TJ Ford and Garbajosa are back today against the Wizards. Bosh has returned from an extended absensce and mo-pete seems to be over the minor injuries that held him back early in the season. Raptors are currently 0.5 games back of the atlantic leading nets. Lets hope they stay healthy and we see what this team can do. They play Agent Zero and the rest of the washington wizards today: 1pm on the Score.
The Raptors are going to have to beat the Wizards point-for-point here. There's no stopping the big three, no doubling Arenas with 2 other 20 ppg players roaming around, and you cannot be careless with the ball, with the Wizards coming off 14 steal performance with 39 fastbreak points on Friday. I'm positive about having Haywood going up against one of the top big men, so he should have a fine afternoon against Chris Bosh. Go Wizards!!
1st half is done. -Great job by the raps spacing the floor at the begining of the game -We got a little complacient by not attacking the basket later on. We should hardly be scared considering the only thing waiting in Haywood. -Gilbert seems to be a little complacent this half, lets hope he doesn't wake up and torch us for 40. -Good job overall, my only complaint would be that our shot selection sucked at the end of the 2nd. Bosh needs to get the ball up top instead of in the corner so the double team exposes the defense. I think after watching this game the difference so far of our recent improved play has been rebounding. We don't get smoked on the boards so we can get 2nd shot attempts and not be so demoralized. Rasho is key as always.
We're sitting precariously here man. Still hold on to a medium-sized lead but Arenas hasn't gone off yet. Hopefully, by the time he does we'd have a cushion of 20 points, but the way we're playing right now keeps Washington in the game, which can only hurt us later on. I'm really liking the look of a healthy Raptors team. Bargnani's really impressive, as is Parker. Btw, is Jones in the doghouse now? The way Graham's playing right now, he deserves Jones's minutes.
^^ And right after I say that, the Raps boost the lead to 15, and we should head into the fourth quarter with at least a 12 point lead. That point guard tandem is simply perfect. Ford/Calderon FTW!
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Jesus Christ, can Sam Mitchell draw up a damn play to break a press?</div> That's what i thought too. Sam Mitchell nearly single handedly blew a 20 point lead. What the hell was going on out there for the last 6 minutes? worst display of basketball i've seen yet. I was quite impressed with our play up until that point, can't wait to get that new coach next year. I mean the whole game is destructing before our eyes and they pan the camrea on Mitchell who is throwing a tantrum like a 6 year old girl. Coach the game you idiot !!@ Edit: assist today to GA's big b-day party! thx for the win buddy !
It still was a good game, but good teams manage to hold on to 22 point leads. Even with two ballhandlers on the court in Calderon and Ford, Mitchell still couldn't draw up a play to get the ball cross half. Then he brought Martin on too and we still blew a possession or two. Some of the players fretted a bit but Mitchell's positioning of his players was really poor.
meh part of the blame has to go to the players. they were panicking - breaking a press is fairly simple but none of the players were faking their passes or attacking it with the dribble. They were just panicking and throwing ill-advised passes. But yeh defintely something sam and the boys need to work on in practice
Copy of the email I sent to Chuck lol... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">5 point win. that was a close call Chuck. For the love of god, could you PLEASE stop pulling out the salami and cheese with that much game left. Where is your head? This is the NBA, and anything can happen...ESPECIALLY against a team like Washington, that have so much firepower, and a superstar like Gilbert Arenas. I understand that at the moment the game seems over...but that is why we play the rest of the game. You have to understand from a fan's view, watching the game, it is very frustrating. I have nothing against the salami and cheese...pull it out, go ahead. But NOT when there is so much time left. I cant believe you didn't learn your lesson against Kobe last year...didn't you kind of feel like an idiot then? Do we need to blow another huge lead for you to stop doing this? The fans appreciate the salami and cheese...but we dont appreciate it when you bring it out too early. It's frustrating. How stupid would you have felt if the raps blew that lead today? I'm not trying to insult you Chuck...I like the way you call the game, and I'm a fan of yours. I wouldn't want anyone else doing play by play for the Raps...but this is the one thing I think you need to check. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...I am begging you. PLEASE stop pulling out the salami and cheese with so much time left. Bring it out...continue to do it...im not asking you to stop all together. Just so early. </div>
Still some positive points in this game: The ball movement in the 1st quarter was the best i've seen it all year, we got scoring from a variety of players and TJ Ford's jumper was pretty consistant.
LMAO..... i love it ... way to go Premium. Out of curiousity, wut is chuck's paycheck like? How much is this dude really making approximately?
"didn't you kind of feel like an idiot then?" ^I like this quote from the E-Mail. Do they ever respond?
I'm looking forward to the response too. Chuck responds to everyone, but usually it's really halfassed and generic. However, this email will probably get a decent answer, because it's peppered with complements.
Hmmm it seems that there's such thing as how far a coach can tell the players. And during the game, it was just bad how much the Raptor PLAYERS panicked and passed really, really horribly during the fullcourt press/trap. This should be blamed BOTH on the coach and players, the players more since they are the one's who are making the passes and they are the ones who aren't helping out their teammates by coming closer to them to make an easier pass.
I don't know why everyone is so down on the raptors and the coach. They still won, and its washington they played against. Even if they did that Washington was really trying to pick it up since it was 20 points that they were down by, its happened worst for other teams that caught up. People are still complaining even when the Raptors win, I guess not everyone can be pleased regardless if they win or not. Give the Raptors a break for the stumble near the end. Its like all of a sudden everyone EXPECTS the raptors to be playing this good from the beginning. Give them credit for jumping up 20 points to begin with for the cushion. You might as well blame and complain about Dallas losing to LA just recently as well since they're a top team.
