Tag Archives: MLSE

by | May 29, 2013 · 8:09 am

Ujiri or Bust

Tim Leiweke doesn’t mess around.

The man responsible for bringing David Beckham to the LA Galaxy and for helping finally bring the Stanley Cup to Los Angeles has his sights set on bringing in current executive of the year and Denver GM Masai Ujiri to run the Toronto Raptors.

According to a number of reports Leiweke is offering Ujiri the keys to the franchise and a 4 year deal worth upwards of  $2.5 -$3 million per year.  That would make Ujiri a very rich man and would be a significant pay raise on his current deal (set to pay him  just over $500,000). An offer that will be hard to turn down since the Nuggets look unlikely to match dollar figures. 

The offer has to be a tempting one for Ujiri.  He would return to Toronto where he was given large opportunities with the Raptors franchise under Bryan Colangelo and would come with a much bigger profile as the reigning Exec of the year.  This time around he would be calling the shots and would presumably garner a lot of media attention for his big move.  And at $3 million per season he is looking at a huge pay raise.

If Masai Ujiri were to sign in Toronto, it would be a clear sign the franchise is ready to take big steps forward.

If Masai Ujiri were to sign in Toronto, it would be a clear sign the franchise is ready to take big steps forward.

Ujiri does have strong ties in Denver and is only part of the way through his plan to rebuild the franchise into a permanent contender in the Western Conference. So it remains to be seen whether he will make the move back to Toronto, a franchise in a bit of turmoil, but Leiweke’s effort has been an inspired one.

When Leiweke made the decision to let Bryan Colangelo focus on “Presidential matters” he decided he wanted this Raptors team to have his fingerprints all over it. He really needs to make a “splash” with this GM appointment. That’s what the big wigs at MLSE are expecting and what the fans in this city are hungry for. 

Leiweke was brought here with much fanfare and the expectations are sky-high in Toronto.  He came in and removed Colangelo who was a very capable and respected leader of Basketball operations, not just any replacement will do.

Leiweke will be judged heavily on the successor he chooses for Colangelo. He needs to hit one out of the park and Ujiri would appear to be that home run.

Ujiri, in his time in Denver, has been able to turn around the Nuggets despite the loss of superstar Carmelo Anthony.  His moves have turned the Nuggets into one of the more dangerous teams in the West.  That he did it with smart basketball moves and without boat loads of cash is another appealing part of his time in Denver.  He has really learned to evaluate talent and spend wisely. 

Toronto could use his basketball mind as they face an offseason with limited amounts of capspace, no draft pick, a coach in his last year of a contract and a major Bargnani problem. 

Colangelo had the responsibility of making those moves taken away from him and now Leiweke needs someone he can trust to make some very difficult decisions.  Ujiri is the guy that MLSE wants. 

But can Leiweke lure him away?

The dollar amount that has been reported would seem to be a big reason for Ujiri to leave, as is the opportunity to work with his one time mentor in Colangelo. Many believe that Colangelo was kept in Toronto so that he could be a part of a team with Ujiri.  Other than that Toronto offers a major challenge for Ujiri, one that he may be tempted to take over.  He took over Denver is a very troubling time for the franchise, facing Carmelo Anthony’s free agency, and has made them stronger.  He seems to relish challenges and, so far, has been up to whatever challenge he has faced. 

If Leiweke can convince Ujiri to make the move back up North it might just be the first step in turning around the fortunes of this franchise.

Five years without playoff basketball in the city, the absence of a legit superstar, since the departure of Chris Bosh, and the rise of other sports teams in the city make this a very important year in Raptor land.  MLSE needs an executive running the ship that can sort out the problems that exist within the franchise.  They need someone who can do more with less and one whose name alone can garner respect around the league. 

Ujiri is that guy. 

Leiweke was hired because of his ability to bring in the best of the best.  Ujiri is the best option out there for the Raptors and his appointment would be a very high-profile catch.

Sure there are other names being bandied about, but they are more fall back options.  Kevin Pritchard is an option if he decides to look outside of his current contract with Indiana and Troy Weaver in Oklahoma City, one of the best executives in the league not in a GM role, is another solid, yet less flashy, addition.

Make no mistake though, Leiweke doesn’t want there to be the perception he hired his backup plan.  He wants his first choice and he was hired by MLSE because he usually gets his first choice. 

The ball is now in Ujiri’s court, but his eventual decision will have a lasting impact on Leiweke going forward.  He was brought here with a reputation and it is already being tested. 

