Is there a sense of doom hovering?

How’s everyone feeling today? A bit nervous? Resigned to the fate that’s coming? Excited at all?

ANDREW WALLACE/TORONTO STAR

The towel has been thrown by some of you around these parts.

Judging for the letters and notes I’m getting, very few expect anything good to come from tonight’s game.

Who knows. I guess they could make every shot they look at and win a shootout and wouldn’t that put some juice back in this thing for a few days.

But maybe not. Maybe they lose and we get can on with the summer.

I’m thinking tonight goes a bit like Saturday, close until the final few minutes.

Let’s get down to business

A work of fiction

Okay, so I don’t know Peter Vescey that well, maybe met him twice in my life and he’s become entirely irrelevant around the NBA, but what he did Sunday was absolutely unconscionable.

The drive-by on Sam Mitchell, you can read it here, was shocking not only because it’s wrong but because a purported responsible journalist cannot fabricate direct quotes and get away with it.

And that’s just what that was, an entire fabrication of a scene that never, ever took place. I spoke to half a dozen people yesterday who would have been in that room and it simply didn’t happen.

It’s funny to me, big shot columnist, who should know better, writes fiction and doesn’t seem to care. If I’m quoting somebody, I know they said the words. If I’m making an assertion like that – as bogus as it was – I’m checking first.

And I think we all know now that Mr. Vescey deals in fantasy rather than fact. And this one instance entirely diminishes every other single word he writes.

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A little public service.

If there is a Game 6, it’s going to start at either 6 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, depending on what happens in the Phoenix-San Antonio and New Orleans-Dallas series.

There was some concern, among the beat writers at least, that we might get an 8 p.m. start or, egads, even an 8:30 p.m. tip but the NBA took care of us.

It’s going to be on NBA-TV down here in the states regardless.

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More on Sam’s future?

Speaking of Sam, he’s back in the news in New York today, too.

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Checking out remnants of the mail

Q: Here's a little work for you - 'cause we wouldn't want you to, you know, enjoy a break or anything. Nene Hilario - would have been fun to see him in a Raptors uni going against Howard. Blah, blah, freak-injury-prone, blah, blah, overpaid, but Rasho and filler might get that trade done, and Rasho hasn't exactly been an underpaid world-beater. Thoughts? (That was my token question).
D.J. Augustin might be available in the draft - read his draft summary and you would swear they were talking about TJ Ford - he might be a good change of pace guard off the bench - minus the controversy. Thoughts? (Sense a rant-covering trend here)?
You know what I like? (How about that - does that count as a question? - does this?)? I like Bargnani's game. IF - IF - he relearns how to shoot. AS a power forward. Who else on the Raptors drives to the net with such force - when he gets motoring, he goes.
And finally, did you say Josh Smith of Atlanta was available, and could he play small forward as an offensive/defensive force? I seem to remember you mentioning him, and he sure has been looking good.
Not talking skill-wise, but speed-wise - from your courtside vantage point, how does Calderon stack up against other great point guards with a reputation for slowness - I'm thinking of Stockton, as well as others. What I'm getting at, is he at least as fast as other point guards who have had success, or is he just too dang slow? (Hey, this might qualify as a real question!!).

Andy A, Dallas

A: Wow. Got a bit of time on your hands down there?

Okay, I like Nene a lot and if he had been healthy in the spring around trade deadline time, I bet Bryan would have called about him. I also know Denver, when its done with the season, will be looking to make some drastic change and I bet Bryan calls again. Nene would be an excellent fit here.

Not too familiar with DJ Augustin, though, but when it comes to a backup point guard next year (if it breaks down as I think it will with a Ford trade and a Calderon re-signing), they’re going to be looking for someone with experience.

And I don’t know if Josh Smith is available, if Atlanta’s got any brains, he won’t be because I think he can be really good. But who knows what’s going to happen with the Hawks ownership, coaching and the general manager’s spot so maybe he’ll be on the market.

Finally, Jose’s not going to win any sprints but he’s not the slowest guard in the league but a long stretch. He’s average and the other stuff he does makes him an above-average PG in my opinion.

