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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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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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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Reggie is Still Reggie

Every year there is a player or two that step out of obscurity and become a bigger part of their teams’ success in the playoffs.  For every Michael Jordan there is a Steve Kerr, for every Dirk Nowitzki there is a Tyson Chandler or Ian Mahimi, for every Kobe Bryant there is a Sasha Vujacic. A player that contributes more in a playoff setting then they may have during the regular season.  A player that raises their level of play at the right moment and contributes to postseason success.

For the Clippers, this year that player appears to be Reggie Evans.

Raptor fans are familiar with his skill set, his personality and just how valuable he can be.

He’s a banger.  He grabs rebounds he has no business getting, makes himself a pain in the rear on the defensive end and moves around the floor grabbing loose balls and missed shots like he isn’t 250 pounds.

Raptor fans know how valuable Reggie Evans can be to a team, the rest of the NBA is now getting a chance to see it as well as he has been a difference maker so far in the playoffs.

Reggie is a game changer, an “X-factor” and in a series as evenly matched as Memphis and the Clippers he might just be the difference maker in this series. A player that tips the scales in his teams’ favour.

Reggie has been putting together a nice run in the postseason.  He’s increased his minutes to 22.6 per game.  And he’s chipping in with 8.7 boards, and 50% shooting off the bench.  This from a player that averaged 5 rebounds in 13 minutes during the regular season.  His sudden playoff turnaround has come as a bit of a shock south of the border.

Of course while the rest of the US has been amazed with Reggie’s sudden good play, the Raptor faithful in Toronto aren’t surprised at all.  That’s just how Reggie always played the game while he was here.

During Reggie’s two years in Toronto he made himself a fan favourite with his endless effort.  Raptor fans weren’t used to seeing a player haul down rebounds on a regular and consistent basis.  He did.  He earned himself a starting spot during the 2010-11 season mainly because of this rebounding prowess.

Fans here couldn’t get enough of his effort.  He wasn’t a shooter or a flashy player , by any stretch of the imagination, but no player endeared himself to the fans more than Reggie did.  In fact, on a number of occasions during his time playing on the court and before he came back from injury in 2009 the fans at the ACC regularly chanted “Reg-gie, Reg-gie”.  It now seems to be catching on in Los Angeles.

Reggie Evans was never expected to do big things in Toronto but he kept playing hard and eventually earned himself a starting role.  He was the heart of this team for the time he was here and was greatly missed by the team this year.

This year he found himself in LA playing a much less important role.  He didn’t get much time and was only able to make a marginal difference with 4.5 rebounds in limited minutes. He played off the bench behind Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and eventually Kenyon Martin too.  He had to make the most of his minutes and, for the most part, he did.  He was the same hardworking player he was in Toronto but the results weren’t as noticeable on the court or stat sheet as they were the year before.

That is, until now.

The playoffs have been a totally different story and it seems like Reggie Evans was built for this time of year.  In the NBA playoffs players with his skill set become king.  Look at how Tyson Chandler exploded last year or how important Joel Anthony was during the Heats’ run last year.  Reggie Evans can be a difference maker in this series.  He may even become a difference maker in the playoffs in general, if, of course, the Clippers are fortunate to make it beyond Game 7 in Memphis on Sunday.

Then again, Raptor fans already know how valuable Reggie Evans can be.  We had him for 2 years and were fortunate to watch him beat up opposing offenses.

Now while the Raptors prepare for an important offseason  fans can sit back and enjoy watching Reggie get up to his old antics with the Clippers.

Hopefully we will get to see a little more of him after Sunday as well.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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NBA needs to follow NFL’s Lead

Okay NBA let’s get this thing going.

The NFL is nearing a deal.  Yes I hear that the NFLPA has formally agreed to the deal and will likely make some changes to the agreement, but the thing is obviously close.  A framework, at the very least, is getting put into place.

But Derek Fisher came out and publicly said he doesn’t want to follow in the NFL’s footsteps.  If he keeps talking like that there is no way the NBA will follow the NFL’s lead which means no basketball this year.

