khandor’s sports blog

It’s important to actually listen to what someone has to say about a specific topic before forming one’s own opinion about what this person’s words and actions may have meant and what could, possibly, lie ahead.

 Here’s the link for yesterday’s conference call with Bryan Colangelo and Toronto-based sports media.

Enjoy.

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PS. FWIW … Please close attention to the part where Bryan Colangelo mentions for the first time, during his tenure with the team, that the goal of the Raptors organization is to eventually be able to win the NBA Championship.  :-)

Tim Chisholm [TSN] authoured the following blog entry at 12:14:00 PM, on May 27 2011:

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Raptors need to evaluate coaching options

With Bryan Colangelo locked-up for the next two-to-three years to run the organization, the Toronto Raptor’s attention shifts to the head coaching chair, a position almost as controversial as Colangelo’s has been over the last couple of seasons.

Currently that seat is occupied by Jay Triano, as it has been for the last two-and-a-half seasons. But with the team needing to exercise an option in his contract next month to keep him around, it would appear some serious due diligence is being done before handing him the keys to his third training camp with the Raptors.

Colangelo has been extremely supportive of Triano’s efforts over the years. Even with his career .380 winning percentage as head coach, Triano looked like a safe bet to return to the sidelines to at least finish out his contract next season. However, despite Colangelo’s new contract, Triano’s option has still not been picked up.

While most saw it mostly as a formality, Colangelo spoke with atypical evasiveness when it came to Triano’s future on a recent interview on The Score Radio. Here is a brief excerpt from that interview:

“We really want to talk philosophically about [defense and offensive efficiency] and I think at the end of the day we know enough about each other that there’s probably a good understanding,” said Colangelo. “But we really have to talk in earnest, and discuss this particular season. Talk about the progress that’s been made with Jay at the helm and then decide whether or not he’s the right guy going forward.”

Colangelo then went on to say, “I’m going to defer until I’ve actually carried all of that out, and worked through some of those things with Jay, and at some point in the next few weeks we’re gonna know if that’s the direction we’re going in.”

Okay, so it’s not exactly a controversial statement, but it certainly carries a lot less overt support than his season-ending press conference did. There Colangelo applauded Triano for the sacrifices he’d made by playing the young players and how every player, to a man, thought he did a great job as head coach.

This week, Colangelo made a point of explaining that he has questions that need to be addressed before he’s willing to fully commit to Triano next season. Anyone who has watched Triano’s teams can see that defence has been a major area of weakness. This year the team’s offence wasn’t strong enough to help counter that deficiency as it sometimes did in the past.

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Then, as of Wed-Jun-01-2011, Jay Triano is no longer the Raptors’ head coach.

If, however, you take a look at the landing page for Tim Chisholm’s blog today:

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[most recent entry]

Mavericks face tough task against Heat in Finals [May 30 2011]

Missing Blog Entry?

Who will the Raptors be looking at for the draft? [May 20 2011]

Colangelo extension wise for rebuilding Raptors [May 18 2011]

Mavericks experience faces Thunder’s youth [May 17 2011]

Breaking down the Eastern Conference Finals [May 13 2011]

- etc.

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You will not find any reference there, at all, to the specific entry concerning the fate of Jay Triano … which is an extremely curious development, especially, in light of the most recent “tweet” from Mr. Chisholm, which reads as follows:

=======================================================

 @timpchisholm Tim Chisholm

6 hours ago

=======================================================

As yours truly has mentioned here several times before, things could get very interesting, very quickly, in Raptorville, if the ‘right people’ are actually put in place at the top end of Toronto’s management structure, and the resources which this franchise has always had access to are, in fact, utilized astutely, from a strictly ‘basketball’ perspective.

On the heels of last week’s “Part 1” announcement:

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Triano out, as Raptors head coach

Triano, the 52-year-old native of Niagara Falls, Ont., was due to make just over $2 million as the head coach next season, which would have been his third full year after replacing Sam Mitchell as the seventh head coach in the 16-year history of the franchise.

“I have great respect for Jay Triano both as a person and as a basketball mind,” president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said in a news release. “Jay deserves tremendous credit for developing our young players this past season and our most recent win-loss record does not appropriately reflect his many positive contributions to this organization.” This was a difficult decision to make, but after almost three full seasons of observation and evaluation I believe that bringing in a new voice as head coach will accelerate the progress we are looking to make in the coming years.”I am very pleased that Jay has agreed to stay on and help see through the plan that we have designed and initiated together.”

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Yes, indeed, things could get very interesting, in Raptorville, if the the ‘right people’ are finally put in place at the top end of the team’s organizational flow chart.

