Tag Archives: Vince Carter

by | February 27, 2013 · 11:07 pm

Learning to be Clutch

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one disappointed with the Raptors home loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday night or the one to the Washington Wizards on Monday.  For the first time in, I don’t know how long, fans are scoreboard watching to see if other teams can help improve the Raptors playoff chances (yes, I said playoff chances).  The Raptors didn’t help themselves out turning in one of the uglier performances we’ve seen from them this year.  In a game that would’ve helped them keep pace with the other contenders for the 8th spot, they faltered.  Looked lethargic and did not capitalize on an opportunity.

Then last night in Cleveland they did the unthinkable and made the loss to the Wizards look like a clutch playoff performance. The Raptors gave the ball away, shot themselves into a hole and made defensive miscue, after defensive miscue.  They simply gave the game away.

In the end the Raptors missed an opportunity to make up key ground on the 8th place Bucks and are beginning to  watch their slim playoff hopes slowly evaporate in front of them.

But this is to be expected with a younger team.

Even with the addition of Rudy Gay, the Raptors are still a little ways away from truly competing for a playoff spot in the East.

Even with the addition of Rudy Gay, the Raptors are still a little ways away from truly competing for a playoff spot in the East.

Many of the young players on this Raptors squad haven’t had much of a sniff of playoff intensity basketball.  A number of the core players on this team have had some small brief playoff experience, but too many haven’t really truly experienced the importance of ‘must-win’ games this late in the season.

They don’t know how to close out games of this magnitude, they haven’t had enough experience being in a position to play for something meaningful.  Their play of late seems to indicate that the Raptors have a lot of growing up to do still.  These tough, excruciating losses are what help a young team learn what it takes to win when it matters.

You can’t look past the Cavaliers or the Wizards of the NBA in a stretch run.  There is no such thing as an easy victory.  Every game is an important game and needs to be closed out.

But there will be more important games to come.  Some will take place this year, but more will likely take place next year.

This is a team on the rise.  You can tell that this young Raptors squad is just beginning to scratch the surface of what they are capable of, but they’re still a couple of moves away from true contention.

DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas, and Terrence Ross have never seen anything close to NBA playoff basketball in their short NBA careers, while others like Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry and Amir Johnson have only had a brief sniff of that playoff type pressure.

For a young squad like the Raptors this year is serving more as a learning experience, a dress rehearsal for the real thing.  The young players on this team are beginning to see what it takes to close games out late in the season when there is something on the line.  Even games against teams that seem to be “sure shots” on paper, become tough tests of will.  Every possession is important, defense is king, mistakes come back to haunt you.

Case in point the last two games against Cleveland and Washington.  Games the Raptors should have won handily. Instead they looked out of rhythm and seemed to be forcing things on both ends of the floor, giving their opponents plenty of extra opportunities to score.

This is clearly a team that isn’t quite ready for playoff basketball.

But they’re close.

Once upon a time the Raptors had another group of young players on the verge of making a dent in the NBA playoff picture.  Young guns on the team in Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Alvin Williams were getting crowds in this city excited about competitive basketball for the first time in the franchise’s history.  While they clearly possessed talent and future upside, they were not able to make the playoffs right away.  They needed to go through some growing pains and needed savvy veterans added to the roster to teach the young stars what fighting for a playoff spot was all about.

Even with a wealth of talent during the "Vince years", the Raptors needed to learn how to lose before they could acheive greater heights.

Even with a wealth of talent during the “Vince years”, the Raptors needed to learn how to lose before they could achieve greater heights.

The Raptors of that time were all about Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Alvin Williams, but key additions in Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis and Dell Curry helped get that young Raptors squad over the hump and into the playoffs.

When they finally got there, they were schooled by a well oiled, veteran Knicks team and the upstart Raptors were sent packing in three straight games.  It wasn’t until the next season that this team showed enough maturity to actually win a playoff series.

They were able to succeed because they knew what defeat tasted like, they made mistakes and learned from them.  They learned first hand how important games, like the one on Wednesday night, are to being a successful franchise.

That is where the current edition of the Raptors hope to get to.  They’re close, but they lack the veteran leadership and discipline necessary to make the playoffs.

Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Amir Johnson with Jonas Valanciunas are a nice young core going forward, but they’re going to need to learn how hard you have to work to get into the playoffs and if/when they finally get there they’ll have to learn how much harder it is to win a series.

There are signs that this young squad will get there, but games like the one against Cleveland on Wednesday night indicate that the fans may have to wait a little longer before this team finally breaks through.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 18, 2013 · 3:03 pm

Ross Victory Helps Build Bridges

Terrence Ross wowed the fans in attendance at the All-Star Game in Houston on Saturday night and gave Toronto fans something they haven’t had in a while : credibility.

The Raptors did not have a representative in the All-Star game itself and haven’t had one since Chris Bosh left town.  Ross was the first Raptor to take part in All-Star weekend since DeMar DeRozan and so he had the attention of every Raptor fan North of the border.

Ross was clearly the most talented dunker on the night and took home the trophy and the bragging rights as the 2013 NBA Slam Dunk Champion.  His victory gives Toronto a little bit of cred around the NBA, another reason for fans to come out and a new name for the team to market around the league.

What Terrence Ross also gave to Raptor fans on Saturday night, besides the obvious thrill of victory, was a history lesson.

