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.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Raptors to Watch in London

On Friday all eyes in the sporting world will turn to London England as the Olympic Games officially begin.  Here in Toronto there are many athletes we will be watching closely from runner Simon Whitfield and tennis star Milos Raonic, to cyclist Clara Hughes and kayak star Adam Van Koeverden.  On a larger stage we will be watching star athletes like Michael Phelps and the unparalleled speed and talent of Usain Bolt.

Most basketball fans will turn their attention to the Dream Team, seeing if Lebron can add a gold medal to his championship year.  Or whether Spain has enough to hand the Americans an upset defeat.

Raptor fans too will turn their attention to the basketball court.  Sadly the Canadian Men’s team will have to wait another four years for the opportunity to represent this beautiful country.  But there are still plenty of players of note for the Raptors and their fans to keep their eye on and who could have a large impact on the tournaments final outcome.

Jonas Valanciunas C – Lithuania

Raise your hand if you’re excited to see this guy play.  Yeah, me too.  When not watching Canadian athletes fight for medals I will be watching every game I can see that features Lithuania and Valanciunas.

In many people’s eyes he holds the future of the Toronto Raptors in his 7 ft, 250 pound frame.  He has been exciting fans with his excellent play at the U19 World Championships earlier this year and throughout the season with his Lithuanian league team, Lietuvos Rytas.

Now he is on the biggest stage of them all and Raptor fans will be watching with bated breath to see if Jonas is the saviour they all hope he can be.

The eyes of Raptor fans will be focused squarely on Jonas during the Olympic basketball tournament. How he handles himself against a higher level of talent will be telling of how NBA ready he is.

So far, in lead-up games, he’s played very well, but now he’s going to be matched up against the toughest competition he has ever faced.

How will he respond?

Jonas’s performance in this tournament will be one of the most talked about aspects of the Olympics here in Toronto.  It could culminate in a celebration for the Lithuanian team as well as Raptor fans everywhere.

The Lithuanian team has a real shot at a medal and maybe even at the Final.  They have one of the most unified teams and most of the players have been playing with each other for a number of years at international tournaments.

Jonas will be the rookie of this squad, but with his exciting play and large frame defending the paint, he is likely to play a large part in whether this team excels or has an early exit.

What will be of most interest to Raptor fans is how Jonas handles his defensive duties against players that have, for the most part, spent time in the NBA.  Will he hold his own? or show typical rookie rust? Will he defend well or resort to fouling his opponents?

As a player that will be depended on to defend the basket next year at the ACC, coach Casey and Bryan Colangelo will be watching his defensive effort closely.

We will all have a much better gauge on how Jonas will perform this year after the Olympics.

Jose Calderon PG – Spain

Poor Jose.  He’s had a rough deal the last year or so.  Trade rumours, injuries and finally being replaced in Toronto’s starting lineup by Kyle Lowry.

Raptor fans will be interested to see how Calderon plays because if he plays well, it may increase his trade value.  It will also be interesting to see how he has healed from the injury he sustained at the end of last season.  As a backup next year he’s going to have to adjust to less minutes on the floor and playing in the second unit.

For Spain, Calderon takes over as the leader of arguably the second most talented team in the Olympics.  With the injury to Ricky Rubio Calderon has been given his spot as starting point guard back. Something he should remember when he gets to training camp.  He is only an injury away from being back in charge of the Raptor offense.  Things can change.

It will be interesting to see how Calderon leads a team with the talent of Pau and Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka and Rudy Fernandez.  If he performs well there could be an increased trade market for his services.

Then again, if he plays well, there is also added reason for the Raptors to keep him.

Should be interesting.

Linas Kleiza F – Lithuania

I remember when the Raptors first acquired Kleiza.  I didn’t know much about him, other than what I read in the paper and on blogs.  Then I saw him play in the World Championships in Turkey that summer.  He was incredible.

Kleiza averaged close to a double-double and was arguably the best player on the court in almost every game he played with the exception of the matchup against the US.

I was excited about what he could bring to Toronto, I imagine most fans were as well.

Over the last two seasons however, he hasn’t played up to that level.  He’s only shown flashes of that dominance in his time as a Raptor and fans have wondered where that player from the World Championships went.

Kleiza is a strong performer in International tournaments and he is likely to be a key contributor once again for a very deep Lithuanian squad.

For Raptor fans, they will likely be left to wonder once again which Linas Kleiza will show up during the regular season.

It will also be fun to watch the moments when Kleiza and Valanciunas are on the floor together.  A prelude of what is to come during this coming NBA season.

Pops Mensah Bonsu F – Great Britain

He’s no longer a Toronto Raptor, but he will always be a dino in my mind.  Pops will get a chance to strut his stuff for the host nation at this Olympics.  He is likely to be one of their main offensive threats (with Luol Deng) and regardless of the outcome of the games, he should have the English fans on their feet.

Pops plays a style of basketball that a fan can’t help but love.  He grinds it out on the court and never puts forth anything less than his best effort.

