Tag Archives: Not Zan of the Night

by | January 12, 2011 · 11:33 pm

Hawks Get a Late Assist From the Refs to Beat the Raptors

I don’t believe that sports are fixed or that refs have alterior motives when calling a game, but the fourth quarter at the ACC on Wednesday night looked awfully fishy.

One could call it a bad break, a lack of respect, or just sheer bad refereeing.

Whatever way you slice it, the Raps lost a game they seemed to have right in the palm of their hands.

A great effort from Leandro Barbosa and another dominant effort from Andrea Bargnani were not enough to overcome and absolutely unreal performance by Jamal Crawford a late dagger three by Mike Bibby ( a Raptor killer if there ever was one).

The Raptors shouldn’t hang their heads because the effort was there on both ends of the floor and the team got contributions from every player that touched the floor.  The team really seemed to channel the energy of JYD, who was present court side for this one.

In the end the Raptors had an opportunity to put it away in the fourth, but a very questionable call on an Amir Johnson screen turned the ball back over to the Hawks where Bibby hit his three-point dagger.  The Raptors followed with a Jose Calderon drive where he got absolutely hammered and the ball went off of him.  The Raps lost the ball and the game.

Refs can be your friends sometimes and then they can also be your worst enemy.  Tonight the Raps were beaten by the Hawks with an assist to the zebras.

Zan for Three

Refs Suck

Some might call it bad luck, others will say Jose flopped, but I think the refs missed the call at the end of the game.  Even if they got that one right, the earlier call on the Amir screen was tick-tack and they could have sent Derozan to the line several times and didn’t.  The Raptors played with heart out there and I’m proud of their effort, but it hurts to lose when so the calls by the refs were so one-sided.

Tick-tack foul on one side of the floor and total non-calls on the other.  Watching the game back again and it was a little ridiculous.  The Raptors couldn’t buy a call tonight.

I tack this up to being a young team that just isn’t respected by the league officials.  I don’t believe a league, with clear rules should award fouls based on reputation and status in the league, but no one can deny it is the way the league works.

Tonight the Raptors were robbed by the refs.  Yes, the Hawks made some tough shots down the stretch, but there is no way the free throw attempts should ever be so heavily weighted on one side of the court.  31 – 12 in favour of the Hawks.  That is just downright ridiculous and in no way representative of the way the game was played.

The Raptors fell painfully short against the Hawks at the ACC, but it wasn't for lack of effort.

I hate it, but I also know that the more Demar and co. drive the lane and get hammered, the better their calls will be down the road.  We may have to wait a few years for Demar to get foul calls he is not getting now, but they will come.

This is just how the NBA officials work.

Busting Out

Andrea Bargnani is beginning to bust loose on the NBA.  Ever since he was drafted, rather infamously, number one overall, Raptor faithful have mused: “if he can ever put it together consistently, he’s gonna be great…”

It would appear that we are on the cusp of that time.  Bargnani has been damn good for several games in a row and looks like a key building block going forward.  He is gaining confidence with every game.  The true mark of a great player is when they shoot the ball, you just know it’s going in.

Lebron has that feeling. Kobe has that feeling.  Vince used to have it. and Bargnani is starting to have that feel to his game right now.

When he let’s go of the ball, you can just hear the swish before it’s left his hands.  He feels like an automatic every time.

Tonight he carried his team.  Il Mago was the only consistent Dino, outside of Barbosa, and he put the team on his shoulders for periods of the game.  This is another mark of a star.

Now, I’m not suggesting that Andrea Bargnani be the centre of the Raptors universe and Bryan Colangelo should build around him like he did with Chris Bosh.  I think Bargnani is a great #1B or #2 on a competitive team.  He is showing that he deserves consideration for an All Star position and carrying  the load without the departed Chris Bosh.

It no longer feels like a matter of if, but rather when he will become a legitimate star.  He’s getting attention from around the league and has earned the respect of the officials.

Most importantly his coach and teammates trust him when the game is on the line.

Il Mago is on his way.

Northern Lights Out

Is it just me, or does Jamal Crawford love playing in Toronto.  The guy always seems to show up when he plays at the ACC.  Tonight he was absolutely unconscious.  There was a point in the game where I thought we might see another 81 point night.  Everything he shot went down.  His long, long three in the fourth quarter while the shot clock was winding down, was a shot that should never have gone down, but may have swung the game to the Hawks.

Jamal Crawford is a dangerous player and sometimes does not get the credit he deserves. Yes, he is a mostly one-dimensional player and could be classified as a “volume-shooter”, but he has put up some impressive numbers against the Raps and has really come into his own on this Hawks team.

Whether he starts or comes off the bench he always seems to have the Kryptonite  that shuts the Raptors down.

