Tag Archives: Antoine Wright

by | April 9, 2010 · 10:39 pm

Altanta Hands Toronto a Loss, as the Raptors Cling to the 8th Spot.

Amir with the throw down. He's been one of the few bright spots for the Raptors this year.

Another game against Atlanta, another loss. That team is too athletic and too talented for us to beat at the best of times, even with Chris Bosh playing. The good news is, Chicago lost to New Jersey. God knows how that happened. But it should set up an interesting game against the Bulls on Sunday. A game that more or less decides who plays in the post season and who doesn’t.

The not so curious case of Hedo

Hedo Turkoglu has had a terrible year. No question. But let me paint you a picture.

Last year, with the Magic, he had 29 games where he scored over 20 points. This year? 7. That’s a big time drop off.

But here’s what’s interesting. With the Magic he took over 1000 shots. With the Raptors, only 600. Jay Triano has got to find a way to get Hedo more involved in a game. If not this year, then next year. His scoring average is the lowest it’s been since 2005. And I’m not sure it’s totally his fault.

Does any body care?

Looking around during the fourth quarter, the Raptors were all smiles. Laughing and joking and talking it up with the Hawks. If the Chicago Bulls managed to win their game last night we’d be one game out of the playoffs. We need to show some passion. Our team was down by two possessions, their season is on the line, and no one seemed keen on forcing the action. It’s furriating. Just because Chris Bosh is gone doesn’t mean the season is over. Let’s show some fight.

Basketball Gods, what did we do?

Why have you forsaken us? Every single year, something goes wrong. Our best players continually leave our team. The high risk signings we pick up, rarely turn out. And the one year, the one year, we get the first pick in the draft, is one of the weakest years in draft history. (The year before we could have has Chris Paul. The year after, Kevin Durrant)

Show us some mercy Basketball Gods. And now we’re clinging on to the final spot in the East, we lose Chris Bosh with a….broken face? Hedo is totally banged up. And now Antoine Wright seems like he’s gone for a few games. What’s it going to take to turn this franchise around? A little good fortune would be appreciated. Please for the love of god, show us some mercy. We could use a little.

Zan of the Night

Josh Smith

The guy’s a monster. When it comes to people talking about the best players in the game, he rarely gets a mention. But he most certainly should. He’s Mr. Consistency – bringing it every night

Not Zan of the Night

Andrea Bargnani

It’s not that he had a bad game. Although it struck me as odd when he didn’t play the end of the forth… It’s just that he needs to step it up a notch. He hasn’t developed that killer instinct that Dirk has and here’s hoping he can take a step towards.

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Jeremiah McNama

The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 4, 2010 · 12:05 am

Raptors stumble, but walk away with a win in Philly.

The Raptors took care of business yesterday afternoon against the Philadelphia 76ers. It was closer than most of us would have liked, but while Philadelphia played hard, the Raptors executed consistently down the stretch for their third win in a row. Now let’s move on to the good stuff.

Antoine Wright

I read an article a couple days ago, I think it was maybe Doug Smith, wondering if the Raptors might let Antoine Wright walk this summer because of the emergence of Sonny Weems. But after yesterday’s win, you couldn’t convince me that was the right call with a gun to my head.

Antoine Wright played phenomenal.

He’s our best defender, he hits open shots and he plays smarter than any player on our team. He also continually sneaks in to grab rebounds when no other Raptor player is in the vicinity. He was the only guy in a red jersey trying to grab the ball after Jack missed his free throw at the end of the game. And he did this at least 3 times yesterday.

He’s crafty. He’s smart. He’s a hard worker. And he’s still damn young. If BC lets him walk I will be very surprised.

Sonny Weems

Speaking of surprised, I read today that BC almost waived Sonny Weems when he was acquired last summer. Raise your hand if you’re glad he didn’t. This kid is really finding his own in the league. He hits jumper after jumper and he gets after his man on D. And the point that I keep forgetting is – he’s a sophomore. A second year player. He’s a diamond in the rough and I’m glad Colangelo dug him up.

Hedo Turkoglu

It’s good to hear that Turk has been putting in extra time in the gym. Hard work hasn’t exactly been his calling card in the league. A Turk who’s healthy, in shape and on top of his game is going to speak volumes if the Raptors make the playoffs.

