Khandor called it, TJ should be sat at the end of the bench until he figures some things out. I am was a TJ supporter, I love his game, I still think he has a big upside, but he pissed me off something awful tonight. I was for starting him to satisfy his ego, and settle shit, but not anymore. Bench him and fire Lucas, shit is ridiculous. Jose was actually having a pretty good game, but saw little burn in the 4th, don’t know why, don’t really care
Expectations my friends. I had zero for this game. What upset me though, was while I was typing this shit up, Chuck, in the post game, said he expected at least 2 wins in this Western swing. WTF? Jack quickly stepped in and said that 2 wins would have been the best case scenario, Chuck looked confused…upsetting…Damn my league night, my game got canceled and I run to Raptors TVHD like a crack whore looking for my fix, I’m so weak…so weak…like a crack whore…
1st Quarter:
- I could be wrong, but I think Armstrong is smashed before the tipoff, lol.
- I’m not crazy about the uniforms.
- Kirilenko drops a nice pass to Brewer for an easy/uncontested layup.
- Calderon picks Williams pocket, but Rasho turns it over.
- Bargnani gets called for going over Boozers back off the Moon missed jumper.
- Calderon blows by Williams and lays it up past Kirilenko.
- Kirilenko finds Brewer again under the rim, but Parker tips it away.
- Calderon finds the trailing Moon in the key for an open dunk.
- Bargnani picks up his second foul, quickly.
- Rasho grabs an offensive board off Bargnanis missed trey, draws a foul, and hits 1 of 2.
- Rasho misses another baby-hook off the perfect Calderon pass into the post.
- Calderon gets blocked by Okur on the break.
- Ugly game, lol.
- Parker comes off a Bargnani screen for an open jumper.
- Humphries fakes the pass to a curling Parker, and finds Rasho with a great pass for a dunk in the low blocks.
- Hump forces it against Millsap, gets blocked by Kirilenko, stays with, and draws a foul, hits 1 of 2.
- Hump drives to the stripe and kicks out to Parker for a trey.
- Hump takes it to the rack again, but gets blocked by Millsap, might have been a foul, couldn’t tell.
- Millsap hits a turn around/ugly hook for good measure.
- TJ misses two layups in a row, then turns it over with a bad pass to Moon in transition which leads to a Boozer layup the other way, Raptors timeout.
- Maceo Baston is on the court in the first quarter…
- Kapono continues the hot shooting, and nails one inside the arc.
- Boozer fakes to the middle of the court, turns baseline, and sticks a tough shot over Baston on the baseline.
- Baston grabs an offensive board, and gets fouled, hits 1 of 2 from the line with 5.5 left in the quarter.
- 16-16 at the end of the first, lol.
2nd Quarter:
- Baston gets called for 3 in the key when TJ and Jason play hot-potato on the perimeter.
- Hump hits a jumper from the corner.
- Sloppy game…
- Price jacks a trey and sticks it.
- TJ finally hits a shot, with a floater in traffic.
- Price jacks another one in Delfino’s eye.
- I missed a couple possession but walked into the room with Price on the break getting fouled by Hump and sinking the layup, he hits the FT.
- 29-21 Jazz out of nowhere.
- Ford curls off a screen and gets the layup to roll in.
- Ford finds Kapono for a jumper inside the arc.
- Kapono hits a tear drop on the baseline.
- Korver gets in the paint, and kicks out to Williams for a trey.
- Humphries jacks a shot as the clock expires…not the shot the Raptors need.
- Williams breaks down the D and hits a runner in traffic.
- Parker strokes a J at the top of the key.
- Korver curls off a low screen and answers.
- Kapono has the ball poked out of his hands by Boozer, then commits a foul trying to get it back.
- Bargnani lays it up weak and turns it over…sigh.
- Williams comes off a Millsap screen and nails a J, Raptors timeout.
- Bargnani gets the ball at the top of the key, drives, and commits a charge.
- Williams plays pick-and-roll with Boozer and threads the needle with a sweet pass for an easy Boozer layup.
- Collins hits a cutting Korver with a no look pass for a layup…Collins!
- Jose gets the ball from Rasho for a trey.
- Jack: “Bargnani doesn’t know when the pass or when to shoot it.”
- Rasho draws a charge from Boozer.
- Kapono nails a trey.
- Williams gets to the top of the key and sticks a J.
- Calderon forces a quick shot for some reason.
- Williams gets T’d up cause he thought he was fouled by Rasho (he was) - JC hits the FT.
3rd Quarter:
- Bargnani finally contributes with a trey off the swing from Calderon.
- Williams steps around the Boozer screen (Calderon goes under) and hits a jumper inside the arc.
- Parker plays give and go with Calderon then finds Rasho with an entry pass from the wing for an open layup.
- Calderon hits a J from the elbow.
- Bargnani runs down an offensive board for a reset, then gets fouled by Millsap.
