The Morning After The Night Before, LXXIV

Oh my goodness. Where to start? There’s almost too much.

But there’s this: This is why I love you people. Really. I’m being legit here (Well maybe ‘love’ is too strong a word). In the 40 minutes immediately following the game, there were about 15 e-mails and a dozen comments; I got on the machine here about 7:15 this morning and there were 21 more comments and 15 more e-mails. That’s some passion. Way to go.

Of course, it makes for a tad more work over here but what the heck, that’s what I get paid the mediocre bucks to deal with.

And away we go:

Three Things I Learned

What I’m Wondering Is …

How in the world did Mike Bibby get so open at the end of regulation? How could T.J. Ford simply lose one of two legitimate three-point shooters on the court? It wasn’t as if he ran into some Oakley-esque screen, he just lost the guy. And that token defence? Disgraceful. Not sure if there was enough time to foul but even if there wasn’t, half-turning away while waving an arm? Brutal. If Ford’s even close, he wraps Bibby up the minute he catches the ball. I know Sam Mitchell, I know how he coaches and I can absolutely assure you he wanted a foul. They had Moon and Delfino and Parker in the game with Bosh and Ford, not sure they’ve got five better guys to defend at that point. It just took more effort than they got from Ford.

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Then There’s The Overtime

Twenty points? 20! That’s more than a team has ever scored against a Raptor team in an overtime period. Considering 25 is the most scored ever by a team in an overtime, that’s another disgrace. Defence has never been this team’s strong suit but that’s an abomination by any standards.

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And One Other Thing

Remember how Chris Bosh stood in the locker room a couple of weeks ago and talked about being aggressive down the stretch and everyone nodded their heads and said, ‘yeah, that’s the what has to happen.’

Well, the Raptors were in the bonus with 7:30 to go in the fourth quarter. After Bosh made two free throws on that fifth team foul, they didn’t shoot a single foul shot the rest of the way. Not one.

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A familiar voice in the mailbag

Q: I heard you mention that Rasho and Darrick had "high basketball IQs". I've always wondered, what does that mean? Do they know alot about stats, the history of the game, how to successfully play a position, or how to make plays for themselves? Maybe all of the above?

Thanks again.

Sam C, Kingston

P.S.: I went to see the Globetrotters last night, and kept in mind what you had mentioned before. Not a lot of basketball being played, but needless to say, it was a night of entertainment and some good comedic moments, and I recommend to anyone of any age seeing them in the near future. Some very humble people as well.

A: Hey, long time no hear.

Well, at the risk of repeating myself from above, I’ll suggest that a “high basketball IQ” means knowing that if you’re team’s up three with 3.5 seconds left and the other team has the ball, you try to foul the guy who catches the inbounds pass the second he catches it, rather than wave a hand at him as he hits a game-winner. “Basketball IQ” is that and stuff like knowing who’s got the hot hand and riding him, seeing mismatches and exploiting them, talking on defence and helping at the right time. It’s knowing how to make the right split-second decision in the heat of a game.

Glad you enjoyed the ‘Trotters. Guess they dumped Oliver Miller?

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Okay, on to the clock fiasco. Human error is human error. A ref, Cousin Sekou in Atlanta reports it was Eric Lewis, hit the little button on his belt a fraction of second – a very small fraction of a second – early and it cost the Raps a gamee-winning basket.

I imagine there will be calls and e-mails and tapes sent to the league, I also imagine nothing will be done about it. And, please, don’t bring anti-Canada or anti-Toronto into this, okay? That makes people look foolish.

Sometimes, crap happens. It sucks, but they’re human and humans make mistakes. You know, like losing Mike Bibby with the game on the line, giving up 20 points in five overtime minutes and forgetting to drive to the basket.

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Speaking of Cousin Sekou, here’s how he summed up the night.

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Here’s another mail thingy:

Q: The Raptors scored 17 shots in succession last game. It seams like that has to be close to a record. What's the highest number of shots in succession in a single NBA game?

CJ L, London

A: According to Elias Sports Bureau, via ESPN and to me from the crack Raptors media relations department:

"The Raptors made 17 consecutive field goals in the first half of their 104-100 win at Charlotte. The last NBA team to make that many shots in a row was the Trail Blazers, also against the Bobcats on February 22, 2006.”

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Lots of comments about the stuffed animal firing the t-shirts at James Posey and KG the other night in Chicago. Brought back some personal memories, too.

It’s 1999 and we’re in gawdforsaken Colorado Springs, sitting in some dumpy Air Force Academy college gym in what must be a pucks press box at the top of the stands. Head-down, diligently typing away, probably some ode to Butch Carter’s coaching ability, am rudely interrupted by some cloth object that hits me right in the corner of the eye. Hurt, too. Startling, as well.

