According to a published report today, from ESPN, the Raptors are now listed amongst a large group of teams that have recently expressed interest in obtaining Omri Casspi [SF] from the Sacramento Kings.
In the opinion of yours truly, there has been a relatively easy way for the Raptors to acquire Mr. Casspi …
and set themselves up properly for an extended run of success, as a legitimate contender, in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference, for the next decade, if their management team has the wherewithal to make it happen.
“You can never get to the top if you think it’s just a job,” said Walton, whose son Luke plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. “It has to be your life, and it has to be the most important thing in the world to you as an individual and leader of your team.”
What are the specific reasons this corner recently advocated that the Raptors should entertain the thought of trading Andrea Bargnani [C] to the Sacramento Kings, asap?
Rationale Part 1 – The Raptors do not need Bargnani’s combination of good scoring and poor defense/rebounding to be competitive with the best teams in the NBA.
Fast break points: 22 Points in the paint: 44 Team TO ( points off ): 15 (18)
+/- denotes team’s net points while the player is on the court.
Flagrant Fouls: None Technical Fouls: PLAYERS: None – TEAMS (def3sec): LALAKERS (1) – COACHES: None Officials: Derrick Stafford , Curtis Blair , Leroy Richardson Attendance: 19,935 Time of Game: 2:21
=============================================
Rationale Part 2 – The Kings just might be bad enough this season to finish with the worst W-L Record in the NBA … despite having a boatload of young talent on their roster.
As is the case in most things in life, however, timing is what’s most important.
If the Raptors wait much longer, the opportunity to do the deal which was first proposed here 10 days ago will have closed,
IF THE RAPTORS WERE TO TRADE BARGNANI,
DEROZAN AND WEEMS TO THE KINGS
BEFORE
O
D
R
ADV
O
D
R
AFTER
STARTERS
Calderon
=
Calderon
DeRozan
à
Casspi
Weems
à
Wright
Johnson
=
Johnson
Bargnani
à
Thompson
0×4=0
+3×4=+12
KEY SUBS
Bayless
=
Bayless
Barbosa
=
Barbosa
Kleiza
=
Kleiza
Davis
=
Davis
Dorsey
à
Whiteside
0×3=0
+1×3=+3
RESERVES/EXTRAS/OUTS
Stojakovic
=
Stojakovic
Wright
ß
Greene
Evans
=
Evans
Dorsey
=
Dorsey
Alabi
=
Alabi
+1×1=+1
0×1=0
OVERALL
+1
+15
Legend:
- Player added via trade;
- Good rating;
- Average rating;
- Poor rating;
O – Offensive; D – Defensive Rating; R – Rebounding Rating.
since by that point Sacramento might be firmly ensconced in last place in the League Standings … in arrears of Washington, New Jersey and Minnesota … and in no hurry at all to give up the best chance at securing the rights to the No. 1 [overall] Selection in the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery.
… here is one example of a significant “swing for the fences” Trade Proposal which yours truly happens to think the Raptors’ management team should seriously consider, at this time:
Sacramento was likely going to get off to a slow start against Toronto having just returned from the Eastern Time Zone to begin the regular season. Once this occurred, however, what was also likely to happen was a gradual closing of the initial deficit with the balance of the game to be played in way that was probably going to result in a tight finish decided during the final minute of the game.
If you take a closer look at the Play-By-Play, however, what you should also be able to see is that the Kings actually dominated the Raptors for the final 3 quarters of this game with an ever-increasing degree of Possession Efficiency:
Toronto Raptors
SACRAMENTO KINGS
PERIOD
PTS
POSS
PTS/POSS
TREND
PTS
POSS
PTS/POSS
TREND
1st Q
33
27
1.22
16
26
0.62
2nd Q
29
28
1.04
↓
35
32
1.09
↑
1st Half
62
55
1.13
51
58
0.88
3rd Q
24
30
0.80
↓
27
26
1.04
=
4th Q
22
28
0.79
=
33
27
1.22
↑
2nd Half
46
58
0.79
↓
60
53
1.13
↑
TOTAL
108
113
0.96
111
111
1.00
Specifically, as the game progressed:
1. The Kings were gradually able to find their rhythm – i.e. offensively, defensively and in terms of rebounding – and, then, assert their collective will over the Raptors.
