Pietrus a Welcome Addition

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

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

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

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

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

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

But what exactly does Pietrus give the Raptors?

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

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

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

A positive story all around for the Raptors.

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

Bienvenue à Toronto Monsieur Pietrus.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

–

Follow us:

@zantabakherald

@kpedlar

***

 

 

The Landry Fields Era Begins

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Landry Fields may change that.

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

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

But that contract….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hey, at least he isn’t Hedo Turkoglu.

***

ZTH

–

Follow us:

@zantabakherald

@kpedlar

***

Raptors are Worth Getting Excited About

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

But this year might be different.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Playoff basketball.

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

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

–

Follow us:

@zantabakherald
@kpedlar

***

Can Kleiza be a Game Changer for Raptors?

Every time I see Linas Kleiza play a basketball game for the Lithuanian National team I can’t help but imagine great success for him in Toronto with the Raptors.  When the Raps first signed Kleiza he went to the World Championships and blew away the competition (19pts, 57% FG, 7.1 reb).  He was easily one of the better players in that years tournament.

He could not turn it into a successful NBA campaign however.  He struggled to find a spot in the rotation, got injured and wasn’t the same when he came back.

This summer at the London Olympics Kleiza once again served notice that he is a dangerous, dangerous player.  He led his Lithuanian squad to a near ‘upset of the century’ against the eventual Gold medal winners from the States.  He had 25 points in that game matched up against some of the best defenders in the world.

Linas Kleiza has shown consistency and leadership in his time with the Lithuanian National Team, but has yet to show it for the Raptors in Toronto.

He finished the tournament averaging 13.8 pts on 44% shooting and 6.3 rebounds.  These are numbers that Raptor fans everywhere are hoping to see this season with a much improved Raptor squad, especially the improved shooting percentage.

Raptor fans have never known which Kleiza would show up on any given night.  There were nights during his Raptors tenure that mirrored the performance he had against the United States in London, but most were underwhelming at best.  He has never shown the same strength and consistency that he has for his Lithuanian National team with the Raptors.

Still Kleiza could offer the Raptors something this year.  There is no clear starting small forward.  It is possible Landry Fields gets moved there or Demar Derozan is placed in that spot, but that remains to be seen.  Kleiza, as one of the only natural small forwards on the team, could make a case for himself with a strong camp.  If not he would be a potent weapon off the bench.  That is, if his percentages are closer to his international averages.

The battle for Kleiza will be in finding consistency.  For whatever reason he has not been able to string together solid games in the NBA.  The effort he showed consistently for Lithuania has never materialized in Toronto. If he were able to bring the performances he showed during international play to games at the ACC he would easily make a case for more playing time.

As of now it remains to be seen what his eventual role will be.

He presents coach Casey with more questions than answers.  He is usually a strong shooter, not a great defender, but rebounds well and can shift over to the 4 if the coach wants a smaller lineup on the floor.  Is he better in the starting five or off the bench? Is he a viable option at the 4? Can he be the hot shot three point shooter the Raptors have been lacking on offense?

He hasn’t seen his shot fall consistently over the last two seasons, could not find the right role on offense, isn’t a great defender and his contract might be better used as an Amnesty case. Though at the MLE he is not too much of a salary burden to keep around.

He has an opportunity to play a big role with this team on and off the court this season. His experience and relationship with Raptors rookie Jonas Valanciunas will come in handy for certain.  He will likely be asked to take on more of a leadership role with this, much younger Raptors team.   He also presents coach Casey with a veteran shot off the bench.  Kleiza plays in the flow of the game and knows not to force things.  He could be a great weapon off the bench to lead a strong second unit.

Whether in a starting role or off the bench, Raptor fans can only hope Kleiza can finally carry over his Olympic success to the NBA season.  The Raptors could use his talent this year.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

–

Follow us:

@zantabakherald
@kpedlar

***

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.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

–

Follow us:

@zantabakherald
@kpedlar

***

Commitment to Youth Important Down the Stretch

Were my eyes deceiving me on Wednesday night against Philadelphia? or was that Ed Davis playing 33 minutes and adding yet another double-double to his resume? Was that Solomon Alabi actually getting some burn in the late stages of the game?  Justin Dentmon even got some extended minutes backing up Jose, didn’t he?

This needs to be Dwane Casey’s plan for the rest of the season despite how much it drives him crazy.

