It was vintage ’06-07 on Friday night at the ACC. Euros leading the way, Jose Calderon playing with purpose, and the man they call Smitch watching intently. Or maybe it was a dream, and the only way to snap back to reality was the absence of a struggling, passive Andrea Bargnani. This may sound like a snide remark, but maybe Il Mago should disappear from the lineup a little more often, because the 7-footer player ended up with his most complete game of the season (career?), with a stellar second half where he took control and showed some surprising aptitude on the defensive end. Yes, the knees seem just fine. More on him later.
After recently getting torched by the 3-pointer, the Raptors lucked out by facing a less prolific squad from long range. That, and the fact that they’re…the New Jersey Nets. Sharpshooter Anthony Morrow was out, and don’t even try to tell me that Sasha Vujacic is money from downtown. He went 0 for 5 and the highlight of the guy’s career so far is that very awkward nose-rubbing moment he shared with Kobe after the championship. Another former Laker scrub in Jordan Farmar took Morrow’s place and that is a big drop-off, which is saying a lot.
The Nets shouldn’t have stuck around like they did most of the game. The game was close due to two Raptors starters shaking off some rust, and the Bulls game being demoralizing in every aspect. Amir Johnson again picked up two quick fouls, which again ended up really hurting the team, due to his loss and the pressure it put on a young Ed Davis. DeMar DeRozan and Kleiza led the scoring early on, but the first half was a dud, as New Jersey pulled ahead by 6 points at the half. The third quarter was all Bargnani, as he connected on jumper after jumper. He continued his hot shooting into the 4th, putting the Raps in the lead early on. Brook Lopez responded with a barrage if trips to the free throw line to pull within a bucket with about a minute to go. Jose then found a trailing DeRozan (out of a time-out) for a dunk to make it a 4-point game. Lopez again made it a one possession game before Bargnani kicked out of the post to Leandro Barbosa for an almost fading away 3-pointer to ice the game.
In the end, the three players who were not in the starting lineup on Wednesday night shone the brightest. Linas Kleiza was one of those bright lights. He had a great game, not because he scored 18 points (which came off 16 shots) but the rebounding (12), the passing with 4 assists and the most amazing thing of all, 1 turnover in 45 minutes of play. Maybe Kleiza wants to steal the starting spot back from Sonny Weems and if he can bring this kind of effort consistenty he is a far better choice than Weems currently is. I’ve said it about Bargnani before and I’ll say it about Weems. You’ve got to bring more to the table than just making “shats”, as the beloved Smitch would say. Kleiza has the potential to bring rebounding, 3-point shooting and yes, defence to the starting five. It also helps when he doesn’t try to do too much with the ball (like dribble) and keeps the game simple. Weems has benefited from the stereotype that all athletes make good defenders and that cannot be further from the truth, last night we saw how Kleiza, a poorer athlete, can play decent defense as long as he plays smartly.
Which brings us to Jose Calderon, who’s lack of athleticism has enhanced his reputation as a bad defender. The Raptors played some of their worst defense during the stretch when he was out. We’re talking 70 point halves on more than one occassion. Even if he was poor at it at one point, he’s caught so much flack for it over the years, with his personality you knew he would at least try that much harder to dispel the critics. The effort is there and effort is a big part of defense, which is why guys like Bruce Bowen and James Posey excel at it. It’s because they weren’t really athletic enough to be great offensive players but were smart enough to forge an identity as hard-nosed ball stoppers.
The offense was clicking a lot better and more organized with Calderon at the helm as well. His passing game is evolving, whether he’s making the right decisions on the fast break, or finding trailers on a play to fill the lane. They make for higher-percentage plays and if there’s one position in basketball where a player’s mental growth is penultimate, it’s the point guard. He may not get any faster, but he may still be continuing his mastery of the NBA game. Guys like Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, and the great John Stockton seemingly got better with age and while Calderon is not at their calibre, he looks to be bouncing back this year with some new tricks up his proverbial sleeve.
Promised I would lay on the superlatives for Bargnani later on, and here it is. When he is one like he was last night, there’s no answer for him. The combination of size and skill which has enamoured us all, when it comes together with passion and drive, it’s a beautiful thing. The double teams are becoming more common, and inevitably I will compare this to Chris Bosh. Bosh didn’t command that kind of respect on his best days. A multi-faceted offensive options who is learning to make the right pass as well. Don’t know where the hustle came from on the defensive end. He grabbed boards enthusiastically, even harrassed Brook Lopez on some key late-game possessions. His block in a late help-defense situation would make his harshest critic smile, and the charge he picked up by sealing off the baseline on Devin Harris is what I want to see every game. When he wants to, he can have such a huge impact defensively, and that’s what makes his usual malaise that much more frustrating.
One guy who wouldn’t stand for that was the Smitch. I still maintain that Sam Mitchell wrung as much effort as he could out of the Raptor teams ge coached. He has a presence about him that Jay Triano does not and will not have. Is it just a coincidence that Calderon and Bargnani have great games with Sam Mitchell in attendance? Or does the mere presence of the man motivate them? That, or the fact they’re…the New Jersey Nets.
The obvious answer is most usually the right one.
