07/07/2006

In Vegas - Bargnani Is Real Deal


When the Toronto Raptors did the expected and chose Italian Andrea Bargnani number one, no one was surprised - but many wondered if it was a good idea. Was he going to be another Darko Milicic and waste away on the bench? Would he become another Dirk Nowitzki? The thing is, no one had seen this guy play unless they had been to Italy to watch some games. So what's the answer?

First things first, please pronounce his name correctly. It is not "Barg-nah-nee." Please, my college Italian professor as well as any Italian cringe when they here that. The correct pronunciation is "Barn-nya-nee." Please, don't make anyone go into the etymological roots as to why that is what it is, just please accept it and pronounce it correctly. Italians everywhere will thank you.


Back to hoops. Bargnani can flat out play. He's big, he's smart, he can shoot from anywhere on the floor, and he can even dribble a bit.

Keep in mind this guy is over seven feet tall. Players that tall aren't supposed to have handle. They aren't supposed to shoot three-pointers. They aren't supposed to wow the crowd with the depth of their talent; guys that tall are paid to be big and rebound - take up space in the middle.

Forget all of that. Forget what you know about seven-footers. And forget about Nowitzki too. Bargnani is going to be a star in the NBA and he's going to do it his own way. In his first game in Las Vegas against the Washington Wizards, playing for the first time as an NBA player in front of fans - and media - who were all curious as to what they would see, Bargnani was nothing short of outstanding.

One of his first trips down the floor he spotted up on the wing at the three-point line and drained a three-pointer. He had no hand in his face because the defender didn't think he would shoot. That smooth shot brought gasps from the crowd who weren't expecting it; he didn't see any more open jumpers the rest of the game. Not that it stopped him from shooting, he just made it over the outstretched hands.

Bargnani isn't all outside shooting either. His base is extremely solid and he sets very good screens, getting nice open looks for other Raptor shooters. He also uses those strong legs well in blocking out under the glass, but he doesn't have great lift and needs to get a little more aggressive on the glass. His upper body isn't quite as strong, but he has the right body type to be able to get bigger with a good weight training program - which he will definitely get with the Raptors.

He also needs to get used to the rules of the American game and how the officials call it state-side. He got called for a couple moving screen fouls and a three-second violation. None of these are bad things, they just take getting used to. Coaches will pull him aside, point out he absolutely needs to stay still on the screens, and he will learn.

That's another thing about Bargnani - he's a smart player. He seems to be able to recognize when he can attack, when he should make the extra pass, and when to attack on defense. He loves to run the floor because he knows big men get rewarded for running the court in transition - although he does need a little more conditioning, which will come in time, just like the weight training.

All of that was good in Game 1, but that wasn't the most outstanding play of the night for him; that wasn't the play that left the remaining crowd (the Raptors were the late game and it wasn't over until well after 10 pm Vegas time) gasping in shock. Yeah, like the rest of that wasn't enough.

The play of the night had Bargnani on the left wing, about 25 feet from the hoop. He got the pass from the point and pivoted towards the hoop. Aware of his shooting ability, the defender came out hard and bodied him up. Bargnani stepped back, put the ball on the floor, faked left and crossed over right. His defender could not keep up and Bargnani schooled him for a lay-up.

Shock doesn't quite describe the reaction from the crowd...perhaps full-fledged disbelief? Big men don't make moves like that, not even Nowitzki. His moves are so smooth he can't be compared to Nowitzki. He could become just as effective some day, but he will be different. He can play the three, four, and five and even though his best position may be the four (not with Chris Bosh around) his abilities dictate he will see time at all three positions. Imagine a starting lineup with the front line all 6-10 or greater. Think that doesn't have Sam Mitchell salivating, with Morris Peterson ready to nail outside jumpers off of passes?

But hey, the Toronto Raptors knew that - that's why Bryan Colangelo and his team made Andrea Bargnani the number one pick in the draft. It won't be a mistake.

