Another Ugly Loss for Raptors without Bargnani

One game removed from Demar Derozan stepping up to fill the void of Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors and Derozan fell back to Earth at the ACC, getting absolutely obliterated by the Atlanta Hawks.

The Raptors had no answers for Joe Jonson who seemed to do what he wanted, when he wanted all night long.  The Raptors could not get any scoring from their starting lineup and need to start searching for an identity without Andrea Bargnani.

Bargnani is their best player, by far, and his absence only seems to be cementing how valuable he is to this team.  Without him the Raptors look lost on offense as no one seems able or willing to create their own shot or take over a game.

Demar Derozan was able to do it against the Nets, but he needs to find that effort  consistently if he is going to take that next step in his development.

Tonight Derozan and the Raptors were flat.

Zan For Three

Love and Hate

It was German poet Kurt Tucholsky who said; “those who hate most fervently must have once loved deeply…”  In the case of Toronto Raptors fans this rings true.  We see it every time Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, or Tracy McGrady come to town.  The entire stadium goes absolutely Roman on them.  There is so much venom and disgust it absolutely dominates the game.

Tonight Tracy McGrady was back in town as an Atlanta Hawk.  Make no mistake about it, his game is no where near where it used to be, but Raptor fans don’t seem to care.  They boo him every time he touches the ball.  

They boo because of the way he left this franchise and they boo his smug attitude.  On Tuesday they were also booing his mockery of our National Anthem.

McGrady jokingly sang the Canadian National anthem at the start of the game and shared a laugh with his fellow teammates about the incident.  As if this town needs more reason to dislike this guy.

He left Toronto right as he was about to explode into a superstar.  He could have had years playing alongside his cousin Vince as a potent one-two punch in Toronto.  He chose fame and fortune in Orlando and the Raptors never quite reached the height they could have if McGrady had stuck around a few more years.

Everytime the fans boo him it is with the image of what could have been in their minds.  They wanted to love Tmac, they wanted to buy his jersey and chant his name.  But he didn’t let them and he took away what was, seemingly an opportunity at Eastern Conference supremacy in his days in Toronto.

He will always be public enemy no. 1 in these parts, but I think he’s just fine with that.

Jose Calderon and Dwane Casey discuss strategies on how to stop Joe Johnson. I don't think they came up with anything.

Striving for Consistency

A game after igniting Raptor Blogs everywhere, Demar Derozan took a holiday.  He looked lost and discombobulated out there and not the same player he was one game ago.  Demar is a great player, there is no doubt about that.  He can shoot the mid range jumper well, drive with the best of them and is learning to hit that three-point shot more consistently.  What he hasn’t figured out yet is how to make his performance consistent each night.

Game in and game out you’re never sure what you’re going to get.  Will it be the confident high flyer who gets to the rim at will? or will it be the timid player that is content shooting low percentage jump shots?  We’ve seen both this year, but if Raptor fans are going to get excited about the future, he is going to have to start putting forth a more consistent effort.

We need this guy to be the player he can be on a more regular basis.

Alabi Time?

Come on! No Alabi in garbage time?  If not on a night like tonight, then when?  Coach Casey has to give this guy a look otherwise the fan base will never know what they have in him.  There is no time like the present when the team seems to be looking for some inside assistance.

Gotta give him a sniff sometime.  In a game like this, that is over quickly, it is imperative that guys like Forbes, Alabi and Ed Davis get an extended look.  It is integral to see what exactly the Raptors have on this team for the future and for the trade market.

Zan of the Night

Joe Johnson

The guy was lights out all night long.  He had 30 points at the beginning of the third quarter!  His performance was awe-inspiring and he could not be controlled.  He seemed to take full advantage of  the Raptors weak perimeter defense.  He manhandled them all night long and in the end was the key to the Hawks victory.

Not Zan of the Game

Amir Johnson

Would the real Amir Johnson please stand up? Amir is typically snagging rebounds and finishing beautiful passes from Jose Calderon.  Lately he has been all over the map, from non-existent to downright awful.  Tonight he was invisible. He just isn’t doing the things he needs to do on either end of the floor.  Hopefully for everyone, he picks up his game or the beneficiary will be Ed Davis who is starting to see more minutes.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

Raptors Show Fight in Win over Jazz

It was everything you wanted in a basketball game.  Whether you are driving the tank this season or still cheering for little victories, this game had something for everyone.

