Bad numbers, bad starts but not a bad game

Well, that wasn’t too bad, was it?

Hardly a brilliantly-executed game, no question about it, but the HOTH played hard – there were more opposing bodies on the floor in that game than in some months the last couple of seasons – and it was a game until the final four or five seconds.

Can’t ask for much more than that and if they keep it up, I have a feeling you might come to like this team.

Anyway …

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THREE POINTERS

A telling stat

Toronto: Free throw attempts, 13.

Toronto: Three-point field goal attempts, 21.

Not good enough.

Sure, the presence of Roy Hibbert at the rim had something to do with it, so does the fact Toronto still doesn’t have a guy outside of Barbosa who can break his man down and get to the rim and neither do they have a true post presence but somehow, that’s got to change.

And change fast.

Maybe Ed Davis is that post player with the second unit; maybe the fact Jose didn’t have a great game running high screen and roll to get Amir Johnson to the rim but they aren’t going to win many games taking 21 threes and 13 foul shots.

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Showing it off

It was only a half dozen possessions or so but the Raptors unveiled their zone defence in the first half and, for the most part, it was quite effective.

I think the chicken scratch in notebook says they got stops and transition baskets on each of the first two possessions and Dwane said after the game he was pretty pleased with how it worked.

It’s going to become something of a defensive staple for these guys, the coach likes it because it changes the look just enough to get you a couple of quick stops and even if there were some blips last night, it’s fully on course to be a regular thing.

One good example of its use: Think it was the dying seconds of the first half, Pacers have the ball, Raps set up in the zone, which had befuddled them at times. Indy calls timeout, Raps do the expected and come out of the timeout playing man-to-man and get a turnover. Solid, if unspectacular, coaching.

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A hesitant start

Much was made of DeMar DeRozan’s big fourth quarter and second half (he “single-handedly got us back in the game, offensively” was how Dwane put it) but maybe enough wasn’t made of his scoreless first half.

Maybe it was opening night jitters, maybe it was the defence of Paul George but DeRozan looked tentative and quite out of sync in those opening two quarters.

And if he’s not playing well offensively, there really isn’t enough firepower in that starting unit – given that small forward seems an offence-free zone – to make up for it.

DeRozan was indeed good in the second half; he’s got to be better in the first and he hasn’t been in either of the first two games.

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And …

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Hey! Remember when we used to do this?

I just did. Here’s how the one and only Mike Wells summed up that affair.

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Glorious teen pucks triumph, I hear.

Sadly, I’ll be spending the next five or six days south of the border, someone will have to let me know how the rest of the tournament unfolds; I’ll be a part of the world (which is everywhere but here) where no one pays a bit of attention to it.

Lucky me.

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You saw the dastardly Red Sox traded for all-star closer Andrew Bailey from Oakland yesterday, right?

Wonder if the Jays were second in those talks, too?

Seriously, though, I’m sure Alex is working every day trying to get something – stealth seems to be his modus operandi – but with everyone in the league seemingly doing something, he’d better pull the trigger on some kind of deal/signing soon.

Not to say he should rush into a deal simply to get something done but an off-season of great promise is slipping quickly away (must be less than two months until pitchers and catchers report), time is of the essence and the fans have to be getting impatient.

But he still shouldn’t do Prince Fielder. That’ll never change.

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With the exception of the picture of the Scrawny Beebs Thingy, the IGBT was pretty good last night, if I do say so myself.

Take a read through if you don’t believe me. You may have to scroll through this to find it but it’s worth it.

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Digression time.

(For those of you who only want sports, the scroll key’s probably near your right hand)

See this story? About the firestorm brewing over some people tweeting the location of RIDE checkpoints over the holidays?

Bad.

Very, very, very bad.

Don’t do it folks, it’ll only encourage those who booze and get behind the wheel; it’s in some ways cowardly and not a socially responsible thing to do.

No, it’s not like flashing you high beams at an oncoming driver to warn of a speed check coming up; it’s far more dangerous than that and you shouldn’t do it.

Please.

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Well, there were the typical histrionics to accompany the game, as we’d expected and talked about yesterday.

The best?

Well, if you adopt Shook Me All Night Long as the sing-along anthem for, say, the end of every third quarter, I’m quite okay with that.

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Mail?

Love some.

Deep thoughts, please. Right here.

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Comments

[valit]

Morning Doug,
I guess you summed up very well last night game. Having said that, I have a feeling that somehow, someway, the brains upstairs lost one year in the building or "rebuilding ' process by not addressing the the glaring issues we have at the 3 spot or of a real center who can give you constantly 10p and 5-6 rebounds.I heard this is an evaluation year... The irregulars kinda figured out the strengths and weaknesses of our beloved HOTH .If people expect that everything will change fast starting next year and make this team a contender, I'm afraid they are for a wake up call. It will be a long process where lots of teams will have a say into it. By the way, the level of basketball in the league so far, is pretty bad. Tired legs, travel, lots and lots of inconsistency.
Have yourself a wonderful 2012!

[Tim]

Good game last night. I hope to see more like that all season. If they keep playing hard like that, they'll improve all season long and steal some good wins.

I thought the pictures in the IGBT were a nice addition as well.

[SAS]

Doug, during Triano's tenure you mentioned that it wasn't the coach's system but the personnel/players that were the problem when it came to playing better defense (oh how I so disagreed with you) However Casey is a new coach with basically the same players and despite it being just 4 games (if you include preseason) the team looks drastically different defensively. Do you think it was a matter of Jay having a good system but him not being able to get the respect of the players to execute or is it a bad system versus a good one? Also despite JJ's offensive liabilities, he is by far their best defender. He causes havoc and really he along with Demar brought us back in. Do you see him getting his starting job back soon being that Butler isn't really giving much of a boost to the offense either?