Plus the Foul

Welcome back JYD

Gotta love seeing JYD back at the ACC.  One of, if not my absolute, favourite Raptor of all-time.  He played the game the right way and fought hard.  He wasn’t the most gifted or skilled player on the floor, but he had the biggest heart.  He endeared himself to Raptors faithful on the first day he became a Raptor by driving himself to Toronto from Detroit and he never looked back.  Tonight the Raptors channelled a little JYD as they fought to stay in the game and had the chance to win it at the end.  Heart is something yo just can’t measure in Sports.  JYD had it in spades and it is obviously contagious.

Zan of the Night

Leandro Barbosa

He has been one of the most consistent Raptors this season. At the beginning of the year I predicted that Linas Kleiza would be the “X-Factor” of this season, but it has clearly been Leandro Barbosa thus far.  He has been an absolute gem off the bench for the Raptors filling in admirably at both the point and the wing position.

He doesn’t always pass the ball, but he also doesn’t always need to.  He is unquestionably still one of the faster players in league and certainly changes the tempo when he enters the game.  The Raptors have been lucky to have him and he rewarded his teammates tonight with a stellar shooting performance ( 11-16 for 26 points).

The Brazilian Blur gets the Zan tonight!

Not Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

Yes, he is young. And yes, he is inconsistent.  This is something we are coming to know about Demar Derozan.  One game he looks like the next big thing, then he disappears for a game.  Tonight the Jekyll and Hyde routine continued as he was ineffective against the Hawks defense.  To his credit, he did take the ball to the rim, but was rarely rewarded for his efforts.  The kid is having a tough time doing what his coach wants and not seeing the payoff at the same time.

Demar just needs to keep doing what he is doing right now and eventually he will start getting to the line more.  A nice young player who just has to play through nights like this one.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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by | January 2, 2011 · 9:06 pm

Raptors Fight to the Bitter End

The Boston Celtics are arguably the best team in the East, at least until Miami or Orlando beats them in a seven game series. Tonight the Raptors hung with the best and had many opportunities to pull away, but suffered from a very poor shooting night.  This is the kind of loss you have to take with a grain of salt.  The Celtics are the best team in the East, the Raptors are a young team still finding an identity.  There is no shame in this loss.  The Raps fought hard all game long and should hold their heads high.

Paul Pierce was absolutely brilliant and the Celtics hung around long enough for their other star players to warm up and contribute to the victory.  Pierce was basically a one man show for much of the game and seemed to single-handedly keep his team in the game.  The hotter Paul Pierce gets the better the Celtics will be.  Going into the second half of the season the Celtics are gonna need Pierce to be at his best.  Like a fine European wine, he only gets better as time goes on.

His dunk in the second half over virtually everyone was absolutely awe-inspiring!

Not to be outdone Demar Derozan once again was the best Raptor on the floor and may be turning a corner in his development.  He looked confident and was aggressive on the offensive end of the floor.  The Raptors are banking on Derozan becoming a big part of the team’s future and lately he has been looking like the real deal.  Tonight he played great ball against some of the best in the game.

Paul Pierce and his 30 points were too much to handle as the Celtics beat the Raptors 93-79 at the ACC on Sunday.

 

Zan For Three

Hard Work Rewarded

Two players worked harder than anyone else out there today: Joey Dorsey and Ray Allen.

Joey Dorsey was matched up against Shaquille Oneal and Jermaine Oneal, arguably one of the most frightening assignments in the NBA, in my honest opinion. He was solid defensively, worked his ass off on the offensive glass and was a key contributor all game long.  The Raps are down a few guys and have never been an overly effective team when it comes to rebounding, but Dorsey is doing it all in the limited amount of time he’s been given.  A few more games like this and Dorsey may earn himself more playing time, even after others come back from injury.

Ray Allen is a timeless wonder.  His outside shot is an automatic if he’s open.  He’s become, arguably, one of the most dependable players in the league.  He is never going to go out there and stink up the joint.  Today he had the quietest 23 points I’ve ever seen.  His team was struggling, outside of Paul Pierce, and they needed someone else to start hitting shots.  Enter Mr. Dependable.

Paul Pierce was the best player on the court today for the Celtics, but no way they win without the contribution of their silent leader.

Young Onez Unite!!

Am I the only one who is starting to get a little excited about the future of this ball club?  True, there is no Lebron James type or a John Wall that you can hope becomes an NBA superstar, but these kids are really starting to mature into fine NBA players.

Demar Derozan has elevate his game to another level recently and looks like he may finally explode into the player many hoped he was going to be.  Ed Davis is looking like a bona fide gem and Amir Johnson has played with increasing maturity.  If Amir stays on the floor, he has a good game almost every time.

This season has certainly had its bleak moments, but there is definitely something to be hopeful about as the new year arrives.

Gotta Cash in Those Freebies

I’ll be the first to admit the Raptors did not get the benefit of the doubt on a lot of calls in the paint.  Derozan and Calderon got hammered several times without a whistle, but would the Raptors have done much with their extra chances even if they had them?  10/22 from the Free Throw line isn’t going to cut it.  That’s twelve free points you’re not cashing in.  When you lose a game like the raps did today, you can look at that stat alone and see how close the game

Demar Derozan may be turning a corner in his development and is becoming what Raptor fans dreamed of when he was drafted two seasons ago.

really could have been.  The Raptors have got to be more consistent from the stripe.

