Tag Archives: Reggie Evans

by | May 12, 2012 · 1:31 pm

Reggie is Still Reggie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That is, until now.

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

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

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

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

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 29, 2012 · 11:03 pm

Ex Raptors Could Be Keys to Success in Playoffs

So the Raptors are once again not in the post season, but there is still plenty for a Raptor fan to enjoy as this years playoff series’ get under way.

How about all the familiar faces playing key roles in this years playoffs?  Players that maybe didn’t get the chance to excel, or even play, in the postseason in Toronto have opportunities to make major contributions to their teams’ playoff run this year.

From big name talent like Chris Bosh to role players like Matt Bonner and Reggie Evans, there are plenty of ex-dinos out there that could play pivotal roles in the first round of the playoffs.

Make sure you watch out for these guys:

1) Chris Bosh – Although the Heat will live and die by the hand of Lebron James in the fourth quarter, Chris Bosh will once again be an important part of any hope Miami has of coming out of the East.  Bosh will have to match up against some very stiff talent and his offensive efforts could be what makes or breaks it for the Heat.  With all three members of the “big 3″ firing on all cylinders there really is no stopping the Heat.

Chris Bosh will be a key reason the Miami Heat win or lose a game this year in the playoffs.

Bosh will have to score when needed and will really have to help contain the bigger bodies of Kevin Garnett, Tyson Chandler and Carlos Boozer if the Heat hope to advance back to the NBA finals.  Last year he played well offensively but wasn’t as effective on the defensive end (a trait that plagued him during his Raptors days).

If Chris Bosh excels this year the Heat will likely win it all.  If he buckles under the pressure, the load his teammates are left to carry may be too much to handle.

Chris Bosh may be the difference between championship and heartache for the Heat.  

2) Leandro Barbosa – When the Indiana Pacers acquired Barbosa at the trade deadline for a 2nd round pick they didn’t acquire him for the regular season.  They really acquired him for the playoffs.  After one game in the series against Orlando it is already clear why this young team needs the veteran Barbosa to step up.

Most of the Indiana players really lack playoff experience and success.  They’re a young team and they showed their youth in Game 1, dropping it in catastrophic fashion to the veteran Magic.  Orlando dominated the last four minutes of the game and stole the victory from a stronger Pacers squad.

Barbosa will likely get more minutes in game 2.  He’s been to the dance before and has had some great playoff success in Phoenix.  He’s a crafty veteran and knows how to handle the pressures of the playoffs.  His presence on and off the court will be of great help, specifically, to George Hill and Paul George, who were not sharp in game 1.

Barbosa has experience in the playoffs and can hopefully help the young Indiana backcourt shrug off their difficulties and get the Pacers back into the series.

When Barbosa was with the Raptors he was instant offense off the bench.  Indiana, with only 77 points in game 1, could use that bench production especially when their starting back court is having difficulty.

The Pacer bench, and Barbosa in particular, are going to be key factors in this series. 

Matt Bonner is a perfect example of a bench player that could have a huge impact off the bench for San Antonio.

3) Matt Bonner – The San Antonio Spurs came into the playoffs playing some pretty darn good basketball.  They captured the number one seed in a very difficult Western Conference and looked primed for a good run at the championship.  Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli, once again, lead this team into battle with their eyes on yet another championship ring.

The Spurs also have a phenomenal supporting cast as well consisting of Stephen Jackson, Boris Diaw, Kawhi Leonard and Matt Bonner.

When the starters need a rest, the bench doesn’t miss a beat.  Jackson does the scoring, Diaw defends the paint and Bonner is there to throw in some dagger three’s.

When Matt Bonner used to hit three-point shots for the Toronto Raptors it would send the ACC crowd into a frenzy.  There almost wasn’t a more exciting play at the ACC during his tenure in Toronto.  When he hits them for San Antonio there is that same excitement in the air.

There is something about a Bonner three-point shot that sends electricity through a crowd.  When he hits a big shot it usually has an impact on the game as well.  I have a feeling Matt Bonner is going to be hitting big shots throughout the playoffs for the San Antonio Spurs.

In Toronto, we’d call Matt Bonner an “X-factor”. In this series, he could help San Antonio steal a game or two.  

4) Reggie Evans – Every year it seems that a rare playoff performer emerges to the forefront and helps a team win a game a series or even a championship.  Last year names like Ian Mahinmi and Tyson Chandler became household names.  This year one of those names could be Reggie Evans.

In the playoffs in hockey you need toughness and forechecking. Someone who is going to bang it out and do the dirty work that doesn’t get noticed on the score sheet.  Throwing a pick, chasing down a loose ball, tapping an offensive board back to your teammates are some of the intangibles that give teams a better chance to win and become far more valuable in a playoff series.

Reggie Evans is a player that does those things.  He’s tough, he’s strong and if he’s defending you, you are going to have to work.  Watch out Gasol, watch out Rudy Gay, the lane is about to be clogged.

Reggie is one of those X-factor type players that could end up making a huge difference for LA, even if it doesn’t show up on the score sheet.  

5) Shawn Marion – He wasn’t a Raptor for very long, but it was clear during his time in Toronto that Shawn was a very offensively gifted player.  He is lightning quick and can get to the rim easily.  He has quick feet and can keep up with defenders. He has also shown throughout his time in Dallas that he is a valuable defensive presence as well.

