March 12, 2007
Preview - Raps vs. Bucks
Jay wrote this today:
Watch out TJ haters, because if you’re not a fan of Mr. Ford, you’re not going to like what you will see tonight. Last time the Raps played the Bucs, it was embarrassing. Bogut was made to look like a superhero and the Raptors had no offensive strategy for breaking down a zone. Like usual, they couldn’t rebound, but how about we just mention when they do rebound instead of saying how they don’t all of the time? It is essentially getting to that point.
So everybody knows, if you have to break down a zone, then you have to penetrate. Sitting outside taking jumpers all night isn’t going to work, especially if your team can’t rebound. So look for TJ to be driving a lot tonight. Let’s just hope that along with the drives come the looks to dish (as he did yesterday) and not the forced shots. That was the great thing about yesterday. When the shot was there, he stopped and popped, when it wasn’t, he dished. When the lane was there, he blew by people. That’s his game.
This could also be a game where you see Jose be effective (as if he usually isn’t), simply because he still beats defenses off the dribble. Going to the left, he still has that quick first step, although I would really like to see him stop laying out on the floor so many times after a basket. I thought at first he was going down so much because he was out of control, but he’s not. He’s completely in control. Given, he gets banged up, but everybody does. Keep your balance and run back on D. I’m just worried that he’s going to do his sprawling routine and end up spraining an ankle or hurting his back again. That wouldn’t be good news.
So speaking of zones. Does anyone think the Raptors should start using one a bit more to try to help out with their rebounding? Would that actually work? Personally, I think they just have to work on putting bodies on bodies, but anything could help with these guys. They don’t need a special coach or anything to learn how to box out, it’s something they have been doing since they started playing basketball (or at least it’s something they have heard of since they started playing basketball). They just need to get down to basics when it comes to rebounding. Get your position, get tough, stick out that caboose and get your hands up.
But if I see Redd lighting it up tonight, then I had better see MoPete getting some playing time tonight. One of the true low points of this season has been the way MoPete has been treated on occasion. Nice 8:00 start tonight…get the kid fed, washed and in bed before game time!
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March 12th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Good solid game I thought, but I was at a pub watching it with a few friends so I may have missed some of the nuances of this game, but from what I saw everythig was in order, including a heaping serving of some TJ Ford…..but man, Rasho is unobtrusively solid, I think he is def under-appreciated.
TT
March 13th, 2007 at 8:09 am
You’re right, Rasho is pretty solid, although I would like to see him get a bit more involved defensively. Because he’s a bit slow, sometimes he’s a step behind some plays, but overall he’s a solid enough player. Still can’t believe he’s the highest paid Raptor this year.