 

Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

In truth Paul Pierce played a damn fine game, but Derozan gets the Zan for putting together another gem.  This kid is playing aggressively out there.  He is taking the ball to the rim whether he’s gonna get hammered or not.  He is getting to the line and he seems more and more comfortable shooting the ball.  When he drives the net he opens up opportunities for the rest of his team.  Derozan followed up a gem against Houston with another gem against one of the toughest opponents in the NBA.  This kid may have finally arrived.

Not Zan of the Night

Linas Kleiza

True fact: Nobody on the Raptors team was hitting shots with consistency.  Barbosa, Calderon and even Amir Johnson all had bad shooting nights, but no one made it look as ugly as Kleiza did.  He threw up some of the worst shots I have seen in a long time.  I like that he has confidence in his abilities, but you also have to be aware of when it just isn’t your night.  He was downright awful on the offensive end tonight.

 

 

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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
***
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by | November 28, 2010 · 4:15 pm

Hawks Claw the Raptors Apart

It was a rough day at the office for the Toronto Raptors as they were absolutely dismantled by the Atlanta Hawks 96-78 at the ACC.  The Hawks were deadly from the three-point line and without Reggie Evans and Peja Stojakovic the Raptors could not compete against one of the more deadly teams in the Eastern Conference.

What should be a concern for the Raptors is the deficiencies they have in the starting lineup.  They do not start games well, nor do they start the second half very well.  The Raptors have one of the better benches in the NBA, but their starters take them out of games early.  This is something that needs to be rectified as the road only gets more difficult without Reggie Evans in the lineup.

Today the Hawks absolutely destroyed the Raptors inside and ran circles around the starting unit, especially in the second half.  Josh Smith was brilliant on both ends of the court  and the Hawks spread the ball around the floor with all starters in double figures.

The Raptors need to get to the line more and play with intensity on defense.  Everything they had going for them in their recent four game winning streak was non-existent today.  Without Reggie it might be a long season ahead.

The Zan for Three

A Tale of Two Halves

The Raptors came out of the gate with a great deal of energy and took advantage of a Hawks team that was on the second game of a back to back.  The Hawks were ripe for the picking as the game was an early start and the Hawks played the night before.  Calderon and Bargnani were hot in the first half and Joey Dorsey was looking serviceable.  They ended the half a little rough but were still very much in the game.

The second half killed them.  There was no defense to be found, shots were not falling and nobody was trying to get to the free throw line.  As the Raptors continued to fall behind they insisted on throwing up three balls to get themselves back into it.  At one point in the third quarter the Raptors used four possessions in a row to toss-up a three, none of which connected.

What was more frustrating was the lack of team defense in the second half.  The Raps looked lethargic and uninterested.  The Hawks are a quick team, but a rested Raptors squad could not keep up with the Hawks on the defensive end.  The ball went inside and then outside and their was simply no guarding the Hawks perimeter shooters.  On top of it all the Raptors took bad shots and couldn’t buy a bucket for large stretches of the second half.

It was like watching two completely different teams from one half to the next.

Point Guard Controversy?

Tim Chisholm made a bold suggestion this weekend, only  two games into the post Jarrett Jack era, that the Raptors should think long and hard about bringing Jose off the bench and starting Jarryd Bayless.

I do not for a second think Jay Triano will make this change so quickly after the trade, but a couple more losses at home and why not?  Bayless is doing something that no one else on the team seems to be willing to do and that is drive the lane.  Bayless entered the game in the second half, with the result no longer in doubt, and brought his team back a little bit.  He play aggressive defense, which the starting unit lacks, and he drives the lane and gets to foul line, something the starting unit needs to do more of.

Bayless looks to  be a potential building black going forward and there is no harm inserting him into the starting unit, especially if the Raptors begin to fall out of playoff contention.

Without the contributions of Reggie Evans, the Raptors will be in tough, as they were Sunday against the Hawks.

 

The Reggulus Way

I love Reggie Evans.  Have I mentioned that yet this year?  The guy is a beast on the court and plays his heart out on every possession.  He has a broken foot is could be out for a long, long time, but there he was on the court, complete with crutches, with his team instructing them on some defensive ideas.  Let’s not get into the fact that his ideas obviously didn’t work out, but he was there with his team in body and in spirit.  In a city used to the Chris Boshs and Vince Carters of yester year, it was nice to see a guy who was trying to contribute any way he could despite his injury.  I know  Reggie is an expiring contract and he likely does not fit into the future plans of this franchise, but this is a character guy that would be a great veteran off the bench for a young team going forward.

Memo to Bryan Colangelo: Keep this guy!

Zan of the Night

Josh Smith

He was all over the court.  He played tight defense on the Raptors and single-handedly shut down Andrea Bargnani, holding him to just two points in the second half.  He distributed to his teammates and was active on the glass, out-muscleing bigger stronger Raptors.  He ended the game with a triple double and was the heart and soul of his team today.  With a guy like this working with the rest of this very deep team, the Hawks might be my sleeper pick to come out of the East this year.

