Quickly- by a show of hands, how many Raptors fans thought that if they drew Detroit in the first round this year that they stood a chance of winning that series (put your hand down Chuck Swirsky- you’d think that they could beat God and Ditka in tennis match, and Chuck Norris in just about anything). The truth is…even the most staunch Raps fan must concede, that beating Orlando seemed really possible this year, as did Jersey last season…but Detroit…fuggeddaboutit.

Six years in a row now, the road to the finals has gone through Detroit. And while the Pistons have squandered multiple chances to lay claim to their own Dynasty (ie. Blowing leads to both Cleveland and Miami the last two years in the conference finals and a Rasheed Wallace meltdown in game 6 versus the Spurs the year before), make no mistake, they are still the team to beat….and not only in the East. The Pistons had 60 wins again this season and would have been the #1 seed in the Western Conference – and that is why- if they had beat Boston this week, they would have had home court advantage in the finals against either LA or SA. They took the 66 win Celtics to 6 games despite major injuries to 2 of their top players (Billups and Hamilton), and had they stole game 1 of this years conference finals, which they almost did, and gone home to Detroit up 2-0, this would not have been a series at all. But alas, the Pistons fell AGAIN in the conference finals and are left to wonder if history will remember them as anything more than the Atlanta Braves of basketball.

I’m not going to spend this column discussing how Detroit could have and probably should have beat a Celtics team that over achieved for 82 games in the regular season and then has looked very ordinary in the 20 playoff games it took them to defeat a horrible Atlanta team, a Lebron + parts Cleveland team, and an injured Pistons (still not impressed with the C’s). Instead I want to talk about how, Colangelo, in constructing (or rather reconstructing) this team in the off season needs to address the real issues of playing in the East- namely- you have to be able to beat Detroit to make it to the finals.

The Pistons have a core of Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups, and Rasheed Wallace, that are all under contract for at least 2 more years. And while many observers (myself included) thought that the drafting of Darko #2 overall (instead of Carmelo, Bosh, D Wade, Chris Kaman, etc), and losing Osama Ben Wallace to free agency would hurt this teams ability to win- they have continued to dominate the East. They continue to get strong production from the most unlikely of places: Antonio McDyess (who teams could have had 2 years ago for movie ticket) has proven indispensable. Joe Dumars has more than made up for the Darko incident by drafting from the late 20s every year and still finding excellent system players like Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson. And lets not forget that Joe D dealt his Darko mistake for an Orlando #1 that he used to draft Rodney Stuckey at 15 (YES THAT IS 15) and man Stuckey has looked dynamite in these playoffs, especially with Billups being injured. This should be the first hint Colangelo takes from Joe D about how to build a real winner - recognize when you draft the wrong guy on potential and ship him out while he is still young enough and unproven enough to have another GM believe in that potential.

In fact, it doesn’t matter who coaches this team- Rick Carlisle, Larry Brown, Flip Saunders, or who ever is next, these guys take care of business. Sometimes they are criticized for a lack of focus (which as I stated in the intro may be the reason SA and not DET have 4 rings in the last decade), but you have to give them credit…when they want to play “D” they can really shut it down. Just ask Chris Bosh, who continually has his worst games against Rasheed Wallace and Detroit. In fact, over the last 6 years, the Raps have a record of 6-17 versus the Pistons (1-3 in 2007-08).

So I know that Lebron is the future (and present) of the league, that Wade and Miami will be back, that Chicago has limitless potential, and that Boston has the Big 3, but to win in the East, the road will continue to go through Detroit.

Here then are some real suggestions for Colangelo, on how to make this team strong enough to not only make the playoffs and win a series, but actually challenge against Detroit. I call them real suggestions because I’m not going to suggest trading donuts for dollars here, but instead starting with the end of season line-up addressing position by position small but real options for upgrading that could reap some real rewards.

At the end of the season here is what the team looked like:

CENTRER : Rasho

POWER FORWARD: Bosh

SMALL FORWARD: Jamario Moon

2 GUARD: Anthony Parker

POINT GUARD: Forderon

BENCH: Delfino, Bargnani, Kapono, Humphries, Garbo, Maceo Baston, Primoz Brezec, and the enigma Joey Graham

COACH: Sam I am

—

Let’s start with the bench

We can all safely assume that Delfino and Brezec both wont be back…and that’s ok.

Also, Joey Graham will be back in spirit, as the Raps will pay his contract for one more year before he walks (or gets packaged in a deal since he is an expiring contract) but Raps fans hoping to see Graham get any minutes and have any meaningful role on this team will be sorely disappointed yet again.

Ditto for Maceo Baston.

