Raptors’ Warning Sign begins to flash again
When a local beat reporter writes a story like this …
It’s bright and early and here’s some stuff for you
He has to be better
Hedo Turkoglu, that is.
That was exactly the kind of game he had to take over and he didn’t and unless they start getting more and getting it more often from him, there’s no way they do anything other than muddle through.
Now, you know I never think one game’s entirely on one guy but, c’mon man, do something.
Go off for 30. Get a bit selfish. Take 20 shots.
Do something.
The big free agent signing’s been good some nights but never really great and it’s time he has one of those great games everyone’s expecting.
I know it’s not lost on his coaches, and I’m sure it’s not lost on his teammates. They are disappointed and know he can do so much more. A couple people with titles are already making mention of it in private conversations; nothing too harsh but the criticisms are there. And they might get louder.
I think he will improve and have a greater impact on a greater number of games. But I think he better do pretty soon or the grumblings are going to get louder.
Don’t know for sure if he needs as one insider put it “a foot up his ass every minute of every day,” but something has to start getting through to him.
I know he’s got more game than he’s shown, I’ve seen it, you’ve seen it and the folks who gave him a $53 million contract have sure seen it.
About time we see it again.
————————–
you can count on 1 thing being 100% accurate.
Its original source was, most likely, a plant by the team’s management to try and stoke the fire further in a highly tangible under-handed way.
This is not a good sign, in the least … contrary to what some might think … as the Raptors journey home to face the Hawks tomorrow night, the same opponent that shellacked them 1 week ago [Wed Dec 02], by 31 points, and precipitated the 1 hour team meeting which supposedly “cleared the air”, in Washington, the morning of Fri Dec 04.
Winning games against teams situated below yours in the standings has very little significance in the overall context of the NBA. It’s what you do against the teams that are currently above you in the standings which are authentic indicators of where you’re at, at a given point in time.
This next stretch of 4 games:
Fri Dec 11 vs Atlanta [QR = 30; QIR = 9]
Sun Dec 13 vs Houston [QR = 42; QIR = T-13]
Tue Dec 15 @ MIAMI [QR = 42; QIR = T-13]
Wed Dec 16 @ ORLANDO [QR = 17; QIR = 2]
Legend: QR – Quality Rating [PDR/Points Differential Rank + PAR/Points Allowed Rank + RDR/Rebounding Differential Rank]; QIR – Quality Index Ranking [#1-30]; as of Sun Dec 06.
coupled with last night’s losing verdict, @ Milwaukee [QR = 54; QIR = 19], should be a good test of where the Raptors really stand, heading towards the Christmas Season.
If Hedo Turkoglu can, in fact, be awoken from his “fall slumber”, against the likes of:
Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams
Trevor Ariza and Shane Battier
Dwyane Wade and James Jones [or Q-Rich or D-Wright, etc.]
Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus
then, the Raptors really do have hope of making a meangingful climb up the Eastern Conference standings, as the schedule progresses.
If not, however, then, most unfortunately, this is going to be a very long and difficult year in Raptorville.
————————–
PS. At this point, you might even say that these next 4 games are going to be the most important ones of the entire season for the Toronto Raptors.
Related:
Miami Heat: Ask Ira [Winderman]
Third Quarter Collapse: Orlando Magic news
Tags: Doug Smith, Hedo Turkoglu, Toronto Raptors
December 10th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I still read just about everything you post, but I can’t even comment at this point. The Raps just stink, and unlike, say, the Bulls, don’t even have cap space to look forward to. This was BC’s “best team on paper,” yet again, and early in the season, yet again, it’s painfully obvious that we’re not going anywhere. Good thing LeaguePASS gets all the games and not just the CRaptors
Oh, and it’s James Jones.
December 10th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Hedo Turkoglu. Man, did Otis Smith ever play the string out on this one out with the ruthless of a Corleone. He kept Hedo for his best years and then put him out to pasture when he started asking for real money. Instead, he lets a Conference Rival overpay massively for him to come and ply his trade in his declining years - hurting their franchises’ cap situation for a half decade.
Unbelievably, BC then calls him up in the middle of the summer and asks him to help him overpay for Hedo. In exchange for his blessing, Smith gets free value to reduce his numbers under the cap. For nothing - for a player he no longer even controlled. That is gamesmanship. Portland is fortunate, man.
December 10th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Scott G.,
Thanks for catching the James Jones error.
December 11th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Mike D,
Whenever “Don Corleone” makes you an offer which seemingly cannot possibly be refused … if history has taught us anything, at all, it is surely that … what you best do, in response, is:
Step 1. Agree initially to accept the offer, at a designated meeting place.
Step 2. Decline the proposition … forcibly … by striking first with a lethal blow that eliminates the offeree from further dealings with you and yours.
Step 3. Establish yourself as the “new Don” who is not going to be lured into any sort of “arrangement” which is unfavourable in any way to your own cause, come h*ll or high water.
S/he who makes the offer to help you out of a particularly difficult situation is, in fact, The One who you have to fear [and respect!] the most. If not … before too much time has passed … this person will also be in possession of the other things which you happen to hold dear in your life.
Caveat Emptor