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The Wizards are dopes

I’m with Charles Barkley on this, the Washington Wizards might be the stupidest team in the history of pro sports for riling up LeBron James before their series began and then trying to play like thugs in every game.

If they don’t suspend DeShawn Stevenson for that hit on James yesterday, Stu Jackson should be ashamed of himself. I’m all for tough basketball, dirty, stupid basketball has no place in the game.

They should have suspended Brendan Haywood for his hit on James earlier in the series, they have to sit Stevenson down.

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Hey, Jawad, here’s a note for you.

And for the Fine Ladies Of The Foundation who put it together.

Many thanks to you, the Raptors Foundation but especially Jawad. I had the good fortune of winning those tickets to Game 3. We lost, but it was a great experience to be at the game. I will never forget it.

Robert Nordness, Toronto

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The daily look-in with the fellas over at the Orlando Sentinel.

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Have no idea how tonight and tomorrow’s going to break down but it’s going to be busy around here. Another of those gawdforsaken early morning flights may make this another all-nighter so stay tuned,

Comments

[Elwyn Jennings]

I took a look at the Vescey article: Vescey reams Sam a bit, but if I were Mike D'Antoni, I'd be...upset.

[John]

Hey Doug,

I have never been a fan of Mitchell's but to be honest with you I have no issue about how he's coached this series. At some point it's up to the players to step up and perform. Game 1 the PG play was atrocious by both Ford and Calderon (not his fault). Game 2 if Bosh makes that shot we take a split home to the ACC. Game 3 players other than Bosh finally step up so we blow them out. Game 4 Calderon is cold, as is every other player but Bosh.

The one area where you can criticize Mitchell is the out-of-timeout play calls. At the end of the 4th quarter out of a timeout the play call was a Parker drive off a screen where he was blocked by Howard. Was that actually his call or did something go wrong? AP was cold all game and to have him drive the lane against Superman just seemed like a ridiculous play.

That being said, if players hit their shots earlier in the 4th the team would have never been in that position. Not on Sam, it's on the players IMO.

[Ellie]

The Raps do love to dig a hole. I wouldn't put it past them to force a game six and then lose the series on home turf.

I watched the game, but I didn't realize Delfino had racked up so many fouls until they booted him. Was he doing anything bizarre or dumb to draw so many?

Blogger's note: No, he really didn't do anything silly, all the fouls were legit.

[Ron]

I am not sure why Peter Vescey and the NBA are even mentioned in the same sentence. The guy has absolutely no credibility whatsoever. I wonder if anyone remembers that, among other things, just before Vince Carter signed his big contract with the Raptors in 2001, he said he had an impeccable source that told him Vince was going to sign elsewhere. Just a long list of fantasy comments on his part but for some reason this idiot continues to get media attention.

[j smoke]

Good for you for posting a comment re: P Vescey. Hard to believe that cantakerous has-been is still working NBA TV (looks like he would rather have a root canal than offer commentary) and crafting garbage columns for the NY Post (even I, an Isiah hater, thought Vescey went too far with his personal attacks on the former Knick coach).

[Dan]

If the Raptors lose tonight I won't be to dissapointed. I predicted they would be out in six games. Bosh has impressed me in the playoffs and I feel with another consistant scorer he can be even more effective. Same result as last year three stars are better then one no matter how good the role players are. At least the future still looks good. Dallas and Phoenix went with the win now approach and will be stuck with two very big contracts on older players. I think both of their windows have closed. Nash seems to be a bit off lately aswell. I thought the Kidd trade for sure would help Dallas.

[Ryan]

There's definitely an odd feeling going into tonight's game. A bit resigned but at the same time, if they can win this game, they can come back home. The chances of winning are low but if they can fight off just tonight, a game 7 might be possible. Long shot but I don't think they're going to quit yet.

There's a few players on this team that really should use this as an opportunity to prove they want to be here. Bosh not among them though; he's exempt from all criticism. The guy is the franchise, it's everyone else that has got to step up.

