A $24-million bench-warmer

TorontoSun.com – Basketball – A $24-million bench-warmer
Raptors coach Sam Mitchell went on the defensive yesterday when asked if he would be disappointed if Kapono, the club’s most expensive, most heralded, off-season signing, did not turn out to be a regular starter at the small forward position — the lone starting spot still up for grabs.

Mitchell has said the last couple of days that Kapono may not be his starter at the three spot, that the job may go to another newcomer, Carlos Delfino, or the wildly inconsistent Joey Graham, or even to Jorge Garbajosa, whom Mitchell would prefer to play at power forward.

Raptors, Celtics put on more than just an exhibition game

globesports.com: Raptors, Celtics put on more than just an exhibition game
But where the Raptors’ visions of defending their Atlantic Division title looked most promising was when the second units were on the floor.

The Raptors put out Jose Calderon, Carlos Delfino, Joey Graham, Jorge Garbajosa and Rasho Nesterovic and benefitted against a Boston group that was still learning each other’s names.

“You pretty much know what Rasho and Garbo and Jose and those guys are going to give you,” said head coach Sam Mitchell. “I think we went up 10 or 12 with that group.”

Toronto pushed it’s advantage to 37-27 on the strength of a Delfino triple, but as the Celtics went back to their stars — all three played at least 19:30 in the first half, reflecting perhaps Boston’s desire to get them acclimated as quickly as possible — they managed to take a 43-40 lead into the half.

NBA Blog

NBA Blog
* The game was in Rome, so Toronto started Italian Andrea Bargnani at power forward. Fair enough. However, I appreciate Jorge Garbajosa’s blue-collar game. I’m not sure if the Raptors are better with Bargnani or Garbajosa at the four-spot.

* Jason Kapono, Toronto’s big free agent signing, started at small-forward. His range will spread the floor and keep defenses from doubling Chris Bosh in the post.

* T.J. Ford or Jose Calderon? This question comes up each time I watch the Raptors. And I debated it again this afternoon. I like Ford’s pace. But I really like Calderon’s feel for the game. Eventually, the club will have to make a decision on who starts long-term at the one-spot.

Raptors Notebook

Raptors Notebook
And last night, almost 2,000 of them came to the Palaverde arena to watch the show, and they stood several times before the tip-off to applaud for Andrea Bargnani, Jorge Garbajosa and Raptors assistant general manager — and former Benetton chief — Maurizio Gherardini. Coach Sam Mitchell, tipping the hand he is expected to play at the start of the regular season, had Chris Bosh, Bargnani, T.J. Ford, Jason Kapono and Anthony Parker start for the “home” team.

From Deep

globeandmail.com: From Deep
1. Andrea Bargnani is definitely trying to be more physical. He had four dunks; he laid out Graham on a blind screen and went hard enough to the glass to get a couple of offensive fouls.

2. There is some tightness at the bottom of the rotation: Juan Dixon and Luke Jackson are playing for jobs and they look it.

3. Bosh looks like he’s not game sharp, which backed up his talk that his emphasis was on resting and re-habbing his foot rather than getting a lot of runs in this summer.

4. I barely noticed Ford, which is good. Less is usually more with him.

5. Kapono is not merely a standstill shooter. His understanding of spacing and his overall floor game is pretty impressive. With him and Parker on the floor together, the ball just flies around.

6. Garbajosa didn’t look like he was favouring his leg necessarily, but he missed a lot, turned the ball over some and generally looked rusty.

7. My guess is Kris Humphries worked hard on his shooting this summer and was eager to prove it every chance he got. There is more work to be done.

Garbo recovering nicely

TorontoSun.com – Basketball – Garbo recovering nicely
Team doctors initially prescribed follow-up surgery this summer when it appeared as though the break had not healed properly, but Garbajosa opted for therapy, mainly so he could play for Spain at this summer’s European championships.

But while the Raptors were wary of that option, so far Garbajosa’s decision to avoid surgery is paying off. The second-year NBA player has looked good at training camp.

“Except for certain times when he has to plant and turn, he’s been doing well,” head coach Sam Mitchell said. “I always tell him if he needs a day (off), let me know, but he says so far he feels fine.”

Fast-food Raptors try to enjoy La Dolce Vita

TheStar.com | Sports | Fast-food Raptors try to enjoy La Dolce Vita
On the first night of their first European training camp, the Raptors decamped from their luxurious rural hotel, which is nestled among vineyards in the rolling countryside a half-hour north of Venice, and commandeered a local restaurant for a team meal.

There were appetizers of bruschetta and prosciutto, a first course of assorted pastas and risottos, and a main of beef and fresh fish and chicken. The languid pace, the slow procession of plates – it was difficult for some to endure.

Garbajosa back and rarin’ to go

TheStar.com | Sports | Garbajosa back and rarin’ to go
“The only thing I know is I can practise at the level of my teammates; I can run and jump. I think you cannot feel that maybe Garbo is a step back or something.

“That is the feeling that I have.”

Raps throw caution to off-season wind

TheStar.com | Sports | Raps throw caution to off-season wind
If any of them need a rest, Toronto’s European training camp starts in less then two weeks. And it makes one wonder: With so much of the lineup so actively engaged in summertime hostilities – and with Chris Bosh excusing himself from the U.S. national team to nurture that worrisomely persistent case of plantar fasciitis – aren’t they setting themselves up for a late-season energy crisis?