Marion is another playoff veteran, having had successful runs in Phoenix and he finally won a championship in Dallas last year.  Marion was a key reason Dallas was able to win and provided stellar defense during their championship run last year.  He took care of Lebron James in last years final and is becoming more known for his defense around the league.

This year he has been handed the task of guarding Kevin Durant.  Not an easy task, but if anyone is up to it, it’ll be Marion.

A playoff veteran, Marion has been handed the most difficult defensive assignment of anyone in the playoffs.  It’s not going to be easy, but something tells me Marion’s defensive abilities could make or break his team this year.  

So, Many former Raptor players are going to potentially play large roles in how this years championship is ultimately decided.  Lots to watch during the playoffs, even if the Raptors aren’t a part of them.

Enjoy!

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 4, 2012 · 9:25 pm

Derozan and Raps Battle to Victory

I’m not sure that it was necessarily the Raptors defense or the fact the Golden State Warriors just didn’t shoot the ball well.  Whatever it was, the Raptors were able to hold Golden State to a lowly 36% despite a pretty crummy shooting night themselves (37%).

To say it was a great game to behold would be a bold-faced lie.  It was ugly, sometimes it was downright ooglie. By the fourth quarter the Raptors and Warriors looked like they had shaken of the rust (or hangovers as the case may be) of the night previous.  The game picked up intensity and energy in fourth quarter..well the Raptors did.  The Warriors couldn’t muster much effort and in the end they didn’t deserve to win.

Some will say this victory puts us further away from a high pick, but to them I say, that the development of our young talent currently on the roster is also important.  Tonight Derozan looked good.  If we win games because he makes it happen, then I will get over moving further away from a top pick.  He is as much a part of our future going forward as whoever the eventual first round pick will be.

When Derozan takes a step forward in his development, so do the Raptors.  It’s that simple.  Tonight we looked like a team with a brighter future. 

Zan For Three

Derozan Time

Demar Derozan seems to be the focus of a lot of writers, fans and bloggers this year.  If he has a bad game, everyone freaks out and questions whether he belongs on this team going forward.  If he performs well then everyone praises his abilities and dreams of what is yet to come.

Today was a good day so there will be plenty to read and listen about Demar in the morning when you turn on your radio and read your paper (that is if people have gotten over the Leafs winning a game).

What fans should take note of isn’t that he scored a lot of points.  Yes, he was able to fill the stat sheet a bit tonight but it was more about how he did it.  His teammates were looking for him. He was the first option in their minds and Derozan was able to take that confidence and turn it into productivity.  This is something he hasn’t been able to do.

He also looked confident on the defensive end.  Being a number one option means you often have to defend the other teams best player.  Monta Ellis is no slouch. He is a great, great player and one that can score in a variety of ways.  Derozan was the “lucky one” that had to try to contain him.  Tonight he did. He contested shots, stayed with a pretty fast player and made life difficult for the Warriors Star.  Monta didn’t help himself by taking the awful shots and allowing Nate Robinson to touch the ball, but Derozan was right there making things difficult for Ellis all night long.

Demar Derozan and the rest of the Raptors found a way to win an ugly one at the ACC on Sunday. Demar finished strong with 25 points to lead the team.

The energy and confidence we saw in Demar has been lacking this year (as we’ve all heard a million times) but tonight he looked better.  He had the support and guidance of his teammates out there and it really seemed to make a difference.

Whether you think he’ll ever be a number one or two option in the NBA, it is hard to argue that there isn’t a really good basketball player inside Demar.  He is a giften athlete, can penetrate the lane at will and has a pretty solid shot. 

This is a player we are allowed to be excited about. 

Let this positivity continue.

Hockey Boys

So this is apparently a hockey town.  You may have a heard a little bit about the local team this weekend.  Something about a coach or something like that. Hockey is king in Toronto. Whether Raptors fans love it or hate it, it’s the reality in this city.

People love hockey.

What I’ve also noticed is that fans in this city love when basketball players play like hockey players.  Fans gravitate to “energy guys”.  Players that fight for the ball, hustle, grab loose balls and basically leave it all on the floor despite or in place of great skill.  For years fans have cheered the efforts of Matt Bonner, JYD, Charles Oakley and Reggie Evans.

These players often receieved louser ovations than the stars like Damon Stoudamire, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady or Chris Bosh.  They were also all given a pass when they left town. 

Why? Because we loved what they did here in the short amount of time they played here. 

These players endeared themselves to the fans without a great deal of scoring ability or superstar status.  We loved them because they played hard.  They worked hard and even when they didn’t put a single shot in the basket, their performances stayed with us.

Tonight Raptor fans were treated to a game that showed off some of our current crop of “hockey boys”.

Amir Johnson injured his knee late in the game and went down like a tonne of bricks.  In years past we would have seen a player leave the game and not return after a knee on knee hit. They might even miss a few weeks (cough…Carter…cough).  But Amir went to the bench and was back a few minutes later.  He was like a Boston Bruin out there.  You don’t see NBA players shrug off injury that often.  It’s nice to see we have a guy that will fight through the pain to play the game he loves for our team. 

Add to that the hustle and grind performances from James Johnson and Ed Davis and you had a team that a hockey town could get behind.  Defense.  Rebounds. Loose balls. Unselfish play.  The list of behaviour this hockey town loves in a player was on display in abundance on Sunday night.

These players are giving a hockey town reason to stand up and cheer, despite the losing season.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Watching a Raptor game on a Sunday afternoon used to be one of my favourite things to do.  I’d wake up on Sunday and get excited for an afternoon tilt between the Raptors and some other team.  I’d head down to the Richmond Rogue and watch the game with some buddies and dissect the Raptors performance.

