The (Early) Morning After The Night Before, LVXIX

Up and at ‘em early here Cleveland, gotta beat this blizzard home. Nothing better than a First-Day-Of-Spring-Snowstorm, is there.

Made for a delightful evening in these parts.

They went a bit berserk here last night when LeBron went past Brad Daugherty to become Cleveland’s all-time leading scoring. Since it was inevitable he’d get there from the day he put the uniform on for the first time, might be a bit of over-kill.

But, let ‘em have their fun, right?

Here we go:

Three Things I Learned

A matchup not made in heaven

I’ll tell you this: Ben Wallace cannot guard Chris Bosh. But Anderson Varejao. I know Wallace left last night in the third quarter with back spasms, but they might have been brought on by Bosh twisting and turning him every which way. But all that meant was more Crazy Haired Andy, who’s spindly and long and athletic and who gets right up into Bosh.

M. Grange ™ pointed it out to Bosh after the game and he said this:

"He’s a slick dude but I’m starting to figure him out. I’d love to see him again. He’s a good player, he’s a good defensive player and rebounder and you really have to think two steps ahead when you’re playing him because if you think you’re just going to put your head down and go, he can beat to that spot and the referees know he’s trying to take charges.”

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What a thespian

Damon Jones might have had the all-time greatest dive in NBA history when T.J. bumped into him in the third quarter. The collision was hardly earth-moving (what’s T.J. weigh, about a buck and a quarter?) but Jones spun and collapsed like he’d been pole-axed and on the replay they showed on the scoreboard, while he’s falling he looks right at the officials with these big puppy dog eyes.

And if I know Jones, he was yapping the whole time.

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Dropping down the ladder

So, it sixth so horrible? No, not really. Orlando’s probably a better matchup than Cleveland but, I tell you, the Cavs were not that impressive last night. Soon as they made that huge trade, I was saying they weren’t any better, they were just different, and I’m sticking by that assessment now. I know LeBron’s LeBron but no way in the  world Cleveland beats Boston in a playoff series.

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On to other matters: Toronto’s Tyler points this out:

Hey, I just noticed something. Turns out Mark Blount, of the Heat who scored 54 (against Toronto), also started with the Denver Nuggets who scored 53 (in the NBA’s second-worst offensive night ever).
Put the guy on suicide watch. Yikes!.

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Here’s a couple quickly from the mailbag

Q: I have never seen this many posts to your blog. I'm opening a pizza stand outside the ACC. Want to invest?

Kevin M, Maple

A: Nah, they’d just boo us.

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Q: Hi Doug, I've never seen Alex English play, but I was looking at his career stats and they are amazing.

Can you give me your general thoughts on some of the following? Is he a head coach candidate? Does he want to be a head coach? What's his relationship like with Sam Mitchell and is he a possible successor?

Robert S, Toronto

A: Alex was one of the greatest offensive players of all time, there’s a reason he’s in the Hall of Fame. Now, I haven’t spoken to him about it in a while but he’s said in the past he’d like to be a head coach, he was one in the D League and got his team to the championship in his only year. His relationship with Sam is fine, mutual respect and friendship. Possible successor? Who knows, let’s see what happens in four years when Sam’s gone. If he is.

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Bet it’s crowded when we get on I-90 in a few minutes. Tons of travelling Toronto fans, including 40 from the Mississauga Monarchs basketball association who were down here, I’m told, to kick some Ohio butt.

And given that one of the coaches used to carve up all of the Niagara Peninsula as a high-scoring guard, I’d expect nothing more.

And to the fella who said hi during a quick break for some halftime fresh air, that was some Bargnani performance, wasn’t it?

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Speaking of Bargs, do you think Sam cancelled the orders for more masks?

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Here’s how the Cleveland Plain Dealer played its LeBron Love In; and here’s what they said in Denver today about the Noogies, who beat Voldemort and other Nets last night to keep their scant playoff hopes alive.

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In a shocking, truly stunning development, you’re killing Sam for leaving T.J. in the game until the final 4 1-2 minutes. Oh, and killing T.J., too, and you know what, it’s really getting tiring.

The only other stoppage when he could have got Ford out was with 6:36 to go and Toronto down three. Of course, he left him in and all Ford did was drill a three and then another bucket to pull Toronto into a tie each time.

So, Ford played two minutes at the end of the third and 7 1-2 to start the fourth. I’ve got no problem with that substitution pattern.

Of course, that’ll set the letter-writers off, but that’s what we’re here for, right?

Can't wait to read the comments when I get home after practice.

Comments

[Dagomar Degroot]

If Cleveland isn't impressive, what is Toronto? First round fodder? Probably.

Considering the Cavs have been incorporating their new pieces while struggling through a barrage of injuries, 10-6 is quite excellent since the trade. After all, the Mavs and Suns have had a worse time of it after their respective trades, although granted they do play in the West.

