The imminent return of T.J. Ford
Thursday, February 7, 2008 | 03:10 AM ET
The Raptors play three very winnable games this week. They play Miami on Monday (Feb. 4), the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday (Feb. 8) and then cap off the week on Sunday (Feb. 10) against Minnesota.
Should be a relatively stress-free week in terms of games, considering Toronto has four days off after the Miami game. But there’s something that could happen later this week that may cause the team some angst.
One Toronto newspaper is reporting that the Raptors’ starting point guard, T.J. Ford, may be in the lineup for Friday’s game against the Clippers. Ford’s return to the lineup resurfaces the debate about who should be the starting point guard for Toronto.
The Raptor organization will claim there was never a debate about who should start at point guard, but Raptor fans have been having that debate since last season. I’m also sure the Raptors will say that Ford’s return will pose no problems, and I’m not saying it will. But with the way Jose Calderon has been playing in Ford’s absence, I don’t know how you take Calderon out of the starting lineup.
Ford was having a great season before his injury, and there is this old sports adage that a player shouldn’t lose his starting position because of an injury. But I think Calderon’s play of late is making it tough for Ford to reacquire the starting role.
I am, personally, a big fan of Ford. I actually celebrated when Toronto traded away Charlie Villanueva to Milwaukee to acquire Ford. With Ford’s speed and his ability to get into the key (the painted area under the basket), he’s a consistent threat to score. And with his ability to penetrate and pitch (get into the key and then pass the ball out to shooters) he makes players like Jason Kapono more valuable.
Calderon, though, is more methodical in his approach to running an offence. He runs great sets, makes good passes and if you leave him open he will hit open jump shots. The difference between them is like picking your poison. Do you want a slow, methodical death or a quick, painless one?
Before the season began, one of Ford’s goals was to make the Eastern Conference all-star team. He was well on his way to realizing that goal before he got injured. But his injury has left no doubt in the minds of many basketball pundits and fans that Jose Calderon is a deserving all star even though he didn’t get the nod for this year’s game in New Orleans.
The real debate about who should start at point won’t really heat up until Ford is in 100 per cent game shape. He hasn’t played since Dec. 12, when he was knocked to the floor by Atlanta’s Al Horford. But when Ford is ready to go full blazes, coach Sam Mitchell will have an interesting decision to make as to who starts at point. If you’re Mitchell, having two capable starting point guards is a good problem to have.
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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.
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- The imminent return of T.J. Ford
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Comments
Toks Bakinson
Calgary
I think Sam Mitchell should alternate the starting point-guards... Jose has been fabulous in place of Ford.. but realistically, we as well as the commentators have labelled him as "doing a good job in place of Ford". I think Jose knows that he has been a "replacement" and has done excellently well. However, i think Ford should be back in the starting 5 but to Jose's credit, starting position should be alternated between them.. Honestly, it doesnt matter who starts but who gives us the win...
Posted February 11, 2008 03:21 PM
alex margison
toronto
sorry TJ, get used to warming the bench. Jose's numbers are the balls!!
Posted February 9, 2008 08:43 PM
vhigge
"We love you, T.J. Ford"
YOUR TORONTO RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAPPTORS!
Posted February 7, 2008 08:42 PM
Chris
Edmonton
TJ and Jose have been interchangeable players every since the two of them started playing together. Both guys are pass first guards but they go about it differently with achieving the same result. Earlier in the year, Jose said that he is very happy with the playing time that he is sharing TJ. Why? If you look at it closely, it's because it's split down the middle. Sure you could say that Jose is an all star and is deserving the starting role but he has also logged longer minutes as well (basically the whole game). If TJ didn't get hurt and got those minutes, TJ would be the all star guard this year. With the "winnable" games coming up this is a good chance for TJ to get back in the groove because they will need BOTH guards to win in the playoffs. Who cares who starts?? But that's what TJ and Jose have been saying all along.
Posted February 7, 2008 02:53 PM
J
Winnipeg
I think the more important factor in the debate of both PG's is not who will start, but who can finish the game, with a win. The player who can consistently keep leads, score, play defence, distribute is the main key at who should be #1 PG. Calderon has been excellent this season at this.
But honestly, having 2 starting PG's in the game the whole time without exhausting each of them is a huge plus for the Raptors.
Ford's injury has almost been a blessing in disguise for the Raptors. If Ford wasn't out, I don't think Calderon would have blossomed as much as he has if Ford was playing.
This should be an interesting second half of the season for the Raptors.
Posted February 7, 2008 02:01 PM