Tag Archives: Lithuania

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 | March 10, 2012 · 11:22 am

Jonas is Coming! Spread the Word!

So this past week a Youtube video from the Lithuanian All-Star game was spread around the internet.  It showed Jonas Valanciunas slam dunking an alley oop dunk off the backboard and then dressing up like a wizard and romping around the stadium.

It obviously reached the Twitterverse around these parts and has revved up Raptors fans for the future.

This Jonas guy is coming to Toronto next year.  Fans are pumped up.  I mean he made the All-Star game in Lithuania with Sonny Weems by his side and has been a force this season despite modest averages. He is averaging 8 points and 6 rebounds, but has had games where he has just gone off.

He was the toast of Lithuania this past week when he went off for 25 points at the All Star game and dressed up like a wizard or Gandolf from Lord of the Rings and hammed it up for the crowd in attendance.  He also played really well in the game and is giving fans of the Lithuanian National team something to be excited about as we get closer to the Olympics.

Jonas Valanciunas is having a great year over seas and the Raptors could use his talents to envigorate a fan base that is once again going through a losing season.

In Toronto, we are excited too.

He is causing Raptor fans to talk, blog and actually get excited about their team in a season where there isn’t much else to cheer about.

Shouldn’t the people at MLSE, those shiny new Rogers/Bell ownership team, do something to help the fan base trumpet Jonas’s imminent arrival?

Shouldn’t Bryan Colangelo create a countdown clock like Chris Jericho used to debut in the WWE all those years ago?

Maybe he could “hatch” out of an egg on the last day of the regular season? or have his Gandolf video shown on the large screen during breaks in play.

If nothing else show clips of his play in Lithuania set to the music of Vanilla Ice?

Why not milk the excitement and turn these final few months into an exciting time when Raptors fans can get excited about what is to come?  It’s not like we are going to have a playoff drive to look forward to. Might as well celebrate his imminent arrival while singing “Ice, Ice, Baby”.

The team is playing really well right, looking every bit like a team that could contend for a playoff spot in the next year or two.  Optimism is all around the team right now.  Why not use the excitement of Jonas’s play overseas to keep the positive vibes going.  The positive energy the team creates now may help fans through the pain of a losing season and another year without playoff basketball.

The Raptors brass need to create a positive vibe surrounding the team and Jonas is a reason to get excited.  He’s a young player playing very well and will come in and fill a position of need next year.  Let’s use his strong season to create positive energy surrounding the team.

Then again, the hype machine may put too much unnecessary pressure on Jonas.  He may not need any more attention than he is already likely to get when he arrives.  Maybe that’s too much to put on him this early in the game.

But it’s something to get excited about dammit! We haven’t  had enough of that this year.

While New York has exploded in LinSanity and LA basks in the glory of CP3 and Blake Griffin, we don’t have that “wow” factor to get fans pumped about next year.  Even Minnesota, a place where excitement is always hard to find, have Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio to enjoy.

Bargnani has played well and Derozan has also; in spurts.  The Johnson’s are doing alright and there seems to be quite a bit of money to spend this coming year. That is positive.

Why not add some anticipation for a rising star.   At this year’s All-Star game in Orlando, the Raptors did not have a single player in the game or the Rising Stars game.  That will all change next year as the Raps will add Jonas and at least one more 1st round pick.  Having him involved in some sort of promotion is going to get the fans thinking about the future.

As a team about to finish near the bottom of the league again, that kind of thinking is what you want from fans.  It’s what brings them back and gets them buying tickets.

Maybe the subtle approach is the best one to take.  Show his Gandolf video at the ACC a few times.  Mention his name on air more frequently.  Maybe even have him appear at the ACC during halftime or at a break, hand out some prizes to contestants.  Maybe even show some clips from Lietuvos Rytas games.

Whatever the Raptors PR people decide to do (and honestly they don’t really need to do much) the fans deserve to celebrate this kid’s arrival.  they deserve to get excited in a way that differs from looking up Lithuanian basketball videos on Youtube.

Toronto wants to celebrate something awesome and Jonas can help us do that.

And thanks to his Gandolf costume we already know what the ACC will be chanting when he comes up with a big block next year.

“Thou Shalt Not Pass”!!!

Jonas Valanciunas is certainly getting Raptor fans excited for next year, but he could be exciting the entire fan base with a little more push from the organization.