This first move by Leiweke is a big one.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 21, 2013 · 1:06 pm

Raptors Need to Finish Strong

It is hard at this point in a lost season to find the motivation to put it all on the floor.  There doesn’t seem to be anything important to play for, other than pride and individual stats, but the Toronto Raptors would be wise to finish the year as strong as they possibly can.

Another loss in Charlotte on Wednesday night is not the kind of effort that is going to instill any faith in this franchise going forward. Despite recent losses there are still a number of talented young players on this team that need to prove to the fan base in Toronto that there is something about this team worth holding onto going into, what could be, a very tumultuous offseason.

There are a number of reasons to finish this season as strong as possible.

Fight for your fan base. Firstly the franchise owes it to the fans to provide a glimmer of hope.  Season ticket holders are mulling over their renewal options right now and fans are trying to figure out whether this team, one that has missed the postseason for 5 straight years, is worthy of the expense.  A late season surge and impressive play from the young Raptors core could help provide the glimmer of hope the franchise is going to need to pedal tickets to buyers in the offseason.  A strong finish will also help to convince fans that this team really is a playoff team if given a full year of Rudy Gay.  If nothing else, a strong end to the year will provide the paying public with a reason to come down the ACC and get their money’s worth between now and the end of the season.

Fight for your spot. The Raptor roster for next year is not anywhere near set and the Raptor players need to establish themselves as part of the core  heading into what will very surely be an interesting off-season.  No body is a slam dunk to return next year outside of (maybe) Jonas Valanciunas.  DeRozan, Amir, Gay, Lowry all of whom seemed like integral pieces coming into the season are tradeable assets that could be moved depending on what direction the franchise decides to take moving forward.  It is imperative this group show their worth. Most do make up what Bryan Colangelo feels will shape the core of the team going forward, but all have contracts that are very moveable if the right offer presents itself.

Fight for vindication.  A strong finish, perhaps reaching as high as ninth in the conference won’t only prove this team is worthy of playoff predictions heading into next year, it will also ensure that Toronto will not lose a high first round draft pick.  The higher the Raptors finish, the less likely it is that OKC receives a high draft choice in the pick they own from Toronto as a result of the Kyle Lowry trade.  A lottery victory or mid-first round pick for OKC would provide Tyler Seguin level embarrassment for the Raptors.  They need to finish as high as possible to make sure the lost draft choice is one that doesn’t hurt the franchise or provide embarrassment for their front office.

Jonas Valanciunas represents the future of the Toronto Raptors and strong play between now and the end of the year could provide a glimmer of hope for frustrated fans.

Jonas Valanciunas represents the future of the Toronto Raptors and strong play between now and the end of the year could provide a glimmer of hope for frustrated fans.

Fight for the Future.  The word finally came down from the mouth of Dwane Casey himself, that the Raptors intend to play Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross more now that the playoff push is over.  With the youngsters getting a longer look it is important to tout the future of the franchise.  Jonas Valanciunas is a player that excites the fan base.  He is beginning to show more confidence and skill in his increased playing time.  On Wednesday in Charlotte he looked solid inside bringing down 7 rebounds and pouring in 18 points on 54% shooting.  There is legitimate hope for his future in Toronto and now is a great time to play into that.  Let the fans know this is a team on the rise and that there is a franchise player to get behind.  It worked in the early days of Vince and Bosh and it should work now.  Sell the future.

Fight for your employers.  Whether the Raptors know it or not, they are still fighting for the future employment of both Dwane Casey and Bryan Colangelo.  Colangelo doesn’t have a contract next season and has missed the playoffs for five straight years.  His job is in danger unless he can sell the fan base and the MLSE board that Rudy Gay gives this team a legit shot at the playoffs next season.  Casey has one year left in his contract, but hasn’t led the Raptors to the playoffs and his substitution pattern has been bizarre at times this season.  He’s also recently taken issues with the use of analytics by the team after a recent Grantland feature by Zach Lowe brought light to the issue.  Though, according to Michael Grange, the team denies there is any friction, but it is still very possible Casey is playing out his last days here in Toronto.  With a few more wins and strong play from the rookies, Casey could be given another shot at the end of the season depending on what happens with Colangelo.  If the players want the current coaching staff to stick around, they need to pile on some wins.

The Raptors need to show the organization, its fans and the front office exactly what is in place here for next season and prove that there is reason to believe the Raptors playoff drought is on its way to being over.

