Tag Archives: Rasho Nesterovic

by | February 22, 2012 · 12:15 pm

Things to Smile About at the Half Way Point

There has certainly been a lot to digest for the Raptors franchise and fan base after their humiliating loss to the lowly Bobcats on Friday.

This self-reflection also coincides with the unofficial half way point of the NBA season as teams will take a break this weekend for All Star festivities.

While the stars of NBA showcase their talents in Orlando, the Raptors will be left to play over the last half season in their heads.  What’s gone right? What hasn’t worked? And where do we go from here?

The Raptors promised to “pound the rock” this season.  Thus far we have seen it only in spurts.

Some games, like the recent effort against Boston and New York, fans have seen the effort and the focus on defensive intensity.  Other, like the debacle against Charlotte, have shown that the Raptors have a long road to go before they are back in the upper echelon of Eastern Conference teams.

The defense has not been consistent, the scoring has not been there night in and Night out and obviously Demar Derozan is not having the type of season he or anyone had hoped thus far.

But let’s try to accentuate the positive and focus on some things that are going right for this young team as we move forward.

Andrea Bargnani

Obviously it is a small sample size and we won’t really know until after the All-Star Break if his ascent to super stardom is for real or not, but he was terrific when he was on the court.

Bargnani seemed to put all of the negativity behind him and focused on his strengths.  He scored at will when he was on the court because he had the confidence in himself.  He abused the defensive mismatches coaches had on him and brought his game inside and out.

Had it not been for his time on the shelf, Bargnani would have been a serious contender to be in Orlando this weekend.  He has played like a star and Raptor fans should be very excited about what is to come from this young man.

Team Philosophy

Some may argue that the Raptors don’t practice what they preach, but the tough talk about defense has, at least, caused a focus change.  The Raps aren’t last in the league in points given up.  They just can’t seem to score that much either.

They wanted a focus on defense coming into the season and it is beginning to take shape.  Some players (james Johnson, Demar Derozan) have shown more improvement than others (Jose Calderon, Amir Johnson) but the effort is there and Dwane Casey has got this team very focused.

It cannot be denied that although the Raps have dropped a lot of games, they’ve been competitive and have earned rave reviews from opposing coaches.

All a credit to coach Casey

Surprise Performances

Although there have been well documented short comings this season for players like Demar Derozan.  There have also been a few pleasant surprises.

James Johnson has played a valuable role for this Raptors team and has been a bit of everything for them.  A rebounder, a late game defender, a shot blocker, an energy guy off the bench.  If he can score more consistently he may become a very potent threat for this Raptor team going forward.

Hands up if you thought Aaron Gray would be starting games at center for the Raptors this year.

Gray has played very well in limited minutes and seems to fit the mould of a Rasho Nesterovic.  He plays fairly sound basketball and is always under the basket battling for the ball.  Gray has given the Raptors added defensive presence, some size under the basket and another rebounding threat.  He has been a nice surprise.

His story is even more remarkable given the fact that it looked like he may not even play this year because of an irregular heartbeat. Definitely a feel good story.

Andrea Bargnani's emergence this season has been one reason for Raptor fans to be optimistic about the future.

Hanging with Best

The Raptors play their best ball when they are up against tough opponents.  Miami, New York, LA, Boston are teams the Raptors have played tough this year.  The team shows that it can raise its level of play to meet those of elite teams in the league.

The Raptors just need to do this against the lesser teams in the NBA.  It is, ultimately those teams that they will eventually be fighting with for playoff position in the next few years.  It would be nice if we could raise our game to a higher level for teams that we are supposed to beat.

Return of the Mack

Jose Calderon gets a lot of slack for his porous defense and deservedly so, but he has been on another level offensively this season.

Jose has always been a solid shooter, posting an impressive FG% most of his career, but this year he’s actually being told to shoot.  In the past he would give way to the Chris Bosh’s and Hedo Turkoglus but now coach Casey is calling his number more often.

Jose is having a stellar year on the offensive side of the court, but does continue to need assistance on the defensive end.  Some games Dwane Casey’s system hides his deficiencies, others, his defense is giant beacon on the basketball court.

Still, so far this year, Calderon has been something worth smiling about.

So Raptor fans, maybe things aren’t that bad after all.  While the team is losing games and increasing the likelihood of a top five draft pick, there are some positive signs to tide us over until the off-season.