The Raptors organization needs to use what limited amount of time we have left this season to assess the young assets that still remain on the team in order to form the framework for their offseason personnel decisions.

Casey needs to see what the Alabi’s, Davis’s and Forbes’s can do in extended minutes where they are given the ball to run with.

It's time Ed Davis was given more of a role on the current Raptors team. the year is almost over and there is still much to learn about him and a number of other younger players.

On Wednesday night, like he did on Monday, Davis had a strong showing.  His game has shown significant improvement over the last few weeks and the Raptors may still consider keeping him around next season.  

There were big hopes for Ed and his ability to rebound the ball and defend going into the year.  This skill set is only now beginning to reveal itself in his extended time on the court.  On Monday he played 17 minutes and had 11 points and 10 rebounds.  On Wednesday he played 33 minutes and had 13 point and 13 rebounds.

If Double-Double’s and consistent effort on the defensive end are what the Raptors can expect from Ed then more minutes need to be given to see if he can improve on these numbers or at least keep them steady.  A double-double off the bench is what any team needs, in the playoffs or out of them. 

While we are at it let’s give all the young question marks on our team a little more time to show whether they belong.

Forbes has benefited from increased minutes this season and is beginning to show his worth.  Newly acquired Alan Anderson and Justin Dentmon appear as though they may deserve a longer look.  Why not throw Alabi some extra burn too and see what these kids can do.

The Raptors are getting closer and closer to a top five pick in the lottery and the worst thing that can happen by playing these younger players is that they fail and the Raptors lose more games, thus increasing their lottery odds. If not now then when?

While the extra losses may haunt the competative Dwane Casey in his dreams it may also pave the way for a stronger future and will ultimately give his team a lot more data to use in making decisions during the off-season.

So, shut down Bargnani (just make it official already), shut down Calderon, Kleiza even.  Let Demar run the team with Alabi, Forbes, Davis and Anderson starting.

It’s time to see what these guys can do and it’s time to accept our fate.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

–

Follow us:

@zantabakherald
@kpedlar

***

Raptors Get the Bobcat off Their Back

This was the third game this season the Raptors have played against the Bobcats and you could be forgiven thinking the Raptors would be winning that series. Tonight they finally got a win against a team they really should be beating on a regular basis.

The great debate between winning games against teams we should beat and “Tank Nation” continues, but in the end this is a victory you want to have if you are a Raptor fan.  The Bobcats are among the worst teams the league has ever seen.  I mean, they’re bad.  Another loss against this Charlotte team would say a lot more about our current roster than anything else.

On Tuesday night the Raptors found a way to win and sent some positive signs out to a fanbase that is quickly losing interest in anything outside of a free slice of pizza.

Demar Derozan once again looked good, Bargnani filled the net with 30 points and Linas Kleiza, Ed Davis and Aaron Gray provided support.

I know what most people are thinking; it’s the Bobcats, why should we care?

A loss against this team would be demoralizing and it would send the wrong message about our future core.  We need to beat the Bobcats of this league.  Derozan and Bargnani need to develop more confidence and it isn’t going to happen by losing.  Plus Charlotte is a team that has owned us this year.  This was a little bit of payback.

A win tonight doesn’t help us get closer to Anthony Davis or Kidd Gilchrist, but it does help build the confidence of young players that are going to be asked to do a lot more next year.  Tonight Derozan and Bargnani answered the call and hopefully their stat lines look similar.

The Zan for Three

To Ed Davis, or not to Ed Davis?

I don’t know if Ed Davis read Tim Chisholm’s article on Tuesday afternoon that called into question his role on this team going forward, but he certainly came out and played a solid game.  He’s actually strung a few strong games together. Call it good timing, a push back, whatever you want.  Ed played well on Wednesday.  He rebounded well, something he is consistently good at.  He scored points, and didn’t look lost on the offensive end.  He made the most of the limited minutes he was given and was a valuable contributor off the bench.

As Chisholm suggests in his piece, Ed’s contract is not difficult to move and with Jonas Valanciunas coming in next year there are far too many big men on the team.  He would be the clear movable piece.

While Chisholm and others are calling into question Davis’s future in Toronto (with good reason), Ed is quietly going about his business.  On Tuesday night he was everything he needed to be to keep his spot on this team.  Whether he is showing he belongs on this team going forward or simply raising his trade value, Davis’s play  the last few games is something to take note of.  And maybe his fate isn’t quite cemented.

