The 2012-2013 Toronto Raptors thread: My Name is Jonas

[hockeyfan1]

Raps win in Orlando against the Magic 97-95 on DeRozan's last second winner.  DeRozan's  22 points and Johnson's sixth double-double led the Raptors on the offence.

Full story:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/2013/01/24/raptors_win_derozan_buzzer_beater/

 

[Derk]

Hey, looks like the Leafs weren't the only Toronto team to cough up a lead tonight. Raps blew an 11 point fourth quarter lead and gave up the winning 3 with 0.7 seconds left to the Cavs. All around bad night.

 

[Kin]

Hey, looks like the Leafs weren't the only Toronto team to cough up a lead tonight. Raps blew an 11 point fourth quarter lead and gave up the winning 3 with 0.7 seconds left to the Cavs. All around bad night.

Kyrie Irving is just a beast.

 

[Justin]

I lost it last night. It was the 11TH time the Raptors squandered a 4th quarter lead and lost. That's not even counting other times where they gave up a 4th quarter lead but still won, like Thursday vs. Orlando. This team is an extremely frustrating bunch to watch, they can't ever seem to show up in the 4th quarter. Casey's got to get these guys going in the 4th quarter or he'll be gone. I don't know how you keep a coach with a record like that. It's his job to motivate the players and it doesn't look like he's doing a very good job at all.

 

[Kin]

The Raptors problem isn't coaching or motivation. It's talent. They have a deep bench but lousy starters. Because of that they're competitive and can build leads in the second and the early parts of the 4th when the reserves are in but they'll lose those leads in the fourth because they just don't have go-to scorers or the kind of defenders that can really create problems for other teams go-to scorers.

Casey, I think, should probably be commended for the fact that this team is competitive night in and night out despite a really awful roster.

 

[L K]

The Raptors problem isn't coaching or motivation. It's talent. They have a deep bench but lousy starters. Because of that they're competitive and can build leads in the second and the early parts of the 4th when the reserves are in but they'll lose those leads in the fourth because they just don't have go-to scorers or the kind of defenders that can really create problems for other teams go-to scorers.

Casey, I think, should probably be commended for the fact that this team is competitive night in and night out despite a really awful roster.

People keep getting upset that Anderson shots too much.  But if this team was good, Anderson would be a really effective 6th/7th man (on an average team).  Instead half the time he ends up being the best shooting option on the floor with the starters.

 

[Justin]

The Raptors problem isn't coaching or motivation. It's talent. They have a deep bench but lousy starters. Because of that they're competitive and can build leads in the second and the early parts of the 4th when the reserves are in but they'll lose those leads in the fourth because they just don't have go-to scorers or the kind of defenders that can really create problems for other teams go-to scorers.

Casey, I think, should probably be commended for the fact that this team is competitive night in and night out despite a really awful roster.

I don't think you can solely blame our constant 4th quarter collapses on that. Sure, the Raptors don't match up well against teams like Miami or Chicago but what about the bad teams we've squandered 4th quarter leads to? There's something more here, there's a stigma the Raptors can't shake. No matter who's on the floor you should be able to hold a big lead, and it's Casey's job to see to it that the players are motivated. Not to mention, some of his decisions regarding who's on the floor late in games are also very questionable. If this keeps on happening for the rest of the year I don't know how MLSE asks seasons ticket holders to renew with a straight face without firing Casey.

 

[Kin]

Sure, the Raptors don't match up well against teams like Miami or Chicago but what about the bad teams we've squandered 4th quarter leads to?

There are different kinds of bad teams. The Raptors, for instance, are a team without a star or a real go-to guy but who have decent depth. Teams like Cleveland or Philadelphia, on the other hand, have guys in Irving and Holliday who they're comfortable giving the ball to in crunch time and letting them take over. 

I know that you want to invent some sort of deeper meaning to what happens in the fourth quarter but the reality is that the only thing that losing by 3 after leading in the fourth means, as opposed to leading at any other time before ultimately losing by 3 in the fourth, is that when the chips are down the Raptors don't have anyone whose individual play can carry them. We knew that going in though.

