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Magic jump on Raptors' flaws

MICHAEL GRANGE

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 8:54 PM EST 20/04/08

Toronto's lingering problems persist in Game 1 of the post-season ...Read the full article

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  1. Z A from Toronto, Canada writes: Mitchell’s awkwardly tailored suit didn’t payoff! Reaching the playoffs not knowing how to go about games tells a lot about Sam’s confusion as a coach. Starting with TJ ending with Jose, starting Andrea and not playing Moon or going with Kapono or Delfino or or or… a team that has yet to find its character and understand their game. Raptors can definitely contend in the playoffs, in the WNBA playoffs!
    ESPN commentator, Stephen Smith’s comment about Bosh was bang on. Bosh is an Ok player, less than mediocre in the leaders club. This team is a disaster at this stage; I just hope they win one game to save face!
    Anyone wants to buy first home playoff game tickets, am selling them at fair market value, FREE!
  2. Roger S from Canada writes: Fire Sam Mitchell now.
  3. andy c from Canada writes: looks like the nets were on to something when they put a smaller quicker player on bosh the last time they played; i thought smitch said before the season ended he was not going to tinker with the lineup before or during the playoffs?; we kept hearing that the raps had an edge at the PG position but with the amount of blow by's on both TJ and Calderon compounded with the fact that the raps (especially bargs) have weak help defense the result was not pretty; outside of howard the magic are very much a jumpshooting team which is why the raps were able to make things interesting in the second half (closing out on the shooters kinda helped as well)
  4. Roger S from Canada writes: Starting Andrea, Rasho and Bosh at same time completely eliminated Raptors' already pathetic parameter defense. When your opponent's 3 pt shooting is on, you got burned. The case was in the first Quarter.

    I said million times, Sam Mitchell knows nothing about basketball coaching, his coaching, at best, can be despicted as 'random'. Last year many bright fans said Sam should not be rehired. Unfortunately BC created the mess by giving him 4 yr extension, oh, men.
  5. J L from Canada writes: There's a sign in the Raptors dressing room that say's it all.It reads 'DEFENCE ! WHAT'S THAT? They can score but defence WHAT'S THAT?
  6. Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: they got spanked good and hard this afternoon. that was a brutal display of defence in the first quarter...they got killed from behind the arc. absolutely no excuse!
  7. Bubba The Pas Huskies from Canada writes: That was really really tough to watch. For all the talk over the past few days regarding perimeter 3 point defence, it wasn't there in the first 1/4. No intensity, little desire other than Parker and Kapono. I agree with the post regarding Steve Smith's comment on Bosh. A primary stud he ain't. BC has an awful lot to do this summer to revamp this club. With this style of play there's only 3 or 4 more blogs for the season folks. Get your goodbyes ready...
  8. albert strauss from Toronto,Ontario, Canada writes: WHAT CAN BE SAID: Plus ca change plus cest la meme chose. Nothing changes. Bosh played to his natural masochistic level: Bargnani was a complete flop: Parker and Rasho did what was expected but they were never expected to carry the freight; the 2 PGs buzzed arounded(did nothing negative but nothing positive either):and Sam wore a suit that Sears hadnt finished sewing the seams. I am glad the game ended early and I did not pay a fortune to be there if it had been in T.O.
  9. Joseph Daniel from Oakville, Canada writes: Glad I missed the 1st quarter. When I got home and turned the tv on. the score said 43-23, I couldn't beleive my eyes. Sad to say the rest of the game only showed flashes of play. Best to forget about this game as quickly as possible. Hey the positive is as Bubba says get your goodbyes in quickly cause 3 more like that and we're done. woo hoo.
  10. albert strauss from Toronto,Ontario, Canada writes: PS It may be that firing Sam may not be wrongful dismissal. Bryan, have your counsel explore dismissal for cause ie breach of contract for gross incompetence. Regardless keeping him around is a gross injustice to fans and players to whom he must be an embarassment
  11. M Spiker from Ottawa, Canada writes: tough to watch...tougher to listen to.

