Tag Archives: Jason Kapono

by | October 30, 2012 · 11:19 am

The Landry Fields Era Begins

The small Forward position, as it tends to be,  is filled with intrigue this year.  The Raptors went out this summer and added Landry Fields to the fold.  He provides defense, high basketball IQ and the ability to mesh with anyone you put on the floor with him.

His path to Toronto is well documented.  The short version of the story goes something like this.

The Raptors and Bryan Colangelo really wanted Steve Nash, but it looked as though Nash was going to head to the Knicks in a sign and trade deal that centered around Landry Fields.  The Raptors quickly moved to sign Fields to an offer sheet they knew the Knicks couldn’t match which effectively eliminated them from contention for Nash.  Toronto was then seen as the clear front-runner for Nash’s services until the Lakers entered the fray, stole Nash away from Toronto with promises of championship glory and the Raptors were left with a pretty large contract offer to Landry Fields which he was then signed to.

Some contend the Raptors contract to Fields was a huge mistake and will set the franchise back.  Others, myself included, feel that while they overspent to get Fields, he brings a work ethic and defensive presence that will markedly improve this team and will specifically bring tough wing defense, something the Raptors have not seen for a long time.  Though more expensive than he should have been, the Raptors are still likely to get decent return for their money.

Landry Fields has a lot of doubters in Toronto after signing a big contract. It will be interesting to see if his hard work and defensive intensity can win over fans the way he was able to in New York.

The Toronto Raptors haven’t really had a strong presence at the Small Forward since the days of Tracy McGrady.  Recent starters have included (in no particular order) Jason Kapono, Jamario Moon, Hedo Turkoglu, Shawn Marion and Sonny Weems.

While the small forwards for the Raptors have had varying degrees of success, a few (see Turkoglu) were cataclysmic failures, but  none made a significant impact for the club during their time as a starter.

Landry Fields may change that.

Fields is known around the NBA as a hard worker, a defensive presence and good teammate.  His his focus on the defensive side of the ball will certainly come in handy for a team that has had significant issues guarding the perimeter over the years.

Fields is a positive personality and will certainly endear himself to the Toronto media.  Truth be told, he already has.

But that contract….

Many pundits, bloggers and journalists choose to focus on the length and cost of the contract Fields has.  To be fair it is an expensive and longer term deal for a guy with only two years of experience under his belt, but certainly not a contract that is going to cause cap issues for a long period of time and it is likely flexible enough to become a tradeable asset if the situation presents itself.

Fields is an upgrade at the position and if he can improve on his woeful 3-pt shooting he could become a solid offensive piece to the Raptors game plan going forward as well.

If not, the Raptors have a host of solid pieces to back Fields up and offer the Raptors a number of different matchup possibilities.

Linas Kleiza is a pure scorer who brings instant offense off the bench.  There are some in the Raptors fan base that believe he should have been the starter to maximize Fields defense on the second unit with Jose Calderon, a noted deficiency on the defensive end.  Though Kleiza has had great success internationally, he has yet to put it together consistently for the Raptors.  He’s been injured and inconsistent in his time in Toronto, but still offers the Raptors great flexibility. He is a natural small forward and can also slide over to the 4 if need be and create a strong smaller lineup when Casey wants to go small.

If Kleiza can shoot the ball well and play the way he did in the World Championships then he may see increased minutes throughout the season, maybe even some time in the starting lineup.  Especially if Fields struggles on the offensive side of the ball where he has not been as effective.

Alan Anderson is another interesting option for Dwane Casey off the bench.  The journeyman really impressed the coach in limited time last season and continued his strong effort throughout the pre-season.  Anderson is a smart and savvy veteran who knows what his role is.  He provides strong defensive ability (like Fields) and can score, mostly because he has a knack for getting into great position to score.

