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Is there any good reason he's not getting any minutes?

Last year he was one of our most consistent guys, and by far our best big-man defender. Not someone who can take over a game, but fundamentally solid.

Remember how he lost all that weight during preseason? He is one hard-working dude; he said he's in better shape than he's been in years.

It's pretty obvious his lack of playing time is due to the development of Bargnani...

word rasho is the man

Yup
I feel bad to keep dumping on Smitch, but the complete lack of minutes given to Rasho is completely non-sensical.
Rasho's solid. He's not a player that should be getting 5 minutes a game.

He is really victim of circumstances. With Sam's opting to play small ball recently, as well as the need to get Barg's meaningful minutes, Rasho is suffering the consequences.

Well, there are small ball minutes that could be had with Rasho in the middle.

We saw today what Joey can do on the block (I've been screaming for them to give him the damn ball for 3 years now) so the offense could still run for at least two or three minutes.

Joey and Moon play well together. Rasho'd be a nice anchor for those two.

KingClutch wrote:It's pretty obvious his lack of playing time is due to the development of Bargnani...

Yes but that's not what I was asking. I clearly said "is there any good reason".

He likes going with Moon, Bosh and 3 guards late in the game so that's why Rasho doesn't see the floor.

I notice some of the same names (not the OP hpwever) bashing Sam over not playing AB are bashing him about not playing Rasho.

Brilliant guys. I always knew you were smarter then me, and had a winning strategy, and now you proved it. Your smarter then Smith because you would play 6 or more guys at a time. Wow, if only other people could think of that.

Rasho doesn't exactly fit in well with the second unit, and since Bargnani has the starting job handed down to him, where is Rasho going to get the minutes?

Rasho started out in preseason and in the beginning of the regular season strong but after about a week of starting his game has been declining ever since.

I would love to see him moved in some sort of package to free up some cap space.

Hump has taken the minutes Rasho used to get, and aside from the times when he becomes MJ-Hump, he has played fairly well. I don't think Rasho has the legs to play significant minutes anymore but he should be used for small periods of time especially against bigger opposition lineups.

rkid wrote:Hump has taken the minutes Rasho used to get, and aside from the times when he becomes MJ-Hump, he has played fairly well. I don't think Rasho has the legs to play significant minutes anymore but he should be used for small periods of time especially against bigger opposition lineups.

i dont know about that.

He's overrated in my opinion...he's a decent half court defender that will box out well but on offense he's a complete liability. He's a below average center at best but everyone seems to overrate him because we have no better.

What's interesting is that Rasho is the guy who speaks Italian, who last year was communicating with Andrea. This year, Rasho has been planted on the bench in order to give Andrea PT. Wonder if Rasho is still yucking it up with Andrea in the locker room this year.

I think Rasho should be starting with Bargnani being the 1st big off the bench. I don't see the point in starting AB if he's struggling this badly, plus Rasho is a solid defensive player who is a better match-up against most opposing starting C's.

If/when Ford gets back (i.e. when the team has a good back-up PG), having Bargnani in the 2nd unit will probably improve his production. Bargnani and Bosh together is just not a good mix, IMO.

Michael Bradley wrote:Bargnani and Bosh together is just not a good mix, IMO.

I concur.

Michael Bradley wrote:I think Rasho should be starting with Bargnani being the 1st big off the bench. I don't see the point in starting AB if he's struggling this badly, plus Rasho is a solid defensive player who is a better match-up against most opposing starting C's.

We have already tried this and it didnt help the teams success at all, infact near the end of rasho's starting duties we were routinely getting beat out the gate, Rasho was struggling and we were basically forced to again make the move back to bargnani.

As much as bargnani has sucked statistically over the past month he still is among the players listed as the best raptors lineup this season.

I would like to say that lately Rasho has sucked just as bad if not worse than Bargnani, so if your wanting to demote Bargnani for poor play it makes no sense to replace him with another player who is plaing poorly.

Trying to develop Bargnani.. and also the heightened play of MOON who hold his own at the PF position, or even graham, has given this team a past paced, high flying element that is not there when Rasho is in the game.

I love Rasho.. but if we are honest, its a quick fix for today, when we want to be elite, Rasho will need to retire... its better Moon gets his minutes for now, Bargnani too, maybe Graham...

And another thing, I dont think Rasho gets better with playing time, you dont need to develop him hes a VET, so if and when we need him come playoff time, he will be ready to play heavy minutes and wil be fresh and healthy (he is old, so its good we arnt playing him heavy minutes) this way you may also have a polished MOON as well, and or Bargnani.

^ Hump too.

I dont know why he doesnt get minutes though.. its all MOONs fault for being so good