It only took 12 games for most critics (mine included) nightmare to come true: O’Neal comes down awkwardly after getting fouled by Sean Williams, and leaves the game in the 4th never to return. I was hoping for a Willis Reed moment since the Nets, on the shoulders of Carter and Harris, took the Raptors into overtime…and beat them in overtime. Seriously, I need to reassess my allegiances. There isn’t anything in my life, that I have put so much effort into, that has continually and progressively disappointed me.
Rip my freakin heart out. What started out as a boring route of the Nets turned into an exciting loss to the Nets. Incredible what a solid wing player can do for a team. Vince Carter single handedly beat the Raptors. Devin Harris helped, but lets be honest, it was all VC. Don’t fool yourselves, if Wade had any semblance of a team around him, the Heat would have beaten the Raptors at least once this week (the Heat are just that bad).
It’s a question of heart for me. As good as Bosh is, he isn’t the type of player that puts a team on his back, and wins games on his own. Two plays come to mind:
- Bargnani taking and hitting the game tying trey at the end of the 4th.
- Parker taking and hitting the game tying trey with 2 seconds left in OT.
Granted, Bosh did hit that clutch trey to cut the Nets lead in OT, but the ball wasn’t in his hands in the dying moments, and that upsets me. Khandor posted an interesting article asking who would you rather have: Bosh or Wade? Put me down as in the Wade camp, for reasons listed in the comments of the article. Believe-you-me, Wade would have had the ball in his hands in the dying moments. Vince had the ball in his hands…fuck it, TJ Ford would have had the ball in his hands during those moments. Why Bosh is continually not taking those shots is a result of two factors:
- He isn’t that type of player.
- Smitch doesn’t know what he’s doing.
December 17th, mark that date down. It is the over/under on Smith keeping his job. If the Raptors are under .500 heading into a 7 game Western Conference road trip, dude’s gone. I had originally gone on the record that at this point of the season, the Raptors would be 10-6 by the end of November , and I’m the most negative/pessimistic Raptor fan you will ever meet. Zero chance of that. It’s conceivable they go 6-10. Actually, now that I think about it, mark down December 8th - the Raptors could potentially be 6-13. Hopefully O’Neal will have returned from a sprained knee by that point. Can’t have BOTH O’Neal and Smitch gone or we’ll be left playing pansy Euroball with Triano giving Hassan Adams the ball at crunch-time.
Back to the game…
If Hollywood was writing the post-game, he would have given Smitch an SS (sucks shit). After Carter hits a ridiculous long range trey to tie the game, he calls for a backdoor out-of-bounds play to Moon for the game. Again, no Bosh. Bosh didn’t have a play ran for him to try to win the game. Unbelievable. Ok, forget Bosh, why not run Parker, Bargnani, Kapono or Solomon off a screen for a J? Moon was Smitch’s go-to man to win the game. Incredible…
Before the game, I was saying this is the kind of game I wouldn’t put money on, but called the Raptors for the win (I’m 8-4 this season on my calls btw, not bad). Sure Il BosHO would rape the Nets front court, but that isn’t the problem, but the Nets have a superior back court.
How big a lead is needed for the Raptors to win? 18 didn’t cut it. 22 hasn’t cut it (Dallas twice). It’s funny, because after every loss, Smitch blames it on not making plays, or shats, or shats, guys didn’t make plays…shats…you media guys are idiots, didn’t you see we didn’t make a shat? Can we trade coaches? I’d trade Smitch and Bargnani for Frank in a heart beat. He owns us. The Raptors are neatly folded and tucked alongside the lint in his pocket. How is he the longest tenured coach in Raptors history?
It’s not Smitch’s fault he is in this position as much as it was Araujo’s fault being drafted 8th. Tonight’s loss was on Colangelo. Let the hate mail/comments flow. Fact is, it was Colangelo who, in particular order:
- Traded Villanueva for TJ
- Traded two second rounders for Delfino, then lets him walk
- Talked about how important Garbo was to the team during the off season, buys him out, and doesn’t replace him
- Traded TJ, Rasho, Baston and Hibbert for O’Neal and Jawai
- Replaces Ford with Lil Willie
- Didn’t address the BLACK FUCKING HOLE on the wing spot
- and lastly, resigned Smitch when it was clear he wasn’t a great coach, but didn’t have the balls to do what’s right when Smith won a popularity contest COY.
