Johnson Needs to Supplant Evans in Starting Role

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MangoKid wrote:

I thought I was the only one.

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He's a pro at making a shot "look" like it went in by grazing the mesh beneath the rim.

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Multipaul wrote:

DUDE, this is the NBA. You DO NOT cut people slack. Every team has a tough cover positionally. If Demar wants to be an NBA starter and someone we can lean on he has to man up and get the job done. If he needs slack, he should be sitting on the pine watching someone else who can do a better job and from whom he can learn from. Unfortunately, that person is not currently employed by our team lol!

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Right. Okay, you're right then. He's only had to cover the team's best offensive player in 4 of the 7 games so far to date. So, right, he shouldn't be cut any slack. He's only really starting to get some playing time right now and he should have limited each player to 4 points on 2 of 10 shooting. Gotcha!

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Buddahfan wrote:

You my friend are a Kool-Aid drinker.

Rebounding is no doubt important, but scoring and team defense are more important

Bargnani and Johnson are better on defense than Bargnani and Evans because Johnson give a lot better weak side help than Evans does and because Johnson is longer and can alter more shots than Evans.

Evans is pretty good defender in short spurts but he is a career 19 mpg guy over 9 seasons in the NBA. He just can't handle over 20 mpg and be effective as a defender.

On offense he is a horrible liability.

I am not saying that Johnson should start so people should not think I am going there.

What I am saying is that Evans should not.

If people don't like Johnson starting then start Kleiza at PF and Weems at SF. Kleiza can defend the #4 probably better than the #3 and his rebounding will go up if he plays closer to the basket on defense.

I am not saying that Kleiza should start either.

However there are a lot better options than Evans.

Evans Kool Aid drinkers think that if Evans goes off the court the Raptors world will fall apart.

Last night the Raptors significantly outscored the Warriors when Evans was off the court.

He was a minus 19 and the Raptors lost only by 7. So they were a plus 12 when he was off the court.

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This is what I wrote a few days ago:

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Balls of Steel wrote:

I too am excited. We are no longer Bosh-centric and that is a massive plus. Here are my suggested tweaks (this may garner anger but what the heck):

1. Calderon back to the line-up. Clearly the scoring difficulties needs to be addressed. We're falling behind in too many first quarters to date. The Raps' defence depends on how well they score. If they don't score, their defensive success is affected (this is a team that dwells on misses as seen from their transition defence).

2. Given Calderon's relationship with Johnson, he should start as well. This is by no means a knock on Reggie but he needs to come off the bench (the team is burning him out). We need Johnson for interior scoring (since Bargs is allergic down low). Too many teams are ignoring Reggie as a scoring option. Both him and Jack is required for energy purposes on the second unit.

3. Weems need to start. Kleiza is being asked too much to start. His mobility is not as great (Batum pretty much exposed him for that). Again, not a knock on Kleiza but he is a small 4 not a pure SF. As a member of the second unit, he can be scoring option # 1. Weems is more mobile and can stretch the floor as well.

Here's my tweaked line-up. Also, I think they're team defense is improving.

PG - Calderon
SG - Derozan
SF - Weems
PF - Johnson
C - Bargnani

PS> I'm not a Young Ones fan but given we're 1-5, we gotta try this line-up.

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I like ur starting line alot

has banks ever started for the raps?

seriously, at the rate our PGs are getting exposed this season, a marcus banks experiment might be worth trying.. even just once

Bargnani and Evans is one of the worst defensive duos in the league. A complete lack of foot speed, shot blocking and team defense. This is the main concern.

Ed Davis needs to bump Reggie right out of the regular rotation, and soon.

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heinz57 wrote:

has banks ever started for the raps?

seriously, at the rate our PGs are getting exposed this season, a marcus banks experiment might be worth trying.. even just once

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He did when Jack and Caldy were injured at the same time.

Ed Davis should make some noise for sure. Too bad bout that damn injury, was really lookin forward to seeing him start the season off.

Do I have to be the one that says it? Maybe Bargnani needs to sit. His lack of defense and rebounding are hurting the team far more than his scoring is helping it. Of course, sitting Bargnani would kill his trade value, so I'm not for that.

As has been stated, the team is not very good no matter what lineup you start with. People have to start realizing that. I was shocked when some people around here started talking about the possibility of the playoffs before the season started. Were they actually LOOKING at the roster?

And no, I'm not a Toronto hater, which is Multipaul's comeback for any criticism of his favourite player. I'm just a guy who has watched a lifetime of basketball and has a pretty good idea at what I see when I watch.

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Tim W. wrote:

Do I have to be the one that says it? Maybe Bargnani needs to sit. His lack of defense and rebounding are hurting the team far more than his scoring is helping it. Of course, sitting Bargnani would kill his trade value, so I'm not for that.

As has been stated, the team is not very good no matter what lineup you start with. People have to start realizing that. I was shocked when some people around here started talking about the possibility of the playoffs before the season started. Were they actually LOOKING at the roster?

