Linkage - Feb 23
the Raptors can blame just about everyone as they offered up 15 turnovers, a range of questionable shots (while getting Bosh just 15) and the odd defensive brain cramp.
Toronto also gave up a fair share of offensive rebounds — the Knicks’ David Lee had three of his game-high five in the third quarter as New York completed the comeback Crawford started in the second quarter by taking an 81-75 lead into the fourth. The Knicks got 12 offensive rebounds on the night, grabbing 45 in total to the Raptors’ 36.
"Offensive rebounds, second-chance points and Jamal Crawford had 43," Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell said, succinctly summarizing the game.
I would have to say a no, those four players do not make up the heart or core of an NBA championship, which isn’t to say they all can’t be part of an NBA championship team. But if they’re the core, the suggestion is you take that four and add some role players and some bench depth and some time and you’re a team that can win a conference title. I think what the Western arms race has shown is that to be a truly elite team, you need more elite players, or one super-elite player – Kobe, Duncan, LeBron, Garnett – and a lot of pretty good ones. I’m a big Bosh fan, but I’m not sure he’s destined to be an unstoppable two-way force that simply requires some help around the edges. Can Bargnani become a real all-star? If so, that might change the discussion somewhat. But I’m a bit skeptical of his potential to become the type of all-NBA talent a No.1 pick should have a chance to become. Ford (and let’s presume good health) and Calderon can be starting point guards on excellent teams, and together cover off the point position as well as Bosh does his, at the very least. But that leaves you with two all-star positions and a big maybe at Bargnani’s spot. To me that doesn’t get it done, even if you allow for best-case improvement among all parties. To me you need these four guys and at least one more elite, all-star caliber player. And then they need Paul Millsap. Not a Paul Millsap type. They need Paul Millsap.
"I think when we had a team down like that and the momentum shifts, we have to play a little harder, run the court harder," Bosh said. "I think we can do a much better job at that."
"Earlier in the game, we had the chance to capitalize," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell added. "We had some good looks around the basket but didn’t convert."
This was supposed to be the start of a stretch where the Raps could put some serious distance between themselves and the rest of the middle-of-the-pack teams in the East and maybe, just maybe, take a run at the Orlando Magic, who own that coveted third spot in the conference.
The Raptors accomplished what was supposed to be the tough part of this run with a post all-star opening win over the Magic. It set up a stretch of six consecutive games against sub-.500 teams beginning with last night’s game against the Knicks.
For 12 minutes, everything appeared to be going true to form with the Raps out to an early nine-point lead while the woeful Knicks were hard pressed to reach double digits in scoring in that first quarter.
Then Jamal Crawford caught fire and all that talk about should-be, would-be wins went out the window.
"We’re upset because of the loss," Raps point guard Jose Calderon said. "These are the kinds of wins we need to take that next step forward."
They are also the kind of wins that get a team into a rhythm where it can run off more than four wins in a row, something the Raps have been incapable of doing this year.
Primoz Brezec initially was not thrilled with the idea of switching teams for the second time in nine weeks, but a conversation with Bryan Colangelo changed all that.
The Raptors general manager promised him something he wasn’t getting in Detroit and that was an opportunity. Weighing the merits of the opportunity against a better than solid chance of playing for a championship and Brezec got right to work packing his bags.
"There was no playing time for me," Brezec said of his short stint in Detroit. "In a month and a half, two months, I didn’t get one chance. All I got was garbage time. That’s not me, man. I’ve been a starter in this game and I know I can play so I’m not going to sit on the bench. I can guarantee you that."
Having said that, Brezec admitted he had yet to have a conversation with head coach Sam Mitchell regarding his role. As it stands, he is one of four centres on a team that starts Andrea Bargnani, goes to Brezec’s fellow Slovenian Rasho Nesterovic first off the bench and then has Kris Humphries waiting in the wings. Where Brezec fits into that rotation will be determined over the next couple of weeks.
Raptors assistant GM Maurizio Gherardini has known the seven-footer since Brezec was just a kid. He is convinced Brezec will prove useful in Toronto particularly once the season heads towards its conclusion and the physical style becomes more prevalent.
