khandor’s sports blog

After splitting W’s away from home this past weekend it’s easy to see how and why the Raptors and the Knicks currently occupy the 13th and 14th spots in the Eastern Conference standings. 

Game 1, Sat Apr 04 2009
FINAL SCORE: Raptors 102, KNICKS 95
Complete Game Info

Although the Raptors played poorly overall, shooting just 40.0 [FG%], they were still able to make enough 3PT shots [9-24/37.5%] to outscore the Knicks who were simply pathetic … i.e. 4-18/3PT% [22.2], -5 Turnovers [15/10], -3 Rebounds [44/47].

Quentin Richardson played 23:14, off the bench at the #2/OG position, and finished -14 [+/-], despite doing some good things individually [+14/kPER]. 

The 07:36 stretch which New York played with the PG/OG/SF combination of

Nate Robinson + Quentin Richardson + Jared Jeffries [-6, +/-] 
Nate Robinson + Quentin Richardson + Wilson Chandler [-7, +/-]

to end the 3rd quarter [03:56] and begin the 4th [08:20] was particularly poor, turning a 2 point lead into a hefty 11 point deficit, from which the Knicks never recovered.

What changed in the 2nd game of the weekend set to tip the balance in favour of the Knicks?

Game 2, Sun Apr 05 2009
FINAL SCORE: RAPTORS 103, Knicks 112
Complete Game Info

#1. Several Knicks played at a much higher level offensively, including David Lee, Wilson Chandler, Jared Jeffries, Chris Wilcox, Nate Robinson and Larry Hughes.

#2. Several Raptors had their individual game’s drop noticably, including Andrea Bargnani, Shawn Marion, Jose Calderon and Joey Graham.

#3. The Knicks outscored the Raptors by 27 points from the 3PT-line [i.e. New York 13-25/.52.0%; TORONTO 4-13/.30.8%], shot a higher FG% overall [New York/50.6%; TORONTO/44.3%] and improved their Turnover Differential [New York 12; TORONTO 12 = 0].

Did the Raptors play worse? Or, did the Knicks play better?

The Knicks played better, improving their TOTAL productivity by +28 [kPER]; while the Raptors improved theirs by only +4 [kPER].

The sad reality for both of these teams is that neither one is very good this season, in comparison with the other solid playoff squads in the Eastern Conference, i.e. Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphi and Detroit, and each will need to make important changes this off season … specifically, to some of the players in the #3-15 slots on their respective depth charts, who are simply not consistent enough to get the job done on a consistent basis … in order to separate itself from the other, as well as the rest of the mediocre teams in this half of the NBA, i.e. Chicago, Charlotte, Milwaukee, New Jersey and Washington, who are very similar in overall ability.

When yours truly sees this type of observation being made repeatedly in on-line articles and commentary by traditional media sources, bloggers, and members of the Raptors’ fanbase …

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Reasons for concern in Raptorville
The defenceless point guard

In his first year as starting point guard, Jose Calderon has kept up his efficient offensive ways, with a league-leading 4.18 assists for every turnover.

But on the other end of the floor, opposing point guards routinely light up Calderon. Tony Parker had 24 points and 10 assists against him. Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook had 19 points and eight assists. Devin Harris has torched Calderon in two decisive fourth quarters.

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it indicates that there is still a significant level of basketball sophistication that has yet to be reached by many of the followers of this team.

The average Raptors fan has seen Jose Calderon play each and every game of his NBA career to-date; but this does NOT mean that said fan has a sound/accurate understanding of the game, in general, and how it should be played properly, concerning a player like the Raptors’ starting PG.

In reality … while Jose Calderon will never be confused for a top notch defensive player … he is far from being an atrocious defender at the PG position in the NBA.

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Specific Defensive Responsibilities of a PG for a team in the NBA

Situation #1. In a half-court situation when there is no Pick being set on him. Pressure/contain the opposition’s PG, 1-on-1.

Situation #2. In a half-court situation when there is a Pick being set on him. Direct the opposition’s PG toward the Picker – in conjunction with the Picker’s defender – and then recover [by going either under or over, depending on the specific defensive tactic being used] to defend the PG on the dribble.

