MICHAEL GRANGE From Thursday's Globe and Mail October 1, 2008 at 10:50 PM EDT Ottawa — T.J. Ford should sue. The departed Toronto Raptors point guard was the poster boy when it came time to suggest that chemistry problems were partly to blame for the Raptors' desultory 41-41 record last season. But Ford wasn't the only Raptors player frustrated with his role, just the only one to make his point publicly when he pretty much sealed the end of two years in Toronto by making it clear he would not be content to split minutes with Jose Calderon. Sharpshooter Jason Kapono wasn't happy either, and told both the coaching staff and management. The difference, of course, is unlike Ford he kept his unhappiness in house. He wasn't the only one with a long face. Add him to the likes of Juan Dixon and Joey Graham, Carlos Delfino, Andrea Bargnani, Kris Humphries and Jorge Garbajosa — each of whom were frustrated to varying degrees with their playing time — and it's clear the Raptors' locker room issues went for beyond Ford. "As a player, if you are giving your best and you are performing, you want a fair shot at playing," Kapono said of his uneven first season with Toronto after signing a four-year, $24-million (U.S.) free-agent deal that pried him from his beloved golf courses in Miami. The Globe
sounds like he very well could supplant AP in the starting lineup. AP certainly doesn't seem to have any qualms with the idea (what a great professional that guy is). it would be nice to have him paired with Calderon, as a facilitator, and Moon to take the more difficult defensive assignment. kapono looks very motivated to live up to his contract. there's no sign of a double chin and his haircut is all business (and frugality). he's going to have a big year.
I think we definitely have to utilize him better this season, but I don't know about replacing Parker in the starting lineup. I look at AP as our most complete player. Certainly not our most talented, but he's someone you can count on for almost anything (defense, shooting, penetrating, passing, etc.). I think the strategy should be to lessen Parker's minutes a little and give some of those to Kapono. That way we don't stretch one of our oldest players too thin and make him become too inconsistent again.
[video=youtube;386JprXXU90]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=386JprXXU90&feature=related[/video] this is exactly what the title made me think of