Look down at the court and there’s the Denver mascot, whatever its scrawny self is, holding one of those goofy guns and looking at me.

Goof shot me. And all I got was a lousy medium sized t-shirt with that season’s Nugget schedule on the back.

I did not, though, have to go for treatment. I eventually did, however, have to go for new glasses.

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Oh yeah, that T.J. play that got waved off? How good was that. Both drawn up and executed. You folks can – and do – kill Sam over a lot of things, I didn’t get one e-mail overnight suggesting it was Xs and Os well done.

Didn’t expect any, really, but credit should be given where credit is due.

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How up in arms do you think everyone will be if that loss last night is the difference between these guys playing Orlando or Detroit in the first round of the playoffs? Heads may explode.

Comments

[Derrick Phillips]

Funny you dont mention TJ having a great game, the hate is strong.

[AK (Richmond Hill)]

TJ got us into the mess in the first place. Not just with the blown check on Bibby, but with the ill-advised 3 he jacked when they were up by 3 with less than 15 seconds, when all they needed was a 2 to ice the game. It's that sort of play that has had us TJ detractors pulling out our hair for the better part of 18 months. I like parts of his game and even his swagger. I don't like his decision-making. He's young and may develop it, but with him it's one step forward, one step back.

On another note, we should just forfeit games in Atlanta -- the scoreboard incident, last night and Horford's Jesse Ventura-type clothes-line of TJ in December...nuff said.

[Tyler S.]

If the NBA does nothing and the raptors end up in 7th and miss getting 6 or 5th by one game, I'll never watch this fraud of entertainment again.

[Rob]

Doug, I do have to give Sam credit for the play he drew up at the end of the game. It was a fantastic play and perhaps the best play I have ever seen him draw up coming out of a timeout. There is no doubt that his X's and O's need to be much better but he certainly deserves credit for last night's play. Butch Carter was the best Raps coach by far at drawing up these sorts of plays out of timeouts.

One other comment about last night's loss - it was the team's porous defence that once again led to this loss. This team can score with the best of them but unless and until they improve their defense they will be mediocre at best. I had seen a stat recently that indicated that when the Raptors hold their opponent to 45% shooting or less (which is about the league average), they are something like 47 wins and 15-18 losses during the last 2 years.

[Mark S]

A couple of questions about, surprise, the video review of TJ's buzzer-beater:

Under league rules are the refs allowed to review when the clock started or only if the player gets the shot off before the clock expires?

If the Raps appeal and, miraculously, are successful would the basket count or would they replay the final 0.5 seconds? I would like to add that RapsTV showed a replay of Bibby's 3 and it sure looked like 0.8 seconds left when his shot went through the hoop.

Blogger's note: The only things reviewable are whether a guy gets a shot off and when and when a foul was called on that shot.

And if they file a protest, I presume it'd only be on that final shot, the 8-10ths of a second issue won't come into play.

[AK]

After the initial "crazy raptor fan" disease left my system last night I agree Doug, that this game shouldn't of even gotten to that last TJ play (the great play that it was). I mean, they blew a huge lead...again, TJ's defense was embarassing and that was even after they allowed 2 wide open attempts on the previous possession! In the timeout before Bibby's hit, you could see Sam mouth the word "foul" numerous times. It should have been common knowledge with the players that their defense wasn't going to win the game for them. What a way to clinch a playoff spot!

Remember D. Fisher's buzzer shot in the playoffs against the Spurs...catch and shoot. Correct me if i'm wrong...wasn't 0.5 on the clock? Thanks for allowing me to comment.

Blogger's note: Fisher's shot was with 4-10ths of a second left.

[Jay]

TJ did not have great game.
Oh, TJ got his numbers mind you, but how many times during the last 3 minutes of regulation did he run out the shot clock throw a pass leaving a teammate 2 seconds to shoot, or run it out himself and throw up a prayer (answered in some cases) or pass to somebody boxed in at the corner....
his decision making on offense down the stretch was what made the offence run cold.
He made his shots for sure, but there was no 'offence' that he was running.
It was like watching the good old days with Mike James running the point... he got his shots, he looked good, but the offence was totally stagnant. Atlanta knew it... they let it happen... why else do you think they left Childress on him? TJ alone wasn't going to beat them...

[Jason Blake]

I'm sure Indiana and New Jersey and Phoenix (who gets atl first round pick this year) are not pleased.

[Dallas]

Hey Doug,

Fair enough. I'm not Sam's biggest fan, but that was a well drawn up play. So I'll give him props. But I'll also ask, why did Bargs see so few minutes in the second half?