2. Omri Casspi [SF] was gradually able to dominate his individual match-up with Linas Kleiza [SF], primarily, because he is a better player, overall, with a more diverse skill-set and superior NBA-level athleticism.
3. The Kings’ quartet of talented Big Men – i.e. DeMarcus Cousins [C], Carl Landry [PF], Samuel Dalembert [C] and Jason Thompson [PF] – was gradually able to off-set the initial offensive thrust of Andrea Bargnani [C] and Reggie Evans [PF], and then dominate the final 6 minutes of the 4th quarter with multiple scores [i.e. FGs & FTs], rebounds and blocked [or affected] shots.
4. The Raptors’ 3 principal Off Guards – i.e. DeMar DeRozan, Sonny Weems and Leandro Barbosa – were not able to effectively contain Tyreke Evans [OG/PG] … working off the dribble in transition situations … who repeatedly shredded Toronto’s defense to create high percentage shots for, both, himself and his teammates.
Once the Kings picked up their overall level of intensity during the 2nd and 3rd quarters, it was only a matter of time before they were eventually going to wear the Raptors down.
———————————–
Unfortunately, as the Raptors now move on to Game 2 of their road trip, it will become increasingly difficult for them to compete effectively against their next 3 opponents … i.e. Utah Jazz, LA Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers … each with significantly more NBA-calibre talent on their current roster than Toronto.
Friday night’s first W of the season was important – and fortuitous – for the Raptors, as they now embark on their first west coast road trip with this evening’s tilt against the Kings [in Sacramento].
Q. Is Game One of this 4-game road trip one which the Raptors can steal?
TORONTO RAPTORS
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Pos
PERSONNEL
ADV
PERSONNEL
Pos
STARTERS
PG
Jack
=
Udrih
PG
OG
DeRozan
à
Evans
OG
SF
Kleiza
=
Casspi
SF
PF
Evans
à
Landry
PF
C
Bargnani
ß
Cousins
C
+1
+2
KEY SUBS
PG
Calderon
ß
Head
PG
OG
Barbosa
=
Garcia
OG
SF
Weems
=
Greene
SF
PF
Johnson
à
Thompson
PF
C
Andersen
à
Dalembert
C
+1
+2
RESERVES/EXTRAS/OUTS
PG
Banks
N/A
Jeter
PG
SF
Wright/J
N/A
Wright/A
OG
PF
Dorsey
N/A
Jackson
PF
PF
Davis
N/A
Whiteside
C
C
Alabi
N/A
—
—
0
0
COACHING
HC
Triano
à
Westphal
HC
0
+1
OVERALL
+2
+5
A. If they get a well-coached game from Jay Triano and can win the rebounding battle.
However, since the Kings have also just returned from the Eastern Time Zone, where they were for their first 3 games of the season, this will probably be a close match-up through all four quarters, and will most likely be decided in the final minute of play … which should then make the currently published wagering line, i.e. Toronto +4.5/-110, an attractive proposition for supporters of the road team.
For those who keep track of Walton comebacks, this is probably his zillionth, and quite possibly, his most important.
Walton, who retired from broadcasting two years ago because of debilitating back pain, and who weeks ago revealed that he contemplated suicide at one point because of unrelenting discomfort, says he is “climbing back into the game of life.”
Fifteen months after undergoing innovative spinal surgery, he can stand again. He can sit again. He can sleep again. He can travel again. He always talked a great game, and so the next step, this next giant stride, transports him into the Kings’ broadcast booth on a limited basis.
——————————-
If you’re a fan of:
i. The playful nature of the English language, in general;
ii. Eclectic individuals, specifically;
iii. The Game of Basketball;
and, in particular,
iv. The Game of Life;
then, today is most definitely a time for you to cheer … for the return to good health of Mr. Bill.
Throw It Down, Big Fella! …
hopefully, for plenty of years to come.
———-
PS. Kudos to the Kings for this making this happen!
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