Though Great Britain is not expected to win more than a game or two, let alone a medal, I have a feeling that their games on the hardwood will still be must watch material.  Mensah Bonsu will likely be part of the reason.

It’ll be nice to see Pops play as well.  He is missed in Toronto.

Anthony Davis F – USA

The US team will offer many stories in their Olympic run.  Who gets the ball? How will Durant and Lebron play together? How many shots will Carmelo Anthony take? But the most interesting thing to look for in this Olympic tournament may actually be the debut of first overall pick Anthony Davis.

Anthony Davis will likely play a minimal role with team USA, but all eyes will be on the number one pick when he does play.

How will he match up against NBA calibre talent?  How involved will he be? Will be look as dominant as he did in college?

In the end he will likely be as involved as Christian Laettner was in 1992, but hopefully for NBA fans, specifically those in New Orleans, Davis’ play will offer a glimpse of what is to come.

Obviously there will be plenty more to watch at this tournament and other teams like Argentina, France and Brazil will have strong squads focused on the Silver and Bronze medals.  Team USA will be analyzed like no other and we will all have the pleasure of watching a team with the two best players in the world play together in Lebron James and Kevin Durant.

Regardless of how it all shapes up, this will be a phenomenal tournament to watch and something great to discuss in the slow, dog days of the NBA off-season.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Lady Luck not Really a Raptor Fan

On Wednesday night the Raptors, and their fans will be hoping and praying for some lottery luck to help expedite the turnaround of this franchise. Whether it’s a rabbit foot, a troll doll, or a purple horse shoe, fans will be bringing out their lucky charms to help send the Raptors positive energy in the hopes that one of the Raptor ping-pong balls comes out first.   

Though the team has shown glimpses of success and has a great deal of free agent money to spend, The Raptors really lack a clear franchise player. This type of player is available, but not likely if they stay where they are at the number 9 spot. 

Either Anthony Davis or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could turn the Raptors fortune around immediately if the Raptors were to have the opportunity to select them.

The days of Vince and CB4 are gone.  Although there is little reason to doubt that Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan will turn into serviceable players, they likely are not going to become franchise players.

This NBA draft offers a couple of almost sure shot superstars in the opening round in Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.  The Toronto Raptors are currently slated to draft 9th if everything stays the same, but could move up or down depending on what happens around them.

Lady Luck needs to smile on the Raptors at this Wednesday night lottery.  I hate to say it, but it isn’t likely to happen.

Take a look at our draft lottery history. 

The Toronto Raptors have never really had great success in the draft lottery.  Even in their first season they were put in the 6th position by the NBA offices.  Something that had never happened before until Canadian expansion.  True, the Raptors went on to draft eventual rookie of the year Damon Stoudamire, but still, a lottery win could have been exciting and the team missed out on players like Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett and Michael Finley all who went on to have better careers than “Mighty Mouse”.

The Raptors actually won their second ever draft, but because of league rules were forced to draft 2nd.  That turned Allen Iverson into Marcus Camby.  Don’t even mention that Isaiah Thomas missed out on Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Peja Stojakovic.  Luck just wasn’t on their side.

The Raptors have only ben able to draft in the first position once in their history and chose Andrea Bargnani. Six years later, the Raptors are still searching for their franchise player.

The Raptors did eventually strike the number one overall pick in 2006, the same year the NBA ruled that it would no longer allow underclassmen to declare for the NBA draft.  Had high school students been given that opportunity that year, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant would have been very serious possibilities to join the NBA.

Nothing against Andrea, he has turned into a very good player and probably one of the top five players from that draft, but I’d rather have Kevin Durant.  I think everyone in the history of time and space would agree with me as well. We may have actually dodged a bullet with Oden, but still, the universe has seemingly been against us. 

Lady luck just hasn’t got it done for the Raptors.  They’ve had to make the best out of their poor draft position and, for the most part, they have.  Early on the Raptors found diamonds in the rough in Tracy McGrady at number 9 in the 1997 draft, Morris Petersen at number 21 in 2000 and DeMar DeRozan at number 9 in 2009.

They were also able to create their biggest success through a draft day trade that moved Antawn Jamison to the Warriors for Vince Carter.  The rest is, of course, history.

It would seem that Bryan Colangelo, Ed Stefanski and Dwane Casey are going to have to make the best of their current draft position, but you never know.  This could be our year.  This could be the year the Raptors get to draft that highly touted “game changer” that has alluded them since the franchises inception.  I mean it is mathematically possible according to Jay Satur  but it really isn’t all that likely.

Raptor fans are better to hope that some bigger names drop for some inexplicable reason like Peterson, DeMar and Ed Davis did in their draft years. Or the Raptors will have to hope Bryan Colangelo does his homework as he appears to have done with last years surprise Jonas Valanciunas. The pick was widely panned at the time until common sense and the opportunity to see him play changed people’s minds. 

Still, at the end of the day; I’ll cheer for our 12.3% chance of landing one of the top three picks and our 3.5% of winning the whole thing.  It could happen.

