Category Archives: Raptor News

by | May 16, 2013 · 6:22 am

Familar Faces Playing Pivitol Roles in Playoffs

As if Raptor fans weren’t feeling bummed out enough with the fact that once again we are all on the outside looking in when it comes to playoff basketball. Not only do we get to watch other teams competing for ultimate prize in basketball, but Raptor fans are witnessing a number of former teammates playing key roles on teams that may just win it all.

As always, there is a Raptor spin to this years post-season.  Players we gave up on, begrudgingly traded or didn’t appreciate enough at the time are playing key roles in this years playoffs.  In fact there are a number of players who may end up tipping the scale in their teams favour this year.

In no particular order here they are.

Ex Raptors in the 2013 NBA Playoffs

Marco Belinelli – On a Bulls team that seems to be put together by MacGyver (with duck tape and chewing gum) , Belinelli has been a key, unexpected contributor.  If you’re a Raptor fan, you’re likely as blown away by his presence as anyone.  He came up huge in game 7 of the first round series against the Nets and is continuing his clutch play in this second round matchup against the Heat.  Belinelli has always been a streaky shooter, but in these playoffs he has been someone his team can depend on late in games and at key points when the Bulls need a bucket.  Not something he showed much of in his Toronto days.  He has also held his own on the defensive end and at times has had LeBron James guarding him.

Belinelli has found his shooting touch just when the Bulls needed it most and helped the banged up Bulls advance to the next round. Bryan Colangelo, if he’s watching, is seeing the player he was hoping he acquired a few years back for the Raptors.  Only now, is he playing up to his abilities.

Jarrett Jack – Jack was originally brought in to Toronto to be a key backup combo guard for a team that was supposed to make many playoff appearances. He didn’t get that chance in Toronto, but he’s making  the most of the opportunity now with Golden State.

He has become a huge part of everything that is going right for Golden State.  He’s a veteran leader that is really helping take charge of this exciting young team.  When they needed clutch shots against Denver, Jack was there.  When they needed a veteran facilitator he was their man.  Jack has looked like a very valuable asset on this playoff team.  Against San Antonio he has been a strong veteran presence who knows where the ball needs to go.  He also isn’t afraid to take a tough shot when needed.  Don’t the Raptors wish they had him coming off the bench now.

Jarryd Bayless – When Bayless was in Toronto, everyone knew he had the potential to be something special.  It was simply hard to find a role on this Toronto team and they let him go in the offseason.  He’s found his role with Memphis, that is for sure.  In these playoffs he has been a spark plug for the Grizzlies off the bench.  He’s been the perfect mix of passer and shooter; exactly what you want in a combo guard.

The Grizzlies simply do not get past Denver without Bayless.  He was a classic clutch playoff performer.  He came in and hit big shots and came up with huge efforts when his team needed it most.  The Grizzlies bench looks a lot more scary now as they play a very difficult 2nd round opponent in the Thunder.  Watch out for Bayless again in this series.  He has the speed and ability to cause big problems for Oklahoma City. The Grizz are gonna need him if they hope to beat the defending Western Conference champs.

Bayless is showing Raptor fans what could've been as he has helped the Grizzlies during these NBA playoffs.

Bayless is showing Raptor fans what could’ve been as he has helped the Grizzlies during these NBA playoffs.

Chris Bosh – Once upon a time Chris Bosh was absolutely everything for the Toronto Raptors. He was the focal point of any and every opposing defense he faced and felt huge pressure in the playoff battles he had here in Toronto.  Fast forward to now and Bosh is still an amazing All-Star talent, but opposing defenses can’t always apply pressure on him because they are focused on stopping LeBron James and Dwayne Wade.

Bosh wasn’t a huge factor for the Heat in the first round against the Bucks, but then again, he wasn’t really needed.  If the Heat are going to beat the more troublesome Bulls and eventually the upstart Pacers,  Bosh is going to be a key part of any chance the Heat have to win. Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer present huge issues for Bosh inside and if he handles them he has to face a Hibbert/West or Chandler/Stoudamire combo.  If this team hopes to beat either of those teams they will need major contributions from Bosh on both ends of the floor.  With Wade still not looking 100% and opposing defences ready to pounce on Lebron James, the secondary scoring from Bosh will be paramount to a championship repeat.  Look for him to heat up in this second round, if he doesn’t the Heat may face more difficulty than was originally expected.

Matt Bonner – Matt Bonner was a fan favourite in Toronto and an energizer off the bench for a bad team when he was here.  Since moving to San Antonio, he has become a very important part of the team off the bench and in spot starting duties over the years.  This year he, once again, finds himself in the role of energizer and a key three-point threat off the bench.

Bonner isn’t a major factor for the Spurs but he can be a dangerous player off the bench at various times.  He is a big body and can hit the three with consistency. Matt Bonner is to the San Antonio Spurs as Steve Kerr used to be to the Chicago Bulls.  Bonner likely won’t get heavy minutes, but he may come into the game late to take very important shots, especially if Danny Green keeps struggling with his three-point shot.

Tracy McGrady – Was once a building block in Toronto and was the best player for Toronto in the franchise’s first ever playoff appearance against the Knicks.  He was a star in Orlando and the major offensive threat when he was in Houston.

Now McGrady is relegated to the bench in a cheerleading role.  But what an intriguing player to have at the end of your bench.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Greg Popovich has something up his sleeve when it comes to McGrady.  He could provide some instant offense off the bench and he has been a solid defender his entire career.  If the Spurs get into trouble don’t be surprised to see a little bit more McGrady then you ever thought you’s see again.

Roy Hibbert – He never played for the Raptors, but is technically a former dino.  Traded as part of the Jermaine O’Neal deal, Hibbert has been a perennial All-star and looks like he might be the key to the Pacers playoff chances this year.

Hibbert is gonna have to step up to beat the New York Knicks who will send Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudamire against him.  So far he’s answered the call and has been the difference for Indiana thus far.  He has been unstoppable inside and provided Indiana with much of their offense.

If the Pacers get to the conference finals against Miami, it may be Hibbert that provides the biggest challenge for the defending champs.  He is a tough matchup for Chris Bosh and plays a position that the defending champs have trouble with.  Miami has trouble inside all season and Hibbert, who is just hitting his playoff groove, may be too much for them to handle.