Plus the Foul

Jay Triano

Marc Stein, one of the most respected and connected ESPN reporters I know, reported today that Jay’s job isn’t safe, even if the Raptors make the playoffs. To this I say, no way, no how, impossible.

Jay’s job is as guaranteed as they come. Mostly because he’s done a good job (his defense switch with Jose guarding Kapono, Weems on Holiday and Wright on Iggy is a perfect example) and especially since the team is still paying Sam Mitchell THIS year.

Zan of the Night

Chris Bosh

No offense to Sonny, Jose, and Andrea, who all had great games, but Chris’ stat line is impossible to ignore. 28 and 12 is what we’ve come to expect. But 7 assists on top of that is special.

Not Zan of the Night

Andre Iguodala

Yes, he scored a season-high 33 points but his poor shoot selection down the stretch gave Toronto the win.

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Jeremiah McNama
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 31, 2010 · 9:58 pm

Chris Bosh leads Raptors Back to .500

Another game, another win.  This one didn’t start off well, but the Raptors came to life in the second half and absolutely devoured a tired Clippers team.  Chris Bosh did pretty much everything in this game scoring 34 points on 12-17 shooting and 11 rebounds.  The more important statistic for Bosh is that he got to the line 13 times.  This is what Bosh must do to be at his very best.  He needs to get to the rim and take advantage of an inferior defender.  A great performance from CB4.

Chris Bosh takes it to the rim against Chris Kaman and the Clippers.

The Raptors now look ready to take control of their own destiny in the battle for the last playoff spot.  The last few games the Raptors and Bulls have played as if they’re not interested in the playoffs, but tonight the Raptors looked in control, dominant and ready for life in the trenches of the NBA Playoffs.

Bring it on.

The Zan for Three

Changing of the Guard

The new lineups have, thus far, been very successful.  Perhaps it has been the level of Toronto’s opponents, or maybe their new-found intensity, or maybe Jay has finally found the right mix.  Sonny Weems and Antoine Wright have looked great in the starting lineup.  Jarrett Jack and Hedo Turkoglu have found great chemistry off of the bench.  All players were key components in this win.  Sometimes change is a good thing.  The old lineups were getting stale and the players were not maximizing their talents.  Hedo is distributing the ball with Jack taking more shots on the second unit.  Weems and Wright add a much-needed defensive presence to the starting lineup.  Probably not what many people would have expected going into the season, but if it works; run with it.

The Evolution of Sonny Weems

How great does that trade with Milwaukee look now?  Yes, Carlos Delfino is playing well with the Bucks and is a key reason they are looking at a top 6 seed in the East, but the Raptors have clearly won the deal overall.  Don’t even mention that Roko Ukic is now playing ball in Europe, the Raptors got the better return.  Amir Johnson has been a solid contributor all season long and Sonny Weems may end up being the key to that deal.  Originally a throw in to even out the money, Sonny may make Bryan Colangelo look like a genius if he keeps playing the way he has.  17 points tonight, but what is more staggering is that he continues to play a key role for this team.  He drives the net, has developed a nice mid-range game and is one of Jay’s go-to guys on the defensive end.  At the beginning of the season he had a goal of becoming a rotation player and now he is starting for the Raptors.  Not bad for a guy no one had heard of in the summer.  He is turning into a nice looking player that could be a key piece going forward for the Raptors.

Sonny Weems has been a welcome addition to the Raptors team this season, and now the starting lineup.

Attacking the Rack

Over the last few games Chris Bosh had stopped doing the things that made him so successful early in the year.  He stopped taking the ball to the rack and his free throw attempts per game plummeted.  Tonight he took charge, didn’t settle for the jump shot and was rewarded by the referee.  Chris has been one of the top 5 players in free throw attempts per game throughout the course of this year.   That is an important stat to consider game in, game out.  He has the respect of the league officials and must take advantage of it.  If they’re going to give it to you, take it.  Tonight he got back to what made him successful and he scored a tonne of points.  More importantly the Raptors won the game.  This could be imperative to winning basketball games down the stretch.

…Plus the Foul

What’s Mine is Yours

Tonight was a total team effort.  Jarrett Jack and Hedo Turkoglu did an especially good job of distributing the ball.  Six players were in double figures and Jack led the team with ten assists.  When this team shares the ball, they win.  The Raptors are a great passing team and need to utilize this skill to beat teams.  Hedo has looked good with the “ball” in his hands as well off the bench.  If they can get him going the Raptors could make a late charge.

