Tag Archives: Zan for three

by | December 16, 2010 · 12:22 am

Bulls Teach Young Raptors a Lesson

So that was ugly, wasn’t it?

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

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

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

Zan For Three

2010 Free Agency Redux

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

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

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

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

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

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

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

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

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

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

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

Silver Lining

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zan of the Night

Carlos Boozer

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

Not Zan of the Night

Amir Johnson

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

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
***
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by | October 27, 2010 · 11:57 pm

Raptors Begin Post-Bosh Era with a Loss

And we're off! The 2010-11 season officially begins for the Raptors with Andrea Bargnani front and center.

Opening Night:  A time to get excited.  The world is your oyster.  Players have been working all pre-season to get into game shape and all the predictions of the off-season melt away with that first tip-off.

The Raptors opened tonight for the first time in seven years without Chris Bosh.  The former leader of this franchise off to South Beach with his buddies Lebron and Wade.  The Raptors were left reeling in the off-season and not many have given them a chance to even compete for a playoff spot this season.

But tonight is opening night and on opening night, no one is counted out.  Every team starts off fresh and in the same position in the standings.

The Knicks were at the ACC and were ripe for the picking, but the new look Raptor squad could not find a way to channel the opening night jitters into on-court composure.

The ball was turned over, shots wouldn’t fall in crunch time and the Raps were beaten by a team that simply wanted it more.

Still, it is nice to have basketball back in full swing here in Toronto.  This season promises to be interesting if nothing else.

The Zan For Three

Will the Real Reggie Evans Please Stand Up

I’m not even gonna pretend that I am a Reggie Evans fan.  I was among the throngs on Raptors fans utterly disappointed in his contribution to the team last year and found him to be an utter black hole on offense.

Throughout the pre-season and this first game, however, he is showing a lot of what was promised a year ago.  Reggie was strong defensively, didn’t force the issue offensively and came down with a game high 16 boards.

There were many who moaned and groaned when he was inserted into the starting lineup, myself included, but he looks to have earned his chance to start and tonight he earned his 33 minutes. He was a boost of energy out there tonight and I applaud his efforts.

Home Sweet Home

The Raptors were gifted with two home games to start the season and they play two teams (New York and Cleveland) that the Raptors, at least theoretically, can beat on any given night.  They needed to take advantage of the opportunity.

The Raptors are going to be in tough most nights against pretty much everyone in the league.  If they are going to win games and compete for a playoff spot then they will need to win games at home against lesser opponents.  New York is much improved, fair enough, but the Raptors should have had this game.

Home cowd, opening night, beatable team.  These are ingredients that should lead to victory.

If the Raptors are to have any success this season, home court advantage has to become a strength for this team.

Chris Who?

I must admit that I, like many of you out there, took sheer joy in Miami’s loss last night.  Not even their win tonight against Philly could erase the tutoring the Celtics gave the Heat last night from my psyche.

Now don’t get me wrong, I miss Chris Bosh on the court for the Raptors and the team undoubtedly will to, but it was nice to see the team move on without him with their heads held high.

Bargnani brought some offensive swagger tonight (at least for  quarter or two) and looks to be capable of filling the void of “go-to guy on this team.  He made some clutch shots and brought the crowd to their feet a number of times.  But the best moment of the night came after the game when Jose Calderon was asked if the Raptors missed Chris Bosh tonight.

The simple response: “Who?”

This may seem humorous to some of you out there, but I think Jose was sending a message to the fans that this team will not sit back and mourn the loss of Bosh all season.  This is a new team with a new identity and even one of Chris’s best friends on the team felt it necessary to let us know that Bosh is gone and the team has moved on. A small gesture that spoke volumes.

Zan of the Night

Wilson Chandler

For a bench player, he certainly owned the Raptors tonight.  He bailed out Stoudamire, a potential MVP candidate, who wasn’t as effective as he could have been on the offensive end.  New York is a team that is on the bubble as well this year and they will need strong bench play to compete this year for a playoff spot.  A great performance tonight from a player who may prove to be very valuable for the Kicks this year down the stretch.