I loved it. So did the Raptors and the city of Toronto.

Sunday basketball, for me, was like Saturday Night Hockey.  It just was the way it was.  It was something to look forward to and to depend on.

For whatever reason this year, the Raptors have been moved to Sunday night games or taken right off the schedule for Sunday entirely.  Let’s hope this is a result of the lockout shortened season because I want my Sunday afternoon basketball back.

Sunday night feels weird.  Especially 6pm games.  Just weird.

The Raps and Warriors didn’t seem to like it either as they started the game on a terrible run and by the fourth quarter the score looked like it was half time.

No more 6pm starts Please.  We want our Sunday afternoons back!

Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

There were lots of gritty efforts from the Johnson’s and Ed Davis, but Demar was the glue that held them all together.  He shot the ball well, defended well and looked for his teammates when it made sense too.  He was just “on” tonight.  The Raptors want and need to see more of this.  There is a great looking ball player in there somewhere, he just needs the confidence to keep it going.  

Dwane Casey is going to need to work hard on Demar so that he can string these kinds of games together into a consistent run.  Tonight he looked like our go-to guy.

Not Zan of the Night

Jose Calderon

A tough night at the office for Jose.  He was not good offensively in the first half and just could not hang with the quick Golden State Back court.  He was replaced by Jarryd Bayless who did a decent job of running the floor. Calderon did come back in late in the game for the crucial final two minutes and played well, but his effort was not consistent tonight.

Though he didn’t play well, I am still not an advocate of trading Jose.  He is a solid, stay at home point guard who distributes the ball well, keeps it away from the opposing team and loves the shit out of the city. 

Bad night notwithstanding, he is our team leader.  We need Jose.  Let’s hope we keep Jose. 

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | December 22, 2011 · 12:01 pm

Stuck in the Middle with Who?

So the first thing I said when it was announced that the lockout was over was “who is our starting Center again?”.  It is not completely clear whether or not that question has been answered.

The Raptors have been and continue to be a team full of Power Forwards.  Quite often that is who ends up starting in the middle.  Chris Bosh, Reggie Evans, and Andrea Bargnani have all seen starting gigs as the C position despite the fact that it really didn’t suit them.  Once again this looks like a year where the Raptors will have to be creative to fill the gaping hole in the middle.

The Players

Jamal Magloire

Aaron Gray

Solomon Alabi

Ed Davis

The Story

So we’ve been promised that Andrea Bargnani will not be starting at Center for the Toronto Raptors, but who will? In terms of “true centers” the Raptors are looking at Soloman Alabi, Aaron Gray or Jamal Magloire.  Now I would not be surprised to see Gray or Magloire have a turn starting, but consistently?

Look for Ed Davis to play the lion’s share of minutes here, but hopefully Alabi and Gray get some time to prove whether or not they belong in this league and it’ll be nice to see Magloire playing in Toronto, if ever so briefly.

In Our Dreams

Solomon Alabi and Aaron Gray become All-Stars…no, but seriously, the best case scenario is that one or any of these guys gives Bryan Colangelo  reason to keep them past this year.

Tyson Chandler, Nene and Marc Gasol were all out there during free agency, but in the end Colangelo resisted the temptation of a quick fix and instead grabbed a number of question marks and projects to hold the fort until Jonas Valanciunas is ready.

In my dreams Jonas would be playing this year, but for now I’d accept an improvement in defense.

If Dwane Casey is planning on implementing his defensive system in Toronto then the best we can really hope for is that the system is in place by the time that the big Lithuanian arrives in Toronto next year.

Magloire and Gray are here to hold his spot and help the rest of this young team implement the system that Casey feels will improve the defense.  If the Raptors can learn this system well, they can slide Jonas in next year with little transition.

Although he likely won't start, Ed Davis should be playing most minutes at the 5 this year. He will likely fill the Tyson Chandler role in Dwane Casey's defensive system.

Ideally I’d like to see Ed Davis playing most minutes at the 5.  He is a strong defender and is most likely to fill the Tyson Chandler role in Casey’s defensive plan.  Plus, he is very likely to be around next year and can help implement the system with Jonas.

The Reality

There is going to be a steep learning curve for this group.  Magloire is a big body and will likely be able to clog the lane in defense of Calderon’s defence, but these are new players learning a new system and it is likely going to take a while.  That means a lot of open layups, a lot of missed assignments and not a whole heck of a lot of offensive output.

Hopefully as the year goes on and everyone learns their role the defense improves, but there are going to be some ugly games before that happens. Welcome to boxscore hell.

Magloire and Gray are, at best, 3rd or 4th string Centers on most NBA teams.  As of now, they are two of the main options we have.  Neither are not going to stack up well against some of the bigger and stronger C’s out there. They are place holders until Jonas comes to the NBA.

Selfishly, I’d also like to see a little more of what Solomon Alabi has to offer.  We haven’t really seen what he is capable of yet in his time with the Raptors.  But with no pressure to win games this year, and a tumultuous 66 game schedule to endure, why not give him heavy minutes every now and then and see if we are going to Love it or List it.