Zan of the Night

Chris Bosh.  Absolutely dominating performance.  He shot the ball with confidence, got to the line and led this team to an integral win against an inferior opponent.  The most important aspect of his game tonight was his intensity.  He looked focused and fearless.  This was the Chris Bosh we have been looking for over the last stretch of games.  Welcome Back, Mr. Bosh.

Not Zan of Night

Chris Kaman. Yes, he is an All-Star.  And yes, he had some good inside moves tonight.   But, he cannot guard Andrea Bargnani.  Andrea Played cat and mouse with him all night; taking him out to the three-point line and then switching it up on him and driving it to the lane.  Kaman was a half step slow on almost every Andrea possession.  Yes, he was tired; but he let Andrea take full advantage of that fact.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 22, 2010 · 10:47 pm

A Tale of Two Turkoglus in Raptors Win

It wasn’t pretty once again, but in this fierce playoff atmosphere, a win is a win.  The Raptors catapulted themselves into a tie for seventh with a hard-fought victory over the young Timberwolves.  13 more to go.  Chris Bosh once again played a strong offensive game and Hedo Turkoglu battled back from an awful first half to nail down the victory in the fourth.  Turkoglu had an awful first quarter picking up two early fouls and was barely heard from for the rest of the game until the fourth quarter where he controlled the offense and drained key buckets.  It felt a little like a playoff game in the fourth.  Not always a good sign when you’re facing the second worst team in the Association, but the Raptors need wins at this point, it really doesn’t matter how they get them.

The Zan For Three

Avoid the Turkish Start, finish with the Turkish Delight

Hedo Turkoglu has been having the worst start to games this season.  It seems like almost every game he is getting into early foul trouble.  Yes, the Raptors are a deep team, but this really throws off his rhythm.  He is a key component of this team and absolutely paramount to any and all playoff success.  He must be a key contributor, but he can’t when he is nailed to the bench in the first quarter.  The team suffered when he was on the bench and seemed to lose its rhythm as well.  Hedo was able to come back in the fourth with key minutes and really propelled the team to victory with his ballhandling and smart offensive choices.  His defensive presence on the last couple of Timberwolves possessions was stellar as well.  The big Turk is and will continue to be a key to the Raptors’ fortunes going forward.

Bust City

Darko Milicic has to be one of the worst draft picks in the history of the game.  This kid was selected over Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and David Lee.  I know this has been beaten to death in the media and on message boards, but why?  This kid seems to have an NBA body and he has some game but he has never been able to put it together.  He may never be able to put it together as rumours insist he will seriously consider Europe when the season is over.  He is the biggest draft blunder since Sam Bowie was selected by the New Jersey Nets all those years ago and he has never made anyone doubt it for a second.

Sonny Weems was a key force off the bench as the Raptors won their third game in their last four.

The Wright Stuff

Nice to see Sonny Weems and Antoine Wright come to the rescue tonight for the Raptors.  The playoffs are about your stars playing well but they are also about role players stepping up, especially on the defensive end.  If anyone on the team is going to do that it is going to be these two guys.  Weems and Wright were summoned from the bench after Turkoglu picked up two quick fouls.  They kept the Raptors in the game and took advantage of their opportunities.  That is what role players do.  They hit the shots when they’re there and play their role.  Wright has been an energetic and vocal leader off the bench this year.  This is something the Raptors will need more of come playoff time.  Both have become very dependable and valuable assets off the bench for Jay Triano this season.

Plus the Foul

Stat Sheets Don’t Lie

Sometimes the stats do not lie.  When Andrea Bargnani records over 6 rebounds in one game the Raptors are now 22-14.   Andrea needs to get inside more and tighten up defensively on his match-up.  Rebounding has been one of his biggest issues since entering the NBA and he appears, at times, to be working hard at fixing this deficiency in his game.  At other times he seems to play very passively on the defensive end.  More nights like this will go a long way toward building his confidence and helping him turn a corner with his rebounding. Not to mention, helping his team win.

Zan of the Night

Hedo Turkoglu

He looked like the goat after the first quarter but he turned it on at the right moment and helped hold off the charging Timberwolves.  Hedo came through in the clutch, controlling the game,  and picking up his teammates.

