Tag Archives: Jarrett Jack

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 | February 4, 2013 · 11:34 pm

Life Without Jose

Jose Calderon is no longer a Toronto Raptor.

That sentence hasn’t quite sunk in for a lot of people in the city of Toronto.  If you’re a basketball fan in this city, then Jose Calderon has been a part of your conversations, frustrations, high and lows for the last 7 and a half years.  He is as entrenched in the minds and hearts of basketball fans in this city as any player ever to wear the Raptors uniform.

And now he is a Detroit Piston.

On Monday night he officially joined the Pistons on the court after the three team trade that saw the Raptors acquire Rudy Gay.

You’d be forgiven if the sight of Calderon in a Pistons jersey made you shake your head a bit.  It didn’t really seem right.  For his entire career he’s been a Raptor.  On Monday night he was on another team.  Not the Raptor red that we were used to seeing, but still the same player.

Calderon shot the ball well, distributed, but did not show off high defensive ability and watched as his new team got beaten soundly by a much better New York Knicks team.  As Jerry Seinfeld famously quipped “we are all really just cheering for laundry” and there was Calderon plying his trade in different laundry.  But you couldn’t help but cheer for the guy wearing #8 in Pistons blue (as weird as it was).

The trade of five days ago, that once seemed so surreal, is now beginning to sink in.  Rudy Gay is tearing it up after two games with the Raptors and giving fans hope that we may be witnessing a new brand of Raptors basketball.  And the player once cheered loudly by Toronto fans is leading another rebuilding team a few hours south of the city he called home five days ago.

Jose, traded last week, will always be a fan favourite no matter what laundry he happens to be wearing.

Jose, traded last week, will always be a fan favourite no matter what laundry he happens to be wearing.

Calderon will always have a place in Toronto sports lore.  He was one of the good guys in a world of sports that has too few.  He always put forth his best effort on the court and took a huge amount of criticism from fans, bloggers and reporters for the shortcomings in his game.  He never wavered or fought back, he simply went on doing his best.

Calderon was brought here by Rob Babcock in 2005 to be a second or third string point guard.  He quickly emerged as a talented player worthy of so much more and quickly earned his backup minutes the following year playing an integral role in the Raptors Atlantic Division championship.  His real “coming out party” was during the playoffs in 2007 when he played some of the best basketball of his career.  He was, arguably, the best player on the Raptors team during all six games of that series.  Though the Raptors ended up losing that series to New Jersey, Calderon emerged as a potential starter.

Over the next few years he battled through various point guard tandems.  Every single tandem ended with another player leaving Toronto and Jose remaining.  Like a season of Survivor, Calderon stayed while others were voted off the island. TJ Ford, Jarrett Jack, Jarryd Bayless and for a period Kyle Lowry all couldn’t match Calderon’s production and team chemistry.  He simply proved himself to be too valuable to let go.  Hell, the Raptors even traded Jose to Charlotte with Reggie Evans for Tyson Chandler and Boris Diaw only to have the deal cancelled by Charlotte owner Michael Jordan.

Jose seemed destined to stay a Raptor forever.

Though his numbers slipped this year he just kept battling and seizing every opportunity that arrived.  When Kyle Lowry went down with an injury this year, Jose stepped in and led the Raptors to a season changing run that now has this team within striking distance.  The results of which, he will not be around to enjoy.

Jose has always had good offensive numbers highlighted by a high assist to turnover ratio and FG% every year and has helped other young players on this team emerge because of his great ability to get teammates involved often at the expense of his own production.  All aspects that make him a truly special player.

He will be greatly missed by his teammates, coaches and most of all the city.

In a sports world full of ego-maniacs, self-centred prima donnas and jerks, Jose was a breath of fresh air.  He was quiet, humble and happy to accept whatever role he was asked to fill.  He never complained, never shot back at reporters that called him a porous defender or fans that begged for him to be traded.  He took it all with a grain of salt and went on being the player that he is.

In a city that has been scorned by former stars like Vince Carter, Chris Bosh and Tracy McGrady, Jose embraced the city and the fans with open arms.  He embraced them on and off the court, was always happy to talk to fans, sign autographs or take pictures with them.  When he was criticised by fans or reporters he simply let his game do the talking.  He didn’t shy away from his critics.

Whether playing off the bench, in a starter’s role or as a cheerleader on the sidelines he embraced every role he was given.  He was a consummate professional and the very definition of a team player.

In typical Calderon fashion on his way to another team, his only wish was for the Raptors continued success. “”It’s been my home for eight years…I’ve done everything possible for this team…the fans have been with me since Day 1. It’s tough…Hopefully this team is back to the playoffs as soon as possible.”

Even on his way out he was gracious and thankful.  A true team player to the bitter end.