Why did Jamario Moon, driving the lane late in the third quarter, attempt an alley-oop pass to Maceo Baston with the Raptors struggling against one of the league’s laughingstocks, a play that was emblematic of an uncharacteristic 16-turnover evening? Why didn’t Chris Bosh get a shot attempt for the first 5:31 of the fourth quarter, by which time the Raptors had fallen behind by 10 points, 92-82? And why didn’t someone think to guard Jamal Crawford, the speedy Knicks shooting guard who torched the visitors for a season-high 43 points?
Actually, in answer to that last one, a few someones tried, among them Anthony Parker and T.J. Ford, the latter of whom shared the backcourt with his fellow point guard Jose Calderon for a brief run in the fourth quarter so that Ford, Toronto’s quickest defender, could take a shot at shutting down Crawford. But Crawford, a streak-shooting gunner who jacked up 16 three-pointers (and made six), wasn’t to be halted.
"We just couldn’t guard him," said Sam Mitchell, the Toronto coach.
"You’re never supposed to win," said the coach. "This is professional sports. If you don’t play well and execute, you’re going to get beat. I don’t care who you’re playing."
"If I can’t play, I’ll take it as a man. Just tell me straight in the face, `You suck. You can’t play.’ I’ll take that," Brezec said. "But I know it’s not the truth. I’ve been a starter in this league. I know I can play. I know I can help this team. I’m excited to be here."
Brezec, the 7-foot-1 centre traded from Detroit to Toronto for Juan Dixon and cash in the hours before Thursday’s trade deadline, acknowledged that his first reaction to the deal wasn’t positive.
"I was not that excited," Brezec said. "I wanted to stay in Detroit, win a championship. … In the beginning, I was not so happy because I know Toronto’s got a lot of (big men)."
But Brezec said he came around after he spoke with Toronto general manager Bryan Colangelo and Colangelo’s assistant Maurizio Gherardini, the latter of whom has known Brezec, 28, since the Slovenian was a teenager. Both men assured Brezec there’s a role for him in Toronto.
"I think I set a record in the NBA. In 15 games, starting games, I didn’t get a ball. I didn’t get a shot off. You know what I’m saying?" said Brezec, who mixes his Euro-accented repartee with liberal doses of American street slang. "I said (to Vincent), `You know what, Sam? You don’t need me. You don’t like me. I don’t like you. So get me out of here.’ … You see how (the Bobcats, 19-35) are doing this year."
"I just said (to Colangelo), `Bryan, I just want a shot, man. I don’t want no guarantees,’" Brezec said. "This is the perfect situation for me, perfect fit. … That’s all I need, just the opportunity to play. … I’m excited now."
Nickname time
I gotta start calling Bryan ‘Noah.’
Two Italians, two Spaniards, two from Slovenian, a couple of Texans and a pair of former teammates in Israel. What’s next? Another Argentine for Carlos, I’d hope.
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You don’t imagine Toronto fans would have the imagination to start a "Fire Isiah" chant Sunday night do you? I’m told that was heard Philly the other night.
"Toronto is a great city and a great organization, but it was not a good situation for me," he said. "It was a good team, great coaches and management, but I wasn’t playing. I just feel real fortunate to come to a championship-caliber team."
Dixon isn’t coming in blind. He knows the backcourt is deep.
"This team is already loaded," he said. "I talked to Joe Dumars and he’s a straight shooter. He told me what it is here. I just have to work hard, play my game and be aggressive — make sure I am ready when my opportunity comes."
Crawford, whose point total was a season high, did his damage on 15-of-29 shooting, including six 3-pointers. And none was bigger than the one he hit with 31/2 minutes remaining, after Toronto had pulled within 94-92 moments earlier.
"I was telling guys on the bench that I thought Jamal was going for 50," Curry said. "He was definitely in one of those rhythms. I think if he had come out and had a couple more points in the first quarter it definitely would have been one of those 50-point nights."
With Garden chairman James Dolan sitting courtside, the Knicks improved to 17-38 and won their first home game since Jan.25.
"If I’m not out there, I’ll cheer on my team from the bench," Curry said. "I’m not one of those guys who’s going to complain … I love it here, I love this team. They kept me here for a reason and I’m going to keep playing hard and just do what I can to stay on the court."
