Kapono and our offense

[curryfries]

Im watching the games lately and cant help but notice our deadly shooter has become nothing more than a decoy who is being put in positions on the court that do not best suit his skill. I read the box scores in astonishment and notice that over the last three games or so he has a total of 1-2 shot attempts. What has happened to Kapono? I know he has some flaws defensively but lets not forget as a team that we need this guy to be that deadly scorer off the bench and a player that is capabale of sparking runs and stopping opposing team runs.

I personally think that alot of our struggles offensively lately is due to the fact that Mitchell is putting players in positions which are not fully optimizing their skills. I remember all of last year the focus was to put each individual player on the floor in their best position to score based on scoring charts which showed so and so player shot a deadly percentage from the corner, so and so shot a deadly percentage from the wing 18 feet out, so and so did well in the post etc etc.

This year we seem to be asking all of our skilled players to do something they are not comfortable in doing, putting them in spots on the floor where their percentages are low and imo is one of the main reasons we are now seeing our team struggle to score or run away with games like we did last season.

The homer in me wants to say well Sam has a plan and understands for this team to become better certain players need to develop other parts of their game and if they do so in time we will be that much better for it. The other side of me is saying thats a good plan although some players like Kapono just will never ever be able to do the things your asking, like driving to the rim, creating his own shot. Kapono is a guy that needs to be a spot up shooter who is fed off of double teams or a guy that uses multiple screens to free him up like in Miami. Instead all i see is Kapono getting the ball on the wing with a player already draped all over him and asking him to create, it just isnt going to work.

I feel confused and frustrated watching our offense this year and notcing certain players are being put in position to struggle as opposed to flourishing.

[C Court]

The offence has become too stagant, too cautious and too half court oriented.

Even Sam admitted after the game that the Raptors need to run and push the ball because that is what will get open looks for Kapono.

Also, at the game I specifically watched Kapono on a couple of sets and Hayes was playing well off Jason in the corner, yet no effort was being made to swing the ball and get Kapono an open look.

Bottomline is it does the Raps no good to have a dead-eye shooter like Kapono if you don't get him the ball.

[galeon110]

The offence has become too stagant, too cautious and too half court oriented.

Even Sam admitted after the game that the Raptors need to run and push the ball because that is what will get open looks for Kapono.

Also, at the game I specifically watched Kapono on a couple of sets and Hayes was playing well off Jason in the corner, yet no effort was being made to swing the ball and get Kapono an open look.

Bottomline is it does the Raps no good to have a dead-eye shooter like Kapono if you don't get him the ball.

Two words, one name. TJ Ford. We need him running our offense again if we want to see the running game. He's the guy that penetrates and kicks it out. Raps desperately need him healthy again.

[RandomRaptorfan]

I fully agree with galeon110. You never see Jose pushing the ball upcourt, he always slows it down and makes us play a halfcourt game but TJ will keep running and put pressure on the opposing team's D.

[curryfries]

Dont really want this to be about tj or jose, im mainly concerned about what players are being asked to do and what spots players are being put in which conflict with their skills.

If you followed this team last year you would recall Mitchell always saying the team kept track of where each player was shooting the ball best on the court and the coaching staff did their best to put those players in that spot to suceed and score at a high percentage.

This year it seems our focus is entirely different and we are not putting players in their hot zones.

Kapono just needs a split second to get a shot off from anywhere on the court, he is just an example of one player we are not using to the maximum ability. One or two screens would be all it would take to free him up, or even simply swinging the ball around like we used to and having Kapono parked beyond the arc waiting.

We just dont seem to be doing any of it right now and im either wondering if this a case of a coach asking certain skilled players to be something they are not or is it the changes sam has made to the offense from last year to this year just is not as well suited to the teams players as it was last year. Or is it Sam simply thinking player x and y need to improve this for us to contend down the line?

Im getting frustrated watching guys like AP going recklessly into the paint when thats not his game, im getting tired of moon jacking outside shots when thats not his strength and im getting tired of seeing Kapono given the ball on the wing and being asked to create for himself with a man draped all over him.

[rapz**7**]

I fully agree with galeon110. You never see Jose pushing the ball upcourt, he always slows it down and makes us play a halfcourt game but TJ will keep running and put pressure on the opposing team's D.

I dont think playing a half court game is that bad. We have to get used to it that's playoff basketball.

[RandomRaptorfan]

I didn't say it was bad, but we shouldn't be playing one kind of offense 90% of the time

[Grambo]

Dont really want this to be about tj or jose, im mainly concerned about what players are being asked to do and what spots players are being put in which conflict with their skills.

If you followed this team last year you would recall Mitchell always saying the team kept track of where each player was shooting the ball best on the court and the coaching staff did their best to put those players in that spot to suceed and score at a high percentage.

This year it seems our focus is entirely different and we are not putting players in their hot zones.

Kapono just needs a split second to get a shot off from anywhere on the court, he is just an example of one player we are not using to the maximum ability. One or two screens would be all it would take to free him up, or even simply swinging the ball around like we used to and having Kapono parked beyond the arc waiting.

We just dont seem to be doing any of it right now and im either wondering if this a case of a coach asking certain skilled players to be something they are not or is it the changes sam has made to the offense from last year to this year just is not as well suited to the teams players as it was last year. Or is it Sam simply thinking player x and y need to improve this for us to contend down the line?

Im getting frustrated watching guys like AP going recklessly into the paint when thats not his game, im getting tired of moon jacking outside shots when thats not his strength and im getting tired of seeing Kapono given the ball on the wing and being asked to create for himself with a man draped all over him.