Not Zan of the Night

Amir Johnson

I love the way he plays most nights, but tonight he was a mess.  He couldn’t get into the rhythm of the game and he fouled himself into trouble. It was only one night and I would not ever suggest this one performance proves his contract was a mistake, but he needs to get it together because this team needs Amir to be at his best if they are going to compete.

A disappointing night to be sure, but I’m so happy basketball is back!

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

Raptors Keep Hope Alive

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

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

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

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

The Zan For Three…

That’s more like it

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

How Do You Like Me Now?

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

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

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

Maybe you let one slip away.

Let’s Go Celtics

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

Zan of the Night

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

No Zan of the Night

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

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 28, 2010 · 8:49 pm

Wade is Too Much Heat to Handle For the Raptors

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

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

The Zan for Three

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

Stars

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

Knowing Thyself

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

The Canadian Destroyer

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

Plus the Foul

No “Ball” Tonight

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

Zan of the Night

Dwayne Wade

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

Not Zan of the Night

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

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 24, 2010 · 11:10 pm

Raptors Get Tuned By the Jazz

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

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

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

The Zan for Three

Deron Williams

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

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

The Clock is Ticking

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

Something More

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

Something happened.

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

Plus the Foul…

No Love for the big Slovenian

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

Zan of the Night

Deron Williams

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

Not Zan of the Night

Jose Calderon

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

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 21, 2010 · 12:38 pm

Nets Give Raps a Reprieve

It wasn’t the prettiest game in the world, but a win is a win.  After the Raptors’ unceremonious drubbing at the hands of the Thunder, a win was needed.  When it comes against the worst team in league history the win is also expected.  The first half gave Raptors fans reason to believe the team had imploded as the good guys found themselves down after 2 quarters.  They looked tired, beaten and very much not in control.  In the second half Chris Bosh and Jarrett Jack helped propel the team to victory handing Brook Lopez another reason to be pissed off.  Maybe Jay-Z will write a song about his sadsack team one day and turn it into a hit.  Regardless, the Raptors won a game and, in their quest for the postseason, that’s all that matters.

The Zan for Three

A win is a win

This was an ugly game plain and simple. This game will never be compared with the great battles in NBA history.  That being said, the Raptors won and they needed it.  The fans and coaching staff can reflect on missed opportunities and failed defensive positioning all they want.  A win is a win.  This team is pushing toward a higher seed for the playoff run and they cannot afford to miss chances against the lowly Nets of the NBA.  Friday’s loss was a tough night for this team, the coaches, and the fans.  I’m willing to bet the hotdog vendors even suffered low sales after that monstrosity.  It was so important to come out and win.  Make no mistake about it, this wasn’t a statement game.  They didn’t score 152 points, but they battled back and won.  That is something to hang your hat on.  This team needs it.

Bosh blows past poor Brook Lopez of the Nets. Bosh needs to do more of that if the Raptors are going to be serious playoff threats.

Poor Brook Lopez

It happens every year.  There is one great player out there who’s excellent play is getting lost behind the “suckitude” of his team.  This year that guy is Brook Lopez.   He is quietly having a good statistical year, but his great play hasn’t made a difference in the fortunes of the Nets.  His only solace is in maybe watching his future teammates in the NCAA tournament.  John Wall anyone?  No player deserves a teammate with the talent of John Wall more than Brook Lopez.  He is a double-double machine and should have the opportunity to get more mention in NBA circles.  He should note that this is also the way Chris Bosh’s career began in Toronto.  Things have worked out pretty well for him and they should eventually for Brook as well.  Keep your chin up, help is on the way.

Curious case of Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh took matters into his own hands last night.  He was not going to let the Raptors get beat by the worst team in the history of time.  He dropped 36 points and 8 rebounds on New Jersey going, a unbelieveable, 16 of 27.  Are you kidding me? 27 shots in a night? The scarier thing is that he only had four free throws.  His shot was falling last night, but if he and this team are going to reach higher levels he needs to drive the ball with more consistency.  He is one of the best at driving against his defender and he often gets calls in his favour, but  for some reason, he is falling in love with his jump shot.  He has been shooting the ball more and more and driving the lane less and less.  Toronto needs him to get to the line more as they only had 14 shots from the stripe all night long.  New Jersey had 28.  That is not a recipe for success.

