Charlotte at Toronto

[Real Deal]

TIME: 7:00 PM ET

TV: n/a

[Check my Stats]

well one team will be getting out of the basement tonight, hopefully it is Charlotte.

[Built Ford Tough]

It sounds like Kleiza will play tonight. I guess he hurt his achillies in the Golden State game and was supposed to be a game time decision tonight.

 

This game will come down to one thing. Which will be worse, the Raptors defense or the Bobcats offense? Whichever is worse will probably be the deciding factor in this game.

 

Hopefully DeRozan bounces back tonight. He has been very disapointing the past few games and has been a complete non factor. With Davis out of the lineup for another month or so, this team is really hard to watch when DeRozan is struggling as they are really the only two that I genuinely look forward to watching. It is nice to see guys like Weems, Johnson, Jack and Calderon play well, but at the end of the day it is those two that matter most.

[Built Ford Tough]

I don't mean to double post like this, but I forgot to mention this in my last post.

 

I think that this will be the first game all season long that I hope the Raptors get blown out (or they could blow Charlotte out, but I'd prefer the former as it helps the Raptors draft standing) and it is a 20+ game with 5 minutes left. The reason why is that this is the first game that Solomon Alabi has dressed and is in the linup. I know that he is very raw, isn't ready to contribute anything now and is a huge project, but I would still like to see him see some time tonight. It can't be much worse than seeing David Andersen chuck up jumper after jumper.

[Built Ford Tough]

That was a nasty dunk by Weems over Diaw (at least I think it was Diaw) on the break.

 

I really like Julian Wright, at least from what I've seen from im so far. He is a very good defender who makes great rotations and has the athleticism to matchup with most small forwards in the league. He did a nice job forcing a turnover on Wallace. Offensively he isn't anything special but he has done a great job with his decision making so far. When the defense gives him an open jumper, he takes it, when they close out on him out of control he exploits it, he knows when to leak out and when to stay and crash the glass and he has made some very nice passes so far. He could easily have 3 or 4 assists to go along with his 4 points if Bargnani knocked down a couple of jumpers and Evans converted that one layup.

 

He definitely isn't a skilled player and will never be more than an energy defensive specialist off of the bench, but I like him so far.

 

Bargs has done a nice job of exploiting Diaw on offense. Diaw can't guard him and Bargnani has taken advantage of him with a lot of post play. He still shys away from contact and always takes fadeaway jumpers when he does post a player up, which is kidn of annoying considering his size advantage, but at least he is mixing up his game.

 

One thing I don't like so far is the score, though. I want to see Alabi!

[Check my Stats]

Bargnani might be the least smooth 20 point scorer in NBA history, if that makes any sense. I despise watching him play, he is just so damn awkward to watch.

 

EDIT: Wow, nice quick first step by Demar on Wallace. We need to see more of that.

Edited November 11, 2010 by Check my Stats

[Built Ford Tough]

Bargnani is useless in the 2nd half of games. He always seems to play very well in the 1st half, at least offensively, but once the first 24 minutes are over, he turns into a complete scrub who can't hit anything.

 

Very nice pass from DeRozan. He almost got himself into trouble by over dribbling and leaving his feet, but he found Johnson under the hoop for an easy layup.

 

Sonny and Amir have been great tonight. This is probably the best game I've seen from Weems all season, including the career high point game against Utah and Amir seems to be all over the place on both offense and defense. He can be such an effective player when he isn't in foul trouble.

 

EDIT: Very nice dunk from DeRozan in transition. I thought for sure he was going to commit an offensive foul but he did a nice job of avoiding Augustin and going up strong knowing that Wallace was going to come from behind for the block.

Edited November 11, 2010 by Built Ford Tough

[Real Deal]

Three-point time!

[Built Ford Tough]

I'm shocked that Weems passed up that three. You could tell that he was just dying to put up the potential game tying three.

 

Poor clock management by the Raptors as well. They allowed nearly 9 seconds to go off of the clock before fouling Thomas. On top of that, they almost gave up a possible And One opportunity.