In the end, if a system and culture can be created surrounding defensive accountability and Ed Davis uses this year to become our defensive leader, I’m going to be happy.  We are gonna get beat a lot inside the paint this year, hopefully we don’t get killed. In the end, enjoy the journey.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | December 6, 2011 · 10:10 pm

Raptors on the Prowl for Talent

This shortened Free Agent Frenzy promises to be unlike anything we have ever witnessed in the NBA.  Players will be moving from team to team at a rapid pace and  by the end of the week you will need to pick up a programme to identify your home team’s starting lineup.

Here in Toronto, it is pretty clear that the Raptors need everything and anything to help the club compete with the upper echelon of NBA teams.

They are blessed with some capspace and have players with favourable contracts they could move in separate deals to acquire additional talent.

What is a GM to do?

Bryan Colangelo is in the first year of a short two-year contract as has beefed up his front office with the addition of Ed Stefanski and Dwayne Casey will, no doubt, be looking for more players that fit his philosophy.

There are plenty of players out there that could help the Raptors.  I mean anything outside of another 7 foot Italian centre would help this ball club.  There is also a growing feeling that the Raptors would be better off to avoid the free agent frenzy entirely this year a nd save up for next summer when they will have additional capspace and, potentially, a top three pick.

Tough decisions await in the days ahead.

Let’s take a look at some possible targets and see whether we think they might fit in with this years incarnation of the Raptors or whether the Raptors should pass.

1) Tyson Chandler – We don’t have a true centre, Dwayne Casey turned Chandler into a superstar during the NBA playoffs, he plays defense and could provide help for Andrea Bargnani under the rim.   It all seems to add up to taking a chance on Chandler.

But here’s the rub.  It is going to cost something stupid to get him in Toronto.  He is a great player and definitely fits in with the current roster, but that money (likely upwards of $10 million) would be better spent at another time.

Verdict: A difficult Pass – save the money and spend it strategically later.

Raptors might be better off to avoid tempting options like Tyson Chandler.

Chuck Hayes – Um, a 6’6′ Centre? Really? This aint the NCAA. 

Before we all get snarky, he is actually a very efficient centre.  What he lacks in height, he makes up for in effort. He fights for the ball, defends the post very well and sounds like a player that coach Casey would love.

He also won’t command $10 million a year and might actually lead by example when defending the paint.

Verdict: A cheaper centre option.  Ignore the size, this dude can play.  Definitely worth a look, especially if the price is right. 

Shane Battier – Rumour has it the Raptors are still on his final wish list of teams.  He is a natural leader and a winner.  This is the type of player that comes in and puts a team over the edge. You don’t hesitate if you have a chance to add a player like Battier. 

Suffice it to say I don’t think Toronto is the right fit for Battier.  Sure, it would be great for us, but not for him.  He would be a great veteran presence for players like Demar, Amir and Bargnani to learn from and he would instantly become one of the best forwards we’ve ever had.

Why would he do it though?  He has a shot at an NBA championship with the Heat.  That would be a destination that would make a lot more sense from his perspective.

Verdict – If he’s interested in logging lots of minutes and playing the role of veteran leader, then I say sign him up.  I just don’t see it happening.  He’ll go for the ring in South Beach. 

Marc Gasol – What a dream signing, huh?  Gasol playing with Calderon again, a tough big centre, a budding superstar joining our team.  It would be nice to be the ones stealing a young star player from another team for once.

He’s not gonna come cheap and the Raptors likely don’t have what it takes to steal him away from Memphis. He’d be a great addition, but the timing of his availability just isn’t right.

Verdict: A pipe dream.  But a wonderful one, nonetheless. 

Samuel Dalembert – Another big man who would help move Bargs over to the 4 position where he will, theoretically, be more comfortable.

He’s a strong, shot blocker and he’s Canadian.  Plus, how awkward would it be hearing Leo discuss Dalembert on a regular basis?  Could be worth it for that reason alone.

He certainly fills a need and wouldn’t demand the ridiculous price tag the other free agent centres would.

Verdict – Not my first choice (I’m a Reggie guy), but he gives us what we need at the 5 and having a Canadian on the team would be an added bonus.  It would have to be a short contract though, as Big Sammy is on the decline.

Reggie Evans – With all the talk about the need for a centre and toughness at the 5 position, Reggie seems to be a bit of a forgotten man.  He fills needs the Raptors have and can still be that veteran presence in the locker room.  He already hangs out with most of the young Raptors (if I am to believe twitter anyway) and seems to have their respect.

He’s tough, he rebounds, plays defense, is a great locker room personality and will come relatively cheap on a short-term deal.

Verdict: Sometimes the best answers are the ones staring you right in the face.  Might be the best option out there for Toronto.

Whatever way Colangelo and the Raptors front office decides to take us, the next couple of weeks are going to be super exciting.  Trades, signings and eventually: actual basketball.

Can’t wait.

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | November 27, 2011 · 11:05 pm

Let’s NBA!

The news came at the very early hours of Saturday morning.  The lockout is over and a handshake agreement is in place to save the 2011-2012 NBA season.

The 11th hour negotiations saved what could have been a media nightmare for the NBA.  Questions remain however. Why couldn’t this happen sooner? Isn’t this deal very close to the one that existed months ago? Does this deal actually do anything positive for small market teams? What do the Raptors get out of this?

In the end, it doesn’t really matter.  NBA basketball is returning and fans everywhere are rejoicing.

It’s time to put away the anger, the bitterness and the hard feelings that may linger with this longer than necessary work stoppage.  It’s time to get to work.

For the Raptors, there is much to be done.

A new head coach now has less time to get his team prepared for the upcoming battle of the regular season.  Dwayne Casey has a difficult road ahead of him.  This ain’t the Dallas Mavericks.