Dwane Casey is going to have struggles at times finding enough minutes for everyone, but he has something a lot of coaches do not have: options. He can pull out an almost pure scorer in Kleiza or go for defense with Anderson and Fields.  If he wants to go small he can easily move Kleiza over to the 4 and both Fields and Anderson can slide over to the two if need be.

Casey has a great deal of depth at his disposal and can utilize it to exploit the matchups he wants.  The fact that these three players are versatile enough to play other positions and do not usually get into foul trouble could mean that we could see any of the three on the court in various positions.

The forward position is sure to be a strength for the Raptors and it is clear that with Landry Fields in the starting role the focus will continue to be on the defensive side of the ball.

Landry Fields will get his opportunity to prove fans and doubters wrong even if he isn’t a high scoring small forward in the mould of Tracy McGrady.

Hey, at least he isn’t Hedo Turkoglu.

***

ZTH

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by | September 18, 2012 · 8:19 pm

Raptors are Worth Getting Excited About

It’s not easy being a Toronto sports fan.  Most of the time it actually feels like a condition, a sickness, an inescapable purgatory.  For years the fans in this city listen to the hype about their local teams and never see the results on the court, ice or field.  The Maple Leafs haven’t been relevant since the 1990′s and may not even play this year (I’ll let you decide whether that’s a good or bad thing), the Jays were decimated by injuries this season and despite the hope of an extra playoff spot in the AL have fallen miserably short of their goal.  The Raptors haven’t been exciting since Colangelo’s first year on the job and have struggled ever since winning the Atlantic division in 2006-07. Don’t even get me started on TFC and the Argos are a Doug Flutie and Rocket Ismail short of peaking anyone’s interest.  The city hasn’t had anything to truly celebrate since Joe Carter took a Mitch Williams offering into the left field bullpen.

But this year might be different.

Don’t go expecting a parade down Yonge street just yet, but there is certainly reason for optimism as the Toronto Raptors get set to start training camp.

The team has been relatively quiet the last couple of years but seemed to turn a corner last year under new head coach Dwane Casey.

The team is preaching something it has never preached before: defence; and for the first time in years, the Raptors are seeing improvement.

Dwane Casey has the Raptors realistically hoping for something that hasn’t been seen in Toronto for a long time: playoff basketball.

Under Casey last year the Raptors ranked 12th in defensive efficiency, improved to 9th in defensive rebounding and more importantly stressed these aspects of the game when talking to the media and each other in practice.

The “culture change” resulted in overall better play.  The Raptors were no longer a push over on the schedule, they quickly became a team you didn’t really wanna play.  They lost many close games last year, a staggering 14 games by 5 points or less.  Fans began to wonder if Dwane Casey was able to get as much production out of the roster he had, what could he do with an improved roster?

This summer Bryan Colangelo went out and changed the team’s look.  This is not exactly an uncommon occurrence when you’re talking about Colangelo and the Raptors.  It seems he does this sort of facelift every off-season, trying to find a perfect balance of players that are able to compete in the weaker Eastern Conference.

This summer was different though.  He didn’t make a splash for the sake of making a splash.  He didn’t try to build a team around a Power forward.  There were no Jermaine O’neals or Hedo Turkoglu’s, he didn’t waste money on unproven players like Jason Kapono and he didn’t go overseas looking for the next Jorge Garbajosa.

Colangelo looked to his coach and signed, drafted and traded for players that fit the system and philosophy that Casey is preaching in Toronto.  Casey wants to push the ball on offense and defend the ball well to take away opponents chances to score.

Enter Kyle Lowry, Landry Fields, John Lucas III, Terrence Ross and Quincy Acy.  Even smaller transactions to fill out the roster focused on the defensive side of the ball with the recent acquisition on Dominic McGuire and the re-signing of veteran Alan Anderson.

Colangelo is giving his coach pieces he needs to continue building a new culture in Toronto.  In Kyle Lowry the Raptors now possess one of the better defensive point guards in the league and one that is going to push the ball up the floor on the offensive side of the court.  In Landry Fields the Raptors have added a “glue guy”, a player that is happy to do whatever little things need to get done in order to help the team win.  He is a lockdown defender and happy to play without the ball in his hands.  Given the roster around him, he is likely to have every opportunity to improve his woeful shooting stats with open looks at the basket.

