It’s every players dream to be named to the starting rotation, whether it’s high school ball or the pros.
Count Sonny Weems among the exceptions.
It’s not that Weems doesn’t want to start, it’s just that he’s enjoying being part of that second group that includes himself, Leandro Barbosa, Amir Johnson and Jarrett Jack that has been coming off the bench behind Jose Calderon, DeMar DeRozan, Linas Kleiza, Andrea Bargnani and Reggie Evans.
“The second group? I have no problem with the second group. We come in and we create that tempo, we pick up the intensity, defensively too. I like that group. We’re a very fast group and we play defence really well. I have no problem staying with that group.”
Weems seemed to be suggesting that had last year’s team had the kind of togetherness he has seen from the 2010-11 version, the win total would have been a lot higher than the 40 they managed.
“When you have a bunch of guys who really like each other, you have a team that can be successful,” Weems said. “I don’t think we had that last year.”
Much has been made of the close bond Weems shares with DeMar DeRozan but it might surprise more than a few Raptor fans to hear that Monday after practice it wasn’t DeRozan but Andrea Bargnani messaging an invite to Weems to head over to his place and play a little FIFA 2011.
“He texts or BBMs me all the time now,” Weems said.
If there are two more polar opposites on the roster than Bargnani and Weems this team hasn’t seen them since the days of Vincenzo Esposito and Alvin Robertson.
Weems is as easy going and carefree as Bargnani appears to be tightly wound and cautious.
Weems though says he learned last year that appearances aren’t always what they are cracked up to be and has a completely different take on his Italian teammate this year than he did last season.
It began earlier this year when Bargnani by-passed his regular seat on the bus towards the front with the coaches and walked back to join the Raptors back-of-the-bus crew that had been just Weems, DeRozan, Amir Johnson, Joey Dorsey and Jarrett Jack.
“We were all on the bus and he got on late and he’s coming to the back of the bus,” Weems said. “We’re like, ‘Where you going, to the bathroom or something?’ and he just sat down. It’s all good.”
Weems was asked what he thinks of Bargnani now that he actually knows him.
“He’s a regular person,” Weems said sounding as surprised at revealing that factoid as his audience of media members was at hearing it. “He’s a real humble dude. Easy to talk to, easy to get along with. He talks about the same things we talk about. His background is way different than our own, but when we have a conversation, he’s jumping in. We joke about somebody, like I’ll start talking about DeMar and he’ll jump right in. It’s good having him.”
DeRozan’s ability to create some havoc with his offence will be central to any success the Raptors might have in the season that begins in just over a week.
He is Toronto’s most creative offensive weapon and while his ability to beat his man off the dribble and get into the paint still has some ways to go, it is huge for a team with no “main” offensive weapon.
“I want him to be aggressive,” said coach Jay Triano. “We’ve asked him to try to get to the free-throw line eight times a game. Actually, we’ve asked him to try to make eight free throws a game, because he’s getting there eight but he’s not making eight — and I think that sets an aggressive mindset for him.”
DeRozan’s aggressiveness is at least a little bit attributable to his familiarity with his surroundings. He is no longer a raw or awestruck rookie finding his way; he knows the challenges and assignments that await him.
“It’s much different,” he said. “Last year, I didn’t know what to expect in every game. Now I know what to expect, going up against players that I played against last year, what type of offence and defence teams run. I think I understand a lot of stuff a lot better than I did last year.”
He’d better.
The Raptors say there’s something different about the big forward this season, and it’s not just where he sits.
The old Bargnani was quiet, unassuming, a little bit of a mystery. The new Bargnani is a prolific texter; someone who might join in on a FIFA video-game session, or even weigh in on his team’s weak performance.
“Dre’s definitely growing,” said Reggie Evans. “I can’t say he was shy or whatever, but I think he feels more comfortable with this team here and I think he is a lot more relaxed with what we have here. It’s really starting to show and he’s really starting to open up a lot.”
When the Celtics were burying the Raptors last week, Evans – a 30-year-old forward who doesn’t shy away from making his feelings known – heard an unfamiliar voice pipe up.
“[Bargnani] said some stuff on the bench … about something he didn’t like during the game, which was good. He voiced it. We were like, ‘Yeah, you’re right.’ ”
Chemistry is something this young Raptors squad will need this season, with so many new faces on the roster and a hole left behind by Chris Bosh, their old leader, spokesman, and top scorer. More sociable players such as Jarrett Jack, DeMar DeRozan, and Weems have already gelled, but one X-factor heading into the season would be how comfortable Bargnani would feel stepping into a leadership role.
The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have released forward Ronald Dupree.
A free agent, Dupree was signed September 15. He appeared in five preseason games where he totaled 20 points and eight rebounds in 55 minutes.
The roster now stands at 15.
Random Thoughts From The Mind of Mike
Well, the Raptors did what I thought they should do, i.e. move on from the Bosh era and start fresh. (Honest, I even wrote a blog about it back in June). It really was the right move to make if they ever wanted to one day contend for a championship. But still, I find I’m not as interested/excited about the upcoming season as I have been in previous years (and this is coming from a guy who made his mom phone Bell ExpressVu an hour before last year’s season opener between the Cavs and Celtics just so we could get TSN2).
Sure, the Raptors should be exciting to watch with so many athletes flying all over the place. But being athletic alone isn’t going to get you wins. You need talent too, and that’s something the Raptors don’t have a lot of. I don’t know. Maybe I’m still depressed because the Heat took away any chance the Raptors had of winning a championship for at least the next five years.
(On second thought, who am I kidding? They probably weren’t going to win one anyway.)
Prediction: 24 – 58, lottery land.
The Assistant Coach of the Raptors joins The Greg Brady show to discuss Jose Calderon and Jarett Jack’s positions on the team, DeMar DeRozan and the number of technicals called during the pre-season.