I mean it’s already happened twice.

Hopefully this time it will land the franchise player the Toronto Raptors so desperately need.

And if not, well we’re going to have to trust the Raptor brain trust to make a smart move at a lower position.  Something, we know, they have been able to do over the years. 

Happy Draft Lottery Day folks!

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Ex Raptors Could Be Keys to Success in Playoffs

So the Raptors are once again not in the post season, but there is still plenty for a Raptor fan to enjoy as this years playoff series’ get under way.

How about all the familiar faces playing key roles in this years playoffs?  Players that maybe didn’t get the chance to excel, or even play, in the postseason in Toronto have opportunities to make major contributions to their teams’ playoff run this year.

From big name talent like Chris Bosh to role players like Matt Bonner and Reggie Evans, there are plenty of ex-dinos out there that could play pivotal roles in the first round of the playoffs.

Make sure you watch out for these guys:

1) Chris Bosh – Although the Heat will live and die by the hand of Lebron James in the fourth quarter, Chris Bosh will once again be an important part of any hope Miami has of coming out of the East.  Bosh will have to match up against some very stiff talent and his offensive efforts could be what makes or breaks it for the Heat.  With all three members of the “big 3” firing on all cylinders there really is no stopping the Heat.

Chris Bosh will be a key reason the Miami Heat win or lose a game this year in the playoffs.

Bosh will have to score when needed and will really have to help contain the bigger bodies of Kevin Garnett, Tyson Chandler and Carlos Boozer if the Heat hope to advance back to the NBA finals.  Last year he played well offensively but wasn’t as effective on the defensive end (a trait that plagued him during his Raptors days).

If Chris Bosh excels this year the Heat will likely win it all.  If he buckles under the pressure, the load his teammates are left to carry may be too much to handle.

Chris Bosh may be the difference between championship and heartache for the Heat.  

2) Leandro Barbosa – When the Indiana Pacers acquired Barbosa at the trade deadline for a 2nd round pick they didn’t acquire him for the regular season.  They really acquired him for the playoffs.  After one game in the series against Orlando it is already clear why this young team needs the veteran Barbosa to step up.

Most of the Indiana players really lack playoff experience and success.  They’re a young team and they showed their youth in Game 1, dropping it in catastrophic fashion to the veteran Magic.  Orlando dominated the last four minutes of the game and stole the victory from a stronger Pacers squad.

Barbosa will likely get more minutes in game 2.  He’s been to the dance before and has had some great playoff success in Phoenix.  He’s a crafty veteran and knows how to handle the pressures of the playoffs.  His presence on and off the court will be of great help, specifically, to George Hill and Paul George, who were not sharp in game 1.

Barbosa has experience in the playoffs and can hopefully help the young Indiana backcourt shrug off their difficulties and get the Pacers back into the series.

When Barbosa was with the Raptors he was instant offense off the bench.  Indiana, with only 77 points in game 1, could use that bench production especially when their starting back court is having difficulty.

The Pacer bench, and Barbosa in particular, are going to be key factors in this series. 

Matt Bonner is a perfect example of a bench player that could have a huge impact off the bench for San Antonio.

3) Matt Bonner – The San Antonio Spurs came into the playoffs playing some pretty darn good basketball.  They captured the number one seed in a very difficult Western Conference and looked primed for a good run at the championship.  Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli, once again, lead this team into battle with their eyes on yet another championship ring.

The Spurs also have a phenomenal supporting cast as well consisting of Stephen Jackson, Boris Diaw, Kawhi Leonard and Matt Bonner.

When the starters need a rest, the bench doesn’t miss a beat.  Jackson does the scoring, Diaw defends the paint and Bonner is there to throw in some dagger three’s.

When Matt Bonner used to hit three-point shots for the Toronto Raptors it would send the ACC crowd into a frenzy.  There almost wasn’t a more exciting play at the ACC during his tenure in Toronto.  When he hits them for San Antonio there is that same excitement in the air.

There is something about a Bonner three-point shot that sends electricity through a crowd.  When he hits a big shot it usually has an impact on the game as well.  I have a feeling Matt Bonner is going to be hitting big shots throughout the playoffs for the San Antonio Spurs.

In Toronto, we’d call Matt Bonner an “X-factor”. In this series, he could help San Antonio steal a game or two.  

4) Reggie Evans – Every year it seems that a rare playoff performer emerges to the forefront and helps a team win a game a series or even a championship.  Last year names like Ian Mahinmi and Tyson Chandler became household names.  This year one of those names could be Reggie Evans.

In the playoffs in hockey you need toughness and forechecking. Someone who is going to bang it out and do the dirty work that doesn’t get noticed on the score sheet.  Throwing a pick, chasing down a loose ball, tapping an offensive board back to your teammates are some of the intangibles that give teams a better chance to win and become far more valuable in a playoff series.

Reggie Evans is a player that does those things.  He’s tough, he’s strong and if he’s defending you, you are going to have to work.  Watch out Gasol, watch out Rudy Gay, the lane is about to be clogged.

