Archive for Raptor Rants

Raptor Rant – This Offense is Offensive

January 22, 2012 Nat Raptor Rants

The Raptors have dropped seven in a row and things can get a lot worse as they kick off their longest road trip of the season today. While the team has been markedly improved on the defensive end, bottom line is, you still need to score points in this league to win. The condensed schedule has left little time to practice and with Andrea Bargnani out of the lineup, offensive production has become the biggest issue for the Raptors during this stretch.

Blake Kennedy, wrote a great post on RaptorBlog pointing out the offensive struggles we have seen this season but unlike him, I saw it coming. A new coach who preaches defense first, the minimal practice time to implement a new offense and above all, the lack of guys who can create for themselves.

Andrea Bargnani was playing at an All-Star level before he was sidelined with the calf injury and this team just doesn’t have the personnel to make up for the 20+ PPG they lose with him out. Jose Calderon has been playing like the guy who was rewarded with that fat contract but he rather stay in his comfort zone of being the distributer, a bit of a problem when he is one of the better spot up shooters on this team. The Rasual Butler experiment seems to have finally come to an end as he continues to struggle with the one thing he was brought in to do but his replacement James Johnson is not someone the team can rely on offensively.

Probably the biggest disappointment so far has been the inconsistency from DeMar DeRozan. James Herbert wrote in his defense, but no matter how you slice it, DeRozan has regressed. After the most recent loss to the Blazers, DeMar admitted he is aware of the issues — “The last couple of games I have not gotten to the line. I have to be aggressive. Just going to the contact and not trying to avoid it, that’s my main issue.” He is taking more jumpers and they each look too strong and too flat. Maybe it is the adjustment he made in order to hit the long range shot but it has hindered his mid-range game a lot. Last season DeMar developed a spin move in the lane as his go to move, he has gone away from that and his resistance to contact has led to his numbers going down in almost every offensive category.

You know that phrase, basketball is a game of runs? Well the Raptors have yet to find  a way to avoid 5 minute offensive dry spells to make their runs count. Until they can get consistant production from guys not named Andrea Bargnani, they are going to be a tough team to watch. Hellloooo (Jack Armstrong voice) Kevin O’Neill era revisited!

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Raptor Rant – Two Games. One Story

January 9, 2012 Nat Raptor Rants

The Raptors are in the middle of a tough stretch of 7 games in 9 nights, where the first two were hardly ones to waste DVR space on. Less than a week ago, the team sat with a .500 record and all the talk was mostly positive. Fast forward to today as they get set to face the Timberwolves, and there is a familiar “sky is falling” vibe amongst the fan-base.

When the Raptors took on the Nets last week, coach Casey stressed that there were “no easy wins” in the NBA and the team proved that. Unable to close out on shooters and letting Kris Humphries grab 16 rebounds were two of the many factors that did them in that night. Deron Williams ran circles around Jose Calderon and when things weren’t going well on the offensive end, the Raptors started falling into bad defensive habits from previous seasons.

The next night against the 76′ers a similar pattern began to occur. 11 first half turnovers and the inability to find an offensive flow set the team back pedalling on defense. Inconsistency seems to be trend here early in the season. Outside of Bargnani, none of the guys have been able to produce constantly on the offensive end with the SF and SG spot being the glaring issues. James Johnson brings everything the team needs on D but is an absolute black hole on offense at the moment. Rasual Butler has yet to find that range he is known for and Barbosa is less blur and more bricks these days. DeRozan too has been unable to string together a few good games from start to finish. For him he may need to reconsider how he starts off — go to the basket instead of checking if your jumper is falling.

This version of the Raptors is not going to be breaking any offensive records but once they start scrambling to score, the easy rebounds and fast breaks lead to defensive breakdowns and the rest just spirals from there. Right now this team needs to stop worrying about scoring and just keep building on the new defensive fundamentals being brought on by coach Casey. “Old habits die hard” they say, in this case, those old habits are probably going to keep this team lottery bound for one more year. For a big group of the fan base, that sounds like a plan!

