Raptor Talk 11-12 Big Changes May be in the Works!

I was only home to see the fourth quarter of yesterday's debacle but it was no display of the best the sport has to offer!

Garbage minutes for a bunch of second-rate pros - UGLY!

Apparently Joe Johnson single-handedly dismantled us in a matter of very little time in the second quarter. Thank heaven for small mercies that would have been a sorry spectacle for sure.
Apparently Casey could not coax his usual defensive effort out of his charges and DeRozan returned to the mediocrity we have seen from him for most of this season.

Next up? The Celtics who are on a resurgence in recent games. I'll be home for this one I hope its better viewing than last night's crap-kicking!

I will be there when the Celtics come in to the ACC on Feb. 10th. Here's hoping we show some balls and stand up to the bully boys from Beantown!

Send them a message tonight - we will not back down when they lay on the lumber! Maybe Magloire earns his paycheque in these ones!

No Magloire in this game.

Only message being sent is "we soft" and "we weak" and "we very far away from even mediocrity"

Coach... hope you turned it off like I did... thank God for "Two and Half Men" and CSI re-runs.

On a night when Amir Johnson dispelled whatever personal demons which have beset his game, Jose Calderon served up a season-high 17 helpers and the seemingly impossible became possible.

The impossible being this group of offensively challenged NBA-ers scoring 100 without their prime offensive weapon Andrea Bargnani in the lineup.

A real feel-good ass-whupping being hung on the hapless Washington Wizards - good to see in a season when the wins have been few and far-between.

Next up Dwayne, LeBron and CB thats going to be a tough one for sure!

DeMar is in a sorry funk indeed! He is a non-factor these days!

There will be many more low points in a season where teams are playing games with the frequency that this brutal schedule dictates. Still I will remember last night's dismantling of the Boston Bullies for a long time to come. Being at the ACC to take this one in live was a bonus!

I cringed when DeRozan settled for some early jumpers but was elated when he got to the rim/got to the line later. He may be coming of age!

Jose was magnificent even without Bayless and with Coach Casey forced to use Anthony Carter in a back-up role - ZERO turnovers and fourteen assists. Also surprising defence vs. Rondo who never looked less effective. Carter looks to be past his expiry date for sure!

This was a total team effort with huge contributions from the likes of Aaron Gray, James Johnson, Linas Kleiza, Amir and just about every Raptor who stepped on the floor. Rasual Butler was an obvious exception once again - terrible with a capital ter!

Standing up to the bully tactics of a Kevin Garnett and his henchmen - priceless!

I am so a fan of Coach Casey! I love his intensity - we must have him onboard moving forward!

I was going to post something on this topic after the Lakers game because it pisses me off big-time! The issue is the way the NBA referees call the game for the elite in the league like the Lakers and for the doormats like the Raptors, Bobcats, etc.

To me a foul is a foul whether you are DeMar or LeBron and taking the ball to the hole. Lord knows LeBron is better able to withstand the clutch and grab tactics lesser players are forced to employ in defending the likes of His Majesty.

Time and time again I see DeMar get bumped, banged sometimes even decked with no call. This should simply not be so! LeBron doesn't really need any special treatment but to me he always seems to receive the benefit of the refs' calls.

The unequal playing field galls me no end! Are the refs not professional enough to call a foul a foul?

Steve Buffery tackles this topic in this morning's Toronto Sun:

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/02/13/refs-dont-cut-raptors-any-slack


I am of the opinion that Butler used more than his five seconds before asking for a time-out but maybe that's just me I am definitely no fan of Rasual! I kind of see Casey's reasoning in putting him in but really ---!

On a happier topic see this reported from Doug Smith:

Raptors draft pick Jonas Valanciunas has parlayed an excellent season into a prestigious award.

The 7-foot Lithuanian, chosen fifth overall by Toronto in last June’s NBA draft, has been named FIBA’s European Young Men’s Player of the Year for 2011.

In voting conducted by a panel of European basketball experts, Valanciunas beat out Spain’s Nicola Mirotic in the voting.

Valanciunas averaged 23 points and 13.9 rebounds in leading Lithuania to the FIBA under-19 world championship last July; he averages 7.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in the EuroLeague with Lietuva Rytas of Lithuania this season.

“A lot of people compare Valanciunas to (legendary Lithuanian centre Arvydas) Sabonis, but he has his own distinct style,” said FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin.