Reggie is one of those X-factor type players that could end up making a huge difference for LA, even if it doesn’t show up on the score sheet.  

5) Shawn Marion – He wasn’t a Raptor for very long, but it was clear during his time in Toronto that Shawn was a very offensively gifted player.  He is lightning quick and can get to the rim easily.  He has quick feet and can keep up with defenders. He has also shown throughout his time in Dallas that he is a valuable defensive presence as well.

Marion is another playoff veteran, having had successful runs in Phoenix and he finally won a championship in Dallas last year.  Marion was a key reason Dallas was able to win and provided stellar defense during their championship run last year.  He took care of Lebron James in last years final and is becoming more known for his defense around the league.

This year he has been handed the task of guarding Kevin Durant.  Not an easy task, but if anyone is up to it, it’ll be Marion.

A playoff veteran, Marion has been handed the most difficult defensive assignment of anyone in the playoffs.  It’s not going to be easy, but something tells me Marion’s defensive abilities could make or break his team this year.  

So, Many former Raptor players are going to potentially play large roles in how this years championship is ultimately decided.  Lots to watch during the playoffs, even if the Raptors aren’t a part of them.

Enjoy!

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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The Jamaal Magloire Factor

So I’ve come to the conclusion that when we see Jamaal Magloire in a Raptor game it has a lot more to do with what is not being done by our squad than it does with the need for Magloire to appear.

Magloire is tough.  He gets out there and uses his physicality to punish the players he defends.  You may beat him to the hoop, but you’re not gonna score.  He’ll hammer you everytime.

Jamaal Magloire is a player that's presence sends a message to his team. He is a strong veteran presence that works hard and he pushes his teammates to do the same.

The physical presence under the basket is not always there for the Raptors.  Andrea Bargnani isn’t exactly a “banger”, Amir Johnson gets into foul trouble often and Ed Davis doesn’t always display his max effort on a consistent basis.

This is when Magloire comes in to show them all what you’re supposed to do when you’re protecting the rim.  His presence also usually means we aren’t doing so well.

On Sunday night Harden, Durant and Westbrook used the Raptors defenders as pylons. Derozan couldn’t stop them, Forbes couldn’t stop them and Calderon sure as hell couldn’t stop them.

Once they got inside there wasn’t a big body to defend the rim.  Gray, J. Johnson, Davis and Amir needed to step up and prevent three-point plays, easy layups, clear paths to the net and they did not.

The effort was not there.  A 24-0 run for the Thunder in the third Quarter was evidence enough that whatever the Raptors were doing wasn’t working.

This year I have noticed that when the Raptors defense is falling apart, Dwane Casey calls on Magloire.

Magloire is a hometown favourite, having played his high school ball at Eastern Commerce in the Danforth village.  He hasn’t played in many games this season, but when he does it is usually to send a message.

Usually he sends messages to opposing players to stay out of the lane or they’re gonna get hit hard.  Tonight he was placed in the game to send a message to his own team.

“Man up”.  “Compete”.  “Challenge the opposition.”

It was too easy for James Harden and the Thunder to penetrate the defense. Magloire was needed to come in and stop the bleeding.

No one on the Raptors could protect the paint, no one could guard the perimeter no one chose to flash some effort.

In comes Magloire.  When you see him, you know someone isn’t doing their job.  Tonight he should have been in there the entire game.

I’m not a fan of playing Magloire.  He doesn’t fit into the long-term plans of this team and shouldn’t be taking time away from Amir, Davis, Alabi, or Johnson.

However, tonight I approved of his presence.  Magloire was one of the only Raptors that didn’t resemble a pylon.  He didn’t let players walk around him. He didn’t allow easy baskets to be scored on him.

He fought.

Hopefully his effort and his unexpected playing time helped to send a message to his team.  That kind of lackadaisical effort on the defensive end is not going to cut it.  Whether it be against the Nets, the Cavs or the Thunder.

To get respect in this game you need to send a message loud and clear.  On Sunday night the only Raptor able to do it was Magloire.

Despite the fact it took minutes away from other younger players, I applaud the use of Magloire tonight.

But may we never need to see him for extended minutes again.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Cavs Beat Raptors in Tank Bowl 2012

That wasn’t the prettiest game in the world last night, in fact, let us never speak of it again.

The Raptors sported a starting lineup the Bakersfield Jam would likely not be concerned about.  Ben Uzoh?  Alan Anderson? and Justin Dentmon serving as the primary backup one shootaround into his Raptor career?

If this is what “Tank Nation” is all about then I want no part of it.

That was ugly.  That was ugly before the disgraceful 4th quarter where the Raptors were outscored 33-17.  I mean the game was tied at 68 in the 3rd Quarter.  Is that “pounding the rock” or just straight stinking out the joint?

To be fair, the Raptors were without Calderon, who was relegated to the bench with “hockey face” after Elton Brand elbowed him in the face on Wednesday.  They were also without James Johnson, who is usually a spark plug for the Raptors.  He was out with what can only be described as “upsetting the coach”.