The drafting of Terrence Ross (a defensive specialist and solid 3pt shooter) and Quincy Acy (Reggie-lite) show further commitment to the defensive side of the ball.

With these strong new pieces in place, Dwane Casey can now build a much stronger system for this team to compete with.  Add to the fact that the additions will take a lot of pressure off of DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani.  They will now have others on the team to share the ball and offensive workload with and teammates who can cover for some of the weaker defenders.  DeMar can focus on slashing to the rim and Bargnani can rest assured that he will have open looks with opposing defenses collapsing onto a driving Lowry. Andrea will also not have players cruising to the rim on the defensive side of the ball.  Two of the best defenders on this team will be situated on the perimeter and have a knack for staying with their man.  This will mean Andrea won’t always need to be helping on the defensive end (something he just isn’t good at).

The addition of Kyle Lowry improves both the Raptors perimeter defence and their offensive capabilities. Both will be needed if the team intends to make a playoff run.

With the additions of Lowry and Fields it has made the Toronto bench that much more talented by moving Calderon and Kleiza to the second unit.  Both players are good enough to be starters on many teams in the league.  There are some who may even argue that Kleiza should open the season as the starting SF, but either way the Toronto bench now sports a lot more talent than it did before.  Amir Johnson, Ed Davis, Jose Calderon, Jonas Valanciunas, Linas Kleiza, John Lucas are a solid list of reserves for any roster.

Colangelo finally has a deep roster where everyone can focus on the things they do well and a coach on the sidelines who can keep it all organized in a system every player has bought into.

This roster still does not contain a superstar player though.  There isn’t that one guy out there who can take control of a game all by himself.  There is no Lebron, Durant or Kobe.  This is an undeniable fact.  Good thing the Raptors play in the Eastern Conference. With their level of talent they should be in the conversation come playoff time.

The Raptors will need to focus on the bottom half of the Eastern conference as the top half seems all but locked up.  There are a number of teams who are pretty much guaranteed a playoff berth.  Miami, Boston and Indiana are almost sure shots to make the playoffs.  You have to think that Atlanta and Brooklyn will be there as well.  Chicago is a big question mark without Rose and with a decimated bench. If Tom Thibodeau’s team is able to keep it together without Rose, that leaves 2 spots for  NY, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Washington or Toronto.

Now if you’re the optimistic side of the Mini-wheat you will say that the Knicks are weaker without Lin and Fields, Philadelphia is likely to have injury issues with Bynum and Cleveland and Washington simply isn’t ready for the next step. This leaves Toronto in a pretty good position.

If you’re the pessimistic side of the mini-wheat then you’re looking at NY thinking they are a lock with stars like Amare, Carmelo and Tyson Chandler and the other three teams, with improved young rosters, are also very dangerous threats. This leaves the Raps hoping for a collapse by one or more teams or some serious injury issues somewhere.

No matter what happens the bottom tier teams in the East are not setting the world on fire and could potentially leave the door just open enough for the Raptors to sneak into the playoffs.  This might not seem all that exciting when you consider they become likely first round fodder for the Miami’s and Boston’s of the Conference, but it would signify another step forward for this young team.  Another move in the right direction for the franchise and a feather in the cap for a coach who seems to be getting better as time goes by.

This team has a plan in place.  They have a system that works well, a deep roster with a lot of talent, a coach with vision and GM that is quick to fix problems.

No matter which way you look at it, the Raptors have a good chance of being a part of the postseason discussion this year.  There is a good chance they will be playing meaningful games in the Spring.  That’s reason to get excited.  It’s more than Raptors fans have had the last few years.

