The Raptors pull off a comeback win at home last night and exact a measure of revenge against the Bucks who bested them on two previous occasions this season. Now there's a number of things I want to talk about regarding this game and just the Raptors experience as a fan in general.
The Raptors pulled off this win without their Italian big man. Andrea has been off here and there since he's been with this team but in general, since the Raptors picked him #1 in 2006, the team is almost always with their 3 point shooting giant. What's more surprising is this article that I read which was posted on Raptors Republic. http://www.82games.com/0910/0910TOR5.HTM
I don't know why this should be shocking to me but seeing the PER per position makes you realize how important the big lug has become. He plays by far the majority of the minutes at his position and his position is far and away the most productive and effective on the team. Let's face it, this season Ab7 has been a catalyst for this team on the offensive end, and on many nights on defense as well. Especially recently, aside from that stinker in Milwaukee which he still managed to score 10 and grab a few boards.
Whenever he's on the floor, he scores or someone else scores as a direct or indirect effect of him being on the floor. The other team's center who is the last line of defense and who does most of the rebounding has to be pulled away from under the basket in order to cover his long range and mid range game. As we all know, this is called creating space on the floor. Bosh benefits from this since he doesn't have to go around the PF and the C to get to the rack. This is also something Bosh produces, although not to the extent that Ab7 does since Bosh is generally lacking the 3pt capacity that Ab7 does and so he doesn't create as much space as Ab7. This also allows the point guards and wings to slash through the lane from the create space and use Ab7 and his defender as screens. While the other team's guards are chasing the wings and guards with or without the ball, the Raptor's players are using them as obstacles for the defenders to have to go around. Simple basic stuff but very effective.
SOOOOOO without Bargs in the line up lastnight someone needed to step up big. If nobody steps up you s end up with a result like in the previous game. Bosh gets 44 points and a whack load of boards and everyone else is panting and pissing themselves as the other team tears them a new one. Jack steps up last night. Showing ferocity that I have never seen in him in a Raptor uniform. Woulda liked a few more dimes from him but with the way he was scoring, who cares. When's the last time another Raptor besides CB4 and AB7 score more than 25 points in a game? That's a good question! In the last couple of seasons obviously nobody besides Bosh has averaged 20 or more points in season. So obviously secondary scoring is necessary. I've always believed that you need at least two 20 point scorers, and I mean on a regular basis, for a team to be successful. Successful meaning a team that is always a legitimate contender year after year. Either that or one who scores 20 or more, and 2 or 3 that score at least 15 points a game. No matter how much D you play you always have to score to win. Bargnani is the only other player on this team that provides that.
We need someone to step up. Someone to become that play or else we need to trade for someone who can. Bryan Colangelo thought they had that person with Hedo and he is clearly an epic failure. Jack, Calderon, and Derozan are capable on any given night to give you that. Whether they do it or not is another question.
I also want to make a quick comment about the officiating I've seen at a few games. Tony Brothers is a scum bag. I have been to a few games at the ACC and seen him at a few and also seen him on tv. He constantly makes questionable and outright bogus calls on the Raptors. He basically gave the Cavs the game this week and on many occasions was the culprit for calling Bargs and other Raptors for phantom fouls. I know what you must be thinking, a fan not agreeing with a ref. Nothing new. Boohoo. However from the evidence that I have seen from this particular man, he needs to be investigated. I don't know if he is gambling or just has a personal grudge with some teams or players but officiating needs to be clear, unbiased and right down the middle between 2 teams. He has not demonstrated this whatsoever.