Not a great effort for our team, not at all.

Still Derozan had another strong game, Sonny Weems returned and Tristan Thompson got a nice ovation from the crowd.  Not all bad, I guess.

Zan For Three

Driving the Tank

I get it. I really do.  I understand Tank Nation.  I understand the idea of cheering when your team loses.

The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t get Kevin Durant by winning lots of games.  Lebron wasn’t delivered on Cleveland’s doorstep for shows of good effort.

Losing brings Toronto a valuable asset. Losing lots, at least theoretically, increases the value of that asset.

But if we are going to tank this season, I’d at least like to go down with some dignity.  Dwane Casey has shown this past week that he has absolutely no intention of leaving this season with a whimper.  He has this team playing hard and aggressive.

Just not last night.

If we are working towards next year, it would be nice to see a little more Ed Davis and a little more Solomon Alabi.  Last night, Justin Dentmon, fresh off of getting to the city, played 20 minutes. Alabi, a two-year Raptor, drank Gatorade.

Ben Uzoh and Alan Anderson are living out their NBA dreams of starting in a game, while some of our younger players are wasting away on the bench.

Tank or no Tank, let’s play the players that have a possible future here.

Rumour Mill

So James Johnson sat against the Cavaliers on the very same night Sonny Weems made a public appearance in Toronto.  2+2=4

I’m not going to suggest that the Raptors are looking to replace Johnson with Weems.  That would be a bad idea, a very bad idea.  But Weems is a solid offensive player and one who has really shown some promise in Lithuania this year.  His arrival at the very same time his replacement was being benched is sure to conjure up all kinds of baseless rumours and armchair GM-ing.

It is not out of the realm of possibility that he returns, though.

He’s good friends with Demar Derozan who is seemingly part of our future. He can score in bunches, which would be a nice asset to have on our bench, especially since Leandro Barbosa’s output has been replaced by Alan Anderson’s thus far.  And he seems to want to be here.  If we are to believe his words. 

Sonny is a pretty one-dimensional player, but like Barbosa, he scores a lot.  If used properly off the bench he could become a semi-valuable asset.

That being said I don’t think the plan moving forward is to have Johnson start at the 3 next season (he would likely come in off the bench) and the Raptors don’t need to carry the extra wing if one will be acquired in the summer.

The Weems debate will continue and Colangelo is going to have to make a decision.

At the very least, there will be plenty of chatter about Mr. Weems over the last couple of weeks of the season.

The Dog House

Of all the players that I could imagine being in Dwane Casey’s “dog house”, James Johnson wouldn’t be one of them.  This season he has been Mr. Everything playing with energy, doing the little things and playing strong defense.

He has been a fan favourite because of the energy he plays with on the court.

It is therefore very intriguing why he has been benched in favour of Alan Anderson.

In typical Dwane Casey fashion, this matter is being dealt with internally (as it should be), but one has to wonder what Johnson did to earn his mini vacation.

Hopefully it was a minor incident that both parties are now .  The Raptors need James Johnson; tank or no tank.  He’s a fun player to watch and would have come in handy last night against the Cavs.

Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

The kid is getting his confidence back.  Unfortunately he’s getting it back just in time for the season to end.  Once again Raptor fans went from being done with Derozan to thinking he might be part of the core.  Is he the player from the first half? or the one playing well to end the season?

Seems like Derozan has got a bit of “Reimer-itis”, hopefully his solid play continues into next season and he doesn’t revert back to his old ways.  On Friday night he shot the ball well, got to the line and was one of the only players that gave his team a chance to win.

Not Zan of the Night

Alan Anderson

He is not an NBA starter, but there he was as the Raptors starting small forward.  He won’t be there much longer, one can only assume.  He finished with 30 minutes of play and zero points.  He missed the four shots he took and was an overall -13 on the night.

But I guess he deserves more time that Alabi.

#freealabi

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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@kpedlar

***

Moving Forward with Johnson

In the third part of our season preview we take a look at the small forward position.  Once upon a time this position was occupied by such Raptor greats as Vince Carter, TMAC, Tracy Murray, Jamario Moon and oh course Hedo Turkoglu.  Suffice it to say, there has been plenty of bad to go with the good.

The Small forward position on most teams is filled with someone who can score in bunches and has potential to be an All Star.  Think Lebron, Durant, Carmelo, Granger.  These are the types of players you want playing on the wing.

Th Raptors are still waiting for their Durant.  For now they have James Johnson.

Is he the Raptors Durant?  Not likely, but he could develop into something this year.  He’s going to be given plenty of opportunity.

The Players

James Johnson

Linas Kleiza

Gary Forbes

Demar Derozan

The Story

Basically James Johnson is being given the opportunity here to play heavy minutes.  He is a player that Colangelo has always liked and when he was acquired it was with an eye to the future.  Bryan think Johnson might turn into a serviceable role player, a consistent starter, a spark off the bench.  This year we get to find out.

This year we will find out where James Johnson fits in the Raptors future plans.