Otherwise this summer could once again be filled with change and rebuilding.  Something that will not sit well with an increasingly impatient fan base.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | December 16, 2012 · 11:09 pm

The Anderson Effect

The Toronto Raptors of the last two games are not the same team that lost 6 straight on the road and 13 of 14 dating back to Nov. 20th. This team is fighting, communicating with one another and getting results from unlikely sources.  On Sunday afternoon it was Jose Calderon, Ed Davis and Alan Anderson that stepped up, but the recent stretch has seen a change in the overall focus of the team. The Raps have been concentrating  on the defensive end of the ball, they’re sharing the ball well and are making smart basketball decisions. They also seem to be helping one another more and communicating on both ends.

So where did this change come from? The players did have a lengthy team meeting where they got a number of things off of their chest.  Perhaps that was the moment that caused this team to morph into what you now see on the court.

Perhaps it was addition by subtraction.  Both Andrea Bargnani and Kyle Lowry have been absent on this home stand due to injuries.  Both players were rumoured to be the focus of the vitriol during the team meeting and both players were admittedly not making good basketball decisions on their recent road trip.  Lowry was called out for calling his own number too much and Bargnani was called out for not delivering on the defensive end.  Bargnani has been the focus of so much negative press lately that his absence alone may have been a welcome blessing for both himself and the team.  Without the two stars, the Raptors look like a much improved team.

Or maybe it was the big meeting Casey, Colangelo and MLSE had this past week that was the impetus for change.  Maybe the players are playing with a bit of urgency because they know their job isn’t safe nor that of their coach or GM.

Alan Anderson doesn't always play extended minutes, but when he does, he makes the most out them. Another strong effort on Sunday was one of the keys to victory for the Raptors.

Alan Anderson doesn’t always play extended minutes, but when he does, he makes the most out them. Another strong effort on Sunday was one of the keys to victory for the Raptors.

One of the most subtle changes to the lineup during this time was the return of Alan Anderson.  He has played increasing minutes since his return and is doing the little things to get his teammates involved.  He makes the extra pass, fights for the ball, plays sound defense and encourages his teammates.

Anderson has been around a long time, bouncing in and out of the D-league, Europe and obscurity.  He came to the Raptors last season on a 10 day contract just hoping to do enough to earn another 10 days.  He did better than that, impressing Dwane Casey and Bryan Colangelo enough to offer him a brand new contract.

His work ethic, especially on the defensive end, is why he is a valuable asset to have hanging around a young team.  Anderson knows what is important for a team to focus on, knows how to play within a role and works hard every second he is on the floor. Having him on the court is like having a coach out there with the team.

Anderson, originally a point guard, is capable of playing many positions and has become known for his defensive intensity, a trait that surely earned the respect of Casey.  Casey often points to Anderson’s defensive effort as an example for the team to follow. 

When he is on the court the Raptors seem to have a clearer defensive identity. He energizes the rest of his team and gets them involved.  On Sunday he was one of the primary shooters, but he’s a smart player that plays within the flow of the game and knows when it is his place to take shots.  His timely play on Sunday was one of the keys to victory over the Rockets. It was his lay-up and free throws in the final minutes that sealed the victory for Toronto.

Anderson isn’t a player who is regularly asked to play heavy minutes.  This year he is averaging just over 20 minutes per game, but what he has been able to bring to the team in that time has been noticeable, just not always on the score sheet.  He puts defense first and this attitude is something that is beginning to rub off on his teammates. He is making use of his limited minutes and plays hard whenever his number is called.

This mentality could really come in handy for young players like Jonas Valanciunas or Terrence Ross, who have not seen consistent minutes this season.  They’re going to have to learn to make the most of their limited time on the court and earn those extra minutes.  Alan Anderson is a player they should watch and relish matching up against in practice.  He is not guaranteed minutes on this team, but earns them through his effort and commitment to the team philosophy.

If Jonas and Ross can put forth a more consistent effort on both ends of the floor and play within the flow of the game they are going to see a lot more minutes.  Ross, over the last two games, has looked more confident and has really let the game come to him.  In turn he has seen his minutes and production increase.  Anderson would be a great mentor for Ross.

Anderson also isn’t afraid to call out himself or his teammates when they need to be held accountable. This is a trait usually reserved for a teams’ star player or coach.   As of yet, not player on this team has become the vocal leader.  This may now be a role that Anderson has decided to take on.

