Tag Archives: Jay Triano

by | April 1, 2013 · 2:26 pm

Jose! Jose, Jose, Jose

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome home Jose!

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | September 23, 2012 · 3:41 pm

Magloire Back Where He Belongs

On the surface, the Toronto Raptors signing of veteran big man Jamaal Magloire would appear to be a small, bench building move.

The Canadian is in the twilight of his career and would like to finish his basketball career where it all began.  The Raptors need a big man off the bench that can play minor minutes and add another big body to match up against the Chris Boshs’ and Dwight Howards’ of the league.

Magloire, a 13 year veteran and former Eastern Conference All Star, knows how to win games and can certainly be of help to younger front court players in Toronto.  Most notably, he will be asked to assist with Jonas Valanciunas.

Jonas is the future of the Toronto Raptors, at least in the minds of many in the front office and the fans that have been drooling over his hotly anticipated debut.  That makes Magloire’s role on this years team one of the most important ones for fans.  Getting Valanciunas NBA ready is seen as the key to the Raptors future success.

Magloire, who has played in All Star games, NBA playoff battles and most recently the NBA Finals, can offer a great deal of insight and assistance in how to adjust to the pressure of NBA life.  It is advice that Jonas is unlikely to be able to get from anywhere else on the current roster.

After a stellar NBA career, Jamaal Magloire seems to be embracing his new role as veteran mentor for the Toronto Raptors. With Jonas Valanciunas arriving in Toronto this season it could be an important year for the Canadian born centre.

This is becoming a bit of a habit now for Magloire, who will also play a mentorship role with the new look Canadian National team.  He is being asked by Jay Triano and Steve Nash to come in and prepare the young Canadian kids for the battles that lie ahead.

It all seems like a bit of a turnaround for Magloire, who once declined to get involved with the National team.

It is clear he has turned over a new leaf and appears to now be embracing his role as veteran leader.

Last year in Toronto it was clear that Dwane Casey trusted Magloire quite a bit and would often sub him into games to send a message to the Bargnani’s and Ed Davis’s of the team to improve their defensive efforts.  Magloire would then go out and show them how to play tough defense against difficult opponents.

Casey wants defense and toughness, especially from his inside defenders; qualities that Magloire possesses in spades.  With the arrival of Jonas Valanciunas, the on court lessons will become even more important.

Magloire is in the twilight of his career, but as a former All-star, NCAA champion and strong and steady NBA playoff performer he has been through the toughest battles a player can go through.  This knowledge and experience make him a perfect guide for a young player like Jonas Valanciunas. It makes him a great player/coach for the National team.

Last year he seemed to relish his role as team leader.  He was vocal with teammates, active in scrums and at practice and was chosen by the franchise as the player to address the fans at the end of last season; a role usually reserved for the vocal leaders of the team.

For Magloire it is a nice way to cap a successful career.  He’s finally home in Toronto and has finally joined the national team he was reluctant to be a part of.

There are many fans out there still upset by his refusal to play for Canada back in the days of Nash, but all is well that ends well.  Magloire’s role shaping the performance of Andrew Wiggans, Tyler Ennis, Andrew Nicholson and Robert Sacre may be  even more important than his role would have been playing back in day.

Magloire’s role is now about shaping the future in Toronto and for the National team.

That new role seems to suit him just fine.

Despite what may be said, this small transaction of bringing Magloire back could have a seriously profound impact on the Raptors season.

Welcome home Jamaal.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | May 23, 2012 · 7:37 am

Raptors Offseason Plan Beginning to Take Shape

It has been an intriguing offseason thus far for the Toronto Raptors, that is to be sure.  They haven’t even done anything yet and there has already been plenty of chatter surrounding the team and potential free agent signings since the day the season ended.  Whether these rumours are based in truth or conjecture remains to be seen.  Regardless of the eventual results, people are talking about the Raptors and fans are getting excited.

I’m not one to get caught up in rumours, but these rumours seem to have some weight to them and all of them could change the course of the Raptors hopes for next season as well as the  long-term status of GM Bryan Colangelo, who has one year remaining on his contract.

First came the Steve Nash rumours.  Now Steve Nash rumours are nothing new around these parts.  He’s Canada’s greatest basketball talent ever and would look fantastic playing for Canada’s only basketball team. Over the years Toronto has heard lots about Nash coming to town, but there wasn’t really any way to get a deal like that done.   But now the “Nash to Toronto” rumours have a certain weight to them.

He’s long been rumoured to be leaving the Phoenix Suns after this year and his recent appointment as President and General Manager of Canada’s Mens National Team would seem to indicate he wouldn’t mind spending more time closer to his homeland.

A Steve Nash arrival in Toronto would mean improved play on the offensive end and a whole lot of jerseys being sold at the ACC.

Nash would fit in swimmingly here in Toronto, despite the fact Jose Calderon already occupies the starting point guard spot.  Calderon has been quite willing and ready to share time whenever necessary and the depth at point guard could give the Raptors a leg up on competition in the Atlantic division.  Calderon seems better suited to the backup role anyway and could become valuable trade bait down the road with a large expiring contract.

