Morning Coffee – Fri, Oct 17

Raptors need to improve crunch time play | DeRozan to make DOLLARS on next contract | James Johnson knows his role | Idiot Knicks fan talks trash about Raptors

Raptors working on being better in crunch time | Toronto Sun

The Raptors were a very good fourth-quarter team a year ago, outscoring opponents by 195 points in that final frame, easily the biggest edge they had in any quarter. But when it came to close games, the Raptors were vulnerable. In game decided by five points or less the Raptors were 7-14. In games decided by three or less they were 3-8. In seven overtime games, the Raptors managed just one win against six losses. So when DeRozan is asked what he wants to see his team show over these final three pre-season games, which continue here tonight in World Series-fevered Kansas, before the question is even out DeRozan is replying “showing some consistency closing out games.” According to DeRozan it was a topic of conversation on Wednesday night among the players as they made their way from Portland, Maine, to Wichita in one of the less-travelled road trip routes in NBA history. For DeRozan it’s the one area where his team can trump last season.

The League’s New TV Deal Could Mean A Very Rich Contract For DeMar DeRozan | Raptors HQ

So, while DeRozan is an above average player at his position, and an important part of this Raptors team as currently constructed, he’s still flawed in some aspects, enough so that it would be hard to see him as a max-level player. But the jump in the salary cap means there will be an adjustment in how each level of free agents are viewed in terms of total dollars. You could argue that DeRozan might not be worth $20 million annually, but how much a player is worth — aside from a LeBron James, or Kevin Durant — is entirely dependent on how they fit within the particular team. If the Raptors move forward with this current core of Lowry, DeRozan, Terrence Ross and Jonas Valanciunas (who will both be due for raises soon), with the escalating salary cap, it might make sense for DeRozan to be paid double what he’s making now, perhaps even more.

Five things for Raptors fans to watch | Toronto Star

It’s early to sound any alarms but the team’s starting front court — Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas — hasn’t been good enough often enough for anyone’s liking. They were basically manhandled in two games against the Sacramento Kings and struggled against the Boston Celtics at times. Johnson is a notoriously-slow starter and Valanciunas is getting over a busy summer and might have a small amount of lingering fatigue. But size is an issue with the Raptors and they have to get more consistent production out of the starters.

Toronto Raptors: Lessons from the First Half of the Preseason | Bleacher Report

Greg Stiemsma seems to suit an organizational need. Averaging 1.25 block per game throughout his career, “Steamer” would help the Raptors who do not have a true shot-blocker. Stiemsma has been sluggish throughout camp, but Jonas Valanciunas is the Toronto Raptors’ only true center.  The smart money is on Stiemsma earning the last bench spot, though the remaining games in training camp will help Masai Ujiri in selecting which of these players will remain with the club.

Toronto Raptors 2014-15 Season Preview | Raptors Cage

The core group remains the same, the coaching staff is in tact and the Raptors are looking to build off the 48 wins they had last season. The depth the Raptors have this season is incredible. I don’t believe there’s been a team in the Raptors’ history this deep, which will help take a load off the starters and alleviate injury worries.With that being said, there are certainly some questions to be answered on who will be a rotational player and who’ll be giving high-fives for 48 minutes. Will players such as Lou Williams and James Johnson  fit in with the synergy the team had both on and off the court? Will the Raptors have the same drive as they did last year to prove that they belong?

Can Raptors James Johnson Accept His Role In Toronto? | Pro Bball Report

“I accepted (my role),” Johnson said. “I knew what my role was going to be before I signed that contract. You can’t come to a job expecting to get $5 and then want more because you work harder than everybody else. You know what you signed up for and that’s what I did. I signed up for the defensive part and I am an opportunity scorer, so I deal with that.” Johnson needs to work hard. Once again Casey sees him filling a dual role at both the three and the four. Johnson has to learn where to be on the court offensively and defensively for both forward positions and be able to switch roles even within the same game. “Offense is usually the hardest part to know where you have to go to get guys open or to get out of guys way,” Johnson said. “Knowing where I have to set the screens, knowing if I have to be in the dunking spot or the far corner. I can spread it out a little bit at the four, I just need to know when I have to be in the dunk (spot) or when I am able to spread it out.

Know Your Raptors: Landry Fields in men’s socks | Sportsnet.ca

Eric Smith wrote on Fields’ injury and fight to overcome it in depth here, but the short version is Fields is still far from fully recovered. Expect him to continue to bring defensive intensity in limited minutes off the bench, as well as a charismatic presence in the locker room. But a return to the offensive form he flashed early in his career looks highly unlikely at this point. When thinking of Fields, Raptors fans may best remember 2014-15 as the year his three-year, $18.75-million contract finally came off the books.

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I think Toronto is gassed up and DeMar DeRozan is overrated. There are freshmen in college better than him right now

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