At the end of the 2008-2009 regular season, the main pieces for the Raptors and the Bulls, respectively, looked like this:

Toronto at Chicago [April 15, 2009]

When you then look at the main pieces for these same two teams when they played each other at the end of the 2009-2010 regular season, what you see is the following:

Chicago at Toronto [April 11, 2010]

When you then look at the main pieces for these same two teams when they played each other at the end of the just completed regular season, what you see is the following:

Toronto at Chicago [April 2, 2011]

Key differences and similarities?

1. Lead Executives, at the time:

2008-2009
CHICAGO, John Paxson
TORONTO, Bryan Colangelo and Maurizio Gherardini

2009-2010
CHICAGO, John Paxson and Gar Forman
TORONTO, Bryan Colangelo and Maurizio Gherardini

2010-2011
CHICAGO, John Paxson and Gar Forman
TORONTO, Bryan Colangelo and Maurizio Gherardini

2. Head Coaches, at the time:

2008-2009
CHICAGO, Vinnie Del Negro
TORONTO, Jay Triano

2009-2010
CHICAGO, Vinnie Del Negro
TORONTO, Jay Triano

2010-2011
CHICAGO, Tom Thibodeau
TORONTO, Jay Triano

3. Key Players, at the time:

2008-2009
CHICAGO
Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng [DNP-injury], Ben Gordon, John Salmons, Tyrus Thomas, Kirk Hinrich, Brad Miller and Tim Thomas

TORONTO
Chris Bosh, Shawn Marion, Jose Calderon, Anthony Parker and Andrea Bargnani [DNP-injury]

2009-2010
CHICAGO
Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, Kirk Hinrich and Brad Miller

TORONTO
Chris Bosh [DNP-injury], Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani, Hedo Turkoglu, Amir Johnson, Sonny Weems, DeMar DeRozan and Reggie Evans

2010-2011
CHICAGO
Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer, CJ Watson, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, Kurt Thomas, Omir Asik and Rasual Butler

TORONTO
Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson, Ed Davis, Jerryd Bayless, James Johnson, Leandro Barbosa, Sonny Weems, Linas Kleiza and Reggie Evans

4. Won-Loss Records, at the time

2008-2009
CHICAGO, 41-41
TORONTO, 33-49

2009-2010
CHICAGO, 39-41 [similar]
TORONTO, 38-42 [slightly better]

2010-2011
CHICAGO, 56-20 [significantly better]
TORONTO, 20-55 [significantly worse]

Since their introduction to the NBA, 16 years ago, what the Toronto Raptors have displayed is: [1] A remarkable inability to hold onto their “best” players from previous seasons who have solid upside and were actually selected by the team in the annual Draft; and, [2] A disturbing penchant for selecting the “wrong” players in the annual Draft who have limited upside and then remain fixtures with the team for far too many years without becoming very productive overall … unlike the Chicago Bulls.

Until the Raptors properly address the deficiencies which exist for their franchise at the Executive level, the Head Coach level, and the Marquee Player level, what position they select in any given NBA Draft Lottery is quite immaterial … if the long term goal is eventually being able to win a League Championship.

Kudos to the Raptors’ head coach for the dignified way he handled himself during today’s proceedings at the ACC.

Jay Triano’s End of Season Press Conference:

Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V

It is going to be very interesting indeed to hear what Bryan Colangelo will have to say … concerning such topics as:

i. His own contract status beyond June 30, 2011;

ii. Andrea Bargnani’s future role with the Raptors;

iii. The Raptors’ current ranking as the worst defensive team in the NBA;

iv. Jay Triano’s contract status beyond June 30, 2011;

and,

v. The opportunity to use the rest of the TPE – obtained in the Chris Bosh trade with Miami - which is set to expire later this summer 

… during his own end-of-season press conference on Monday, April 18, considering the team’s W-L results for the last 5+ seasons:

In the aftermath of losing their 59th game of the season, Jay Triano appraised the Raptors’ performance in the following way:

“It’s bitter. I mean, I don’t think anybody’s happy with our record. But at the same time there was some positives this year. The development of our players is probably the plus.”

Question

What exact “development” is the Raptors head coach speaking about when he makes a statement like this?

Answer

Is he speaking about their individual improvement at the Defensive end of the floor? [... where the team has traditionally been amongst the worst in the NBA]

Is he speaking about their individual improvement in terms of Rebounding? [... where the team has traditionally been amonst the worst in the NBA]

Or …

Is he speaking about their individual improvement, primarily, at the offensive end of the floor? [... where the team has traditionally been amonst the best in the NBA]

If you look at the chart above, you should be able to see clearly that one of the MAIN problems which the Raptors organization has had for quite some time is its inability to properly understand where the emphasis SHOULD be placed, if a franchise in the NBA has legitimate aspirations to move into the upper echelon, on a long term basis.

