Mail's in on a frosty morning

Have at it, ladies and gentlemen. Another nice array of questions, and even some good answers.

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Q: I think we're far enough into the season you might have a sense of this. How is the league doing? Is attendance down noticeably? Interest? I can only afford to go see one game per year and this season I picked seats further away to save a few dollars. I don't think I'm alone.

Bob H, Mississauga

A: A quick glance through attendance figures for this year and last, it’s down in about two-thirds of the markets. Not a drastic decline in many cities and it could very well get back to norm as the season progresses but there is no denying the current trend.

They’re off a bit here – about 700 a game – but the interesting thing is they’ve only had two sellouts in seven home games.

But, it is early and probably should be something looked closely at around the all-star break when I think trends will have fully developed.

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Q: Doug I notice that usually after a game that you cover thestar.com has a story with your byline soon after but sometimes it is by CP. Why is that? Thanks

Mike K, London

A: It depends on timing a lot of times, at least in my case. With an 11:15 p.m. deadline, if I have to file right at the buzzer (say off an 8:30 or 9 p.m. start), the website gets it more quickly than if it’s a 7 p.m. game and I have time to gather quotes. Then they get it when I file it, which is usually between 10:30 and 11.

On Sunday afternoons, I gather quotes, right a web-specific story that usually replaces a wire story within 40 minutes or so of the buzzer and then write something new for the morning newspaper.

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Q: Hi Doug. I was wondering if you could contrast the recent announcement of Brian Burke's son to the announcement of John Amaechi, several years ago. Just curious if you have any memories of that time, or that situation.

Peter L, Toronto

A: My memory, sketchy that it is, is that it was far less a story than some would have thought, mostly because he was out of the game and had no real connection to it.

I honestly don’t know what would happen if someone closely connected to the game, or someone once removed like a son or daughter, was in the same situation in basketball. I’m absolutely dead certain the same circumstances exist in basketball that exist in the Burke story but no one’s come forward as publicly.

I’d like to think it would elicit yawns because it’s not an issue; I’m not 100 per cent certain that would be true, sadly.

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Q: Doug, a history lesson please. How were the Celtics able to keep those great teams from the 60's together? I suspect there was no free agency as we know it today; on the other hand, as far as I'm aware, only baseball had the reserve clause. Thanks in advance.

Brent J, Barrie

A: Oh no, there was nothing like free agency. A player was the “property” of the team until he wasn’t wanted any more, quite an easy way to keep a well-built franchise together.

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Q: Doug Smith, Sports Reporter, finds himself in a time machine where he is able to choose to disembark at a specific date to cover any team/event of his choosing. Other than here and now (!) which sports team or personality in which era would you find most intriguing to write about? Or could you limit it to just one?

Lorie P, London

A: Given the chance to look back, how cool would it have been to cover Ali in his heyday? That’s the one guy, the one issue, the one history-changing athlete I would have liked to have been around during his era.

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Q: You've covered basketball for 15 years, the Olympics, few baseball games and even a couple of hockey games. Is there a sporting event that you have not covered that you would like to before you end your career as a journalist?

Dave R, Markham

A: You know, there probably isn’t. I have no real interest in doing a Super Bowl or any auto race. I have done Grey Cups and World Series. I guess if I had to pick one, it’d be to cover soccer’s World Cup from start to finish, just floating around writing stories.

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Q: Doug after watching the raptors lay a couple of turkeys in the last couple games I'm curious to know how Jay tends to react with the players. Does he do the equivalent of the hockey version of a practice of just skating drills? Does he go into his office, close the door and beat the crap out of his desk? Or does he get the assistants to directly pass on his immediate displeasure?

Terry S. Durham

A: Coaches need to be careful, because continually ranting and raving and running ‘em to death gets old and can turn a team off in an awful hurry. I think coaches generally have like one bullet to fire a season and you better use it judiciously. Other than that, I’m sure there are all kinds of moments of private frustrations and outbursts.

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Q: Hey Doug._Can you give us some insight into how the Raptors stack up financially with the rest of the NBA? Are they a positive for the NBA or a negative? And who are the teams that really need work?