Goodbye Dirk Nowitzski, hello Andrea Bargnani.  Goodbye Mark Cuban, Hello Richard Peddie.

Casey has a lot of work to do this season.  This team has been allergic to defense for as long as I can remember and they weren’t exactly scoring at will last year either.  Without a clear number one option, and a pretty thin bench Casey will have to get creative on offense.  It will be interesting to see what kind of a lineup he goes with and how he uses the teams speed to his advantage.

The NBA is back and soon the ACC will be rocking. Fans of the Raptors, however, will likely have to hold their breath for something big to cheer about.

In Dallas he was able to institute a defensive system that hid the deficiencies of lesser defensive players.  Congratulations Mr. Casey! You now have the task of hiding the deficiencies of Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani. No small task.

Then there is the roster.  Full of holes and full of question marks.

Who is our starting center again?

What is this team going to do with a starting lineup of Calderon,Derozan , J. Johnson, Bargnani and Reggie Evans (if he is wisely brought back).  This lineup is not setting the world on fire.  What they lack in pure talent, hopefully they make up for with effort.

In the end, this year might be one where Casey gets to see what he has and what needs to go.  It will take time to put his stamp on the team.  It will likely take longer than a 60 game season. As always, Raptor fans will need to practice patience.

Then there are the personnel decisions that need to be made.

Will there be a player that will fall victim to the amnesty clause? (Bargnani and Calderon I’m looking at you)

Bryan Colangelo and his new right hand man, Ed Stefanski are looking over the new CBA and seeing what options they have.  There is some cap space that can be used and there is likely to be a number of free agents available for possibly bottom basement prices. Bring back Joey Dorsey? Julian Wright? Check out the open market and splurge on a bigger name like Jeff Foster or Joel Przybilla?

These next few weeks will be fast and furious, but if you’re a Raptor fan, is there anyone you’d rather have handling the situation than Bryan Colangelo?

Suffice it to say there is plenty of work to get done.  No time to sit around and bask in the glow of labour peace. The Raptors need some serious work and there isn’t really much time to do it.

What is certain about this year is that there will be a lot of player evaluation.  The Raptors have a number of young assets (A Johnson, Bayless, Derozan, Davis, J. Johnson, Bargnani) and it’s time to see which, if any, will be part of the core that moves forward.

Will Colangelo make trades? Acquisitions?

Without question, he will.

Hallelujah! The season is happening, now let’s figure this team out.

The year ahead is likely to be a rough road in Raptorland, but at least there is a season to enjoy.

Let’s NBA!!

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

Zan Tabak Herald

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by | May 1, 2011 · 2:55 pm

Ex Raptors become X-Factors in Round Two

As round two begins in the NBA, we’ve said goodbye to a few old allies.  Jarrett Jack and Marco Belinelli have packed their bags after a very succesful first round series against the Lakers.  Matt Bonner had a disappointing first round with San Antonio as they were bounced by the Grizzlies and Roy Hibbert and TJ Ford find themselves spectators as round two begins.

As the second round begins,  a few former Raptor favourites could tip the scales in their second round series.  Let’s take a look at the key Ex-Raptors that will likely be X-Factors for their respective teams.

Miami vs. Boston

The Big three vs. the Big Three.  This is a dream matchup for the NBA and any fan who enjoys good basketball.  We know that Lebron and Wade are going to score in bunches and we know that Ray Allen will be tossing key three pointers throughout the series and Kevin Garnett will be intense.  What we don’t know is how Chris Bosh will play against some really tough playoff competition.

If Miami has dreams of championship glory, they will need Chris Bosh to fight like he has never fought before.

Chris Bosh will be the key to winning this series for Miami.  Bosh has played very well thus far against Philly, but he is about to match up against Kevin Garnett who he has never played well against.  He will also have to play against the likes of Big Baby and Jermaine Oneal.  These are not finesse players.  They get dirty and fight with everything they have for a loose ball or a rebound.

If Chris Bosh is to be successful against these tough players he is going to have to channel is inner Reggie Evans and JYD.  Bosh needs to be less finesse and more banger.  He will need to fight like he has never fought before and be the player that keeps possessions alive and gives Wade and Lebron second chances.

On the flip side, Boston will rely heavily on Jermaine O’neal.  There likely won’t be a Shaq appearnce until later on in the series so Jermaine will be handed the task of containing Chris Bosh.  This is someone he knows quite well from his days in the T-dot.

Jermaine O’neal has been through the rigors of playoff basketball and is no newcomer to intensity in the playoffs.  His Indiana teams played their fare share of tough games.  He will need to be defensively sound and provide help defense when Lebron and Wade bust through the key.  If you need a hard foul to send a message, Jermaine O’neal is your guy.  He backs down from no one and may be the last line of defense for the Celtics.  He will be a key if the Celtics hope to head to the Eastern Conference Finals.

If Bosh can find that inner fight, Miami wins this series.  If he gets bullied on the glass by Garnett and O’neal and is shut down on the offensive end then it will be a second round exit for the boys from South Beach.

Dallas vs. LA Lakers

This series will be a shoot out.  Scoring is going to happen in bunches and defense will likely take a back seat as it often does in Dallas.  The mavericks have a number of players that can score in bunches in Nowitzki, Terry and Jason Kidd.  These three will score but might have trouble keeping up with Kobe, Gasol and Bynum.  If they are going to keep up, they will need their supporting cast members to step up.

