Tag Archives: Lebron James

by | September 18, 2012 · 8:19 pm

Raptors are Worth Getting Excited About

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

But this year might be different.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Playoff basketball.

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

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | July 27, 2012 · 9:25 am

Raptors to Watch in London

On Friday all eyes in the sporting world will turn to London England as the Olympic Games officially begin.  Here in Toronto there are many athletes we will be watching closely from runner Simon Whitfield and tennis star Milos Raonic, to cyclist Clara Hughes and kayak star Adam Van Koeverden.  On a larger stage we will be watching star athletes like Michael Phelps and the unparalleled speed and talent of Usain Bolt.

Most basketball fans will turn their attention to the Dream Team, seeing if Lebron can add a gold medal to his championship year.  Or whether Spain has enough to hand the Americans an upset defeat.

Raptor fans too will turn their attention to the basketball court.  Sadly the Canadian Men’s team will have to wait another four years for the opportunity to represent this beautiful country.  But there are still plenty of players of note for the Raptors and their fans to keep their eye on and who could have a large impact on the tournaments final outcome.

Jonas Valanciunas C – Lithuania

Raise your hand if you’re excited to see this guy play.  Yeah, me too.  When not watching Canadian athletes fight for medals I will be watching every game I can see that features Lithuania and Valanciunas.

In many people’s eyes he holds the future of the Toronto Raptors in his 7 ft, 250 pound frame.  He has been exciting fans with his excellent play at the U19 World Championships earlier this year and throughout the season with his Lithuanian league team, Lietuvos Rytas.

Now he is on the biggest stage of them all and Raptor fans will be watching with bated breath to see if Jonas is the saviour they all hope he can be.

The eyes of Raptor fans will be focused squarely on Jonas during the Olympic basketball tournament. How he handles himself against a higher level of talent will be telling of how NBA ready he is.

So far, in lead-up games, he’s played very well, but now he’s going to be matched up against the toughest competition he has ever faced.

How will he respond?

Jonas’s performance in this tournament will be one of the most talked about aspects of the Olympics here in Toronto.  It could culminate in a celebration for the Lithuanian team as well as Raptor fans everywhere.

The Lithuanian team has a real shot at a medal and maybe even at the Final.  They have one of the most unified teams and most of the players have been playing with each other for a number of years at international tournaments.

Jonas will be the rookie of this squad, but with his exciting play and large frame defending the paint, he is likely to play a large part in whether this team excels or has an early exit.

What will be of most interest to Raptor fans is how Jonas handles his defensive duties against players that have, for the most part, spent time in the NBA.  Will he hold his own? or show typical rookie rust? Will he defend well or resort to fouling his opponents?

As a player that will be depended on to defend the basket next year at the ACC, coach Casey and Bryan Colangelo will be watching his defensive effort closely.

We will all have a much better gauge on how Jonas will perform this year after the Olympics.

Jose Calderon PG – Spain

Poor Jose.  He’s had a rough deal the last year or so.  Trade rumours, injuries and finally being replaced in Toronto’s starting lineup by Kyle Lowry.

Raptor fans will be interested to see how Calderon plays because if he plays well, it may increase his trade value.  It will also be interesting to see how he has healed from the injury he sustained at the end of last season.  As a backup next year he’s going to have to adjust to less minutes on the floor and playing in the second unit.

For Spain, Calderon takes over as the leader of arguably the second most talented team in the Olympics.  With the injury to Ricky Rubio Calderon has been given his spot as starting point guard back. Something he should remember when he gets to training camp.  He is only an injury away from being back in charge of the Raptor offense.  Things can change.

It will be interesting to see how Calderon leads a team with the talent of Pau and Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka and Rudy Fernandez.  If he performs well there could be an increased trade market for his services.

Then again, if he plays well, there is also added reason for the Raptors to keep him.

Should be interesting.

Linas Kleiza F – Lithuania

I remember when the Raptors first acquired Kleiza.  I didn’t know much about him, other than what I read in the paper and on blogs.  Then I saw him play in the World Championships in Turkey that summer.  He was incredible.

Kleiza averaged close to a double-double and was arguably the best player on the court in almost every game he played with the exception of the matchup against the US.

I was excited about what he could bring to Toronto, I imagine most fans were as well.

Over the last two seasons however, he hasn’t played up to that level.  He’s only shown flashes of that dominance in his time as a Raptor and fans have wondered where that player from the World Championships went.

Kleiza is a strong performer in International tournaments and he is likely to be a key contributor once again for a very deep Lithuanian squad.

For Raptor fans, they will likely be left to wonder once again which Linas Kleiza will show up during the regular season.