If that doesn’t increase attendance and TV numbers, the fact that the NHL is likely to face a long work stoppage could all add up to a year where the Raptors are the centre of attention in Toronto.  Something that hasn’t happened since the days of Vince Carter.

With an improved up-tempo roster, a group of players that fit very well into the system and style of play that the coach is preaching, some tradable assets (Calderon, Ed Davis) to potentially use down the road and a coaching staff with a clear vision and philosophy.  This might finally be the year the Toronto Sports fan gets to experience something that has been absent for a long time.

Playoff basketball.

Lord knows, this city has endured enough to deserve it.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | July 24, 2012 · 9:45 am

In Defense of the Landry Fields Contract

This offseason it would appear one of the most polarizing debates for Raptor fans is the signing of Landry Fields.  The signing of the Knicks restricted free agent was done with a bigger picture in mind.  The move instantly upgraded the small forward position and, at the time at least, prevented Steve Nash from signing elsewhere.

For a day or two it seemed like a stroke of sheer genius.  Our GM had effectively solidified his big off-season by signing another strong piece to the team puzzle and blocking the competition for his coveted free agent point guard.

Then, the Lakers came in and made Nash an offer he couldn’t refuse and Colangelo and the fanbase in Toronto watched their coveted acquisition walk away to the bright lights of Los Angeles.  The Raptors were left in the cold with only a significant offer sheet signed for Landry Fields.

Suddenly the signing that looked incredible days before, appeared to be a giant mistake.

Despite Colangelo’s acquisition of Kyle Lowry to take over as point guard, many Raptor faithful still see the Landry Fields’ contract as a mistake.

Bill Simmons put his two cents in as well on Monday and fans continue to doubt the contract that Fields was signed to this summer.

“I saw the talent and the young group of guys they have…When they came to me and wanted me to be a part of that, I was excited. I love the city of Toronto, too.”

The deal is for $18.7 million over three years.  The last year of that contract is guaranteed for close to $9 million.  That is a lot of money to pay a player that has only two NBA seasons under his belt and one that doesn’t appear to be a superstar in the making.

The contract is expensive and Colangelo admittedly overpaid to get Fields, but it wasn’t as bad as most people think.  The first two years (at close to $5 million per year) are actually fair market value for a player of Fields abilities. The third, well that was the year that got the deal done and one that could become a tradeable asset later on.

Fields has been a consistent starter over the last two years with the Knicks and was named to the All-Rookie team in his first season.  He was also part of the Rising Stars squad at the All-Star game.

This past year he encountered a little bit of difficulty, but when playing with Jeremy Lin found great success in the back court for the Knicks  en route to a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

The popular Basketball site Wages of Wins, argues that Landry Fields is worth the money.  In a climate where teams overpay players with enormous salaries and don’t get very much in return, giving Fields a decent term for what should amount to steady production seems like a wise choice.

Is the deal a little too much? Probably, but it’s only three years for a player just entering his prime.  Restricted free agents are not cheap and you usually have to be creative to get them and need to fork over a little more coin.

Fields fits right into the Raptors rotation and is a player with a pedigree that fits quite well with current head coach Dwane Casey.  He has the potential to be a part of this Raptor team for a long time.

Fields is a bulldog.  He works hard on both ends of the floor and judging by his stats he is capable of providing opportunities to win on both ends of the floor.  He is a great lockdown defender who will likely be given the task of guarding some of the NBA’s most elite scorer’s during the next three seasons and he shoots the ball well (46%) FG%) he just hasn’t been a very good three point threat (25%).

He instantly becomes the starter at small forward when the season begins, unless he and DeRozan change positions in training camp.  He will become one of the better wing players the Raptors have had in recent years and he is only 25 years old.  If you’re gonna spend big money on a free agent, better to spend on one entering his prime than one on the downside of his career.

