I think at this point in the week, I need to pause and do some reflection on the two games we just witnessed with the Celtics. The Celtics came into the game Sunday having lost 4 straight games to the Knicks, the Bobcats, the Rockets and the Cavaliers and were looking to turn around the play of the team to where it was when they were 27 – 2 and winners of 19 straight. The Raptors were coming off a week which saw them beat the Magic, the Wizards and the Grizzlies, but lose to the Bucks. Both teams were looking to show signs of life but are at very different points in their seasons. The Celtics seem to have been deflated by the loss to the Lakers on Christmas but are still a top 3 team in the league but are struggling to maintain consistent energy and focus during the long season. The Raptors were looking to show that the gains made as a team last week despite the injuries to Jermaine O’Neal and Jose Calderon were not just blibs on the radar of this below average season of hope. Sunday, January 11th, 2009 Celtics @ Raptors Celtics 94 Raptors 88 Ray Allen was allowed to hit 5 open 3’s in the first after the Raptors had opened up a brief lead and never allowed the Raptors to hold the lead again as this game was not close for the majority of it. The Celtics were without Tony Allen and Kendrick Perkins but got huge defensive games from Kevin Garnett and Brian Scalabrine to shut our interior game down. Glen Davis had 11 rebounds off the bench to add to the pressure the Raptors felt inside all afternoon. The Raptors did battle back from 20 points down to a point where they could have tied the game late, but shooting under 30% for most of the game and finishing at 37% from the floor, they were just unable to hit the shot they needed to complete the recovery. Monday, January 12th, 2009 Raptors @ Celtics Celtics 115 Raptors 109 Paul Piece scored 39 points as the Raptors found some defense, but were just not able to stop one of the best wing men in the game. Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen were held 12 and 9 points and were bothered all night as the Raptors Jamario Moon and Roko Ukic played solid defense and gave them a chance to win with Andrea Bargnani leading the team with 23 points including the game tying 3 point shot with about 1 second left. It was a game in which the Raptors had a lead going into the 4th quarter but allowed the Celtics to make a couple of quick 3’s by Scalebrine while committing turnovers and allowing them back into the game. Jason Kapono and Joey Graham played well but could not make a shot late in the game. Will Solomon was replaced by Roko Ukic down the stretch after turning the ball over 3 straight possessions costing the Raptors the game in the Overtime. Here are a few things that I saw over these past two games that I think will bode well as this team moves on after going 0 – 4 against the Celtics for the season. Play of the Point Guards Roko Ukic and Will Solomon combined for 32 points, 14 assists, 6 rebounds and only 6 turnovers over these two games. As I see it, Roko has moved closer to becoming the full time back up with his poise and his ball control making better decisions in the overtime than Will while facing a Celtics team who were pressing him at every spot on the floor. His 16 points last night were a large part of the reason we had a lead going into the 4th and why we should have won that game if someone could make a stop on Paul Pierce. Play of the 3 position Jamario Moon had 15 points and 7 rebounds on Sunday, but had only 8 points – most coming very early in the game and 1 rebound Monday. I wish I could say he was playing tough and that Paul Pierce was just too much, but he was often lost in the key or caught out of position helping weakside while Pierce was planted at the 3 point line waiting for the ball. Jason Kapono had 12 points and 2 rebounds Sunday but was held to 7 points and 1 rebound last night. He did have the sense to get the ball to Andrea Bargnani for the tie, but he has become a liability on defense night after night. Joey Graham had 12 points and 8 rebounds Sunday, but was held to 7 points and 3 on Monday as he was unable to provide the same intensity defensively as he has shown and Paul Pierce was feeling it. This has been and will continue to be the Achilles heel of this team. Wing play has been spotty at best and when we play teams like the Celtics or the Hornets or the 76ers who have athletic wing players, our guys just can’t compete. Play of Chris Bosh Many will say that he disappeared last night or faded down the stretch or cowered in the face of Kevin Garnett. All have merit, but none speak of the heart he has brought these past two games. 