Players like Calderon are not a dime a dozen.  He was truly special player.  He will be greatly missed.  Unlike other former Raptors (most notably Vince Carter and Chris Bosh), Jose’s Raptor jersey will be worn with pride around the ACC, despite not being on the team anymore.  When word of the trade hit, his jersey was apparently sold out in the team shops around the ACC, something never before seen in these parts.

I’m not afraid to admit that he has been my favourite player since the 06-07 season and I proudly own a Calderon Jersey.  I will be honoured to wear it upon his return to the ACC on April 1st when he accompanies the Pistons to Toronto.

It’ll be weird, as it was on Monday night.  He’ll be wearing different laundry, but it’ll still be the same Jose.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | November 21, 2010 · 9:07 pm

Raps are Jacked Up In Win Over the Celtics

A day after trading away their starting point guard and a key reserve, an undermanned Raptor squad walked into the ACC and played some great ball against, arguably, the best team in the association.   The Raptors hung around all game and were able to pull ahead in the fourth against a tired Boston Celtics team who were without Rajon Rondo.  The Raptors were led by Andrea Bargnani who once again showed off his strong offensive game with 29 points. What was more amazing that he was scoring in the post, off the dribble and was his usual deadly self from the field.  Reggie Evans chipped in with a string defensive game and 14 more rebounds.  Calderon was steady at the helm, for most of the game, and Barbosa and Amir Johnson provided very strong minutes off the bench.

The talk of a tank might be a bit pre-mature as these Raptors are showing they can hang with the best in the league and don’t look now, but they’ve won three in a row and have looked very good over the last stretch of games.  This team might be better than anyone is giving them credit for.

The Zan for Three

Like a Bosh

No, this is not a comment on the brilliant video by the good folks over at The Basketball Jones.  Although there is plenty to like in the video chronicling the Raptor career of Chris Bosh and his subsequent departure from the Great White North or “White Vegas” as we’ve now been called. 

The loss of Chris Bosh was thought to throw this Raptor franchise into rebuild mode and most people who follow the NBA have agree with this sentiment.  Chris Bosh gave the Raptors 20 and 10 each night and that kind of production is hard to replace, or is it?  Amir Johnson has been doing his best Chris Bosh impression over the last couple of games.  A 17 and 11 performance tonight and two huge free throws to give his team victory gave the Raptors exactly what they needed.  If he can do this consistently then the Raptors may not be that bad without Chris Bosh.  Couple Johnson’s performance with the rebounding production that Reggie Evans has been giving the team and the output of Chris Bosh has actually been replaced with more production. One of the things that Amir does so well, possibly even better than Bosh is rebound the ball and get putback points.  Tonight he was in the right place at the right time and capitalized.  Offensive rebounds usually mean points.  This is something Chris Bosh is still having trouble with in Miami.  Amir looked like the new Bosh out there today.  Chris Bosh?  As Jose Calderon would say: WHO?

Amir Johnson celebrates after hitting the game winning free throws. He was a key part of the Raptors victory and is now looking more and more like a potential starting forward.

This is not to suggest that the Raptors are better off without Chris, but right now Amir and Reggie have more than made up for what Bosh was giving the team last year and the numbers that he is putting up in Miami.  If Amir can keep this up the team will be looking better and better now and into the future and Colangelo’s signing in the offseason won’t seem as crazy as it did at the time.

Addition by Subtraction

The Raptors were only able to dress 10 players after the trade with New Orleans and were seriously undermanned on paper.  Both Peja and Bayless have yet to join the team and will not see any action until Wednesday at the earliest.  This would seem to  have been a problem for a team facing off against the defending Eastern Conference Champions, but this was not the case.  The Raptors, who only actually used 8 of their 10 players in uniform, used a tight rotation to beat the Celtics.  Calderon and Barbosa shared minutes at point guard and Amir Johnson played extended minutes and Kleiza was given some time at power forward.  This tight rotation might be the way to go.  Roles are clearer than they were a mere 24 hours earlier.  Players know what they have to do and held more accountable when they make a mistake.

Good teams have a consistent 8 player rotation or less and on Sunday the Raptors gave extended minutes to the players that they thought deserved it and would help the team win.  There is no point giving a player minutes for the sake of giving them minutes.  Without Jack and Anderson the Raptors were able to keep players on the floor longer.  More minutes for Barbosa and Johnson is definitely a good idea.  Hopefully when the new arrivals get to Toronto Triano keeps this in mind and doesn’t give minutes to players because he has to.  Players need to earn their minutes and if they don’t they shouldn’t play.