Situation #3. In a transition situation when there is no Pick being set on him. To contain the opposition’s PG on the dribble, 1-on-1.

Situation #4. In a transition situation when there is a Pick being set on him. To contain the opposition’s PG on the dribble, in conjunction with the Picker’s defender.

Situation #5. In a half-court situation when there is no Pick being set on him. To switch defensive responsibilities with a teammate who has the task of defending against an opposition player who plays a different position and is, therefore, usually a bigger player. 

Situation #6. In a half-court situation when there is no Pick being set on him. To initiate defensive double-teams and traps against opponent players who are very skilful at scoring either in the Low Post or on drives from the perimeter into the lane.

Situation #7. In a half-court situation when there is no Pick being set on him.  To rotate appropriately in order to provide the necessary help for a teammate who has been beaten on a dribble penetration move by an opponent.

Situation #8. In a half-court situation when there is no Pick being set on him. To rotate appropriately in order to provide the necessary help for a teammate who has had to rotate to assist a teammate that has been beaten on a dribble penetration move by an opponent, i.e. Help-the-helper.

Situation #9. In a half-court situation when there is no Pick being set on him. To close-out appropriately versus an opponent shooter, contesting the shot and containing that player on the dribble.

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When Jose Calderon is injury-free, the vast majority of his individual defensive breakdowns occur in Situation #2, as a result of a Big-on-Little Pick, where the main culprit isn’t actually Calderon at all but the Raptors’ Big involved in defending this specific action.

If Andrea Bargnani [who is the worst offender], Jermaine O’Neal [who is the 2nd worst offender], Chris Bosh [who is fairly good at this] and Kris Humphries [who is the most proficient at this], as a group, do a poor job defensively when:

i. Switching
ii. Showing & Recovering, or
iii. Trapping

in a 5/4-on-1 Pick scenario … and the opponent’s PG is able to dribble penetrate into the heart of the Raptor’s defense on a consistent basis, primarily, this is not the fault of the Dino’s PG.

When assessing Jose Calderon’s individual defense … encompassing those Nine Situational Categories … versus that provided by the other starting PGs across the League, this is what you should be able to see:

which would place him in the middle-of-the-pack, approximately, not towards the bottom. 

If ‘Da Bulls’ decide to play ‘up-tempo’ basketball, ’4 out/1 in’ style … Run, Run, Run … Is there (now) another team in the league with more depth, athleticism, ‘scoring’, and rebounding – at each of the 5 spots on the floor – than this ‘Group of 15′ for Chicago?

2007-08 Roster 
NUM PLAYER POS HT WT DOB   FROM YRS
6 Shannon Brown  G  6-4 211 11/29/1985   Michigan State 1
20 JamesOn Curry  G  6-3 190 01/07/1986   Oklahoma State R
9 Luol Deng – C  F  6-9 220 04/16/1985   Duke 3
21 Chris Duhon  G  6-1 185 08/31/1982   Duke 3
90 Drew Gooden  F  6-10 250 09/24/1981   Kansas 5
7 Ben Gordon  G  6-3 200 04/04/1983   Connecticut 3
34 Aaron Gray  C  7-0 270 12/07/1984   Pittsburgh R
12 Kirk Hinrich – C  G  6-3 190 01/02/1981   Kansas 4
32 Larry Hughes  G  6-5 185 01/23/1979   St. Louis 9
35 Demetris Nichols  F  6-8 216 09/04/1984   Syracuse R
13 Joakim Noah  F  6-11 232 02/25/1985   Florida R
5 Andres Nocioni  F  6-7 225 11/30/1979   Argentina 3
2 Thabo Sefolosha  G  6-7 215 05/02/1984   Switzerland 1
15 Cedric Simmons  F  6-9 235 01/03/1986   North Carolina State 1
24 Tyrus Thomas  F  6-8 215 08/17/1986   Louisiana State 1

Maybe … only 1.

The problem with Da Bulls … is no more!

Despite their disasterous start this season – and keyed by the trades from yesterday - the Chicago Bulls are now poised to (once again) make the Playoffs in the Eastern Conference.

Kudos to their GM, John MacBeth Paxson.