The second half is going to be long and hard for the fan base in Toronto but at least there are a few reasons to watch and hope for the future.

The ship may not be moving quickly, but at least it’s pointed in the right direction.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

***

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by | February 16, 2012 · 8:48 am

Red Rocket Sorely Missed

Lost in the hoopla of LINsanity and the homecoming of Corey Joseph was the return of a former Raptor whose time in Toronto was ever so memorable.

Matt Bonner has been back to the ACC many times since he was traded away to San Antonio for Rasho Nesterovic in one of Bryan Colangelo’s first moves as GM of the Raptors. But it’s always such a pleasure to see him back in town and doing well with San Antonio.

It’s hard to argue that move wasn’t beneficial for both teams as Nesterovic enjoyed a long successful tenure with the Raps, but Bonner was something special and has been greatly missed since his departure.

He became part of the city when he was here. Riding the TTC to games, and practices and becoming a fan favourite with his energy off the bench and penchant for a big three pointer every now and then.

Matt Bonner wasn't the focus of Toronto Media last night with Corey Joseph in town, but he is still very missed by Toronto basketball fans.

He was here in the city during the Golden age of Toronto basketball.  Vince Carter and Chris Bosh were the centrepieces and Bonner was a solid big off the bench.  He helped the team during some of it’s brightest times and was here, just before Colangelo arrived, during the franchise’s darkest hour.

Bonner, while in Toronto, provided the fans with a reason to cheer.  He was an unknown at the time and played hard to earn his minutes.  Minutes he conitnues to earn with San Antonio.

Fans loved not only the way he played but the way he embraced this city and country.  He married a Canadian girl and has been trying every which way to become a Canadian citizen so that he can represent this country in the World Championships and Olympic qualifying. Sure is nice to see an NBA player doing everything he can to dawn the Red and White.

It was no surprise that when Matt Bonner checked into the game last night he received a warm, warm welcome from his second home. It wasn’t his first trip back to town, but the fans here will always welcome him as one of their own. 

Toronto misses Matt Bonner.  On the court and off of it.

They could use his energy and fight off the bench and could certainly use his three point shooting (an area the Raptors have struggles with this season). Not that the All Star selection commitee noticed,, as Bonner was once again a glaring omission from the Three Point challenge.

A return to Toronto for Bonner would be something special for the fans, but alas he has a multi-year deal in San Antonio.  One he greatly deserves and worked hard to get.

Still his legacy remains.  Every time I see a sign for the TTC or pass by Red Rocket Coffee on my way to work I think fondly on Bonner’s time in Toronto.

For now Raptor fans will have to enjoy Bonner in small doses when he comes to town with the Spurs, which isn’t very often. The Spurs only visit to the ACC was last night.

Hopefully fans get to see him in a different Red and White uniform  soon enough, if and when he eventually suits up for Canada.

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Kristoffer Pedlar

Zan Tabak Herald

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by | September 5, 2011 · 5:52 pm

Rasho: A Raptor to Remember

He left the game as quietly as he played it.  This week with little fanfare, glam or glitz Rasho Nesterovic announced his retirement from the game of basketball.

As someone who has followed the Raptors from their inception I can say with conviction that Rasho was one of the best big men this city has ever witnessed and one of the great under appreciated players in the NBA.

Rasho wasn’t a flashy player.  He didn’t score points in buckets or block shots with machismo, he simply did his job.  He played sound defense and was always there on the help side to back up his teammates.  He grabbed boards and made easy lay-ups when he was called upon.  He led by example and never complained about his role as a starter or sub.

In the NBA too much is often made of players that score the most points or play the most flashy basketball.  Rasho did what he was supposed to do.  He knew his role wasn’t to score the most points or take needless shots.  He just had to perform when called upon.  And he did.  His jerseys never flew off the shelves at Christmas time, but his name was on one for 17 years.

Rasho Nesterovic was a great teammate and contributor in his Raptor days. The NBA will miss him, whenever they get back to playing.

His 17 year NBA career is a testament to his hard work and the ability to fit into whatever system his coaches asked him to play.

When he was acquired by Toronto for Eric Williams and Matt Bonner I was pissed.  Matt Bonner was a huge fan favourite and Bryan Colangelo was trading everyone left, right and centre.  I couldn’t understand bringing in a player who many considered to have one of the worst contracts in sports.