Not Zan of the Night

Rob Babcock

I don’t care, I still hold a lot of ill will toward the guy.  He is like that ex-girlfriend that cheated on you and you can just never forgive.  This Timberwolves team has his imprint all over it.  An underacheiving team that has made very questionable draft choices, but has a couple of players that look to be pretty decent.  This team is a mess that may never get fixed.  Rob Babcock should get the “Pete Rose treatment” from the NBA simply for sucking.  He is well on his way to ruining another franchise.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 10, 2010 · 2:15 am

Kobe breaks Raptor hearts in La-la Land

The Raptors came into Los Angeles like a boxer who had been pounded .  They were beaten and bloodied and were backed against the ropes.  They slipped out of 5th place in the East and 4 teams are chasing them to the wire.  The Raptors had to face off against a pretty angry Lakers squad who had lost three in a row for the first time in the “Gasol era”.  But, like a true fighter they fought until the very bitter end.  And the end was bitter.  Kobe Bryant hit a tough, tough shot in coverage to win it with 1.9 seconds left.  The Raptors had battled back to tie it, but it just wasn’t meant to be.  The Raptors battled for most of the game despite early foul trouble and a star that is still not 100%.  They had a chance to win the game on the road, in Los Angeles.  You can’t be upset about that.  In the end the best player in the world took it to the Raptors in the 4th.

The part that hurts the most is that the Raptors have to do it all over again tomorrow against Tyreke Evans and the Sacramento Kings.

The Zan for Three

Best vs. The Best

Chris Bosh finally came around in the second half and started to look like an All-Star.  He drove the lane, brought energy on the defensive end and was clutch down the stretch.  He capped off a very strong fourth quarter with a huge 3-point shot to tie the game.  The stage was set for an overtime thriller.  That was until Kobe Bryant got the ball on the next possession.  He saw Chris Bosh’s great shot and raised him a game winner.  Kobe hit a shot under pressure from Antoine Wright and nailed it.  It was a great shot, made by a great player.  Plain and simple.  Nothing you can do about that. Brush it off and come back tomorrow.

Pick your Poison

Jarrett Jack showed strong leadership despite the loss.

If Kobe Bryant doesn’t kill you, Gasol and Bynum will.  The Lakers are so deep and have so many options that it is impossible to contain them all.  They are an unofficial All-Star team.  The Raptors did a great job on Kobe in the first half but the Bynum/Gasol combo were dominant inside.  Bynum slipped into the paint and was active on the glass.  The Raptors could not match the energy of the Lakers’ bigs in the first half. When the Raps made adjustments inside in the second half, Kobe killed them on the outside.  It’s hard to fault any one defender.  They’re just that good.  Kobe’s the best player in the world and for most of the game he was quiet.  In the fourth the sleeping lion woke up and took it to the Raptors.  The Lakers have so many weapons that it is hard to guard against them all.

2nd Battalion

I’ve said it many times on this Blog, but the Raptors best asset is their depth.  It separates them from other teams.  They are able to do a lot of different things depending on the lineup they have on the floor.  In the second quarter the bench took advantage of the Lakers subs. Toronto has the ability to do this every time out if they focus on the right matchups.  Tonight their smaller lineup gave the Lakers fits.  Triano used Jack and Calderon effectively to maximize the effectiveness of both players.  Jack single-handedly kept the Raptors in the game during the third quarter and the bench got production from many of their weapons from Calderon and Weems to Wright and  Johnson.   Triano just needs to tighten the rotation.  He is getting better at finding the right mix but it is hard when you have so many options.

Kobe watches his shot clinch a victory over Toronto although I think that guy in the front row fouled him.

Plus the foul

A Small Rant

Am I the only one that sees a problem when the NBA allows its referees to call “make-up” calls and blow the whistle more based on reputation in the league?  I know many will say “this is just the way it is” and “you’re never going to change it”.  I think the NBA is the only professional league in the world that changes its rules based on the reputation of the players involved in a play.  Don’t get me wrong, I know the Raptors are a beneficiary of this logic when they play at home, but this cannot be the best way to run a professional league.  David Stern needs to finally come out and address the inconsistency of his officials.  He should have done it after the Tim Donaghy affair.  If the NHL can work on re-defining a “clean” vs. “unclean” body-check, then the NBA can band together to clearly define a foul.

Kobe lived on the line in the fourth, as he often does, and he wasn’t deserving of all the the calls unless you’re basing the calls on what he has accomplished in his career instead of the play happening on the court.  The phantom calls may or may not have affected the end result in this game, but as a fan, it is frustrating to watch.  Something should be done.

