The Morning After The Night Before, LVXX

It’s sunny outside but it’s dark, scary dark, around these parts. Had another couple of e-mails overnight from fans – regular fans I hear from often – who are done with this season. It may be a bit drastic but I can understand frustration and have some sympathy.

Right now, they’re horrible and not showing any signs of getting much better. I still think when the schedule turns easier they’ll end up finishing sixth and get Orlando in the first round but I can also see them losing two of the next three and then watch the angst grow.

Tough time to be a fan, isn’t it?

And from yesterday we’ve got:

Three Things I Learned

Blame Rasho

No, not for the loss; dude’s playing out of his head. But when he missed a layup late in the fourth, he robbed Bosh of his first career triple-double. And, it shouldn’t really be surprising giving the inadequacies they’ve had in wing players over the year, but it’s been seven years a day now since any Raptor had a triple double. That was Alvin Williams against Atlanta back in the day.

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Disgruntled, quite disgruntled

Heard a smattering of boos when T.J. hoisted a horrible shot late in the third quarter, which was a bit surprising. Of course, they changed to raucous cheers a minute later when he made a layup. But maybe everyone was snoozing with nine minutes to go when he took another bad shot and they loafed back on defence, losing Iverson in transition and then couldn’t get to AI before he made a three for an 85-80 Nugget lead.

That’s the kind of play that should tick everybody off.

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Where’d he go?

What happened to Bargnani, you wonder? Well, a confluence of things robbed him of what could have been a big night after his 16-point first. The two shots he got in the 2 1-2 minutes he played in the second were pretty good looks he just missed; in an 0-for-4, 12-minute run in the third the Nuggets played much better defence on him and then he sat the entire fourth ‘cause Rasho was playing well. The interesting thing, to me, was Sam leaving Bargnani in after he got his second foul six minutes into the first. Usually that’s when he goes and sits until after the half but Mitchell stuck with him and he made all three shots he took before the quarter ended. Since Bargnani seldom plays in the fourth, I’ve always thought Mitchell should stick with him with two fouls every night.

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A trip to the mailbag, apropos with yesterday’s opponent:

Q: Is it still possible that Denver finishes the year with 50 wins and doesn’t make the playoffs? Would they still be a lottery team and get a crack at the number one pick overall?

Darwin N, Swift Current

A: Oh yeah, it sure is. Their lottery odds would be less than one per cent but they can get it.

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Quick query: How’s the pizza taste today?

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Not sure if you remember, but there was a mailbag question a week or so ago about whether or not Alex English wants to be a head coach? I said I thought he did; having a conversation with him yesterday, I found out he definitely does and, for all he’s done – coached in the minors, been an assistant, one of the greatest players of all time – he better be on some short lists this summer.

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Here’s how yesterday’s game played out in Denver.

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More mail

Q: Doug, I am surprised that you would drive to Cleveland for the game!  Can't the mighty Star spring for a flight!?!  Where else do you have to drive to - Detroit, New York?   Dumb question but the team would fly? Right?

Carlos M, Toronto

A: Dude, it’s easier to drive and if you spend enough time in airports and get jerked around enough times by Air Canada, staying away from planes is best.

Takes me about 4 1-2 hours to drive, if you fly you’ve got to get to the airport 90 minutes before an hour-long flight, get downtown from the airport in Cleveland and to Pearson so the whole process takes about the same amount of time. And if you drive, you go on your own schedule, no one makes you stand in line and take off your shoes and open your laptop.

But, yes, the team flies, and gets to land at a downtown Cleveland airport right on the lake that’s about a three-minute drive to the hotel or the arena.

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You know what today is, don’t you?

It’s the anniversary of one of the most improbable victories in Raptor history. On March 24, 1996, before 36,131 fans at the SkyDome, the little expansion team knocked off the mighty Chicago Bulls.

I remember vividly Brendan Malone walking off the court and pointing to salute the fans in the 500 level across the stadium.

Tracy Murray – remember him? – might have had the best post-game quote, culled from The Star’s game story.

"We came together so much at the end, it brought a tear to my eye …We kept fightin'. To see us mature and make progress and finally win a game against a team like Chicago is great. This game meant more to me than the championship (with the Houston Rockets) last year.”

It was indeed one of the highlights of the season.

