Welcome Back to the Bench, TJ Ford
Up here in Canada, we had to wait for the Magic and Raptors to finish up their business last night before the broadcast flipped over to the biggest game of the night, Suns vs Spurs.
TJ Ford was nowhere to be seen during the crucial moments of Game 2, and we’ll see even less of him as the series shifts north of the U.S. border.
Though head coach Sam Mitchell didn’t come out and directly say it, it’s not hard to read between the lines of his comments to reporters following the heart-breaking loss to Orlando.
Head coach Sam Mitchell announced that he will make a change in his starting lineup but refused to identify the change other than to tell a reporter, “You watched the game so use some common sense.”
As the article points out, TJ has brought nothing to the table so far in the series (matter of fact, he’s taken plenty off of it), and I have yet to hear a reasonable explanation as to why he’s been starting over Jose Calderon to begin with.
Toronto played a hell of a fourth quarter last night, and can expect to get some favorable calls in their own gym. No one should be all that surprised if they win Game 3 and turn this into a series.
45 Responses to “Welcome Back to the Bench, TJ Ford”
Apr.23 at 12:05 pm
TADOne says:
Sam Mitchell is the best. Also, it is about time Calderon got the starting gig.
Apr.23 at 12:06 pm
TheMC5 says:
Calderon starting over Ford will be a great step forward, but if Smitch starts Bosh, Rasho, and Bargnani in the front court again, I will seriously lose my sh*t.
Apr.23 at 12:06 pm
TheMC5 says:
TAD: If by best you mean worst, then I agree.
Apr.23 at 12:11 pm
Justin says:
For as much as people said that Jameer was going to get outplayed in this series, he has held his own and then some.
Apr.23 at 12:11 pm
ciolkstar says:
I actually really like the job Sam Mitchell has done this year but his playing favorites with TJ has hurt the team. Calderon has outplayed Ford from the jump and seems to have amuch more team oriented style/attitude/game. I a UT grad so I’ve been a longtime TJ Ford fan. But dude is a serious ass who definitely has an inflated sense of self worth. There’s really no reson for Calderon to play less than 30 mins a night
Apr.23 at 12:12 pm
Captain America says:
Jose can you see? TJ pines.
Apr.23 at 12:18 pm
Cheryl says:
I’m not surprised. In fact, I think I predicted it somewhere…
Apr.23 at 12:19 pm
TADOne says:
MC5: I was actually talking about Sam Mitchell’s press conferences. I really have no comment on his coaching abilities, or lack thereof.
Apr.23 at 12:28 pm
The Pro says:
Toronto should toughen up inside. Do not let Dwight “the baby eater” beat you. Slap him Rasho slap him!! slap him!! make him feel some PAIN!!!!!
Apr.23 at 12:45 pm
Paps says:
About time. Hopefully TJ is useful off the bench.
Apr.23 at 12:46 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
No worries, they’ll figure out their point guard situation by the time the playoffs roll around. Plenty of time.
Apr.23 at 12:55 pm
B. Long says:
ciolkstar:what’s up with the T.J. hate? Dude was real cool and down to earth when I played AAU ball against him in High School. He didn’t bang your girlfriend in college did he?
Apr.23 at 12:57 pm
B. Long says:
Calderon is this years Carlos Arroyo…
Apr.23 at 1:04 pm
G Diesel says:
I think Calderon will be on Steve Nash level in a few years. TJ Ford should be traded for a banger/rebounder.
About the lineup change, it could mean starting Jason Kapono over Andrea Bargnani. Kapono can’t miss these days.
Apr.23 at 1:11 pm
Mark Z says:
Mitchell & Avery Johnson are the most entertaining Press Conference coaches. Mitchell, just becuase he does not give a f. Avery, because he looks so uncomfortable when he has to play nice & not rip into Cuban or his players. I like TJ’s game, but Mitchell has killed his confidence. Time for a divorce.
Apr.23 at 2:16 pm
Cal says:
watch TJ get pissed and blow up next game
Apr.23 at 2:24 pm
Gumdrop says:
If the Raps pick up the one year extension on Rasho’s contract (which they undoubtably will) and package him with T.J. that would give them enough to match contracts with just about anyone for a blockbuster trade. What I’m saying is, T.J.’s days as a Raptor are probably done.
Apr.23 at 3:32 pm
FlY HiGh says:
starting line up;
Rasho
Bosh
parker
Kapono
Calderon
Apr.23 at 3:47 pm
Sam Mitchell's Conscience says:
I think he’s reffering more to the correcting of his ill advised substitution of Bustnani into the startinjg lineup. Buster should be benched next game.
Apr.23 at 4:22 pm
dma says:
Bustnani nice! I thought he’d have a breakout series against Orlando. Guess I was wrong. Nesterovic sucked it up again in the playoffs too. Maybe they can get Candice Parker for game 3?