It will also be fun to watch the moments when Kleiza and Valanciunas are on the floor together.  A prelude of what is to come during this coming NBA season.

Pops Mensah Bonsu F – Great Britain

He’s no longer a Toronto Raptor, but he will always be a dino in my mind.  Pops will get a chance to strut his stuff for the host nation at this Olympics.  He is likely to be one of their main offensive threats (with Luol Deng) and regardless of the outcome of the games, he should have the English fans on their feet.

Pops plays a style of basketball that a fan can’t help but love.  He grinds it out on the court and never puts forth anything less than his best effort.

Though Great Britain is not expected to win more than a game or two, let alone a medal, I have a feeling that their games on the hardwood will still be must watch material.  Mensah Bonsu will likely be part of the reason.

It’ll be nice to see Pops play as well.  He is missed in Toronto.

Anthony Davis F – USA

The US team will offer many stories in their Olympic run.  Who gets the ball? How will Durant and Lebron play together? How many shots will Carmelo Anthony take? But the most interesting thing to look for in this Olympic tournament may actually be the debut of first overall pick Anthony Davis.

Anthony Davis will likely play a minimal role with team USA, but all eyes will be on the number one pick when he does play.

How will he match up against NBA calibre talent?  How involved will he be? Will be look as dominant as he did in college?

In the end he will likely be as involved as Christian Laettner was in 1992, but hopefully for NBA fans, specifically those in New Orleans, Davis’ play will offer a glimpse of what is to come.

Obviously there will be plenty more to watch at this tournament and other teams like Argentina, France and Brazil will have strong squads focused on the Silver and Bronze medals.  Team USA will be analyzed like no other and we will all have the pleasure of watching a team with the two best players in the world play together in Lebron James and Kevin Durant.

Regardless of how it all shapes up, this will be a phenomenal tournament to watch and something great to discuss in the slow, dog days of the NBA off-season.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 7, 2012 · 8:03 am

Cavs Beat Raptors in Tank Bowl 2012

That wasn’t the prettiest game in the world last night, in fact, let us never speak of it again.

The Raptors sported a starting lineup the Bakersfield Jam would likely not be concerned about.  Ben Uzoh?  Alan Anderson? and Justin Dentmon serving as the primary backup one shootaround into his Raptor career?

If this is what “Tank Nation” is all about then I want no part of it.

That was ugly.  That was ugly before the disgraceful 4th quarter where the Raptors were outscored 33-17.  I mean the game was tied at 68 in the 3rd Quarter.  Is that “pounding the rock” or just straight stinking out the joint?

To be fair, the Raptors were without Calderon, who was relegated to the bench with “hockey face” after Elton Brand elbowed him in the face on Wednesday.  They were also without James Johnson, who is usually a spark plug for the Raptors.  He was out with what can only be described as “upsetting the coach”.

Not a great effort for our team, not at all.

Still Derozan had another strong game, Sonny Weems returned and Tristan Thompson got a nice ovation from the crowd.  Not all bad, I guess.

Zan For Three

Driving the Tank

I get it. I really do.  I understand Tank Nation.  I understand the idea of cheering when your team loses.

The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t get Kevin Durant by winning lots of games.  Lebron wasn’t delivered on Cleveland’s doorstep for shows of good effort.

Losing brings Toronto a valuable asset. Losing lots, at least theoretically, increases the value of that asset.

But if we are going to tank this season, I’d at least like to go down with some dignity.  Dwane Casey has shown this past week that he has absolutely no intention of leaving this season with a whimper.  He has this team playing hard and aggressive.

Just not last night.

If we are working towards next year, it would be nice to see a little more Ed Davis and a little more Solomon Alabi.  Last night, Justin Dentmon, fresh off of getting to the city, played 20 minutes. Alabi, a two-year Raptor, drank Gatorade.

Ben Uzoh and Alan Anderson are living out their NBA dreams of starting in a game, while some of our younger players are wasting away on the bench.

Tank or no Tank, let’s play the players that have a possible future here.

Rumour Mill

So James Johnson sat against the Cavaliers on the very same night Sonny Weems made a public appearance in Toronto.  2+2=4

I’m not going to suggest that the Raptors are looking to replace Johnson with Weems.  That would be a bad idea, a very bad idea.  But Weems is a solid offensive player and one who has really shown some promise in Lithuania this year.  His arrival at the very same time his replacement was being benched is sure to conjure up all kinds of baseless rumours and armchair GM-ing.

It is not out of the realm of possibility that he returns, though.

He’s good friends with Demar Derozan who is seemingly part of our future. He can score in bunches, which would be a nice asset to have on our bench, especially since Leandro Barbosa’s output has been replaced by Alan Anderson’s thus far.  And he seems to want to be here.  If we are to believe his words. 