Back to the game…
Bosh, Calderon and Bargnani combined for 97 pts, but the rest of the crew could only muster 30. What a waste of a career night by Bargnani. He had a couple miscues on defense, but if we were to hold that against them, we would be making the case as to why Calderon isn’t an all-star. Devin Harris abused Calderon, did what he want, and left a tip on the nightstand after cleaning himself up with JC’s pride.
I’m going to end off with Carter. Lego…that’s what comes to mind when thinking about VC playing the Raptors. He starts the game like this:
Then somehow turns it into a masterpiece:
The dude is Sam Mitchell btw…next up: Boston Celtics, good luck with that…peace
Technorati Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, Boston Celtics, Bryan Colangelo, Chris Bosh, Dallas Mavericks, Devin Harris, Dwayne Wade, Hassan Adams, Jamario Moon, Jay Triano, Jermaine O’Neal, Jose Calderon, Lawrence Frank, Lil Willie, Maceo Baston, media guys, Miami Heat, Nathan Jawai, New Jersey Nets, Rafael Araujo, Rasho Nesterovic, Roy Hibbert, Sam Mitchell, Sean Williams, TJ Ford, Vince Carter, Will Solomon, Willis Reed
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:23 am
IL BosHo
classic.
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:13 am
My guess is they keep the coach a little deeper into the season. That way they can fire him and have an assistant coach the team for free. Of course they just may keep him until his contract runs out. The low Canadian dollar is killing them and really would you coach the Toronto team for just 2m a year (don’t answer).
Of course the NBA does not deal in reality and personally I find it hard to be a fan when all they talk about is what team Bosh is going to play for next. I know the same can be said for Cleveland/Miami but it does not make it any easier listening to.
For predictions
- coach makes it thru the year
- they go 43/39
- lose in first run
- get 17th run draft pick
- trade away for 2nd round pick which they use on an unknown Euro
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am
i don’t know what they do john. nothing they do makes total sense. i think sam mitchell has 2 more seasons on his contract after this one, so i highly doubt he’s here for that long, but again, i don’t know what bryco has up his sleeve other then a piaget.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
mitchell isnt going anywhere. it’s 12 games into the season and there have benn a lot of good things so far. .500 got them into the playoffs last year and it’ll do it again. they’ll end up being 5-8 games over.
funny that the TO media isnt lost on the bloggers. come one guys, we’re suppose to be fans of the raptors. i pvr’d the game and watch it this morning and it was a good game. carter was great. step back from the panic button bloggers
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
carlisimo got the axe for no reason. $70mill payroll = better then .500, that’s all i’m saying.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
First and foremost the andrea bargnani give away hurt plenty but not more than sam mitchell making him inbound it.. Bottom line is sam mitchell is running out of lines and is being out coached by average coaches.. Colangelo knows this and is waiting for the percise moment to dismiss him. I dont dislike the guy but he is not getting the best out of our players and is getting himself into check mate more often then none.
The fact of the matter is dont rush to make any foolish trades out there, besides there is nothing but scraps of wanna be players. Let go of sam, bite the bullit on parker, save money for 2010 and somehow,someway get wade to join what is an already young uprising team of the future..
Starting line up
Bosh
Bargnani
Oneal(at a reduced price in 2010 to accomplish his dream of a championship)
wade ( I mean im him and i say damn, im the piece thats missing)
Calderon
That is one scary ass line up with not a single hope if you are the opponent. Give or take 3-5 championships (A dynasty)
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Bryan Colangelo’s best option for a scapegoat is his Head Coach Sam Mitchell and I feel confident that he will not hesitate to make Sam a scapegoat in order to protect himself.
The question is will he feel that type of pressure? that need to deflect blame from himself. If so, when?
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Great Ramblings Raps Fan! So many of my thoughts/angers/frustrations mentioned.
This is a game in which I wish I was around to write the post game. Is it too late to say I told you so. The guards of the nets absolutely had their way with the raps.
I love calderon and his offensive side but he cannot guard fast opposing guards. One thing we forget about TJ is that he could defend his position. Did we trade the wrong pg?
Did anyone else notice Anthony Parker? I dont know why some people love him. He is an average player at best. Like Jamario, he shouldnt start on this team (or any team). Last night, coming off his unbelievable (and not normal!) shooting night against the Heat, was his usual self. 3-9 (1-6 from 3, 1-6! the only one he hit was to tie the game). The Raps also has the lead going into the last 10 sec, they inbound the ball to Parker who hits 1-2 from the line, keeping it a one possession game, allowing Carter to be Carter and send it to OT. Parker has hit some clutch shots but when the pressure is from the ft line, he crumbles.
