The Morning After The Night Before, XXXV

In a bit of a hurry this morning (like that’s unusual) ‘cause I gotta drive home to see the Sacramentos tonight. Wonder what zany thing Ron Artest will do to entertain us.

Three Things I Learned

Is change coming?

Watching a small lineup provide the kind of energy he wants, might Sam be thinking about using it more often? Sunday it was Jose, Moon, Parker, Delfino, Bosh and last night it was Dixon, Moon, Kapono, Graham and Nesterovic that made a passable attempt at getting back in the Pistons game.

Sam’s quote after the game (“We have a game tomorrow so we don’t have much time to think about it”) seems to hint that he’s at least going to think about, doesn’t it?

This is why they scream

Let’s say the Raptors score with four or five seconds left in a quarter. Look over at the bench and you’ll see coaches screaming at the players to get up on their guys full court. Two reasons: One, it doesn’t allow the opponent to let the ball roll to halfcourt before picking it up and starting the clock, and, two, it may force a bad pass, as it did at the end of the second quarter last night.

It’s not just because coaches like to hear themselves scream.

Just as they expected

A few of us retire to a little bistro after the game for some sustenance and liquids and to dissect what we’d just seen. Alongside me is a Detroit fellow who’s followed this team for some time and I’m barely in my seat when he turns and says: “How about Carlos? See what I mean?”

This is a guy who’d been telling me since the summer that Delfino’s a tease, great for six games, not-so-great for six. And seeing how Delfino had 14 points in the second quarter and none the rest of the game, I had to agree.

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We’ll go quickly to the mailbag:

Q: When do you start starting Delfino over Moon? I think Moon's potential explosiveness can exploit other team’s second units and possibly turn him into less of a jump-shooter. Delfino seems to be able to create his own offence and might be a bit more creative than Moon seems to be against other teams starters. Someone needs to tell Moon that the other team is leaving him open for a jumpshot for a reason.<

Normiyuki H, Toronto

A: See above, although there have been moments in the recent past where I would have agreed with you wholeheartedly. Now? I’m not so sure.

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There is nothing like Sam on a roll. And he got on one pre-game in Auburn Hills, first killing Stumpy for being vertically-challenged (according to Historian Sam all the great wars of all-time have been started by short people), then lighting in to all reporters.

"I don't trust y’all,” was how he started. “Let me tell you what y’all have done to me (since becoming head coach in Toronto). I have become a cynic of people.

"I don't believe one thing people say. I was born a trusting fool, and y'all have educated me to the point to where anytime y’all ask me a question I always think there's something you're trying to do to me.”

Before anyone gets all bent out of shape, he was joking around with us, as he does. And when he does, it’s worth the price of admission. Of course, we get in free.

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From the angry side of the inbox:

This is the first time I couldn't finish watching the game.
Why do you think we Raps fans want Sam fired? He just prays for a win. He doesn't know his players well. He doesn't have any strategy. He just prays his players play well, just well.
Why do you think Sam didn't have Jose, CB4, and Delfino on the court in the 3rd quarter? The 2nd, maybe 3rd unit could make 12-point game from 18 at the end of the 3rd, but that was because the Pistons didn't play well, not because the 3rd unit played well. Sam should have started the final quarter with CB4, Jose, Delfino, AP and Rasho (or Kapono).
Raps up by 24 and 20 against Mavs and Cavs, but they lost the games. Why did Sam couldn't win this game? 11 minutes of 3rd quarter and the whole 4th quarter were garbage time?
Watching the game like this, my blood pressure is going far north.

John P, Belleville

A: Dude, I’ve got some blood pressure pills I’d be glad to share with you because, man, you need them more than I do.

Did you actually watch the game before you couldn’t finish? Did you see the starters get into an 18-point hole and then the small lineup get it back down to eight?

Seriously, man, you gotta chill.

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Oh, and it seems like my man Chris McCosky’s not a big Sam fan, either. Check out his game story.

