Seventh Heaven? Or Seventh Circle of Hell?

How’s seventh place feel, fans?

ELISE AMENDOLA/AP

Sixers and Samuel Dalembert are smack in the middle of the playoff chase with the Raptors.

Not so good, I imagine.

I have no idea what kind of stuff the Sixers are on but last night’s win in Boston was as impressive as any in the league this year.

They go a 19-0 run in the fourth quarter at Boston? Yeah, right, like that’s gonna happen. Oops, guess it did.

The thing about the Sixers is that as much as the Raptors are going in the toilet, Philly’s taking full advantage by winning games no one ever expected them to win.

I told someone last week that I could see a scenario that has Philly fifth, Toronto sixth and Washington seventh and I’m starting to believe that might be the case.

Lots of games left, the Wizards start five out west tonight that should keep some of you fans up late, but we are in for a heckuva finish, aren’t we?

If you’re looking way ahead, here’s how the tiebreakers work out:

Toronto has it over Philly

Washington has it over Toronto

Philly leads the season series with the Wizards 2-1 with a game left so the worst they can do is split.

And it’s impossible to tell about a three-way yet because of that Sixer-Wizards game to come.

Right now, Toronto’s 4-4 in games between the three teams, Washington’s 4-3 and the Sixers are 3-4.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, Philly wins that last game with the Wizards and all three are 4-4 in games between them this season.

That’s when conference record comes into play and it’s impossible to figure that out right now.

Gonna make watching games down the stretch a lot more interesting.

Speaking of the Sixers, Phil Jasner’s story today sums up the improbability of what they’ve been doing.

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Here’s an interesting one:

Q: Doug, why is everyone so enamored with a first round match up with Orlando.

Shouldn’t the Grand Poobahs over at MLSE along with us fanatics want to play Detroit or Boston? I do! As I see it, the goal is to win a championship, not round #1. Thus, you want to compete against the best… so you know what you need… to become the best.

Rob V, Waterloo

A: I see your point but I can guarantee you that you might be one of a handful of people who think that way. I’m pretty sure they’d love to challenge the best, but only after they’d won a round.

But your scenario might get me some time off more quickly than I’d have expected three months ago.

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For 10 years now, Jack Armstrong has been doing TV and radio and just about anything else the Raptors asked of him, his own unique brand of commentary – born of a coaching background combined with a quirky, entertaining delivery – has been a staple.

What’s ahead? With news that Sportsnet is getting out of basketball – I guess we’ll be subjected to more and more replays of old poker games – Jack’s future is a bit cloudy.

I don’t know how many of the poohbahs at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment read this – I hope it’s every single one – but they should know that every single fan I talk to has nothing but praise for the raspy-voiced New Yorker.

I’m sure there will be all kinds of networks and teams looking at Jack this summer – he already has an extensive list of clients – but I know he loves it here, he’s part of the basketball fabric and the Raptors must find a way to keep him as heavily involved, or more heavily involved than he is right now.

A so-so seaosn has alienated a few fans already, losing Jack pushes a few more off the cliff.

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How ‘bout them Pistons?

Seven straight seasons of 50 wins or more. A big victory over Phoenix last night and there’s no reason to think they won’t be in the Eastern Conference for the sixth straight season.

Check out how my man Chris McCoskey summed up the win over the Suns.

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Here’s one from the mail:

Q: Thanks for finding the energy writing to restless Raptors fans like myself.

Given that Eric Smith pointed out the media relationships you reporters have with the Raptors and to that extent, Bryan Colangelo, I was wondering you could answer this question.

Realistically, we all know that Andrea Bargnani could 'become' a really special player but watching him play throughout the year would 'realistically' suggest that seems pretty doubtful. If you ever had the green light to, I was wondering if you could 'realistically' give us an assessment of his chances of becoming the player Colangelo envisioned?

Hugh L, Scarborough

A: I think we’ve all seen flashes of what Bargnani could be, the first quarter Sunday was a perfect example of him slashing and shooting and – for about six minutes – dominating offensively.

The trouble, as we’ve all seen too often, is inconsistency, but I don’t think that’s unusual for a young big man.

I’ve said often I believe he has to be mentally tougher, and physically tougher as well, but I’ve seen enough in small stretches to make me think he can do it.

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Steve C. out in Kimberley writes to point out that in a recent Heat game, Bobby Jones led the team in scoring and was then released. Steve suggests he wasn’t with the program.

In looking at the ‘tankers’ this year, I can see only two: Miami and the Knicks, who’ve given up all pretense of trying to win. Guess it’s good news that the Raptors have a game left against each of them.