The Nash rumours also have weight as his former Canadian National team coach, Jay Triano is employed by the Raptors and Bryan Colangelo, the GM that drafted and then re-acquired Nash in Phoenix is currently the Raptors President and GM.

Nash has a knack for bringing the very best out of his teammates.  Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudamire, Channing Frye, Jason Richardson all owe much of their success (and large pay cheques) to the point guard that gave them the ball.

Nash has always put himself second and his team first.  His teammates were the beneficiaries on and off the court.  How much could a point guard like Nash improve Andrea Bargnani’s game? or DeMar DeRozan’s?

Makes you wonder.

Nash makes good players great.  He brings the best out of his teammates and could certainly benefit some of the underachieving Raptor players.

And just imagine the jersey sales at the ACC.

Nash would therefore seem to be a perfect fit in Toronto.  Unless, of course Jeremy Lin is.

Jeremy Lin is a restricted free agent and there are now reports from a host of sources claiming the Raptors will be very much in the mix for his services, should the Knicks decide to let him go.

Lin is much younger than Nash, could be cheaper and may fit better into the core that is developing in Toronto.

Jeremy Lin is a rumoured Raptor target this offseason. His acquisition could be the spark this young Raptor team needs.

He is a restricted free agent, so how much stalk can we put into these Lin to Toronto Rumours?  It is very possible that the Knicks get out-priced for his services.  Lin is not a player that has  been around long and therefore may not have earned the lucrative deal he seeks in the eyes of NBA GM’s.  His stats are good, but the sample size is small, and he was never really able to mesh with franchise player Carmelo Anthony suggesting he may need to be a number one option. 

Lin, who missed the Knicks’ run to the playoffs, could be the odd man out in New York, making him very much available to Toronto.  A move for Lin would be very reminiscent of Colangelo’s other signing of a young point guard that changed his Phoenix Suns back in 2004.  That, of course being, Steve Nash.

Lin has shown he can be a game changer, a superstar, a go-to guy.  At the point guard position that is simply something the Raptors have never had.  

It is clear that Lin’s stats are a small sample size and his median numbers are not nearly as good as his 2011/12 stats, but he could be worth the risk.

He is explosive and can certainly shoot the ball with confidence.  He can drive the net and get his teammates involved in the offense. His defensive ability is weak but his deficiencies could be fit into Dwane Casey’s system.  If Calderon worked out, Lin likely could too.

He would also become a big fan favourite here in Toronto, a city with a large Asian fan base.  It could be a big marketing opportunity that the new owners at Rogers and Bell, simply cannot pass up.

Still the odds of landing Lin rest in the hands of Glen Grunwald and the New York Knicks and what they are attempting to do this offseason.  The Knicks maintain the right to match any offers the young point guard gets, meaning the Raptors will likely have to overpay to get him.

Lin presents an interesting option for the Raptors, but one that they ultimately dont have complete control over.

Then there are the murmurs about Nicolas Batum.  Now, none of these rumours are anything but pure and utter speculation, but he would fit very nicely into the Raptors lineup.  A small forward with that kind of ability has alluded the Raptors since the days of Tracy McGrady.  Batum would instantly become one of the best small forwards the franchise has ever seen.  A great fit for the short and long-term. Plus his European background would be a plus in the locker room. 

He certainly won’t be cheap and the Blazers are very unlikely to let him go for nothing.  Expect the Blazers to match everything and anything for Batum and then work out a trade with a team if they have to.

If the Raptors are serious about acquiring Batum, which they should be in my opinion, then they are going to have to put together a trade package that will make it happen.  That is much more difficult than just signing a player, but if anyone knows how to work out a complicated off-season trade it’s Colangelo.

So despite the fact the Playoffs are going on without the Raptors, there is plenty for a fan to sit and ponder.  This summer will be another chapter in the remaking of this Raptors team and it is exciting to imagine the possibilities.  So far three of the most solid offseason rumours would offer the Raptors definite upgrades in talent at two key positions.  All three rumoured acquisitions are big name players that would raise the talent level and profile of basketball in Toronto.

Like most Raptor fans, I can’t wait to see what happens on July first. Judging from the early offseason rumours, it is likely to be one of the more exciting ones yet.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 5, 2012 · 1:07 pm

Raptor Fans Torn by Recent Good Play

What a wonderful stretch for the Toronto Raptors. Things are looking really positive, the team is playing well, their defense looks a million percent better than last year and finally the Raptors have been able to put themselves on the right side of close games.

But is that what we want?

Forgive me for putting words in people’s mouths but I feel like Raptor fans right now aren’t sure what to do or how to feel.  Winning games can’t be a bad thing, unless losing games brings you greater opportunity at a top three pick in this years draft.

Personally I feel like I’m in a Mini Wheats commercial.  The fan in me wants my team to win at any cost, but the pragmatist in me wants losses to ensure a greater chance at a Micheal Kidd-Gilchrist or Anthony Davis.

Wednesday night against the Sixers I couldn’t help but feel excited.  I haven’t seen the Raptors play with that kind of energy in a long, long time.  The Raps took complete control of the game in the second half and blew out a formidable opponent for the first time in I don’t know how long.  More remarkably, they held their opponents to 7 points in the 4th quarter.  I don’t know if that clutch play has ever happened. Especially on the second night of a back to back.