The Barbosa Factor

One of the things the Raptors haven’t been able to take advantage of this season is the speed of Leandro Barbosa.  He is a game changer.  He was a game changer in Phoenix and he can be again in Toronto. With Barbosa relegated to back up shooting guard duties he didn’t always get the minutes or significant role that he needs to help this team.  When he takes over at the point, the tempo of the game changes.  He changes the way the Raptors play and that difference makes the Raptors second unit so dangerous.  Whether or not he gets a chance to play this many minutes when Jarryd Bayless arrives remains to be seen, but Jay Triano should think long and hard about giving this guy more minutes each night.  He is a tough match up and his speed gives the team a dynamic it doesn’t have in the starting five.  He changes the style of the team and it makes the Raptors hard to defend.

When he was on the floor today he pushed the ball up the floor and changed the pace of the game.  Coming from a system like the one in Phoenix, you know he can score, but he was also active on the defensive end.  He was in peoples faces and deflected many passes the Celts tried to complete.  He was a pest all day long, and led a very active and productive second unit.

Zan of the Night

Andrea Bargnani

The number of times this guy has been crapped on in the media and on blogs all over the country is astounding.  All he did wrong was to be drafted number one overall.  If he wasn’t a number one pick, he would be a complete and utter success story, but because he was a number one overall pick, he is often looked at as a disappointment.   Andrea Bargnani is the leader of this team.  He certainly isnt the vocal guy on the bench or in the locker room, but he is the leader by example and he is the teams best player, by far.  He is the go-to guy and the one his teammates are looking for late in the game.  Andrea is emerging as a unique talent and possibly among the leagues elite.  Today he shot the ball with confidence and took the ball to the rim repeatedly.  He scored from outside and from inside the post.  He was deadly from wherever he was and looked like a team leader.

Despite his poor play early on in the season, he has put together several good games this year and looks to be the main building block of the franchise going forward.  People need to start giving credit where credit is due.  Bargnani is the real deal.

Not Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

Something is up with Derozan.  Early in the season he was attacking the rim with ferocity and was getting to the line several times a night as a result.  The last few games he has been almost invisible on offense and is getting outplayed by Sonny Weems.  Derozan only attempted 8 shots today and got to the line a total of three times.  This is not where he needs to be.  In the win against Philly he only had four points and two free throw attempts.  He has shown flashes this year, but lately all he is showing is inconsistency.  These are not the signs of a future superstar.  Demar is getting lost on the court but thankfully, for now, his teammates are  carrying the load without him.

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
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by | · 1:17 am

Colangelo Gives Jose the Keys to the Franchise

In a surprising move Bryan Colangelo traded starting point guard Jarrett Jack, Forward David Anderson and Guard Marcus Banks to the New Orleans Hornets for Peja Stojakovic and Jarryd Bayless.

 

Jarrett Jack was a big part of the current Raptors team and will now provide leadership and fight for the New Orleans Hornets.

On the surface it appears that Bryan Colangelo is preparing his team for next season.  Stojakovic has a huge expiring deal and Jarryd Bayless gives the club a young point guard to try to develop for future success.  The players traded are also key parts of the current fabric of the team (minus Banks who has been a bench warmer for some time).  This signals that the team has, perhaps, given up on competing this season and is focused on building towards the future.

 

On first glance, this isn’t a bad move for the franchise as it gives them huge cap flexibility immediately as Peja’s contract is one of the bigger ones expiring over the next year.  It also gives Jose Calderon the keys to the franchise.  I love Jose but that’s like choosing to drive a Ford Focus because it is the safest car around.  He isn’t the most efficient and he isn’t going to make the highlight reel, hell he isn’t going to win games either, but he protects the ball and distributes efficiently.  He just can’t defend against other teams.

The team is clearly playing for next season.  This may make some fans happy and others will abandon the team.  Many already have.  Attendance figures are down and watching opposing point guards blow past Jose Calderon is not going to put butts in the seats, nor will watching an over the hill Peja play well below his former capabilities.

The deal does one thing, and one thing only : buy Bryan Colangelo some time.  He has a huge trade exception from the Chris Bosh fiasco, likely a high level draft pick and now a 15 million dollar expiring contract to work magic with over the summer.  There are also a number of expiring contracts and young players to give fans hope for the future.  Colangelo has likely bought himself another few seasons to build this team into something resembling a playoff team.

Jarrett Jack was never going to be a long-term solution at the point guard position.  Many believed he was a stop-gap, acquired to appease the impending free agency of Chris Bosh.  Is he occasionally good? Yes.  Is he a good locker room presence? appears to be.  Is he a significant part of the future of this franchise?  Not a chance.  Still, Jack was well liked by many of the young players on the team and regularly brought a fighting spirit to the Raptor team.

David Anderson will be missed.  He was a nice big off the bench and provided toughness and range.  He was a solid pickup and played significant minutes for Toronto. Hopefully he finds a place in the Hornets rotation.  He is too good to be sitting on the bench for long stretches of time.  And I love Australians.