Jeff L, St. John’s

A: The true financial picture of Maple Leaf Sports is a closely-guarded secret (kind of like the location of the currency printing press they own is) but I would be absolutely astonished if they aren’t making money and therefore a contributor rather than a drag on the NBA.

As for teams in trouble, reports have pegged the number of money-losing franchises at anywhere from 15-20 so I’m not sure what’s exactly accurate.

There are no Phoenix Coyotes, though.

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Q: First I want to commend you on your outstanding work on this blog as well as covering the Raps as a whole. Love that you are embracing the Intraweb thing. You keep us engaged and informed! A "grunt" question rather a true Raps question as it's still to early to "panic" about this team only 17 games into the season. I know there will be the good side of the bipolar's come the new year.

How do the Raps stack up in terms of media coverage. By this I mean how many credentialed "grunts" tv, ink stained retches (that has a nice ring to it, haha), radio etc. cover the Raps and how do we compare to other teams in terms of numbers.

Also, since the economic downturn have you noticed a big drop city to city in terms of "grunts" covering each team and press covering out of town games. Keep up the great work Doug!

Francis SC, Toronto

A: Outside of New York, this team is covered on a regular basis by more media members than any other team in the league and I would suggest we’re not far behind the Knicks, either.

I’ve seen dwindling numbers in traveling media for a couple of years now and expect that trend to continue.

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Q: When in the schedule do they play the last Eastern Conference team for the first time this year? I am thinking that would be a good time to schedule a taking stock of the year piece.

Jim R, Toronto

A: Well, they don’t play New York until the 40th game of the regular season, Jan. 15 in New York, so I’m thinking that’s a bit too long to wait.

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Q: Doug. Along with the defensive schemes, can these guys be taught to give hard fouls, or is that more reliant on a player's personality? It seems that the coaches might want to impress this on the guys as a sound defensive strategy.

Thanks for the blog, from a basketball crazy prairie Raps fan.

Chris C, Winnipeg

A: They can be told the value of a hard foul but it is impossible, in my opinion, to make anyone do something like that if it’s not in their character.

Some of this and some of that

That was some weak road trip, no?

I know their heart of hearts they figured a split would be the worst they’d get out of the jaunt to Charlotte and Boston and while the two losses hurt, the manner in which they were achieved hurts even more.

There is lots and lots of work to do, there is no doubt about that.

Anyhow …

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THREE THINGS I LEARNED

Pretty obvious, isn’t it?

I don’t imagine there’s a sane-thinking person in the world who isn’t (a) disgusted or (b) embarrassed or (c) shocked that no one – NO ONE – even bothered to take a menacing step towards Paul Pierce after he kneed Chris Bosh in the groin and then took a second to stand over him and taunt after dunking on him in the fourth quarter last night.

I guess I should add (d) surprised to that list because it’s been a flaw with this team for eons, that lack of toughness.

Now, I’m not advocating fighting or something ridiculous like that but some finger-pointing, yelling, gesturing or just letting him know that kind of punk move is unacceptable would have been in order.

It was Rasho, Turkolgu, Jose and Jack who were on the floor at the time of the play and one of them should have done something and that was pointed out in just about every story after the game.

What I want to see is if all this talk is cheap or not. This kind of thing will happen again, I’m sure, because teams know they can get away with it and I’m wondering just how these guys will react when it does.

Will they cower? Or actually do something to stand up for a teammate?

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A new twist on a pre-game meal

So Antoine Wright’s irked that some of his teammates are eating popcorn and goofing around in the locker room before games when they should, you know, being getting ready to play.

Not sure exactly who he’s talking about because he wouldn’t names with his public criticism – if I had a guess, judging by the story and who spoke how, he was taking aim at DeRozan – and maybe it actually worked.

The game turned out bad – although losing to Boston at home is a rather predictable result – but the Raptors did play with far more verve and energy in the opening half than they had in Charlotte.

Wright’s seems to have become some of the conscience of this team and it’s good that someone’s speaking up. Now, if he was just a tad more productive in the actual playing of the game department, I bet everyone would be a little bit happier.

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The true troubling sign

Yes, defence was an issue in the Charlotte game but one of the more pressing issues of the last two games to me is the lack of offensive production.