I, for one, certainly won't write off the Cavs after last season's playoffs. It's arguable whether Boston is better than Detroit, and Lebron roasted the Pistons last year without the athleticism and shooting he's got around him right now. For those who say that was a fluke: it was a tough seven game series the year before. The team with the best player in a playoff series always has a chance.

Regardless, at this point it seems like it will be Cleveland, Detroit or Boston representing the East in the Finals. Orlando's too young, Arenas won't be close to 100%, and the Raptors are a promising team with some major flaws.

As for TJ? I hope he's mentally right now and I know you're a big fan, Doug . . . but I'll still be surprised if he accepts his backup role. Fingers crossed.

[Andy]

"And now, I am done with the subject. Any or all of you may have the last word. I'm quite bored by the topic."

cough cough mature cough cough.

Sounds like the jealous words of someone who realizes there is someone else in Raptorland who knows basketball.

[GM]

I think it always boils down to coaching. If the players aren't implementing what the coaches are saying, it's still the coaches. If the coaches can't reach the players, it's the coaches. Many, many fine coaches have been fired simply because their team has stopped performing for them. Sometimes all it takes is a change, whether the coach is any good or not. Sometimes they're just not right for that team.

I think some of the posters have a point, though. What difference does it make whether that particular writer had direct contact with the players or coach? It was essentially an opinion piece. And is there any truth to their comments that if a reporter is around the team all the time they might not be able to be as forthcoming as someone who isn't?

[petro]

WOW... still trying to get my head around the statement that "it took Bosh 5 years to get to this playing ability."

Would love to know if B.C. and M.G. are questioning their initial asessments of Bargs being a major building block for this franchise. In the end, it just might be that Bargs is a role player coming off the bench.

Bargs does not have the will, the fight, the agressiveness, the attitude, the mindset to play the 5 (position he has been put in.) His game is very predictable and his mental toughness and approach to each game is weak and very inconsistent.

As an amateur, yet rational judge of talent, Bargs has been a major disappointment thus far this season. Those flashes of brilliance that we see are way too infrequent.

His softness and major inconsistency have convinced me that he is not a building block kind of player... especially the way they are forcing him to play the 5.

[shawn]

Poor Andy.

[Mike Dell]

Doug is afraid of Sam Mitchell it seems. Scared of being embarassed on TV or scared of losing access to the team for interviews. That is why he is hesitant to write anything too critical.

[Uncle Zeke]

Anyone who watches the Raptors on tv semi-regularly can see for themselves that Sam Mitchell is more problem than solution for the Raptors. Do you really think that if you ask a player their opinion on Mitchell's coaching they'll give you an honest answer? Or maybe the players (and you?) are so close to the situation that you don't really have a good comparator- or understanding of what a good coach is? Could this be a negative that Chisholm does not have to deal with?

I realize you're on the Raptor's beat and can't criticize the staff but I think that attacking Chisholm for his piece based on those reasons is unjustified. Can't wait for the spin when Mitchell's fired and Bargnani is dumped for a low #1.

And now, I am done with the subject. Any or all of you may have the last word. I'm quite bored by the topic.

[bballer]

oh wait, i think i didn't finish my point. what i meant to say is despite the fact the team is not talented, smitch has made this team a playoff contender. i actually think he is doing an above average job coaching this team to become what it is. is smitch the best coach in the league, no. but he is getting better since the first year. by stating that every other team has more talent, yet toronto is ahead of them is a testament of how good a job smitch is doing. he knows how to motivate these guys to play above their abilities. nobody expected calderone to be this good. utah thought hump was as bad as arujao. hence the trade.

so people, if you think there are better coaches out there to coach this team and play the style bc wants the team to play name them. people, if you think the raps should be further ahead in the standings, which teams ahead of the raps are not as talented as this team?

[Andy]

poor andy? You don't have to use a fake name doug..cmon...

[jk]

It's funny when a big fat know-nothing hack thinks he's got the Raptors figured out because he "hangs around" the team...
A major contributor to "the stupidest questions on earth" brigade that we have to endure in those dinky scrums on RapsTV....
Mitchell cannot coach...how many more pathetic losses do we have to witness with formerly adept players looking utterly lost do we have to endure before the penny drops...
It is so clear that last year was a Cinderella year and that it is not going to come close to repeating unless the "real deals" are put in place..not the bandaids that made everything look so rosy last year.
Mitchell and Ford have to go and a huge influx of talent at the wing has to arrive...otherwise it's back to the "Craptors"

[bballer]

if you are going to say smitch needs to go, please point out which coaches would you rather see instead. phil jax couldn't win with a mediocre laker team. riley's team was in last place. larry brown won only 35 games with a new york team. rivers almost was fired last year and now is coaching the best team in the league. who would you want to see instead? talent trumps coaching in the nba.

[shawn]

Andy, that was me. I think that accusation pretty much sums up your immaturity.