Zan of the Night

Kobe Bryant.  Yes he was the beneficiary of some phantom calls, but the guy has ice in his veins.  He willed his team to victory in the second half and deserves credit for that.  Many of his teammates had off-nights but he kept the Lakers close and then, with some assistance from the referees, stole a victory from the Raptors.

Not Zan of the Night

Hedo Turkoglu.  He made some wise choices during the game and looked good in spurts.  He was, however, in early foul trouble and made a terrible turnover late in the game.  Honorable Mention to Sportcentre.  You lead in with the two worst hockey teams in the league (Edmonton and Toronto) instead of a thrilling basketball game in Los Angeles.  I love hockey, but really?

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 20, 2010 · 10:51 pm

Jarrett Jack and Hedo Turkoglu lead Raptors to Victory

The Toronto Raptors used a huge fourth quarter and 6 players scoring in double digits to battle back for a big win; their second in a row.  The ACC crowd erupted regularly in the last few minutes of the game as Jarrett Jack drove the lane fearlessly, Bargnani came up with huge blocks and Hedo Turkoglu hit a couple of big shots and had a key offensive rebound at the end.  It wasn’t pretty and they looked tired for much of the game but the Raps played as a complete unit in the fourth and were able to snatch victory from the clutches of defeat.

The Zan for Three

Leadership at the Right Time

The Raptors were looking a little lost offensively and wasted many offensive possessions.  Players were taking ill-advised shots early in the clock and were not looking for their teammates.  Washington took full advantge of these miscues and built up a comfortable lead.  When Jarrett Jack re-entred the game in the fouth quarter everything changed.  The Raptors were looking for their teammates, taking confident shots and their defensive intensity went through the roof.  Jack willed this team to victory tonight.  He made many smart plays and chose to drive the net instead of settling for jumpers in that crucial fourth.   Jack was the captain tonight and victory was his destination.

Jack drives to the net and leads by example against the Wizards at the ACC.

Defensive Intensity

Where was the intensity for three and a half quarters?  The Raptors looked lackidaisical on defense and Andray Blatche took full advantage.  The Raptors dialed it in during the fourth quarter and completely shut the Wizards down.  Andrea Bargnani had huge blocks in the fourth quarter that changed the momentum in favour of the Raptors.  Antoine Wright made adjustments in the second quarter and took Josh Howard out of the game in the second half.  Hedo Turkoglu came up with a huge offensive rebound in the dying minutes and the Raptors forced a key 24 second violation near the end as well.  The Raptors used strong team defense and Triano made smart defensive substitutions at the end of the ball game.

Rocking at the ACC!

How intense was the crowd at the end of the ball game?  Obviously Toronto sports enthusiasts are used to a raucous crowd during intense Leaf games on a Saturday night.  Let’s be honest, there hasn’t been many of them this year.  But the crowd was doing the wave during a basketball game and was up on their feet for much of the end of the game.  The “Defense” chants were especially loud and the team played their part.  The crowd was a key intangible tonight.

Plus the Foul…

Ball!

Vindication

Hedo Turkoglu played a strong game.  He was especially strong in the fourth quarter.  He made smart shots and played through pain.  He was fairly or unfairly criticized after his 1pt night against the Grizzlies, but he came to play tonight.  He was a difference maker out there with the mask or without the mask.  Way to go Hedo!  Ball!

Zan of the Night

Jarrett Jack. He led the team to victory in the fourth controlling the tempo at the right time and charging up the crowd and his teamates with his fearless determination.  Antoine Wright deserves praise as well for a solid game on both ends of the floor and for taking Josh Howard out of the game.

Not Zan of the Night

The Wave.  The wave at a basketball game?  Don’t get me wrong, I loved the enthusiasm of the crowd, but why? Toronto basketball fans sometimes confuse me with their passion for pizza and their overzealous booing at times, but this is new.  I hope it doesn’t become a trend.  But an A for energy.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 17, 2010 · 10:48 pm

Raptors Lose an OT Heartbreaker at the ACC

It wasn’t quite the start to the not-so-second half that the Raptors had in mind.  Playing against a Memphis squad that was on the second night of a back to back, the team got down early in the first, but battled back and had control of the game with under a minute left.  Five unanswered points in the last 40 seconds from the Grizz erased a 16pt fourth quarter from Chris Bosh and sent the game into Overtime.  The Grizzlies looked every bit a team ready to take aim at a playoff spot in the extra frame.  Mike Conely and a seemingly unstoppable Rudy Gay, snatched a victory away from Toronto in overtime, ending their eight game home winning streak.