Enter Shawn Marion and Peja Stojakovic.  These two players have the offensive skill set to be deadly to an opposing team.  While the defense focuses on Dirk and Terry,  Peja and Marion will likely get their fair share of good looks.  Marion is a player that makes those around him better.  He can pass effectively, shoots the ball well and knows how to get to the foul line (a valuable asset in the playoffs).  Peja Stojakovic has enjoyed a resurgence with Dallas and simply needs to stand on that three-point line and deliver.

Neither player was in Toronto for very long so we never had the chance to see them at their best.  But this is the playoffs an both are very familiar with the battles of playoff ball.  If used properly these players will help Dallas overthrow the defending champs.

Throw in “Almost Raptor” Tyson Chandler and you have an absolutely lethal rotation that can beat you in a number of different ways.

If Dallas spreads the floor, shares the ball and gets plenty of supporting effort from their bench they will win the series.  If the bench can’t contribute against the defending champs then the Lakers will continue their quest for another title.

Atlanta vs. Chicago

Do not underestimate the Atlanta Hawks.  Pundits and “experts” are already counting them out.

Don’t.

They are a young team finally coming into their own and might surprise the Bulls, who looked a little sluggish against Indiana.  This is a Hawks team that was able to defeat a pretty good team in Orlando.

Although I expect the Bulls to win the series I think it will be a longer  series than anyone thinks.

Watch out for Al Horford.  He will be a tough matchup for Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah inside. He is tough to match up against in the post and provides sturdy defense that could give Chicago’s Bigs fits on the inside.

The ex-Raptor to watch here is Chuck Swirsky, who may just faint when his team reaches theEastern Conference finals.  If the Bulls win he’ll likely look more lost than Tomas Kaberle during the Bruins game 7 celebration earlier this week.

It is likely that the Salami and Cheese will be brought out for the Hawks.

Oklahoma vs. Memphis

This series has no Raptor connections, but the Raptors should take note of these young teams and how they have built themselves into winning franchises.  It wasn’t long ago that a 22 win season was considered a success for the Thunder and Grizz.  These teams were able to build themselves back into contenders and the Raptors should hope they follow a similar path.

Neither of these teams became a success overnight and they surely didn’t do it by trading draft picks or signing  a slew of veteran players to bad contracts.  They built themselves slowly through the draft and then added veteran pieces to compliment those young players.

Watching Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka face Randolph, Gasol and Conely could very well be what Raptor fans will see in a few years from Derozan, Davis and Amir.

In terms of X-Factors for this series I would go with Shane Battier and Kendrick Perkins.  Perkins has been a non-factor thus far in the playoffs but he will need to help lead this young team as they focus on Playoff advancement.  He’s been through the wars before and they will need him to help contain the beast that is Randolph. Hopefully he wakes up soon or the surging Grizzlies might be too difficult to defeat.

Lots to watch as a Raptor fan, as some old friends will likely be keys to the teams that ultimately prevail.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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by | March 26, 2011 · 12:03 pm

To win, or not to Win? That is the Question

It was apparent long ago that this years version of the Toronto Raptors would not be contending for one of the top eight seeds in this years playoffs.  With last night’s debacle against Golden State, one has to wonder if it might be time for the Raptors to fold their hand this season and set their sights at winning a higher pick in the lottery.

As a fan, who still has tickets to games this season, I certainly don’t want the team to become a complete and utter pushover, but then again, if it gives the Raptors a better chance at securing a top 2 or 3 draft pick that might reap future success, then it might be worth it.

It is certainly a debate that has divided Raptors faithful on message boards and websites.  Should we be trying to win games? or should we focus on giving our youth a chance to showcase their talents and on securing a high pick?

If I’m at a game, I’m cheering for the Raptors: plain and simple.  I want them to win the game, win me some pizza and play exciting basketball.  When the game is ongoing I have no idea of what the standings say or what the win-loss record is.  I cheer moment to moment and the feeling after your team wins is a great one, whether they are going to the playoffs or not. I cheered for this team back in the days of Damon Stoudamire and the Jalen Rose era, where wins were hard to come by, so I’m going to cheer them on now.  I want the team I cheer for to play hard every game and fight to the bitter end, win or lose.

Then again a top two pick might yield a game changing player for the Raptors next season.  As we have seen with Blake Griffin this season, one player can sometimes change the entire outlook of your team, even if it is only the excitement surrounding the team.  There is certainly excitement in Los Angeles every time Griffin takes to the court and there is plenty of fanfare from each NBA city in the league when he is in town.

Couldn’t we use some of that excitement at the ACC?

There is also the argument that a top 2 pick really isn’t all that different from a top 8 or 9 pick.  There is no John Wall or Blake Griffin in this years draft.  Is Harrison Barnes really that good?  Is Derek Williams worth losing for the next month?  Is Kyrie Irving even going to be NBA ready next season?  These are serious questions the team has to consider if they are going to put their fans through another month of depressing loses.

Should the Raptors fight for every win or accept defeat and look to the draft?

Plus I really don’t feel that any team tries to lose games.  I think it would be impossible to tell Reggie Evans to stop trying or to sit Andrea Bargnani for long stretches of a game.  Players have a lot of pride and want to go out there and win. The morale boost that comes with a big win over a team you’re not supposed to beat is a feeling that every player wants.  Jay Triano is also working for a job.  He isn’t going to get anywhere playing Julian Wright over Demar Derozan, not that Julian would even want to play.