I also want to mention that I have gone to many many games the past few years and absolutely love watching the games from the upper bowl. I am usually in the Sprite Zone. I don't know what they call it now but I don't care. To me it'll always be the Sprite Zone. The fans up there are the real fans and sitting at any of their games in this section for even 10 mins or less and it becomes quite evident. The fans there are loud, funny and knowledgeable. It really gets you into the spirit and into the fun. One of the things that bothers me though is when the fans freak out for the 100 point free Pizza Pizza. Listen, this pizza that they give you is not the usual pizza you'd buy from Pizza Pizza. It's a slice they have made special for you. Set aside for you Raptor fans. This slice is of very low quality, cardboard-like, and very flavorless. It's almost like dog food. And to hear people beg and plea for the Raptors to get 100 is pretty sad. It's like they're subliminally trained to bark when they hear a bell. Pavlov's doggies. Same thing goes with those jackasses that wave prizes around to try to get you to get up and make noise. I call them fake fans that the team has planted around the arena. They just give the prize away to the closest cute kid regardless of if they are even paying attention or making the most noise. That's fine and dandy and I am all for kids having a good time but it just makes me sad to see these die hard fans hooting and hollaring like trained animals.
If you want some good pizza I suggest Burky's doghouse. Get one of their Pizza Pizza Dogs. Absolutely delicious. It's a bit pricey at $6.50 but you don't have to do any begging I promise. They give you a tastey hot dog, not as good as street meat but still pretty good. Then they cover the dog with pepperoni and pizza sauce and cheese. It tastes awesome!! The place is a bit hard to find thought. If you go around the first floor of the ACC, you come across the escalators beside where they do the broadcast for Raptors TV. Where Jack, Leo, Sherm and Adnan work their magic, it's behind all that. It doesn't quite face the walkway and that's what makes it hard to find.
You can also get beer there so it's a one-stop shop at halftime.
Showing posts with label Toronto Raptors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronto Raptors. Show all posts
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Raptors beat the Knickerbockers
Okay so obviously I am please to be wrong about my previous prediction that the Raps would drop this one but they almost did. However, they hung in there and managed to pull off a decent beating on the Pairs of Pants from New York. Many things to take note of from this game where the Raptors played like it was their last game on earth in the first half. Burying everything they got their hands on, running the break very well, attacking the rim methodically and playing defense so tight, the Knicks barely had room to move. Then they played some gutless, uninspired baskeball in the third. Turned the ball over like it was out of fashion, and laid more cinder than a mason. Luckily they got a surprise scoring punch from Jose and Double D.
Bargnani was playing out of his mind. I don't know why but he and Jose both seemed to have their shots locked down and zeroed in. It's like when you go bowling and you hit several strikes in a row. For some reason something just clicks and your shot is on. Bargnani went 5 for 6 from downtown, including some shots that were so far from the 3 line that I thought he was insane when he first let the ball go. But every time it would swish in. His dunk through traffic was one of the most impressive plays of his career. The offensive end was great but his defense... i just can't explain what I saw. It was the best defense I've ever seen him play. It was like some other defensive legend had possessed his body and was playing great positional defense, help defense, getting his hand in everyone's face and grabbing every rebound near him and ripping them down with force. I wonder what kind of pasta he ate. Yes Galinari scored a few more points but the battle of the I-talians goes to AB7, no question. Watching him jump up and down and yelling like he was the top gorilla of the banana pile was kind of cool but also a bit scarey since we never usually see him like this. Hooting and hollar after plays, slapping his teammates and acting like he isn't Frankenstein.
One particular development was AB7 taking the ball in the post several times and either getting a nice hook, a jumper in or kicking it out after drawing a double team. They need to run this play more in the future. It just flat out works and creates space on the floor for an open shot when the defense tries to recover from collapsing on him. It would probably work for CB4 too if he knew how to pass out of the post. It only didn't work once when the refs called him for a travel but I thought Harrington fouled him as he turned baseline. He was running roughshod on them all night and David Lee seemed pissed at times which makes me happy. AB7 gets an A for his performance.
