Some Game 4 thoughts, and where are the questions?

Hmm, what now?

Early summer?

Time off?

Change coming?

Not sure but things are as bleak as they’ve been in a while, no?

Know how I can tell you’re all resigned to defeat? Hardly any mail, which is odd. Very odd. So we’ll put this up here now and see if there isn’t some mail generated while I’m on another flight to Orlando.

Action: Howard can’t shoot free throws
Reaction: Do you foul him?

That’s about the only debate from the game, isn’t it? Should they have started fouling Howard intentionally sometime in the fourth quarter? Dude was 1-for-6 from the line after all, and it looked again like the fans got in his head.

But it’s not like there was a lot of time to employ the strategy. I don’t think you should do it when you’re up late in a game and that means there was about a two minute span when they might have intentionally fouled him. Raps were tied with 4:37 to go, down one with 4:01 left and between then and the two-minute mark (when the possibility to foul goes away) Lewis converted a three-point play, Turkoglu hit a couple of free throws, Lewis it another shot and Turkoglu drilled that dagger of a three with 2:07 remaining.

I dunno. I wouldn’t have fouled. It's not like the game was out of hand, or even headed that way, when they had the chance to.

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Action: Bosh is white-hot
Reaction: Was everyone else watching?

Doesn’t matter what the big guy does, if the rest of the team goes 24-for-66 from the field, they aren’t going to win. Someone needed to step up and no one did.

I’m not entirely sure there’s fault to be laid, it was just one of those games where no one got going.

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Action: Bargnani’s three opens game
Reaction: Downhill from there

A lot of us figured this would be a series that turned on three-point shooting and the pivotal game bore that out.

There is no way in the world the Raptors can win shooting 2-for-15 from downtown. Bargnani had his, Kapono had one and that’s it?

I know Sam said Friday that 34 attempts in Game 3 were too many, but 15 is too few. Give the Magic credit, there sure weren't too many open looks for the Raptors; they stayed home on shooters for the most part.

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They’re not exactly dancing in the streets in Orlando but they’re ready to. Here’s how B. Schmitz summed up yesterday’s affair.

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Action: Howard blocks Bosh
Reaction: Busts the padding off the board.

How strong is that dude? You see that? He knocked the padding off the bottom of the backboard with one of his four blocks in the first quarter.

But you gotta figure they’d have something better than duct tape to fix it. It looked like me up there trying to rig it up so it wouldn’t happen again. But it didn’t happen again so I guess that’s good.

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Action: Keyon Dooling drives unimpeded for a basket with 1.9 seconds left in first.
Reaction: Mental blip.

Raptors had a foul to give and Jose didn’t give it. That’s the kind of mental mistake that shouldn’t be made.

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Action: Dwight Howard shoots free throws.
Reaction: You can have a nap.

Funny thing is, for all the talk about how long it takes Howard to shoot free throws, on my own little count I never got it even to nine. But the Raptors were wondering the same thing. Sam asked Dick Bavetta about it during one of Howard’s lengthy sojourns to the line and Dick said he was counting, too.

Comments

[vak]

Watching the Raps throughout the season had given me the foresight that this game is going to be a battle of the fourth quarter and more often than not in that scenario, Raps rarely deliver.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I think yesterday's loss came mainly due to Moons absence near the end, where his defensive prowess and athleticism were vital. With Parker and more so Delfino's poor performances (that air ball was the true dagger), Moon wasn't even an option as a substitution. If he sits out for game 5, expect more of the same of game 4.

Turk and Howard will grind out a performance no question, but if the Raptors can shut down the perimeter threats that are Nelson, Lewis and Bogans, I'd say we got a shot.

[DS]

I've got a debate. Why do our guys never get the call when fouled by Howard? I counted several times where Howard clearly mugged a raptor player and there was no call. And don't give me any "playoff basketball" talk ... playoffs or not, when Dwight Howard bodychecks you in the air, it's a foul. Have we not earned respect yet?

Blogger's note: In four games, Howard's been called for 15 fouls.

[GM]

Obviously that's a good strategy by Van Gundy to stay at home on the shooters and let Bosh go to town. Kinda like the old strategy of letting Jordan get as many as he wants so long as you shut down everyone else. Then late in the game when you give a different look to Bosh, everyone else is cold.

[Pete]

Sigh... looks like this season will end like a lot of games this year. Not enough substance in the team to pull out a victory. I love the Raps, but am not surprised at all they are down 3-1. I'm looking forward to the offseason to see what moves BC makes. Hopefully he can add some grit and scoring to help Bosh.

I've got a question for you, Doug. Have you ever sat in the upper level for a Raptors game? (I'd be happy to trade seats with you some time.)

Blogger's note: I haven't been in the 300 level, I'm certain that it's a lot more fun than working.

[GM]

Yes, Howard has been called for 15 fouls but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be more. Whenever he goes for a block, he gets the benefit of the doubt. That's not good officiating. He gets enough legitimate blocks on his own without the aid of poor officiating that lets him knock into players with his body.

[GM]

There's a reason why coaches like Phil Jackson whine and complain in between games about what they want called in the next game. And it usually works. Mitchell should plant that seed in the refs' minds before tomorrow. And let's hope for Dick Bavetta because he's one ref who loves to be the bad guy and favour the visiting team.

[Huseyin N]

This is probably a first for you Doug. I dont understand why Sam didn't take OUT Calderon and put Ford IN as Ford was killing Nelson while Jose was hoisting up bricks. At least you now know there is one TJ fan in the GTA.

[bballer]

i don't know why people are clamouring for d'antoni. in the same vescey article that discredits smitch, vecsey states that d'antoni allows his pet player stoudemire to do whatever he wants and rarely challenges his players. so how do people believe what he says about smitch but ignore what he says about their dream coach.

that article aside, d'antoni has never paid attention to defense and states that he is not here to develop players. would we witness an 8 player rotation only to burn out in the playoffs against physical teams like detroit, cleveland, boston and the new charlotte betcats under coach brown? unless van gundy or larry brown comes to toronto smitch should be retained. let's all enjoy the rest of the playoffs and see what the offseason brings.

[J Smoke]

Doug, at the risk of beating a story to death, this naive sports fan can't understand how P Vescey can report on a lockerroom conversation which we all know did not take place. I mean, Sam Mitchell may not be a scholar among his peers but he certainly does not come across as lazy or not up to speed on current NBA events (Andrew Bynum on injured reserve? Heck, even R Peddie could have told us that). Come on Doug, time to take Vescey to task in your column tomorrow and set the record straight...

Blogger's note: Oh, don't worry, am trying to come up with an appropriate comment for the morning, after a so-so night's sleep watching this Mavs-Hornets game with one eye open.