Not looking good for Ford against Nets
A sore right wrist has T.J. Ford officially listed as a game-time decision for the Raptors tonight against the New Jersey Nets.
However, the odds are he spends the game watching, rather than playing.
As he wandered out of a meeting room after doing some video work following this morning’s shootaround, Ford shook his head and said, “not good” when asked how his wrist was feeling.
Interim head coach Jay Triano laid it off on the team’s trainers, saying Ford would get some treatment this afternoon and they’ll decide tonight whether he’s able to go.
Ford hurt his wrist sometime in Sunday’s game in Minnesota – no one is 100 per cent sure when it happened – and he played only eight minutes against San Antonio on Monday night.
He didn’t practice Tuesday and was sporting a compression brace from his hand to forearm.
If Ford is out, it will fall, once again, to either Juan Dixon or Darrick Martin to back up starter Jose Calderon. But with the all-star break beginning Thursday and no game until next Wednesday, the Raptors could load up the minutes on Calderon because he’s got so many days off coming up.
Yeah the Raptors need a small forward who can guard. Big time. I am wondering, Doug, whether you think Andrei Kirilenko might be available. It was mentioned that Ben Wallace might be enough to pry him out of Utah. If an overpayed underpreforming Wallace is enough, then surely there are sufficient parts in Toronto?
Blogger's note: The way Utah's going right now, I'm not sure they'd want to mix up the team they've got.
Posted by: Max | February 13, 2008 at 12:11 PM
The way I see it Jose it about to get (a well deserved) week off playing. Why wouldn't Trinao play him 44 minutes tonight. It's not like Juan is getting killed by back-ups.
Writer's note: Watch Jose go off tonight as a statement against to league coaches as he slashes JKidd
Posted by: Doug S | February 13, 2008 at 12:19 PM
So again TJ is out, injured, playing through injury or whatever. How long can this continue before the rest of the world catches up? I don't see Calderon going down to injury every week. I'm not ragging on Ford, it's just the way it is. The guy gets injured all the time, his fault or not, and when you're injured, you dont' play and you don't help the team. I'm still waiting to see how Orlando benefitted from giving SUPERSTAR Grant Hill a max contract in 2000. When will the fruits fall from that tree?! Ford may very well be preventing the team from getting better and it's terrible because there's nothing they can do. But I just want someone to admit it and stop pretending like it's not an issue.
Posted by: Eric | February 13, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Jamario Moon was Defensive Player of the Year in whatever minor league he most recently played. I know that doesn't mean much, but that must at least translate to being a pretty good NBA defender, doesn't it? Are they really going to find someone that much better than him?
Posted by: TMF | February 13, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Few qs from the hinterland (winter toba)...
why wasn't more of the play run through bosh against SA? What's up with moon taking 3 pointers vs SA? Is this just a brain cramp?
Blogger's note: We really have to re-visit that game? Okay. The Spurs defence had something to do with Bosh not being the focal point of the offence; and yes, Moon shoots too many three-pointers. It's on him not to.
Posted by: bob | February 13, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Not to stir anything but I will for the heck of it...
Perhaps TJ sitting out with an 'unknown injury' (let's call it a wrist injury) is because Colangelo has a pending deal with involving TJ and Graham who sat out last game? I don't think it was coincidence that Joey was not dressed and Derek Martin suited up to back up Juan against SAS.
Does anyone think that is possible???
Blogger's note: This takes conspiracy theories to perhaps an all-time high.
Posted by: BS, Scarborough | February 13, 2008 at 02:21 PM
Hey Doug,
This Kidd to Dallas deal seems like its most likely a go, according to ESPN and "front office nba sources". Do you think J-K will be playing tonight verses the raptors?
Blogger's note: I just now got off the phone with a guy who's got his finger on the pulse of this deal and it looks like it's going to go down. So, I'd expect Kidd to not be in uniform tonight here. But if talks break down, he'll play.
Posted by: NIGEL | February 13, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Doug help me out here.
Colangelo (in not so many words) pretty much said on the Fan today that he wasn't going to make any BIG moves because he wanted to resign Calderon in the offseason. Now im all for resigning Calderon but what good is it if we keep the same team out there year after year? by that i mean the players change, but still NO REBOUNDING HELP FOR BOSH!
Blogger's note: No BIG moves now, no; but they will have the summer to explore opportunities and they will have some money to spend.
Posted by: Mark M | February 13, 2008 at 03:18 PM
Kidd to the Mavs becoming reality? Does Jose finally get into the All-Star game and shove it in Gilbert's face? Stay tuned....