But now the Raptors have positioned themselves much lower on the current draft rankings and are quickly playing their way out of a top flight player in this years draft.

That’s not good when you consider the future is still very much up in the air.  Derozan and Bargnani are playing well now, but maybe they won’t when the pressure is back on next year.  That would leave the Raptors, likely, in a similar position to this year.

They need a Kidd-Gilchrist.  They need an Anthony Davis.  These are game changers that could make a huge difference in the Raptors fortunes next year, especially when you consider the arrival of Jonas Valanciunas as well.

So should I stop cheering for my team? Should I not be able to enjoy a win, even if our star players play well?

I’m confused.  I’m torn and I imagine most Raptor fans are.

What makes this all especially hard for Raptor fans is the complete lack of anything else to cheer for in this city.  The Leafs are awful, TFC is all over the place, the Argos are an after thought and the Blue Jays are only now beginning their season.  If we can’t cheer for this what can we cheer for?

The Toronto sports scene is a real life tragedy. The only cheering we can do is for losing enough games to give ourselves a chance at a higher pick.

Pretty Sad.

Dwane Casey has really turned this years Toronto Raptors around. They are performing at a level no one ever expected them to. That's a good thing, right?

Certainly this is not part of Dwane Casey’s plan. He doesn’t seem to care too much about draft position or about how many games we lose.  He is a competitor through and through and the success he is having right now with our current group should be commended and should be noticed.

We want playoff basketball next year.  Colangelo needs a playoff appearance to ensure job stability and from the looks of this team, they are a couple of solid acquisitions away from that goal.

Wouldn’t a top three draft pick help expidite that playoff goal?

Casey has improved our overall defense.  We used to rank dead last in defensive efficiency under Jay Triano.  With Dwane Casey calling the shots, according to John Hollinger ,the Raptors are now 13th in the league in points allowed, 14th in rebounding and a remarkable 5th in defensive rebounding.  That’s quite the turnaround for a team that was dead last in almost every defensive category a year ago.

How can you not applaud that? Or get excited when the team works hard defensively to win a close game?  This is what Dwane Casey was brought in to do.  The fact that we are already seeing a major turnaround is a great step in the right direction.

Now it’s up to Colangelo to give Casey the tools he needs to turn the Raptors into a game no one wants to see on their schedule.

Fans should cheer when their team wins, not when they lose or just when they win some pizza.  This years version of the Raptors deserves the fans support.  If they win it is because the coach has these players playing out of their shoes.  The whole team has bought into “pounding the Rock” and the results are starting to take shape.

They’re just happening a little faster than what we ever expected.

But that’s a good thing.  Right?

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 9, 2012 · 8:36 am

Demar Derozan Moving to the Head of the Class

So the last week has certainly been interesting hasn’t it?

The Raptors are playing some great basketball.  Scoring in bunches, holding opposing teams off the scoreboard and taking care of the ball. 

At the centre of the Raptors’ second half turn around is Demar Derozan. 

Derozan has been a project since he arrived from USC in the summer of 2009.  He was young, raw and full of potential.  In his time as a Raptor, so far, he has gone from a rookie with lots of flash to a player stuck in neutral. 

Somewhere along the way the Raptors left him in the lurch.  Coaching changes and player movement have left him lost.  Like a student left behind after his classmates have graduated.  He was left to figure it out for himself.   

This season, Demar has been second-guessed and criticized more than any other Raptor during the teams difficult first half.  He wasn’t scoring, wasn’t driving the lane and wasn’t producing the type of numbers management, his coaches or fans were expecting of him. 

Whether those expectations were unfair is an entirely different story all together. 

Bottom line is that he has turned it around , so far, in the second half.  He isn’t just better, he is markedly better.  The stats are better, he is playing with confidence and since his fourth quarter benching against Houston and the “tweet heard round the city”, Demar is playing with more aggression. 

Dwane Casey has found a way to crack the code. 

He’s lit a fire under Demar and the results have been impressive. 

Since the benching in Houston, Demar has averaged 44% from the field.  This number is improving steadily as  he drives the lane more consistently and isn’t settling for mid range jumpers. 

After a rough first half of the year, Demar Derozan has exploded in the second half and is beginning to realize his potential, thanks in no small way to Dwane Casey.

He’s also slowly, getting to the line more and more.  Over the last stretch of games he has averaged 5 trips to the Free Throw stripe.  This number has gone as high as 8 in the most recent game against the Rockets and 12 against the Bobcats. 

Obviously, there is still a long way to go for Demar, but his numbers are increasing steadily, which is a positive sign for the Raptors and their fan base. 

Now, he still has his struggles. 

Demar’s three-point shooting still isn’t very good.  He has difficulty and still has not developed the range to shoot three’s on a regular basis.  His three-point shooting percentage has languished in the mid 20% region all year long, but it is a facet of his game that he has been paying attention to.  Maybe too much attention though.

Thankfully, since his benching, Demar is beginning to understand who he is as a player. 

His numbers as a shooter are significantly worse than his numbers in the paint.  He is simply more effective as a player when he is cutting to the basket rather than settling for jumpers away from the basket.   