Sonny is a pretty one-dimensional player, but like Barbosa, he scores a lot.  If used properly off the bench he could become a semi-valuable asset.

That being said I don’t think the plan moving forward is to have Johnson start at the 3 next season (he would likely come in off the bench) and the Raptors don’t need to carry the extra wing if one will be acquired in the summer.

The Weems debate will continue and Colangelo is going to have to make a decision.

At the very least, there will be plenty of chatter about Mr. Weems over the last couple of weeks of the season.

The Dog House

Of all the players that I could imagine being in Dwane Casey’s “dog house”, James Johnson wouldn’t be one of them.  This season he has been Mr. Everything playing with energy, doing the little things and playing strong defense.

He has been a fan favourite because of the energy he plays with on the court.

It is therefore very intriguing why he has been benched in favour of Alan Anderson.

In typical Dwane Casey fashion, this matter is being dealt with internally (as it should be), but one has to wonder what Johnson did to earn his mini vacation.

Hopefully it was a minor incident that both parties are now .  The Raptors need James Johnson; tank or no tank.  He’s a fun player to watch and would have come in handy last night against the Cavs.

Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

The kid is getting his confidence back.  Unfortunately he’s getting it back just in time for the season to end.  Once again Raptor fans went from being done with Derozan to thinking he might be part of the core.  Is he the player from the first half? or the one playing well to end the season?

Seems like Derozan has got a bit of “Reimer-itis”, hopefully his solid play continues into next season and he doesn’t revert back to his old ways.  On Friday night he shot the ball well, got to the line and was one of the only players that gave his team a chance to win.

Not Zan of the Night

Alan Anderson

He is not an NBA starter, but there he was as the Raptors starting small forward.  He won’t be there much longer, one can only assume.  He finished with 30 minutes of play and zero points.  He missed the four shots he took and was an overall -13 on the night.

But I guess he deserves more time that Alabi.

#freealabi

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 28, 2012 · 11:53 pm

A Weird One in Houston

It was not a pretty game, but you could not fault the Raptors effort against the Rockets on Tuesday night.  They fought tooth and nail and got some inspired effort from their bench in a tough loss.

This second half of the season is all about moral victories and there were some to be had in Houston.  James Johnson and Ed Davis played well on the boards, Aaron Gray continued his ascent to “working class hero” in Toronto and Demar Derozan looked good for glimpses.

Still, this was a game that Houston seemed to gift wrap for the Raptors.  Houston threatened to pull away many times but kept allowing the Raptors to fight their way back into the game almost in spite of themselves.

Still, if you’re a Raptor fan there is plenty to be happy about.  Ed Davis had life in his body for the first time in I don’t know how long, Demar Derozan showed flashes of the player we all want to see and James Johnson was active on both ends of the floor.

Youth is often times going to let games slip away, it’s the nature of the beast.  Hopefully this team can learn to take advantage of opportunities presented to them and close out games when they have the chance.

Making things more interesting was what happened after the game, when Demar Derozan tweeted “Straight Bulls#!+”.  One can only assume that he was upset about being benched for the 4th Quarter after scoring 10 points in  the third. Does he have a point? Was a message being sent?

At least we all have some chatter for the next few days.

Yikes.

Zan for Three

4th Quarter Rotation

Okay, it’s the 4th quarter, who do you got on the floor?

Leandro Barbosa.  Yup.

James Johnson.  Yup

Ed Davis….er…Okay.

Jamaal Magloire….um…Seriously, really?…Okay

Anthony Carter?

WTF???

Yup, it was a weird night for the Raptors.  Anthony Carter is usually the human equivalent of a white flag, but tonight he saw his fair share of action in the fourth quarter.  Was it a signal to Calderon and Bayless, who struggled tonight? Was it a message to Demar? Who hasn’t played well this season.

Definitely a surprising choice.  Even more so when you consider that Carter was the one who fouled Kevin Martin late in the game sealing the Rockets win.  

Interesting rotation.

Not sure what Casey was going for on Tuesday night, but I guess he was looking for a combination of players that was going to get the job done.  Anthony Carter was worth the shot since the others were not defending the basket well.

Hopefully we see less of Dwane Casey’s crazy lineups.  But I like the fact he gave minutes to players like Magloire and Davis that were clearly earning them during their limited time on the floor.

Demar should have been there if the Raptors wanted to win this game.  He showed energy and fight in spurts, but certainly wasn’t consistent.  This wasn’t the game I would have chosen to sit him on the bench.  Lord knows there have been times to send a message to Demar, but tonight seemed a little misplaced.

Maybe there is more here than meets the eye.

Positive Signs

A loss is a loss is a loss, but when you’re going to lose more than your fair share of games it is imperative to look for positive signs.  Tonight they were few and far between but they were still there.