And check out this quote from Steve Kerr:

"We just didn't have anybody who could stop (Damon Stoudamire)," Kerr said of the Raptor, whose six three-point shots helped him set the NBA rookie record for treys in a season, 127. The old mark of 125 was set in 1989-90. "He's too small and quick for Michael, and he's obviously too quick for me. He's got the speed to go around you and he can step up and shoot the three. Most guys with speed can't shoot. Most shooters don't have the speed. He's got both."

Funny, now maybe we know why GM Steve Kerr was thinking of signing veteran Damon Stoudamire earlier this year.

Comments

[Amanda]

I love that Bosh called out his teammates, becuase I think that's exactly what needed to happen. While I'm all for taking the positive things out of a loss, which is what the Raps have been doing for a while, they also need to realize that it's not good enough. They can't accept mediocracy if they want to do well in the playoffs. Doug do you think that Wednesday's game against Detroit is a so-called "measturing stick" game for the Raps, seeing as Washington just beat them last night? I think going into the playoffs, they need to believe they're better than the Wiz.

Blogger's note: I presume the Pistons will come to town quite ornery, especially if Phoenix gets them at home tonight. It'll be interesting to see how the Raptors react.

[Alex H]

"They’re lottery odds"

Wow. Late night?

I read that Bosh called his teammates out after the game about going to the rim. Given that Denver has the best shot-blocker in the league and another decent one in Kenyon Martin, do you think that the Raps deserve some slack for their jump-shooting last night? Or would the increased free throw attempts more than offset the number of swats and transition baskets that Denver would get?

Blogger's note: Got that 'they're-their' thingy fixed, thanks
Not driving the ball has been a constant problem with this team all year; I can see cutting them some slack if it was just against Camby and Martin but I guess Bosh had just seen enough.

[F Shipman]

Since I refuse to address the Raptors during this horrible run...something else waaaaaay off topic - is it just me or does your Roman Numerals look way off base. It's been a while since early grade math classes but the combinations of letters you have doesn't even look like a coherent combination. I'm not even sure what number you are looking for (maybe 65?) but I think it should be LXV (for 50+10+5). I think I can see what you were trying to do (LVXX = 50 + (20-5)?) but that's incorrect.

Sorry, I'm an accountant - numbers are my thing.

Blogger's note: And apparently not mine.

[Dan]

The Raptors have been very frustrating. This time last year I was shocked if they lost. They just played with more aggression and more as a team. YOu look at the roster this year and they are just as deep if not more with the core having more time togeather. Even with all of the injuries they have played below expectations. Look at Philly and what they are doing no way they have a better roster then Toronto. They just play hard all the time and spend more time at the free throw line then the three point line.

[Dinosty]

Doug,

Pretend you're MSLE. Make your best pitch for me to purchase playoff tickets, because right now I see ZERO point in spending $200 + for two home losses.

Blogger's note: Doesn't really seem like anything they'd say would change your mind. And I don't do pitches for them. If you don't want to go, don't go. No skin off my nose

[Chris C]

4th quarter execution has been terrible in March and given that they have been in a lot of games recently in the 4th q, it doesnt bode well for the playoffs where every possession is like a 4th q. When was the last good win, Orlando? Even if the schedule does get easier in the weeks ahead, that doesnt help the team because beating lottery bound teams hardly does much to prepare for Detroit in the playoffs.

[Tree Q]

Doug -

Why is Moon still a starter? He may have had 15 and 15 yesterday, but the 3 ill-advised 3's he hoisted in the fourth are exactly the type of plays that should have his behind nailed to the bench in the fourth quarter of close games. Bosh didn't specifically name Moon when he mentioned pass out to teammates to create something, but it was obviously Moon he was referring to. What is up with Sam’s treatment here? Also, Bargnani scores 16 in the first, then plays 2.5 minutes in the second? Is Sam's job in trouble after this stretch (in the offseason that is, if it continues)? He just doesn't seem to adjust the things that are under his control - i.e. substitutions.

Blogger's note: I've addressed these often; Moon might be better off coming off the bench, as I've suggested; Bargnani was lucky he got to play the last six minutes of the first quarter, as I mentioned in the blog today; everybody's job is under review at the end of the season.

[Scott]

Is it possible for a team that has a few players with big hearts (Bosh, Jose, AP, TJ, etc) to not have a heart as a whole? Sure seems that is the way they are playing.

While I truly admire Bosh for getting on his soapbox, and he did a great job of it, I still think if we had one wily veteran in here, this season would have been as successful as most at thought. Right now I think you just have a team full of headshakers that, thankfully, so far have refrained from finger pointing.