Terrence Ross did more than win a dunk contest this weekend, he forced fans to remember the greatest Raptor of all time.

Terrence Ross did more than win a dunk contest this weekend, he forced fans to remember the greatest Raptor of all time.

In one of Ross’s better dunks on the night he busted out a vintage Vince Carter purple Raptor jersey.

It was the type of move that could alienate him from certain Raptor fans as Vince, whether rightly or wrongly, is still considered public enemy number one in these parts.

But I think it was a classy move and one that might soften some the fan base towards the polarizing former Raptor.

Ross was paying homage to the greatest era of Raptor basketball and obviously the last great dunk contest the NBA has seen.  Why shouldn’t Raptor fans look back on those days and smile? Why shouldn’t we be proud of the history (no matter how short) of this franchise?  The history of this franchise, whether we like it or not, is rooted in the years Vince called Toronto home.

He left this city badly, there is no doubt about that.  He phoned in his last days as a Raptor and the trade that sent him to New Jersey decimated this franchise, while turning New Jersey into a contender.  We had to watch him lead another team to great heights while the walls fell down around us.  To make matters worse, every time he came back to Toronto, he seemed to find some new way to stick it to us.  Last second three-point shots, alley-oop dunks off in-bounds passes and, of course; a series victory over the Raptors in 2006-07 when we finally made it back to the playoffs.

The guy left us and then came back to burn us over and over again.

But, regardless of the pain and anger fans feel at the way Vince left and haunted us from New Jersey, he was the best talent this city has ever seen.

He was the best player in the NBA for many years, had multiple years as top vote getter for the All-star game, appeared regularly on US television because of his marketability; and he was ours.

While our expansion cousins were busy finding a new home in Memphis, the Toronto Raptors were the toast of the League because of Vince and what he was able to do on the court.  He had the fans attention, the leagues attention and the attention of his competition. Toronto was not a fun place to play if you were an opponent.

He put this team on the map.

Maybe just maybe, those days with Vince as top vote getter, playoff contender, dunk champion, selling out buildings all over the league was what saved this franchise from suffering a similar fate as our expansion cousins in Vancouver.

Vince Carter, whether we want to admit it or not, was the most important player ever to put on a Raptors jersey. Fans should now be ready to acknowledge that.

Vince Carter, whether we want to admit it or not, was the most important player ever to put on a Raptors jersey. Fans should now be ready to acknowledge that.

Toronto was a top draw for teams around the NBA. Everyone and their mother wanted to see what Vince would do when the Raptors came to town.  His jersey was everywhere; not just in Toronto.

Most importantly, the team competed in the Eastern Conference and gave fans here a reason to show up.  Without Vince, all of that success would have disappeared and with it quite possibly the fan base and ticket sales.

He kept this team relevant.

There have been times over the years that I have seen someone wear a Vince Carter jersey to the ACC and I have cringed.  Number 15 no longer belongs to him; that’s Amir Johnson’s number. But when I saw Ross reveal his Vince Carter jersey on Saturday night I  felt pride.

Suddenly the feelings I had as a fan watching Vince Carter dunk on All-Star weekend, the pride I felt knowing we had the most popular player in the entire league, the excitement I had for a playoff series came flooding back.

Ross paid homage to the greatest era this basketball team has ever seen and maybe it’s time we did the same.

Vince could become a free agent after this season if the Mavericks do not pick up his $3 million option and he would make a solid veteran role player off the bench for this young Toronto team.

Could he return to finish out his career where it began?

And if not, will his jersey ever hang from the rafters of the ACC?

These are questions that only time will tell, but in the meantime maybe we shouldn’t feel so embarrassed about wearing our old Carter Jerseys to the ACC.  Maybe we shouldn’t feel so bad applauding the man who made this franchise relevant the next time he returns to the ACC as an opponent.

Terrence Ross’s victory, as exciting as it was, may have also helped build a bridge for Raptors fans to get over the feelings of anger and betrayal towards a man who helped build this franchise.

With the Raptors potentially ready to host the 2016 All-Star game, it might be time to mend fences with the greatest Raptor of all time so that he can be a part of that special weekend.

No matter what the future holds for Vince and the Raptors, one thing is certain.  At some point in time, whether we like it or not, Vince deserves to be properly thanked and cheered for everything he did for the Raptors.

The time for forgiveness may be upon us.

Thank you Terrence Ross for thrilling us this weekend and for forcing us to remember where we came from.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 4, 2013 · 11:34 pm

Life Without Jose

Jose Calderon is no longer a Toronto Raptor.

That sentence hasn’t quite sunk in for a lot of people in the city of Toronto.  If you’re a basketball fan in this city, then Jose Calderon has been a part of your conversations, frustrations, high and lows for the last 7 and a half years.  He is as entrenched in the minds and hearts of basketball fans in this city as any player ever to wear the Raptors uniform.

And now he is a Detroit Piston.

On Monday night he officially joined the Pistons on the court after the three team trade that saw the Raptors acquire Rudy Gay.

You’d be forgiven if the sight of Calderon in a Pistons jersey made you shake your head a bit.  It didn’t really seem right.  For his entire career he’s been a Raptor.  On Monday night he was on another team.  Not the Raptor red that we were used to seeing, but still the same player.

