And this is what you have to ask

I honestly don’t think any one game in a very long time has caused more angst, and created more mail and comments, than Wednesday’s loss in Portland. You people are over the top.

But you do keep the mailbag filled and I appreciate that very nuch.

This week’s themes: The ladies check in, Bargnani as Koufax and who are these “scouts” anyway?

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Q: I gotta ask. When you're doing an interview with a player, do you ever wish that someone would just say what's really on their minds? It seems a lot of the time they give answers that are "politically correct" when really, they're probably thinking something else. Like for example, a player saying their opponent played well, even when they blew them out by 25 points. I've had enough of the sugar-coating.

Amanda Faris, Barrie

A: Ever wish? How about every single time. Some guys are good at actually telling the truth but most do “sugar-coat” things as you put it so well. Some players and coaches will tell you what they really think on an off-the-record manner but we generally try to use that information somehow without divulging the source.

But honesty, in post-game interviews would be sooooo great.

"Hey, that teams sucks,” said Player A. “We should have beaten them by 40."

"That guy on the other team is a dirty cheap-shot artist,” said Player B. “I can’t wait until he gets knocked on his butt.”

That’s the kind of stuff we’d love. But seldom get.

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Q: Why is a three-point shot called "From Downtown." Downtown is where all the action happens, so shouldn't downtown be represented by the paint? Isn't the three point-line more like the suburbs? Or does "From Suburbia" lack a certain vim from the broadcasters' perspective?

By the way, I have a lot of time on my hands.

Dan Martin, Toronto

A: Dude, you’re talking to a guy from the suburbs, you want me to rip my life? Not a chance.

And, yes, you do have too much time on your hands and should be doing something productive, like Christmas shopping.

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Q: I propose the point at which we reach garbage time officially be known as The Maceo-Dixon line.

Tim Farrell, Toronto

A: Ding! Ding! Ding!

We have this week's winner. The rest of you can go home.

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Q: Man, the ending to that Portland game was UGLY, capital D-O-U-G, UGLY! After reading your piece "The Day After", I can understand why people want Sam fired, I don’t, but the way he did the subs was just weird. DMart (I love DMart but he's way too predictable, as soon as he makes his move, I know his setting himself for a shot, 100 per cent) should’ve been taken out after that second shot he took, and why the heck isn’t Sam playing JDix? Is he being set-up for a trade???? He can provide way better minutes than DMart and a way better defender too, so please explain to me what this is!

Tobi Bihis, Toronto

A: Dixon is the big question for all of us. I thought for sure he’d get the run as the backup in Portland to play against Jarret Jack because he’s a better matchup; Martin was able to handle Dan Dickau but Jack was too quick.

He’s not, as far as I know, being set up for a trade but for his sake – and he’s a good kid with game – maybe they should move him somewhere he can play.

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Q: Just making sure that you know that you have lots of loyal female readers out there.  My question concerns the future of the Raptors.

For perhaps the first time in their history, the team has a deep basketball braintrust and a lot of very, very smart and unselfish players.  The organization is being built for the long term. Who among the current players can you imagine occupying a management position with the team one day? You can include past players if you can think of anyone -- yes, Matt Bonner, with his legendary tightfistedness with a loonie, might make great capologist.

But, seriously, can you see any Raptors in meaningful front office positions one day? And who do you think are the all time best GMs who came out of the playing ranks? Do you think the trend towards joining the front office will end now that the best players make so much money?

Olga A., Toronto

A: Thanks for representing the female fans,  I know there’s lots out there and I’m glad to hear from you and them.

Good question.

Of this team, I can see Darrick Martin being a coach some day but not sure there’s a front office guy on the roster at the moment.

Of past Raptors – and Bonner is an outstanding capologist given his, um, thrifty ways – I know Mike Curry has designs on a front-office job, he’s run the D League and is now an assistant in Detroit; Mark Jackson wants to be a head coach and I presume he will be some day; and I’ve always thought there should be something in the game somewhere for Charles Oakley and his interpreter.

Outside of them, though, there aren’t many

And I actually think the trend of players moving into important front office roles is going to increase, actually. Two reasons: They know the game and the people involved and a lot of them just love the lifestyle.

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Q: Hi Doug - can we learn from other examples of young player development? In baseball, possibly the best pitcher ever, Sandy Koufax almost quit in his mid/late 20's because he could not find the strike zone. John Olerud struggled as Blue Jays management tried to make a "first baseman's" home run swing out of his sweet doubles swing. What can we learn?

Patience is a virtue with young talented players, especially when they have an out-of-the-mold skills set and especially when they are being subjected to a blinding glare of celebrity and high expectations. Throw in cultural adjustment and we may ask: "Will folks please let up a little on Andrea."

There is not always an "instant" fix -- no, neither a wrestling match to bestow "toughness" nor a demand that Andrea become a bruising rebounder and low post player. Now we will see what kinds of wisdom and human touch Coach Mitchell and his assistants can bring to the development of Andrea. Do Koufax and Olerud not indicate that great (if unconventional) talent can be worth waiting for?

Charles Novogrodsky, Mexico, via Toronto

A: Interesting points.

Koufax – as a gentleman of my age will remember – may have been the best pitcher ever and I’m glad you mentioned him. Skills, dedication, a quiet self-assurance that stood him apart. Eventually.

Olerud, who got I got to cover in his rookie and sophomore years, does seem to be the basketball equivalent of Bargnani, a quiet kid to whom success came easily and quickly who had to ultimately learn how to be a pro.

I will say that I know – as the coaches do – that Bargnani possesses unique skills. A silky smooth jump shot, an attitude that leaves him impervious to pressure, the knowledge that he can be good. And maybe great. But patience is a virtue I think people need to use with Bargnani but things have to swing both ways.

He’s also soft. He doesn’t know how – yet – to play through adversity, or a modicum of discomfort and until he does, his potential, which he’s shown, will go unfulfilled.

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Q: I'm not advocating that the Raptors should ever purposefully get rid of TJ Ford, but what are the salary cap implications if TJ hung up his sneakers at the end of this year?  I hope he and Jose have many years of playing together, but what if?

Jamie Staples, Thornhill

A: There’d be no cap relief at all until Ford missed at least a full season and retired. They’d pay him and be on the books for his number.

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Q: Hey Doug. I got a bit of a basketball 101 question for you.  What are the distinctive differences between a full practice and a shoot around? Having attended neither, I would assume a full practice would be a mix of conditioning, theory, and other drills. While a shootaround, just a free for all. But I'm really just guessing.

Michael Watson, Uxbridge

A: You’re close, very close.

Full practice is just how you described it, they watch video, scrimmage, run drills and work out and it generally lasts between 90 minutes and two hours.

A game-day shootaround is generally entirely dedicated to that night’s opponents, going over their offensive sets and how they want to defend them and seeing what they do defensively and how they want to attack it. It’s very detailed to one specific team.

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Q: Firstly, stop trying to squeeze on camera during Brian Colangelo interviews. I saw you on his post TJ interview acting like you're a Hollywood star and all.

Secondly, I think Rasho Rondo running circles around Jose was a clear example of how and where TJ adds value to this team. Rasho used Jose like a pair of yesterday's Hanes. With TJ at the helm, Rasho simply looks like a slower, less-skilled TJ Ford (who gets to play with KG, Truth and Jesus).

