Be nice to Bargs until the summer...he is key to playoffs

[MEDIC]

Agreed. It is super pathetic & petty for our fans to be booing any of our players....especially while we are winning & fighting for a playoff spot. At this point who gives a sh*t about Bargnani. The team is playing well.

It's like the fans are focusing on such small meaningless things & forgetting the big picture. Can you imagine what some of the players think of the Toronto fans when fans boo the guy? He's still their teammate.

It's gotten to the point where fans don't even know why they are booing. They are just doing it to be a-holes.

Time for the fans at the ACC to put their big boy pants on, forget the past & support this team in their playoff fight.

They are like a bunch of jaded ex-girlfriends that can't forget the past & move on....

Pathetic.

Fans have to do their part & keep things positive by supporting the team. If you boo the sh*t out of Bargnani & he goes out & misses a bunch of shots, it's just as much your fault as Bargnani's that we may have lost the game.

People have to be accountable for their actions.

[Beardman]

I'm just so glad he got booed in front of Ed Davis last game, while Speshal Ed got a mini ovation. Ed needed that.

On topic its laughable that people still think Bargs can contribute to winning. Till the bitter end huh ? lol

[22haytham22]

I do think Bargs should get more touches then he does...

But the 2nd unit consists of Anderson, Lucas, Ross, Fields, Bargnani...and usually Casey likes to leave either Gay or Derozan to play with this unit.

It's a free for all. I think his teamates look him off because most of those guys on the 2nd unit are offence 1st oriented.

That is the problem, our coach system is a lot of ISO plays. Casey really needs an offensive coordinator

[RaptorGuy]

He's a 2nd rate chucker!!! He's not Jamal Crawford, he's a taller John Lucas!!!

You are delusional, comparing him to Lucas. I guess you will say anything to make your point.

[whysoserious]

Go earn the niceness and cheers from the fans. Looking disinterested, missing assignments and not boxing out doesn't get you cheers or get rid of the boos. Everything he's getting is well deserved.

This is on Bargs, not the fans. Show them reasons not to boo you.

You have a point, but was good are you doing by booing him now. We actually are making a run for the playoffs and things are getting interesting. To each his own, I guess folks feel a sense of entitlement.

I'm not out there booing him and I understand both sides of the argument. I understand the notion of sticking by your team and I also understand the lack of effort from him that and all the other things that have culminated to this point and fans are done with him.

I'm not gonna say one way or the other who's right or wrong. I have gone to games recently and cheered Bargs when he's made good plays and booed him at other times for his effort or missed plays. That's part of basketball.

[Raps Militia]

I do think Bargs should get more touches then he does...

But the 2nd unit consists of Anderson, Lucas, Ross, Fields, Bargnani...and usually Casey likes to leave either Gay or Derozan to play with this unit.

It's a free for all. I think his teamates look him off because most of those guys on the 2nd unit are offence 1st oriented.

That is the problem, our coach system is a lot of ISO plays. Casey really needs an offensive coordinator

That's for sure!
Telfair, however, can lend a hand to our offensive actions.

[Raps Maniac]

I'm sure he would like that too... but oh wait... he's under contract.

He could walk away at any point. Oh wait, he'd leave millions behind....I wonder why he hasn't walked away.

You mean retire? I'd like to see you retire at 27 too.

[Indeed]

Sorry, paying 10 million dollar means basketball, not simply put someone who has no clue in basketball, but blindnessly put effort on chasing a ball. I coach players before, and I saw 10 years old kids put effort on chasing one soccer ball without having positioning. It is enough for one person in that zone to chase the ball in terms of tactic, and the others have their purpose at their position. Your "effort" measurement is flawed in a structure team game, it doesn't work that way.

Are you honestly going to argue that Andrea Bargnani is actually trying out there? 100% effort?

No, not 100% effort, and he should work harder, but is it because of effort?

On the other hand, are you doing non-paid overtime? Extra effort to your company (assume you are not the owner)? Are you doing community work? Extra effort to your neighbour? Are you not 100% effort at work?

I am only 110% effort on what I am assigned by my boss. If it comes from other department with my boss approval, I will put 110% on my stuff, otherwise, it depends. What about you? Carrying everything other department failed to do (help defense) and being blamed when it is not your responsibility (worth the trouble?)?