    Why, why, why did we get Chuckie and Leo's bad announcing? I thought making the playoffs would get us an upgrade but I guess the Barney's still don't rate.
  12. D D from Canada writes: My goodness, even Bosh turtled up against Howard..reminded me of the nutcracker how everyone was pirouetting and pumpfaking to avoid the block....oops..didn't work. Bosh has to send one back on Howard to make a statement, or knock him to the ground...
  13. Rich Chan from Vancouver, Canada writes: It's tough to blame Toronto with this loss but Orlando was on fire shooting 80% in the first quarter until there was nothing left. We did what we could but it's hard for any team to beat a team that shot like Orlando did. It was ridiculous. I was starting to yell at the screen. The good news is that we couldn't have played any worse than we played. TJ as usual was an idiot on the offense going 1 for 9. What a joke. Calderon wasn't much better, but better than TJ. I felt bad for Bosh, but like I said, when you're opponent were shooting that good in the first quarter, it will frazzle anybody. At least we got to around 5 points at some point.
  14. Larry Boutilier from Sydney,N.S., Canada writes: Whatever plan Sam cooked up was obviously flawed.
    Did not work!

    Orlando's plan worked well.
    Someone there was pretty smart.

    Maybe there was no plan at all.(Raps)
    Maybe no plan would have worked better.
    If you keep doing the same things you get the same results.
    Raptors did nothing new or usefull in 1st quarter.
    They need a plan that works.
    Not going to happen.
    The series is over mama,
    get out the salami and crow!
  15. Larry Boutilier from Sydney,N.S., Canada writes: Ahem,
    Orlando did Not shoot 80% in the 1st
    Raptors GAVE orlando 80% in the 1st!
  16. H Chu from Canada writes:
    Yikes..... that is not a playoff team. Commentary was as per usual with Leo Rottens posing as a mannequin just like his 5 game NBA career.
  17. ah sails from Canada writes: look, they're not a very good team, composed really of 1 or 2 bona fide nba starters and lots of what are 6 or 7th man talent, truly not a team that should even be playing playoff ball, tells you how bad most of the east is, BC is a real good basketball man..he'll get it right but will take time, too bad Bargnani didn't pan out, it's tough when a top pick doesn't have the stuff
  18. Roger S from Canada writes: More thoughts:

    1. Sam should coach anymore. Do a favor to Raptors fans, take your $9M gift from BC and go home.

    2. TJ Ford should not be starting or finishing the games in this series anymore. He can not defense Nelson, and was abused in the game. The game made him look like a NBDL player. He should not be allowed to play more than 15min /game. I am glad he didn’t get the chance to take first 8 shots in 4th Quarter again.

    3. Bosh is a non-performer for playoffs. I said that, and he just did that. The way Raptors played Bosh will not work in playoffs. You have to implement him into a system rather than just dumping the ball to him.

    4. Starting Andrea, not Rasho. As I pointed it out a month ago, Toronto should play Andrea as much as they can for playoffs. Unfortunately, this series will be up to how Andrea is playing.

    5. You have to play Hump and Joey, they can't shoot and they can do many other little things.

    6. Raptors were not ready for playoffs last year. They don't look like to be ready this year either. The reason is that they have a clueless coach.
  19. John Nicholson from Oshawa, writes: Funny, I did not see Mitchell on the floor contributing to the Raptors shooting 37%. How many games do you think NBA teams who shoot 37% win?? We know that Toronto is zero. Orlando could not miss in the 1st qtr 9/11 3's but only 4/18 for the next 3 qtrs. Happens sometimes. Raptors outscored Orlando 77-71 for the last 3 qtrs.
    Lets watch a couple more games before we committ hari-kiri, Rap's cant shoot that bad again I'll bet.
  20. George Hall from Canada writes: The Raptors are sorely lacking in confidence......and it doesn't help that when they were witin five points the referee calls two very questionable fouls against Bosh......
    I think these American referees had no intention of letting a Canadian team win this game.
  21. Rob C from Canada writes: George Please: Let's not be Sens fans about this....I am quite sure the league would be thrilled if the raptors won a few playoff series - this market is more important than Orlando to the NBA...
  22. Anthony Sandler from Toronto, Canada writes: I saw some positives which everyone is overlooking. Ignoring the first horrendous quarter, the raps played some very solid D for the next two. Ford should not be starting though. He is selfish and the team does not respond to him. Whenever he is on the floor, the offense doesn't move -- maybe knowing there is no pass coming saps your desire to look for one.