Upon his return to the lineup this week he wasn’t afraid to call a spade a spade when discussing the teams misfortunes: “Our defense isn’t consistent as it can be and it should be…we’re playing three-quarters, three-and-a-half quarters and we disappear. So I think my experience…can sustain that and help us out some more.”

Whether it has been his words or his actions on the court, Anderson has clearly been inspiring his teammates. The effort of the team in the last two games has been a complete turnaround from the “road trip from hell”.  The last two games they’ve given up under 100 points and have held their opponents to 40% shooting.  They’re holding things together as a team and Anderson has been a big part of this resurgence.

On Sunday Jose Calderon was the best player on the court, recording a triple-double and playing some of his best basketball this season, but Anderson and his style of play, are beginning to make a larger impact on this young Raptors squad.

***

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 | May 18, 2011 · 9:03 pm

Better Late than Never for the Raptors and Colangelo

MLSE finally made it official on Tuesday: Bryan Colangelo is staying in Toronto for at least two more years.

For a franchise about to undergo a long-term face lift, this was the right decision.

Colangelo offers the Raptors a seasoned veteran to help steer the ship in the right direction and an executive that understands the CBA better than most.  He has gained respect throughout the league and gives the Raptors a GM that has been through the wars.  He also provides the team consistency a trait, hard to find in today’s short-sighted sports world.

Bryan Colangelo will be calling the shots for the next two years in Toronto after finally signing his extension.

The fact that his deal is only guaranteed for two years could become an issue in a year or so if the Raptors franchise tries to expedite the rebuilding process in an effort to get to the playoffs quickly.  However Colangelo doesn’t seem the type of executive to deviate from a plan unless there is a purpose.

Colangelo, of course, built a very successful team in Phoenix with Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire at the forefront (both players he drafted) and then turned Toronto into a playoff team in a single year with key acquisitions like Anthony Parker, TJ Ford and Jorge Garbajosa.  He has drafted very well over his time in the league and is responsible for a number of highly touted draft picks including Demar Derozan and Ed Davis, who now make up the main part of Toronto’s core.  He also cornered the market in Europe drafting Andrea Bargnani and Hiring Assistant GM Maurizio herardini as Assistant GM.

Bryan Colangelo has proven he can win and more importantly he has proven that he can adjust to life as an NBA GM very quickly.  Colangelo turned Jermaine O’neal into Hedo Turkoglu into Leandro Barbosa in a matter of two years.  All of those acquisitions were heralded throughout the NBA at the time they were made and has ultimately left Toronto in a very good financial situation going forward.

Whether he is building a championship team or building on success, he has shown he can do it all.

Why MLSE took their time making the decision to resign is anyones guess. The Teachers pension plan held to their guns but ultimately saw the light.

The decision to give Colangelo the keys for another two years will allow him to finish what he started.  Remember that Colangelo inherited a lot of what he had to play with in Toronto.  Chris Bosh was an inheritance he had to deal with and there was no indication that he wanted to really keep him around.  His first move as GM after all was to draft a player that was younger and played the same position.

In Toronto’s first year without Bosh they struggled, but showed much promise.  Demar Derozan emerged as a possible centrepiece and Ed Davis looks like a possible stud going forward.  Amir Johnson has continued to progress and Jarryd Bayless may turn out to be a brilliant pickup.  These young ones make up the core of the team going forward and now Colangelo looks to add to that base with a top 5 pick and considerable cap room.

Colangelo is finally out from under the obligation that was Chris Bosh and now is beginning, for the first time, to really build a team that is his own.  The board on MLSE was right in handing him the keys to the franchise and letting him mould this team in the image he sees fit.

Colangelo has been a success his entire career and there is no reason to think he won’t be once again with the 2011-12 Toronto Raptors.  His first task now awaits him as the Raptors will select fifth overall in this June’s draft.  With his eye for talent, Toronto could walk away with another draft night steal.

Welcome home Mr. Colangelo.  Let the work begin.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
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by | January 9, 2011 · 11:54 pm

Young Raptors Find a Way to Win in the Fourth

It certainly wasn’t the prettiest NBA game of the year and it wasn’t the easy victory the Raptors’ fans were probably expecting.  The Kings were playing without their leading scorer, Tyreke Evans, and were coming in tied for the worst record in the association.  The Raptors were back home and welcomed back some players who were injured.  By all rights, this should have been a much easier game for the Raptors, but they key letting Sacramento back in the game and couldn’t pull away.

