Bill Simmons analyzes the Raptors & the east <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">15. TORONTO The big problems: The Raptors have the worst collection of perimeter guys in the league, which is kind of a problem when you're playing up-tempo basketball and trying to outscore other teams. (It's just too bad they couldn't have moved up last June to take Adam Morrison. Oh, wait, they had the No. 1 pick. Scratch that.) And poor Sam Mitchell wore out his welcome about two years ago. He's like the Artie Lange of NBA coaches; every day that he beats the odds and makes it another day feels like a miracle. Most interesting subplot: Poor Chris Bosh busting his butt every night and looking like the poor man's KG -- not his play as much as the weird look on his face that's a cross between "I hate losing" and "I might punch one of my teammates in the locker room after the game." He even makes the weird face that KG makes right after sinking a big shot (the one when he bulges his eyes, sticks his chin out and looks like he's battling severe constipation). You know what? I think Bosh is actually trying to become the left-handed KG. We're coming very close to a trademark suit here. Random thought: Anthony Parker gets my vote for the MMP Award (Most Mediocre Player): 30 minutes a game, 10-11 points a night, gets you three rebounds, two assists and a steal, plays OK defense, and you forget he's out there at least five times per game. He's perfectly average. Worst-case scenario: They finish with the worst record in the East, lose out on a top-three pick, then use their 2007 cap space to bring Vince Carter home. Imagine the Raps re-signing Vince, then Vince not living up to the max contract and killing them again? Has a fan base ever hated a player two times over before? Does it make me a bad person that I'm rooting for this? Prognosis: Factoring in the inevitable T.J. Ford injury, 22 wins.</div> The Worst Conference in Sports Bill Simmons has an incredible comedic touch. Nevertheless his attempts at analyses are usually pretty weak. He is an on going feud with the well respect ed Celtics beat reporter Bob Ryan over Doc Rivers and whether or not he should be fired. The general argument against him is he writes these columns from 3000 miles away in L.A and bases his arguments from box scores and standings. i would doubt if he has watched a minute of Andrea Bargnani play and I am looking forward to Bargnani continuing his good play of late - - hopefully he goes off against the celtics on Friday. All in all a pretty funny read though, and i might of even agreed with about the raptors two games ago.
He really won't get off the Morrison issue, will he? I love his comedy, but you're right about his analysis. He generalizes way too much, and he isn't the same writer he was two years ago.
I think its evident reading that article that Simmons hasnt been following all the teams, and is mostly basing his opinions and views on team records and overall player stats. If he had even watched 1 of the raptors passed 4 games he'd have a good opinion on Bargs...how couldnt you? I stopped reading that article as a form of information, and looked at it purely for satire and was able to appreciate it. its a pretty funny read....hardly anything informative
<div class="quote_poster">Premium Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I think its evident reading that article that Simmons hasnt been following all the teams, and is mostly basing his opinions and views on team records and overall player stats. If he had even watched 1 of the raptors passed 4 games he'd have a good opinion on Bargs...how couldnt you? I stopped reading that article as a form of information, and looked at it purely for satire and was able to appreciate it. its a pretty funny read....hardly anything informative</div> Exactly my thoughts. I think he has too much on his plate and it doesn't seem like he can watch as much basketball as he was able to before. Too many of his points are inaccurate for me to take his analysis seriously. Still enjoy his columns though. And there's no way in hell that I would take Morrison over Bargnani at this point.
Geez, isn't Adam Morrison shooting a terrible percentage? Judging by the way Bargnani is playing recently, I'll take him first in this draft still. No other rookie is performing considerably better. I still don't think the Raptors are that bad; definitely not bad enough to be last in the conference. It's just the coach, and also that long 0-5 road trip that's set us back.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Geez, isn't Adam Morrison shooting a terrible percentage? Judging by the way Bargnani is playing recently, I'll take him first in this draft still. No other rookie is performing considerably better. I still don't think the Raptors are that bad; definitely not bad enough to be last in the conference. It's just the coach, and also that long 0-5 road trip that's set us back.</div> exactly. he's shooting under .40% and take away the score keeper error in atl and we could be in sole possession of 1st in our division. over the passed 4 games bargs has shown not only a ridiculously high ceiling of potential, but also that it will probably take much less longer for him to realize that potential then initially thought. he looks like a clear no1 pick to me.
<div class="quote_poster">Premium Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> over the passed 4 games bargs has shown not only a ridiculously high ceiling of potention, but also that it will probably take much less longer for him to realize that potention then initially thought. he looks like a clear no1 pick to me.</div> At the risk of us sounding like a bunch of homers ... agreed. Watching AM play you have to like his game but look at things this way: We have a 7 footer who can shoot three pointers and beats people off the dribble who shows one of the most diverse skill sets i've seen in a while. He changed so many aspects of yesterday's game it was simply amazing. I'm willing to take a chance on that as opposed to more of a sure thing.
Well he's right about the up tempo issue. If we plan on adopting that kind of style then we should make drastic improvements on our perimeter offense. Oddly enough though, our defense is actually better than our offense at this point. And I wouldn't take him too seriously with his Bargnani jab. Don't forget, this is the same guy who said Bosh's ceiling will only be as high as Shareef's. It only took a few months for Bosh to prove him wrong on that one.
I'll always remember the Dwight Howard bashing he did after the draft a couple years ago, and the subsequent reversal of opinion a season later. That example sticks in my mind the most. The shooting problems could be spotted by any half-competent analyst. You just have to look at the statistics. I still think he's way off on Anthony Parker. He's been a bit shaky with his jumper at times, but I've liked his play this far in the season. I prefer the term consistent to mediocre.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The Raptors are 0.5 games out of fourth seed in the East and 1st in the Atlantic. Simmons is blind.</div> kinda simmons' point locke, the east is that bad that the raps are in contention even with a 5-9 record.
<div class="quote_poster">Eclipse Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> And there's no way in hell that I would take Morrison over Bargnani at this point.</div> Are you basing that on Morrisons ability to torch teams for 30 or his amazingly good streak shooting, or is it his heart and grit and his ferosity and great crunch time play? Bargs has 3 decent games and everyone is satisfied? The boy is still lost.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">^ Maybe its Morrison's inability to defend a rock. How does Bargnani still look lost?</div> Chutney, I can't cut you up cause ur quite smart and know ur ball, but come on, 3 games does not make a true NBA'er. You talk about Morrison....I've seen Bargs get owned on the boards all over the place, he is not a good rebounder and he still takes plenty of fouls and isn't the best finisher. I'm not saying to won't come but you guys have gone too far. He isn't doing anything that special. Do you really consider him a good defender? Morrison owns him in every measurable category, and even immesureable catergorys like heart and grit......
<div class="quote_poster">norespect Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Chutney, I can't cut you up cause ur quite smart </div> assumption
<div class="quote_poster">deception Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">assumption</div> no actually it seems like a fact to me, I have read many of his posts and he is well spoken/written and knows how to articulate his point of view well....what do u care?
<div class="quote_poster">norespect Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Chutney, I can't cut you up cause ur quite smart and know ur ball, but come on, 3 games does not make a true NBA'er. You talk about Morrison....I've seen Bargs get owned on the boards all over the place, he is not a good rebounder and he still takes plenty of fouls and isn't the best finisher. I'm not saying to won't come but you guys have gone too far. He isn't doing anything that special. Do you really consider him a good defender? Morrison owns him in every measurable category, and even immesureable catergorys like heart and grit......</div> It's quite funny how the very thing you point out about Bargnani can be said about Morrison and yet you conveniently forget about how he played like garbage until the last 4-5 games. Before that, his shooting was awful and he couldn't string together more than 2 good games in a row. Short term memory or just hypocritical? I say a little bit of both. If Bargnani played as many minutes as Morrison has, there is little doubt that he would have put up similar numbers if not better. Bargs is only getting his opportunity now, Morrison has played a lot of minutes the whole season. Reason why I would take Bargs over Morrison? Bargs can play decent defense (if you've watched him at all, you will see that he is improving rapidly, given the opportunity), can block some shots, drive to the basket and hit the jumper. Bargnani has already had 2 games of 5 rebounds in 20-30 minutes. Morrison has had a season high of 7 and then 4, playing 40 minutes a game. Morrison has a grand total of 3 blocks. Bargs has 9 in a tiny percentage of the minutes Morrison has played. Feel free to look it up. So I'm really not sure where "Morrison owns him in every measurable category, and even immesureable catergorys like heart and grit". Perhaps in your world, we don't take into account minutes played. <div class="quote_poster">norespect Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Are you basing that on Morrisons ability to torch teams for 30 or his amazingly good streak shooting, or is it his heart and grit and his ferosity and great crunch time play? Bargs has 3 decent games and everyone is satisfied? The boy is still lost.</div> And where is this "ability to torch teams for 30" that you're talking about? I don't see any game where Morrison has gotten 30 points. Are we making things up now? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I can't cut you up cause ur quite smart and know ur ball,</div> If you're going to make these kind of posts, perhaps you really shouldn't be cutting anyone up.
lol, I think deception was joking. Although, I'm not sure what he was referring to as an assumption: the fact that I'm smart or that I'm uncuttable. The praise that Bargnani is getting isn't solely from what he's produced the last 3 games. He's shown a hell of a lot potential along the way. Obviously the dude's got rebounding problems and still lacks the post game you want out of a "future 5." Don't mistake me for Chuck Swirsky here. But he's shown a high basketball IQ and a strong work ethic, which are things that you can't always teach. Not only do I think Bargnani will be a better fit for this team, but I think he will be a better player than Morrison. Physically, he's way above AM (length, athleticism, quickness, etc.). He will hopefully be playing a position that is more valuable to a team. And he's showing that, if he develops properly, he could make an impact on both sides of the court. I'm skeptical on how many different ways Morrison will be able to impact a game. It'll be great if he's scoring 25 ppg in a few years, but if he's not rebounding a lot and is allowing his opponent to score 20 points on him in return, its hard to see him being as good as Bargnani could be in the future. In a draft as weak as this was, I'd always take a gamble on a player like Andrea.
