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Canwest News Service
TORONTO – It is not particularly difficult to diagnose the Toronto Raptors' main problem: they cannot defend well.
In a pretty thorough takedown of the Raptors' much-talked-about defensive principles, ESPN analyst John Hollinger, a statistical guru, cited that the Raptors allow 113.3 points per 100 possessions, placing them dead last in that category.
In the same article, Hollinger said the Raptors' defence is "threatening to rank among the worst defences in NBA history" and that Andrea Bargnani "might be the worst help defender in basketball."
These points are all valid, and have been dissected to death. A starting unit with Bargnani, Jose Calderon and Hedo Turkoglu is going to struggle defensively.
The most worrisome statistic, though, is that the Raptors are 0-7 when their opponents score 100 points or more (and 5-0 when opponents score fewer than 100).
That suggests the defence just has to get better, but Toronto was built to be an explosive team capable of winning the shootouts. The Raptors have not won one yet.
So, although the same Hollinger article stated the Raptors are the most efficient team with the ball in the league, it is clear they still need to find ways to wring out more points – along with executing on defence. And once more, that discussion begins with Bargnani.
Since an impressive start, the diversity in Bargnani's offensive game has regressed. At one point in the third quarter of Toronto's loss in Utah on Wednesday, Bargnani received the ball three feet behind the three-point arc with eight seconds left on the shot clock. While he was going to have to take a shot, the 26-footer he launched, without so much as a dribble, was the laziest option.
The Raptors went 1-3 on their road trip, beating the Los Angeles Clippers before suffering three straight losses. In those defeats, Bargnani shot 14-for- 39 (36 per cent) from the floor and 2-for-10 on his three-point shots.
Bargnani's overall numbers still look good – 17.9 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, 48 per cent shooting, 42 per cent from three-point territory – but if he ever wants to be a consistent second threat behind Chris Bosh, he is going to have to embrace shots that lend themselves to a higher percentage. If not, Amir Johnson, who gives Bosh some much-needed support on the offensive glass, should be given some more of Bargnani's time on the floor.
Bargnani has company, though. Newcomers Turkoglu and Jarrett Jack continue to have trouble finding their way in the offence. Turkoglu gets a partial pass for his two quiet outings on the trip because he played with a hip injury. (The injury forced him to sit out the game in Denver). Still, much like Bargnani, one night he is a positive presence, the next he is an afterthought.
Right now, Jack would kill for that sort of success quotient. Calderon's backup point guard was a non-factor for the trip, and is still shooting just 35 per cent from the floor on the season. And it looks as if the slow start is making Jack antsy, as he is forcing the offence too often.
Point guards, more than other players, have a tough time adapting to a new team. The problem multiples for Jack because his teammates are getting to know each other, too, not just Jack.
But Jack must start to find his offence, if only to give coach Jay Triano another defensive option late in games against elite point guards.
In the end, no matter how many points they score, the Raptors will still need some timely defence.
National Post
ekoreen@nationalpost.com