33 points and 22 rebounds playing perhaps the toughest PF in the game are pretty good numbers. KG over these two games had 30 points and 23 rebounds, including a couple of offensive boards that kept the ball out of the hands of the scrappy Raptors. To say Chris was outplayed by KG is not accurate and unfair. Of those 45 rebounds combined, Bosh had 6 offensive boards including the one that lead to the game tying shot last night while KG had 5 over the two games. Sure KG brings an intensity that we all wish CB4 had, but there is only ONE KG and he has played the game at a very high level since his days with the Timberwolves. That is not how Chris Bosh plays nor does anyone else in the league. Bosh battled KG for the past two nights and held himself to a standard that no one else on the floor had to battle. I for one was thoroughly impressed by his performance and his leadership and hope this is a sign of what could be over the rest of the season. Play of Andrea Bargnani Since the injury to Jermaine O’Neal, Andrea has been the starting Center on this team and has begun to blossom into a much more able scorer, a tough defender and a gritty player. Soon, the refs will stop calling those stupid touch fouls on him and he will begin to draw more contact calls as he has begun to show what Bryan Colangello must have seen before he drafted him. In the games against the Celtics, he scored 40 points, grabbed 17 rebounds including 3 offensive boards, handed out 6 assists on 4 turnovers. All of these are aspects of his game that have been improving this season and we are seeing an Andrea Bargnani who has confidence in himself and has won his teams respect and his coach’s confidence as well. With games against the Bulls led by Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon, the Pacers lead by Danny Granger and Marquis Daniels and T.J. Ford with the Suns coming in on Sunday with Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire and a guy named Shaquille O’Neal, let’s hope the Raptors will see a lot of great things they have done over the past 2 games and keep building the momentum.
Wow man, great job! These were tough loses for sure, but the Celtics are champions for a reason. The Raptors, despite what people say, go out and play hard every night. But sometimes, we just need our players to make stops and shots. I really hope BC can shake things up a bit.
thanks man, i blog for cbs so i can get pretty wordy... alot of the places i post this stuff tell me i write too much for the high school kids who populate them LOL, but i just keep enjoying it and i do think the raptors are closer to being consistent than they have been for a long time.
That's awesome man, I don't think it's to wordy at all. Also, if you know some people on that message board who wanna post some where else, they're always welcome here. It's been a while since the Raptors have been consistent, but I think just a few more pieces would help push this team to a playoff birth; at the very least. I think we need a guy like Maggette or Wallace to play at the 3 because of their defense and ability to score. At PG, we just need Jose to get healthy.
Love the write up man. Glad to have a new addition to our forum. When you resign yourself to the fact that the Celtics are just on a whole different level than the Raptors, when it comes to talent, its easier to take these losses. The Sunday game wasn't pretty, but the Monday one was entertaining and encouraging. The fact is that we took it to the champions without Calderon or JO, and very easily could've won it with better execution/concentration down the stretch. Boston's had our number the past two seasons, winning 7 of the 8 head-to-head matchups, but all except 2 of those have been very close, intense games that have gone down to the wire (and you could argue that injuries led to those two being blowouts). Triano is infinitely better than Sam Mitchell, but I still feel like he didn't take advantage of Boston's weaknesses. Offensively, the Celtics are utterly dependant upon Paul Pierce to generate offense and disorganize the defense. Ray Allen was killing us on Sunday (the player guarding him should never double!), but Pierce is still the guy any defense should hone in on. I thought Triano overreacted too much to Allen's Sunday afternoon performance and our players were too mindful of him on the court. Doc Rivers for his part was perfectly content to play off that and use Allen as a decoy (he barely attempted any shots last night), because it allowed Boston to do what their best at: play off Pierce. The more I watch Boston, the more I believe that the key to stopping them is to keep the ball in KG's hands. Oddly enough, Garnett's a lot like Bosh in that if you deny him position before the entry pass he's restricted to putting up low-percentage jumpshots or passing out. He doesn't have much of a low post game and, while he can take forwards off the dribble, its easy enough to contain with decent help D. That overtime game last season was really the only time I remember Garnett carrying his team offensively and that was (1) against Bosh's crappy defense, and (2) still dependant on some low-percentage turnaround, fadeaway jumpshots (I'll always take my chances on that shot, over Pierce's/Rondo's penetration). Bargnani played excellent defense against him last night, really taking him out of their half court offense. I have to disagree with you about Chris Bosh. I think it's quite clear that he gets intimidated by KG. There's no other explanation for him averaging