Tag Archives: Kyle Lowry

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 | 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 | February 4, 2013 · 11:34 pm

Life Without Jose

Jose Calderon is no longer a Toronto Raptor.

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

And now he is a Detroit Piston.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jose seemed destined to stay a Raptor forever.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 20, 2013 · 6:54 pm

Raptors Fight off Struggling Lakers

For only the 7th time in the history of the franchise, the Toronto Raptors were able to come away with a victory against the Lakers of Los Angeles.

The Raptors were able to win the game by doing things they have not done in their previous 4 (all losses).  The Raptors played better defense, specifically on Kobe Bryant, who was not able to be the game changer that he usually is against Toronto.

They shared the ball well. Whether it was Calderon or Lowry at the point, the ball was moving to the right places.  Even Alan Anderson chipped in with 8 assists off the bench.  The team was unselfish and every single player was able to get on the score sheet as a result.

Finally, they closed out the game.  The Raptors gave big leads away against Milwaukee, Chicago and then another on Friday in devastating fashion to the Sixers.  Today they let their 19 point first half lead slip away, but fought back, regained control and then held off a very talented team in the 4th.

There is still much work to be done, but the Raptors can really hang their hat on a game like this.  If this team has serious playoff ambitions, this is the type of effort they are gonna need game in and game out.

Especially going into Miami.

Zan for Three

Landry to the Rescue

The Toronto Raptors’ difficulty playing against Kobe Bryant is well documented.  He has owned us throughout his career and that doesn’t even take into account his 81 point, history making performance in 2006.  The Raptors have tried every which way to defend Bryant, but nothing has really worked.  He always seems to pick us apart.

Today Landry Fields was able to do something we haven’t seen a Raptor defender do since the inception of the team; he contained Kobe Bryant.

For the most part.

Fields played him extra close and bothered every single one of his shots.  Yes, Kobe still had 26, but on 10 of 32 shooting. Fields really rattled Kobe today.

In addition to his stellar defensive effort, Fields was also very active on the offensive end.  He did a great job cutting to the basket, breaking down the Lakers D, and finished when the Raptors needed him to.  He’s not shooting particularly well away from the basket, but today he didn’t need to.

When Bryan Colangelo brought Fields over in the off-season for big money, this is the effort he imagined on a regular basis.  Now that Fields is healthy, he is starting to play his style of game.  Today he looked like the Landry Fields of old, the player that opened eyes in his rookie year.

That’s the player we are going to need down the stretch, if the playoffs are to remain within reach.

Being Ready

Despite the fact he was a trending topic on Twitter this week, not enough credit is being given to Aaron Gray, Quincy Acy and the rest of the Raptors bench.

These guys are always ready to play, no matter how long they sit on the bench or how brief their appearances are.  Aaron Gray was a DNP-CD in 4 of the 10 games the Raptors have played in 2013, but when asked to move into the starting spot, did not miss a beat.  He’s played very important minutes for the Raptors as a starter and is helping to give the overworked Raptor bigs; Davis and Johnson, much-needed rest.

Quincy Acy has also been ready when thrust into duty and John Lucas has also handled his lack of playing time well, being ready to come in off the bench at the drop of a hat.  Clearly the conditioning of this team is not an issue. The depth of this bench gives Dwane Casey a number of options and very valuable opportunities to rest some of his overworked starters.

The struggling Lakers are not used to losing in Toronto, but on Sunday their lacklustre effort wasn't enough against an inspired Raptors squad.

The struggling Lakers are not used to losing in Toronto, but on Sunday their lacklustre effort wasn’t enough against an inspired Raptors squad.

Who are These Guys? 

This has arguably been one of the worst starts to the season in recent memory for a team expected to do so much coming into the season.  The Lakers have looked lost on both ends of the floor.  They can’t seem to figure out what to do with the ball and they haven’t yet found a way to share the ball well.

Today, with the early ejection of Dwight Howard, the ball got stuck in Kobe Bryant’s hands.  He had 32 shots.  32 SHOTS!!!  An unreal number for a player with the talented teammates he has around him.

Dwight Howard looked lost early in the game and then his frustration got him kicked out.  Nash looked a little discombobulated on offense and was a complete sieve on defense.  D’Antoni is not running an offense that he is used to running and this team is becoming  a mess.

It took Miami and Boston the better part of a year (in Miami’s case two)  to figure out how to share the ball with a “Big Three”, but LA might be running out of time if they want to make a serious run at the top of their conference.  Right now, they are in danger of falling out of the playoff conversation entirely.

When chatting with reporters after the game, D’Antoni didn’t hold back either: “We’ve got a lot of issues…Offensively the ball sticks and we don’t take very good shots. Defensively, ups and downs, we forget guys.”

It is clear that something is rotten in the state of California.

Zan of the Night

Landry Fields/Jose Calderon

Hard to decide between these two.  Both played solid minutes and did the things they needed to in order to win.  Fields played great D on Kobe and Jose contained Nash.  Fields made some excellent cuts to break down the Lakers D and Jose was fearless on the offensive end scoring points and dropping dimes at will.   Complete efforts from both of these players was the difference in the game today.