What should give the Raptors more comfort with this signing is the way Fields played with New York point guard Jeremy Lin.  When Lin and Fields were on the floor together Fields averaged 10.1 PPG, had 6.1 RPG and shot 50% from the field.  In Toronto, he will have a solid point guard distributing the ball in Kyle Lowry.  Their chemistry could help improve Fields’ numbers even more as Fields will be one of the top offensive options on the floor for the Raptors.

Toronto fans are beginning to warm slightly to Fields’ despite the fact that Steve Nash elected to go elsewhere.  Fields has shown himself to be very media savvy and has a great sense of humour in most interviews he’s had here so far.  He’s also shown a fondness for the city of Toronto, something Raptor fans seem to always look for.

He is active on twitter and has a number of popular youtube videos he created with Canadian Andy Rautins.  He should be a popular player in media scrums and post game pressers.  He’s funny, approachable and isn’t afraid to be himself.  He has the potential to be the mouthpiece for the team. A player as likeable and camera friendly as Fields hasn’t graced the Raptors locker room in a long time.

Though all of these qualities do not impact what happens on the basketball court, they remain important nevertheless.  This isn’t to say fans won’t enjoy his play on the court.

Fans are likely going to enjoy his style of play.  He works hard, gives his all and does little things that get fans cheering.  He was a fan favourite in New York and will likely become one here.  There is a certain type of player that Toronto fans tend to gravitate towards, usually these players play the game of basketball the way a hockey player would.  They’re fighters and work hard.  They play a team-first game, aren’t afriad to get dirty and admit to their own mistakes.  That is Landry Fields in a nutshell.

Raptor fans who fear handing out big contracts to players like Fields need to understand that this isn’t like Jason Kapono, this isn’t going to end like Hedo Turkoglu.  Hedo was coming off of one solid year and cashed in, he was also much older than Fields and Kapono didn’t have anywhere near the skill set of Fields.  He was a one-dimensional player that failed to fit into a system designed for him.

Fields’ contract is not an albatross that will clog capspace for years.  His first two years are very modestly priced at $5million and the third and final year is $9 million (An average cap hit of $6.3 million) which, if he doesn’t end up working out, could become an asset in a trade as an expiring deal in the third year.

This will be different.  Fields fits the mould of what Dwane Casey wants his team to do, he’s young and athletic and a top-notch defender and fills a direct need this team had.

Fans need to get over the failed attempt at Steve Nash and realize we may actually be better off with Lowry and Fields in the long run.  They’re younger and fit better with what the Raptors are trying to do in the long term.

Yes, the Raptors did overpay a little, but it is very likely they will get their money’s worth.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | December 4, 2011 · 7:51 pm

Raptors Hoping to Bring the Thunder in “New NBA”

So it didn’t take too long to realize that this new Collective agreement in the NBA might not be that different from what was in place before the lockout.

The deal hasn’t even been ratified and already Chris Paul has demanded a move to a big market NBA team.  Dwight Howard, Deron Williams and who knows who else, are likely to follow.

Isn’t this what the lockout was trying avoid?  Or was I just drinking the Kool-aid with all the other fans who cheer for teams in smaller markets?

I thought the league and it’s owners wanted to avoid another Miami Heat situation.  I thought they weren’t going to let the big markets rob the smaller markets of their star power.

Here in Toronto, we are all too familiar with the process of stars wanting out of our city.  Damon Stoudamire, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh all left when they finally had the opportunity to go to a big market team or demanded a trade elsewhere. These moves crippled the franchise during the years afterwards.

Amir Johnson and Demar Derozan offer the Raptors hope for the future. They help form a growing nucleus.

What’s to stop this from continuing?

The new CBA has a soft cap, meaning there are lots of opportunities to keep the rich teams rich. 

Teams like New York, Miami and Boston will continue to be allowed to stock their teams with multiple superstars while smaller markets feel the blow of losing stars they intend to build around.

The CBA does include  a higher luxury tax to try and disuade owners from overspending but it will only do so in a limited capacity.  The Mark Cubans of the world will pay what needs to be paid to keep their teams winning.