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Thanks for that Jeff, I am really pumped for this season!!

07/07/2006

Ford happy to be a Raptor, wants to win

TORONTO (CP) - Like a refreshing gust of cool air off Lake Ontario, T.J. Ford blew into Toronto on Friday and delivered the sort of message Raptors fans have been longing to hear.

The time for winning is now.

"I think the winning attitude is definitely going to be here as soon as training camp's started," said Ford, who was acquired in a trade from Milwaukee last week. "I think we're definitely going to be a lot better than we were last season.

"We're young and I think we're going to be energetic and we're going to be entertaining and we're going to have a lot of fun."

Ford couldn't be any happier to be in Toronto, where he'll get a chance to direct what promises to be an up-tempo offence.

It's also clear he has no problem playing in the NBA's lone Canadian city after fielding the typical series of questions on the topic.

"I just know it's cold," he said with a laugh.

"But I'm really excited to be here. I don't think people really understand how excited I am."

There's good reason for the enthusiasm.

Since being brought into the fold as president and general manager earlier this year, Bryan Colangelo has drastically remade the Raptors. They bear little resemblance to the team that went 27-55 last season and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

Enter Ford, a lightning-quick point guard who missed a season and a half after suffering a contusion of the spinal cord. He's healthy now and happy to be in a position to lead a team.

It's the kind of match that should benefit Ford's teammates.

"I'm definitely trying to get my assists up and definitely trying to put players in the right situations for them to better themselves," he said. "It's my job to come in here and just try to make everybody happy and get everybody involved."

It's what a good pass-first point guard does. Think Victoria's Steve Nash, the two-time reigning league MVP.

Colangelo spent 11 years as the GM of Nash's Phoenix Suns before coming to Toronto. He seems intent on building the same sort of high-octane offence with the Raptors.

Ford, for one, thinks Toronto could very well become Phoenix North.

"I don't see why we couldn't be," he said.

It all starts with Ford and Chris Bosh.

The pair became good friends while attending various events together ahead of the 2003 draft and hope that chemistry carries onto the court.

They could be the sort of dynamic duo not seen in these parts since Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady consistently brought fans at Air Canada Centre to their feet.

"(I want to) come in and play hard and try to have the city enjoy basketball like it was a couple years ago," said Ford.

In addition to Bosh, the 23-year-old Ford is also familiar with coach Sam Mitchell.

Mitchell was an assistant with the Bucks during Ford's rookie season and was one of the main people within the Milwaukee organization that initially pushed him.

"I know his personality and what he's expecting," said Ford. "And I know how crazy he can be at times."

Ford said his spinal injury, which he suffered in February 2004 after falling hard on his tailbone during a game, brought several things into perspective for him.

It's provided a new lease on life.

"I learned to cherish every moment of life," he said. "You never know, the things that you love most can be taken away at any moment and any time."

Ford has the kind of attitude and enthusiasm that will most certainly endear him to fans and teammates.

He's thrilled to be here and he's ready to help turn around a sagging franchise.

"Our ultimate goal is to get to the playoffs," said Ford. "We definitely want to surprise a lot of teams and surprise a lot of people."

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07/13/2006

Raptors sign swingman Anthony Parker


TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto Raptors continue to revamp their lineup.

The NBA team signed free agent swingman Anthony Parker on Thursday.

Parker, 31, has been labelled the best player outside the NBA. He played for Maccabi Tel Aviv last season and is the reigning two-time Euroleague MVP.

''At his age and at his skill level, I think it was the right time for him to make the transition into the NBA,'' Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo said during a news conference. ''We think that by securing Anthony, we are getting one of top free-agent guards that was available.''

Toronto fans will be familiar with Parker. He hit the winning shot in last fall's pre-season win over the Raptors at the Air Canada Centre.

''I figure the best way to beat Maccabi is on our side this time,'' said Colangelo.

Parker said he doesn't regret not coming to the NBA sooner.

''I think I did a lot of development on and off the court overseas,'' he said ''I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.''