Posted by: David "Marlvern" Fernandes | February 13, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Well if Kidd gets traded today and cant play for the Eastern All-Stars this weekend, then we might after all see Calderon in the all-star game
Blogger's note: I'll go over this in the morning, too, but NBA officials didn't say Kidd wouldn't play for the East if he was dealt before the all-star weekend. They said they'd figure it out if it happened so there's nothing automatic about it.
Posted by: Andre | February 13, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Doug,
It looks like this Kidd trade may open up a spot for Calderon on the All-Star team in the East. I am assuming if the trade goes through, that they would have to decide soon before everyone takes off on vaction for the All-Star break.
Blogger's note: Yes, soon; if the deal happens.
Posted by: Mike | February 13, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Even if Kidd goes to dallas (pretty sure the deal is done), I don't think Jose has a chance at all star game. Doc Rivers will choose Ray allen instead.
Blogger's note: It's not up to Doc Rivers, it's up to David Stern.
Posted by: ET | February 13, 2008 at 03:34 PM
"Perhaps TJ sitting out with an 'unknown injury' (let's call it a wrist injury) is because Colangelo has a pending deal with involving TJ and Graham who sat out last game? I don't think it was coincidence that Joey was not dressed and Derek Martin suited up to back up Juan against SAS.
Blogger's note: This takes conspiracy theories to perhaps an all-time high."
Doug, don't front, you know players get benched or showcased all the time. Here's something even better though - a Slovenian newspaper reported Coangelo had to suddenly leave the country (Slovenia) last week for an important business matter. That tells me something was brewing...
Blogger's note: Man, you shoulda been on the Warren Commission. Last time for this issue: No one is being held out or showcased, Joey's got a bad leg, T.J.'s wrist is hurt, Colangelo was always scheduled to be back in Toronto on Monday and the Slovenian report was just wrong.
But you believe what you want to believe.
As I said, last time for this issue.
Thanks
Posted by: Dave | February 13, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Well Doug, I hope Kidd plays for the West and Stern picks Calderon to replace him. It would wrap this up quite neatly:
Gilbert Arenas not picked for All-Star game. Gilbert Arenas whines...
Jose Calderon not picked for All-Star game. Jose Calderon does not whine...
Fans suggest Jose Calderon should have been picked. Gilbert Arenas whines...
Jose Calderon picked for All-Star Game. Gilbert Arena whines.
I guess another thing to consider is if Kidd plays for the West, does someone else get dropped or do they get an extra man or does the East then get to pick TWO more players (improving JC's chances)? Time will tell...
Posted by: Joe T. | February 13, 2008 at 04:24 PM
man some people are really persistent with this TJ Ford being traded thing. Our two point guard system is the one thing that makes us an above average team, take that away from the raptors and they are a .500 team. If people want TJ to be traded because he is injury prone don't you think other gm's might also feel he is injury prone and thus reducing his trade value? Seriously the more people want him to be traded the less trade value he is likely to have, I doubt Colangelo moves him right now while he is still recovering from his injury. No gm would give up a lot for TJ if his health status is questionable. Some people really don't understand the concept of selling high and buying low.
Posted by: Travis | February 13, 2008 at 04:28 PM
TJ's injuries are definitely a problem this season but last year he played quite a bit, only missing a dozen or so games i think (don't quote me on this, it may be a bit more).
The thing with TJ is, when he is good, he is really good and he can win games himself when the team isn't playing so great. In my opinion, that hit Horford gave TJ may have put any guard-like player out for an unforseeable amount of time. And before the ATL game, Ford was playing great. Give the guy some time and back off. I would rather have a sometimes injured Ford as my back-up 1 than some of the guys other teams have playing PG minutes off the bench.
Posted by: Zack | February 13, 2008 at 05:14 PM
hey doug... all this talk about numero ocho.. i find it funny how swirsk is refraining from referring to jose as "the spanish fly". hmm, that gives me an idea for a custom jersey....
Posted by: eugene | February 13, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Opposing players getting traded or coaches getting fired seem to happen more frequently around the time they face the Raptors. I don't have any immediate examples to back that up, but it's the same intuition that tells me Carlos Delfino leads the Raptors in going 0-for-2 in free throws.
Posted by: Chi of Steel | February 13, 2008 at 06:08 PM
HEY Doug! Looks like the Kidd trade was blocked by a no trade clause! How upset do GM's get when a player does that? Think Cuban's pissed? Dallas won't be resigning that player now.
So what change you think they will do to make the trade go?
Blogger's note: Check out the blog, when I get it finished, for all the latest
Posted by: dave | February 13, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Doug,
Not to continue the JOSE ALLSTAR SAGA but why was joe johnson chosen over jose? I've reviewed his #s and they dont compare to jose's.
I cant figure out why jose was overlooked by the coaches. His stats speak volumes. hes not having a great year but a historic year when it comes to the point guard position.
Posted by: j.r | February 18, 2008 at 10:22 AM