Tag Archives: Jonas Valanciunas

by | May 6, 2013 · 12:42 pm

Colangelo’s Future a Matter of Perspective

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

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

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

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

The Glass is Half Full

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Glass is Half Empty

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 16, 2013 · 8:44 pm

Is This Recent Run Reason for Optimisim?

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

I know I have.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 4, 2013 · 10:42 pm

Colangelo’s Future a Murky One

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If not Colangelo, then who?

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

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

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

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 21, 2013 · 1:06 pm

Raptors Need to Finish Strong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 9, 2013 · 7:23 am

Where To From Here?

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

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

Five seasons! Something’s gotta give.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is Dwane Casey the coach to get it done?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The future in Toronto is as murky as ever.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 4, 2013 · 11:26 pm

The Future is Now for Valanciunas and Ross

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 27, 2013 · 11:07 pm

Learning to be Clutch

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

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

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

But this is to be expected with a younger team.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But they’re close.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 19, 2013 · 4:22 pm

Crunch Time for Raptors

It is getting down to the point in the season where the Raptors are going to have to make a move in the standings now, if they hope to catch up to a playoff spot.  With four consecutive losses now, the last 2 in heartbreaking fashion, and a number of key injuries, the Raptors are really going to have to dig deep to find the will to win.

On Friday night in Philly, the Raptors twice gave up big leads and could not defend the basket on key plays at the end of the fourth quarter.  Jrue Holiday had a field day in the final frame and the perimeter defense could not stop him in overtime.  The Raptors essentially gift wrapped a victory for the Sixers.

The Raptors have now been leapfrogged by the likes of Orlando, Detroit and Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings and are still sit 5.5 games back of the current 8th seed Celtics.  Time is running out.  With two very difficult games this week against the Lakers and Miami Heat the Raptors may find themselves free-falling in the Eastern conference standings by as early as next week.

The raptors are beginning to fall farther and farther out of the playoff picture. Their lack of finish over the last week has seen them fall right out of the playoff conversation.

The raptors are beginning to fall farther and farther out of the playoff picture. Their lack of finish over the last week has seen them fall right out of the playoff conversation.

So what is wrong with this team?

What needs to change?

Firstly the Raptors need to get Kyle Lowry more involved in the game.  He needs to be the number one guy again.  Watching Jose play against quick opponents like Jrue Holiday really cemented the need for a stronger defensive presence on the perimeter.  Lowry is a much better defender and he was brought here to be that defender against elite point guards in the league.  Lowry was not good against the Sixers either, granted, but he has always got a better shot against the elite point guards in the league than Jose.  The Raptors will now face Steve Nash this week and Kyrie Irving next week.  Those two games need to have Lowry starting or, at the very least, playing the lion’s share of minutes.

The Raptors have done a terrible job protecting the ball, especially late in the game. While Calderon is generally good at protecting the ball, he isn’t anywhere near solid enough to defend quick athletic point guards like Jrue Holiday.  Lowry takes chances, but defends the perimeter much better than Calderon.  It is Kyle who needs to be on the floor for the Raptors at the end of the game, when it really matters.  Jose shoots well, but it is Lowry who is more likely to keep he defender in check.

Secondly, we need our bigs back.   I get the “Bargnani hate”, I’m not particularly fond of him right now either, but we sure could use his size and quickness on the defensive end.  If nothing else he provides greater opportunity to get Amir and Ed some rest.  Both have played incredibly well since being inserted into the starting lineup, but both play far too many minutes and it is beginning to catch up with them.  Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray have filled in admirably, but I’d much sooner see Bargnani and Jonas Valanciunas giving Amir and Ed a rest off the bench.

Size and toughness hasn’t been an issue for a little while. But we witnessed Carlos Boozer absolutely decimate the Raptors frontcourt on Wednesday and then Thad Young and Spencer Hawes both had strong games on Friday.  With games coming up against Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Big Baby Davis the Raptors frontcourt is going to be working hard. This unit of Davis and Johnson has held up the fort for the last few weeks and were instrumental in bringing this team back from the Eastern Conference basement, but they need some rest.

Let’s get Bargnani, despite his current villainy, back in this lineup backing up these two very tired front court players.  He’s not going anywhere in a trade just yet, so lets increase his value a little bit by bringin him in off the bench when he’s back and healthy.  And yes I did say “backing up” Amir and Ed.

Lastly, Dwane Casey needs to figure out what is going on with DeMar DeRozan.  It has been an up and down year for the Raptors star, but he hasn’t looked anything like himself the last two weeks.  His percentages are way down, he’s forcing up bad shots and is not playing within he flow of the offense.  He was a key component of the Raptors recent win streak, but he hasn’t been the same since the first half of the loss to Milwaukee.

Something is up

It could be adjustments to the change in point guards, the fact that so much of the offense now flows through the post, that opposing defenders are scouting his game a lot more than they were early in the season or maybe he’s just having a bad stretch.  Whatever it is, Dwane Casey needs to figure it out and get DeRozan back to his early season form.  If the Raptors are going to make a playoff push, they’ll need a more effective DeRozan.