Now my real question: A certain big named columnist on ESPN has pointed out that us Rap fans are uber, over-defensive of our team. What gives with the Raptor nation, why are we so insecure? You've got the pulse of the fans more than anybody since JYD played here. What’s up? Is this the effect of the Leafs losing for 41 years straight with a little Vince Carter on top?

Dan Morel, Toronto

A: Hollywood star? Yeah, was just talking to Marty Scorsese about my next gig.

I will gently point out that I’m pretty sure you’re talking about Bryan Colangelo and Rajon Rondo, right?

Now, for your question.

Raptor fans are passionate like none I’ve ever known, like fans of no other team in the league. Their passion makes me laugh sometimes and scream sometimes. Some of them know the game amazingly well, some I don’t think know whether a ball is blown up or stuffed.

The sky is falling when they lose and someone has to get fired; the parade routes are being planned after every four-game winning streak.

Where do they get it? I can’t honestly say but it can’t have anything to do with the Leaves, I don’t think, because I honestly believe it’s a younger, more urban, smarter set of fans.

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Q: I agree with you that many of the calls for Sam Mitchel's head are off base at this point While X's & O's are still are average at best (see any of our inbounds plays for proof) he is an excellent motivator and doesn't get the credit for getting higher performance out of many guys (Hump, Moon, Delfino, etc) The one thing that he hasn't done though is get anything close to that out of Andrea.  There are obviously many factors, but do you think that Sam is having difficulty reaching him (#1 pick, European player) compared to the others which are more journeymen-like (had to fight for their minutes more) and far more similar to Sam himself when he was a player?

Ryan Sutherland, Toronto

A: That would be a interesting point if Sam hadn't got Bargnani to 11.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game last year or even playing well in a few games this year. Nope, this one's on the kid, he has to play better.

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Q: Always love to hear your thoughts, and the new format has really grown on me. I've got two questions for you:

First, after watching (Wednesday) night's game against Portland it became pretty obvious how badly they were missing TJ when the shooting on the team went cold. He's always good for a wild drive into the lane to get the team's offense going. In light of that, do you think that Al Horford's suspension was too lenient? We're missing arguably our second best player for an indefinite amount of time, and Atlanta missed a rookie for one game. I've always thought a player who injures another should be suspended for as long as the injured player was out. What do you think of the eye-for-an-eye apporach?

And secondly, do you know where I could get one of the Raptors warm-up jerseys? I've looked everywhere, including the website and can't find it. MLSE should really put those on the market.

Shaun Quennell, Oakville.

A: The eye-for-an-eye school of thought is out there but I don’t agree with it. It opens all kinds of cans of worms. Let’s say the guy hurt was a bum and the guy doing the hurting was a star. They might keep the bum out for longer just to keep the star on the shelf. I think Horford got what he should have.

The jersey? I can’t imagine MLSE marketing types not having it for sale. I’m sure now that they know someone wants to buy one, some elves somewhere are making them to have ‘em available before Christmas.

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Q: If Jamario Moon is approaching the team record of 21 consecutive games with at least 1 blocked shot held by Marcus Camby (do you know when did Camby established the record?), what is the NBA record?  Also, if Jamario is DNPed for say 1 game but plays on the next game and blocks at least 1 shot, will the streak holds or gets reset?

Vener Cruise, Markham

A: Camby set the record in 1998 and we’re waiting on stats geeks to tell us the NBA record, but I’m betting it’s Bill Russell and I wouldn’t be surprised if he blocked at least one shot a game in an entire season some time.

And if Moon gets a DNP-CD, the streak ends; if he doesn’t dress for one game and blocks one the next, the streak is alive.

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Q: I don't understand why the Raps picked up Maceo Baston instead of just resigning Pape Sow.  From what I have seen, Maceo doesn't have anything on Pape.  Although both players will/would have played very limited minutes in their 15th man role, why not just re-sign the known quantity in Pape Sow.

Paul M, Ottawa

A: Maceo doesn’t really have anything on Pape; I guess as the 15th guy on the roster they wanted someone a bit older and more experienced. It’s not like either of them will ever have a long-lasting impact on what the team does.

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Q: Scouts have come up a lot in your blog lately. How many do the Raptors have? Do they have scouts dedicated to certain teams? How are scouts chosen? Are they all selected by B.C. or have some been around longer? Are there any female scouts?

Michael McAlpine, London

A: Scouts are the lifeblood of the organization and a treasure trove of information for us beat grunts, who see them in media rooms and at courtside seats and in Marriott concierge lounges all around the league.

The Raptors have one advance scout, Micah Nori, who’s been with the organization since the Butch Carter days and his job is to see other NBA teams and provide scouting reports on schemes and plays and the like.

They’ve also got two or three guys they use as college and international scouts, some on contracts, some on per-game basis, all of whom Colangelo either hired or retained when he could have got rid of them.

Women? I believe there is one woman working as an advance scout doing NBA games but I don’t know if any teams employ any as college or international scouts. I haven’t heard of any, that’s for sure.

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Q: Sorry for the hockey talk but I'm a little annoyed with the latest Chris Simon incident and not knowing The Star hockey writers I didn't know who else to vent to.

The NHL is going to continue to be nothing more then a bush league if it continues to let the people who play in it get away with this nonsense. Say what you will about basketball players and trust my puck head friends have a lot to say, I refuse to believe the NBA would stand for behavior like this. Stern would have them removed from the game so fast it would make their head spin. What is this? Strike seven for Simon? Seven suspensions for violent acts and he can still find a job in the NHL? Are you kidding me?

So to keep this on topic, any idea what player has been suspended the most times (longest) and continued to be employed by NBA teams?

I imagine Spree will take the prize for longest, but I'm kind of lost on most times.

Casey Sheahan, Oakville

A: Rip the pucks all you want. Any time. That Simon dude should never, ever play again.

The longest was actually Ron Artest, who got 72 games for the brawl in Auburn Hills; Spree got 68 for choking P.J. Carlisemo. Those, of course, were non-drug related suspensions, some of those have been for life.

The most? I’m trying to find that out for sure, but I’d have Dennis Rodman and Artest as Nos. 1 and 2 on the list; just not sure of the order. If I find it, I’ll let you know in the blog.

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Q: I've been faithfully casting my All-Star ballot each day, including a write in vote for Jose Calderon. Does this make any difference and has anyone made it to the All-Star game because of write-in.

Robert Nordness, Toronto

A: What a laudable effort. Futile, but laudable. No one has started as a write-in vote-getter ever after playing in that regular season. Not sure about Magic Johnson when he came back the first time but don't think he would count under your criteria anyway...

Keep those cards and letters coming. Click here to reach the mailbag.

The Morning After The Night Before, XXV

Hmm, the folks out there are restless. Very restless. Within an hour of the final buzzer, I got five e-mails from irate fans, who want Sam fired, a dude who wants to see his courtside seat license waived until Sam gets fired, a guy who wants Darrick Martin strung up from the rafters and, oh - here’s a change - a guy who wants Sam fired.