Derek Fisher says he doesn't like the NFL agreement, but they will be the ones playing next year, while the NBA sits.

Do you wanna be the only sports league that can’t get a deal done? The last bastion where players hold out for their wildest dreams, while fans of the game sit and stew and try to make alternative arrangements for the Winter. Is that really what you would prefer?

C’mon Derek Fisher!  C’mon Mark Cuban! C’mon Teachers Pension Plan!

You’ve cancelled summer league.  Not a problem, summer league kind of sucks anyway.  It’s almost not even an issue.  Unless you happen to be one of the many young players or older veterans that need a chance to show they’ve got what it takes to compete in the league.

But that’s okay.  Fans will forgive that.  Owners won’t blink an eye.  It only hurts the players.  You know, the ones that don’t make spit in this league.  If not for summer league guys like Jamario Moon wouldn’t have a job in the league. But those guys aren’t really the ones that are being fought for are they?

There isn’t any free agency, but that’s okay too.  I mean the Leafs signing of Tim Connelly would have upstaged the NBA free agency anyway. Has there been a bigger power play move this summer? I mean c’mon.  Better to have a free agency period all to yourself.  One where owners and player agents are running around like chickens with their heads cut off getting deals done for their players. You’re forgiven for that one too.

But make no mistake, the time is now.

The fans want it and the owners and players should want it too.  Let’s not wait until the time when training camp is supposed to start.  Let’s not wait for public opinion to wither into hatred or, even worse, indifference.

Remember the year baseball lost the World Series?  Go ask fans in Montreal how they feel about baseball.  Or fans in Florida.  The game is clinging to life support in many cities because of that strike. Indifference took over and the sport still has a long road back in many cities throughout the MLB.

There will be repercussions for losing the season.  Maybe not for Lebron James and his entourage or for players that are best buddies with Kobe (right Fisher?)

The NBA needs a deal now.  Look to the NFL for some ideas at least.

The NFL deal works on many levels. The cap is a hard one that should continue to help small and large market team compete in the league.  The NFL is the only sports league where the idea that any team can win on any given day is truly accurate.  The Arizona Cardinals anyone? New Orleans Saints?  These teams don’t have a history of dominance, but they have remained competitive over the last few years.  The only team this doesn’t apply to is maybe the Buffalo Bills (but that’s an entirely different story all together).

If the NBA doesn't learn from the NFL situation it will be a long time before we see a champonship celebration in the NBA.

The system will be a little bit more performance based, which come to think of it, is kind of how every other job in the world works.  It allows the hard workers to keep their jobs and the ones that don’t produce don’t get their money.  It also helps players like Marcus Banks not become a token in every deal and never get a chance to play or fight for a job because he signed one bad deal. He loses his job for a year and then can fight to get it back. Works for me.  Beats being a professional  DNP-CD every game.

The pre-season is also  reduced as are player practices during the year.  This is a benefit that could limit the amount of injuries and serious incidents that have plagued the league over the years.   Not only this major point, but the tentative NFL agreement also addresses the issues surrounding player health both during and after their playing days come to an end. Not as much of an issue in the NBA, but certainly something to look into.  Former players often face heart conditions and knee troubles after their playing days.

And the cous de gras? It’s a ten-year deal. Absolutely freaking genius.  The fans won’t have to go through this again in two or three years.  It will be a while.

Let’s use this framework by the NFL to help get the NBA owners and players, at least, talking.  This is a good deal for both the wealthy owners and the wealthy players.  It addresses major issues and both sides made compromises.  What is not to like here?

Let’s get this thing going NBA! Let’s get a deal done so we can get this party started! Stop the players from heading over to Europe before it’s too late and get a deal in place.

Derek Fisher and David Stern need to use the NFL’s deal to help bridge the gap between them not drive a larger wedge.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
Zan Tabak Herald

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The Excitement of Draft Night

Is there anything more exciting than draft night?

It really is a night when all teams fill their heads with dancing sugar plumbs.

Any and all of the players drafted on Thursday night could become the next Kobe, Jordan or D Wade.  There will be a few GM’s looking for that hidden gem in the late first round or early second round.  A player in the mould of a JJ Barea or Gilbert Arenas.