Not Zan of the Night

The Starting Five

It would be easy to give this to one guy or another, but this unit just didn’t have it.  Yes Reggie is out, so let’s forgive Dorsey for being horribly out of his league on offense and defense.  But Calderon, Bargnani, Derozan and Weems were all simply awful.  Bargnani was good int he first half and then didn’t even show up for the second.  Demar was brutal on both ends of the floor and Calderon needs to learn to shoot the ball every once in a while.  I like his giving nature, but for the love of humanity shot the ball when you are open.  Weems was awful as well.  This unit needs to find its identity or a change is needed.

 

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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by | April 12, 2010 · 11:40 pm

Raptors Keep Hope Alive

It was an effort that came 24 hours after it was supposed to.  The Raptors looked confident and convincing in a 111-97 win on the road in Detroit.  The win moved them to within a half game of the idle Chicago Bulls.  The Raptors will be rooting for the Celtics tomorrow as they face off against the Bulls in a game that could make or break the Bulls’ chances at the post season.

Andrea Bargnani led his Raptor team to an important victory that keeps the Raptors very much alive in the battle for he 8th seed in the Eastern Conference.

The game was full of positives and negatives as Andrea Bargnani played the role of superstar for a night and Amir Johnson absolutely demolished his former team with 26 points.

On the flip side, Sonny Weems left the game with an ankle injury and was being X-rayed and looked at after the game.  Word from Paul Jones was that he would be okay.  The Raptors are going to need Sonny to help the team score in their final game, at home, against the Knicks.  A game that could send them back to the post season.

The Zan For Three…

That’s more like it

There is a part of me that would like to believe that Andrea Bargnani read yesterday’s Zan Post Game and was inspired to put together a 33 point night.  I realize that he, most likely did not, but it was nice to see him take on the role of team leader with confidence.  He was unstoppable tonight.  Bargnani is a tough match up on any given night and the more he exploits this mismatch against opposing teams, the more the Raptors will win games.  This team is at its best when Andrea is rolling.  Tonight he could do no wrong.  If this is the player we are going to see consistently then the Raptors could be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.

How Do You Like Me Now?

It has gotta hurt for the Pistons to watch how much Amir Johnson has grown as a player this year.  They drafted him 56th overall in 2005 as the last high school player every to be drafted.  The Pistons watched him grow, but didn’t seem to have the time or patience to allow him to mature in Detroit.  He was traded to the Bucks and then flipped to the Raptors and is now playing a pretty consistent and important role on this team.  Tonight he put down 26 points against his former squad.  That’s gotta feel nice for Amir.

The Pistons on the other hand let him go so they could develop more “NBA ready” players in Jason Maxiell, Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum.  How has that worked out for you, Detroit?

Amir Johnson got a chance to show Detroit fans what could have been with a 26 point performance against his former club.

Maybe you let one slip away.

Let’s Go Celtics

I never thought I would ever willingly cheer for the Boston Celtics, but here we are.  Two games left for Chicago, one for Toronto.  If Boston wins then Toronto will control its own destiny at home against New York on Wednesday.  I can’t believe I am going to say this.  C’mon Garnett!  Let’s go Rondo! Uggggh…. it had to be the Celtics, didn’t it.

Zan of the Night

No Question. Andrea Bargnani.  He played like a superstar and led his team to an absolutely imperative victory.  He looked like a top dog out there.  A player that could hang with the NBA’s elite.  Now we need to see this more consistently.

No Zan of the Night

Charlie V.  Did you really guarantee a victory tonight?  On What basis?  How many games have the Pistons actually won?  Charlie Villanueva is a solid player and I really enjoyed his tenure in Toronto, but you’re on a lottery team.  You don’t guarantee victories on a lottery team.  Time to lay-off the Twitter, you’re worse that John Mayer.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 4, 2010 · 11:23 pm

Warriors Break Raptor Hearts at the ACC

What an ending to that game.  The Raptors, down one, make a steal off the inbounds and get it to Bosh who misses a contested layup with no time on the clock.  Bosh did, basically, everything a human being could have done to get the Raptors the victory, scoring 42 points, but in the end Corey Magette and Stephon Curry were too much.  This loss will hurt a lot more in a couple of weeks if the Raptors aren’t able to find some magic against their next few opponents (Cleveland, Boston and Atlanta).  Wins are imperative at this time of year and the Raps really could have used this one.

Chris Bosh reacts to missing the potential game winner. He did everything, but hit that shot, tonight scoring 42 in a losing cause.

The Zan for Three

Rotation, Rotation

The Raps had the right unit on the floor at the end of the game with Weems, Bargnani, Jack, Wright and Bosh, but it took a long time to get it right.  Triano pulled Bosh out for what seemed to be an eternity mid way through the fourth and the Warriors quickly went up by 15.  When he came back in the Raptors slowly clawed their way back but didn’t have enough gas.  It was nice to see a defensive unit on the floor to end the game.  The Raptors could have used that intensity throughout the game.  Turkoglu, Calderon and others were largely ineffective tonight and it took a lot of mixing and matching for Triano to find the right chemistry out there.  Coaching is not always an easy job, sometimes it comes down to trial and error.  What works one night will not always work the next.  Hell, what works one quarter, won’t always work the next.

