Tag Archives: Matt Devlin

by | March 21, 2012 · 10:28 pm

4th Quarter Blues Continue

There is something about the 4th quarter for the Toronto Raptors lately.  A close game against the Knicks turned into a blowout in the final frame a night ago and on Wednesday against the Rose-less Bulls the Raptors once again fell apart.

Toronto hung in for three quarters and actually felt at many points during the game like they would take control and upset the conference leading Bulls. Then the Raps were outscored in the 4th 32-13.  The team went from fight to retreat  in a matter of a quarter and missed an opportunity to send the troops at the ACC home happy on Armed Forces Night.

A tough loss. Late game decision making and efficiency needs to improve.  The last 12 minutes were uglier than the Camoflauge jerseys the Raptors were wearing.

The Zan for Three

The Italian Dud

I am a big Bargnani fan, but he has not been the same player since he returned from his calf injury.  He’s been a couple steps slower, he hasn’t looked as aggressive and he isn’t driving the lane with the same punch as he did before the inury.  I’m sure it’s just part of the recovery process, but Bargnani doesn’t look like the teams star right now.  He looks slow, sluggish and ineffective.

Hopeully Bargs can turn it around before the end of the year and show fans more of what made him so successful during the first part of the season. Over the last few games he has looked like a completely different player.

The Team to Beat

With all do respect to Miami and the “Whore of Akron”, Chicago is the team to beat in the East this year.  This team is as deep as any in the league.  Derrick Rose is the reigning MVP and right now the Bulls are 11-4 without him in the lineup.  That is absolutely unreal.

This team can score from any part of the court, plays tough defense and is incredibly efficient on both ends of the floor.  To absorb the loss of the league MVP without missing a beat is truly remarkable.

Tom Thibodeau deserves another coach of the year award for this unreal run the Bulls are on.

Their depth and ability to spread the floor makes them the fvourite to win it all.  It helps that they are, quite possibly, one of the more likeable teams in the NBA.

Salami and Cheese

The best part of any home game against the Bulls is the return of Chuck Swirsky to Toronto.  When he was here, I feel Raptor fans didn’t appreciate him as much as they should have.  His voice is what made Raptor games fun, even when we were losing.  Matt Deviln, Chuck’s replacement, is an excellent colour commentary guy, but lacks the unusual fanboy feel that Chuck had when he called games.  It is always a pleasure to welcome him home to Toronto, even if it is only for one night.

The Raptors once again hung around for three quarters with their opponents. Unfortunately they failed to take control in the fourth and were blownout by the end.

Zan of the Night

Camoflauge Uniforms

I admit that when I saw the pictures of these jerseys online I was a little disturbed.  They looked hideous and laughable.  When the Raptors came out of the locker room tonight, however, the uniforms looked good.  They were not nearly as ugly as they looked initally.  I admit I was wrong.

Not only that, but the purpose of the night was to honour this country’s brave men and women who risk their lives so that we can be free.  Having the Raptors walk out in their intros with a member of the armed forces was a great touch.  A promotional night that ended up being very sentimental.

Well done.

Zan of the Night

Tom Thibodeau

This coach is phenomenal.  He’s got no Rose and he conintues to win games.  He is a great X’s and O’s coach and he, like our own coach Casey, preaches defense.  Despite the rough start, he turned whatever switch he needed to and brought his team back from the clutches of defeat.  That is what coaches who win are able to do.  If the Bulls and Thibodeau are going to have playoff success against teams like the Heat, they are going to need to find ways to win ball games.  This is a coach that has his team going in the right direction.  When Rose gets back; watch out.

Not Zan of the Night

Andrea Bargnani

Another night of on court struggles for Andrea.  He hasn’t regained his form following his injury and the questions about his ability and toughness are starting to rear their ugly head again.   Bargs shot the ball poorly tonight and hasn’t looked good in a while. He was thoroughly outplayed on both ends of the floor by Boozer and Noah.  He’s going to have to dig deep to finish the season the way he started it.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 17, 2010 · 6:03 pm

Bam! Raptors pound Mavericks.

The Matrix drives for two against his former team.

My co-writer couldn’t have said it better. This is the team we hoped we had when Bryan Colangelo made a gluttony of moves in the off season. Bosh was his usual dominate self, Bargnani was hitting shots, Jarret Jack was driving the lane, Jose Calderon seemed to never miss and Hedo Turkoglu went 2 for 9.

…you can’t win em all, I guess.

But looking on the bright side the Raptors outscored a very very good team for the final three quarters of the game. Stellar!

The Zan for three

Jose, I’m sorry.