[bballer]

philly wins because they have dalembert who anchors their defense through shot blocking and rebounding. the raps don't do that. philly is athletic and has a dominant scoring wing man with iguodala. philly has a two headed pg tandem that attacks the rim incessantly with andre miller and louis williams. philly also has a guy coming off the bench like evans who only rebounds and plays solid defense. carney and thaddeous young provides some offense. willie green is another attacking pg. philly rarely takes 3 point shots.

philly scores mainly inside the paint forcing defenses to react. the athleticism, toughness coupled with the headiness of miller makes philly very talented. they fired billy king way too soon. philly is not soft at all. toronto has depth but not outstanding talent defensively at all. all teams in the top 8 thrives mainly from attacking the rim. toronto and indy are the only teams in the east that lives and dies with jumpshooting.

[tino]

If the Raptors go 1-4 in the next five games, Alex English may not be on anyone list this summer.Bosh calling for the team to be more aggressive last 2 min.s of the game could be also a(veiled?) message to Sam,asking for same change in the line up.He can't be critical of Jose', AP or Rasho;but JM taking a 3( and missing it for the zillion time..)...His defense,while spectacular at time when he blocks shots,loses out to his opponents offense,game after game.Now Sam is complaining the team doesn't have a player that can break down defenses,like for example, hum,TJ Ford.He can't play Him the last 2 minutes of the game,can he?So what can he do?

[jk]

Bosh had better be including himself with the "passive and hesitant" paint brush...
The reality after the Cinderella year last year is obvious...this team can't compete with Bosh being the only "all star". Get rid of Ford, get a real WING player, stop dicking around with Bargnani's minutes and get him a big man coach and maybe we can compete with teams over .500 at the end of the year.
Why the hell is D Martin still wasting a roster spot?? Do they really think Anthony Parker can last through to the playoffs with no one to back him up?? (paging Carlos Delfino, paging Carlos Delfino)....

[Jamie A. Grant]

I saw two games in the past two weeks, including yesterday's Denver game. I was one of those few that booed when TJ took that horrible shot you mentioned - but then he made it. I thought the Raptors really faltered once TJ came in and that's when their big lead vanished. Less people moving around as he dribbled it way too much, like they didn't trust him to pass to them. All the of the great cuts from the first quarter disappeared.

Towards the end, another fan pointed out Bosh's awaiting triple-double. I remember two opportunities for that missing assist from there - Rasho's miss of the layup, and a missed 3 by someone else. I was particularly disappointed by Rashon's miss because it was an easy shot, it would have got them to 100 points, it would have kept them in the game, and it would have completed the triple double. Disappointing on multiple levels.

I was shocked that they got to such a great lead so early. And Bargnani was all over the place, hitting 3s and dunking. I was also surprised that Sam kept him after his second foul but it paid off nicely. Watching them choke at the end, and the crowd exit en masse with a minute to go, wasn't fun at all.

And yes, barely getting the 100-point pizza plateau like that sucked. :)

[leigh]

What surprises me the most about the Raptors, is that Sam Mitchell was a player who didn't have heaps of talent, but he worked hard and squeezed the most out of what he had, also he never took a backward step, nor would he be afraid to foul someone hard but fairly. But this Raptors team is as soft as a packet of marshmellows. Every other team just strolls into the lane against the Raptors without any fear of being fouled whatsoever.....and offensively, when the going gets tough, our Raptors put no pressure on the defense by driving the lane trying to draw fouls, they just bail out defenses by launching bombs and hoping they go in.

[Jeff Riggins]

The TJ hate continues, did anyone watch the game?, Calderon played horrible defense (what's new). Funny how no one mentions Carlos delfino resign this guy why? how many perimter players have scored at least 30 against the raptors this year the list continues to grow. 76ers are on a hot streak it won't end, Raptors are going to end up with the seventh seed and get swept by detroit, hell we'd have better odds against the celtics.

Last but not least Ms Andrea Bargnani wow 16 points but a pathetic eddy curry like 4 boards and horrible D. BUST

[Elgin Baylor]

Why the hate for Sam? this raptors team is just not that talented, besides bosh no one strikes the fear into you. The only two raptors who attack to the rim consistently is bosh and Mr. Ford. Now with Bosh angry etc. changes have to be made, a corey maggette or chris wilcox will be perfect, and clippers need a point guard TJ or calderon would be a win win situation.