Holy 3 Pointers Batman!

The Golden State Warriors were 13-26 from downtown!  Are you kidding me?  That is an unbelievable amount of three balls.  The Warriors really lived and died by the sword tonight.  The Raptors were better defending the three-ball near the end of the game, but you can’t really fault the Raps for letting the Warriors take those shots.  Many of them were contested, they just went in at an alarming rate.  An incredible shooting display.  It was like watching 5 Dell Curry’s out there at all times for the Warriors.  Golden State has some talent and can certainly shoot the ball, but when you go for the money ball everytime you’re gonna lose some games.  Not surprising this team finds itself in the basement of the Western Conference.

Don Nelson

He has now tied Lenny Wilkens as the All-time winningest coach in NBA history.  He has been a consistent force on the bench for a long time.  He will best be remembered, I’m sure, for his very successful years in Dallas and for leading his Warriors to huge upset in 2007 over those same Mavs. Nelson is also known for his public spats with players and for being very opinionated about players on his team (See Marco Belinelli).  Always one of the more animated coaches, he has been a pleasure to watch out there.  He has earned every bit of the honour about to be bestowed on him.

Plus the Foul…

Stephon Curry had a lot to celebrate on Sunday night, leading his team to a thrilling road victory at the ACC.

The Raptors have a tough schedule ahead of them over the next three games.  It would have been nice to have a win against these Warriors, but now comes a true test.  If the Raptors are to make the playoffs they will have to face a top four team.  They now get the pleasure of three games in a row against the top of the Eastern Conference.  If this doesn’t prepare them for the riggors of the NBA playoffs, nothing will.  Buckle up gentlemen, the next week will be a bumpy ride.

Zan of the Night

Chris Bosh.  Stephon Curry is equally deserving for his near triple double and the way he took it to the Raptors in the second half.  Jarrett Jack helped lead  the Raptors back with 16 points in the fourth quarter alone.  But Chris Bosh scored 42 points and 12 boards tonight and got to the rim 23 times. He was the best player on the court, by far, and had a chance to close out the game with a big layup at the buzzer.  The only thing he did wrong was to stay on the bench when Triano told him.  An absolutely amazing night from CB4.  Here’s hoping Boshtown did enough tonight to convince him to stay in town.

Not Zan of the Night

Jose Calderon.  He was thoroughly outplayed by Stephon Curry, that was to be expected.  But a -15 on the night?  He was essentially useless.  It took Triano too long to ride the Jarrett Jack train tonight.  When you have two starting point gaurds it is hard to pick which one you want to go with and at what times.  Triano made the right choice, eventually leaving Jack in to stay.  Calderon had nothing going tonight.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 31, 2010 · 9:58 pm

Chris Bosh leads Raptors Back to .500

Another game, another win.  This one didn’t start off well, but the Raptors came to life in the second half and absolutely devoured a tired Clippers team.  Chris Bosh did pretty much everything in this game scoring 34 points on 12-17 shooting and 11 rebounds.  The more important statistic for Bosh is that he got to the line 13 times.  This is what Bosh must do to be at his very best.  He needs to get to the rim and take advantage of an inferior defender.  A great performance from CB4.

Chris Bosh takes it to the rim against Chris Kaman and the Clippers.

The Raptors now look ready to take control of their own destiny in the battle for the last playoff spot.  The last few games the Raptors and Bulls have played as if they’re not interested in the playoffs, but tonight the Raptors looked in control, dominant and ready for life in the trenches of the NBA Playoffs.

Bring it on.

The Zan for Three

Changing of the Guard

The new lineups have, thus far, been very successful.  Perhaps it has been the level of Toronto’s opponents, or maybe their new-found intensity, or maybe Jay has finally found the right mix.  Sonny Weems and Antoine Wright have looked great in the starting lineup.  Jarrett Jack and Hedo Turkoglu have found great chemistry off of the bench.  All players were key components in this win.  Sometimes change is a good thing.  The old lineups were getting stale and the players were not maximizing their talents.  Hedo is distributing the ball with Jack taking more shots on the second unit.  Weems and Wright add a much-needed defensive presence to the starting lineup.  Probably not what many people would have expected going into the season, but if it works; run with it.

