14 Responses to “Wolves Maul Raptors”

1. 1.
   January 30th, 2011 at 1:52 am
   

   Mauling might be an understatement.

   When I played in high school, out coach’s favourite word was “BRUTAL!” I heard it one more than one occasion followed by a set of sprints. Later that year, we conjured up a new word because we were tired of hearing “brutal.” Out new team word was “HORROSCIOUS.” Our blend of horrendous and atrocious for things that were worse than brutal.

   This was a horroscious game for the Raps. Right up there with the losses to Washington and Sacramento.

   UGLY.

   The one positive, aside from Ed Davis, was that it actually looked as though Bargs was attempting to care about defense. If he has to fake it until he believes it, that’s fine. If he fakes being defensive, eventually he will think defensive and maybe he might become a defensive player. As long as he is working on that, I’m good with it.

   I feel for the fans from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northern Ontario that attended that game only to see the Raps lay a massive egg.

   Right now though, the Raps owe the Pacers a beat down the likes of which they haven’t seen since the Palace. Forget this one and expect a better effort in Indiana.

   LET’S GO RAPTORS!!!

   - T.J.
2. 2.
   January 30th, 2011 at 11:19 am
   

   TJ

   Let it go, Bargnani is not a franchise player, he is at best a sixth man. He was a horrendous pick at no. 1 when we needed someone that would transend the franchise and get the ball rolling in establishing an identity, particulary on the defensive end, as we finished near the bottom that year in rebounding

   The most effective Euro’s are drafted in the second round, wheras when they come to the nba there is no pressure, this is why there is many of them that surprise alot of people and jump into the star staus.

   It is a different beast being a franchise player in Euro leagues vs the nba. It simply doesn’t cross over. There is more of an emphasis on, Zone defense, half court defense and alot of other elements that is not there in ball overseas. Bargani’s game is still far from being able to handle certain thing at the nba level, he is not fundamentally sound on defense and offense you clealy see that in the crunch. Bargnani is not where we need him to be in the dying seconds of games i.e in the post looking for the high percentage shots or on defence boxing out and getting position on his man. Ask yourself A few questions if peopel call Bargnani a franchise player then what has he done during this prolonged losing streak on both ends of the floor to put his team in the best position to bust out? How much rebounds has he averaged during this losing streak? How much trips to the line per game? How much hustle plays, block shots. How much of thos true star intangibles has Bargani displayed. The answers to these questions are a true indication that Bargnani disgraces the words franchise player

   - Thomas
3. 3.
   January 30th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
   

   I’m watching the Heat-Thunder game. Wow…it’s a completely different game when the Raps aren’t involved. No, this isn’t my first non-Raptors viewing but, for some reason, the gap in talent and effort has never seemed this huge.

   Most glaringly is the near impotence of Bargnani’s game versus other league stars. How anyone ever considered Bargnani a “franchise” player type is astounding. He is slow, disinterested, unimaginative, weak…the list never ends.

   It’s been five years and it’s now official that he won’t be a star. I wouldn’t even want him on my upper echelon team if I was looking for a 6th man. His lazy attitude and inability to develop both his body and game are deficiencies I would keep far, far away from my roster.

   Something’s gotta give. If Colangelo’s gonna stay (and, it seems MLSE has no plans to let him go), Bargnani has to be moved. Otherwise, this “rebuild” (ughh!) is dead in the water.

   - brento.
4. 4.
   January 30th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
   

   You know what makes me think that the future of this franchise is weak?

   1) That a player has the skill set to compliment the group when his ceiling is Bargnani 2.0

   2) When Bayless and Julian Wright;s minutes are all over the place when this is clearly a rebuilding year and the team was the most competitive playing again the Grizz when it was Bayless QBing

   3) When Weems is entitled (dont used the word lightly) to a starting role when he has done nothing to deserve it

   4) When the coach in his post game paraphrases his predecessor “we just missed shaats” who was fired for far less and who clearly does not get it or has already lost the team.

   - PeaceDawg
5. 5.
   January 30th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
   

   Charlotte fired Larry Brown with 9-19 record . Silas has gone 11-7 since , and has team in a playoff spot .

   Indiana fired O’Brien , with Mike Brown a possible replacement .

   Sam Mitchell, a COY winner, was fired with an 8-9 record .

   But because Raps have so many injuries and are so young and developing , Coach Jay Triano is safe and might get a contract extension.

   - Chas
6. 6.
   January 30th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
   

   Never said Bargs was a “franchise” player. Remember that he is only 25 and still will be making mistakes.

   Does his defense need to improve? Absolutely. He needs to be a seven footer on the defensive end for this team to win. I don’t expect him to be able to hold back guys like Bogut, Love, Howard, etc. I also don’t expect any NBA centre to be able to guard Bargnani, which they can’t.

