RaptorsForum.com - Toronto Raptors Message Forum And Blog Site

Lang wrote this today:

A couple of questions to ponder from the last few days. Feel free to comment.

1. How many times did you watch Tyronn Lue’s buzzer beater last night?

2. Who’s first step looks more horrible - Andrea Bargnani, Jose Garbajosa, or Matt Bonner?

3. Who’s dribbling looks more horrible - Andrea Bargnani, Jose Garbajose, or Matt Bonner?

4. Did you nearly fall off your chair when Rasho completed the alley-oop the other night?

5. Do you wish Fred Jones just stayed injured for the rest of the season?

6. Is Darrick Martin still one burger away from retirement?

7. Does Sam Mitchell start every answer with, “It’s like I tell the guys all the time…”

8. Is Jim Todd finally starting to enjoy his halftime interview?

9. Who looks like the most disinterested player on the team - Rasho or Jorge?

10. Is Jose Calderon constantly cold, or does he just blow into his hands a lot?

11. Will Chris Bosh ever start a play without catching the ball and counting to three?

12. If you close your eyes and listen to Sam Mitchell and Mr. T talk, don’t they sound like the same person?

13. Will Paul Jones finally pass puberty and grow a man’s voice?

14. Can someone tell Kris Humphries he isn’t a scoring option?

15. Is the ‘Little Engine’ the most ridiculous nick name you’ve ever heard for a Raptor?

Cheers!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Filed under: Raptors Forum
2 Comments

Lang wrote this today:

Long time readers of our site know that I have never been a fervent Sam Mitchell fan, and barring an incredible championship run the likes of which Toronto has never seen, I likely never will be. That being said, the Raptor’s recent surge into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference demands critics to sit up and take notice.

Amid the recent hushed cries for the coach’s head, following a Coach Of The Month award, a false sense of cautious confidence has fallen over Sam’s chair. Let’s not forget that the roster that registered 10-5 for the month of January was the very same lineup that started the season 2-8. Don’t overlook the broken plays and poor late-game coaching decisions just because opposing teams are gift wrapping games. And bear in mind that the Raptors, and more importantly the coaching staff, are entering totally unfamiliar territory.

Reaching the playoffs is one thing. Winning in the playoffs is battling an entirely different beast. No one beats the big boss in the last level of a video game the first time. Thus, the best approach for a young and inexperienced team is to maintain consistency and play extremely comfortable together. Know the controls, practice your best plays, and charge up your secret weapon. When the time comes to make a run into the playoffs, play the game in second nature.

In that sense, Sam Mitchell has succeeded in one aspect. In stark contrast to the musical chairs approach at the start of the season, Sam has stopped shaking the bottle and allowed players to settle into their roles. And not surprisingly, 9 new players have finally been able to integrate themselves into the system and play as a focused team.

The month of February will throw a litany of winning teams at the Raptors, and many NBA pundits are eager to see the team prove their pre-season predictions. With a solidified roster approach, a commitment to defense, and a patch of good luck, Sam may very well keep his job next year.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Filed under: Raptors Forum
1 Comment

Jay wrote this today:

Joe Johnson is the real deal. He can drive on you, dunk on you, shoot long range. He’s legit (oh man, did I just use legit and refer to Atlanta in the same sentence? Yikes! It’s HAMMER TIME! 2 legit, 2 legit 2 quit!). Okay, so back to Joe Johnson. He’s averaging over 25 points per game and if he was a better free throw shooter (God Joe, 76%? Come on…) he would be able to jack that up a bit. AP will have his hands full tonight.

The Hawks may get Speedy Claxton back tonight, but that’s not certain. He was been out with a knee injury, making him just Craig Claxton from Hempstead, New York. That being said, for all of the people who complain about TJ being fast, but having no control, take a look at Speedy tonight and then get back to me. He’s coming off injury, so he may not be as fast, but here’s a guy who gets downcourt and then has no idea what to do with the ball. Got a fat contract from Atlanta for that ability too. Any ideas why this team is brutal every year? How long until Josh Smith walks?

Josh Childress is the guy I’m saying you have to keep an eye on. He has only been a pro for 2 years, but he’s really starting to come into his own and you have to take notice of a guy who has been sporting the 70s fro for a while. It’s not one of those Ben Wallace “I-just-let-my-rows-out” fros, this is a big time 1970s “I’ve got the Caddy out back” fros. The other night, he had 23 points and added eight boards, seven assists and two steals coming off the bench. In Atlanta, they’ve taken to calling him J-Chill. Yawn.

Alright, should be interesting. I think the Hawks should be better than they are, but I guess we’ll see tonight.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Filed under: Raptors Forum
3 Comments

Jay wrote this today:

As a couple of you have mentioned, the Raptors swept the awards for January, with Mitchell getting Coach of the Month, Bargnani Rookie of the Month and Bosh Player of the Month. Note that this is the first time a team has swept the monthly awards, which may seem unreal, but yep, it’s true. No Raptor has ever been player of the month either, so there’s another milestone.

So yes, congratulations to all, but let’s give a special congratulations to Mitchell. Okay, let’s get this out there for the millionth time. I still don’t think Mitchell is where he needs to be on an NBA level. He still has some rotation issues and when it’s crunch time and the Raptors need to work out an efficient play, they’re out of luck. But you can’t argue with going 5-10, then 8-8, then 10-5. That’s steady improvement and while not all of it can be attributed to Sam, you have to give him some credit for learning and helping himself.

That’s all.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Filed under: Raptors Forum
3 Comments

Jay wrote this today:

There were a few things that were surprising last night, so I jotted them down on a napkin…then transferred them here as a scan of a napkin just wasn’t g0ing to continue in the fine tradition of quality and excellence we provide at RF.

1. Obviously, Bosh’s 65 footer.

2. Rasho’s 3 blocks…and 1 where he was airborne. I’m serious. The first one, he was like, 10 cm off the ground.

3. TJ’s 3 steals in 17 minutes on a not 100% ankle.

4. The Wiz going with Calvin Booth over Jarvis “Don’t Call me Denver” Hayes.

5. Raptors shooting 59%.

6. Raptors scoring 43 in a quarter…the THIRD! Where they are traditionally sluggish.

7. Sam Mitchell being intentionally funny. When asked about Jose not making the Rookie-Sophomore game, he said, “It would have been nice, but I don’t think we need Dr. Phil to come talk to us.”

8. Bargnani going 4-12 and turning the ball over 3 times. Never looked comfortable.

9. The Wiz didn’t wear those Campbell/Wales Conference All-Star jerseys…possibly worst basketball uni ever? I thought the Bobcats unis were bad…

10. The Wiz showed up sober this time (after their previous Toronto debacle) and still got taken to the woodshed. Thought this would have been close.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Filed under: Raptors Forum
3 Comments

Jay wrote this today:

Well, we here at RF tend to harp on all of the things the Raptors do wrong (and God knows, there is more than enough ammo), but let’s give some credit when things are done well.

Bosh was Bosh…and then some. 15 straight field goals is something to take notice of, especially when you get bumped and hacked as much as he does (am I the only one who thinks he doesn’t get his share of “touch” calls?). If you were lucky enough to see Bosh’s spin and dunk, then you probably said the same thing I said to the TV, “THAT’S what he should be doing more often!”. When you have the kind of speed and agility Bosh has, you should be posting and making those moves regularly.

Now on to Jose. Easily the best game he has played this year and not even so much because of his 24 and 11 (and let’s not forget the 1 turnover…that’s important), but because he played a big role in shutting down Agent 0 (which could be the best nickname around right now). Arenas was not able to get on track and he scored 12 of his 27 in the 4th quarter when things were essentially out of reach (although as we saw last time against the Wiz…hehe…the Wiz…that no Raptor lead is safe). Jose played him about as effectively as one could hope and didn’t foul him all night, which is what Arenas thrives on. The guy lives on the foul line and Jose did a good job of effectively defending him while not hacking him. A great job and all around performance by Jose.

It was good to see TJ get back in and get some minutes, but even more important was that TJ was A MAN last night. How? He was supposed to start (Mitchell, what are you thinking? Ease him back in!), but told Mitchell that if he wasn’t 100% healthy, that Jose should start because he has earned it and that the team is rolling well with him. THAT’S being a good teammate. THAT’S putting the team first. When you see things like that, you have to believe the Raptors when they talk about being a family and getting along well.

Before last night’s game, I thought the best plan to counteract Agent 0 would be to run a strict zone, but Sam didn’t do that (probably because they didn’t run into huge foul trouble and Bosh was on fire afte r starting 0-4). So while Sam may have lucked into it last night, it ended up working out.

Now let’s hope we don’t see the ever so famous “flop against a bad team after beating a good team” on Friday against the Hawks.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Filed under: Raptors Forum
4 Comments