Once upon a time a Raptor floor general, now an upstart coach who is leading the warriors to a surrising playoff run.

Once upon a time a Raptor floor general, now an upstart coach who is leading the warriors to a surprising playoff run.

Mark Jackson – He wasn’t a Raptor for long, but this former PG great is now in charge of one of the most exciting teams in the playoffs.  He has this Warriors team playing the best basketball the franchise has ever seen.

Jackson may seem to be in over his head in a coaching matchup against the great Greg Popovich, but he’s held his own thus far.  He’s got this young team energized and believing in itself.  He is getting key contributions out of rookie (and almost Raptor) Harrison Barnes, journeyman Jarrett Jack and a returning Andrew Bogut, plus he has had to overcome injury issues to his star Stephen Curry.

Jackson, and his coaching decisions to come, will have a major impact on how the Warriors perform the rest of the way.  When Jackson was a point guard he was known for his ability to get steals, with any luck he may just be able to steal another series from the Spurs.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | May 6, 2013 · 12:42 pm

Colangelo’s Future a Matter of Perspective

Sometime in the coming days Raptors current GM and President Bryan Colangelo will sit down with the new man in charge at MLSE and plead his case for being allowed to continue as the man in charge of Canada’s only NBA basketball team.

No matter what side of the argument you are on it is hard to ignore Colangelo’s credentials and impossible to forget the last 5 years in Toronto without playoff basketball.

Some will argue he is the best man out there for the job and his recent moves in acquiring Rudy Gay and drafting Jonas Valanciunas have the ship pointed in the right direction, while others will point to his failures to get this team over the hump and that fresh blood is needed to take this team  to new heights.

There are two arguments when it comes to Colangelo and his future in Toronto:

The Glass is Half Full

Bryan Colangelo wasn’t able to build a winner around Chris Bosh, but since CB4′s departure for the beaches of Miami he has done an adequate job putting together a young, exciting core.  The young players on the team right now from Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas, Amir Johnson and Rudy Gay seem to indicate that this team is on the cusp of playoff basketball.  In fact, the optimist would argue that if not for  losing 12 out of 13 games in Nov/Dec they would have been right in the mix for the 7th and 8th spot in this year’s playoffs.

Colangelo knows how to draft talent.  He caught hellfire for drafting Jonas Valanciunas with the 5th pick two years ago and there is not one person who would argue with that pick today.  Valanciunas is one of the better young big men in the league and the sky appears to be the limit for him.  Most GM’s wouldn’t have had the courage to take Jonas at that spot, Bryan did.  His drafting of DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross, Quincy Acy and Ed Davis have all resulted in serviceable NBA talent.  His drafting record is better than most GM’s out there.  The only major blemish on his resume is the drafting of Andrea Bargnani first overall in 2006, though that was the same year the big Italian helped the Raptors win and Atlantic division championship.

Colangelo cleans up the mess he creates and constantly looks to improve his team.  He was creative when adding talent to lineup with Chris Bosh in his tenure here and has been fairly successful in acquiring young talent and manageable contracts since Bosh departed.  The Raptors are not handcuffed by the NBA salary cap and have flexibility to add talent and make trades.  There are no “untradeable contracts” on this current roster.

With the addition of Rudy Gay the Raptors now possess a big name talent that can recruit other top-notch players here and one that can finally be depended on in crunch time.  Since Gay was added to the roster, the team has begun to find itself and gel.  The Raptors were one of the better teams in the closing weeks of the season. The team seemed to finally “click” and looked like a team that could compete in the Eastern Conference.  Given a full year of this young squad the raptors are likely playoff contenders.

If the Raptors go out there and take a look, there aren’t many who can do the job Colangelo can.  He has built an interesting young team and should be allowed to see the fruits of his labour.  The Raptors are a team that need a little bit more time to gel and build on the success they finished the 2012-13 campaign on.

Colangelo's fate President and GM of the Raptors will be decided this week.

Colangelo’s fate President and GM of the Raptors will be decided this week.

The team that Bryan has built is one on the rise, he deserves another year to see it reach the heights it is capable of.

The Glass is Half Empty

Colangelo has been in charge of the Raptors for seven seasons and has not seen the 2nd round of the playoffs once. Yes, he led this team to an Atlantic division championship in his first year on the job, but failed miserably to build a contender around star Chris Bosh.  He then failed to get anything of value for Bosh, whom he knew was leaving as a free agent.

Since Bosh left he hasn’t made any significant progress.  Yes he acquired Rudy Gay and Kyle Lowry, but in a difficult Eastern Conference this team appears to be a treadmill team at best.  This young squad does not match up against the elite teams in the East and never will with this collection of players as its “core”.

Other than Jonas Valanciunas, Colangelo has never acquired an elite young player that could be considered a future star.  Amir Johnson is great, Rudy Gay is interesting, DeMar DeRozan is pretty okay. Name one of those players (other than Rudy) that would be a starting player on one of the top four Eastern Conference teams.

Then there is Bargnani.  Whether it is fair or not Colangelo will forever be judged by the Bargnani draft pick.  It was the franchise’s one and only first overall pick and it has been, simply put, a colossal failure.  Colangelo went against traditional logic to choose Bargnani. Though he looked like a future star after year one, other than a few months in the 2010-11 season, he hasn’t been able to become the star the Raptors need.  In recent years he’s been injured and when he is on the court he doesn’t rebound, hangs out on the three-point line and doesn’t seem to put in the necessary effort to succeed in the league.

The failures of Bargnani, fair or not, are directly tied to the future of Bryan Colangelo.

Pimply put, Colangelo should be judged on playoff performance. Any other GM who misses the playoffs for five years in a row and has a collection of players that may or may not compete for the 8th spot in the East (if their really, really good) doesn’t deserve to keep their job.

In closing, the Colangelo dilemma is a difficult one with solid arguments on both sides of the issue, but in the end it will be left in the hands of new MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke to decide whether this is a team on the rise or one that has already reached the heights of which it is capable.

Based on the success Leiweke has had in his career with the Kings, Galaxy and Lakers he is a guy Raptor fans should trust with this decision, no matter which way he goes.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 16, 2013 · 8:44 pm

Is This Recent Run Reason for Optimisim?