[gabriel a]

Doug,
do you agree that the starters should play in every quarter and at least half of every quarter? and that the benchers should supply energy off the bench? perfect example: rasho bad example: tj

Blogger's note: Not necessarily, no. In every quarter? Yeah, but you can't put a specific time on it.

[AK]

IF you're looking for a sales pitch Dinosty call Chuck Swirsky.

[GM]

Fans are now saying they won't watch the rest of the season? Then they're not true fans. As frustrating as it is, I enjoy watching no matter what the outcome.

[Paul M.]

I find it funny (not haha funny, though) that "fans" are giving up on the season. Those aren't fans: they're bandwagon jumpers. And the Raps seem to have a ton of them. After all, interest in the Raps only really started to pick up this year, AFTER they won the division and made the playoffs last year. Abandoning a team that you're supposedly a fan of: to borrow a phrase from Doug, "that's bush league." They should go back to loving/hating (depending on the day) the Leafs.

[AK]

Paul M. You are my hero...well said.

[P.]

Well, there are "fans" that are bandwagon jumpers.

And there are "fans" that have stuck with the team through all their troubles and all their losing years, and are just tired of it.

Stolen one of the supposed top GM's in the league, all that cap room we had, and a 1st-overall pick, and we end up with one of the softest teams in the league.

That glimmer of hope is getting quite dim.

[Ryan]

Has anyone ever considered that perhaps these Raptors are just not good enough yet? They're still quite young with barely any playoff experience. For most teams, the games the Raptors are losing, are lessons already learned. For the Raptors right now, these are lessons. Don't give up on this team yet; that would be like giving up on a kid in grade 1 because they have a temper problem.

They've still got a ways to go and it seems many Toronto fans have slightly unrealistic expectations for this young team. The fact is this core of players makes Toronto a playoff team for many years to come. If you give up now then don't bother joining in the glory down the road.

[petro]

Aren't "fans" supposed to be Fanatical... i.e. bandwagon jumpers?

Everyone in the city... from management, to the coaching staff, to the players and especially the media had high expectations for this team... that is why the fans had high expectations and that is why the fans are extremely dissappointed.

Doug, question for you sir... knowing how Sam was a hard and tough nosed player in his day... do you think his coaching style and approach to this team is somewhat passive (i.e not challenging his players to incite more toughness - so he doesn't lose the locker room)... thus, ultimately the team's personality reflects Sam's passivity. In a nutshell, how much is Sam holding back?

Blogger's note: Quick answer: Sam's not passive by any stretch of the imagination but what he's done over the years is temper his, um, temper because knows his combative style doesn't work with everyone.

[ad]

Raps need another star player badly. Kapono, Delfino, moon, and parker are just mediocre and cannot be relied for scoring. A legit star player that could play sg or sf would be ideal for the raps. Denver beat them because they simply had more talent and in late game situtations their star players made plays.

[bballer]

seeing me justify how hard philly plays in response to a poster seemed out of place. nevertheless, i'm happy to see people recognize this team does not strike any fear in their opponents aside from bosh. maybe bosh calling out his teammates is also him calling out colangelo. bosh only has 2 more years left in his deal. if there aren't any improvements he can join lebron and dwade at a team of their choice.

dunleavy and nocioni is not the answer to the wing position. neither can break their defender off the dribble and are mainly jump shooters. maggette and harrington fits the bill and are both available from their respective clubs. wilcox makes only $6M and can be a good backup. he can be available depending on who the ok sonics drafts.diop fits the mould of a solid defender, shot blocker and rebounder. again, delfino should not be resigned. at the mid level you can get an aggressive euro in pietrus. but he might not be the type of euro bc and gheradini have in mind. i would keep bargnani. with better players around him, he can go back to be a spot up shooter and occasionally drive. with a lineup of maggette, bosh, bargns, pietrus and calderone, with kapono, diop/wilcox, ap and ukic? coming off the bench toronto will be a top 4 team.

hmmmm. maybe diop will be better over wilcox. more of a defensive presence. i think i will get a backup like either roger mason, duhon or even andre barrett to fill in until ukic matures. hey doug, send this to bc. this will work.

a sign and trade - maggette for ford and delfino. sign pietrus with the mid-level exception and find a way to get a back up pg. this will get me back to buying tix for this team.