Tag Archives: Memphis Grizzlies

by | May 12, 2012 · 1:31 pm

Reggie is Still Reggie

Every year there is a player or two that step out of obscurity and become a bigger part of their teams’ success in the playoffs.  For every Michael Jordan there is a Steve Kerr, for every Dirk Nowitzki there is a Tyson Chandler or Ian Mahimi, for every Kobe Bryant there is a Sasha Vujacic. A player that contributes more in a playoff setting then they may have during the regular season.  A player that raises their level of play at the right moment and contributes to postseason success.

For the Clippers, this year that player appears to be Reggie Evans.

Raptor fans are familiar with his skill set, his personality and just how valuable he can be.

He’s a banger.  He grabs rebounds he has no business getting, makes himself a pain in the rear on the defensive end and moves around the floor grabbing loose balls and missed shots like he isn’t 250 pounds.

Raptor fans know how valuable Reggie Evans can be to a team, the rest of the NBA is now getting a chance to see it as well as he has been a difference maker so far in the playoffs.

Reggie is a game changer, an “X-factor” and in a series as evenly matched as Memphis and the Clippers he might just be the difference maker in this series. A player that tips the scales in his teams’ favour.

Reggie has been putting together a nice run in the postseason.  He’s increased his minutes to 22.6 per game.  And he’s chipping in with 8.7 boards, and 50% shooting off the bench.  This from a player that averaged 5 rebounds in 13 minutes during the regular season.  His sudden playoff turnaround has come as a bit of a shock south of the border.

Of course while the rest of the US has been amazed with Reggie’s sudden good play, the Raptor faithful in Toronto aren’t surprised at all.  That’s just how Reggie always played the game while he was here.

During Reggie’s two years in Toronto he made himself a fan favourite with his endless effort.  Raptor fans weren’t used to seeing a player haul down rebounds on a regular and consistent basis.  He did.  He earned himself a starting spot during the 2010-11 season mainly because of this rebounding prowess.

Fans here couldn’t get enough of his effort.  He wasn’t a shooter or a flashy player , by any stretch of the imagination, but no player endeared himself to the fans more than Reggie did.  In fact, on a number of occasions during his time playing on the court and before he came back from injury in 2009 the fans at the ACC regularly chanted “Reg-gie, Reg-gie”.  It now seems to be catching on in Los Angeles.

Reggie Evans was never expected to do big things in Toronto but he kept playing hard and eventually earned himself a starting role.  He was the heart of this team for the time he was here and was greatly missed by the team this year.

This year he found himself in LA playing a much less important role.  He didn’t get much time and was only able to make a marginal difference with 4.5 rebounds in limited minutes. He played off the bench behind Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and eventually Kenyon Martin too.  He had to make the most of his minutes and, for the most part, he did.  He was the same hardworking player he was in Toronto but the results weren’t as noticeable on the court or stat sheet as they were the year before.

That is, until now.

The playoffs have been a totally different story and it seems like Reggie Evans was built for this time of year.  In the NBA playoffs players with his skill set become king.  Look at how Tyson Chandler exploded last year or how important Joel Anthony was during the Heats’ run last year.  Reggie Evans can be a difference maker in this series.  He may even become a difference maker in the playoffs in general, if, of course, the Clippers are fortunate to make it beyond Game 7 in Memphis on Sunday.

Then again, Raptor fans already know how valuable Reggie Evans can be.  We had him for 2 years and were fortunate to watch him beat up opposing offenses.

Now while the Raptors prepare for an important offseason  fans can sit back and enjoy watching Reggie get up to his old antics with the Clippers.

Hopefully we will get to see a little more of him after Sunday as well.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 3, 2012 · 1:22 am

Tough Loss to Our Expansion Cousins

For most of the first half the Memphis Grizzlies were channeling their roots and looking a whole lot more like the Vancouver Grizzlies of old.  The Raptors were taking it to them inside and out, scoring at will and playing tough defensively.

By the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies remembered who they were and came back to make it a game in the second half.  The Raptors, to their credit, hung in throughout the second half and looked to be taking control of the game late in the fourth.  Then the Raptors remembered that it is them, not the talented Grizzlies that are lesser cousin right now.