The Toronto Raptors used a complete team effort to battle back from an 18 point deficit to overcome the Utah Jazz in double overtime for their second straight victory.

The Raptors used team defense, timely shooting and grit to come away with a well-earned win.

The biggest winner on the night was anyone that stayed up to watch the end of the game.  Fans were rewarded with a back and forth battle that gave fans two quarters of free basketball.  Nothing wrong with that.

Hopefully the win wasn’t costly as Andrea Bargnani left the game after re-aggravating his calf injury and was later seen on crutches.  Hopefully he will be back, he clearly makes a big difference.

Zan for Three

Night and Day

This team is completely different when Andrea Bargnani is on the floor.  He gives them direction and is an absolute force on the offensive end this season.  Everything he has ever been in our minds over the last few years, he is turning into on the court.

He is shooting the lights out, driving the ball and driving defenders bananas as he draws them inside and out.  Teams can’t guard him and he isn’t allowing them to contain him either.

The best sign for Raptor fans actually came when Andrea re-aggravated his calf injury late in the game.  He was pulled from the game and looked absolutely irate.  He sported a death stare for a while and slammed his towel on the bench.  This might not seem like something to get excited about, but when was the last time you saw that much emotion from Il Mago?

If he is the star for this team going forward, and I think that he is, then this is exactly what you want to see your leader do when he has to sit on the bench.

Love the emotion!

Playing to Potential

Bryan Colangelo sold us on a lot of these players over the last few seasons.  James Johnson’s grit and intangibles, Amir Johnson’s size and defensive presence, Calderon’s ability to get to the rim, Kleiza’s hot shooting and Demar’s ability to drive.

When the Raptors needed someone to step up in the absence of Andrea Bargnani, Linas Kleiza answered the call. He was dominant off the bench and led the team to victory in overtime.

These are qualities we have seen only flashes of over the last couple of seasons. Tonight it was all there.  It was incredible to watch players do what they are supposed to do on paper.

Jose drove the ball, Demar got to the line,Kleiza shot the lights out and James Johnson battled all night long.  This was a complete team effort tonight and when all cylinders are firing.  This team is tough to beat when they are all playing the way they are capable of.

Dwane Casey you might just be on to something here.

Kleizanated

Linas Kleiza was a big Colangelo acquisition an off-season ago.  He went into the 2010 World Championships  and looked dominant shooting the ball and leading Lithuania to a thrid place finish.  Then he here and was flat.  He didn’t shoot the ball well, didn’t defend well an eventually lost is start SF spot before having his season shortened by injury.  He never reached the potential that we had seen or heard about.

Since coming back from injury Kleiza has ben getting better and better and is beginning to show flashes of that player we saw in the world championships in 2010 for Lithuania.

This guy can shoot.  He can be a dominant force for this team. And I’m looking forward to a whole lot more of what we saw Wednesday night because he is finally beginning to look like a player the raptors might want to keep around.

Zan of the Night

Kleiza

No Question.  When Bargnani went out with an injury, Linas stepped up in a major way hitting big shots in the extra periods.  He had ice in his veins and seemed confident every time he touched the ball.  The Jazz couldn’t stop him, especially in the extra frame and his defensive energy in OT  helped clinch the victory.

Not Zan of the Night

Gordon Hayward

Just couldn’t get anything to fall despite the continued effort.  Not a great night at the office for him, but when you’re a shooter you have to ride the wave.

An honourable mention to Ed Davis once again for helping cement his spot in the doghouse.  You have to make the most of your time on the floor, especially when it is limited.  Amir gets this, Ed does not.

I’m also upset with him because I have him on my fantasy team.  If not for Ed Davis I’d look like a genius.  It’s time to pick up the slack my friend.  For you, and for me.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

Raps Effort Wasted in Atlanta

It was a strange game for the Raptors on Monday afternoon.  It was close on the scoreboard and yet never really felt all that close.  The Atlanta Hawks took it to the Raptors early and were able to hang on down the stretch despite the fact that the undermanned Raptors hung around all four quarters.

