Tag Archives: Marc Gasol

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.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | December 6, 2011 · 10:10 pm

Raptors on the Prowl for Talent

This shortened Free Agent Frenzy promises to be unlike anything we have ever witnessed in the NBA.  Players will be moving from team to team at a rapid pace and  by the end of the week you will need to pick up a programme to identify your home team’s starting lineup.

Here in Toronto, it is pretty clear that the Raptors need everything and anything to help the club compete with the upper echelon of NBA teams.

They are blessed with some capspace and have players with favourable contracts they could move in separate deals to acquire additional talent.

What is a GM to do?

Bryan Colangelo is in the first year of a short two-year contract as has beefed up his front office with the addition of Ed Stefanski and Dwayne Casey will, no doubt, be looking for more players that fit his philosophy.

There are plenty of players out there that could help the Raptors.  I mean anything outside of another 7 foot Italian centre would help this ball club.  There is also a growing feeling that the Raptors would be better off to avoid the free agent frenzy entirely this year a nd save up for next summer when they will have additional capspace and, potentially, a top three pick.

Tough decisions await in the days ahead.

Let’s take a look at some possible targets and see whether we think they might fit in with this years incarnation of the Raptors or whether the Raptors should pass.

1) Tyson Chandler – We don’t have a true centre, Dwayne Casey turned Chandler into a superstar during the NBA playoffs, he plays defense and could provide help for Andrea Bargnani under the rim.   It all seems to add up to taking a chance on Chandler.

But here’s the rub.  It is going to cost something stupid to get him in Toronto.  He is a great player and definitely fits in with the current roster, but that money (likely upwards of $10 million) would be better spent at another time.

Verdict: A difficult Pass – save the money and spend it strategically later.

Raptors might be better off to avoid tempting options like Tyson Chandler.

Chuck Hayes – Um, a 6’6′ Centre? Really? This aint the NCAA. 

Before we all get snarky, he is actually a very efficient centre.  What he lacks in height, he makes up for in effort. He fights for the ball, defends the post very well and sounds like a player that coach Casey would love.

He also won’t command $10 million a year and might actually lead by example when defending the paint.

Verdict: A cheaper centre option.  Ignore the size, this dude can play.  Definitely worth a look, especially if the price is right. 

Shane Battier – Rumour has it the Raptors are still on his final wish list of teams.  He is a natural leader and a winner.  This is the type of player that comes in and puts a team over the edge. You don’t hesitate if you have a chance to add a player like Battier. 

Suffice it to say I don’t think Toronto is the right fit for Battier.  Sure, it would be great for us, but not for him.  He would be a great veteran presence for players like Demar, Amir and Bargnani to learn from and he would instantly become one of the best forwards we’ve ever had.

Why would he do it though?  He has a shot at an NBA championship with the Heat.  That would be a destination that would make a lot more sense from his perspective.

Verdict – If he’s interested in logging lots of minutes and playing the role of veteran leader, then I say sign him up.  I just don’t see it happening.  He’ll go for the ring in South Beach. 

Marc Gasol – What a dream signing, huh?  Gasol playing with Calderon again, a tough big centre, a budding superstar joining our team.  It would be nice to be the ones stealing a young star player from another team for once.

He’s not gonna come cheap and the Raptors likely don’t have what it takes to steal him away from Memphis. He’d be a great addition, but the timing of his availability just isn’t right.

Verdict: A pipe dream.  But a wonderful one, nonetheless. 

Samuel Dalembert – Another big man who would help move Bargs over to the 4 position where he will, theoretically, be more comfortable.

He’s a strong, shot blocker and he’s Canadian.  Plus, how awkward would it be hearing Leo discuss Dalembert on a regular basis?  Could be worth it for that reason alone.

He certainly fills a need and wouldn’t demand the ridiculous price tag the other free agent centres would.

Verdict – Not my first choice (I’m a Reggie guy), but he gives us what we need at the 5 and having a Canadian on the team would be an added bonus.  It would have to be a short contract though, as Big Sammy is on the decline.

Reggie Evans – With all the talk about the need for a centre and toughness at the 5 position, Reggie seems to be a bit of a forgotten man.  He fills needs the Raptors have and can still be that veteran presence in the locker room.  He already hangs out with most of the young Raptors (if I am to believe twitter anyway) and seems to have their respect.

He’s tough, he rebounds, plays defense, is a great locker room personality and will come relatively cheap on a short-term deal.

Verdict: Sometimes the best answers are the ones staring you right in the face.  Might be the best option out there for Toronto.

Whatever way Colangelo and the Raptors front office decides to take us, the next couple of weeks are going to be super exciting.  Trades, signings and eventually: actual basketball.

Can’t wait.

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | May 1, 2011 · 2:55 pm

Ex Raptors become X-Factors in Round Two

As round two begins in the NBA, we’ve said goodbye to a few old allies.  Jarrett Jack and Marco Belinelli have packed their bags after a very succesful first round series against the Lakers.  Matt Bonner had a disappointing first round with San Antonio as they were bounced by the Grizzlies and Roy Hibbert and TJ Ford find themselves spectators as round two begins.

As the second round begins,  a few former Raptor favourites could tip the scales in their second round series.  Let’s take a look at the key Ex-Raptors that will likely be X-Factors for their respective teams.