The fourth quarter was where things clicked and The Raptors finally pulled away for good.  Andrea Bargnani had one of his better offensive games going 12/19 for 30 points and Demar Derozan looked like he belonged int he big leagues with an awesome 13/20 shooting night and finished with 28.  This is the kind of effort that fans in Toronto want to start seeing from these two guys on a more consistent basis.

Zan For Three

One-Two Punch

Today was one of those games where you saw Bargnani and Derozan take shots and you could just feel they were going to fall every time.  I feel that way often when it comes to Bargnani, but very rarely with Derozan.  Today this combo was deadly.  Derozan took the ball to the rim and Andrea was lights out from the field.  If Derozan couldn’t drive to the basket the ball was sent back out the Bargnani who would calmly drain a long two or a three.

Andrea Bargnani was money from pretty much everywhere as th Raptors defeated the Kings at the ACC of Sunday.

When all the dust settles after the trade deadline and even later in the summer, these are the only two players that I can say with near-certainty will be a part of this team going forward.  They are players that Colangelo and the MLSE brass see a lot of potential in.  Bargnani is starting to bust out of the shadow of Chris Bosh that he was in for the last few years and is emerging as one of, if not the best player from his draft class.  Derozan is a player that everyone has been waiting to explode.  It would seem that we my be on the cusp of that moment right now.

These two players were dominant today. They shot the ball with confidence and demanded it in their hands.  They both look like strong pieces of the puzzle going forward.  If this year results in nothing else, I hope it results in these two players becoming clear-cut starters on this team for he forseeable future.

Somethin’ Brewin’ in the T-Dot?

Now I know the Carmelo Anthony trade to New Jersey seems to be imminent, heck it could even be happening right now for all I know.  I think that trade is basically just waiting to happen and everyone knows it.

Less obviously, there seems to be something brewing in Raptorland.  Bryan Colangelo has been eerily quiet for most of the season, heck, he’s even harder and harder to spot at the ACC during games.  Like a deadly jungle cat, Bryan Colangelo is at his most cunning when he is silent.  He hasn’t been saying much lately and the chances of a trade seem to be likely, in my opinion.

I’m not a beat writer.  I don’t know anyone in the MLSE brass.  I’m not clairvoyant, but I sense something is up.

The Raptors waived Ronald Dupree and sent Soloman Alabi back to the D-League.  Neither move is earth shattering or even surprising.  But it does leave the Raptors with open spaces on their roster.

The Raptors have most of the Trade exception acquired in the Chris Bosh deal still available to trade and must do so by the end of the season or they lose that money.

The Raptors also possess a number of expiring contracts that could be very attractive to teams trying to rebuild themselves.  Peja Stojakovic is the one contract that seem most likely to move or be bought-out so that he can take his game to a contender for the playoff push.

The Raptors also possess some savvy veterans (Reggie Evans, Leandro Barbosa) that could help a contending team.  Neither of those players come with long commitments or high salaries, which could make them even more attractive.

They also have two first round draft picks in this coming draft and could use either or both to package in a trade for another asset in order to sweeten the pot.

That’s a lot of assets that have values that will peek at the trade deadline.  It makes a lot of sense if Bryan Colangelo isn’t so visible because he’s busy getting deals done. Hopefully he’s also getting his own deal done with MLSE as well.

Mark my words, something is going on in Raptorland.  I smell a trade coming down soon.

Where’s the Noise?

Every game the Raptor mascot finds ways, using his bag of tricks, to get the audience into a frenzy.  T-shirts, contests, shakin’ it behind a security guard, and other various ways of revving the crowd up.  I don’t know what it is this season, I’ve been to quite a few games, but the atmosphere isn’t as lively as it used to be.

True, Chris Bosh left in the offseason and he was not replaced by a marquee name player.  There were no major free agent pickups like Jermaine O’neal or Hedo Turkoglu to get the city talking Raptors.

But, despite the obvious reasons, the crowd just didn’t seem that into it today.  They got to witness a close, playoff like atmosphere (even if the competitors won’t reach the playoffs this year) where the home team captured victory on late plays.  And still the excitement seemed somewhat muted.  The biggest cheer, save for perhaps the big Bargnani three ball in the fourth quarter, was for four visiting Blue Jay players that handed out signed Raptor balls.

Demar Derozan and the Raptors celebrate a strong victory in front of their home town fans.