You can't discuss the ineffectiveness of some of our players without discussing the difference between TJ and Jose. The contrast of the two guys is what made us so successful last season; TJ would push the tempo and get guys open looks when the defense collapses, whereas Jose plays more of a half-court game and utilizes pick and rolls mostly to either drive in or dish it to an open guy. Now, because TJ is not ready to play and Jose has been starting for a while now, teams have figured him out. They no longer have to prepare their defense for two distinctly different point guards, and only have to worry about Calderon and force a half-court type game.

You think Sam Mitchell wants Moon to jack up shots from 25 feet? You think Kapono is being told by Mitchell to drive to the hoop? It's not Mitchell's fault that guys are afraid to do what they are most effective at doing. Kapono can't shoot, because guys are draped all over him like you said, and Moon, after Swift sent him to the floor in Memphis a month ago, seems to be more reluctant to drive to the hoop. If TJ was playing, Kapono would get way more open looks just because his man, or somebody else's man would HAVE to collapse into the paint and help out because TJ is simply too quick for the majority of PGs in this league to guard 1-on-1. This then becomes a case of picking poison, as you can collapse and risk leaving guys wide open, or you can not help out and risk TJ getting an easy layup. Like it or not, TJ is an integral part of the Raptors' offense, and missing him for any extended amount of time is going to hurt this team.

[HighOctane]

He's sucking on my fantasy team. He is not playing to potential.

[Big Shot]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think TJ played with Kapono that much on the court. It was Jose and has been Jose, who plays together with Kapono most of the time.

If I'm right about that, then it must be more the opponents figured out how the Raps play.

[execoftheyear]

Bosh had also contributed to the stagnant offense. Anyone else notice that players would be wide open across from Bosh but he'd be too busy reading his defender during his face up game. He needs to be a lot more decisive with his moves because he's holding the ball way too long with his vision limited to his defender. I remember seeing Bargnani wide open on a couple of possessions but remained unnoticed because of this. Bosh should just fake drive/shoot or just immediately back his man down. This will at least give him some vision on the perimeter or draw a double team.

[ImissBobCostas]

We're not swinging the ball around the perimeter nearly as well as we used to. Just moving it from man to man camped out at the 3 last year generated tons of shots.

Anthony Parker isn't doing his job.

[from24ft]

We're not swinging the ball around the perimeter nearly as well as we used to. Just moving it from man to man camped out at the 3 last year generated tons of shots.

Anthony Parker isn't doing his job.

I think this is where Garbo is missed, I remember him swinging that ball a lot, he only took open looks.

Andrea also does not swing the ball, he tries to beat his man or shoot... not that I had an issue with that last night, he was on fire.

Delfino, is another one.

[kmatrixg]

TJ is the main reason we shot so deadly early in the year - his drive and kick is so direly missed. Jose keeps the team consistent, but he really lacks the ability to explode for points, and get a really good run going. A great half court player, but a terrible fast break player, without the ability to put up a big scoring run like TJ.

[execoftheyear]

I think the absence of TJ's penetration as well as Bosh getting single coverage are the reasons why we aren't getting enough ball movement.

Calderon's pick and roll play does not result in ball movement and he's been reluctant to penetrate for whatever reason. We need to work an inside out game if we want to involve some ball movement into our offense. Bosh needs to back down and draw the double team to initiate the swinging on the perimeter. I liked Bargnani's penetration and would like to see a draw and kick/dish with him and Bosh/Humps which would also open more opportunities to swing the ball.

Kapono obviously needs the ball moved for him to be effective. Also the transition 3's have been non-existent and proved to be effective when we pushed the ball...hopefully Calderon will start pushing it like he used to and take some risks here and there, he's playing too safe.

[kmatrixg]

Kapono obviously needs the ball moved for him to be effective. Also the transition 3's have been non-existent and proved to be effective when we pushed the ball...hopefully Calderon will start pushing it like he used to and take some risks here and there, he's playing too safe.

Kapono running the floor taking that wing 3 is deadly. almost everytime down the floor he hits that shot - i love it. Jose needs to run the floor, drive into the paint and kick it out but he doesn't do that at all. Its very frustrating to see a wasted fast break like that.

[Gods Eye]

Raptors seriously need to make some plays for Kapono.

All he's done the past 2 games is run around looking for a shot, but he's had no opportunity to take one.

[|||-Abaddon-|||]

our ball rotation along the perimeter is PATHETIC compared to last years team for some reason...

our inside-and-out offense doesnt even seem to work when posting up Chris Bosh...

and I know we dont have great penetrators like Dwyane Wade who will dish the ball to Kapono...


But on the other hand, Kapono was a liability last night against the Pistons...everytime he was on...he would just get bossed by Rip or someone else...its useless for him to play if hes just going to get manned on defense

hes probably the best shooter in the league, and Mitchell is bloody dumb that he cant even figure out how to get this guy at least 5-7 clean shots a game...Kapono is a weapon, weapons must be utilized...but hes looking like hes gonna rust on the bench

[Dalek]

I think team's have figured out how to stop Kapono. He just can't create his own shot, and is slow coming off screens. This guy is supposed to be like 26, but he runs like he is in his mid 30s.

He is just not getting open in our halfcourt offense due to his own deficiences in freeing himself from his defender. Last week, both Bobby Jackson and Rip Hamilton were quick enough to chase and stop Kapono from getting his looks.

[Hendrix]

If he's going to play then there needs to be a concerted effort to get him shots. He's top 10 in the league in EFG. It's (Please Use More Appropriate Word) not to get this guy shots. If we're not going to get him shots, then he might as well sit on the bench because he's not very good at anything else really.