Jose was also playing well. Running circles around their defense and spotted up for a lot of shots which he iced every time. I didn't feel this level of confidence in his shot since two seasons ago when he stole the starting spot from TJ. He also made some nice passes, setting up his teammates with several easy scores. This included that sweet little lob to Double D for that slick looking left handed alley-oop. He drove the ball right into the defense and helped buoy the Raptors' lead in the 3rd and 4th. Jack played well in the first but seemed a bit out of sorts the rest of the game. I think it was mainly due to some of his passes leading to the bricks Hedo put up and leading to Bosh getting shut down in the post several times. Jose is making a case to be the starter but he's going to have to put up a few more stat lines like this to convince the coaching staff. Maybe the trade winds will die down a bit. Jose gets a B and Jack gets a C.
Bosh played well in some stretches and seemed to battle Lee but this was subdued by Lee and some double teams. Bosh's problem is that he is a ball hog. I love the guy but 99% of the time he gets the ball, he keeps it regardless of the situation. This results in one of two things. He either drives it in for a hook, or a nice move under the basket where he scores more often than not, or it results in him turning the ball over. He needs to learn how to kick the ball out to the open player on the perimeter. I am starting to suspect this is part of the reason why Kapono never had much success here since Bosh can't pass out of a double team. It's frustrating to watch him lose the ball off his foot, off his butter fingers or just having it stolen or stripped outright by the help defense. He was subdued by this but on this night it didn't matter much and he knew it. His teammates were bringing home the bacon this time and he didn't need to be the force he usually is. I'd rate his performance a B-. I mean the guy still scored 18 and 9. Can't argue with that.
Hedo is the guy I credit most with the Raptors losing their big lead. He provided nothing early on and threw up brick after brick. Bricking shots in key possessions that fueled the Knicks run. Not to mention his turnovers which weren't too many but seemed to be at the worst times which helped the Knicks build momentum. Particularly his idiotic turnover and clear path foul which nearly made me tear my hair out. He made some key shots down the stretch but it probably only partially made up for the points he gave up on their other end in the third. Jay even bench his ass in favor of Sonny. He has this mentality of shooting weird, out of rhythm shots, that are not in the process and not produced from a set play. The shots that he took that were advised were way off and often clanked off front rim. Then he tried to make fancy passes that result in turnovers. On defense he was like a ghost. He stood there, waved his hand sparingly, and looked like he rarely expended any energy at all trying to distract the opponent. Basically, he just stood there and his presence was only barely known by visual means. Turk gets an D-. Would be an F if he didn't hit a few shots late.
Derozan was the other player that, like Bargnani was possessed by some sort of Basketball demon. He was cutting and slashing his way through the Knicks D. Slithering through and getting fouled or getting a lay-in, dunk, or getting fouled. He did his damage at the free throw line. It's quite obvious to see in the boxscore. He kept the team in the game and had a huge part in this W.
So what do we gather from this game? I mean in order to improve the team. Bosh needs to learn how to kick the ball out, Derozan needs to drive the ball to the basket every chance he gets, and Turkoglu needs to be shipped out of here. I suggest trying to snatch one of the decent players from the Nets, or seeing what the Magic might give you since he had most of his success there and now the Magic look like they wish they had paid him max money instead of letting him go and signing a coked out Vince Carter.
In the end, this was an excellent game to watch as a Raptors fan. Especially the first half. It's always satisfying to see one of my teams beat a New York team. It really makes me happy to see the Knicks on a losing end of a Raptors beat down. Now on to Dallas where I hope they don't get squashed and can carry some of the momentum over. Here's hoping they don't melt down again in the third.
