<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto</span> </span></span><span style="color:#c8362d">(8-8)</span> vs. <span style="color:#6CAEDF"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Denver</span></span></span> <span style="color:#6CAEDF">(12-6)</span> </div> <div align="center"> When: Tuesday December 2nd, 2008 @ 9:00PM EST Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO TV/Radio: The SCORE, FAN 590 </div> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:Impact"><u>THOUGHTS ON THE GAME</u></span></div></span> Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Things don't get easier for the Raptors after being thoroughly schooled by the Lakers Sunday night. This game might've been much more winnable before the season started, but the Denver Nuggets are one of the hottest teams in the league right now (they've won 5 of their last 6). The Billups-Iverson trade really has changed the dynamic of that team for the better. They now have a more controlled tempo, with better ball movement and distribution in half-court sets. Billups also provides an excellent first-line of defense, boosting the Nuggets in an area where they've traditionally struggled. All of this has tremaine losing his mind, of course. Jermaine O'Neal's going to be back. Seriously. I mean it. I just heard him say he's ready to play on the radio a half hour ago, so there won't be any false starts and disappointments come tip-off this time. I could just recycle comments from the past couple game threads, concerning JO's impact on this team. Suffice to say, he couldn't have come at a better time because the Nuggets frontcourt is tough, active, and aggressive. Additionally, both Bargnani and Bosh looked like they were wearing down a little without any capable third big man, against the Lakers. A win would obviously kick all kinds of ass, but once again I'm looking for good effort and intensity from this team. We showed that for about 2 and a half quarters against Los Angeles (more than I expected, for the record), before our halfassed transition defense and poor effort on the glass did us in. Hopefully we can at least have a game on our hands when it comes to the 4th quarter (unless the Raptors are winning, in which case I hope its a friggin' blowout). <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>STARTING LINEUPS</u></span></div></span> <div align="center"> <span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon - Anthony Parker - Andrea Bargnani - Chris Bosh - Jermaine O'Neal</span> <span style="color:#6CAEDF">Chauncey Billups - Dahntay Jones - Carmelo Anthony - Kenyon Martin - Nene</span></div> <span style="font-family:Impact"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><u>KEY MATCHUP</u></div></span></span> <div align="center"> <span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon</span> vs. <span style="color:#6CAEDF">Chauncey Billups</span></div> You might remember that I was all excited before the Detroit game, because we wouldn't have to match up against Chauncey Billups. Billups has traditionally been a matchup nightmare for this team, having the size to wear down Jose, the offensive ability to regular drive by him, and the defensive tenacity to minimize his effectiveness on the other end. As much as you gameplan around Carmelo's one-on-one scoring ability, Toronto has to be prepared just as much for the mismatches Billups creates. Luckily JO's returning, providing a stronger shotblocking presence again. Jose needs to recognize his deficiencies and play smart defense: lead Billups into help defense and be hesitant in playing off him to double someone in the post (he'll make you pay almost every time). On offense, he has to bring more variety to our halfcourt sets. With JO back, we have enough offensive talent in the starting lineup to not depend so much on Bosh. Calderon can't keep depending on the two-man game with Bosh and he has to look to create for his other teammates, and even himself at times. <div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>LEO RAUTINS' INSIGHTFUL THOUGHT OF THE DAY</u></span></span></div>
Does anyone else cry when they see Granger pour in 34, 5, 4 against the Lakers for a win? My goodness....
Down by 34....thats unacceptable. Fire Smitch. There isn't a player on this team I wouldn't trade....NOT 1. Bosh looks like he has given up.....100%
I came back from class at halftime. God this is an ugly, depressing game. I'll go ahead and say it: until Bosh starts stepping up against the elite teams (Boston, Detroit, LA, apparently Denver), he's undeserving of MVP talk. The dude's effort on the boards and on defense has been completely non-existent the past two games and, as the supposed leader of the team, its trickled down to the rest of the roster. Disgusting.
Ironically, the last time I just shut the TV off in the middle was last year's game against Denver (the one we played without Bosh).
They must have tuned out Smitch. I can't stand this. I hope Colangelo makes a move just for the sake of making one. There are very deep problems with this team....they are aweful.
Both with the roster and with the coaching. After an awesome first year as our GM, Colangelo's passivity is really coming back to hurt us. Aside from O'Neal, Bargnani, Ukic (who is a liability offensively), and sometimes AP, everyone on this roster hurts on the defensive side of the ball. I remember reading an article about his insistence that any player he brought on to the team needed to be able to shoot the ball. I think its about time he included passable defensive ability into that equation too. You simply can't keep bringing in players who offset any offensive contributions with their poor defense, and expect to achieve any success in this league. That said, part of the reason we have roster problems is because Smitch has consistently shown an inability to coach any style of basketball. We failed at running and gunning (100 shats!). We failed as a spacing offense (teams have adjusted). And we're now failing as a completely halfcourt team. Over three years, it seems Colangelo's had to constantly revise the type of player best suited for Mitchell, and its led to a mishmash of uncomplementary parts. And I agree norespect. The team has tuned him out. Despite the failings of some of our players, I can still confidently say that almost everybody on this team is underachieving. There's been so much regression in individual player development over the years, its scary.
I checked the box score on Yahoo. Is this a 40 point deficit? I don't think I've ever seen such a gigantic loss before.
I really glad I took a nap instead of watching this game. From the sounds of it, it wasnt a pretty sight. It seems that the only thing Mitchell was ever good for was motivating the players, if they no longer listen to him than its time for him to go. I just want a coach that will give this team some sort of identity whether it be defensive or offensive I don't care.
As several of you did, I stopped watching after the first half. The Raps play in such a way that you usually know the outcome of the game by the body language in the first quarter. But wow, a 40-point loss is extremely embarrassing.
That was hard to watch. BC has to do something, this just isnt working. Whether its firing Smitch or a trade, he has to mix it up. The chemistry just isnt there on the offense and defense.
Oh now all the sudden you all agree with firing sam mitchell, COME ON IT HAS TO BE DONE, DO IT NOW SO THAT BY THE END WE HAVE A CHANCE OF MAKING THE PLAYOFFS, FUCK NEW YORK HAS 7 PLAYERS BUT THEY ARE ALMOST WINNING, WE HAVE 15 2 of which that are all stars and we cant do SHITT fuck this team seriously, its all because of bad coaching, dont believe me take a look at HOW MANY SHOTS RAPS TOOK as oppose to going to the rim, they werent even defending around the rim we had soooooooo many oppertunities had we attack the rim but no lets take jump shots fuck