We need something to get excited about because we can really already start thinking about next year.  Jonas, A first rounder, improved play from Bargnani, Derozan and the Johnsons, plus a bunch of capspace.

That is a recipe that Bryan Colangelo will be asked to turn into success.  His job likely depends on it.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 1, 2012 · 12:03 am

Redemption in New Orleans

A night after letting a win slip through their fingers, the Raptors showed up in a big way during the fourth quarter and stole a victory from the Hornets in New Orleans.  Linas Kleiza led the way with a beautiful shooting performance and Demar Derozan, one night removed from stirring up controversy, brought his A-game to the table with a solid 21 points.

Demar was the talk of the town all day long following a twitter controversy after the Houston Rockets game.  Whether he was referring to coach Casey’s benching of him in the 4th quarter of Tuesday’s game or his own performance against the Rockets when he tweeted “straight bullsh#!+”, he certainly vindicated himself with a strong night at the office.

What was most inspiring about Wednesday nights victory was not just the W, against a team they certainly should be able to beat, but the way they came back in the 4th quarter.

This is a team that hasn’t been able to do that very often.

Tonight they dug deep and found a way to win.

When you have a group of young players trying to grow, comeback victories certainly help build that confidence. 

Onward and Upward.

Zan for Three

Redemption Tweet

So Demar Derozan really caused a controversy didn’t he? And he didn’t even write a complete sentence.  Last night, after being benched for the entire 4th quarter,  he tweeted “Straight Bulls#!+”.  This led Raptor fans to lose their minds and begin inferring that this tweet was a result of anger toward Dwane Casey.

The things we can tell in 140 characters and less huh?

Whether Demar was mad at himself or his coach, Wednesday night he came out ready to make amends and prove a point.

Derozan is a player that comes with high expectations.  Whether those expectations are fair or not is a completely different story, they are there regardless.  He has not played up to those expectations and fans are wanting more of him.

20 points plus every night out is what is being asked of him. Tonight he delivered just that.  What makes his performance even more enjoyable for Raptor faithful is that he did it by aggressively attacking the rim.

Demar Derozan was able to put his "Twitter-rage" behind him and step up big time in a thrilling, come from behind victory, for the Raptors.

What’s more is that this whole “twittergate” has shown that Demar is growing up a bit.  Yes, he lashed out publicly (which is not cool), but he is getting angry when he doesn’t play well.  He is not accepting mediocrity, or accepting defeat, he is fighting to do his best night in and night out.

A player that wants to do well and is his own worst critic is a player you want to have on your team.  This is a good trait in a young player because it ensures that the player is going to work hard to improve moving forward.

Demar showed toughness and aggression on Wednesday night.

Hopefully we see more.

The Kleizanator

When Linas Kleiza shoots the ball well, there are few things as beautiful.  I haven’t seen him shoot the ball consistently since he was wearing a Lithuania jersey in the World Championships, but tonight it was nice to see him shooting with confidence.

This is a player that has never really achieved the results that were expected when he was signed to his large contract.  He is, however a very good ball player and when he finds his rhythm he is certainly a marvel to behold.

I like Kleiza.  I have since we signed him and I hope he can turn it around.  His contract makes him, virtually, untradeable at this point, so hopefully we continue to see good things from Kleiza because he’s here for, at least, another year. 

Fourth Quarter

Good teams are judged based on their performance in late game situations.  Let’s be honest, 75% of basketball games are decided in the final frame.  Teams either step up or fall flat  in the last quarter of a game.  The Raptors have been a team that usually cannot keep up with their opponents and let leads slip way or simply languish too far behind.

Tonight, albeit against a lesser opponent, they hung in and fought their way to victory. In the 4th quarter, on the second night of a back to back, they outscored their opponents 33-15 in the final frame.  That is what good teams are able to do.  It’s what separates the top from the bottom, the good from the bad, the stars from the pretenders, the wheat from the sheaf (yeah, I said it!).  Tonight the Raptors looked like the real deal.  Albeit against the Hornets.

Zan of the Night

Amir Johnson

Not the player that jumps out at you on a stat sheet.  Kleiza and Derozan would be the top scorers, but Amir was the best all round player tonight.  He battled defensively, was active on both ends of the floor and just provided his team with the energy it needed to come back.

There is a marked difference in his performance when he is able to stay out of foul trouble.  On Wednesday he was able to stay on the floor and that’s a good thing for the Raptors. 

