Wednesday December 10 2008 – 10:05am Eastern
TJ Ford makes his return to Toronto for the first time tonight. But how will he be greeted by the fans at the ACC?
I’m hoping there are more cheers than jeers.
I never understood some of the fans’ Love/Hate relationship with TJ; or why some seemed so divided on the great ‘TJ vs Jose’ debate. Both point guards had strengths … and both point guards had weaknesses … but both point guards contributed equally to the Raptors and they played off each other quite well.
As time went on during their stay together in Toronto it was abundantly clear that the organization had to pick one or the other. Both were (are) starting point guards in the NBA and neither player was going to be happy – long-term – in a back-up role.
But for some odd reason, that’s when many folks suddenly turned on Ford. When he expressed his desire at the end of the season to “be a starter” — saying “I don’t see myself coming off the bench for 82 games” — the venom was released across T.O.
It didn’t matter that Jose Calderon made similar comments to the Spanish media (comments that, obviously, made their way back to Toronto via the crazy invention called the internet). Most were so set on not liking TJ that they ignored Jose’s plea.
I didn’t have a problem with either player – before or after their respective statements. In fact, I respected them MORE after hearing their words. OF COURSE they both wanted to be starters. Wouldn’t you?
It’s all fine and good to talk about being a “team player” and all, but if you’re in the prime of your career and you’re making millions of dollars and you’re used to being in the spotlight, you’re going to want the ball in your hands; you’re going to want to be a key contributor on a winning/playoff team.
From TJ’s perspective … if I were him … I’d be saying: ‘Hey man, I’m the guy you traded for. I was the starter on a team that won their first-ever division championship. I’m the guy that carried this team early last season – before Al Horford knocked me out for about 30 games. Like a QB in football, I shouldn’t lose my job because of injury. And we made the playoffs every year I was in Toronto.’
From Jose’s perspective … if I were him … I’d be saying: ‘I have proven to be just as effective when coming into the game. You rarely hear me complain about minutes. My more ‘traditional’ style may be better suited for the pick-and-roll offence you’re running, and when TJ went down for those 30 or so games … I played at an All Star level and had folks around the league watching my every move.’
It didn’t help that Calderon was a restricted free agent as well. The Raptors had to make a decision. They couldn’t afford to lose Jose for nothing. But they couldn’t deal the up-and-comer as well.
I would have been happy either way. I got along (get along) with both guards quite well. Personally and professionally, I have a good relationship with both. And on the floor – where it counts – both possess the kind of skills that the Raptors could use.
Ford flourishes in the open court. He has the attitude/swagger/moxy that Toronto is in desperate need of. His passing skills are vastly underrated, but he does tend to get a little ‘hungry’ too often and attempt to take over games on his own.
Calderon is a calming presence. He protects the ball and is precise with his passes. He’s a ‘pass first’ guy. He’s one of the best in the league in assist-to-turnover and he’s become pretty deadly on the perimeter as well. But Jose is not a strong defender right now and he needs to start attacking the hoop more.
Ultimately, the Raps chose Calderon. I’m fine with that. And I have a feeling that most of you would be as well … if the Raptors were 12-8 right now instead of 8-12 (which they VERY WELL could be if they hadn’t blown 16 and 18 point leads against the likes of Boston, New Jersey, and Portland, etc). Calderon isn’t to blame for that record or those games. He’s part of the problem, as every player is, but he’s certainly not the main reason by any stretch of the imagination.
But keep that in mind tonight: The Raptors chose Jose. Ford didn’t ask to be traded. He enjoyed his time in Toronto and all he ever said was “I want to be a starter”.
Thus, when Ford returns to the ACC this evening, don’t boo him. He deserves better than that. He is not Vince Carter or Tracy McGrady or Damon Stoudamire. He didn’t rip the city or trash the organization … He was simply traded.
Ford deserves a little love for his two years in Toronto. Booing him would be foolish.
E. Smith
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I agree, please don’t boo ford. He was good when he was healthy and began the resurgence of the Raptors. Also, we all know what happens when we boo Ex-Raptors. i.e. VC
- BinsonI have no hard feelings for TJ at all. The only returning player I’ve ever booed for was Vince Carter, and if anything, Ford was the opposite of VC. He WANTS to play more, he WANTS a bigger role. Nothing wrong with that at all. Hopefully the ACC fans think the same way.
Also, I’m excited to see Rasho again. Losing him hurt the most I think. (Especially when JO was hurt.)
- nicolePeople can do what they want. If I was there I would boo, not at Vince carter level but.. enough to know that I wasn’t pleased with how he handled himself.