Bargnani was playing out of his mind. I don't know why but he and Jose both seemed to have their shots locked down and zeroed in. It's like when you go bowling and you hit several strikes in a row. For some reason something just clicks and your shot is on. Bargnani went 5 for 6 from downtown, including some shots that were so far from the 3 line that I thought he was insane when he first let the ball go. But every time it would swish in. His dunk through traffic was one of the most impressive plays of his career. The offensive end was great but his defense... i just can't explain what I saw. It was the best defense I've ever seen him play. It was like some other defensive legend had possessed his body and was playing great positional defense, help defense, getting his hand in everyone's face and grabbing every rebound near him and ripping them down with force. I wonder what kind of pasta he ate. Yes Galinari scored a few more points but the battle of the I-talians goes to AB7, no question. Watching him jump up and down and yelling like he was the top gorilla of the banana pile was kind of cool but also a bit scarey since we never usually see him like this. Hooting and hollar after plays, slapping his teammates and acting like he isn't Frankenstein.
One particular development was AB7 taking the ball in the post several times and either getting a nice hook, a jumper in or kicking it out after drawing a double team. They need to run this play more in the future. It just flat out works and creates space on the floor for an open shot when the defense tries to recover from collapsing on him. It would probably work for CB4 too if he knew how to pass out of the post. It only didn't work once when the refs called him for a travel but I thought Harrington fouled him as he turned baseline. He was running roughshod on them all night and David Lee seemed pissed at times which makes me happy. AB7 gets an A for his performance.
Jose was also playing well. Running circles around their defense and spotted up for a lot of shots which he iced every time. I didn't feel this level of confidence in his shot since two seasons ago when he stole the starting spot from TJ. He also made some nice passes, setting up his teammates with several easy scores. This included that sweet little lob to Double D for that slick looking left handed alley-oop. He drove the ball right into the defense and helped buoy the Raptors' lead in the 3rd and 4th. Jack played well in the first but seemed a bit out of sorts the rest of the game. I think it was mainly due to some of his passes leading to the bricks Hedo put up and leading to Bosh getting shut down in the post several times. Jose is making a case to be the starter but he's going to have to put up a few more stat lines like this to convince the coaching staff. Maybe the trade winds will die down a bit. Jose gets a B and Jack gets a C.
Bosh played well in some stretches and seemed to battle Lee but this was subdued by Lee and some double teams. Bosh's problem is that he is a ball hog. I love the guy but 99% of the time he gets the ball, he keeps it regardless of the situation. This results in one of two things. He either drives it in for a hook, or a nice move under the basket where he scores more often than not, or it results in him turning the ball over. He needs to learn how to kick the ball out to the open player on the perimeter. I am starting to suspect this is part of the reason why Kapono never had much success here since Bosh can't pass out of a double team. It's frustrating to watch him lose the ball off his foot, off his butter fingers or just having it stolen or stripped outright by the help defense. He was subdued by this but on this night it didn't matter much and he knew it. His teammates were bringing home the bacon this time and he didn't need to be the force he usually is. I'd rate his performance a B-. I mean the guy still scored 18 and 9. Can't argue with that.
Hedo is the guy I credit most with the Raptors losing their big lead. He provided nothing early on and threw up brick after brick. Bricking shots in key possessions that fueled the Knicks run. Not to mention his turnovers which weren't too many but seemed to be at the worst times which helped the Knicks build momentum. Particularly his idiotic turnover and clear path foul which nearly made me tear my hair out. He made some key shots down the stretch but it probably only partially made up for the points he gave up on their other end in the third. Jay even bench his ass in favor of Sonny. He has this mentality of shooting weird, out of rhythm shots, that are not in the process and not produced from a set play. The shots that he took that were advised were way off and often clanked off front rim. Then he tried to make fancy passes that result in turnovers. On defense he was like a ghost. He stood there, waved his hand sparingly, and looked like he rarely expended any energy at all trying to distract the opponent. Basically, he just stood there and his presence was only barely known by visual means. Turk gets an D-. Would be an F if he didn't hit a few shots late.
Derozan was the other player that, like Bargnani was possessed by some sort of Basketball demon. He was cutting and slashing his way through the Knicks D. Slithering through and getting fouled or getting a lay-in, dunk, or getting fouled. He did his damage at the free throw line. It's quite obvious to see in the boxscore. He kept the team in the game and had a huge part in this W.