Garbo passes first test

CANOE — SLAM! Sports – Basketball – NBA Toronto: Garbo passes first test
The Toronto Raptors will have forward Jorge Garbajosa undergo another series of tests on his injured left leg this week.

Fresh off helping to lead Spain to the gold-medal game at the European championships on Sunday (a heartbreaking 60-59 loss to Russia), Garbajosa has been directed to have the leg examined and evaluated again — even though he managed to get through the tournament without seemingly aggravating the injury. Late last season Garbajosa fractured his left fibula and tore ligaments in his left ankle after an awkward fall in Boston.

Raptors survive European tourney

TheStar.com | Sports | Raptors survive European tourney
Jose Calderon and Jorge Garbajosa were denied the chance to hoist the European basketball championship trophy in front of adoring Spanish fans yesterday.

The fact both finished the gruelling tournament unscathed, though, suits the Raptors just fine.

Green Bandwagon :: NBA Preview: Raptors and Nets

Green Bandwagon :: NBA Preview: Raptors and Nets
Meanwhile, if I were a Raptors fan I would be crossing my fingers, hoping Chris Bosh’s foot problems are behind him. Speaking of Bosh, I’m not sure where I stand on his nickname – CB4. Yes it is a blatant Chris Rock reference. At the same time Chuck Swirsky
allegedly came up with it, which raises several questions. Does Swirsky’s involvement automatically devalue the name? Has Swirsky seen or heard of CB4 the movie? And on and on. In case you were wondering I’m not a big fan of the Swirsk.

Check out Toronto’s roster. Something has to give. Although I would imagine that Jason Kapono’s presence makes Luke Jackson obsolete. Even then some guys have to go. Finally, I am excited to see what Carlos Delfino can do for the Raptors. He might surprise some people.

Bonus Point – Should people be obligated to mention how terrible the Atlantic Division was last season when referencing the Toronto’s first division crown?

Owners Watch Nervously as Europe’s Best Square Off

Owners Watch Nervously as Europe’s Best Square Off – September 12, 2007 – The New York Sun
Nor can the Toronto Raptors be too excited to see Jorge Garbajosa suiting up next to Gasol. When we last saw Garbo, he was suffering a Theismannesque ankle injury in a game against Boston that knocked him out for the year. The Raptors were hoping Garbajosa would undergo another surgery this summer to fix some lingering problems, but he wanted to play for the national side instead.

Teams do at least have some defense against injuries, in the form of insurance policies that national teams take out on players. Thus, if Garbajosa were to “twist” his ankle once again, Toronto would at least save some dough by getting a check to help cover his salary. But it would do little to ease the impact on wins and losses, and the revenue decline that would likely result.

globesports.com: Garbajosa rallies Spain to first-place finish

globesports.com: Garbajosa rallies Spain to first-place finish
Garbajosa’s three-pointers highlighted a third period in which Spain outscored Israel 27-20, and then dominated their opponents in the final quarter, 25-5.

Paying premium to cover Raptors assets

TheStar.com – Sports – Paying premium to cover Raptors assets
Garbajosa’s role with the Raptors, even if he’s healthy, might not be as vital as it was last year, when he started 60 of the 67 games he played. The smart money says that Andrea Bargnani, the second-year 7-footer who is competing for Italy in the European championships – and had a team-high 16 points in yesterday’s loss to France – will be the starting centre. That means Chris Bosh, who’s currently resting his own worrisome injury – the nagging case of plantar fasciitis that plagued him last season and kept him off the U.S. squad for the just-concluded Olympic qualifier – will start at power forward. Garbajosa, if that’s the case, will almost certainly come off the bench.

TSN looks at the season ahead.

TSN : NBA-RAPTORS – Canada’s Sports Leader
no matter what, the key to this season is going to remain Bargnani and his ability to adjust to life against NBA starters. Bosh thrived in that position when he was thrust there at Bargnani’s age and eventually reversed the fate of the team, now it’s up to Bargnani to push that momentum even further forward for Canada’s lone franchise.

Jorge Garbajosa played 18 minutes for 8 points

Jorge Garbajosa played 18 minutes for 8 points – Topix
The Raptors’ Garbajosa made his debut in the European Championship (Eurobasket) defeating with Spain to Portugal in a not-to-remember game where Spain stopped the rival’s production of the first half in 21 points. Garbajosa felt well and had the opportunity to play some quiet minutes that completed his preparation for the high competitive matches that will come after this three games-in-a-row of the first phase.

Game on for Garbo

CANOE — SLAM! Sports – Basketball – NBA Toronto: Game on for Garbo
The Raptors have given forward Jorge Garbajosa permission to play in the European basketball championships, but have done so with the proverbial gun at their head.

World champion Spain favored to win European title on home turf

World champion Spain favored to win European title on home turf – NBA – Yahoo! Sports
Gasol leads the team, which beat Greece 70-47 in the world championship final, with Memphis Grizzlies teammate Juan Carlos Navarro, Toronto Raptors guard Jose Calderon and Portland Trailblazers guard Sergio Rodriguez.

Jorge Garbajosa of the Toronto Raptors was cleared to play Sunday after recovering from ankle and leg injuries.

Garbajosa allowed to play.

http://www.topix.net/nba/2007/09/raptors-jorge-garbajosa-will-play-the-european-championship

After two weeks training with the Spanish National Team and being the 13th member of the allowed 12, the Raptors will finally let Jorge Garbajosa play this championship that, not as the Americas Championship, is much more than a Preolimpic tournament but an old appreciated and valuated title.