T.J Ford returns to the ACC tonight to face the struggling Raptors. I'm sure knowing Raptors fans that Ford will be met with angst tonight as he is introduced.
I for one certainly don't think he deserves it. I think TJ played hard while he was here in Toronto and was one of the main reasons that they were able to turn things around and make the playoffs 2 straight seasons. It was clear however near the end of last season that the Calderford/Forderon experiment had to be broken up. The general consensus this off season was to trade Ford and make Jose Calderon the man. I was on board 100% for this plan and when the trigger was pulled to send TJ to Indiana for Jermaine O'neil I was a tad bit skeptical. I felt the need for a swing man outweighed the need for a 21 million dollar center but that's just my opinion.
I do not doubt Jose's ability to run this team. He is efficient and his decision making is usually very good. However his style of play suited Sam Mitchell's, run a play on every posession type offence (granted it was usually the same play). Its interesting watching Jose try to adapt to a more run and gun style that Triano is now trying to run. I wonder if TJ wouldn't be a little more welcome around these parts now that Smitch is gone and Triano is at the helm. I found a really good article breaking down both PG's statistically on RealGm. The bottom line on it was that Jose is really only better because he plays 18% more of the games based on injury history.
I think at the end of the day Calderon will be able to adapt and he is certainly the more team oriented guy. Its just interesting to wonder what if.
I expect TJ to be a man possessed tonight and to attack the paint at every opportunity. Jose can't guard his first step so the help D will have to be there tonight and there rotations will have to be crisp.
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