So what do we gather from this game? I mean in order to improve the team. Bosh needs to learn how to kick the ball out, Derozan needs to drive the ball to the basket every chance he gets, and Turkoglu needs to be shipped out of here. I suggest trying to snatch one of the decent players from the Nets, or seeing what the Magic might give you since he had most of his success there and now the Magic look like they wish they had paid him max money instead of letting him go and signing a coked out Vince Carter.
In the end, this was an excellent game to watch as a Raptors fan. Especially the first half. It's always satisfying to see one of my teams beat a New York team. It really makes me happy to see the Knicks on a losing end of a Raptors beat down. Now on to Dallas where I hope they don't get squashed and can carry some of the momentum over. Here's hoping they don't melt down again in the third.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Pittsburgh Penguins
Wow, I can't believe the Penguins won that one lastnight. Penguins beat the Oilers 3-2 in a game where neither Crosby nor Malkin scored or got a point. That secondary unit, particularly Staal deserves some major props.
Their powerplay is pretty weak still and I don't know why they don't try to mix it up a bit more to try to get more out of it. I would put Malkin in as either the LW or the person in the crease distracting the goalie. It's obviously not working with him on the point. Have Gonchar on the point still and perhaps Letang on the other D. I don't know how it would work but it would be nice to work Staal into the first PP unit as well cause of his strong skating and puck handling. Particularly behind the net and in the boards.
In Toronto sports news, the Leafs won lastnight against the Fliers. Good to see some amount of skill on this team and some of the young guys contributing. Lots of points from Bozak and Kessel. Also, Schenn chipped in as well with a rare goal. Surprising win against a decent Fliers team. I prefer to called them the Fliers as I am not very fond of this team being a Pens/Leafs fan.
Tonight the Raptors take on the New York Pants. Looks like a good matchup of weak teams. Both of which of star Italians players. I predict lots of pasta flying everywhere and the occasional I-talian hugs. I hope that Bosh can once again show that he's not the Rupaul of bigmen in the big apple. However, with the season he's been having I don't think he has anything to prove. He's been a beast on the boards but if he can only kick this butterfingers thing where he can't catch a pass and keeps turning the ball over 4 or 5 times a game.
Predictions? I think the Raps will lose being the optimist I am. The Raptors have that habit of dropping games to lesser teams and this is the perfect opportunity for that to happen again. Add the fact that their on the road and that is ususally kryptonite to Barganani and you got the makings of a big fat L. I hope I am wrong
Their powerplay is pretty weak still and I don't know why they don't try to mix it up a bit more to try to get more out of it. I would put Malkin in as either the LW or the person in the crease distracting the goalie. It's obviously not working with him on the point. Have Gonchar on the point still and perhaps Letang on the other D. I don't know how it would work but it would be nice to work Staal into the first PP unit as well cause of his strong skating and puck handling. Particularly behind the net and in the boards.
In Toronto sports news, the Leafs won lastnight against the Fliers. Good to see some amount of skill on this team and some of the young guys contributing. Lots of points from Bozak and Kessel. Also, Schenn chipped in as well with a rare goal. Surprising win against a decent Fliers team. I prefer to called them the Fliers as I am not very fond of this team being a Pens/Leafs fan.
Tonight the Raptors take on the New York Pants. Looks like a good matchup of weak teams. Both of which of star Italians players. I predict lots of pasta flying everywhere and the occasional I-talian hugs. I hope that Bosh can once again show that he's not the Rupaul of bigmen in the big apple. However, with the season he's been having I don't think he has anything to prove. He's been a beast on the boards but if he can only kick this butterfingers thing where he can't catch a pass and keeps turning the ball over 4 or 5 times a game.
