by zike_42 » Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:29 pm
Our trade with the Celtics was the only one for the month. I guess everyone isn’t as impatient as I am.
Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder was named Player of the Month, averaging 29.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while leading his team to a 5-11 record in the west.
Evan Turner was impressive in the month of November, commanding his 76ers to a league best 13-2 record while averaging 15.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game and was rightly chosen as the Rookie of the Month.
I’m looking to make another trade or two to cut salary. We have a few contracts that are too long for my liking, with Amir Johnson’s 5 year $35 million on the top of the pile. But it’s not that easy.
The one weakness Rajon Rondo has is that he is a TERRIBLE free throw shooter, and in our first game in December showcased that. He went 9/24, but that was the only chink in his armour in our 106-93 win over the Hawks when he exploded for 21 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds. Ray Allen chipped in with 24 points and we withstood a 26 point, 18 rebound haul by Al Horford. We shot a massive 55 free throws, hitting 32 (58%).
Toronto Raptors 5-10
I was expecting the worst going into Los Angeles to go against the Lakers, but a 113-65 stomping was not what I expected. I will let the stats paint the picture:
Toronto 30% FG
Toronto top scorer – Rajon Rondo/DeMar Derozan 10
Toronto outrebounded 63-30
Kobe Bryant 25 points
Andrew Bynum 26 points, 14 rebounds
Pau Gasol 8 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks
Lamar Odom 17 points, 8 rebounds.
The less I talk about it the better, onto the next game.
Toronto Raptors 5-11
I had a call from the Toronto News asking if Amir Johnson was on the trading block. I am always honest in these situations and told them briefly that I am shopping him for cap relief. The next day, Amir came into my office and told me that he was relieved to know the facts, and that he had heard rumours and didn’t know what was real or not. I told him that if he has any other issues come straight to me and I will tell him honestly what is going on. There are no secrets in this organization, I think.
We go down in a close one in Denver 109-102 where we came back from 16 down in the 3rd but couldn’t close that 5-7 point gap. Rondo against paced us with 24 points and 12 assists, with 4 steals on the side. DeMar has been playing well recently and tonight was no different, scoring 16 points in 17 minutes. With Nene being out with a broken wrist Al Harrington of all people at centre wins player of the game with 25 points.
Toronto Raptors 5-12
I hit the phones hard because I want to start shedding some salary. First step is to get rid of Amir Johnson. Unfortunately no one really wants a 6’9, 210lb PF with a huge contract that won’t stop fouling. But just before I give up the 76ers give me some love.
Toronto trades:
PF Amir Johnson
PG Marcus Banks
C Solomon Alabi
Philadelphia trades:
SF Jason Kapono
PF Darius Songalia
Why for Toronto:
This was a clean cut salary dump. Signing Amir Johnson to that ridiculous contract was bizarre and if Elwood’s plan to cut salary was to happen, he had to go. Songalia has some go in him still and will pick up the slack on the 4/5 positions, but the main thing is that both have expiring contracts THIS YEAR.
Why for Philadelphia:
Security. Evan Turner is young and will go through injuries until his body becomes accustomed to NBA life, which is where Banks comes in. With Turner out, Jrue Holiday steps in at SG leaving a hole for a back-up point guard. Amir Johnson backs up the aging duo of Elton Brand and Tony Battie while Spencer Hawes is out. Alabi is a low risk, high reward player that the 76ers can stash until he gets better.
Winner – Draw
The 76ers are rolling to start the season and weren’t using either traded player, so getting a deeper bench will be good for them. But shedding Johnson’s contract is great news for the Raptors, so it evens out.
Pretty much sums it up, but if I can dump Jarrett Jack’s 3 year $15.6 million and Linas Kleiza’s 4 year $20 million contracts I will sleep easy. I’m worried that we are thin at PF so I sign Rasheed Wallace (gulp).
It’s the battle of elite PGs and Deron Williams shows how much growing Rondo has to go by blasting us with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 15 assists in their 97-87 win. Rajon Rondo doesn’t embarrass himself with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists but fouls out.
Our new recruits play well:
Rasheed Wallace – 5 points, 7 rebounds (but shot 2-13)
Darius Songalia – 8 points, 11 rebounds.
Toronto Raptors 5-13
Leandro Barbosa came into my office in a bit of a funk. He was worried about his game after not scoring in double figures in 10 games. I told him to keep his head up and his stroke will come back, he is too good of a player to keep sucking. He seemed to cheer up and promised he would try harder. It’s probably good that I have a 16 year old son so I know what to say when someone gets down on themselves.
We lose in overtime against Portland, going down 121-116. Brandon Roy was magnificent scoring 40 points and we were outrebounded again 61-44. We had 3 players at 20 points or more – Ray Allen (23), Rajon Rondo (20 points, 14 assists but fouled out again) and Linas Kleiza woke up and scored 24 points.
Toronto Raptors 5-14
OK, losing to the equally poor Cavs, by 28 no doubt, is a problem going down 120-92. Mo Williams was great with 20 points and 11 assists, and our only resistance was Ray Allen with 33 points.
Toronto Raptors 5-15
I’m getting short with Jay Triano, even though it’s not all his fault. I will give him 5 more games to see if he can do something but I have heard rumours that Rudy Tomjanovich is looking to get back into coaching.
It’s the 6-14 Pacers vs. the 5-15 Raptors and we get smashed 113-88. Nothing to note on our side, with Danny Granger scoring 30 points for the victors.