The Raptors were really missing Andrea Bargnani who was out once again with a strained calf.  The offense was stagnant without him.  Demar Derozan could not get anything going and became a jump shooter that failed to get to the line once.

Still the effort was there.

This may be a phrase that Raptor fans are tired of hearing already.  It seems they are always on the short end of the stick despite the fight.  The truth of the matter is that they lack their number one guy right now and don’t have anyone who seems ready to step up.

Josh Smith gave the Raptors fits on both ends of the floor, scoring at will and battling on the boards.

Without that number one option this team is dead in the water night in and night out.  If this effort is going to start being rewarded with victories someone (Demar Derozan) is going to have to show up for all 4 quarters.

The Raptors saw improved play from Ed Davis and solid point play from Jose Calderon, but the Hawks were able to abuse the Raptors both inside and out.  They got to the line 31 times and took full advantage of their opportunities.  Josh Smith was an absolute beast scoring, seemingly, at will and controlling the boards on both ends of the floor.

Atlanta is one of those teams that you can’t quite figure out.  Are they a contender in the East? or are they a treadmill team fooling themselves into thinking they have a chance?  On Monday they looked like both.

Unfortunately both teams were better than the Raptors.

Zan for Three

Rotation Issues

Man, are the Raptors missing Andrea Bargnani right now.

The scoring has not been there and Dwane Casey has got to try to find scoring from somewhere.  I’m not sure that the place to find the scoring is Rasual Butler.

I’m not a hater.  I don’t think he should be banished from the team, or nailed to the bench but he certainly should not be playing 30 minutes a game. Especially when Linas Kleiza, arguably the better player, gets ten minutes.

The rotation has been über tight the last little while with Andrea and James Johnson out but when those two come back I would like to see minutes go to players that actually have a future here.

That being said, I am liking the way Casey has been increasing Ed Davis’s minutes and I am very intrigued by the way Gary Forbes has been used.  Hopefully these are things we continue to see for the Raps whether we win or lose.

The Barbosa Factor

So Leandro Barbosa has quietly turned into our most potent scoring threat.  With Andrea out and Demar unable to create his own offense Barbosa has been the most consistent scorer on the team.

Normally I would be in staunch opposition to this, except for the fact that Barbosa stands to fetch a nice price at the trade deadline from a contender if he keeps this up.

Barbosa isn’t part of the core moving forward.  He could be dealt any day really, but his resurgance isn’t taking any time away from our young players really.  When Bayless comes back I expect the Barbosa trade rumours to grow.  Right now he is playing himself into a better return.

That’s a good thing for the Raptors.

Mr. Versatility

So Gary Forbes really is an enigma wrapped in a conundrum for the Raptors.  He did not look very good at all in the opening moments of this NBA season, but he is now proving himself to be a much more versatile player.

The Jarryd Bayless point guard experiment seems to be on hold even when he returns from injury and in its place the Raptors have begun a Forbes experiment. So far the experiment is, at least, intriguing. 

He’s playing the point, moving the ball well and once his shot starts to fall he could be an interesting project for the Raptors coaching staff.

I like the way he played on Thursday for the Raptors and I have enjoyed how the team has played when he is on the floor.  If nothing else, having another ball handler is a luxury the Raptors can certainly take advantage of.

Plus the foul…

Numero Ocho

Not enough love is given to Jose Calderon.  Until Rasual Butler came along, Jose was the favourite whipping boy of chat rooms and twitter feeds.  His defense is as infamous around these parts as a Shaq free throw attempt.  This year he is quietly having an outstanding year.

Once again he will be near the top of the league in assists and assist to Turnover ratio.  He has a fantastic shooting percentage and he is careful with the ball.

Tonight; another quiet double-double.

We’ve become so accustomed to the consistent play that Calderon exhibits that we often don’t give it enough credit.

He is a good player.  A solid point guard and a good leader and floor general for this young team.

Zan of the Night

Josh Smith

Early in the game he went right at Amir and Ed.  He got to the line at will and shot the ball very well.  Not only that but he was very active on defense and the boards despite giving up some size to the Toronto front court. The Raptors didn’t have an answer for Smith inside and he took full advantage of it.