   Now that Triano has some healthy bodies, maybe he can sit Bargs down more when he isn’t giving a full effort on the defensive end. But, like any person at their own job, he needs to be given a chance to fight back and learn from his mistakes.

   Bargnani’s defense has always been questionable, but now that he’s “the guy” in Toronto, people want more out of him sooner rather than later. While I agree that would be nice, he needs to be given the opportunity to step up, not only by the coaches, but by the fans as well.

   I wouldn’t dump this guy off just because he needs to improve his defense. Even though I know it will happen if Colangelo doesn’t return next year.

   - T.J.
7. 7.
   January 30th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
   

   “I wouldn’t dump this guy off just because he needs to improve his defense.”

   Andrea Bargnani NEEDED to improve his defense five seasons ago, when he entered the league and demonstrated he didn’t have a clue how to do anything but shoot the ball (and, btw, that didn’t include hitting CRITICAL shots — he’s NEVER shown he has that ability).

   Five years later, it’s clear he REFUSES to work on every single aspect of his game — INCLUDING his offense! Not only is he a complete one-trick pony, but that “one-trick” hasn’t even developed over the past three years!! Whatever BC thought he was going to do by locking up Bargnani and handing him $50M, clearly hasn’t happened. Bargnani doesn’t seem the slightest bit more inspired by the extension or, most importantly, becoming the focal point of this team.

   If Bargnani was on any other team, TJ…you’d be talking about him completely differently. But, because he’s on your Raptors, he’s been given every single excuse you can come up with.

   It’s over. The “experiment” is done. It’s not that he can’t improve. He simply won’t. And, that’s not acceptable. I can’t imagine he has much trade value, given his $10M per year salary, but I would be getting him out of town as soon as possible…before this lazy, uninspired, careless attitude begins rubbing off on our young, impressionable players.

   Just watch good players, TJ…watch them sweat. Then, you’ll realize, like most others, that Bargnani does nothing to help his team.

   - brento.
8. 8.
   January 31st, 2011 at 6:30 am
   

   Bargs is 25. Cut him some slack. No needs to be jealous or throw someone under the bus when they just need some encouragement.

   Bargs has shown flashes of fantastic defensive prowess although they are mostly over shadowed by his lapses.

   I wouldn’t let him go until he proves it’s impossible for him to play defense as a seven footer. Right now, he still has that potential, he just needs to buy in.

   What he does need is Reggie back beating the crap out of him in practice.

   - T.J.
9. 9.
   January 31st, 2011 at 9:33 am
   

   The Raptors have no luck people….this is a very bad upcoming draft…no franchise players available….God help us..

   - dennis
10. 10.
    January 31st, 2011 at 11:33 am
    

    not watching raps anymore. too horrible.

    even tho Eric you’ll disagree with me (lord knows why), the colangelo and triano have got to end. it’s become absurd what a mess we’re in; especially when you have the fanbase debating whether julian wright needs more minutes. julian wright. sigh.

    if BC is given an extension, as eric smith supports and endorses, that’ll be the end of this franchise for the foreseeable future. you’ll start to see more and more empty seats at the ACC.

    (Commercial for “Young Onez): “They’re young. They’re fast. And they’ll have people out of their seats.”

    That’s it exactly. That’s all you can say. They’re young. They’re fast and no one cares.

    book it.

    - cb
11. 11.
    January 31st, 2011 at 1:50 pm
    

    If Andrea Bargnani needs anything but himself to convince him to play defense…

    Give it up, TJ. He’s a stiff. This is the NBA. Not the place to “learn” how to motivate yourself.

    If he gave a tenth of the effort players with a tenth of his ability gave on a very regular basis, he’d be a nice player. But, to cut him slack — after FIVE years of playing in the Association — because he just needs some “encouragement”…

    That’s just sad.

    This isn’t house league hockey, my friend.

    - brento.
12. 12.
    January 31st, 2011 at 5:23 pm
    

    Sometimes a player just needs the right kick in the pants to pull it all together.

    That’s what Bargs needs.

    A swift kick in the pants.

    - T.J.
13. 13.
    January 31st, 2011 at 7:21 pm
    

    I’ve never seen a coach get as protected by the media as much as Jay Triano .

    Media talk about him like he’s the coach of a college team developing his players so that in a few yrs they’ll be NBA ready .

    Look at the contracts of the roster . Some pretty big contracts .

    No question they’ve been hit by a lot of injuries, but that’s why you have a 15 man roster.

    - Chas
14. 14.
    January 31st, 2011 at 7:50 pm
    

    No, TJ. Rookies sometimes need a kick in the pants to hit their second gear. Occasionally, the odd second year player needs that, too.

    But, a $50M, 5th year, #1 overall pick?!?!?!

    I don’t think so.

    He isn’t having a bad stretch of games. He’s having a bad career. In five years, he hasn’t worked on his body…and, he hasn’t worked on his game.

    Face facts.

    - brento.