Some Game 2 mail

Very few over-the-top rants in here today, well done folks.

And lots of good questions with some meat to them.

Away we go:

Q: Hey Doug, just wondering what your opinion was about the last play the Raptors called. Lots of people I talked to thought they should have opted for a play run for Kapono or another shooter. From what Sam Mitchell said after the game, it sounded like a pretty good play call to me, Bosh did get the open jumper after all. What's your thought on it?

Sunny R, Woodbridge

A: I thought it was the only logical call and the by far the right one. Run your bread and butter play with your two best players on the night and give yourself a chance.

If Howard had hugged Bosh and the lane opened, Jose would have gone to the rim, like he did that night in Boston. If Howard backed off even a bit, it was the right move let Bosh make a play.

I’ll take a Chris Bosh 15-footer any day of the week.

-

Q: Hey Doug. Love your blog. What are your thoughts on the four teams that now have to go home down 2-0, Raps, Wiz, Suns, Mavs? I think they each have a chance to take 2 at home and tie their respective series.

Nitin V, Waterloo

A: Each? I don’t know about that. Washington seems to be unraveling (and Gilbert’s got a wonky wrist) and Chris Paul is just killing the Mavs. I can see both of those series being 3-1 for sure, and maybe over in four.

The other two? I’d say it’s 50-50 they get to 2-2. I still think there’s lots of legs left in both of those series.

-

Q: I'm sorry, I've been a big Sam Mitchell fan up until now, but the Raptors have seen too many mismatches at the start of games to compete. That lack of preparation is the coach's fault, and it puts us down too much to recover. Am I crazy to think Mitchell will be on the hot-seat right away next year if the Raps continue to get dominated in the first quarter, and ultimately lose, this series.

Mark I, Oakville

A: I disagree that it’s a lack of preparation, I think it’s a lack of execution.

And, judging by a conversation we had with Bryan before Game 2, I don’t think there’s any ‘hot seat’ getting prepared for the end of the season. I could be wrong, but that’s the way I’m reading the tea leaves now.

-

Q: I’m wondering on a scale of 1-10, how would rate that Orlando crowd? I was watching the game on TV, and it seems like they are kind of on the laissez faire side. I also noticed that the average age for the crowd is around 50 years, I’ve never seen so many old people at a sporting event! Could this be attributed to the quiet crowd in Orlando? I have a feeling the fans are going to have a larger effect in Toronto than they had in Orlando

Nilesh P, Ajax

A: I’d give the crowd a 5. It’s loud but not overly crazy and, yes, I think Toronto’s may have a greater impact on the momentum of the game. As for the average age, I never really noticed the old side that you did.

Q: A question on the foul on Jose with about 10 seconds left - shouldn't that have been 2 FTs and possession to the Raptors, since the foul occurred while the ball was not in play? Not sure if I'm mixing up my rules here, and hence seeking to learn from your wealth of knowledge.

Omri F, Toronto

A: Excellent question.

That’s exactly what should have happened if the ball had still be in the hands of the player inbounding it. But the pass was in the air when Dooling whacked Jose. The referees actually got together to confer on it to make sure they had it right.

-

Q: Some host on the Fan 590 (not Smith/Jones) was foaming at the mouth after the game about the Raptors laying two first-quarter eggs in the road. It made me think about something my brother said to me when I first started following the Raptors a few years ago (I wasn't game from day one, sorry Ford). We were watching a game and the Raps were down by significant double-digits. I said they were done for, but my brother shook his head. "Oh no, they'll come back in the second half. They always do this."
Is there any statistical evidence to support this very ancedotal story? It feels to me like what the Ratpors are lacking most as a group is a killer instinct. They can shoot, play defense and bring intensity, but they don't bring those things until their backs are to the wall and they have no other choice (either in games generally or in this series).