Not Zan of the Game 

Demar Derozan

I’m still hoping this is just an extended slump, but Demar is not coming up big when we need him to.  Without Andrea, Demar is the number one option.  But he is not playing like the team’s number one.

He isn’t even doing the things he used to be great at.  His mid range shot is not falling, he isn’t getting to the line and his shot selection has gone completely to hell.

Toronto needs Demar to step up and step up soon.  Not only in order to give the team a chance to win, but to give the Raptor faithful some hope for the future.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

Moving Forward with Johnson

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

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

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

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

The Players

James Johnson

Linas Kleiza

Gary Forbes

Demar Derozan

The Story

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

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

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

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

In Our Dreams

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

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

Ideally the Raptors want their Small Forwards to be competitive.

The Reality

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

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

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

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

Raptors Hoping to Bring the Thunder in “New NBA”

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

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

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

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

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

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

What’s to stop this from continuing?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Young Raptors Find a Way to Win in the Fourth

It certainly wasn’t the prettiest NBA game of the year and it wasn’t the easy victory the Raptors’ fans were probably expecting.  The Kings were playing without their leading scorer, Tyreke Evans, and were coming in tied for the worst record in the association.  The Raptors were back home and welcomed back some players who were injured.  By all rights, this should have been a much easier game for the Raptors, but they key letting Sacramento back in the game and couldn’t pull away.

The fourth quarter was where things clicked and The Raptors finally pulled away for good.  Andrea Bargnani had one of his better offensive games going 12/19 for 30 points and Demar Derozan looked like he belonged int he big leagues with an awesome 13/20 shooting night and finished with 28.  This is the kind of effort that fans in Toronto want to start seeing from these two guys on a more consistent basis.

Zan For Three

One-Two Punch

Today was one of those games where you saw Bargnani and Derozan take shots and you could just feel they were going to fall every time.  I feel that way often when it comes to Bargnani, but very rarely with Derozan.  Today this combo was deadly.  Derozan took the ball to the rim and Andrea was lights out from the field.  If Derozan couldn’t drive to the basket the ball was sent back out the Bargnani who would calmly drain a long two or a three.

Andrea Bargnani was money from pretty much everywhere as th Raptors defeated the Kings at the ACC of Sunday.

When all the dust settles after the trade deadline and even later in the summer, these are the only two players that I can say with near-certainty will be a part of this team going forward.  They are players that Colangelo and the MLSE brass see a lot of potential in.  Bargnani is starting to bust out of the shadow of Chris Bosh that he was in for the last few years and is emerging as one of, if not the best player from his draft class.  Derozan is a player that everyone has been waiting to explode.  It would seem that we my be on the cusp of that moment right now.

These two players were dominant today. They shot the ball with confidence and demanded it in their hands.  They both look like strong pieces of the puzzle going forward.  If this year results in nothing else, I hope it results in these two players becoming clear-cut starters on this team for he forseeable future.

Somethin’ Brewin’ in the T-Dot?

Now I know the Carmelo Anthony trade to New Jersey seems to be imminent, heck it could even be happening right now for all I know.  I think that trade is basically just waiting to happen and everyone knows it.

Less obviously, there seems to be something brewing in Raptorland.  Bryan Colangelo has been eerily quiet for most of the season, heck, he’s even harder and harder to spot at the ACC during games.  Like a deadly jungle cat, Bryan Colangelo is at his most cunning when he is silent.  He hasn’t been saying much lately and the chances of a trade seem to be likely, in my opinion.

I’m not a beat writer.  I don’t know anyone in the MLSE brass.  I’m not clairvoyant, but I sense something is up.

The Raptors waived Ronald Dupree and sent Soloman Alabi back to the D-League.  Neither move is earth shattering or even surprising.  But it does leave the Raptors with open spaces on their roster.

The Raptors have most of the Trade exception acquired in the Chris Bosh deal still available to trade and must do so by the end of the season or they lose that money.

The Raptors also possess a number of expiring contracts that could be very attractive to teams trying to rebuild themselves.  Peja Stojakovic is the one contract that seem most likely to move or be bought-out so that he can take his game to a contender for the playoff push.

The Raptors also possess some savvy veterans (Reggie Evans, Leandro Barbosa) that could help a contending team.  Neither of those players come with long commitments or high salaries, which could make them even more attractive.