You’d think these guys were 10 games under .500 and forced to play Robert Archibald or Lonny Baxter because they had no one else; not a team that’s won five of seven and is in the middle of the pack in the East.

Oh, and the dude who wants Sam fired because “Sam cannot think through a line change” should stick to pucks. You've to precious little credibility.

Anyway, lots of grist for the mill, isn’t there?

Here’s some and there’s lots more, I’m sure. A bit more long-winded than normal but stick with me, there’s lots of actual basketball to talk about.

Three Things I Learned

Deconstruction time I

Travis Outlaw rebounds a LaMarcus Aldridge miss with, according to the official play-by-play I’m reading right now, 27.8 seconds left in a three-point game. The Toronto bench starts screaming “foul, foul, foul” but no one pays attention until almost 16 seconds run off the clock. Should they have fouled right away? Absolutely.

Let’s say they don’t and the Blazers are allowed to run the clock down for 22 of the 24 seconds before they shoot. Say Brandon Roy hoists a shot with 5.8 seconds left, it either goes in and the game’s over or it bounces off the rim up in the air and three more seconds run off the clock. That would leave 2.8 and the need to catch the ball, call timeout (another second maybe?) and then set up a play with 1.8 seconds to go.

Like their chances of making a three in that case? Nah, me neither.

I know Sam defended his players discussing it post-game but surely someone on the court should have realized time and score, fouled immediately and extended the game.

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Deconstruction time II

End of the third quarter, Toronto up seven, Chris Bosh has played 27 minutes and Jose Calderon has played 28 and both need a blow. Give ‘em one, right? Yeah. Especially with Portland's Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge on the bench, too

Roy comes back with 3:28 gone and Toronto still up seven, Aldridge comes back 32 seconds later and Toronto still up seven. Before there’s another stoppage in play – when maybe they go back to Bosh and Calderon but they can’t – Martin misses a jumper, Aldridge scores, Kapono misses a jumper, Jarret Jack makes a three and it’s a two-point game. All of this is in the flow of the game, no whistles to get a sub in.

At the next whistle, after a Toronto turnover, Bosh and Calderon come back and Toronto’s still up two.

I can see Sam’s logic, I can see there was no stoppage in play from the time Aldridge came back – with Toronto up seven – and the time Bosh and Calderon got back with the Raptors still ahead. So what’s he supposed to do? Blow a timeout, knowing he’ll likely need them down the stretch to get two guys back in the game when his team’s still winning?

Sorry, that doesn’t make sense to me.

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The case against Jason

I know Jason Kapono has the quickest release of any Raptor in history who wasn’t Dell Curry and it’s a wonderful thing to watch.

You know what’s not so wonderful? Watching him quickly commit a foul – usually a silly one – within seconds of getting into every game. Last night it was 54 seconds after he got it when he did it, whacking Brandon Roy after Roy had made a layup he eventually turned into a three-point play.
We were discussing Kapono before the game and a guy who’d know says to me: “He can’t guard you,” and if he can’t guard a fat, old, slow sports writer, he’s in trouble.

But here’s the real point: In a close game down the stretch, unless it’s a must-foul situation where you know there’ll be whistle or when you’ve got enough timeouts left to do offence-defence substitutions, can he be on the court? Given his defensive liabilities, I’m not sure.

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Three Things You Wondered

Q: I heard PJ Brown (currently unemployed/retired) on Sirius NBA Radio (Wednesday) saying he might like to play again this year and was wondering if you thought Toronto might have any interest?

Mike D, Cambridge

A: If they don't, I think they should. P.J. Brown is a class act, a veteran who's been in big games and, by all accounts I've heard, a great locker room presence. I think the question is, would he have interest in Toronto? I'd imagine at this point in his life, he'd want to go to a team with a better chance of playing for a ring than the Raptors have.

Where that is, I'm not sure. I bet Boston's going to make a call, I presume Dallas would and he'd be a way better fit in Detroit, in my opinion, than Chris Webbber would.

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Q: How many times have we seen this: opponent player A is known as having a limited range on his jumper, yet Raptor player B crowds him which allows player A to get loose for a go at the basket, where he get a layup, a dunk or a foul.?

How many times have we seen this script, with Leo, time and again, explaining that "you don't need to stay up that close to player A." It happened again (Tuesday) with Moon against Maggette.

The coaching staff always seems to make the adjustments at halftime, but why aren't players instructed BEFORE the game? Why aren't adjustments made during timeouts?

Carlos Chalboub, Mississauga

A: I’ll answer your question with a question of my own.

What makes you think the coaches don’t tell players before the game to close out on good shooters, or lay off guys who only drive the ball?

Trust me, they do. The scouting reports are thorough, the tendencies of players are well known and everyone goes over everything at shootaround and pre-game. At some time, players have to be held accountable for not doing what the coaches want them to do.

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Q: Just wondering if you're ready to depart from the party line and admit that the Raps should have used their Number 1 pick last year to grab Brandon Roy. Bargnani has his moments, but Roy carries a team on his back every night. I think we'd be much further ahead with him.

Jim W, Victoria

A: No, actually I'm not close to saying that. A season and two months is not enough time., Sorry. Would they have won more than 47 games with Roy last year? Would they have more than 15 this year? All debatable.

Roy's a helluva player on an up and coming team, no doubt. He’s big, can handle the ball so he can get his own shot and he’s got that kind of “presence’” that the greats have. Bargnani? Right now, he sucks. Pure and simple.

But let's assess the draft again in a year. You may turn out to be right, or I might be right. That's the fun of waiting.

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Don't forget, tomorrow's a mailbag day, and there may be some blog items, too, since it's an off-day and time to reflect on what's gone on. Just click here to submit and question and keep refreshing the page 'cause you never know when something interesting my pop up.

The Morning After The Night Before, XIV

What an ugly game, wasn’t it? No one could make a shot, the Clippers looked like the Clippers of old, atmosphere in the arena was dead and it was one of those nights you just wanted to end.

But, for the Raptors, a win is a win is a win and they won’t ask how they got this one when the season ends.

A couple of tidbits follow the usual drill so keep reading.

Three Things I Learned

Where conversations happen

You wonder what and where guys get good coaching? Practice? Shootaround? Video sessions? Restroom?

"Before the game, coach said quit thinking,” Jamario Moon told us after the Clipper game. "We were in the bathroom together and he was like, ‘hey, man, play ball. Can you play ball tonight?’ He was like, ‘quit thinking about it, just go out there and play.’”

Pretty sound advice. Want to know how Moon gets in the coach’s good books? Watch where he catches the ball on the perimeter. Coaches want him to catch it inside the three-point line, where he can hit a jumper or attack quickly. If he’s out behind the arc, someone’s going to be ticked.

Last night, he listened. And it worked.

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Bosh finally gets it

You know all those times Chris Bosh has said on nights his jumper’s not falling he’ll drive the ball more often? Last night wasn’t one of them at the start.

As he’s off to a 2-for-11 start, all I can think of is, drive it, get to the line. Tim Thomas isn’t quick enough to guard him and Chris Kaman isn’t quick enough to come over and close off the lane.

Sure enough, that’s exactly what he did a minute later, beat Thomas off the dribble and got fouled by Kaman helping.