There are provisions in the new CBA which will allow teams like the Raptors to offer more money to their rookies if they perform the way that Derrick Rose did this past year. This CBA addition may actually help  teams like the Raptors keep their young stars longer. 

The amnesty rule is another interesting nugget that could help the Raptors as well.  Shedding the contracts of a Jose Calderon, Linas Kleiza or Andrea Bargnani may help clear capspace for the Raptors so they can spend money on the free agent market or make a smart trade. Hopefully they take advantage of this rule at the right time and don’t rush to make space for a Tyson Chandler or Nene.

The reality for the Raptors is that they are going to have to look to the Thunder for inspiration.  That franchise and it’s success should be the blueprint for smaller market teams like the Raptors.

The Raptors, like the Thunder, are not going to be able to draw players in with their big city media coverage or long basketball history the way a New York or Chicago can.

The Thunder have built a success by drafting smart and making smart decisions, not going after big free agent splashes.

The Thunder drafted well.  Kevin Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Harden are all draft picks that were rewards for finishing at the bottom of the league.  Those players have come together to form a strong nucleus.

The Thunder coupled those picks with smart trades and free agent acquisitions that added depth and character.  Guys like Kenderick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha and Nate Robinson add character and depth to the core of young players.  They didn’t make ill-advised signings like Jason Kapono or Yogi Stewart.

The Thunder were a Semi Final team in the Western Conference last year.  They did this all without the glitz and glam to draw in a Lebron, a Kobe or a Howard.  They’ve done it largely through smart decisions and can now attract free agents by winning basketball games.

The Thunder are the model that the Toronto Raptors need to follow going forward.  Draft smart, sign role players to reasonable contracts, and avoid handing out bad contracts to players coming off one good year (just say no to Tyson Chandler at $10 million per season).

This is the way that it has to be for the Raptors.  Draft well and make smart use of capspace.

Colangelo and his team have a difficult task ahead, especially with the short leash of a two-year contract, but he needs to resist the temptation of a Tyson Chandler or Nene now to focus on building a core into the future.

Derozan, Ed Davis, Amir and Valanciunas all may be a part of the team moving forward (maybe even Bargnani).  Hopefully so will a couple of top five picks in the next two years.

The system will not allow the Raptors to build through free agent splashes, but the new CBA may help the Raptors build from the ground up.

Let’s hope the Colangelo, Stefanski and the rest of the Raptor front office are doing their homework.

Winning in this new NBA is not going to be easy, but winning means work.

***
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 | January 9, 2010 · 7:23 pm

Reggie Evans: Man or Myth?

Reggie Evans is expected to bring defensive energy and intensity when he returns to the Raptors' lineup later this month.

When the Raptors traded Jason Kapono this off-season for Reggie Evans General Manager Brian Colangelo was banking on getting back an X-Factor, a game changer, and someone who could anchor the defence with his strong physical presence.  The guy is a beast and has a reputation around the league as someone you don’t want to match up with.  He embodies everything that has been missing from the Raptors lineup this season: hustle, defense, intensity and physicality.  Since his injury, and with the Raptors defensive struggles during the early part of the season, his importance to the Raptors has been discussed regularly by fans and pundits alike.

Reports are indicating that Evans may return some time during the month of January and from listening to Raptor Nation you’d think the Raptors were getting Charles Barkley circa 1993 back, or maybe Kevin Garnett.

His legend has grown during his time on the shelf and with every Raptor loss it grows more still.  When the Raptors get abused inside the announcers always mention “it would be nice to have Reggie Evans back”, “How much do the Raps miss this guy?Dominique Wilkens even strode up to the Raptors announce table during the debacle that was the Atlanta game and said two words to Devlin and Jack Armstrong: “Reggie Evans”.  In his mind, and in the minds of many, he is the missing ingredient that could help transform this team into a defensive presence in the East.