Pretty is, as pretty does … in this league.

Until MLSE, Bryan Colangelo, Jay Triano & Co., actually figure this out … everything else is, to a great extent, fundamentally immaterial.

As the minutes tick down towards the end of the NBA’s regular season schedule this evening, it is looking more and more like someone very very high up within the power structure of MLSE has already decided not to extend the employment contracts of Bryan Colangelo, Jay Triano, and a bevy of the team’s additional support staff:

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Feschuk: Contract status clouds picture in Raptors’ front office

The future of the basketball leadership is far from the only unknown, of course. Peddie has announced his plans to retire at 2011’s end. And Teachers’ announced last month that it had retained a firm to round up potential buyers for its 66 per cent stake in Canada’s biggest sporting empire, which counts among its riches the Raptors, the Maple Leafs and the Air Canada Centre. While one understands the urge not to saddle a theoretical new ownership group with a newly re-signed hoops honcho, the sale is in its early throes and unlikely to be resolved imminently.

There are solid arguments for and against keeping Colangelo, and there’s something to be said for the fact that, with the NBA playoff tournament set to begin without a Canadian entrant for the third straight spring, the GM’s extension hasn’t been promptly rubber-stamped by an ownership group with a reputation for not paying enough attention to its sporting products. Still, if the pension plan was seriously considering cutting loose the GM, it should have begun seeking his replacement long ago. Sources say there is no such search in progress. And considering a critical draft looms in little more than two months, there’s a common-sense escape to the current morass.

Offering Colangelo a short-term extension — say, a two-year deal that’s only partially guaranteed — would be a logical course. In some ways it would be a humbling dose of reality for Colangelo to digest; it would be a prove-it-to-us contract for an NBA GM with two decades of experience who has twice been named the league’s executive of the year. But given the swirling circumstance, it’s hard to imagine Colangelo not agreeing to something of its sort. It wouldn’t hurt that Colangelo’s acceptance of such an agreement would surely come with a knowing handshake from Tanenbaum; a better deal could be in Colangelo’s near-term future, in other words, should the chairman, who holds first right of refusal on the Teachers’ shares, emerge from the pending sale tossing around more weight than his current 20.5 per cent stake allows.

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Unlike Mr. Feschuk, however, yours truly does not believe that giving Bryan Colangelo a 2-year [limited?] contract extension, well after the conclusion of the regular season and before his current deal is set to expire [i.e. June-30-2011] is the best way for the Raptors to go about the building of an upper echelon franchise in the NBA.

Instead, what a compromise move like THAT would actually signify is that confusion reigns supreme within the administrative chamber of this professional sports franchise.

In this instance, the ‘right thing’ for the Raptors to do on Thursday, April 14, 2011  is, either:

i. Announce that each person will be signed to a new 3-year contract extension;

or,

ii. Announce that each person will, in fact, not be re-hired in their present capacity.

Decisive action is what’s needed from the ownership of this franchise, with a clear vision of how exactly to go about building its brand properly in today’s global marketplace.

The time may, finally, have come for Glen Silvestri and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan to stand their ground.

When Raptors need it most, Bargnani, DeRozan don’t step up

As the franchise moved forward in the wake of Chris Bosh’s departure, it was felt more players would get more touches in late-game sequences, a time when opponents couldn’t just lock in on one player when a variety of options would be considered.

But as Toronto’s lost season draws to its merciful end, conclusions can be drawn and it doesn’t exactly paint a pretty picture.

What must be understood is that both Bargnani and DeRozan are merely pieces, best suited as second and third options.

And unless the Raptors can somehow acquire a bona fide go-to guy this off-season, there will be more crushing nights and more reflection on missed opportunities.

In the NBA, at the end of the day it’s a game of stars.

At the end of games, stars are asked to make plays.

What the Raptors don’t have is a star.

At times, players have stepped up and games have been more winnable, but all one requires is a glance at the standings and there in black and white for all to see is Toronto’s 20-51 record and third straight season without a playoff appearance, a fate that became official when Indiana beat Charlotte well before the Suns subdued the Raptors 114-106.

“This league has been about your main guys making plays down the stretch,” said head coach Jay Triano, who has somehow managed to keep his sanity. “I think that’s what has to happen.

“Yes, you have to execute. And yes, you have to be sound defensively, but it takes star players to step up and make good plays.”

In Phoenix, Bargnani would lead all scorers with 27, but when it mattered most he was able to get off five shots in the fourth quarter, making just one.

Bargnani played eight fourthquar ter minutes, but didn’t take a shot until four minutes remained.

He wasn’t even a factor on the glass, getting outrebounded by Steve Nash, who produced only one board.