The Raptors bring over Bayless, who will likely work with Alvin Williams to develop further skill at the point.  We know he is young and is a relatively capable defender (something the Raptors sorely lack).  Will he amount to anything? or will he just be one of those players raptor fans wait years for to develop only to realize he won’t?   Time will tell, but he has a better chance of being a future part of this franchise than Jack did.  In the end his short-term contract is worth the risk.

This is one of those trades that is probably going to be fully evaluated after the season or at the trade deadline.  If the Raptors can salvage something long-term out of this deal will depend on what Colangelo can get for the TPE, Stojakovic and maybe another expirings.  If they can get a big name like an Andre Igoudala or a young player the likes of a Josh Smith from Atlanta this franchise might be able to do a proper rebuild.

If that happens, the Raptors will surely look back on this trade as a key part of their success.

For now Colangelo is handing over the teams present to Jose Calderon.  A Curious move, no doubt, but one that could help the Raptors franchise moving forward.

 

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
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by | November 14, 2010 · 10:35 pm

Positive signs for Raps in visit to Florida

“Winning isn’t everything” is the old adage, but in the case of the Raptors recent visit with former teammates Vince Carter and Chris Bosh, that expression couldn’t be more true.

The two games played in Orlando and Miami offered Raptor fans a glimpse of what this young Raptor team is made of.  Both contests were very competitive and the Raptors, owner of one of the worst records in the league, held their own against two of the best the association has to offer.

Here are some positive signs we saw from the Raptors this weekend.

The Kid is Alright

Demar Derozan is a player most fans want to become part of the future of this ball club.  He is fast, gets to the line and is developing a nice mid range game as well.  Over the weekend he played against some of the very best guards in the league and held his own on the offensive end.  There is no comparing Derozan to the likes of Wade, Carter and Lebron just yet, but he was no slouch in either of those matchups.

This may not be the kid the team ultimately builds around.  He doesn’t have the presence or skill level of a Kobe or a Lebron, but he is definitely cementing himself as one of the building blocks this team currently possess.

Demar Derozan is showing improvements to his game this season and is becoming the go-to guy on this years squad.

 

The best part of Derozan’s game this weekend, in Florida, was his ability to get to the line and the confidence his team is now showing in him.  Coach Triano is calling Derozan’s number a lot more than he did last year and that is a good thing if you are a Raptor fan.  Demar also got to the free throw line 12 times against Orlando and 11 times against the Heat.  This trend is very exciting if you are a Raptor fan.  Both because one of the most exciting high flyers in the game is taking the ball to the rim regularly and because it results in easy buckets for a team that has a hard time scoring them.

Derozan is a reason to get excited this season.

Triano is a Do-Something Person

Jay Triano has not been his typical Canadian self this year.  He is not afraid to call a spade a spade and occasionally call his players out.  Last week he called Sonny Weems out.  Triano criticized his shot selection and Sonny has responded.  Weems has been one of the best players on the court over the last week and is making the most of his shots (5 of 8 against Miami and 6 of 9 against Orlando).

Credit is due to Sonny, no doubt, but Triano wasn’t afraid to focus his young player and Sonny has responded with inspired play.  Sonny sees himself as a rotation player in the NBA and with his recent play so do I.  He is solid on the defensive end, something the Raptors have lacked over the last few years, and he is showing confidence and restraint on the offensive end.  When he plays in control, he can be a very effective tool for the Raps.

Fight, Fight, Fight

The Raptors are made up of a mix bag this year.  Players like Demar and Sonny might get burn off the bench on one of the top teams in the league, but David Anderson and Reggie Evans wouldn’t necessarily be one of your top options off the bench.

You cannot question their fight though, can you.

The Raptors have a group of young men who are not afraid to get dirty; not afraid to engage in battle against opponents who, on paper, are more impressive.  Orlando and Miami are very likely to be two of the teams left at the end of the season when the dust settles, the Raptors gave both teams all they could handle this weekend.

Andrea, Demar and Sonny have been the offensive force of this team.  Amir Johnson looked good, but needs to find a way to stay on the court.  Reggie was a big loss in Miami, but looks to be the energy of this team.  David Anderson, Joey Dorsey and Leandro Barbosa are providing meaningful minutes off the bench and Jack and Calderon are steady at the helm.

This is a team that may not win as many games as last year, but they are not going to ever be an easy W for an opposing team.

The Big Italian Awakens

Andrea Bargnani had two strong offensive games in Florida.  what may be even more important in the loss to Miami was the way he fought for boards ( he finished with 9 of them).  He was facing his former teammate (at least when Bosh was able to stay on the floor) and he held his own.  Bargnani has a deadly shot, this is something no one can deny, but his defensive game and his rebounding skills are what need serious work.  This is something the fans know, the coaches know, and it looks as though Bargnani is finally figuring it out as well.