The beauty of it all is that no one will really know who won or lost until end of next season (assuming it even happens) and will be debated years from now.  How many pundits and experts question why Kobe Bryant hung around the green room until #13 or why he was later traded by the Hornets.  Of course Sam Bowie being taken over a young shooter from UNC will forever haunt everyone that works for or cheers for the New Jersey Nets.

Hopes, dreams, worries, visions of what can be.  Is there anything better?

For the Toronto Raptors the draft is an important step in their continued rebuilding/retooling.  With the addition os Dwane Casey to the coaching staff one would have to think that defense is going to play a part in whatever they decide to do with the pick.

Bismack Biyombo? I’d take him for his name alone. Can’t wait to write about how Biyombo Bismacked the opposition. Kemba Walker? He is a point guard and one that just won as much as you can in college ball.  Vesley? An interesting project.  Dare I say Jimmer? On second thought, maybe not.  Or the more prefered Brandon Knight? Although he likely won’t be in play.

In the end the player Toronto chooses will be very much an egg and no where close to a chicken.  What I mean to say here is that the Raptor faithful need to be patient with whoever is selected and need to see the pick as a small part of a much larger puzzle.

Rome wasn’t built in a day and this club will not be reborn with this pick.

One thing Raptor fans should be confident about is the person who is making the choices.

Draft Night is an exciting one for all involved. Who will wear Raptor Red on Draft Night?

Bryan Colangelo has a pretty solid track record when it comes to drafting talent.  Yes, he passed up Lamarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy in favour of Andrea Bargnani.  But, Bargnani ain’t that bad (someone needs to say it).  Demar Derozan was an inspired choice at the #9 slot and Ed Davis was an absolute steal at #13.  Plus while with Phoenix he was responsible for Michael Finley, Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudamire, Leandro Barbosa (in a draft day trade), Luol Deng, and Stephen Jackson.  To name a few.

Is there another GM you’d rather have making the choice than this guy?  Not me.

Add to this that Dwane Casey is now part of the decision-making team and will likely make a push for a more defensive minded player.

Mix all of these ingredients together and you have the recipe for a very intriguing draft from the perspective of the Toronto Raptors.

In the end, they Raps will make their choice, we will all applaud or jeer and ultimately debate the pick for the next several years.  Hopefully our pick is more MJ and less Sam Bowie.  More Derozan and less Araujo.

Happy Draft Day everyone!

Kristoffer Pedlar
Zan Tabak Herald

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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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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

Raptors will themselves to Victory

I’m not sure just how they did it, but somehow the Raptors overcame a depleted bench and the loss of two more players during the game to stun the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas.

This is the kind of victory that a team can hang its hat on and will hopefully help to build some momentum.  With the way their bench is looking right now the Raptors can use whatever momentum they can summon.

No Bargnani. No Calderon. No Weems. No Chance.  Right?

Not necessarily the case as Amir Johnson turned in one of his better defensive efforts and the raptors got key contributions from guys like Joey Dorsey, Julian Wright and an absolutely amazing Ed Davis to beat one of the best teams in the entire league.

This may be the game of the season for this team.  They had no business winning this game, but used grit and toughness to defeat a stellar opponent.

The Zan for Three

Hockey Mentality

Toronto is a hockey town.  Despite the disgusting state of affairs with the Maple Leafs, hockey remains the focus in the city and likely will until fans realize that they are being stolen from by rich owners that don’t give a crap about winning.

It is important in this city that the Raptors show some fight.  The wincing of Vince Carter when he stubbed a toe grew tired in this city.  If you want to play in Toronto, you have to fight on every possession.

Players like JYD, Pops Mensah Bonsu and Reggie Evans have endeared themselves to the Toronto faithful for putting in maximum effort despite the cost on their bodies.

The Raptors showed this fight Tuesday night in Dallas.  The team fought for every rebound and gave their bodies up for the sake of the fight.  Amir Johnson was stitched up over his left eye for the game and Julian Wright dove into the crowd fighting for the loose ball.