- Bargnani gets the inbound pass and nails a deep jumper, 1 point game.
- Williams wiggles free, fakes the J and finds a slashing Boozer for a dunk.
- Boozer then draws a charge from Bargnani.
- Williams rips by Calderon, but gets blocked by Parker in the paint.
- Boozer hits a tough turnaround jumper on the baseline over Bargnani.
- Rasho stays with the ball, and hits a baby-hook off of Boozers turnover in the end zone.
- Kirilenko hits a step back jumper over Bargnani inside the arc.
- Calderon lobs a pass to an open Rasho for the reverse layup.
- Parker calls for the ball, finally gets it from Calderon, drives inside the arc, and unleashes a sweet J.
- Williams answers with a trey, Calderon nowhere to be found.
- Calderon answers with a trey off of Parkers penetration.
- Williams hits a jumper at the top of the key, Calderon nowhere to be found again.
- Calderon takes Williams off the dribble, and finishes a layup.
- Williams returns the favour with a reverse layup.
- Moon ties the game with 11 seconds left with a jumper on the baseline.
4th Quarter:
- Harpring grabs an offensive rebound, kicks out to Price who finds an open Korver in the corner for an open trey.
- Kirilenko gets away with a walk, and draws a foul, hitting 1 of 2 from the line.
- parker pokes the ball out of Boozers hand in the paint.
- TJ needs to be subbed out ASAP, he is playing out of control.
- TJ hits a jumper from the elbow, shouldn’t be taking that shot.
- Price beats TJ off the bounce for a reverse layup.
- Ford jacks a three…misses…get him out ASAP.
- Harpring hits a bank shot after getting by Parker.
- TJ gets called for a foul a charge, then loses it. Smitch should have pulled 2.5 minutes ago when he was running amok all over the court.
- 4 point play with Kirilenko icing the game with a jumper.
- I hate my life…no no, I hate my life as it involves the Raptors. Serves me right…
Technorati Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Andrei Kirilenko, Anthony Parker, Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, Jamario Moon, Jared Collins, Jason Kapono, Jose Calderon, Kris Humphries, Kyle Korver, Maceo Baston, Matt Harpring, Paul Millsap, Rasho Nesterovic, Ronnie Brewer, Ronnie Price, TJ Ford, Utah Jazz
March 17th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
When I last saw the score, the raptors had it close in the first. TJ comes in and we’re down by 5. Oh well, what else is new? I trust the future of the Raptors to Colangelo and I’ve been with them from the start so this season is nothing compared to ye olde days of paine, but something has to be done. I don’t know WHAT anymore, just do something.
You didn’t touch on TJ’s ejection? At least some drama makes for good reading.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
The guy is a whackjob. The second coming of Rafer.
I think the team played fairly well, all things considered. Rasho missed some easy chippies, but that happens on the last game of a 5 game road trip.
Cluck Jerksky looked genuinely shocked to hear the stuff coming out of Jack’s mouth, which says a lot to his homerism.
I’m glad there are people like Darien still around, keeping their faith in Colangelo. Although, I think this team is getting close to the “ye olde days of paine.” We are one game above .500. One game. One.
If Darien doesn’t know what to do, I guess we need to hope BC does. We did when he took over this team, but look where that has us….relying on one player to carry us.
AltRaps’s last blog post..Raptors Roll Call March 17 vs Jazz
March 17th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
After looking over some more stats, maybe Rasho should just start at centre and then Bargnani can practise in the garbage time. Raptors have problems rebounding, but the seldom-used Nesterovic cleans up the boards. We outrebounded the Jazz tonight (possibly because they shot better than us and there were no offensive rebounds to get…), and a lot of that was N. Bargnani isn’t playing too well right now anyway, so it would theoretically be better just to have a relatively consistent dude earning his 8 mil instead of squandering him on the bench when Bosh comes back.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
On the positive side I thought our interior defense was pretty good and we did things well for the majority of the game. It’s not an easy task to contain Utah’s mathematical offense but we played good paint defense to stay in the game. The perimeter D still sucked but I thought if Ford hadn’t imploded and we had continued to play a slow tempo game, this was there for the taking.
Arsenalist’s last blog post..Sam Mitchell triggers Ford-led 4th quarter meltdown as Raptors end miserable swing
March 18th, 2008 at 3:02 am
I have only one problem with the team
- it’s ok to go 0-5 because it’s the West coast
I can see the qoutes from BC now
When Sam gets fired(most would agree)
He had lost the team and they need to go in a differrent direction.
When TJ gets traded(damaged goods)
Needs to be starter and not enough touches
When Bargs gets traded (nothing in return)
Maybe a change in scenery will help him develop
March 18th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Its ok,,, it just signifies the East is weak! Still having hangovers with the Denver’s 168!