It's the latest in a string of moves by Colangelo.

Late last month he traded Charlie Villanueva to the Milwaukee Bucks for point guard T.J. Ford. He also shipped Rafael Araujo to Utah for Kris Humphries and acquired Slovenian centre Rasho Nesterovic from San Antonio for Matt Bonner and Eric Williams.

The move also gives the team even more European flavour.

Colangelo selected Italian forward Andrea Bargnani first overall in the NBA draft and hired former Benetton Treviso GM Maurizio Gherardini as his assistant.

The Raptors also appear poised to announce they've re-signed star forward Chris Bosh.

He has reportedly accepted a three-year deal with a player option for the fourth year.

Bosh will join Cleveland Cavaliers phenom LeBron James and Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade as members of the 2003 draft class electing to sign shorter contracts in order to cash in down the road.

He could have signed a five-year deal worth about $80 million US.

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Shit, I thought that said "Tony Parker"

I don't know this guy, but losing to them last season was pretty embarassing. Sounds like he'll help the team out.

^^^ lol

if we had Tony Parker, I'd be boldly predicting a top 4 finish in the conference

I'm sooooo excited for this season to begin...Raps are looking so solid.

quote:

Originally posted by MarkT ^^^ lol if we had Tony Parker, I'd be boldly predicting a top 4 finish in the conference I'm sooooo excited for this season to begin...Raps are looking so solid.

For real. We should go in on TOTA seasons tickets or something. Cheapest seats I think go for about $800 .... not bad for 40 games, but pretty bad considering where you're sitting .....

I'd still be up for it!

I'd go in on tickets if they could be split up enough ways...like 4-5 people? Then you have a "draft" to pick who goes to which games

but only for half decent tix...sitting in shit seats isn't worth it (when you can sit at home, spark a j and chill, lol)


On another good note:

Raps get G/F John Salmons from Phili for a 2nd round pick and a $2mil trade exemption...nice. Phoenix wanted him, but couldn't offer as much due to cap restrictions.

So the starting lineup could be Ford, Parker, Graham, Rasho and Bosh...with Bargnani, MoPete and Salmons the 1st ones off the bench who could just *go off* against the other team's bench (I know MoPete could start, but I think he's great off the bench)

booyah. The Raps are getting some quality players...dare I say that there is DEPTH to this lineup now?

quote:

Originally posted by MarkT So the starting lineup could be Ford, Parker, Graham, Rasho and Bosh...with Bargnani, MoPete and Salmons the 1st ones off the bench who could just *go off* against the other team's bench (I know MoPete could start, but I think he's great off the bench) booyah. The Raps are getting some quality players...dare I say that there is DEPTH to this lineup now?

I'm starting to love the looks of this team. Got me thinking the Raptors are playoff bound this season (cross me fingers).

quote:

Originally posted by MarkT I'd go in on tickets if they could be split up enough ways...like 4-5 people? Then you have a "draft" to pick who goes to which games but only for half decent tix...sitting in shit seats isn't worth it (when you can sit at home, spark a j and chill, lol) On another good note: Raps get G/F John Salmons from Phili for a 2nd round pick and a $2mil trade exemption...nice. Phoenix wanted him, but couldn't offer as much due to cap restrictions. So the starting lineup could be Ford, Parker, Graham, Rasho and Bosh...with Bargnani, MoPete and Salmons the 1st ones off the bench who could just *go off* against the other team's bench (I know MoPete could start, but I think he's great off the bench) booyah. The Raps are getting some quality players...dare I say that there is DEPTH to this lineup now?

that's a pretty solid line-up/rotation. Me thinks Colangelo is not done yet though.

quote:

Originally posted by TO guy that's a pretty solid line-up/rotation. Me thinks Colangelo is not done yet though.

he strikes me as the type of guy who goes to bed thinking of scenarios and new possible trades and signings, meaning - he is never quite 'done'. this trait is likely what makes this dude one of the best in the business.

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