You’ve got to give Bosh credit for learning and Jose and the coaching staff for rewarding him for effort. I think he touched the ball, by my count, nine of 10 key possessions in the fourth quarter because he was doing what he was supposed to do. And what was working.

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Too much time on his hands

Okay, so a billion or so of you wrote yesterday to see what I thought about an ESPN Bill Simmons column that says Andrea, Rasho, a first-round draft pick and $3 million for Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro is a trade that would work under the cap.

Now, I hardly ever react to something some dude made up and tossed on the internet because he’s got that forum but what the heck. So many of you are so worked up about it, it probably deserves some mention, even if it is the result of a very fertile imagination.

Me? I don’t know, even if I am very down on Andrea right now.

Gasol’s good, but what’s he ever done? And he’s got like $50 million left on his deal. That’s a huge concern. He’s good but not great. I’d also be worried about how the tiny Navarro holds up over an NBA season, too.

I think at the moment, with where Toronto is, I’d wait on Bargnani and if he pans out he’s a bargain, if he doesn’t, he’s not expensive. I’d rather have Rasho’s contract expire than eat the large money owed Gasol knowing he’s never won an NBA playoff game.

Have at it.

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Three Things You Wondered

Q: After watching both the Celtics game and Clippers game, i noticed that AP has been awful shooting the ball. Do you think he still deserves his starting spot?

Gabriel A, Montreal.

A: That’s a good question, and a tough one. There’ s no doubt Parker’s struggling, he’s 8-for-37 in his last five games. But do you take a guy’s starting job away on the basis of five games, four of which have been wins? I don’t think so.

Everyone knows what Parker has done, I think he’s earned the right to have a few more games to show he’s still got it before a change is made.

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Q: So the Lakers and Clippers share the Staples Center. Are there any significant differences between a Lakers game and a Clippers (besides the obvious ones); or, do the LA teams amalgamate certain aspects of in-game entertainment?

Eric R, Toronto

A: They do nothing the same, from the court to the seating to the noise and distractions that go with a typical NBA outing everything is different. The Lakers are much more showy, the Clips under-stated. The Laker Girls are omnipresent, the Clipper Spirit Crew shows up every now and then. The Jack Nicholson seats don't exist at Clipper games, they are behind the scorer's table.

It really is like being in another arena.

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Q: Was Brian Skinner ever a Raptor? My memory was that we tried to trade Alvin Williams for him but the deal was stopped due to Alvin not passing a physical. If that wasn't Brian, who was it?

Dan Wagner

A: Yes, he was. Sort of. He was obtained from Chicago for Charles Oakley and a draft pick on July 18, 2001 and then trded to Miami as part of a three-way deal with Cleveland that got Toronto nothing but financial relief. So, he was, but he never played a game.

The guy you're thinking of in the Alvin Williams deal was Danny Fortson. But it’s good that you’re reading this daily.

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As you may recall, Portland’s Brandon Roy was a near unanimous selection as rookie of the year last season. Near. Missed it by one vote. One vote from Swirsk, who gave his vote to Andrea Bargnani.

Swirsk took a lot of heat from the folks in Rip City and they’ll be sure to remind him tonight, I believe.

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Hey, a friend who knows about these sorts of things suggest you check out a T.J. Ford in Peace magazine. Good story, good pictures, a little out-of-the-routine take on T.J. Me? I’m not Peace magazine’s demographic but I’ll read it out for sure.

Don’t forget, we’ve got a Friday mailbag and if you click here, we’ll try to get you in it, if not Friday than some day after some game.

Maybe a steel cage match?

Maybe it’s time for a good wrestling match?

TARA WALTON/TORONTO STAR

Maybe it's time for Raptors Wrestlemania II?

I take you back just over a year, Nov. 19, 2006 in Denver to be exact, when Andrea Bargnani’s rookie season turned around, as did the opinion of coach Sam Mitchell held of him.

It was an off-day on a west coast trip and the Raptors had sucked. Mitchell had no idea whether the No. 1 pick was tough enough to play in the NBA and the kid really didn’t know how tough the NBA was every night.

The bigs all went to a local gym, one ball, four or five games (the memory blurs on that point); ball put in paint, two bigs told to go get it, guy could do almost anything he wanted to win.

Bargnani impressed enough with his desire that Mitchell gave him a big run the next night in Utah and the kid’s season sort of took off from there.

I mentioned that night to a coach last week and his eyes twinkled. “Yeah, put him in there with Joey, see who comes out.”

Not sure Sam’ll do it again, that’s the kind of drill that works once, but it might be something to try.

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So, I’m sitting in the local establishment at the LAX Marriott last night, couple of sips into a Stella and wondering whether it’s a burger or the wings and the phone rings.

"You watching this game,” says a guy who invented this beat I’ve got, referring to Suns-Spurs.

"Yeah, just moved to a new stool so I could see it,” says I.

"See that play? Nash high pick-and-roll? With Brian Skinner. BRIAN SKINNER! He’s still in the league? And what’s that thing on his face,” says my man.

"Yep, another guy they had no idea how to use in Toronto. Just like Corliss Williamson. Yep, Lenny Wilkens a hall of fame coach for sure,” sayeth I.

The facial hair? I have no idea but it’s a bad look.

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Got a note from Dean Edwards out in Whistler, who’s probably dreaming of exploiting Winter Olympic fans and renting his place for seven figures for the 2010 Games, who wants the Raptors to sign Ruben Patterson, just released in Sacramento.

Um, nope.

Aside from the obvious flaws – the whole registered sex offender thing – here’s what one Eastern Conference advance scout said of Patterson when we were talking about him in Indy last Friday:

"He might be the dumbest player in the NBA.”

So, is the total package worth it? I don’t think so either.

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Back to the burger-beer establishment and a note for all the puckheads. If you’re ever out this way, I believe I’ve found the only hotel in North America where you can see the Versus Network. Yeah, for real. You can. Glanced a bit at some game involving two teams last night. Someone won. I think.

And then the network switched over to its bread and butter. Rodeo.

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We’ll dip into the mailbag for one:

Q: Hey Doug, I see you sitting behind Chuck and Leo eating gummy bears. When Chuck is calling the play by plays, does he watch the on-court action or a monitor, or a combination?

Jeremy, Guelph

A: Gummy bears? Come on, man, don’t you know anything? It’s popcorn. Gummy bears are for kids. Or so I’m told.

And the one thing about sitting there is you can’t hear them so I have no idea what they’re calling the game from. I presume they watch but when Sam or someone is standing in front of them, it’s nice to have a monitor nearby.

Speaking of the mailbag, just click here to send along a submission.

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So, that’s it for now, gotta run to shootaround in a while and, unfortunately, it’s at the Laker facility near the airport (Staples Center not available) and not at the dude’s house with the replica court. That’s gotta be some place. Of course, we’ll never know ‘cause it’s in a gated community and beat grunts aren’t on the pass list. As usual.

The Morning After The Night Before, XXIII

I take back everything bad I ever said about the Boston Celtics. I was wrong. They are good. Very, very good. And if I had to pick an Eastern Conference champion today – the provision being that I haven’t seen Detroit in person yet – they’d be it.

But there are still almost 60 games left in the season and a couple of playoff rounds for them to get through so plenty can still happen.

