khandor’s sports blog

Toronto Raptors 91
UTAH JAZZ 104
Wed Nov 18 2009 - Game Scoreboard

At the 9:20 mark of the 4th quarter this was a 2 possession game with the Jazz leading, 83-79. 

If you look at the Full-Play-By-Play for the next 5 minutes and 20 seconds, what you should be able to see during this sequence is that:

Toronto had 14 offensive possessions.
Utah had 11 offensive possessions.

Toronto committed 3 Turnovers.
Utah commited just 1 Turnover.

Toronto took 9 shots outside of the lane [and made only 1].
Utah took 0 shots outside of the lane.

Toronto scored just 3 points [1/3FG].
Utah scored 12 points [4 FTs; 4/2FGs].

If you then watch the game-tape closely … specifically … this is how each of the offensive possessions for the Raptors and Jazz actually broke down:

What you should then be able to see is:

A. Just how ineffective the Raptors were with their ”High Middle/High Wing/Wing Pick” Series;

vs

B. Just how effective the Jazz were using their “UCLA Cut” Series and ”Transition Attack”;

in terms of generating high percentage shot attempts, in the lane, or from the free throw line … none of which should come as much of a surprise, at least, to those of you who paid attention to what was first written here on Sep 18 2009:

Thumb-down 35 special … for the Raptors

The fact is …

Not only is the Raptors’ defense performing in a poor way, thus far this season, but … when crunch time arrives in important games vs a Quality Opponent [.500+], or in last night’s case, vs an opponent that is particularly well-schooled in its own highly potent offensive and defensive [i.e. with designated helps and specific rotations] systems … so, too, is their offense, which is based primarily on the 3-5 Pick & Roll/Pop action.

Executing well, offensively, in the NBA isn’t just about “making the open shots your players happen to get” but, also … and, more importantly … “getting the specific type of open shots which your players can make on a consistent basis.” 

There’s a big difference between these two types of shot attempts.

For those who might not have seen it yet …
 

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The Mavs only made 3 player substitutions in the quarter:

08:32 Kidd replaced Terry

07:01 Terry replaced Barea

00:28:02 Humphries replaced Nowitzki

and Nowitzki’s individual Box Score line for the game looked like this:

which included 4th quarter contributions of:

29 points [7-8/FG's; 14-14/FT's], 5 Rebs, 2 Ast

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“On all of these plays, I’m looking at Mehmet Okur. He has on his tap dancing shoes … he can’t stay in place. Whoahhh! … he gave it to you, Mehmet.” - Steve Smith [NBA TV Analyst]

When certain Raptors fans cannot accept legitimate criticism of the former No. 1 [overall] Draft Pick/2006, they should be pointed toward this specific assessment of his individual game, which includes Offense, Defense and Rebounding:

SI.com’s NBA Enemy Lines: An opposing team’s scout sizes up the Raptors
Andrea Bargnani has to become more “NBA-ized.” By that I mean he still has a lot of that European stuff to his game. He doesn’t get back fast enough defensively, he doesn’t get physical enough and he settles too much for the jump shot as a 7-footer. He should be more of an asset inside, especially as a rebounder, though I did see signs of him trying to do that last year. He hasn’t shown that he’s a real tough, hard-nosed guy. He’s very skilled and he knows how to play, but he needs to be more in tune with what it takes to be successful in the NBA.

Right now, Bargnani can’t defend any position other than the 5, so he has to get stronger and do his work early defensively rather than wait for his man to take position in the post and then try to guard him, because by then it’s too late. He doesn’t move his feet well defensively, and that needs to be addressed in order for him to take it to the next level and be a starting center for a playoff team. As a 4 man, he can’t guard the position at all. I guess he needs to model his game after Mehmet Okur, a perimeter-shooting center who can handle himself physically inside. I trust Bargnani as a shooter. If it’s not a highly contested shot, I feel like it’s going to go in. He has a great release, form and arc with great range and pretty good quickness to get the shot off.

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Those with credible basketball experience are the ones who can see clearly what this young man’s specific strengths and weaknesses actually are, as a highly serviceable [back-up?] Center, in the NBA:

STRENGTHS
1. Has a high offensive skill level and knows “how” to play on this side of the floor.
2. A trustworthy shooter … but, only of shots which are not highly contested.
3. Good form on his perimeter shot with an adequately quick release.