Zan of the Night

Chris Bosh

You have to hand it to Chris Bosh.  He did will his team to victory when they were facing an embarrassing loss.  His teammates were not as efficient as they normally are and he carried them on his back.

Not Zan of the Night

Kansas Jayhawks

They have busted brackets all over North America, including mine, by losing a shocker to Northern Iowa.  No one saw that coming.  Now the guy that decides his NCAA picks by flipping a coin is way ahead in all the pools.  A disappointing end to what was supposed to be a championship season.  That’s why they call it March Madness.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 18, 2010 · 12:15 pm

Raptors Use Luck of the Irish and Clutch Shot to End Slide

Wearing their lucky green uniforms, the Raptors channelled some Irish magic to win  big game against a tough Hawks squad.  It looked as though the Raptors were in for another tough loss.  They had dropped their small lead after another terrible 3rd quarter.  Josh Smith’s technical seemed to inspire the Hawks and the Raps were on their way to another tough loss.  They chipped away in the fourth with solid defensive possessions and the use of their entire roster.  Everyone from Weems to Amir, Turkoglu to Bargnani contributed to the win.  In the end it was hustle from Amir on Turkoglu’s missed free throw and Chris Bosh that sealed the big win.  Chris Bosh became the first Raptor to reach 10,000 points in his career and added to his total with a game winning shot.   The Raptors hung with one of the best and showed that they may belong in that playoff mix after all.

The Zan for Three

Hedo played big minutes and helped lead the Raptors to victory.

Redemption

Hedo Turkoglu and Andrea Bargnani have been two of the most criticized players in the media over this last stretch of games.  The criticism was deserved as Turkoglu has not put up the numbers or effort he was expected to and Andrea has looked awful rebounding the basketball.  Both redeemed themselves with strong play.  Turkoglu looked more involved than he has all season with great defensive effort,  good ball movement and smart choices late in the game.  He also played 41 minutes, the most of any Raptor on the floor.  Bargnani was the leading scorer for Toronto, opening with 11 in the first quarter, and came up big in the fourth with offensive rebounds and sound defense.  He has been heavily criticized for his lack of rebounding ability but took advantage of Atlanta’s shot blocker and came away with 11 boards, 3 of them offensive.  Both were integral to the win, especially with Bosh not playing his best game.

Defensive intensity

What a change from the third to fourth quarter huh?  The Raptors were way more active on the defensive end at the tail end of the game.  The Raptors contested shots, boxed out and secured rebounds on both the offensive and defensive end.  Not surprisingly, the Raptors cut into the 11 point lead because of their defensive energy.  Points were scored in transition and off of turnovers.  Good Defense often leads to offense.  It is not just a coaching analogy.  Tonight the Raptors used their defense to fuel their offense.

Hustle

The Hawks showed it after Calderon and Josh Smith exchanged pleasantries. Their game changed and so did the team ahead on the score sheet.  In the fourth the Raptors fought.  They were tough on defense but they refused to be denied in this game.  Amir Johnson’s play at the end of the game to save Hedo Turkoglu miss was a defining moment in this game.  The Raptors just wanted it more.  They fought with all they had and were able to come up with a W.

Plus the Foul

Minutes

A lot was made before the game of the decision to start Calderon over Jarrett Jack.  Both players played large minutes and helped the team win.  Neither was a dominant force out there but both were part of the whole that won the game.  Only one turnover between them as well.  It doesn’t matter who gets the start.  Both players got their minutes.  Hopefully this “issue” stays a “non-issue”.  The team won and that’s all that matters.

Zan of the Night

Bosh didn't have a great overall game but he saved his best for last. He now has over 10,000 points in his young career joining elite company.

Teamwork. It could have been any player tonight.  Andrea with his scoring touch, Hedo with his inspired play, Amir for his energy or Chris Bosh for hitting the two biggest shots of the game.  In the end it was a total team effort.  The team acknowledged who was hot, found the open player, played tough on defense and came to the defense of their teammates.  Chris Bosh didn’t have his best game and the rest of the team stepped up to give him that chance at the end of the game.  Chris isn’t going to have a big game every time out and the rest of the team need to come to the rescue.  Tonight, they did, and the Raptors came away with a win against a very tough opponent.