Where are the Fans?

It’s the end of the year. The Raptors are simply playing out the schedule, but where are all the fans?  The ACC has looked less and less full and when it is full it sounds like a crowd at the Toronto Symphony not at an NBA basketball game. That is, of course, unless there is pizza on the line.

Tonight the crowd once again seemed deflated, almost from the get go.  I’d like to believe it was because they found out Solomon Alabi wouldn’t be starting, but I have a feeling the fans just aren’t that into the Raptors right now.

The city has been absolutely deflated by the Maple Leafs collapse and the rough and tumble season the Raptors have been enduring.  Fans are fed up and losing patience.  Hopefully this is something Colangelo, Casey, Derozan, Bargnani, or whoever gives the end of the year speech to the ACC addresses.

Ed Davis provided a spark off the bench that lifted the Raptors to their first win of the season over the Charlotte Bobcats.

The ACC has always been a little reserved, but lately it’s been down right deadsville.  Unfortunately the Charlotte Bobcats aren’t exactly crowd pleasing competition, but when the game is on the line with 40 seconds left the entire stadium should be on its feet.  It doesn’t matter who they are playing.  The fans need to know that though this year has been tough, there is a change coming.

Sonny Return

So Sonny Weems is back in Toronto.  Now before I go creating a rumour that doesn’t exist, he is not coming back at the moment.  The injury he sustained in Lithuania ended his season with Zalgiris  and he is simply back to receive treatment on his sprained foot.  But wouldn’t he look good playing at the ACC again? The Raptors could use a fast, athletic wing player off the bench to compliment James Johnson and Demar Derozan.

Weems proved while he was overseas that he still has plenty of game left and may have actually done himself a great service by heading over to play with Zalgiris.  Sonny looked confident, took control of games when he as there and worked on becoming a more dominant player.  Right now Toronto could use an exciting player that can score coming off the bench.  With Udoh and Anderson, the Raptors have filled the roster with 10 day rentals.  Weems would offer a more long term solution to their depth issues.

Plus this is where he belongs.

Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

Once again “good Demar” came out to play tonight.  He shot the ball well, got to the line and led the team to a tough victory.  What was most impressive about Demar’s play against Charlotte wasn’t the 50% shooting or the 20 points he was able to accumulate; it was his aggression.  Demar took the ball to the hoop and wasn’t afraid to draw contact.  He’s been getting his fair share of calls recently and you can tell it is giving him the confidence he needs to attack the rim on a more consistent basis.  Even though we are nearing the end of the year, it is nice to see Derozan playing well and his effort is a good sign for the team next year as well.

Not Zan of the Night

Amir Johnson

“Bad Amir” came out of the wood work tonight.  Despite a few well-timed defensive plays he was non-existent on offense and took himself out the game by accumulating fouls.  Ed Davis stepped up in Amir’s absence. Amir is a player that you can see has incredible potential, but he’s just not been able to put it together consistently.  The fouls are a part of his game that completely take him out of the flow and often land him on the bench.  He is one of my favourite players, but he continues to remind us that he still has some concerning habits.

Raptors Scrappy in Win Over Denver

One night removed from “pizza-gate” the Raptors came out and once again gave their fans reason to cheer and a little pepperoni on the side.

The Raptors, missing a number of key players, battled on both ends of the floor.  They got production from everyone on the bench and were able to limit their mistakes.

Denver is a good team, but did not get enough production from their starting lineup and they could not figure out Andrea Bargnani tonight. They basically gave the game to the Raptors in the 4th quarter by missing 15 shots in a row.  Denver couldn’t seem to figure things out on the offensive end and it gave the Raptors just enough room to sneak out a victory.

Bargnani was all over the place for the Raptors, hitting threes and driving the lane. A great performance from Andrea and one that was long overdue.  Perhaps he is getting his mojo back.  It would be nice to see Bargnani end the season strong and give Raptor fans positve thoughts of what next year will be like.

The win doesn’t help “tank nation”, but this is the kind of win that all fans should be happy with.  The Raptors best players played well andthe entire team fought their way to the W.  You want your best players fighting game in and game out and tonight the whole team showed heart, especially Bargnani and Derozan.

It doesn’t get us closer to a high draft pick, but it did help the confidence of our young team.

And the fans got their pizza.