Not Zan of the Night

Ed Davis

The Jekyll and Hyde impression continues with Davis.  One night after looking great in extended minutes, he crashed back down to Earth with a terrible performance.  He was not a factor in this game at all and Dwane Casey gave him every opportunity to show that Tuesday night wasn’t a fluke.  Davis needs to start showing up consistently or he will be wearing a different jersey next year, end of story.

And I hate saying that because he’s one of my favourites, but he plays a position that many others do as well.  He needs to start separating himself from his competition. 

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 26, 2012 · 1:17 am

Raptors Show Fight in Win over Jazz

It was everything you wanted in a basketball game.  Whether you are driving the tank this season or still cheering for little victories, this game had something for everyone.

The Toronto Raptors used a complete team effort to battle back from an 18 point deficit to overcome the Utah Jazz in double overtime for their second straight victory.

The Raptors used team defense, timely shooting and grit to come away with a well-earned win.

The biggest winner on the night was anyone that stayed up to watch the end of the game.  Fans were rewarded with a back and forth battle that gave fans two quarters of free basketball.  Nothing wrong with that.

Hopefully the win wasn’t costly as Andrea Bargnani left the game after re-aggravating his calf injury and was later seen on crutches.  Hopefully he will be back, he clearly makes a big difference.

Zan for Three

Night and Day

This team is completely different when Andrea Bargnani is on the floor.  He gives them direction and is an absolute force on the offensive end this season.  Everything he has ever been in our minds over the last few years, he is turning into on the court.

He is shooting the lights out, driving the ball and driving defenders bananas as he draws them inside and out.  Teams can’t guard him and he isn’t allowing them to contain him either.

The best sign for Raptor fans actually came when Andrea re-aggravated his calf injury late in the game.  He was pulled from the game and looked absolutely irate.  He sported a death stare for a while and slammed his towel on the bench.  This might not seem like something to get excited about, but when was the last time you saw that much emotion from Il Mago?

If he is the star for this team going forward, and I think that he is, then this is exactly what you want to see your leader do when he has to sit on the bench.

Love the emotion!

Playing to Potential

Bryan Colangelo sold us on a lot of these players over the last few seasons.  James Johnson’s grit and intangibles, Amir Johnson’s size and defensive presence, Calderon’s ability to get to the rim, Kleiza’s hot shooting and Demar’s ability to drive.

When the Raptors needed someone to step up in the absence of Andrea Bargnani, Linas Kleiza answered the call. He was dominant off the bench and led the team to victory in overtime.

These are qualities we have seen only flashes of over the last couple of seasons. Tonight it was all there.  It was incredible to watch players do what they are supposed to do on paper.

Jose drove the ball, Demar got to the line,Kleiza shot the lights out and James Johnson battled all night long.  This was a complete team effort tonight and when all cylinders are firing.  This team is tough to beat when they are all playing the way they are capable of.

Dwane Casey you might just be on to something here.

Kleizanated

Linas Kleiza was a big Colangelo acquisition an off-season ago.  He went into the 2010 World Championships  and looked dominant shooting the ball and leading Lithuania to a thrid place finish.  Then he here and was flat.  He didn’t shoot the ball well, didn’t defend well an eventually lost is start SF spot before having his season shortened by injury.  He never reached the potential that we had seen or heard about.

Since coming back from injury Kleiza has ben getting better and better and is beginning to show flashes of that player we saw in the world championships in 2010 for Lithuania.

This guy can shoot.  He can be a dominant force for this team. And I’m looking forward to a whole lot more of what we saw Wednesday night because he is finally beginning to look like a player the raptors might want to keep around.

Zan of the Night

Kleiza

No Question.  When Bargnani went out with an injury, Linas stepped up in a major way hitting big shots in the extra periods.  He had ice in his veins and seemed confident every time he touched the ball.  The Jazz couldn’t stop him, especially in the extra frame and his defensive energy in OT  helped clinch the victory.

Not Zan of the Night

Gordon Hayward

Just couldn’t get anything to fall despite the continued effort.  Not a great night at the office for him, but when you’re a shooter you have to ride the wave.

An honourable mention to Ed Davis once again for helping cement his spot in the doghouse.  You have to make the most of your time on the floor, especially when it is limited.  Amir gets this, Ed does not.