Despite the loss, Raptor fans could take solice in the inspired play of Ed Davis on Tuesday night.

Ed Davis looked great in his limited time on the floor.  He battled inside, found his teammates and finished when he needed to finish.  Ed is a player whose long-term future with this club is very much in question.  He needs to show he belongs with the big club and can play an important part going forward.  With Jonas Valanciunas on his way to North America next season, playing time is going to be even more limited than it is now.  Tonight, Ed played the way he needs to, to keep his name in the conversation next year. Big numbers and a big effort

Demar Derozan had a rough first half, but tonight he showed he can still be an important scoring threat in this league.  He got to the rim, finished with confidence and was an important option for the Raptors for much of the night.  It wasn’t a complete effort for Derozan, which is seemingly why he didn’t play in the 4th, but the signs of his bounce back are there.  His 3rd Quarter dunk was the highlight of my week.  Hopefully he allows this strange experience to inspire his play, the signs of return to form are there.

And let us not forget Jamaal Magloire who battled out there all night and earned his additional minutes.  He was tough in the paint and didn’t force the issue.  Nice to see him playing meaningful minutes this season as many had him written off last year.

Recalling Zan

Everytime the Raptors play the Rockets I cannot help but recall Zan Tabak and his days backing up another former Raptor Hakeem Olajuwan.  Those were the good old days in Houston as they went on to win back to back championships with the “twin towers” manning the middle.  Also of note is that Zan Tabak has more championships than Lebron (sorry I couldn’t help myself there).

Another player that is reminding me a lot of Zan Tabak of late is Aaron Gray.  He has carved out  little niche for himself and may have played his way into another year with this team.  He’s become a kind of  ”Working class Hero” for Toronto fans.  A hard-working journeyman that is having success.  We know how much Toronto loves them, don’t we?

Now, he certainly will not be our starting centre next year (not if anyone has anything to say about it), but he would definitely look good off the bench and in spot duty for any team in the NBA. Every team needs a guy like Aaron Gray. One who will work hard in practice, won’t moan about playing time, and is ready to play his role whenever his number is called.

When you’re a good team with a good starting C, you need a solid backup. Aaron Gray should be that guy for us next year.  If there is any justice in the world Aaron Gray will be playing key minutes off the bench the way that Zan did back in the Glory days of the Rockets.

Let’s make the “Gray Area” a certainty for the Raptors next season.

Zan of the Night

Kyle Lowry

He showed up in the 4th when it mattered and had the key drive to the basket that cemented his teams win.  Lowry has played well for Houston this season and tonight he, almost single-handedly, willed his team to victory.  On a night when no one could hit a shot to save their lives, Lowry was 8-12 and 4 of 4 from three-point land.  Lowry won this game for Houston.

Not Zan of the Night

Houston Basketball Fans

Houston, we have a problem! Where they heck were you tonight Houston? I have not seen an arena look that empty this side of a Coyotes hockey game .  What’s the excuse? Is something amazing happening in Houston? Was there a hurricane? Did fans forget the All-Star break ended?  Fortunately fans missed a pretty rough game, but that kind of attendance for a pretty competitive team has gotta be, at least a little, disconcerting.

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 5, 2012 · 9:55 pm

A Sort of Super Sunday for Raptors

So it wasn’t an epic victory in Miami, but the game did provide Raptor fans with some things to be happy with.  The effort was there the entire game.  Even when Miami went up by 16 points and looked to be driving a stake through the heart of the Raps, they battled back and made it more than just close.  With 3 minutes left they had the opportunity to take the lead.  In the end they came up just short.

Even without Andrea Bargnani they looked good against one of the best in the league.  They shot the ball well, distributed it to the right people and held everyone not named James or Wade in check.

The loss was tough, no doubt, but it showed that Raptors have potential to hang with the best, especially when they stick to a game plan.

Now they just need to bring this effort against teams they should be beating.  Sometimes the Raptors get themselves jacked up for a meeting with the Elite teams in the league like the Bulls and Heat and then disappear against teams they should beat like the Bucks and Bobcats.

On Monday the Raptors will travel to Washington.  A message needs to be sent.  No second night of a back to back excuse, just hard work.  Fans are not expecting a great number of wins this season, but they are expecting consistent effort.  Let’s make it three in a row.

It wasn't an easy day at the office for Lebron and the Heat. The Raptors fought tooth and nail, but came up a bit short in the 4th quarter.

Zan for Three

The In-Between World of Demar Derozan

It has been an all over the place kind of year for Demar Derozan.  He has shown on occasion that he is a legit scoring threat in this league and other nights he looks completely invisible and irrelevant.  On Super Sunday he was the best we’ve seen him this year.

