Misunderstanding Rasho

[Razzputin]

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With the minutes played at that position, highly doubtful. However, a very convincing excuse. Toronto fans have always been taken in by flashes in the pan, anyway.

So you insult Toronto fans....

Rasho is anything but a flash in the pan. He's been a consistent contributor on very good teams for a very long time. Maybe his stats aren't huge, but he has been an efficient offensive player and our best defender for as long as he's been a Raptor.

[user name]

Rasho was not let go in Minnesota. The Timberwolves wanted Rasho back desperately to the tune of $10M more than the Spurs offered, but Rasho turned them down.

The Spurs traded Rasho because they thought his salary too high when they also had the contracts of Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker (the last 2 of whom were still under their rookie deals when the Spurs signed Rasho). They also bought into the whole Western Conferense small ball bit- which I am sure they regret now with Shaq in Phoenix and the Lakers resurgence.

If you calculate per figures, Rasho really is not rebounding at any greater rate than before. He is simply playing more minutes. Rasho always set screens and rolled to the basket, but finally TJ is a PG who would look for him. Even BC said this past week- that Rasho is simply being utilized differently.

As to his contract, one consideration may be that the timing of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament means that Rasho would have no contract when he needs to be with his National Team, if he opts out- and I do not see that happening. This tournament is too important to him, so I believe he will just pick up his option and hope the Raptors keep him. Then he can sign a new deal the next summer if they want him to stay.

[Jason Michaels]

My point was that those guys gave Rasho those minutes for a reason.

He's an excellent defender, smart player and doesn't get in the way on offense.

Jason, I read what you wrote. You implied that posters were questioning Flip, Pop and Sam's decision not to play him. Well, Flip and Pop did play him consistently for large portions of his career. We were only questioning Sam's decision not to play him very much.

I apologize for being insulting.

I implied that posters were questioning their decisions not to make him a key part of their respective offenses, which was emphasized by me mentioning that he got decent minutes last season and early this season.
Rasho is a smart player and good on defense, no question about it...I'm just cynical when players up their game with a month to go on their contracts

The truth is probably somewhere in between.

[I_Like_Dirt]

The only thing that really happened was that Andrea was handed the starting role but has played himself out of major minutes. That's where Rasho's minutes generally went. He's been about the same on the glass and I think slightly less defensively from what he used to be (though still solid). Where Rasho has really stepped up is in his shooting ability.

The one thing he's been doing better of late is that he's making shots like he's never made them before and even his FT% bears that out. Part of that is the Raptors increasingly relaxed defensive responsibilities due to roster/personnel issues allowing Rasho to focus on offense more than he ever could befoer. Put him on a winning team that focuses on strong overall defense and his percentages will drop right back down to their normal places and he'll suddenly become the same player he's always been.

[Trilogy]

I doubt Rasho gets above 8mil next season if he we're to opt out, firstly, barely anyone can offer him that and even with his great production, he's on the older side so that will bring his price down.

I just don't see this as a valid argument.

[cram]

People who think Rasho is working harder this year are blind/insane/moronic. He has always been a hard worker. Quite frankly, its not his effort that's different anyway...he's just taking more shots.

That said, even if (more likely when) Rasho's offensive stats come back to earth i think he's a VERY valuable defensive role-playing center who we should strive to KEEP.

[Shaazzam]

One of my only qualms about Rasho, and I was one of the peeps around here that was stoked when we picked him up, is that he is not a guy that is going to go get the ball on the glass. He'll tip it and keep it alive, which is outstanding, but he's not going to corral many boards in traffic.

[Pchu]

I doubt Rasho gets above 8mil next season if he we're to opt out, firstly, barely anyone can offer him that and even with his great production, he's on the older side so that will bring his price down.

I just don't see this as a valid argument.

He could get a longer deal. It's like Vince Carter opting out last year, he didn't get the amount he would have earned if he not opt out, but he got a longer deal.

