March 16, 2003

GRUNWALD HAS A BUSY OFF-SEASON REBUILDING FALLING RAPTORS

      The recent spate of abysmal efforts underscores the problems facing Raptor GM Glen Grunwald.  No longer can he assume that, when healthy, this team is a contender for the eastern conference crown.  This season’s failure can be attributed to more than just injuries and if the Raptors are going to be resurrected in time for next season several changes will have to be implemented.  It is still too early to be specific as to which players can be added to the roster and which can be subtracted but through 60 games it has become quite obvious as to what holes need to be filled and what improvements need to be made. 

      The first move on Grunwald’s plate is to rectify the coaching situation.  The problems in this regard have been well documented, but the recent poor play proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that not only have the players lost confidence with each other but they have also lost confidence in the coaching staff’s ability to get them out of their ruts.   Grunwald will need to hire someone who brings much more intensity, as well as a strong game plan, and can challenge and motivate the players.   That would also solve the second problem for Grunwald.  Since trading Charles Oakley two years ago and letting Chris Childs walk away after last season the team has lacked an intense presence in the locker room.   Nice guy Lenny has been unable to light a fire under the players the way criticism from Oakley and Childs did.  The team has lacked the heart and determination that it displayed the past two years and that can be directly attributed to the lack of a vocal presence.  Antonio Davis is a quiet leader and Vince Carter is a reluctant leader—and as such a major void has arisen on the team.  If Grunwald can hire a strong-willed coach who is unafraid to get in his players’ faces then he will kill the proverbial two birds with one stone.

       The next problem with the team is that when matching up with other squads, even the teams in the east, the Raptors are woefully small.  Offensively the team cannot develop strong post play when Davis is the only post performer on the team—and even he is better facing the basket than he is with his back to it.  Without a post presence the Raptors are unable to formulate an offensive strategy of moving the ball from inside out.  This causes panic to set in from the perimeter players and quick jumps shots are the result.  Quick jump shots lead to low shooting percentages and are death to an NBA team.  Defensively the Raptors do not inspire fear in opponents who believe, with reason, that they can penetrate the lane and drive to the basket unimpeded.  The Raptors need an inner presence to dissuade smaller perimeter players from even considering a drive.  It must be as frustrating for Grunwald as it is to Raptor fans to watch might mites like Damon Stoudamire constantly have clear paths to the hoop.  High shooting percentages by opponents illustrate that a high number of lay-ups and dunks are taking place.

       Adding big men to the roster, however, is like finding hundred dollar bills on the street.  Where are they going to come from?  The Raptors will likely have a high lottery choice in the upcoming draft, but with a dearth of quality big men available it is more than likely that another perimeter player will be drafted.  The Raptors have one strength—they have a high number of perimeter players, but the drafting of one more may not be as ludicrous as it appears.   While the team won’t be able to draft a big body they can certainly package up one or two of their perimeter players to acquire one.   The oft-rumoured acquisition of Theo Ratliff from the Atlanta Hawks would solve most of their inner defensive problems.  Ratliff’s limited offensive skills won’t help at the other end though, so another big man, preferably a post player needs to be brought in.  That player doesn’t have to be a star; he just needs to provide some inside scoring off the bench. 

       The Raptors definitely have to solve their back-up point guard problem.  Alvin Williams continues to wear down under heavy minutes, but since the team fails to operate properly under the guidance of its present back-ups Alvin’s minutes stay high.  The team has tried Lindsay Hunter—his shoot first mentality doesn’t work within the framework of the offence—and Rafer Alston-- who is too inconsistent to provide more than just minimal assistance.  There will be a number of quality point guards available in the draft, so this is a position that can be addressed.  

       The Raptors have to find a way to inspire Vince Carter and get him to play up to his potential.  Hearing comments from Carter like how he wants to play point guard just proves how reluctant he is to be the main man anymore.  He needs to be a threat to drive to the basket to open up the team’s offence—the team doesn’t need him hanging around the three-point arc like he’s Dell Curry.  Somehow Vince needs to be challenged, needs to be motivated to be the top ten player he has the capability to be.  If he is unwilling to be that player again then the Raptors will not be able to contend.  He needs to believe that he can stay healthy and he needs to believe that he be that 25-point per game scorer again.  Everything else will feed off him if that happens.

       As I intimated earlier this will be a very busy off-season for Grunwald.  If he wants the Raptors to contend again he needs to address his coaching situation, the leadership void, the lack of size both on offence and defence, the need for a back-up point guard, and the re-development of Vince Carter.  Not an easy task for Grunwald but then when a team falls from conference contender to league doormat in two years it is apparent that many errors have been committed and to contend again they need to be fixed.  This Raptor franchise obviously needs some major fixing.  Good luck Glen.