The Raptors 4th quarter efficiency has not ben great this year and once again it let them down.  The Raptors could not hit free throws, late game shots or make defensive stops when it mattered most.  They also couldn’t stop themselves from making silly fouls on the defensive end.

Rudy Gay’s crowd silencing jumper with 26 seconds left was a classic example of the Raptors poor perimeter defense late in games.

Despite a strong effort, especially from the Raptor bench, the Raptors could not hang on when the game was within reach.  More growing pains for a young team that has not learned how to close out a game.

On the flip side “tank nation” is rolling strong toward a higher chance at a higher pick..if you’re into that sort of thing.

Zan for Three

Cousin Jarryd

So Jarryd Bayless is like that 2nd or 3rd cousin that you see once a year at a family reunion and really know nothing about.  Then you find out he does something kind of cool, but you still really don’t know him.

Bayless is that guy for the Raptors.

He’s been here now for a season and a half and I still feel like I have no idea who this guy is.  Is he a point guard? A shooter? A scoring threat? A reason to be afraid?

Bayless has been many things in his time with Toronto from the “point guard of the future” to a “volume shooter”.  He’s never really met the expectations that have been placed on him.

It’s kind of important to figure out exactly what his role is.  He’s a restricted free agent after this year and I don’t know if anyone on the Raptors staff has any idea of where he fits into the future of this ball club.  Is he a young piece to build around? or an expensive bench option that could be moved for something better and cheaper?

He looked great tonight with 18 points off the bench in 18 minutes.  A very impressive performance tonight, but then again tomorrow, like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.

He remains an enigma wrapped in a puzzle.  But somebody on this team needs to figure out how, when and where he fits into this teams future. He could be a valuable piece of the puzzle..or not.

Like that cousin you don’t really know well, do you invite him over for dinner, or place him on your ignore list?

Cousin Jose

Jose Calderon on the flipside is the cousin you know almost too well.  He’s almost like a brother, but you can play the cousin card whenever you’re upset at him. He comes over unannounced and is always staying longer than he should  His habits annoy you and you can almost predict exactly what he will say to you at any given moment.  But you love him.

Jose has had his name bounced around in trade chatter all week and really all season.  I can certainly see how his name might come up as any playoff team would love to add a no nonsense point guard who doesn’t turn the ball over.

He’s older. Doesn’t really fit into the Raptors long-term plans and would be a great addition to a playoff team.  He’s arguably the best backup point guard in the entire league.  He just happens to be our starter.

Jose Calderon and the Toronto Raptors had plenty to be frustrated about on Friday night as they let another chance to win, slip through their fingers at the ACC.

Jose has been here a long time.  Like a cousin you know far too well, it’s easy to point out his faults.  You know him better than you know your other cousins.  So while Bayless doesn’t get panned that much, Jose faces a full onslaught of insults because we know the ins and outs of his game so well.

Is Jose that bad? Not at all.  I was reminded just how good he is on Friday when I saw that he ranks among the top five in the league in assists per game and is always way up on the list for assist to turnover ratio.

Jose is efficient and dependable.  These are qualities that every playoff team is looking for.

These are also qualities that are nice to have on our own team.  A strong, efficient, dependable point guard is not a bad thing to have on a team with young players.

Hopefully he sticks around.  He’s one of my favourites and arguably one of our best players.

He’s our annoying cousin, but he’s such a nice guy you can’t help but love him.

Cousin Leandro

Barbosa has played well this season in bunches.  He is usually able to put together a number of games in a row where he shows he is still a dominant player in this league.  He’s one of the fastest players I have ever had the privilege of seeing in person.  The guy can flat-out move.

He’s also working very hard right now to get the Raptors the most value in a trade close to the deadline.

Barbosa is the most likely Raptor to be traded before the trade deadline and right now, if you’re a playoff team, how do you not take a chance on this guy? Barbosa has been phenomenal in limited minutes.  Another 13 points tonight in 20 minutes with very efficient shooting numbers (6/9 or 67%).