Derozan was up against a pretty formidable wing for the Heat and he held his own.  Yes, he was shredded on defense but that can certainly be forgiven.  What he did on the offensive end was phenomenal.  he shot 50% from the field and got to the line almost as much as Lebron and Wade.  That’s pretty impressive stuff.

More importantly, he was battling.  He was chasing down loose balls, drawing contact and letting the game come to him.  We’ve seen him forcing the issue far too much this year and that has not served him well.  Today he looked like he was in the flow of the offense and he was the focal point for most of the game.

Demar may or may not ever become an elite superstar (something debated on the Fan590 after the game), and it’s not clear the Raptors need him to become one.  They need him to become a consistent threat, they need him to create his own shot and they need him to get to the line on a consistent basis.  On Super Sunday, Demar looked like he could do all of those.  Now he just has to make a habit of it.

Rotation

I loved what Coach Casey did with the rotation today.  I’ve seen enough Rasual Butler and Jamal Magloire to last me a lifetime.  They, thankfully, have been sent to the bench for spot duty where they should be.  Minutes are finally going to players that have A) trade value or B) a future with this team.

Plus Casey is getting a great effort out of his shorter rotation.

Ed Davis for 30 minutes?  Yes Please. This kid has talent, plays defense and is now back to working hard.  Whether he succeeds or falls flat on his face he needs minutes so that we can find out what exactly he is.

More James Johnson?  That’s what I’m talking about! Johnson is a valuable commodity either in a trade or off the bench.  He provides energy, defensive intensity, and rebounding ability.  His work today on Chris Bosh was a thing of beauty.

Also great to see Bayless get some burn, especially because without Bargnani, he is our main offensive threat.  He is shooting the ball with confidence and if he can work a little on his shot selection and decision-making he’ll be a nice piece off the bench.

Casey is starting to let these players have more time and is subsequently seeing what they are made of.  So far, the results have been up and down, but the results are beginning to show.

Return of the Mack

I wasn’t able to write about it after the Washington game, but it has been nice to see Amir Johnson return to form these last two games.  18 points and 13 boards against the Wizards and another 6 boards today.  He certainly wasn’t as productive from a stat standpoint but in the fourth quarter when the Raptors were making their charge, Amir was right in the thick of it.  He was active on defense and was involved on the offensive end.

Amir is a player that the Raptors see big things for going forward.  He is a nice piece coming off the bench or starting and with 6 NBA seasons under his belt and being only 24 years of age he is a bit of a rare commodity in the NBA.  He’s a veteran trapped in a youngsters body.

He is part of the core going forward and it is important that he get his game back on track.  He is a solid defender (when he’s not fouling people), a potent offensive weapon (with a mid range jumper and his ability to run a beautiful pick and roll), and he’s a great guy to have in the locker room.

Lets hope he’s got himself under control and the issues he was facing are being dealt with.

Zan of the Game

Demar Derozan

He’s back! We think.  A gret offensive performance against a tough opponent.  Now all he has to do is repeat his effort against the Wizards.  Watch our Rashard Lewis!

Not Zan of the Game

Chris Bosh

Now there were players that had worse nights statistically.  I mean Miller had a rough shooting night, Battier was a non-factor and Jamal Magloire stole a rebound from his own teammate at one point in the second half.  That being said, Chris Bosh had a rough day at the office.  He did not shoot the ball well (3-13) and James Johnson gave him fits all game long.  If I’m Chicago or Boston or Philly this is a game I might watch again.  Just to see how Chris Bosh was contained for four quarter.  If I’m those teams I also might make a phone call to Bryan Colangelo and see whether this Johnson guy is available for the stretch drive.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 5, 2012 · 1:55 am

Bargnani and Derozan Spoil Thompson’s Homecoming

So it wasn’t the prettiest basketball game in the world, but it in the end a win is a win, right? The Raptors did not have their A game on Wednesday night, but luckily they were playing a Cavaliers squad that didn’t have their J game.  It was ugly to say the least with the Cavs shooting an unreal 30%.  Part of that is improved Raptor defense, part of that is Cav-itis.

Still there was plenty for the crowd to go home happy about.  Tristan Thompson returned home to Canada and received some solid hometown love in his first appearance at the ACC as an NBA player.  He didn’t have a great game, scoring only a single point, but he’ll remember this game for the rest of his life.

The fans were also treated to a solid effort from the team’s current number 1 and number two.  Bargnani and Demar gave the crowd a reason to get those all-star ballots filled out.  They, once again, shot with confidence and embraced their star role.  Demareven found his touch from beyond the arc.