Many times during his playing time in Toronto, especially in 2006, I openly questioned starting Nesterovic over Bargnani.  But when Rasho wasn’t in the starting five you would see a dramatic change in the defensive intensity of the team.  They were out of position, didn’t come over to help, and hung around the perimeter.

Enter Rasho.

Steady inside.  Never failed to foul hard when a player went into the paint.  Got open under the basket for easy lay-ups (yes he missed a few of those too).  He ran the pick and roll to perfection. He didn’t take shots away from others.  Rasho did his job.

Rasho was a smart, smart player and one of the reasons that the Raptors were able to find so much success in that amazing 2006 year.

As his career continued in Indiana he was asked to come off the bench and act as a role model for younger players and again when he returned to Toronto for his second tour of duty.  He did not balk at this opportunity and simply carried on doing his job.

In a city that has a lot of anxiety over the way basketball players feel about it, Rasho was a breath of fresh air.  He loved this city.  He came back as soon as he was able to and accepted a minimal role to be in a place where he was happy.

There aren’t a lot of NBA players like Rasho Nesterovic.  He was panned and picked on by ESPN analyst Stephen A Smith, writers often questioned his value.  His teammates did not.

In San Antonio’s championship run in 04-05 he was a main contributor and remained the starting centre all year.  Let me repeat: he was the starting centre on the NBA championship team.  Many of his Spurs teammates credit him as being one of the main reasons they won the championship that year.

NBA players rarely get to play in the league for 17 years.  To reach that length of time you need a combination of skill, luck and talent.  Nesterovic was consistent in his ability, lucky to never sustain longterm injuries and talented enough at his position to keep coming back year after year.

His contributions on the Slovenian national team really helped that country develop its National team program and the Slovenians are never considered a push over in international competition.

Rasho hasn’t asked for any fanfare upon his exit from the league and his subsequent retirement.  He deserves some though.

For a player who never once argued with a coach, fought with teammates or demanded the ball or playing time he deserves recognition.  There aren’t many around like Rasho Nesterovic.  Unselfish players willing to teach and learn are a rarity in this star driven league.  Toronto fans were lucky to experience his integrity and dedication to teamwork.

Toronto was fortunate to have Rasho bring his talents to Cherry beach.

A true gentlemen and a pleasure to watch.

Thank you Rasho.

Let’s NBA!

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | October 26, 2010 · 9:06 pm

The Zan Talks Bigs

The Players
Andrea Bargnani
Reggie Evans
Amir Johnson
Ed Davis
David Anderson
Soloman Alabi
Joey Dorsey
The Story
The Raptors enter their first season in the post-Bosh era and will need to find a way to replace his production.  Not only did Bosh score 2o+ each game and get to the line whenever he felt like it, he also fought hard on the glass and picked up 10 boards a night as well.
Andrea Bargnani, Colangelo’s golden child, is now officially the franchise “go-to guy”.  Whether he plays his natural position on the floor will depend on his effort each night on the defensive end and whether the Raptors acquire another quality big to play the center position.
Bargnani has looked good, not great, since being drafted number one overall and the Raptors franchise has been waiting patiently for him to explode into a Dirk Nowitzski-like superstar.  A prediction that may never come to fruition.
Now Raptor fans get to see if he is everything Colangelo hoped he would be.  Andrea will get the ball more and definitely will have plays drawn up for him on the offensive end, something that was severely lacking at times over the last few years.
He will also have to fight his way out of double teams; something he has never had to do before and will be called on to guard some  pretty tough talent.  (Hello Kevin Garnett!)  This will be a telling year in the life of Andrea Bargnani.
Amir Johnson had a great year as Chris Bosh’s backup and now takes over as a main guy up front.  He was given a contract that has been heavily criticized from the moment pen touched paper.  Still he is a solid rebounder and will play hard every night.  He will also foul-out many nights as he still has trouble staying in front of his man.  The Raptors are hoping he matures quickly and corrects the errors in his game.
Ed Davis may have been a draft night steal, but time will tell whether he has anything to give the Raps in his first season in the NBA.
David Anderson was a marginal pickup by Colangelo but may turn out to be a solid bench player the way Rasho Nesterovic was in 2007.  He had a solid pre-season and may surprise some people.
Joey Dorsey and Soloman Alabi are big projects, and I mean big.  Both are athletically gifted and huge, but their talent is raw.  Jay Triano is hoping this will be a developmental year for them with the club.