And on with the show:

Three Things I Learned

Big Rook or Big Soph is a Big Nothing right now

I was talking to someone high up on the staff yesterday about Bargnani and he said “he looks like he did the first two weeks of his career.”

Bargnani told Dave Feschuk yesterday that he’s playing like poo – or something like that – and I guess if the first step to recovery is admitting you’ve got a problem, he’s on the right track.

But it was sort of telling that the first big off the bench the last two games has been Kris Humphries and when there was four minutes of garbage time Sunday, who got to play? Bargnani.

No idea how you get a guy’s confidence back but watching Bargnani play yesterday it was obvious he has none.

I don't think they should trade him, or even take calls about people wanting him because his upside is so good. But garbage time? That's an indictment of how far he's fallen.

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A telling comment?

Jose Calderon gets knocked down twice within about 30 seconds and a guy (not a wag because we’ve set the record straight on that one) turns to me and says:

"I don’t know what streak’s longer. The games with a three-pointer (which hit 720 on Sunday) or how long it’s been since we knocked someone on his ass.”

Good question.

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No time for friends

After they mopped up the halftime leak, when the teams were warming up, Sam Mitchell was standing in front of us having a conversation with Glen Davis. Just some idle chit-chat, couple of smiles, maybe a joke or two.

Kevin Garnett sees it, is not amused, and pushes his teammate away from talking with the enemy.

And KG and Sam are tight. That’s the kind of mindset the MVP has.

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Three Things You Wondered

Q: Your main man (Walter) Hermann just got traded to the Euro-Killers. Hopefully if he's smart he won't resign with them. Why does Detroit keep going after players they'll never use? They just like ruining careers don't they?

Chuck, Toronto

A: They may kill some players, or at least wound them, but this one made sense for Detroit from a financial point of view and that's why Joe Dumars should get credit. They get out from the albatross that was Nazr Mohammed's contract, can now maybe sign Chris Webber for the end of the season without hitting the luxury tax level and surely My Man Walter can get some backup minutes on that team.

As for the Bobcats? I have no idea what they're doing. The thought that Mohammed may make things easier on Emeka Okafor is valid but what about when Okafor bails 'cause the team's so crappy and they're stuck with Mohammed's contract?

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Q: I read the question about travel last week and I had a bunch of my own. Why don't the Raptors fly you guys with them? Don't they want the coverage anyways? Does any team in the league fly reporters with them? It can't possibly cost them that much more to fly you and Stumpy.

Raymond Young, Toronto

A: Some of it's timing -- they leave right after most games, when we're just getting into the thick of the workday; some of it's opulence -- the manner in which they travel would cost my company way more than the cheapy advance booking commercial flights we take.

But mostly, it's because that's their team time and we are interlopers. Sometimes, they don't really want to see any more of us and, sometime we don't want to see any more of them.

And, no, no team flies the beat grunts around.

Oh, and it'd cut way down on the post-game convivality and adult beverage-drinking time we get.

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Q: My question this time is if you had to rank the cities with the craziest, loudest and most loyal NBA fans how would you rank them. Here is my ranking: 1-Toronto, 2-Oakland (Golden State fans), 3-Los Angeles (both Clippers and Laker fans ) 4-Phoenix, 5-Dallas.

Rob Stone, Vancouver

A: That's a good list, but I'd have a different one.

I'd have Sacramento in there, I'd take the Laker fans out because they're mostly pretty boys and girls just there to be seen. I'd have Detroit on that list and dump Dallas because they're mostly sheep who cheer when Mark Cuban's over-the-top PA announcer tells them to.

Oakland's a good choice, though, but only in the last couple of years and if I had to replace them, it'd be with Utah.

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I need to throw this in as a bonus because it’s just another chapter in a sad, sad tale.

Chris of Toronto sends along this link to a story where Keon Clark says he never played an NBA game sober and wonders if I saw any evidence of it here.

No, the answer is. We all knew Keon enjoyed a cocktail, and perhaps some other things that would, um, take the edge off, and his smoking cigarettes was legendary but if he was even slightly drunk playing games, it never dawned on any of us.

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It’s a long, long trek out west starting today and you interweb people are lucky. With the way deadlines work around the paper, and with two 10:30 p.m. starts in the first three games, we can use this forum to give you different stuff than the paper does. And don’t forget, we’ve still got to worry about the mailbag so just click here to send along all your questions.

The Morning After The Night Before XXII

The storm that’s going to hit Toronto tonight is going to hit here this morning and I’ve got a feeling this airport here isn’t quite up to snuff when it comes to snow removal. And knowing Air Canada like I do, a flight delay or a cancellation is probably in my future. Which will tick me off no end because Super Son and I are off to see the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie this afternoon.

But, after a night when Carlos Delfino was upset because not only did he get a seven-stitch cut over his left eye he got a foul on the same play, and a night when The Hump cemented his Hall of Fame credentials again, and a night when Jason Kapono’s defensive deficiencies were forgotten in a barrage of three-pointers, here are …

Three Things I Learned

Scouts love Sam

Sitting in front of three advance scouts on the baseline and I find out they love Sam and the Raptors. Not ‘cause they play well or are wildly entertaining but because Sam loves to call out the plays clear as a bell and they don’t have to scramble to find out what the call is like they usually do.

Now, advance scouting is sort of an information-sharing occupation, if one guy doesn’t get the call someone will help him out but having the coach scream ‘horns up’ (two bigs at the top setting screens) or ‘1-5 side’ (which is what you’d think) makes live much easier.

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Moon setting?

I know he’s blocked a shot in about a billion straight games (16, actually; five off Marcus Camby’s franchise record) but watching Jamario Moon struggle in just 15 minutes against the Pacers begs the question:

"Should he still start?"

Immediate reaction is yes, he should, because of his length and athleticism. But it looks like he’s hit an offensive wall, as some of us expected he would, and maybe it’s time to try Carlos Delfino in that spot?

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They like them, they really like them

In our post-game relaxation period, made much more palatable thanks to some sliders and a pair of adult beverages, we also got to see halftime of the Lakers-Warriors.

Seems Mike Wilbon and Bill Walton of ESPN are both fans. Wilbon had Toronto fourth in his list of the five most exciting teams in the NBA and Walton had ‘em tied with the Lakers for fifth.

That’s pretty good respect from two guys whose opinion I respect.

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Three Things You Wondered

Q: With the Mitchell Report out and all the buzz in baseball about cheating, one can't help but wonder to what extent performance enhancing drugs exist in the NBA. I know that conventional wisdom is that drugs result in more injuries and only build muscle and not ligaments/tendons, but the baseball example has shown how some used it to help with recovering from the daily grind and injuries.

My personal take is that basketball is too fluid a game to allow for muscle heads to permeate through the ranks, but looking at how good a shape most players are in, it's hard not to wonder. When there are millions of benjamins to be had, how can we be sure that at least some of the 400 or so NBA players, and the 1000's that aspire to be one, aren't jabbing their backsides.

Being a big ol' beat grunt like yourself, I'm sure you must have some insight or may have seen some things that make you say hmmm....

AK, Richmond Hill

A: I am not naive enough to think that there are no steroid users, or HGH users, among the 400-plus NBAers but I certainly think the number would be miniscule and the benefits relatively minimal.

The players I've talked to about the issue over the years say the chance to recover quickly to work out harder -- one of the key reasons behind steroid use -- is not as important in basketball as in some other sports.

The NBA's testing procedure, while not perfect because it's not year-round, unannounced testing (it's done in season, even though it's unannounced) is a good one, though.

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Q: In the past three or four years, TJ has almost been paralyzed and this year he’s had “stinger” problems and very scary fall. In the interest of his family, why doesn’t he just take the money he’s earned and say “see ya.” I love watching him play but at some point he has to realize that he’s one injury away from seriously affecting his life.

Mark G, Waterloo

A: Every athlete in every sport is one injury away from seriously affecting their lives; Ford believes the doctors who tell him he's not at any greater risk of cataclysmic injury than any other player, despite his past.

The easy thing, I guess, would be to take the money and run, but that's not in his nature.

As he said himself the other night, if he ever feels he's a risk to the point where he might not be able to play with his son, he'll retire. That day isn't here yet.

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Q: Why do the Raptors play so many Sunday matinee games? Do they request it from the NBA scheduler's because it seems that no other teams play regularly on a Sunday lunchtime and the Raptors usually play well in these games. Frank Isola mentioned it on NBA TV ... that teams struggle with the time slot because they're 'not ready for it'. A weak excuse but T-Mac did look half asleep (Sunday), although that was in the second half....not that he ever really looks fully awake anyway.

Leigh E, Toronto (via Melbourne)

A: There is something to be said for the, um, social swirl of Toronto Saturday night that gives the Raptors an edge on Sunday afternoons and if they ask to play games then in part to take advantage of it, good for them.

Some teams are never ready for it. I remember the wise old sage Butch Carter saying he knew which opponents he could take advantage of in every Sunday matinee by the reputations they has as purveyors of late-night good times.

It's not say all the Raptors love those afternoon games, there are some sleepy eyes in the locker room before noon tip-offs, that's for sure, but they are indeed more used to it.

Originally, I think the team decided Sunday afternoons were good for broadcast reasons and now it's become a traditional starting time.

Mail's in!

If this is Friday, it must be mail time. And no Christmas cards? What's wrong with you people, 'tis the season and all that junk.

This week's themes: Bargnani, Bargnani, Bargnani; some much deserved love for DMart and a faithful reader corrects a typo. Thanks

Q: Hey Doug, this is my second message in three weeks; ambitious I know, but someone has to represent the female contingent of your readers.

So Bargnani, not surprisingly, had a horrible game against Atlanta, and a so-so game against the Mavs. It just seems to me that he's not close to what the Raps envision ... an 'impact' player, similar to Bosh, with Humphries appearing to be way ahead of him. Do you see that changing, and what does the coaching staff think of his 'no scoring, no production' mentality?

Alison B., Mississauga

A: Represent away, nice to hear from you.

No, he's not even close to 'impact' right now but the kid is so skilled, you know he's going to get better. And he has been better so everyone knows he can do it.

Hump? He's going good right now for sure, but you know he's got the ability to disappear for a couple of games in a row. I think they've found that he can give them 14-18 solid minutes a night and that's about how they'd like to use him.

On Bargnani and the coaches, let's just say they can get as frustrated as fans but they continue to work him and chide him and encourage him. They know he has to be better. In their heart of hearts, I bet they're disappointed they're not getting more but they sure aren't ready to give up on him. And Sam has to keep trotting him out there, hoping that one day, something clicks.

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Q: I know that it's gauche for you to be critical of the Raptor’s personnel moves, but can you concede that Colangelo’s Italian fetish in the 2005 draft was a mistake and that he should have taken LaMarcus Aldridge, who has taken an enormous leap forward and would have filled a need at the centre spot for the Raptors?

You’ll probably deny it now, but I even you conceded in A Nothing But (Inter)Net column just before the 2005 draft that you would have taken Aldridge if it were up to you. Let’s face it, Bargnani, on most nights, is a perimeter-oriented big who is going to take a lot of shots and whose line on a good night is going to be something like 18 points, 1 assist, and 5 rebounds. I guess my question is this: knowing what you know now, who should the Raps have taken first in ’05: Aldridge or il “Mago”?

Shahen A. Alexanian, Toronto

A: I'll use your question as representative of the zillion or so I've had on this same issue in the past week on this issue.

Today: Maybe Aldridge. Last season: For sure Bargnani. Next month: Who knows.

Really, how can you tell after one season and one month who's going to ultimately be the better player? Is it the guy who started a couple of playoff games and played signficant minutes for a 47-win team last season? Or the guy who is having a better season this year except now he's hurt?

Last year, Bargnani played 25 minutes a game in 65 games, averaged 11 points and four rebounds and his team won a division title; Aldridge played 22 minutes a game in 63 games, averaged nine points and five rebounds on a team that was among the worst in the league.

Let's talk about this one at the end of this season, okay?

Gauche to criticize? Yeah, sure. I'm a gauche dude

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Q: Luuuuke! Doug, what are your thoughts on Miami waiving Penny Hardaway for Luke Jackson?

Jacob L, Guelph

A: As I sipped an adult beverage watching the Heat on Thursday night and saw Luuuuuuuke, my immediate reaction was, 'well, he's younger than Penny, at least.'

Let's just say I don't think that's a move that's going to shift the balance of power in the East.

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Q: Another travel related question. What will the Raps do out west over the Christmas break? Do they all come back on the team plane to disburse from here or are they on their own after the Phoenix game to go home and then get back in time for their first game after Christmas against San Antonio?

Frank Tralli, Toronto

A: You a travel agent? Want some work? They'll be on their own from the minute the game ends in Phoenix and since there are so many with family out that way (Texas, California, Florida, etc) they'll head home from there. There will be plane available for those guys who want to come back Toronto and I'd presume about half the team, maybe less, will take it.

And they have to be back in San Antonio by dinner time on Boxing Day for a practice, they can get there on their own or leave on a team charter that day from Toronto.

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Q: Doug, I fail to understand why Darrick Martin's name isn't even mentioned when it comes to the great point guard debate of 2007. He leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio at 15:1 and there is not even a whisper of this injustice from Raptor fans. Where's the love for my man D-Mart?

Tajinder Forde, Brampton

A: Duh! Everyone's too busy painting their 'We Love T.J.' and 'Ocho Rules' signs to notice.

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Q: Got a basic basketball question. If players A and B are from the same team and player A strips the ball from the opposing player and player B collects the ball, who gets credited with the steal?

Emil Thas, Toronto

A: Sounds like a poolie question. Player A gets the credit for doing the stripping. And you get a point in a fantasy league, right?

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Q: I liked your old Tuesday/Friday format but I'm realizing that the daily blog is now really giving me that nice break I need everyday at lunch... so thanks!

Now for the question: As a reporter, which Raptor players can you count on every night to give you the full scoop? It seems like AP is always there to provide his full two cents in a nice articulate way and in my opinion he had the most to say after the TJ injury (Tuesday) night. Who are the other players you can consistently go to for some quality insight?