Raise your hand if you’ve been hopeful about a strong finish to a Raptors season in the past?

I know I have.

The Raptors, over the years, have had a knack for missing the playoffs with months of excruciating play, only to finish the year strong and make you think that next year might be different.

Call it a season ticket drive to the finish, call it finally living up to expectations, call it playing well against lesser opponents.  It creates a confusion in the fan base.

DeRozan has been a bright spot for the Raptors as they finish the season strong. Is a strong finish enough for fans to beleive?

DeRozan has been a bright spot for the Raptors as they finish the season strong. Is a strong finish enough for fans to beleive?

Is this the real Toronto Raptors? or ar they the team that has been outplayed, outmuscled, and out manned all season long?

I don’t want to have to pull out the definition of insanity here, but this is beginning to become a bit of recurring theme.

The Raptors have played well this past week.  Another impressive victory on Sunday against a hungry Nets team.  It is true, the pressure has been off, the opponents have largely been weaker and the results have been better.  Is this recent run of good play an indication of what this team is truly made of? Or are they getting our hopes up again, like they do every year?

Fans could be forgiven for thinking this might be a sign of what this team will look like next year.  The fan base is looking for any sign of hope and winning a number of games over this last week of the season is certainly a way to provide that hope.  Kyle Lowry is finally looking like the player he was advertised to be, Rudy Gay is hitting big shots, DeRozan is looking like a star and the team is playing better defensive basketball than they have all season.

I know the Raptors are selling us all on the 17 reasons to renew our season seats for next year, but is this really what we are going to get? Or is this just a young team taking advantage of playoff teams resting their stars and teams playing out the schedule?

Jonas Valanciunas is, in my opinion, the big reason one should consider renewing season tickets, if you’re looking for another, the Raptors are starting to provide it with their recent play.

One needs to be wary of putting too much emphasis on success in such a small sample size.  I mean, Bargnani had that great stretch last year and  some Raptor fans (myself included) expected that level of play this year.  Of course, we know how that played out.

It’s been five years since the Raptors reached the promised land of the playoffs, is this run enough to make fans start forking over their loonies and toonies to watch again next year? Is it enough to believe that the front office can make a couple of tweaks to the roster and get this team into the playoffs?

Jonas Valanciunas is definitely one of the 17 reasons you should check out the Raptors next season. The question is are there really 16 others?

Jonas Valanciunas is definitely one of the 17 reasons you should check out the Raptors next season. The question is are there really 16 others?

The Raptors acquired Rudy Gay ( a bona-fide star), they have some nice young pieces with reasonable contracts, but they haven’t been able to put it all together. Though I have a hard time believing that this team isn’t better than the current Milwaukee Bucks.

A full season of Jonas Valanciunas as the starting centre is going to make a difference next year as will a full season of Rudy Gay, but it remains unclear whether that is going to be enough to get this team back into the playoffs. On the surface it would appear that this young team is finally figuring each other out, that they are finally clicking.

Lowry is running the point well, Rudy Gay and DeRozan have finally found a nice balance and the rest of the team is playing their role well.  This run of games seems to indicate that the Raps have finally figured themselves out.

Kyle Lowry (the big off-season acquisition last summer) hasn’t really come as advertised this season.  He has had trouble figuring out when to drive, shoot or pass. His leadership on the court hasn’t led to great decisions and much of the year Casey deferred to Jose Calderon.  Though over the last week or so, he seems to have found a nice balance while running the team.  Which Kyle Lowry do we expect to see next year?

DeMar DeRozan has had a decent season and should be applauded for playing every single game, but is he a player to build around? The same could be said for Amir Johnson, another solid member of the team, but one that might be expendable.

Who do the Raptors keep going into next year? Where do they look for an upgrade?

Is the team, as it is right now, good enough to compete like this next season in an Eastern Conference that is sure to see upgrades?

A lot of what happens going forward is going to depend on whether Bryan Colangelo and Dwane Casey keep their jobs, but a change might be in order for this club.  This young core, one that looked great on paper at the beginning of the year, hasn’t delivered the way it was supposed to. They have been better this final week, but how much can be made of this finish to the season?  The Raptors have looked much better the last 5 games.  Getting to the line, driving the ball and not settling for jump shots.  Their defensive energy has increased as well. They’ve returned to their “pound the rock” effort on defense from last season.

With no draft pick in this years entry draft and very little money to spend in free agency, the team is going to have to be creative when adding pieces to the club next year.  The team possesses many tradeable contracts and will need to make smart moves to improve the team for next year.  They re still a solid defensive player and a strong veteran reserve presence short of being competitive.

While the front office will continue to tout the 17 reasons to tune into the Raptors next year, the team is going to have to do a lot of work this off-season to legitimately prove they are a contender next season.

It has been five long years without playoff basketball in this city.  It is time to take the next step.

The Raptors of 2013-14 are going to have to channel the Raptors of this past week in order to slip into the playoff picture next year.  Let’s hope the Raptors of the past 6 games can bring it for all 82 next year.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 4, 2013 · 10:42 pm

Colangelo’s Future a Murky One

One of the biggest questions heading into this coming offseason for the Raptors and their ownership is what exactly they are going to do with GM Bryan Colangelo.

Though he is highly respected within MLSE and has a very high-profile around the league, the results he has been able to achieve on the court have been a “mixed bag” at the best of times.

He did bring the Raptors their only Atlantic Division championship and did manage to manoeuver his way around some terrible contracts and big acquisitions that didn’t work out.  He’s drafted well and is well-respected around the league. This season he liftedn the veil on the Raptors front office to create two highly successful television programs in Behind the Draft and Open Gym that have earned league-wide praise.

These shows may not seem like a big deal to the average fan, but both have raised the profile of the Raptors around the league and have likely helped to earn Colangelo a few “brownie points” with the “bigwigs” in the League offices.  This type of positive standing around the league doesn’t really do anything for the product on the court, but it can definitely have positive impacts for the ownership.

Bryan Colangelo doesn't have a contract for next season and there is no guaranteel that the Raptors will bring him back.

