The Toronto Raptors After 20 Games: Is Jay Triano's Job on the Line ?

At the 20 game mark of the season, the Toronto Raptors have achieved Brothersteve’s Blog's earlier prediction of a 7-13 record. Predicting the Raptors will bounce back in 2009-10 , the Raptors were forecast at:

“Raptors go 2-8 out of the gate”

“The next 10 games get a little easier but with road games against Denver, Utah, Boston, and Atlanta, matching the 2006 record of 5-5 will be an accomplishment.”

That “accomplishment” over the past 10 games was something the Raptors were supposed to be able to do!

So maybe the earlier prediction isn’t exactly leading a fan to the same conclusion as the Raptors' play.

The First 10 Games

The Toronto Raptors started off the 2009-10 season on a strong note.

The Raptors 10 games in were better than expected at 5-5 and they had beaten some good teams in the process.

“In the five Raptors wins, they have held opponents to just 91.6 points while scoring a laudable 104.2.  That’s a defensive performance worthy of any of the league’s top six defensive clubs.”

“But in the five Raptors losses, the Raptors have scored 109.6 points while their opponents have poured in 120.2.”

An inconsistent start for a team with nine new players and a new coaching staff wasn’t anything to be surprised at. Plus, four of the losses were against western conference clubs on the road.

At this point there was a case to be made for Jay Triano doing a good job at beginning to implement a defense that an offensive team could run.

The Last 10 Games

There was good reason for optimism around the Raptors. Even if the second ten game stretch included seven very good teams with better than .500 records.

And the next five games followed earlier expectations. The Raptors lost in another couple of tough Western Conference road games before coming home to take two of three, beating Miami and Indiana. 

So far, so good.

There was no indication that the Raptors would lose the next five in a row.

It started with an embarrassing 35 point loss to the 4-9 Charlotte Bobcats, followed by Paul Pierce’s embarrassing dunk over Chris Bosh in the loss to Boston and ending with 146 points given up to the Atlanta Hawks.

Perhaps the worst result of this five game skid is that it has become apparent Head Coach Jay Triano has lost the room and the Toronto Raptors players have not “gelled” as a team.

What are the Raptors saying?

Chris Bosh is saying the Raptors are just not a very good team.

Jarrett Jack and Antoine Wright are saying the coaches are not making players take responsibility for their mistakes. The coaches are not teaching players how to correct their mistakes. Some players are too sensitive. They are being told everything is okay—but it’s not!

Jay Triano isn’t talking to his players post game whether they win or lose. He is telling the press everyone is trying hard, even when it doesn’t appear so.

In perhaps his most divisive statement, Jay Triano said in a press conference that Bosh should be calling out his teammates for not supporting him.

Recently Raptors TV analysts have been asking what the Raptors players should be doing to help out Chris Bosh. Maybe they were just trying to help Triano divide up the locker room a little faster?

And the biggest concern is what is not being said by the Raptors’ leadership.

We have yet to hear Chris Bosh come out and say, “I played badly! I have to step up my game! I let my team down!”

We have yet to hear Jay Triano say, “I screwed up! I should have called a time out! I should have been thrown out for yelling at the referees tonight!" Or even, "It's time to try something new".

If the team’s leadership will not take responsibility for the team’s results, the rest of the players have no one worth following.

And if there is no one worth following, the whispers (and physical evidence) of a divided locker room are probably true.

Rock Bottom?

The result of this lack of leadership is the question, where is rock bottom for the Raptors?

This week’s two important road games against Washington and Chicago have become almost “must wins” for the Raptors. But rock bottom would be a loss to Minnesota at home on December 11.

Asking if the Raptors would be hitting rock bottom in December is not something most fans were anticipating!

Jay Triano had better have a thick skin and ear plugs if the Raptors fail to perform at their next home date.

Get it together Raptors, your fans deserve better!