The Morning After the Night Before, L (I believe)

It’s dark and cold at 5 a.m., in case you were wondering. But it’s a balmy plus-1 here in Indy and I’m wondering if the hotel pool is open.

Anyway, I’m sure you’ve been waiting impatiently for …

Three Things I Learned

Who is this guy?

Primoz From The Block?

TARA WALTON/TORONTO STAR

Sam Mitchell is watching. Always watching.

Some debut, wasn’t it? A couple of Tiger-esque fist pumps, some pointing to the heavens, bunch of baskets and some general running around. (Although the next time Sam looks up and sees a 7-footer leaking out on the break instead of boxing his guy out, ol’ Primoz is going to get some gangsta pimp stuff right on his noggin). But I digress.

As a fourth big, behind Bosh, Bargnani and Rasho, he might be all right. Or he might regress to the guy who couldn’t get off the bench in Charlotte or Detroit. He’s definitely got the energy but he was playing the Knicks so you might want temper the Hall of Fame talk at the moment.

One of the best lines comes from Rasho when he’s pestered to give his opinion of his countryman and how it’ll play back home: “What am I, the ambassador?" -

Bargs with an edge?

Not sure how many of you caught it but after Bargnani hits a three to put Toronto up 75-58 in the third quarter, he said something to the little Nate Robinson, who might or might not have tried to stick his foot under Bargnani when he came down from making his jump shot.

Showed more raw emotion than I’d seen in a while.

Of course, was likely entirely justified because that’s just the kind of punk play Robinson might make.

-

What a sorry group

Outside of David Lee, who may avoid being poisoned by the atmosphere that surrounds him, give me one redeeming quality about that Knicks team?

Watching Eddy Curry mope off the floor and watching Zach Randolph toss up some of the most un-Godly shots in the history of basketball was despicable.

I know Isiah’s to blame for getting those guys but, really, short of going on the court and beating them about the head every now and then, I’m not sure what he can do. He sits ‘em and they come back in and pull the same stunt, he’s yells at ‘ema and they end up fighting with each other.

I sorta feel bad for him and Glen Grunwald.

-

Here’s a mailbag question about – ta-da! – the mailbag.

Q: Doug, how do you arrange the order of the mailbag? Favourite to least? Date of arrival?

Brad W, Waterloo

A: I usually like to split ‘em up, actually. Some from Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday in the Friday one and the rest sprinkled over the course of Saturday and Sunday and a few in the daily offering.

Try to find the topical ones to run each day, too.

But here’s my problem: The sheer volume. I probably get about 20-25 a day and they add up over the course of the week.

So to the guy who wrote yesterday to say that I hated him because I never run his question, and the dude who wrote today to say he’s never reading again because I run too many too critical of Bargnani, all I can say is you can’t please everyone all the time.

There’s nothing personal in what gets in and what doesn’t. I try to answer ‘em all because if you’ve taken the time to write, I should take the time to answer but sometimes that’s just not possible. A guy’s gotta have a life, after all.

-

It’s NFL Combine week around Indy as I sit here, which you can tell by the Welcome NBA Combine signs all over the airport. I’m figuring I’ll run over and jog a 40 in 22.2 and see where that gets me.

But they still care about their Pacers, here’s what’s in the local fishwrap this morning.

Oh, and the cabbie driving me in today strikes up a conversation when finds out what I do.

It goes something like this:

"Bet you the gym’s about half full tonight,” he says. “And it’s not because they’re losing, either. Know why it is?”

"Because they’re mostly a collection of knuckleheads?” I wonder.

"Yep, people here love basketball but they want good people.”

No, Bryan Colangelo wasn’t driving me.

-

In the second quarter of Sunday’s game, the Raptors had five guys on the court representing five countries.

You had Jose (Spain), AP (USA), Delfino (Argentina), Bargnani (Italy) and Brezec (Slovenia). A United Nations of hoops.

The only other that I can think of that can do it know – and I’m not sure if it’s been done before – would be the Lakers, who could put out Derek Fisher (US), Sasha Vujacic (Slovenia), Vlad Radmanovic (Serbia and Montenegro), Pau Gasol (Spain) and Ronny Turiaf (France).

Tells you how far the game has come, doesn’t it?

-

Let’s see how regular link Frank Isola summed up that Sunday debacle.

-

Once more into the mail, ‘cause it’s topical

Q: I thought my last question was a worthy one, but I guess not. Maybe this one will grace the pages of your blog.

n the wake of Sundin-gate (that's hockey), does the NBA have the no-trade clause built into its CBA?

If so, do any of the big-name players have this built into their contract? If not, why doesn't this exist in the NBA?

Matthew S, Victoria

A: I’ve heard of this Sundin fellow and think it’s quite admirable that he wants to stay in Toronto.

The only player in the NBA with a no-trade clause is Kobe Bryant. And, in the CBA, the only way you can get one is if you’ve been in the league for eight years and have spent four of them on the same team.

And even then, GMs don’t give them out willy-nilly like those zany NHL guys do.