They also have two first round draft picks in this coming draft and could use either or both to package in a trade for another asset in order to sweeten the pot.

That’s a lot of assets that have values that will peek at the trade deadline.  It makes a lot of sense if Bryan Colangelo isn’t so visible because he’s busy getting deals done. Hopefully he’s also getting his own deal done with MLSE as well.

Mark my words, something is going on in Raptorland.  I smell a trade coming down soon.

Where’s the Noise?

Every game the Raptor mascot finds ways, using his bag of tricks, to get the audience into a frenzy.  T-shirts, contests, shakin’ it behind a security guard, and other various ways of revving the crowd up.  I don’t know what it is this season, I’ve been to quite a few games, but the atmosphere isn’t as lively as it used to be.

True, Chris Bosh left in the offseason and he was not replaced by a marquee name player.  There were no major free agent pickups like Jermaine O’neal or Hedo Turkoglu to get the city talking Raptors.

But, despite the obvious reasons, the crowd just didn’t seem that into it today.  They got to witness a close, playoff like atmosphere (even if the competitors won’t reach the playoffs this year) where the home team captured victory on late plays.  And still the excitement seemed somewhat muted.  The biggest cheer, save for perhaps the big Bargnani three ball in the fourth quarter, was for four visiting Blue Jay players that handed out signed Raptor balls.

Demar Derozan and the Raptors celebrate a strong victory in front of their home town fans.

The Raptors haven’t made the playoffs the last few years and the excitement surrounding the team is at a low point to say the least, but this is an entertaining group of players to watch.

True, there is no Vince Carter or Chris Bosh.  No young superstar that takes your breath away, even in a loss.  No JYD or Charles Oakley to leave it all on the floor in ways only they could.

What do you need Raptor fans?  What will make you cheer and scream the way you used to.  What will bring that electric energy back the ACC?

I suppose winning is the only formula, but if you’re down at the ACC watching the games, you’ll be able to see that winning isn’t that far away.

Zan of the Game

Demar Derozan

Both Derozan and Bargnani had monster games on the offensive end of the floor, but Derozan gets it because he is really developing his confidence.  This is a kid that is making some strides this year to become a solid, solid NBA player.  He may not peak this year or even next, but you can tell this is a young player that is ready to take his game to the next level.  Raptor fans are going to enjoy watching this young player fill it up at the ACC for the forseeable future.  Tonight was further proof that Demar is ready to take flight.

Not Zan of the Game

Linas Kleiza

Linas is a good role player and a solid contributor off the bench, most of the time, but he has had a recent tendency to take shots outside the flow of the offense and puts his team in a hole.  Today Kleiza had a rough day at the office.  He seemed to think it was his job to shoot every time he got the ball.  His defense on the other end of the floor was nearly non-existent and he doesn’t look like he is on the same page as he rest of his teammates.  I like Kleiza’s game a lot, when he’s on the ball, but lately. he has looked completely off his game.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

 

Raptors Fight to the Bitter End

The Boston Celtics are arguably the best team in the East, at least until Miami or Orlando beats them in a seven game series. Tonight the Raptors hung with the best and had many opportunities to pull away, but suffered from a very poor shooting night.  This is the kind of loss you have to take with a grain of salt.  The Celtics are the best team in the East, the Raptors are a young team still finding an identity.  There is no shame in this loss.  The Raps fought hard all game long and should hold their heads high.

Paul Pierce was absolutely brilliant and the Celtics hung around long enough for their other star players to warm up and contribute to the victory.  Pierce was basically a one man show for much of the game and seemed to single-handedly keep his team in the game.  The hotter Paul Pierce gets the better the Celtics will be.  Going into the second half of the season the Celtics are gonna need Pierce to be at his best.  Like a fine European wine, he only gets better as time goes on.

His dunk in the second half over virtually everyone was absolutely awe-inspiring!

Not to be outdone Demar Derozan once again was the best Raptor on the floor and may be turning a corner in his development.  He looked confident and was aggressive on the offensive end of the floor.  The Raptors are banking on Derozan becoming a big part of the team’s future and lately he has been looking like the real deal.  Tonight he played great ball against some of the best in the game.