That’s not to say he can’t create his own shot, just that he is a lot more consistent when he drives.  It’s also something he does very well. 

What makes his drives even better is when he is turning them into extra points on the free throw line.  Drawing contact is something that Demar does very well.  It is something he is getting better and better at, but has shied away from at time this season.  Likely, because he doesn’t always get the calls from the referees.  

That shyness appears to be over. 

Since the All star break he is getting to the line more frequently.  The more he draws contact, the more he gains the respect of the officials. 

For a young player, who doesn’t yet have the benefit of the doubt with the refs, I think Derozan is beginning to understand first hand what “pound the rock” means.  He needs to keep driving the lane, keep drawing contact in order to gain the respect of the officials.   Eventually he will be at the line 10-15 times a game.  He just needs to keep pushing though. 

Demar, for the first time in his Raptor career is letting the game come to him.  He isn’t forcing up shots because he feels he has to be the top scorer or because he feels he needs to expand his game. 

He is what he is and he’s beginning to accept that. 

There are lots of guys that ply their trade driving, dunking and shooting mid-range shots. This is the part of the game that Demar excels at and the aspect he needs to keep focusing on. 

Derozan is not a three-point shooter.  He just isn’t that guy.  What he does well is cut to the basket and he can finish when he gets there just as well, if not better, than some of the very best is the league.  

He’s quick and aggressive on defence.  And thanks to Dwane Casey, Demar is allowing his defensive effort affect the way he plays on the offensive end.  There isn’t a Raptor better suited to scoring in transition, so his defensive effort can (and has been) feed his offensive output. 

Once again, thanks to Casey, Demar is realizing that. 

Demar is still, very much, learning the game and how to be truly successful in this league.  For a while Raptor fans weren’t sure if he was every going to put it all together, but the last stretch of games has shown us that he is beginning to understand his role and slowly adapting to his new approach. 

He isn’t taking as many mid-range jumpers.  He isn’t avoiding contact under the rim. He is focused and energized on the defensive end.  He looks for his teammates and they, in turn,  trust him with the ball.  He is becoming a leader.  Finally becoming the player the Raptors envision in the 2009 draft.

All he needed was a good teacher. 

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 17, 2011 · 9:38 am

The End is the Beginning

The playoffs began yesterday and once again the Raptors were notably absent from the top eight seeds in the Eastern Conference.  This seems to be a recurring theme in Raptorland and there is no reason to believe it will change next season, if there is even a season to play.

It was a strange season for the Dinos.  No Chris Bosh, no playoff push, meaningless games being played as early as December and most nights they were an after thought in the minds of Toronto Sports Fans.  This week they finished off their season against the Heat and most sports fans were thinking hockey playoffs, Blue Jays baseball and David Beckham at BMO Field.  The Raps ended their season as after thoughts in the mids of their fans.  Is this what the future holds for a below average team in an Eastern Conference that seems to be getting more and more talented?

Once again there will be no playoff basketball played at the ACC this spring but it is what happens over the next few months that will be the most interesting  for this franchise.

Who is the leader?

Bryan Colangelo and Jay Triano both have no idea what the future holds as decisions on their future remain up in the air.  Will Colangelo be back?  One can hope.  Triano? That might be a tougher sell. And it is all left in the hands of an ownership that may not even be aroun when the season begins.

Both have been nothing short of professional during their tenure with the Raptors, but kindness and professionalism do not win championships.  Nor have these character traits gotten the Raptors into the postseason the last three seasons.  This decision will be a tough one and one that ultimately changes the course of the franchise for the next few years. Who makes the decision also remains to be seen.

I hope Bryan Colangelo stays in Toronto as he is a professional GM with an ability to evaluate talent.  He has fixed his mistakes over the years and has built competitive teams in Phoenix.  Plus, who out there is going to do a better job?  Is there another GM available that can bring in talent like Colangelo? Is there a GM out there who is going to be a better ambassador for the city in the NBA’s elite circles?

I think not.

Jay Triano, love him or hate him, is a great teacher.  When one of the best point guards in NBA history in Steve Nash, credit Triano with helping to build his career, you know you have someone who can be something special to this young Raptor team.  Is he going to win the NBA championship? No, he’s not that kind of coach.  Will the Raptors see a Tom Thibodeau-like turnaround next season?  Highly unlikely.  But this franchise is at a point where the development of their younger players is the most important thing to focus on.  Who better to lead these young players than a guy used to teaching young players. The team is comfortable with him and unnecessary change is not good for the psyche of young players.  Ed Davis, Demar Derozan and Jarryd Bayless need some consistency.  Triano provides that.

The other question the Raps will need to ask themselves is who exactly is part of the core?  Based on this past season it would appear that Demar and Ed Davis are the only players cemented in Toronto.  Amir Johnson had a tremendous season where he started to look like  good investment, so you might keep him around too, but after that?

Bayless and James Johnson are certainly worth a second look and my hope is that the team will bring back Reggie Evans.  Barbosa is likely a returnee as well, but might be a good piece of trade bait over the summer.

The Winds of change are blowing in Toronto and it could signal the end of the Bargnani era in Toronto. Who else will be back?