    If we had had a bit more out of the offence, we could have come back to win, but 37% is not going to do it.

    We need a coach who has some passion. Stan Van Gundy was awesome to watch. He takes time when it is the right time, and he is vocal with his players, not just the officials.
  23. Jason J from Markham, Canada writes: Where is our backcourt edge over Orlando? How many times did Nelson dribble to a easy layup?

    Where is our coach-of-year SMitch when 5 points deficit extended to 13 points in the beginning of the 4th quarter? Stan Van Gundy's prompt timeout calmed magics down and saved them a win.

    For raptors to win with this coach and his weird game plan and slow response, you'd hope for a miracle day.
  24. Natrell Talent from VanCity (orig. T.O.), Canada writes: I know I am just one of the many Raptor fans that would like BC to be the first GM to fire a coach during the playoffs! I know the media loves to bash the team. But I am happy to see recently that they see what I have seen and frankly what most of Raptor Nation has seen as probably the main reason for the team's troubles. Sam Mitchell!!!!!! I know the coach is not the one on the floor but, he doesn't know what he is doing! Changing the line-up seconds before the game, taking Moon out of the starting line-up(second leading rebounder on the team) to start a slumping Bargnani (who is not exactly the next coming of Dennis Rodman)at the 3. I wonder why Howard got 6 offensive boards?!?! It totally messed up the rotation. Smells like a little bit of Avery Johnson don't you think.
  25. Natrell Talent from VanCity (orig. T.O.), Canada writes: Mitchell always says "why would he changs what he has done for the past 82 games" and the players are suppose to "earn their minutes". TJ says he didn't know about the line-up change until it was announced on the PA. Bosh says they were trying too many of the new plays earlier in the game (coincindentaly the same time they went down by over 20 points). I thought that a coach would want to properly prepare his team before a playoff game. Silly me! What kind of coach with half a brain would change up things suddenly before game #83?!?! Oh I know Avery Johnson. And you saw where that got Dallas last year. My friends and I are huge Toronto fans period. So we want success for the team, we love when idiots loud mouths like Stephen A Smith have to eat crow. So you know it pains us to hope the Raptors lose to the Magic because it will enable Sam to get canned. We were glad that Toronto got Orlando instead of Detroit not because they had a better chance of getting out of the first round no no no because, Sam would have no excuses why the team didn't. Sam is confused when he said that he was happy with this season because they made the playoffs considering the injuries. BC was right when he said that this season was a disappointment. And with all do respect to Jack Armstrong we do appreciate the fact that the team is now making it to the playoffs with regularity (thank goddness we're in the east). There is always next year
  26. albert strauss from Toronto,Ontario, Canada writes: Is it honest to sell seats to see a knowingly badly coached team instead of to see the best coached team I could possibly arrange? I think yes when It would take so little effort and cost to arrange for competent coaching. Think that approach over Larry.
  27. Massimiliano Frontini from Italy writes: First thing I saw, Bargnani forward, Moon out. Injury or madness? A season discussing Bargnani "developing into a center" and the wizard of the bench starts him forward.