Best Case Scenario

Andrea Bargnani becomes a superstar (Yes you read that right).  Without Chris Bosh, the Raptors focus the offense around the Big Italian and he shines.  Fighting his way out of double teams and scoring 20+ most nights.  If he marginally improves on the defensive end everyone will be happy.  If Bargs is to make a full impact on this team, he will need to become more vocal in the locker room and show his emotions from time to time.  The best players usually lead by example.

The torch will officially be passed from Chris Bosh to Andrea Bargnani this year.

Reggie Evans shows Raptor fans what they missed last year.  He plays well, defends the ball hauls down rebounds in bunches.  He is an occasional starter against more difficult matchups and leads the team to an improved defensive presence.

Amir Johnson earns his large pay cheque and plays his way into the starting rotation.  Amir fixes his foul issues and becomes an inside threat and a tough defender.

Ed Davis shows flashes of brilliance and asserts himself as a possible building block for this franchise.  He has his ups and downs on the whole, but shows consistency on the defensive end and becomes a player Triano comes to trust.

Anderson is more than a marginal NBA-er and Colangelo finds yet another hidden gem on the top of someone else’s scrap heap.  He is adequate while players are out with injury and pushes the starters during practice.

If Alabi and Dorsey show they can hang in the NBA then it will be a win for them.  They could be D-League talent or hidden gems.  Best case scenario is they play a few games and lead us to believe they could be hidden gems.

Worst Case Scenario

Andrea can’t handle the pressure of being a number one guy.  He shows little to no ability to fight his way of double teams and is shut down on the offensive end.  He continues to be a poor help defender and as a result teams run right through the Raptors defense.

If Bargnani doesn’t become the go-to guy on this team and consistently earn that right, this season will be disappointing for Raps fans. It may also prove to be time to move on from the Big Italian and start fresh.

Reggie Evans rebounds the ball well, but takes far too many shots and becomes the Kris Humphries of 2010.

Amir Johnson comes out and plays like a backup on a bad team.  He never earns his contract and spends a lot of time on the bench because of foul trouble.

Ed Davis is the second coming of Alexander Radojevic (That’s right I said it!).  He shows little to no offensive ability, which isn’t a surprise; but isn’t able to defend NBA players, which is.

David Anderson, Soloman Alabi and Joey Dorsey have the collective impact on the Raptors that Nav Bhatia has on the team.

Overall, the worst case scenario is if Raptor fans begin to long for the days of when things made sense in the middle, the days of Zan Tabak.

Prediction

Bargnani is going to be pushed this season.  By his coaches, his opponents and by the fans.  He is going to be the most heavily scrutinized aspect of this team aside from who should or should not play the point.  In the end he will be productive, but will continue to frustrate Raptors fans that are hoping he becomes a star.  It won’t happen this year.

Amir Johnson is what he is.  An energy player that fights for the ball, but one that fouls far, far too often and he takes himself out of a lot of games, especially at the beginning of the season.  Reggie Evans fills in for him admirably, but the Raptors will be playing from behind a lot of nights because of the lack of offensive ability he has.

Ed Davis will have an up and down rookie year, if he can even stay healthy.  He will defend admirably, but will be a non-issue as an offensive player.  He will be a project with a lot of question marks by seasons end.

David Anderson will be a pleasant surprise this season.  He will play minor minutes but will definitely hold his own.

Of the two, Joey Dorsey will emerge as a possible surprise talent, but he won’t get much burn.

The Raptors will miss Chris Bosh this year.

***

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
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 20, 2010 · 1:25 am

Bosh-less Raptors Hammer the Nets

The Raptors used a total team effort to easily down the lowly Nets, who can only hope that the end of the season will come soon.  Without star Chris Bosh in the lineup the Raptors turned to Rasho Nesterovic as a starter. The little used veteran provided solid defense and a nice stroke with his jump shot.  He had 16pts on the night as 6 other Raptors were able to score in double digits.  The Raps will have to find more of the same energy when they face off against the, almost unrecognizable, Washington Wizards tomorrow night at the ACC.

The Zan for Three

Amir Johnson gets all ball as the Raptors give the Nets all they can handle.