It is becoming more and more clear that Demar Derozan and his ability to get to the line look like the player the team should focus on at the offensive end of the floor.  That might mean the end of the Bargnani era in Toronto.

To Bargnani? or not to Bargnani? That is the question.

Fans want him gone.  Colangelo, I’m sure, wants him to stay.  But there might not be a better time to trade him than now.  He had a semi-good season offensively, but the deficiencies are there on the defensive end.  His contract is not a bad one, for the offensive output he delivers, so there could still be value recouped.

The main issue with Bargnani is that his entire career in Toronto has been played at a position he never should have played.  He is a power forward not a center.  He should not be posting up or guarding the biggest players in the league.   He can drive to the net and he shoots the ball well from the outside.

However, Toronto has Ed Davis at PF for the forseeable future and Bargnani is now looking like he will be in the wrong position for as long as he stays in this city.  Trade him now, get something for him. For his sake and ours.

The Raps have capspace, tradeable assets and roster spots to fill.  This team will likely look very different next year.  Again, if there is a next year.

The winds of change are blowing in Toronto.  The offseason will be one of the most interesting for the Raptors franchise.  New owners, possible change at the top of the organization and possibly  a lot of new young faces on the court next season.

If there ends up being any basketball played next year at all, make sure you grab a programme when you’re at the ACC; you’re gonna need it.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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by | March 26, 2011 · 12:03 pm

To win, or not to Win? That is the Question

It was apparent long ago that this years version of the Toronto Raptors would not be contending for one of the top eight seeds in this years playoffs.  With last night’s debacle against Golden State, one has to wonder if it might be time for the Raptors to fold their hand this season and set their sights at winning a higher pick in the lottery.

As a fan, who still has tickets to games this season, I certainly don’t want the team to become a complete and utter pushover, but then again, if it gives the Raptors a better chance at securing a top 2 or 3 draft pick that might reap future success, then it might be worth it.

It is certainly a debate that has divided Raptors faithful on message boards and websites.  Should we be trying to win games? or should we focus on giving our youth a chance to showcase their talents and on securing a high pick?

If I’m at a game, I’m cheering for the Raptors: plain and simple.  I want them to win the game, win me some pizza and play exciting basketball.  When the game is ongoing I have no idea of what the standings say or what the win-loss record is.  I cheer moment to moment and the feeling after your team wins is a great one, whether they are going to the playoffs or not. I cheered for this team back in the days of Damon Stoudamire and the Jalen Rose era, where wins were hard to come by, so I’m going to cheer them on now.  I want the team I cheer for to play hard every game and fight to the bitter end, win or lose.

Then again a top two pick might yield a game changing player for the Raptors next season.  As we have seen with Blake Griffin this season, one player can sometimes change the entire outlook of your team, even if it is only the excitement surrounding the team.  There is certainly excitement in Los Angeles every time Griffin takes to the court and there is plenty of fanfare from each NBA city in the league when he is in town.

Couldn’t we use some of that excitement at the ACC?

There is also the argument that a top 2 pick really isn’t all that different from a top 8 or 9 pick.  There is no John Wall or Blake Griffin in this years draft.  Is Harrison Barnes really that good?  Is Derek Williams worth losing for the next month?  Is Kyrie Irving even going to be NBA ready next season?  These are serious questions the team has to consider if they are going to put their fans through another month of depressing loses.

Should the Raptors fight for every win or accept defeat and look to the draft?

Plus I really don’t feel that any team tries to lose games.  I think it would be impossible to tell Reggie Evans to stop trying or to sit Andrea Bargnani for long stretches of a game.  Players have a lot of pride and want to go out there and win. The morale boost that comes with a big win over a team you’re not supposed to beat is a feeling that every player wants.  Jay Triano is also working for a job.  He isn’t going to get anywhere playing Julian Wright over Demar Derozan, not that Julian would even want to play.

Colangelo is at the tail end of his contract and needs to prove his potential bosses that there is something here worth building on.  Has he brought in enough young talent to form a base going forward?  Are his potential free agents (Barbosa, Evans) worth bringing back for another season as veteran leaders?  These are questions that need to be answered.  They also almost guarantee that this team will be trying to win until the last game.

In the end I feel the best thing for the Raptors to do is play hard til the bitter end of this season.  Jay Triano is already doing the right things in starting to give Jarryd Bayless, James Johnson and Ed Davis more minutes on the court.  I think with Bayless, he could even go further in terms of giving him more minutes.  Make sure that your tradeable assets (Calderon) are healthy and let the young guys show they belong.  Start running plays for your emerging stars like Derozan and Amir Johnson and see if they can handle an increased role.  Give your fans something to justify the price they pay for tickets.

Losing does nothing but alienate an already frustrated fan base.  Give Raptor fans a bit of hope for the future by winning some games going into the offseason and help promote your youthful core to the rest of the league, potential free agents and our jaded fan base.  The difference between a Eenes Kanter and a Donatas Motiejunas might be a lot smaller than you think.  Might as well try to enjoy the rest of a lost season as best we can.

