Ho hum, here we go again

Here we are again, trying to dissect another loss, make sense of what happened and it’s getting more difficult by the day, isn’t it? They play well for a few minutes, they play poorly for a lot more and in one stretch a game that could have been competitive is over.

TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO

Something's gotta give.

Last night it was the third quarter, as bad a defensive quarter as they’ve played in a long time, and the sense of inevitability about the result was overwhelming.

It’s not like the players quit playing or quit trying but once the Pistons got it going, the Raptors started to hang their heads, force things that weren’t there and it got away from them quickly.

Confidence is such a fleeting emotion, it can be there one minute and – poof! – it’s gone the next. I really think all these guys need is a win, any win, and things will improve exponentially. They’re not going to rattle off six or seven wins in a row, I don’t think they have the talent, consistency or mental toughness to do that, but I do think they can get on a nice little roll.

I don’t know whether it would be enough to make the rest of the season mildly interesting but at least it’d change the darkness of the mood around these parts. And I’m all for that.

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Action: Seven in row.

Reaction: Trying to ascribe blame

Here’s the interesting point to me: Everyone and anyone is to blame and there’s no clear-cut villain in this latest streak, or this whole season as a matter of fact.

No one’s doing a good enough job.

Sure, some nights some players play well and coaches do the right thing and the general manager’s roster looks like it might work.

And then they play again and they all fail.

Me? I have to put a lot of this on the general manager, who constructed the roster and made the move to whack Sam way back in the day.

I’m pretty sure that Bryan would agree with me that his performance has been subpar, either because he over-estimated the skill of the team he put together or because his gamble on the O’Neal trade really hasn’t paid off.

Being the general manager of any team in any sport is an exercise in adaptation and how he adapts to the mess the team’s in will tell us all a lot about his skills.

It’s easy to run things, or play for a team, when things are going well. It’s how people react to tough times that tells you all about them.

Having spoken to him and seen him after losses, this is alternately frustrating him and making him angry. Now he has to turn that frustration and anger into action and get this thing fixed.

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Action: A halftime stroll.

Reaction: A strange, telling sight.

Maybe this tells you everything you need to know about a guy.

Walking down a hallway by the Pistons locker room at halftime, spied Kwame Brown coming out of the press room with a full bag of popcorn.

Seems he’d ducked in to grab some food put out for the grunts and others.

-

Saddest sight of the night:

Hump limping out of the locker room, a manila envelope carrying his X-rays in his hand, getting ready to get a ride back to Toronto with Messrs. Colangelo, Gherardidni and Masai.

Hump told us he’s not sure of the treatment for the broken right fibula he’s got, he’ll see the Toronto doctors today to figure it out.

But he’s many, many weeks away from being back in action.

-

Look at these numbers:

Vs. Detroit: 22 minutes, 0 pts, 3 reb, 3 PF

Vs. Atlanta, 21 minutes, 4 pts, 2 reb, 4 PF

Vs. Phoenix, 38 minutes, 22 pts, 7 reb, 4 PF

Vs. Indiana, 14 minutes, 8 pts, 8 reb, 6 PF

No, I’m now not entirely sure Joey Graham can handle being a starter.

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Coolest sight of the night: Nathan Jawai in his stall in the locker room after the game, cell phone to his ear, no doubt talking to either his girlfriend or his family after he made his NBA debut.

It was 3:05 of pretty much nothing, a travel on his first touch, no rebounds, not shots but it was a debut and that’s pretty neat.

And from the department of ‘timing is everything’ there was every chance in the world that Jawai was off to Idaho today or tomorrow to join the D League’s Stampede but now, with Hump on the shelf, Nate’s got a reprieve.

And minus-20 weather in Toronto and a seat on the end of an NBA bench is exponentially better than the D League in Idaho.

-

Action: Three bigs

Reaction: So-so, as always

Yes, we saw Bosh, O’Neal and Bargnani on the court for a bit last night, most notably in the second quarter when the game was still a game.