The Raptors haven’t made the playoffs the last few years and the excitement surrounding the team is at a low point to say the least, but this is an entertaining group of players to watch.

True, there is no Vince Carter or Chris Bosh.  No young superstar that takes your breath away, even in a loss.  No JYD or Charles Oakley to leave it all on the floor in ways only they could.

What do you need Raptor fans?  What will make you cheer and scream the way you used to.  What will bring that electric energy back the ACC?

I suppose winning is the only formula, but if you’re down at the ACC watching the games, you’ll be able to see that winning isn’t that far away.

Zan of the Game

Demar Derozan

Both Derozan and Bargnani had monster games on the offensive end of the floor, but Derozan gets it because he is really developing his confidence.  This is a kid that is making some strides this year to become a solid, solid NBA player.  He may not peak this year or even next, but you can tell this is a young player that is ready to take his game to the next level.  Raptor fans are going to enjoy watching this young player fill it up at the ACC for the forseeable future.  Tonight was further proof that Demar is ready to take flight.

Not Zan of the Game

Linas Kleiza

Linas is a good role player and a solid contributor off the bench, most of the time, but he has had a recent tendency to take shots outside the flow of the offense and puts his team in a hole.  Today Kleiza had a rough day at the office.  He seemed to think it was his job to shoot every time he got the ball.  His defense on the other end of the floor was nearly non-existent and he doesn’t look like he is on the same page as he rest of his teammates.  I like Kleiza’s game a lot, when he’s on the ball, but lately. he has looked completely off his game.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

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

 

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by | December 16, 2010 · 12:22 am

Bulls Teach Young Raptors a Lesson

So that was ugly, wasn’t it?

Once it was confirmed that Andrea Bargnani wasn’t going to play because of a sore left knee, the Raptors were pretty much destined for an ass whooping.  This one got ugly by the half, but credit where credit is due, the young Raptors showed some fight and there is reason for hope for the future.

Chicago is arguably one of the top four or five teams in the East and, with Carlos Boozer back in the lineup, they are a hard team to beat each and every night.  The Bulls have a tough as nails coach, in Tom Thibodeau, who preaches defense and a young core that seems to be growing well together.

The Raptors should take notice.  This is a team they should try to build themselves in the mould of.

Zan For Three

2010 Free Agency Redux

So looking back at the circus that was the 2010 free agency period Lebron and Wade remain the biggest pick ups and are starting to make a tremendous difference with the Miami Heat.  They are beginning to be everything they were advertised to be but how about the pick up of Amare Stoudamire and Carlos Boozer?

Much was made of Lebron, Bosh, Wade and Amare but Boozer was almost a forgotten bridesmaid during that time.  His off-season injury also erased him from our minds during the first part of the season.  He is back and he is kicking some serious ass.

Carlos Boozer was unstoppable tonight at the ACC. He almost single-handedly defeated he Raptors. There simply was no way to stop Boozer on Wednesday night.

Boozer is, by far, the best player on the court for his team and that is saying something with a starting five that looks the way it does in Chicago.  Miami may have built a winning culture in South Beach, but Chicago picked up a piece that really puts them over the edge.

Forget that he dominated Amir Johnson and Joey Dorsey.  These are not playoff calibre power forwards yet.  Boozer’s dominance inside makes him a very tough match up going into any playoff matchup.  Bosh vs. Boozer?  I’ll take Boozer.  Horford vs. Boozer? I’ll take Boozer .  Kevin Garnett might be the only one who can shut him down, and he’s a bit slower and maybe not as tough.

Watch out Eastern Conference.  This guy is going to make a big difference this year.

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Jay Triano and his staff should be paying close attention to what Tom Thibodeau and his staff are doing in Chicago.  This is a team that can score, but man is their defense good.  Chicago allows their offense to dictate their offense and the Raptors still haven’t figured that out yet.

The Bulls forced stops on the defensive end and turned them into points on the offensive end.  The Raptors are still trying to out-shoot their opponents.  This strategy doesn’t work very often, if ever.

It’s time Colangelo, Triano and the rest of the organization look at teams like Boston and Chicago and start imitating what they see.  The players in Boston and Chicago both bought into Thibodeau’s system and have reaped the benefits.  Why would the Raptors not want to try the same philosophy?

Obviously a change of team philosophy requires some new players, and possibly coaches, but it may be something that the “big Wigs” of MLSE should seriously consider.  That is, of course, if they’re interested in winning at all.

