Linkage - March 02
They no longer will be able to go to their go-to guy or feed the post.
For at least the next three games, the Raptors won’t have the luxury of watching Chris Bosh create mismatches and help defend the paint.
With the team exercising caution — and in many ways it’s the prudent thing to do — the Raptors will not have their franchise player and three-time all-star in the lineup for the coming three-game trip, beginning with tonight’s contest in Charlotte.
Rasho Nesterovic will start in Bosh’s place in a move that comes as no surprise. Andrea Bargnani will get more touches, but the second-year power forward/centre must avoid Friday’s performance when he attempted 25 shots from the field and didn’t make a single trip to the foul line.
In one of those mysteries that continues to go unsolved, Bargnani has yet to figure out that he can get off his shot virtually any time he wants.
The key is to take more high-percentage opportunities, attack the basket by using his ability to put the ball on the floor and draw fouls.
Bargnani must also rebound and defend better, now that Bosh is out.
Kris Humphries and Joey Graham, two seldom-used players, will also be asked to step up, a message Mitchell conveyed to both. He’ll soon find out if his words were taken to heart.
In Friday’s loss to Indiana, Brezec was the only Raptor not to see the floor.
With one fewer big body available in the wake of Chris Bosh’s knee injury, Brezec and Kris Humphries are the only bangers on the bench.
Two-time NBA three-point king Jason Kapono has gone six games in a row without making a shot from beyond the arc.
"We do have a little cushion. It’s not like we’re out of the playoffs right now," coach Sam Mitchell said yesterday. "We’re still in there and we just can’t afford for this to turn into something more than what it is."
The this that Mitchell referred to was a right knee injury that’s got Bosh sidelined for up to a week. The all-star power forward hobbled out of the gym yesterday while the team was still working out.
"We’re just going to give him some time," said the coach. "Our thinking right now, unless something different happens, is not to even play him these next three games, give him some rest, let it calm down."
At 32-25, the Raptors are comfortably in the middle of the Eastern Conference pack. They remain just one game in the loss column behind third-place Orlando, are in a virtual tie with Cleveland for fourth and don’t have to worry about falling out of the playoffs unless they go on a horrific losing streak.
"We’ve played without Chris before, unfortunately we’ve had to do that, and we’ve found a way to win," said Mitchell.
Bargnani’s increased role won’t be limited to trying to replace some of Bosh’s 22 points per game. He’ll defend Charlotte’s Nazr Mohammed tonight (Nesterovic has had success in the past dealing with Emeka Okafor of the Bobcats) and then have to help out on Orlando’s Dwight Howard on Tuesday.
"This may actually help Andrea’s growth even more, because now he’s got to do a little bit more of everything," said Mitchell.
Newly acquired Juan Dixon played 23 minutes and finished with 14 points, making six of seven shots for Detroit. He had only one practice with his new teammates after being acquired from Toronto on Thursday.
The Blazers, who have been hurt this season by inconsistent play at the position, did more than window shop for a point guard at the Feb. 21 trading deadline. A Western Conference source said the Blazers heavily pursued Toronto point guard Jose Calderon, only to have their offers rebuffed by the Raptors.
"One of the things we have done well as a franchise is to be patient with young guys."
Perhaps feeding Pritchard’s desire to be patient is the fact that outside of Calderon, there will be no top-tier point guard available this summer through free agency. The Raptors will be able to match any offer made to Calderon, which they are expected to do because of the uncertain health of T.J. Ford, Toronto’s other point guard, who is battling serious neck and back injuries.
The best point guards — Utah’s Deron Williams and New Orleans’ Chris Paul — become free agents after next season, the exact time when the Blazers expect to have money to spend.
Also do not discount the fact that Bosh will be on this trip even if he won’t be in a jersey. He is the clear leader of this club on and off the floor and he no doubt will voice that leadership if only as a spectator. There is nobody on the Raptor Roster or in the Organization that does not understand the importance of Tuesday’s Match-Up with the Magic. But not so important as to risk Bosh’s longterm health. Chris referenced the struggles of the Wizards Caron Butler coming back from a different injury to soon perhaps and having a set back. Even though Sam Mitchell will not admit it the truth be told the Raptors are pretty much a playoff lock at this point. Things in the east are not like the West. Where a 3 game losing streak could put you on the brink of your playoff life. That being said Raptor still need to get wins if the hope to battle with Cleveland and Orlando for the 3rd seed they had last year in the playoffs.
GO PRIMOZ !!!!
Wonder if Sam remembers who he is?
I assume it’s not hard to pick out guy on the bench that keeps saying “Hey Gangsta, put me in the game!”