Blogger's note: It had nothing to do with "respect"; they finally committed to play

[LeeZ]

Actually, I feel that not only the Blur is capable of breaking his man down off the drible, but JB as well. Bayless seems entirely incapable or unwilling to learn how to be a point guard, despite the presence of an excellent mentor in the person of Calderon. His idea of getting his teammates involved is to dribble up to (but god forbid, not past) the three point line, KILL HIS DRIBBLE and then pass along the edge of said periphery (sometimes ending in turnovers or near turnovers). What he CAN do, and do very well, is break his man down off the dribble, but he seems reticent to do so, maybe because he fears Casey's wrath and wants to get his teammates involved, even though he clearly isn't doing that. What he SHOULD do is embrace his inner Barbosa and become a modern-day Microwave off the bench: blow by his man and then pull up for the j, drive the lane (if it's open) and finish himself or dish to a teammate for a dunk. Rinse and repeat. He can be a game changer in that role (15 minutes off the bench). Do you agree, Doug, and also, despite José's shooting woes last night (he took great shots; just didn't go in), how would you rate his performance so far? To me, he's been great at both ends.

[JHK]

Only two comments at 11:13 am... hmm not sure what's happening...
Just a quick remark: I have watched the past 10 years or so of home opener speech but this year's Maglore speech was by far the best one yet.
Real emotion/passion was felt.

Blogger's note: I was in a long security line at Pearson; I apologize for the tardiness

[Pipit]

Doug, any reactions from Jay Triano on the way Casey are making his former players play?

Blogger's note: No

[LeeZ]

Someone from Raptors Republic who was at the game said that in or near the tunnel after the game, Magloire got in Hibbert's face and was cussing him out, and that a whole bunch of players had to intercede so it wouldn't come to blows. Did you witness this or hear about it?

Blogger's note: No

[john]

Valit, cant agree more about the time it will take for the Raptors to become a serious playoff threat. We got a rookie center coming next year who will take 2-3 years to develop (as all center's do), a lotterly pick coming who will take a year or two to cointribute no matter what position he plays. Unless they make a big FA splash and get a big name like Deron (who would be a pick and roll machine with JV), there is no quick fix with the Raps and they are not going to be contenders for a few years but it will be fun watching as they improve.

[Anne MacKay]

I loved last nigh't game. The fans were incredible and I don't know why nobodys mentioning Barney!!

What a change from previous years. Driving to the basket, taking a charge etc.

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

Your point about the Raptors getting to the line had a lot more to do with he zebras than it did with the Raptors effort in the paint. You yourself in the IGB made mention of the Raptors being the recipient of some questionable calls, and any long term reader here knows that for you to make that statement the officiating had to be atrocious. Four quick fouls against Andrea and Amir in the first 6 minutes for moving screens, yet there were a lot of "hard plays" under the basket that received nary a blow of the whistle. Look I don't expect that Raptors are ever going to be given the benefit of the doubt on a marginal call, not even on their home court, and the refs didn't cost the Raptors a win, but if I'm an opposing coach I go right at those two bigs early in the game 'cause I know the Raps aren't going to get the marginal calls. Putting Andrea on the bench early kills the offense and allows teams to build leads that will be hard to make up most nights.

Ciao amigo

marc in panama

[valit]

John,
Maybe my English is lacking some clarity but that was my point exactly. I think that it will take 3-4 years for Raptors to become a contender ( that's why I think that this year is kinda lost). However, many people I spoke to are expecting a quick turnaround. About fun watching them improve...I hope you're right.

[HalfTyme]

Hey, Doug. Happy Holidays. With the constant changes that have surrounded us in the past 16 seasons, would you say that we lack culture here? By "culture", I mean any traditional rivalries (other than maybe the Pacers but like others, that will burn out real quick), any true identity.

Thanks.

Blogger's note; You could say that, yeah

[Justin]

Why would the Jays have been 2nd in the Andrew Bailey sweepstakes? Anthopolous acquired his closer earlier this winter when he got Sergio Santos from the White Sox.

[Gord McNeice]

OK. I have tried to keep quiet about this. But the Magloire stuff is driving me nuts. This is a guy that, several times, rejected even the notion of playing for his country. So when he says he gets all emotional when hearing the Anthem, Im sorry for questioning the sincerity. So many times he could have helped us and developed into a better all around player by puttng that red and white jersey on. I am so tired reading the over the top welcome by the Toronto Media for someone who never seemed to care about Canadian basketball in the past.

[Matthew Kovacs]

Doug - cheers from Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. The fish and chips were great and dad enjoyed a Samuel Smith beer!

Blogger's note: Outstanding!

[Cluck Kent]

I can't agree more with marc in panama but I might take it one step farther to include the offensive fouls doled out to the Raps when driving to the hoop. Now I'm old and my eyesight is failing fast so maybe the Raps really are half a step slow on all of those plays, but if marc in panama and myself are correct and they are crappy calls, it sure seems like you can see how the Raptors adjust their game to avoid close contact and the inevitable fouls that come with it: more jump shots taken and more layups given up.

If you want to do something useful with Twitter, tweet misinformation and funnel more drunk drivers into RIDE programs. Maybe you'll save the life of someone you love.

I can't say I'm a Bargs supporter, but if he could consistently play like he did last night on both the offensive and defensive ends, I could be swayed.

For those posters looking to stick it to Jay: get past it; Jay isn't the coach anymore for a reason. That's enough vindication for you. Coaches have different coaching styles and some of them are more effective with certain players.

[onemanweave]

" it had nothing to do with 'respect'. The players just started playing". Deep, thoughtful analysis. That's why you're BC's favorite scribe.

Blogger's note: Yawn.