March 28 Games

I'm looking forward to the Thunder Trail Blazers game. Lebron scored 34 today. Which means Durant needs 48 points to surpass him in the scoring lead. Pretty unlikely, I think Durant goes for 32 in a win.

 

Watching the Spurs and Celtics game now... Must win for Spurs.

 

Raptors vs Heat should be a 'featured game' since they are only like 1 or 2 games apart and are competing for a better and secure playoff spot

 

It "featured" the Barneys blowing a lead and crumbling down the stretch. That team has no heart whatsoever.

 

Close game until the last minute though..those raps just don't how to rebound off tough losses or finish close games. Lakers (actually, Kobe) tore out their hearts and stomped on it.

 

It's a chronic problem that goes back several years. I don't watch them that often but I can't think of another team I've seen wilt down the stretch of close games. It must be a part of their franchise DNA.

 

holy hell. ginobli flew outta nowhere and blocked garnett.

 

Air Congo just may end up being the Thunder's answer for a big man. It's hard to believe how much he's improved since the start of the season. This guy is only 20 years-old and never played basketball in the U.S. until this season. They still need another legit, seasoned big body player, but Ibaka can be the answer for 90% of what they need. I wonder how strong he will be and what his body will look like in 3-4 years.

His jumper is pretty sweet. When he learns to avoid unnecessary fouls, watch out.

 

Its pretty clear that Bosh has given up on the Barneys. I think he is already trying to decide where he wants to go.

 

its even worse if raps miss the playoffs, i made a thread about it!

 

Oh please oh please have the Raptors get eliminated from the playoffs and have Bosh demand a trade in the off season.

Rockets are usually able to swing a deal for players that demand trades. See Francis and T-Mac.

 

Yep. These last two losses have probably driven a stake through that team. Melo's shot on Friday was devastating but tonight was worse. Much worse.

 

the Celtics have fallen BADLY

 

Why does Ellis take random games off? He just ruined my fantasy playoff chances of moving on....

 

Triano post game presser:

Reporter: "Did you not play Turk because he wasn't 100% healthy or you were trying to send a message to the team?"
Triano: "I was trying to send a message to the team."
Reporter: "What kind of message?"
Triano: "That he was not healthy."

 

He's going to be out the whole 5 game road trip.

 

This article shines the light and pulls no punches. Turkey-Glue is a gigantic jerk and a bust in Toronto. I'm sooooo glad he turned his back on the Blazers at the last minute.

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/basketball/2010/03/28/13389321.html

The last straw for Hedo
Unfufilled promise, Friday night outing leads to Raps benching Turkoglu
By FRANK ZICARELLI, Toronto Sun
Last Updated: March 28, 2010 11:49pm

MIAMI — The message was loud and clear, forceful and impactful.

The days of Hedo Turkoglu cutting corners are over, whether his future in Toronto is over remains to be seen.

Turkoglu’s season of unfulfilled promise and disappointment reached a new level Sunday night in Miami, where the Raptors blew a 17-point lead in the second half to drop a 97-94 decision to the host Heat, a loss that laid to bare all the problems plaguing Toronto.

Turkoglu dressed, but never saw the floor.

His ability to create would have been welcome when the Raptors couldn’t create enough against a stifling Heat defence that simply took over.

The loss, which puts Toronto’s playoff footing on even more unstable ground, paled in comparison to the drama surrounding Turkoglu.

Turkoglu missed Friday’s heartbreaker to Denver because of a stomach ailment, which first surfaced at halftime of last Wednesday’s loss to Utah.

It was later discovered that Turkoglu spent Friday night out on the town.

The team became aware of the situation following e-mails that were allegedly sent to different club officials.

The decision to not play Turkoglu clearly stems from Friday’s no-show against the Nuggets.

When pressed, general manager Bryan Colangelo politely responded by saying the matter was being handled internally.

Turkoglu didn’t have much to say following Sunday’s loss.

“I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m okay,’’ Turkoglu said when asked to comment on not playing against the Heat.

Raptors head coach Jay Triano said it was a coaching decision not to play Turkoglu, even though he was available.

“He was active. It was a coaching decision to not play him,’’ Triano said.

When pressed to give his reasons why the decision was made, Triano didn’t offer much in the way of an explanation.

When asked if the Raptors could have used Turkoglu’s play-making skills, Triano added: “If he’s 100% healthy and able to go, he’s helped us in those situations, yeah.”

Triano was then asked if the decision was more a function of health or whether he was trying to send a message.

“Both,’’ he said.

And the message?

“Not healthy.”

Which sort of explains the Raptors, who are fragile and falling fast.

Maybe it took Turkoglu’s actions from Friday for the Raptors to finally put their foot down on a guy who is very likeable, but who reported to camp out of shape and looking completely disinterested.

Next to Gilbert Arenas, perhaps no other player has a contract that is virtually untradeable than Turkoglu, who was given a five-year deal worth $53 million US in the off-season.

Whether he plays Monday night in Charlotte remains to be seen.

Orlando didn’t lose any sleep when Turkoglu left the Magic after helping lead it to last year’s appearance in the NBA final.

They knew Turkoglu would capitalize on his playoff run, opting out of his contract to become a free agent.

In hindsight, the Raptors should have benched Turkoglu long before Sunday.

He’s become a high maintenance player who shoots too many low-percentage shots, a player you can’t depend on and one who needs to be taught a lesson.

Players know Turkoglu hasn’t stepped up.

When he has played well, it’s been in spurts.

Jarrett Jack said the decision not to play Turkoglu was not discussed by his teammates, which seems unusual, but one has to accept his words at face value.

“It was handled among the coaches and whomever else is involved,’’ Jack said. “It’s a team business at the end of the day and that’s pretty much how you want to keep it.”

This whole Turkoglu mess doesn’t bode well for a team that is just half a game up on the Bulls for eighth in the East.

The kind of change that is possible in the wake of another non-playoff year will be catastrophic.

Colangelo’s future comes into question.

Triano’s future also will be in doubt.

And you ask yourself: Why would Chris Bosh want to return?

A lot of questions, but so few answers.

frank.zicarelli@sunmedia.ca

 

Dang Turk