Ellie W, Toronto

A: I suppose I could go through all the boxscores from the season to find the empirical data but it’s late. I’m sure we’d find that statistical evidence to back up the – correct – anecdotal feeling you and I have. And it’s not just the Raptors, either. Basketball is truly a game of runs and a team with a big lead invariably relaxes just a little bit, which allows teams to carve big leads into little ones on almost every occasion.

-

Q: Why did Bosh throw the ball down the court like he did on that turnover in the last minute? Was he off-balance and worried about going out of bounds? If he held onto the ball there (up by 1 with 40 secs to go) it would have been a different outcome!

Michael K, London

A: I think it was a combination of instinct and wanting to preserve the one time out they had left. And, under the rules, if he had been falling out of bounds saving the ball, the refs couldn’t have given him a timeout and I think that was on his mind, too.

-

Q: Well, wasn't that an utterly frustrating game. Yes, lots of positives to take away, but they're still down 0-2. I have no problems with Bosh being the go-to guy, but surely their offence down the stretch should have more wrinkles to it than that. Yes, the ball should probably go through him, but that doesn't mean he has to force everything. That being said, that was a pretty brutal non-call on Howard when Bosh went to the hoop in their second-last possession. I couldn't give my full attention to the game, but was the officiating an issue? Or do you ever think it's an issue?

Guy M, Vancouver

A: I generally don’t think it’s an issue and, the non-call notwithstanding (and it’s arguable whether that was a call worth making in my opinion), I thought the three guys did a good job last night. It was a tough game to officiate, lots of drives, lots of contact, lots of play near the basket and I think they kept it flowing.

Comments

[Dan]

I would compare Sams lineup change in game 1 to Avery Johnsons last year when he decided to bench his center to match Golden States small line up. You may not have the better record in this case but you have to play the way that got you to the playoffs. Mavs last year were 67 and 15 playing Mavs ball. They were 2 and 4 playing the Warriors style.
I understand the Coach thinks changing things up throws off the other teams gameplan. What it really does is send a message that the Raptors can't win the series playing their style of basketball. Make the Magic prove they can beat you before you make all the changes.

[Eric]

That was a refreshing change! Best game of the year, I think. That's what it looks like when a team is focused and hungry! A lot easier to cheer for them after that, I'll tell you that much. I don't mind losing if you play to win. The Raptors did that last night and they deserve credit for it!

[Bryden B]

I think Bosh sometimes drives to the lane JUST to get fouled, not because he thinks he can get a lay up. This may work in the regular season, but no ref in their right mind would call a foul on Howard with that little contact in the playoffs. The Raptors should realize this by now.

[j. carlos]

2 words: bench tj. make it 3 more: get rid of tj
its inexplicable what transpires in the opening gate.
From his own mouth came, "you would always want to play at team that has somewhat the same experience as you", man he made nelson look like a polished veteran. The whole team rides the pg man, he runs play, where he goes everyone goes even bosh.
Tj is making the magic look like veterans.
I would be as suprised as van gundy if i see him start and the other 2 bigs

[alexander]

Doug I think who the Raptors, are in these playoffs and who they were in last years playoffs and who they were in the regular season are indicative of the type of players that Bryan Colangelo has brought in. The first questionable move was trading an asset in Charlie V, who was runner up to rookie of the year,for a injury progned player with a questionable work ethic and a bad attitude, what we've gotten in return is an unmovable high risk player. He did not have enough faith in Calderone to hold down the guard spot or enough common sense to try to sign a ventran like Earl boykins to assist Claderone. I think Colangelo Came in a fell into the Fan\media expectations.
I believe there is only a few point guards which really boost a team and get them over the hump These guards are Steve Nash, Chauncy Billups, Chris Paul. Not T.J. Therfore why trade a talented big with loads of potential who can take some ppressure off your star player for a point guard with loads of risk that will not make your team better. Then To fill the void in that 4 spot he drafts A european player that likes to shoot three's (no Surprise) that never plays in the post. Take a look at the redundancies ae the two, Parker, Delfino, Kapono. Why have so much of the same type of player at one spot when none of them are elite. What I appreciated about Grunwald is that he knew which positions are of the most importance in today's NBA the 4 and the 2 which is why he drafts Vince and Chris. Grunwald new how to bring in stars through the draft and build around them.

