(left to right) Head Coach Jay Triano, Forward Amir Johnson, GM Bryan Colangelo
Golden State Warriors 109 Toronto Raptors 102
Tonight I chose a picture that best represents all those responsible for the Toronto Raptors pitiful start to the season. The head coach, the players (not just Amir) and the general manager are all to blame for the current situation the Raptors find themselves in.
I had intended on going through a full play by play, but felt that if you watch even a little bit of Raptors basketball, you know what to expect in a loss. Raptors started the game on an 8-0 run forcing Golden State to call an early time out, only to have the Warriors come out of the time out and go on their own 8-0 run. The rest of the 1st half was full of fast and sometimes sloppy play from both teams, although the Warriors still managed to shoot 52% while the Raptors shot only 38%. Golden State guard Monta Ellis had 16 points and Kleiza and Bargnani combined for 18 points for the Raptors. Golden State rookie Jeremy Lin did what he was asked to do, play solid minutes with 3 points, 3 assists and 3 steals while giving Stephen Curry a much need rest from a troublesome right ankle. Raptor David Anderson came off the bench with 6 points with a jump shot I'm beginning to expect to go in every time it goes up.
The second half had David Lee play solid all around basket for his Golden State team, and even with a run in the 3rd quarter from the Raptors, cutting a 20 point lead down to 5 in the fourth, the Raptors still fell flat.
It's easy for us bloggers, commentators and critics to criticize the play and performance of the organization when things don't go right, but the frustration from the paying fan comes from habits that have yet to be corrected after years of pointing them out.
I get if the coach says something and the players don't listen, but that means you have to get a coach the players will listen to. Former coach Sam Mitchell seemed to have given up on his players, based on his demeanor, before he was fired, but it's clear Jay Triano cares about this team. It just seems like he can't get through to his players for whatever reason. The preaching of defense is falling on deaf ears while certain players keep forcing up shots when they should be passing the ball.
The players also rely too much on jump shooting, even when they cut their opponents lead by going into the paint, scoring and getting fouled. As skilled a jump shooting team as the Raptors are, when to shoot the jumpers is the major issue. Also, during tonight's loss it was clear that Jose Calderon could have blown by rookie Jeremy Lin as much as he pleased, but only took advantage of the match up once or twice. I hope it's not too late by time Raptors rookie Ed Davis hits the court, because the season is far from over, and it's obvious they are missing his pressence.
As far as GM Bryan Colangelo is concerned, he does have a knack for getting average to above average players added to he roster and buy into the system. The Barbosa for Turkoglu deal alone shows he knows how to do his job, but the loss of Chris Bosh for essentially nothing, is him not coming through when it counts the most. I knew 2 years ago Bosh would not resign. I, as a loyal fan, Bosh supporter and fan of the NBA, I could not conjure up a scenario where Bosh would remain a Toronto Raptor. I understand Bryan Colangelo getting mixed messages from Bosh, but it's part of his job as GM to see past that, read between the lines and focus on the bigger picture.
Raptors are now 1-6 and sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference tied with the Charlotte Bobcats.
The Raptors next game is at home against the very same Bobcats, a game that will decide, for now at least, the worst team in the East.
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