I just finished watching Boston beat them without Rondo, Pierce and KG. Boston played a line up of House, Tony Allen, Scalabrine, Sheldon Williams, and Big Baby during a significant 3rd quarter stretch and the Raptors could not make a dent on the lead. Toronto's overall defense is just terrible. Boston could get quality shots at any time. It's not like one area of the defense is bad, every area of the defense is bad, post defense, rotation, screens. It just makes me wonder about Chris Bosh. He's the best player and self professed leader of the team, but he's just as terrible on defense as Bargnani. Do you really want to pay this guy max money next year? Let me put it another way, if you had 70 mil to spend on a team, would you rather pay Bosh 18 million or Luis Scola (or the equivalent of Scola) 5 million?
Supposedly their defense was improved during their five-game win streak but not tonight. Bosh had his usual stat line but made some horrible plays on both ends of the floor. He is always late when he rotates on defense and was embarassed by Tony Allen on a number of plays. That said, it could be that being paired with Bargniani exaggerates his ineptitude on defense.
The biggest problem with them is Calderon and Bargnani's lack of presence on the defensive side. Calderon is like a straw man, and Bargnani brings no low post defense/rebounding at all. That, culminated with Bosh not being a particularly good defender, and Turkoglu not being either, you can see why this team struggles. However, if they got rid of Calderon and Bargnani and replaced those two in the starting lineup with two guys who can play good defense I feel their team will improve by a lot.
Softness has been the Purple Dinosaurs' problem for the last several years. Bargnani, Calderon, Bosh, etc, etc. Signing Turkey-Glue did nothing to change their longtime franchise DNA. Until they add some physical and mental toughness to their lineup, it will always be the same song and dance every season: What's wrong with the Barneys? Why aren't they winning more games? Blah blah blah!
True. But without Calderon the backcourt still has problems. Unlike Calderon, Jack and Banks actually play decent defense. The problem is that unlike Calderon neither is a true PG: Jack though underrated is still a combo guard, Banks is flat out terrible on offense. In order to put their defense on the floor the team makes a trade-off. For instance, tonight Banks had to play twenty minutes because nobody else on the team could guard Eddie House. Without his boneheaded shots and turnovers the Raptors would have had a shot at winning.
.... And this team consistently beat us. Every year. I was at the Raptors Rockets game last month. Major embarassment.
No ******* way! Scola could get as much as 8 million and I'd still take him over Bosh for 15 million.
Your on Crack if you wouldn't take Bosh for 15mil over Scola for 8. Scola will be on the decline soon while Bosh is only 25 and is a talented player even if his teams record doesnt reflect it.
Their problem is that Chris Bosh is NOT a franchise player, he is a #2 guy. No team is going anywhere with him as the focal point.
Exactly. And 15 or more million for a second option is too much. Especially for one that may not even fit well with Yao.
15 Mil to much for a second option...... Mcgrady/Yao. Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce/Ray Allen Lebron James/Shaquille Kobe/Gasol Dwight Howard/Rashard Lewis/Vince Carter All those combos make a surplus of 15million dollars. You have to eventually spend money to create a championship caliber team. I don't see how 15 Million is to much for a proven 2nd option. Just look at the list above, many of those players are 2nd options and making well over 15 Million.
We don't really need a franchise player anymore. When you already have AB, Lowry, Hayes, Yao Ming, Ariza, Battier and C-bud a franchise player becomes redundant. What we need is an amazing offensive force, someone who can score even against the very best defense the league has to offer. If we could somehow get Bosh he could be that guy. With Yao Ming coming back he'll help compensate for whatever defensive deficiencies bosh might have, although IMHO Bosh is a decent defender, its just that his team lacks a defensive presence so his weaknesses gets magnified.
Bosh's leadership ability can be compared to Yao's probably slightly lower. Neither of them are true franchise players. somehow i think putting them together would be a mistake considering Bosh did no mesh AT ALL with Jermain o'neal. I can just see Yao clogging the lane and bosh shooting midrange all game long... but i could be wrong
I agree that Chris Bosh is not a "number 1" franchise player. He's like a Pau Gasol. Actually he's A LOT like Pau Gasol. Puts up his 20/10 on a weak ass losing squad like when Pau was playing in Memphis. If he had a legit shooting guard or small forward like D.Wade/B.Roy/Kobe or Lebron/Granger/Melo he'd go a lot further. The problem is with as many Stars as there are in this league there's very few true franchise carrying superstars. On a side note I know he's been out but Jose Calderon is way overrated. Even when he was playing the Raptors weren't doing ****. He was a lot better when he and TJ Ford were fighting for minutes.
agreed I really liked Caldy when TJ was injured that year and He had to step up. But after Ford was traded, and after a hamstring injury Calderon stopped being his oldself Now he plays no defence ( he only claps his hands lol), cant run fast breaks, cant blow by anyone without a pick and doesnt even attempt to penetrate. his shooting is still decent, and he makes the most basic and consersavative passes without taking any risk afraid it'll effect his dam assist to TO ratio
I was thinking about this a while back. They need Battier. He would turn them into a top 4 Eastern team IMO. They need someone tough, hardworking, vocal and who will rub off on them.
