Built Ford Tough

The thing that I hate most about the whole Bargnani situation is that he could actually be a really nice piece on this team if Colangelo and company just admit that he isn't the player that they think/thought he is/was. If he was used as an offensive spark off of the bench (think a 7'0 Jason Terry) and wasn't relied on to play 35 minutes a night as the starting center, he could carve out a really nice niche for himself in this league. Too bad it seems like Colangelo is still set on him as a starting center, despite the fact that it was pretty much solidified that he isn't capable of that role after his 2nd season. He seems like he is a good guy and I wanted him to do well, so this isn't like Turkoglu last season as I wanted him gone simply because he was an arrogant douche who completely sucked, but I agree that it is about time to put an end to this Bargnani experiment. To be perfectly honest, I want the Raptors to completely clean house. Get rid of pretty much everybody (outside of DeRozan and Davis, maybe the two Johnson's and Bayless) and just blow this entire thing up. I'm not just talking about the roster, but the coaching staff (except keep Alex English and Triano, assuming he would be fine with being an assistaint again) and management as well. Just get rid of the futile Colangelo era. Try to lure some assistaint from a top notch organization like a San Antonio to take over, similar to what the Jays did with Ferrell for their manager job. Could just be me, though. I admire Colangelo not being afraid to take a risk and make the big move, but his philosophy of building a team is fatally flawed and as far as I am concerned, he will never build a championship caliber team.

According to Chad Ford, Irving doesn't have the first overall pick on lockdown like many people thought earlier in the year. He thinks that both Harrison Barnes and Derrick Williams could be picked ahead of him, especially Williams after his play in the tournament. He posted a new Stock Watch article on ESPN Insider and here are a couple of comments on these three: Williams: Irving: Barnes: He also mentions that Brandon Knight has dramatically risen his stock since the tournament started and scouts have been impressed with him even in the games were he was struggling (Princeton and OSU) as he was able to put all of that behind him and come up big when his team needed him the most. Jay Bilas has an interview where he talks Williams, Walker and Irving. I haven't listened to it yet, but if anybody is interested in hearing it, it is at the link below. http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/03/25/jay-bilas-talks-derrick-williams-kemba-walker-kyrie-irving/

It would've been more appropriate if it ended on a bricked free throw from Kansas. That was the story of the game, despite how poorly they shot from three. Their free throw shooting tonight was atrocious. I can see it now, Sherman Hamilton is going to be streaking through downtown Toronto. EDIT: Nevermind, just saw that Kansas was 2-22 from three. I didn't realize their shooting was that bad.

It isn't really a surprise. The reason why VCU was up 14 (which isn't even that big of a lead considering the talent discrepency between these teams) was because of how much energy they were excerting on the defensive end and how ridiculously hot they were form three. You had to imagine that they would cool down from deep and Kansas would eventually get going offensively. If anybody thought that Kansas wouldn't at least make a comeback, they are delusional. It also doesn't hurt that VCU can't keep Kansas off of the glass. They are getting 2 or 3 shots everytime down the floor.

You realize DeRozan was 3-15 from the field and pretty much the reason why the Raptors lost last night, right? Unless you mean by doing work you meant "commanding the tank admirably". Davis had a nice game, though. Career high in points and his 2nd consecutive double double. Too bad once Evans comes back he will probably go back to playing 10 minutes a night. -_-

Good, the Kings didn't blow it in overtime. Thank you Marcus Thornton.

Kansas' perimeter defense has been awful so far. How can you constantly give up all of these open looks from three? Add to that the fact that VCU's entire offense so far this game has been from behind the arc, and it makes it even worse that they are still getting all of these open looks. Run them off of the three point line at the very least, considering how much they have struggled inside the arc so far. Nice floater from Selby followed by some good defense from Kansas that forced a turnover. It was forced because they ran the VCU player off of the three point line. Why are the Morris twins jacking up threes? Kansas is playing like a bunch of inexperienced kids out there.

^_^

Screw Lou Williams. Guy has 2 points all game and then goes and hits a 3 pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. Normally I would want a Philly win here, but I'm a huge Kings fan for the rest of the season as a win here puts the Raptors in 4th place in the lottery standings.

VCU's energy on defense is really the difference so far. They are getting up on Kansas and not giving them any time to make decisions. They are doing a great job of cutting off driving lanes and jumping passing lanes. Their defense has been outstanding to start the game so far, which is why they are up by 7. Their offense hasn't been too shabby either. I don't expect this to continue, though.

What does Smith consider to be special? Not setting an NBA record for the most lopsided playoff series in NBA history? Because they sure as hell aren't going to actually beat the Magic in a playoff series.