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Persistent Chaz E. of London (the U.K. kind) provides an opportunity for a list with this query:

"Hopefully this is third time lucky. If you could choose the draft class of 2003 again who would be your top 5 picks in order?”

It was: LeBron James, Darko Milicic, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.

It should have been: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and anyone other than Darko.

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I don’t think they’re showcasing Joey but I do think he’s got some trade value now with his performances in the last few games.

And I’m absolutely certain BC is working the phones more feverishly right now trying to get something done. He’s probably re-visiting conversations he’s had over the last month or so and I’d say it’s 70-30 he gets something done in the next couple of weeks or so.

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Oh, and here’s what they’re saying in Sacto leading up to tonight’s mighty struggle.

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The usual reminder goes here to fill up the weakly mailbag. (That's an intentional typo, by the way). Tomorrow’s the only non-game day of the week so I’d like nothing better than to spend it culling questions from y’all.

Comments

[Bay Street Lawyer]

Yes, the small line-up got it done last night and on Sunday. One can't argue with results. But I don't understand Sam's aversion to going with a large line-up (Bosh, Bargnani and Rasho/Hump). Seems like one of the things that makes this team unique (multi-skilled bigs) is something we don't exploit. Any team can go small. Not too many teams can go big.

[Jeff]

Did you tell the Detroit guy it would have been hard for Delfino to score from the bench?

Not buying what you're selling there...I think Delfino and Kapono for that matter have not been used effectively by Mitchell, I'm sure I'm not the first or last to point this out.

Going into last night's game Kapono had only attempted 3 treys in his last six games.

I think most coaches would be running plays for him to get at least 5 three pointers off per game.

Last night Chuck kept saying, "oh how nice, Kapono now is stepping in to hit shots before moving outside.

What? This guy is Bona Fide give him the damn rock behind the line.

[John P.]

I didn't expect you would post mine. I couldn't watch the game on TV any longer at about 4 minutes remaining. And I agree I was too upset with the result.

Now I have to comment this about my questions that were posted. Avery Johnson and Mike Brown didn't get Dirk or LeBron out of the court that much even they struggled. That was why they overcame 24 and 20 point deficit and won the game.

I don't think Sam has any belief in his players, and I think that coaches in any sports must believe in their players and know them very, very well.

[Andrew R]

Detroit always looks real good against the Dinos. They look effortless and at ease, racking up points and rarely getting down. As a contrast, the Raps are frenetic and frantic, trying to show they are real playoff contenders, trying to climb the wall but everytime they get close to getting over, the Pistons build the wall a bit higher. It's frustrating to watch, I can't imagine what it's like to play against them.

[patrick r]

Hi Doug,

I read McCosky's piece, interesting observations. I still think Sam is the right guy for this team, however Rip Hamilton showed very clearly why I call the Raptors "Team Dairy Queen". Endless times Hamilton was allowed to run free through the paint and setup off a screen for a wide open look. Not once did anyone put a chest, elbow or hip on him to dissuade him from running through there or at least put his mind that it won't be easy. It is similar to a what DB's do in football when they try and lay out a receiver coming over the middle. It isn't about being dirty either. Good Defence is about setting a tone. You have know what might be coming if one continues to come through the middle. I think Sam and the braintrust know this. I just don't see any of the current team who has the kind of make up required to send that kind of message and back it up with good positioning. This is the achilles heel of this team and why I think they will be lucky to get past the 1st round, if they make the playoffs at all.

As always just one man's opinion.

Patrick

[Andy C]

did you an the other grunts car pool? on a short trip like this do the raptors fly or take something with wheels minus the wings? gotta figure by the time they clear customs and the drive up to the palace from the airport it should be the same amount of time to take a bus?

Blogger's note: Oh, they fly, no four-hour bus rides for them. And we try to carpool, but sometimes the timing of things like practice the day before and the need to get back early splits us up. This time, four beat dudes, three cars, we shared Stumpy.