Paul Pierce and his 30 points were too much to handle as the Celtics beat the Raptors 93-79 at the ACC on Sunday.

 

Zan For Three

Hard Work Rewarded

Two players worked harder than anyone else out there today: Joey Dorsey and Ray Allen.

Joey Dorsey was matched up against Shaquille Oneal and Jermaine Oneal, arguably one of the most frightening assignments in the NBA, in my honest opinion. He was solid defensively, worked his ass off on the offensive glass and was a key contributor all game long.  The Raps are down a few guys and have never been an overly effective team when it comes to rebounding, but Dorsey is doing it all in the limited amount of time he’s been given.  A few more games like this and Dorsey may earn himself more playing time, even after others come back from injury.

Ray Allen is a timeless wonder.  His outside shot is an automatic if he’s open.  He’s become, arguably, one of the most dependable players in the league.  He is never going to go out there and stink up the joint.  Today he had the quietest 23 points I’ve ever seen.  His team was struggling, outside of Paul Pierce, and they needed someone else to start hitting shots.  Enter Mr. Dependable.

Paul Pierce was the best player on the court today for the Celtics, but no way they win without the contribution of their silent leader.

Young Onez Unite!!

Am I the only one who is starting to get a little excited about the future of this ball club?  True, there is no Lebron James type or a John Wall that you can hope becomes an NBA superstar, but these kids are really starting to mature into fine NBA players.

Demar Derozan has elevate his game to another level recently and looks like he may finally explode into the player many hoped he was going to be.  Ed Davis is looking like a bona fide gem and Amir Johnson has played with increasing maturity.  If Amir stays on the floor, he has a good game almost every time.

This season has certainly had its bleak moments, but there is definitely something to be hopeful about as the new year arrives.

Gotta Cash in Those Freebies

I’ll be the first to admit the Raptors did not get the benefit of the doubt on a lot of calls in the paint.  Derozan and Calderon got hammered several times without a whistle, but would the Raptors have done much with their extra chances even if they had them?  10/22 from the Free Throw line isn’t going to cut it.  That’s twelve free points you’re not cashing in.  When you lose a game like the raps did today, you can look at that stat alone and see how close the game

Demar Derozan may be turning a corner in his development and is becoming what Raptor fans dreamed of when he was drafted two seasons ago.

really could have been.  The Raptors have got to be more consistent from the stripe.

 

Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

In truth Paul Pierce played a damn fine game, but Derozan gets the Zan for putting together another gem.  This kid is playing aggressively out there.  He is taking the ball to the rim whether he’s gonna get hammered or not.  He is getting to the line and he seems more and more comfortable shooting the ball.  When he drives the net he opens up opportunities for the rest of his team.  Derozan followed up a gem against Houston with another gem against one of the toughest opponents in the NBA.  This kid may have finally arrived.

Not Zan of the Night

Linas Kleiza

True fact: Nobody on the Raptors team was hitting shots with consistency.  Barbosa, Calderon and even Amir Johnson all had bad shooting nights, but no one made it look as ugly as Kleiza did.  He threw up some of the worst shots I have seen in a long time.  I like that he has confidence in his abilities, but you also have to be aware of when it just isn’t your night.  He was downright awful on the offensive end tonight.

 

 

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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

 

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

The Raptors have looked a little dishevelled lately.

After a couple of huge victories against Washington and Oklahoma that had fans and reporters suggesting the Raptors may have been under rated this season, the Raptors came crashing down to Earth with three straight losses.  Tonight’s game against New York was a tough pill to swallow as the Raptors worked hard and looked poised for a comeback win after two stinkers against the Pacers and Knicks.

The Raptors did many things right tonight and Andrea Bargnani could not be stopped all night.  The Raps were able to start quick and used their bench effectively.  The Raptor bigs had issues with Amare all night, but join the club, no team has ben able to stop him recently.  Amare is playing out of his head.  What was more troubling were the ill-advised jump shots from Sonny Weems and the foul trouble from Amir and the increasingly concerning play from Linas Kleiza.

It seems every time the Raptors fix one thing another goes wrong.  Triano can’t seem to get everything clicking at the same time.