Which is why it only makes more sense for him to enter the draft this year, get picked in the top 5 and get his guaranteed money rather than go back to school, fall to mid to late lottery (at best considering next years draft is looking a hell of a lot better) and then cost himself a good chunk of change, as well as the numberou opportunities that a top 5 pick is given to prove himself. I know some guys care more about staying in school and doing what makes them happy, and I condone them for doing that and not following the trend of one and done players, but Sullinger could definitely look back at this decision in 5-10 years and regret passing up the opportunity to be drafted in the top 5. This is all assuming he does in fact stay, which is still anything but a given. Tristian Thompson said the exact same things a week ago and last I read he was signing wtih an agent and entering the draft, so I don't take any of these pre or post tournament comments about the draft very seriously. If he says this in 2 months, then I will believe it.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2011/03/26/2011-03-26_if_donnie_walsh_is_let_go_by_knicks_dont_be_shocked_to_see_him_back_in_indiana_i.html?page=1 I question the validity of this considering whoever wrote it thinks that Bargnani was the 1st overall pick in 2007, but if this is true, thank the lord. Bargnani isn't a bad player when he is allowed to just focus on the one thing that he does best, but on a team like Toronto, he does way too much harm than good. He would be fine on a contender who needs some offense off of the bench (or even in Orlando as the starting power forward alongside Howard), but it is about time that the Raptors consider moving him because it is clear that this relationship is going nowhere. The question is (assuming this isn't a bunch of BS), who would want Bargnani for $10M a year over the next 4 years?

Sounds like Derrick Williams doesn't see himself as a power forward: If he can actually play the small forward spot (defensively in particular) I would be fine with drafting him. If he proves to be a full fledged tweener, no thanks. The Raptors have tried going with this whole "versatility" crap with guys like Bargnani, Turkoglu, Marion etc... and the bottom line is that building a team full of tweeners or players with gaping holes for their respective positions (Bayless not being able to run an offense, DeRozan being a poor shooter from deep as well as having little to no playmaking ability, Johnson being a commplete non factor with his jumper, etc...) simply doesn't work. If Williams proves to be a classic tweener, I'll pass on him without hesitation. Even if he turns into a superstar, I will still support passing on him if it is 100% clear that he will be a tweener. I pretty much feel the same way on Perry Jones. I wouldn't be opposed to picking him as a 4 if they trade Bargnani or Johnson or something like that. I'm usually opposed to the whole drafting for need debate, but unless the guy is the clear cut best player in the draft or at the Raptors pick, I wouldn't want to see them get a power forward this year. (Assuming that the Raptors stay at 5th and don't drop to 6th, 7th or 8th or something like that). Tim Chisholm thinks that Walker is a likely target for the Raptors. http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/tim_chisholm/?id=359655 More at the link. Also, sounds like Tristan Thompson is going to sign an agent and enter the draft. From NBADraft.net

Frustrated or not, I don't see how anybody can defend a player for blatantly telling his coach to pretty much go screw himself. You are getting paid around $3M by the Toronto Raptors and by telling Triano that you won't enter the game is pretty much a joke if you ask me. I can see why he would be pissed off with the team and his role, but doing crap like this isn't going to do anything other than get your ass ran off of the team, and, in Wright's case, potentially the entire NBA.

I'll believe this more in a couple of months when the inital shock of losing in the Sweet Sixteen wears off and he has had time to sit down and think about what he is potentially giving up by not entering the draft this year. I can definitely see him coming back to OSU for another season, but I don't put any stock in these comments either during the tournament or right after a tough loss, or even a national championship. Emotions play too much of a factor.

Just because he isn't afraid to create his own should and would rather do it doesn't mean he will actually be able to do it at the next level. Like I said the other day, I admit to not seeing any of him until tournament time, but in the three games that I did watch of his, he will struggle mightily to create his own shot in the NBA. He may be able to create a bit of seperation wtih a couple of dribbles, but I just don't see how he is going to be able to actually get to the rim with any sort of consistency. His handle is average at best (and I think it is more weak than average, but again, 3 games only), he doesn't have much of a first step and his footwork didn't appear to be anything special. Fredette is going to definitely have to depend on others to create looks for him at the next level because he certainly doesn't look like he will be able to create much for himself. I do think he will be able to create better than House and Korver can, but I still think about 90% of his time in the NBA will be spent as a spot up shooter or curling off of screens (which is another thing he needs to work on as he was awful without the ball in his hands whenever I saw him). Who knows, though. I said JJ Redick would be out of the league after his rookie contract and thought Adam Morrison would actually become a solid 6th-7th man for a team (and I still think had he not blown out his knee he could've at least been a rotation player). Fredette can easily prove me wrong, like I have been on plenty of prospects in the past.