So cheer on those Raptors and hope they give us some thrilling victories to help offset the inevitable depression after games like the debacle in Oakland.  There may be a few glimpses of light in a dark, dark season.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
***
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

 

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by | January 12, 2011 · 11:33 pm

Hawks Get a Late Assist From the Refs to Beat the Raptors

I don’t believe that sports are fixed or that refs have alterior motives when calling a game, but the fourth quarter at the ACC on Wednesday night looked awfully fishy.

One could call it a bad break, a lack of respect, or just sheer bad refereeing.

Whatever way you slice it, the Raps lost a game they seemed to have right in the palm of their hands.

A great effort from Leandro Barbosa and another dominant effort from Andrea Bargnani were not enough to overcome and absolutely unreal performance by Jamal Crawford a late dagger three by Mike Bibby ( a Raptor killer if there ever was one).

The Raptors shouldn’t hang their heads because the effort was there on both ends of the floor and the team got contributions from every player that touched the floor.  The team really seemed to channel the energy of JYD, who was present court side for this one.

In the end the Raptors had an opportunity to put it away in the fourth, but a very questionable call on an Amir Johnson screen turned the ball back over to the Hawks where Bibby hit his three-point dagger.  The Raptors followed with a Jose Calderon drive where he got absolutely hammered and the ball went off of him.  The Raps lost the ball and the game.

Refs can be your friends sometimes and then they can also be your worst enemy.  Tonight the Raps were beaten by the Hawks with an assist to the zebras.

Zan for Three

Refs Suck

Some might call it bad luck, others will say Jose flopped, but I think the refs missed the call at the end of the game.  Even if they got that one right, the earlier call on the Amir screen was tick-tack and they could have sent Derozan to the line several times and didn’t.  The Raptors played with heart out there and I’m proud of their effort, but it hurts to lose when so the calls by the refs were so one-sided.

Tick-tack foul on one side of the floor and total non-calls on the other.  Watching the game back again and it was a little ridiculous.  The Raptors couldn’t buy a call tonight.

I tack this up to being a young team that just isn’t respected by the league officials.  I don’t believe a league, with clear rules should award fouls based on reputation and status in the league, but no one can deny it is the way the league works.

Tonight the Raptors were robbed by the refs.  Yes, the Hawks made some tough shots down the stretch, but there is no way the free throw attempts should ever be so heavily weighted on one side of the court.  31 – 12 in favour of the Hawks.  That is just downright ridiculous and in no way representative of the way the game was played.

The Raptors fell painfully short against the Hawks at the ACC, but it wasn't for lack of effort.

I hate it, but I also know that the more Demar and co. drive the lane and get hammered, the better their calls will be down the road.  We may have to wait a few years for Demar to get foul calls he is not getting now, but they will come.

This is just how the NBA officials work.

Busting Out

Andrea Bargnani is beginning to bust loose on the NBA.  Ever since he was drafted, rather infamously, number one overall, Raptor faithful have mused: “if he can ever put it together consistently, he’s gonna be great…”

It would appear that we are on the cusp of that time.  Bargnani has been damn good for several games in a row and looks like a key building block going forward.  He is gaining confidence with every game.  The true mark of a great player is when they shoot the ball, you just know it’s going in.

Lebron has that feeling. Kobe has that feeling.  Vince used to have it. and Bargnani is starting to have that feel to his game right now.

When he let’s go of the ball, you can just hear the swish before it’s left his hands.  He feels like an automatic every time.

Tonight he carried his team.  Il Mago was the only consistent Dino, outside of Barbosa, and he put the team on his shoulders for periods of the game.  This is another mark of a star.

Now, I’m not suggesting that Andrea Bargnani be the centre of the Raptors universe and Bryan Colangelo should build around him like he did with Chris Bosh.  I think Bargnani is a great #1B or #2 on a competitive team.  He is showing that he deserves consideration for an All Star position and carrying  the load without the departed Chris Bosh.

It no longer feels like a matter of if, but rather when he will become a legitimate star.  He’s getting attention from around the league and has earned the respect of the officials.

Most importantly his coach and teammates trust him when the game is on the line.

Il Mago is on his way.

Northern Lights Out

Is it just me, or does Jamal Crawford love playing in Toronto.  The guy always seems to show up when he plays at the ACC.  Tonight he was absolutely unconscious.  There was a point in the game where I thought we might see another 81 point night.  Everything he shot went down.  His long, long three in the fourth quarter while the shot clock was winding down, was a shot that should never have gone down, but may have swung the game to the Hawks.

Jamal Crawford is a dangerous player and sometimes does not get the credit he deserves. Yes, he is a mostly one-dimensional player and could be classified as a “volume-shooter”, but he has put up some impressive numbers against the Raps and has really come into his own on this Hawks team.

Whether he starts or comes off the bench he always seems to have the Kryptonite  that shuts the Raptors down.

Plus the Foul

Welcome back JYD

Gotta love seeing JYD back at the ACC.  One of, if not my absolute, favourite Raptor of all-time.  He played the game the right way and fought hard.  He wasn’t the most gifted or skilled player on the floor, but he had the biggest heart.  He endeared himself to Raptors faithful on the first day he became a Raptor by driving himself to Toronto from Detroit and he never looked back.  Tonight the Raptors channelled a little JYD as they fought to stay in the game and had the chance to win it at the end.  Heart is something yo just can’t measure in Sports.  JYD had it in spades and it is obviously contagious.