Silver Lining

Tonight Sucked.  Let’s just call a spade a spade and move on.  We are not in the calibre of a team like Chicago.  We are not.  Plain and simple.  However tonight provided some opportunities to be hopeful and look, positively, into the future.

Joey Dorsey (12 pts and 13 reb on 5-8 shooting in 29 minutes)

This is an impressive stat line from the young power forward out of Memphis.  Yes, some of those points were scored in garbage time, but he is resembling something the Raptors may want to take a chance on.  He is a big body and possess some post-up skills and might be worth investing in.  He showed some fight tonight and banged inside against some pretty tough interior players.

Jarryd Bayless ( 20 pts and 4 Assists in 33 minutes)

Bayless has been the engine on offense.  Although many of us would like to see a point guard pass the ball a little more, he has played well since being acquired from New Orleans.  He is resembling more of a shooting guard, but this kid is 22 years old and certainly has some upside.  He gets to the rim, can shoot and is serviceable on the defensive end of the floor.

Ed Davis (10 pts on 5/9 shooting, 10reb, in 32 minutes)

His first start as a Raptor and he played well in spurts.  He was overmatched inside by Chicago’s bigs but Davis held his own against some pretty admirable talent.  This kid is going to be a decent NBA player.  I like the look of him, I like the way he plays the game.  He doesn’t force the issue and will only get better and better.  If the team, as I suggested earlier, starts looking at the defensive side of the ball then Davis could be a key player moving forward.  Definitely something to look forward to.

Zan of the Night

Carlos Boozer

The man is an absolute beast.  I would not want to meet him in an alley or in the paint.  He scares me and even thinking of him tonight gives me shivers.  He absolutely dominated the inside tonight and basically took whatever he wanted from the Raptor bigs.  Amir Johnson was his play toy tonight and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Not Zan of the Night

Amir Johnson

Hey dude, I love you as a player.  On this current Raptor squad, you’re probably my favourite player, but tonight was not your night.  Mama told you there’d be days like this.  More fouls than points, not a lot of minutes for you out there because of the foul trouble and not much brewing on the offensive end either. Take it as a learning experience and move on.  Carlos Boozer is one of the best.  You have work to do before you are competing consistently with the likes of that bad boy.

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

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by | August 3, 2010 · 8:04 pm

Bosh and Colangelo: A Messy Divorce

When any relationship ends there is bound to be bitterness.  Very rarely do former partners hang out and “shoot the breeze”after a break up.  There are often hard feelings and things you blame the other side for.

In Toronto the latest divorce between basketball team and star player has finally gotten to the finger-pointing stage.

It has not been a picture perfect off-season for Bryan Colangelo. Much is left to be done to get the Toronto Raptors ready for competition next season.

First, Bryan Colangelo had his turn talking about how things didn’t work out with Chris Bosh and where it all went wrong in his opinion.  And now Chris Bosh has taken his turn setting the record straight.

Colangelo came out on the FAN590 recently and implied that Bosh had talked with people over the All-Star break and came back a different player.  He didn’t play through pain at a pivotal moment in the season and wasn’t the dominant player in the second half of the season that he was in the first half.  That ultimately helped cost the Raptors what seemed like a sure-fire playoff berth.  ”Whether he was mentally checked out or just wasn’t quite into it down the stretch, he wasn’t the same guy. I think everybody saw that, but no one wanted to acknowledge it.”

Colangelo went on to add that the Raptors were never really an option for Bosh during free agency and much of the decision-making on Bosh’s future had been done long before July 1st.  ”I never felt we were in the game. There was too much out there, too much built up for him to take an easy out here…”

Bosh refuted these claims, in a recent interview with Rogers Sportsnet, saying he “never gave anything less than his best.” “I play this game as hard as I can everytime I step on the court.”  He seemed to take personal offense to the insinuation he had given anything but his best.

Colangelo had a right to say what he said although it did come off as a little harsh and is definitely getting blown way out of proportion by Raptor fans and media in both Canada and the U.S.  Many Raptor fans held the belief that Bosh would leave after the season was through and that he played poorly in the second half, along with the rest of the team.  Hedo Turkoglu probably helped hide some of Bosh’s effort issues with his off-court distractions and clearly lackadaisical play.