[yertu damkule]

C'mon Doug, that's pretty a cheap dig at Delfino and his poor 2nd half. Playing 5 minutes had nothing to do with it, I'm sure. And does anyone expect Barg's to develop if he can't get any burn against quality teams? If playing against (and perhaps losing) to a good team is a way to learn how to play (&, hopefully, win), why does the same not hold true of individual players? When I play, I want to go up against the best, because I know it'll only make me better. With Bargs, it doesn't seem like there's anything he can do to stay on the floor, & you can't argue that he didn't play well last night, 'cause he did - didn't shoot well, but as we've heard ad nauseum this year, if guys work hard & hustle (which he did), they'll get the PT - which seems to be true (maybe...), to a degree, but not for everyone...Moon played horribly in the 1st Q, but there he was late in the game, getting some valuable experience.

[Sorin J]

Hi Doug,
What I didn't/don't get - why if a team has a certain 5 that ends on a "high" the first half - in this case CB4, AP, JC, Delfino and...sorry can't remember the fifth (but sure it was NOT Bargnani...) - and knowing how the 5 that sarted the game came out...why Sam can't start the 2nd half with EXACTLY the 5 that ended the first half - regardless of whoever started the game.
The same thing happened in the game with Detroit at ACC - the guys that finished very good the third quarter (I think it was almost all starters)...were benched at the beginning of the 4th - the result: Detroit going on a run that eventually when the starters got back...they couldn't overcome. I think Sam can't read the given situation in some cases.
Just a thought..

Blogger's note: Before you go killing people, get it right, would you?
The same five players who finished the third quarter in Detroit not only started the fourth quarter, they stayed on the court for almost six minutes. Three of them played the entire quarter.

[tino]

It seems Sam believes is getting paid 4 mil./year to break Bargnani spirit (and boast about it too) ,rather than build his game.
If he didn't say a word to him for 3 wks(many of us fans wrote around Christmas, about what it seemed a strained relationship between the 2), is no wonder that Bargnani looked confused on what to do on the court.
It took Bynum(a natural centre) 3 years practicing every day with Kareem,to become a good player. At this pace,Bargnani will be good by 2015. By Andrea expression on his face yesterday sitting on the bench, I would not be surprised if the status quo will evolve into a more serious situation,like trade one or fire the other.

Blogger's note: Be surprised, my man, becasue you're dead wrong about it evolving into trade one-fire one.
The relationship between Mitchell and Bargnani is fine, take that from a guy who sees 'em both six days a week.

[GM]

Good point by John P. The Mavs and Cavs were out of it early with their star players, but they still got to play and eventually came back. I also like what Brian Winters (or was it Hill?) used to do with the Grizzlies. He'd put his starters in late in garbage time kind of like punishment. They were the ones to get them in that mess, so they didn't get the easy way out by sitting out the rest of the game. Of course, their record speaks for itself and maybe that's why the players quit on those coaches and you don't want that happening here (there). And maybe Sam was resting his starters so they'll have something left for Sacto, who are no roll-overs despite their record.

[yertu damkule]

Nice editing job on my last post. I also like how you (Doug) only seem interested in responding to inane posts/questions, as though bball fans are too dim to get into serious discussions. You seem to assume that most of us posting & reading your 'column' are wet-behind-the-years Leaf converts. It's bad enough that hockey coverage outdistances bball coverage in this country 100 to 1, the little bit of coverage bball & the Raps get is by, ugh, you.

Blogger's note: Thank you very much.

[Shrugz]

Bargnani apparently gets no slack for mistakes even though pretty much everyone else gets the minutes. Bargnani couldn't even get the garbage time at the end of the GAME!! come on

I was also wondering how Bargnani practices? Does he defend bosh one-on-one or something?

Blogger's note: In practices he'll defend Bosh, or Humphries or Rasho, giving him different kinds of looks.

[Jared]

Do you think the Raps can get Joakim Noah for a 1st round pick and Joey Graham and or Juan Dixon?

Blogger's note: When pigs fly, maybe.