Calderon to start ahead of Lowry - I don't like this

[Soft Euro]

Does anyone think we should have just signed Uzoh and forget about John Lucas? just a thought.

I think that was the original plan, but Uzoh stunk it up in summer league.

[torch19]

As long as we are winning, I could care less who starts. I'm more concerned about who finishes.

Jose does an awesome job of setting the offensive pace and Lowry comes in and changes pace and sh!ts on bench players. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Rapstor4Life]

Does anyone think we should have just signed Uzoh and forget about John Lucas? just a thought.

[phiLLy]

Fine by me.

If Lowry can't stow his ego, and wants out, then let him out. Dont need that on the team. Players need to accept their role. If the team wins with Lowry coming off the bench, then so be it.

If he can earn the spot back, then he can earn the spot back. I can't see what it's so difficult, if he really is the player that we think/like to believe he is.

Casey is doing the right thing. Easing Fields back in, and same with Lowry. Both have been out for a while, nothing wrong with easing them back in.

Should do the same thing with JV too when he gets back.

No need to worry. If Lowry is what we think he is, he will earn it back no problem, and JC, as much as I love him, will be shipped by the trade deadline.

If he's not, then we've avoided a potential future disaster again.

[BasketballCrush]

I like the competition.


As much as we fans like to talk about the point guard controversy of Ford vs Jose. As far as I recall, we were relevant back then. We made much to do about nothing. That is how a good team should function, players should be pushed for minutes by their peers.


I hope we have more controversies at other positions.

[Chr1s1anL]

I think it's a testament of how hard are young player work. They've all improved their game.

[slaw]

In the long run, I doubt this much matters. The team is playing okay at the moment and winning games and, since this season is supposed to be about winning more games, I think you have to stay with Calderon for now. The fact is that this team is simply not that good and they'll come back to earth pretty fast, then you can drop Lowry back in.

Craiger makes the key point which is that Lowry wanted out of Houston in very similar circumstances. If he reacts poorly, it's another issue they don't need.

The thing that kills me right now is that they've won 5 of 6 with: Lowry out; Fields riding the pine; and JV injured. So, basically, all of Colangelo's additions this offseason have been total non-factors and the team is now winning without them. Hilarious.

[Eric Akshinthala]

The team is playing well because Bargnani left not Lowry. make no mistake about that.

It doesn't matter why the team is playing well. It does matter that the team is playing well. If it is(playing well), why disturb it?

[Axel]

I never get a guy getting his starting job back just because. if the team was playing this well when he left then it makes sense. If the team was awful when he played and had turned it around then stick with what works until it either no longer works, or until Lowry can prove he is can captain the ship as well.

Look at what Lowry was able to do before he got hurt. First 3 games, 21-8-7, 28-8-8, 22-5-7. Even after coming back not fully healed, he has managed to average 16-6-6. Jose has cracked the 20 point plateau only twice and is averaging 10-7-2. Jose has earned to play minutes, but he hasn't won the starting job. So really tell me, who is the better PG?

Jose's time has come and gone, it's time for Raptors fans to accept that and stop trying to annoint him the savior or starter.

[Rapstor4Life]

The team is playing well because Bargnani left not Lowry. make no mistake about that.

[Deadallus]

I never get a guy getting his starting job back just because. if the team was playing this well when he left then it makes sense. If the team was awful when he played and had turned it around then stick with what works until it either no longer works, or until Lowry can prove he is can captain the ship as well.

[Axel]

“We’ll see in the next couple of days but right now Jose is the starting point guard and has done a solid job of running the team, building trust, directing the young guys, making sure they’re in the right place.”

“He’s one of the main reasons why Terrence Ross has progressed at the right pace,” Casey said of Calderon. “He’s quarterbacked him, talked him through situations and really been a mentor for him on the court.”

These are the points that matter. If Jose is big asset in the development of Davis, JV and Ross, then that trumps all. This season is a write-off anyway and no draft pick either, so....

All the more reason for Jose to be the back-up, cause Ross isn't starting. JV should probably come off the bench when he comes back. So Jose can be the back-up, and work with Ross and JV. Lowry can start and work with Demar and Davis. Demar has already looked more intense this year, which part of it could be Lowry.

Jose can start for the next week or so, but at the end of the day, Lowry is the better player and needs to get the lion's share of the minutes. You don't lose your starting spot because of injury. Lowry was epic before his first injury of the season, then came back too fast and wasn't the same before getting hurt again. Bring him along at a reasonable pace, but he is the starter. Jose has done a nice job of keeping the seat warm (and increasing his trade value) but at the end of the season, that is all he has done.

It is unfair to compare Jose to Bargnani, but has Jose just pulled a Bargnani 13-gamer where everyone forgets reality and starts to think he is more than what he is?

[mcHAPPY]

I think the Raptors have much too long of a history handing a starting position to someone who has yet to necessarily earn it. Part of this is because they invest too much too quickly in players, and therefore feel obligated to do so.

Yet here we have the one guy whose earned it (numerous times no less) earning it again. I don't have a problem with it.

I also think its a good test for Lowry and how he reacts. If he reacts poorly (like he did in Houston) the team may need to get ready to ship him out. If he takes it well, then he has all rights to earn it back.

I missed this post originally.

Craiger you nailed it. Lowry's reaction to being a backup and to having watched others thrive in his absence will hopefully go a long way to determining his future in Toronto.

[ReubenJRD]

I think the Raptors have much too long of a history handing a starting position to someone who has yet to necessarily earn it. Part of this is because they invest too much too quickly in players, and therefore feel obligated to do so.

Yet here we have the one guy whose earned it (numerous times no less) earning it again. I don't have a problem with it.

I also think its a good test for Lowry and how he reacts. If he reacts poorly (like he did in Houston) the team may need to get ready to ship him out. If he takes it well, then he has all rights to earn it back.

+1. Agreed, although, to sort of argue, Kyle Lowry was brought in to be our franchise point guard (or the future point guard).

[Eric Akshinthala]

After Jose's solid performance as a starter this should not even be an issue. Casey is absolutely right in saying that Jose has earned the job. Lowry should graciously back up Jose. Time for some team play.