“What he does have in common with Arvydas is the potential to develop into a big man who dominates the game at both ends of the floor, just like the Lithuanian legend did.”

Valanciunas is expected to join the Raptors for the 2012-13 NBA season; he will play this summer for Lithuania as it tries to get one of three spots remaining in the 2012 London Olympics.

Apparently Wilson Chandler had some talks with the Raptors as his contract in China has expired. That would be a significant pickup for the Raps if they could get him. He was playing at a high level in Denver last year. Looks like he's a restricted free agent and I would imagine the Nuggets would like to hang onto him.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/sam_amick/02/22/wilson.chandler/index.html

Some positive for the Raps with a win over Pistons. Calderon is playing at a high level offensively. DeRozan and Davis showing improvement of late!

Some are saying that Chandler may not be a good fit in Denver's very balanced lineup. They have Gallinari and Harrington so long-term is a fit for their roster?

I agree he could be a good pickup for Raptors. He's been a Raptor killer in the past!

Interesting interview with Alan Anderson, newly arrived Raptor.

http://www.nba.com/raptors/video/playlist/raptors-practice-mar-27-2012

If nothing else Coach Casey has established the will to overcome in his Raptors.

Their win over Denver was far from pretty but they got 'er done!

The tank-o-holics would not approve but I say compete till that last dog is hung!

Better days ahead!

Hardly been paying attention... but I do like the direction and some of the pieces... still miles away from competing for a deep playoff run... I like the talk of Nash giving the Raps an equal chance at signing him with his upcoming free agency this summer.

Can't wait to see Valencunious suit up... he's having a solid year over in Europe... just needs to put on some size this summer.

You can actually see some of the young guys developing, which is a silver lining in this mediocre season. Bayless, and James Johnson, in particular, have stepped it up. Johnson is a legitimate starter at the 3 and fills the stats sheet with blocks, rebounds, points and assists. He came out after two years of college and is still young. Bayless has emerged as a potent scoring threat, either off the bench or as a starter. Too bad he got injured and is out for the year. Since Barbosa's departure, Gary Forbes has shown he was a role as a swingman with a big frame who can hit the boards. They need to forget spotting him at the 1. He can't play that position. Gray looks like he could stick as a backup 5, in a banger, rebounder role. Those were four good pickups by Colangelo.

On the other hand, both Davis and DeRozan seem to have stalled in their development. DeRozan shows flashes of brilliance but is maddeningly inconsistent. Davis hasn't added to his game. But he's still young too.

As more guys come out, a decent impact pick out of the lottery looks likely.

Here's a link to an article that I enjoyed and agree with:

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/03/30/raptors-are-a-team-city-can-be-proud-of/


Just a short excerpt that gives an insight into what we already know about Dwane Casey:

But at ground level, Casey has drastically improved the historically porous defence — the Raptors are a top-10 team in defensive field-goal percentage, which in Toronto is a little like making the sun rise in the West, tradition be damned — and can’t worry about doing too good of a job. “I believe in letting the basketball gods take what happens,” as he puts it.

The result is a team that Toronto can be proud of. Across the aisle the Leafs are collapsing in a way nobody thought possible; they are not just falling into a high draft pick, but they are doing it like dead men, their eyes empty. The Raptors fight. There were four other teams that woke up Friday with 17 wins; two of them are in position to get top-five odds in the lottery. Almost every team in the league is supposedly better than Toronto is, but Casey has done his job so well that he could make his boss’s job that much harder.

The Toronto Raptors are fortunate to have this man as their coach as we move forward beyond this sorry excuse for an NBA season!

Thanks for the link. This is a very good article.

Coach Casey was a very good pickup by Colaneglo. We were fortunate to get someone of his calibre. If they can avoid major injuries, with him at the helm I think he can turn this thing around.

Another honour for JV - he looks like the real deal!



http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/95958/3735

All this hype about the Kentucky studs like Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist... but let me say this... if JV played in that final four... he would've been the most dominant stud on the court and all the hype would be about him.

No way would he go 1 for 10 from the field... NO WAY.

Davis is phenomenal athlete but he relies on his athleticism and length and until he has a post up game and a consistent jumper he will not be able to score... and until he puts on the meat he will not be able to bang.

Just my opinion!