Of course, Linas Kleiza is still around.  After an impressive World Championships last year he did very little to endear himself to the Raptors faithful and now he is likely to be coming off the bench unless he can earn his starting spot back.  Although he had a rough year last year, I wouldn’t count him out.  He’s a scorer and still possesses the skills that were on display at the World Championships.

Forbes and Derozan will slide over to the 3 when Casey wants to play “small ball”.  Each possess speed and the ability to defend and will fill in admirably when Barbosa is at the 2.

In Our Dreams

James Johnson proves he is worth keeping around.  This is a kid that Colangelo was after in the draft two years ago and sees him as part of the future.  I’m, at this point in time, inclined to believe Colangelo.

The best case scenario sees Johnson playing heavy minutes, scoring lots of points and defending big time small forwards admirably.  Kleiza embraces his role off the bench and becomes a nice scoring threat when the starters are getting a rest.

Ideally the Raptors want their Small Forwards to be competitive.

The Reality

James Johnson is a good player, but he isn’t an elite forward.  He will have some nice games and then he will disappear.  The reality is that he is a nice player on a second or third unit, not a first unit.

Kleiza could be starting material, but he needs to learn to play with the intelligence that he played with during the World Championships.  He was a leader there, can he be here? Tough call.

This position is one to watch for Raptor fans, but I wouldn’t expect miracles.  Small progress here is still progress.  The Raptors are going to get murdered against the Durants and Carmelos but hopefully as the season progresses Johnson and Kleiza show the Raptor brass that they are worthy of a spot going forward.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

***

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Raptors Hoping to Bring the Thunder in “New NBA”

So it didn’t take too long to realize that this new Collective agreement in the NBA might not be that different from what was in place before the lockout.

The deal hasn’t even been ratified and already Chris Paul has demanded a move to a big market NBA team.  Dwight Howard, Deron Williams and who knows who else, are likely to follow.

Isn’t this what the lockout was trying avoid?  Or was I just drinking the Kool-aid with all the other fans who cheer for teams in smaller markets?

I thought the league and it’s owners wanted to avoid another Miami Heat situation.  I thought they weren’t going to let the big markets rob the smaller markets of their star power.

Here in Toronto, we are all too familiar with the process of stars wanting out of our city.  Damon Stoudamire, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh all left when they finally had the opportunity to go to a big market team or demanded a trade elsewhere. These moves crippled the franchise during the years afterwards.

Amir Johnson and Demar Derozan offer the Raptors hope for the future. They help form a growing nucleus.

What’s to stop this from continuing?

The new CBA has a soft cap, meaning there are lots of opportunities to keep the rich teams rich. 

Teams like New York, Miami and Boston will continue to be allowed to stock their teams with multiple superstars while smaller markets feel the blow of losing stars they intend to build around.

The CBA does include  a higher luxury tax to try and disuade owners from overspending but it will only do so in a limited capacity.  The Mark Cubans of the world will pay what needs to be paid to keep their teams winning.

There are provisions in the new CBA which will allow teams like the Raptors to offer more money to their rookies if they perform the way that Derrick Rose did this past year. This CBA addition may actually help  teams like the Raptors keep their young stars longer. 

The amnesty rule is another interesting nugget that could help the Raptors as well.  Shedding the contracts of a Jose Calderon, Linas Kleiza or Andrea Bargnani may help clear capspace for the Raptors so they can spend money on the free agent market or make a smart trade. Hopefully they take advantage of this rule at the right time and don’t rush to make space for a Tyson Chandler or Nene.

The reality for the Raptors is that they are going to have to look to the Thunder for inspiration.  That franchise and it’s success should be the blueprint for smaller market teams like the Raptors.

The Raptors, like the Thunder, are not going to be able to draw players in with their big city media coverage or long basketball history the way a New York or Chicago can.

The Thunder have built a success by drafting smart and making smart decisions, not going after big free agent splashes.

The Thunder drafted well.  Kevin Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Harden are all draft picks that were rewards for finishing at the bottom of the league.  Those players have come together to form a strong nucleus.

The Thunder coupled those picks with smart trades and free agent acquisitions that added depth and character.  Guys like Kenderick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha and Nate Robinson add character and depth to the core of young players.  They didn’t make ill-advised signings like Jason Kapono or Yogi Stewart.

The Thunder were a Semi Final team in the Western Conference last year.  They did this all without the glitz and glam to draw in a Lebron, a Kobe or a Howard.  They’ve done it largely through smart decisions and can now attract free agents by winning basketball games.

The Thunder are the model that the Toronto Raptors need to follow going forward.  Draft smart, sign role players to reasonable contracts, and avoid handing out bad contracts to players coming off one good year (just say no to Tyson Chandler at $10 million per season).

This is the way that it has to be for the Raptors.  Draft well and make smart use of capspace.

Colangelo and his team have a difficult task ahead, especially with the short leash of a two-year contract, but he needs to resist the temptation of a Tyson Chandler or Nene now to focus on building a core into the future.