It wasn't the homecoming that Tristan Thompson had in mind as fellow Canuck, Jamal Magloire and the Raptors held the Cavs to a dismal 30% shooting en route to big win.

If the Raptors keep playing with this energy and enthusiasm it’s going to get harder and harder to hope for the tanking of the season.

Zan for Three

Derozan for Three

Quietly this year Demar Derozan has been developing his game from beyond the arc.  If he is to take the next step in his development he is going to have to become more consistent from three-point land.  So far this year he has been.  He was 5 of 8 on the night and has been 62% on the season thus far.  Don’t expect that kind of percentage all year-long, but the fact that he is becoming more confident taking those shots is a great sign if you’re a Raptor fan.  So far this year he has looked every bit a part of this teams future.

The best part of that improvement is that Demar, with the coaching staff,  has clearly targeted a weakness and is working on it.  Being a star NBA player means work.  The work never stops if you wanna raise the level of your game.  Demar, right now, is putting in the work and is seeing the fruits of his labour.

All Stars

It is way too early to be making any sort of predictions about the All-Star game outside of Lebron most definitely being there.  For the Raptors it was announced on Wednesday that Jose, Demar and Andrea were all on the ballot and if the game were to be held tomorrow Andrea would be on that roster.

He has been doing everything right. Driving the lane, making his defender guard him from all parts of the court and taking shots with confidence.  His 31 points tonight were great, but what is more astonishing is that he isn’t taking that many shots.  Tonight he was 11 for 16.  Last night it took Carmelo Anthony 31 shots to get that many points.

On the season Andrea has been very efficient shooting 52% and he isn’t passing up the shots either.

A great start to the season for Andrea.  With continued effort he’ll be hanging with Lebron at the All-Star game.

Mr. Dependable

Jose Calderon continues to fill the stat sheet adding another double-double to his resume tonight.  He runs the offense with confidence, but what has been less noted is his defensive improvement.

Calderon is never going to be a candidate for defensive player of the year, but he has shown improvement in Dwane Casey’s system.  He is learning to take charges, blocked a shot this year and is clearly working on that aspect of his game.

This guy is a lot better than anyone gives him credit for and is showing himself to be a solid point guard to lead this young team.

Zan of the Night

Andrea Bargnani

You know that feeling when a player gets the ball and everybody in the building knows it is going in? Well that’s the feeling I have every time Andrea touches the ball.  This is the feeling of a star player, a guy that is a game changer and a difference maker.  Right now, Andrea is that guy.

I noticed that the decision was made as a team to have Andrea announced as the last player on our starting lineup, a spot usually reserved for the star player on a team.  Andrea is clearly earning that role.  Tonight and pretty much every night this season he played to his strengths, took advantage of defensive mismatches and played with the confidence of an All-star.  He scored in a number of different ways taking the ball inside and outside and he did it very efficiently.  He continues to look like a star player.  Derozan deserves some mention here as well as, he too, has demonstrated great work ethic this year.  His improvement in his shooting touch is something to be excited about as a Raptor fan. At this point, they are clearly number 1 and number 2.

Not Zan of the Night

Tristan Thompson

This is probably a game that he will not remember fondly.  Returning home to play in front of family and friends, Tristan just couldn’t get it going and spent much of the game on the bench.  It was probably nerves, and it is completely understandable, but he didn’t look very confident.

That being said, Tristan has shown great promise this year in his first year and will definitely have other opportunities to make up for his lacklustre performance tonight.

Chalk this one up to a learning experience.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

***

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by | December 23, 2011 · 9:46 am

Moving Forward with Johnson

In the third part of our season preview we take a look at the small forward position.  Once upon a time this position was occupied by such Raptor greats as Vince Carter, TMAC, Tracy Murray, Jamario Moon and oh course Hedo Turkoglu.  Suffice it to say, there has been plenty of bad to go with the good.

The Small forward position on most teams is filled with someone who can score in bunches and has potential to be an All Star.  Think Lebron, Durant, Carmelo, Granger.  These are the types of players you want playing on the wing.

Th Raptors are still waiting for their Durant.  For now they have James Johnson.

Is he the Raptors Durant?  Not likely, but he could develop into something this year.  He’s going to be given plenty of opportunity.

The Players

James Johnson

Linas Kleiza

Gary Forbes

Demar Derozan

The Story

Basically James Johnson is being given the opportunity here to play heavy minutes.  He is a player that Colangelo has always liked and when he was acquired it was with an eye to the future.  Bryan think Johnson might turn into a serviceable role player, a consistent starter, a spark off the bench.  This year we get to find out.

This year we will find out where James Johnson fits in the Raptors future plans.