Egg on my face. On Thursday we posted two different points of view on what to do with Jose Calderon. Here and here. Well, tonight he proved keeing him might be the better option. In the second quarter he was nothing short of spectacular. Ripping the game away from the Mavs and never looking back. If Bryan Colangelo has a good offer on the table come February, he might be a little bit more pensive to pull the trigger after a game like this.

Bargnani numero uno

Mark Cuban scratches his head at what exactly happened to his Mavs Sunday Afternoon

Is that Italian? Spanish? Both? I dunno. What I do know is that Bargaani has proven to the league that he’s worthy of the number one pick some 4 years ago. My how time flies. 4 players in that draft turned out to be studs. Roy, Rondo, Gay and Bargnani. They’re all fantastic players and Bargnani has earned the right to stand tall amongst them.

Here’s a question, if you had to do that draft all over again. What would be the order? I’d go:

Roy

Bargnani

Gay

Rondo

But to be honest, it seems like we’re just starting to see a glimmer of the player Andrea can be. How sweet is his mid range game looking right now?

The right man for the job

A lot was written about Jay Triano when the Raptors were losing in November. I remember one prominent NBA reporter said Jay Triano was “in over his head”. Doesn’t look like it now, does it? He’s done an excellent job managing minutes, he manages an excellent locker room and his Xs and Os are stellar. Kudos to Bryan Colangelo for sticking by his man. He’s the right guy for this job.

Zan of the Night

The Mac Magic Mouse

No seriously. This thing is amazing. Everyone go out and get one.

Outside of that, Jose Calderon.

Not Zan of the Night

Matt Devlin

I love him. I really do. But did anyone catch him call Nowitzki, Turkoglu? Twice in 5 seconds! Hilarious. Reminds me of Ron Burgandy reading off the teleprompter.

Plus the foul

By the way. I ‘d put this win as the Raptors biggest win of the season. A blow out against a top notch opponent. Very impressive. Onwards and upwards – away from that .500 level.

Jeremiah McNama
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 9, 2010 · 7:23 pm

Reggie Evans: Man or Myth?

Reggie Evans is expected to bring defensive energy and intensity when he returns to the Raptors' lineup later this month.

When the Raptors traded Jason Kapono this off-season for Reggie Evans General Manager Brian Colangelo was banking on getting back an X-Factor, a game changer, and someone who could anchor the defence with his strong physical presence.  The guy is a beast and has a reputation around the league as someone you don’t want to match up with.  He embodies everything that has been missing from the Raptors lineup this season: hustle, defense, intensity and physicality.  Since his injury, and with the Raptors defensive struggles during the early part of the season, his importance to the Raptors has been discussed regularly by fans and pundits alike.

Reports are indicating that Evans may return some time during the month of January and from listening to Raptor Nation you’d think the Raptors were getting Charles Barkley circa 1993 back, or maybe Kevin Garnett.

His legend has grown during his time on the shelf and with every Raptor loss it grows more still.  When the Raptors get abused inside the announcers always mention “it would be nice to have Reggie Evans back”, “How much do the Raps miss this guy?Dominique Wilkens even strode up to the Raptors announce table during the debacle that was the Atlanta game and said two words to Devlin and Jack Armstrong: “Reggie Evans”.  In his mind, and in the minds of many, he is the missing ingredient that could help transform this team into a defensive presence in the East.

The Raptors have been playing very well recently and are starting to “turn a corner” as Jay Triano gets more consistent with his rotation, the players get to know each other better and the defensive effort becomes more consistent.  The presence of Reggie Evans can only expediate that process.  He could be the added shot of energy this team needs: a human can of Red Bull to lift them during the second half of the season.

Reggie Evans has built a career on rebounding the ball

In his time with Philadelphia, Reggie earned a reputation as a player you did not want covering you.  Ask Al Horford, ask Kevin Garnett, ask Jermaine O’neal, Ask Chris Bosh.  This is a tough guy to play against.  There are no easy baskets against Reggie Evans; he is going to make you earn every bucket you get.  On top of that, if you miss, he won’t let you get the rebound.  That ball, fine sir, belongs to Reggie Evans.  That sense of dominance and energy has been missing for the Raptors for large periods of time this season.

With Reggie coming back it will mean less time for Amir Johnson who has been consistently reliable and occasionally exceptional.  It may cause Triano to have difficulty figuring out how to distribute minutes.  A nice problem to have but one that could also disrupt the recent cohesion of this group.   His return will likely push Bargnani, Bosh and the young gun Johnson in practice and improve the help defense for the perimeter players (Calderon, I’m looking at you). It will also certainly mean more emotion from the Raps.  An intangible element that is contagious and incredibly beneficial in a seven game series, which the Raptors seem destined to be a part of.