    Crazy
  28. albert strauss from Toronto,Ontario, Canada writes: CORRECTION !!!!!!! DISHONEST !!!!!!!
  29. elwyn jennings from Canada writes: Man, you guys are losers.
  30. Moose Lion from Canada writes: Whatever happened to Allan Wexler...he used to defend Sam Mitchell...Allan....where are you??????
  31. Roger S from Canada writes: I disagree with Stephen Smith’s comment about Bosh. There are only few players can be unstoppable in playoffs, LeBron James, healthy O'Neal or Tim Duncan. Other than those three, all other players can be stopped. Bosh is what he is, consistent contributor in regualar season, in playoffs, you have to insert him into a system to be effective. Bashing him too much only suggest Smith knows little about NBA games.
  32. Yertu Damkule from Canada writes: ah, let the insanity ensue...look, no hiding/mistaking the fact that they didn't come out ready to handle the intensity brought by the magic. the magic clearly had done their homework & knew where to attack (from the perimeter, duh). i question the move to start bargs over moon as well - actually, i don't necessarily question it, just wondering why it took so long to move moon to the bench, and why it was bargs over delfino. if they were going to shakeup the starting lineup, i would have thought putting CD @ 2 & AP @ 3 (to guard hedo) would've made more sense, but oh well. as has been posted, TJ was a huge dissappointment - i keep waiting for him to get it, but apparently, the only thing he's gotten over the last month is that he won't be around next year. even so, you'd think he'd want to showcase himself on this stage, so teams would actually be interested in going after him. the magic just seem to have better matchups - lewis seemed able to handle bosh inside/outside, & bosh couldn't return the favour. the raps were obviously trying to contain the inside, but asking bargs to defend hedo is a bit of a stretch - if he (bargs) wasn't good enough to defend 3's during the reg. season, why would he be expected to start doing so in the playoffs, against one of the better 3's in the east this year? once again, the lineup changes appeared to be reactionary. before we get a big hate-on for smitch...if he doesn't have the players who can defend inside/outside at the same time, what options are there? if they go small & look to defend the perimeter, they'll get killed inside. and even if they go small, the best 3-pt shooters on the magic are lewis & hedo (both ~6'10"), and both can put the ball on the floor. i think everyone knew the PGs would have to outplay their counterparts, and that clearly didn't happen. there wasn't much flow in the offence regardless of who was out there...it seemed they had difficulty getting anything going.
  33. Yertu Damkule from Canada writes: all that being said...they were still in the game midway thru the 4th, got it to within 5, so there are signs that they can play. i know it's something of a cop-out to say that the magic just shot the ball well, since pros are supposed to be able to hit open jumpers, and for the most part, that's what they were. but still, they were 9/11 at one point from 3, which is hard to do when shooting alone in practice, let alone in a game, so hats off to them for stepping up. they came back down to earth as the game wore on, and the raps were able to make it a game, so it's not like the earth is tumbling off it's axis or anything. to put it in perspective - the raps played horrendously 'guarding' the perimeter, didn't get good games from their supposed strength (PGs), didn't get a good game from their star, couldn't contain howard, lewis or hedo, allowed a stupid FG% in the 1st Q & were down 20 early...but still made a game of it, at least until they pulled away late.

    ok, so i'm reaching...
  34. Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: The lack of defense is what did them in. SVG is way better than Smitch.

    Pretty basic what happened yesterday. Smitch's plan was to send in the double EVERYTIME Howard has the ball (good!) but SVG also sent in the 3 or 4 with Howard, so we'd have 3 guys in the paint and 2 on the perimeter to guard their 3 guys. They'd subsequently kick the ball out, rotate to the open man, and by the time our guy in the paint gets there he's already shot and it's in the bucket. If we defended better there is no way this team can shoot 9 for 11 behind the arc, that's absurd. Basically, they played classic penetrate and kick Raptors ball, but used the 5 instead of the 1. And they are a lot better at it.