Also think about this, he is having a great season right now. What about next year? I don't see him repeating this with his age and all. If he wait till after next season, then he may not get a long contract if his play suffered.

I am sure he and his agent is going to go thru all the scenarios.

[cram]

One of my only qualms about Rasho, and I was one of the peeps around here that was stoked when we picked him up, is that he is not a guy that is going to go get the ball on the glass. He'll tip it and keep it alive, which is outstanding, but he's not going to corral many boards in traffic.

Good point, but that's not his game. He can't get up there even if he had the skill. Keep in mind that with the exception of a small # of players (dwight howard, ben wallace from a few years ago), most of the "go get the ball on the glass" centers are also the lanky athletic ones (like Camby) who are good weakside defenders but poor(er) against teh big centers.

Rasho can't go up, but he's one of the better defenders against the Shaq/Dwight's of the world. In many ways he's kind of like a very rich man's Eric Montross....

[wade2bosh]

Rasho will get Howard in foul trouble.

[JN]

Since he is playing for a new contract I sure hope someone has the heart to tell Rasho this is 2008 and not 2009.

[CB4-TJ11-AB7]

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+1

The amount of folks who think they know better than Flip, Pop and Sam (not too hard to think that, lol) never ceases to amaze me.

3 immediate reasons why this is an "anomaly":
- Sam himself said that Rasho never displayed this ability in Minnesota when they played together;
- San Antonio would never have traded him if he showed signs of this ability - they are forever looking for a center to play with TD
- Rasho seems to be alluding it to his recent fatherhood and the maturity or resposibility that comes with that

To me, it screams - CONTRACT EXTENSION, but then I'm a cynic

Wow....if you had done a little research, you wouldn't have made such an ignorant comment.

Minnesota 2001/2002
50 wins
Rasho starts 82 games and averages 27.0 minutes per game

Minnesota 2002/2003
51 wins
Rasho starts 77 games and averages 30.4 minutes per game

San Antonio 2003/2004
57 wins
Rasho starts 82 games and averages 28.7 minutes per game

San Antonio 2004/2005
59 wins
Rasho starts 70 games (he had an ankle injury) and averages 25.5 minutes per game

It's not like giving Rasho playing time is unprecedented. Good coaches including Flip Saunders and Pop. have started him and played him consistent minutes on very good teams.

San Antonio didn't want to get rid of him. They were just paying him a lot of money and he was tying up their capspace.

Considering he's having what many people are calling a career season, I think Sam missed the boat by not playing him more at the beginning of the season.

I watched both those teams and Rasho played but he was never used. If anything he was never effectively used at either place. How did Sam miss the boat, Rasho is amazing but honestly our future depends on Bargs and BC said we need to throw Bargs in the fire that's what it depends on.

Rasho won't be here when the PG's and Chris are in their prime, Bargs will. People have to understand as much as I love Rasho out there we couldn't play him to start the season because we needed to see Bargs.

[pierrot]

Didn't anyone see Rasho's answer a little while ago when some reporter asked him if he was going to opt out? Rasho seemed a little surprised and kind of laughed. Then he flatly said "No." His thought was clearly "I would have to be crazy to opt out."

Consider the other free agents he'd be competing against ... and that there are what, like three teams with cap room? Does anyone seriously believe one of them is going to use the space they have carefully saved to sign Rasho?

I would be shocked if Rasho has even considered making a contract push. There's simply no way he's getting more money by opting out, not when he's competing against Najera, Jamison, Maggette, Calderon, Iguodala, Josh Smith, Andris Biedrins, Gilbert Arenas, Elton Brand, Baron Davis, and Primoz Brezec.

He's playing well because he's on a roll right now ... one that started when Bosh was injured and we desperately needed someone to create some baskets.

[Not Just a Ballboy]

The thread title would make a great sitcom title.

"Rasho, you are hearby sentenced to be Smitch's butler for one year."