No matter who's on the floor you should be able to hold a big lead

I'm sorry, but that just doesn't sound like something that reveals a particularly deep understanding of how the game of basketball works. Teams going on runs are common regardless in every quarter and it's entirely about who's on the court. The reason one team is better than another, which determines how many points they score, is who's on the floor.

The Raptors are losing because when things matter most, their guys aren't as good as the opposition.

and it's Casey's job to see to it that the players are motivated.

You keep saying that but it's really not true. A coach's job is to develop game plans and execute them. It's to manage the on-court game. It's to teach his players a system and get them to implement it. It's to draw up plays and give defensive assignments and dozens of other things that are more relevant than "motivating" well paid professionals.

Ultimately, Casey's job is to get the most out of the roster he's been given. Looking over the roster as it is, I don't really see how anyone could argue that they should be significantly ahead of where they are.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Looks like the Raptors pursuit of acquiring the Grizzlies Rudy Gay may not be so easy...

From:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/2013/01/29/toronto_raptors_hurdle_trade_jose_calderon_rudy_gay/

....a potential deal between the Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies could hinge on finding a third team to pick up the expiring contract of point guard Jose Calderon.

"With so many quality point guards, they're struggling to find a spot for Calderon," an unnamed general manager told Yahoo! Sports.

In the latest proposal, the Grizzlies reportedly asked for rookie small forward Terrence Ross but the Raptors refused to include him any package for Gay.

 

[Justin]

@ESPNSteinLine
ESPN sources say Grizzlies and Raps have deal in place to swap Rudy Gay and Hamed Haddadi for Ed Davis and Jose Calderon

 

[#1PilarFan]

Interesting move, if true. Ensures the Raptors remain a treadmill team, but one that could make the playoffs in the East. Some playoffs are better than no playoffs, I guess.

 

[Kin]

Interesting move, if true. Ensures the Raptors remain a treadmill team, but one that could make the playoffs in the East. Some playoffs are better than no playoffs, I guess.

Only for this year though. I think Gay only has two years left so next year he's a big expiring contract that can be flipped again.

I hate to trade Davis as I think he's just going to keep getting better but it'll be nice to the Raps finally have a decent swingman after all these years.

 

[Justin]

This move screams "I'm trying to save my ass" by Colangelo. Sure Gay's the best player in the deal, but he's having the worst statistical season since his rookie year, Ed Davis is finally emerging this season, and Jose Calderon is having his best season in years.

On a team that's already putrid at rebounding, why are we trading away our best rebound guy in Ed Davis? Davis is young, emerging, and a valuable big man on this team. Often times he's even our best shooter on the floor. Furthermore, what message does it send to the dressing room when you trade away the heart and soul of the team? Calderon's not perfect, but he's been having a really good year, and with Lowry being oft-injured the prospect of starting John Lucas III scares me to death. A (more than) capable backup in Calderon was and still is necessary on a team with Kyle Lowry as your starter. But hey, at least with the addition of Gay we don't have to start Landry Fields anymore! Ugh. Gay's a good player under contract for 2 more years, and it's important to get those players via trade when you know none of them are freely going to sign in Toronto, but this trade goes down an "all or nothing" road that I'd rather not go down. Colangelo better hope for his sake this works out or he'll be out of a job in April.

 

[Kin]

On a team that's already putrid at rebounding, why are we trading away our best rebound guy in Ed Davis? Davis is young, emerging, and a valuable big man on this team. Often times he's even our best shooter on the floor.

You have to trade quality if you're looking to get quality back. While the Raptors aren't a great rebounding team what's absolutely killing them is a lack of a go-to scorer. Rudy Gay can be the guy they give the ball at the end of games. I'm not thrilled about losing Davis but they weren't going to land Gay with Aaron Gray and a 2nd round pick.

Furthermore, what message does it send to the dressing room when you trade away the heart and soul of the team?