    Anyway, easy solution to this problem is Humperies, Primo, and Rasho on Howard and institute a 100% Hack-A-Howard strategy whenever they get into trouble with him, which will be often. We were just outcoached, BADLY, but I think everyone knew that was going to happen in Game 1. As I said, if this was only about coaching and not the players, and it was a 7 game series with SVG vs Smitch, SVG would take it in 3.
  35. emoncada Toronto from Canada writes: fellow raptors fan, wait a minute are you really a raptors fan?? or raptors hater? it is only the 1st game of the series! let's lighten up a little and save your nasty comments in game 2 and 3. i am not sure if you are aware of the playoff atmosphere in esp playing in the homecourt of your opponent. there are few positive points here: 1)raps came back in the game in the 3rd and 4th and closed the gap within 5 (i agree am better coach should have managed the situation better) 2) we have game 3&4 to played in our homecourt. i just hope raps can steal one game from the orlando while playing in their homecourt and sweep the games in the ACC. i expect to see some adjustments in game 2 esp in playing D! i also agree it is not easy to beat a team shooting a HOT 83% but this will not last long. also if a team is shooting a VERY POOR 37% it is very hard to win a game not unless the team is very good playing their D. in the meantime i will save my negative/nasty comments once the series is over. meanwhile i will be a happy raptors fan and cheer/support them... and yes that includes TJ (even though i am one of the first person exposed/hated his being ME- personality - as a matter of fact i got a lot of hit from Big C, Yetu and Iamtheonetellingyou... but it's all cool at least i have proven my case). i still maintain my forecat RAPTORS will WIN this series in game 6.
  36. emoncada Toronto from Canada writes: fellow raptors fan, wait a minute are you really a raptors fan?? or raptors hater? it is only the 1st game of the series! let's lighten up a little and save your nasty comments in game 2 and 3. i am not sure if you are aware of the playoff atmosphere in esp playing in the homecourt of your opponent. there are few positive points here: 1)raps came back in the game in the 3rd and 4th and closed the gap within 5 (i agree am better coach should have managed the situation better) 2) we have game 3&4 to played in our homecourt. i just hope raps can steal one game from the orlando while playing in their homecourt and sweep the games in the ACC. i expect to see some adjustments in game 2 esp in playing D! i also agree it is not easy to beat a team shooting a HOT 83% but this will not last long. also if a team is shooting a VERY POOR 37% it is very hard to win a game not unless the team is very good playing their D. in the meantime i will save my negative/nasty comments once the series is over. meanwhile i will be a happy raptors fan and cheer/support them... and yes that includes TJ (even though i am one of the first person exposed/hated his being ME- personality - as a matter of fact i got a lot of hit from Big C, Yetu and Iamtheonetellingyou... but it's all cool at least i have proven my case). i still maintain my forecat RAPTORS will WIN this series in game 6.
  37. emoncada Toronto from Canada writes: fellow raptors fan, wait a minute are you really a raptors fan?? it is only the 1st game of the series! let's lighten up a little and save your nasty comments in game 2 and 3. i am not sure if you are aware of the playoff atmosphere in esp playing in the homecourt of your opponent. there are few positive points here: 1)raps came back in the game in the 3rd and 4th and closed the gap within 5 (i agree am better coach should have managed the situation better) 2) we have game 3&4 to played in our homecourt. i just hope raps can steal one game from the orlando while playing in their homecourt and sweep the games in the ACC. i expect to see some adjustments in game 2 esp in playing D! i also agree it is not easy to beat a team shooting a HOT 83% but this will not last long. also if a team is shooting a VERY POOR 37% it is very hard to win a game not unless the team is very good playing their D. in the meantime i will save my negative/nasty comments once the series is over. meanwhile i will be a happy raptors fan and cheer/support them... and yes that includes TJ (even though i am one of the first person exposed/hated his being ME- personality - as a matter of fact i got a lot of hit from Big C, Yetu and Iamtheonetellingyou... but it's all cool at least i have proven my case). i still maintain my forecat RAPTORS will WIN this series in game 6.