[petro]

Doug... the utmost respect to you for calling out one of your own! Accountability and Integrity... something Vescey bashes players about all the time! HMMM???

[Eric]

I wonder if the team really believes they can win. I believe they can, but I don't believe they do. Yet we will continue to hear the same stuff through the media about how it's not over, etc. This team has simply taken on THAT identity for me: all talk. As if saying the right things will be enough.

Someone has to explain to me why they haven't improved (if anything, taken a step back), neither individually nor as a team. I think the answer would help us (as fans) understand the "doom and gloom" that they're allegedly playing under tonight. I think underachievers look forward to the offseason- can't get here fast enough for them, really- so they can go back to spending 100% of their time talking and it's so much easier to talk. The season is a drag because it actually requires some walking. Think Blue Jays.

I'm totally unimpressed with the team's excuses this year. I hope my favourite teams never again feature the same crippling attitude. Go Raptors, I guess.

[Tim]

Peter Vescey is Marty New York. 'Nuff said?

I, for one, am trying to look at the positives:
Jose has shown a nice ability to get into the traffic under the net a la Nash but unlike him, JC doesn't have a supremely athletic guy like Amare to dump it to for a dunk or layup. Bosh's skills are more nifty post up moves and good range shooter. Hump, I guess, has the body and athleticism but definitely not the hands of Amare to catch those out-of-nowhere passes, put one dribble down and slam it home. Therefore, JC seems stuck with dumping the ball back out to the top of the circle and hope the guy knocks down an open three.
TJ can pretty much get anywhere he wants, and has shown some nice passes to Bosh in the key. Unfortunately, until he shows he can hit those in close layups...
AP, let's stop expecting him to become our slashing forward. He can hit the open corner three and looks good coming off the pick at the top of the key to knock in that mid-range jumper (even when he's missing, his form still looks good). All in all, those aren't two bad skills for a future backup.

[voislav]

Can't say that I'm that shocked at Vescey's comments, after all Post has always been the beacon of integrity that never let facts get in the way of a good story.

[GM]

Since when does an NBA columnist need to be "relevant" around the NBA? What does that even mean? Is Feschuk relevant? I'm not even sure what that means, other than an attempt to lash out.

I just read Vecsey's column. I'm not even sure he was being serious. His biggest problem is he mixes jokes (or supposed jokes) in with reality. The jokes aren't always so obvious (largely because they're often not funny). The Sam quote seemed to be one of those. If you're going to call him out, why don't you check with him to see if he stands by it or it was an attempt at a joke?

[Tim Amor]

Vescey is a gem.

Remember the last time Bynum played the Raptors in a regular season game? It was Feb 9th, 2007, when he exploded for 2 points and 4 rebounds.

I wish more players would "kill" the Raptors like that. I can see why Sam would be so worried about him.

[Sarfraz]

Hi Doug,

Is there no legal recourse against Peter Vescey? I mean if I was Sam Mitchell,and someone falsely made up my comments and actions,other than for a comedy sketch, and sold it as fact then I'd be pissed. It's one thing making up trade rumours, it's another to make up a scenario with real-people and sell it as News. Is there no Media Group that can hold him and the NY Post to account for false journalism? Thanks.

Blogger's note: If there was recourse, it wouldn't be worth the trouble

[Bob W]

Peter Vescey is, for lack of a better term, a hack.

I still remember a while back when he had that public feud with Charley Rosen, who is a pretty damn good basketball analyst. God that was awful to stomach, especially when he should be writing about actual basketball-related matters instead.

[Michael]

I think the coach did a good job in the season and the playoffs. During the games in the playoffs the coach did a good job to keep the players believe they can come back. I say that this year playoff they look much better than last year even though the series record maybe worse than last year but they're in every game so far where last year they didn't not play well on the road until the last game.

I think if we can get a star wing play to help bosh out and Bargani becomes a star player then we will be really good. Hopefully BC can do some good changes this offseaon without hurting the team future.

[charade]

No need for a Post story to tell me that Mitchell is a poor coach.

[Liam C]

Hey Doug.

I'm glad you set the record straight on PV's bologna anecdote about Smitch.