Predictions? I think the Raps will lose being the optimist I am. The Raptors have that habit of dropping games to lesser teams and this is the perfect opportunity for that to happen again. Add the fact that their on the road and that is ususally kryptonite to Barganani and you got the makings of a big fat L. I hope I am wrong
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Inaugural Spat
So this is the initial entry in my blog where I am gonna blab about crap that nobody cares about. Well mostly I will blab about the Toronto Raptors and the NBA. I might also make mention other Toronto sports and happenings.
So since it is the topic of the day, lets talk about the latest Raptor loss to the Pacers. Yes it was a dreadful game and who do I blame? Let's see, first I would blame Hedo Jurkoglu for throwing up air balls, bricks, and handing the Pacers some juicy turnovers. What pisses me off about him is that he commits these stupid turnovers, then goes and fouls the guy. It's something a kid would do on a playground. You take a ball away from me, so what am I gonna do? I'll shove you for no reason.
I really don't understand why he hasn't gelled with this team. This team is based on a certain level of talent in terms of shooting and passing ability. Play making. As Hedo is known for all of these characteristics, it just blows my mind how he hasn't been able to fit in. My opinion is that he's just lackadaisical, not focused, and not putting forth effort. Just from my personal observation... his head doesn't seem to be in the games. In the paper he complains about the team not being like the Magic and not having the ball enough. I respond to those comments by thinking, are you not a professional player? Can you not figure out how to make your game work with this system? It doesn't seem like a difficult system. You run around some screens that Bosh or Bargnani are setting and you shoot the ball. Or heck, post someone up. You're 6'10'' and I have seen you have success in the post.
So what's the solution? I am not quite sure to be honest. I guess what we're doing is sitting it out and hoping he falls in line. For $52 million I guess what else can we do? It's frustrating but at the same time I guess we can give him the benefit of the doubt. I don't know about these knee-jerk reaction trades that some people are suggesting to me. I mean if we did that we would have traded away Bargnani for next to nothing and I don't think there's too many Raptor fans out there that would agree to that anymore.
I guess the only thing we can do is sit, watch and hope that Hedo gets better. I don't care if he is giving us a lot of assists. I don't think Colangelo signed him knowing he was gonna average 13 points a game. Barely outscoring Jack and Calderon.
So since it is the topic of the day, lets talk about the latest Raptor loss to the Pacers. Yes it was a dreadful game and who do I blame? Let's see, first I would blame Hedo Jurkoglu for throwing up air balls, bricks, and handing the Pacers some juicy turnovers. What pisses me off about him is that he commits these stupid turnovers, then goes and fouls the guy. It's something a kid would do on a playground. You take a ball away from me, so what am I gonna do? I'll shove you for no reason.
I really don't understand why he hasn't gelled with this team. This team is based on a certain level of talent in terms of shooting and passing ability. Play making. As Hedo is known for all of these characteristics, it just blows my mind how he hasn't been able to fit in. My opinion is that he's just lackadaisical, not focused, and not putting forth effort. Just from my personal observation... his head doesn't seem to be in the games. In the paper he complains about the team not being like the Magic and not having the ball enough. I respond to those comments by thinking, are you not a professional player? Can you not figure out how to make your game work with this system? It doesn't seem like a difficult system. You run around some screens that Bosh or Bargnani are setting and you shoot the ball. Or heck, post someone up. You're 6'10'' and I have seen you have success in the post.
So what's the solution? I am not quite sure to be honest. I guess what we're doing is sitting it out and hoping he falls in line. For $52 million I guess what else can we do? It's frustrating but at the same time I guess we can give him the benefit of the doubt. I don't know about these knee-jerk reaction trades that some people are suggesting to me. I mean if we did that we would have traded away Bargnani for next to nothing and I don't think there's too many Raptor fans out there that would agree to that anymore.
I guess the only thing we can do is sit, watch and hope that Hedo gets better. I don't care if he is giving us a lot of assists. I don't think Colangelo signed him knowing he was gonna average 13 points a game. Barely outscoring Jack and Calderon.
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