Time is ticking for the Raptors.  If the playoffs really are the ultimate goal then they are really going to have to dig deep to find a way to get back on the winning side of things.  Whether a big trade is the answer, a major shakeup in the starting lineup or small adjustments, something needs to be done before the season is lost.

The time is now.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | December 16, 2012 · 11:09 pm

The Anderson Effect

The Toronto Raptors of the last two games are not the same team that lost 6 straight on the road and 13 of 14 dating back to Nov. 20th. This team is fighting, communicating with one another and getting results from unlikely sources.  On Sunday afternoon it was Jose Calderon, Ed Davis and Alan Anderson that stepped up, but the recent stretch has seen a change in the overall focus of the team. The Raps have been concentrating  on the defensive end of the ball, they’re sharing the ball well and are making smart basketball decisions. They also seem to be helping one another more and communicating on both ends.

So where did this change come from? The players did have a lengthy team meeting where they got a number of things off of their chest.  Perhaps that was the moment that caused this team to morph into what you now see on the court.

Perhaps it was addition by subtraction.  Both Andrea Bargnani and Kyle Lowry have been absent on this home stand due to injuries.  Both players were rumoured to be the focus of the vitriol during the team meeting and both players were admittedly not making good basketball decisions on their recent road trip.  Lowry was called out for calling his own number too much and Bargnani was called out for not delivering on the defensive end.  Bargnani has been the focus of so much negative press lately that his absence alone may have been a welcome blessing for both himself and the team.  Without the two stars, the Raptors look like a much improved team.

Or maybe it was the big meeting Casey, Colangelo and MLSE had this past week that was the impetus for change.  Maybe the players are playing with a bit of urgency because they know their job isn’t safe nor that of their coach or GM.

Alan Anderson doesn't always play extended minutes, but when he does, he makes the most out them. Another strong effort on Sunday was one of the keys to victory for the Raptors.

Alan Anderson doesn’t always play extended minutes, but when he does, he makes the most out them. Another strong effort on Sunday was one of the keys to victory for the Raptors.

One of the most subtle changes to the lineup during this time was the return of Alan Anderson.  He has played increasing minutes since his return and is doing the little things to get his teammates involved.  He makes the extra pass, fights for the ball, plays sound defense and encourages his teammates.

Anderson has been around a long time, bouncing in and out of the D-league, Europe and obscurity.  He came to the Raptors last season on a 10 day contract just hoping to do enough to earn another 10 days.  He did better than that, impressing Dwane Casey and Bryan Colangelo enough to offer him a brand new contract.

His work ethic, especially on the defensive end, is why he is a valuable asset to have hanging around a young team.  Anderson knows what is important for a team to focus on, knows how to play within a role and works hard every second he is on the floor. Having him on the court is like having a coach out there with the team.

Anderson, originally a point guard, is capable of playing many positions and has become known for his defensive intensity, a trait that surely earned the respect of Casey.  Casey often points to Anderson’s defensive effort as an example for the team to follow. 

When he is on the court the Raptors seem to have a clearer defensive identity. He energizes the rest of his team and gets them involved.  On Sunday he was one of the primary shooters, but he’s a smart player that plays within the flow of the game and knows when it is his place to take shots.  His timely play on Sunday was one of the keys to victory over the Rockets. It was his lay-up and free throws in the final minutes that sealed the victory for Toronto.

Anderson isn’t a player who is regularly asked to play heavy minutes.  This year he is averaging just over 20 minutes per game, but what he has been able to bring to the team in that time has been noticeable, just not always on the score sheet.  He puts defense first and this attitude is something that is beginning to rub off on his teammates. He is making use of his limited minutes and plays hard whenever his number is called.

This mentality could really come in handy for young players like Jonas Valanciunas or Terrence Ross, who have not seen consistent minutes this season.  They’re going to have to learn to make the most of their limited time on the court and earn those extra minutes.  Alan Anderson is a player they should watch and relish matching up against in practice.  He is not guaranteed minutes on this team, but earns them through his effort and commitment to the team philosophy.

If Jonas and Ross can put forth a more consistent effort on both ends of the floor and play within the flow of the game they are going to see a lot more minutes.  Ross, over the last two games, has looked more confident and has really let the game come to him.  In turn he has seen his minutes and production increase.  Anderson would be a great mentor for Ross.

Anderson also isn’t afraid to call out himself or his teammates when they need to be held accountable. This is a trait usually reserved for a teams’ star player or coach.   As of yet, not player on this team has become the vocal leader.  This may now be a role that Anderson has decided to take on.

Upon his return to the lineup this week he wasn’t afraid to call a spade a spade when discussing the teams misfortunes: “Our defense isn’t consistent as it can be and it should be…we’re playing three-quarters, three-and-a-half quarters and we disappear. So I think my experience…can sustain that and help us out some more.”

Whether it has been his words or his actions on the court, Anderson has clearly been inspiring his teammates. The effort of the team in the last two games has been a complete turnaround from the “road trip from hell”.  The last two games they’ve given up under 100 points and have held their opponents to 40% shooting.  They’re holding things together as a team and Anderson has been a big part of this resurgence.