[Anton]

Doug,

I have to disagree with you on the preparation/execution point. If same really did prepare for this game, why did he start Rasho and sub him after five minutes?

[Robert]

Doug, following up on your comment, even if the Bosh 18 foot shot was the right one, there were absolutely no rebounders under the basket for a tip-in or rebound. This is the problem with Bosh taking the last shot - he is our best rebounder and the shot is either made or Orlando recovers the rebound.

Also, 2 free throws by Bosh in the entire 4th quarter and none down the stretch of the game is completely unacceptable. Again, this is either a bad decision on Bosh's part not to set up in the post and drive to the basket or a bad call by the coaching staff.

[GM]

I don't see how you can defend the refs in general if you then say they wouldn't have called anything on a last drive to the hoop. A foul is a foul no matter when it happens in a game. To just let things go at certain points suggests NBA reffing has problems that go beyond the odd missed call that happens to anyone. (But we knew that anyway.)

[Robert]

Doug, I also wanted to give you kudos for your earlier suggestion that part of the reason why Kapono has not been making three point shots is that he has not been stepping back behind the 3-pt line to take the shot. Over the last 2 games both Kapono and Bargnani have hit a few 3s by taking a step back.

[Matt]

That last shot was brutal. Bosh disappeared offensively in the second. After half he made two field goals. TWO!
So with nine seconds on the clock, two guys on the floor shooting more than 60% on the night (Calderone, Kapono), the best they can could come up with is a 19 foot jumper from the coldest shooter on the floor! All of this "Bosh is the Man" talk is silly. You think Howard minded when Bogans was drilling threes?

[Tim Amor]

I disagree about your assessment of the officiating, but only on one front. I felt that they -surprising- gave Dwight Howard a lot of respect.

I hate that the NBA is a respect league, but last night's game was frustrating. Howard should have been in foul trouble long before he mugged Bosh on an understandable non-call.

It's interesting to me how much he gets away with and how little Shaq can do without getting a foul called on him for hardly bumping another player.

[charade]

Bosh is not and never will be 'Big Shot Bosh.'

[bballer]

read that article from orlando and the writer discredits bargnani and smitch's decision to start him. but would there be an advantage of starting bargnani with delfino as the small forward? why wouldn't smitch start calderon and limit tj to playing 15mins. he pretty much has calderon playing most of the game anyway but on the fan he stated he may still start tj? i'm a huge smitch fan, but i have to question his use of players in the beginning of the game. he makes better decisions as the game moves on but the beginnings, who knows? is there pressure on smitch from above to play certain players?

is smitch not worried about job security or is he trying to get himself fired to take over the job in new york, or potential openings in charlotte or atl.

[charade]

That last shot was not a 15-footer.

[Anthony Feher]

To kill a dead horse you (Doug) mention the Boston game where they ran the same play to win the game..... Difference was it was a tie game and Calderon made a layup (not a 19 ft jump shot) and that there was 10 seconds to go.....

You are not going to convince me they could not diagram something better on that play. Were the other three Raptors anywhere on the court doing anything but standing around???? Shouldn't at least Nesterovic been there for a rebound, in place of Parker who had 0 points? Speaking of Rasho where was he when the Raptors went up 101-100 and then proceeded to give up three offensive rebounds. Shouldn't he have been in for Kapono for defensive reasons?

Can't convince me that Sam did not make mistakes down the stretch. I have asked before, when will the Raptors pull out close games???? I counted two wins this year vs. Boston & New Orleans that they played well down the stretch and pulled out a tight game. I don't include close games they won where they let a team back in the game.

Conversely how many close games did they lose???? I counted about 17 believe it or not....

[P.]

j. carlos writes: "2 words: bench tj. make it 3 more: get rid of tj"

Somebody should learn to count before they take on the role of the Raptors' new GM.