Bryan Colangelo doesn’t have a contract for next season and there is no guaranteel that the Raptors will bring him back.

On the flip side Colangelo hasn’t gotten great results where it counts.  The Raptors, under Colangelo, haven’t made the playoffs in the past five years and he has given the fan base in the city no real reason to believe that the playoff drought will end anytime in the near future.

So what exactly should the team do with their high-profile man in charge?

On one hand there is little doubt that Colangelo has shown himself to be one of the classiest executives in the business over his career. He has been part of winning franchises and has proven to be a winner elsewhere. He managed the Phoenix Suns very well and was able to make a number of big moves that thrust that franchise into the championship conversation year in and year out.

Since arriving in Toronto he has taken a number of different approaches to winning.  He was one of the first to really invest heavily in players playing overseas, signing a number as free agents in his first tenure (Garbajosa, Anthony Parker) and drafting one first overall (Bargnani).  He has tried to make big free agent acquisitions (Hedo Turkoglu) and he has shown that he isn’t afraid to make a big trade (Jermaine O’neal, Rudy Gay).

None of these game game plans have worked to a positive conclusion.  While it isn’t clear what his next course of action is one would have to assume it will involve Rudy Gay and Jonas Valanciunas as the core moving forward. Depending on your outlook this core might seem promising or not quite enough to compete for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Still, he has shown an uncanny ability to fix the mistakes that he makes.  When he was in Phoenix he was quickly able to turn the trade of Jason Kidd for Stephon Marbury back into his favour.  By acquiring Penny Hardaway he created capspace for himself to sign eventual two time MVP Steve Nash. The result was a solid run for the franchise.

Here in Toronto he quickly turned the hated Rafael Araujo into the serviceable Kris Humphries. He made a huge commitment to Hedo Turkoglu, which turned out to be a disaster, but then moved him to Phoenix for a dependable Leandro Barbosa and saved money in the process.

He is one of the best GM’s at fixing his own mistakes.  What Raptor fans have to ask, is whether they want to let him make any more.

Another plus working for Colangelo is that he is not a “stand pat” kind of general manager.  He never has been and never will be.  Colangelo takes risks.  He signs players he believes in and isn’t afraid to move confidently in a direction others may disagree with.  Drafting Andrea Bargnani was a shrewd move as was his decision to draft Jonas Valanciunas with the 5th overall pick two years ago. The two decisions have worked out differently, but you cannot say that he isnt afraid to take risks.

Obviously, as fans, you want every risk Colangelo takes to turn to gold, but the fact that he isn’t afraid to do what he feels is right for the team is an admirable trait.  Hopefully his most recent risk of acquiring Rudy Gay turns out like many of his others.

Colangelo’s risks have also earned him the ire of the fan base in Toronto at times.  He chose not to trade Chris Bosh before his free agency and did not receive any compensation for the teams franchise player.  His drafting and subsequent handling of Andrea Bargnani has incensed Raptor followers and may well be the reason he is ultimately let go this summer.

While Colangelo has made his fair share of mistakes in his time as GM of the Raptors and there are plenty of reasons to look to a new GM in the fall, the question remains: who out there is better? Who would you bring in that could do a better job?

Do you simply get rid of a quality GM because he hasn’t got the job done? or do you wait until someone better for the job emerges?  Colangelo doesn’t have the results.  This year, like the four before it, will end in disappointment and missed opportunities.  But if you let Colangelo go, you have to replace him with someone better suited for the job, someone more likely to get results.

If not Colangelo, then who?

I am as disappointed with this season as anyone.  I miss playoff basketball, hell I miss the possibility of playoff basketball.  Losing stinks and under Colangelo we have done our fair share of losing.  But there are a lot of positives in place with this team going forward.  A young core, a potential star to build around and tradeable assets that can be used to help improve this team.  Colangelo has shown over his career that he can swing a big deal to maximize the value of the player being traded.

So maybe he should stay for one more “playoffs or bust” season.

Colangelo’s fate has not yet been sealed and the decision to keep him around or not is not going to be as easy as it may seem.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 1, 2013 · 2:26 pm

Jose! Jose, Jose, Jose

Jose Calderon is, arguably, one of the most beloved Toronto Raptor players in the history of the franchise.  Fans have happily cheered him over the years, sometimes in spite of themselves and now he is finally coming back to the ACC for the first time as a member of the Detroit Pistons.

The crowd at the ACC hasn’t had much to look forward to lately as the Raptors continue to play out the rest of a lost season, but Jose’s return is definitely a reason to get excited.  Fans understood the trade that sent him to Detroit and brought Rudy Gay to Toronto, but it was still very hard to say goodbye to a player that has called Toronto home for his entire NBA career.

Jose wasn’t always a fan favourite in Toronto.  There were many times when it seemed he didn’t belong or would be better off somewhere else.  But every time this fan base doubted Jose or put him down, he came right back and reminded us all of why he was such an important part of this franchise’s history.

When you think of the Toronto Raptors you can’t help but think of “Numero Ocho” and his “Jose fingers” every time he or one of his teammates hit a three pointer.

This is one of my favourite Jose Calderon moments and one that demonstrates Jose's team first mentality.

This is one of my favourite Jose Calderon moments and one that demonstrates Jose’s team first mentality.

In a hockey town, he was an easy player to like.  He worked hard, he involved his teammates, he was humble and never had a negative word to say to anybody or about anybody.  There haven’t been many basketball players in this city that have left it all out on the floor the way Calderon did during his tenure here.

He was happy to involve the fans and loved getting the crowd fired up with a huge three pointer or big time pass at a crucial point in the game.  The fans loved him right back.

Many of the current Raptors team hold him in very high regard and felt he was one of the easiest players to play with because he always got them the ball in a place they could score.

It wasn’t always rosy for Jose here in Toronto.  Many times during his tenure he was counted out and not appreciated by fans, reporters and bloggers.  During his various battles for minutes with point guards on his team fans pointed out the fact that he was a terrible defender, didn’t push the ball up the court and played the game “too safe” and “too slow”.

No matter who took over for Calderon at the point, every single point guard that came in was eventually replaced by Calderon.  He was far too dependable and trustworthy for his coaches to hand the reins over to someone else.  Poor defensive ability aside, the team was better when he was on the floor.

