The Raptors lost a tough one at the buzzer Friday night to the Wizards as Caron Butler beat the buzzer giving Washington only its 19th win of the season. It was the same old story for Toronto as they held the lead in the second half and the inability to get stops defensively allowed the Wizards to come back and grab the victory.
Toronto's losing streak is now at four in a row and not coincidentally, it is the fifth straight game that the Raptors have allowed a team to shoot better than 45 per cent against them. That number is significant because when the Raptors hold teams under 45 per cent their record this season is 21-9. And over the last three seasons, including this one with three games left, their record is 77-21 (.786). When Toronto allows its opponents above that water mark, they sit at a woeful 9-40 this year and 41-104 (.283) since the 2006-07 season.
The 45 per cent number is a key one because it shows what just a slight improvement on the defensive end makes for Toronto. If you allowed somewhere close to that number -- say between 45 and 46 per cent -- you would rank anywhere between top 10 to top half of the NBA in opponent's field goal percentage defence. Currently, Toronto's 46.6 per cent has them 21st in the NBA
If you think it has been a disappointing season in Toronto, you could be in Washington where it has been a very trying season. But the mindset of the Wizards players as they look toward next season is hardly one of "let's get back to the playoffs." There is talk in their locker room of becoming a title team right away and making the necessary sacrifices to get there.
The Wiz will get Gilbert Arenas back next season and if you add a high draft pick -- or players that will improve the team if that pick is traded -- to the mix along with Butler and Antawn Jamison, you have a playoff team. The coaching situation needs to be stabilized and while Flip Saunders has been mentioned as a proven veteran coach to take over this team, don't be surprised to hear Avery Johnson's name come up in association with Washington's head coaching position as well.
Wizards assistant coach Dave Hopla, the one-time Raptor assistant, joked with Jose Calderon before the game that he is getting all sorts of requests from Spanish media outlets for interviews. Why? Well Hopla was the guy that Calderon has mentioned on many occasions as one of those who helped him fix his shooting stroke. Hopla is quite the shot doctor as I had a long talk with him about teaching young children how to develop proper technique.
He discussed at length how kids when they are young and any players as they advance in the game should be "two-eyed" shooters. This means that you can clearly see the hoop with both eyes when you put the ball into the shooting position over your head just before the shot is released.
How do you check to make sure you can? First off, put the ball into the aforementioned position and then close your right eye. If you can see the bucket with your left eye all things are good. Next, with the ball in the same spot, close your left eye and you should get a view of the basket with your right eye. If this doesn't happen then the ball should be moved either away from the mid-line of the body closer to the shooting hand or the opposite closer to the mid-line to help the other eye get a good view.
Another former Raptor who was a popular figure Friday night in the pregame was Juan Dixon. His contract is up at the end of the season and he does have an affinity for the city of Toronto. Hmmm… could Dixon be back in a Raptor uniform next season? You never know what kind of help he could have been this season as a seven-year veteran when Calderon went down with his injury.