Derozan, Ed Davis, Amir and Valanciunas all may be a part of the team moving forward (maybe even Bargnani).  Hopefully so will a couple of top five picks in the next two years.

The system will not allow the Raptors to build through free agent splashes, but the new CBA may help the Raptors build from the ground up.

Let’s hope the Colangelo, Stefanski and the rest of the Raptor front office are doing their homework.

Winning in this new NBA is not going to be easy, but winning means work.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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@kpedlar

Ex Raptors become X-Factors in Round Two

As round two begins in the NBA, we’ve said goodbye to a few old allies.  Jarrett Jack and Marco Belinelli have packed their bags after a very succesful first round series against the Lakers.  Matt Bonner had a disappointing first round with San Antonio as they were bounced by the Grizzlies and Roy Hibbert and TJ Ford find themselves spectators as round two begins.

As the second round begins,  a few former Raptor favourites could tip the scales in their second round series.  Let’s take a look at the key Ex-Raptors that will likely be X-Factors for their respective teams.

Miami vs. Boston

The Big three vs. the Big Three.  This is a dream matchup for the NBA and any fan who enjoys good basketball.  We know that Lebron and Wade are going to score in bunches and we know that Ray Allen will be tossing key three pointers throughout the series and Kevin Garnett will be intense.  What we don’t know is how Chris Bosh will play against some really tough playoff competition.

If Miami has dreams of championship glory, they will need Chris Bosh to fight like he has never fought before.

Chris Bosh will be the key to winning this series for Miami.  Bosh has played very well thus far against Philly, but he is about to match up against Kevin Garnett who he has never played well against.  He will also have to play against the likes of Big Baby and Jermaine Oneal.  These are not finesse players.  They get dirty and fight with everything they have for a loose ball or a rebound.

If Chris Bosh is to be successful against these tough players he is going to have to channel is inner Reggie Evans and JYD.  Bosh needs to be less finesse and more banger.  He will need to fight like he has never fought before and be the player that keeps possessions alive and gives Wade and Lebron second chances.

On the flip side, Boston will rely heavily on Jermaine O’neal.  There likely won’t be a Shaq appearnce until later on in the series so Jermaine will be handed the task of containing Chris Bosh.  This is someone he knows quite well from his days in the T-dot.

Jermaine O’neal has been through the rigors of playoff basketball and is no newcomer to intensity in the playoffs.  His Indiana teams played their fare share of tough games.  He will need to be defensively sound and provide help defense when Lebron and Wade bust through the key.  If you need a hard foul to send a message, Jermaine O’neal is your guy.  He backs down from no one and may be the last line of defense for the Celtics.  He will be a key if the Celtics hope to head to the Eastern Conference Finals.

If Bosh can find that inner fight, Miami wins this series.  If he gets bullied on the glass by Garnett and O’neal and is shut down on the offensive end then it will be a second round exit for the boys from South Beach.

Dallas vs. LA Lakers

This series will be a shoot out.  Scoring is going to happen in bunches and defense will likely take a back seat as it often does in Dallas.  The mavericks have a number of players that can score in bunches in Nowitzki, Terry and Jason Kidd.  These three will score but might have trouble keeping up with Kobe, Gasol and Bynum.  If they are going to keep up, they will need their supporting cast members to step up.

Enter Shawn Marion and Peja Stojakovic.  These two players have the offensive skill set to be deadly to an opposing team.  While the defense focuses on Dirk and Terry,  Peja and Marion will likely get their fair share of good looks.  Marion is a player that makes those around him better.  He can pass effectively, shoots the ball well and knows how to get to the foul line (a valuable asset in the playoffs).  Peja Stojakovic has enjoyed a resurgence with Dallas and simply needs to stand on that three-point line and deliver.

Neither player was in Toronto for very long so we never had the chance to see them at their best.  But this is the playoffs an both are very familiar with the battles of playoff ball.  If used properly these players will help Dallas overthrow the defending champs.

Throw in “Almost Raptor” Tyson Chandler and you have an absolutely lethal rotation that can beat you in a number of different ways.

If Dallas spreads the floor, shares the ball and gets plenty of supporting effort from their bench they will win the series.  If the bench can’t contribute against the defending champs then the Lakers will continue their quest for another title.

Atlanta vs. Chicago

Do not underestimate the Atlanta Hawks.  Pundits and “experts” are already counting them out.

Don’t.

They are a young team finally coming into their own and might surprise the Bulls, who looked a little sluggish against Indiana.  This is a Hawks team that was able to defeat a pretty good team in Orlando.

Although I expect the Bulls to win the series I think it will be a longer  series than anyone thinks.

Watch out for Al Horford.  He will be a tough matchup for Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah inside. He is tough to match up against in the post and provides sturdy defense that could give Chicago’s Bigs fits on the inside.

The ex-Raptor to watch here is Chuck Swirsky, who may just faint when his team reaches theEastern Conference finals.  If the Bulls win he’ll likely look more lost than Tomas Kaberle during the Bruins game 7 celebration earlier this week.

