Wednesday December 3 2008 - 11:15am Mountain
It was the 5th worst lost in franchise history.
It was ugly.
It was a night to forget.
But after giving up 60+ points in the first half of each of the last two games, and after losing to the Nuggets by 39 points, Toronto clearly has some issues that need to be cleaned up … and fast!
I said on the air last night that I’d consider throwing out the playbook and starting from scratch. It’s clear that the offence isn’t flowing properly right now and the defensive side of the ball is lacking focus and intensity. I think a lot of the issues have to do with personnel (no legit back-up PG, only one ‘big’ off the bench (Hump) and major inconsistencies at the 2-3). But Sam Mitchell has to wear some of the “blame” as well and if the Raps aren’t able to play the way he’d like them to, it might be time to try something else. That’s why I talk about throwing out the playbook.
Play more zone on the defensive end?
Push the ball and go more high-octane as opposed to slow-it-down, half-court? (though, could your bigs (specifically JO) keep up in that system?)
Change the starting line up?
There are a ton of questions but no concrete answers.
I’m sure Mitchell and Co. are searching for them right now. As is Bryan Colangelo. The GM was visibly upset after the game last night.
The team was scheduled to practise this morning in Denver but that was called off. Instead, the players went to the arena and did some weight-lifting/training. They’ll hit the floor for practise tomorrow … before hopping on a plane to Salt Lake City … in preparation for Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz.
Colangelo was scheduled to fly back to Toronto today.
Tough times in Raptorland … and it doesn’t get any easier with the Jazz, Blazers, and LeBron up next on the sked.
E. Smith
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im a season ticket holder. i pay good money to see this “crap”??? everyday i hear all the same crap from the players “we have to play better , we are a good team, we just have to play better……..” cb4, jose, jo do a lot of talking but cant do the walk!!!!!! who are we kidding, we will struggle to make the 8th seed and we will be out in 4-5 games…we need change, lot of changes not just one!!!!! contender JO??? lol!!!!! you came to the wrong team JO!!!!!!!! you aint gonna get a ring here, sorry to break the news JO!!!!!
- paul wi think you go with kapono and grahem in the starting lineup and bring bargs, hump, and moon up front off the bench. furthermore i think parker has the bball IQ to bring the ball up the floor, and pass it inside, or jack up a 3 if whoever is covering him falls back a bit when he crosses over half court. as far as the offence goes, it seems like the picks that the team are setting are weak and never accomplish anything, and if thats your bread and butter, well thats just poor coaching.
- christianFlip Sanders or Avey Johnson?
I bet BC is going to fire Sam if they lose the next game!
And if it is Avery then I hope he can give pointers to Baranani to be the next Dirk or even BETTER!!!
- RAPS FANIt was a simple mistake that was made last year. Everyone blames tj ford for last year. But people forget TJ lead this team to the payoffs when jose couldn’t make a shot to save his life. This team would be far better with tj at the point. Jose can’t play any defense. He can shoot, but he is not aggesive enough. Tj can get by anyone. Break down the defense and get easy looks for other guys. It seems the only thing Jose can do is play the pick and roll. Teams have adjusted and that just isn;t working anymore. He shares the ball well yes, but he needs to draw a double team, he is to slow. Lets be honest. A bottom 5 starting pg in the league for 8 million a year. Rondo destroyed this guy, nelson destroyed him.. He can’t guard anyone to save his life. Yet no one has anything to say about him. Why because he is a nice guy?
- Jeff CarterI hope the Leaf’s Brian does a better job than the Raptor’s Bryan. It seems that this franchise is starting to go backwards. I thought that we would be a serious eastern conference condender by now. However, we are average at best. The honeymoon with Colangelo is over. I want results.
- DonTo Jeff,
- SorinI always stayed out of that PG debate…but the more I see from Jose this year…I wonder what exactly are we paying for? Defense is practically non-existant, and on offense, he stopped going to the basket, shooting is getting worse, and 90% of the time he’s looking either to pass it inside to Bosh/JO/AB or PNR/PNP with Bosh.
To put an exclamation mark on this - yesterday, I almost ROFL when I saw AP bringing up the ball very nice and then PNR through two defenders to Bosh…so why do we need Jose for again?
I agree with Jeff as I said last year when everyone was on the Jose lovefest, that T.J. is the better point guard. They made T.J. out to be this selfish guard, but yet he averaged just as many assists as Jose and could break defenses down. Ok Jose has a better jumper, but everyone on the Raps takes jumpshots anyways! He rarely attacks the net, and when he does, it is to run under the net and around the bassline! He is rarely a threat to score, that’s why KG and now the rest of the league are hugging Bosh on the high screen and roll. Plus we knew that Jose defense was horrible in the playoffs last year and whenever he had to face a half decent PG, he struggled defensively. I would package him and kapano, for felton and wallace or felton and richardson.
- O.J