Miami vs. Boston

The Big three vs. the Big Three.  This is a dream matchup for the NBA and any fan who enjoys good basketball.  We know that Lebron and Wade are going to score in bunches and we know that Ray Allen will be tossing key three pointers throughout the series and Kevin Garnett will be intense.  What we don’t know is how Chris Bosh will play against some really tough playoff competition.

If Miami has dreams of championship glory, they will need Chris Bosh to fight like he has never fought before.

Chris Bosh will be the key to winning this series for Miami.  Bosh has played very well thus far against Philly, but he is about to match up against Kevin Garnett who he has never played well against.  He will also have to play against the likes of Big Baby and Jermaine Oneal.  These are not finesse players.  They get dirty and fight with everything they have for a loose ball or a rebound.

If Chris Bosh is to be successful against these tough players he is going to have to channel is inner Reggie Evans and JYD.  Bosh needs to be less finesse and more banger.  He will need to fight like he has never fought before and be the player that keeps possessions alive and gives Wade and Lebron second chances.

On the flip side, Boston will rely heavily on Jermaine O’neal.  There likely won’t be a Shaq appearnce until later on in the series so Jermaine will be handed the task of containing Chris Bosh.  This is someone he knows quite well from his days in the T-dot.

Jermaine O’neal has been through the rigors of playoff basketball and is no newcomer to intensity in the playoffs.  His Indiana teams played their fare share of tough games.  He will need to be defensively sound and provide help defense when Lebron and Wade bust through the key.  If you need a hard foul to send a message, Jermaine O’neal is your guy.  He backs down from no one and may be the last line of defense for the Celtics.  He will be a key if the Celtics hope to head to the Eastern Conference Finals.

If Bosh can find that inner fight, Miami wins this series.  If he gets bullied on the glass by Garnett and O’neal and is shut down on the offensive end then it will be a second round exit for the boys from South Beach.

Dallas vs. LA Lakers

This series will be a shoot out.  Scoring is going to happen in bunches and defense will likely take a back seat as it often does in Dallas.  The mavericks have a number of players that can score in bunches in Nowitzki, Terry and Jason Kidd.  These three will score but might have trouble keeping up with Kobe, Gasol and Bynum.  If they are going to keep up, they will need their supporting cast members to step up.

Enter Shawn Marion and Peja Stojakovic.  These two players have the offensive skill set to be deadly to an opposing team.  While the defense focuses on Dirk and Terry,  Peja and Marion will likely get their fair share of good looks.  Marion is a player that makes those around him better.  He can pass effectively, shoots the ball well and knows how to get to the foul line (a valuable asset in the playoffs).  Peja Stojakovic has enjoyed a resurgence with Dallas and simply needs to stand on that three-point line and deliver.

Neither player was in Toronto for very long so we never had the chance to see them at their best.  But this is the playoffs an both are very familiar with the battles of playoff ball.  If used properly these players will help Dallas overthrow the defending champs.

Throw in “Almost Raptor” Tyson Chandler and you have an absolutely lethal rotation that can beat you in a number of different ways.

If Dallas spreads the floor, shares the ball and gets plenty of supporting effort from their bench they will win the series.  If the bench can’t contribute against the defending champs then the Lakers will continue their quest for another title.

Atlanta vs. Chicago

Do not underestimate the Atlanta Hawks.  Pundits and “experts” are already counting them out.

Don’t.

They are a young team finally coming into their own and might surprise the Bulls, who looked a little sluggish against Indiana.  This is a Hawks team that was able to defeat a pretty good team in Orlando.

Although I expect the Bulls to win the series I think it will be a longer  series than anyone thinks.

Watch out for Al Horford.  He will be a tough matchup for Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah inside. He is tough to match up against in the post and provides sturdy defense that could give Chicago’s Bigs fits on the inside.

The ex-Raptor to watch here is Chuck Swirsky, who may just faint when his team reaches theEastern Conference finals.  If the Bulls win he’ll likely look more lost than Tomas Kaberle during the Bruins game 7 celebration earlier this week.

It is likely that the Salami and Cheese will be brought out for the Hawks.

Oklahoma vs. Memphis

This series has no Raptor connections, but the Raptors should take note of these young teams and how they have built themselves into winning franchises.  It wasn’t long ago that a 22 win season was considered a success for the Thunder and Grizz.  These teams were able to build themselves back into contenders and the Raptors should hope they follow a similar path.

Neither of these teams became a success overnight and they surely didn’t do it by trading draft picks or signing  a slew of veteran players to bad contracts.  They built themselves slowly through the draft and then added veteran pieces to compliment those young players.

Watching Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka face Randolph, Gasol and Conely could very well be what Raptor fans will see in a few years from Derozan, Davis and Amir.

In terms of X-Factors for this series I would go with Shane Battier and Kendrick Perkins.  Perkins has been a non-factor thus far in the playoffs but he will need to help lead this young team as they focus on Playoff advancement.  He’s been through the wars before and they will need him to help contain the beast that is Randolph. Hopefully he wakes up soon or the surging Grizzlies might be too difficult to defeat.

Lots to watch as a Raptor fan, as some old friends will likely be keys to the teams that ultimately prevail.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
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