Reason: TJ let the change in roster for him to come of the bench effect his game. Plain and simple – He didn’t try. Compare that attitude to Jose’s attitude and there’s a huge contrast. Jose never once let a coaching change effect his level of play.
- AaronHe didn’t “try” Aaron?
I don’t know where you get that, but, to each his own
Enjoy the game tonight
- E. SmithEric, you are dead-on correct. It would be silly and immature for Raptors fans to boo Ford. Having said that, some will . . . and probably more to do with their overall frustration over the lack of development of this club. And, you know, they should be frustrated by that. Sadly, though, by pulling a hissy-fit on Ford, they’ll only shift the focus away from where it should be . . . and that’s the “Messiah” standing guard in the corner of the gym.
- mike aI’m going to the game today and I’m going too boo till my voice goes out every time TJ touches the ball. He was a piece of garbgage who only held us back. He lost more games for us than he won (which is zero by the way). I don’t care what he deserves and doesn’t. He had the same cry face attitude of Vince and TMAC and all those other bums we raptor fans hate. I’m going only to boo him tonight, nothing else.
- MazTJ didn’t “try” towards the end. All he did was “try” to get off his own shots and “try” to prove that he was the starting point gaurd of this team. The end result affected the team and their final record. Maybe the reason you don’t get some of the things that fans do is because your not capable of looking at it from a fans perspective! Enjoy your court side seats and travel and hotels and bars and golf and…! Maybe take a step back once and a while and try to relate to the people that read your stuff. By the way I’m disappointed that your longest blog off late is spent sticking up for TJ and not analyzing the current situation of the raptors!
- rwbI wouldn’t boo TJ Ford either and I don’t think that will be the overwhelming sentiment tonight from Raps fans.
I think you’re being a bit disingenuous when you say that they both just wanted the ball.
While that may be true, the point is that TJ was openly divisive DURING the season when Jose was publicly saying he just wanted what was best for the team and waited until the off-season to say “Hey, I think I deserve to start” when it was apparent that one of them had to go.
And as to Zic’s column saying that trading Ford was a mistake, let’s not forget that although we hope it never happens, he’s still one hard foul away from retirement.
So let’s not boo Ford or Rasho (who will get a nice round of applause) but let’s beat them anyway…
A win tonight will help turn the page
- GaryYou could see it in his effort, in his eyes.. he let his passion slip away when he was coming off the bench. Yes, he played the game and had moments brilliance but the bad far outweighed the good (when he was coming off the bench). He also called his own number too many times during this stretch. A true team player wouldn’t do this. Mo Pete actually started to play this close to his way out the door in his last season.
- AaronEric, I don’t know what to say. Of course no one should boo TJ – or any former player of the team for that matter….but have you been around when TJ came back from the injury….have you been around when TJ took the ball in Orlando and took all first 5-6 possesions until he got benched…to calm down? Have you been around when in one of the weat coast games (don’t remember which) AP was like 6 of 7 or something like that and didn’t get the ball from TJ for almost the whole 4thQ? Where you around to see TJ’s face everytime he was coming out to be subbed?
- SorinAaron made THE point of the entire story. It’s not about wanting to be a starter – it’s obvious and desirable as you said as well to want to be a starte when you’re good. It’s all about what your attitude is when you’re NOT starting. Trust me, if AP which is probably the classiest guy in the locker room could hint after that game that he didn’t get the ball after being hot for 3 Q – and that TJ could “use some help”…then it was much worse than everyone thought.
Don’t get me wrong – I loved TJ’s technical skills and desire to win….but something was definitely wrong and the decision about who to trade was the only logical one.
I’m going to the game and I’ll be cheering my butt off for TJ.
- TylerI was one of the one’s thinking that Jose should be the starter for this team but even I can admit that boo’ing TJ would be pathetic and show a tremendous lack of class from our city.
Think what you want about his desire to play more minutes and if they were earned or not, but what is indisputable is that this is a guy who was risking alot more than minutes every time he stepped on the floor with the Raptors jersey.
And he never let up. Some might suggest it’s foolish for someone with his particular history of injuries to play with as much reckless abandon as he does, but what it shows is the heart and desire that this young man exudes and we should be respectful and thankful that he did so while wearing a Raptors jersey.
Boo if you wish, but realize it comes at the cost of revealing what a cowardly and pathetic group of “fans” we really are.
- MikeThanks Eric,
- AaronI’m sure it will be a good one!
RWB … Relate?
Ya mean … like how I pay for my season seats (no discount) and pour my money into this team too?
Step back?
Like on the air last night, calling the performance “effortless” … or this morning taking calls on the air, being critical of the team’s performance of late and calling for a change to the starting line up?
