Linkage - Feb 8
"Wayne Embry taught me," Mitchell said yesterday. "He said, `Your job is to coach the players that you have. You don’t need to be in the general manager’s office every day bitching and complaining about players, because if you start doing that, the next thing they’re going to do is start looking at you.’
"I don’t ever go upstairs and bitch and complain about our players. My job is to coach the players we have, get them better and win as many games as we can.
"Let’s say you do that (make demands) and you make two or three trades and you don’t win. … The next time you go up there and say, `Get rid of guys,’ what’s he going to start looking at? Getting rid of your ass."
Ford will be playing a new role, however. Head coach Sam Mitchell said when Ford was still out that in all likelihood the team would stick with Jose Calderon as the starting point guard, allowing Ford to regain his game readiness with the second unit.
Those who expect to share the court with Ford in that capacity can’t wait.
“He’s a guy that can penetrate, and we’re a pick-and-roll team and a spot-up shooting team,” said Jason Kapono, who Ford set up for a layup against the Miami Heat, his first assist in two months. “Any time he can draw the defence and I can make shots, it’s a benefit.”
There is a school of thought that the relative talents of the Raptors’ two point guards might be best utilized with Calderon starting and Ford coming off the bench.
Playing with the likes of Chris Bosh, Anthony Parker and a suddenly rejuvenated Andrea Bargnani gives Calderon a number of teammates adept at creating their own shots and are thus less dependant on a penetrating guard to scramble the floor.
On the second unit, the likes of Kapono thrive when the defence has to struggle to find him. Similarly, Kris Humphries does his best work picking up offensive rebounds left over after the defence rotates or simply sprinting to fill the lane, as he did against Miami and was rewarded with an alley-oop pass from Ford.
Raptors forward Chris Bosh will take all the practices he can get.
In 2008, Bosh has played more than 40 minutes in eight of the team’s 15 games.
"It’s not bad," Bosh said of the schedule "Games are hard. I play a lot of minutes. Anytime I can get a practice day, it’s a bit easier on me."
What makes the Kapono-Ford relationship unique is that both forged a bond prior to their arrival in Toronto.
"We were both drafted in 2003 and we each share the same agent,” Kapono said.
"We worked out a lot together and we hung around during those pre-draft camps."
When he joined the Raptors this past off-season as a free agent, Kapono started the occasional game when Ford ran the show with the first unit.
Because he isn’t the quickest player on the court, Kapono’s defence, especially on the perimeter, can be exposed, making him an ideal candidate to come off the bench.
Even with Ford slowly reacquainting himself with his teammates, the adjustment to Kapono is almost seamless.
"I know his game,” Kapono said of Ford. "I have a good feel for him.
"He penetrates and kicks. Defences have to help and I can make shots."
Ed Pinckney won the tip from New Jersey’s Armon Gilliam. A few seconds later, the ball settled into Alvin Robertson’s hands just beyond the arc and he stroked a three-ball, sweet and silky.
As one, 33,306 people rose from their SkyDome seats with a thunderous roar. On the evening of Nov. 3, 1995, the NBA was back in Toronto after an absence of nearly half a century.
That was Game 1. Tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers, 12 years, three months, hundreds of players, six coaches, six general managers, one arena and two ownership groups later, the Raptors will play No. 1,000.
Tonight’s challenge comes in the form of Corey Maggette, one of the NBA’s best when it comes to attacking the basket and getting to the foul line.
Maggette is coming off a 33-point effort in L.A.’s 111-100 loss to the Celtics in Boston on Wednesday.
When the Raptors beat the Clippers 80-77 on Dec. 18, Maggette was held to 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting. He converted eight of his nine attempts from the line
Those who have followed the Raptors on a daily basis can’t help but notice T.J. Ford’s upper body.
During his rehab stint in Houston, where Ford received constant supervision from former player/coach John Lucas, Ford added bulk.
"I worked very hard in Houston,” Ford said. "It all speaks for itself."
Much like a mediocre glass of wine that seems less disturbing as you become immune to the taste, the NBA’s Eastern Conference has improved.
Perhaps it’s the oxidation that has, for example, provided the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors with an opportunity to open up a bit. But this alleged Eastern rise probably has more to do with Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis changing time zones.
In reality, the Western Conference is 166-123 against its sister conference.
T.J. Ford is ready to return to his role as the starting point guard for the Toronto Raptors. However, Jose Calderon has other plans.
TSN.ca continues to look back at the past 999 games of the Toronto Raptors’ franchise.
Today’s topic: The All-Time Toronto Raptors ‘No Show’ team.
The Raptors have always had a difficult time convincing NBA players to come to Toronto - even when they’ve traded for them. Every team has its share of player holdouts, but how many can field an entire lineup?
With Maggette day-to-day, Mobley and Cassell officially ancient, and Brand/Livingston out long term, The Clips have been climbing Mt. Kaman this season. Now sans mullet, Kaman is dropping his white hot hillbilly hammer with dangerous consistency, getting my early vote for Most Improved Player. The rest of the Clips, however, are a total mess. They have 8 players over the age of 28, only two players (Paul Davis and Shaun Livingston) under 24. Their roster looks like an expansion team: mismatched and lopsided all around. No wonder they’re getting killed by everyone. They can’t really score, they can’t move quick enough to defend most squads…a messy season for the Clips, which stings even more as they watch the Lakers rise to the top.
Without Corey, all we gotta do is stop Kaman from going for 30 and 30, which is easier said than done. Of course, if Maggette plays we have to keep him off the line, where he’s all but automatic, missing only 2 of his last 48. Maybe we can slip a Raptors jersey on him while he’s in Toronto…who’s up for the mission?
Mismatches all over the place at the PG position. Ford and Calderon are going to whiz past Sam Cassell, who couldn’t be slower if he was dragging Elton Brand behind him. On the defensive end though, Sam can use his size to back them down in the post. Who’s going to cover Bosh, Tim Thomas? Uh oh. Smells like Twisty’s poised for have another 12-18, 32 point 15 rebound night.
Cuzoogle wants to know what is your favourite and most hated memory of the Raptors first 999 games? There is a lot to choose from. Fire up the comments and let us know what you think
The Raptors may never have got off the ground at the Air Canada Centre without many Leafs ticket-holders being forced to buy Raptors seats.
If I had to pick Toronto’s 2 best defenders this season based on my own observations, it would be Moon and Bosh. This also makes it pretty laughable that the Raptors tried to put Parker on Kobe. But that brings up an interesting point about this entire rating system.
Does it take into account WHO you’re covering? Players that are routinely going up against the best offensive players in the league would probably be penalized by this system, no? And I think that also somewhat resolves my issue with only big men being rated as the best year in and year out.
The fact is, swingmen and point guards–generally speaking–are more refined offensively than post players. They (swingmen especially) are less likely to turn the ball over, and a lot less likely to miss foul shots.
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