Filling in on short notice for a wasted Sam.
Last night I saw Boston and Minny go at it, it was a tight game where Michael Beasley went off in the fourth quarter, even played some D. Then I realized that every time I check the box score this guy’s usually having a good game along with Kevin Love (who is on his way to more double-doubles than Wilt). Then I remembered the people that absolutely refused to take him back in a Bosh-trade with Miami, which I could never figure out.
Yes, he smokes some pot but who hasn’t. Yes, he’s got some issues with effort but so does every Raptor save Reggie Evans. Now, I don’t know whether he was even on the table, but it made no sense to me how Raptors fans viewed him as a “cancer”. Doing a quick search over at our TrueHoop Minny blog, you realize that Beasley is having a pretty solid season. There are defensive issues to be sorted out, but he’s averaging 21.8 points and 6 rebounds while shooting 48%. By comparison, Bargnani is averaging 21.5 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 47% in the exact same amount of minutes. So, Beasley isn’t so bad after all, is he?
Bulls game tonight and Andrea Bargnani will play. Last time around Carlos Boozer killed us and there’s no reason to think this should be any different, unless Triano has come up with a strategy countering the hulking beast. I can’t quite recall just how he tore us a new one last time, but I figure this time we try to use bulk over size. See if Dorsey can move him away from his comfort zone rather than put pressure on Amir Johnson to deal, who gives up 50+ pounds.
I’ll leave for Bulls By The Horns to provide the main thing going for the Raptors:
Chicago’s biggest concern should be protecting the offensive glass, since Toronto is ranked fourth in Offensive Rebound Percentage. And the Bulls are ranked only 14th in Defensive Rebound Percentage (.747), making them roughly average. Particularly in Joakim Noah’s absence.
There’s no Joakim Noah tonight.
Anyway, enjoy the game. Sorry for the shortness of this post.