At least if you're going to create fictional quotes, at least make it sound like the guy actually said that. And from years of reading Mitchell's quotes in the papers and listening to him on TV, that doesn't sound like him at all.

And amidst years of pretty open critique of Mitchell, I don't think I've ever heard him being criticized as under-prepared or lazy. Whatever problems I've had with his coaching methods or choices, he has always come across as a real student and fan of the game. Making this story come off all the more silly.

How does Vescey get away with writing this kind of stuff in a major (albeit less than respectable) publication?

Perhaps it'd be nice if one of the star writers addressed both Michell's actual strengths and weaknesses in somewhat of a sober rebuttal piece.

And seriously, about his future here, seems to me his only sweeping fault this season has been not making overachievers out of a fairly ordinary roster.

Hopefully Colangelo spends his offseason time and money on more pressing matters, like a swingman who can create his own shot.

[John Camilo]

well yeah it's bad that Peter Vescey is making up quotes and making idiotic comments, but he is basically right in the sense that Sam Mitchell should go. Just look at the results.
The Raptors will likely lose this series to Orlando and that will make losing 2 WINNABLE Play Offs series in a row and a mediocre .500 underachieving season in between. Even Doug 's Colleague Dave Feschuk is rightfully suggesting the same thing, that Sam should be fired. however the most likely scenario is that Sam will keep his job for while Colangelo will of course try to improve the roster. The firing of Sam will not happen this summer because the financial implications would be too big, Colangelo himself would be jeopardizing his job. But make no mistake about it, that Sam Mitchell will be, starting the moment they lose the series to Orlando, deservedly in the "hot seat" until he eventually gets fired or The Raptors produce much better results like having a 50-win season and going deep into the Play Offs next year.

[bballer]

i know at one point people were mentioning rebounders, so how about a player like najera who is a free agent. i know it may be a stretch since he has created strong marketing opportunities for himself in mexico and might approach the clippers, but isn't he a solid enough rebounder for next years raptors? watching reggie evans, jason maxiell or even ronny turiaf play with hustle and vigour points shows the type of player the raps need to come off the bench. i'm not sold on nene. he doesn't seem to put enough into the game. even when playing for brazil he put up lacklustre efforts.

[Connor]

A little bit of a pre-emptive strike against the crazies that will be commenting tomorrow. This exchange cracked me up (from today's Hollinger live chat):

Barry (Toronto): Chris Bosh is a mediocre 2nd option thrust into a franchise role, true or false?

John Hollinger: (5:01 PM ET ) False, for crying out loud. What is wrong with you people up there? Why do fans always want to blame the best player when the team doesn't win?

[Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb]

As a journalism student myself Vecesy making up a quote and making up information like that is shameful to the profession. Here's hoping he does get caught here, I know from my studies that journalists have a certain integrity to uphold and he's stomped all over that. Thanks for bringing it to attention Doug.

[jk]

yeah...and people who read columnists to formulate opinions are just as weak...for the dense...when someone questions whether Bosh can carry a team the feeble overreact like you've said he should be traded....he can't CARRY a team, that doesn't mean he isn't the best player NOW....you can't have a player who is unable to stop anyone and unable to consistently beat other All Star level players in BIG GAMES be the ONE to carry a team!!! It doesn't matter if he scores big in regular season......you NEED a PLAY MAKER a STAR level PLAY MAKER...someone who can take over in the 4th quarter, who will hit the clutch shot. Bosh has never been that guy.
It's like saying "you need to defend" and people screaming "oh, so you don't want us to shoot baskets!!" Saying Bosh can't carry a team isn't saying get rid of him or he's no good..it's saying he's too limited in his position and strength to CARRY a team. Lebron James can CARRY a team...
Kevin Garnett couldn't CARRY Minnesota.
It's as though the people here never actually watch good teams....
and BTW, Philadelphia and Atlanta are going to beat Toronto's butt bad next year if the Raptors don't get their heads out of their asses and get some real athletes who are not midgets and can drive and create.

Blogger's note: Still in your usual bright and sunny mood, I see.