The Zan for Three

Stars Being Stars

The one thing that Raptor fans should be looking at game in and game out is the overall play from their two biggest stars.  Andrea Bargnani and Demar Derozan are an important part of this franchise’s future and they need to show their talent on a more consistent basis.  Tonight both players looked good.

Bargs was hitting shots from everywhere and was able to get himself to the free thow line consistently throughout the game.  He shot 50% from the field and got to the line 12 times.  It was a long overdue effort from Bargs who has been fairly ineffeicient since returning from injury.  His inspired play is a good sign for Raptor fans.

Andrea Bargnani served up notice that he has finally healed from his calf injury and is back! Bargnani scored 26 to help the Raptors upset the Nuggets at the ACC on Wednesday night.

Derozan was a worthy compliment to Bargs tonight.  He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well (30%), but he was able to get to the line on a consistent basis and disrupt the defense.  He just couldn’t hit his free throws.  Still, on a bad shooting night he was able to come away with 17 points despite shooting 45% from the stripe.

If these two can get themselves on the same page they are going to be a fairly potent pair in the future.  Let’s just see if they can do it again on Friday.  One step at a time, but for a night, this duo looked good.

Who are These Guys?

You had to forgive the fans at the ACC who needed a programme and an internet connection to figure out who was on the floor for Toronto in the second half.  The Raptors, already without Jaryyd Bayless, lost James Johnson to a respiratory infection as well.  In their place the household names of Alan Anderson and Ben Uzoh took the court.

You, I and everyone in attendance wasn’t expecting much from this motley crew of players but Uzoh and Anderson delivered quality minutes off the bench.  Together they shot 40%, chipped in with 12 points and provided energy off the bench for a team that is clearly lacking depth.

Players on 10-day contracts need to play hard whenever they’re on the court. They only have 10 days to impress, right? Both Uzoh and Anderson are working quite hard to show they belong in this league and can help the Raptors during this last part of the season.

If either of these guys continue to play this well, they may just earn themselves a shot at roster spot next year or an invitation to camp at the very least.

It was only one game. So maybe we should all breathe, wait and see. So far the new acquisitions look pretty good.

Redemption Song

There is nothing better for a player than sticking it to your old team; especially when your old team didn’t think you were worth the effort.

On Wednesday Gary Forbes got to show the Nuggets what they missed out on this off-season when they let him sign a multi-year deal with Toronto.  Off the bench Forbes contributed with 11 points and 10 rebounds in 19 minutes.

Over the last couple of weeks he hasn’t only been making the Nuggets regret their decision to let him go, he has been making sure the Raptors brass and fan base remember why they brought him in.

Over the last two weeks, where his playing time has been increased, Forbes is averaging 10.5 points on 46% shooting.  Not bad at all for a guy coming off the bench for 20 minutes a game.

While the Nuggets were kicking themselves a little bit for letting him go, the Raptors were envisioning Forbes as a key part of deep bench for the club next year.

Forbes has shown that he was a worthwhile pickup and may only just be getting started.

Zan of the Night

Andrea Bargnani

Like an old guy in an erectile dysfunction commercial “he’s back!”.  Andrea looked every bit a number one option tonight.  He scored inside, outside and seemed to gain the confidence that we haven’t seen since the first month of the season.

Andrea driving to the hoop with confidence is one of my favourite things to see.  Let’s hope this is the beginning of his return to form.

Not Zan of the Night

JaVale McGee

Yes, he will likely haunt Jose Calderon in his dreams forever, after that Earth shattering posterizing dunk.  But his own game  has been overrated all year long.  He has struggled to contain opposing Power forwards and isn’t scoring like he used to.  So far the change of scenery from Washington hasn’t provided McGee with the kick in the butt he needed.  There is still a very scary talent in that large frame, I wish him the best in trying to finally put it all together.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

–

Follow us:

@zantabakherald
@kpedlar

Redemption in New Orleans

A night after letting a win slip through their fingers, the Raptors showed up in a big way during the fourth quarter and stole a victory from the Hornets in New Orleans.  Linas Kleiza led the way with a beautiful shooting performance and Demar Derozan, one night removed from stirring up controversy, brought his A-game to the table with a solid 21 points.

Demar was the talk of the town all day long following a twitter controversy after the Houston Rockets game.  Whether he was referring to coach Casey’s benching of him in the 4th quarter of Tuesday’s game or his own performance against the Rockets when he tweeted “straight bullsh#!+”, he certainly vindicated himself with a strong night at the office.