Just like Forrest Gump said: Humphries is as Humphries does. He can give you about a dozen quality energy minutes a night AND it should be mandatory that Sam Mitchell gives him that every night. Look Humphries is not the savior of the team or even its 6^th man, but he gives it every night - and is good for a couple of buckets, a couple of rebounds, and a couple of good hard fouls every time he gets on the floor. I was surprised he didn’t see more minutes on Turkoglu in the Orlando series. He is just the type of physical defender that would have given Turkoglu some issues and at the same time would have forced him to defend Humphries and his big body in the post. Against a team like Detroit, you need a guy like Humphries to bang and bump for 10-12 minutes a night. AND, that is why he should be Bosh’s back up. Let Chris play 36-42 minutes a night (he needs to be active but rested so he’s not burnt out come the playoffs) and let Humphries play the minutes at the 4 when Bosh is on the bench. Besides, he doesn’t cost very much.

As for Garbo, his return is anyone’s guess really. Its hard to count out a guy who plays on a broken leg for his country on less that 4 months healing time, he’s got some serious heart…but at the same time, its hard to count on a guy who plays on a broken leg for his country on less that 4 months healing time, he doesn’t always make the most sound decisions. If Garbo is back, he immediately takes over as the starting small forward on this team and gives the team some serious toughness, defense, and basketball IQ, that is so necessary to compete against Detroit. When the Pistons slow the game down to halt and force each possession to matter, you HAVE to have a guy willing to do the little things that don’t end up on the stat sheet, but make all the difference in winning games. Garbo, much like a Shane Battier in Houston, a Robert Horry or Bruce Bowen in SA, can be that type of player. However, if Garbo isn’t back, how do you replace a player like that? This is really where the Raps should focus their attention in the Free Agent market and use all of their mid-level exception (about 5.5 mil a season) on. Some players on the market this summer who could fill a similar role include:

· ATL - Josh Childress- SF (restricted) 11.8PPG 4.9 RPG .5 APG

· GS - Mickael Pietrus – SF (unrestricted) 7.2 PPG 3.70RPG .7APG

· MEM - Juan Carlos Navarro – SG (restricted) 10.9 PPG 2.6 RPG APG2.2

· NJ - Bostjan Nachbar- SF (unrestricted ) 9.8PPG 3.5 RPG 1.2APG

· SA - Michael Finley, Robert Horry, Damon Stoudamire, Kurt Thomas

· NO - Bonzi Wells SF (unrestricted) 9.1 PPG 4.5RBG, 1.3APG

Jason Kapono is a really interesting player to examine here. He can be effective if used properly as he demonstrated against Orlando and during his time in Miami. Yes, he has some defensive issues, but he puts so much pressure on the defense because he shoots 50% from the field and from behind the arc that not only can he score, but he really helps to free Bosh up. My big question has always been, how come the coaches don’t draw up more plays for this guy? Especially coming out of a time out? I mean, if you put the ball in this guys hands there is a 50/50 chance of getting at least 2 points out of it? The blame for Kapono not living up to his contract this year I think falls on the coaches.

I mean the guy only took like 3 shots from behind the arc the whole month of march? (you might want to look that up, I think I’m exaggerating here to prove my point- but whatever the number was, you’ll be shocked at how low it is). As a back up wing player I think he can be very effective, especially against a team like Detroit where they slow the ball down and force you to run a half court offense - which is all about efficiently implementing set plays. Plus, this guy is the all-time leading scorer in UCLA history (as you may know I’m a Bruin myself and so I’m biased) but seriously - not Reggie Miller, not Baron Davis, Bill Walton or even Kareem/Alcinder. This to me shouts out that he is just not being used properly.

Lastly then, from the bench, that leaves Andrea Bargnani. What can I say that hasn’t already been said? This kid has “potential” (and many of you know already what I think about that word). Much like good ol’ Chuck Swirsky, I’m not ready to throw this kid under the bus - and I can see why BC and company want to keep him around (think back to the first 10 minutes of game 6 vs Jersey last year), he’s got skills. My main objection to Bargnani has nothing to do with how he played last year, instead it is and always has been - that to be most effective in the NBA he needs to play the 4. He cant guard 3’s because he lacks the lateral quickness as Turkolu showed us in the first quarter of games 1 and 2 against Orlando, and he cant play the 5 because he: lacks the toughness, cant rebound, and has no back to the basket game.

The problem is that Bosh plays the 4 (and like I just said, when Bosh rests, Humphries should get those minutes). So, I think the Raps should look to deal him as part of a package with some other smaller expiring contracts (J. Graham, M. Baston, and even AP) for a 8-10 million dollar player - not a superstar - but someone who can address some of the Raptors issues like the need for more toughness, interior defense, and secondary scoring

Now for the Starters:

Lets start with Forderon, since this appears to be the biggest issue in Raptorland. The truth is, I don’t really care which one comes back and which one is gone. Both are excellent point guards who do different things well. Calderon is uber efficient in handling the ball (lowest turnover ratio in the league last year), is quick to take players off the dribble who come over the screen and punish them by hitting an extremely high percentage of jump shots against defenders who go under the screen. That is why he is an excellent pick and roll player and a great compliment to Bosh. Plus, he has “onions.”