The Raptors can add another building block to the puzzle if Andrea can strengthen his defensive game.

Preparation

Being Prepared is half the battle.  This is something that Triano and his staff understand.  The Boys in red were ready to play Orlando and thy were ready to play Lebron, Wade and Bosh.  You could see the intensity from the get-go in Orlando and the game plan on attacking Chris Bosh worked to perfection.  This team is buying into what the coaches are selling and it is evident on the court.  Defensive energy is up and the team is sharing the ball on offense.  One of the best parts of not having a legitimate superstar is not having to get that superstar their share of the ball.  The team came in prepared for the tilts in Florida and they competed against the best as a result.

 

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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by | November 8, 2010 · 11:11 pm

Not Enough Home Cooking for the Raptors

After a rough Western Road trip, where the Raptors found every which way to lose, they returned home to once again come up just short.  I am encouraged by the fight in this team.  Most young teams give up down the stretch allowing their opponent to finish off with a flurry, but the Raptors kept fighting.  There is something to be said for a team that goes down swinging.  If you’re gonna lose, don’t make it easy.  Then again this is something Raptor fans will probably be saying a lot this year.

The Raptors fell behind early to Golden State and just couldn’t claw their way back.  The Raptors are going to have to stop allowing their opponents explosive starts.  Toronto has found themselves down early a lot recently and cannot seem to get themselves back into it.  This is not a good habit to get into.

Some decent play from the bench, minus Jose Calderon, inspired the team with new life in the second half, but once again, it wasn’t enough to overcome their early deficit.  Jay Triano has got to find a way to get all cylinders firing.  This team could win games if everyone gets on the same page at the same time.

Zan For Three

Dynamic Duo

The NBA has made a really big deal about the Big Three is Miami and the Big Three in Boston.  People talk about the young stars on the Thunder and Hawks.  Why is nobody talking about the talent on the Golden State Warriors? Curry and Ellis are as dynamic a duo as you’ll find in the NBA.  If this team can use the talents of Biedrins and Dorell Wright to their fullest extent, I think this team might be playoff contenders and a tough match up for any playoff opponent.  The talent is there, no doubt, they, like the Raptors, just have to find a way to deliver the goods.

Monta Ellis wasnt letting Leandro Barbosa or anyone, for that matter, get to the rim.

Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry are absolute beasts.  They both have the potential to win games all by themselves.  The fact they play on the same team is down right scary.  Coach Smart has got to get more use out of the rest of his team to maximize the potential power the Warriors have.

This team is a solid inside presence away from contending in the Western Conference.   Playing Monta and Curry is a tough assignment for any defender in the league and tonight the Raptors couldn’t either of them.

Good Sonny, Bad Sonny

Dave Feschuk suggested today in the Star that Sonny Weems was shooting a bit too much.  He is welcome to take shots, especially mid range ones, but only within the flow of the offense.  Weems has been a bit of a “chucker” early on in the season. Tonight he showed restraint at times and at others he took his chances.   Five of Nine from the field isn’t a bad night t the office.

Weems was a strong presence last season and if the Raptors are to have any kind of success this year they need him to be solid and efficient on both ends of the floor.  That doesn’t mean throwing up bricks in the hopes of padding your stats.  Weems needs to be much more confident and smart out there on the offensive end.  If he doesn’t fix his issues out there, he will wind up being more Joey Graham than Morris Peterson.

I like Sonny, but he needs to find his role within the flow of the game.

Resigning Thyself

Look, I’m a Raptor fan.  I’m almost 100% sure that if you cut me open I would bleed red, white and black and occasionally purple for nostalgia sake.  I love this team and will watch no matter the outcome, but let’s get serious here, we are going to lose a lot of games.  The Raptors had a rough road trip, the kind a playoff team doesn’t have and cannot have, if it wants to be taken seriously.  Hell, the Raptors found ways of losing out West that I didn’t even know were possible.

Do they fight it out?  Absolutely.  Is there some talent on this roster that Toronto fans can get excited about? For sure.  But are we going to lose a hell of a lot of games?  Damn Straight.  In the long run that might be the best thing for us.  The again, Golden State have been losing for a long time and they haven’t got much better over the years. So losing doesn’t always lead to winning down the road.

The Raptors are going to lose a lot of games.  Heartbreakers, overtime losses, hard-fought losses, blow outs, games they should have one, games they had no right to win.  This team is going to be a roller coaster of disappointment this season.  I no longer feel like this is in question.  The first step in admittance.