Always Ready

No matter the situation that Jay Triano calls him into, Rasho Nesterovic is ready to play.  Whether he is left at the end of the bench and plays four minutes or plays 26 minutes as a startr and takes 11 shots, he is always in game ready shape.  Rasho has been sitting for the last 4 games as a DNP-CD but looked ready from the opening tip in New Jersey.  He played tough defense on Brook Lopez and was the main reason the big centre couldn’t get anything started.  A constant professional, Rasho is one of those players coaches love to have because they know, no matter the situation, they can always count on him to get the job done.

“It’s tough…you don’t play for five, 10 games and all of a sudden you have to start. You …just come in and try to play”

- Rasho Nesterovic

Captain by Committee

Tonight the Raptors were without their leader and top scorer and needed someone to step up.  Every player on the team shared the responsibility tonight.  The attack was balanced.  Most baskets were made with sharp passes and unselfish play.  Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack led their units respectively and shared the ball well.  The extra pass was made when needed and the team came away with key scoring chances.  In the end 7 players reached double digits and no player played excessive minutes.  This team was bigger than the sum of its parts.

Like Clockwork

Jay Triano rotated his team regularly, keeping his players fresh and active.  One of the great benefits of having Reggie Evans back is that he now gets to give his starting bigs a bit more time to rest.  Jose and Jack were solid running the point and neither one dominated the playing time.  Hedo got to control the ball a lot more and the bigs didn’t tire out.  This also keeps his starters fresh for another game tomorrow.  As we know, back-to-backs are not the Raptors strongest area.   Jay made the right choices and the Raptors were in total control.

Zan of the Night

Rasho.  The big man came from deep off the bench to start the game for the Raps. Not only did he perfrom admirably, he was fantastic.  He made shots, smart passes and played strong defense.  He was pretty hard to beat out there.

Not Zan of the Night

Yi. Absolutely owned by Andrea and Rasho on the inside.  Settled for 2 points on 13 shots.  He was compltely overmatched the entire night by a guy that hasn’t played in four games.  Not a good night at the office.

***

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***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | October 4, 2009 · 9:19 pm

The Center – According to Zan

The Players:Bargnani

Andrea Bargnani

Rasho Nesterovic

Pattrick O’Braynt

and Amir Johnson

The Story:

After a great second half by Andrea Bargani last season, Raptor fans will be interested in seeing if the Big Italian can continue on his success. He’s backed up by the Big Steady, Rasho Nestrovic. A solid, dependable, fan favourite.

Worst Case Scenario:

With a new contract already signed, Andrea’s game regresses. He doesn’t improve his physical play. He shoots the jumper more often than he drives. Rasho steps in for defensive purposes more than we’d like, taking Andrea’s valuable offensive game off the court.

Best Case Scenario:

Andrea’s game improves. He plays tough and he plays strong defense.  His confidence continues to sky-rocket as he begins to look like a seasoned veteran.  There’s even talk of an all-star appearance.

Rasho plays like Rasho. He doesn’t show signs of age. He continues to be the stable, defensive force he ‘s always been.

The Prediction:

Somewhere close to the best case scenario.  Andrea’s game does improve, but fans will still cry for more rebounds and more toughness; A facet of his game that will never fully satisfy the hardcore Raptor fan. But this year, his numbers won’t disappoint. Expect something close to 18 and 6 for the season. Which should be enough to get him some consideration for the All-Star team.

Rasho will be Rasho. He’s got a good couple years left in him before he starts to regress.

POB  shouldn’t see much court time. If he provides anything that can help this team it will be a plus.

Look for Amir to play some nights against smaller, more athletic line ups.

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by | September 15, 2009 · 10:54 pm

Let’s Get it On

As the off-season winds to a close, and players and coaches begin to think of the upcoming year, this Raptor fan is in the final stages of his withdrawal.  The off-season is far too long for basketball fanatics, especially for Raptor fans — who eagerly await the incarnation of our team.

The Raptors have completely overhauled their roster to the point where they are unrecognizable from last season.  Gone are players like Anthony Parker, Jason Kapono, Kris Humphries and Jamario Moon. All regulars over the last few years. Also gone are the newcomers Pops Mensah Bonsu and Shawn Marion.

Incoming are a list of exciting players starting with, most obviously, Hedo Turkoglu.  He is joined by Marco Bellinelli, Jarrett Jack, Reggie Evans, rookie Demar Derozan and a returning Rasho Nesterovic.