Mike Conely drives past Jose Calderon. Conely was a key to the Grizzlies' Overtime victory over Toronto on Wednesday night.

The Zan for Three

Lonely All-Star

Chris Bosh had a monster night for the Raps.  He had 32 points and 10 boards on the night with 16 of them coming in the fourth quarter.  It seemed Bosh had single handedly propelled his team to victory until the wheels fell off.  Bargnani was the only other starter that scored in double digits.  If the Raptors are going to win ball games, especially in the dying minutes of games, someone else is going to have to step up.  Hedo, Jack and Derozan were not really factors and the Raps were thoroughly outscored in the first and third quarters.   A better effort is needed from the starting five to give their All-Star a little help.

Trade?  No Way, Jose!

Calderon did not play great defense on Rudy Gay at the end of the game and let Conely walk right in for the game tying points at the end of the fourth, but are you sure you want to hand the keys to this team to Jarrett Jack?  No offense to Jack, he has had a great year thus far, but he is far from consistent.  Jack was a non-factor tonight and it was Calderon that brought the team back in the second and fourth quarters.  Without his effort off the bench this game would be a write-off.  Calderon and Jack compliment each other well.  When Jack is having an off night, Jose is there to take the lions’ share of minutes and vice versa.  Not to mention Jose has made the second unit a force to reckoned with. If you subtract Jose from the equation; nights like tonight will be much, much worse.  Hold on to the depth that has gotten you this far.  You’re welcome, Mr. Colangelo.

Hockey Mentality

Toronto is a hockey town, no matter how hard I wish for it to be otherwise.  This team is beginning to find a personality that mirrors the city it represents.  Amir diving for balls?,  Antoine Wright getting stitched up and returning minutes later?  These are the characteristics of fighters.  Tonight the second unit fought for the victory outscoring the Memphis bench 43-9.  The Raps may not have come out on top, but that kind of effort from your bench gives you reason to believe the team is almost ready for the fight of a playoff series.  That, is of course, if the starters can get their act together.

Zan of the Night

Rudy Gay.  The Man was unstoppable and his shot was falling.  He was the difference maker, especially down the stretch, and the Raptors had no answer for him.  Chris Bosh also deserves mention as he was a one man team in the fourth quarter and deserved better support from his starting unit.

Not Zan of the Night

Hedo.  I don’t know if it is the mask or ball or whatever, but this guy needs to step up.  Like yesterday.  He is a key to our fortunes down the stretch and into the playoffs and if he is going to play like this:  He can take his ball and go home.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 10, 2010 · 10:29 pm

Raptors Pull Together for Big Win Before the Break

It wasn’t an easy win by any stretch. Lou Williams decided to play one of his best ever games leading the Sixers back from a 23 point deficit. But in the end, the Raptors used contributions from almost everybody on the team to hold on for the victory.  The win is the teams’ 29th of the season and ties a franchise record for victories at the break.  The Raps are 20-6 at home and now a comfortable 6 games over .500.  Statistics that should be creditited to an under-appreciated coaching staff and the chemistry this team has developed. The Raptors were a complete team tonight, especially down the stetch, using defensive stops and smart offensive sets to finish off a surging Sixers squad.  Bosh, Bargnani, Wright and Weems came up especially big in the final minutes of the game.  But Derozan, Calderon, Jack and Johnson were solid at times as well.  A complete team victory tonight.  Including Reggie Evans.

Reggie fights Jason Kapono for the ball in his 5 minutes of Furry on the floor for the Raptors

The Zan for Three (plus the foul)

A Legend is Born

I haven’t seen so much excitement in this city for a returning player since Mats Sundin.  Reggie Evans obviously has the hearts of the fans.  He played only five minutes in the game but you could just feel the change in energy.  I know the Sixers felt something change the moment he approached the scoring table.  Reggie looked good out there, a little slow, but he provides the Raps with something they haven’t had.  A dirty inside presence that makes the opposition think twice about attacking the rim.  He’s a game changer. The Big Dirty.