The Raptors have been playing very well recently and are starting to “turn a corner” as Jay Triano gets more consistent with his rotation, the players get to know each other better and the defensive effort becomes more consistent.  The presence of Reggie Evans can only expediate that process.  He could be the added shot of energy this team needs: a human can of Red Bull to lift them during the second half of the season.

Reggie Evans has built a career on rebounding the ball

In his time with Philadelphia, Reggie earned a reputation as a player you did not want covering you.  Ask Al Horford, ask Kevin Garnett, ask Jermaine O’neal, Ask Chris Bosh.  This is a tough guy to play against.  There are no easy baskets against Reggie Evans; he is going to make you earn every bucket you get.  On top of that, if you miss, he won’t let you get the rebound.  That ball, fine sir, belongs to Reggie Evans.  That sense of dominance and energy has been missing for the Raptors for large periods of time this season.

With Reggie coming back it will mean less time for Amir Johnson who has been consistently reliable and occasionally exceptional.  It may cause Triano to have difficulty figuring out how to distribute minutes.  A nice problem to have but one that could also disrupt the recent cohesion of this group.   His return will likely push Bargnani, Bosh and the young gun Johnson in practice and improve the help defense for the perimeter players (Calderon, I’m looking at you). It will also certainly mean more emotion from the Raps.  An intangible element that is contagious and incredibly beneficial in a seven game series, which the Raptors seem destined to be a part of.

…And the Legend continues.

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by | October 3, 2009 · 9:29 am

The Small Forward – According to Zan

The Players

Hedo Tukoglu

turkoglu joins the Raptors this season as the most talented small forward since Vince Carter

Turkoglu joins the Raptors this season as the most talented small forward since Vince Carter.

Antoine Wright

Demar Derozan

Sonny Weems

The Story

The biggest free agent acquisition of the off-season arrives in Toronto with the hopes and dreams of Raptor fans pinned to his #26 jersey.  Hedo Turkoglu will be the starting small forward on opening night and after that the picture is a little less clear.  Gone are Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker, Joey Graham, Jason Kapono and Shawn Marion who all occupied this position at various points during  last season.

Turkoglu comes in as the most talented player to ever play the small forward position for the Raptors since the days of #15 and finally provides some stability at the wing.  He brings consistency to a position that hasn’t had any for a long time.  Turkoglu also adds clutch shooting and a veteran presence in the dressing room.  He has done something in his career that other Raptors at camp have not done and that is win.  He brings a resume that includes numerous playoff appearances including last years run to the Finals with Orlando and hopes to propel this team back to the playoffs.

Antoine Wright should serve as the primary back up at the Small forward and comes in with a wealth of experience from his busy season last year backing up the injured Jason Terry in Dallas.  He is a defensive specialist and will provide the team with needed defensive help off the bench.  Don’t be surprised to see Derozan occupy this position off the bench at times as well when the Raptors go to a smaller lineup.

The little known Sonny Weems will clean up the mess in garbage time when he isn’t sporting a suit on the bench.

The Best Case Scenario

Turkoglu plays like an all-star and raises the levels of the other players on the court.  His playmaking ability opens up Derozan, Belinelli and Calderon for more wide open shots and he leads the team back to the playoffs. Team Chemistry takes shape early on and the Raps create match-up problems for their opponents all season long. His leadership brings out the best in Chris Bosh and Turkoglu’s involvement with the team inspires #4 to stick around for a few more years after this one.

The Worst Case Scenario

The team takes a while to gel and there are all kinds of issues with ball distribution.  Turkoglu is a little slower than he was last season and does not provide the Raptors with enough of a presence on defense especially against some of the league’s more elite wing players.  The Raps score tonnes of points but so do their opponents.  Hedo and the rest of the team do not mesh and the Raps play a variety of styles all season long hoping something will stick on their way to missing the playoffs once again.