WEAKNESSES
1. Doesn’t get back quickly enough in defensive transition.
2. Lacks NBA “physicality”, “strength” and “toughness”.
3. Not enough of an asset as a rebounder.
4. Cannot defend ANY position other than Center.
5. Fails to do “early work” defensively vs his individual check.
6. Fails to “move his feet well” on defense.
7. Cannot guard the Power Forward position at all.

not those who think that he is still capable of becoming a “franchise” player, as a perimeter-based Power [or over-sized Small] Forward.

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PS. As well, please take note that when a real life NBA scout describes what he actually sees when he looks at and assesses the abilities of an NBA player he DOES NOT include a single “game stat average” in that evaluation.

re: How an astute NBA observer might expect the first part of the schedule to unfold for the Raptors this year

Game 12 – at Utah [Wed Nov 18]

The last of a 4-game WC road trip, in a back-2-back situation, is not a good spot for the Raptors to right their listing ship. Although the Jazz might still be without CJ Miles [OG] and Matt Harpring [SF-PF], due to lingering injuries, Utah will still be a dangerous opponent, playing on 3 days rest with recent Hall Of Fame inductee Jerry Sloan at the helm:

Raptors expected W-L Record: L, 4-8

FINAL SCORE: TOR 101, Uta 109
Complete Game Info

These are the different 5-Man Units which the Jazz and Raptors chose to play in the 4th quarter of yesterday’s game:

This is how the Minutes Played [MP], at specific positions, broke down for each player:

Utah

Brevin Knight/PG, 01:43
Jarron Collins/C, 02:20
Matt Harpring/PF, 02:20
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Deron Williams/PG, 10:17
Kyle Korver/OG, 12:00
Andrei Kirilenko/SF, 12:00
Paul Millsap/PF, 09:40
Mehmet Okur/C, 09:40

Toronto

Jose Calderon/PG, 09:29
Anthony Parker/PG, 02:31
Anthony Parker/OG, 05:46
Jason Kapono/OG, 07:14
Joey Graham/SF, 07:37
Shawn Marion/PF, 03:39
Shawn Marion/SF, 03:23
Chris Bosh/C, 03:39
Chris Bosh/PF, 08:21 
Andrea Bargnani/C, 08:21

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Key Utah Possession Outcomes during the final 01:35 of the 4th Q

01:35 Deron Williams Made 22-ft Jumpshot [P & R/P isolation vs Switch by Bargnani/checking MIllsap] 

01:00 Deron Williams Maked 1 FT [fouled by Bargnani, P & R/P isolation vs Switch by Bargnani/checking Kirilenko]

00:31 Mehmet Okur Made Layup [P & R isolation vs Switch by Bosh/checking Okur and Bargnani failed to Rotate-to-Help Calderon vs Okur]

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If the Raptors would have used a combination of the following 6 players, instead:

Calderon/PG
Parker/OG or PG [solid Rebounder/Defender at the PG spot]
Graham/OG or SF [solid Rebounder/Defender at the OG or SF spot]
Marion/PF or SF [solid Rebounder/Defender at the PF or the SF spot]
Mensah-Bonsu/PF [solid Rebounder/Defender at the PF spot]
Bosh/C [solid Rebounder/Defender at the C spot]

during the final 06:00 minutes, the outcome would have been different for the home team.

As long as the Raptors continue to assemble a roster of players like this and then use them in the way they are right now … which is how they’ve operated for much of this disappointing season to-date … they will continue to come up short on a consistent basis against the High End Teams in this league.

Despite what others might think … the Raptors are NOT repeatedly losing games this season on account of how Jose Calderon and/or Chris Bosh are performing at the Point Guard spot and the Center position, respectively.

They are losing games on account of what’s happening on the floor when:

1. Chris Bosh is NOT at the Center position;

2. Jose Calderon, or Anthony Parker, is NOT at the Point Guard position; and,

3. Jason Kapono is NOT sitting on the bench … beside Andrea Bargnani [with Roko Ukic, Marcus Banks, Jake Voskuhl, Jermaine O'Neal, Will Solomon, Hassan Adams, and Nathan Jawai], from an effective Rebounding & Team Defense perspective.

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PS. FWIW, you can decide for yourself who you think SHOULD bare Most of The Responsibility for this … i.e. Sam Mitchell, Jay Triano or BRYAN COLANGELO.

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.