khandor’s sports blog

FINAL SCORE: RAPTORS 118, T-Wolves 100
Complete Game Info

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When the Raptors:

i. Win the Rebounding Battle [TOR/39 vs Min/36; +3 overall];

ii. Win the AST:TO Battle [TOR/34:13/+21 vs Min/28:13/+15; +6 overall];

iii. Win the FTM-FTA Battle [TOR/20-21 vs Min/16-19; +4 overall]

iv. Win the FGM-FGA Battle [TOR/46-86/53.5 vs Min/43-86/50.0; +3 overall]

v. Chose not to use Marcus Banks [#1-2], Nathan Jawai [#4/5], Jake Voskuhl [#4/5] and Patrick O’Bryant [#5];

they have a solid shot at a victory.

Those who still doubt that Shawn Marion’s most effective position in the NBA is the #4/PF should take note of how the Raptors used The Matrix in this game, and the qualitative difference in the way they played:

A. With Shawn Marion at the #3/SF position:

14:45/MP = -9 Points

B. With Shawn Marion at the #4/PF position:

22:27/MP = +7 Points

C. Without Shawn Marion on the floor:

10:48/MP = +10 Points.

D. When using 3 solid Rebounders together at the #3, #4 and #5 positions:

Graham/3 + Marion/4 + Bosh/5 = +6 Points 

Althought the Timberwolves are by no means a High End Team … this makes 2 games in a row where the Raptors have been able to:

[i] Succeed in keeping their opponent off the boards; and,

[ii] Generate easy Fast Break Points of their own.

when employing THIS specific style of basketball.

If the Raptors would only:

1. Increase the number of minutes Shawn Marion is playing at the #4/PF position [and, therefore, decrease his MP at the #3/SF spot];

plus,

2. Return to using Anthony Parker at the Back-up PG position, as well, whenever one of Graham, Marion or Bosh is not on the floor, to ensure that they have 3 solid Rebounders [relative to their positions] working together in their respective 5-Man Units at all times … as was mentioned in the previous entry here;

they would be able to play EVEN BETTER than they have to this point with their present roster.

Heading towards their next set of 10 games:

Game 1 Feb 27 at Phoenix
Game 2 Mar 1 at Dallas
Game 3 Mar 3 at Houston
Game 4 Mar 6 vs Miami
Game 5 Mar 8 vs Utah
Game 6 Mar 11 at Philadelphia
Game 7 Mar 13 vs Detroit
Game 8 Mar 15 vs Indiana
Game 9 Mar 16 at Charlotte
Game 10 Mar 20 vs Charlotte

[split evenly between home and away]

this is something which the Raptors WILL NEED TO DO in order to keep their faint playoff hopes alive for the remainder of this season.

FINAL SCORE: RAPTORS 111, Knicks 100
Complete Game Info

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In comparison with Friday night’s 30-point shellacking:

i. The Knicks used both Chris Wilcox [#4/5] and Larry Hughes [#2/3: 1-9/FGM-FGA/11.0%] and sat out Danilo Gallinari.

ii. The Raptors chose not to use Marcus Banks [#1-2], Nathan Jawai [#4/5], Jake Voskuhl [#4/5] and Patrick O’Bryant [#5].

iii. The Raptors were able to win the Battle of the Boards [i.e. 50-43].

Those who doubt that Shawn Marion’s most effective position in the NBA is, indeed, the #4/PF should take note of how the Raptors used The Matrix in this game, and the qualitative difference in the way they played:

A. With Shawn Marion at the #3/SF position:

21:43/MP = +1 Point

B. With Shawn Marion at the #4/PF position:

22:05/MP = +18 Points

C. Without Shawn Marion on the floor:

4:12/MP = -8 Points.

D. When using 3 solid Rebounders together at the #3, #4 and #5 positions:

Graham/3 + Marion/4 + Bosh/5 = +7 Points 

Althought the Knicks are by no means a High End Team …

Part 1

If the Raptors can play EVEN while using Marion at the #3/SF position; and, then, shift into a HIGHER GEAR with The Matrix in his sweet spot [i.e. #4/PF] … specifically, alongside of Joey Graham [#4] and Chris Bosh [#5] … this team can:

[i] Succeed in keeping its opponent off the boards; and,

[ii] Generate easy Fast Break Points of its own.

Part 2

In addition …

By using Anthony Parker at the Back-up PG position - which the Raptors chose not to do yesterday - whenever one of Graham, Marion or Bosh is not on the floor, the Raptors can still ensure that they have 3 solid Rebounders [relative to their positions] working together in their respective 5-Man Units.

FINAL SCORE: Raptors 97, KNICKS 127
Complete Game Info

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Upgrading Jamario Moon [#3/2/4] with Shawn Marion [#4/3] while, simultaneously, down-grading Jermaine O’Neal [#4/5] with Marcus Banks [#1], was never going to solve the Raptors’ problems this season … given their cost-effectiveness, as NBA players, and the respective positions at which they can succeed in this league.