The Evolution of Sonny Weems

How great does that trade with Milwaukee look now?  Yes, Carlos Delfino is playing well with the Bucks and is a key reason they are looking at a top 6 seed in the East, but the Raptors have clearly won the deal overall.  Don’t even mention that Roko Ukic is now playing ball in Europe, the Raptors got the better return.  Amir Johnson has been a solid contributor all season long and Sonny Weems may end up being the key to that deal.  Originally a throw in to even out the money, Sonny may make Bryan Colangelo look like a genius if he keeps playing the way he has.  17 points tonight, but what is more staggering is that he continues to play a key role for this team.  He drives the net, has developed a nice mid-range game and is one of Jay’s go-to guys on the defensive end.  At the beginning of the season he had a goal of becoming a rotation player and now he is starting for the Raptors.  Not bad for a guy no one had heard of in the summer.  He is turning into a nice looking player that could be a key piece going forward for the Raptors.

Sonny Weems has been a welcome addition to the Raptors team this season, and now the starting lineup.

Attacking the Rack

Over the last few games Chris Bosh had stopped doing the things that made him so successful early in the year.  He stopped taking the ball to the rack and his free throw attempts per game plummeted.  Tonight he took charge, didn’t settle for the jump shot and was rewarded by the referee.  Chris has been one of the top 5 players in free throw attempts per game throughout the course of this year.   That is an important stat to consider game in, game out.  He has the respect of the league officials and must take advantage of it.  If they’re going to give it to you, take it.  Tonight he got back to what made him successful and he scored a tonne of points.  More importantly the Raptors won the game.  This could be imperative to winning basketball games down the stretch.

…Plus the Foul

What’s Mine is Yours

Tonight was a total team effort.  Jarrett Jack and Hedo Turkoglu did an especially good job of distributing the ball.  Six players were in double figures and Jack led the team with ten assists.  When this team shares the ball, they win.  The Raptors are a great passing team and need to utilize this skill to beat teams.  Hedo has looked good with the “ball” in his hands as well off the bench.  If they can get him going the Raptors could make a late charge.

Zan of the Night

Chris Bosh.  Absolutely dominating performance.  He shot the ball with confidence, got to the line and led this team to an integral win against an inferior opponent.  The most important aspect of his game tonight was his intensity.  He looked focused and fearless.  This was the Chris Bosh we have been looking for over the last stretch of games.  Welcome Back, Mr. Bosh.

Not Zan of Night

Chris Kaman. Yes, he is an All-Star.  And yes, he had some good inside moves tonight.   But, he cannot guard Andrea Bargnani.  Andrea Played cat and mouse with him all night; taking him out to the three-point line and then switching it up on him and driving it to the lane.  Kaman was a half step slow on almost every Andrea possession.  Yes, he was tired; but he let Andrea take full advantage of that fact.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 29, 2010 · 9:48 pm

Raptors Win One in Ugly Fashion

Let’s make this clear from the beginning, this was not a pretty game.  For two teams fighting for their playoff lives they both gave their opponent a number of chances to win in the final frame. In the end, for Raptor fans, a win is a win.  And boy did we need it.  With the Bulls slowly and methodically chasing them down, for the final Eastern Conference Playoff spot, the Raptors gave themselves a bit of breathing room with a tough win on the road.  Toronto now sits 1.5 games up on the Bulls with the Clippers waiting or them in Toronto.

Bosh and the Raptors clawed their way to an ugly victory in Charlotte.

Tonight was all about redemption for the Raptors.  Over the last two games they have been one of the worst fourth quarter teams in the league, gift wrapping consecutive games to Denver and Miami, two teams they should have beat.  Tonight they used a huge fourth quarter and timely play of Jack, Bosh and (Dare I say it) Hedo Turkoglu in addition to the Bobcats shooting woes, to nail home a thrilling win.  The game would have been a lot less nerve-wracking had the Raptors decided to hit a free throw in the fourth, but in the end, a win is a win.

The Zan for Three

Hedo Hot Seat

Wow.  What a crazy 24 hour period surrounding Hedo Turkoglu.  I was half expecting there to be pictures of him on Entertainment Tonight Canada this evening.  Word surfaced earlier today and last night that Hedo was benched by Jay Triano because he was out late at a Yorkville establishment after missing a game with the flu.  Teammates and coaches were rumoured to be openly questioning his heart.

Things really could not have worked out worse for Hedo and the Raptors after the initial excitement of his signing with Toronto.  He has not produced and is already being called a free-agent bust.  His attitude has been compared to the last days of Vince Carter and his impact on the court is almost non-existant most nights.  Tonight he came off the bench and looked good.  There is still time for him to make amends if he can turn it around and lead the team to a successful playoff run.  He just has to remember to stay out da’ club.

Free Throws and Three-pointers

What a shooting display by the Bobcats.  They really fell in love with the three ball and it may have been what ultimately undid their chances of winning the game.   The three ball kept them in the game and had the ‘Cats up comfortably in the fourth.  It also sank them in the final frame as the shot stopped falling.  It was their gift, it was their curse.

Not to be outdone….what is up with our free throw shooting lately?  Was that Sonny Weems on the line to ice it in the fourth quarter or Shaq?  The last stretch of games has really seen a decline in the number of times the Raptors are on the line and the number of times the ball has gone in.  When you miss that many free throws on a regular basis it can often mean the difference between winning and losing.  Tonight the Raptors were lucky the Bobcats couldn’t hit a shot in the fourth because this game could have easily gone the other way.