***

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 | January 13, 2013 · 11:16 pm

Opportunity Missed

Today’s game against Milwaukee was an opportunity to move into the playoff discussion, to cement this Raptors team as a playoff contender and to maybe give the fans of this playoff starved city a chance to believe that the playoffs weren’t a delusion of grandeur.

With a strong first quarter effort, the Raptors jumped out to an early 20 point lead.  But slowly and methodically, the Bucks came back.  They chipped away and chipped away at the Raptors lead and ultimately took over for good in the fourth quarter.  The Raptors, outside of Calderon, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis, lacked punch.  They had several opportunities to put the Bucks away and failed to do it.

A team with the likes of Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings cannot be left alone.  The Raptors defensive effort relaxed and the hot shooting Bucks made them pay for it.  Even the likes of Mike Dunleavy had solid shooting efforts against the Raptor D and then there was John Henson who wins the Acie Earl Award for beasting.  The Raptors had absolutely no answer for him and without Jonas Valanciunas and Andrea Bargnani lacked the man power to shut him down.

All is not lost for the Raptors.  They are still within striking distance of the playoffs and if they can take advantage of their upcoming schedule they can and will get into that playoff discussion. They are also enjoying some absolutely inspired play from Amir Johnson, Ed Davis and Jose Calderon.  I’ve watched this team for a long time and have not seen these three look as good or as cohesive as they have this year.

The future is bright.

Zan For Three

What’s up With Lowry?

Kyle Lowry has been one of my favourite players over the last couple of years. I enjoyed watching him lead Houston to a late season surge last year and loved the way he started this season for the Raptors.  He’s fast, works hard on the defensive end and isn’t afraid to take it to the rack.

We haven’t seen that Kyle Lowry for a while.

Today we saw Kyle trying hard to be somebody that he wasn’t.  He looks lost.

I applaud him for taking his teammates words to heart when they were critical of his selfish play back in Utah.  I applaud that he is doing his best to get his teammates involved, but he has lost all of the things that made Kyle Lowry fantastic.

He needs to find himself again.  His issues are not about coming off the bench or getting more minutes on the court, they’re completely in his head.

Not even one of Amir Johnson's best games of the season could stop Monta Ellis and the Bucks from taking the wind out of the Raptors sails at the ACC on Sunday.

Not even one of Amir Johnson’s best games of the season could stop Monta Ellis and the Bucks from taking the wind out of the Raptors sails at the ACC on Sunday.

He is trying to force himself to be something he is not.  He has gotten away from the things that made him successful and as a result has not been nearly as effective.  What the Raptors really need him to be, if they are to make a strong push toward the postseason, is himself.  They need him to be the energetic force he was brought here to be.  They need him to shoot the ball, drive the lane and push the tempo, even if it is off the bench.

Lowry’s return to form will be a key to the Raptors fortunes for the rest of this season.

The Real DeMar 

DeMar DeRozan has been a revelation this year.  He has quieted his critics and proven to many that Bryan Colangelo wasn’t crazy or over shooting with the extension he was given before the season.

Over the last few weeks we have seen DeRozan go back and forth between good games and bad ones.  He’s played within the game and, then at times, has forced up shots.

Today we saw DeRozan play within the system and take charge of the game in the third quarter which helped the Raptors gain control of the game for a little while.  Then in the fourth he disappeared (with the rest of the team) and couldn’t hang on.

DeRozan needs to realize that this is his team now.  He is the leader.  He is number one.  There are times when he just needs to assume control of the offense.  He needs to be a little bit selfish and not out smart himself.

He is developing into a truly great player and needs to take that extra step of assuming leadership over this team.

To Trade or not to Trade? 

The rumours are swirling in Raptorland.  We are close to a playoff position, our general manager is on the hot seat and we have a few players that may be enticing to other teams.

Colangelo has a tough choice to make because the team is finally working together and playing as a team so adding another piece to that equation, no matter how talented, could disrupt all the things that are going right.  Then again adding a talented piece like Rudy Gay may be the nudge needed to get this team into the postseason.

The player that would make the most sense to send away (Andrea Bargnani) isn’t really someone who Colangelo is able to move and the one everyone wants (Jose Calderon) may be too valuable to the makeup of the current roster to trade away.

Definitely some tough decisions in the days ahead.

Zan of the Night

Amir Johnson – He plays through pain, works hard and does everything he is asked to do.  In a hockey centred town he really personifies everything Toronto wants to see in a basketball player.  Today he was once again one of the best Raptors on the floor and the chemistry he has developed with Calderon and Ed Davis is such a joy to watch in person.

Another contract that is looking a lot more like a bargain.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 5, 2013 · 5:54 pm

Becoming Number One

There has been no shortage of stories in Raptorland lately as they begin to put the pieces of their season back together again.  There has been the inspired play of Amir Johnson, the leadership of Jose Calderon and the energized return of both Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields. Of course, there is also the continued absence of Andrea Bargnani.

It is debatable which one of these stories has had the biggest impact in the Raptors recent turnaround.  But , possibly the most “feel good” story during the first half of the season (so far) may be the emergence of DeMar DeRozan.

Raptor fans have been waiting with bated breath for DeRozan to up his game and become the upper echelon player he was pegged to be when he was drafted 9th overall out of USC in 2009.

DeRozan has begun to assert himself as the Raptors team leader and number one option on offense. In the process he is proving his naysayers wrong and justifying his large contract extension.

DeRozan has begun to assert himself as the Raptors team leader and number one option on offense. In the process he is proving his naysayers wrong and justifying his large contract extension.

In the span of the last few months we have watched DeMar grow from a player, struggling to adjust to the pressures of being a top option, to a confident young man who is comfortably leading his team to some of the best basketball they have played in a long time.

When DeRozan first came to Toronto he was used as a complimentary player to the young core the Raptors had at the time.  At just 20 years of age and thrust into a starting role on a competitive Raptors squad, he was expected to take the ball to the rack off of cuts and provide steady defensive play.  He thrived in this complimentary role and earned the praise of then coach Sam Mitchell.

His efforts that first year were one of the key reasons the Raptors stayed in the playoff picture until the last day of the season.   In subsequent years he became an increased part of the Raptors offense and gained valuable experience along the way.

When Chris Bosh took his talents to South Beach, DeRozan was no longer looked at as a complimentary piece by the organization.  The Raps needed him to step up his game and become a top flight player to compliment the newly anointed number one, Andrea Bargnani. With the increased expectations, DeRozan struggled.

He was asked to become a top flight shooter, which he wasn’t yet. They needed him to shoot the three with some consistency, he could not.  They needed him to drive the lane more, but instead, he shied away from it.

As a top option in Toronto he garnered more attention from opposing defenses and he wasn’t ready for the adjustments he needed to make.  Questions began to swirl about whether DeRozan would ever become that top-tier player for Toronto, whether the Raptors would be better off letting him go as a free agent or packaging him in a trade.

Last season he was forced into an increased role when Andrea Bargnani went down with injury.  He needed, not only, to be a top scorer, but a team leader.  Though he struggled with his shot and continued to be marred by issues with his three-point range, the team developed an identity around him.  Much of this ‘change in culture’ was rightfully credited to Dwane Casey, but the Raptors were able to share the ball, play team defense and get along  with DeRozan as the number one option. DeMar is the type of unselfish player who is happy to defer to his teammates.  He isn’t a player that needs to have the ball in his hands all the time, the offense doesn’t need to flow through him.

Although DeRozan’s numbers were still mediocre on paper last year, he was beginning to show signs of maturity. He began taking the advice of coach Casey and kept driving the lane.  Slowly his free throw attempt numbers went up and he began to get more and more calls from the officials. Casey was tough on DeRozan, but in the process earned his respect.

“It was tough last year. Even though we did well on the defensive end, you still struggle at parts. You’re still learning. Casey is definitely good for us.”

Coach Casey has cracked the code with DeMar since arriving in Toronto and the forward has responded with inspired play.

Coach Casey has cracked the code with DeMar since arriving in Toronto and the forward has responded with inspired play.

This season, armed with a controversial 4 year contract extension, DeRozan has taken his game to the next level.  His numbers are better across the board, but it isn’t the modest increases in his percentages that have Raptor fans smiling; it’s the way he is carrying himself and his team.

Gone are the rushed shots taken early in the shot clock, the fear of driving the net and the reliance on a high number of mid-range jump shots.

Instead DeRozan is driving the net and demanding the respect of the leagues officials.  He is taking open jump shots within the flow of the offense, he’s using his size to take advantage of opposing defenses with impressive post-up moves and he is helping facilitate the ball movement that has inspired the Raptors recent play.

“I need to play within my game. I know if I get a shot in rhythm, I can knock it down. But for me, I’m an aggressive player. We’ve got a lot of 3-point shooters on this team. If I’m being aggressive, that can open up a 3-point shot for them.”

DeMar looks and sounds like a completely different player on the court.  He looks confident, aggressive and most of all he is taking control on the court. He is doing a better job of knowing when to shoot and when to make the extra pass.  He isn’t hesitating when he goes to the rim because he knows, if he keeps doing it, he’s gonna get the calls more times than not and he is learning how to exploit mismatches on both ends of the floor.

Dwane Casey has been impressed with his play and knows DeRozan is a key part of the Raptors future.  ”He’s one of our core guys”.

Much of the credit for the Raptors recent run of good games has been, very fairly placed on the play and leadership of Jose Calderon, but quietly DeMar DeRozan has emerged as a leader as well.

He is the player the team looks to for guidance.  The ball flows through him. But he isn’t just taking more shots, he is getting his teammates involved as well.  They trust him, his coaches trust him and mot importantly he trusts himself.

So far this season DeRozan has erased any doubt that may have lingered over the max extension.  If he keeps up this strong play, his extension may turn out to be a bargain.

He’s becoming everything you want in an on-court leader.

The scary part is,  he’s still getting better.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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