They are really that bad. I honestly don't even think that the Raptors are tanking. They just legitimately suck. If they were tanking, guys like Bargnani wouldn't be playing 36+ minutes a night, Calderon wouldn't get 30 minutes a night and Evans and Barbosa wouldn't be playing at all. Guys like Bayless, Johnson and Davis would be playing the major minutes and the Raptors would force feed DeRozan the ball on offense, instead of having Bargnani, Barbosa and Calderon all higher options on the offensive end.T hey are literally this bad. I honestly think the Raptors are the worst team in the league, regardless of what their record is. Teams like Washington and Cleveland are tanking 100%, and have been for the past month (or in Cleveland's case, since LeBron's return to the Q), while the Raptors have been trying to win every game, and the sad thing is that the Raptors are still within striking distance of those two teams (maybe not Cleveland, but certainly Washington). PS: How awesome are these stats? Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors starting center, didn't grab a single rebound in nearly 30 minutse of action, and DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors starting shooting guard, didn't have a single assist in around 35 minutes. Talk about a broken team.

Didn't see the game or anything, but there is a thread on RealGM saying that Triano told Wright to go into the game but Wright refused. I can understand being frusturated with his lack of playing time this season and all, but is this guy an idiot? He is a borderline NBA player (who can barely get minutes on one of the worst teams in the league in the Raptors) and is expiring at the end of the season. He should take advantage of every possible opportunity so that he may get another contract in the league, because it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he is out of the league by the time next season starts. Add this whole incident to the rumors about him not trying and screwing around during practice, and the guy might just be running himself out of the NBA considering he was already a borderline NBA talent to begin with. Unless he has a legitimate excuse, such as an injury or was sick or something, this is just a complete joke if you ask me.

I don't think he will be much of a pro either, but this is just ridiculous. I know, or at least hope, you are exaggerating to prove a point, but if you wouldn't take a chance on a guy like Fredette with a 2nd round pick, you are an idiot. Best case scenario he has a JJ Redick like impact on a team, although he will never be the kind of defender as Redick has become. Redick isn't a star by any means, but as an 8th or 9th man he isn't terrible. You won't rely on him to give you 30 minutes a night or else your team will be in trouble, but you can rely on him for 15-20 minutes a night. Worst case scenario, he is an Eddie House clone. Liability defensively, can't handle the rock or run an offense, but can come in during certain points in the game where you are in desperate need of shooting and he can provide you with that. I'd say he falls somewhere in between these two, closer to House than Redick, but stil somewhere in between. He can handle the ball better than House can and I would expect that he can create his own offense better than House which won't force him to be a sport up shooter and nothing more. I wouldn't use a lottery pick on him, and I'm not even sure how comfortable I would be giving him the guaranteed contract of a first round pick (but in a draft lacking depth, such as this one, that wouldn't be terrible), but if he were to fall to the 2nd round you would be insane not to at least take a chance on the guy.

And the Jimmer hype as a pro prospect is starting to fade away already...

I hadn't watched Fredette until the tournament, but he looks a lot more like Adam Morrison to me than JJ Redick let alone Steph Curry. He has a quick release which should help him get his shot off easier in the pros than Morrison did, but he is even more unathletic than JJ Redick and I don't trust him at all to create anything off of the bounce as his handles and decision making look awful to me. Most importantly, he can't guard a fly. He is going to make Jose Calderon look a lockdown defender in the NBA.

From Paul Jones Twitter Hopefully this is a sign that they are going to start shutting down some of the veterans like Reggie Evans. This is a perfect opportunity to do that. I also wouldn't be opposed to shutting Amir down until his ankle is 100%, which would probably take a week or two, which is a good chunk of the rest of the season. I just hope that they actually do shut down guys like Evans, Bargnani, Barbosa and Calderon wtihin the next few games. At the very least, I hope their minutes get cut so that guys like Bayless, Johnson and Davis (and maybe even Alabi or Ajinca) can actually get some burn during the last few games of the year.

Because he probably is. He knows that the fans like him, management likes him and the coaching staff like him. He also knows what playing beside Bargnani does to his value as well. I'm not saying that he doesn't like the team or the players on it, because I think he actually does, but this is just as much of a business decision as it is a personal one. He may look and talk like a complete idiot, but he isn't stupid.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/nba/raptors/article/959693--veteran-evans-learning-to-be-a-leader-on-young-raptors-team I wouldn't be against keeping Evans on the roster under two conditions: 1) He re-signs for the veteran minimum. 2) He is used in the "Darrick Martin role" as a veteran mentor who gets limited playing time. If he expects to get 30 minutes a night or get paid $4M+ or something like that, I would tell him to hit the road because it simply isn't worth the Raptors to put that kind of investment into Reggie considering the direction and state of their franchise. EDIT: I forgot to mention one other thing. It is pretty funny that two of the three players he mentions (Dorsey and Weems) are highly unlikely to even be back with the team next season. Even if he stays with the Raptors, he is going to have a fair amount of new teammates on the roster considering it is unlikely guys like Weems, Dorsey, Wright and Ajinca will be back, and that is just the impending free agents.