What was most inspiring about Wednesday nights victory was not just the W, against a team they certainly should be able to beat, but the way they came back in the 4th quarter.

This is a team that hasn’t been able to do that very often.

Tonight they dug deep and found a way to win.

When you have a group of young players trying to grow, comeback victories certainly help build that confidence. 

Onward and Upward.

Zan for Three

Redemption Tweet

So Demar Derozan really caused a controversy didn’t he? And he didn’t even write a complete sentence.  Last night, after being benched for the entire 4th quarter,  he tweeted “Straight Bulls#!+”.  This led Raptor fans to lose their minds and begin inferring that this tweet was a result of anger toward Dwane Casey.

The things we can tell in 140 characters and less huh?

Whether Demar was mad at himself or his coach, Wednesday night he came out ready to make amends and prove a point.

Derozan is a player that comes with high expectations.  Whether those expectations are fair or not is a completely different story, they are there regardless.  He has not played up to those expectations and fans are wanting more of him.

20 points plus every night out is what is being asked of him. Tonight he delivered just that.  What makes his performance even more enjoyable for Raptor faithful is that he did it by aggressively attacking the rim.

Demar Derozan was able to put his "Twitter-rage" behind him and step up big time in a thrilling, come from behind victory, for the Raptors.

What’s more is that this whole “twittergate” has shown that Demar is growing up a bit.  Yes, he lashed out publicly (which is not cool), but he is getting angry when he doesn’t play well.  He is not accepting mediocrity, or accepting defeat, he is fighting to do his best night in and night out.

A player that wants to do well and is his own worst critic is a player you want to have on your team.  This is a good trait in a young player because it ensures that the player is going to work hard to improve moving forward.

Demar showed toughness and aggression on Wednesday night.

Hopefully we see more.

The Kleizanator

When Linas Kleiza shoots the ball well, there are few things as beautiful.  I haven’t seen him shoot the ball consistently since he was wearing a Lithuania jersey in the World Championships, but tonight it was nice to see him shooting with confidence.

This is a player that has never really achieved the results that were expected when he was signed to his large contract.  He is, however a very good ball player and when he finds his rhythm he is certainly a marvel to behold.

I like Kleiza.  I have since we signed him and I hope he can turn it around.  His contract makes him, virtually, untradeable at this point, so hopefully we continue to see good things from Kleiza because he’s here for, at least, another year. 

Fourth Quarter

Good teams are judged based on their performance in late game situations.  Let’s be honest, 75% of basketball games are decided in the final frame.  Teams either step up or fall flat  in the last quarter of a game.  The Raptors have been a team that usually cannot keep up with their opponents and let leads slip way or simply languish too far behind.

Tonight, albeit against a lesser opponent, they hung in and fought their way to victory. In the 4th quarter, on the second night of a back to back, they outscored their opponents 33-15 in the final frame.  That is what good teams are able to do.  It’s what separates the top from the bottom, the good from the bad, the stars from the pretenders, the wheat from the sheaf (yeah, I said it!).  Tonight the Raptors looked like the real deal.  Albeit against the Hornets.

Zan of the Night

Amir Johnson

Not the player that jumps out at you on a stat sheet.  Kleiza and Derozan would be the top scorers, but Amir was the best all round player tonight.  He battled defensively, was active on both ends of the floor and just provided his team with the energy it needed to come back.

There is a marked difference in his performance when he is able to stay out of foul trouble.  On Wednesday he was able to stay on the floor and that’s a good thing for the Raptors. 

Not Zan of the Night

Ed Davis

The Jekyll and Hyde impression continues with Davis.  One night after looking great in extended minutes, he crashed back down to Earth with a terrible performance.  He was not a factor in this game at all and Dwane Casey gave him every opportunity to show that Tuesday night wasn’t a fluke.  Davis needs to start showing up consistently or he will be wearing a different jersey next year, end of story.

And I hate saying that because he’s one of my favourites, but he plays a position that many others do as well.  He needs to start separating himself from his competition. 

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

–

Follow us:

@zantabakherald
@kpedlar

The Beatdown Goes On in Boston

So that was awful.

There’s not much to say about the game.  The Raptors were thoroughly outplayed and beaten by the Celtics.  This game wasn’t even interesting, I mean I missed Modern Family for this game(though thankfully it was a repeat).  Why?  Neither team did anything interesting and the Raptors did almost nothing at all.  No defense, no offense, no chance.