And no, I'm not a Toronto hater, which is Multipaul's comeback for any criticism of his favourite player. I'm just a guy who has watched a lifetime of basketball and has a pretty good idea at what I see when I watch.

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Man...u r hilarious.

This post is about Amir and Evans and you have to interject your hatred for Toronto and basketball as a whole.

So Tim, is ur idea, within the context of this post, to have Evans and Amir starting and Bargs on the bench? Ur almost Napoleonic in your strategems. How bout we start a lineup of Wright, Alabi, Amir, Evans, and Calderon since he is "your guy"

The problem with Amir is still his foul rate, he's been pretty good the last couple of games but it's always a concern. As many have already said, we have a team of bench players, so it doesn't really matter who starts, the results will pretty much be the same.

Because of our roster, our starting lineup is "the least of two evils", or in other words, the least shit player of the two. That being said, sitting Bargs is not an option considering our backup center is literally, Bargs lite. I do think Bargs expertise are better suited for the bench, but only a contending team would have the luxury of consistently having him be a 6th man.

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Multipaul wrote:

Man...u r hilarious.

This post is about Amir and Evans and you have to interject your hatred for Toronto and basketball as a whole.

So Tim, is ur idea, within the context of this post, to have Evans and Amir starting and Bargs on the bench? Ur almost Napoleonic in your strategems. How bout we start a lineup of Wright, Alabi, Amir, Evans, and Calderon since he is "your guy"

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Why do YOU hate Toronto so much that you refuse to admit that what is best for the team is Bargnani to be traded? You must really hate Toronto and all people who live in Toronto and cheer for Toronto teams, especially the Raptors? Why do you hate so much? Why do you cause so much hatred? You also must hate basketball if you hate defense and rebounding so much as to completely ignore it.

You, sir, are a hater.

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Tim W. wrote:

Why do YOU hate Toronto so much that you refuse to admit that what is best for the team is Bargnani to be traded? You must really hate Toronto and all people who live in Toronto and cheer for Toronto teams, especially the Raptors? Why do you hate so much? Why do you cause so much hatred? You also must hate basketball if you hate defense and rebounding so much as to completely ignore it.

You, sir, are a hater.

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Tim...Tim..Timothy...Timotei?

This post is about Amir and Reggie.

Start another Bargs post and it would be a more approrpiate forum for you to spit your venom upon us REAL fans of Toronto and the Raptors...and of basketball...and of sports in general. ...hell...humanity

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Tim W. wrote:

Why do YOU hate Toronto so much that you refuse to admit that what is best for the team is Bargnani to be traded? You must really hate Toronto and all people who live in Toronto and cheer for Toronto teams, especially the Raptors? Why do you hate so much? Why do you cause so much hatred? You also must hate basketball if you hate defense and rebounding so much as to completely ignore it.

You, sir, are a hater.

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I'm a Bargnani supporter, but even I'd start exploring trades involving Bargnani.

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MangoKid wrote:

I'm a Bargnani supporter, but even I'd start exploring trades involving Bargnani.

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That's because you don't hate the Toronto Raptors like some people.

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Tim W. wrote:

That's because you don't hate the Toronto Raptors like some people.

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If you look up Tim W in the ancient aramaic texts of the indian subcontinent you will find this inscription:

http://cdn.theurbandaily.com/files/2...aters-ball.jpg

Seems like Triano just reiterated the fact that the Raptors see Johnson only as a career bench rotation energy guy.

Therefore it is my opinion regarding Johnson starting in the future.

I think the only way he will start again is if injuries force the situation. Otherwise at least as long as Triano is the coach it appears that Johnson will be coming off of the bench.

How many minutes he will get per game will depend on how well the starter at PF is playing and how well he is playing.

Triano post game presser Nov 8, 2010

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Multipaul wrote:

If you look up Tim W in the ancient aramaic texts of the indian subcontinent you will find this inscription:

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Why do you hate the Raptors so much that you would basically condemn them to a lifetime of lotterydom just so your favourite player in the world will be able to start somewhere?

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Tim W. wrote:

Why do you hate the Raptors so much that you would basically condemn them to a lifetime of lotterydom just so your favourite player in the world will be able to start somewhere?

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Tim, god bless you man. You always keep this board entertaining.

I think if I made a post entitled "I love grilled cheese sandwiches", you would somehow find a way to incorporate a "Bargnani sucks" comment.

You are the man. Please continue to hate the Raptors, and each member of our great nation.

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Tim W. wrote:

Why do YOU hate Toronto so much that you refuse to admit that what is best for the team is Bargnani to be traded? You must really hate Toronto and all people who live in Toronto and cheer for Toronto teams, especially the Raptors? Why do you hate so much? Why do you cause so much hatred? You also must hate basketball if you hate defense and rebounding so much as to completely ignore it.

You, sir, are a hater.

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You, sir, are talking to a wall - you can't sway Multipaul's opinion on Bargs. Avid basketball fans see Bargs is not a starter due to his terrible defense and rebounding. Anyone supporting Bargs has some biases like Multipaul here.