Apr.23 at 4:25 pm
G Mac Ez says:
all u have to do is look @ wht jose was doing without a back up 2 mths ago 60% from the field 15 and 10 as a starteer shooting 50 40 90?? come on, this guy shoudlve been a all star this year but he gets benched in favor for tj, mitchell should be fired forr playing favorites,
Apr.23 at 4:38 pm
vmcb says:
It could either be TJ or Kapono getting the start, maybe both. I’m a big TJ ford fan, but he’s obviously struggling with his shot in this series, which is dispointing, seeing as how he shot 50% from the field since he was put back into the starting line up.
Apr.23 at 4:44 pm
Sam Mitchell's Conscience says:
Nesterovic actually played great in game one, but Smitch wanted to go small in game two, which is why Rasho got limited playing time.
Apr.23 at 5:02 pm
Lz - Cphfinest3 says:
If the give TJ a cap he’ll look like a towelboy - so he might aswell be on the bench waving them.. This move was looooooooooong overdue..
Apr.23 at 5:02 pm
Lz - Cphfinest3 says:
*y
Apr.23 at 6:35 pm
Tyler Durden says:
now as long as TJ doesn’t pout because he’s coming off the bench again … someone needs to tell him he is not Allen Iverson. Pass the damn ball.
Apr.23 at 6:40 pm
Doc Fan says:
I’ll take T.J. and rasho
You can have zach randolph.
Deal?
Apr.23 at 7:11 pm
vladknez says:
sam is hurrendous … calderon shoulda started from the beginning of the year … trade tj … etc. etc.
Apr.23 at 7:36 pm
John E. Sanford says:
He shouldn’t have been starting anyway. That’s a weird situation right there.
Apr.23 at 7:54 pm
vmcb says:
TJ really isn’t as big a ball hog as people think he is. O_o
Apr.23 at 8:22 pm
Melo Man TO says:
STOP HATIN ON THA KID!!
Apr.23 at 8:27 pm
Sesa says:
I dunno, I think I prefer to start them both because besides the playmaking skill, Calderon has the 3-pt range.
And Please, put either Bargnani back on the bench or put him in the Center position to foul Howard and to stretch the defense.
Apr.23 at 9:41 pm
Adrian Zapata says:
B Long… are u Brad? - anyways…. don’t be hating on TJ, if they used him correctly he would be a hell of a player
Apr.23 at 10:13 pm
B. Long says:
Zapatastyle!
Apr.23 at 10:30 pm
Sam Mitchell's Conscience says:
My favorite TJ Ford move is the one where he jumps up as if he’s going to do a shot, and then at the last moment he throws it behind his head surprising everyone, including the guy who the ball ends up going to.
Apr.23 at 10:56 pm
tealish says:
Sigh. Just because Jose was being all modest and sh*t, doens’t mean you listen to him. He’s obviously, by far, the better PG and that’s the PG you start regardless of whether the Euro thinks TJ’s ego needs to be satisfied or not.
Apr.23 at 11:01 pm
AC says:
KAPANO
BOSH
MOON
DELFINO
CALDERON
The players that earned it last game.
Apr.24 at 3:06 am
AC says:
okay…before I get blasted, Moon is the flexible choice. Perhaps Rasho or the Bragman intead, but the other four should stay.
Apr.24 at 7:47 am
Andrew says:
OLE! OLE! OLE OLE OLE! JOSE! JOSE!yes trade tj ford for jamal crawford !
Apr.24 at 1:56 pm
DeLa One says:
I’m from T.O. and I heard Sam announce on a local radio station yesterday that his starters would be….. Ford(unfortunately), Parker, Delfino, Bargnani(?), and Bosh.
Apr.24 at 2:01 pm
DeLa One says:
For everyone praising T.J. and bashing Jose you must not have seen the Raps play this year. Ask ANY GM in basketball who they’d rather have…..it’d be unanimous! Jose all the way. Look at the assist to turnover ratio for Jose and compare them with anyone in basketball.
Apr.24 at 2:05 pm
DeLa One says:
TJ has the mentality of Iverson……someone should let him know that he doesnt have his game though.
Apr.24 at 10:20 pm
AC says:
Raptors won game 3. Who knew?
Apr.25 at 11:40 am
SLAM ONLINE | » Game Notes: Orlando @ Toronto, Game 3 says:
[…] (Unpredictably, TJ Ford is still in the starting lineup, and he’s playing pretty well so far. Sam Mitchell, ladies and germs. Let’s give him a hand, shall we?) […]
Apr.25 at 3:23 pm
youngmuggsy says:
do what the cleveland browns do, start the bigger guy. worked for them