Leandro is doing everything he can to raise his trade value to go to a contender.

Let’s hope a Barbosa trade helps the Raptors financially long-term and will help clarify the role played by Jarryd Bayless moving forward by giving him extra playing time.  Hopefully a trade, if it happens, will net the highest price.  He’s worth every penny.

Zan of the Night

Rudy Gay

You have to have some serious onions to hit a dagger shot like he did in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter in Toronto.  You have to have bigger onions to then hush the crowd after hitting said shot. Also notable was his hammer dunk on the Raptors that had, even the hometown fans, standing on their feet.

Gay was phenomenal tonight and he has been for much of the year thus far.  A great effort for Gay on the road.

Not Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

It pains me every time I write his name in this section of the blog.  He is a great, athletic player and one that I enjoy watching.  But he hasn’t really played consistently this season.

Tonight was another off night as he shot 12% from field and finished with 4 points.

These are not the numbers you hope to see from one of your “elite” players.  Demar is really having a rough go this year.  There is still plenty of time to turn it around.

This year, in a year that is all about evaluating what we have, Demar needs to step up.  Time is running out to turn this year around and prove he is a go-to player for us going forward.

***

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.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
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by | February 20, 2010 · 10:51 pm

Jarrett Jack and Hedo Turkoglu lead Raptors to Victory

The Toronto Raptors used a huge fourth quarter and 6 players scoring in double digits to battle back for a big win; their second in a row.  The ACC crowd erupted regularly in the last few minutes of the game as Jarrett Jack drove the lane fearlessly, Bargnani came up with huge blocks and Hedo Turkoglu hit a couple of big shots and had a key offensive rebound at the end.  It wasn’t pretty and they looked tired for much of the game but the Raps played as a complete unit in the fourth and were able to snatch victory from the clutches of defeat.

The Zan for Three

Leadership at the Right Time

The Raptors were looking a little lost offensively and wasted many offensive possessions.  Players were taking ill-advised shots early in the clock and were not looking for their teammates.  Washington took full advantge of these miscues and built up a comfortable lead.  When Jarrett Jack re-entred the game in the fouth quarter everything changed.  The Raptors were looking for their teammates, taking confident shots and their defensive intensity went through the roof.  Jack willed this team to victory tonight.  He made many smart plays and chose to drive the net instead of settling for jumpers in that crucial fourth.   Jack was the captain tonight and victory was his destination.

Jack drives to the net and leads by example against the Wizards at the ACC.

Defensive Intensity

Where was the intensity for three and a half quarters?  The Raptors looked lackidaisical on defense and Andray Blatche took full advantage.  The Raptors dialed it in during the fourth quarter and completely shut the Wizards down.  Andrea Bargnani had huge blocks in the fourth quarter that changed the momentum in favour of the Raptors.  Antoine Wright made adjustments in the second quarter and took Josh Howard out of the game in the second half.  Hedo Turkoglu came up with a huge offensive rebound in the dying minutes and the Raptors forced a key 24 second violation near the end as well.  The Raptors used strong team defense and Triano made smart defensive substitutions at the end of the ball game.

Rocking at the ACC!

How intense was the crowd at the end of the ball game?  Obviously Toronto sports enthusiasts are used to a raucous crowd during intense Leaf games on a Saturday night.  Let’s be honest, there hasn’t been many of them this year.  But the crowd was doing the wave during a basketball game and was up on their feet for much of the end of the game.  The “Defense” chants were especially loud and the team played their part.  The crowd was a key intangible tonight.

Plus the Foul…

Ball!

Vindication

Hedo Turkoglu played a strong game.  He was especially strong in the fourth quarter.  He made smart shots and played through pain.  He was fairly or unfairly criticized after his 1pt night against the Grizzlies, but he came to play tonight.  He was a difference maker out there with the mask or without the mask.  Way to go Hedo!  Ball!

Zan of the Night

Jarrett Jack. He led the team to victory in the fourth controlling the tempo at the right time and charging up the crowd and his teamates with his fearless determination.  Antoine Wright deserves praise as well for a solid game on both ends of the floor and for taking Josh Howard out of the game.