Did it work? Barely. But it was a pretty good move by Jay for this reason: The Pistons were playing small and instead of adapting to what they were doing, the Raptors tried to make them adapt to what Toronto was doing.

It worked in one regard: The Pistons had to go back to Rasheed Wallace and he immediately picked up a third foul and while it ended up having no real bearing on the outcome, it was an action, rather than a reaction.

And when someone asked Bosh about it, and having to adapt to playing with a group he was unfamiliar with, this is what he had to say:

“I think we’re familiar with each other -- this is how many games? I’m losing count now -- but we should know the system by now. No matter who’s on the floor, we should know our spots, know the offence, and we should know just to move without the ball. I don’t think you have to be too familiar with your teammates, you have to be familiar with the system and we’ve been playing with it for weeks now, we should be used to it.”

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Oh yeah, in Detroit, this is what they’re reading.

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Speaking of Jawai, got this independent scouting report from Darrell Walker, who had worked him out for Detroit before the draft:

Really good hands, good footwork around the basket. Big, strong, tough kid. May be limited by lack of jumping explosiveness but he’ll get into people and box them out.

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A question of money, like I know anything:

Q: Hey Doug: Got more of a question from the business side of the Raptors. With the team basically taking the same route as the economy, how worried is the braintrust at MLSE about future bball revenues? I'm assuming they've got some plan in place in case there is no playoff money coming in, but has anybody there made any forecasts about what the season ticket renewal rate might be next year, especially with an even weaker economy? Would they expect to see fewer individuals renew, or fewer suite renewals from a percentage standpoint?

Roger B, Toronto

A: I think the combination of the economy and the team’s record is certainly going to hit them in the summer, perhaps very hard.

Here’s what I would do: I’d find some way to not only hold the line on ticket prices but reduce some season-ticket costs for seats not only in the upper bowl but down below, too.

I presume some bean counter with more brains than I have tried to guess how bad things are going to be this summer but no one knows for certain where the economy is going, I don’t think.

And given how the team’s performed this year, the toughest job in the building may indeed be season ticket seller.

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Comments

[Tim McIntyre]

Blogger's Note: Just because I don't scream doesn't mean I'm not critical.

That bears repeating. A lot of "Raptors Truthers" don't seem to understand that distinction.

[Craig A]

There are some reports (CNNSI credits the NY Daily News that credits an NBA source) that the Raptors and Heat have swapped medical records.

That's like, almost a story.

Blogger's note: Yeah, in my paper it'd get prominence right below "Tuesday follows Monday"

[Darko dubajic]

Conrad: comment 20 shots & 10 boards clearly reffers (so I tought) to CB vs. Detroit only. His scoring is lower as well as his shooting % (5 pts and 46 to 50%) vs Pistons as opposed to vs rest of the League. That is taking into count this and last two seasons, before that would not be fair considering how bad we were.

[Darko Dubajic]

Doug, why give up 22 mil in cap space in a year with much better FA class for 17 mil (less Banks 4.5 mil) in this year when there are not nearly as many good players as FA's.
Furthermore, you help your opponent in the Conference for this year playoffs and above mentioned more cap space next year.
Sorry, can not say I agree with you on this one, unless I am missing something.

Blogger's note: Not really, but consider Miami's going to have cap room to make a max-value offer to someone in 2010 regardless of this proposed trade.

[Rodney Kasunich]

Hey Doug,

More of a comment than anything else. I love the Raps and love watching their games. I have pretty much watched every game for the last 6 season's. For once, I am now becoming very disinterested in watching. I keep asking myself how can a team perform this poorly, when expectations were that they would or could be 40 win team?

[GM]

Blogger's note: Yeah, in my paper it'd get prominence right below "Tuesday follows Monday"

Or 7-time All-Star Mourning retires. How is that news? Again.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

I was one of those people who thought that O'Neal would work out. He was brought in to give the Raps a low post presence in the play-offs, but now, with the way things have shaken out, if Coangelo can get something as valuable as Marion's expiring contract for O'Neal he should do it. At this point, it's the most responsible thing to do. The Raptors are not in a position to wait and clear cap space for '10--they need to restructure this team next year. With Bosh in place and Calderon healthy--and an improved Bargnani--signing a quality wing with the cap space will be much easier. It will mean an end to the experiments with Moon, Kapono and Parker et al. I think Parker will be a better spot player on a Toronto team with a deep roster than he will be as a go-to guy every night.