Zan of the Night

Leandro Barbosa

He has been one of the most consistent Raptors this season. At the beginning of the year I predicted that Linas Kleiza would be the “X-Factor” of this season, but it has clearly been Leandro Barbosa thus far.  He has been an absolute gem off the bench for the Raptors filling in admirably at both the point and the wing position.

He doesn’t always pass the ball, but he also doesn’t always need to.  He is unquestionably still one of the faster players in league and certainly changes the tempo when he enters the game.  The Raptors have been lucky to have him and he rewarded his teammates tonight with a stellar shooting performance ( 11-16 for 26 points).

The Brazilian Blur gets the Zan tonight!

Not Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

Yes, he is young. And yes, he is inconsistent.  This is something we are coming to know about Demar Derozan.  One game he looks like the next big thing, then he disappears for a game.  Tonight the Jekyll and Hyde routine continued as he was ineffective against the Hawks defense.  To his credit, he did take the ball to the rim, but was rarely rewarded for his efforts.  The kid is having a tough time doing what his coach wants and not seeing the payoff at the same time.

Demar just needs to keep doing what he is doing right now and eventually he will start getting to the line more.  A nice young player who just has to play through nights like this one.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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by | December 29, 2010 · 12:03 pm

Raptors will themselves to Victory

I’m not sure just how they did it, but somehow the Raptors overcame a depleted bench and the loss of two more players during the game to stun the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas.

This is the kind of victory that a team can hang its hat on and will hopefully help to build some momentum.  With the way their bench is looking right now the Raptors can use whatever momentum they can summon.

No Bargnani. No Calderon. No Weems. No Chance.  Right?

Not necessarily the case as Amir Johnson turned in one of his better defensive efforts and the raptors got key contributions from guys like Joey Dorsey, Julian Wright and an absolutely amazing Ed Davis to beat one of the best teams in the entire league.

This may be the game of the season for this team.  They had no business winning this game, but used grit and toughness to defeat a stellar opponent.

The Zan for Three

Hockey Mentality

Toronto is a hockey town.  Despite the disgusting state of affairs with the Maple Leafs, hockey remains the focus in the city and likely will until fans realize that they are being stolen from by rich owners that don’t give a crap about winning.

It is important in this city that the Raptors show some fight.  The wincing of Vince Carter when he stubbed a toe grew tired in this city.  If you want to play in Toronto, you have to fight on every possession.

Players like JYD, Pops Mensah Bonsu and Reggie Evans have endeared themselves to the Toronto faithful for putting in maximum effort despite the cost on their bodies.

The Raptors showed this fight Tuesday night in Dallas.  The team fought for every rebound and gave their bodies up for the sake of the fight.  Amir Johnson was stitched up over his left eye for the game and Julian Wright dove into the crowd fighting for the loose ball.

This isn’t the best team in the league, no doubt, but there is something about them that you just can’t help but like.

Finding an Identity

Joey Dorsey and the rest of the Raptor bench came to the rescue in a big "team defining" victory over the Mavericks.

 

These kinds of wins help a team form an identity.  Bayless fought through pain.  The entire bench played a significant role from Wright to Dorsey.  These kinds of victories help a young team realize who they are.  Are they a young flashy team that runs the ball?  A careful methodical team that plans smart X’s and O’s?  or are they a team that fights and gets as dirty as they need to in order to win.  Tuesday night they may have found that identity.  They realized that they can hang with the best in the league and come out on top.

Reggie Evans Factor

A game like that and you could be forgiven for thinking that Reggie Evans was playing.  The Raptors were all over the boards and fought for every loose ball that was available.  The defense was strong and the Mavericks couldn’t get much going on offense.  These are things that Reggie Evans does with ease.  There was no player on the Raptors that had a crazy stat line, everyone just did their job and worked hard to defeat their opponent.

There are many out there that feel Reggie and his expiring contract will be of use in a trade come the deadline, but if I’m Bryan Colangelo, I’m thinking very hard about trading a player that seems to be rubbing off on my younger studs.  Last night every player on this team had Reggie Evans masks on and played the game the right way.  Reggie might be a great tutor for young guys like Amir Johnson and Ed Davis going forward.

Join the Keep Reggie Bandwagon!!!

Zan of the Night

Ed Davis

The best way to learn in the NBA sometimes is to get thrown into the fire.  Ed Davis hasn’t been playing big minutes so far in his young NBA career, but he got thrown into the fire on Tuesday night.  He played the most minutes of his career and had a double-double by halftime.  The kid came to the defense of his team when they needed it most.

17 and 12 is the kind of night that Chris Bosh used to have and not usually in Dallas.

There is something special here.  I have a feeling this kid is going to be a really good NBA player.

Not Zan of the Night

Linas Kleiza

What are you thinking?  Seriously?  Your team is down two starters and you mouth off to the ref?  Come on man.  If I am Jay Triano I am running the hell out of Kleiza at practice.  There is absolutely no defense for your stupidity.  Yes, you had a point to complain, but the NBA isn’t going to let Linas Kleiza complain the way that Lebron or Kobe can complain.  The league is handing out techs like they’re going out of style.