Calderon shot the ball well, distributed, but did not show off high defensive ability and watched as his new team got beaten soundly by a much better New York Knicks team.  As Jerry Seinfeld famously quipped “we are all really just cheering for laundry” and there was Calderon plying his trade in different laundry.  But you couldn’t help but cheer for the guy wearing #8 in Pistons blue (as weird as it was).

The trade of five days ago, that once seemed so surreal, is now beginning to sink in.  Rudy Gay is tearing it up after two games with the Raptors and giving fans hope that we may be witnessing a new brand of Raptors basketball.  And the player once cheered loudly by Toronto fans is leading another rebuilding team a few hours south of the city he called home five days ago.

Jose, traded last week, will always be a fan favourite no matter what laundry he happens to be wearing.

Jose, traded last week, will always be a fan favourite no matter what laundry he happens to be wearing.

Calderon will always have a place in Toronto sports lore.  He was one of the good guys in a world of sports that has too few.  He always put forth his best effort on the court and took a huge amount of criticism from fans, bloggers and reporters for the shortcomings in his game.  He never wavered or fought back, he simply went on doing his best.

Calderon was brought here by Rob Babcock in 2005 to be a second or third string point guard.  He quickly emerged as a talented player worthy of so much more and quickly earned his backup minutes the following year playing an integral role in the Raptors Atlantic Division championship.  His real “coming out party” was during the playoffs in 2007 when he played some of the best basketball of his career.  He was, arguably, the best player on the Raptors team during all six games of that series.  Though the Raptors ended up losing that series to New Jersey, Calderon emerged as a potential starter.

Over the next few years he battled through various point guard tandems.  Every single tandem ended with another player leaving Toronto and Jose remaining.  Like a season of Survivor, Calderon stayed while others were voted off the island. TJ Ford, Jarrett Jack, Jarryd Bayless and for a period Kyle Lowry all couldn’t match Calderon’s production and team chemistry.  He simply proved himself to be too valuable to let go.  Hell, the Raptors even traded Jose to Charlotte with Reggie Evans for Tyson Chandler and Boris Diaw only to have the deal cancelled by Charlotte owner Michael Jordan.

Jose seemed destined to stay a Raptor forever.

Though his numbers slipped this year he just kept battling and seizing every opportunity that arrived.  When Kyle Lowry went down with an injury this year, Jose stepped in and led the Raptors to a season changing run that now has this team within striking distance.  The results of which, he will not be around to enjoy.

Jose has always had good offensive numbers highlighted by a high assist to turnover ratio and FG% every year and has helped other young players on this team emerge because of his great ability to get teammates involved often at the expense of his own production.  All aspects that make him a truly special player.

He will be greatly missed by his teammates, coaches and most of all the city.

In a sports world full of ego-maniacs, self-centred prima donnas and jerks, Jose was a breath of fresh air.  He was quiet, humble and happy to accept whatever role he was asked to fill.  He never complained, never shot back at reporters that called him a porous defender or fans that begged for him to be traded.  He took it all with a grain of salt and went on being the player that he is.

In a city that has been scorned by former stars like Vince Carter, Chris Bosh and Tracy McGrady, Jose embraced the city and the fans with open arms.  He embraced them on and off the court, was always happy to talk to fans, sign autographs or take pictures with them.  When he was criticised by fans or reporters he simply let his game do the talking.  He didn’t shy away from his critics.

Whether playing off the bench, in a starter’s role or as a cheerleader on the sidelines he embraced every role he was given.  He was a consummate professional and the very definition of a team player.

In typical Calderon fashion on his way to another team, his only wish was for the Raptors continued success. “”It’s been my home for eight years…I’ve done everything possible for this team…the fans have been with me since Day 1. It’s tough…Hopefully this team is back to the playoffs as soon as possible.”

Even on his way out he was gracious and thankful.  A true team player to the bitter end.

Players like Calderon are not a dime a dozen.  He was truly special player.  He will be greatly missed.  Unlike other former Raptors (most notably Vince Carter and Chris Bosh), Jose’s Raptor jersey will be worn with pride around the ACC, despite not being on the team anymore.  When word of the trade hit, his jersey was apparently sold out in the team shops around the ACC, something never before seen in these parts.

I’m not afraid to admit that he has been my favourite player since the 06-07 season and I proudly own a Calderon Jersey.  I will be honoured to wear it upon his return to the ACC on April 1st when he accompanies the Pistons to Toronto.

It’ll be weird, as it was on Monday night.  He’ll be wearing different laundry, but it’ll still be the same Jose.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | October 28, 2012 · 10:27 pm

All Eyes on DeRozan

For the better part of three seasons DeMar DeRozan has been a little bit of everything.  He’s been a dependable defensive presence, an important offensive weapon, a go-to scorer and a team leader.  He’s also had his fair share of disappointment.

He has drawbacks to his game.  He has, over the season he’s been here shied away from contact, hasn’t been able to shoot the three consistently and hasn’t not shown he can be the predominant offensive weapon on a team.

He remains a puzzle.

This is the year Raptor fans finally find out what they have in DeMar DeRozan.  Is he a solid piece of the puzzle?, a superstar in waiting?, or just another serviceable swingman? Or, if you want to look at it more seriously; is he a part of this core going forward?

DeRozan needs to prove to the raptors and the entire NBA that he is more than just a “flashy dunker” and that he can get to the free throw line consistently.

