As expected: Some good, some bad, some work still to do

So, what’d ya think?

Better? Worse? Same?

Impossible to tell much off one pre-season game – always remember that – and as you’d expect there were some good things and some bad things.

Remember these?

(Unless you or I come up with a better idea, it’ll stick)

THREE POINTERS

Tone set early

There was a Jerryd Bayless breakaway dunk some time in the first half and it was one of those moments when players leap off the bench, coaches get excited, the fans get pumped up and the guys on the court are high-fiving and watching.

Except this time, almost before Bayless was airborne, Dwane Casey was up on his feet not cheering but screaming at the players to “get back, get back” on defence. They did. Maybe the message will ultimately get through.

A work in progress

Ed Davis had a statistically sound game, 10 points, 10 rebounds, some moments where he really seemed to get it.

And then where some defensive lapses, some lack of physical play that make you realize he still is a very raw talent in just his second season. That’s a point that wasn’t lost on his coach, who had this to say:

I was happy with Ed, 10 and 10, a double-double. Again, getting that stamina up where he can really be physical for an entire game to go against a guy like Garnett, rebound in traffic, we need to have that from Ed.

I do think Davis is going to be a solid pro; I think he’s not quite there yet. He is, however, closer than he was.

What’s it mean?

I see scribbled in the notebook this little entry:

LB=MVP.

Wonder why.

Oh, yeah.

I think there are going to be times, even after they’ve got all their offensive set in, that this team is going to struggle to score.

And that’s why Leandro Barbosa may end up being one of the most important players on the roster.

He’s still the best guy on the team at breaking down his man off the dribble, I think he’ll emerge as the best three-point shooter on the squad and if Dwane envisions from his past some kind of Jason Terry role for Barbosa – offensive energizer off the bench to will be asked to change games – I’m all for that.

We saw the Raptors struggle mightily on offence for long stretches yesterday, I think that’s going to remain an issue; they’ll need as much scoring punch as Barbosa can give them.

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Wow, less than a week ‘til Christmas, I hear.

Hope the malls aren’t too crowded, I’ve got some shopping to do.

And I’m sure they’ll be playing carols, hope this one’s in the rotation.

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Let’s see:

Packers lose.

Colts win.

Tebow has no miracle.

San Diego drills Baltimore.

And, somehow, mathematically, the Eagles are still alive.

Oh yeah, I sure picked a good week to give up the NFL gig because there was other stuff to occupy my time.

Anyway, the NFL stuff is done, at least for the paper. Game yesterday, Christmas Eve and then a drive to Cleveland next week, Dallas-Orlando-New York over New Year’s. Busy. Busy. Busy.

But I still pay attention, mostly because I’m more engaged in the NFL for having written about it for 15 weeks or so and the most interesting thing was probably the Packers losing because they had simply been so dominant offensively for so long and Aaron Rodgers was having a season for the ages.

There is always a debate when an unbeaten football team reaches this point in the season, isn’t there? Do going unbeaten count for much? Do they need to rest players for the post-season even if it means sacrificing that unbeaten streak?

Now, I don’t think it’s ever good to lose, no matter what, but in some cases, as long as you’re giving your best shot, working on the areas of the game that need improvement and the other team wins? Well, good on them, sometimes the other team just wins.

The problem the Packers this season has always been the defence, they give up too many big plays and big drives and make big mistakes.

I’m sure the coaches knew it and were hammering it home every week in practice. But as long as they were winning and Rodgers was dominating, I’m sure some of the players glossed over the talk and just went about their business.

Now? Now they got a wakeup call so maybe some losses aren’t bad.

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So, if you saw that Raptor game, what’d you think of the 3-D thingy on the baseline.

Super Son reports that it looked pretty cool on TV and I heard that in some of the seats on the far side from the bench, you can see what it is and the impact it has.

(What it is, if you didn’t see, is the Raptors name printed on the baseline out of bounds right under the basket. It’s scripted in such a manner that it looks three-dimensional, like it’s standing up. I’ve seen it used in Euroleague arenas and at some big-time soccer matches; we’re told this the first time it’s been used in North America).