Say what you want about missing Kleiza and Bargnani, the effort was simply not there.

If you’re part of  “Tank Nation” you might have something to cheer about, but even the people who want this team to lose for a higher pick cannot be pleased with the complete lack of guts in this game. That’s not the way anyone wants to lose a game. 

Back to Back beatings for the Raptors are good for no one.  Hopefully this wakes up some of the players and they come out with a little more fire at home on Friday.

It would be hard to play with less. 

Zan for three

Gray’s Anatomy

The only slightly bright spot for the Raptors tonight was Aaron Gray.  He played with intensity and worked hard under the basket and finished with a very credible 8 points and 9 rebounds.  Gray’s play should certainly earn him some more minutes, but the fact that he has been a factor at all this season says so much more about how disappointing Amir Johnson and Ed Davis have been.

Davis made amends in the second half for a pretty mediocre first half, but he hasn’t been as advertised this season.  He shows up one night and then disappears for the next two.

Gray is not a part of the future of this franchise.  He isn’t even really a part of their present, but he is currently out playing young “core pieces” in Amir and Ed.

There is nothing bad about seeing a bench guy step up and play well, but he really shouldn’t be out there.  Ed Davis is supposed to be a consistent force under the basket and Amir is supposed to be our energy guy.

Neither have been as advertised this season.

That certainly was a beatdown. The Raptors (And Bayless in this shot) took it on the chin against the Celtics falling 100-64 in Boston.

Ed Davis finally came alive in the second half, but Amir never showed up.

In their absence, Gray is finding some minutes that shouldn’t be there for the taking.

The Demar Derozan Watch

If I know Raptor fans, like I know Raptor fans everyone is giving up on Demar Derozan.  They’re calling for him to be moved, looking to the future without him, throwing in the towel on him as part of our “core” going forward.

He’s not playing well.  He hasn’t shown the promise he did at the end of last year.  He hasn’t signalled that he should be one of our central pieces going forward.

But, then again, that’s what most of us said about Bargnani last year.

We were wrong.  Maybe Demar is just having a hard time adjusting to his expanded role. 

Without Bargnani in the lineup, Demar is really the only scoring threat the Raptors have.  He is the focus of opposing defenses and the main focus of scouting reports.  He’s not used to being targeted by opposing teams.  That adjustment takes time.

Watching him play against Ray Allen on Wednesday only highlighted the fears fans all have.  He didn’t look good on either end of the floor and was held in check and taken to school by a veteran star.  The gap between the All-Star guard and Derozan was never as apparent as it was on Wednesday night.

But maybe this game came at exactly the right time.

Maybe Ray Allen gives Demar something to think about, something to strive for.  Games like this stay with you.  They haunt you while you’re on the road to the next game.  Let’s hope this sits with Demar for a while and he plays Friday with this game in the back of his mind.  Maybe this game will be the chip he carries on his shoulder for the rest of the season, that ignites a fire under him. 

Let’s hope this was his wake up call.

Pound the Rock

I’m interested to see how this team responds on Friday against a very beatable Washington team.  Two losses in a row is one thing, but to be absolutely crushed and humiliated twice in a row is something else.  This team needs to come out like caged animals on Friday.  They need to show some fight and if they go down they need to go down swinging with everything they have.

Losses like this test the fortitude of a team.  These young players need to shrug this off, learn from their mistakes and just come out focused and determined to do better.

The “Pound the Rock” mantra isn’t just about continuing to learn and  getting better, it’s about responding to adversity.  Over the last two games this team has seen some adversity.  Friday is where we will learn what this team is made of.  Can they bounce back after embarrassing defeats?  Show more fight and hustle win or lose?

We’ll find out.

Zan of the Night

Adnan Virk

The former Score employee and current ESPN anchor tweeted early in the night that he had received free tickets to see Toronto at the Garden.  He was the big winner on the night because he didn’t pay to see this monstrosity.  I’m sure he doesn’t pay for many basketball tickets, but he definitely got what he paid for.  Plus it’s great that he still makes the effort to check out a team he once worked for and cheered for when he was here in Toronto.  He is definitely missed on Raptors broadcasts and Toronto television.

Not Zan of the Night

Take your pick.  The entire Raptors team looked lost and out of sync. No one player was more to blame than any other.  This one is on everyone.  Hopefully they can dust it off and get back at it on Friday.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

***

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald