Jason Kapono Pulls A Chuck Woolery
I pulled a Bill Simmons in posting this. I felt like getting Raptor fans all riled up that Jason Kapono can get a shot off (a made one!) in 0.22 seconds, while T.J. Ford can’t get a tip in .5. I love at the end how Jordan Farmar tries to take some credit for the pass, but Kapono wants all the thunder. This has all he’s got Jordan, let him have it. But, honestly, bringing hundredths of a second to the game clock only seems like a logical evolution.
(Hat tip Brooke, via LA Times Blog)
Comments (2)Watch Tas Melas On ‘Full Court Press’
While we patiently wait for the Nielsen ratings to come out, jump over to Raptors.com to watch a super-short version of ‘Full Court Press’ starring The Basketball Jones very own Tas(sos) Melas. Be careful though … that collar will getcha!
(Great work, Tas.)
Update: Here’s the direct link.
Comments (47)Mascot Battle: Jazz vs Raptors
A million thanks to Justin P. for the bloody magic.
Is Andrea Bargnani A Bust?
Watching Kwame Brown take the reigns at the center spot in LA while Andrew Bynum is down got me thinking: I am absolutely tired of hearing the number 1 pick in ‘06 is a bust.
Andrea Bargnani’s numbers are down from last season, his rookie year, while many expected him to have a breakout campaign. Watching those offensive skills he exhibited for a good stretch of the regular season sent some serious shivers down the spines of fans.
Was that a flash in the pan? Are we talking about a Michael Olowokandi or Joe Smith here? Not even close. Bargs has not regressed. His goods are still very evident at the offensive end. So, why hasn’t he taken off like people predicted? There are many, many reasons for that.
Bargnani is starting at center for the first time in his life, not his NBA career, in his life. He was a small forward for much of his youth and has played the last few years as a power forward. It’s not kosher to compare him to Brandon Roy, the stud taken in the same draft that has been handling the ball for all of his career. Bargnani is playing at a new position in a much different style of game. He hasn’t adapted well to the less physical style of the NBA. It takes a lot more for a big to foul a player in Europe and Bargnani has been plagued by committing touch calls while guarding highly athletic fours and fives (the likes of which he’s never seen before).
While backing up Rasho Nesterovic last season, Bargnani had the luxury of playing against team’s second units. Il Mago’s minutes are virtually the same as last year, but that time was spent playing against guys he could easily hang with. He started only 2 games in ‘06-’07 and his numbers are down minimally: 11.6 vs 9.4 PTS, .427 vs .390 FG%, and half a board. That is all while playing against better players.
As for the rebounding criticisms, Il Mago does not have that knack of getting after it on the boards. It’s not in him at this point but it is something that can be taught. He’s just never had to do it the way he’s needed to on this team. His numbers in Europe reveal he wasn’t much of a glass cleaner there either. Jorge Garbajosa’s absence at the small forward spot magnifies Bargnani’s inability to rebound the ball, especially considering Chris Bosh’s slow start. Yes, Jorge Garbajose is the solver of all problems.
Being taken out of the starting 5 can be a difficult transition for any player, and it was especially hard on Bargnani. He was yanked after only 5 games at the start of the season and has been playing in various roles since. Bargs was reinserted with the top dogs in late December but he’s still feeling out his situation. He’s always been a star on his team and has had to adapt to being less of a focal point. Bargnani’s only 22 years old and add in the fact he missed some time with knee trouble, and you can see there are a ton of variables to consider.
I’m not trying to make the point that Bargnani will be a superstar in this league, but it is way too early to judge him now, considering all he is going through. He has the fire to learn and the desire to be a superstar. A better question to ask is, was he the right player to draft for this team? Chris Bosh is the centerpiece of Toronto and he’s always been an average rebounder and defender. He does some nice things to effect the game inside, on both ends, but Bargs might not be tough enough to really compliment CB4.
If GM Bryan Colangelo drafted the Italian with the hopes the Raptors would outscore teams, a la those Phoenix Suns he built, then that would could be a more viable option once Bargnani becomes a little more competent. With an eye towards the future, Colangelo made these additions over two years: T.J. Ford, Jason Kapono, Anthony Parker, Bargnani, Juan Dixon, Fred Jones, etc. These are athletic players that can score. Bargnani might very well be a huge part of the team in the future, but it makes sense he isn’t right now.
Comments (15)Jose Calderon = Wanted Free Agent
At the end of the season, a lot of money will be thrown Jose Calderon’s way. The Raptor PG plays 2nd fiddle to T.J. Ford, but he is not a backup point guard. He would be starting on a good number of teams in this league.
Calderon has a relationship with teammate Jorge Garbajosa that goes far beyond basketball. Michael Grange notes that they’ve been joined at the hip since Calderon was 13. Garbo has always been a mentor for the younger Spaniard, but it was Jose who helped influence Jorge to make the trip over the Atlantic and join him in Toronto a year ago. Calderon had a shaky year in his rookie campaign of ‘05-’06. It’s a fair question to ask if Garbajosa’s presence helped steady Jose, allowing him to be the player he was in Europe here in Toronto. When Garbo suffered that gruesome leg injury, the pair’s bond was easily evident. Calderon’s eyes opened wide and he appeared ready for a cry fest as he covered his brother’s leg with a towel.
Calderon paid from his own pocket to get out of his contract in Spain and sign up with then GM Rob Babcock and the multicultural city of Toronto. For all these reasons, you’d think Jose would want to stick around when he becomes an unrestricted restricted free agent after the season, but his bond with Jorge might actually be causing him to listen to other offers. The fact that Garbajosa is averaging 7 minutes a game must burn inside Jose. Yes, it’s still early, and Garbo might yet be a prominent member of this team, but would Calderon give Toronto a discount to give up starting minutes and starting dollars elsewhere under current conditions?
GM Bryan Colangelo made it clear when he signed Ford to a long-term deal that he is this team’s future as the floor general. Whether Calderon or Ford fill that role better is debatable, but what can’t be argued is that Garbajosa’s lack of playing time is hurting the Raps chances of keeping Calderon around.
Comments (11)30 Teams / 30 Hours: Canada’s Team
You know, one can never have too many NBA season previews. (That’s a lie.) Which is why we present another series to add to the list: The Basketball Jones’ 30 Teams in 30 Hours NBA Season Preview. Yup. It is what it is.
8:00p / Toronto Raptors: Who sat around and said, “Let’s call our new team the Raptors?” A little odd, don’t ya think? A Raptor isn’t scary ’cause people don’t even know what it is, and, it has absolutely nothing to do with the city. Is there no history in Toronto that the thinkers could have drawn a relevant nickname from? At the very least, pick a dinosaur people have heard of. A tyrannosaurus perhaps? The Toronto Tyrannosauruses! Look at that alliteration! A pterodactyl maybe? They can fly. The Toronto Pterodactyls soaring above the rim? Hold on, pterodactyl starts with the letter ‘P’? Speaking of peeps who look like dinosaurs, I was in the Dominican Republic a couple weeks ago and took a picture with the Dominican Chris Bosh, then, the camera was lost. I’m still really pissed about that.
Tas says: 1st in the Atlantic, 3rd seed
Skeets says: 2nd in the Atlantic, 5th seed
(Hey, Ginger Balls: Don’t forget to check out today’s NBA season predictions podcast.)
Comments (3)You Didn’t Tell Me It Was ‘The Basketball Jones’ Day On ESPN!
1. Ahem. [The Sports Guy]
2. A few questions for Mr. Bryan Colangelo. [Daily Dime ‘07-08 Raptors Preview]
Game Notes: Kaunus Vs. Raptors
Thanks to a good friend of The Jones — I see you, Setts — I managed to score a couple of free tickets to the Kaunas-Raptors pre-seazzle game last night. So, to steal a page from Grange’s playbook, here are a few random observations:
1. The Raps new pump-up/introduction song is U2’s “Vertigo.” You know, that iTunes-pimped “uno, dos, hello, hello” garbage from 2004. Ugh. Not quite as bad that Beyonce debacle from a few years back maybe, but still, if we play like ass this year I’m blaming it on this.
(Note: What was wrong so with last season’s Rage? Or better yet, why don’t we stop saving the Stripes’ “Seven Army Nation” — or, you know, “Seven Nation Army” — for the start of the fourth and use it off the top instead?)
2. T.J. posted 13 points, 11 assists and only two turnovers in just 24 minutes. He was easily the best player on the court for most of the night. And yes, I’m sticking by my prediction: T.J. Ford will one day come close to matching Scott Skiles’ 30 assists in a game record. I know, I know, sounds ridiculous. But trust me: one day, when the stars align and the gunners are on fire, you’ll look up at the scoreboard near the end of the third and T.J. will already have 20 or 21 dimes to his name. Then the game will go to OT.
3. We need to get Bargnani some Jumpsoles ASAP! While he’s apt at beating his man baseline, he can’t finish at the net with any consistency. It drives me nuts. I swear he draws back iron on about 80% of his dunk attempts. Get up, Magic Man.
4. Caught the Raps’ Mop Girl hand delivering a note — from the Kaunus bench — to some extremely attractive, extremely confused, Lithuanian chick about fifteen rows up. Grish figured they were asking her to join the team for some post-game Lithuanian fun. It appeared as though she checked the “YES” box.
5. The rest: Kapono has a ridiculously smooth release … Moon had a nice two-handed reverse in warm-ups … the Lithuanian national anthem is loooooooooong … Sabonis jerseys were everywhere … and that “new era” in the Raptors Dance Pak they keep promising us appears to have finally arrived.
Comments (5)The Celtics, The Raptors
I watched these two battle it out Saturday in Rome and let me tell ya, this is gonna be nice. Two teams on the rise that will not back down from one another are gonna wrestle four times this coming season, not to mention atop the standings of the Atlantic Division. This was the most intense exhibition game I’ve ever witnessed. Benches were jumpin’, chests were bumpin’ and players were a-yellin’. Just thought I’d share some observations from the game. Not sure if I’m jacked ball is back or that the Raps finally head in to a training camp with minimal problems, but I’m feeling good right now; like a boy tearing the plastic off a brand new video game.
Pre-game, when Kevin Garnett was head butting the stanchion and pounding his fist in to his chest, I felt like, easy fella, it’s kinda early for that, no? But, it’s always the playoffs for KG. He played well, and he gelled nicely with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The 3 looked like they had played together before. Maybe meeting up in Beantown weeks prior to camp really did pay off. There were times when the C’s were playing too much 1-on-1, but there were also instances when they shared the ball like the Suns, or, if you will, their Raptor counterparts. Ray Allen took what was given too him, Paul Pierce has had his usual, “I’m taking over” attitude at times, and KG, well, he was the dominant, versatile, 7 footer that he is.
The trio is gonna be great. As we’ve heard before, it’s the supporting cast that is the ? mark. Although, Eddie House’s yap was in mid-season form. A couple made 3’s and he’s chatting like a participant on “Yo Momma” (for you MTV fans). Speaking of House, Boston still needs some help at PG. Rajon Rondo was doing his job well for strecthes, but House, Allen or Gabe Pruitt won’t cut it. Now, I’m not sure if Tony Allen may be the answer, but he seems to lack the skills of a distributor. I had to wince when he grimaced after his dismount on that 4th quarter, high flying jam. He looked fine afterwards; guess he just needed to shake the cobwebs off his first game action dunk after that ridiculous injury. Kendrick Perkins has such an easy job and he appears to be grasping it. Be physical, establish positioning, rebound, work your butt off on D, and dunk the opportunities the big 3 serve you. When a role player simply has to play his role, things are rosy.
It was good to see the best mascot in pro sports, The Raptor, in Rome for this one. As for the Raptors new talent, I’m skeptical. Just what kind of auditions were held? I know it’s early, but I’m not sold on the new Dance Pak.
The duo of Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani showed flashes of what a terror these two will be to play against in the years to come. Bargnani is learning to compliment his pristine stroke with some hard drives and post moves, although, his finishing ability still needs a lot of work. Even on the defensive end, these two were showing glimpses by challenging shots with those long arms and stepping up to Garnett. It was also nice to see Bargs has packed on some bacon so he can bang a little more. With some dedication, I think these two have the b-ball intelligence and quickness to get it done in their own paint.
Bargnani is going to go some thorugh seriously tough stretches at the defensive end if he starts at center. With Il Mago on the first unit, Toronto’s second unit is deadly. Jose Calderon, Carlos Delfino, Joey Graham/Juan Dixon, Jorge Garbajosa and Rasho Nesterovic. Toronto’s third team could pound Boston’s second squad. The depth will make for some nice competition at practice.
What I didn’t like about the Raps’ first unit is their lack of a slasher. Anthony Parker and Jason Kapono on the wings didn’t seem to generate any cutting in to the lane. I’m not sure if Parker will step up his game to an even higher level this season, but Kapono doesn’t appear to be capable of scoring this way. That’s why I think Delfino should replace Kapono in the starting 5. The group that started Saturday seems to look too much like the stagnant bunch who got beat by the Nets in the ‘07 playoffs. Toronto can obviously move the ball and the team has 2 point guards that can penetrate, but Delfino will provide scoring in a facet the team lacks. Delfino is the Eric Byrnes of the NBA (for you baseball fans). He has all the tools of a natural athlete. Sam Mitchell seems to be tinkering with the idea as he started Delfino over Kapono in Sunday’s game versus Italian club team, Lottomatica Roma.
In conclusion, it’s baaaaaaaaaacccccckkkk.
Photo: via Ruth L
Comments (11)LOLnbaz: Allenatore Smitch
About
The Basketball Jones is a NBA blog and podcast, written and recorded five times a week by J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas and Jason Doyle. Comments, questions and cold hard cash are always welcome and much appreciated. Contact us.
Podcast
Latest Episodes
- Ep. 312: The Fix – Friday, May 16th
- Ep. 311: The Fix – Thursday, May 15th
- Ep. 310: The Fix – Wednesday, May 14th
- Ep. 309: The Fix – Tuesday, May 13th
- Ep. 308: The Fix – Friday, May 9th