This isn’t the best team in the league, no doubt, but there is something about them that you just can’t help but like.

Finding an Identity

Joey Dorsey and the rest of the Raptor bench came to the rescue in a big "team defining" victory over the Mavericks.

 

These kinds of wins help a team form an identity.  Bayless fought through pain.  The entire bench played a significant role from Wright to Dorsey.  These kinds of victories help a young team realize who they are.  Are they a young flashy team that runs the ball?  A careful methodical team that plans smart X’s and O’s?  or are they a team that fights and gets as dirty as they need to in order to win.  Tuesday night they may have found that identity.  They realized that they can hang with the best in the league and come out on top.

Reggie Evans Factor

A game like that and you could be forgiven for thinking that Reggie Evans was playing.  The Raptors were all over the boards and fought for every loose ball that was available.  The defense was strong and the Mavericks couldn’t get much going on offense.  These are things that Reggie Evans does with ease.  There was no player on the Raptors that had a crazy stat line, everyone just did their job and worked hard to defeat their opponent.

There are many out there that feel Reggie and his expiring contract will be of use in a trade come the deadline, but if I’m Bryan Colangelo, I’m thinking very hard about trading a player that seems to be rubbing off on my younger studs.  Last night every player on this team had Reggie Evans masks on and played the game the right way.  Reggie might be a great tutor for young guys like Amir Johnson and Ed Davis going forward.

Join the Keep Reggie Bandwagon!!!

Zan of the Night

Ed Davis

The best way to learn in the NBA sometimes is to get thrown into the fire.  Ed Davis hasn’t been playing big minutes so far in his young NBA career, but he got thrown into the fire on Tuesday night.  He played the most minutes of his career and had a double-double by halftime.  The kid came to the defense of his team when they needed it most.

17 and 12 is the kind of night that Chris Bosh used to have and not usually in Dallas.

There is something special here.  I have a feeling this kid is going to be a really good NBA player.

Not Zan of the Night

Linas Kleiza

What are you thinking?  Seriously?  Your team is down two starters and you mouth off to the ref?  Come on man.  If I am Jay Triano I am running the hell out of Kleiza at practice.  There is absolutely no defense for your stupidity.  Yes, you had a point to complain, but the NBA isn’t going to let Linas Kleiza complain the way that Lebron or Kobe can complain.  The league is handing out techs like they’re going out of style.

Just a dumb ass decision.

 

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

 

 

Young Raptors Can’t Handle the Champs

That was a lot better than anyone would have expected.

The Raptors, without Andrea Bargnani, were able to hang with the defending champions for most of the game and turned what could have been a horrible blowout into  very watchable game.

The Raptors were able to hang with the Lakers so long because they worked hard all game.  The Lakers suffered early on from the early start (1pm EST is about 10am in L.A.).  The Raps took the lead after the first quarter and were able to keep it close going into the half.  Strong efforts from Jose Calderon, Demar Derozan and Linas Kleiza made a huge impact to the game as well.  Without Andrea’s contribution the Raptors needed their other players to step up and they did.

On the other side of the ball the Raptors had no answer to Kobe, Pau and Bynum and that was the difference in the end.  The Raptors worked hard and at various points in the game were able to control those players, but a moment here and a moment there is not good enough for the full 48 minutes.  The Lakers seemed to get better and better as the game progressed, probably because they started waking up from the time shift.  Today the Raps could not control those players, but then again, few can.

Despite their strong effort, the Raptors could not fight the power of the defending champs at the ACC on Sunday.

Return of the Mack

How about that Jose Calderon kid?  Two straight games where he has looked dominant for stretches of time.  A young team like this Toronto Raptors team really benefits from having a floor general that is so careful and meticulous with the ball.  Calderon made smart passes and shot the ball very well today.  He is getting into a nice groove and the Raptors played well today because the ball was moving on offense.  The defense?  Well, that’s a different story.

Jose has potential to be an impact player on the court.  We’ve seen it before and we’ll see it again.  This team plays well with him as the general and he makes the young players around him better.  It is very important for this team moving forward, assuming winning is the goal,  for Calderon to be playing well.