 

3 point game with 12.7 seconds left. I say go for two for one here. Unlike the game against Sacramento, the Raptors have a timeout so they can afford to go for a quick two here.

[Real Deal]

DUDE...Bargnani. WTF.

[Check my Stats]

lol what an ending, can't say I am upset, though.

[Built Ford Tough]

 

"What the [expletive] you gonna do"?

 

Well, clearly you aren't going to run any kind of play.

[Real Deal]

Should've just shot the damn ball. I don't know why he was even trying to make a move. He knows what he can and can't do against someone like Jackson.

[Built Ford Tough]

Should've just shot the damn ball. I don't know why he was even trying to make a move. He knows what he can and can't do against someone like Jackson.

 

Especially since he should be aware of the fact that Calderon pounded the ball for about 5 seconds and because of that there was no time to go for a two and the only thing you could do was put up a three.

 

One of the problems with Bargnani is a lack of awareness and Basketball IQ, and this play was a perfect example of that.

 

Oh well, Raptors have sole possession of last place in the East now. With a back to back against Miami and Orlando coming up, they are going to be 1-9 after Saturday.

 

I do have to admit, this was kind of a painful loss, though. I don't care if they lose, but I hate to see them loss a game because of their own stupidity.

[Real Deal]

Especially since he should be aware of the fact that Calderon pounded the ball for about 5 seconds and because of that there was no time to go for a two and the only thing you could do was put up a three.

 

One of the problems with Bargnani is a lack of awareness and Basketball IQ, and this play was a perfect example of that.

Yeah, I actually thought Calderon was going to jack that shot up for a second, and he was wide open for a while, but it's Jose, and you really don't know what he's going to do (sounds like a good thing, but it's not).

 

Oh well, Raptors have sole possession of last place in the East now. With a back to back against Miami and Orlando coming up, they are going to be 1-9 after Saturday.

2-8, because they will beat Miami. :o

[Check my Stats]

No, the Miami game will be a massacre. We have no one who can remotely defend LBJ or Wade, I mean, Demar and Sonny will try, but they will get raped. Bosh could easily rape us as well, if he gets the isolations, which he might since it is against Toronto.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Bargnani had a solid game, though.

[Built Ford Tough]

Yeah, I actually thought Calderon was going to jack that shot up for a second, and he was wide open for a while, but it's Jose, and you really don't know what he's going to do (sounds like a good thing, but it's not).

 

He just doesn't have any confidence in his game anymore. Two/three seasons ago he would've put that shot up without hesitation and 9 times out of 10 he would drain it. Now he is just so damn hesitant with everything that he does. When he isn't hesitant and actually plays without second guessing himself, he is still a solid backup point guard.

 

Yeah, I understand where you are coming from about never knowing what he is going to do. I don't think his teammates know what the hell to expect from him at this point either. At least with Jack they know he will put his head down and bully his way to the hoop. I don't think they know what Calderon is going to do with the ball. That is why him and Johnson play so well together because Amir thrives in chaotic and unpredictable situations.

 

2-8, because they will beat Miami. :o

 

I'd be happy with beating Miami. The Raptors look like a lock to finish in the basement of the East, so might as well try and make Miami's pick more valuable in the process.

 

 

One last thing about that final play, was that seriously the play that Triano designed during the timeout? The one thing that he does at a high level is drawing up plays out of timeouts, but that was just doomed from the start.

 

If I had to guess, Calderon was probably supposed to drive to the hoop for a quick two or a kick out, but he screwed it up by just standing there with his thumb up his [expletive].

Edited November 11, 2010 by Built Ford Tough

[Real Deal]

No, the Miami game will be a massacre. We have no one who can remotely defend LBJ or Wade, I mean, Demar and Sonny will try, but they will get raped. Bosh could easily rape us as well, if he gets the isolations, which he might since it is against Toronto.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Bargnani had a solid game, though.