Since he arrived in Toronto as the number 9 pick out of USC in 2009, there have been expectations, perhaps unfairly assigned.  Fans wanted to see a high flyer, a guy who could score in buckets, an heir apparent to Vince Carter, and a possible superstar in waiting.  Suffice it to say, a lot was expected.

So far DeRozan has been a little bit of everything, but hasn’t quite lived up to the hype of the fans.  He’s shown strong defensive effort since his rookie season, enough that he was able to win a starting role on a team fighting for the playoffs in his first year.  He is a great target for our point guards when coming off of a cut and he can throw it down with some of the best in the league.  If not for Blake Griffin’s infamous car jumping dunk, DeRozan would have won the dunk contest in 2011.

For stretches of time last year DeRozan seemed to be putting it all together.  Runs of high scoring nights and frequent trips to the stripe but then steps backward where he would disappear on offense crack under the pressure of being the number one or falter when guarded by a premier perimeter defender.  Without Andrea Bargnani to share the offensive duties, DeRozan was smothered by other teams’ defenses and was not as effective as he was with stronger support.

Coming into each of the last three seasons DeRozan hasn’t had to worry about his status as a starting wing.  And make no mistake about it; DeRozan will be the starting shooting guard for the Raptors once again on Oct. 31st.  But he’s got some competition on the bench waiting for their opportunity.

This competition will hopefully push DeRozan a little more than he has been over the last few years.  DeRozan has had it pretty easy so far in Toronto.  A guaranteed spot, very little internal competition and the benefit of the doubt when playing with an injury plagued roster.

This is the year raptor fans need to see DeRozan step up and fulfill the promise he showed when he was drafted three years ago.

There is now a wealth of options on Toronto’s bench this year that could spell DeRozan at the 2 guard for stretches during the year.  Landry Fields is more comfortable playing the two and is an excellent perimeter defender.  Alan Anderson has earned the respect of the coaching staff with his strong work ethic and attention to defense and he could see some minutes at the 2.  Also, with three strong point guards on the roster there will likely be times when Jose Calderon or John Lucas III find themselves sharing the back court with Kyle Lowry as both posses strong shooting ability, a skill DeRozan hasn’t shown to be a strength.

The biggest threat to DeRozan this year, however, might just be rookie shooting guard Terrence Ross, albeit likely over the long-term.  Ross is a strong defender and possesses a deadly long-range shot.  He is a great compliment to Kyle Lowry who pushes the ball up the floor and often kicks the ball out to the perimeter.  Ross is even more deadly off of a kick out because of how quickly he can release a shot.  It is that deadly shot and accuracy that make Ross such an attractive option at this position.

Casey agrees that competition this year at the two guard will help push DeRozan to greater heights. “He’s got competition all around …those guys are into him, pushing him…it’s going to be good for him to have that.”

This season will be a make or break year for DeRozan in Toronto. He is due for an extension and his agent will likely be looking for a large payday.   If the Raptors don’t make the playoffs and DeRozan struggles, if he doesn’t find that magic chemistry with Lowry and the rest of the team, he may find himself wearing a new uniform this time next year.

DeRozan is going to have to prove to fans and management that he can be the player that he was thought to be back when he was drafted.  DeRozan needs to be more than an average defender and a flashy dunker.  He needs to take that next step and cement his place in the Raptors future.

Shooting guards who produce the numbers DeRozan has over the last three years (14.1pts, 3.4 reb, 1.5 ast, 45.7 FG% and 20.6% 3-pt %) are not terribly difficult to find around the league for a much lower price than DeRozan is likely looking for.  If his stats last year (16.7 pts, 3.3 reb, 2.0 ast, 42.2 FG%, 26.1 3pt%)  are an indication of what kind of player he will be this year, then he could see his last year playing north of the border.  What the Raptors need is for DeMar to show he can be a three-point threat this year and score consistently in the paint.

Without that added aspect to his game, he will eventually sit in favour of better shooters or will ultimately be replaced by a cheaper option.

He has been working hard over the summer to strengthen his game.  Dwane Casey offered, when asked about DeRozan: “He did a great job this summer of really putting on strength and right now he’s doing a great job of hitting the guys first, creating contact, not being afraid of getting into the paint, and it’s going to pay big dividends for him.”

This year we will finally find out what DeMar DeRozan is made of.

DeRozan has the ability and skills to be a superstar in this league, but needs to put it together soon or the Raptors will quickly run out of patience.

It’s time we all find out what exactly Toronto has in DeRozan.  One thing is for certain, however, he will be the architect of his own destiny.

This could be the start of a beautiful relationship.

Or not.

***

ZTH

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Stay tuned for the Small Forward preview later in the week. 

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by | August 16, 2012 · 10:43 am

Managing Expectations

So the Olympics didn’t show us what we wanted to see from Jonas Valnciunas.  After a very strong year in Europe with Lietuvos Rytas and a stellar Under 19 World Championships, Jonas spent most of his London Olympics stuck to the Lithuanian bench.  He finished the Olympic tournament averaging 4.2 Pts, 52.4 FG%, and 4 Reb.  This isn’t bad for a guy who only averaged about 11 minutes, but a far cry from his numbers in Europe (11.7pts, 7.6 reb).  And of what was hoped from his new NBA home.

Raptor fans were expecting more. Fans wanted to see him dominate the post, swat away competitors jump shots and show himself to be NBA ready.

Newsflash: He’s not quite there.

