Monday November 24 2008 - 12:40pm Eastern
By my count, the Raptors are 1 game worse than they should be right now.
In my humble opinion, on paper, this is how the season should have gone down to this point:
@ Philly - Loss
vs Golden State - Win
@ Milwaukee - Win
vs Detroit - Loss
@ Atlanta - Loss
@ Charlotte - Win
@ Boston - Loss
vs Philly - Win
vs Miami - Win
@ Orlando - Loss
@ Miami - Win
vs New Jersey - Win
vs Boston - Loss
That would put Toronto at 7-6. But, instead, they’re 6-7 right now.
And, if you wanna throw my numbers out the window, how ’bout looking at the 6-7 record and then taking into account one of Toronto’s greatest weaknesses this year …
It’s not the home record, the back-up point guards, or the inconsistency at the 2-3. It’s not the offence or defence either (well, actually, in a round-about way it is I guess) …
It’s the Raptors lack of a killer instinct.
Good teams — great teams — put opponents away. Toronto isn’t there yet. If they were, they’d be at least 9-4 at this point and nobody would be saying a word. There wouldn’t be any blood in the water for Sam Mitchell or anybody else.
Toronto was up by 16 in Boston … and lost (by 7).
Toronto was up by 10 in Orlando … and lost (by 13).
Toronto was up by 18 against NJ … and lost (by 2).
Get those wins - like you should - and you’re 9-4 right now, not 6-7.
But, the reality is, Toronto is now below .500 … and with two home games remaining before the nasty month of December begins, the Raps are entering a crucial stretch over the next few weeks that could make or break their season. If they can stay within a few games of .500 by the new year (with 18 of 41 road games (almost half) coming before 2009), Toronto should still be in a good position to stay in the hunt in 2009.
E. Smith
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the raps do this every year, if there’s no change made soon especially at the 2-3 spot we’re barely gonna make the playoofs and get creamed by either boston, detroit or the cavs
- omidi agree with you Eric it is the killer instinct thats missing and maybe even some passion. I thought with J.O. that might have been a thing of the passed but I guess I was wrong. And I have been a Sam Mitchell supporter from the start, but I’m starting to think he might be the cause and not the solution.
- TomGfromBramptonMy worries about Raptors: Is Bosh having delusions of granduer..in other words, getting a ” big head”?
- Chas CalzIs O’Neal fragile with knee and also a bit hard to coach ?
Is Sam reluctant to criticise Bosh and O’Neal and use other players as ‘whipping boys” ? Is this a 41-41 team ?
I see that the Raptors should be 9-4 if was not for lack of the “KILLER INSTINCT!”
- StevenThe bootom line is that they have so many problems of taking advantage when their opponents have their key players in foul trouble, maintaining a big lead or drawing the fouls for them to get to the line.
I see they all just wanna shoot too much is the reason why all teams smell blood. It’s because the Raptors don’t even have a percent of “RUTHLESS AGGRESSION” in them. How do they expect to beat top teams like Lakers cooming up, Boston, Detroit, Cleveland. etc. if they keep saying that tehy have a great team?! I’m afraid that it might be a repeat of last year where the Raptors got walked over numerous of times and mini win streaks? I say Mitchell doesn’t motivate his team enough. It’s now or never. Can’t take anymore risk. Bryan Colangelo I hope you are listening to this. I know you are a 2-time EOY(Executive Of The Year). Get a better coach with a percentage record over the .500 mark as well as find players that knows the NBA routine and not the ones that goes over seas for 5 years or more. Get some guys who has alot of “RUTHLESS AGGRESSION” cause this team of shooters won’t win championships.
- Stevengood point eric
- tj fordChas Calz,
I don’t really know what you mean by saying Bosh is getting a “big head”…
But how can you say Sam is reluctant to criticize bosh and Oneal?
Bosh is putting up MVP numbers and has been playing his heart out with multiple 40 pt games and double doubles.
O’neal has been asked to provide that interior defense toughness, which he has!
Whose to blame? The support cast and you would know that if you watched the games. Parker and Moon (since they were starters most games) need to step it up. Parker is playing real inconsistent right now and moon well, he’s been a non factor so far this season. Bargz has had his games as well as disappearing for a while.
So please dont’ criticize bosh and oneal because if you ask me, they are the ones leaving everything out there on the court.
- RapsFanI think it has to do with Bosh… Is he having monster numbers, hell ya!! But is he delivering when the game is on the line?? ummmm, no? He gets shut down at Boston, and Philly and I noticed hes getting arrogant now…Maybe we can packge him and parker, for Aldrige and Roy??? Suggestion?
- Raps ManEric first since I was unable to get on your show on Thursday, I would like to take the opportunity to clearify what I said two weeks ago on hoops, your second caller last week some how decided that what I was trying to do with the assistance of my brother is critisize your commentary. Im sure you must already know by know being in the business that your in, some people don’t listen. If you rememeber my call I started off by saying me and my brother had a debate regarding Jermain O Neal’s role here in Toronto my end of the dete was that Jermain O Neal is here way more for his defensive ability rather than his somewhat ability to score, and I feel this because I think that raptors defense in previous years extreamly lacks intensity. My brother feels that O Neal is here to take on more of an offensive role second to Bosh, Secondly that night where your second caller totally misinterpreted things and turned it into a me and my brother dogging you three is when I asked you guys (you,Jack,Jonsey) why is it that you have callers calling in ripping Sam without suggesting that Brian has to shoulder some of the blame because he alot of these players in. I went on to point out that the Raptors have a number of players that you don’t know what your going to get from game to game. Kapono, Bargnani, Moon etc. All components of the Colangelo Regime. A GM works within the confines of the ownerships fiscal practices for that venture and the coach works within the confines of a GM’s concept of the construction of the team, Clearly wirh Brian that mean getting high scoring no defense playing Eurpeons. Besides Brian has never really been a defesive minded GM just take a look a phoenix. My brother had nothing to do with the fact that I said you, jack and Jonesy give Colangelo an easy ride given the fact that there are alot of holes on this team. Your callers need to listen up. Now I know how you feel Eric, when you had the caller last week call in and suggest that you dogged Vince by discounting NJ as a rival to the Raptors.
- NeilYou can say all you want about the Raps schedule and W-L but this team is not going anywhere with this group of wing players. As well, the team defense stinks and they will not go anywhere in the playoffs with this defense. Lastly, Mitchell has been really exposed this season as a bad coach. Its time for him to go.
- aviNobody seriously expected the Raps to beat Boston (or a Detroit or Cleveland) with O’Neil hurting and Calderone coming back to steam but fans still expect effort.
The most exciting plays this year BAR NONE are O’Neils emphatic rejections, over any highlight reel stuff.
Trading Bosh is a non-starter. He’s a 23(?) year old kid becoming a man and future superstar right before our eyes. With O’Neil taking the heat the big men off him, as we saw in earlier games, FEW in the league can guard him.
The support cast has to step up every single night and they have to get Hump more minutes. Look at his minor league resume some time; the guy can flat out play when given the chance to mix it up.
They need until Christmas playing healthy to gauge this club imo. If they are .500 or worse, Sam needs to go if only to breathe a little fresh air into the locker room. He seems over matched too often, let him scout for his millions.
- Gary