I also feel bad for Triano, because he's getting his shot in an impossible situation. You'd have to think that a restructured Raptors team next year will be run by a new coach who already has a name in this league.

Coangelo's reputation is really on the line here--and that might be one of the most surprising storylines of this sad season.

So here's a question: who are some of the notable wing players that will be available this summer?

Thanks Doug,

AG, Toronto

Blogger's note: It's not just a question of free agents, it's a trade that's alluring, too, so a list is impossible to compile

[mark]

yo!
marion and banks aren't enough to switch this team around.
doug- do you think a trade of parker and jamario for a good winger would put us in the winning side of things? coinciding with the marion deal?

we could be two steps away from getting something going here... and with the expiring contracts, it should be tantalizing to other teams.
no?
yes?

[street]

Firing Mitchell that early was a bad move no matter how you slice it. Either he should have been replaced before the season started, or else should have been allowed the whole season. Colangelo and Mitchell never saw eye-to-eye and he simply couldn't find a more opportune time to fire him. The first year, his hands were tied due Wayne Embry's support for Sam. The year after he didn't want to the GM that fired a CoY recepient. And then there was Bosh's support as well. 8-9 is no reason to fire a coach.

[Tim W.]

Doug, you of all people should know how overrated cap room is in the NBA. Especially in an NBA city that isn't exactly one of the most popular ones among free agents. Yes, the cap room could be used in a trade, but by basically renting Marion, the Raptors will have almost nothing to give back in return but taking on salary. How many Camby for nothing deals are there out there?

I think the Raptors would get a much better return if they were to take back a longer contract for a player that will help in the long term, like Richard Jefferson, or Josh Howard. They're probably better player than the Raptors could sign or get in a salary dump. So many teams are desperate to open up cap room for 2010 that O'Neal's contract (as well as the fact that he's a legit center, however injury prone) would appeal to many teams.

I also don't like the Marion trade for the simple reason that he doesn't do what the Raptors desperately need from any incoming wing player, and that's create his own shot and break down the defense.

[MarkOLM™]

"It’s not like the players quit playing or quit trying but once the Pistons got it going, the Raptors started to hang their heads, force things that weren’t there and it got away from them quickly.

Confidence is such a fleeting emotion, it can be there one minute and – poof! – it’s gone the next."

Doug, this is exactly the kind of thing Sports Psychologists are good for. It's become obvious that when the going gets tough these days they hang their heads, as you said.

Sports Psychologists may not be able to work with the team as a group, but they can work with each individual player, to help teach them the necessary skills to overcoming the emotions they feel in-game. Winning games will only get their confidence up for a certain time, as seen with their hot streak to begin 09, then the subsequent losing streak. Attaching your confidence to your performance isn't the best way to live life, they'll return to the same frame of mind once one or two losses pile up, or even a bad quarter of play. Sports Psychologists can teach them to be confident no matter what is going on around them.

Also, a Sports Psychologist would be a good person for each player to air their frustrations to in complete confidentiality. That, while working with them to question how maybe a different perspective would allow them to handle those frustrations better, and any resulting adversity better. In my opinion, had the Raptors employed their own sports psychologist, we'd probably be talking differently now, since they could've worked with Andrea to get over his emotions a lot earlier on in his career.

That being said, yesterday I wrote a little blog post on Chris' Lockernerd site ... A fake letter to Jamario ... how he could've handled the situation in Atlanta better, practicing some of the principles of self-reflection, would be grateful if you checked it out.

http://www.lockernerd.com/profiles/blogs/dear-jamario-from-chris

Oh, and how long before we get you on Twitter Doug? Bunch of Raps fans on there would love to follow updates of you at games, cutting the grass, etc.