I’m also upset with him because I have him on my fantasy team.  If not for Ed Davis I’d look like a genius.  It’s time to pick up the slack my friend.  For you, and for me.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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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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by | July 5, 2011 · 11:08 am

Valanciunas looks strong in USA loss

Jonas (and I’m going to keep call him that because it’s easier to spell than his last name) dropped 30 and 15 in a losing cause against the US today.  It looks like it was a great showing nonetheless. Have a look at the postgame interview and highlights. Sounds like Jonas is highly respected out there. My favourite part is when his teammate says having Jonas out there is like having two players on their team. Bam! With all the booing and complaining out there immediately after the pick it looks like BC drafted a stud. Silly us.

Here are the numbers; Jonas is second in scoring at 21.4 a game, first in rebounds at 13.4 and first in blocks at 3.6. Yikes. Putting on a clinic.

Next game is tomorrow against Egypt. (Yeah, I have no idea how this tournament works, but you can follow along here)

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by | September 14, 2010 · 10:18 pm

5 Things We have Learned From the World Championships

As a Raptor fan there was a lot to watch during the world championships.  Many teams to cheer for and many players to keep an eye on both former and current members of the team.  The end result of the tournament wasn’t unexpected, but some of the moments were.  Let’s take a look at 5 things Raptor fans learned from these world championships.

Durant was a big-time player for the US team this summer and he is expected to big part of the Thunder's quest for the ring.

1.    Take Kevin Durant in your Basketball Pool.

While the boys in Miami will be squabbling over the ball, Kevin Durant will be filling score sheets.  He was absolutely brilliant in this tournament.  A definite MVP candidate if I ever saw one.  Watch out for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook had a great championships as well so make sure if you’ve got and underdog for the playoff pool, the Thunder are our choice.

2.   Everyone Loves Hedo.

So apparently we are alone in the hatred of Hedo Turkoglu.  Well maybe in Portland there is a bit of resentment, although maybe not after the season Turk had last year.  The Turkish faithful love this guy.  He can do no wrong.  Even in a tournament where we wasn’t even the best player on his team he was constantly cheered.  Phoenix fans will adore him to start off, but if he plays lackadaisical basketball like he did last year, they will grow to hate him.  He had a decent tournament and was the leader of the silver medal winning Turkish side.  It would seem, at least for the time being, Turkoglu is still a very popular player in many parts.

3.   Trust in Jay.

The U.S. did not send their best players to this tournament.  No Kobe or anyone from the Miami Heat and still they won this tournament without a single loss.  Much of that success is thrust upon Coach K, and rightfully so.  But do not underestimate or undervalue the role that Jay Triano played in this tournament.  He is a great teacher and understands the international game better than most.  He has had a couple of lousy seasons behind the bench for the Raptors, but this current team may actually suit his strengths more so than last year.  Yes, one all-star is gone.  But a Team remains.  One with a wealth of talent and variety of styles.  There are many international players on this team and that may benefit the coaching style of Triano.  He may be able to take them farther than most pundits think.

4.   The World is a little bit smaller.

Not too long ago the U.S. would have run roughshod over the competition at the Worlds.  It got to  point years ago where it was  a clear battle for second and nothing else. The tournaments almost became unwatchable.  But something remarkable has happened since the Dream Team captured the hearts of the world in Barcelona in 1992.

The world has caught up.

Brazil came within a shot of beating the U.S. at this tournament and countries like Argentina, Spain, Lithuania and Turkey are threatening to take the crown the U.S. have worn for decades.  The games are closer and much more intense then they were in ’92.  This is no longer a battle for second, it is an all out war.

5.   In Kleiza We Trust.

Linas Kleiza may have had the best tournament of any one player.  He was absolutely dominant in every game he played other than the U.S. game.  Some would argue that this one game spells doom for him in the NBA, but the reality is he was the only player the U.S. really had to focus on stopping for Lithuania.  Toronto may have itself a sleeper pickup here.  Kleiza is good enough to hang with the best in the world and is definitely fit to be a starter in the NBA. Kleiza averaged 19ppg and 7.1 rebounds over the tournament.   Kleiza  has waited for this chance to start on an NBA team and the Raptors may be getting him at his best.  Watch out for Linas Kleiza this year.

Kleiza's performance at the world Championships leaves Raptor fans wondering if this year might be better than first thought.