Up Next: Timberwolves @ Raptors. Monday, 9th Jan. 2012

Here is what @jaysatur from Raptors.com is looking for from tonight’s matchup

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Raptor Rant — West Coast Woes…

November 8, 2010 Nat Raptor Rants

… What the f*ck you gonna do?

I didn’t write about the Raptors while they were on the road but it wasn’t because I was mad. I really can’t hate on this team. Even though they returned with four losses, there were silver linings in each of them.

Raptors vs. Kings: Two young teams, only one with a bonafide star. The Raptors came out with a lot of energy but were not able to sustain it for a full 48 minutes. Jarrett Jack’s struggled but Calderon stepped up and reminded Raptor fans why he earned that payday a few years back.

Silver lining — DeMar DeRozan had a breakout game and his aggressiveness was an absolute positive. 12 trips to the free throw line is just what this team needs.

Raptors vs. Jazz: The Raptors dug themselves a hole early, for a team with not a lot of talent, this did not bode well. Jerry Sloan actually had a plan to make Reggie Evans ineffective on the glass. The Raptors managed to put together their best 3rd quarter in recent memory which got them back into the game but a few timely 3′s from the Jazz put an end to that comeback.

Silver lining — The 3rd Quarter. Sonny Weems’ career high 23pts. Bargnani grabbed a season high 9 rebounds.

Raptors vs. Lakers: No one believed they had a shot against the reigning champs… except the 15 guys on the bench. The Raptors gave the Lakers everything they could handle but the lack of experience showed when it came to closing out the game.

Silver lining — Heart + Hustle. The Raptors lack of talent may show on paper but they don’t hold back what they have. Amir Johnson got his groove back and DeMar held his own against Kobe.

Raptors vs. Blazers: They managed just 34 points in the first half and no one was surprised. There are going to be many nights where this team can’t get the shot to go down and they need to do the little things. The Blazers let up a couple of times but never enough to give the Raptors a real chance to get back in it.

Silver lining — The 3 point streak was in jeopardy but Jarrett Jack stepped up to keep it alive. It may be a stupid thing to hold on to but in a rough season, fans need something…

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Raptor Rant: Old Habits Die Hard

February 3, 2010 Nat Raptor Rants

A Picture is worth a 1000 words

Just when you thought this team was getting things together on both ends of the floor, they come up with a game like tonight.

The home and home series has been a common occurrence in the NBA schedule this season. The 2nd game is always a tough get. With the Raptors riding a 5 game win streak, this was a trap game and they fell for it.

The team came out firing on offense but failed to stop the Pacers in the 1st half. The Raptors have made a habit of digging a hole and then making adjustments at half time. Tonight was different because the Pacers had game planned for various scenarios. They kept pouring it on to the tune of 42 points in the 3rd quarter and at that point the game was theirs to lose.

I could talk about the wasted offensive night from Bosh (35 points) and Bargnani (Career High, 34 points), or dwell on the fact that 3 of the guards went 1-17 on a night when the team was already playing short handed. Rather, I want to focus on the defensive end. This team has improved significantly in this area over the last 20 games, but old habits reared their ugly heads tonight.

The team was already playing short handed and Jay Triano had to wing it with his substitutions (which by the way seemed very odd tonight). While all this was going on, the team stopped communicating. Help defense was no where to be found, and the Pacers got pretty much anything they wanted in the paint.

I am a big proponent of Andrea Bargnani when it comes to his man defense. Tonight just seemed that he never got his head in the game until it was too late. Roy Hibbert abused him down low and with no communication on the floor there wasn’t anyone coming to help either. Bosh doesn’t have the same strength as Bargnani when it comes to holding guys out of the block but atleast he looked like he was trying.

I know this is just one game. Even though the Raptors gave up 130 points and allowed 7 guys to score in double figures, they can get right back on track with a win against the struggling New Jersey Nets. A good team would make sure to bounce back and make it look like that one loss was an anomaly. This team needs to keep the winning attitude and brush this game off.