Of course, Linas Kleiza is still around.  After an impressive World Championships last year he did very little to endear himself to the Raptors faithful and now he is likely to be coming off the bench unless he can earn his starting spot back.  Although he had a rough year last year, I wouldn’t count him out.  He’s a scorer and still possesses the skills that were on display at the World Championships.

Forbes and Derozan will slide over to the 3 when Casey wants to play “small ball”.  Each possess speed and the ability to defend and will fill in admirably when Barbosa is at the 2.

In Our Dreams

James Johnson proves he is worth keeping around.  This is a kid that Colangelo was after in the draft two years ago and sees him as part of the future.  I’m, at this point in time, inclined to believe Colangelo.

The best case scenario sees Johnson playing heavy minutes, scoring lots of points and defending big time small forwards admirably.  Kleiza embraces his role off the bench and becomes a nice scoring threat when the starters are getting a rest.

Ideally the Raptors want their Small Forwards to be competitive.

The Reality

James Johnson is a good player, but he isn’t an elite forward.  He will have some nice games and then he will disappear.  The reality is that he is a nice player on a second or third unit, not a first unit.

Kleiza could be starting material, but he needs to learn to play with the intelligence that he played with during the World Championships.  He was a leader there, can he be here? Tough call.

This position is one to watch for Raptor fans, but I wouldn’t expect miracles.  Small progress here is still progress.  The Raptors are going to get murdered against the Durants and Carmelos but hopefully as the season progresses Johnson and Kleiza show the Raptor brass that they are worthy of a spot going forward.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

***

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by | December 4, 2011 · 7:51 pm

Raptors Hoping to Bring the Thunder in “New NBA”

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

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

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

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

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

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

What’s to stop this from continuing?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | July 22, 2011 · 4:48 pm

NBA needs to follow NFL’s Lead

Okay NBA let’s get this thing going.

The NFL is nearing a deal.  Yes I hear that the NFLPA has formally agreed to the deal and will likely make some changes to the agreement, but the thing is obviously close.  A framework, at the very least, is getting put into place.

But Derek Fisher came out and publicly said he doesn’t want to follow in the NFL’s footsteps.  If he keeps talking like that there is no way the NBA will follow the NFL’s lead which means no basketball this year.

Derek Fisher says he doesn't like the NFL agreement, but they will be the ones playing next year, while the NBA sits.

Do you wanna be the only sports league that can’t get a deal done? The last bastion where players hold out for their wildest dreams, while fans of the game sit and stew and try to make alternative arrangements for the Winter. Is that really what you would prefer?

C’mon Derek Fisher!  C’mon Mark Cuban! C’mon Teachers Pension Plan!

You’ve cancelled summer league.  Not a problem, summer league kind of sucks anyway.  It’s almost not even an issue.  Unless you happen to be one of the many young players or older veterans that need a chance to show they’ve got what it takes to compete in the league.

But that’s okay.  Fans will forgive that.  Owners won’t blink an eye.  It only hurts the players.  You know, the ones that don’t make spit in this league.  If not for summer league guys like Jamario Moon wouldn’t have a job in the league. But those guys aren’t really the ones that are being fought for are they?

There isn’t any free agency, but that’s okay too.  I mean the Leafs signing of Tim Connelly would have upstaged the NBA free agency anyway. Has there been a bigger power play move this summer? I mean c’mon.  Better to have a free agency period all to yourself.  One where owners and player agents are running around like chickens with their heads cut off getting deals done for their players. You’re forgiven for that one too.

But make no mistake, the time is now.

The fans want it and the owners and players should want it too.  Let’s not wait until the time when training camp is supposed to start.  Let’s not wait for public opinion to wither into hatred or, even worse, indifference.

Remember the year baseball lost the World Series?  Go ask fans in Montreal how they feel about baseball.  Or fans in Florida.  The game is clinging to life support in many cities because of that strike. Indifference took over and the sport still has a long road back in many cities throughout the MLB.

There will be repercussions for losing the season.  Maybe not for Lebron James and his entourage or for players that are best buddies with Kobe (right Fisher?)

The NBA needs a deal now.  Look to the NFL for some ideas at least.

The NFL deal works on many levels. The cap is a hard one that should continue to help small and large market team compete in the league.  The NFL is the only sports league where the idea that any team can win on any given day is truly accurate.  The Arizona Cardinals anyone? New Orleans Saints?  These teams don’t have a history of dominance, but they have remained competitive over the last few years.  The only team this doesn’t apply to is maybe the Buffalo Bills (but that’s an entirely different story all together).

If the NBA doesn't learn from the NFL situation it will be a long time before we see a champonship celebration in the NBA.

