Raptors Breakdown: No Bite in Toronto

With their current roster, the Toronto Raptors need to shoot lights-out from the perimeter to win games.

Andrea Bargnani did his part in Toronto’s recent 101-85 loss to Detroit, but the team still had trouble scoring against the streaking Pistons.

All told, the game highlighted a number of reasons as to why the Raptors are doomed to a first-round playoff exit...

 

Why the Raptors Can Win a Playoff Series

First, the good news.

After Bargnani missed two of his first three shots—long jumpers early in the shot clock—Sam Mitchell benched the youngster for his unwillingness to attack the rim.

To Bargnani’s credit, he got the message.

Bargnani’s shooting numbers for the game were solid (10-16 FG, 3-5 3FG, 25 PTS), and the youngster was much more aggressive when he checked back in, driving from the left wing for a dunk before driving along the right baseline for another throw-down.

Bargnani showed he’s an excellent one-on-none shooter, as nearly all of his looks from behind the arc were unguarded. When he drives against inferior defenders, his bizarre combination of length and quickness makes him an extremely difficult matchup for opposing centers and power forwards.

With T.J. Ford out of the lineup, Jose Calderon got the starting nod at point guard. Calderon (7-13 FG, 3 REB, 9 AST, 1 TO, 2 STL, 15 PTS) was able to penetrate off screen/rolls, always looked to pass, and, because Detroit decided to go under his screen/rolls, punished the Pistons with a lethal pull-up jumper going left.

Unlike Ford, Calderon’s decision-making was perfect—he never forced a shot or a pass. Calderon should be Toronto’s starter for the duration.

Chris Bosh was an athletic rebounder (16 rebounds) and an excellent midrange baseline shooter. He also showed good patience on a post, turn, and step-through from the right box for a layup.

Bosh can drive hard in a straight line if no defender picks him up, as was the case on a third-quarter driving layup and a fourth-quarter baseline dunk.

At one point, Mitchell called a play on which Bosh curled around a down screen to hit a midrange jumper. My only question: Why didn’t Mitchell call that play more often?

Jamario Moon is an excellent baseline scorer who can drive or shoot. Though his release is a bit slow and he airballed a midrange jumper, when he had time he drilled a left baseline three.

Moon also got up high to block a short Rip Hamilton jumper.

Kris Humphries’ (1-4 FG, 3-6 FT, 6 REB, 5 PTS) dive cuts to the basket usually resulted in layups or free throws.

While Anthony Parker’s jumper didn’t show up (2-11), and while he bit on a number of Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince head fakes, he's usually an excellent defender, and one of the few Raptors who will drive to the hoop with alacrity.

The Raptors play very unselfish basketball and are loaded with shooters.



Why the Raptors Are Doomed to a First-Round Exit

And now the not-so-good news.

Bargnani may be the worst defender in the entir

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