All the best!

[SY]

I don't understand why some of you are so against B.C. I think he is a really smart guy but things are just not going his way. Last year, we were dominated by Dwight Howard in the postseason, we lack toughness, we were weak at the paint, we had some issue at the point and B.C. addressed it the best he could with the T.J. for J.O. trade (Not to mention that O'Neal's contract would come off the books in 2010). Also, I am sure B.C. was well aware of the risk of trading for an injury-prone big man who's on a decline in his career. Personally, I still think it was a good trade, I'd probably do the same given the situation we had by the end of last year. Now, our team is in trouble, he is doing his best try to fix the team. If B.C. can pull off the J.O. for Marion + Banks trade, I think it is another good move. It addresses the need in the wing, financial flexibility this summer, Marion not as injury-prone as J.O., Marion in his contract year and Banks seems to be better than Ukic and Solomon.

Of course, there were moves that B.C. made that I think were not very good moves - signing of Kapono and Humphries. I am not saying we shouldn't sign them but definitely not with the kind of $$ they are making. The two combine make close to 10 million in 2010 (That's a lot of $$ for two one-dimensional players) - I think these are the things (paying players above their market value) B.C. should keep in mind since the Raptors do not have an owner named Cuban.

Just my 2 cents.

-SY

[g]

I don't know whats worse, the raptors doing as bad as they are, or the fact that our so-called savior BC has not done anything amounting to a trade thus far.

[Eric]

I don't necessarily agree that the roster is flawed. I think that's just another excuse. Let's compare the roster to the payroll: this team's payroll is right at the tax- meaning they're paying for a team that should be near elite. So if the roster is flawed, then someone must be really overpaid. So who is it? JO's the popular answer because of his huge salary, but is that it? One overpaid player justifies the dropoff from near elite to mid lottery?

I just want us to put the cards on the table! If Bosh and Calderon are overpaid for the performance they've given, let's hear it! Same with Bargnani, Kapono, Parker.... all of them! It's easy to say the ROSTER's flawed and the TEAM's overpaid- but I just want, for once, somebody to put their finger on exactly who they're talking about! My opinion is that they all deserve the contracts they got.... but it's time they start living up to them, and stop pretending like they don't have to or expecting someone else to do it for them. Pretty simple.

[gdr]

Josh Howard, Richard Jefferson, Travis Outlaw or any other Jail Blazer is a better option for the Raps than Shawn Marion. He cannot create his own shot off the dribble like the others mentioned can (I guess he does play D and can rebound, both positives), and he would probably not re-sign in T.O. BC, this season is already lost, why not hold onto JO's beneficial expiring contract for a better deal closer to the deadline or in the offseason (however, JO's health concerns in BOTH knees may make it a nessesity to deal him now). Trading him to Miami will be a mistake, and will eventually result in CB4 ending up in a Heat uniform!

TSN2 SUCKS!

[Tim W.]

"I don't know whats worse, the raptors doing as bad as they are, or the fact that our so-called savior BC has not done anything amounting to a trade thus far."

Because apparently any trade is better than none? Just because Colangelo hasn't completed a trade, doesn't mean he hasn't been trying. I'd much rather have Colangelo take his time and do a trade that will benefit the team now and in the future than make some knee jerk trade for the sake of changing a player or two.

The majority of trades happen during three periods, right before the trade deadline, during the draft and during the summer. It's difficult to make a trade now because teams are more likely to wait to see if they can get a better offer. Once the trade deadline comes, teams are more likely to pull the trigger because it's the last chance to do it until the end of the season.

I think Colangelo taking his time is the mark of a good GM. I don't think he's done a fantastic job, but he's smart and I give him the benefit of the doubt because he's earned it.

[Tim W.]

"I don't necessarily agree that the roster is flawed. I think that's just another excuse. Let's compare the roster to the payroll: this team's payroll is right at the tax- meaning they're paying for a team that should be near elite. So if the roster is flawed, then someone must be really overpaid. So who is it? JO's the popular answer because of his huge salary, but is that it? One overpaid player justifies the dropoff from near elite to mid lottery?"