only 15 ppg against Boston and randomly disappearing once KG subbed in for Glen Davis/Leon Powe. There's no denying that Garnett's skill set is perfectly built to stifle Bosh's offensive game. He's got the length to get out on his jump shot, with the quickness to keep up with his drive. That, in itself, is not all that bad. Aside from a few lucky ones, most teams have a franchise player that has certain flaws that they have to build around and mitigate. What I find most distressing is not that Bosh doesn't match up well against Garnett. It's that he doesn't even give himself a chance. It's not like he's missing shots or just not executing against KG, he's flat out refusing to even test him. You saw it last night: Garnett was right up in his grill and CB didn't even try to clear out space or take it to him. Instead Bosh took it like a bitch. It's a trend I'm noticing more and more often, and I'm not sure if its indicative of a timid personality or just poor basketball IQ. Either way, its distressing. Roko Ukic really has me excited. I think he's a respectable jumpshot away from creating another PG controversy and possibly taking the starting spot away from Calderon. Aside from youthful mistakes on defense, the only glaring weakness in his game is that he's often reckless driving the ball. But that'd be resolved very easily when he can consistently nail open jumpshots and get opposing defenders to step out on him. This is not meant to belittle Calderon's game either, because I think he'll always be a better pure passer and playmaker than Roko. But I just can't see Jose's defense ever not being a liability, and Ukic really changes our entire team with his improved play in that respect. I don't really feel I have to say much about Andrea Bargnani. Most people here know that I've been a big supporter of his for a while now, and I've never understood people who've called him a bust (they strike me as people who follow the team through boxscores rather than from their actual games). That's 8 straight great games in a row from him, but I'm looking for the 15-20 range before I get real obnoxious and start rubbing it in people's faces. Needless to say, there's no way JO should be starting over him at this point.
Chutney, thanks for the great response! and the welcome. both are appreciated. let me build on something you wrote: I do agree that Bosh disappeared when Garnett returned and he does tend to get over whelmed by most of the better defensive PF's in the league. At 6'10" or 11" and about 230, he is usually undersized and against a solid post defender like KG, he will seem to disappear. down the stretch last night he was taken out of the offense with his foul trouble and you could see the frustration he was under as time after time he was banged around and not rewarded by the refs. the replay that showed Garnett basically making out with Bosh with his body right up on him pretty much indicates how little respect he gets when he has the ball. i am not saying he is the toughest guy on the team, but playing guys you are generally 30 or 40 pounds lighter than night after night is the reason he has developed a solid mid range game. Last night both KG and Bosh used both aspects of their games but KG is a much better defender and a bit more athletic and sets much better screens so is still a bit more than Bosh is right now. Can Bosh become those things, sure he can, but my point was that Bosh has shown me some much needed heart, the intensity is another issue, but i think he will continue to grow, he is still very young! i don't want to say that the refs need to provide Bosh the balls, he needs to find that himself, but it is becoming clear to me that he is bringing it nightly, that is all we can ask for right now and i am sure he will continue to develop all the aspects of his game, except those damned 3 balls
I can agree with most of that. But I still don't think its enough to get him off the hook. For the record, I think it's more of a low basketball IQ than a cowardly mentality. Comparing the lump of unrefined potential and talent that was the rookie Bosh with what we have now, I can't help but get frustrated with the lack of recognition and awareness he often shows on the court. Whether its taking 5-6 seconds to size up the defense each time he receives a pass, to not boxing out properly on the defensive glass, to just refusing to use his considerable ability to at least challenge KG, Bosh doesn't seem to understand how much of a disadvantage he puts this team at times. The fact is that any NBA player should be able to blow by a defender who's playing as close as KG was last night. I just wish Bosh would've taken a hard look at himself and realized that, while Garnett's an excellent defender, he could've taken it to him. He didn't struggle this much against him when he was on Minnesota and he has the speed to at least draw a foul if would've used his elbows to claim the space that he's entitled to. I could go on to blame Sam Mitchell for allowing Bosh to develop these poor habits over the years, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms.