Melvin’s last blog post..Cool Basketball Equipments
March 18th, 2008 at 8:33 am
i highly doubt bargnani gets traded, unless somehing fabulous comes along, which it wont, dude has no value. starting tj in the 4th over calderon with the game tied, and leaving him out there, after so many bad decisions…well, that is on smitch.
i thought the raptors played a pretty good game until the 3rd. utah is a damn good team, and they grinded them to a tie over the first 3 quarters with good interior defense (as per arse), and some decent ball movement. thank G*d for miami…
March 18th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Raps Fan > You’d think Bargs would do well since all eyes are on TJ + no Bosh. I’ve even given up on the Bargs bashing a few months ago (to return next season).
LOL, lay off the crack dude! (wait! NO! don’t! http://www.raptorstalk.com is MY crack!!! you damned dealer!!!) ;p
I feel bad for TJ. I really do. I wasn’t too crazy about his game, but I know it serves a purpose.
I still feel that as AltRaps alludes to Rafer (is Chuck Jersky going to retract all the stuff he said about Rafer not being able to play ?), the right environment would do him well. Can you imaginge him (TJ) playing in Miami or New Jersey with solid run-n-gun 2/3’s?
Again, speaking of Rafer (AltRaps is giving me lotsa ideas), wasn’t his beef (and VC’s) with Smitch and his style (or LACK THERE OF) coaching?
Anyone remember when Rafer went off on how Smitch had NO game plan, etc.? Then last year every1 was hanging onto Smitches nuts, and saying Rafer looks like a damn idiot because Smitch is COY?
How does a COY use the SAME starting line-up during a ZERO for FIVE game run? How? I’m NOT an expert, but I WOULD have @ least TRIED to shuffle the line-up a bit.
You WON’T start TJ, but you have enough faith to let him handle the point during a crucial run AND decide NOT to pull him after a bad stretch? Huh?
You sit Parker/Kapono/Calderon + whoever else has a hot hand in EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE GAMES, and THEN you bring them back when the Raps are DOWN 10+ points, expecting them to shoot cold?
Bosh isn’t an excuse. This team is better than that. As much as we’re hating on them right now, we KNOW this team isn’t a bad as that frikking road trip.
We can point at the players all we want, but there is only one man that allows them to go on the court.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:53 am
SiC, the first hit is always free, i take a piece of your soul with every visit you make here…muahahaha…
yea, i feel you man. smitch’s game plan seems sketchy. i knew the game was over when smitch brings maceo in during the first quarter. with brezec out of the lineup, maceo is the go too guy? why not keep those minutes between hump and rasho? i thought it strange.
as far as rafer…everyone knew the guy could ball (just like everyone knows tj can). his issue was smitch and vc. one of the reasons grunwald didn’t sign him to a contract after his 10 game stretch in TO before his miami season was vc, they didn’t get along.
one of babcocks first moves was to give the man a ton of cash to come to the raptors, that coupled with him not talking to vc for a couple months after coming aboard was the finally straw for vc…wow, latent vc ramblings…sorry…i need help
…anyways, trade tj for some talent, maybe we move him for artest
that would make me happy. or even to gs for pietrus and another play (that azabuike guy?)
March 18th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
The best aspects of last night’s loss were the post-game interviews given by Sam Mitchell, TJ Ford and Jose Calderon … all 3 of whom did a solid job with the way they handled the situation that flared up in the 4thQ.
IMHO …
* Sam said the correct things in his media scrum … i.e. focussing on the positives in the game and using the ‘Royal We’, exclusively, when asked to expound further on the display of anger (from only 1 of his players) that erupted with the game on the line. Classic & classy move by Sam, who is learning gradually how to be a better coach at this level of competition.
* TJ said the correct things in the individual interviews he gave to the beat reporters in the locker-room … i.e. taking full ownership of his actions and still re-affirming his commitment to be a ‘team player’ for this squad, whatever role might come his way, in the best interests of both the group and TJ Ford.
* Jose said the correct things … that Jose always seems to say, i.e. that his only concern is helping the team win games, whatever his role happens, AND re-affirming that this is a 15-man unit that is still and will be sticking together, in full support of one another and THEIR head coach (re: any player personnel decisions he makes in the game or otherwise) … as they fight through this difficult stretch in their growth & development … in other words, precisely what a Leader SHOULD say during a crisis like this.
Kudos to Sam, TJ & Jose for the way they each conducted themselves in the aftermath of this game!
khandor’s last blog post..You Make The Call
March 18th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
yup, i agree. i’m glad tj owned up, otherwise tjsucks.com would have seen the light of day. i can’t wait to see what jose does next season with the reigns fully in his hands.
March 18th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Bargnani is not getting traded for at least another two years. He’s BC’s boy and unless he’s the one that asks to be dealt, the Raptors will continue to have a very long leash when it comes to dealing with him. Let’s see how he does in Newell’s summer camp, if he hasn’t mentally and physically a year from now, I’ll be ready to call him a bust.
Arsenalist’s last blog post..Sam Mitchell triggers Ford-led 4th quarter meltdown as Raptors end miserable swing