National Post: Raptors in for tough road trip

**Acie** · 11-13-2009, 09:19 AM

Um...Western Conference teams have been really good Jay, but the Raptors have made it pretty easy for them to win.

Quote:

Over the last five years, the Raptors are an abysmal 7-37 (.159 winning percentage) in games played in the Mountain or Pacific time zones. The following quartet of games -- against the Clippers, Phoenix, Denver and Utah -- all fall into that category. And if the Raptors do not start well against the Clippers tonigh, they could be starring a winless trip square in the eyes.

Coach Jay Triano has been around for that entire span. So if there was some secret as to why the Raptors have struggled out west, aside from the quality of the competition, he probably would know it.

"That's exactly it. The Western Conference teams are really good," Triano said. "And they play really well at home. I think Denver ... Utah, their record at home is very good. Phoenix is playing extremely well this year. It's a tough road trip."

The Suns, debatably, are playing better than any other team in the league, while the Nuggets have been solid this year. Utah is struggling, but winning in Salt Lake City ranges somewhere from difficult to impossible.

The Raptors will not be booming with confidence, either. Toronto beat the Bulls, but only after Chicago went cold in the second half. Five of the Raptors' last six halves have been defensively abhorrent. Even worse: a road trip does not provide many opportunities to refine kinks.

"There's very little practice time, and you really can't control where you practise, which makes it tough," Triano said. "I think the biggest thing is rest. I don't think these guys are too enamoured about being in any of these cities that we're going to in the next week. The best thing is to get away, get some rest and perform for the two hours that you have to perform.

"That's the way you have to look at it. It's a week-long road trip, but really it's eight hours of serious work on the floor, and that's what we have to prepare for."

LINK - National Post

CB4Real · 11-13-2009, 09:50 AM

should we be scared

? we came out of a trip with new orleans, dallas, spurs which is the equavillance of new orleans= utah, dallas= denver, spurs= pheonix....sure were gona lose 2 or 3 but i expect a win or 2 from this trip at least...

10gizzle · 11-13-2009, 10:08 AM

I'd like us to go 2 - 2 on this four game trip.

Wins against LA and Utah seem very feasible whereas Phoenix and Denver should be a beat down.

Superjudge · 11-13-2009, 10:20 AM

I think Nash will cut the Raptors to pieces, I just don't like the match up.

Denver.... well, thats a STEP UP game. If guys all step up, if our Star is a star, if our new stopper guys plays hard, if Bargnani plays like a man, and not like a scared zombie, then perhaps we can will see a victory.

I know little about Utah, but I think Jose can play with Williams, the raptor bigs have been good at showing on the screen and roll, bit this will ALL come down to rotation after the initial switch.

acopur · 11-13-2009, 12:07 PM

3-1..
IMO we will lose to phoenix win others..maybe,maybe clippers too..

**Ball Don't Lie** · 11-13-2009, 02:06 PM

We're not going to beat DEN and PHX lets just get that out of the way right now. Both teams play fast, both teams shoot the 3 well, and both teams attack the paint relentlessly. 3 things we just cannot seem to get our heads around to stopping.

LAC we should beat because they dont have their 3 pt threat in Gordon and Baron is too easy to cover nowadays with his chucking ways. Only way we lose to them is if Thornton and Kaman both have 20+ points and thats not going to happen. Or if we play lazy/tired.

Utah is a team that always penetrates us hard in the paint everytime we play them. Last year I think they had 80 PITP against us in Utah. If we can cut down those backdoor plays then we have a chance, but again, unlikely.

1-3.

Superjudge · 11-13-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thriller92

We're not going to beat DEN and PHX lets just get that out of the way right now.

Really?

well then, perhaps, seeing as we have some sore players, they should just call ahead and cancel?

Honestly, why cheer for a team if you think they have absolutely no chance to win.

I don't like your attituude young man, not one bit!!!

DVS · 11-13-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superjudge

Really?

well then, perhaps, seeing as we have some sore players, they should just call ahead and cancel?

Honestly, why cheer for a team if you think they have absolutely no chance to win.

I don't like your attituude young man, not one bit!!!

I know sometimes I think the same way. Maybe I should just screw my Loyalties and take the easy way out.

Become a Yankee, Real Madrid, Lakers fan and just get it over with.

11-13-2009, 09:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
CB4Real KABOOOOOOOSHHHH straight out of COMPTON Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,284 Representing:	should we be scared? we came out of a trip with new orleans, dallas, spurs which is the equavillance of new orleans= utah, dallas= denver, spurs= pheonix....sure were gona lose 2 or 3 but i expect a win or 2 from this trip at least...

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11-13-2009, 10:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
10gizzle ... Resident Mavs Fan Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,122 Representing:	I'd like us to go 2 - 2 on this four game trip. Wins against LA and Utah seem very feasible whereas Phoenix and Denver should be a beat down.

11-13-2009, 10:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
Superjudge is pounding the rock! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 17,593 Representing:	I think Nash will cut the Raptors to pieces, I just don't like the match up. Denver.... well, thats a STEP UP game. If guys all step up, if our Star is a star, if our new stopper guys plays hard, if Bargnani plays like a man, and not like a scared zombie, then perhaps we can will see a victory. I know little about Utah, but I think Jose can play with Williams, the raptor bigs have been good at showing on the screen and roll, bit this will ALL come down to rotation after the initial switch.

11-13-2009, 12:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
acopur is pounding the rock! Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Istanbul Posts: 729 Representing:	3-1.. IMO we will lose to phoenix win others..maybe,maybe clippers too..

11-13-2009, 02:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ball Don't Lie praying Drummond doesnt haunt us forever. Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 10,234 Representing:	We're not going to beat DEN and PHX lets just get that out of the way right now. Both teams play fast, both teams shoot the 3 well, and both teams attack the paint relentlessly. 3 things we just cannot seem to get our heads around to stopping. LAC we should beat because they dont have their 3 pt threat in Gordon and Baron is too easy to cover nowadays with his chucking ways. Only way we lose to them is if Thornton and Kaman both have 20+ points and thats not going to happen. Or if we play lazy/tired. Utah is a team that always penetrates us hard in the paint everytime we play them. Last year I think they had 80 PITP against us in Utah. If we can cut down those backdoor plays then we have a chance, but again, unlikely. 1-3.