Now the Raptors are looking more and more like the team they were expected to be at the beginning of the season.  They aren’t good enough to win games but they have a lot of fight in them.  They are consistently inconsistent and are likely to continue this way all season.  There will be high highs, like the win against Boston, and low lows, like the blowout loss to Indiana.

Your 2010-2011 Toronto Raptors:  An enigma wrapped in a puzzle.

The Zan for Three

The Left Hand is not Speaking to the Right

Poor Jay Triano.  He came into tonight’s game with a clear plan to not get down early.  His Raps squad has made a habit of beating themselves in the first quarter recently.  Triano had this team ready to fight at MSG tonight as the Raptors stormed out of the locker room and took control of the game in the early going.  They moved the ball well and took smart shots.  They were doing everything they needed to do to win an important game on the road.  The point guards were finally looking for and hooking up with Andrea Bargnani and things looked good.

Then old habits kicked in.  Amir got into foul trouble, Sonny Weems became a black hole on offense and the defense broke down late in the game allowing the Knicks to take control and ultimately the win.

It seems once Triano fixes one thing another goes wrong.

Andrea Bargnani needed the ball and he got it on Wednesday. Bargnani looked dominant, but in the end the Raptors couldn't hold off the Knicks in New York.

Bargnani getting the ball?  Check.

Defensive intensity? Nope.

Strong Point guard play? Check.

Strong interior defense? Nope.

This is becoming a bit of a puzzle for Triano and he can’t seem to find the right pieces to get the job done.  His players take turns playing great ball and then disappearing for long stretches of time.  This is a problem that, unfortunately, only time can fix.

Andrea the Great

Okay, seriously, I think it is time we talked about Andrea Bargnani as a potential All-Star.  He looked unconscious tonight and definitely becomes more effective when he gets the ball in his hands.

He has been slagged like no other in Raptor history and he has played some pretty decent ball throughout his tenure as a Dino.  With the absence of Chris Bosh somebody needed to become the star and he has filled the role admirably.

Bargnani is still not a great defender, nor is he a tenacious rebounder but he is becoming the focal point on the offensive end and he should continue to be.  Bayless and Calderon forgot about him the last two games and the Raptors got killed.  Tonight he had the ball in the post, outside the arc, on the baseline and he nailed his shots.

Andrea should be the focal point of this team on the offensive end and finally the coach and point guards are understanding this.  Bargnani is taking the opportunity and running with it.

Potentially an All-Star this year.  Who would have thought that?

Amare for MVP

It’s an unlikely thought but who has been a better player over the last couple of weeks?  Amare Stoudamire has taken the Knicks from an absolute laughing-stock to a playoff contender in the East.  He is an absolute beast in the middle and is a very tough match up for anyone in the NBA.

Amare has single-handedly changed the culture in New York.  This team is playing more confident basketball and there seems to be a game plan going in both on the offensive and defensive side of the game.  Mike D’Antoni knows Amare well from his days with the Suns and he is using Stoudamire’s skills much the way he did in Phoenix.

This team is a tough match up for anyone this year.  The Knicks will be no one’s easy W this year.  Amare is the reason why.

Maybe the Heat grabbed the wrong big man for their Big Three in free agency this past summer.

Zan of the Night

Andrea Bargnani

He was absolutely unconscious tonight and was finally able to do it for four whole quarters.  Often Bargs shows up for the first half and then can’t deal with the adjustments that teams make.  Tonight he handled the adjustments well and was able to put in a full effort tonight.  The most exciting part of his game tonight was his confidence in himself.  He wanted the basketball and got himself involved al night long.  If the Raps can get him more involved and he can demand the basketball more often, we are going to see more 40+ games in his future.  An impressive night from the Big Italian.

Not Zan of the Night

Linas Kleiza

I’ve wanted to put his name down for a while.  He has not shown up yet this year.  I was one of the many who applauded his signing in the off-season.  I went as far as to suggest he could prove to be a key to Raptor success this year.  Linas has been nothing but a disappointment so far this season and tonight was no different.  He chucked shots and looked lost on offense.  He saw extended minutes tonight because of Amir’s foul trouble but he might as well have not shown up.  He was terrible and has been playing terrible for a while.  He needs to turn his season around or he’ll be back in Europe next season.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald