The basketball world may never witness Derrick Rose attack the rim with the same vengeance ever again. A shout-out to the Raps’ rival is in order, as the NBA hardwood is a much better place when D-Rose is an active participant. But in a twisted parallel-universe kind of way, news of his potentially season-ending injury dropping on the same night Toronto once again squandered their talents against Dallas was eerily fitting. A representation of frustration on both ends of the spectrum. Let’s just hope the negative omens have a temporary residence going forward.
Four games in five nights is a justifiable excuse, I’m buying what the masses are selling, to an extent. Especially considering the brand of hoops we all know and love made cameo appearances.
Only 25 games remain until this city gets to experience playoff madness part-two, but despite the Raptors’ 37-20 record, and setting the pace to crack the 50-win plateau for the first time in franchise history, issues on the both ends of the floor still exist.
Hey, don’t shoot the messenger, facts are facts no matter where a team sits in the standings. This squad occupies a spot in the league’s upper echelon, and deservedly so, but it also goes to show what this team could truly be capable of when firing on all cylinders.
Actually, who am I kidding; fire away. One can’t deny the inevitable.
Toronto’s Mission: For Coaches, Players, And Fans
The following expedition will be broken down into two sections. The first concerning a combination of coaching decisions and style of play, featuring the Raps’ two biggest assets going forward. And last but not least, surveying the landscape of this city and its supporters.
The main objective for both: Loose ends that are in need of tightening up in order for that postseason hysteria to reach its maximum potential. On and off the court.
1. Too Much Freestylin’, Not Enough Written Raps
The JV Situation:
Living day-by-day in the NBA is a dangerous proposition when a roster is not precisely equipped for the task. The issue of the Raps’ frontcourt misusage, specifically Jonas Valanciunas, now needs to forced. It’s time to implement a more balanced attack.
Gaining employment is mainly about who you know in the real world, but to get that opportunity in professional sports, one must earn their keep; so I get Casey’s allocation of JV’s minutes on the surface. But when you dig deeper, there comes a point where the big picture must come into focus.
Are the Raps prepared for halfcourt warfare? The second-season will hold that type of combat above all else. Even by today’s pace and behind-the-arc regular season standards. Does Toronto not want its troops up front to be battle-tested?
A fine line exists that a team crosses when becoming truly elite. At the expense of nightly matchups, especially late in the game, the time has come to stop taking what’s given and start being the dictator. If this squad wants to be a superior unit, act like it.
I think the consensus would gladly trade a few sticky situations and potential defeats if it resulted in JV’s learning curve being sped up.
JV needs to be fed in the post early, often, and throughout the stretch run if any prolonged playoff success is going to occur.
K-Low’s Regression:
It’s no secret that Kyle Lowry’s play has taken a step back. Let’s look at the drop-off in numbers from earlier in the season. But be on the lookout for Jack Armstrong, although I would arguably take Jack’s numbers rant over another one of Matt Devlin’s overused calls of where a 3-pointer was hit from in the province of Ontario. Especially when the Raps are down by 15, and it’s still used with an embellished enthusiasm.
The reference point will be December 17th, before Brooklyn flew into town for the first time since the now infamous playoff series. It was Drake Night to be exact. Remember that one time, when Lowry torched the Nets to the tune of 20 points, 12 dimes, and went 7-13 from the field? A time when MVP chants were worthy of discussion.
- Win Shares – Then: 6th overall (4.0), Now: 19th (6.3)
- Assists Percentage – Then: 12th overall (36.4), Now: 22nd (33.8)
- PER – Then: 9th overall (23.0), Now: 60th (19.6)
- Boards Among PG’s – Then: 7th overall (4.7), Now: Tied for 6th (4.6), Had to throw in some deserved props in that department.