It is likely that the Salami and Cheese will be brought out for the Hawks.

Oklahoma vs. Memphis

This series has no Raptor connections, but the Raptors should take note of these young teams and how they have built themselves into winning franchises.  It wasn’t long ago that a 22 win season was considered a success for the Thunder and Grizz.  These teams were able to build themselves back into contenders and the Raptors should hope they follow a similar path.

Neither of these teams became a success overnight and they surely didn’t do it by trading draft picks or signing  a slew of veteran players to bad contracts.  They built themselves slowly through the draft and then added veteran pieces to compliment those young players.

Watching Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka face Randolph, Gasol and Conely could very well be what Raptor fans will see in a few years from Derozan, Davis and Amir.

In terms of X-Factors for this series I would go with Shane Battier and Kendrick Perkins.  Perkins has been a non-factor thus far in the playoffs but he will need to help lead this young team as they focus on Playoff advancement.  He’s been through the wars before and they will need him to help contain the beast that is Randolph. Hopefully he wakes up soon or the surging Grizzlies might be too difficult to defeat.

Lots to watch as a Raptor fan, as some old friends will likely be keys to the teams that ultimately prevail.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

***

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Who’s your Team in the 2011 Playoffs?

With the Raptors season now a distant memory, the basketball fan in me has to find a team to cheer for, a team to really get behind.  A team that will let me feel the ups and downs of a true fan with some sort of authenticity. I love watching basketball but it is way more fun when you have someone to cheer for.

Last year I chose Atlanta and Phoenix and it was a fun playoff to watch.  I a little heartbroken when Nash and company were eliminated after a surprise filled run.  Was it worth the feeling the morning after, watching a game go into the early morning on a Wednesday?  Yup.

So this year, who do I cheer for?

There are lots and lots of talent to cheer for in the Eastern Conference.  Could I get behind a guy like Derek Rose and his jaw dropping play?  For sure.  Or do I want to support the original Big Three in Boston? or the Evil Empire that calls Miami home?  or do I take a relative underdog that might surprise a few people?

I still Like Atlanta and their young team.  Kirk Hinrich has given the young scorers on that team a level headed leader.  Definitely a possible upset or two in the Dirty South this year.

In the West my usual choice would be Steve Nash and the Suns, but alas they weren’t good enough to get the job done this year.

So who now?

Dallas?  They’ve got some great talent and a veteran cheif calling the shots in Jason Kidd; a guy you just can’t hate.

San Antonio?  Old reliable. A team that quietly goes about their business and one that has Matt Bonner a definite favourite of mine and Raptor fans alike.

Then there are the defending champs from LA.  My hatred of the Celtics led me to cheer for them last year, but this is not my favourite team.  Kobe this past week irked me quite a bit with his homophobic slur and half hearted apology.  They’re not looking like defending champs and they might not be around very long. Not that I would be greatly disappointed.

Then there are your long shots.  The Thunder are exciting and the acquisition of Kendrick Perkins was designed for this time of year.  Kevin Durant is a great player to wach and provides a lot of excitement.  As does Chris Paul in New Orleans or LaMarcus Aldridge in Portland.

So who’s it gonna be.

In the West, I’m going with the Thunder.  They’re young, exciting and humble.  Kendrick Perkins is a game changer for them.  I think they will surprise the Spurs and Mavs in the West.  Watch out for this team because they have a chance to go all the way and do it while playing very exciting basketball.

Kevin Durant is one of the most exciting players out there and Russell Westbrook looks ready to bust out this year.  They might not make it all the way but they’re a team I can get behind.  They remind me of what I dream the Raptors to one day be.  And in Oklahoma you get an absolutely basketball-mad environment as your backdrop.  It writes itself.  GO Thunder!

Is there a team more hated in the NBA than the Miami Heat? This spring Im cheering for Anyone but Maimi.

In the East I’m taking an “ABM” mentality.  That would be “Anyone But Miami”.

There is nothing like an NBA playoff series with a clear villain.  Miami is that villain.  Everyone outside of South Beach, where Lebron took his talents, will be cheering against the Big 2.5.  Add me to that list.

I hate these guys.  I hate their attitude, their over confidence, their cocky swaggar, the referees love of blowing the whistle for everything that comes within a foot of them.  It’s everything I hate about the league wrapped up into one team.

So therefore: Go 76ers! Go Celtics! Go Bulls!  ABM!  Anyone but Miami!

If I’m calling a specific team to beat them I’d have to go with Boston or Chicago.  Chicago is the team I think will do it.  They have the same amount of scoring power, but Chi-town also has a strong inside game that Miami cannot contend with.

Carlos Boozer + Joakim Noah > Chris Bosh and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

The greatest call of the playoffs will hopefully be when Chuck Swirsky gets out the Salami and Cheese for Lebron and his buddies.

So, for the next month and a half I’ll be sitting in front of my TV watching and cheering for the Thunder and Anyone but Miami!

Who are you cheering for?

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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