Fans didn’t always agree.  Jose received his fair share of negativity over his tenure as a Raptor, but all of that will disappear when he returns on Monday night.

On Monday night the ACC will welcome Jose back the way he deserves to be.  The crowd will be standing on their feet cheering the work and effort Jose has put in as a member of this team.  Raptor fans love him and it appears from his letter to the fans, that the feeling is quite mutual. It is rare to find a player that misses a city as much as it misses him.

Jose came to Toronto in 2005 as an after thought.  An under the radar free agent signing by then GM Rob Babcock.  He was expected to maybe become the teams backup point guard, but most figured he’d be a 3rd point guard at best.  He stayed the course, worked hard and earned the respect of his coaches.  slowly he moved his way up, received more minutes and ultimately gave his coaches no choice but to start him.

Jose was a coaches dream.  Whether it was Sam Mitchell, Jay Triano, or Dwane Casey all of his coaches loved working with him.  He did what his coaches wanted and wasn’t afraid to take control when it was required.  Eric Koreen of the National Post wrote a great piece on Calderon’s time playing for Sam Mitchell and the relationship they developed.  His work ethic and ability to take criticism in stride made him easy to coach.

Young point guards coming into the league need to look at the example Jose Calderon has provided.  If you work hard, put in the time and never quit, listen to your detractors and take criticism in stride, you can earn the chance to show what you can do.

At the ACC on Monday night the crowd will thank Jose for all he has done.  At home, I will as well.  Numero Ocho has been my favourite all time Raptor and it has been a pleasure to watch him play.  Even though I will cheer tonight for the Raptors, as I always do, I hope Jose puts in a good game and hits a couple of threes.  The crowd will be happy to see it.

Welcome home Jose!

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 21, 2013 · 1:06 pm

Raptors Need to Finish Strong

It is hard at this point in a lost season to find the motivation to put it all on the floor.  There doesn’t seem to be anything important to play for, other than pride and individual stats, but the Toronto Raptors would be wise to finish the year as strong as they possibly can.

Another loss in Charlotte on Wednesday night is not the kind of effort that is going to instill any faith in this franchise going forward. Despite recent losses there are still a number of talented young players on this team that need to prove to the fan base in Toronto that there is something about this team worth holding onto going into, what could be, a very tumultuous offseason.

There are a number of reasons to finish this season as strong as possible.

Fight for your fan base. Firstly the franchise owes it to the fans to provide a glimmer of hope.  Season ticket holders are mulling over their renewal options right now and fans are trying to figure out whether this team, one that has missed the postseason for 5 straight years, is worthy of the expense.  A late season surge and impressive play from the young Raptors core could help provide the glimmer of hope the franchise is going to need to pedal tickets to buyers in the offseason.  A strong finish will also help to convince fans that this team really is a playoff team if given a full year of Rudy Gay.  If nothing else, a strong end to the year will provide the paying public with a reason to come down the ACC and get their money’s worth between now and the end of the season.

Fight for your spot. The Raptor roster for next year is not anywhere near set and the Raptor players need to establish themselves as part of the core  heading into what will very surely be an interesting off-season.  No body is a slam dunk to return next year outside of (maybe) Jonas Valanciunas.  DeRozan, Amir, Gay, Lowry all of whom seemed like integral pieces coming into the season are tradeable assets that could be moved depending on what direction the franchise decides to take moving forward.  It is imperative this group show their worth. Most do make up what Bryan Colangelo feels will shape the core of the team going forward, but all have contracts that are very moveable if the right offer presents itself.

Fight for vindication.  A strong finish, perhaps reaching as high as ninth in the conference won’t only prove this team is worthy of playoff predictions heading into next year, it will also ensure that Toronto will not lose a high first round draft pick.  The higher the Raptors finish, the less likely it is that OKC receives a high draft choice in the pick they own from Toronto as a result of the Kyle Lowry trade.  A lottery victory or mid-first round pick for OKC would provide Tyler Seguin level embarrassment for the Raptors.  They need to finish as high as possible to make sure the lost draft choice is one that doesn’t hurt the franchise or provide embarrassment for their front office.

Jonas Valanciunas represents the future of the Toronto Raptors and strong play between now and the end of the year could provide a glimmer of hope for frustrated fans.

Jonas Valanciunas represents the future of the Toronto Raptors and strong play between now and the end of the year could provide a glimmer of hope for frustrated fans.

Fight for the Future.  The word finally came down from the mouth of Dwane Casey himself, that the Raptors intend to play Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross more now that the playoff push is over.  With the youngsters getting a longer look it is important to tout the future of the franchise.  Jonas Valanciunas is a player that excites the fan base.  He is beginning to show more confidence and skill in his increased playing time.  On Wednesday in Charlotte he looked solid inside bringing down 7 rebounds and pouring in 18 points on 54% shooting.  There is legitimate hope for his future in Toronto and now is a great time to play into that.  Let the fans know this is a team on the rise and that there is a franchise player to get behind.  It worked in the early days of Vince and Bosh and it should work now.  Sell the future.

Fight for your employers.  Whether the Raptors know it or not, they are still fighting for the future employment of both Dwane Casey and Bryan Colangelo.  Colangelo doesn’t have a contract next season and has missed the playoffs for five straight years.  His job is in danger unless he can sell the fan base and the MLSE board that Rudy Gay gives this team a legit shot at the playoffs next season.  Casey has one year left in his contract, but hasn’t led the Raptors to the playoffs and his substitution pattern has been bizarre at times this season.  He’s also recently taken issues with the use of analytics by the team after a recent Grantland feature by Zach Lowe brought light to the issue.  Though, according to Michael Grange, the team denies there is any friction, but it is still very possible Casey is playing out his last days here in Toronto.  With a few more wins and strong play from the rookies, Casey could be given another shot at the end of the season depending on what happens with Colangelo.  If the players want the current coaching staff to stick around, they need to pile on some wins.

The Raptors need to show the organization, its fans and the front office exactly what is in place here for next season and prove that there is reason to believe the Raptors playoff drought is on its way to being over.

Otherwise this summer could once again be filled with change and rebuilding.  Something that will not sit well with an increasingly impatient fan base.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 9, 2013 · 7:23 am

Where To From Here?