One to the next one…

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Raptor Rant – 10 in 2010

January 2, 2010 Nat Raptor Rants

I may have been gone from here for a bit but that doesn’t mean I abandoned the team. The Raptors have been rolling to the tune of a 5 game win streak. While there have been a lot of positives, fans need to be careful with their expectations going forward. They have improved but all this winning has come against sub par teams. I put together a list of things I want to see happen this year and it goes something like this…

1. Bosh re-signs in Toronto
Raptor fans are used to their stars leaving, let’s hope things turn out differently this time. Chris Bosh is playing out of his mind and with each passing day the fans are growing ulcers from the stress of his departure. There are always the haters who don’t think he is worth it, but if there is one wish I have for the New Year it would be to lock Bosh up for the next 5 years. While he is at it, he may wanna contemplate a haircut.

2. Raptors win a playoff round
2001 was way too long ago. The fans need to let go of Vince Carter and it will only happen once this team gets to the 2nd round. The Bryan Colangelo era has been full of ups and downs but this is the best roster he has put together… its time they prove it.

3. Andrea Bargnani crashes the boards
Andrea is never going to average double digits in rebounds and I have come to terms with that. He has been known to play better in the 2nd half of the year and I would like to see his current average of 6.1 to be upped to 8 by season’s end.

4. Let DeMar Dunk
Not since Vince Carter have the Raptors had a bonafide dunker. Sure there was Jamario but he didn’t have the flair. This kid throws ‘em down with swagger and needs to be dunking on the rims at Jerry’s world in Dallas at the All-Star game. If you want to help him get there, visit the website Let DeMar Dunk and sign the petition.

5. Reggie Evans the player
For the first part of the season, we have gotten to know Reggie Evans the cheerleader. He has been a great presence on the sidelines but it is time he gets himself right and starts earning that paycheck. Amir Johnson has stepped in nicely to do what fans hoped to see from Reggie… but its time. It’s time we stop talking about his attire (crystals on jeans are still a no go for men!) and see him rocking some warmups.

6. Team D
It started off ugly, its gotten better, but they have a long way to go. If this team can come together on the defensive end they will be fighting for home court in the playoffs. Obviously the “protect our house” mantra hasn’t really worked. The house has been robbed clean! Time to switch it up, maybe they should just watch this video over and over and something will seep in.

7. Young Guns
My favorite part of this Raptors team has been the camaraderie between the young guys– Sonny Weems, DeMar DeRozan and Amir Johnson. I have to go way back in memory to remember seeing Raptor players showing pure joy on their faces and loving life the way these guys do. They have anointed Jarrett Jack the grandpa (even though he is 26) and have become a family along the way. Check this video and #freeamir

8. PG Rivalry
With Jose injured and Jack playing well, cue the PG controversy. Raptor fans have been through this before with the whole TJ/Jose thing and it didn’t end well. From my point of view, some healthy competition is a good thing. These two play a very different style and should be able to complement each other rather than make it a negative thing. I hope when Jose returns he is able to slide back into his role. Jack has had enough time to get to know the players which added together will only keep things running smooth for all 48 minutes.

9. Health
The Raptors have gone all season without Reggie Evans, a month with Jose sidelined and Wright is still not RIGHT. They have been lucky compared to what some other teams are going through, but these players are a big part of the plan. With Jose in the game, the offense seems to run smoother. Reggie would bring some much needed help for Bosh on the boards. Antoine is known for the one thing the Raptors lack – defense. Add these three back into the mix and it can only get better!

10. The 6th man in the Stands
Raptor fans had little to cheer for in 2009. The team missed the playoffs last season and played a lackluster style of basketball. The ACC wakes up in the playoffs but fans need to show it in the regular season. Toronto needs to become a tough place to play again and it starts with the fans in the stands… TDOT – STAND UP!

Anything I missed? If you have anything to add, throw it in the comments.

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