Valanciunas showed flashes of excellence in London, but Raptor fans are going to have to remember that his development will take time.

This is okay.  Jonas is only 20 years old and isn’t expected to come in and be the savior of the franchise right away (at least not by fans with a sense of realism).  Impatient Raptor fans need to give him some time to become familiar with the NBA and to work hard on becoming part of a system (under head coach Dwane Casey) that will maximize his strengths and minimize the weaknesses.

In London he seemed to have a problem with his interior defense and often got beaten to the rim by faster players. He wasn’t able to get proper positioning and often ended up accumulating fouls.   This is something he is going to have to learn to do better in Toronto, but Casey is the coach who might be able to help him.

Jonas fouls a lot.  Not a good habit to get into, but something that is not uncommon for young players.  There are going to be many nights in Toronto where Jonas has brief stints on the floor because of poor positioning or being too active with his hands.  He will learn.  Raptor fans will have to be patient.

Jonas is not Alexander Radojevic, he’s not Rafael Arujo.  Raptor fans have to give him some time to become more familiar with the NBA game and with Dwane Casey’s system before pushing the “bust button”.

If  Casey can implement a system that minimizes the defensive inefficiencies of Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani then I’m sure he can create one that keeps Jonas on the floor.  Especially when Jonas will now be surrounded with defensive stalwarts in Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields.

Jonas has shown that he is active on the boards.  In Lithuania he averaged double digits in rebounding and showed himself to be very active on the glass.  He’s got a big body and if he can bulk up and learn to position himself right, he’s gonna be active on the glass in Toronto.

Far too often Raptor fans over hype their own players and are also often quick to dismiss them completely after a couple of bad games.  Jonas is going to require much more patience than that. The “hype-machine” in Toronto has not helped set realistic expectations for Jonas and as a result we are currently setting ourselves up to be disappointed.

He is not going to dunk over top of French centers. He won’t win defensive player of the year and he likely isn’t going to average double digits in anything.

Disappointed Raptor fans who were watching the olympics and focusing on his stats were not watching the right things.  This kid showed he could hang with NBA calibre talent.  He ran the pick and roll well which will be a staple of Dwane Casey’s offense and something he’ll likely be running a lot with Jose Calderon off the bench.   He was frequently one of the fastest players up and down the court as well.  For a big man he is going to cause issues for whoever is guarding him and if he plays with Kyle Lowry there might be some unexpected fast break opportunities.

He will learn the defensive game, learn that the referees do not give the benefit of the doubt to rookies and that the whole is almost always better than the sum of its parts.  With a vastly improved perimeter defense in Toronto, he will be put into a position where he can be successful.

Raptor fans just need to chill.  Jonas’s lack of Olympic dominance is not a sign that he is a bust.  In fact, the Olympics showed us he has a great deal of skills that will benefit this young team and also reminded us that his progress will not happen overnight.

The fact that Jonas is developing his skills should be reason enough for Raptor fans to remain positive.  He’s getting better and although he may not end up being the immediate saviour we all were wishing for, he has and will continue to show flashes of the player we want him to be.  With every rebound, every alley-oop slam and every game he isn’t removed for foul trouble he gets closer to what we want him to be.

His performance and productivity will be heavily watched and appraised by Raptor fans, but in the end I think the city and its basketball fans are going to really like this kid.

He just isn’t there yet.  And that’s okay.

Like McGrady, Carter and Bosh before him, he will take time to develop. But also, like those players, fans will enjoy watching Jonas grow and develop before their eyes.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | May 29, 2012 · 9:28 am

Lady Luck not Really a Raptor Fan

On Wednesday night the Raptors, and their fans will be hoping and praying for some lottery luck to help expedite the turnaround of this franchise. Whether it’s a rabbit foot, a troll doll, or a purple horse shoe, fans will be bringing out their lucky charms to help send the Raptors positive energy in the hopes that one of the Raptor ping-pong balls comes out first.   

Though the team has shown glimpses of success and has a great deal of free agent money to spend, The Raptors really lack a clear franchise player. This type of player is available, but not likely if they stay where they are at the number 9 spot. 

Either Anthony Davis or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could turn the Raptors fortune around immediately if the Raptors were to have the opportunity to select them.

The days of Vince and CB4 are gone.  Although there is little reason to doubt that Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan will turn into serviceable players, they likely are not going to become franchise players.

This NBA draft offers a couple of almost sure shot superstars in the opening round in Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.  The Toronto Raptors are currently slated to draft 9th if everything stays the same, but could move up or down depending on what happens around them.

Lady Luck needs to smile on the Raptors at this Wednesday night lottery.  I hate to say it, but it isn’t likely to happen.

Take a look at our draft lottery history. 

The Toronto Raptors have never really had great success in the draft lottery.  Even in their first season they were put in the 6th position by the NBA offices.  Something that had never happened before until Canadian expansion.  True, the Raptors went on to draft eventual rookie of the year Damon Stoudamire, but still, a lottery win could have been exciting and the team missed out on players like Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett and Michael Finley all who went on to have better careers than “Mighty Mouse”.

The Raptors actually won their second ever draft, but because of league rules were forced to draft 2nd.  That turned Allen Iverson into Marcus Camby.  Don’t even mention that Isaiah Thomas missed out on Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Peja Stojakovic.  Luck just wasn’t on their side.

The Raptors have only ben able to draft in the first position once in their history and chose Andrea Bargnani. Six years later, the Raptors are still searching for their franchise player.