The only message trading Calderon sends is that players with large expiring contracts often get traded. I think everyone on the team knows that and are ok with it. As a Raptors fan, I'm perfectly ok with dealing an expiring contract and getting something out of the deal.

 

[Justin]

On a team that's already putrid at rebounding, why are we trading away our best rebound guy in Ed Davis? Davis is young, emerging, and a valuable big man on this team. Often times he's even our best shooter on the floor.

You have to trade quality if you're looking to get quality back. While the Raptors aren't a great rebounding team what's absolutely killing them is a lack of a go-to scorer. Rudy Gay can be the guy they give the ball at the end of games. I'm not thrilled about losing Davis but they weren't going to land Gay with Aaron Gray and a 2nd round pick.

Furthermore, what message does it send to the dressing room when you trade away the heart and soul of the team?

The only message trading Calderon sends is that players with large expiring contracts often get traded. I think everyone on the team knows that and are ok with it. As a Raptors fan, I'm perfectly ok with dealing an expiring contract and getting something out of the deal.

I get what you're saying Nik, you lose a big-man but you gain a swing-man. I'm just really sick of seeing this team getting dominated on the glass. Giving up a promising young big man who at least eases or rebounding pain is a very risky proposition. What's worse, we're inevitably going to have to start John Lucas III when Lowry gets hurt. Gay's a valuale player, and as I said, we're likely not going to get a player of this calibre through free agency. But this is VERY high-risk deal.

With Calderon, I'm probably overblowing the whole "dressing room" thing due to the fact that I'm a big fan of Calderon. Still, this was his 8th season with the team. He embraced the city and loved playing in Toronto in a similar fashion to Tie Domi with the Leafs and JP Arencibia with the Jays, and a player like that doesn't come around too often. Calderon's a great "glue" guy, and although there's no proof as to the impact losing that will have, it can never be a good thing.

 

[Kin]

I get what you're saying Nik, you lose a big-man but you gain a swing-man. I'm just really sick of seeing this team getting dominated on the glass. Giving up a promising young big man who at least eases or rebounding pain is a very risky proposition. What's worse, we're inevitably going to have to start John Lucas III when Lowry gets hurt. Gay's a valuale player, and as I said, we're likely not going to get a player of this calibre through free agency. But this is VERY high-risk deal.

Because Gay, Ross, Fields, DeRozan and various others now create something of a logjam of wing players I wouldn't be surprised if another deal was on the horizon to bring in some rebounding/frontcourt help. Also, with Valanciunas on the way back I'm guessing the hope is that he picks up some of the slack of Davis' minutes and continues to develop as a rebounder.

With Calderon, I'm probably overblowing the whole "dressing room" thing due to the fact that I'm a big fan of Calderon. Still, this was his 8th season with the team. He embraced the city and loved playing in Toronto in a similar fashion to Tie Domi with the Leafs and JP Arencibia with the Jays, and a player like that doesn't come around too often. Calderon's a great "glue" guy, and although there's no proof as to the impact losing that will have, it can never be a good thing.

I don't know about all that. I know Calderon is popular with the fans but I don't know that he's all that huge in the locker room. I don't think he's bad there but it's still not something I'd worry too much about.

At the end of the day, you still have to deal expiring contracts. All things consdered this is a good return.

 

[#1PilarFan]

Memphis apparently has a deal in place to flip Calderon for Tayshaun Prince.

I've got to admit, other than moving Gay's salary, I don't really understand this move for them.

 

[#1PilarFan]

Only for this year though. I think Gay only has two years left so next year he's a big expiring contract that can be flipped again.

Gay has a player option in '14-'15, worth over 19m which you have to figure he's going to pick up. So, he's not technically expiring until the 2014 season.

 

[maplesyrup]

So, Cliff Notes.... Good? Bad? Meh?

 

[PG]

I like the deal. It also unleashes Lowry as the undisputed starter. He and Gay are also best friends so I'm sure that played a factor.

Now if BC can just move Bargnani and Demar.....