.  He’s been a dependable defensive presence, an important offensive weapon, a go-to scorer and a team leader.  He’s also had his fair share of disappointment.

He has drawbacks to his game.  He has, over the season he’s been here shied away from contact, hasn’t been able to shoot the three consistently and hasn’t not shown he can be the predominant offensive weapon on a team.

He remains a puzzle.

This is the year Raptor fans finally find out what they have in DeMar DeRozan.  Is he a solid piece of the puzzle?, a superstar in waiting?, or just another serviceable swingman? Or, if you want to look at it more seriously; is he a part of this core going forward?

DeRozan needs to prove to the raptors and the entire NBA that he is more than just a “flashy dunker” and that he can get to the free throw line consistently.

Since he arrived in Toronto as the number 9 pick out of USC in 2009, there have been expectations, perhaps unfairly assigned.  Fans wanted to see a high flyer, a guy who could score in buckets, an heir apparent to Vince Carter, and a possible superstar in waiting.  Suffice it to say, a lot was expected.

So far DeRozan has been a little bit of everything, but hasn’t quite lived up to the hype of the fans.  He’s shown strong defensive effort since his rookie season, enough that he was able to win a starting role on a team fighting for the playoffs in his first year.  He is a great target for our point guards when coming off of a cut and he can throw it down with some of the best in the league.  If not for Blake Griffin’s infamous car jumping dunk, DeRozan would have won the dunk contest in 2011.

For stretches of time last year DeRozan seemed to be putting it all together.  Runs of high scoring nights and frequent trips to the stripe but then steps backward where he would disappear on offense crack under the pressure of being the number one or falter when guarded by a premier perimeter defender.  Without Andrea Bargnani to share the offensive duties, DeRozan was smothered by other teams’ defenses and was not as effective as he was with stronger support.

Coming into each of the last three seasons DeRozan hasn’t had to worry about his status as a starting wing.  And make no mistake about it; DeRozan will be the starting shooting guard for the Raptors once again on Oct. 31st.  But he’s got some competition on the bench waiting for their opportunity.

This competition will hopefully push DeRozan a little more than he has been over the last few years.  DeRozan has had it pretty easy so far in Toronto.  A guaranteed spot, very little internal competition and the benefit of the doubt when playing with an injury plagued roster.

This is the year raptor fans need to see DeRozan step up and fulfill the promise he showed when he was drafted three years ago.

There is now a wealth of options on Toronto’s bench this year that could spell DeRozan at the 2 guard for stretches during the year.  Landry Fields is more comfortable playing the two and is an excellent perimeter defender.  Alan Anderson has earned the respect of the coaching staff with his strong work ethic and attention to defense and he could see some minutes at the 2.  Also, with three strong point guards on the roster there will likely be times when Jose Calderon or John Lucas III find themselves sharing the back court with Kyle Lowry as both posses strong shooting ability, a skill DeRozan hasn’t shown to be a strength.

The biggest threat to DeRozan this year, however, might just be rookie shooting guard Terrence Ross, albeit likely over the long-term.  Ross is a strong defender and possesses a deadly long-range shot.  He is a great compliment to Kyle Lowry who pushes the ball up the floor and often kicks the ball out to the perimeter.  Ross is even more deadly off of a kick out because of how quickly he can release a shot.  It is that deadly shot and accuracy that make Ross such an attractive option at this position.

Casey agrees that competition this year at the two guard will help push DeRozan to greater heights. “He’s got competition all around …those guys are into him, pushing him…it’s going to be good for him to have that.”

This season will be a make or break year for DeRozan in Toronto. He is due for an extension and his agent will likely be looking for a large payday.   If the Raptors don’t make the playoffs and DeRozan struggles, if he doesn’t find that magic chemistry with Lowry and the rest of the team, he may find himself wearing a new uniform this time next year.

DeRozan is going to have to prove to fans and management that he can be the player that he was thought to be back when he was drafted.  DeRozan needs to be more than an average defender and a flashy dunker.  He needs to take that next step and cement his place in the Raptors future.

Shooting guards who produce the numbers DeRozan has over the last three years (14.1pts, 3.4 reb, 1.5 ast, 45.7 FG% and 20.6% 3-pt %) are not terribly difficult to find around the league for a much lower price than DeRozan is likely looking for.  If his stats last year (16.7 pts, 3.3 reb, 2.0 ast, 42.2 FG%, 26.1 3pt%)  are an indication of what kind of player he will be this year, then he could see his last year playing north of the border.  What the Raptors need is for DeMar to show he can be a three-point threat this year and score consistently in the paint.

Without that added aspect to his game, he will eventually sit in favour of better shooters or will ultimately be replaced by a cheaper option.