Sorry, but you’re way off on your criticism man.
- E. SmithCalderon vs Ford should make for an interesting game
- Chas CalzI hope it’s not a blowout .
Raps need a win badly , a winning streal really ..
The decline in Bosh’s play is a bit discouraging too ..The MVP chants for Bosh are fading
I had a feeling the feedback on this might be about 50/50
- E. SmithIt is obviously the raps made the wrong choice. TJ would be a better fit for this roster. Jose shares the ball really well, maybe on of the best. but is limited breaking down the other teams guy and maybe has the worst defence of any starting PG in the league. He is the center point of the raps defensive problems. I will cheer for TJ tonight. He knows he is better, he will show it tonight
- Jeff CarterI don’t think we can boo TJ despite how poorly he handled the situation last year. He didn’t take his benching well and he still really doesn’t know how to play with his teammates in clutch situations. He never passes and always forces up a tough shot from 15-18 feet some go in but most don’t. Which is exactly why we traded a guy away who has more talent then the guy we paid (Sorry Jose). That and the fact he is 1 fall away from retirement. He can’t take many more of them and well it is to risky when he would have been our second best player.
Saying that we need to win tonight because this is a joke. That third quarter last night summed up our whole season. We didn’t compete, with an effort like that we should be mentioned in the ranks of Minny, and OKC. We need to bring a consent effort and when Joey G is our best player in the second half there is something wrong. A change in the starting 5 is a must! Wake up AP, Jose, Bargs and J Killa your jobs are on the line. Bosh and JO need your help!
- CharlesI’m not saying I condone booing TJ, but this is the least of my worries right now. Bosh reminds me of a former raps player that used to laugh on the side lines during a blow out. And AP isn’t returning to toronto anyway, so I don’t care if he laughs it up all night. But I didn’t expect it from our “franchise” player.
- rwbE.
- BryanGreat article; are we so down on ourselves as a City that we need to lash out at good guys that we run out of town? Do guys around the league feel Toronto isn’t a good place to play, justifying our reaction?
Is there any hope leftfor the team Eric?
This Raptor team is not deep at all. We’re strong (yet thin) at 3 positions with Calderon, O’Neal and Bosh. Our bench might be one of the worst in the league and our wings are just awful.
- philDoug’s right in that we fired Smitch too early in the season; JT is inexperienced and it hasn’t helped nor do I see the move helping. The Raps look really unmotivated. I’m not sure if it is fatigue or “VC Syndrome” but CB4 exemplifies this the most and we all know the intensity starts with your top guy.
Bosh has the talent and skills to be a KG and the calm demeanour to be like Duncan; but those two share a common thing that CB4 lacks and that is a killer instinct or an intensity about them. This can’t be taught. It seems like CB is and always will be a notch below guys like KG, Kobe and LeBron because he lacks the ability to lead a team. When LeBron is killing your team and doing “Mail Man” dunks he needs to assert himself and not let his team get embarassed like that. All the top-tier superstars would come back hard or at least try to will their team to put an end to an onslaught…not Chris Bosh though.
Aside from Orlando, CB4 always stinks against the good teams and the elite players are the ones that are consistent whether its against the Lakers or the Bucks.
People may argue that his career high in points come against good teams like Detroit or the Suns…fine. But when Bosh does have a monster game against the elite teams his team always gets blown out.
We praise him for destroying the Bobcats yet give him a mulligan or the excuse of fatigue when he comes up short against the Celtics or lakers. it’s not just about stats either, it’s about willing your team to victory by setting the bar for the rest of the team and Bosh’s demeanour of late and against paticulary the good teams has been lacking.
The Raptors mediocrity is largely a product of their best player’s desire.
Raps have 12 games left in Dec .
- Chas CalzCan you see them going better than 6-6 looking at that schedule ?
2 killer losses were vs NJ and Portland both we should have won .. which would have put us at 10-10 .. We need to build some confidence quickly
Hey Bryan, Are we so insecure as a city that we have to accept mediocrity? Is a demanding passionate fan base a reason to think a city isn’t a good place to play? Is there any hope for you way of thinking?
- maxwellThink the pacers would trade Tj for jose straight up?
If they would, we should.
- Jeff CarterHi Eric
- PatI will be going to the game tonight, and I will be very embarassed if the crowd boos TJ. TJ is an emotional player and did a lot of good things in Toronto.
Toronto Raptors fans are an emotional group, but they nned to remember the emotion and fight TJ brought to TO. I for one, will stand to applaud him. He surely deserves that from raps fans
Pat
Message to TJ – Thx for the competitiveness and clutch performances. I’ll cheer you during the beginning but only then.