Papa Calderon looking After the Kids

How great was Jose Calderon working with the Young Guns?  He was feeding them alley-oop after alley-oop.  Calderon. Seriously? Jose is a steadying presence on the second unit and provides patience and leadership for the occasionally erratic young Raptor core.  Amir Johnson and Calderon have had chemistry since Jose returned to the lineup but Weems and Derozan worked exceptionally well with the Spaniard tonight as well.  This could be a perfect marriage for the Raptors.  Jose is very efficient with the ball.  He doesn’t turn it over and is good at slowing the tempo.  On the flip side the kids can run and sometimes force Jose to get out of his comfort zone and push the ball up the floor.  The perfect balance.

Substitutions

How good is Jay Triano getting at managing his bench?  There was a time this season when everyone and their grandmother was questioning the way Triano utilized his bench, but now?  He is utilizing Antoine Wright and Sonny Weems as defensive substitutions that have been most effective at the end of ballgames.  He interchanges Jack and Calderon depending on what style he wants to play.  Case in point: Calderon played key minutes in the fourth when Jay wanted to run a more controlled offense to combat the Sixers run.  Triano then took Calderon out of the game and used Weems, Jack and Wright in the key defensive possessions at the end of the game.

Demar Derozan lays it in en route to one of his best games as a Toronto Raptor.

(plus the foul)

The Dagger

The Raptors are getting very good at closing out ballgames.  Another testament to the coaching staff.  The Raptors let Lou Williams and the Sixers back into the ball game with lazy defense and poorly executed offensive sets.  Jay Triano let them play through it and saw Calderon use the ol’ 4pt play to take the lead back.  Bargnani then hit a huge three to finish off the Sixers.  The Raptors ended the game on an 11-0 run.  That’s how you close out a game.  Well done.  And they secured Pizza for the Raptor faithful.  Perfect.

Zan of the Game

Jay Triano.  A case easily could have been made for Mr 20 and 10, Chris Bosh, or even Jose with the way he ran the team in the fourth quarter, but Jay gets it.   He ties the team record for wins at the All Star Break and has led this team to ten consecutive games with over 100 points.  Incredible.  Not only that but he is becoming a very effective strategist on the court using the full range of his bench.  This team believes in him and that’s the reason for the huge turnaround this season.  They should now be considered a team to be reckoned with come playoff time.  Watch out Boston! 4 games back.

Not Zan of the Game

Jason Kapono.  Arguably one of Colangelo’s worst decisions as GM of the Raptors was to bring him in.  Then again he was flipped for Reggie Evans, so he was of some use.  Not only did Kapono lose to his former team but he was awful when he was on the floor.  He still has not regained confidence in his shot and finished the night with 0 points on 0 for 2 shooting.  He is only sticking around in Philly so his contract can expire.  He could be on his way out of the league this summer.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 7, 2010 · 3:27 pm

Raptors Put Sacramento to Sleep in the Fourth Quarter.

Mask.

After a shaky first three quarters the Raptors buckled down in the fourth, with inspired play by Chris Bosh and timely shooting by Antoine Wright. The Kings are a team the Raptors should beat, and for a second there, it looked as though Sacramento would escape T dot with a win. But as has been the case since mid-December, the Raptors found a way to win. Pushing their record to 5 games above 500 and one win away from tying their best win total at the break. Nothing short of amazing.

The Raptor’s Dance Pack.

No, not the cheerleaders, but the bench jumping up and down with each big shot or dunk. It’s nice to see the players on the bench enjoying the success of the team. Jack didn’t have a good game. Banks didn’t even play. But there they are hugging and holding each other back with each big play. To me that says they genuinely seem to like each other and have each others’ backs. Chemistry is one of the biggest factors in whether a team wins or loses.

Traino’s Calming Influence

Ball.

A really nice feature they added to the game coverage this year is Jay Triano talking to his players in the huddle. Nothing to hide, I suppose, right? What’s interesting to see, and what caught me off guard at first, is how calm and relaxed he seems. I always suspected coaches would be yelling and screaming in huddles to get their players to respond. But not Jay. He speaks clearly and slowly. That kind of attitude reflects on the team. And might be the reason the Raptors are so calm and cool down the stretch, seemingly able to pull out a win whenever they’re down late.

Share the Rock

The last couple of big plays in the fourth quarter saw the Raps pass the ball like a team possessed. I think that speaks to the chemistry of the team, we spoke about earlier. It seems as though every Raptor touches the ball to find the open man. Kudos to Triano and his staff for employing the right mentality and approach to the game.

