A little of this, a little of that

This might mean the mailbag dries up a little bit.

There’s T.J. Ford telling everyone at practice Wednesday (thanks to stinky Air Canada I wasn’t able to get there) that he’s fine coming off the bench, Jose’s earned the starters role and all’s cool.

"Where respect is due, it's due. He played well. He earned it. So he can keep (the starting spot)."

That’s gotta cut out a dozen letters a week.

It’s the logical statement, a move that makes sense to everyone and maybe some of you will chill now.

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You know how Sam’s always saying you’re never “supposed” to win and if you don’t play well you’ll lose, no matter what a team’s record is?

I give you: Minnesota 111, Utah 100 last night.

And here’s how it played in Minneapolis

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Speaking of last night …

Orlando wins, Cleveland loses and it’s almost time to predict a Raptor-Cavalier first-round playoff matchup.

There’s lots of games to be played, but with the Magic holding a four-game lead over Toronto and Washington Cleveland (oops) for third, it’s increasingly looking like a few drives around the lake in late April.

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Laurie D. from Guelph wonders:

I am in Florida right now equidistance from Orlando and Miami and see that the Raptors are coming down.  If I go to one game which one would be the better experience, including the general availability of good seats, first or second half of a back to back, good restaurants, safety, Dwyane or Dwight.

Aside from being quite jealous that Laurie’s in Florida and I’m freezing my butt off here at home, I’ll play travel agent for her ‘cause I’m that kind of guy.

I’m not a fan of either city, actually, Orlando lacks a soul, it rains every day at least a little bit in Miami, it seems, it’s an interesting choice.

You’ll get a better ticket in Miami but see a worse game, likely.

You’ll have a better dinner on South Beach somewhere (Joe’s Stone Crab would be my choice) although Wolfgang Puck’s place in Orlando is outstanding.

Miami’s arena is close to South Beach, in Orlando there’s traffic all the time.

But the Magic are the first of a back-to-back and Dwight Howard’s pretty darn good.

I’d do Orlando, eat sushi at Puck’s and then drive to the game.

Have fun, let me know how it works out. (It's a Glamour Boy trip so I'll be back here freezing)

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Gilbert’s sorry.

Or sort of.

Agent Zero, who says he’ll be back this year and I’ll believe that when I see it, chides Canadian fans a wee bit in his latest blog. It’ll probably temper the reception he gets here in March, right?

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Math time.

Are the Raptors seven games over .500? Or 3 1-2? Have had lots of queries about this from the math nuts out there.

Technically, it’d be 3 1-2, I guess. 31 minus 24 divided by 2.

But in the sports vernacular – and we’re an odd bunch over here in sports – we use seven ‘cause it’s easier.

Just like they use Leafs instead of Leaves.

Makes no sense, that’s just the way it is.

Reminds of 1992 in Barcelona at the Olympics. Dream Team press conference, the world is there to ask the glamourous stars of the NBA everything imaginable and one guy asks Karl Malone why some shots are worth one point, some are worth two and some are worth three.

"That’s just the way it is, my man,” says a rather confused Malone.

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Someone was asking the other day about the PA dude in Indiana announcing “home run” after every Pacer three-pointer and where that ranks as the most annoying PA thing in the league.

Nope.

The dude in Atlanta does this on opposing free throw:

"At the line, shooting two, Jose Calderon.” And then adds in a faux imposing tone, “Thunderstix” to implore the fans to use them. Makes me want to beat him about the head with Thunderstix.

The fella in Miami, a good guy by all accounts, should never, ever scream at the top of his lungs “Dos Minutos,” with a huge emphasis on the first word, when there’s two minutes left in the quarter.

And, yeah, I guess the “home run” guy might be third, especially when the few folks in the crowd yawn when he does it.

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Back to the mailbag

Q: Hey Doug, long time reader, first time writer. A few questions for you:

1) Why aren't the players being bought out (Cassell, Barry) being picked up off waivers? Seems odd that they are allowed to clear waivers and then get to choose which team to play for. Why doesn't a team just pick them up and not give the player a choice? Must be something I'm missing in regards to the cap.

2) How would you describe the Raptors defense? It isn't zone, it isn't man-to-man... it seems like they switch everything right away and hope for the best or double team if they get in a bad matchup. Any other team use this method?

3) How in the heck does Kapono not have a 3 is last month? Do they not have a single set play designed to get the best shooter in the league an open look?

