Current crop of Raptors not getting it done
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 | 10:42 PM ET
The New Year didn't bring many good tidings for the Raptors. After taking care of the surging New Orleans Hornets on New Year's Eve night, the Raptors began 2008 with back-to-back home losses against Cleveland and Detroit.
What's disturbing about both losses was not that they lost, but how they lost.
Against Detroit last Friday night (Jan. 4) Toronto played listless, like they expected to lose. They put up no fight against the Pistons as they went down 101-85. I know they're the Pistons and they have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, but you have to put up a fight. The Raptors couldn't hit shots (Toronto shot 40 per cent from the field), they couldn't stop the Pistons from making shots (Detroit shot 50 per cent from the field) and as a team they just couldn't kick it into second gear. And this was coming off three days rest.
On Sunday afternoon (Jan. 6) Toronto seemed to recover from their doldrums and started the game off real hot leading Cleveland by 13 points going into the fourth quarter. But that's when LeBron "King" James went off. He scored 24 points in the fourth quarter leading the Cavaliers to a 93-90 win.
Besides collapsing in the fourth quarter, the biggest disappointment in that game was how badly the Raptors got beaten on the boards. Cleveland outrebounded them 52-33, and of those 52 rebounds, 20 of them were offensive boards. You can’t win many games in the NBA if you’re getting spanked on the boards like that.
Ironically, it was after Friday’s game against Detroit when Raptors coach Sam Mitchell impressed upon Andrea Bargnani the importance of rebounding. In that game, Bargnani emerged from his shooting slump scoring 25 points, but he only grabbed two rebounds. For a seven-foot player to get only two rebounds in over 40 minutes of playing time is unacceptable. Against Cleveland, Bargnani pulled down three rebounds in 23 minutes – better, but still not good enough.
Rebounding has been the Raptors’ Achilles heel for the past two seasons. Without a healthy Rasho Nesterovic, and with Jorge Garbajosa out indefinitely there looks like no help on the horizon for Toronto unless they make a trade. But who do you trade and what would you get for them?
Don't push panic button
Toronto also has to address the point guard situation. With T.J. Ford out of the lineup indefinitely there’s way too much pressure on Jose Calderon to play 40 plus minutes a night and he’s starting to look tired. Juan Dixon has struggled backing up the point and so has Darrick Martin.
It’s not panic time yet for the Raptors, after all they are in the one of the weakest divisions in the NBA. With a 17-17 record they’re tied for second place in the Atlantic Division with the New Jersey Nets, 13 games behind the Boston Celtics.
But if they can’t get it done tonight (Jan. 9 at home) against the lowly Philadelphia 76ers, the Raptors have to take a serious look at making some changes before the trade deadline on Feb. 21.
« Previous Post | Main | Next Post »
This discussion is now Open. Submit your Comment.
« Previous Post | Main | Next Post »
Post a Comment
The Full Court Press »
About the Author
Nick Davis is the senior producer of Metro Morning on CBC Radio One 99.1 FM. He's been involved in basketball since 1978 when he played the game for the first time as an eighth grader. He has covered basketball as a reporter from 1987 to 2001 including college and university basketball, the Canadian national team program and the Toronto Raptors.
An assistant with Sheridan College for the past 13 years, Davis still finds time to coach youth hoops in Toronto. Some of the players Nick has coached include NBAer Jamaal Magloire, European pro Wayne Smith, and Canadian national team members Sherman Douglas and Michael Meeks.
Recent Posts
- Raps' trade deadline underwhelms
- Wednesday, February 27, 2008
- The imminent return of T.J. Ford
- Thursday, February 7, 2008
- Trio pacing resurgent Raptors
- Wednesday, January 30, 2008
- Current crop of Raptors not getting it done
- Wednesday, January 9, 2008
- The tale of two sophomores
- Thursday, December 20, 2007
- Subscribe to The Full Court Press
Archives
- February 2008 (2)
- January 2008 (2)
- December 2007 (3)
- November 2007 (3)
- October 2007 (1)
Comments
Joshua
Toronto
We need a forward and we need to give away Joey Graham, Juan Dixon, Derrick Martin and Rasho cause they are currently not fitting in the Raptors although joey is the future I'd sacfrifice him and the other 3 to get a wing shooter or a sharp shooter. Maxell, JJ. Redick, Marcus Camby, Doneyll Marshall, Jermaine Oneal, Damon S, These are my choices we need an amazing rebounder cause we cant depend on Bosh cause he's always double teamed!! We need someone to allience with Coledon and Bosh, Bargnani so far is'nt doing a good job. Il mago is still in pregress
Posted February 1, 2008 07:59 PM
Manuel Lau
Montreal
I totally agree!!! The Raptors played without much intensity against Cleveland, and I am surprise that the coach did not demand more out of the players in the fourth quater to tight things up in defense. I believe that the coach should have done more specially when we saw the game getting away...
Posted January 10, 2008 02:30 AM