What Raptor fans have to learn to do is see the positive.  Today Kleiza and Weems showed some life.  Jack was a leader in the truest sense of the word tonight and Amir looks like he can blossom into something more. More importantly, with every loss the Raptors get closer to something they are going to need very badly:  a top flight draft pick.  Golden State has sucked for years and with Ellis and Curry they look to be potentially changing their fortunes.

Our turn is next.

Zan of the Night

Monta Ellis

Easily could have been Stephen Curry.  Lord knows I love that kid’s game, but Monta had the heart of a warrior tonight.  he played smart, took smart shots and was able to walk away from his nasty spill late in the game.  This is the kind of player a team and coach can look to for leadership and guidance.  Monta Ellis is a great player and showed all facets fo his game tonight.

Not Zan of the Night

Jose Calderon

Every Raptor out there showed guts and heart even in the face of defeat.  Jose looked lost and was rendered completely useless.  Jack played most of the game and was responsible for the Raps late run in the game.  If the Raptors are going to have any success this guy needs to step up.  The Marcus Banks bandwagon is getting revved up. 

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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by | November 1, 2010 · 11:57 pm

No California Love for Raps

You could forgive the Raptors if they weren’t necessarily looking forward to their Western Road trip.  Every year the Raptors seem to get caught napping in the sun.  At least once, and sometimes twice in a season, a crucial West Coast trip puts the team behind the eight ball.  Maybe it’s the sun, the time off or the hot women in bikinis (and who could blame them really) but every year the Raptors seem to go on a crucial Western trip and lose their focus coming home empty-handed.

This is the time of year the Raptors need to take advantage of their opponents.  Teams like Sacramento and the Lakers are not playing at 100% at this point in the regular season and the Raptors need to seize these opportunities.  Toronto could very well come into a Western Coast trip and surprise a still rusty team and add up some extra W’s.  At the end of the season, you look back at these opportunities and think “what if?”.  It is important to tally up as many early W’s as possible as they only become harder and harder to come by as the season goes on. This is one of those wins that will feel so much worse later on in the year when wins mean the difference between playoffs and lottery.

The Zan for Three

Early Energy, Late Nap

The Raptors came out like a steamroller in the first five minutes of the game.  I cannot remember the last time I saw the Raptors come out of the tunnel with that much pounce.  They drove to the rim, got to the line and scored the majority of their buckets in the paint.  Where was it in the fourth though?

There is always worry that on the first night of a West Coast trip a team will have some fatigue, but the Raps came out like Gangbusters.  They had a 33-16 advantage after the first quarter, but what was more telling was the way in which they did it.  The Raptors got to the line 13 times in the first quarter.  Points were scored in transition and the team wasn’t afraid to get dirty.

In the second half however they forced the issue (Jarrett Jack I’m looking at you), they let Evans have a field day and finished with lazy jump shots allowing the Kings to battle back.  By the time the fourth quarter rolled around the Raps had nothing left in the tank.  It was like all of a sudden they realized it was midnight in Toronto and they had to work in the morning….oh wait, that was me.

Reggie Freaking Evans

I can’t stop writing about this guy.  I openly questioned his starting spot but after three straight games in double-digit rebounds , don’t I have egg on my face?  He is simply playing great ball right now.  He lifted his team early in this one with 10 boards in the first quarter and brought the energy back when he re-entered the game.  I don’t always like his game, but so far this season I cannot find a bad thing to say about one Reginald Jamaal Evans.

 

 

 

Tyreke Evans and the Kings waited and stalked the Raptors like a carnivore, eventually catching their prey late in the fourth. The Raptors never knew what hit them.

 

Finish them!

When you’re up 17 points you have to look for the jugular and go for it.  Tonight the Raptors gave the Kings a second life and with a player as gifted as Tyreke Evans running the show you need to finish a team off when you get the chance.  The Raptors didn’t and they got burned, absolutely burned.

Plus the Foul…

Almost Defense?

Is there such a thing?  The Raptors deflected balls and broke plays up many times in the game, only to have them end up in the hands of a Sacramento player.  The Raptors started the game playing very aggressive and took a commanding lead off of their defensive effort, but they also lost because of defensive miscues, bad shot selection late in the game and shear dumb-luck.  There will be lots for Jay Triano and PJ Carlesimo to be happy about, but they will also be wondering how their defensive oriented team let a 17 point lead slip through the cracks.

Zan of the Night

Omar Casspi

I know much will be made of Tyreke playing while sick and getting 28 points or of Reggie’s night of endless rebounds, but Omar was the difference.  He hit every big three a player possibly could and each one felt like a dagger in my chest.  That is what you want out of a shooter.  Casspi was 50% from 3-pt land and frightened me every time he had the ball.  This win is on him.