C K, Calgary

A: Welcome

1) It’s financial, if you pick a guy up off waivers you’re responsible for his entire salary; if you wait until he clears you can negotiate at a much lower number, usually the pro-rated minimum.

2) I’d describe it as something of a matchup zone, although that’s probably not technically correct. They don’t switch everything, sometimes just small to small, or big to big; they tend to slide a second defender over to the strong side and then rotate to shooters on the weak.

3) They do have plays for threes, sometimes defences don’t let them get them.

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With the mailbag cleaned out yesterday in Indy (it’s amazing what you can get done in eight hours in a hotel room), just click here to fill it up again.

Comments

[Dinosty]

It IS amazing what you can get done in 8 hrs in a hotel room...but blogging a mailbag wouldn't be top of my list.

I'd just like to say how...hmm, "content" seems to be the best word...TJ's statement makes me. That just illustrates the quality of character on this Raptors squad.

[Chris M]

You'll probably get many comments on this, but just in case...
"four-game lead over Toronto and Washington for third" i think you mean Clevland

Also, now who is Glamour Boy?
So far the List of Nicks is
Stumpy
M. Grange(TM)
Glamour Boy

Are there anyothers we should know about?

Blogger's note: The Hall of Fame roster is:
Stumpy: Short, bald guy from The Little Paper That Shrunk
Glamour Boy: Big Time Star Columnist
M. Grange (TM): Chronicler of all things From Deep
Quag 2.0: Post beat grunt
Quag: Ex-Sun beat grunt, York Yeoman (I know, I'm old school) PR Maven
First Lady Of The Beat: Scribbler from The People's Wire Service
Bea Arthur: Um, I mean B Arthur

[TMF]

You know, Herbie has been known to say "THUNDERSTIX" from time to time when an opposing player is at the line, too.

But in terms of annoyance, that pales in comparison to the "ba-da-ba-ba-ba" after every three. Oh, and everything the 4 Korners guy says.

[Jeff D]

For Laura D.

Other thoughts for consideration in seeing Orlando or Miami. Bosh always plays fantastic against Howard and the Magic...although, it would be fun to see Marion and Wade. Have fun!

[Geoff Read]

You write, "There’s lots of games to be played, but with the Magic holding a four-game lead over Toronto and Washington Cleveland (oops) for third, it’s increasingly looking like a few drives around the lake in late April."

Which lake would that be? Cleveland ain't Rochester.
G. Read

Blogger's note: Um, Lake Erie, you drive around it to get to Cleveland.

[Mike]

I wrote the comment about the PA guy Saying "home run" i said it would be top three so i guess i was right
though i think while thunderstix may be more annoying this still ranks ahead of dos minutos so id have to give it 2nd overall most annoying in game PA announcement

[Mike]

The most annoying PA announcer has to be in New Jersey. He screams, scowls and carries on waaaaay too long as the non-fans in the East Rutherford mausoleum endure it. Honestly, he makes Herbie look like a picture of restraint.

[Mike]

"Will Toronto sports writers—with respect to common sense and decency—please refrain from describing, in glowing terms, T.J. Ford's "breakneck speed"?"

This is a quote from Ryan Knaus in his column NBA fantasy trends on Rotoworld.com

Thoughts?

Blogger's note: Why in the world would I think for a second about that?
So the answer would be I have no thoughts whatsoever

[Brad]

i *HOPE* the TJ and Jose situation is settled and lasts for the year. It just makes more sense, like its always seemed to make sense in the past, but sometimes it seems common-sense is forgotten. Jose is great in the half-court, knocks down every open shot and is great at getting the ball to guys who need it; ie Bosh and Andrea. TJ is great at penetrating and kicking, picking up the offense when they are struggling, and creating opportunities for guys like Rasho, Hump, Kapono, who need to be in good position for them to score. The frustration of seeing TJ on the first unit, going one on five, dominating the ball and taking ill-advised shots when the Raptors best players are also on the floor has caused ulcers!

I am loving this existing rotation, and save for maybe Delfino swapping Moon in the starting line-up, this team actually has a chance against Detroit, Boston and Cleveland.

[Ellie]

I don't understand how a 3-point bucket can be brought to you by anyone other than the player who sank it and maybe the guy with the assist. That McDonald's commercial is ninth-ring-of-hell lame. Makes me feel smug that I have not purchased their craptastic food in six years.