Toronto Raptors 5-16
We lost badly again 115-93 to the Nets. Rondo tried his best with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 15 assists and Ray Allen scored 27. Devin Harris had a great game with 21 points 9 rebounds and 8 assists. It is what it is; we just don’t have the talent this year.
Toronto Raptors 5-17
Another week, another player in my office, this time Earl Barron. He is worried that his gloss has gone and the team thinks he sucks. I told him what I told Leandro and Earl seemed to take it as ‘I’m awesome so I don’t have to try’, I didn’t say anything then but I will monitor the situation.
I didn’t expect to win against the quality of the Hornets so wasn’t that surprised when we got smashed 108-86. Somehow Chris Paul didn’t get player of the game with a stat line of 13 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, it went to David West with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Ray Allen top scored for us with 23 points.
Toronto Raptors 5-18
After the game at the media Q&A I was asked about the availability of Linas Kleiza which I promptly replied that he was on the block. He obviously didn’t like this and stormed out, bitching about me to Leandro Barbosa on the way home from the arena.
So of course I went shopping to see what I could get for him.
I tried to pry Danilo Gallinari from the Knicks but they wouldn’t have a bar of it, then Shane Battier from Houston but they wouldn’t take Kleiza’s contract. In fact, no-one wants his contract so he is safe for now.
So close. We blew another 4th quarter lead losing 96-92 against the quality Nets. We got outscored 27-17 in the last with Brook Lopez pummelling us with 24 points and 19 rebounds. Rondo fouled out again, which is starting to become a problem.
Toronto Raptors 5-19
And on possibly his last game as coach, Jay Triano pulls a rabbit out of a hat by beating the 18-5 Mavericks by a solitary point, 116-115. Even a monster game by Brendan Heywood of all people (24 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks) couldn’t stop us behind Jarrett Jack (26 points) and Rajon Rondo (22 points, 11 assists and didn’t foul out). Jay stays for now.
Toronto Raptors 6-19
Keeping Kevin Durant to 8 points below his average would mean a win for us right? Nope, losing to Oklahoma City 84-78. Ray Allen must have got leather poisoning after the game after going 8/27 for 21 points.
Toronto Raptors 6-20
The Spurs have been struggling but they still smashed us 110-87. Their big 3 won it for them, with Tim Duncan (28 points, 16 rebounds), Tony Parker (26 points, 7 assists) and Manu Ginobili (26 points) in fine form. Rondo top scored for us with 21 points.
Toronto Raptors 6-21
I really wish we could win a road game, progressing to 1-14 on the road with a 98-87 loss to the Clippers. Baron Davis top scored with 29 points and we had nothing of note.
Toronto Raptors 6-22
What was that about a road win? It arrived the very next game with a 92-87 win over Sacramento. Rajon Rondo (who else) played great with 24 points and Ed Davis had a massive 6 blocks.
Toronto Raptors 7-22
Our last game for 2010 was another road beating, this time by the hand of the Portland Trailblazers, 101-78. Brandon Roy played well again with 32 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Jarrett Jack was our lone highlight with 22 points. Ray Allen stunk it up going 4/22 for 9 points.
Toronto Raptors 7-23
So in December we went 3-13 for a total of 7-23 landing us second last in the east in front of Charlotte who are 7-24. Even Minnesota are above us now at 8-21.
Miami are now the number 1 seed in the east with a 20-9 record, with New Jersey half a game behind and Orlando 2 games behind them.
Philadelphia have come down to Earth with a thud, going 3-11 in the month.
The Lakers are still leading the west with a 26-4 record, breaking away from the Nuggets and Hornets, 4.5 and 5.5 games behind respectively.
Toronto Top Scorers – Ray Allen (17.5), Rajon Rondo (16.1), Jarrett Jack (12.7)
Toronto Top Rebounders – Earl Barron (7.5), Ed Davis (6.1), Rasheed Wallace (5.5)
Toronto Top Assisters – Rajon Rondo (9.5), Jarrett Jack (2.2)
League Top Scorers – Kobe Bryant LAL (30.1), Kevin Durant OKC (27.7), Stephen Jackson CHA (26.9)
League Top Rebounders – Dwight Howard ORL (14.1), Andrew Bogut MIL (13.2), Al Horford ATL (12.8)
League Top Assisters – Chris Paul NOH (11.5), Steve Nash PHO (10.3), Rajon Rondo TOR (9.5)
A look at the upcoming draftees who I’m hoping we will have the first choice of:
1 – PG Varlam Bebutov (Estonia) 18 years old
Bebutov is a tall point guard, but rail thin. He is very raw but is brimming with potential, all he needs is more experience and to hit the gym and he could be a monster.
2 – SF Kevin King (Syracuse) Freshman
The Orange haven’t seen a freshman as good as King since Carmelo Anthony. He can do anything, showed by his stat line of 32.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 2.5 steals AS A FRESHMAN. He would be my #1 right now.
3 – C Michael Nicholson (Texas) Junior
Big body (6’11, 280lbs) who knows how to use it. Traditional back to the basket player that has great hands.
4 – PF Mario Hayes (Wake Forest) Freshman
One part of the Demon Deacons monster front line that is putting up big numbers but is getting outshone by his teammate (read below). Only reason he is at #4 is that he is a freshman.
5 – C James Blanchard (Wake Forest) Sophomore
Second half and the terror at WF, averaging 19.7 points, 16.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists. When all is said and done, Blanchard will be drafted before Hayes.