  38. emoncada Toronto from Canada writes: fellow raptors fan, wait a minute are you really a raptors fan?? it is only the 1st game of the series! let's lighten up a little and save your nasty comments in game 2 and 3. i am not sure if you are aware of the playoff atmosphere in esp playing in the homecourt of your opponent. there are few positive points here: 1)raps came back in the game in the 3rd and 4th and closed the gap within 5 (i agree am better coach should have managed the situation better) 2) we have game 3&4 to played in our homecourt. i just hope raps can steal one game from the orlando while playing in their homecourt and sweep the games in the ACC. i expect to see some adjustments in game 2 esp in playing D! i also agree it is not easy to beat a team shooting a HOT 83% but this will not last long. also if a team is shooting a VERY POOR 37% it is very hard to win a game not unless the team is very good playing their D. in the meantime i will save my negative/nasty comments once the series is over. meanwhile i will be a happy raptors fan and cheer/support them... and yes that includes TJ (even though i am one of the first person exposed/hated his being ME- personality - as a matter of fact i got a lot of hit from Big C, Yetu and Iamtheonetellingyou... but it's all cool at least i have proven my case). i still maintain my forecat RAPTORS will WIN this series in game 6.
  39. emoncada Toronto from Canada writes: my apology! it was the message i got from G&M caused the multiple posting.
  40. Allan Wexler from Canada writes: Hey Moose, I'm still here and still like Sam. I don't agree with a change in the lineup yesterday because i Believe that you go with what got you there. But his idea was to give Lewis a tougher look with a 7 footer. As I said, I don't agree with the move. I think Bargnani has been beaten up this year by the coaching staff who contributed to his loss of confidence to the extent that he was unlikely to be a major contributor at playoff time. What everyone here is forgetting is that yesterday was 1 game and the series is still not over. Orlando was expected to win game 1 and perhaps the Raps learned something from the loss. They came out flat, shot poorly, defended the perimeter poorly and didn't get a lift from their star. Nothing new here. This has happened all year. I'm not convinced it's Sam's fault, but if they get swept and perform like yesterday, he will be on the hot seat. Coaches generally get too much credit for a good showing and too much heat for a poor showing. The fact is that they simply set the table. They don't cook the meal.
  41. Moose Lion from Canada writes: Fair enough Alex. Good to hear from you again. You know I was not a Sam fan even when he won the COY last year, so i'm not just jumping on the bandwagon. I won't critize his tactics, because I personally don't know enough about basketball to know what plays can/should be run in a given situation. My problem is, and always will be with the way he treats he his players and strips them of any confidence they might have.
  42. Smooth Fan from Canada writes: No time to read everything yet, but will do so soon. Here are my major thoughts about the game. 1. What the heck was Bargs doing as a starter? Although I don't think Moon should be a starter, you don't want to change the team's dynamics without any time to mesh together, esp at game 1 of the playoffs. If you don't know your starting line up by now, go up and pack your bags. -->>> Blame Mitchell for this one. 2. TJ Ford, does he even look to pass anymore? Yet he stays in the game until Orlando builds a 20 point lead! As for Orlando's shooting, that's what happens when you change the lineup, Moon is WAY better at defending than Bargs and he would have helped with parameter D. --> Mitchell and Ford take responsibility here again. 3. Raps close the gap to 5 points in the 4th. Awesome after being down 20 pts in the 1st. So Bosh is on the bench, you figure time to bring him back into the game and gave his team mates a breather (10 min mark of the 4th). But nope, Bosh doesn't come in, the Raps are gassed and guess what? 2 minutes later Orlando is back up by 11-13 pts. -->>> Guess who didn't make the right sub?? You guessed it Mitchell!!! Man, I'm not expecting the Raps to beat Orlando, but COME ON. Philly beat DETROIT yesterday and here we are getting blow out of the water by Orlando with the help of TJ / Mitchell....Ever since TJ's been back, Calderone has regressed back to what he was 1 year or so ago....Let's just make this a competitive series and we'll take care of these GLARING problems in the off season. I can't be alone on this....
  43. K N from Canada writes: Maybe TJ is selfishly playing himself out of town (kind of like Ray Emery) -- though without the Pyscho element.