Not Zan of the Night

The Wave.  The wave at a basketball game?  Don’t get me wrong, I loved the enthusiasm of the crowd, but why? Toronto basketball fans sometimes confuse me with their passion for pizza and their overzealous booing at times, but this is new.  I hope it doesn’t become a trend.  But an A for energy.

***

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 18, 2010 · 8:27 pm

Without Chris Bosh the Raptors Will be Tested

Chris Bosh has a sprained left ankle and is listed as day-to-day, he will miss Friday’s game for sure and possibly Saturdays as well.  This is, obviously not good news, if you’re a Raptor fan.  It may however shed some light on what exactly this team is made of.

Bosh sitting on the bench may be a common occurance over the next few games.

The Raptors have been challanged this season with Jose Calderon injured for a while and Reggie Evans missing the majority of the season.  Those losses were difficult to absorb, but do not come close to comparing to a Bosh injury.

The Raptors offense is centred around Bosh.  The team is centred around Bosh and without him it will be interesting to see what the players and coaching staff decide to do.

A team that has used its bench and depth to its advantage all year long will surely depend on it for the next two games.  Amir Johnson will play big minutes and Marco Belinelli will have to find his shooting touch if the Raptors are going to be successful without their leading scorer and team leader.  Andrea Bargnani will have more touches than he has before and Reggie Evans will have to play important minutes for the first time this season.

One player that will be under the microscope the next few Bosh-less games will be  Hedo Turkoglu.   Hedo was open with the fact that his “head wasn’t in the game” against the Grizzlies.  Without Bosh, he will have to play the role of team leader.  He will be asked to control the tempo, take more shots and drive the net.  He will need to be the Hedo Raptor fans have yet to see.  The Hedo from last years playoffs.  The one making $53 million.

This may also be a time for Raptor fans to think about the future.  Bosh is an unrestricted free agent this summer.  Teams all over the NBA cleared out capspace this afternoon in an effort to lure Bosh, Lebron, Wade or Amare to their respective team.  These next two games without Bosh may be what 2010/2011 looks like in Toronto.  As scary as that may sound for Raptor fans.  These next two games may be a sign of things to come.

The Raptors will have to play well these next two games, without their star, in order to convince Bosh that this team is for real.  They will have to convice themselves as well.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 17, 2010 · 10:48 pm

Raptors Lose an OT Heartbreaker at the ACC

It wasn’t quite the start to the not-so-second half that the Raptors had in mind.  Playing against a Memphis squad that was on the second night of a back to back, the team got down early in the first, but battled back and had control of the game with under a minute left.  Five unanswered points in the last 40 seconds from the Grizz erased a 16pt fourth quarter from Chris Bosh and sent the game into Overtime.  The Grizzlies looked every bit a team ready to take aim at a playoff spot in the extra frame.  Mike Conely and a seemingly unstoppable Rudy Gay, snatched a victory away from Toronto in overtime, ending their eight game home winning streak.

Mike Conely drives past Jose Calderon. Conely was a key to the Grizzlies' Overtime victory over Toronto on Wednesday night.

The Zan for Three

Lonely All-Star

Chris Bosh had a monster night for the Raps.  He had 32 points and 10 boards on the night with 16 of them coming in the fourth quarter.  It seemed Bosh had single handedly propelled his team to victory until the wheels fell off.  Bargnani was the only other starter that scored in double digits.  If the Raptors are going to win ball games, especially in the dying minutes of games, someone else is going to have to step up.  Hedo, Jack and Derozan were not really factors and the Raps were thoroughly outscored in the first and third quarters.   A better effort is needed from the starting five to give their All-Star a little help.

Trade?  No Way, Jose!

Calderon did not play great defense on Rudy Gay at the end of the game and let Conely walk right in for the game tying points at the end of the fourth, but are you sure you want to hand the keys to this team to Jarrett Jack?  No offense to Jack, he has had a great year thus far, but he is far from consistent.  Jack was a non-factor tonight and it was Calderon that brought the team back in the second and fourth quarters.  Without his effort off the bench this game would be a write-off.  Calderon and Jack compliment each other well.  When Jack is having an off night, Jose is there to take the lions’ share of minutes and vice versa.  Not to mention Jose has made the second unit a force to reckoned with. If you subtract Jose from the equation; nights like tonight will be much, much worse.  Hold on to the depth that has gotten you this far.  You’re welcome, Mr. Colangelo.

Hockey Mentality

Toronto is a hockey town, no matter how hard I wish for it to be otherwise.  This team is beginning to find a personality that mirrors the city it represents.  Amir diving for balls?,  Antoine Wright getting stitched up and returning minutes later?  These are the characteristics of fighters.  Tonight the second unit fought for the victory outscoring the Memphis bench 43-9.  The Raps may not have come out on top, but that kind of effort from your bench gives you reason to believe the team is almost ready for the fight of a playoff series.  That, is of course, if the starters can get their act together.

Zan of the Night

Rudy Gay.  The Man was unstoppable and his shot was falling.  He was the difference maker, especially down the stretch, and the Raptors had no answer for him.  Chris Bosh also deserves mention as he was a one man team in the fourth quarter and deserved better support from his starting unit.

Not Zan of the Night

Hedo.  I don’t know if it is the mask or ball or whatever, but this guy needs to step up.  Like yesterday.  He is a key to our fortunes down the stretch and into the playoffs and if he is going to play like this:  He can take his ball and go home.

***

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 11, 2010 · 11:20 pm

Raptors throw up an air ball in Indiana

This was a statement game for the Raptors tonight.  An opportunity to take out their frustration of losing a tough one to the Celtics a night earlier and just hammer an unsuspecting Indiana club, that has been playing some pretty bad basketball this season.  The game ended up being a bitter pill for Raptor fans to swallow as they blew a 23 point lead and allowed a brutal Indiana squad to take advantage of lethargic play and a poorly executed offense.  It was a humbling defeat but for every big win against a San Antonio or an Orlando there is bound to be a loss or two to the Memphis’s and Pacers of the NBA as well.  It still stings though.

The Zan for Three

Yes, Coach

Hedo Turkoglu consider yourself called out.  You have been quite off this last stretch of games and although you saved yourself in the dying minutes of yesterdays tough loss, you could not save yourself today.  On that note I’m not liking your “Laissez Faire” attitude out there either.  You scored more points tonight, but the air ball and clanker you threw up in the fourth were just awful shots.  The only thing worse than watching you play right now is watching those awful Sprite commercials that play 7000 times during the game.  You make more money than most of the Raptors team; you need to start bringing it.  When will we see the clutch Hedo of last season?  The time to get off the couch is now, my friend.  The Zan will be watching.

Hedo Turkoglu has a lot to think about after the Raptors blew a 23 point lead to the Indiana Pacers Monday night.

Making a Statement

The Elite teams of the NBA use the Pacers of the world to pick on.  Like a bully on the playground you take out your angst and hurt feelings about other situations (losing to the Celtics) on the little guy that doesn’t deserve it.  The Raptors were far too nice tonight.  If they won’t do it against the Pacers of the world, how will any other team fear them? The Refs helped out a little when Indy was down but that is no excuse to squander a 23 point lead against a bottom feeder the night after you got spanked.  The Raps cannot use the “back-to-back” excuse anymore either.  Elite teams, bullies, don’t admit weakness.  They blame it on a cramp or a bad day or the sun being in their eyes.  This is a key time for the team as they drive to the playoffs.  Man up and work through it or our playoff aspirations are just that.

Who is Protecting Home Base?

The defense on the perimeter tonight was once again shameful.  Jack, Calderon, Hedo, it really didn’t seem to matter did it?  Earl Watson is in the NBA because of the way he plays against Toronto.  There is no excuse for allowing a team to drive the net with that much ease.  The coaching staff and the players need to figure it out.  Defence cannot be something you play hard one possession and then take a vactation from the next.  If/When the Raptors are in a playoff series in a couple of months these blunders will be far more devastating.  Defense wins championships.  Remember that boys!

Zan of the Night

Danny Granger.  Everytime I see him play I cannot help but think: “Rob Babcock thought Joey Graham was a better selection”.  I will never stop scratching my head at that one.  He would look so good in a Raptor Uniform.   Just one more reason to curse the name Babcock.

Not Zan of the Night

Hedo Turkoglu. He has not been as good as advertised and his play has seriously affected the team the last two games.  It is nothing that can’t be forgiven with a strong finish to the season and a strong playoff effort but c’mon man!  Jarrett Jack:  you’re next.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | August 29, 2009 · 9:39 am

The Raptors Add Depth To Bench In More Ways Than One

Marc Iavaroni

It has been one busy summer for Raptors General Manager Brian Colangelo.  He has completely overhauled the team leaving only three core players from last year (Bosh, Calderon and Bargnani).  He has looked at the team from last year and addressed the glaring holes that were present a year ago:  wing scoring, clutch play, athleticism and toughness. He also made sure that the core players on this team were locked up for the foreseeable future in order to convince Chris Bosh to re-sign next year.   The one move that may have slipped under the radar this summer was the official acquisition of assistant coach Marc Iavaroni.

The Iavaroni addition was rumoured since last season when he routinely showed up during Raptor practices and was made official this summer.

He has long been a favourite of Colangelo’s having worked under him as an assistant coach in Mike D’Antoni’s system and also as a consultant for the US mens basketball team.  In 2006 when the Raptors were looking at potentially letting Sam Mitchell go Iavaroni was one of the only names mentioned in any reports other than Mitchell who was eventually re-signed.

It is not a surprise that Iavaroni has found a home with the Raptors when he once again became an NBA coaching free-agent.

In Iavaroni the Raptors are getting much more than a “coach in waiting”.  And make no mistake about it he is not in Toronto for Jay Triano’s job.  He is here to make Jay’s job easier.  He will be the teams defensive specialist assigned the task at improving the defensive strategy on an offensively focused team.  Iavroni, like Triano, is also a student of the European style of game that is the hallmark of the Raptors team.  Jay Triano believes this to be an asset as it provides consistency throughout the coaching staff.  ”With my experience in playing overseas and coaching the Canadian team, and Marc Iavaroni playing in Europe, I think there will be a European flavor to what we do.”

Iavaroni, was a stand-out assistant during his time with the Phoenix Suns where the team made it to the Western Conference finals twice.  He earned a reputation for being a straight shooter and was involved in drawing up plays for the team as well as inspiring a sense of defense on another offensively gifted team.  He has also assisted with the Team USA men’s team and worked alongside Pat Riley in Miami before becoming head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2007.

Iavaroni, a former NBA player as well, is known for his ability to improve team defense although you wouldn’t know it from watching his Grizzlies play during his tenure there.  He was instrumental in developing the Suns’ defense during this time there.   Although the Suns were (and still are) known for their running offence, powered by Steve Nash, they did see a significant improvement in their defense during Iavaroni’s tenure in the desert. Iavroni

With the Raptors he seems like a perfect fit.  The team has had major issues defending the perimeter and has been running the risk of being labeled a one-dimensional team.  Iavaroni will be stepping in with new defensive minded players like Reggie Evans, Antoine Wright and, to a lesser extent, athletic rookie Demar Derozan.  Iavaroni will also be asked to help improve the defensive efforts of Bargnani, Bosh and Calderon in order to propel the Raps into the upper-ecshelon of the Eastern Conference.  Shutting down the opposing team was an area of concern for the Raps last season

Iavaroni provides a steady hand to the coaching staff.  One who understands the challenge ahead for Jay Triano and one who can help both the current roster and the current coaching staff achieve the levels of success now expected of them.  Iavaroni’s years of experience as a player and coach provide some veteran leadership on the bench this year.  He has been a winner in Phoenix and a general in Memphis and will be asked to provide both this coming season.

With Iavaroni on the bench this year the Raptors are proving they have as much depth off the court as they now do on it.

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