Although last night's win was huge, I don't think we should be so high on the Raptors yet. Last year, we started off with a bang too, beating New Jersey with Vince's monster performance. Then they were only able to score 56 points in the next game against Minnesota. Considering that we face Detroit next, we might be able to score just that amount again.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allstar44:</div><div class="quote_post">as far as carter... lets be honest ppl.. ok he played good unselfish ball.. but did anyone notice any time he tried to take it up he got closed off?... his ability to penetrate is very VERY BAD.. i was very disappointed to see him unable to blow past the defender even once... .. hopefully he will get more opportunities... but he would not take it strong.. and wen he tried he got forced into doing something stupid..</div> Agreed that Carter is slower. But what can you do? Speed and quickness is the first thing that goes when you age - it only becomes worse when injuries go on top of that. As for getting closed off, put yourself in his shoes. Really, what can you do when a 7'6" mammoth stands right infront of you and 2 or 3 other players are converging on you as if they were making a wall to prevent you from going to the basket? You know, just because Carter isn't dunking it doesn't mean that he's not penetrating or going to the basket. He blew by Jim Jackson a couple of times and when he tried going up strong that's when Yao and 2 other players made a human wall, and Come on now, Carter isn't going to jump over Yao, not with his arms outstretched. Weis in the Olympics yea it was possible because he didn't see it coming at all and he was going to take a charge with his hands down. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting allstar44:</div><div class="quote_post">umm palacio needs to move to the 2 spot as his passing ability is very bad in comparison to rafer.. but he can penetrate (better than carter from what I saw yesterday, carters so slow its not funny, i dont know whats going on... oh well he developed his shot for a reason...)</div> Palacio to the 2 spot? Are you out of mind? What's the 2 spot? It's called 'Shooting Guard' and it's called that for a reason. You need to be able to shoot the rock and sink it down the basket - and Palacio... well let's not even go there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Although last night's win was huge, I don't think we should be so high on the Raptors yet. Last year, we started off with a bang too, beating New Jersey with Vince's monster performance. Then they were only able to score 56 points in the next game against Minnesota. Considering that we face Detroit next, we might be able to score just that amount again.</div> The win was good and all, but I don't think it was that huge, Houston was coming off a back to back, and they're yet to establish good chemistry on that team, Yao and Tmac haven't gelled yet, so it was kinda beating them while they were down. We have a tough schedule, so we're definately going to hear some whining soon...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Although last night's win was huge, I don't think we should be so high on the Raptors yet. Last year, we started off with a bang too, beating New Jersey with Vince's monster performance. Then they were only able to score 56 points in the next game against Minnesota. Considering that we face Detroit next, we might be able to score just that amount again.</div> True but however, last year at that point, we had no scorers on our team besides Carter and Bosh, who didn't play much. We won the first game last season, with Vince scoring 39 Points. We won the first game this season, with Vince scoring 16 points. What does this mean? Vince doesn't have to carry the team scoring wise, to get the Raps a win. Now we have a much different, offensive, uptempo style of play with scorers: Carter, Bosh, Rose and Marshall and Alston if you want to count him in, instead of a defensive, half court one with one legitimate scorer. I'm high on the Raps this year because this is a make or break year. Carter is gone for sure after this season if we don't make it into the playoffs, and Marshall is unlikely to resign. However, this IMO will not be the case. Many people will be surprised on how good the Raps play this season, non-raptors fans that is. What the Raptors do this season, is what we expect (a winning playoff team).
great game.. loren woods is da man... well at least for now... BOSH... Next Garnett? prob not, but he will b as good as or better then JO.. Alston.... will be solid this year.. and even 5 years after this... hopefully we can keep up the intensity
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">True but however, last year at that point, we had no scorers on our team besides Carter and Bosh, who didn't play much. We won the first game last season, with Vince scoring 39 Points. We won the first game this season, with Vince scoring 16 points. What does this mean? Vince doesn't have to carry the team scoring wise, to get the Raps a win. Now we have a much different, offensive, uptempo style of play with scorers: Carter, Bosh, Rose and Marshall and Alston if you want to count him in, instead of a defensive, half court one with one legitimate scorer. I'm high on the Raps this year because this is a make or break year. Carter is gone for sure after this season if we don't make it into the playoffs, and Marshall is unlikely to resign. However, this IMO will not be the case. Many people will be surprised on how good the Raps play this season, non-raptors fans that is. What the Raptors do this season, is what we expect (a winning playoff team).</div> Agreed. Kevin O'Neil's system was a disaster waiting to happen: We had no legitimate defenders and half court type of game only works when you have at least three good defenders inside and out. It would've worked for Detroit, it would've worked for Indiana, but the Raptors are clearly more suited to run-and-gun type of game with their passing ability and abundance of scorers. However, Marshall wouldn't be let to just leave without any compensation for the Raps. Not with Babcock's management. If Marshall decides that he wants more minutes, the Raptors can always work out a sign-and-trade deal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">However, Marshall wouldn't be let to just leave without any compensation for the Raps. Not with Babcock's management. If Marshall decides that he wants more minutes, the Raptors can always work out a sign-and-trade deal.</div> I wasn't saying that, I was just saying that if the Raps go through another losing season, where they miss the playoffs for the 3rd straight year, then Marshall will bolt. He's a team player, and wants to win most of all. He can care less about his individual stats, but right now all he wants to do is win, so if he cant win this year, he'll look into other teams, and other teams will look into him. However, this is an entirely differnet topic, just wanted to clear up my statement though.