Sounds strange, but it’s true. Never mind the 103 points in Boston, the game was lost when they couldn’t score for almost seven minutes of the third quarter, that’s when it got away.

And, believe you me, if this team can’t score, it can’t win. No way, no how.

Some of it had to do with Boston’s defence – at times there were three guys guarding Bosh, one on his back, two creeping in from the sides – and the Raptors were unable to get the ball swinging side to side, which is when they are their most effective.

That’s got a lot to do with the wings not moving it quickly or decisively because the longer they hold it, the more time it gives defence to get into the passing lanes and there were times when everyone looked entirely befuddled.

Unless they clean that up – and I’m sure they will at times because they have scored with regularity against all kinds of defences – they’re in for some tough times.

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And in the other news

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Luckily, to get the taste of that Raptors-Celtics game out of my mouth (and while not totally distasteful, it certainly wasn’t entertaining), a run though the dial found the Thunder-Bucks gamse.

And I will say this again: I really like that Oklahoma City team.

I have no idea how they will eventually pay and keep Durant, Green, Westbrook and Harden but, right now, they are indeed fun to watch.

My early pick for coach of the year was Scott Brooks and I believe I mentioned Jeff Green as a favourite for most improved player and, mark my words, when the Thunders get to the playoffs, I could very well be right.

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What did the folks get to read this morning in Boston? Glad you asked. How about in Arizona? Glad you asked, again.

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Don’t forget, tomorrow’s a mail day and while I’ve got plenty now, guess there’s always room for more.

But, please, no questions like: “Why do they suck? Can they trade this guy or that guy? How about Iverson? When is Reggie coming back?”

Thanks.

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In case you care, I have no idea who’ll win the big gridiron game tomorrow night but I sure hope it’s Saskatchewan.

Two reasons:

Perhaps the best football game I’ve ever covered was the ’89 Grey Cup at the SkyDome when the Riders beat the Tiger-Cats and I’ve had an affinity for Saskatchewan ever since. The passion of the fans knows now bounds, it’s a true community team that provides a huge boost to civic pride.

And, they’ve got fans who wear watermelons on their heads, for goodness sake. They carve out the innards of watermelons and PUT THEM ON THEIR HEADS!

How can you not love a team that has fans that use gutted out fruit as headwear?

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It’ll be nice to get back to a practice today and get some real work done and the first question has to be:

Whither Andrea?

I don’t know if he’s banged up or sick or what but 24 minutes last night and 27 in Charlotte are far below his usual average of about 33 going into the road trip. And they need him to play – and to score – if they’re ever going to have a legitimate chance to win.

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The Goods On The Game, Raptors at Boston

Hello, everyone, welcome back, or just plain old welcome if you've just shown up.

GruntTV, live (sort of) from Casa Doug

Waiting and wondering which group shows up

Join Doug Smith for a live Q&A today at 1 p.m., as the Raptors prepare to take on the Boston Celtics.

This not being on the road and missing games and not being around, frankly, gets old in a hurry.

Luckily, back to the arena and the usual schedule tomorrow.

Until then …

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So, Jay gets to 82 games tonight as a head coach and as Dave pointed out in his column today, he’s got almost the same record over that period as Sam did over his.

Now, that’s a wee bit of apples and oranges – I don’t think it’s entirely fair to compare 65 games as an interim guy one year and 17 the next with a full season starting from scratch – but it does lend itself to discussion of what Triano’s done this year.

Good or bad?

On the whole, I’d say okay.

Yes, there are problems with the team’s defence – as if that’s a huge surprise given the lack of a true stopper anywhere on the roster – but the one thing that will kill coaches quicker than anything with players is a sense of panic or constant change and I will give Jay credit for steadfastly maintaining he’s not making dramatic change to his system and that the players have to play it better.

Maybe that ends up being a fatal flaw but maybe, eventually, they get it and improve. Maybe not, but I’d rather have a coach with the courage of his conviction rather than someone wishy-washy who changes with the wind.

Are they worse defensively than even I thought? Hell yeah. But it’s the little things, like hustling back on defence, missing box-outs, slow rotations, mindlessly running into screens rather than fighting over them that’s the reason. And that is on the players.

Other than that, what’s Jay done this year?