Plus the Foul…

Jorge has Still Got it

You can say many things about Jorge Garbojosa.  It is my personal opinion that his leg injury was a key in the Raptor struggles after the 2006 season.  The team was never the same and frantically tried to replace his presence on the team and could not.  His comeback attempt left bitter tastes in the mouth of management and fans and he left in a bitter feud over money.  You can say many things about him, but you cannot question his heart.  Many falsely assumed his career was done, but there he was on Spain’s bench playing a key role for the team he loved more than anything.  He played well, in minor minutes and showed that he can still be very valuable to a team looking to contend. (Listen up Miami)

The World Championships were much more interesting and entertaining than most thought they would be.  The Canadian team is in a state of shock after their embarrassing play, but the world competition is looking healthier and healthier.  The tournament has become relevent again with the superior play of many international teams from Europe and the Americas.

Raptor fans were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of some future players in action.  With impressive performances from Linus Kleiza (19ppg, 7.1 reb) and Leandro Barbosa (16.2 ppg, 3 reb), Raptor fans can rejoice that this is going to be the beginning of something beautiful.

The only other thing that became clearly evident during the championships is that I miss Basketball.  Can’t wait for the season to begin!

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

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by | September 6, 2010 · 12:42 pm

Kleiza a Key for Raptors this Season

During his time as Toronto GM, Bryan Colangelo has made some excellent under the radar pickups.  Players like Anthony Parker, Jorge Garbojosa and Carlos Delfino come to mind.  Colangelo has been very good at seeing the potential in players that may or may not have ever shown it at an NBA level.  This year his best under the radar pickup may be Linus Kleiza.

Kleiza was a forgotten man in Denver after having two pretty solid seasons where he was the backup to Carmelo Anthony.  Kleiza was a regular part of Denver’s 2007/08 season where they won 50 games and made it into the playoffs.  Kleiza averaged 11.1 pts that season and 4.2 rebounds.  He continued his success in Denver averaging 9.9 points off the bench the following season, but didn’t fit into the long-term plans of the team.

He left Denver on strange terms as the team was prepared to offer him a contract extension but the Nuggets backed out when they decided to trade for Chauncey Billups.  Kleiza then headed to Greece for more money and more playing time.  The Nuggets thought very seriously about matching the Raptors offer in the summer because they liked what Kleiza could bring to the table:  A great shot, rebounding ability, toughness and a versatile player that could fill in at many positions.

Linas Kleiza has shown leadership and versatility in these World Championships. The Raptors hope he brings the same this coming year in Toronto.

He spent this last season in Europe playing for Olympiakos averaging 17.2 points and 6.4 rebounds and picking up the Alphonso Ford Trophy as the highest scoring player in the league.

If these accolades aren’t enough to convince Raptor fans that Kleiza might be one of the better pick-ups of the off-season, outside of South Beach, consider that fact that he is leading the Lithuania National team at the World Championships.  They are, so far, undefeated and look to be a serious challenger to the top teams from the US and Spain.  Kleiza has been the main reason for the great success of the Lithuania team.  He is averaging 17.4 points and 6.8 rebounds and had one of his best games, coincidentally against Canada where he dropped 18 points and had 10 rebounds.  More interestingly he is shooting 58% from the field and 38.9% from the 3-pt line.  These numbers become even more important on a Raptor team that did not shoot the ball very well last season.

His statistical numbers are impressive but he has also been showing leadership on this team and has played very strong defensively thus far.

Coming into a season where the Raptors are without last years team leader Chris Bosh, Kleiza could provide that locker room presence that is so integral to teams trying to win.  The fact that he is playing strong defensively should be a welcome sign to raptors fans that saw last years team perform as one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

The Raptors and Kleiza seem like a perfect match on paper.  The Raptors are a team with a number of international players and players with international experience.  Kleiza can play both forward positions and offers the Raptors and coach Jay Triano with an abundance of lineup possibilities.

Kleiza is penciled in as the starting small forward but could also see significant time at the power forward position.  With his strong performance overseas last year and his incredible performance so far in the World Championships, Raptor fans can’t help but be excited about what Kleiza will bring this coming season.

Canadian Coach Leo Rautins said this of Kleiza before Canada’s match with Lithuania ” He’s not just going to nail you in the post…he kind of goes inside, outside, he comes off screens, he’s not just taking you straight down into the post.”

This versatility makes Kleiza very hard to guard against and makes him a weapon that Jay Triano will have to work hard to take advantage of.  Outside of Andrea Bargnani and maybe Demar Derozan, this team doesn’t have a serious offensive weapon.

Kleiza will figure prominently in every game  this year for the Dinos and if he plays with the intensity we have already seen thus far, Colangelo may have himself one of the better free agent pickups of the off-season.

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

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