You're supposed to agree, and be positive. It's the Raps, dude! :o

 

And about the double posting, keep doing it and I'll consider you a spammer. Are you posting from a phone, or...? What browser?

[Real Deal]

One last thing about that final play, was that seriously the play that Triano designed during the timeout? The one thing that he does at a high level is drawing up plays out of timeouts, but that was just doomed from the start.

I would bet anyone $100 Triano told Calderon to Wade his way up the court, draw a double, and then kick it out to Bargnani for a 25-foot Dirk game-winner.

[Built Ford Tough]

I would bet anyone $100 Triano told Calderon to Wade his way up the court, draw a double, and then kick it out to Bargnani for a 25-foot Dirk game-winner.

 

Yeah, I edited that into my post as you were typing up the response.

 

It makes sense, but I don't understand why he would get Calderon to handle the ball in that situation. Give the ball to Jack because he is clearly better suited to breaking down the defense off of the bounce. Hell, give the ball to DeRozan or Weems before putting Calderon into that situation. He can't get to the hoop without a screen. That is common knowledge.

[Real Deal]

Yeah, I edited that into my post as you were typing up the response.

 

It makes sense, but I don't understand why he would get Calderon to handle the ball in that situation. Give the ball to Jack because he is clearly better suited to breaking down the defense off of the bounce. Hell, give the ball to DeRozan or Weems before putting Calderon into that situation. He can't get to the hoop without a screen. That is common knowledge.

See, the problem with that is that Charlotte has Tyrus in the paint (he just finished up with a clutch block on Weems a couple of plays before) and the Bobcats would rather give up that two and not bring over the help to leave Bargs open (Jackson was not going to let him get that shot off without a contest).

 

Triano should've ran a play right up the middle for Weems or DeRozan to just put the ball in the hoop with a chunk of time remaining, then foul. Take the three when you're down by three with 2-3 seconds to go, not when you have enough time to go for the two-and-frees.

 

But, most definitely, let Jack or one of the slashing guards drive and kick it out. Calderon is still in Spain, playing in the FIBA tourney.

[fish7718]

why did DeRozan have such a weak line?

[Check my Stats]

Foul trouble.,

 

And I would rather Miami rape us than us win and gain confidence then maybe reel off a couple more wins.

 

In other news, when does the college season start? I see some games are being played, is this the season or pre-season?

 

Also I am using google chrome, I don't know why it keeps doing that, my connection is pretty solid.

Edited November 11, 2010 by Check my Stats

[Built Ford Tough]

why did DeRozan have such a weak line?

 

Picked up two quick fouls in the first that had him glued to the bench, came in for a couple minutes late in the 2nd and picked up a third so he was right back to the bench and then picked up a quick foul in the 3rd that forced him to sit again.

 

He also had Gerald Wallace on him whenever he was on the floor so he struggled a bit because of that matchup. That definitely wasn't helping his cause out there.

 

And I would rather Miami rape us than us win and gain confidence then maybe reel off a couple more wins.

 

In other news, when does the college season start? I see some games are being played, is this the season or pre-season?

 

Also I am using google chrome, I don't know why it keeps doing that, my connection is pretty solid.

 

I'm not worried about that. Even if they fluke out and beat Miami, they will be brought right back down to earth the next night when Howard drops a 20/20/10 game against them, especially if Evans misses the game with the hip injury he suffered tonight. Tyrus Thomas and Gerald Wallace looked like Wilt and Russell defensively tonight, could you imagine what Howard will do to all of their weak attempts at the rim?

 

Raptors also historically struggle defending the three ball, so that adds even more to it.

 

As for the college season, the games are pre-season right now. I'm not 100% sure when the regular season starts, but I think it might be this Friday. I know for sure that next week the season will be underway, but I think it may start this weekend.

 

Circle Feburary 9th, though. Duke vs. UNC. Barnes vs. Irving. I think that is the basketball game that I'm looking forward to the most this year. How sad is that?