October 16, 2003

THE GOAL FOR RAPTORS’ O’NEILL IS TO BE THE ANTI-LENNY

      The passive play, the lack of cohesion on defense, the obvious lack of offensive creativity, the dearth of consequences for poor play, the stagnant growth of the team’s youngsters, and the absence of situational leadership.  These are the ideologies left over from the Lenny Wilkens’ era and will present the greatest challenges for new coach Kevin O’Neil to overcome.  O‘Neill will have to erase the last two seasons from the collective memory of all returning players and instill a fresh mindset if the team is going to return to its winning ways of three seasons back.   

      The Raptors’ organization is pinning the hopes of its franchise on the tiny, balding, bespectacled man who has yet to be the head man for a regular NBA season game.  Management, under the gun from an ownership group that wishes to stay as close as possible to the luxury tax line without going over it, were unable to acquire the veteran who could fill many of the major holes on the team.  Instead management filled the holes with a bunch of minor players all seeking to become NBA regulars for the first time in their careers.  Jerome Moiso, Milt Palacio, and Mengke Bateer are three players O’Neil has already integrated into his rotation, relegating former Raptor staple Jerome Williams to the bench.  It is likely that GM Glen Grunwald attempted to move JYD in the off-season as the Dog’s salary has become quite cumbersome for a team that could use the money to acquire some offense.  Instead the Raptors will look to O’Neill to make filet mignon out of the hamburger bits management has provided him.

       Moiso has quickly worked himself into a starting role alongside Antonio Davis in the frontcourt.  So far in the pre-season O’Neill has Michael Curry starting at small forward with Vince and Alvin as the guards.  This line-up is strong on defense but lean on offense since neither Moiso nor Curry is known for their offensive exploits.  But it illustrates O’Neill’s preference for players, other than JYD, who have a solid work ethic and play defense.  JYD’s problem has always been a penchant to try to do too much and guard everyone at the same time, something a structured coach like O’Neill detests.  Sooner or later though, the Dog will get his opportunity to play. 

       The offense will move at a much slower pace this season.  It is key for a team that relies on its defense to not have its offense put the team in jeopardy by taking quick shots and rushing passes up the court.  This team will not scare anybody with its offensive potential.  It lacks any real scoring punch up front, unless rookie Chris Bosh develops far faster than expected and Davis returns to being a 15 point 12 rebound monster inside.  The team will need Vince to score upwards of 20 plus in order to compete on most nights.  Of course the way O’Neill is setting up his rotation, with defensive stalwart Milt Palacio replacing Alvin at the point and huge center Bateer spelling Davis, the object will be to keep the opposition down to around 80 points per game.   The hope is that the extra points will come from the bench, from Lamond Murray, MoPete, and Bosh. 

      The most interesting news coming from camp is that the team has more than two-dozen offensive plays already drawn up.  Which, of course, are about 22 more than the team had all of last season.  There is also a plan afoot to get the team’s scorers the ball closer to the basket—what a concept.   It looks as if O’Neill will be ridding the team of its penchant for perimeter basketball and will be looking for his players to drive the ball to the hoop.  This will not only raise the team’s shooting percentage, it will create more foul shots—which are free points, and will enable each player on the court to get back more easily on defense and prevent easy baskets. 

       More news coming from camp was O’Neill’s benching of Peterson.  MoPete looked to be a solid NBA player in his first season, but his growth has stagnated the past two campaigns.  The reason for his inability to improve was simple—he was not held accountable for his decision making and for his poor shot selection and was allowed to stay on the court for close to 40 minutes most games in spite of his flaws.  A player can’t improve if he makes the same mistakes game after game without receiving consequences.  MoPete could actually improve by leaps and bounds this season under O’Neill’s tutelage, and with restricted free agency pending it couldn’t come at a better time.  With Curry, Carter and Murray ahead of him on the depth chart for the 2-3 positions if MoPete doesn’t comply with the new attitude he will find himself restricted to bench duty. 

      The organization’s marketing gimmick for this season is “renew your passion”.  The players are aware that O’Neill’s philosophy will be similar to the ideologies held by the coaches he has previously assisted, Jeff van Gundy and Rick Carlisle.  He is defensive-oriented, with a conservative offensive approach and an emphasis on team play and effort.  If any player displays moments of indecision or, God help him, passive play then that player can expect to be yanked from the floor—an accountability that was horrifyingly missing from last season’s moribund squad. 

       The team will likely be improved this season—could it be worse?  The team will work hard and once again make the fans proud of its efforts.  But wins will still be hard to come by and it will have to be seen whether the loyal Toronto basketball following will enjoy the defensive, slow moving type of games played recently by the Knicks and the Pistons.  Of course if Vince suddenly turns into the player he was expected to be three years ago then any and all worries could become moot.  At the very least things will certainly be different down at the ACC this season.  And we can certainly be thankful for that.