Kleiza will baby sit JV this year... not expecting much else

[charlz]

Klieza drops to the bottom of Swing men rank and if Casey uses that dynamic 2 PG system depth swing men will starve.

Its early but here is how I rank the raptor swing men Offensively
1) DeRozen
2) Fields
3) Ross
4) Anderson
5) Kleiza
6) McGuire

Defensively
1) McGuire
2) Fields
3) Anderson
4) Ross ** could be higher need to see him play more
5) Derozen
6) Kleiza

If Kleiza does not score - He will struggle to get PT.
McGuire is a specialist - he came on to get Melo off his game last night and it worked.
The dude has dropped some sic dimes also.

Kleiza gets on a roll sometimes and scores in bunches, also is and widely feared throughout Europe but the game is different here.

On a night where many raptors were above +25 Kleiza's -11 sticks out.

The team went south in a hurry when he was on. I know it was just one game etc etc... but on a team full of guys pouring out their guts to play D... I wonder if his primary role should be to shepherd JV for his rookie season and not much else.

I know its early, but the new direction of the Raptors does not fit Kleiza.
Great guy bad timing.

[Matt52]

Very sadly, I agree.

He looks like a guy trying to show he fits in when he clearly doesn't.... kind of like Jeff Foxworthy accepting a lifetime achievement award at the BET Awards - it just doesn't fit.

Kleiza has been my favourite Raptor of the last year or two but after watching him in preseason, unless he has a remarkable turnaround soon, I hope he stays nailed to the bench.

[Raptor_11]

Well put. He's too talented to be sitting on the pine for a team that he doesn't fit with. I'm just wondering if he actually is helping JV much... he doesn't seem like the babysitting type

[Garbo]

Well put. He's too talented to be sitting on the pine for a team that he doesn't fit with. I'm just wondering if he actually is helping JV much... he doesn't seem like the babysitting type

Babyeating would be more likely..

[Sig]

- Kleiza is mostly going to be played to counter the other team's stretch four

- Kleiza needs to stop forcing his offense

[DoNDaDDa]

Im sure Linas we see time at the 4.. lots of other teams run small ball lineups & DC said lineup will be decided on by matchups..

[hotfuzz]

You should hope that Kleiza doesn't read this. If he does, i'll b praying for you.

[Matt52]

You should hope that Kleiza doesn't read this. If he does, i'll b praying for you.

Seriously.

When he finds me, I just hope my past love endears him to make the inevitable short and sweet..... kind of like when Proposition Joe was put down by Mario on "The Wire".

"Close your eyes. It won't hurt none."

[ReubenJRD]

I agree, right now, it doesn't seem the best fit, BUT:

- Kleiza can play the 4 and the 3; versatile.
- Scores in bunches.
- Toughness.
- Spark-plug.
- stretch the floor.
- post-up game.

I think come regular season, he will get the playing time, and he will be more effective, because a lineup on the second unit of Calderon, Ross, Kleiza, Ed, Amir. It would be very hard to guard.

Kleiza in my opinion, is the second best wing offensively. He is probably the most all-around in terms of outside shooting, post-offense, and has solid handling ability, where he can create a shot.

[white men can't jump]

Yeah, Kleiza just doesn't fit very well on this team. I don't know what minutes he gets, but given Anderson's effort and more natural fit at the SF, he'd seem to be behind Fields and Anderson there. Kleiza just stay a big SF or stretch 4 who will match up well against certain lineups. But even those nights, it's hard to see him getting big minutes unless he provides immense value somewhere. I don't think keeping him around for JV is a good enough reason, especially since by all accounts, JV has a good, outgoing personality. Kleiza either gets traded, or gets real minutes because of a trade/injury.

[ReubenJRD]

Yeah, Kleiza just doesn't fit very well on this team. I don't know what minutes he gets, but given Anderson's effort and more natural fit at the SF, he'd seem to be behind Fields and Anderson there. Kleiza just stay a big SF or stretch 4 who will match up well against certain lineups. But even those nights, it's hard to see him getting big minutes unless he provides immense value somewhere. I don't think keeping him around for JV is a good enough reason, especially since by all accounts, JV has a good, outgoing personality. Kleiza either gets traded, or gets real minutes because of a trade/injury.

+1. I still love Kleiza though, he can really give you some great efforts. But it's effort(S), which means he is fairly inconsistent.

[hotfuzz]

One thing all of you guys are missing. He can assassinate the star player of the opposing team if we need him to. Watch out Kobe!

[charlz]

+1. I still love Kleiza though, he can really give you some great efforts. But it's effort(S), which means he is fairly inconsistent.

+1

I think we can all agree LK is a stand up guy - even if not a good fit.

[ReubenJRD]

+1

I think we can all agree LK is a stand up guy - even if not a good fit.

As of now, my head is telling me that once season is over, and Valanciunas is more so comfortable with the NBA, Kleiza will be amnestied. It's really looking like that, because the theory going around, is Kleiza is only here to blanket JV.

When JV was closer to heading over to Toronto, after the olympics, many were talking about 'who to amnesty.' Many said Kleiza, and many countered with, "JV is coming over, he needs Kleiza."

Val is much more NBA ready on the court than many of us thought, now off the court, he is humble, and handles himself well, so, right now, Kleiza looks like a puzzle piece, but not on the right puzzle.

Than again, it's pre-season!

[Matt52]

As of now, my head is telling me that once season is over, and Valanciunas is more so comfortable with the NBA, Kleiza will be amnestied. It's really looking like that, because the theory going around, is Kleiza is only here to blanket JV.

When JV was closer to heading over to Toronto, after the olympics, many were talking about 'who to amnesty.' Many said Kleiza, and many countered with, "JV is coming over, he needs Kleiza."

Val is much more NBA ready on the court than many of us thought, now off the court, he is humble, and handles himself well, so, right now, Kleiza looks like a puzzle piece, but not on the right puzzle.

Than again, it's pre-season!

I don't think JV needs a blanket. He has been on his own since he was 14 playing basketball. His english is fine.

I would remember that most of the idea of Kleiza helping JV is coming from this forum as you said. This forum is hardly a reliable source. A bunch of die hards talking out their @ss is what we are.

I do think Kleiza is the top choice to be amnestied this summer if he is not traded by the deadline. Really, if the amnesty is to be used, he makes the most sense and is the only one besides Bargnani and Amir who are eligible.

[theycallmeZZ]

Kleiza was definitely the most instrumental in winning

Him and Melo were talking trash to each other the whole time, Melo got distracted and ended up bricking his shots







/s

[omgsomuchpotential]

As a fellow Lithuanian, it's hard, but I have to agree - Kleiza as of now doesn't seem to fit Raptors at all, he's looking very poorly on the court.

I'd be ecstatic if his play would take a U-turn, though. He should not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk. It'd be great if he could somehow adopt this die for his team mentality from when he's playing in national team, although it's probably never gonna happen. He's talented and all, but isn't and never will be a go-to guy in NBA.

[Beagle]

He should make pretty good trade bait, no? Everyone talks about packaging ED or Amir with Calderone to net a decent SF. Why not Kleiza? The Raps could throw in cash to compensate for his overly hefty contract. It does seem a shame to let such a talented player rot on the bench. But Casey obviously loves Anderson more than he loves Kleiza and the rest will get more time based on talent and the way they fit the system.

What teams might have a need for Kleiza? We could also trade him for a pick rather than waste him. We're stocked at the 4 and T-Ross needs room to grow at the 3.

[theycallmeZZ]

On the bench for all games except the ones against the Jazz

http://www.slcdunk.com/2012/1/26/273...he-jazz-killer