I thought he played a good game despite a few mistakes. I would say the Williams rebound was the biggest, but it looks like Sam takes him out once he misses two shots?

How great was Rasho? Was he always this good?,
Why did Hump get so many of his minutes this year? You can't say they all went to Andrea? Do the coaches not see the talent in practice? How do we not know what our guys are capable of?

Why did we go small and let them back in the game?

Why is our D so bad down the stretch, is it all on the players that they look so unorganized?

Of all the mistakes made by guys we are not as invested in, I can say Bargs,as much as he's struggled has never had the opportunity to make a mistake that cost us the game late in the fourth cause he's never been in the game, this year. Do you think it would be good for is confidence and game if when we needed a big shot at the end, we put him in and let him take it? Not just for his sake either becasue it seems to me he makes big shots. Despite what Sam may say publicly, he must have very little faith in Andrea, even if his shot seems to be on. His one on one D is good, he's not a good comunicator, but it sounds like bosh is only starting to do that now too? At least in Sam's mind he's not just coaching for his job, he's sticking to his guns even if they are loaded and pointing at him. I get the feeling he'd be safer by losing with Andrea than winning just enough to be embarrassed in the playoffs while giving up on him.

We won't be as good as would be if we can get him going. He has the talent, it's the forcing and the confidence, IMO? I wonder if his minutes or long stretches without looks add to that a little? As you pointed out yesterday, it's not as if anyone else, not named Bosh, or lately Rahso is able to consistently go off in our offense. Why does it seem when Rasho plays c he get s the touches that the team looks Bargs off on?

Do you think his team mates lack the confidence in him that they have in Rasho? I think in the late fourth, he'd be money if we'd get him the looks, he was last year, some players perform better in the crunch, some players just get on their team mates about it...but I digress.

I hope this is overturned....All in all. what a roller coaster. This could build momentum to win like we won, but it's likely a brick to lose like we didn't.

Oh and did you hear Chuck put it on Sam for going small in his post game comments? I know you were watching from home. Is that common, or is maybe someone getting too worked up? (if you have to delete this last bit to print go ahead, I'll understand but if i didn't see the evidence I'd say you were gutless...I keed, I keed)

Peace

Thoughts?

Blogger's note: Lots to think about here. Good points, too.
One thing: They look to Rasho because he's usually open and rolling to the basket, something they can't quite get Bargnani to do yet; and Rasho's generally camped out on the block and drifts along the baseline to get his 15-footer; Bargnani's camped at the top of the circle and they have to get him operating down low more often, which I've suggested many times.

[Joe T.]

Now Doug, I get the whole human error thing. It's part of the game, for sure. BUT, isn't the video review at the end of the game an opportunity to correct human errors? The whole point of having reviews like that at such critical points in a game is to make sure to get things right. Shouldn't the START of the clock be reviewable as well as the END? When dealing with a half a second, you're not losing a lot of time by scrolling right back to the beginning of the play! And it looked like Sam may have been asking them to do just that, making it inexcusable that they didn't. Is that part of the last play of the game reviewable? Last night's game showed it sure should be...

Blogger's note: No, it's not reviewable. Maybe one day is, but today, it isn't.

[ET]

Oh man, raptors totally got screwed last night. That was an amazing play at the end of regulation and got waived because of a human error? What if the raptors are not in a comfortable playoff spot? What if they were fighting for a play off spot? This game would have really cost them dearly. The league should really investigate the Atlanta scorer’s practices. How can you possibly have a playoff game in this arena?

[smbm]

TJ did have a great game, until he ignored his teammates, especially bosh during the final 3 minutes. I honestly thought AP was going to sit down on a seat on the sidelines as he was so sure that TJ was just going to continue to jack it up.

here's hoping the NBA does something about the ref's lapse in timing.

[DW]

And how happy do you think they will be if that loss is the difference between Orlando and Cleveland? Could go either way.

[Naz I.]

Derrick,
My thoughts exactly. Not one word about TJ's good play, and Doug is not alone. That seems to be a sentiment from the so-called "media types".
The lad may be better off on another team...I can't wait to see this joke of a team with Calderon running the point next year. That may be when Sam is finally fired...only to join another team and lead them to the conference finals or something. This team sure knows how to judge talent and potential.

[Mike]

I'm not sure I agree with your opinion that Ford should have fouled Bibby on the catch. Bibby could have saw the foul coming and attempt to shoot it immediately to get 3 free throws. But I am wondering why wasn't a better defender, like Parker or Delfino given the task of guarding Bibby on the play? It seemed obvious that the ball was going to either Bibby or Johnson, so one of those guys could have guarded him.