Suprise win for the Raps imo,I am sure most non Raptors fans thought they were the underdogs also.It was deffiantly a great first game for this team though. From the highlights I saw it looked like the Raptors were playing fast paced team basketball,and that sems to fit them well.Chrish Boshed proved my predictions wrong and had a great game, and lead the Raptors in the paint.Rafer Alston also played very well, he led t he team on offense and works good with the Raptors fast pace system. If the Raps keep it up it'll be intresting to see what happends in the Atlantic Division. As for the Rockets they just arent meshing so far,it will take a while for this team to come together, but I think they will come together sooner or later.Tracy and Yao just arent producing so far, in the Raptors game they scored a combined 38 points and the Rockets are going to need a lot more from them if the team is going to be sucessful.
I also liked Bosh's perimteter D, he looked like he could certainly move. Also, I think we will be able to hold our own and atleast make some surprises on Friday. It certinaly wont be a 56 point blow out
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinKanaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">Agreed. Kevin O'Neil's system was a disaster waiting to happen: We had no legitimate defenders and half court type of game only works when you have at least three good defenders inside and out. It would've worked for Detroit, it would've worked for Indiana, but the Raptors are clearly more suited to run-and-gun type of game with their passing ability and abundance of scorers. However, Marshall wouldn't be let to just leave without any compensation for the Raps. Not with Babcock's management. If Marshall decides that he wants more minutes, the Raptors can always work out a sign-and-trade deal.</div> Another thing we have to note is that we didn't have a real PG last year, look at how Houston was struggling without a PG who could make something happen. Lue and Ward aren't PG's like that, and this year we have a guy that when worse comes to worse will break down the defense and either score or find the open man. Many people neglect how important a PG can be to the team.
Rafer Alston, in my opinion, is THE key to the Raptors season. I love the run and gun offense of Mitchell. Get a defensive rebound, pass to Alston and watch him run full throttle and create something. Though I don't believe this strategy will work against the Pistons (our next opponent), it will work on many other teams. The Raptors have the talent and depth to be the sleeper in the Eastern Conference this year and I agree with Banks, this team will overacheive this year. I'm not just basing it on yesterday's game either, I just have that feeling. Anyways, for the Houston fans, slow starts don't mean anything. Don't sweat it. We saw it from the Heat last year and I believe the Raptors started 1-5 or 0-3 in the 2000-2001 season. Houston will gel sooner or later, it's just a matter of when. Glad the Raptors could sneak a win on them. Since they are the underdogs, the Raptors have chances are sneaking many wins against undersized teams. IMO, the Raptors lineup of scorers/shooters is one of the deepest in the East.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Although last night's win was huge, I don't think we should be so high on the Raptors yet. Last year, we started off with a bang too, beating New Jersey with Vince's monster performance. Then they were only able to score 56 points in the next game against Minnesota. Considering that we face Detroit next, we might be able to score just that amount again.</div> Agreed. Although I have to admit that it was exciting watching the game last night, one win isn't anything to get too excited about. This kind of reminds me of last season when Rose and Marshall first joined the team and everyone was getting excited when we won the first few games because they were playing with confidence and everything seemed to gel perfectly. After that, all the teams began to adjust their plays and exploit our weaknesses, and it was nothing but downhill from that moment on. Right now we're going to be catching these teams off guard because they're not used to Mitchell's plays and tendencies, but we're well aware of our opponent's plays and tendencies. Also, Woods had an uncharateristically solid game last night, the best game he's ever had in his career. We'll have to wait a few more games to see if he can produce at a consistent level. I wouldn't get too excited till about december, assuming we're still playing good.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting spawn:</div><div class="quote_post">I love the run and gun offense of Mitchell. Get a defensive rebound, pass to Alston and watch him run full throttle and create something. Though I don't believe this strategy will work against the Pistons (our next opponent), it will work on many other teams.</div> I think that if we have any chance at beating Detroit, it would actually be BECAUSE of our run and gun offense. Detroit plays at their best when the game is slowed down to a half-court setting. In the playoffs, they were outstanding against the Laker's half-court offense but on the other hand, struggled to beat the less talented but fast-paced Nets.