Colangelo is at the tail end of his contract and needs to prove his potential bosses that there is something here worth building on.  Has he brought in enough young talent to form a base going forward?  Are his potential free agents (Barbosa, Evans) worth bringing back for another season as veteran leaders?  These are questions that need to be answered.  They also almost guarantee that this team will be trying to win until the last game.

In the end I feel the best thing for the Raptors to do is play hard til the bitter end of this season.  Jay Triano is already doing the right things in starting to give Jarryd Bayless, James Johnson and Ed Davis more minutes on the court.  I think with Bayless, he could even go further in terms of giving him more minutes.  Make sure that your tradeable assets (Calderon) are healthy and let the young guys show they belong.  Start running plays for your emerging stars like Derozan and Amir Johnson and see if they can handle an increased role.  Give your fans something to justify the price they pay for tickets.

Losing does nothing but alienate an already frustrated fan base.  Give Raptor fans a bit of hope for the future by winning some games going into the offseason and help promote your youthful core to the rest of the league, potential free agents and our jaded fan base.  The difference between a Eenes Kanter and a Donatas Motiejunas might be a lot smaller than you think.  Might as well try to enjoy the rest of a lost season as best we can.

So cheer on those Raptors and hope they give us some thrilling victories to help offset the inevitable depression after games like the debacle in Oakland.  There may be a few glimpses of light in a dark, dark season.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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by | March 19, 2011 · 12:07 am

Why Still Watch the Raptors?

It is a rough part of the season if you are a Raptor fan.  There is no hope of reaching the playoffs and the team is not winning on a consistent basis at all.   Add to that the Blue Jays are getting set to start a season that seems hopeful, the Leafs are teasing all of us with a playoff push and Dwayne DeRosario cut his hair.  It seems like there is plenty to talk about on the Toronto sports scene and none of it has to do with the Toronto Raptors.

True the team may finish low enough to have a good chance at winning the draft lottery, but with no clear number one pick, there isn’t much to get excited about there either.  Having pick number eight would almost yield the same opportunity for a game changing player.

It is hard to be a Raptor fan these days.

Both my writing partner and I have been consumed by our daily lives that we have found it difficult to write about the team for over a month.  We wanted to, but with full-time jobs it just became too difficult and nothing really drove us to write.

Not even the deadline deal for James Johnson could get our creative juices flowing at 3am on a Wednesday when we have to work the next day.

Is there a reason to keep watching this team?  Not good enough to make the playoffs and not bad enough to yield a top pick.

I happen to think there are plenty of reasons to keep watching this team.

Even in the franchise’s darkest days following the Vince Carter trade and subsequent Rob Babcock era there was still a sense of rebirth.  A hope that from the darkness a beacon of light would shine through.

It did then and it will now.

Here are a few reasons to keep watching the Raptors play that are not told from a cynical or tongue in cheek perspective.

1) Demar Derozan

Everytime I watch him play I feel like I am watching a flower bloom in the springtime.  It is as if we are watching a player come into his own before our very eyes.

As Toronto basketball fans we have had the pleasure and pain of watching Damon Stoudamire, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Chris Bosh all blossom before our very eyes only to leave when they become bona fide superstars.  Now it’s Derozan’s turn.

He’s only in his second full pro season and already he looks like a stud.  He gets to the line with ease, drives through the paint consistently and if he can develop a consistent jump shot will be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA for years to come.

This season he seems to be asserting himself more and because the leadership of the team is in transition he has become a more evident leader on the court. He is getting more shots, albeit not enough for some, and he seems to be taking charge a bit more.

Just like we watched with Vince, Tracy and Bosh the confidence  a player develops in their game is important.  For a young layer like Derozan the departure of Bosh has allowed him the opportunity to develop that confidence without the pressure of performing every night.  Derozan gets to take some liberty because the team is out of contention.

Watching him grow from a young kid into a thriving NBA player that has potential to be an All-Star is something Raptor fans should be happy to watch this season.

Ed Davis has given raptor fans plenty of reasons to tune in this year. He looks to be a building block for the franchise going forward.

2) Ed Davis

I’m not sure if anyone is noticing the play of this rookie, but he looks like a key building block for this team moving forward.  He plays defense, rebounds the ball and lets his game do the talking.  He will never light up a scoreboard, but what more do you want out of a player from that position.

Davis is consistent and reliable under the basket.  He plays hard and will only get better.  He isn’t a player that is going to light up a score sheet the way Demar Derozan will, but he will be just as integral to every Raptor win.

Bryan Colangelo made the right pick when he took Ed in the draft this past year.  This is a player who might not only help his team win games but help change the culture of a young team that sometimes shys away from playing tough defense.

He certainly isn’t the most fun to watch on the court every night, but he is progressing fast and leads by example.  He has a tough as nails mentality and reminds me a lot of a young Charles Oakley.

You can’t have too many of those types on your team.

3) Positive Attitude

This team knows who it is.  There is no pretending that the playoffs are within reach.  Plain and simple: The Raptors are out to play their best, develop as a team and play hard every night.

There is something endearing about a team that just rolls up their sleeves and goes in to do their job the best that it can.  These are very likable players and ones that are showing their fans glimpses of what could be.  Derozan has shown flashes of becoming a dominant scorer, Ed David looks like a rock on the defensive end.  Calderon and Barbosa look like great veteran leaders and players like Jarryd Bayless and James Johnson could be diamond in the rough type pick-ups.

