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Raptors Backcourt Scores 48 Points! Raptors Lose.
Jay Triano took a gamble on sunday and started Anthony Parker and Joey Graham in the backcourt vs the Phoenix Suns. The result; 48 points! Throw in Jamario Moon's 16 and you have 64 points from the Guard/Forward spot, considered to be the Raps glaring weakness.
That's the good news. The bad news? The Raptors still lost, 117-113. Their 4th in a row if you're counting.
Bargnani and Bosh contributed 35 points on 50 % shooting. So how can the Raptors still come out on the losing end, when five players score in double figures? I guess you would have to ask Jack Armstrong and Leo Rautins (a very nice man by the way. I sent him an e-mail over the summer asking if he would be interested in an interview for a book I was considering writing on canadian coaches. Not only did he write back saying he would, he gave me tips on how to get started and a list of coaches I should interview).
But in my humble opinion, asides from the Raptors inability to defend and their lack of athleticism at the guard and forward spots, the following changes need to be made;

The Jay Triano experiment needs to come to an end. It was a bold move by Colangelo and we all want to see Triano succeed, but the team is playing worse than ever. The one positive of Triano's tenure is that Bargnani has thrived. But is that because of Triano`s presence as Head Coach, or because Sam Mitchell isn't there anymore?
Avery Johnson would be a perfect fit for this team. Or any of the older coaches who always seem available to try and settle a team down and get them to play technically sound bball would do, i.e Mike Fratello, Hubie Brown, or Jeff Van Gundy.

Jermaine O`Neal must go, while all the shop talk is still hot and teams are desiring his services. I read this morning that the Lakers are interested in shipping Lamar Odom for O`Neal, and there have been rumours of a Shawn Marion deal involving the Heat. Marion would be the ideal candidate. He would bring an automatic upgade in athleticism and he has a good history with Brian Colangelo from their days in Phoenix.

Finally, the Raptors have too many guys who are just good enough to get you beat. Jamario Moon, Graham, Parker, Chris Humphries. These players will do lots of nice things during a game, but in the end you still lose.
The problem with these players is that they are MEDIOCRE. So painfully average. Not too beat a dead horse, but their lack of athleticism kills the Raps. This was obvious during yesterday`s game vs Phoenix. Amare Stoudamire, Leandro Barbosa, Matt Barnes, Jason Richardson, even Grant Hill. These guys can run and jump all day long, and Steve Nash is the perfect QB for this group of thoroughbreds. Imagine Jose Calderon with that bunch, the Raptors would be serious contenders.