    Can the Barneys eat Bargs contract (like the Jays just did with Frank Thomas). Sad that Bargs has turned out to be more like Darko than Dirk.
  44. Smooth Fan from Canada writes: KN: TJ has a chip on his shoulder and think he has to prove he's MJ game after game after game....

    Barg's contract is nothing, only 3 Mill, while Thomas was due 18 MILL after 300 more at bats guaranteed. You don't know what you're talking about. It's trying to redeem some value for Bargs in a trade, the money is a non-issue.
  45. Edwin Green from NS, Canada writes: as i see it Bosh does not have the body of howard or vince the momeys boy the only player that has the body on the raps team is joey G but dont look to see him play
  46. Greg Ast from Nanoose Bay, Canada writes: The Raps came up against one of the most respected coaches in the NBA on Sunday afternoon and his team had a game plan set to exploit the Raptors weaknesses - why are you surprised? That won't happen in game 2. One way to stop Dwight Howard is to put Jamario Moon on him and block 2-3 of his shots - stuff them back down HIS throat. Moon may foal out but better him than Bosh. I think Sam did the right thing by letting Jamario sit and watch the game as it is played in May. Now bring him back to deal with DH - that guy is freekin' HUGE, man. By the way, there two rule books in the NBA.... Regular season and Playoff rules. If I was Bosh, I'd wear a flack jacket for game two. Anthony Parker was exceptional and Kapono was on his game for the ten minutes or so he was allowed on the floor. The Raps need a three point threat and Andreas Bargnani isn't the right man for that in 2008 - but he can and should put the ball on the floor and drive the lane. If Bargs can be left to handle Turk defensively then he will rise to the challenge. If TJ Ford had hit at least half of the shots he took in the first quarter, the Raps would have finished the Magic's opening barrage down ten points not twenty. He was 1 for a whole lot of one man dribbling into the lane plays. By the way, one man dribbling down the floor and taking a jump shot is not a play, it's schoolyard b-ball.
  47. Dwide Schrude from Canada writes: This team couldn't win on the road all season, I don't know why anyone thought it would be different in the playoffs. They won't get swept. At ACC this team is great, but they're all headcases with no guts to kill.

    It might go seven, but every away game will be a loss I guarantee. These guys cannot go into someone else's home and get it done.
  48. George Hall from Canada writes: Bargnani doesn't seem to fit in the NBA..he looks like he would be more comfortable in the European league.
    I do not know what Colangalo was thinking when he drafted him. number 1....Maybe Colangelo has Italian roots or something.
  49. j s from rapland, Canada writes: nobody has mentioned Bargs interior D...ok Howard still got his share of offensive boards and dunks - nobody is ever going to fully stop him...but there was a long replay of bargs battling him real hard for position that i thought was pretty impressive and not what people typically expect from him...i think he's a lot tougher than people realize... too bad coach doesn't know how he wants to use him...
  50. G Sears from Ottawa, Canada writes: BC should take a page out of the Ricciardi songbook and give Bargnani his unconditional release immediately.
  51. Bobby S from Toronto, Canada writes: I have been a fan of Mitchell from day 1, and even though I think he's slow to react sometimes, I'm not as critical of him as those on this board.

    However.....yesterday was an entirely different story. The team is getting ripped by the 3 ball, and he doesn't assign defenders to play man to man, instead doubles Howard??? Then he goes ahead and starts Barganni over one of his best defenders in Moon??? I also don't see the reason to start T.J, just cause Calderon said it would make more sense for him to start him doesn't mean Mitchell needs to listen. He's the coach, he needs to make the decision, if Ford can't stop Nelson for his life and is taking shot after shot, then bring on Calderon and keep Ford on the bench.

    The only benefit of the Magic scoring 43 1st quarter points was that I could cut the game off at that point and enjoy the 22 degrees with the wife :-)

    Magic in 5.
  52. John Nicholson from Oshawa, writes: You think you are all feeeling bad about Raptors loss. Just think how the Pistons fans must be feeling about their team blowing a 15 pt lead and Mr. big shot blowing 3 foul shots in a 4 point loss at home to the Sixers.

    Every body relax Raptors were a long shot to win game one. And even if their perimeter defense was weak Orlando still shot 9/11 3's and 16/20 FG's in the 1st qtr, but 0nly 4/18 3's & 25/57 for the rest of the game. I want to see them shoot 53% and Rap's shoot 37% again for a few more games before I give them the series.
  53. Smooth Fan from Canada writes: Bobby S: Your comments are bang on, good analysis of the actual defense. TJ couldn't stop Nelson for whatever reason. He's faster than Nelson, but I think TJ wasn't interested in playing D. This is his ONE advan over Calderone and even that he couldn't perform well. Moon will be back for game 2, if not, we'll see how much longer Mitchell stays as coach of this team.

    John: Philly has been on FIRE as of late (18/22 wins or somethin like that) and they played extremely well. Billups drew his usual cheap foul by leaping at the Philly player, and I"m happy he missed 1 free throw. I hate that move and it shouldn't be called a foul, but Billups has perfected that cheap move to a T. You're right, the raps won't shoot at 37% again, however, it won't matter if they don't play D. They got KILLED by Orlando and if they (ie Mitchell) doesn't make the right adjustments, then it's going to be a quick series.

