PG: Boardnani

[Anatomize]

My notes:

- Very impressed with how quickly this defensive effort came together all things considered.

- James Johnson is easily the best defensive player on this team. They put him on Ray Allen for a few possessions and he was just up in his grill, moving very quickly laterally, and forced him into a turnover. His weakside help defense is amazing, blocking (3 IIRC) JO dunks, those were absolute free dunks last year.

- Team effort defensively was just so much better, they were a lot more engaged and physical. I actually saw Boston starters sweating and exerted, last year Boston looked fresh throughout the game.

- Aaron Gray is a little bit lost defensively as far as D goes. Missed a few back cuts that could have resulted in more easy shots if Boston capitalized, and he doesn't have great awareness.

- I wasn't happy with Bargnani's closing out on KG, it resulted in 3 open mid range shots that KG made. I have no idea why he was trying to double team Marquis that one play. Hopefully this gets fixed up quick and he sticks to assignments that are deadly open mid range shooters. Overall though, I thought he played really well defensively tonight. Had an awesome block off the board which we took the other way (I believe bayless got fouled that same play going down court). That rebound in traffic was monstrous, I would've liked to see him in the post a lot more though in general, he has an underutilized and underestimated post game at this point. I saw Bargs trapping, he was hedging out really well and forcing the guards so far out that they had to make some really tough passes, then he recovered back to his man really quick with his hands up running back so they don't have a clear target back to his original cover. Can't believe he missed that putback layup to win the game!

- I liked Forbes defense, he kind've reminded me of a young quick version of Garbajosa the way he made the extra pass and played D, just did little things that don't go on the stat sheet

[dagger]

We seriously have to do something about our point guard situation.

This. When our last-ditch attempts at initiating on offence usually involve an out-of-control Italian giant, you have to take a hard look at the overall playmaking situation.

I knew that play was going nowhere when Amir ended up with the ball at the top of the key and didn't know what to do with it... sigh

Maybe we need an assistant coach whose sole responsibility is creative crunch-time play design.

[StopitLeo]

Jose can't breakdown the guy guarding him. His ability to shift the defense suffers as a result. His best offense is playing the pick and roll, but if his shot isn't dropping then he does little to actually make plays (even if he might get "assists"). Bayless on the other hand has the speed and athleticism to probe the D and find open men, he just has terrible vision so he finds them late putting them in bad/useless positions.

[pass first]

Dtox.

Saw that as well about Jose(Torched).

Why the coach put him back in the game in the 4th was just plain dumb.

Bayless was ballin and in an groove and he gets yanked because poor Jose had not played in awhile.

Then you have people like Flatjacket who thinks because The Boy Bay had 4 TO's that he was terrible. Just looking at the boxscore when his TO's were him getiing into the heart of the paint and making things happen.

All in All not a bad game by Bay will do better next game and when the season starts, be prepared. He will dominate.

Bayless should be happy he wasn't yanked before he 'heated up'. If it was a playoff game he almost certainly would be. But that just goes to show you that Casey wasn't basing his rotation on who hit a shot or two or who made a bad pass and who didn't, which is to be expected particularly in the preseason.

[HSOB SIRHC]

Get Jonny Flynn.

[ty123]

I don't even know why people say Bayless is a good shooter

[Dr Positivity]

Get Jonny Flynn.

Flynn is probably the worst player in the league

[dbenalal]

Get Jonny Flynn.

Flynn is probably the worst player in the league

Seriously.

[AP4LIFE]

Been to the game sat directly behind the raptors bench (2 raws from courtside) must mention that amir johnson impressed me a lot on defense and ofeence he was really impressive in the time he played. Brags was alright same player as last year. Rasul Butler was horrible his shots were not even close. Saw Triano standing by the players enterance/exit hallway the whole game taking notes and discussing stuff with bc. It looked like he really wanted to get out there and coach the team.