…And the Legend continues.

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by | December 20, 2009 · 3:44 pm

Punjabi! Raptors win.

The Raptors hang on for a win against a Hornets squad that featured a limping Chris Paul. The win marks two in a row now for the Raps, with three more games to go in a key stretch for the team. All at home, all against teams who the Raptors can compete against.

Let’s shoot the three

Zan for three

You know, these kids are ok.

The kids in the lineup; Johnson, Weems, and DeRozan looked great on Sunday. They provided energy and athleticism and reminded me of a young Atlanta team that plays above the rim.

Banks is the new Paul

Let’s hear it for Banks. He contained Paul, okay an injured Paul, for most of the game. Sure Jack did his part as well but Banks was a complete surprise. I’m not saying he’s worth his 5 million contract but he’s certainly is talented and useful player.

Punjabi for three

Best part of the game? Hearing Devlin call Punjabi instead of Peja when Stojakovic hoisted a three. Couldn’t stop laughing.  It’s going to catch on.

Zan of the Night

Banks!

Is anyone else surprised how fast he is? Maybe one of the fastest players we have on this team

Not Zan of Night

Matt Devlin

How awkward it was. A good 3 or 4 seconds of dead air after he called Punjabi. And then they tried to cover it up. A classic.

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by | August 20, 2009 · 7:02 am

The Raptor X-Factor

Antoine WrightEvery game last year the Raptor commentators would choose their in game “X-Factor”, a player that helped tip the balance of the game in the Raptors favour but wasn’t one of the starting five.  This year one of the interesting choices each night for the raptors announce team will be, newly acquired, Antoine Wright.  He embodies the spirit of an X-Factor not because he is expected to be a big part of the teams offensive output but with his athleticism and defensive energy he may just end up being a key reason the Raptors win ball games.

Wright was considered by many to be a “throw in player” or “add on” in the massive Hedo Turkoglu/Shawn Marion trade but could end up being a hidden gem.

In a recent interview, with the Fan590 morning show, Jay Triano discussed Wrights status as the forgotten acquisition this summer.  “The one player everyone keeps forgetting about in this deal is Antoine Wright who is a super good defensive player and he tracks the ball extremely well.  He is a little bit of a tough guy as well.“

It is clear Wright addresses needs on this Raptor team and may become a popular name summoned from Triano’s bench this season.  Given the Raptors difficulties guarding the perimeter last year it would seem to make sense that Wright will become a very valuable player on this Raptors team.  Not only can he defend athletic players on the opposing team but Wright can do something that most of the Raptor perimeter players could not do last year: rebound.  For a shooting guard he averaged a very respectable 2.1 rebounds per game.  This is something Jay Triano is looking forward to seeing from his team “we are also expecting rebounding to come from the perimeter as well”.

Last year with Dallas Wright was asked to fill in as a starter for large stretches of time when Jason Terry went down with an injury mid-season.  He responded by averaging 7.3 points per game and was asked to guard very strong perimeter players in the loaded Western Conference.  With the increased minutes Wright played a key role in the Mavs success near the end of the season(in which they finished 6th in the West) and into the playoffs.

Brian Colangelo is confident that Wright will play a large role in improving the Raptors defensive fortunes this season and will provide much needed toughness to a team that was often criticized for being “too soft”.   “The thing I like to hear about him, from Rick Carlisle himself, is that he might have been his toughest defender and can guard three positions on the perimeter 1’s , 2’s  and 3’s, even some very quick ones.  Also, he’s a tough kid.  He might have been his (Carlisle’s) toughest kid.  If there was a fracas on the court last year he was the first guy to get his chin in there.  What did we need more than anything last year?…perimeter defense and toughness.”

Both Triano and Colangelo do not see him as a “throw in” player on this team or a footnote in the Hedo Turkoglu trade.  With Antoine Wright the coach and general manager see someone they can depend on late in close games to defend the basket.  That is something the club was sorely lacking last year and as a result saw victories slip through their fingers in the late stages of games.  Don’t be surprised to see Antoine Wright playing key minutes late in ball games.  In fact there is a very real possibility that we could see Wright starting at the 2 or 3 positions at some point during the season.

Don’t be surprised if next year Matt Devlin, Leo Rautins and Jack Armstrong regularly select Antoine Wright as their X-Factor.  He is someone that tends to fly under the radar when you look at this roster…something the Toronto Raptors will be banking on this coming season.

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