Hope is an asset that is very much for sale.

Looking at a roster that includes Bargnani, Derozan, Amir Johnson, James Johnson, and Jarryd Bayless one could assume that the future is hopeful. Add to this list a first round draft pick and financial flexibility and you’ve got a franchise that is moving into a rebuild with the right pieces in place.

4)  Reggie Evans

I’m sorry, but I love watching this guy play.  He reminds me of Charles Oakley or JYD with the intensity with which he plays.  He is fearless and he rubs off on his teammates.  Is there a more likeable player in the NBA?  If I’m Miami I try to sign him in the offseason just to bring in some positive karma and if I’m Bryan Colangelo I bring him back to help inspire this young team.

Reggie is a player you can’t help but get behind.  Whether the game is within reach or not Reggie is a player to watch.

 

As you can see there are many reasons to watch.  In baseball they tell you to “root, root, root for the home team” and for the most part we do that blindly.  But when you come from Toronto and have had the letdown of the Maple Leafs since 1967 and have watched big name talent like Carter and Bosh leave town, it is hard to find a silver lining.

There is still reason to watch, there is still reason to cheer.  The Raptors are making positive steps forward and is there anything more exciting than seeing something grow from the ground up?

Go Raps Go!

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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by | January 21, 2011 · 2:55 pm

Young Raptors Still Searching For An Identity

So we’re at the halfway point of the season and the question most Raptor fans are asking themselves about this team is “What exactly do we have here?”. Yes, this team has a few young players that look as though they have some potential to score in buckets, they have players that are working hard to show they belong in the league, but what is this team made of?

Back in the late 1990′s when Vince Carter was just starting out with the Raptors there was some excitement for the future.  You could tell Vince was a special player that was going to provide fans with a plethora of jaw-dropping moments.  Tracy McGrady was just coming into his own and fans could sense a serious run at dominance in the Eastern Conference. In addition, the Raptors brought in players like Charles Oakley, Kevin Willis, Alvin Williams and Antonio Davis to provide veteran leadership and players that knew their role on and off the court.  Later they added guys like Jerome Williams and Keon Clark that added energy off the bench.

The Raptors haven't had a clear identity since the days of Charles Oakley. The young Raptors need to find out who they are and players in the mould of Charles Oakley would helpthese young players.

These players didn’t all have the long-term future that players like Vince and Tracy seemed to have, but they had an identity.  They knew who they were and they knew their role on the team, or at least, found that out during the years they played together.

This years squad doesn’t seem to have an identity worked out yet.  Like an adolescent entering their teenage years, they still aren’t sure who they are.  Who is your go-to player? Bargnani? Derozan? There is no clear-cut Vince Carter like player that is set to take the number one role.  On winning teams this is an established point.  The Raptors don’t have that yet and it is questionable, at best, to think that they have a grand idea of who that is going to be.

Where are the grizzled veterans that have been through the battles of the NBA playoffs like Oakley and Willis?  Sure, they have a great veteran in the form of Reggie Evans and some great former players on the coaching staff as well in Alex English and Alvin Williams.  But who is the vocal leader in that locker room?  Who are the players whispering in the ears of Ed Davis and Demar Derozan?

At this time their one true veteran leader is Reggie Evans.  He is tough, plays the game using the skill set he has and doesn’t veer too far away from what he is good at.  He is present during every Raptor game either as a player or as a vocal spectator.  He gives advice to the young players and seems like a great role model for someone like Ed Davis to learn the game from.  But is he enough? Will he even be on the team come April? Good money says his expiring contract is used to add another piece to the puzzle, but is says here that the Raptors should think long and hard about keeping him as a mentor for young Ed.

The Raptors are in a period of adjustment, that is for sure, but they are still searching for an identity.  Are they a fast break team?  Some players (Bargnani, Derozan, Weems) would seem to fit well with that plan and yet the point guard running the show (Calderon), doesn’t run a high tempo offense.

Are they a defensive team?  Players like Ed Davis and Amir Johnson have elements of defensive intensity in their game, but arguably your three best players (Bargnani, Derozan and Calderon) do not play defense well.  Your strongest defensive presence comes from Julian Wright who doesn’t seem to fit into the current or future plans of this ball club.

Are the Raptors a team that will rely on its three-point shooting?  They just eliminated Peja Stojakovic from their roster and have been shooting a dismal percentage from behind the arc all season.  If they want to win from behind the arc they might need to call up Dave Hoppla.

What about Bangers?  Are they bangers?  Well Reggie Evans is and Ed Davis looks like he might be, but Andrea Bargnani doesn’t even eat bangers and Mash.  The Raptors have held their own on the glass in some games, but then get killed in others.  That’s not it either.

Bryan Colangelo is now looking at some financial flexibility this coming off-season with expiring deals and the long held, and often debated trade exception, and with each passing day it looks as though he’ll have a fairly high draft pick as well.  I think it’s time that he looks, not to make a final push for the playoffs, but firms up exactly who this team is.

Andrea Bargnani and Demar Derozan look like nice players to start building a team with.  Add in Amir Johnson, Ed Davis and Jarryd Bayless and you have some nice young complimentary pieces.  But who is the face of this franchise?  Who is the leader?  What is their angle ?

These are important questions that Colangelo needs to answer.  Good teams know who they are.  They have an identity.  This team is still forging theirs.  There are some hopeful signs from this current roster, but that feeling Raptors fans had back in 1998 seems like it is still far away.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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