- VORP – Then: 7th overall (5.9), Now: 10th (3.1)
- Free-Throw Attempts – Then: 10th overall (144), Now: 16th (271)
Faith in a rebirth should be kept, as Lowry has overcome obstacles his entire career. Once again, all that really matters is getting his act together for Round 1. But one does pause when listening to his recent post-game comments after the fourth-qaurter debacle in New Orleans:
“We’re a 3-point shooting team. There’s no hiding it, we shoot threes. If they’re falling, they’re falling. If not, we have to find a way to win defensively”
Now, this is factually correct. New ground is not being broken suggesting the Raps rely on their outside shooting far too often. But what holds cause for concern is the questions that follow: Is this the philosophy being cemented by Casey? Was the comment made out of frustration, attempting to get the interview over with as soon as possible? (I definitely wouldn’t blame him), or is this Lowry’s new-found lackadaisical mindset?
A third overall offensive rating of 111.0 is a sight to behold during the regular season, but that factor diminishes greatly when put in a postseason bubble. Setting up shop on the outside will throw your hat in the playoff ring, but it can spit you back out at a moment’s notice.
Additionally, this freestyle way of executing has trickled down to the pick-and-roll on both sides of the ball. Where the success rate on offence plummets when you improvise off the pick one too many times leaving the roll ending up in the wrong position. On D, the help is at times, in no man’s land.
2. City Vibes
It wouldn’t feel like home if there wasn’t ongoing drama attached to this city’s sports scene. A hockey organization who’s tickets are spoken for no matter the caliber of the product, and a baseball franchise who’s given us nothing but a combination of ineptitude and false hope for the last 20 years. Unfortunately, disappointment comes with the territory. We are all jilted lovers in some capacity.
As for the reality of Toronto’s hardwood, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to suggest the Raps are currently this metropolis’ saving grace. Regardless of the anxiety that comes along for the ride.
Toronto may have recently been voted the world’s No.1 city to live in, although tell that to anybody attempting to rent a decent apartment for under $1200 a month, or the notion of experiencing a ride on its public transportation system; looking at you Ossington-63 Bus To Liberty Village!
For the population of fans I just tuned out, picture a cluster f**k of epic proportions.
Then comes the city’s nickname. The “T-Dot” is in dire need of an upgrade, and “The 6” doesn’t quite inspire, either. Any suggestions?
But it’s the lively debate that keeps this city on its heels. A difference of opinion is always welcome, if it leads to actual conversation, that is. As with any sports market, the odds of two sides being able to “hear Jimi” simultaneously are of the slim variety.
Let’s make one thing abundantly clear, this may be a platform to express myself, but don’t mistake it for a self-anointed pedestal. We’re all in the trenches with this franchise.
Which brings up the issue of criticizing criticism:
- Hasn’t a higher standard of expectations been set? Supporting the team no matter what happens is the default setting in all of us, so critiquing a squad is only logical when success is wanted by all parties involved.
- We’ve been through the ringer since this team’s inception. It’s time to live in the now, if a fan base isn’t holding its team accountable, what are we truly after here?
- If an assessment is unjustified, by all means, troll away. But this city is way past leaving flaws on the table.
- Besides, this is Raptors Republic, not the Republic of Blatant Homerism.
The Postseason:
Kudos go out to all that made the ACC (inside and out) a nightmare for Brooklyn last season. And a North American headliner to boot. It held some of the most exciting moments this city has seen in quite some time. At least one tenant of that building is holding up their end of the bargain.
If the playoffs began today, a matchup with the Miami Heat would be on the docket. With the way the East is trending, and if the Raps are able to fend off Cleveland and Chi-Town, we might just be able to place it in ink soon enough. The potential of facing off with Chris Bosh would have provided must-see entertainment, but the addition of Goran Dragic Johnson makes Miami more than a formidable opponent. A series that has 7 games written all over it, especially if the Raps continue their Jekyll-and-Hyde personality.
Up next: The Splash Brothers on Canadian soil, and part two of the Raps’ redemption tour.
This message will self-destruct if anything short of an appearance in Round 2 takes place.