The Raptors did eventually strike the number one overall pick in 2006, the same year the NBA ruled that it would no longer allow underclassmen to declare for the NBA draft.  Had high school students been given that opportunity that year, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant would have been very serious possibilities to join the NBA.

Nothing against Andrea, he has turned into a very good player and probably one of the top five players from that draft, but I’d rather have Kevin Durant.  I think everyone in the history of time and space would agree with me as well. We may have actually dodged a bullet with Oden, but still, the universe has seemingly been against us. 

Lady luck just hasn’t got it done for the Raptors.  They’ve had to make the best out of their poor draft position and, for the most part, they have.  Early on the Raptors found diamonds in the rough in Tracy McGrady at number 9 in the 1997 draft, Morris Petersen at number 21 in 2000 and DeMar DeRozan at number 9 in 2009.

They were also able to create their biggest success through a draft day trade that moved Antawn Jamison to the Warriors for Vince Carter.  The rest is, of course, history.

It would seem that Bryan Colangelo, Ed Stefanski and Dwane Casey are going to have to make the best of their current draft position, but you never know.  This could be our year.  This could be the year the Raptors get to draft that highly touted “game changer” that has alluded them since the franchises inception.  I mean it is mathematically possible according to Jay Satur  but it really isn’t all that likely.

Raptor fans are better to hope that some bigger names drop for some inexplicable reason like Peterson, DeMar and Ed Davis did in their draft years. Or the Raptors will have to hope Bryan Colangelo does his homework as he appears to have done with last years surprise Jonas Valanciunas. The pick was widely panned at the time until common sense and the opportunity to see him play changed people’s minds. 

Still, at the end of the day; I’ll cheer for our 12.3% chance of landing one of the top three picks and our 3.5% of winning the whole thing.  It could happen.

I mean it’s already happened twice.

Hopefully this time it will land the franchise player the Toronto Raptors so desperately need.

And if not, well we’re going to have to trust the Raptor brain trust to make a smart move at a lower position.  Something, we know, they have been able to do over the years. 

Happy Draft Lottery Day folks!

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 24, 2012 · 9:25 pm

Final Message Should Come from the Coach

On Thursday night the Toronto Raptors will gather at the ACC and celebrate “Fanapolooza”.  Tonnes of giveaways and prizes will be handed out to fans to celebrate the year that has been.

At halfcourt one raptor will be selected to give a “rah, rah” speech about the year that was and why all of the fans should expect better next year.

In the past, Raptor players like Vince Carter and Chris Bosh have taken turns addressing the crowd.  Last year it was Demar Derozan.

Who will be standing at center court to address the ACC crowd this year?

If the Raptors are smart they will let the coach do the talking.

Every Raptor player from stars like Bargnani and Derozan to popular players like Calderon and Amir Johnson have had up and down years at best.  Should they address the crowd? It’s possible they might hear it from the fans the way Golden State owner Joe Lacob did during Chris Mullins’ jersey Retirement a few weeks ago. This city isn’t in a good mood when it comes to MLSE after the Leafs missed the playoffs once again.

Bryan Colangelo could take on the duties, but that could get even uglier since he has yet to turn this team into a consistently achieving franchise since he arrived in 2006.  Toronto sports fans have shown that they aren’t shy when it comes to management, having gone after Ron Wilson and Brian Burke publicly during games. Though unlikely, Colangelo could be a target for the fans frustration.

Though it would be admirable for Colangelo to take the mic.  Glen Grunwald used to address the crowd to a smattering of boos and took responsibility for the mess that was his team and promised to turn it around.  Colangelo would be a good choice, but not the best.

Dwane Casey has turned the Raptors franchise around this year and in doing so has changed the way fans view the franchise. He should therefore be the one addressing the ACC crowd on Thursday night.

If I am the Raptors brass, I bring someone out who the fans have no choice but to cheer.

Dwane Casey.

It was Casey who came into camp and preached “pound the rock”.  It is Casey who has done far more with this team than any other coach could have been expected to.  It’s Casey who has turned this team from a defensive laughing-stock to a respectable defensive team. He said he wanted to change the culture in that dressing room and for the most part, he has.

There will not be one single person at the ACC on Thursday night that could possibly boo Dwane Casey or the job he has done this year.

He is considered by many to be one of the best coaches in the league this year and if it wasn’t for the Raptors win/loss record he could be among those receiving votes for Coach of the Year.

Dwane Casey should be the one speaking at the ACC on Thursday night because Toronto fans have no reason to doubt his words.  He represents the hope that many raptor fans feel despite another year out of the playoffs.

Casey preached defense and then brought the goods.  He said this team would work hard and compete and despite the low-level of talent on this team, they did. He promised the team would work hard and from all indications they have.  Harder than anyone thought this group of players could work.

Casey turned Andrea Bargnani into an All-star for the first 20 games of the season. He hid the defensive deficiencies of both Bargnani and Calderon and made the team look very strong on the defensive end for the first time in I don’t know how long.  He was able to “crack the code” and turn Demar’s season around in the second half and he got incredible performances out of players that many coaches never could have (J. Johnson, Aaron Gray, Bayless, etc).  He’s been an absolute blessing this season.

Dwane Casey has given this city a little bit of hope for the future of this franchise and so on Thursday, a night when the franchise wants to sell “the future” to the fans, he should be the one to deliver the last word.

