[i.e. If you do, IMO, you are simply giving points away to your opponent.]“

————————————

I agree - if Bargs and Bosh can’t play together, goodbye Bosh or Bargs.

That’s completely correct.

However, I do not believe that specific option is a legit possibility this season, in the mind of the Raptors’ brain-trust, as long as Calderon and Jack and Banks and Douby are on the roster.

Whereas, contrary to what others might think … I do believe that shifting Bargnani to the back-up Center position, in arears of Chris Bosh, is now a legitimate option which this team is ready to consider, in an effort to qualify for the playoffs this season, in hopes of RETAINING the services of Chris Bosh, moving forward to next summer.

In fact, here it is:

http://khandorssportsblog.com/wordpress/2009/09/30/understanding-who-the-raptors-best-players-are-by-position/

re: Amir

If Johnson commits a foul every 5 mins [approx.] he’s on the floor this means that he could actually play through UP TO 30 mins of a full game before fouling out.

“Projects” who do NOT hurt their own team in terms of D & R need to get better by playing in real live games.

Mr. Johnson [at 22 yers of age] fits into this category, with this team, until proven otherwise.

re: Reggie

Mr. Evans is the epitome of a high energy player who is at his best coming off the bench, as opposed to starting, provided that a team has other players who can adequately fill the starter’s role. In this case, Mr. Johnson is THAT man … which means that Mr. Evans can assume his rightful place in the NBA game.

From a D, R and O perspective, IMO, Johnson has actually out-performed Evans through the pre-season schedule.

re: the 12th man

I, too, would rather see the Raptors go with Mr. Weems, as the 12th man on a game-to-game basis this season. He was left out of the suggested line-up above because I do not think the Raptors see the benefit of using him in this specific role right now, relative to Marcus Banks and, then, later on, Quincy Douby/Patrick O’Bryant. He’s a touch under-sized as a legit #3/SF in the league and doesn’t shoot the 3-ball well enough just yet to get any meanigful run at the #2/OG position. Down-the-road, however … if Mr. Hopla can continue to work on the development of Sonny’s perimeter J, there’s no reason why Mr. Weems cannot become a competent #2/OG for a team in the Association.

Amir Johnson hasn’t proven he can handle more than 12-15 minutes and hasn’t positioned himself well on defense during the preseason. He’s still developing, could even call him a project. Maybe he’ll earn more playing time as the season progresses.

Reggie Evans isn’t a project despite his limitations, and more deserving of minutes than Johnson or Nesterovic so far. Until someone plays better than him, I can’t see him losing his backup role.

For the 12th man I’d rather see Weems on the bench than Banks. Neither is likely to play except in garbage minutes but I’d rather Weems get those minutes.

Bosh plus Johnson SHOULD get the most PT.

Bosh plus Evans SHOULD get the 2nd most PT.

Bosh plus Nesterovic SHOULD only be getting the 3rd most PT.

[Bosh plus Turkoglu should be getting the rest of the PT.]

——————————————————–

Bargnani off the bench did not fail to produce wins during the 2006-2007 season.

The fact is … it’s only once Bargnani’s MPG began to GO UP, during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons, respectively, that the Raptors WINS TOTALS began to COME DOWN.

[of course, there were other factors involved in this occurrence, as well; but, it would certainly not be accurate to suggest that, "The more Bargnani's played the better the Raptors have become," when in fact it's the opposite that's true.]

re: “PS. I think Bargs will surprise the haters this year.”

I, for one, would like nothing better than to see that happen this season … contrary to popular belief.

The one provision is this.

THE surprise NEEDS to NOT be measured ONLY by an increase in his:

i. Points Scored per game;
ii. Rebounds per game;
iii. Blocked Shots per game;

but, also in terms of, “How he actually performs/is measured in Defensive Transition situations, Defensive Pick & Roll/Pop situations, Defensive Help situations, and Rebounding Differential, etc., when he’s on the court.”

—————————-

PS. What’s wrong with Bargnani, at-present, is the “cumulative negative effect” he has in these other specific areas of the game, many of which are over-looked, or under-valued by both the casual fan and the so-called “expert” who doesn’t really know what s/he’s talking about if/when s/he raves about the Big Guy’s “upside” as an offensive player while neglecting these.

second…didnt we already try the bargs off the bench thing and it failed miserably….what makes you believe it would work now???

ohhh and i too believe bargs is gonna silence the hater…not with 8+ boards a game, but i think he will do enough to impress…and may even be in the running for MIP

The only major problem with what you’ve suggested there is the part that says,

Bosh plus Bargnani - 20 mins

From a team performance standpoint, there is absolutely NO [as in "zero"] reason to give that combo any time at all … when you’ve got other Bigs like Johnson, Evans, Nesterovic and [even] Turkoglu on the roster.

[i.e. If you do, IMO, you are simply giving points away to your opponent.]