He has been working hard over the summer to strengthen his game.  Dwane Casey offered, when asked about DeRozan: “He did a great job this summer of really putting on strength and right now he’s doing a great job of hitting the guys first, creating contact, not being afraid of getting into the paint, and it’s going to pay big dividends for him.”

This year we will finally find out what DeMar DeRozan is made of.

DeRozan has the ability and skills to be a superstar in this league, but needs to put it together soon or the Raptors will quickly run out of patience.

It’s time we all find out what exactly Toronto has in DeRozan.  One thing is for certain, however, he will be the architect of his own destiny.

This could be the start of a beautiful relationship.

Or not.

***

ZTH

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Stay tuned for the Small Forward preview later in the week. 

Raptors Finally Get the Point

The Raptors and their fans are no strangers to a good old-fashioned point guard controversy.  Whether it was ‘Forderon’ back in the good old days of 2007 or ‘Caldless’ last season, Raptor fans seem to love debating and second guessing the decisions pertaining to the point guard position.  With three strong point guards on the roster this year, it is likely to be the most heated controversy yet even though the Raptors went out in the offseason and acquired a clear number one point guard.

The Players

Kyle Lowry

Jose Calderon

John Lucas III

The Deal:

Kyle Lowry scored his first pre-season points off a steal against the Wizards in the paint and took it all the way down the court for a nice, transition lay-up.  So began Lowry’s time as a Toronto Raptor.

The way he played in the preseason win on Wednesday night is likely a sign of what is to come.  Lowry took the ball to the hoop, distributed well and played fairly strong defense against a weakened Wizard backcourt.  He also struggled at times.

He started the game on Wednesday night with Valanciunas, DeRozan, Fields and Bargnani; a place he is almost guaranteed to find himself on opening night.

Lowry was not Colangelo’s first choice this offseason, but he might just be the right choice for the franchise going forward.  He takes risks, but can score, distributes, drives the lane and most importantly defends the basket well (something sure to make a fan out of Dwane Casey).

Despite the fact he was brought in to start for the Raps, don’t expect the point guard position to be devoid of controversy.  Incumbant Jose Calderon was reportedly not happy with being demoted to number two (though he has changed his tune since the start of training camp) and the emergence of John Lucas III throughout training camp should give the Raptors a very deep, albeit crowded, point.

Calderon has been the Raptors starter for the last five years and has played steady dependable basketball on the offensive end.  He runs the high screen and roll well and has developed a strong kinship with many of the current Raptor players, most notably Amir Johnson; a player he will likely be teamed up with on the Raptors strong second unit.

As a backup Calderon should be successful.  He will not have to match up against number one point guards, he will get plenty of minutes to focus on what he does well and when teamed with another point guard will be moved into a position where his best asset (his shooting) can be best utilized.

Calderon would instantly become one of the best backup point guards in the league and provides a pivotal counterpoint to Lowry.  Lowry will drive the lane, score in bunches, play an uptempo game but will take more risks.  Calderon protects the rock and distributes well and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, but slows the pace of the game down. He makes smart, calculated choices.  He is a great ying to Lowry’s Yang.

John Lucas III is looking like he will make distributing minutes at the point a difficult job for Dwane Casey.

This could be a beautiful partnership except it’s not as simple as a two-horse race.  John Lucas III was also brought in this off-season and with his inspired play thus far in the pre-season, he seems destined to make himself part of the point guard conversation throughout the season.

Lucas was stellar last year in Chicago, playing key minutes when Derrick Rose was lost to injury.  He has shown himself to be a leader and someone who can handle heavy minutes if called upon. He can score in bunches, distribute well and has played well on the defensive side thus far.  Lucas will push Calderon for minutes off the bench and just may force Colangelo to make a move earlier than expected.

So far this pre-season Lucas has been solid, playing with great amounts of energy every time he touched the court and evoking praise from a difficult fanbase to impress.

Prediction

With three strong point guards on the roster, the Raptors appear to have an embarrassment of riches at the point.  The challenge for Dwane Casey is going  to be distributing minutes.  Expect Lowry to get the Lion’s share of minutes, but watch for Calderon playing a bit of 2 off the bench and on the offensive end in close games.  Also anticipate Lucas getting more minutes than was originally planned.  If there is to be a point guard controversy in Toronto it will likely be for backup minutes.

Lucas will push Calderon.  Hopefully competition will breed better play for everyone.

Dwane Casey is going to have his work cut out for him managing these three players this year.  It is very possible Colangelo will eliminate this problem for him by dealing Calderon before the end of the season.

No matter which way you cut it, the Raptors have turned the point guard position into a strength for the first time in long time.  Three Point guards capable of starting is something the Raptors have never had the luxury of.

I’m pretty sure, regardless of the results, we will all debate who plays and when they play all season long.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Stay tuned for the Shooting guard preview early next week.