Not Zan of the Night

Marvin Williams.  2 points and probably the worst play of the game for the Hawks, stepping out-of-bounds off of Turkoglu’s miss.  A tough night at the office for Williams.

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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @zantabakherald

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | February 2, 2010 · 11:32 pm

Raptors Miss an Opportunity

With the eyes of the city focused on Dion Phaneuf and Jean-Sebastien Giguere , the Raptors decided it was good time to take a night off. As a result the team missed an opportunity to extend their winning streak to six games against an inferior opponent.

Missing DeRozan and Turkoglu the Raptors played terrible defense for the better part of three quarters and then ran out of gas. Maybe it was a short bench, maybe it was looking past the Pacers.  In any case it was a game that they should have, and could have had, especially with the numbers Bosh and Bargnani put up.

If that wasn’t bad enough it looks as though Jose Calderon may be added to the long list of injuries after rolling his ankle.  All in all it was a bad night for the good guys.

The Zan for Three

It was that kind of night for Jarrett Jack and the Raptors as they got spanked in Indianapolis.

Shallow Bench

The Raptors have lived and died by their bench this season.  The depth of the team has been a major reason for victories on many nights.  Tonight the bench wasn’t effective as it has been.  Only three players on the team were able to reach double digits. While Antoine Wright, Amir Johnson and Jose Calderon were not effective on offense or defense. Big nights from Bosh, Bargnani and Belinelli were wasted by an overall lethargic effort by the rest of team.  Let’s hope Calderon is back healthy soon as the bench is most successful when he is on his game.

Inside Presence

The Pacers abused the inside tonight.  Hibbert, Dunleavy and Murphy all had big nights and the Raptors were unable to stop them.  Bargnani, Bosh, Rasho, Belinelli…it really didn’t matter.  Get a hand up in the faces of these guys.  There is no reason the Pacers should ever be allowed to shoot 76% for any quarter ever.  72pts in the second half?  Are you kidding me?  These are the Pacers.  Granger over Bargnani I can handle.  But Watson over Bargnani?  Should never happen.

There’s Always Tomorrow

A poorly played game is tough to take but there were some positives.  Belinelli played well on the offensive end as a starter.  And you have to like what Bosh and Bargnani were able to put up on the offensive end.  The best medicine for a tough loss?  Knowing that the next game is against the New Jersey Nets.

Zan of the Game

Danny Granger.  My writing partner wants to punch  him and so do I after the way he played tonight.  He had a rough first half but he made adjustments, quit shooting the three and took it to the rim.  The results were a 23 point night and a W.  He recognized that he wasn’t shooting the ball well and decided to draw fouls instead.  Smart moves by a smart player.  I still can’t believe we took Joey Graham in the 2005 draft instead of this guy.

Not Zan of the Game

The Refs.  Don’t get me wrong the Raptors were architects of their own misfortune but these guys could not possibly have made more incorrect charging calls against the Raptors.  The number of times the Pacers used flopping to get calls was ridiculous.  Sometimes I wonder aloud whether the referees hate Bargnani.  He didn’t help himself at all tonight but he is victim of some of the worst calls out there.

Bring on the Nets!  Please

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Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @ZanTabakHerald

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 10, 2010 · 4:20 pm

The Raptors fail to measure up against Celtics once agian

Oh man. Nothing quite gets my blood boiling like the Raptors playing the Celtics. They may just be my least favorite team in the league. Maybe it’s because they’re so good. It’s probably because they’re so cocky. The one good thing to take from this game? We don’t have to play them again this year.

Zan for three

Hedo who?

It’s time for Jay Triano to call out  Hedo Turkoglu. We’re paying him big money and he hasn’t lived up to that.  He’s not playing like a 7 million dollar player right now. Just last week we saw Ron Wilson rip into Phil Kessel, it’s time for Jay to do the same.

Best of the bunch

Out of the four games we’ve played the Celtics this is the best of the bunch. More confident. More aggressive. The Raptors are a team on a roll right now, but the Celtics are the best coached team in the league and they’re top three in talent. That’s a tough combination to match up against.