Not Zan of the Night

Leo Rautins

I’m not a fan of games that are called by Leo.  I love Jack Armstrong and I will fully admit my bias.  Leo knows his game, but he just doesn’t have a voice that makes you feel anything other than boredom and indifference.  Add to the fact that Samuel Dalembert was in the game and we had to listen to Team Canada anecdotes all night.  It used to be overwhelming man love he bestowed on Dalembert, but after Samuel’s team Canada fallout, it has now become cheap shots.  Not needed on a Raptors broadcast.  For Shame!  Seriously though, the only thing worse than watching the Raptors lose a game in the dying minutes is listening to Leo Rautins call it. Great start to the Sportsnet One Era!  Yikes!

Oh California!  You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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by | October 25, 2010 · 2:54 pm

The Zan Talks Small Forward

The Players

Linas Kleiza

Sonny Weems

Julian Wright

The Story

The Raptors went out and spent some money acquiring Kleiza, a player who performed incredibly well in Greece last year and who was a standout for the bronze medal winning Lithuania team at the recent World Championships in Turkey. Kleiza brings forth a versatility the Raptors haven’t seen in a long time.  He can shoot, penetrate, post up and will likely create all kinds of mismatches for opposing players.   Kleiza is also tough as nails and will fight for rebounds and loose balls.  This style of play will likely make him fan favourite at the ACC.

The back up here will likely be Sonny Weems or even Demar Derozan when the Raptors go to a smaller lineup.  Sonny will be counted on to keep the energy high in the second unit and provide a solid scoring touch.

Julian Wright did not have a strong pre-season camp and likely will not have much to do outside of garbage time.  Little is known about this off-season acquisition, but who are we kidding, he isn’t going to get much burn (even on this team).

The Best Case Scenario

If Kleiza continues to play the way he did during the World Championships then the Raptors my have acquired one of the steals of the off-season. Kleiza is a match-up nightmare and can shoot the lights out if you forget about him on the defensive end.   He has the potential to lead this team in scoring. The best part of his game and one many Raptor fans will come to love, is that he doesn’t force the issue.  Kleiza will not take bad shots.  All of his shots come in the flow of the offense.  This should make him a frequent target of Jarrett Jack.

After an inspired World Championships Kleiza will be a focal point for the Raptors offense this season.

Sonny Weems develops into a strong second unit player and adds energy and offensive output with the speedy second unit.  If Julian Wright can offer anything more than cheerleading this season it will be a plus.

Worst Case Scenario

 

Kleiza is likely going to get a lot of touches, but as was evidenced in the Lithuania-USA match at the Worlds, Kleiza has a difficult time when defenses focus on him.  He is going to have to find better ways of breaking down defenses.  If he doesn’t, he will just be another shooter on this team.  Kleiza is also going to have to play tough defenses.  Many of the players that he will be in charge of stopping are much faster and more athletic than he is.  Kleiza is going to have a tough time on the defensive end.

 

If
Sonny Weems doesn’t evolve and take the next step, he will become just another bench player on this team.  Sonny needs to develop confidence on the offensive end and a three point shot to boot.  He also needs to bring it consistently on the defensive end.  His ability in that regard will likely dictate how muich time he receives on the court.

Prediction

 

Kleiza will be a force to be reckoned with and will likely be one of the brighter lights for this ball club.  He will score lots and will fight for rebounds and his work ethic will likely make him a fan favourite.  He is going to have difficulty on the defensive end and he will not get the amount of shots that most Raptor fans think he deserves.  Sonny will be a high energy guy off the bench, but likely not as effective as last year.  Julian Wright will continue to be lucky he receives a pay cheque.

Raps fans are going to love seeing Kleiza on the offensive end, but will likely also see a lot of quicker forwards blow past him of the defensive end.

***

 

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
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by | October 17, 2010 · 6:31 pm

The Zan Talks Point Guard

The Players

Jack and Calderon will have to work together in order to give the Raptors any chance of playing in the postseason.

Jose Calderon

Jarrett Jack

Marcus Banks

Leandro Barbosa

The Story

The Raptors made no secret about the fact they were shopping their point guards over the off-season.  In fact a Jose Calderon deal to Charlotte was 99% done until Michael Jordan backed out at the last-minute.  Jarrett Jack seemed poised to take over the starting duties but will now, once again, have to share time at the point with Calderon.  As we enter the final week of training camp, the biggest question remains who will start at the point.  The decision probably won’t be made official until closer to opening night.

Jack and Calderon shared time last year, but who started and finished games alway seemed to be an issue.  This year the coaching staff and players will have to work harder at minimizing the distraction starting minutes can sometimes bring.  Jack and Calderon will have to learn to get along and share time on the court as another point guard distraction is exactly what this team doesn’t need.