That said …

The talent disparity between these two rosters:

is nowhere near where it needs to be in order to warrant the 30-point shellacking administered by the home team last night.

The Raptors now have a limited number of solid Rebounders [√] on their team. Using 5-Man units with only 1 or 2 of these players in combination with one another for a period of 45:19 in a 48:00 game … rather than using 3 of them together [which the Raptors did yesterday for just 2:41] … means that this team is going to struggle:

[i] Keeping its opponent off the boards; and,

[ii] Generating easy Fast Break Points.

As long as the Raptors continue to construct this type of roster [overall] … which is capable of being outscored by 36 points from beyond the arc, in a game like last night’s … and use their existing players in this way, it will be difficult for them to win another game this season against a High End team.

FINAL SCORE: RAPTORS 76, Cavaliers 93
Complete Game Info

Forget about any type of in-depth analysis for this game. There’s no need to say more than this:

TOTAL REBOUNDS: Cleveland 48, TORONTO 32 [-16]

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If the Raptors have to play without Chris Bosh for many more games, and Kris Humphries remains a no-go, due to his broken leg, there is NO CHANCE whatsoever this team will be able to garner the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

No Mas. 

Back on Dec 8 2009 … THIS is what was suggested in this corner as the most effective solution to Pistons’ problem[s] this season, since their acquisition of Allen Iverson and the departure of Chauncey Billups.

One of the key tenets of this corner is the notion that …

There is seldom, if ever, just ONE effective solution to a Problem in Life, and never ever should one consider oneself to be stuck permanently in a LOSE-Lose [i.e. NO WIN] situation.

On the contrary, this corner believes whole-heartedly that, in fact, there are at least TWO WAYS to accomplish an objective in this world, in most cases, and there is always An Effective WAY OUT of a situation which might otherwise appear to be a lost cause … if one puts one’s thinking cap on, has some fun, works smart, works together with others, and thinks in a manner which others might consider to be unconventional [i.e. outside-the-box].

To wit:

Please see, 1.The Life Truth of The Kobayashi Maru; 2. What it means to Not Believe in the No-Win Scenario, in the first place; and, 3. What to do when caught with your britches down.

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Since the Pistons have refused to implement Option 1, thus far, it is now incumbent upon their basketball brain-trust to search for, and then implement, an Option 2.

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Whether Michael Curry, Joe Dumars, or Rodney Stuckey, likes it or not … the Pistons can still become the 2nd best team in the Eastern Conference, again this season, if they eventually come to the following realization about their team’s mix of players:

#1. PG - Allen Iverson
#2. OG – Rip Hamilton [at least 30 MP and finishing their games]
#3. SF - Tayshaun Prince 
#4. PF – Antonio McDyess
#5. C – Rasheed Wallace
=========
#6. Back-up PG/OG - Rodney Stuckey [ala The Micro-wave]
#7. SF - Arron Afflalo
#8. PF – Amir Johnson/Jason Maxiell
#9. C – Maxiell/Kwame Brown
=========
#10. SF - Walter Herrmann
#11. PF/C - Johnson/Maxiel/Brown
=========
#12. PG - Will Bynum [4th string]

Although their best Group-Of-5 does no longer includes Mr. Iverson at all, given his defensive & rebounding limitations, at this stage of his illustrious career, if he’s used as the Starting PG, exclusively … with The Real Deal in relief of him, in addition to getting extra time at the OG-spot, as a Back-up to Rip … AI would [i] still be able to receive major minutes on this team, and [ii] would not be holding back the long term development of Rodney Stuckey, as the future leader of the Pistons,

who would then still have what it takes to regain their perch beside the Boston Celtics.

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Despite the fact that first-year Head Coach, Michael Curry has not handled his initial crisis with the Pistons in an effective way, how he handles this situation, moving forward from here, is now the second significant test of his leadership with their team.

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Hopefully he Chooses [more] Wisely this time around.

Thunder near trade for Hornets’ Chandler
Presti continues sound foundation construction around Kevin Durant [SF]. Controlled PG? Westbrook; check. Multi-purpose PF? Green; check. Defensive/Rebounding C? TC; check. Multi-purpose/defensive focused OG? … Next. 

Celtics trade ‘assistant coach’ Sam Cassell to KIngs
Expect Sam-I-Am back in Beantown, shortly, sitting in the 2nd row behind Doc. Is Ainge preparing for a bigger deal prior to the deadline? Looks like it.

Coming out of the annual All-Star Break and heading toward this week’s Trade Deadline  [Feb 19, 3:00 PM] … as different trade rumours swirl about the NBA [on-line & elsewhere] … it can be instructive to assess where certain marquee players rank amongst their brethren, at the specific position[s] they play the best.

When considering Big Men [i.e. Centers/C and Power Forwards/PF], it is also imperative to understand what their fundamental role is within the NBA game and what qualities are the most important for them to exhibit on a consistent basis, if their respective team’s are going to have a legitimate chance to win a League Championship, now or in the not-too-distant future.