[RaptorGuy]

Those fans payed their hard earned cash and they pay that guy's salary and if he isn't providing, hell not even giving effort which is what we want to see than they have every right to boo him

They paid their hard-earned f'k'n'g cash, please don't use that cliche, half of the douches in the building are watching porn all day while stealing time from their employers. Whenever I hear this, I wonder how much effort YOU are giving at your job.

Cut out the sanctimonious BS.

If you want your team to win, you lift them, you don't sit on them, you don't hate on them. You are the sixth man they all need. YOU. So why not show a little g-d effort and support them.

Haven't you heard players rave about how the home court support matters, how you want to scare the visitors shiatless? Well, how scared is the visiting team when your loudest boos are for your own guy.

As someone said earlier today, a lot of fans WANT Bargnani to fail so they can boo him like some prophesy they need fulfilled. That's the difference between Toronto and a real sports town. The team has won six of the past seven, has a pretty good chance to win the next three, and the fans won't get behind their players.

But you keep moaning about all the years of losing despite the fact the team is turning things around and yet many of you want to fight yesterday's battle.

The Raptors need you to fight today's battle. There is at least a hail Mary's chance of making the playoffs, like the late rush of 2002-03, and many of you would rather engage in team-destructive behaviour.

That's why this is a city of losers. Mike Murphy says, "Hello losers!"

Well said, but most have their own agenda and will not understand. They feel a sense of entitlement as fans, such BS.

[whysoserious]

Maybe the 19 pts a game he averaged for the team last year as its number one option is suggestion enough that he should maybe get the ball every once and a while.

That to me is not a sufficient enough track record. He's basically had a small stretch of good games that many want to hang their hat on. Look, does he deserve more than 2 shots like he got tonight? Probably. But he's got to go do other things and work hard to create for himself. Go get yourself in a position to get shots. The play may not call for it but if you see a mismatch, go try and post up. He's just standing around most of the time.

We have way more evidence to average to poor performance from him than good. That doesn't just earn you shots and being an offensive option. Now AA and others shouldn't be getting shots ahead of him either and that's on teh coach.

But at this point, the only one that has any control over all of this is Bargnani.

[kelso]

Go earn the niceness and cheers from the fans. Looking disinterested, missing assignments and not boxing out doesn't get you cheers or get rid of the boos. Everything he's getting is well deserved.

This is on Bargs, not the fans. Show them reasons not to boo you.

This. Forget this season- this has been 7 seasons of built up frustration with this guy. Defense isn't skill, it's effort. Rebounding requires skill, yes, but when you're 7-feet tall, you have a few things working in your favor.

I do also agree with a few of the earlier posters however- in the 2nd unit with Andersen and Lucas, Bargs will get no shots.

Listening to Butch Carter on The Fan earlier today was enlightening and made me question Casey even more than I have. The 2nd unit has no plan- it's free wheeling at its best and if someone isn't hot, it's going to be a long night. If they actually worked a few plays and looked to get Bargs his shots,m he could light it up against benches in the east.

[carlosey]

I mean the point has been made and further booing is not going to make it any more clear but its only going to keep the guy out of synch. People are just doing it to be aholes because its fun to kick on a person when they are down like a damn bully. I hope you have taken your frustration out by now and start concentrating on a possible playoff push instead. We need all we can to get there because it is going to be a very close call and the second unit has not been doing it for us. Casey really needs to get some sort of offensive strategy for the second unit. I mean we were up 13 and the knicks second unit basically just watched Lucas and Anderson do the job for them and leave us down 2.

[Strategist1]

I don't think Lucas is the problem.. He's been playing well. He doesn't force his game as much as Anderson.

Basically the touches that go to Anderson need to go to Bargnani.
and Fields needs to take Anderson's minutes to help balance the 2nd unit.

It's not that I hate Anderson. Though his chucking is annoying sometimes. There are some plays where you know he's just gonna shoot. His offence is needed sometimes nonetheless.

It's just that we have a lot invested in Bargnani and Fields. They need to get the majority of minutes and touches. AA should play when Ross is struggling. That is all.