The Kleizanator Returns

Nice to see Linas Kleiza finally living up to his billing in the off-season.  I had this guy pegged as a key to the Raptors hopes this season and was totally expecting him to have a breakout year.  He has been anything but impressive for the most part this season, but seems to finally be finding his role.

He is not a player that can create his own shot.  He needs to be a catch and shoot type player or be put into a position to finish easily.  Having him play with Jose Calderon is a great idea and when Sonny Weems returns Triano needs to think long and hard about moving Sonny to the bench.

Kleiza is playing within the system now and seems to have accepted what his role is going to be.  18 points against New Jersey and 26 today shows that in the right position, with the right mix of players, Kleiza can be very, very effective.

Walk Like a Champion, Talk Like a Champion

This was not a typical Laker win.  They certainly had to earn the victory over the Raptors and had to work a lot harder than they may have thought with Andrea Bargnani out of the lineup.  But they are also the defending champions and it was easy to see why on Sunday.

The Lakers were tired after their trip to Toronto.  They started this game at the equivalent of 10am L.A. time.  They had a rough start to the game and the young Raptors took full advantage of the Lakers’ sluggishness.  The Lakers were getting beat on defense and couldn’t score when they wanted to.

But these are the defending champions.  they dug deep and were able to pull away from the Raptors in the fourth quarter.  Good teams get stronger as the game continues and the Lakers just kept powering up.  The Raps could not stop them in the last quarter and the Lakers blew the game open.

A valiant effort from the Raptors Young Onez, but you have to wake up pretty early in the morning if you’re going to beat the defending champions.

…Plus the Foul

The Soloman Alabi Era Begins

Nice to Soloman Alabi get some burn today.  The Raptors were down one of their bigs and Alabi came in to provide rest for Amir Johnson, who logged some pretty heavy minutes today.  There is something about this kid that I really like.  Maybe it is the fact that he is 7 foot 1.  Maybe it is that he is quiet and goes out a plays hard.  He isn’t going to get a lot of minutes, but he is going to try to make use of any minutes that he does get.

He reminds me a lot of our man Zan.  A player that works hard in practice and makes the best of the minutes that he gets.  Zan Tabak didn’t go on to become a perennial All-Star, but he played hard for seven seasons in the NBA and won a championship with the Houston Rockets.  Zan was a star in Europe with the Croatian National team and was a large part of that country’s success on the international stage. He’s got something Lebron doesn’t have:  a ring.

Soloman Alabi may not ever be a superstar, but he looks like a nice role player and good guy to have in the locker room.  I’m happy to say that today I witnessed his first minutes and hope he becomes a player the fans enjoy seeing.  He’s got Zan potential.

Zan of the Game

Linas Kleiza

Way to bounce back and prove your worth to the fans, the team and probably yourself too.  Kleiza has been a hot and cold player, but he is beginning to string together some good games.  He is shooting the ball well, playing decent on the defensive end and playing within the flow of the game.  The Raptors are going to need to lean on him a little more as the year progresses and today he showed that he is up for the challenge.

Not Zan of the Game

Jarryd Bayless

Dude, you need to look for your teammates more.  Despite the fact that you are more of a shooting guard in a point guards body, you can’t always be looking for your own shot.  Today Bayless reminded me of old Raptor point guards like T.J. Ford and Milt Palacio.  He was always looking for the shot instead of the pass.

Bayless is a very talented young player and one who I think will work out well over time, but he needs to play within the flow of the game.  Calderon is obviously a different player and that’s a good thing to have a change of pace in the second unit, But Bayless needs to be more careful with the ball and take his time on offense.

 

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

 

Positive signs for Raps in visit to Florida

“Winning isn’t everything” is the old adage, but in the case of the Raptors recent visit with former teammates Vince Carter and Chris Bosh, that expression couldn’t be more true.

The two games played in Orlando and Miami offered Raptor fans a glimpse of what this young Raptor team is made of.  Both contests were very competitive and the Raptors, owner of one of the worst records in the league, held their own against two of the best the association has to offer.