Big Man Ranking Criteria

* Leadership
* Rebounding [which includes: i. Defensive; ii. Offense]
* Team Defense [which includes: i. Interior Rotations; ii. Perimeter Rotations; iii. Execution of Pick & Roll Techniques; iv. Transition Effectiveness; v. Shot blocking off the ball; Switching off the ball]
* Low-Mid Post Scoring
* Passing Effectiveness
* Individual Low-Mid Post Defense [which includes Shot blocking on the ball]
* Individual Perimeter Defense
* Screening Effectiveness
* Picking Effectiveness
* Perimeter Scoring
* Offensive Transition
* Physical Traits: i. Quickness; ii. Agility; iii. Explosive Power; iv. Size & Strength
* Psycho-Emotional Traits: i. Stability; ii. Intelligence; iii. Intensity; iv. Toughness 

These are the current rankings, according to this corner:

Use the “comments” section to provide your feedback.

Reactions to the Heat/Raptors trade from 3 Toronto local columnists who cover the Raptors on a regular basis.

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Welcome to wacky world of Bryan Bizarro hoops: Raptorland might as well be the new Bizarro World, the old cartoon planet where bad is good and ugly is beautiful. The GM once heralded as a saviour suddenly needs saving.

Raps’ GM delusional: The Golden Boy of the Raptors is no more. Where once every word seemed believable, now he talks in bafflegab. His post-trade conference call, following the Jermaine O’Neal-Shawn Marion deal, sounded like an exercise in creative dance, full of expression but meaning what?

Two years ago, his plan for the future was built around the acquisition of T.J. Ford. That didn’t work. This season, it was built around the acquisition of O’Neal. That didn’t work. And now, the plan has been altered once again.

Raptors’ rewind: Put it all together and what do you have? A team a lot better than 07-08? A lot better than this past season?
I just don’t see it, personally.

I see a team that is older, expensive, still lacking a late shot-clock scorer or shot creator on the wing.

Can this team make a run at the eighth spot this year? Possibly. More likely they make a run at ninth spot and hurt their draft position.

Can the outline of the team next season be much better than a 45-win team? It’s hard to think so; I mean, the guts of it won just 41 games last season. And if it does I’m not sure it projects as one with a lot of upside. But hey, maybe it will be enough to convince Chris Bosh to sign that six-year, $127-million contract in the summer of 2010.

But does that make you a team that has a serious chance to win championships? Is that the point?

I thought it was, but I’m not sure anymore.

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For the most part, this corner is in agreement with the sentiments expressed in these three articles.

Thus far, there does not seem to be a Master Action Plan at work for the Raptors to become a perennial member of the NBA’s upper echelon.

Raptors deal O’Neal to Heat for Marion

Deciding whether or not this is a good deal for the Raptors is a moot point.

Jermaine O’Neal is now a member of the Miami Heat, joined by Jamario Moon and the Rights to a Future 1st Round [Lottery Protected] Selection [slotted for the 2010 NBA Draft]; while Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks are bound for Toronto.  

From a personnel standpoint, this is what the deal means for the respective teams:

You can decide for yourself which of the two rosters you’d prefer to have going forward from here.

This corner would choose Miami’s.

From a Raptors’ perspective, however, the immediate question is this:

If this team still has designs on qualifying for the playoffs …

QUESTION ONE
What would be their most effective line-up for the remainder of this season?

ANSWER
Although everything these eyes have read in print, thus far, has suggested that OPTION 1 [below], is the way in which the Raptors should/will line up vs Cleveland, Wednesday evening:

this corner does not subscribe to that philosophy.

OPTION 2 or 3 is actually the better way for the Raptors to go forward from here, if they sincerely hope to make a run towards the playoffs this season. 

QUESTION TWO
What are the reasons for this?

ANSWER

* Chris Bosh’s best-fit position, in the NBA, is the #5/C-spot.

* Shawn Marion’s best-fit position, in the NBA, is the #4/PF-spot.

* Joey Graham’s best-fit position, in the NBA, is the #3/SF-spot.
* Anthony Parker is a capable #2/OG and a Back-up #1/PG, in the NBA, when he doesn’t have to defend & rebound for Jason Kapono as well.
* Jose Calderon’s best-fit position, in the NBA, is the Starting #1/PG-spot.
* Andrea Bargnani’s best-fit role with this collection of teammates is to come off the bench … as a sub for either Bosh [#5] or Marion [#4] … where his Defensive & Rebounding limitations can be minimized, while he becomes the Offensive focal point of the team’s 2nd Unit. 

If the Raptors shift into a base 4 OUT/1 In alignment … with Chris Bosh as their Center … they can effectively accommodate The Matrix [i.e. Offensively, Defensively and in terms of Rebounding] while playing towards the individual strengths of their best players, at their best-fit positions, in the NBA.

Let’s hope the Raptors’ braintrust has the BASKETBALL ACUMEN it takes to figure this out before too long and the remainder of the season slips away.

Belated best wishes on your special day, Mr. Russell … which, apparently, was Thursday, Feb 12, 2009.

Hopefully, you will eventually get the chance to see a statue erected in your honour in the City of Boston.