Brian Colangelo has remade this team and essentially erased the bad taste in the mouths of Raptor fans from a season ago.  Colangelo promised big things last year after the acquisition of Jermaine O’Neal.  We all know how that situation played out; the Raptors were marred in what became one of the most disappointing seasons in the team’s history.  O’Neal was then jettisoned out of town for Marion, and his huge salary paid for the rebuilding of the team.  Sam Mitchell was fired and Jay Triano took over.  Calderon was injured for large stretches of the season and Bosh and Bargnani showed only flashes of brilliance until the end of the season.

This year, things are looking bright once again.  A light has been cast on the dark shadow of last year.  Somehow Colangelo was able to answer his critics and bring enthusiasm back to the club during the off-season.  The offense looks ready to pour in points under a full season with Jay Triano at the helm.  Bosh and Bargnani seem primed for bust out years. There is a great deal of buzz surrounding the hot new rookie Demar Derozan. The coaching staff has been bolstered by the acquisition of Marc Iavaroni and the acquisition of Hedo Turkoglu brings a leadership and clutch shooting ability the team has not seen since the days of Vince Carter and Charles Oakley.

Whether this will amount to more wins and a playoff berth is the question that is on the minds of all Raptor fans.  Off-season articles surrounding the team’s chances has seen them listed as anything from “don’t have a chance” to “possible sleeper picks”.   Some have hyphothesized the team will have three all-stars; others argue only one.  No matter what people are saying there has been a lot to say about the Raptors this off-season.  They have been one of the biggest players on the free agent market and now look to translate that energy into wins on the court.D060763006.JPG

Still, entering a very positive season, there are still lots of question marks.  Who will be the starting two guard?  Who will be the backup wing?  How will Triano manage his very deep bench?  Who gets minutes?  Who loses them?  Can Jay Triano lead an NBA team for an entire season and into the playoffs?  Will Demar Derozan start in his rookie year? And of course there will be endless questions over whether or not Chirs Bosh will stay in the only NBA town he has ever known.

No matter what happens this season, and I am predicting big things, the prospect of seeing these questions answered has me most excited.

I cannot wait for Oct. 28th. I cannot wait till the lights in the ACC turn off,  the fireworks on the court blaze, and the team takes to the court.  Because then, it will finally be time to get this show on the road.  It will finally be time to see what this Toronto Raptors team, circa 2009, can do.

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by | September 7, 2009 · 11:02 am

The Garbajosa Factor

When Brian Colangelo began his first year with the Raptors in 2006 he overhauled the roster with players that weren’t household names.  Guys like TJ Ford, Anthony Parker, Kris Humphries and Rasho Nesterovic came aboard and changed the culture of the struggling NBA team.  The Raptors took on the mentality of winners and with a developing Chirs Bosh were able to capture the Atlantic Division title.

The most important player that year , the one who contributed most to whether they one or lost, was not Chris Bosh or Jose Calderon who now continue to make up the core of the Raptors franchise.  The one player that gave the Raptors the chance to win every game, that tipped the scales in their favour each night was Jorge Garbajosa.

No player in Raptors history (with the exception of maybe Charles Oakley) was able to do the little things so well that he a key component to whether the Raptors won or lost.  Garbajosa rebounded, fought for loose balls, made open shots when he had them, played consistent team and help defense and was the on court and off court leader for most of that season.  For much of the year you could be excused if you did not notice Garbajosa that much as he was hardly flashy and went about his business quietly.  But make no mistake it was his grit and versatility that helped propel the Raptors to the Atlantic division crown.

Garbajosa’s contribution became all the more evident when he went down with a season ending leg injury against Boston that left him questioning his career.  Without Garbajosa the Raptors were not the same team.  They did not defend the small forward position well, their team and help defense fell apart, they had a hard time corralling rebounds and there was a question of leadership.  As a result the team finished the season in unimpressive fashion and eventually were eliminated by The New Jersey Nets.  One could argue that if Garbajosa was on the floor the team would have been able to defeat the Nets.

The following season the Raptors continued grasping for a Garbajosa replacement.  Jamario Moon came in and faired well but wasn’t the same player.  Joey Graham was given opportunities but he could not re-capture the energy, hussle and gritty play of Garbojosa either.  The Raptors made the playoffs but were once again eliminated in the first round by Orlando.  They played well but something was missing from the year before.