Well, we’ve seen him make solid in-game adjustments – Chicago on Rose, Clippers on Kaman – that have put his players in position to win.

His stuff out of timeouts and quarter breaks is good, I’d dare more consistently creative than the last guy. And, again, it can be the greatest play call in the history of play calls but if someone misses an open shot or forgets an assignment, the fault doesn’t lie with the coach.

The rotations? Well, I’m not a huge fan of Jose and Jarrett on the court at the same time for lengthy periods but you have to admit it’s worked at times.

I think there needs to be an expanded role for Belinelli and perhaps a diminished one for Wright, who’s struggling at both ends of the floor – but I think he’s using Johnson in precisely the right way.

As I’ve perhaps mentioned, I truly believe coaches get too much blame when things go wrong and too much credit when things to go right.

And, on the whole, I think he’s done a good job. Not great. Not horrible. Good.

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I’ve been home and watched a bit of TV over the last couple of days and I will say this: I will gladly pay $10 a month if they get those spectacularly annoying TV tax commercials off the air.

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In Boston, there have been some concerns about slippage with the Celtics – Paul Pierce called them a “work in progress” recently – and here’s today’s offering from the Globe.

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The one thing I’ll be most interested in tonight is the level of “energy” with which the Raptors play.

They’ve paid all kinds of lip service all season to playing hard and playing smart and being aggressive and coming the debacle in Charlotte gives them a perfect opportunity to put some action behind the words.

It’s difficult to measure “energy” but getting after loose balls and hustling back on defence are two of the prime examples.

Watch to see how they make out.

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Speaking of Boston, they’ve got a double-header in whatever the call the Garden today, Bruins-Jersey at noon and Celtics-Raptors at 7:30 p.m., and I actually sat through one of those one year, for some reason covering Habs-Bruins in the afternoon before a Raptor game at night.

True story: We’re in the Bruins dressing room after the game and I don’t know one guy from the next so I’m floating from scrum to scrum trying to get a good quote or two to build into a story I’m sure is going to suck.

There’s apparently a very popular player surrounded by cameras and writers and I can’t even see him as I stick my tape recorder over someone’s head.

The guy’s going on about how good the Bruins are when they put three “big” guys out there, how much trouble it causes when the “big guys” are on the ice.

Now, I’m kind of snickering listening to this guy because my idea of “bigs” is like 6-10 or maybe 7-0, maybe taller.

When the scrum’s over, I figure out the guy I was listening to was Joe Thornton, who’s all of 6-4.

Big? I giggle.

And then go write the world’s most average hockey game story ever.

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Christmas cometh – I know this because I watched two lasses decorate a lounge last evening while attending a Mighty Yankees Dads And Coaches First Of Many Off-season Socials – and that means some kids need some help.

And what better way to help than to make a donation to the Jim Proudfoot Corner of the Star’s Santa Fund.

Click here if you can spare any extra cash and really help out.

We appreciate it.

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Back to the people at hand – the Raptors – and it’s amazing to me how many calls there’ve been for some kind of change to the team’s starting lineup.

Take Jose out. Move DeRozan. Demote Bargnani.

The only two who escape, it seems, are Turkoglu and Bosh and I’m not sure why since there seems to be a huge panic in the streets thing going on these days.

Well, the last time was asked Jay about change was a week ago and he was emphatic there wouldn’t be.

And he’s right.

I don’t think it makes any sense right now to fiddle with something like the starting five on a team that’s 7-9 and done enough good not to get buried in either the conference or the division.

Now 7-9 is not great and it’s not horrible. It was, pretty much, precisely where I expected them to be about now. The starters are okay, which again is what was expected, not great, not horrible.

I’m not sure what changing would do. I think everyone likes the production the Raptors are getting from the subs most nights, no sense tinkering with that. And there’s no reason to think making change will alter what this team is right now: About average and headed for the middle tier of the East.

They are not great, but they are not the Nets. Or even the Knicks. Or even the Sixers or the Wizards at the moment. They are what they are.

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What’s up today, you ask?

How about the traditional game-day chat at 1 p.m. Eastern time, I think the technical difficulties that took GruntTV off the air the other day are fixed and then the in-game fun and frivolity at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

There, you can plan your entire day now.

Have fun.