We’ve seen this ending before.  The Raptors are once again going to be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

While most pundits and fans can agree that there are benefits to not making the playoffs, namely ensuring that OKC will not receive a higher draft pick from the Raptors as compensation in the Kyle Lowry deal. I do think that most Raptor fans, whether they want to admit it or not are disappointed that for the fifth straight season there will be no playoff basketball this side of the border.

Five seasons! Something’s gotta give.

Bryan Colangelo has tried a number of different methods to turn this franchise around, but none of them have worked.  Not a first overall draft choice, not building around a perennial all-Star, not bringing in talent from overseas, not hiring a defensive specialist to coach an offensive team and not even tanking.

Colangelo has brought in pieces, that on paper seem to fit together well.  His Rudy Gay acquisition was inspired and has certainly created a change in this Raptors team, but Gay was brought in too late and the team will still likely miss its goal by one seed in the Eastern Conference.  The Raptors have not looked confident down the stretch and still haven’t learned to close out tight games, often coming up on the wrong side of a close game.

Rudy Gay has emerged as the new face of the franchise, but he is gonna need help if he is going to lead Toronto back to the playoffs.

Rudy Gay has emerged as the new face of the franchise, but he is gonna need help if he is going to lead Toronto back to the playoffs.

There are some solid pieces on this team.  Gay is a star.  He is instant offense and has certainly made a difference since arriving, but he needs help.  DeRozan is a solid contributor and has embraced his new role.  He is now enjoying one of his more productive seasons since being drafted (by Colangelo) 9th overall out of USC and is leaving little doubt that the questionable extension he signed at the start of the season was a good choice.   Amir Johnson is a solid contributor and has emerged as a competent starting power forward. He too has silenced critics of his long term contract.  Jonas Valanciunas is one of the most promising young players the Raptors have ever had and Kyle Lowry is an explosive point guard capable of taking control of a game.

On top of that the Raptors have a smorgasbord of various talents from promising rookies to aging veterans and reclamation projects that haven’t really panned out.

What is to be done to get this team where it wants to go?  Is a core of Rudy Gay, Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Lowry good enough to compete?

While that core looks solid on paper, the results on the court (where it really counts) have been mixed.  Gay has struggled with his shot of late.  DeRozan has not found consistency from game to game. Jonas and Amir both routinely get into early foul trouble that limits their impact and Lowry has been explosive, but equally eratic.  Is this the team moving forward?

Is Bryan Colangelo the one to lead this team to the promised land?

Is Dwane Casey the coach to get it done?

It has been clear over the last five years that whatever the Raptors have been doing hasn’t worked.  So where to go from here?

Build around Rudy Gay? Extend Colangelo? Trade DeRozan for frontcourt depth? Find a way to sign a bigger name free agent like Paul Milsap?

The only near certainty this offseason is that Andrea Bargnani will likely find a new place to call home.  Even that isn’t a slam dunk certainty.  After that, there are only questions.  In the 7 years since Bryan Colangelo took over Toronto has seen busy summers.  No one out there that can argue that Colangelo hasn’t tried to make moves to improve this ball club.  He has actively moved parts around every season in an effort to find the right balance.  (Charlie V, TJ Ford, Jermaine O’neal, Shawn Marion, Hedo Turkoglu, Leandro Barbosa, etc…).  Those moves never panned out quite the way they were intended, but none of them set the franchise back long-term and all of them looked good on paper. Clearly the effort and creativity has been there.

This off-season, if he is permitted to do so, will be one of his most challenging yet.

The Raptors need defensive help, a stronger backup PG, and would benefit from adding a strong post presence as well, maybe even another scoring wing.  Most importantly the Raptors need to look for strong young players that will add to their core.  Rudy Gay seems like a fixture at the top of the lineup, but more is needed to get this team over the hump in the Eastern Conference.

Barring a draft day deal, there will  be no draft pick this year to help Colangelo add depth and there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of remaining capspace either.  The Raptors do have tradeable assets, but it remains to be seen what their value will be on the open market.  Colangelo will have to be at the top of his game.

Raptor fans can take solace in the fact that Rudy Gay’s arrival has changed this team into a near playoff contender, but if they are hoping to be more than first round fodder for the contenders in the Eastern Conference or a disappointing 9th place team again, smart decisions are going to have to be made.

Fans want to know where the Raptors are going to go from here and there doesn’t seem to be a clear answer.

The future in Toronto is as murky as ever.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 4, 2013 · 11:26 pm

The Future is Now for Valanciunas and Ross

One of the most frustrating patterns over the Raptors recent decent down the standings and out of the playoff race has to be the way Dwane Casey has set his rotations and how the Raptors rookies don’t seem to have found a consistent role.

Everyone knows DeMar and Rudy are gonna play big minutes, that’s a given.  I can even accept that Andrea Bargnani has a place in the lineup for defensive matchups and maybe to provide an offensive spark off the bench or increase his trade value, but where in the world have Terrence Ross and Jonas Valanciunas been?

Jonas came to Toronto this season with huge expectations and though he hasn’t asserted himself as  a rookie of the year candidate, he has looked very good at times this season.  His offensive game is starting to come around and he’s rebounding the ball better.  He still needs to work on developing better chemistry with his teammates on offense and covering his man better on D.

The time for Jonas Valanciunas to get more playing time is now. With the playoffs in the rearview mirror, Jonas needs to be allowed to play more and develop further for next season.

The time for Jonas Valanciunas to get more playing time is now. With the playoffs in the rearview mirror, Jonas needs to be allowed to play more and develop further for next season.

He’s not gonna improve without consistent playing time. It’s not only minutes he needs (which admittedly have been increasing), but minutes against tough opponents for extended periods of time at key points in the game.  Everytime he bites on a pump fake, he learns.  Every time he doesn’t move his feet and has to foul, he learns. Everytime he loses his man late in the game, he learns.  Not easy to watch that sort of thing if you’re a coach, but necessary for Jonas at this late stage in the year.

Since his return February 1st against the Clippers he is averaging just over 21 minutes per game.  This isn’t a terrible number, but Jonas has seen very limited action in the fourth quarter, something he needs if he is to be depended on next year when the Raptors are, theoretically, fighting for playoff position.