Comments

[Ryan]

Is it just me, Doug, or is the winter's length, the Raptors performance + us Raptor fans driving you off the edge? You really don't seem to be enjoying the blog as much as you used to and hopefully we can tone down our frustration a bit. I think we're all frustrated right now with no clear answers. And you were right about the pizza thing.. if I was at the game that would have been some bitter pizza.

[alex]

Losing Jack Armstrong would be a huge, huge mistake.

[Brad]

Great to see your support of Jack! I love watching games that has Jack on the broadcast. He always gives an honest view point and throws in enough humour that is actually funny. Leo is okay, Chuck has his moments, but Jack is always entertaining. When he gives his opinion on plays, he never seems quite as biased as the other two, and it comes across more of opinion rather than trying to 'teach' fans all the time. In my opinion, yourself and Jack are about the only two opinions covering Rap's bball that are worth listening/reading!

[Alex H]

I actually thought the same thing about Philly finishing 5th, Toronto 6th and Washington 7th, after looking at their remaining schedules a couple days ago. Washington might have to consider themselves lucky to even hang on to 7th with the games they have remaining. They'll be very hard-pressed to play .500 basketball the rest of the way. If either of the contenders for 8th place, and I know this is giving either of those teams entirely too much credit, can go on a run, they can catch Washington.

[Brian Sherman]

Hey Doug,

The freaks over at RealGM actually set up a "Bring Back Jack" petition - check it out at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bringbackjack

[Alex]

Sam leaving TJ in the game for the first half of every 4th quarter, and then only bringing Jose back in when the team's down by 10, is losing games. I thought the "players' play" was supposed to determined PT? Sure doesn't seem that way. He stays with TJ until the last possible second, then gives Jose, who is now ice-cold after sitting for 20 minutes, a 10-point deficit with 5 minutes to go and nobody but TJ having got a touch for the duration of the quarter. No wonder they come up short to close out games.

The Raps have a good team when the starters play and the backups back-up. Too bad that rarely happens lately.

[Johnny]

Doug, fans may not agree with you in your opinions, but it's clear everyone is on board in supporting Jack!

It'd be a shame to lose our best analyst! His chemistry with Chuck is a lot better than the alternative...

[JT]

Would really be disappointed if Jack wasn't retained...he should be the full-time colour guy now (sorry Leo) All of the upside of last year seems to be going sideways (the team, To's enthusiasm and TV numbers) Losing Norma Wick was bad, not making every effort to keep Jack would be fatal for me

[Aaron Campbell]

"HELLO"

Love, love, love Jack Armstrong. It would be a shame to leave us only with the talented, but bland Leo, if Jack left.

I totally agree with the comment above about Sam leaving TJ in there until the last possible second until Jose is stone cold.

Sam's personal relationship with TJ seems to be getting in the way again.

[Cliff]

I completely agree with Alex's point.

Every interview Sam Mitchell gives, he lectures reporters and preaches that guys who play well get to stay on the court. God forbid any reporter ask him about playing time...

The opposite seems to be true for TJ. The worse he plays the longer he stays on the court. Almost as if Mitchell is worried about offending TJ by taking him out after a bad play, bad shot, bad pass, or all of the above in succession...dare I say special treatment for TJ?

One good way to disrupt morale and team unity is to give special treatment to individual players especially when it impacts the outcome of games.

Question for the blogger, do you feel Mitchell is making coaching mistakes particularly with managing the TJ - Jose situation at the end of games? Do you think this is going unnoticed by management?

Blogger's note: I'll do the question tomorrow morning, standing outside the practice gym and the anticipation of (a) getting in to hear these guys; and (b) the tension around skatearound for the biggest game ever makes it hard to think.

[leigh]

to 'Alex L' yesterday regarding purchasing old Raptors games...check out www.pontel.com

[Paul M.]

I've gotta toss my support out for Jack as well. Great color commentator. And an extremely pleasant chap. I actually met him one night at some ungodly hour outside a local pub, after having a few adult bevarages watching a game with some friends. I nattered his ear off for five minutes about the time he took a shot at Billy Packer (I hate that guy) during an NCAA Tournament telecast on Sportsnet. Jack was unbeliveable nice.

[Sari A.]

Bargnani does indeed have flashes of scoring in bunches.
But when does this happen? 1st Quarter? Sometimes the 2nd, but that's about it. He comes and scores 10+ in the first Half when he's playing 'at his best' and then is shut down in the 2nd half and makes no difference to speak of.
I think plenty of the players on the Raptors roster have the ability to come out and score 10+ in the first 6 minutes. Hardly puts Bargs in any upper echelon and is no indicator to his potential.

[JC]

Doug, it would be great if you would get into this Jack Armstrong thing a bit deeper. If you have any ideas on who we should get in touch with (aside from the regular Raptors.com, thescore.com, etc), it would be appreciated.