I am betting now that Gilbert will get some Carter-esque boos the next time he shows up on a Raptors court. We may not have a championship, but Toronto knows how to bring the hate when necessary (and more often when it is not).

[Zack]

The Little Paper That Shrunk? The Post? The Sun?

Blogger's note: Come on, think old slogans. I'm not going to make it too much easier for you. (I keed, I keed)

[dave]

Maglore goes to the Mavs but he not good enought for Toronto? Explain.

Blogger's note: Maybe it's a better fit, maybe they think he's got something left, like six fouls against Shaq or something. He wasn't going to play here, they didn't think he could help, and I think they were right. It's really quite as simple as that.

[Kyle Gudmundson]

The Little Paper that Grew: the Toronto Sun Publishing

Heck I knew that and I live in Iceland!

[Eric]

I have yet to see the people who were complaining about TJ starting ahead of Jose at the start of the season get their respect. I wasn't one of them but thought I'd mention it anyway. Coaches and writers alike wouldn't stop defending TJ back then, only the "crazy fans" were on Jose's side and now Jose's been named the starter by everyone including TJ himself? Has this not justified the earlier opinion of said fans? Maybe they weren't as "crazy" as others had thought.

Some might say Jose's only the starter now because of the injuries to Ford but I remember many of those fans suggesting that Calderon start for that very reason, even before Horford happened. Some of them said you can't rely on Ford, and it appears they were correct. They aren't always, but they were here. They have been redeemed in my eyes.

[Zack]

Eric, I don't think anyone including TJ were suggesting that Jose is, forever and ever, the starter of this team. Come training camp in October, I imagine Sam will do what he has always done and make guys earn their place in the starting five.

As for Jose starting over TJ right now, it makes sense only because Jose has been playing with the other starting four for a large portion of the season. Don't get me wrong, Calderon has proven he is one of the best but don't be surprised if Ford is back their sooner than later.

[Chi of Steel]

Zack, many of us wouldn't be surprised to see Ford back as a starter sooner than later, despite all that's been said to indicate otherwise. And that's probably why Jose's supporters (or TJ's detractors) are unsettled. Ford seems to inspire more confidence with Sam Mitchell.

Oh, and the Raptors are 7 'wins' over .500; to say a team is x number of 'games' over a percentage is a bit nonsensical. When we're describing relative rankings, the convention is to say that the Raptors are 12 'games behind' the Celtics, or 4 'games back' of the Magic, for example. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, but why follow the vernacular when it's clearly misleading.

[jon]

I'd say that at 31-24 the Raptors are 7 games over .500 since they would have to lose 7 straight games to get back to .500, i.e. 31-31.

[Dave]

Doug:

I am not sure the you will be driving around lake Erie for the playoffs. I think that with the recent trades, Cleveland will move up to third place. Orlando will drop to fourth and Toronto will end up in fifth.

BTW, Two years ago I drove by all 5 Great Lakes in a three week period. It was beautiful. Some of your Toronto writers need to get out of the city to see where the lakes are. Really, it is safe out there.

Dave
Cornwall, ON

[Damian]

Numerous NBA players have said TJ is one of the fastest, if not THE fastest pg in the NBA. Coaches have said the same thing...

Is his comment any more valid than some guy writing "Would writers in LA stop referring to Kobe as one of the greatest players in the game today? Please, it's embarrassing."? Why???

Ryan Knaus is a columnist (1st year?) for a fantasy basketball website. Fantasy basketball is a whole different game from real basketball. From what I know, he's not a journalist who actually... you know, GOES to games and would be seriously qualified to comment on TJ's actual game beyond whatever he produces in the box score. When he writes something that actually backs up some off the kuff remark, maybe then, we'll have something to address. Otherwise, it's just a hollow comment.

[AJ]

The number of games over .500 refers to the number of games in a row the team would have to lose to be at .500

[GM]

I think the "breakneck speed" line was a joke. Nothing to do with Ford's quickness but with the phrase and how it relates to his past injuries. Get it, get it?!

Blogger's note: As the kids say, "whatever" (I keed, I keed). I still don't really care :)

[Dan]

The number of games over .500 doesn't refer to the result of future games, but to the result of past games.

So to say a team is 7 games over .500, they would have had to LOSE 7 games that they have WON to be at .500; the loss total would increase by 7 *AND* the win total would decrease by 7.

As such, the raptors are actually 3.5 (well 4 with the win over Minnesota) games over .500 now.