This is also a very different team than the one he started the year with.  Jonas needs to develop chemistry with starting point guard Kyle Lowry and needs to see how he fits into an offensive and defensive system that now includes Rudy Gay as the focal point.

Terrence Ross, too has seen his minutes cut inexplicably.  Since the All-Star break Ross is averaging six minutes per game.  That number is crazy considering the strong first half he put up and the need for better three-point shooting of late.  Ross has had some struggles with his shot recently, but there is absolutely no reason why he shouldn’t be getting more burn behind DeRozan and Rudy.

With the Raptors, essentially out of playoff contention, what possible harm could come from giving these two important pieces of your future more minutes to learn? Next year starts now, Even if increasing their playing time means watching them make mistakes.

This past week Jonas has begun to see more court time and has played quite well.  His numbers have been good, but more importantly he’s playing with more fire and energy.  He’s beginning to learn what these late-season games are all about. That can only help the Raptors in their quest for the playoffs next year.  Jonas will be battle tested for the fight it will take to make the playoffs next year. Why not leave him in there longer?

Ross however, has not seen much court time since his slam dunk winning performance during All-star weekend.  He’s been brought in very sparingly and then pulled before he is able to get anything going.  For the last few games he has been treated as, mostly, a ‘garbage time’ replacement.  That’s not good enough for a player, who appears to be a significant part of the future for this ball club and one who needs to work through his current shooting issues.

I get being tough with young players.  In many ways, I respect that Casey is being tough with the rookies, but he needs to give them a little room for error at this point in the season.

Changes are coming in Toronto this summer, that is to be sure.  Bryan Colangelo (or his replacement) will not sit  by and allow the Raptors to stall and miss the playoffs for another year.  The playoffs are close, perhaps closer than we give this team credit for and moves will be made to ensure a stronger run next season.

Ross and Jonas will very likely be part of the Raptors core moving forward. It is therefore imperative that they see the court as much as possible these next few weeks.  It would be absolutely ludicrous to give minutes to players like Alan Anderson or Aaron Gray instead when they, likely, do not figure into the Raptors future plans.

Casey has been starting Jonas for much of the past week, but is quick to pull him out when he gets into foul trouble and then doesn’t go back to him later in the game.  At some point Casey is going to have to show confidence in Jonas and let him play through his struggles.  If not now, when? This is your starting centre next year, let him play through struggles. Use this time as a teaching opportunity

Both Jonas and Ross are far too integral to the Raptors future to be getting DNP-CD’s or to be pulled in favour of veterans at this point in the season.

With the season, in many ways over, it’s time to look to next year.  Forget the Let Ross Dunk campaign, it might be time for a Let Ross Play one instead.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 27, 2013 · 11:07 pm

Learning to be Clutch

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one disappointed with the Raptors home loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday night or the one to the Washington Wizards on Monday.  For the first time in, I don’t know how long, fans are scoreboard watching to see if other teams can help improve the Raptors playoff chances (yes, I said playoff chances).  The Raptors didn’t help themselves out turning in one of the uglier performances we’ve seen from them this year.  In a game that would’ve helped them keep pace with the other contenders for the 8th spot, they faltered.  Looked lethargic and did not capitalize on an opportunity.

Then last night in Cleveland they did the unthinkable and made the loss to the Wizards look like a clutch playoff performance. The Raptors gave the ball away, shot themselves into a hole and made defensive miscue, after defensive miscue.  They simply gave the game away.

In the end the Raptors missed an opportunity to make up key ground on the 8th place Bucks and are beginning to  watch their slim playoff hopes slowly evaporate in front of them.

But this is to be expected with a younger team.

Even with the addition of Rudy Gay, the Raptors are still a little ways away from truly competing for a playoff spot in the East.

Even with the addition of Rudy Gay, the Raptors are still a little ways away from truly competing for a playoff spot in the East.

Many of the young players on this Raptors squad haven’t had much of a sniff of playoff intensity basketball.  A number of the core players on this team have had some small brief playoff experience, but too many haven’t really truly experienced the importance of ‘must-win’ games this late in the season.

They don’t know how to close out games of this magnitude, they haven’t had enough experience being in a position to play for something meaningful.  Their play of late seems to indicate that the Raptors have a lot of growing up to do still.  These tough, excruciating losses are what help a young team learn what it takes to win when it matters.

You can’t look past the Cavaliers or the Wizards of the NBA in a stretch run.  There is no such thing as an easy victory.  Every game is an important game and needs to be closed out.

But there will be more important games to come.  Some will take place this year, but more will likely take place next year.

This is a team on the rise.  You can tell that this young Raptors squad is just beginning to scratch the surface of what they are capable of, but they’re still a couple of moves away from true contention.

DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas, and Terrence Ross have never seen anything close to NBA playoff basketball in their short NBA careers, while others like Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry and Amir Johnson have only had a brief sniff of that playoff type pressure.

For a young squad like the Raptors this year is serving more as a learning experience, a dress rehearsal for the real thing.  The young players on this team are beginning to see what it takes to close games out late in the season when there is something on the line.  Even games against teams that seem to be “sure shots” on paper, become tough tests of will.  Every possession is important, defense is king, mistakes come back to haunt you.

Case in point the last two games against Cleveland and Washington.  Games the Raptors should have won handily. Instead they looked out of rhythm and seemed to be forcing things on both ends of the floor, giving their opponents plenty of extra opportunities to score.

This is clearly a team that isn’t quite ready for playoff basketball.

But they’re close.

Once upon a time the Raptors had another group of young players on the verge of making a dent in the NBA playoff picture.  Young guns on the team in Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Alvin Williams were getting crowds in this city excited about competitive basketball for the first time in the franchise’s history.  While they clearly possessed talent and future upside, they were not able to make the playoffs right away.  They needed to go through some growing pains and needed savvy veterans added to the roster to teach the young stars what fighting for a playoff spot was all about.

Even with a wealth of talent during the "Vince years", the Raptors needed to learn how to lose before they could acheive greater heights.

Even with a wealth of talent during the “Vince years”, the Raptors needed to learn how to lose before they could achieve greater heights.