- SidMessage to CB4 – Cut the Blane-ness and bring some Nasti-ness. How may Technical fouls did you get when LBJ was posterizing the raptors?
Message to fans – show some class and only boo TJ the way you would an opponent.
T.J IS GOING TO EXPOSE JOSE TONIGHT. JOSE IS A HORRIBLE DEFENDER AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN A HORRIBLE DEFENDER. HE GOT SUCH PRAISE LAST YEAR BECAUSE TEAMS DIDNT REALLY KNOW WHAT HE WAS ABOUT BUT THIS YEAR TEAMS ARE BLOWING BY HIM ON EVERY PLAY. TONIGHT WILL BE EVEN WORSE….T.J WILL TORCH HIM TONIGHT !!!!
- BilaBoo him out of the building. If you aren’t in red and white you are the enemy.
- Happy Raptor FanCan’t wait to see the attendance for tonights game.
- RickDespite what they announce, the ACC will be lucky to be half full.
This Raptors franchise is only a few losses away from becoming a total after thought. Without the Leafs bankrolling them, the NBA in Canada would be on very shaky ground,
To some earlier comments against TJ made by Aaron. Lost passion , didnt care ? I’m sorry where are you getting this B.S. from ?
Tj gave us toughness, heart defence. I agree he made it known that he wanted to start. so whats the harm in that ? Didn’t Jose do the SAME exact thing but only through the spanish media where he couldnt get criticized by Toronto’s media ? Torontos media didn’t help either. Certain writers would just take off on TJ without reasonable justification.. I believe Indiania is one game behind us in the standings, and for a team that didnt have high expectations coming into this season, I’d say they are doing just FINE.
I absoultely believe that TJ would have been a better point guard for this team given Triano wants the team to run more. If i was going to todays game, I’d wear my ford jearsey and proudly support TJ AND the raptors and hope the raps pull out a HUGE win.
From a neutral fans perspective, it should be great to see what it was like in practice when TJ and Jose would play against each other.
- Webon a side note Eric.. you blog is very enjoyable. I was hoping you would take Chuck’s place beside Leo/Jack. Keep up the good work.
- WebI agree with you Eric, I honestly don’t feel TJ should be booed with mainly just wanting to play. Yes, he did have a really poor attitude when he was coming off the bench, and as a professional, maybe should’ve handled the situation better and “earn” his way back in…but we traded him when he wanted to stay and play. I’ll just cheer harder for Jose to beat TJ instead of booing TJ.
on another note, I agree with Phil and a couple of guys saying how the Raptors poor form lately has a lot to do with CB and his attitude as of late. He’s starting to accept being blown out instead of going in the try to send a msg to the league saying that he’s the leader, and he will keep on fighting till the end. I won’t say that we lost the old CB who starred down at VC for throwing a towel at him (late in one game), but he needs to be reminded of that energy and that fire….then we’ll start to play better and with more ambition and power.
- JulianI have the feeling that T.J will get a bit of the boos, but in no way does he deserve them. When T.J and Rasho get on the court we should all stand and clap.
- TomGfromBramptonIf TJ was still a Raptor, we wouldn’t be in this mess now simple and plain. It takes a killer instinct to win and the only Raptor that seems to have it presently is J.O. Last year TJ was the one to pick us up and show courage in the face of all the plus 500 teams. Who’s doing that now Jose? Give me a break. He complains about calls and aggressive defense and is now Garnet’s favorite toy whenever he comes to Toronto. I’ll cheer for you TJ. Wish you were still here.
- Kevwe are 20 games into the season and the fans alredy have jumped off the wagon.too soon I think..anywhoo..I would not be one bit surprised if TJ is hears more jeers since we ar still hung up on vince carter trade and the fans still chant “lets go raptors VC sucks” when VC or the Nets are not even playing the Raps..
- Waqasi am cheering for tj ford
- ginomassariI was at the game so I didn’t get a chance to read this till after the fact. I think I am the only person in Toronto(when I visit that does not own a blackberry) Anyway it is no secret I love T.J Ford and have always been in his corner. Be it in comments hear, on Hoops or in what I do.
It does not shock me in the least that you share my views on the idea of booing T.J being stupid. I have said a lot of the things you have wrote here. I am happy that you were willing to say it and it is why I have a lot of respect for you. Even on things I may not agree with you on. I still respect you for saying what you truly think and feel despite if it is the popular opinion or not.
Great Job Eric and I was happy to see I was not the only one in the A.C.C that cheered T.J. Whatever people think about him. He put his body on the line and he deserves respect for that and a lot more.
- James Borbath AkA The Dino Blogger