When Phoenix went into a two-three zone, DeRozan tried to attack it by going strong to the rim, only to have his attempt rejected by Marcin Gortat.

When the Raptors needed their two best players to step up, neither could as Bargnani and DeRozan went a combined 3-of-10 from the field in the final period.

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Kudos to Frank! … for hitting this one flush on the head.

Led by Jose Calderon … and much better Pick and Roll/Pop defense from their collection of Bigs … the Toronto Raptors played a very solid game last night against the visiting New Orleans Hornets.

If you take a close look at:

PART I

The complete Box Score, and pay particular attention to the category of kPER, which is an exclusive creation of yours truly:

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Flagrant Fouls: None
Technical Fouls: PLAYERS: None – TEAMS (def3sec): TORONTO (1), NEWORLEANS (2) – COACHES: None
Officials: Scott Wall , John Goble , Marc Davis
Attendance: 14,704
Time of Game: 02:08

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you should be able to see clearly which specific players were most responsible for the 6-point margin of victory by the Raptors;

PART II

The Game Flow Chart

You should also be able to see clearly that, as long as the Raptors did not use specific players together – i.e. at the PG, OG and SF positions – who are ill-suited to play with one another:

they were actually a far superior team to the Hornets last night;

and,

PART III

Jay Triano’s observations at his post-game press conference

You should be able to see clearly just how important improved Pick and Roll/Pop defense from the team’s Bigs against:

i. The Picker;
ii. The original ball-handler; and,
iii. The other non-Picking Big [in various rotation situations];

actually is to the Raptors’ overall defensive efficiency.

If/when the Raptors play Team Basketball that looks LIKE THAT, then … even with their current less than stellar roster … they are certainly capable of finishing in the middle section of the league standings.

If there is a single day this entire season which perfectly encapsulates the currently woeful state of the Raptors franchise it is Tuesday, February 22, 2011.

ITEM #1

Toronto Raptors [15-42] 101
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS [25-32] 114
Complete Game Info

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[Note: For an explanation of "kPER", "Est. Possessions", "Pts/Poss" and "Pts/Poss Diff", please see the blog entry below this one and the one from February 18.]

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ITEM #2

Oak gets assist in Charlotte as Bobcats down Raptors 114-101

PART I

“It was men against boys.” – Jay Triano 

PART II

“Does management (in Toronto) want to win? They’ve got some good athletes. What’s the problem? Who’s the coach? If they’re not playing D, I blame the coach.” – Charles Oakley

Item #3

Bulls trade James Johnson to Raptors

PART I

Chicago was willing to trade the No. 16 [overall] Selection from the 2009 NBA Draft to Toronto, in exchange for a low 1st Round Draft Pick [i.e. Miami's] this summer.

This alone should tell you everything you need to know about the ability of James Johnson to have a ”positive” effect on the Raptors’ fortunes moving forward.

PART II

While the Bulls have done a nice job adding a collection of solid pieces to their puzzle, after drafting Derrick Rose with the No. 1 [overall] Selection in the 2009 NBA Draft …

e.g. including the likes of Thom Thibodeau [HC], Carlos Boozer [PF], Taj Gibson [PF], Kyle Korver [OG-SF], CJ Watson [PG], Keith Bogans [OG-SF], Ronnie Brewer [SF], Omer Asik [C], Kurt Thomas [PF-C] and Brian Scalabrine [PF-C] …

The Raptors now have almost as many Power Forwards on their roster:

1 Amir Johnson
2 Ed Davis
3 Linas Kleiza [SF]
4 James Johnson [SF]
5 Joey Dorsey
6 Reggie Evans

as the Minnesota Timberwolves [i.e. another of the league's laughingstock franchises], 

a group of mostly mediocre Small Forwards:

7 DeMar DeRoza
   Linas Kleiza [PF]
8 Sonny Weems
   James Johnson [PF]
9 Julian Wright

none of whom projects out as a future “star” player in the NBA,

a trio of solid but equally unspectacular Point Guards:

10 Jose Calderon
11 Leandro Barbosa
12 Jerryd Bayless

to go with their muffed No. 1 [overall] Selection from the 2006 NBA Draft, leading the way at the Center position:

13 Andrea Bargnani
14 Alexis Ajinca
15 Solomon Alabi.

When you put the puzzle pieces together for the Raptors, what you then get is two-fold:

#1. A recipe for long term on-court mediocrity;

and,

#2. A recipe for long term off-court financial flexibility and profit.

PART III

If you take a close look at the players chosen with the Top 5 Selections for the NBA Draft, since 1992:

[Note: For an explanation of "QR" and "QIR", please see the following.]

it really isn’t very difficult to identify the reasons why the Raptors have never made it past the 2nd Round of the Playoffs, and are once again headed toward the bottom of the league standings.