Michael Jordan could have done the job better for either team in the fourth quarter.

Not Quite Like Mike

It was ironic to see Michael Jordan, now owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, in the front row during the fourth quarter of this game.  The camera kept panning back to him throughout the final frame.  He is known for being a clutch performer and, no doubt, the camera crew was looking for a dramatic performance from either team to compare to the feats of Michael Jordan of yester year.  What resulted was, probably, some  of the least clutch plays ever.  Clangers, an unforced turnover on an out-of-bounds step out, missed free throws, and finally a terrible pass from Raymond Felton that literally threw the game away.  Not exactly the way Jordan would have done it.  Maybe these teams need to eat more Wheaties, or drink more Gatorade.  This was a disaster finish to a game with huge playoff implications.  Not like Mike.

Zan of the Night

Jarrett Jack

He came in and scored 12 points off the bench and led his team to their finest finish of a game in a long time.  The Raps haven’t been able to perform in the final frame lately and tonight, Jack made sure they did.  He was confident with the ball and made the right choices, setting himself and his teammates up for a big win. 

Not Zan of the Night

Raymond Felton

Worst. Pass. Ever.  Sorry, dude, that was not acceptable.  Especially in a game against a team chasing you in the playoff hunt and especially in front of Mike.

***

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Kristoffer Pedlar
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by | March 28, 2010 · 8:49 pm

Wade is Too Much Heat to Handle For the Raptors

Another game, another heartbreaking loss for the Toronto Raptors.  This is a team in a quest for the playoffs that just can’t seem to figure itself out. Toronto had the game in hand going into the fourth, but played safe, simple basketball and let Dwayne Wade do whatever he wanted to do. Don’t get me wrong, Dwayne Wade is going to get his.  He can never be completely shut down; he’s too talented.  But he just owned the Raptors in the fourth.  To make matters worse, players like Joel Anthony, Carlos Arroyo and Udonis Haslem played key roles for the Heat as well.  You can handle Wade beating you, but Arroyo? Haslem? Joel Anthony?  Come On!

This was a must win game for Toronto, if they were hoping to jump a place or two in the Eastern Conference standings.   Tomorrow will be a tough one in Charlotte and the Raptors could have used the positive energy.  This team is now sliding down a slippery slope and is in danger of not making the playoffs.  An unacceptable fate for this franchise and its fans.  There’s not much time left.

The Zan for Three

There was no stopping Dwayne Wade on Sunday night in Miami. He single-handedly took conrol of the game in the fourth and led the Heat to big win.

Stars

Stars win championships.  Stars are the players you look to, no matter what the situation, because you know they will always come through in the clutch.  Tonight, Dwayne Wade was a star.  Chris Bosh was not.  This is the second game in a row where Bosh has been outplayed, especially late in the game, by another teams star.  Yes, Dwayne Wade is a special player, but Bosh is supposed to be that as well.  Isn’t that why he is looking for a max contract in the off-season?  He is a double-double machine.  he gets his points, but, at times, at the expense of his teammates.  Too many jump shots and not enough finish.  Not enough intensity for a player about to lead his team into the playoffs.  Not what a player, who is about to make the maximum salary, does.

Knowing Thyself

No offense to the Miami Heat, who are having a successful season and will, more than likely, make the playoffs, but we are a much better team.   Yes, they won the game, but they shouldn’t have.  Yes, I’m a “homer” and am a long time supporter of this team, but they are better.  Just look at the starting lineup.  Joel Anthony?  Carlos Arroyo?  These players are solid contributors off of a bench but they do not compare to the Raptors’ starting line-up.  Dwayne Wade is a completely different story as he can beat you with one arm tied behind his back, but the rest are not at the same talent level as the Raptors.  The Raptors need to acknowledge this.  In the third quarter it seemed like Chris Bosh suddenly realized he was being guarded by Joel Anthony and the game changed.  Then in the fourth he went back to playing safe.  This team is better than they think they are.  It is time to start believing in themselves and not playing down to the level of our opponents.

The Canadian Destroyer

One of the big factors in the game for the Heat was the play of Joel Anthony .  He was dominant inside in the first half with 13 points and came through with some big rebounds in the second half.  No Jermaine O’neal, no problem.  Anthony abused the inside defense of the Raptors.  Bargnani and Bosh could not stop him.  In a game like this, you can’t let the Joel Anthony’s of the world beat you.  The interior defense needs to be stronger going forward.  Good for Joel, though.  He works hard and did his job tonight.  The Heat are in a playoff battle and need guys to step up.  This is a great opportunity to show that he can be much more than a garbage time player.  I am relieved though,  that Leo Rautins wasn’t calling the game because he would still be singing the praises of Anthony.