-

Okay, if you promise not to send nasty e-mails accusing me of hating you, just click here to get into the mailbag.

Comments

[Gerald]

I think when the guy wrote CBA he might have meant collective bargaining agreement. And maybe you meant that too Doug, but it didn't seem like you did.

[Zack]

The Knicks are a sad bunch indeed Doug, but what are your thoughts on Jamal Crawford?

I've always liked his game, personally. A talented shooter, maybe a little injury prone and not exactly a leader-type, but still a quality player who, on a good team, could be one of the leagues better SG's.

But other than Crawford, David Lee, and maybe Renaldo Balkman, these Knicks suck.

Blogger's note: Jamal Crawford's penchant for shooting the ball every time he touches it knocks him down a peg in my view. Good scorer, though; not sure what a good teammate he might be.

[Reality]

I think it is called Serbia only. Montenegro has separated from Serbia for a while now! I hope Iam right:)
To my comment, don't you think that our "honey MOON" is over?? He is not the same MOON who started the season anymore. He isn't attaking the basket and only shoots 3's. I think Sam should bench him and start Fino.

Blogger's note: I got Serbia and Montenegro right off the Laker website but it could be wrong. If it is, I apologize.

[Dinosty]

What's the over/under on the number of days before Gangster starts twisting his hair to look like CB? I'm going with 12.

[Derek Cox]

Gerald....what don't you get from the reply? Doug answered both points. 1 players who have no trade clauses in the NBA, and 2. the NBA CBA (collective bargaining agreement - just incase you don't understand what I mean by CBA)states that you have to be in the league 8 years.

Hi, Doug,
Don't feel too sorry for Isaiah! After he ruined the Raptors, destroyed the CBA (the Association, not the Agreement) and wrecked the Indiana Pacers before getting his hands on the Knicks, he doesn't deserve a lot of sympathy. Maybe there's reasons why MJ and Bird hate him.

Save the sympathy for Glen Grunwald (although he should have known what he was getting into) and David Lee.

Cheers,
Dave Fritz

[Mark]

re: no trade clause - um, don't forget about Deavon(sp?) George, and at least one other guy like him!

Blogger's note: That wasn't a 'no-trade' clause specifically; it was a loophole built into the CBA that says any veteran with Bird or Early-Bird rights and on a one-year contract has to waive them before they are traded. A specific "you can't trade me unless I say you can' clause only exists in Bryant's deal right now. Nit-picking? Maybe.

[Bryden]

Doug,
Am I to assume that by saying Nate Robinson does "punk moves" you dislike him as much as me?

Blogger's note: I don't dislike you, I don't even know you (I keed, I keed)

[AK]

Hey Doug, How about putting together some sort of contest to "Do Dougs job for a day" so we can witness first hand what a drag it must be to catch such an early flight and wait in line at customs to catch the next raptors game live at courtside? ....best blog ever by the way.

[Mark]

Doug

What is that on Crawfords shoulder?

Blogger's note: It's a 'heat patch.' He had a severe bruise there earlier this year and that helps keep it loose so he can, you know, shoot it every time he touches it without causing further injury

[Alex]

Idk Doug, Crawford's game looks like more that just "shooting whenever he catches the ball" to me. He drives, makes nice passes - he's the whole package on offense. And consider his teammates - who is he going to pass to on a regular basis? Randolph? Robinson? At least with Crawford putting the shot up something good is likely to happen.

And on that shoulder patch... you think the Nicks could get him some professional help there. What a hack job.

[Mark]

Re: Heat Patch

I'm calling Guinness to tell them he has the world biggest heat patch!

[Pete Z]

Doug, the Lakers website is indeed wrong... Montenegro declared independence as of June 3rd, 2006.

As for Primoz, good to see some energy and liveliness off the bench from the big man. He definitely has something to prove and I think he got off to a pretty good start!!

Blogger's note: Thanks very much for clearing that up, I appreciate it and am sorry for the mistake.

[pat]

hey doug, like your blog, quick question considering the rebound issue of toronto and low post player. would you consider trading andrea for a big low post guy lets say emeka okafor?

Blogger's note: Nope, I wouldn't trade Bargnani for Okafor at all.

[Ellie]

I am amused by Primoz the Gangsta for the time being. A little swagger off the bench isn't a bad thing, provided it doesn't come with a raging ego. We'll see if it's still charming by the end of the season.

[Alex L]

I love Renaldo Balkman, did even when Isiah took him 2 years ago and got booed. He would look good in Raptor Red, bringing energy and hustle off the bench, and most importantly, rebounding (which he does well since he doesnt do much scoring). Not to mention that hair, its outta control!

What do you think about his game Doug, and would you rather have Lee or Balkman??

Blogger's note: Six of one, half a dozen of the other; I guess Lee's got some more offensive range, I guess.

[ET]

First of all I don't see bobcats trading Okafor for andrea at this point. I am sure they value Okafor higher than andrea!

[Kevin D.]

How good would Danny Granger look in a Raps uniform?

Blogger's note: I'm not sure red's his best colour.