Rasheed and Rondo

These guys have swaggar!  As a Raptors fan It was horredous to watch these two play on Sunday, but you have to appreciate their energy and confidence as a basketball fan. Rondo has really turned a corner as an NBA player.  He was once a scrub on a three man team and has since  become an All Star.

Rasheed Wallace just keeps on trucking. I thought his career might be done a couple of years ago but he just keeps getting better.  To be fair, he had a lot of calls go his way.  Maybe barking at the referees insessently works.  He never shuts up and is rewarded regularly.

Plus the foul

Enough of the Bosh talk

It seems as though Bosh trade talk has heated up in the past week or so. Unsubstantiated and biased. A lot of reporters (all from American media) seem to think it’s a forgone conclusion, when the truth is, nobody knows. Not Chris. Not Bryan. Not anybody.

I, for one, think Bosh is staying in Toronto. Why? He’s the man here with a good core of players. And the grass isn’t always greener. See Tracy McGrady. See Vince Carter. See Damon Stoudamire. Three of the Raptors departed.

Zan of the Night

Rajon Rondo

I was never a Rajon Rondo fan. In past years, I thought he was more hype than substance. But this year he’s proven me wrong. He’s fantastic.

Not Zan of the Night

Hedo Turkoglu

He needs less Pizza Pizza and a big time boost of motivation.

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Nest up a game against Indiana on Monday.  A big game to regain the momentum they’ve built over the last 10 games.

~~~~
Jeremiah McNama & Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | December 28, 2009 · 1:15 am

Raptors Hold on for Clutch victory over Pistons

This was a very different game as the Raptors swept the home and home series with the Pistons, but not without effort.  Rip Hamilton, Ben Gordon and Tayshaun Prince were all back for the Pistons and they were full of fight.  The Raptors took a huge lead after the first half and led by as many as 20 points.  Slowly but surely the Pistons chipped away led by a frustrating Rip Hamilton and Jonas Jerebko.  The Raptors would not be denied though as Jarrett Jack and Chris Bosh led the team to a clutch victory; the tpe of victory that a team can hang its hat on.

The Zan for Three

Hot Start, Rough Finish

Sonny Weems hammers it home en route to another big victory for the Raptors and fourth in a row

The Raps played inspired basketball in the first half holding the Pistons to 32% from the field.  They played tight defense, blocked shots and made life miserable for their opponents.   Then the 3rd quarter happened.  A 19 point lead at halftime was alomst completely wiped out by the end of third.  The Raps let the Pistons back in the game and almost gave it away.  Toronto did hold on but must find a way to slay the dragon and put the lights out on a team when they have the chance.   The Pistons didn’t take advantage but other teams most certainly will.

Yellow Jackets Unite!

Jarrett Jack and Chris Bosh are really developing some great chemistry lately aren’t they?  They have really connected on the court and their partnership is a leading reason the Raps are clicking right now.  They are looking like Yellow Jackets of old and are going to make it very hard for Jay Triano to put Jose Calderon back in the lineup when he returns.  Could get very interesting.

Help from Unlikely Sources

The Young Guns didn’t get ‘er done today.  Yes, they are very exciting to watch most nights but tonight they looked young and inexpereinced especially on the defensive end.  Sonny Weems did have some moments near the end of the game but the Raps had to look elsewhere for energy and support off the bench.  Enter Antoine Wright and Marco Belinelli.  Marco had a great first half, shot the ball well and was very active on the defensive end.  He even got into a bit of a bettle with Rip Hamilton.  Wright came in during the second half and helped bail the club out.  He played stellar defense and made some great passes to help the team take the W.

Zan of the Night

Chris Bosh

He propelled the team in the first half and once his teammates remembered that he should get the ball he propelled the team to pull away in the second half.  He is truly becoming a star this year and looking very much like a member or the NBA’s elite.  Another double-double, another day at the office.

Not Zan of the Night

Charlie V

There was a time when Charlie would have a huge game every time he played against Toronto but he looked pretty terrible today.  He missed shots badly, played terrible defense and is not looking like he belongs in Detroit.  Hopefully things improve for him but he has not been looking very effective.

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