Plus the Foul

No “Ball” Tonight

In a surprising move, and one that will be dissected ad nauseum over the next 24 hours, Hedo Turkoglu was dressed but did not play.  He looked cheerful enough though.  Was he benched?  Is he sick?  Does he care?  No one really knows.  One could make the case that he would have been a valuable presence in the fourth quarter.  This is a playoff drive and we need our best to step up.  Hedo is the player on our team with the most playoff experience.  He has been frustrating, but we need him.  This is no time to have off-court distractions affecting the team.

Zan of the Night

Dwayne Wade

What can you say?  He was in totally control in the fourth and brought his team back from a large deficit.  He is one of the best players in world and one of the worst to play against.  Tonight he showed why.  Miami is always a wild card in any playoff series, simply because he is in the game.  Tonight there was no denying him.

Not Zan of the Night

Any Raptor that played in the fourth quarter.  This loss is not on one player.  This was a total team collapse.  Everything that was going right was ruined by one bad quarter.  Bad shot selection, awful defense, selfish offensive play, foolish fouls, poor bench management, you name it the Raptors did it.  This was a catastrophe of epic proportions.  The team is now in tough to make the playoffs and have a tough game Monday night.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 24, 2010 · 11:10 pm

Raptors Get Tuned By the Jazz

It was an ugly night at the ACC, the kind where the best thing about the game is the Raptors mascot.  And, god love him, too.  He is hilarious, especially when he wears that little inflatable suit.  Yup, that was the best part of the game for the Raptors, when the Raptor pretended to eat someone in an inflatable suit.  Pretty much sums it up doesn’t it?

This is a team fighting for a playoff spot, but there wasn’t much fight from the opening tip.  Hedo Turkoglu lasted only one half and no one decided to play any defence to speak of.  Usually the Raptors put up a better effort at home against a top team like the Jazz, but tonight there was no such effort.  This does not look like a team fighting for a playoff spot.  This doesn’t look like a team fighting for anything.  The effort on defence was not there and Deron Williams had a field day.  He made the Raptors look like Husky pylons.

If this team plans on playing playoff basketball for very long, they need to find the will to win.  A lot of work lies ahead for this team.

The Zan for Three

Deron Williams

Wow.  Is he really this good or are the Raptors this bad?  18 points and 16 assists?  He didn’t even play that much in the second half.  He made Jose Calderon look like a statue all night and just had his way with the Raptors.  I openly questioned his inclusion on the All-Star team this year, but he just might be the real deal.  The Jazz are sitting in 4th in the Western Conference and he is the reason why.  If the Raptors want to learn something about willing your team to victory, making smart choices, and fighting for a victory in a playoff race. They need to look no further than Deron.  He is a player any team would love to have on their team.  A leader.  A winner.

Sad faces on the bench is a common sight these days.

The Clock is Ticking

After the game, Antoine Wright said this:  “It’s just time to come together as a team. We’re running out of time. We’ve got to figure it out.”  This could not be more true to the point.  It is getting tiring talking about the same deficiencies game in and game out.  This team has a limited amount of time to point the ship in the right direction and start moving up the standings.  They are stuck in 8th and are running out of time to get where they should, by all rights, be right now.  Wright is often vocal and often says things you don’t want to hear, but he speaks the truth here.  In the words of SNL character Oscar Rogers “Fix it!”

Something More

One has to wonder whether there is something more to this sudden run of bad basketball.  The Raptors looked great heading into the All-Star break and seemed poised for a top 5 finish in the East.  They were becoming a team that other clubs in the league did not want to face.

Something happened.

It could just be good players playing bad basketball or maybe it’s something more.  The players don’t look like they’re having fun, they are smiling less.  Of course, losing will do that to a player, a coach, a fan or two.  Maybe something is up.  Jack doesn’t seem happy with his backup role, Jose didn’t seem happy with his.  Turkoglu wants “ball” and has been mentioning it regularly to anyone that will listen.  Antoine Wright is fired up 24/7 and then there’s Bosh’s looming free-agency.  Maybe this is a club that is imploding.  Maybe there is something going on behind the scenes we are not aware of.  The Raptors have lost their mojo.  If they’re too worried about next season in the thick of a playoff battle then that is all they will be playing for.

Plus the Foul…

No Love for the big Slovenian

What does it say about Rasho’s status on the team when he doesn’t play in a lopsided blowout?  Yes, Reggie played well at the end of the game, but come on!  This was the perfect time to put him in.  What is up with that? Let’s NBA already!

Zan of the Night

Deron Williams

An All Star doing what All Stars do.  He is quickly adding himself to the list of elite NBA players in the league.  He is a tough match up on any night and tonight there was no answer for him.  He is leading the Jazz up the standings in the very tough Western Conference.  This is not a team I would want a first round playoff match-up with.  Although I don’t know if there is a team in the 1-8 spots in the West that I would rather play.

Not Zan of the Night

Jose Calderon

He was a human pylon tonight.  He looked more crossing guard than a point guard.  His defence is never anything to write home about, but tonight he was totally useless on that end of the floor.  They say defence wins championships.  Tonight was not an encouraging sign for the Raptors.  Jose needs to bring it or he needs to sit.  He is becoming far too much a liability on the defensive end.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
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