Overpaid players is only part of the problem. O'Neal is being paid the 5th highest salary in the league, but that's from the previous era when salaries were out of control. He's certainly not producing for that amount, though. Kapono was overpaid to come to Toronto and is certainly not producing.

The real problem is not necessarily with the top paid players but with the role players. The Raptors role players (which are paid generally on par with other teams' role players), are simply not good enough. Moon, Graham, Humphries, Ukic and Solomon would not be part of the rotation on any good team. On the Raptors they're playing because there simply aren't better players.

And the while the top five players have talent, it's not talent that meshes well together. Both Bosh and Bargnani need to play with a bruiser down low to make up for their weaknesses. Calderon needs to play with a wingman who can take his man off the dribble and play in your face defense. Parker needs to be the fourth or fifth option on the floor (and with a scoring swingman), so when he scores it's a bonus, instead of him being counted on for points.

Teams can get away with having a short rotation (see Phoenix Suns when they were really good) but the players meshed well together on the court (if not off it). Nash was the lynchpin that made everything work. Each player provided something that was needed and made up for weaknesses in the others. In the end, though, their short rotation hurt them because by the time the playoffs came, they were too tired.

[GM]

I love the people who say 'why doesn't Colangelo trade Parker and Moon for a good wing?' Like other GMs are out there thinking, 'if only I could get rid of my really good wingman for two average ones.'

Oh, and what's with the received wisdom that Marion can't create his own shot? He may not be the best at it, but if you put him on the Raptors right now he's probably the best at it.

[SM]

David Aldridge reporting Marc Iavaroni's been fired.
Your thoughts Doug?

Blogger's note: Did KO get the gig? We'll get into this more in the morning if it's true but, for now, NO, Marc Iavaroni WILL NOT be the Raptors head coach next year

[Darko Dubajic]

Was looking through Hoopshype Teams/salaries. Miami has ONE guaranted contract in 2010/11, one and only Marcus Banks. And of all possible salary fillers we have to pick this one guy.
Obviously, they will re-sign Beasly, Cook and Chalmers and Wade will opt out and re-sign.
Than, scouting report on Banks says "not the best playmaker, not always making the best decision, turnover prone". I thouhgt that we cornered the market on those already, with Roko and Will.
Why is it that it seems that Riley is dealing from position of strenght ( since he seems to be able to stick us with 9 mil. on Banks contract).
Safe to say I would realy hate to see this trade go down.
Doug, even you mentioned allure of trade for that elusive wing player. Wouldn't JO's massive expiring contract next year be great asset. And considering how most players look at Toronto I am not sure cap space will help us much. Didn't Atlanta have ton of cap space for years , yet nobody wanted to play there.
Did you know that your man Walter Hermann is Unrestricted FA at the end of this tear. Did you do any recruting while in Detroit.

[Darko Dubajic]

One last note, would it not be ultimate irony if Miami comes and scoops up CB with that cap space that we gave them.

[Raptoronto]

It may be a 2 and 3's league in the regular season but it's a bigs game come play-offs. That is why I don't believe the Raps situation is as bad as most...our prospects are young and solid in the most sought after positions 1,4,5. Quality 2's and 3's are in abundance and will be the easiests positions to fill once Colangelo puts his finishing touches on this team over the next 12 to 18 months. I'd rather have a slow brew with flavour that lasts, than a pop that loses it's fizz.

[Claudio DiG.]

About the trade, Doug, we certainly don't know what Marion will bring to this table, but the thing is happening for sure. If there's a logic in the game, that logic says Miami doesn't have any up-side without a legitimate centre (and Pat Riley just expressed that, today). So, they have to come our way (also see Alonzo retirement). We don't have any choice either: at this point, you pull any kind of trigger you got.
P.S. = Camilo Pasqual: I liked your comment. Not a bad point of wiew.