[Undefeated]

Bayless' turnovers were a result of attacking the paint, so what's the problem? It's not like he's dribbling off his foot or passing it into the stands wasting possessions. He had that one bad jump pass where he was beside the basket and threw the ball back out to the perimeter right into KG's hand, but whatever. Mistakes happen. It's hard to find the open man when guys aren't ducking-in or cutting. There were some passes Bayless made that his teammates couldn't capitalized. His vision is fine, he just has to have his options pre-determined on the move of what he wants to do instead of having his teammates bail him out when he's in terrible position.

[HSOB SIRHC]

Get Jonny Flynn.

Flynn is probably the worst player in the league

Not even close.

[KRANG]

Bargs starts the same way every year. The defensive effort will slowly and predictably decline.

Magloire should never play again, and certainly never start. same with Calderon.

Loved the new court look, much better than the last couple of years.

[JN]

I'm interested in what Boris has to say. He's always left his narrative open for flexibility, except for Bargnani where he seemed adamant he will NEVER improve his defense and rebounding.

Didn't you learn when Dagger embarassed himself about eight games into Bargs Season 3 and called everybody out for being idiots?

And let's hope Bargs continues to show this effort physically and mentally all season. But one game calling people out. Come on now

[KiySi]

What a clown.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B8sVQbyHHM&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

[Kabookalu]

Bayless' turnovers were a result of attacking the paint, so what's the problem? It's not like he's dribbling off his foot or passing it into the stands wasting possessions. He had that one bad jump pass where he was beside the basket and threw the ball back out to the perimeter right into KG's hand, but whatever. Mistakes happen. It's hard to find the open man when guys aren't ducking-in or cutting. There were some passes Bayless made that his teammates couldn't capitalized. His vision is fine, he just has to have his options pre-determined on the move of what he wants to do instead of having his teammates bail him out when he's in terrible position.

Everyone has failed to mention this and just put the blame purely on Bayless' supposed lack of vision. When he was driving to the basket, I don't recall a single instance any of his teammates tried cutting in or making a back door cut. They all stood on the perimeter watching him drive it to the hoop.

[Kabookalu]

Didn't you learn when Dagger embarassed himself about eight games into Bargs Season 3 and called everybody out for being idiots?

And let's hope Bargs continues to show this effort physically and mentally all season. But one game calling people out. Come on now

Why you getting your panties all in a bunch? All I said was that I was interested in what he had to say about the game, I didn't say Bargnani has officially established himself as a good defender/rebounder. Is he going to deny Bargnani played adequate defense and showed effort on the boards? The way he always talks Bargnani down he makes it seem like Bargnani showing these kind of performances were impossible for him.

[MEDIC]

Bayless who can shoot but can't run an offense that doesn't have himself as 1st option. Why do you think Bayless avg'd 18ppg at the end of the season? He can't make his teammates better at all.

Derozan was clearly #1 option on offense when they played without Bargnani late last season. Bayless was #2 option & he excelled in that role.

[MEDIC]

We have no slashers that can initiate plays or shift the defense. We don't have anyone who can consistently get to the FT line.

Really? I'm pretty sure I saw both Derozan & Bayless shift the defense & get to the FT line at will late last season.

We're not utilizing their talents because Jose is running the point & Bargnani is being used as the #1 offesive option. This needs to change.

[highness]

We have no slashers that can initiate plays or shift the defense. We don't have anyone who can consistently get to the FT line.

Really? I'm pretty sure I saw both Derozan & Bayless shift the defense & get to the FT line at will late last season.

We're not utilizing their talents because Jose is running the point & Bargnani is being used as the #1 offesive option. This needs to change.

+1

The first step is shipping Jose out or atleast move him to the bench.

[dagger]

Bayless' turnovers were a result of attacking the paint, so what's the problem? It's not like he's dribbling off his foot or passing it into the stands wasting possessions.

Actually, he had a couple of those. Attack the paint, by all means, but that's better done with options, like having a credible pullup floater or a little drive and kick on the defenders' minds. He has to calm down and understand he's not a SG.