Bosh didn’t quit on the team, of that I am certain.  He played his heart out down the stretch and tried, in vain, to get the Raptors to the playoffs.  One needs only look to the Golden State game down the stretch where Bosh lay on the floor inconsolable in a defeat as a thrilling victory slipped through his hands.  Perhaps, in the back of his mind though he was starting to think about free agency.  Perhaps he took a bit longer coming back from his injury because he didn’t want to hurt his future.  That is fair.

It is hard to argue Bosh quit down the stretch, but it was clear something changed at the All-star break. Was Colangelo justified in questioning his commitment to the team?

Colangelo feels a little jilted by Chris Bosh and for good reason.  The Raptors offered him more money than anyone else and he barely looked Toronto’s way.  Colangelo and the MLSE  tried effortlessly to make Bosh the focal point of everything in Raptor land.  Bosh was consulted on trades and free agent signings.  His friends (Jarrett Jack) were brought on board to help keep him happy.  He was given everything that a #1 guy in this league is given.  This is where Colangelo went wrong.

Chris Bosh was never meant to be the focal point of the team.  He is a power forward and it is hard to point at a top-tier team in this league that is built around a power forward.  Jermaine O’neal, Shawn Marion, Hedo Turkoglu all came in to help Chris Bosh along with a plethora of other role players and no mixture of players ever really got it done.

Chris Bosh should never have been made a focal point of the team.  This is Colangelo’s mistake.  It is ultimately what cost him the power forward in free agency.  The fact that Colangelo is now talking smack about Bosh really isn’t necessary.

Even Hedo Turkoglu has weighed in on the subject, claiming that Bosh “isn’t the type of player to quit o his teammates.”  He also took shots at the organization on his way out of town saying that “no one wants to go there anymore.”

Obviously Hedo Turkoglu is far from an expert on anything other than Pizza and Balls.  But his comments ring loudly in a city that hasn’t seen a winning team in a long time.  Hopefully this isn’t a sign of things to come for this team or this city.  Fans have come to see Vince, Tracy, Antonio, Delgado, Sundin, Halladay all leave town for greener pastures.  The city has a wee bit of a complex when it comes to its star players.

Colangelo’s words came at a time when he is feeling very frustrated.  The Jose Calderon-Tyson Chandler deal fell through at the last-minute after it had been reported and Matt Barnes publicly announced his signing before it was completed and then ended up not happening.  The organization has gotten a little bit of flack for the large contract handed out to Amir Johnson and now the war of words with two of the teams high-profile players.

Colangelo was mearly speaking the voice of the fans.  But sometimes the vice of the fans should come from the fans.  Many felt Bosh was gone, checked out, packed and ready to go to LA, Chicago or Miami at the end of the year.  He received mixed reactions in his last appearance at the ACC, in a suit.  It was clear there was going to be hard feelings.  But from the GM?

Yes, to the casual fan, Bosh did look like a different player after the All-Star Break and his numbers dipped right along with everyone else’s.  Maybe there was something going on, Colangelo talked about it during the season and Bosh never refuted those claims.  Maybe Pat Riley, Lebron and Wade had this planned all along.  But there is nothing that can be done about that now.

Bosh couldn’t get the job done as the #1 guy and Colangelo couldn’t build a team to compliment him.  They should share the blame in this mess.

Chris Bosh will be booed upon his return to Toronto, of this I am also certain.  He was this city’s best player and he left town for nothing.  That hurts if you’re a fan.  What hurts more is that he realized what Colangelo could or would not.  Bosh isn’t a #1 player.  Bosh is off to Miami to be a #3 player behind Lebron and Dwayne Wade.  That is what burns Raptor fans up.  He was our number one, our first, our last, our everything and now he is happy to be another teams #3.  For that Bosh will hear the boos.

As for Colangelo, I think it is fair to say that the honeymoon is now over.  He came here and rebuilt this franchise from its darkest days into a perennial playoff contender and Atlantic division champions in one year.  He will now have to work his magic again.  The Raptors have once again lost their number one player, find themselves owing a lot of money to players who don’t necessarily deserve it, and don’t have the luxury of being able to tank for a high pick in this market starved for a winner.  Colangelo and his brain trust will have to put on their thinking caps or Bosh won’t be the only one getting booed this season at the ACC.

Sometimes in a divorce, both sides lose out and trying to throw the other under the bus will only help in losing the respect of the ones you truly care about: the kids, or in this case the fans.

So are you Team Bosh or Team Colangelo?  I’m thinking the way to go is Team Raptor.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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