[Clayton]

I'm just as disappointed as the next person about the timing issue of the last play, but if you were to review every start / stop of the clock over the length of the game, I bet that 95% of them would be 1/10th of a second early (and maybe delayed).

When 4 people have a button to start or stop the clock and the first press of the button starts the clock, it's going to go early. Until they have wireless player-touch sensitive high-tech balls (yeah right!) that automatically start the clock and stop it on out of bounds, baskets and whistles, this will happen, so there is no use complaining about it.

[brad]

Doug I'm glad you made a comment about TJ's defence on that last shot. He's better than that. His initial reaction was okay, but once we was over there, just standing and holding up a hand, it was like they were in practice and someone was jacking up a shot before they move on to the next drill; like it didn't matter. He did have a good game before the last couple minutes, but I agree with some of the above comments too, once he hits one or two shots its like the blinders go on and he ONLY looks for his shots for the rest of the game. He must be the king of running the clock down to a couple seconds and either jacking up a shot or dumping it to someone else, usually a Rasho or Hump out of position, to try to beat the clock. Frustrating loss, but maybe a good learning experience.

Even though that last play should have counted, it was nonetheless a GREAT designed play and a nice finish by TJ!

[Dave Fritz, Kingston]

Some things get reviewed (ball has left hand) and some things don't (clock started early). The only good thing, hopefully, is that the ref who started the clock doesn't get to work the playoffs. The Raptors are out of luck.

[Martin D.]

I agree with you mike, member what happened to travis outlaw on that four point play? anyways TJ was a little late on that play but he made up for it in the end, and in OT he was the only one who actually played like they cared. Bosh disappeared in the clutch like usually (missing a easy layup, settling for jump shots instead of taking it to the rim) yet the hate is still on TJ. TJ could score 30 points and get 20 assists but the hate would still be on him. Calderon plays a average game and doug oo's and aah's. No one mentions how bosh was playing off josh smith and allowed him to shoot open 3's. Or ow the rpators got killed on the glass, I guess thats TJ's fault to? Or how bosh had 4 turnovers lets blame tj

[Mark S]

Thanks for the prompt answers Doug but I don't think I was clear when I asked my second question. What I meant was if the Raps' appeal is successful would the result be to count the basket (Raps win 109-107) or put the time back on the clock (tied at 107 with 0.5sec left)?

Funny how Cousin Sekou wrote that the basket the Raps weren't credited for last year "ultimately played a part in the league upholding the Heat's protest" yet likely won't help the Raps own protest.

Blogger's note: Sorry, I was a tad overwhelmed this morning and may have misread, too. I'd imagine if they upheld any protest -- and I cannot see a way that they will because human error is human error -- they'd go back to .5 left on the clock. But, again, don't get your hopes up.

[Dinosty]

That last clock discrepancy should never be an issue. It's totally unfair to rely on human judgement to make on-the-spot decisions in fractions of a second...there's absolutely NO reason why a replay system can't be introduced, the way there is in football.

Human error is supposed to occur on the part of the players - the game itself is supposed to be black and white - and using a replay will erase unacceptable and suspicious SEASON-ALTERING plays like last night's.

Is there a coincidence this continually happens in Atlanta?

[Dan]

Ford did have a good game, untill the end. Once the game is on the line his mind set changes and he no longer reads the defence or tries to set up teamates. He just looks for ways for him to be the hero often forcing up bad shots.

[bubbles]

"It sucks, but they’re human and humans make mistakes."

Humans also cheat.

[thomm]

I don't understand why people think that because there was - perhaps - human error in the last half second of the game, it should be corrected. Does that mean that every time the whistle blows, they'll have to do a video review to see if the clock stopped at the right time??? And then go back to the start of the play to ensure that it started at the right time?
Maybe there should actually have been only 0.2 seconds left when the Raps ran their play because they didn't start the clock quick enough after the first stoppage in the fourth quarter.

[Sam]

Something that gets lost in the discussion of how we blew our lead (again) is the offence. I'm not knocking Bosh but we built the lead through ball movement and were having one of those games (like the win in Boston) where just about everybody was contributing on offence. When Atlanta started making their run - and they're talented enough offensively that everyone knew they were capable of filling it up - why did our offence get so stagnant? Sure, throw it into Bosh and iso a few times but diversify the offence a bit guys. If we'd converted just a few more times at their end, no need for heroics. Of course, if we defended/rebounded a bit better, no need for heroics either but defence/rebounding is a chronic problem for us. Not scoring is only an occasional problem.