Leandro Barbosa was acquired in the Hedo Turkoglu deal and figures to get some time here as well although he will be used at both guard positions.  His acquisition almost guarantees that Marcus Banks will not see the floor this season unless there is a trade or injury.

The Best Case Scenario

The point guards have said all the right things coming into the pre-season and hopefully things continue that way.  If things are going to go well this season, both players will have to share the duties based on performance and opposing lineup.  Jarrett Jack plays slightly better defense and runs the ball well and drives to the net.  Calderon is a better floor general and protects the ball well.  He also has a higher field goal percentage.

Jack should play when the team on the floor needs a drive and kick type player and Calderon should play when the Raps need to protect the ball and need another high percentage shooter on the floor.

If both play very well, you are likely to see one of them moved for a big sometime during the season.

In the end it doesn’t matter who starts, hopefully it won’t matter to them.

Worst Case Scenario

The two players fight for the starting job and neither exemplify their strengths.  If Calderon continues to be a complete sieve on defense and Jack forces shots on the offensive end, you might end up seeing a lot of Barbosa handling the point.  You may also see Marcus Banks.

If neither play well the team is almost certainly headed to the bottom of the Eastern Conference and the possibility of a mid-season trade significantly decrease.

Calderon didn’t shoot the ball as well as he is capable last year and that cannot continue next season if the Raptors are to have any hope of contending for a playoff spot.

Prediction

I think the starting role will be an issue at times this season, especially when the team struggles under one or the other.  With a largely inexperienced lineup, both of these players are going to be called upon to lead the team.  Both players have proven to be team players and I think their leadership will go a long way this season.  As long as the starting role doesn’t become an issue I think this will be a position of strength for the Raptors.

I think the player that doesn’t start will benefit the most as both players are far too good to be playing against other teams second units.  The starter will have a much tougher role this year.  Likely Calderon will start to limit turnovers, but the best player that night will finish games.

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
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by | September 28, 2010 · 6:57 pm

To Everything There is a Season

The song by The Birds states “to everything there is a season” and for the Raptors the season is upon them.

Media Day is the onset of the basketball season.  With it come hopes, dreams, predictions, smiles and laughter.  The Raptors, like all of the 30 NBA teams, took part in Media Day.  Players discussed their off-seasons and coaches and management discussed the potential of playoff berths and successes.

For the Raptors, one word rang louder than any other word : Team.

With the off-season departure of leading scorer and franchise player, Chris Bosh, the Raptors players and management are selling fans on the prospect of playoff basketball in the Spring.  To do this, they say, the Raptors will need to work as a team and share the role of leader.

Bryan Colangelo was the centre of attention at Raptors Media Day as he tried to explain how the Raptors were going to be effective this season.

Bryan Colangelo spent much of his off-season acquiring players with a pedigree for team basketball and eliminating players that didn’t fit that mould.  Gone are discontents Hedo Turkoglu and Marco Belinelli and that Chris Bosh guy.  Adding to the team-first feel of the 2010-11 Raptors are Linas Kleiza, Leandro Barbosa, Julian Wright and Ed Davis.

It has become clear that with the absence of Chris Bosh the Raptors will have to find scoring and rebounding from a number of different sources.  Many of the Raptor players exhibited great teamwork during the World Championships as well as great scoring touches.  Both should help translate into an exciting team.  Hopefully points, defense and rebounds also follow.

But didn’t the Raptors play as team last year?

Jose Calderon spoke on the issue of team scoring during media day, “We go into the season with great expectations, we can be a better team. I think we have a lot of players who can play, maybe we don’t have that star role for somebody, I prefer sometimes it’s better to have five guys scoring 12, 15 points than to have one get 35. We have to play like that, share the ball more than ever and play like a team.”

With the number of times the Raptor players mentioned the word “team” during the media scrums, it would appear that perhaps too much of the offense was focused on its star player and impending free agent Chris Bosh last year.  The Raptors are hoping the idea of sharing the ball will translate into wins.

It also appears that too much was made of Bosh’s leadership credentials.

Jay Triano recently spoke on Chris Bosh “deffering”  vocal leadership to other veteran players and that his lack of vocal leadership last year could have been a cause of the Raptors end of season woes.

Jarrett Jack added : “If you look at Chris, he’s more an example guy… Twenty-four and 10 is not a bad example to put up out there…Different people do it different ways.”

The ball is in the “teams” court and together they will have to find a way to make up for Bosh’s absence and find new leadership as a unit or individually.

Perhaps the Raptors will be better off this year without Chris Bosh.  A new beginning. A new philosophy.  A chance for others to finally step up in Bosh’s absence.

Media Day.  Where hope springs eternal. 

To everything Turn, turn, turn.  There is a season Turn, turn turn.

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
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