    As an aside: I'd LOVE to see Philly beat Detriot, that would be a legendary upset, even worse than Golden State vs. Dallas!
  54. Toby Maloney from Canada writes: I have been a defender of Sam Mitchell, but I can't believe the decision to double Howard was made at all, let alone continued even after the first quarter. The dribble penetration and the open threes, completely open threes were a direct result of that decision. Let Nesterovich play him one on one, send in the reserves to get some fouls (Humphrey and Joey Graham, and even Barganani if he agrees to body up) and let Howard have his 20 points. It's giving up free 3's to Evans and Dooling and Jameer Nelson (and was TJ even trying to catch him off the screen?) that lost the game. The other way to deal with Howard is to go at him on Offence to get him in foul trouble, but I saw precious little of that happening despite having three bigs on the floor. Could have won this game if those free shots weren't delivered on a platter during the first half. Roger S. I'm sorry but you must be watching a different Bargnani than I've seen all year. I don't care if he's the Messiah, during prayoff season he shouldn't get in the temple until he's able to defend either the perimeter or inside. He's a walking turnstyle and allergic to rebounds. Could he develop? Sure, but that's an issue for practice, and maybe regular season minutes, progressively more as he proves himself. One bright light in that game, Kapono seems to be taking some shots and playing better Defence than usual. Orlando is susceptible to perimeter shooting as much as the Raptors and reversing the ball will get Kapono even more looks. Better to be switching him and Delfino and Moon in than trying to make a late season 3 out of Bargnani.
  55. jesperated jbl from Canada writes: Please fire Sam and trade TJ after the playoffs. We need a smarter coach and a non-eqoistic point guard to complement Jose Calderon.
  56. andy c from Canada writes: i'm not going to defend Sam's playoff starting lineup because i don't think he should have taken out one of his better defenders in Moon for Bargs and he should have stuck with the regular season offensive plays and only go away from them if they did not work as the game progressed. but imagine the comments here if the moves worked and the raptors won game 1....
  57. L. C. from Canada writes: I will just refer back to my last post

    Bosh Vs. Lewis - Both have decent scoring. (equalizer)

    Nest Vs. Howard - Howard scored 25 (in the mid 20's, good defense), Nest. 16 (9 pts Differential)

    Turkoglu Vs. BARG???? - This the first mistake!!! Barg is not even ready to guard this guy at all. Good idea from Mitch, but your head is very limited. Your vision is poor about this. I believe MOON has much better chances to keep this dude in low number.

    Parker Vs Evans - Parker definitely showing his dominance in this match. 24 to 14 (10 pts Differential - nicely covering Nest. and Howard matchup)

    Ford Vs. Nelson - Well, I guess we are all wrong about Ford and Calderon... They are no match in compare to a single handed Nelson.??
    Maybe BC should think about giving up both PGs, and get a new one? If each PG cost you 6 to 8 mils each? I am sure you can pick up a PG in the range of 12 to 16 mils.??

    I will say the same thing.

    Use Nest and Humphrey to match up with Howard.

    Moon match up with Turkoglu (fill in some mins by Barg)

    3 wishes:
    - Fire Mitchell
    - New PG
    - Bench Bargnani!
  58. MJ M from Canada writes: George Hall
    BC has an Italian wife.
  59. M Spiker from Ottawa, Canada writes: Smooth: Bargney made $4.8M this year and is due more than $18M if the option is picked up so the Frank Thomas comparison is eerily accurate.

    Now I have advocated playing him at 3...I just didn't want them to try it for the first time in game 1 of the playoffs. Did SM think (if that is what this bodily function was) that this was going to confuse a Van Gundy.

    Speaking of Van Gundy's the ankle biting one made a comment on the later game that TOR was way better than ORL and shouldn't be losing to them. Anybody else think he was sending his resume to BC for that job opening that will be there if the Barneys go out in round 1 without a fight?

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