Aaron Kligman, Thornhill

A: Lunch? You wait until lunch to read? Not first thing? What's wrong with you, man!

Go-to guys in the locker room? This is a team without an Oak, or a Jalen Rose, or anyone, really, who might say something outrageous. So we usually go to the star of any particular game for the obligatory "we played good, made shots" quote.

But if you want to get behind the scenes stuff, or discuss strategy, DMart's a very, very good choice and while his words may not end up in the paper, he helps us figure out what to ask who.

And I always try to wander by Jose's locker to see what he thinks about things.

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Q: If I met you on the street and had a chance to ask you a question, this might be it:  I notice when watching a game from MSG or the L.A. Lakers arena that the crowd seems to be sitting in darkness.  It always looks cool to me, with the lights bright on the floor and the crowd sitting in the theatre-like dark. Do you know why they do that and is it ... cool? Why don't more do it?

Will Green, Toronto

A: It's very, very cool. They just started doing it at Staples in L.A. this year or maybe last; and they've been doing it at the Garden forever. I always thought in New York it was like they were  lighting a stage and it gives a theatre-like feeling. I love it.

Not sure why other arenas don't do it. Probably has something to do with the way the lighting system is set up; or maybe they want to make sure all the goofy non-basketball stuff, like The Chicken falling down stairs, beachballs in the audience, goofy card games on the wraparound scoreboard don't get eclipsed by, you know, THE GAME.

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Q: I've got a financial question for you.  How much money does KG have to pay the refs not to call him for travelling on his low post moves?  Specifically, that one where he fakes left, right, left, left, right (you get my point). Worst part is he almost always makes the shot too.

Andrew Jeans, Halifax

A: I believe it's $100 a game. Patrick Ewing used to pay $50, I think. Inflation, I guess.

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Q: Doug who wins a game between shoe sponsors, Nike (Nash, Kobe, LeBron, Carmelo, Amare, Rasheed, Chris Paul) or Adidas (Duncan, Garnett, Howard, Billups, Arenas, T-Mac)

Joe Boutsalis, Toronto

A: I don't know but I bet we'd get a million or so television commercials out of it and that's just what the world needs, more cute shoe commercials.

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Q: In Tuesday's game, TJ was fouled in the act of shooting, plus there was a flagrant foul. Yet Jose only took two foul shots. Why wasn't there two and two?

Jim Anderson, Cambridge

A: There was just one foul on the play, in fact. Doesn't matter if it's shooting or not a flagrant foul calls for two free throws and the ball. I guess you could say it supersedes the foul in the act of shooting.

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Q: So where's Toronto's all-star game? Usually expansion teams with new arenas get them in professional sports but it's been what, 12 years now? What's the chance we get one within the next three years?

Ryan Miller, Toronto

A: I'm guessing the all-star game is here in 2011. And, believe me, it's such a gong show of corporate sponsors and marketing partners that very, very, very few real fans of the team will get tickets to anything.

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Q: Glad to read you weren't at the Boston game last Friday. Sadly, I was. I couldn't find one good thing to say about the team's efforts. I knew it was over when Sam Mitchell sat down and never got up again (about half way through the first quarter by my recollection).

What was impressive was seeing the energy that Kevin Garnett brought, even when the Celtics were winning by a lot. I know of only a few NBA players who seem to bring it every night. Why do you think that it is such a rarity? Obviously it isn't about the money.

Andrew Swanson, Sackville, N.B.

A: No one matches the nightly intensity of Kevin Garnett, no one comes close and that's why he's my favourite player in the league to watch.

The why? It's simple, and complex. It's hard, very hard, to be at 100 per cent intensity every day at work. Travel's a grind, maybe a muscle is tweaked, maybe the kid at home is sick and on your mind, maybe you're just tired.

I know fans expect absolute maximum effort every night, they pay exorbitant amounts to see games and deserve, but sometimes guys just don't have it. Think of it this way: Do you have a great day at work every day? Or are there days when you just get through the day?

What I can't abide is guys who simply loaf for large chunks of a game, or coast because they're petulant about shots or coaching strategies or the game's not going well and they quit trying.

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Q: Great blogs, but for a guy big on correcting grammer: "Fact is, they’ve been awful for two games in a row; even playing regular backups in prominent roles, you **won’t ** more effort and intelligence. That’s what’s been lacking." What were you thinking?

Chris H, London. U.K.

A: I are suitably chastised, sir.

Oh, and it's grammar, by the way.

But thanks for writing.

The Morning After The Night Before, XXI

Three straight wins. Two over pretty good teams. A solid road win against a good young club? Sense something happening?

Not sure, because if there’s one thing this team is, it’s inconsistent but seeing how the schedule shapes up over the next couple of weeks, three victories in a row is huge. Gives ‘em a cushion to take out west.

If Bargnani gets going and T.J.’s back in 10 days or so, this team might do something special in January, when the schedule eases.

Anyway, here we go …

Three Things I Learned

What’s in a name?

The Hump’s a cute name and all, goes with his real one but, really, can’t we come up with something better for Kris Humphries?

The dude known as Grunt, who gets into the comment section here every now and then, suggests Not-Haffa Bad would be a good moniker. What do you think? Drop ‘em in the comment section and we’ll pick out a few of the best and let you see ‘em.

The kid’s playing well, isn’t he? Now, I’m not about to put him in the Hall of Fame after two good games in the last three, and I still think his tendency to do too much will re-surface any minute now, but there’s no denying he gets the crowd fired up.

Pretty funny guy, too.

He was asked if Wednesday was the first time he’d heard his name chanted in an NBA game and showed the kind of self-assured nature that stands him apart from many others.

"Come on man, I’m not some bum," he said, apparently missing the ‘NBA game’ part of the question because a Humphries name chant isn’t like ‘Fire Isiah’ coming out of the mouths of NBA fans these days.

"Come on, dude. Who is this guy over here?" he wondered.

Dude was Big Game Eric, new beat grunt from Conrad’s Paper, and the brother of Quag.

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Some plane ride

The jet goes to Atlanta, picks up T.J. and two Raptor officials who spent the night with him at hospital and then stops in Baltimore to grab up Garbo, a day after he goes under the surgeon’s knife.

Must have been a fun ride, right? Couple of injured teammates telling stories and hanging out? Not so much, it seems.

"I don’t think we talked at all,” Ford said after Wednesday’s game. "We gave each other a hug and he went back to sleep and I went back to sleep."

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Another game, another position

Carlos Delfino plays a little two, a little three and Sam’ll use him to guard some fours.

Now, he’s a point guard, too?

He was running a few sets early in the second quarter against Dallas, with DMart playing the role of shooting guard and there may not be a more appropriate position for Martin, is there?

Delfino was amazing against the Mavs. It might have been the best 3-for-12 night I ever saw. Toss in six assists, seven rebounds and a steal and it was a tour de force. The pass to Kapono on the baseline for a three at the halftime buzzer might have been the best assist of the night.

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Three Things You Wondered

Q: I love the depth of the Raps team - if anyone wants to know the Raps don't have a player in the top 70 in minutes per game - but my question is, do you think the starters and bench will stay as it is right now? Ford, AP, Bosh, Rasho, and Moon vs Kapono, Jose, Carlos, Hump, and Bargs.