But when you talk about onions, no one on this team has bigger ones than TJ Ford. Now, I know there are a lot of Ford haters out there who see him-a shoot first point guard, a ball hog, etc. but when the game is close, he wants the ball, he wants to be the difference maker - and that is a skill that I want in my point guard. People said the same thing about Chauncey Billups until he won a title and then all of a sudden he became known as “Mr. Big Shot.” Its amazing how overnight a players reputation can change from ball hog to clutch. What Ford does really well is punish opposing defenses by collapsing all their defenders into the paint by using his speed to get past defenders.

This leads to easy lay ups for TJ, as well as his team mates, and a slew of open three pointers. Sometimes TJ gets out of control and penetrates without really having a second option and this can drive Raps fans crazy, but his ability to take over a game, create his own shot, and practically score at will is something no other Raptors (not named Bosh) can do. He makes Bosh better, significantly better, by forcing the other teams big men to commit to help defense with his dribble penetration. If healthy, he has all the tools to be an all star in this league. So that is why I don’t care which one stays and which one goes. I think it is realistic to suggest either guard plus some expiring contracts should be able to bring back a starter for this team.

I know it a day dream, but why not try and make a move with a team like Charlotte? It’s no secret Larry Brown is a PG fanatic and is going to want to make some changes and bring in guys who play the right way. Why not swap Calderon (who would be like a dream come true for Larry Brown) and some parts for J Richardson? Or Emeka Okafor? We know for sure, that half of Forderon will be gone next year and that most likely Roko Uric will be here backing up the other.

If Garbo is healthy and comes back then he starts at the 3 and Jamario Moon moves to a backup role, where I think he would be excellent. I really like the idea of having his athleticism, rebounding and shot blocking ability, and intensity coming off the bench. What I don’t like is seeing him hoisting up long J’s and 3 pointers instead of attacking the basket. So here is my proposal, every time Jamario takes a shot more than 14 feet from the basket, we cut off a finger. Problem solved, and then I think he could an excellent part of the puzzle.

I really feel like AP has got go. As an expiring contract that is not too expensive (4.5 mil) who is well respected around the league and shoots a fairly decent percentage from long range, I think he has some decent market value BUT he just doesn’t work for the Raps. Last year he only took 100 free throws all year. And just like Moon (and the reason why I think TJ is the better fit with the Raps) too often this team just jacks up shots instead of attacking the rim and putting pressure on the defensive bigs to leave Bosh and help on D. The Raps really need someone who can slash and score from the 2 guard spot. You’ve probably already read my article about why I think Chris Douglas Roberts could fit that role. Likewise, if the Raps can clear some cap space, word out of LA this morning was that Maggette was going to opt-out of his contract. Another option could be packaging AP, one of the PG’s and the #17 pick to get into the top 5 and draft a guy like OJ Mayo - it’s a long shot and probably not really possible - but the point is that this is the direction that I think the team needs to go in with the 2 spot.

And finally Rahso. I’m ok with Rasho. Anyone who watched the last 20 games of the year knows why and is ok with Rasho too. I still don’t know why Sam sat him down in Orlando? (I mean really, play Howard one on one, which Rasho does pretty well and let him score 30,40,50, who cares- just don’t let him kick it out to the perimeter players for open 3s cause you are too busy trying to double him down low). But I understand that Rasho is an expiring contract worth almost 9 mil and may be the Raps most trade-able part. So if he must go, then the raps need to replace him with someone who is going to pay close attention to defense. He doesn’t have to be flashy, or score a lot of points, BUT HE MUST REBOUND. In a dream world, a young big like Noah, Okafor, or Varejo would go here. And this is why Chad Ford at ESPN.com is suggesting that at #17 the Raps would draft Standford’s Robin Lopez. He might be the cheapest and easiest solution to this issue, but I hate to think about passing up on CDR.

As far as the coach goes, all I will say is this:

Grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Sam aint going anywhere, so I’ll save my breath and blog for an open letter to Sam Mitchell sometime in November.

So, here’s the deal, the road to the finals continues to run through Detroit and to compete with the Pistons the Raps have several holes to fill. It looks to be a busy summer for Colangelo. Here’s hoping he sees things the same way I do.

As always, standing in the paint, I’m the Dr, I’ve got feet planted and I’m planning on taking a charge.

Phdsteve

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