Garbajosa never returned to full time duty and was not the same player after returning from his leg injury. The Raptors were never the same team as when they had Garbajosa on the floor and won the Atlantic division. Colangelo has tried many different players in the last two years trying to find that missing element.  Jamario Moon, Joey Graham, Carlos Delfino, Jermaine O’Neal and Shawn Marion all had varying amounts of success with the team but none had that missing element that Garbajosa brought.

Garbajosa, once a key to victories, has been a difficult player for the Raptors to replace.

Garbajosa, once a key to victories, has been a difficult player for the Raptors to replace.

Last year Colangelo said in an interview with NBA.com “The Garbo piece is still missing.  He was a glue player for us.  He provided a lot of the grit and intangibles that you just don’t measure in a box score…”. The Raptors were a team without grit last season and missed the playoffs for the first time in Colangelo’s time with the team.  It was apparent that grit and leadership were key focuses this off-season.

This summer Colangelo finally found a player that could defend, rebound, shoot, play-make and lead on and off the court.  A player that is built in the same mold as Jorge Garbajosa and has what it takes to win in the league.  Hedo Turkoglu possesses the intangibles that Colangelo referred to.  Judging by the success, or lack thereof, of the team following Grbajosa’s injury it is clear that it is these intangibles that play a major role in winning basketball games.  With the addition of Hedo Turkoglu the Raptors have hopefully found the right recipe for success.

Turkoglu has had success throughout his career.  He has been a major part of playoff drives with Sacramento, San Antonio and Orlando.  He is a player that is looked to for veteran leadership, clutch baskets and the “intangibles” that do not show up on a boxscore.  He has been a Garbajosa type player on many of the teams he has played on.  One only needs to look at Orlando’s drive to the Finals this year to see how integral Turkoglu was to the success of that team.  His numbers were decent but his play was better.

Ladies and Gentleman the new Jorge Garbajosa:  Hedo Turkoglu.

If all goes according to plan Turkoglu will help lead this team back to the playoffs and maybe even, something the Raptors have not seen since 2001: a playoff victory and a berth in the second round of the playoffs.

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by | September 2, 2009 · 8:59 pm

Stars Aligned for Possible Bosh Extension

So word on the street is that Chris Bosh will now consider an extension with the Raptors this summer despite earlier suggestions that he would wait until the 2010 free agent period when his fellow draft class alumni, Dwayne Wade and Lebron James, would also be available.

The timing would appear to be right for Bosh, and the Raptors organization, to sign long term as this summer the team has added a slew of players that look to form a nucleus for the future.  The other factor that may be more intriguing is that the big 2010 free agent period is beginning to look like it won’t be all it was supposed to be.  Don’t get me wrong, Lebron and Wade will get their money, but if the tax threshold for next season goes down and uncertain economic times continue then Bosh could, conceivably, make less money next summer than he could get from the Raptors right now.

If Brian Colangelo is able to pull this off it would be the cherry on his off-season sundae.  He has completely re-vamped this team with exciting new additions and has created a buzz in the city of Toronto.  Adding Chris Bosh to the long term core of this team would, theoretically, set up the franchise for success for the next 4-5 years.

The Raptors franchise player may decide to sign an extension this summer instead of waiting until next year.

The Raptors franchise player may decide to sign an extension this summer instead of waiting until next year.

But, why would Chris Bosh sign now and not wait until 2010?

- The team has made major moves to become contenders in the Eastern Conference and has locked up their core (Bargnani, Calderon, Turkoglu, and Jack) for the next 4-5 years.

- The team now has adequate backups (Amir Johnson, Reggie Evans, Rasho Nesterovic) at Bosh’s position meaning he will get rest when he needs it.

- The team went out and acquired one of his best friends in Jarrett Jack showing Bosh he truly is the franchise player they want to build around.

- Most importantly, he may not have another chance to make max money again as the 2010 free agent period will probably not hold the golden ticket he once thought it would.

The stars are now beginning to align and it appears the likelihood of a Bosh extension this summer is as close to happening as it has ever been.  If Bosh is wise he will sign now while he can still make max money and if he doesn’t the raptors can still offer him more than anyone else can next summer.

The thought of Bosh in another uniform has been a scary thought for Raptors fans for the last year but their worries could finally be all over.

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