Looks balanced to me. And who wins best 2 out of 3?

Ollie H, Toronto

A: I can't see any changes to the starting lineup at the moment because they all seem to be fitting right into their roles. If there's anything on the horizon, and it's way far off in the distance, maybe Delfino pushes AP out of a job? But even that's a very, very long shot.

Who wins? The team with Bosh on it.p> -

Q: Just wondering about travel schedules when the Raptors play games on the road, then back at home the next night. For example, when they are in Atlanta one night and scheduled to play back at home the following night, do they fly back after the game or usually wait until the following morning? Thanks!

David H, Toronto

A: They fly back through the night, all the time on back-to-backs and generally all the time anyway. Only time they might stay is when they’re out west or south when they can’t get back before 2 a.m. because an arrival later than that means they have to fly into Hamilton ‘cause Pearson doesn’t let planes land after that time.

It's just us poor saps who travel commercial who have to stay in the city, get the 4:30 a.m. wakeup call for the 9 a.m. flight and travel with the masses.

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Q: I can't believe you left Popeye Jones out of your Top 5 Raptors charge takers. They created that stupid semi-circle for him.

Jon Cook, Toronto

A: You got me. You and about a billion others. He was the one I inexplicably forgot because he was the first and the best.

Saw him Wednesday night, as a matter of fact, in his new role as an assistant to Dallas’s Avery Johnson. Looks great, like he could still get out there and take a charge.

To all the Popeye fans out there, and those who loved Olive Oil and Wimpy, too, my abject apologies.

This just in ... sort of

Man, you guys and gals have been busy filling the comment section, whch is excellent to see.

Just got off the plane from Atlanta, where it was going to be about 23 C today by the way, to find a couple of waiting e-mails you should know about.

First came from an NBA spokesman who says the league is in the process of reviewing the Horford-Ford incident. No idea when anything will be decided but we'll keep you posted. The league does, however, review Flagrant 2s as a matter of course so I wouldn't read too much into that.

And, as you may already know, looks like T.J. will be back here later this afternoon or tonight. Am told he's feeling better, medical checks didn't find anything horrificly wrong this morning and should wing his way home tonight. Hope he's not on one of those tiny Sopwith Camels Air Canada flies to Atlanta. Maybe Larry Tanenbaum will send the company jet to get him.

Anyway, thanks for the comments, again.

Be back later from pre-game availability if there's news.

Oh, don't forget, Friday morning is mailbag morning, just click here to send along your submissions.

The Morning After The Night Before, XX

Holy crap!

Wasn’t that something? Sure took the air out of everyone around the team, and the whole arena. Except for two idiots behind us who, not knowing how badly T.J. was hurt, were making wisecracks. Caught the attention of some of the Raptor players and staff, too, who shot some comments back.

Before the bad ending, the Raps had played hard, defended – against Josh Smith in particular – very well and it was one of those gritty rather than great games that good teams win on the road.

But, really, it was hard for any of them to care after. I’ve never seen Sam as distraught as he was trying to talk to us after the game.

I'll get to the many, many, many comments in there -- and thanks for them -- when I get back. Rright now, Delta Airlines wants me to get on my plane.

Three Things I Learned

Where were they?

I abhor basketball fights, mostly because, as Sam says, players can’t fight. But surely to all that’s good in the world, someone should have at least got in Al Horford’s face just a wee bit, don’t you think?

Not to punch him, but to say something, maybe push him, let him know smacking a kid in the head on a drive is stupid, very, very stupid.

I honestly think that if someone else had been knocked down like that, T.J. would have been the first to get at the guy who did it.

Tough to watch. Maybe know they’ll get it, sticking up for teammates doesn’t necessarily mean throwing punches, but it means doing something.

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A dirty play?

I have no doubt Horford had no thoughts of slamming Ford to the floor when he tried to foul him and maybe the rookie learns from it. Grab him around the waist, foul him at the free throw line or in the lane before he gets in the air.

Don’t swing your arm with no idea where it’s going to land.

And even though there was no malice intended, I really think the NBA has to suspend him a game and take some money away from him just to learn a lesson.

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A not so stellar return

Okay, so Andrea Bargnani only played 12 minutes and missed all four shots he took and that was hardly a good night coming back from injury.

But there were two signs, subtle, that were heartening to his coaches and which didn’t go unnoticed.

Twice, once on the wing in front of the Hawks bench, and once on the baseline on the right side of the basket, he passed up shots without a second shot that he normally would have taken.

First was to pass to AP, I believe it was; second, was to get in the lane and try to draw contact. Sorta looked like he knew he couldn’t make a shot so he tried to do something else and that’s not been a prevalent thought process in the past.

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Three Things You Wondered

Q: Just finished my last exam for the semester and what do i come home to? Ford getting mugged, Kapono hurt, Jose with a dislocated finger, and Bargnani, who is on my Fantasy team with 0 points? Ugh.

Anyway my question has to do with the draft. There are a lot of stars who come out of drafts and there are also busts. See Araujo, Jonathan Bender, Kwame Brown, and the entire class of 2000 save Redd and K-Mart and the holy grail of draft busts Sam Bowie.

Why is that? What happens to them when they reach the NBA that makes them not live up to their potential. Is it the coaches they get? Bad scouts? Or did they never really have "it: in the first place? And is Charlie V almost a bust or does he need more time to develop?

Matthew, Scarborough

A: Yeah, tough night for them and you. Hope the exam went well
It's hard to say why a dude's a bust. Most of the time, it's because some scout or GM fell in love with a guy and missed some obvious athletic flaws

And sometimes, despite a barrage of psychological tests teams do and interviews they conduct, many kids just can't make the transition to being a pro. It's hard.

Mostly, as you said, it’s “it.” Just knowing how to work, what to eat, how to get your rest, not living off a reputation that hasn’t been earned.

As for Chuck V? Too early, let's talk a year from now.

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Q: You would agree that the Toronto Raptors is Canada's Team, right? So, how come we don't have a SINGLE Canadian player on the roster? I mean, we have lot's of people in Canada. Isn't there one Canadian basketball player worthy of a roster spot on the Toronto Raptors (other than Nash)?

Kenneth L, Mississauga

A: Frankly, no. There is not another Canadian-born basketball player anywhere on the planet that would help this team right now. If there were, they'd give him a look. Just like if there was a guy from Mars or Europe or some other galaxy.

They might be Canada's team to the marketing dudes, but to the people who sign the players, nationality has nothing to do with it.

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Q: Thanks for the daily diversion from work! If I understand Garbo correctly, he should be able to play again near the end of the season. Will he be in game shape by playoff time? I can only imagine that a layoff that long will also take some time to get all the timing down pat.

Dino, Woodbridge

A: Glad to help take attention away from that pesky work thing.

Garbo's done for this year, I'm afraid.

They say he's 10 weeks before being able to put weight on his foot and even though we know how hard he works at rehab and how anxious he is to play, I cannot envision a scenario where he puts a Raptor uniform on again this season. There's no way in the world, given what transpired last summer, that they rush him back.

The interesting question, and one that we will debate in the next few months, is whether Garbo gets cleared to play for Spain in Beijing. The Games are in August. Very interesting.