Pre-game thoughts
I noticed in the pregame that Leo was already bracing the fans for a slow start, talking about how this team is going to need time to gel and to learn about each other. That’s funny Leo, I thought that’s why we had a pre-season? Oh right, we’re playing most of it while missing some key players. Is this anyone’s fault? Well, not really. But it DOES mean that we can’t read too much into things like team chemistry right now. We’re not bringing two role players back in, we’re bringing in a 20-point guy, a 15-point guy and defensive specialist (or so we are lead to believe). Bosh seemed to fit in OK in Minny, let’s hope Hedo and Antoine can do the same.
The arena is mostly empty. Seriously Toronto, GO SEE YOUR TEAM. I have been to precisely one game, for which I traveled about 1800km each way, and by the end of it I had no voice. These tickets are cheap, what’s being done to promote them?
Two things I want to see today: how we defend Arenas, and whether Bosh can actually score on Jamison. Agent 0 is exactly the type of player who gives this team fits, and he will blow by Jose at will if nothing has changed. That much I’m expecting, but how we cover for him and how others guard him is key. As for CB4…the only person that defends him better than Jamison is Rasheed Wallace. If that was due to physical strength, then this should be a good test of the weight Bosh has added.
THE FU-GEES? Seriously? We’re using The Fu-Gees to pump up the crowd as our intro video? FAIL.
Weems is starting, presumably to try and guard Arenas. With Foye at the other guard, Jose can afford to stay on him.
First Quarter
Weems had a solid start, hitting a sweet coast-to-coast dunk and coming off the old Anthony Parker double baseline screen to hit the elbow jumper, then getting an offensive board over 4 Wizards. As long as he does more of the cutting and jumping, and doesn’t fall in love with the jump shot, we may have a treasure here.
Belinelli hit two off-balance threes, and he already has done more to endear himself to me than Kapono ever did. Oh, and he doesn’t look hopeless on the penetration either.
First quarter summary: Apart from Jamison having his way with the Raptors, that wasn’t a bad start. The Wiz should be right around our level all season, we match up with them very well and whoever wins the season series is likely to finish higher in the playoff rankings. Bargnani looks like he’s trying to force the offence but that should settle down once Hedo is back. Bosh looked like a guy who hasn’t played basketball all summer, but he has time to work that out.
Second Quarter
Don’t look now, but Reggie Evans is 6-6 from the line and is EVERYWHERE. He should never take another shot unless it’s a dunk or a free throw though. A lineup containing Evans, Weems and Amir would wear out most teams. I’d include DDR but that makes for an awfully small team.
Reggie finally misses a free throw, but Amir Johnson leaps over 2 Wizards to put it back, then repeats the feat off a Belinelli miss. With Sonny Weems having jammed his toe, Amir is trying to win over the crowd. It’s working. I wonder if Detroit and Denver will rue the day they let these guys go?
One thing I’ve noticed from Jarret Jack and Marco Belinelli – they check to see who is in the key before shooting. A questionable shot is easier to stomach if you have two strong rebounders in position.
DDR is playing like an energetic, promising rookie. He’s going to be one of the top 8 rookies this year, but next year I can see him passing some of his contemporaries.
The first signs of what I call “Torontitis” started to sneak in when Bosh checked in halfway through the second. Jumpshot after jumpshot, nothing falling, but they keep trying them. Fortunately it didn’t last long, but just seeing it was enough to break me out in a cold sweat worse than one someone asks Josh Howard to pee in a cup.
Good sign: Hedo talking to DDR as we come back from a time out. Now I hope he was talking about basketball and not about the best place to get a kebab, but the fact that Hedo was willing to talk and DDR was willing to listen is promising.
Remember Jose’s rookie year? Nobody knew what to expect, but by the 20th game everyone was hoping that Mike James would run up some quick fouls so that Jose could come in.Why do I feel that we’ll be saying the same thing about Jarret Jack and Jose this season?
Second quarter summary: A bit worrying, to be honest. Too many jumpers, not enough of the energetic, aggressive play that got them their lead. Fortunately some Tenacious D (with no picks of destiny…) and some bad decisions on Washington’s part led to Toronto going in at the half up by 4.
Third Quarter
We saw it in the first couple of games, we saw it again today: DDR leaving his feet to pass, and turning it over. Get out the hook!
7:15 left in the third and Bosh FINALLY posts up Jamison and scores on him. I thought we were going to see more of that this year? If so, wouldn’t this be a good time to work on it?
Douby, Calderon AND Belinelli on the floor together, and the Raptors can’t find a shot. That said, at least Belinelli looks like he can handle third-string PG duty. Which might be second-string if Calderon keeps playing like this.
An 11-0 run by Arenas, and not only is Jose getting torched, but nobody is stepping in front of him. Not even the much-vaunted toughness of Reggie Evans. It’s like living in the ghetto and having a neon sign saying “Hey yo, the key is under the mat and we got mad expensive shit inside yo”
Evans is now the number one offensive option? 2 straight posessions they go to him. Ummm…huh?
So Banks comes in and Jose starts playing off the ball a bit more…and he looks better. Briefly.
Third quarter summary: The sloppiness and lack of aggression from the second quarter not only continued, it also got worse. Then again, so did Washington. This game has been harder to watch than a Joan Rivers sex tape.
Fourth Quarter
The difference in the team’s style when Amir is in the game is noticeable. Never thought I’d ever say this, but they are clearly missing Weems.
Why is Reggie Evans STILL taking shots? It boggles the mind. Are the coaches trying to figure out if he can be an offensive threat? Because I can save them the effort on that one.
On two or three occasions tonight, DeRozan has driven hard to the hoop and been fouled harder. After the second one, the Raptors started shooting more jumpers. Nobody on the Wizards has been fouled hard while going to the rim. Draw your own conclusions.
I like what I saw from Javale McGee. Plays hard, has the highlights to go with it and just seems like the kind of player you’d be happy to bring off your bench at the 8th or 9th spot. Just don’t expect him to stop anyone.
Great little exchange at the 5 minute mark of the 4th: Amir sets a screen and pops out behind the arc, but Belinelli treats him like Kanye West treats his etiquette coach. So Amir sets another screen, rolls to the hoop and gets the ball for the short J and the foul. Learn that well, Amir. Learn it well.
Gotta love preseason – down the stretch of an important game, and Patrick O’Bryant is not only on the floor, he’s getting the ball. He even scored!
My ears must be playing tricks on me. I think Devlin just said we’re +8 on the boards.
OK, nobody look or anything, but O’Bryant is actually playing well, especially defensively. We haven’t seen Rasho at all and I think it’s because POB has played well in the 4th.
Post-game thoughts: The more I see, the more I like this team. A lot has been said about our bench and how it lacks scoring punch, but it is high in energy, enthusiasm and athleticism. Amir, Weems and DDR are going to make a lot of people very tired this year, and when you factor in the tempo shift from the starting 5 to the bench, it’s going to cause some defensive headaches too. Washington…they should be fine. Arenas is playing himself back in, and they were without Butler tonight. Intriguing matchup here for the regular season. I think the coaches have to know that Belinelli should start at the 2, leaving DDR and Jack to come off the bench together at the helm of the Energy Line, so to speak. How many teams can handle a change from half-court to athletic with their bench players? Lots of cause for optimism.
Cause for concern as well though. Jose is still a sliding (hand-clapping) door on defence, and we still aren’t discouraging teams from driving past him. Bargnani’s rebounding is not a concern for a guy who will be starting at small forward…oh, wait. Crap. I’m also concerned by how quickly and for how long we slumped into jump-shot mode, especially given that it coincided with Bosh checking in. How much harder will it be to break that when Hedo is also on the court?
Halfway through the preseason, this is clearly a team with some work still to do, but also one that can be proud of the work it has done. See you on Thursday, I hope, for the Rockets post-game.
Lansdell – Out.
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2 things:
1) "Nobody on the Wizards has been fouled hard while going to the rim"
one of the biggest problems the raps have had over the years. A good hard foul can mean alot more defensively then just preventing an individual basket. If you can't stop the basket… not only make them miss, make them thinkn twice about doing it again.
2) "Remember Jose’s rookie year? Nobody knew what to expect, but by the 20th game everyone was hoping that Mike James would run up some quick fouls so that Jose could come in"
Really? Not that I ever really wanted to see Mike James on the floor, I thought Jose had a horrible rookie season. I felt a bit sick ever time he stepped on the floor. 2nd year and on though a much different story.
Completely agree on both counts. Nobody was lifting Jose on their shoulders that year, especially 20 games in. Sure, he was an alternative to the wing nut that is Mike James, but Jose showed no signs of being starter material that early.
Hell, even now.
I have to agree, I never pined for Jose until TJ came to town.