The Prediction

Turkoglu and the Raptors will take some time to get used to each other but in the end they will gel.  The team will score lots of points but will look foolish at times on the defensive end.  Turkoglu won’t have an all-star season but he will be an effective leader on and off the court and his style of play will elevate the perimeter game of Calderon and Belinelli and turn them into deadly weapons on offense.  Hedo will hit a couple of game winning shots during the year and the Raps will head back to the playoffs somewhere between the 4 and 7 seed.  His defense will be steady but unspectacular and will receive his fair share of criticism from the Raptor faithful.

Antoine Wright will be a fan favourite and a fixture off the bench for Jay Triano.  His defense helps the team win some close games and he becomes known as the teams defensive stopper, being asked to guard some of the tougher wing players in the league.

Sonny Weems doesn’t play much but provides the most hardcore of Raptor fans the odd treat in garbage time, much the way the sight of Nathan Jawaii did last season.

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by | September 15, 2009 · 10:54 pm

Let’s Get it On

As the off-season winds to a close, and players and coaches begin to think of the upcoming year, this Raptor fan is in the final stages of his withdrawal.  The off-season is far too long for basketball fanatics, especially for Raptor fans — who eagerly await the incarnation of our team.

The Raptors have completely overhauled their roster to the point where they are unrecognizable from last season.  Gone are players like Anthony Parker, Jason Kapono, Kris Humphries and Jamario Moon. All regulars over the last few years. Also gone are the newcomers Pops Mensah Bonsu and Shawn Marion.

Incoming are a list of exciting players starting with, most obviously, Hedo Turkoglu.  He is joined by Marco Bellinelli, Jarrett Jack, Reggie Evans, rookie Demar Derozan and a returning Rasho Nesterovic.

Brian Colangelo has remade this team and essentially erased the bad taste in the mouths of Raptor fans from a season ago.  Colangelo promised big things last year after the acquisition of Jermaine O’Neal.  We all know how that situation played out; the Raptors were marred in what became one of the most disappointing seasons in the team’s history.  O’Neal was then jettisoned out of town for Marion, and his huge salary paid for the rebuilding of the team.  Sam Mitchell was fired and Jay Triano took over.  Calderon was injured for large stretches of the season and Bosh and Bargnani showed only flashes of brilliance until the end of the season.

This year, things are looking bright once again.  A light has been cast on the dark shadow of last year.  Somehow Colangelo was able to answer his critics and bring enthusiasm back to the club during the off-season.  The offense looks ready to pour in points under a full season with Jay Triano at the helm.  Bosh and Bargnani seem primed for bust out years. There is a great deal of buzz surrounding the hot new rookie Demar Derozan. The coaching staff has been bolstered by the acquisition of Marc Iavaroni and the acquisition of Hedo Turkoglu brings a leadership and clutch shooting ability the team has not seen since the days of Vince Carter and Charles Oakley.

Whether this will amount to more wins and a playoff berth is the question that is on the minds of all Raptor fans.  Off-season articles surrounding the team’s chances has seen them listed as anything from “don’t have a chance” to “possible sleeper picks”.   Some have hyphothesized the team will have three all-stars; others argue only one.  No matter what people are saying there has been a lot to say about the Raptors this off-season.  They have been one of the biggest players on the free agent market and now look to translate that energy into wins on the court.D060763006.JPG

Still, entering a very positive season, there are still lots of question marks.  Who will be the starting two guard?  Who will be the backup wing?  How will Triano manage his very deep bench?  Who gets minutes?  Who loses them?  Can Jay Triano lead an NBA team for an entire season and into the playoffs?  Will Demar Derozan start in his rookie year? And of course there will be endless questions over whether or not Chirs Bosh will stay in the only NBA town he has ever known.

No matter what happens this season, and I am predicting big things, the prospect of seeing these questions answered has me most excited.

I cannot wait for Oct. 28th. I cannot wait till the lights in the ACC turn off,  the fireworks on the court blaze, and the team takes to the court.  Because then, it will finally be time to get this show on the road.  It will finally be time to see what this Toronto Raptors team, circa 2009, can do.

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