[MEDIC]

People are just doing it to be aholes because its fun to kick on a person when they are down like a damn bully.

Bingo. That's exactly what it is.

Weak.

[Marvin Martian]

The crowd is going to give Bargs what he deserves. They will continue to boo him until he starts making shots, playing defense, and plays basketball with passion.

That is how every sports crowd will react to their team.

[DHK]

Great, youre voicing your displeasure in front of his face but is that going to make him play harder? Is that going to be a motivator?
It's home court for a reason and our purpose as Raptors fans is to cheer the team on, energize the players, make them feel they have the crowd behind them, and have support, by boo-ing the player even when he makes a mistake/lack of effort (and Im pretty sure its not a lack of trying; this completes an opposite effect.
Look at Boston and OKC. Countless times I've seen the road team make a huge run, close in on them and even take a lead; do they boo because theymade mistakes (ie, missed assignments, didnt close out)? No, they cheer their team even harder and becomes an enigma which usually propels the home team to make another push and seal the game.
At the ACC; rarely would I see crowds actually cheering on the team when they're down, propelling them to go forward, when we're down Raptors fans have a tendency to surpress them further which is a depressing sight to see.

[basketball royalty]

Maybe the 19 pts a game he averaged for the team last year as its number one option is suggestion enough that he should maybe get the ball every once and a while.

That to me is not a sufficient enough track record. He's basically had a small stretch of good games that many want to hang their hat on. Look, does he deserve more than 2 shots like he got tonight? Probably. But he's got to go do other things and work hard to create for himself. Go get yourself in a position to get shots. The play may not call for it but if you see a mismatch, go try and post up. He's just standing around most of the time.

We have way more evidence to average to poor performance from him than good. That doesn't just earn you shots and being an offensive option. Now AA and others shouldn't be getting shots ahead of him either and that's on teh coach.

But at this point, the only one that has any control over all of this is Bargnani.

Actually the guys who have control over it are Casey, Lucas and Anderson. JL3 and AA handle the ball and make the decisions with what to do with it. They are not very creative since their decision usually is the same, which is basicaly to shoot from wherever they happen to be on the floor at the time. Casey should have some sort of control over this but it is hard to tell, maybe he likes what he sees out of his second unit and thinks Bargnani should just turn into Ed Davis.

[The_Hater]

Seriously. I think all this negativitiy toward him is affecting his game. We need him to produce off the bench for any chance at the 8th seed.

Thanks

Did you ever think that after 6 seasons of indifferent play while the fans pretty much left him alone that a strong chorus of boos from the home crowd might be exactly what he needs to start playing hard? Everyone gets there motivation from a different source.

I honestly don't think anything can be done for this guy to start giving a consistent effort but I do know that 'leaving him alone' has clearly not worked all these years.

Thanks.

[Adwan]

I agree but playing with Lucas and Anderson we could cheer everything he does and send him love notes and he still will do nothing because he won't get the ball.

Hope Telfair gets some minutes and is given a chance to spread the ball around for the bench guys. Also hope FIelds gets more burn as he is a guy that will do the little things without needed to take every shot that comes his way.

Agree with the Telfair bit. We need to run some plays like we used to with Bargnani in the second unit. He doesn't create on his own and we know what he is capable of. The random chucking needs to stop and there needs to be more off the ball screens for players like Anderson and Fields. DC lets the offense play however they like too much. He needs to get on that and start delegating something more productive and take advantage of mismatches. Let's hope he asked for another PG for a reason so he can actually do that.

[MEDIC]

Seriously. I think all this negativitiy toward him is affecting his game. We need him to produce off the bench for any chance at the 8th seed.

Thanks

Did you ever think that after 6 seasons of indifferent play while the fans pretty much left him alone that a strong chorus of boos from the home crowd might be exactly what he needs to start playing hard? Everyone gets there motivation from a different source.

I honestly don't think anything can be done for this guy to start giving a consistent effort but I do know that 'leaving him alone' has clearly not worked all these years.

Thanks.

Yeah, but who cares about Bargnani. This is a TEAM sport. Put your personal feelings aside & don't make it a damn distraction.

He's not going to be here by summer's end anyhow.

Boo the damn guy when he comes back in another uniform if you feel that strongly about him.