I disagree with rapshater (I mean no disrespect, but Did anyone else notice the irony of the rapshater was reminding us to be fans?Your name is the rapshater.) The acquisition of JO was supposed to be the missing piece. This team was billed for 50+ games. They are supposed to be better than last years team and capable to make a deep run in the playoffs. If that is not possible (and it looks very apparant that it is not) then blow it up sooner than later. First order of business: The coach. If that changes nothing, then the players. BUt this cannot be dragged out. I said it in earlier posts. The worst thing to happen to the raps was smitch winning COY because it forces colangelo to resign a coach he was ready to let walk after that season.
I agree with Dave, Colangelo is under fire from MLSE and he needs to shake this team up soon. The Raps have a chance to make some money for MLSE and with the payroll they have (70Mil) they, mlse, need to see some returns in a time of economic turmoil and they aint getting it right now. Raps Fan is right 70mil= better than 500 team.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:31 pm
One more thing.
We all complain about the lack of defence (which there is). If the Raps arent gonna play defence and just rely on outscoring the team to win (Nellieball), then why does Kapono only play 18 minutes and take 2 shots? We have the best shooter in the league, and even though he is not the best defensively, he is no worse than the Joes we have playing now (dont argue that parker or moon play better d. They have lost too many games this season to opposing 2’s and 3’s killing them to make that claim).
If Smitch believes its not x’s and o’s but Jimmys and Joes, than he needs to realize that one of his Jimmys shoots 50% for anywhere in the halfcourt, and if you run x’s and o’s for this guy, he is lights out.
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
because kapono needs people to create shots for him. calderon isn’t that type of player to penetrate, draw a double, and kick it out. bosh/o’neal aren’t that kind of player either. they find the open guy sure, but when they have the ball, they make a move to the basket, or pop it.
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
as far as trading the wrong guy…that seems like it needs more then a couple comments…stay tuned monday..
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I agree that Kaps needs people to create for him, and when considering playing this person, isnt it up to the coach to design a system that works with his skill set? Can we not run plays in which he is coming off screens, or on the same side of the court as the high pick and roll so he can wait for a pass? He does not always have to shoot 3’s. Kapono has proven that he can score and scored when needed in the playoffs last season (15 ppg). Will he drop 25 pts a game? probably not. Will he be the defensive stopper they need? No, but in that case none of their ’stoppers’ are doing the job. What have we got to lose?
Maybe Colangelo has a right to be frustrated with this team.
He signs Kaps to mid level money and the coach uses him poorly.
He drafts Bargnani, and his development, in my mind, has been hindered more by the coach and the coaching available to him. (I believe another coach would have gotten more out of Bargs than Smitch). Bargnani works this summer with JO for 6 weeks and look how much better he has become, especially on the defensive end.
He trades away TJ, cause the Toronto ‘public’ was ready to kill him for last year, even though we could have gotten way more for Calderon, adn I mean WAY more.
Im surprised he has put up with thsi much.
I know its easy to sit at my comp and complain about the situation and I realzie that Smitch has a much harder job than it looks. But I do believe there are better qualified, more knoweldgable, and more “xs and os” coaches that will make this team better.
Lets not forget, Chris Bosh is unsigned after next season and the way things are going he is gonna bolt. Bryco needs to do some damage control or they are on the way to driving 3 superstars out of town.
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:02 am
you guys are all so smart and no exactly what the raptors need to do. Instead of blogging on this site why dont you call up BC and get under contract? Your ideas and suggestions are falling on deaf ears..BC needs you
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:13 am
I caught some of Friday’s game and I probably would have lost my mind if I watched that game. JO will be fine, and the raps will continue to play anywhere from 500 and up…. VC was out of control…. Love to see him back in raps uniform….. Still need a 3… Bargnani is playing well which bodes well for this team, especially this season….
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 am
Great Article:
http://raptors.realgm.com/articles/50/20081122/raptors_not_taking_advantage_of_opportunities/
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
vc is more a two, but we can use a two just as much as a three.
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
FYI…. today was the first time I can honestly say that I think two things will eventually happen:
1) Sam Mitchell Gets Fired
2) CHris Bosh begins planning for 2010 escape
NOt going into the huddle, not talking to anybody… Nobody is listening to Sam Mitchell…
THe only bright spot on this team is Andrea Bargnani… It’s pretty damn bad…
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
To clarify, almost all of you saw that Chris bosh didn’t go into that huddle…..