You can see it briefly a couple of times in this link of game highlights.

But if you’re sitting where we’re sitting, or in the bottom few rows of seats, or on our side of the floor, it’s absolutely indecipherable and looks like scribbling. Or as if someone spilled some paint.

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Oh yeah.

That picture of Ed Davis up above?

It comes from the one and only Stevie Boy Russell, our crack photog who did Sunday’s game.

The rest of his impressive work’s right here.

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Comments

[Vikz]

My eyes go wack when the players step over the raptors 3d thing

[sb]

Annnnnnnnnddddddd we're back!!! Wooohoooo!

[john]

The 3D thingy... I turn on the TV with 4 mins to go and see this thing on the baseline and think "what a stupid place to put a sign! How are they going to inbounds the ball!" for the next 3 minutes all i was watching was for some guy to wipe out running the baseline so really I only saw the last minute of the game.

For me the highlight was that AB had inside position for the putback on the final play and had 3 OFF's. If he starts crashing the offensive boards there is no-one in the league that can guard him. If he adds this to his game it changes this team.

[Mike D.]

Doug, is there any particular reason why DC had Bargnani playing a game-high 32+ minutes?

Blogger's note: Got to get him used to playing big minutes and working hard at both ends

[JT]

Meh. I am keeping in mind this is one game.
Raptors, with their starters, couldn't stop and score enough against the Celtics 2nd and 3rd string players down the stretch. Sad.
I thought the Raps might be more athletic with their new guys but it seems from one game that they are not as athletic as I thought they may be, especially from the SG/SF. No biggie, one game.
and Davis does look a lot bigger this season on TV than he did last year while Amir appears to have slimmed down and his "guns" are now pistols.

[sam]

Yesterday's game was a pretty good first step, I think.
The HOTC, for one game at least, have embraced a defensive approach.
It was good to have the team back - the play as expected, was a little sloppy
Too many missed "shawt's" did them in.
Andrea seemed engaged on defense and didn't back down from Garnett (seriously how can you like a guy like Garnett when he's not on your team - He acts like a first class punk/bully) and attacked the basket more than a few times.

The team weren't as bouncy as I would have hoped - My question, do they know thats the theme of the season?

Blogger's note: I haven't mentioned it, but I will

[Matt M]

Someone over at the Globe wrote that there will be no angst surrounding the Raptors this season because they are expected to lose. Man, I wish. If they play as badly on offense as they did last night the whining from fans is going to be intolerable.
As for the 3D floor paint the concept was cool, especially when I figured out what it actually was (a camera guy was sitting on it which tipped me to the illusion). Devlin kept calling it a new 'technology' like the paint pattern they used had robots casting the image into your brain. After a few minutes my brain adjusted for the illusion and it looked like slanted floor paint. Anyways, cool concept, not exactly new (Greek and Roman architecture used similar illusions, not to create 3D effects, but to create an illusion of culturally accepted proportions in their buildings and monumental sculptures) but I'm glad the Raptors are experimenting a bit to improve the TV experience a bit.

[Peter]

I missed the game, but watched a variety of highlights. You can see the different style of defence. It sure was nice to see the Celtics having trouble getting anywhere after they beat the first man. I'm one of those weird Basketball fans who actually doesn't separate offence from defence, and I'm really looking forward to watching a team that plays "basketball" and not just "offence".

If they lose, they lose, but when you see effort whether they have the ball or don't, it's more entertaining to watch.

[Regnard Raquedan]

Granted, it was a preseason game, but the Raptors were very limited in the first half. Where was the much vaunted offense? Two starters in double figures? Come on!

[Peter]

Thanks for the blog Doug!

I thought yesterday looked like a good first step for the Raptors. I don't think anyone expects them to be NBA champs this year, and I agree when you say it's more about the big picture than just this season.

[AT]

If Dwayne Casey does nothing else but to get Andrea to go TO the basket when a shot goes up instead of AWAY from the basket, he is going to get 2-3 more per game. It really is that simple.If you watch guys away from the ball like Ed Davis and Amir Johnson you will see them going to the basket every time a short goes up. So the rebounding will come, he already has the scoring and if he can get help on defense when needed, he is going to be an all star, if not his year, in the next couple years.

[Tabber]

Uh, Regnard, the offense isn't much-vaunted, and only half of it, if that, has yet been implemented by the coaching staff. Try and keep up, son!

[Peter G]

I was very impressed with the defensive "effort", if not the defensive "execution". The HOTHC played with much more intensity than you might expect for a meaningless exhibition game. It was good to see Magloire jumping up off the bench encouraging and exhorting the young guns to work hard on D. Casey is just what this team needs. I think the future looks bright. If the
"tall foreheads" can just stick to the plan for the next few seasons there is no reason why this team shouldn't be able to turn things around.

[james]

Well, it's hard to argue that they don't look much better defensively. So far they seem to be listening to the new coach.

[steve muco]

Although, it is only a pre-season game, I am shocked that no one here gives Bargnani the credit he deserves for being engaged at both ends of the court yesterday. Come on guys... stop the the hatin!!!

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Going to be one of those 'life gets in the way' kind of weeks (or two), and may not have a chance to see these Raps until the new year, so, just in case, merry Christmas, Doug, and happy holidays, Irregulars and Blogeteers!
Many cheers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ6yQgBvuoI

[Paulino]

Hi Doug,

The 3D thingy was pretty cool. A sidewalk chalk artist uses the same technique to create some truly eye popping stuff. Check it out here:

http://www.impactlab.net/2006/03/09/amazing-3d-sidewalk-art-photos/

[Lorie]

Hi Doug!
You know how it works: you take a holiday from your family for a few days and you miss them like mad - even their annoying habits and idiosyncracies? And then after you've been home for a few days (hours? minutes???) you're starting to look forward to your next trip away? Well, that's how I was feeling watching the Raptors yesterday. Cut 'em a whole bunch of slack because I'd just missed them so much. Soon (inevitably?) their flaws, failures and foibles will begin frustrating me again, but for now it's all pretty good between me and the HOTH. And I, too, was impressed by Leandro yesterday, and - God help me - I thought Andrea's play was solid for the most part. No, there's nothing like a wee bit of absence, eh? So long as we don't start doting on it! :) Cheers!

[Tim H.]

Maybe it's me, but it looks like the link to the NBA video is out of date - I just clicked on it, and it's an interview with Magliore, not highlights. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Blogger's note: Believe if you go to bottom right, where it says "game highlights" you'll find it. I couldn't separate that file

[Vincent Bijllaardt]

hello, what does HOTHC mean?
how did Calderon play?
Can't they force him to go to create muscles?
go raptors.
Amsterdam, Netherlands.

[Lorie]

Oh, and just a thought after watching KG "applauding" Bargs yesterday. Is KG the NBA equivalent of Sean Avery as far as getting (or trying to: see Bargnani, Andrea) under the skin (into the head, whatever you choose to call it) of an opponent? Sometimes to my way of thinking they each go a bit too far and it takes away from their significant abilities.

[Tim H.]

"Blogger's note: Believe if you go to bottom right, where it says "game highlights" you'll find it. I couldn't separate that file"

Thanks! That works - and it is a cool 3D effect!

[Jamieson Currie]

I was in the first row or the upper deck, and i was wondering about the letters under the basket, it looked really weird in the building, but it does look pretty good in some of those highlights I guess.

[O.J.]

Hey Doug,

Why is Calderon starting if we are building for the future? Shouldn't we see what the 23 year old Bayless can do as a starter, seeing as his contract expires after this season? I thought he played admirably as a starter at the end of last season and I would like to see what he can do given the minutes at the beginning of this season, because realistically, Jose will not be part of the young nucleus moving forward.

[Rob.V]

Happy Holidays to you and yours as well D-Mac!