Here are some positive signs we saw from the Raptors this weekend.

The Kid is Alright

Demar Derozan is a player most fans want to become part of the future of this ball club.  He is fast, gets to the line and is developing a nice mid range game as well.  Over the weekend he played against some of the very best guards in the league and held his own on the offensive end.  There is no comparing Derozan to the likes of Wade, Carter and Lebron just yet, but he was no slouch in either of those matchups.

This may not be the kid the team ultimately builds around.  He doesn’t have the presence or skill level of a Kobe or a Lebron, but he is definitely cementing himself as one of the building blocks this team currently possess.

Demar Derozan is showing improvements to his game this season and is becoming the go-to guy on this years squad.

 

The best part of Derozan’s game this weekend, in Florida, was his ability to get to the line and the confidence his team is now showing in him.  Coach Triano is calling Derozan’s number a lot more than he did last year and that is a good thing if you are a Raptor fan.  Demar also got to the free throw line 12 times against Orlando and 11 times against the Heat.  This trend is very exciting if you are a Raptor fan.  Both because one of the most exciting high flyers in the game is taking the ball to the rim regularly and because it results in easy buckets for a team that has a hard time scoring them.

Derozan is a reason to get excited this season.

Triano is a Do-Something Person

Jay Triano has not been his typical Canadian self this year.  He is not afraid to call a spade a spade and occasionally call his players out.  Last week he called Sonny Weems out.  Triano criticized his shot selection and Sonny has responded.  Weems has been one of the best players on the court over the last week and is making the most of his shots (5 of 8 against Miami and 6 of 9 against Orlando).

Credit is due to Sonny, no doubt, but Triano wasn’t afraid to focus his young player and Sonny has responded with inspired play.  Sonny sees himself as a rotation player in the NBA and with his recent play so do I.  He is solid on the defensive end, something the Raptors have lacked over the last few years, and he is showing confidence and restraint on the offensive end.  When he plays in control, he can be a very effective tool for the Raps.

Fight, Fight, Fight

The Raptors are made up of a mix bag this year.  Players like Demar and Sonny might get burn off the bench on one of the top teams in the league, but David Anderson and Reggie Evans wouldn’t necessarily be one of your top options off the bench.

You cannot question their fight though, can you.

The Raptors have a group of young men who are not afraid to get dirty; not afraid to engage in battle against opponents who, on paper, are more impressive.  Orlando and Miami are very likely to be two of the teams left at the end of the season when the dust settles, the Raptors gave both teams all they could handle this weekend.

Andrea, Demar and Sonny have been the offensive force of this team.  Amir Johnson looked good, but needs to find a way to stay on the court.  Reggie was a big loss in Miami, but looks to be the energy of this team.  David Anderson, Joey Dorsey and Leandro Barbosa are providing meaningful minutes off the bench and Jack and Calderon are steady at the helm.

This is a team that may not win as many games as last year, but they are not going to ever be an easy W for an opposing team.

The Big Italian Awakens

Andrea Bargnani had two strong offensive games in Florida.  what may be even more important in the loss to Miami was the way he fought for boards ( he finished with 9 of them).  He was facing his former teammate (at least when Bosh was able to stay on the floor) and he held his own.  Bargnani has a deadly shot, this is something no one can deny, but his defensive game and his rebounding skills are what need serious work.  This is something the fans know, the coaches know, and it looks as though Bargnani is finally figuring it out as well.

The Raptors can add another building block to the puzzle if Andrea can strengthen his defensive game.

Preparation

Being Prepared is half the battle.  This is something that Triano and his staff understand.  The Boys in red were ready to play Orlando and thy were ready to play Lebron, Wade and Bosh.  You could see the intensity from the get-go in Orlando and the game plan on attacking Chris Bosh worked to perfection.  This team is buying into what the coaches are selling and it is evident on the court.  Defensive energy is up and the team is sharing the ball on offense.  One of the best parts of not having a legitimate superstar is not having to get that superstar their share of the ball.  The team came in prepared for the tilts in Florida and they competed against the best as a result.

 

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald