<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>For those who haven't been following, there were some indications out of Miami that Ford was showing signs of chaffing in his role coming off the bench. I wasn't able to talk to the man himself before the game, but after some poking around confirmed that Ford was have some adjustment issues. Not that he's got a problem with Calderon, not that he's got an issue with Mitchell, not that he's headed into a long-term pout. Just that as a 24-year-old who's been a star since he was in sixth grade, he's having some issues imagining himself as a second-unit player, even if he does, intellectually, understand why he's in the situation he's in. The way it was explained to me was that Ford started talking about his rough fourth quarter against Orlando and it turned into a long session on his role and his state of mind. This, of course, is very T.J. Although he might seem a bit scowly on the floor, he's very much heart-on-his-sleeve of the court. If he's happy -- which is most of the time -- everyone knows it. And you can tell when he' s less so too. Crisis? No. But an interesting little sub-plot to follow.</div> http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/wbbasketball
After last night, I don't want him starting for a while. He is playing with a shoot first, pass second state of mind, which only hurts the Raptors. He's a very good PG when he drives and creates, and a bad one when he decides it's one on one with the other teams PG. Sam is doing the right thing by playing TJ off the bench and letting Jose play the crucial moments of the game. Right now, TJ just needs to play his role. He needs to come off the bench and add instant offense and solid defense.
TJ has to get his fourth quarter mindset straight before we can trust him in crucial moments which is a precursor to trusting him in a starting role. I think the recent spat of disappointing losses has the entire team on the edge a bit.
As it is right now, that's not a serious problem. He seems to recognize why he's not a bench player and is more motivated than frustrated. But this has the potential to turn ugly down the road. TJ can use this positively or negatively, but from what I've seen in the past, I think he has a tendency to think he has to score to prove himself. And that leads to Orlando-esque debacles. As soon as this becomes a problem, I say we ship him out. He's still got value as a starting PG and he's young, so it shouldn't be all that difficult to get something substantial for him.
I really donÈt know how much value TJ has. I suspect he is more valuable to the Raptors than he is to most other teams out there.
I don't know about that shook. Teej's had a disappointing season thus far, but last year he was pretty darn good and his statistics inflate his value a bit, IMO. Solid starting point guards are at a premium throughout the league and there are so many rebuilding or fringe teams that could use a young proven starter at the point. Right now, his value in Toronto is merely as option 1B but there are a lot of teams that could use him as option 1. I do agree that trading him right now would be doing so when his value is probably the lowest. BC's probably just going to wait and see how the situation plays out. Its something he can afford to do, because of his 3-year plan, and its something I would do in his place as well.
Yeah but we are talking about a guy who originally fetched Charlie V, and that was a serious injury ago. I think GMs would think twice about breaking the bank for a guy who, as talented as he can be, has had a couple of really bad injuries early in his career and has in no uncertain terms had his job taking from him by his back-up. I think his stats inflate his value to us internet traders but not to actual GM, who are paid to see through the gloss and contemplate the intangibles that we are able to ignore.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shookem @ Mar 8 2008, 12:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I really donÈt know how much value TJ has. I suspect he is more valuable to the Raptors than he is to most other teams out there.</div> Dude are u serious? TJ cud be a starter in anyother team he is in, for example miami, bobcats, even atlanta (even though they got bibby), so many other teams in the league wud love to have him, its jus that his struggling this yr (i mean poor guy got knocked out i didnt even think he wud come bak this season) and i rly think its time to trade ford!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bigkallday @ Mar 8 2008, 03:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shookem @ Mar 8 2008, 12:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I really donÈt know how much value TJ has. I suspect he is more valuable to the Raptors than he is to most other teams out there.</div> Dude are u serious? TJ cud be a starter in anyother team he is in, for example miami, bobcats, even atlanta (even though they got bibby), so many other teams in the league wud love to have him, its jus that his struggling this yr (i mean poor guy got knocked out i didnt even think he wud come bak this season) and i rly think its time to trade ford! </div> Would you expect to get something better than Charlie V?
wow man, TJ just being a one man team, this isnt working out, the guy is scoring, but raps arent gtn the win because of him
Ahh man, TJ is just so frustrating to watch these days. He gets us back into games but his refusal to pass the ball for 5 minute spans in the 4th cools down our players and really kills our team. Todays game against GSW was a good example, he was taking pretty good shots but after the first 2 or 3 makes in a row I kind of wanted some ball rotation and instead misses his next shots which totally kills our momentum. Bargnani looked like he was heating up in the 4th quarter, he made 3 consecutive shots but then never got another look for like 6 minutes......this team seriously needs Bosh back because I do not like this TJ domination every 4th quarter!!
