Raptors On Pace To NBA #1 (Worst All-time Defence)
By RaptorTalk
Help me understand this.
Jay Triano's focus this season is on defence. Marc Iavaroni was brought in as a defensive specialist to further cement the Raptors' commitment to defence.
In training camp, Triano proclaimed his goal was for Toronto to be a top ten defensive squad. Jay and Marc’s brilliant defensive scheme was branded as “protect the house”. They even placed tape on the gym floor so that everyone understood the boundaries of the Raptors’ ‘take no prisoners’ zone.
Yet, this is the worst Raptors defensive squad in the history of the franchise and potentially in the history of the NBA.
FACT: Neither Jay or Marc have had significant success in their NBA coaching careers.
Here are the points per game allowed numbers. They are pathetic.
2009-2010 - Toronto Raptors: 120.3
1990-1991 - Denver Nuggets: 114.7
1992-1991 - Dallas Mavericks: 114.7
2008-2009 - Sacramento Kings: 114.7
The Raptors are on pace to be the worst defensive team in NBA history.
Yet, Jay Triano walks the sidelines expressionless looking like he doesn't have a clue what to do next. His trusted defensive wizard Iavaroni stares blankly into space appearing even more befuddled than Jay.
The schemes aren't working
Look, I know the Raptors are not a gifted defensive team, but clearly Triano's new schemes are not working. This team is simply the worst defensive team in the NBA. Triano has done nothing to try to hide or compensate for their deficiencies. In 4 of 7 games, the Raptors have surrendered 115 points or more. It’s absurd.
You need to coach to the talent level of your players. The Raps are a gifted offensive squad, but limited on defense. Why not simplify the defence and throw in an occassional zone to mask their deficiencies?
The concern is that defensively, the Raptors DO NOT improve when they put decent defenders out like Amir or Wright. So that tells me it’s a system problem as much as an individual talent issue.
Another thing that bothers me is that I don't understand Jay's fixation with having our bigs always hedge on the perimeter. All it does is lead to a cheap foul 25 feet from the hoop or it accelerates the process whereby the Raptors start scrambling trying to get back into position on defense.
Honestly, the Raptors would be better off playing a simple high school-style 1-2-2 zone and take their chances instead of working the horribly flawed system concocted by Jay and Marc. Let's face facts, you can't be any worse than the worst ever NBA defence.
Marc Iavaroni is no defensive wizard
Despite his so-called defensive credentials, the Grizllies fired Iavaroni in large part because of the team's "decline in defense". When he was with the Suns, they were not known as defensive stoppers either.
Respected Warriors beat writer Tim Kawakami actually annointed Iavaroni the No-Defense Coach of the Year back in 2008.
No-Defense Coach of the Year: MARC IAVARONI, Memphis.
"Opponents almost shot 48% against the Grizzlies and the Grizzly players didn’t look like they cared. Iavaroni just looked befuddled"
We fired Sam for this?
While I was not a huge Sam Mitchell fan, I rarely complained about him because I thought he coached reasonably well with the players he had. You can't say the same for Jay. He's simply not qualified to be an NBA head coach and we're seeing the results.
Jay Triano is a very good assistant coach and he's fine in that role on USA basketball and with the Raptors in past years. I credit him with developing Bargnani into a solid player. However, he is not an NBA calibre head coach.
By no means was Sam Mitchell a great coach, but he had some leadership and motivational skills which Jay doesn't have at all. Sam demanded effort. Can’t say Jay knows what to demand.
The damning won-lost numbers speak for themselves. Since Jay Triano took over the helm of the Toronto Raptors last season his record, (including preseason) is a miserable 30 W - 50 L (.370). Remember, when Sam was fired he was only a game under .500.
I hate being negative, but until the Raptors hire a legitimate NBA head coach – we’re screwed.
Categories: General Raptor Talk
Tags: Jay Triano Toronto Raptors Marc Iavaroni
Coach Jack Armstrong was on the FAN and said the raptors defensive effort made him sick to his stomach ..... hire Jack as head coach ....
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Trust me, you don't "hate being negative", you wear it extremely well....lol. 7 games into a season with 9 new players and a new defensive scheme and you already began extrapolating the season record....whoa Trigger.
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He's right man. I just don't buy it. There will always be something wrong with the Raptors just like the leafs, whether its the coach or the players or anyone else involved. (with MLSE its going to be the same thing over and over. The raps will never come to fruition and will probably miss the playoffs. Maybe not by much but they will. Then what well happen? A question that remains to be seen. A question rather...no one wants to know.
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You used to write intelligent analysis, what happened ??
This is the stupidist suggestion I have read on the Net Blogs after 8 games and the team (9 new players) @ 4-4, struggling to come together, and play TEAM defense, with a new defensive system and coaching staff. Be patient it will come.
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We May B e Bad On Defense,But Our Record Surely Dis-Proves Of It
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Awful analysis. Awful.
Some things:
The Raptors are using the exact same "scheme" you criticize as 90% of the teams in the NBA. Protect the paint, spill the the outside. If anything, Sam's scheme (funnel to the middle) was the one that was backwards. What does that say about the "scheme"? It's fine... it's the execution that's the problem... and that's on the players.
Second, you can't play straight up zones in the NBA for a couple of reasons... rules and ability. Players in the NBA are simply too good and they'll pass and shoot you out of the gym 9 times out of 10 against a full-time zone. That's why zones are only used sparingly in the NBA by all teams. If they were even remotely effective for long stretches, do you not think more teams would do it?
Finally, you're comparing a 7 game stretch to teams who were awful over a 82 games stretch. Tell me that this stretch of games was worse than any other team's stretch of 7 games in the history of the NBA, then we'll talk. I'm 100% confident that some team in the NBA have had a worse 7 game stretch defensively.
Finally, pointing to Jay's W-L is misleading. I'd like to see any coach succeed last year with Pops, Soloman, Ukic and Kapono in the regular rotation.
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I don't think any of you understand of what it is like to actually be a raptors fan while every team north of the border sucks donkey's cock(excluding hockey cause its lame) I do agree on being strict early because you want to set the stage for the rest of the season, and since the raptors keep struggling every game what kind of sign tells you that the raptors will get back on track,and i definetly agree with RaptorsTalk's frustration and try to come with a plan to fix the raptors. If this season has made me realize anything is that the raptors in 15 years have yet to find the "coach". What I also want to all you other commentors, do you expect a team to go through second round in the playoffs if they get beat by 35 points against a 4-9 team. If your not worried, then you should be.
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You are 100% right about jay triano.. How come Brian collangelo is not firing him? I don't get it.. Even a normal NBA fan Like me could see how bad is jay as a headcoach and he really suck but a GM like Brian Just being stupid and keeping him..
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