And to clarify Jamario Moon is still taking 3s…
And to further clarify…the defensive system this team plays doesn’t exist… It’s time to fire all the staff and get a defensive minded trainers together … asap..
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
To rong i was at the game and totally agree with your assesment.. In my mind the longer you prolong this firing of sam mitchell the less time we have to adjust for the playoffs..Its inevitable, i mean at this point you can taste it.. Sam not getting off the bench in todays game? There is a lot happening in that changing room and i would not be surprised if players have had enough with sam.
Big note taken from todays game.. Sam does not know how to rattle the other teams superstar. What i’m saying is get under garnett’s skin..
Take two things,like a guy willing to do it like a humpries and sam to tell him to do it.. The game of basketball can get dirty at times thats what championship teams can do.. Bostons coach is a smart guy. Example. Sends perkins to whack oneal in previous game and perkins to smack bosh in todays game.. Wake up sam all it cost his team was a flagrant early in the second quarter.. So what.. It did the job and got bosh out of his game.
Its upsetting to see that sam does not tell a second string guy to foul garnett hard and i mean hard.. Who cares for a flagrant, it might throw him out of his zone. Besides all else has failed and bosh cant contain him nor will he in the future..
Fire Sam
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I agree with Luis and Ron G - Fire Sam and do it quick.
Imagine a the Raps team that decides to slow it down and play proper half-court sets with 3 seven-footers and a 50% 3point specialist? Or play Zone D?
Defence doen not exist on this present team. Calderon, Parker, Moon, Ukic, Solomon are flat out getting killed by opposing guards. They are the ills of this team, their inability to keep their defensive assignments in front of them causes their interior d to suffer. 48 points in the paint against the celtics and 60 (yes thats right, 60) against the Nets. THE NETS!
Ron you hit the nail on the head…Bosh showed today that he has tuned out Smitch by not being in the huddle or with his team…hes done with this kind of garbage coaching/team.
November 24th, 2008 at 12:33 am
some facts:
the Raptors will not win the NBA championship
the raptors will probably make the playoffs
if they make the playoffs, the raptors will probably be a lower seed
the Raptors have a pretty good fan base who show up to the games and are pretty vocal when they are inspired and when they care….well WE care every time we play against V.C. and T-Mac - anyone who disuputes that does not know anything about Raptor fan history or maybe just chooses not to care - well which is it Raptors Players?; Sam Mitchell?; Colangelo?…the B.S. that the players showed during that latter part of the Jersey game …. these games are NOT just games - they ARE the raptor fans the only version of an NBA Championship we are going to see for a very long time if ever - the players, the coach and Team management just showed how little they care about US the Fans; the ones who pay their cheques; the ones who travel to see their BS games during a snow storm; the ones who boo players who have dissed the organization in the past - how can the media and players, coaches and management say that the VC and T-Mac hate is over? - then if it’s over then why are fans still booing when those jerks come into town - it’s called passion and that is something that the Raptors choose not to share for us - my suggestion is to shut down the team and leave Toronto and move to some lame-ass city in the States where they won’t get the support they get here now….I’m still pissed
November 24th, 2008 at 1:46 am
I think you have some good points Tony but you are mistaken on one fact, the Raps will win a championship oneday, just not this season (so far). And shutting down this team is ridiculous. take a step back from the bomb.
I think that it is time to let go of the carter/tmac hate-on that this city still has. It only fuels these players when they play agains the raps (Correct me if im wrong but vc has 7 straight 30+ pt games against the raps). These players did what was best for their careers. Would Tmac have won 2 scoring titles behind carter or emerged inth the player he is today? Carter was thrown out of town, labelled everything from ’softy’ to ‘pansy’, even though he put basketball on the map for this city and was never given anyone great to play with.
Chris Bosh, I believe, does care for this city, just as carter did. Bosh’s show of frustration against boston today showed his anger at losing and his passion for winning and respect for his team.
I agree that there is only so much BS from the coach and management Bosh can stand and MLSE is fantastic at letting its players know that dollars and cents, not wins and championships, are their priority. (I know how ridiculous that sounds, but MLSE is a company afterall, with shareholders and a bottomline. Wins and loses mean nothing to sellouts and merchandizing. Just ask the leafs who sellout for 41 straight years without a trip to the finals or a championship.)If championships were the priority, they would spend well over the cap and bring in the best players money could buy.
The team plays (sometimes) with heart and passion. they just arent run properly to compete.
November 24th, 2008 at 8:02 am
peddie might be on his way out, so that all may change…maybe…