The system will be a little bit more performance based, which come to think of it, is kind of how every other job in the world works.  It allows the hard workers to keep their jobs and the ones that don’t produce don’t get their money.  It also helps players like Marcus Banks not become a token in every deal and never get a chance to play or fight for a job because he signed one bad deal. He loses his job for a year and then can fight to get it back. Works for me.  Beats being a professional  DNP-CD every game.

The pre-season is also  reduced as are player practices during the year.  This is a benefit that could limit the amount of injuries and serious incidents that have plagued the league over the years.   Not only this major point, but the tentative NFL agreement also addresses the issues surrounding player health both during and after their playing days come to an end. Not as much of an issue in the NBA, but certainly something to look into.  Former players often face heart conditions and knee troubles after their playing days.

And the cous de gras? It’s a ten-year deal. Absolutely freaking genius.  The fans won’t have to go through this again in two or three years.  It will be a while.

Let’s use this framework by the NFL to help get the NBA owners and players, at least, talking.  This is a good deal for both the wealthy owners and the wealthy players.  It addresses major issues and both sides made compromises.  What is not to like here?

Let’s get this thing going NBA! Let’s get a deal done so we can get this party started! Stop the players from heading over to Europe before it’s too late and get a deal in place.

Derek Fisher and David Stern need to use the NFL’s deal to help bridge the gap between them not drive a larger wedge.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
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by | July 8, 2011 · 9:59 am

Sonny Weems leads the Revolution

Sonny Weems is a Viking and he doesn’t even know it.

Wether or not his decision to sign with Zalgiris in Lithuania influenced anyone is besides the point.  His move was the first of what could be many players heading to Europe on extended leaves of absence until the NBA lockout is settled.

The move is obviously a pre-emptive strike to avoid being left out in the cold during the upcoming NBA season that could be entirely wiped out with a prolonged lockout.  Players would get rusty and skittish sitting around not playing.  In Europe they can burn their competitive fires while waiting for David Stern to figure out this whole mess.  Sounds like a pretty good way to pass the time while the owners and Player reps figure things out back here.

News followed this week that Deron Williams of the New jersey Nets is close to a deal with Turkish club Besiktas.  Kobe Bryant may also follow suit with a stint in Europe.

So has Sonny Weems started a revolution?  It only takes one player making the move and others start to follow.  Will moves such as these put a little more pressure on the owners to settle a fair contract?

Sonny Weems is leading the charge of NBA players to Europe after signing a deal with Zalgiris in Lithuania.

Only time will tell.

Obviously a Deron Williams or Kobe Bryant is going to get more notice than a Sonny Weems.  But good on Sonny for making the move while his contract status with the Raptors and for that matter his entire role with the team is in considerable question.

Sonny clearly has quite a bit to gain from playing overseas during the lockout and may turn it into a lengthy contract if/when he decides to return.  Other players are looking at his decision and realize that it may be in their best interest to keep the fires burning in Europe while David Stern, Derek Fisher and the owners figure out how much more Lebron James and Dwayne Wade can get in a new CBA.

Sonny’s move may also help his NBA club in Toronto.  The Raptors have a new coach with a very clear defensive philosophy.  Sonny Weems is a player that has played, pretty much, the best defense on this team over the last couple of seasons. He could become a valuable asset in coach Dwane Casey’s arsenal as a defensive specialist.

By playing overseas, Sonny is also going to remain in game ready shape and when he comes back to the NBA after the lockout he will be ready to play against the sluggish NBA vets that have been sitting around for months.  The travel and opportunity to play with European vets may also help his game and attitude mature.

Weems made the right decision for himself and he is inspiring others to do the same.  It would be a shame to see the Young Onez broken up next year (if there is a next year), but Weems will likely reap the benefits of playing in Europe.  He’ll score more, become more of a number one scoring option and is likely to be one of the better players in the league.

This gives him huge leverage when the lockout ends (if it ever ends).  Plus he’ll get an up close and personal look at Jonas Valciunas in action.  Isn’t that what we all want right now?

So ladies and gentlemen, Sonny Weems is leading the revolution.  NBA players are headed to Europe.  When this time in NBA history is played back Deron Williams or Kobe Bryant will get most of the credit for leading the charge to Europe the way Christopher Columbus got most of the credit for being the first European to discover America.  We all know the Vikings were there long before 1492 and we all know it was really Sonny that made the first move to Europe.

Sonny Weems is a Viking.

Good luck to Weems in Lithuania( or should I say Sekmes) He’ll likely end up making more money when he comes back and may even become a better player for it, if he doesn’t let being a number one option over there turn him into a black hole back here.  If nothing else Sonny’s European vacation will give Raptor fans even more reason to subscribe to Lithuanian television during the lockout and maybe cancel League Pass.

Kristoffer Pedlar
Zan Tabak Herald

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