Said Thomas: "He’s a big part of our plans. But some nights the matchups aren’t there. [Toronto] is a team that plays small. Not a good night for him matchups-wise."
3rd in the east? I think not. Seriously, the Knicks have some nice players, but they suck. Let’s face it - they were 16-38 heading into this game, but you wouldn’t know it. You also wouldn’t know that the Raptors were two days removed from dropping 127 points against the Magic IN Orlando, off of monster games from Bosh, Calderon, Delfino and Moon.
Here’s a disturbing trend. The Raptors lost their first game against the Wizards on their turf, despite being the healthier of the two teams. The next night, they came back and hammered them to oblivion, but the loss still remains. Now, the Raptors will face the Knicks yet again on Sunday, and if they crush the Knicks, it still won’t mean much because they lost this game. I was asked by the Orlando Magic Blog about whether I believed that the Raptors could catch the Magic, and my simple answer was “no”. It’s losses like this that have occurred throughout the year and have had no indication of disappearing that worry fans the most, and it’s about time someone on the team wakes up and realizes that a mediocre team that plays to their opponent’s strengths is just simply unacceptable.
When will this team exert their will and playing style on others?
Chris Bosh scored 23 points to top five Raptors in double figures. Anthony Parker and Carlos Delfino notched 18 apiece, Jamario Moon had 16, and Jose Calderon had 15.
The latter added six assists — well below his season average of almost nine coming into the game — and committed four turnovers, matching a season high. Calderon hadn’t coughed the ball up that many times since doing it in back-to-back games at Philadelphia and Boston on Jan. 19 and 23.
4. Cleveland
5. Toronto
This is up in the air, as we need to see how the chemistry will be in LeBron-land with the new additions, but since LeBron is the best player in the East, I’m sure he can put them on his back in the playoffs. I think Ben Wallace will play with renewed motivation, on his healthy days Wally will be a good floor-spreading outside threat, and Delonte West will fit right in. Joe Smith may not be as good as Drew Gooden but his maturity makes up for it. Salary-cap wise, Cleveland may not be too happy next year, but for now, they’ve loaded up to go deep back into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, while the Raptors keep improving, I still don’t see them strong enough to get past the first round. Another year of experience, and they eke that much closer.
Winner: Cleveland in 5
But we’re used to bad perimeter defense and bad rebounding so it’s not a shock that even the lowly Knicks can beat us when they’re motivated enough to play. It’s the mysterious departure from doubling Randolph that gets me, whenever Randolph caught the ball in the third quarter, he was allowed to progress instead of give the ball up. Maybe it was the fear of Crawford that was in Sam’s mind that he refused to double Randolph, allowing him to go at Bosh and Baston without mercy. Sam does know that it’s possible to slow down a hot perimeter player AND send a double team to a guy who can’t pass out of one, right? We allowed Crawford to get hot early and he stayed hot, we allowed Randolph to get hot starting in the second and he stayed hot. A bad, bad defensive game by the Raptors.
Now I respect Colangelo for not pulling the trigger on a deal that has no long term benefits. He has a plan and he’s sticking to it. Clearly he sees the draft and this summer as the best time to make a serious upgrade to the roster. Honestly, this team is only a couple of moves away from being an elite NBA team. The core is in place.
No doubt the Raptors need a more dynamic scoring option on the wing. They need to significantly tighten up their perimeter defence and their rebounding needs improvement. I don’t believe those upgrades will occur through internal development. Bryan needs to be active on the trade front once the season ends if the Raptors are to make the strides we all expect in 2008-09.
So as we look to the final six weeks of the season, I think the Raptors will win a few more than they lose. However, the team’s inconsistency will continue to drive Raptors fans nuts.
What it will come down to is how the team does in the post season. The way it looks now, another season of one-and-done in the playoffs could be a real possibility as they probably will face either Orlando or Cleveland without home-court advantage - both tough match-ups.
Colangelo is facing an important summer, because next season the Raptors can’t be satisfied with a 45 win season. Changes will need to be made. Re-signing Calderon and Delfino and keeping the status quo won’t be enough.
The good news is that the Raptors have a franchise player who cares a lot more about winning than did the team’s previous superstar and Bryan has a strong vision for the future. That’s why I remain optimistic over Toronto’s long term outlook.
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