Zan of the Night

Antoine Wright.

No disrespect to Christopher Wesson Bosh, but Antoine Wright may have won the game for us Sunday. Hitting two big shots in the last 5 minutes of the game. He was all over the place. Grabbing boards, loose balls and playing D. And hold up! This guy is 26? I thought he was 32. He’s suddenly a good young player for us. In my mind at least.

Not Zan of the Night

Dave Hopla

Sacramento! Get this guy on speed dial. The team missed 11 free throws. That’s the game right there. You can’t hit ‘em all. But you can surely hit more than that.

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Jeremiah McNama
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 3, 2010 · 10:45 pm

Raptors Wax Chumps like a Candle

Playing the Nets is like  fighting against Glass Joe in Mike Tyson’s Punchout.  You know you should win…but every once in a while Glass Joe gets his.  It certainly wasn’t pretty tonight but the Raptors were able to find production from a number of sources in order to hold off the  Nets.  It was a lot tougher than it should have been as the Raptors had to claw back in the second half and hold off what appeared to be an inspired Nets team.  Did I just write that?  Jarrett Jack, Sonny Weems and Antoine Wright were particularly effective for the Raptors but it was really a full team effort as the Raptors battled without three key components of their offence:  Turkoglu, Calderon and Derozan.  In the end the better team won and continued their success at home in front of  Vanilla Ice and Brian Mulroney. Also  Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf were on hand to see what it’s like to be a part of a winning team.

Antoine Wright was the key to victory for the Raptors against the lowly but fiesty Nets.

The Zan for Three

X-Factor(s)

We here at the Zan have already discussed the importance of the X-factor in winning games (here) but tonight it was paramount that anyone and everyone step up for the Raptors.  Down three rotation players and on the second night of a back to back the Raptors had to dig deep and find production from other sources.  Enter Antoine Wright, Sonny Weems and Marcus Banks.  These three provided key minutes for the Raptors and were productive on both ends of the floor.  Without these three the Raptors do not win the game.  The deep bench of Toronto is a key component in the recent turnaround of the team and continued tonight.

Interior Defense

Another night where both Bosh and Bargnani showed inconsistencies on defense.  I, for one, am looking forward to the return of Reggie Evans.  When a team goes on a big run, like the Nets did in the second quarter, Reggie will be there to absolutely hammer someone to make them think twice about driving the net.  The defense inside needs to be stronger and more intimidating.  As the game went on both Bosh and Bargnani picked up the slack but against a more challenging opponent the Raptors will not be as fortunate to come away with the victory.

Sonny Weems fights for the ball that would end up in a dunk on the other end.

No Guts, No Glory

The Raptors dug down deep tonight and willed themselves to victory.  They were tired.  That was clear from the onset.  Bosh and Bargnani did not have the same jump in their step as they did one night ago.  The Raptors were down big in the second quarter and went through a shooting drought that seemed like it would never end.  They pulled up their socks and fought through their deficiences to win the game.  Jarrett Jack was sick, but refused to let that stop him from playing like a man inspired.  If the Raptors are going to be successful this season and into the playoffs they will need this type of effort in order to stay competative with the “Beasts of the East”.

Zan of the Night

Antoine Wright.  This was a tough one tonight because Jarrett Jack and Sonny Weems also played so well, but in the end Wright was the key factor that kept us in the game and propelled us forward.  He played excellent defense throughout the game and drove the ball to the hoop and made smart shots finishing with 18pts.  He has been playing at another level during this Raptor run and his defense inspires thoughts of playoff basketball.  He is finally looking like the player that Colangelo stole in the Hedo Turkoglu mega deal during the summer.

Not Zan of the Game

Kris Humphries. I’m sorry but I cannot not help but hate this guy.  He fires up way too many shots for a role playing Power Forward.  He played well in spurts tonight but ultimately became a black hole on the offense during the game and helped give the Raptors the ball back in the second half..  I hate him with or without hair.  Did anyone else find it funny that Humphries returned the same night that Vanilla Ice played at the ACC?  or am I alone at that one?

By the Way:  Doesn’t Hedo look totally badass with his black eye?  Watch out Eastern Conference it is about to get ugly.

Thank God for the Nets.  A cure for any problem a team might have.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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