On Sunday Jose Calderon was the best player on the court, recording a triple-double and playing some of his best basketball this season, but Anderson and his style of play, are beginning to make a larger impact on this young Raptors squad.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | December 11, 2012 · 12:17 am

Where Do We Go From Here?

These are dark days for the Raptors and their fans.  Things have gone from bad, to worse, to downright awful really fast.  The Raptors now find themselves way out of contention and without many positives to rest their hat on.  Losses are piling up and the patience of the fan base is at an all-time low.  It’s getting Babcock bad.

Another loss in Portland, in what is fast becoming one of the worst road trips in recent memory, did nothing to instill any confidence in this team.

Raptor fans are openly wondering whether the team should “blow it up” and trade everyone with any ounce of value for whatever exchange they can get on the dollar and start fresh.  Or do they keep a select few of the young stars and try to retool for next season?

For the first time in his tenure as Raptor President and GM, Bryan Colangelo is facing the real possibility of being let go.

For the first time in his tenure as Raptor President and GM, Bryan Colangelo is facing the real possibility of being let go.

Fire the GM, fire the coach, trade all the players.  All of these bold suggestions have been made.

Many believe Bargnani is at the root of the problem and that he should be moved.  It is hard to argue with that logic as he has been disappointing at the best of times.  A change of scenery might be exactly what the doctor ordered for everyone involved.  There is still a good player in that seven-foot frame, but he will not become that player here.

But what becomes of everyone else? This isn’t the situation a lot of them signed up for.

Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have shown themselves to be solid, dependable NBA players.  Players that would be welcome on any team, but also players that are still very young and could fit into the plans of a rebuilding club.

To make matters worse, this team doesn’t have a first round pick unless they finish with one of the top three selections.  So the draft isn’t even a guaranteed option.

So what to do?

The GM, the one that makes the decisions, is not signed to a contract past this summer and is unlikely to earn a renewal if this debauchery keeps up. What do you do with him? Fire him now? give him the rest of the year?

And what becomes of Dwane Casey? He was brought in only a year ago to fix the Raptors defense and to turn this team into a defensively sound unit.  Is it his fault he couldn’t turn Bargnani into Dirk Nowitzki? Is it his fault he had to build a defensive system around Jose Calderon? Shouldn’t he get the benefit of the doubt here?

The Raptors have a lot of questions and there are not easy answers.

They could look for trades where they bring back older veteran players with expiring contracts. Try to make a run at a game changer like Pau Gasol and attempt to turn this ship around.  They could bust out their “tank Nation” flags and try to muster up enough luck to bring in Shabazz Muhammad.

No matter which route they choose, the fans are gonna rebel.  Even without the NHL attendance will likely drop if the Raptors “blow it up”.

It says here that there is a lot of basketball to be played yet and the Raptors should consider holding on to Lowry, DeRozan and Jonas long-term.  Trade any and all others for picks, young players and expiring contracts and hope the season turns around.  Try to sneak into the playoffs or get close enough that the lost draft pick doesn’t hurt so much.

Trade Bargnani.  Or maybe better put: Free Bargnani.  let him go somewhere where there isn’t so much pressure.  Where he can just blend in, come off the bench and be a small part of a bigger puzzle. The fans are done with him and he doesn’t deserve to be berated in his home arena.  A change of scenery to anywhere else will do him and this team a world of good.

Casey has not had a successful second season as the head man for the Raptors, but despite the terrible year, he deserves another shot.

Casey has not had a successful second season as the head man for the Raptors, but despite the terrible year, he deserves another shot.

Keep Casey.  When he was brought here, he was asked to turn water into wine.  He was asked to bring his defensive system that worked wonders for the World Champion Mavericks and build it around Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon.  It just didn’t work.  He didn’t have a Tyson Chandler to back up Bargnani, he didn’t have a Shawn Marion to take on the best offensive players on opposing teams.  He could not turn Jose Calderon into Jason Kidd, he couldn’t turn Bargnani in Dirk. He was asked to do too much.  He needs to be given a chance to work with better players.  It was only one short year ago that fans were calling for Casey to be among the COY candidates.

It takes longer than a year to implement a systematic change, especially when the players you have don’t fit the mould of that system.

Give him another year.

Let Colangelo go.  He needs to fall on his sword for this team.  He put them together, he hasn’t gotten results. I know he will not be out of work long and there may not be a significantly better replacement out there, but he needs to take the fall for the team.  In the end, he is responsible for the shortcomings of this team.

Acquire draft picks.  There is no guarantee, no matter where we end up in the standings, that our pick won’t land  in OKC, so get a few more, stock up and get as many good young players as you can.

Don’t lose hope.  It’s hard not to in these dark days, but at the end of the dark tunnel is light, however slight it might be.  Jonas Valanciunas is going to be a good NBA talent. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are solid NBA talents.  Enjoy watching them for however long they remain Raptors. Draft picks are on the horizon and capspace is likely in the forseeable future.

Things will get better, they have to.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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