nice reply man, great thoughts here! some more rebuttals from me Bosh at this point in his career is pretty close to where KG was in Minnesota, struggling on a mostly bad team that makes terrible trades for inadequate personnel and then wonders why their star PLAYER is having to work so hard to maintain a level of play expected when he was signed. I watched a lot of those Twolves games live and his team stunk! but, he was taught by Kevin McHale, one of the Best pf's in the history of the league to work hard on defense and be rewarded at the other end. Those habits have been lost on Bosh at this point, but i can see him working better defensively and i think it was jack pointed out last night during the broadcast something i have said many times, Bosh can't carry this team offensively AND defensively night after night. Last night, we saw Andrea step up his defense and be rewarded with 23 points. Bosh is having to relearn the game and has begun to rely on his teammates for support, but the last two games and so often this season, we let a wing or a 2 score 30+ with very little resistance from JM, JK, AP or JG. THAT has to stop to allow Bosh to work his game inside and out and not have to continuously rotate weakside help because no one remembered to cover Ray Allen or UGH Brian the Red. this team takes way too long to set up the half - court then wonder why they can't get easy shots.. THAT is 100% lack of basketball IQ! it doesn't help when Bosh tells KG what is coming either LOL
ok you two love birds (Chutney and takman just kidding), man i say hate me for it raps do not need jose or JO, look at the last two games i would bet 1000$ that had Jose not play raps wouldev won the game at ACC, why? As usual Rondo took Jose to school whereas Ukic or Will didnt let Rondo do anything (something that other teams in the league figured out to do, hence why boston kept on loosing) I also dont care one bit about Chris bosh as his becoming more and more like VC (i wouldnt be suprised if Bosh asks for a trade). All in all raps are in major need of a shake up, there are many rumors going around about Corey M, Steph Jackson, Hughes but I personally thing the best move would be for raps to trade JO and GET DELFINO back
you will get no argument from me on that one... this team was counting on Delfino being here to play off the bench and has not recovered from losing him. as i have said before, i suspect some of the guys are resenting the way he was treated by BC and MLSE and perhaps why this season has been awful, but all we can do is move on from here. I still think a 100% Jose is way better than RokoSolomonUkic tandem at guard.
I disagree, because as you saw earlier in the week and last week, Raptors beat Houston, Orlando, two top teams in the league. They did it w/o the help of JO and Jose. Jose as much as he likes to think his a starter so far this season he hasnt showed that yet. Against the opposing team's back up PG his very good but startes not really, whereas Ukic and Solomon they actually balance one another out, one scores the other one makes plays, but when Jose plays sure he doesnt turn the ball over but unlike will and roko he doesnt go inside the paint he rather shoot then get to the free-throw line. Another thing I am very disappointed this season with BC, I thought he had skillz at making trades (fred jones for dixon), but he hasn't done anything and thats discouraging, because teams like bulls, warriors, and even dallas are looking to trade. I mean the simpliest trade he could do is get belly from warriors (for kapono and joey g). Or give up JO for hughes and etc. But this year as I predicted is a bust thus far!
and they lost to the Bucks, so those two wins don't look so good when you lose to a team that you SHOULD beat after beating a team you shouldn't <Magic> and one that is a bit less consistent than you and struggling <Rockets> hamstring injuries are nasty at best and horrible at worst. he has been hobbled and this rest will certainly help his game when he returns. he is still considered by many a top pg, there are very few Chris Paul's or Deron Williams around and only a few teams have what everyone considers a top 5 guard on their team. i think if jose were on a team that had better wing players, he would flourish. which brings me to your next point. for me, he has been a bust. bringing in an expiring contract with a bum knee to me was surrendering this year at best and ruining his own credibility at worst. i am sure when other gm's get together they giggle over the stupidity of that trade.
BC has been a bust or BC's moves for the past year and a half have been? I definitely agree with the latter and would strongly argue against the former. In retrospect, the JO move made little-to-no sense because Colangelo never seemed to be fully committed to what it entailed. Trading for a guy like him meant committing yourself to the next two years and playing to win now. It would've called for moving your young tradeable assets for pieces that could solidify our current roster and give us a stronger chance in the playoffs. BC was unwilling to do that though, as he still firmly believed in Bargnani. As a result, this team has been in a limbo all season long, not good enough to compete, not willing to make the moves to make it so. Don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly happy that Bargnani's staying here and the GM still supports him. I just think he should've had the foresight to realize that you can't have it both ways.
