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
Raptors Breakdown: No Bite in Toronto
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5 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Michael Whittenberg about 1 year ago
I question if they can even win a playoff series. But, if the playoffs started today, they would have to play Washington. So that would be a pretty good series.
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Michael Whittenberg about 1 year ago
Correction: If the playoffs started today, they would have to play Detroit. Definitely not going win that series.
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Erick Blasco about 1 year ago
lol, winning a series doesn't sound all that hard until you find out you're matched up with Detroit.
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Erick Blasco about 1 year ago
lol, winning a series doesn't sound all that hard until you find out you're matched up with Detroit.
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Allan Wexler about 1 year ago
Well, the issue of the Raps making the playoffs should be academic. They are certainly good enough to be, in my opinion, no worse than a 5 seed. They aren't a good defensive team and don't rebound too much, but, then again, neither does Phoenix and in many ways these two teams resemble each other. The Raps have more depth, but the Suns have Steve Nash. The raps don't match up well against Boston or Detroit, but they do match up well against all other Eastern teams, so I see them getting through the first round where a date with either the Pistons or celtics will be fatal. Don't forget, this is year 2 of a total rebuilding program by Bryan Colangelo and with draft choices and cap room appearing over the next 2 years, this is still a team on the rise.
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