Just a dumb ass decision.

 

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
***
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

 

 

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by | December 16, 2010 · 12:22 am

Bulls Teach Young Raptors a Lesson

So that was ugly, wasn’t it?

Once it was confirmed that Andrea Bargnani wasn’t going to play because of a sore left knee, the Raptors were pretty much destined for an ass whooping.  This one got ugly by the half, but credit where credit is due, the young Raptors showed some fight and there is reason for hope for the future.

Chicago is arguably one of the top four or five teams in the East and, with Carlos Boozer back in the lineup, they are a hard team to beat each and every night.  The Bulls have a tough as nails coach, in Tom Thibodeau, who preaches defense and a young core that seems to be growing well together.

The Raptors should take notice.  This is a team they should try to build themselves in the mould of.

Zan For Three

2010 Free Agency Redux

So looking back at the circus that was the 2010 free agency period Lebron and Wade remain the biggest pick ups and are starting to make a tremendous difference with the Miami Heat.  They are beginning to be everything they were advertised to be but how about the pick up of Amare Stoudamire and Carlos Boozer?

Much was made of Lebron, Bosh, Wade and Amare but Boozer was almost a forgotten bridesmaid during that time.  His off-season injury also erased him from our minds during the first part of the season.  He is back and he is kicking some serious ass.

Carlos Boozer was unstoppable tonight at the ACC. He almost single-handedly defeated he Raptors. There simply was no way to stop Boozer on Wednesday night.

Boozer is, by far, the best player on the court for his team and that is saying something with a starting five that looks the way it does in Chicago.  Miami may have built a winning culture in South Beach, but Chicago picked up a piece that really puts them over the edge.

Forget that he dominated Amir Johnson and Joey Dorsey.  These are not playoff calibre power forwards yet.  Boozer’s dominance inside makes him a very tough match up going into any playoff matchup.  Bosh vs. Boozer?  I’ll take Boozer.  Horford vs. Boozer? I’ll take Boozer .  Kevin Garnett might be the only one who can shut him down, and he’s a bit slower and maybe not as tough.

Watch out Eastern Conference.  This guy is going to make a big difference this year.

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Jay Triano and his staff should be paying close attention to what Tom Thibodeau and his staff are doing in Chicago.  This is a team that can score, but man is their defense good.  Chicago allows their offense to dictate their offense and the Raptors still haven’t figured that out yet.

The Bulls forced stops on the defensive end and turned them into points on the offensive end.  The Raptors are still trying to out-shoot their opponents.  This strategy doesn’t work very often, if ever.

It’s time Colangelo, Triano and the rest of the organization look at teams like Boston and Chicago and start imitating what they see.  The players in Boston and Chicago both bought into Thibodeau’s system and have reaped the benefits.  Why would the Raptors not want to try the same philosophy?

Obviously a change of team philosophy requires some new players, and possibly coaches, but it may be something that the “big Wigs” of MLSE should seriously consider.  That is, of course, if they’re interested in winning at all.

Silver Lining

Tonight Sucked.  Let’s just call a spade a spade and move on.  We are not in the calibre of a team like Chicago.  We are not.  Plain and simple.  However tonight provided some opportunities to be hopeful and look, positively, into the future.

Joey Dorsey (12 pts and 13 reb on 5-8 shooting in 29 minutes)

This is an impressive stat line from the young power forward out of Memphis.  Yes, some of those points were scored in garbage time, but he is resembling something the Raptors may want to take a chance on.  He is a big body and possess some post-up skills and might be worth investing in.  He showed some fight tonight and banged inside against some pretty tough interior players.

Jarryd Bayless ( 20 pts and 4 Assists in 33 minutes)

Bayless has been the engine on offense.  Although many of us would like to see a point guard pass the ball a little more, he has played well since being acquired from New Orleans.  He is resembling more of a shooting guard, but this kid is 22 years old and certainly has some upside.  He gets to the rim, can shoot and is serviceable on the defensive end of the floor.

Ed Davis (10 pts on 5/9 shooting, 10reb, in 32 minutes)

His first start as a Raptor and he played well in spurts.  He was overmatched inside by Chicago’s bigs but Davis held his own against some pretty admirable talent.  This kid is going to be a decent NBA player.  I like the look of him, I like the way he plays the game.  He doesn’t force the issue and will only get better and better.  If the team, as I suggested earlier, starts looking at the defensive side of the ball then Davis could be a key player moving forward.  Definitely something to look forward to.

Zan of the Night

Carlos Boozer

The man is an absolute beast.  I would not want to meet him in an alley or in the paint.  He scares me and even thinking of him tonight gives me shivers.  He absolutely dominated the inside tonight and basically took whatever he wanted from the Raptor bigs.  Amir Johnson was his play toy tonight and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Not Zan of the Night

Amir Johnson

Hey dude, I love you as a player.  On this current Raptor squad, you’re probably my favourite player, but tonight was not your night.  Mama told you there’d be days like this.  More fouls than points, not a lot of minutes for you out there because of the foul trouble and not much brewing on the offensive end either. Take it as a learning experience and move on.  Carlos Boozer is one of the best.  You have work to do before you are competing consistently with the likes of that bad boy.

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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