The Raptors of that time were all about Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Alvin Williams, but key additions in Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis and Dell Curry helped get that young Raptors squad over the hump and into the playoffs.

When they finally got there, they were schooled by a well oiled, veteran Knicks team and the upstart Raptors were sent packing in three straight games.  It wasn’t until the next season that this team showed enough maturity to actually win a playoff series.

They were able to succeed because they knew what defeat tasted like, they made mistakes and learned from them.  They learned first hand how important games, like the one on Wednesday night, are to being a successful franchise.

That is where the current edition of the Raptors hope to get to.  They’re close, but they lack the veteran leadership and discipline necessary to make the playoffs.

Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Amir Johnson with Jonas Valanciunas are a nice young core going forward, but they’re going to need to learn how hard you have to work to get into the playoffs and if/when they finally get there they’ll have to learn how much harder it is to win a series.

There are signs that this young squad will get there, but games like the one against Cleveland on Wednesday night indicate that the fans may have to wait a little longer before this team finally breaks through.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 18, 2013 · 3:03 pm

Ross Victory Helps Build Bridges

Terrence Ross wowed the fans in attendance at the All-Star Game in Houston on Saturday night and gave Toronto fans something they haven’t had in a while : credibility.

The Raptors did not have a representative in the All-Star game itself and haven’t had one since Chris Bosh left town.  Ross was the first Raptor to take part in All-Star weekend since DeMar DeRozan and so he had the attention of every Raptor fan North of the border.

Ross was clearly the most talented dunker on the night and took home the trophy and the bragging rights as the 2013 NBA Slam Dunk Champion.  His victory gives Toronto a little bit of cred around the NBA, another reason for fans to come out and a new name for the team to market around the league.

What Terrence Ross also gave to Raptor fans on Saturday night, besides the obvious thrill of victory, was a history lesson.

Terrence Ross did more than win a dunk contest this weekend, he forced fans to remember the greatest Raptor of all time.

Terrence Ross did more than win a dunk contest this weekend, he forced fans to remember the greatest Raptor of all time.

In one of Ross’s better dunks on the night he busted out a vintage Vince Carter purple Raptor jersey.

It was the type of move that could alienate him from certain Raptor fans as Vince, whether rightly or wrongly, is still considered public enemy number one in these parts.

But I think it was a classy move and one that might soften some the fan base towards the polarizing former Raptor.

Ross was paying homage to the greatest era of Raptor basketball and obviously the last great dunk contest the NBA has seen.  Why shouldn’t Raptor fans look back on those days and smile? Why shouldn’t we be proud of the history (no matter how short) of this franchise?  The history of this franchise, whether we like it or not, is rooted in the years Vince called Toronto home.

He left this city badly, there is no doubt about that.  He phoned in his last days as a Raptor and the trade that sent him to New Jersey decimated this franchise, while turning New Jersey into a contender.  We had to watch him lead another team to great heights while the walls fell down around us.  To make matters worse, every time he came back to Toronto, he seemed to find some new way to stick it to us.  Last second three-point shots, alley-oop dunks off in-bounds passes and, of course; a series victory over the Raptors in 2006-07 when we finally made it back to the playoffs.

The guy left us and then came back to burn us over and over again.

But, regardless of the pain and anger fans feel at the way Vince left and haunted us from New Jersey, he was the best talent this city has ever seen.

He was the best player in the NBA for many years, had multiple years as top vote getter for the All-star game, appeared regularly on US television because of his marketability; and he was ours.

While our expansion cousins were busy finding a new home in Memphis, the Toronto Raptors were the toast of the League because of Vince and what he was able to do on the court.  He had the fans attention, the leagues attention and the attention of his competition. Toronto was not a fun place to play if you were an opponent.

He put this team on the map.

Maybe just maybe, those days with Vince as top vote getter, playoff contender, dunk champion, selling out buildings all over the league was what saved this franchise from suffering a similar fate as our expansion cousins in Vancouver.

Vince Carter, whether we want to admit it or not, was the most important player ever to put on a Raptors jersey. Fans should now be ready to acknowledge that.

Vince Carter, whether we want to admit it or not, was the most important player ever to put on a Raptors jersey. Fans should now be ready to acknowledge that.

Toronto was a top draw for teams around the NBA. Everyone and their mother wanted to see what Vince would do when the Raptors came to town.  His jersey was everywhere; not just in Toronto.

Most importantly, the team competed in the Eastern Conference and gave fans here a reason to show up.  Without Vince, all of that success would have disappeared and with it quite possibly the fan base and ticket sales.

He kept this team relevant.

There have been times over the years that I have seen someone wear a Vince Carter jersey to the ACC and I have cringed.  Number 15 no longer belongs to him; that’s Amir Johnson’s number. But when I saw Ross reveal his Vince Carter jersey on Saturday night I  felt pride.

Suddenly the feelings I had as a fan watching Vince Carter dunk on All-Star weekend, the pride I felt knowing we had the most popular player in the entire league, the excitement I had for a playoff series came flooding back.

Ross paid homage to the greatest era this basketball team has ever seen and maybe it’s time we did the same.

Vince could become a free agent after this season if the Mavericks do not pick up his $3 million option and he would make a solid veteran role player off the bench for this young Toronto team.

Could he return to finish out his career where it began?

And if not, will his jersey ever hang from the rafters of the ACC?

These are questions that only time will tell, but in the meantime maybe we shouldn’t feel so embarrassed about wearing our old Carter Jerseys to the ACC.  Maybe we shouldn’t feel so bad applauding the man who made this franchise relevant the next time he returns to the ACC as an opponent.

Terrence Ross’s victory, as exciting as it was, may have also helped build a bridge for Raptors fans to get over the feelings of anger and betrayal towards a man who helped build this franchise.

With the Raptors potentially ready to host the 2016 All-Star game, it might be time to mend fences with the greatest Raptor of all time so that he can be a part of that special weekend.

No matter what the future holds for Vince and the Raptors, one thing is certain.  At some point in time, whether we like it or not, Vince deserves to be properly thanked and cheered for everything he did for the Raptors.

The time for forgiveness may be upon us.

Thank you Terrence Ross for thrilling us this weekend and for forcing us to remember where we came from.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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