Jack is easily the finest basketball broadcaster this city has seen since John Saunders.

[TMF]

Doug, just come out and say what we're all thinking:
Jack is vastly superior to Leo in every way.

Although maybe you're saving that task for the always-on-point Chris Zelkovich.

[Joe T.]

Oh my God! Doug, I'll have to finish reading your blog entry today after I type this comment. I couldn't continue after I got to the part about Jack. Not only has this season been a disppointment from a basketball standpoint. But it was already disappointing to me when I realized how few games Jack would be working this year. And now you tell me his future is cloudy?! He is absolutely my favourite part of the whole Raptors broadcast world and losing him would be a BIG loss. We already had to deal with the loss of Norma Wick. There is no way in the world that Jack Armstrong should be pushed out, too. His analysis and humour make watching even the losses entertaining. And yes, his chemistry with Chuck is the best. I'm gonna go add my name to the list of "freaks" on that RealGM petition. AARGH!...

[Dan]

I hope they keep Jack. Did he not cover the Raps for one of the other networks also. I like both him and Leo. They are the Jose and TJ of broadcasting. Except in this case you don't have thousands of emails saying one should be fired.

[Mark S]

As a Raptors fan and (current) RaptorsTV subscriber I would like to say to the poohbahs at MLSE: Keep Jack, and while you're at it bring back Norma.

[GM]

I have no opinion on Jack. I neither like him nor dislike him. But what's this about SportsNet getting out of basketball? Why? Does that mean there will be fewer games on TV or will another network just pick up their games? Am I supposed to go rooting through the paper now? I like to get all my Raptor info directly from this blog.

Blogger's note: According to people I've talked to, all those out of market games we watch on the various Sportsnet regional networks are going to be a thing of the past, I'm afraid.
Not sure if The Score or someone else will pick them all up, or some of them, or none of them.

[Alex]

Second comment today... I gotta stick up for Leo here! Jack's great, but I'm a big Leo fan. Although he tends to pick on poor Chuck a bit too much...

[kevin]

Sounds like The Score will have more NBA next year instead. Read this last week: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080320.TRUTH20/TPStory/?query=raptors+broadcasts

[Derek L]

Thanks for mentioning Mr. Armstrong. I'm not a Raptors TV subscriber (and won't ever be, but that's another discussion), so I've really missed seeing his broadcasts this year. I've been a Jack fan for a good many years - his games have always been something to look forward to for me. He's great and it'll be sad to see him go.

I wanted to point out that Jack seems make Chuck better when they work together. Maybe it's just me, but I always feel like Chuck does a better job of sticking to his role (play by play) when he works with Jack. When he's working with Leo, Chuck tends to skew into play by play-slash-colour man territory which diminishes his skills and brings him into uncomfortable places (eg - unbalanced criticism, arguments with Leo, salami and cheese debates, etc).

I'd hate to see this discussion degenerate into a Leo vs Jack debate, because that would be unfair to both of them. Jack's skills as a broadcaster should be allowed to stand on their own merit and by comparing him to Leo, we tend to miss out on a lot of what Jack has to offer. Anyway, I just wanted to cast my vote for keeping Jack around - for whatever it's worth.

[Paul M.]

Wow. I really hope Sportsnet replaces the out of market basketball with more hockey: they could start showing team practices, or do features on marketing meetings, or do a "day in the life"-feature about the guy who sharpens skates or washes the equipment. Maybe instead of covering the NHL trade deadline for 24 hours straight, they could even do a WHOLE WEEK, so we don't miss out on every detail of team X trading their 8th round draft pick in 2015 to team Y for a 9th round pick in 2012 and a prospect from the Brazilian rollerhockey league. Or rather than doing sports highlights, they could just do a show that is hockey highlights...oh, wait: isn't that what Sportsnet Connected is already?!

[shawn m]

Aside from losing Jack (hopefully not), I am somewhat happy to hear about Sportsnet's decision to drop out-of-market games. I hope this means The Score will pick up more of those games, like they have been doing with Raptor games and NCAA basketball games recently over the last few years. As a sports fan foremost, I fully support The Score and their non hockey-oriented programming ways, and would love to have another reason to support the Network (good work on the CIS and CFL content). Although I enjoy NBA games, it pains me to have to sift through the hockey garbage on Sportsnet (and TSN) to find these non-Raptor games. Lets hope the Score does the right thing.

[Chi of Steel]

There was an article -- coincidentally enough, in the paper with the same initials as the poster -- that talked about Sportsnet bowing out of basketball coverage due to various fees. Sounded like The Score is going to broadcast 30+ games, but it wasn't clear whether the other national broadcasters would increase their coverage as well.