With an improved roster next season fans in this city can start legitimately thinking about playoff basketball in these parts.  The reason is Dwane Casey.

Hopefully he has the opportunity to address the crowd on Thursday night and ignite some excitement in a city that is dying for something to cheer about.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 5, 2012 · 11:24 pm

The Hopeful Side of a Tough Loss

The Raptors didn’t quite have enough in the tank to beat Dwight Howard and Orlando Magic, but what Monday nights’ tough loss did show us was that the Raptors might not be as far away from contention as people might think.

The Raptors were without Andrea Bargnani. They were without Amir Johnson. They’re first round pick is playing in Lithuania and they were still able to hang with Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic one night after a well fought victory over Golden State.

These are usually games that the Raptors disappear in, where they use the back-to-back excuse to justify their sluggish effort.  Tonight they need no such excuse.

They executed on the offensive end, played tough defense on a fairly versatile lineup and didn’t turn the ball over.  Had they gotten a few calls in the fourth quarter from the refs or been able to contain the dagger shot from JJ Reddick the result would have been different.

For a team that is supposed to be terrible and currently focused on”tanking”, they are showing a great deal of fight.

Tonight the Raptors had another great effort from Demar Derozan who once again looked like a rising star and phenomenal supporting efforts from Jarryd Bayless and James Johnson (who is quietly becoming my favourite Raptor).

Losses are okay.  They do pave the way for better draft opportunity, but the way we are losing games is very encouraging.  This “lottery” team is a lot closer than anyone gives them credit for.  They have heart and they could easily be on the opposite side of these close games.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Bargnani returns.  He may be the player that tips the scales and turns these close loses into close victories.

Believe it folks, there is great reason to be optimistic in Toronto.

Zan For Three

In Praise of Coach Casey

Let us give credit where credit is due.  The Raptors have looked great in recent games showing energy on the offensive end and great attention to defense.  This team looks a lot more hopeful than the lottery bound Raptors of a year ago.

The main difference in this years team is Dwane Casey.

Demar Derozan and the Raptors put forth a valiant effort on Monday night, but fell just short to the Orlando Magic. Still Derozan and the Raptors are giving Raptor fans a reason to be hopeful for the future.

He has brought his “Pound the Rock” mentality and has this young team buying into it.  They are active on the defensive end and using matchups to their advantage.  Yes, there is often an open jumper or two that they’d love to have back, but there is a marked difference in this years team from last years.

The Raptors, miraculously, rank  10th in the league in points allowed this season.  Many of the players that were blamed for their poor defensive efforts last year still remain with the team.  Casey just has them playing with more energy and his system clearly hides some the players defensive deficiencies.

The Raptors looked like a team that needed to be blown up last year.  ”Trade everyone and start fresh”.

Not this year.

The Raptors may lose a lot of games and end up in the lottery once again, but there is plenty of reason to be optimistic.

The Coach has turned this team around.

Bargnani was looking like an All-star before his injury.  Derozan is turning it around.  And a team ranked 10th in points allowed can only get better when you add in Jonas Valanciunas next year.  The guy is a wall and a solid defensive presence under the basket.

Thanks to coach Casey, The Raptors are buying into a philosophy, creating a culture and working hard every game even though thoughts of a playoff appearance are but a dream.   Most importantly he is beginning to make an entire city believe that things are getting better.

Everything is looking up in Toronto.

Mr. Everything

So this James Johnson guy is a pretty solid player, eh? He is all over the floor.  I haven’t seen a player like him in Toronto for a long time.  He drives the net, rebounds the ball, drops dimes, blocks shots and hustles all over the ACC floor.  He is an intangible, an X-Factor for the Raptors every night and  it is not surprising that he stays on the floor for much of the games he plays in.  Casey can’t take him off the floor.

Johnson is a little bit of everything and he presents matchup nightmares on both ends of the floor for opposing teams.

Add to all of this that he plays multiple positions, drives the net and has a post-up game and the Raptors have themselves a solid asset.  The trade last year engineered by Bryan Colangelo to bring in Johnson (for a late first rounder), looks like a stroke of genius one year later.

Johnson is a versatile player that looks like he has found a place in the Raptors lineup and their future.  And with good reason.

Hedo’s Return

We should be used to the boos that players receive in Toronto once they’ve left the city on bad terms. But Hedo is a bit different.  Unlike Vince Carter there is no chance for reconciliation here.  This was a bitter divorce and it is absolutely personal.

Hedo played terribly here.  He didn’t seem to care and unlike Vince, never took us anywhere.  He is, quite possibly, the most hated former Raptor of them all.  A whole lot of promise and talent that completely stunk it up in Toronto.

What makes him even worse is his complete inability to admit he was, at least, partially at fault.

Rightfully so, he was booed every time he touched the ball on Monday.  And thankfully he had an absolutely abysmal game.  Ending up with not a single point, 1 rebound and 9 assists.  Sounds familiar right?

He still does have a lot of game left in him and he has been a fairly decent player for Stan Van Gundy and the Magic, but his ineptitude in Toronto will never be forgiven; nor forgotten.

On Monday he, ironically, was thoroughly outplayed by the hardworking James Johnson.  It was delightful for the ACC crowd to watch him stink it up, and completely typical from anyone that watched Hedo over his time in Toronto.

A lot of talent wasted.

Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

Give it up to the kid from Compton for bringing it on back to back nights.  There is something different in him lately.  That infamous game where he was benched for the entire fourth quarter, and sent an angry tweet out to his followers, has awakened a fight in him that Raptor fans haven’t seen in a while.  Casey cracked the code and has helped turn Derozan into a focused player who is playing in the flow of the offense.  He isn’t forcing the issue, he’s looking for his teammates and he is doing the things that make him successful. Specifically, driving the net, looking to draw contact, and not trying to shoot his way out of a slump.

Derozan is a big reason why Raptor fans have reason to hope for the future of this franchise.

Not Zan of the Night

Hedo Turkoglu

Even if he scored a billion points I would still put him here.  He happened to score 0 points, 1 rebound and 9 assists.  Certainly not a “balling” evening.  He looked terrible.  His shot was awful and he was no match for James Johnson on either end of the floor.  One could argue that the booing got to him, but this is Hedo.  He doesn’t care.  He didn’t care when he was here and he doesn’t care now.  Although still a useful player in Orlando, he looked as horrible as he did when he played here tonight.

Just like old times.

Ball

***

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 | February 1, 2012 · 12:14 am

Another Ugly Loss for Raptors without Bargnani

One game removed from Demar Derozan stepping up to fill the void of Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors and Derozan fell back to Earth at the ACC, getting absolutely obliterated by the Atlanta Hawks.

The Raptors had no answers for Joe Jonson who seemed to do what he wanted, when he wanted all night long.  The Raptors could not get any scoring from their starting lineup and need to start searching for an identity without Andrea Bargnani.

Bargnani is their best player, by far, and his absence only seems to be cementing how valuable he is to this team.  Without him the Raptors look lost on offense as no one seems able or willing to create their own shot or take over a game.

Demar Derozan was able to do it against the Nets, but he needs to find that effort  consistently if he is going to take that next step in his development.

Tonight Derozan and the Raptors were flat.

Zan For Three

Love and Hate

It was German poet Kurt Tucholsky who said; “those who hate most fervently must have once loved deeply…”  In the case of Toronto Raptors fans this rings true.  We see it every time Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, or Tracy McGrady come to town.  The entire stadium goes absolutely Roman on them.  There is so much venom and disgust it absolutely dominates the game.

Tonight Tracy McGrady was back in town as an Atlanta Hawk.  Make no mistake about it, his game is no where near where it used to be, but Raptor fans don’t seem to care.  They boo him every time he touches the ball.  

They boo because of the way he left this franchise and they boo his smug attitude.  On Tuesday they were also booing his mockery of our National Anthem.

McGrady jokingly sang the Canadian National anthem at the start of the game and shared a laugh with his fellow teammates about the incident.  As if this town needs more reason to dislike this guy.

He left Toronto right as he was about to explode into a superstar.  He could have had years playing alongside his cousin Vince as a potent one-two punch in Toronto.  He chose fame and fortune in Orlando and the Raptors never quite reached the height they could have if McGrady had stuck around a few more years.

Everytime the fans boo him it is with the image of what could have been in their minds.  They wanted to love Tmac, they wanted to buy his jersey and chant his name.  But he didn’t let them and he took away what was, seemingly an opportunity at Eastern Conference supremacy in his days in Toronto.

He will always be public enemy no. 1 in these parts, but I think he’s just fine with that.

Jose Calderon and Dwane Casey discuss strategies on how to stop Joe Johnson. I don't think they came up with anything.

Striving for Consistency

A game after igniting Raptor Blogs everywhere, Demar Derozan took a holiday.  He looked lost and discombobulated out there and not the same player he was one game ago.  Demar is a great player, there is no doubt about that.  He can shoot the mid range jumper well, drive with the best of them and is learning to hit that three-point shot more consistently.  What he hasn’t figured out yet is how to make his performance consistent each night.

Game in and game out you’re never sure what you’re going to get.  Will it be the confident high flyer who gets to the rim at will? or will it be the timid player that is content shooting low percentage jump shots?  We’ve seen both this year, but if Raptor fans are going to get excited about the future, he is going to have to start putting forth a more consistent effort.

We need this guy to be the player he can be on a more regular basis.

Alabi Time?

Come on! No Alabi in garbage time?  If not on a night like tonight, then when?  Coach Casey has to give this guy a look otherwise the fan base will never know what they have in him.  There is no time like the present when the team seems to be looking for some inside assistance.

Gotta give him a sniff sometime.  In a game like this, that is over quickly, it is imperative that guys like Forbes, Alabi and Ed Davis get an extended look.  It is integral to see what exactly the Raptors have on this team for the future and for the trade market.

Zan of the Night

Joe Johnson

The guy was lights out all night long.  He had 30 points at the beginning of the third quarter!  His performance was awe-inspiring and he could not be controlled.  He seemed to take full advantage of  the Raptors weak perimeter defense.  He manhandled them all night long and in the end was the key to the Hawks victory.

Not Zan of the Game

Amir Johnson

Would the real Amir Johnson please stand up? Amir is typically snagging rebounds and finishing beautiful passes from Jose Calderon.  Lately he has been all over the map, from non-existent to downright awful.  Tonight he was invisible. He just isn’t doing the things he needs to do on either end of the floor.  Hopefully for everyone, he picks up his game or the beneficiary will be Ed Davis who is starting to see more minutes.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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