The Morning After The Night Before, LXXVIII

All’s right in the world, right? He Who Shall Not Be Named isn’t going to the playoffs, the local heroes of the hardcourt played as well defensively for three quarters as they have in weeks. The folks who need it got ticket stubs for free pizza from caring fans and the Raptors are back in sixth.

Big night.

Three Things I Learned

Another one

Mentioned earlier that you seldom see a player make a shot while a teammate was being simultaneously being fouled and, boom, it happened again last night.

Tells you what kind of odd season this is.

First quarter, Bosh makes a jumper, Bargnani gets hammered and then misses the free throw.

Another right call although I’m sure there were some fans who aren’t loyal readers who didn’t know what was going on. All of you did though, right?

-

A lesson learned?

Not sure how many of you caught it, but T.J. made exactly the kind of play in the third quarter last night that they’ve been trying to get him to make all season.

He drives aggressively to the rim and he knows he’s gonna get hit. At the last second, he kicks his leg out to lessen the contact, still drawing the foul but diminishing the chance he’d end up on his butt on the court.

The play brought Sam up off the bench clapping ‘cause he’s been telling us he wants TJ to do that more often for obvious reasons.

Nice, subtle play by Ford.

-

First time?

Without having looked at every tape of every game he played, I’m pretty sure Bosh’s foul on Richard Jefferson –- when hit him pretty hard and sort of grabbed him around the neck and chest – might have been the hardest foul Bosh has ever committed.

On a team of nice guys who never, ever, ever do that, it was good to see. The Nets were up screaming for a flagrant foul call that’s unheard of with Raptor fouls.

-

Mail time:

Q: I love the blog. This is my 4th time trying to get in, so hopefully it makes the cut, even though it’s not Raptors related. I just saw in the boxscore that Charlie V got a DNP-CD (Friday). Do you know the reason for this after his big game vs. the Raps? Thanks.

Alex H, Oakville

A: His shoulder was sore? Nah, he actually sat with a sore groin, we were told.

-

If you’re watching Minnesota-Memphis game tonight (and you are, here’s a hint: Get a life!) and notice Our Favourite Chicken at the arena, don’t worry, he hasn’t dumped Toronto for Beale Street.

Stuffed animals are a caring lot and the person who was Grizz, or Super Grizz, maybe?, is battling cancer. The rest of the league’s mascots have been filling in as a show of support and to entertain the fans.

The Chicken’s number is up tonight.

Good guys/gals/its those mascots are.

-

We all know last night’s loss knocked the Nets officially out of the playoffs, here’s how the inimitable Dave D wrote it up.

-

Speaking of big games, how big is Philly at Washington tonight for the locals?

We have no idea how things will eventually turn out but how’s this for two scenarios.

If Washington wins and gets to 42 wins, it pretty much guarantees they’ll finish fifth (they have the tiebreaker on the Raptors); if the Sixers win, they’ll have 41, Washington will have 41 and Toronto 40.

Check out the schedule:

Philly will have Cleveland and at Charlotte left, maybe the win one and get to 42.

Washington has Indy and at Orlando left, maybe they only win one and get to 42. But let’s say they lose both and stay at 41.

Toronto’s got at Detroit, Miami and at Chicago left. Let’s say they get the two of those they should and finish with 42.

Presto! Toronto’s fifth and opens at Cleveland.

-

Last one from the mail for now, there’ll be an early-morning mailbag from Auburn Hills tomorrow morning.

Q: Just read your "Colangelo waiting it out" article. It seems like Sam and the gang are always around for quotes before and after the game, but this is the most I've heard from BC all year. How approachable is he?
He always looks so intimidating when he watches the game from the tunnel. Does he ever sit down?

Duane C, Toronto

A: He’s quite approachable but in the course of a season, we pretty much need to talk to Sam and the gang every day. Trouble on Thursday was Sam was out sick and couldn’t fill our notebooks with his ramblings, Bryan was in the practice gym and all of us, needing an off-day yarn, figured we’d have a chat. And he came through, as he does.

And why he doesn’t sit? Too nervous. It’s much easier to pace, get frustrated, get happy, get mad from the relative privacy of that tunnel that sitting in the stands.

Comments

[Simon]

Thanks Doug!

I saw it in the headline, but not in the article ...

EVERYONE PLEASE GIVE YOUR PIZZA TICKETS TO THE HOMELESS!!!

And as always, great article Doug!

Simon

[Simon]

Has anyone read the Feschuk column?!?!

Does anyone else think he's being a little sensitive there?

Sure, the fans are a little apathetic right now ... it's been a disappointing season and we're all anticipating a playoff pasting during the losing streaks ...

I was at the Bucks game and last nights Nets game, and it was like night and day ...

So sure, Bosh maybe didn't word it right, or shouldn't have blamed the fans ...

But personally, I don't think he was 'blaming' us so much as asking us to make noise, ala Dave Winfield ...

Basically, my point is, who cares? We love Bosh! And we should make more noise at the games!!!

No apologies necessary! 8-)

[Mark M]

Thank you Dave Feschuk!!!!!!!!

That is hands down the most upfront and honest article I have read in a long long time!

[KJ]

Doug,
Not really a b'ball comment. You should tell your boss at the star to never link that Feschuk fool article from yours.People might mistakenly think that you are the one writing that crap. That fool should go and write for the some tabloid newspaper. All he ever tries to do is piss people off.

take care

[Paulino Nunes]

I'm sure many in Raptorland will be enjoying their cups of morning Java, smugly enjoying the thought of our boys emphatically pounding the final nail in the coffin that is the Nets' season. Mr. Carter's antics on the bench - laughing, joking, smiling as his team's playoff hopes were dashed in a blowout complete with a 42 point turnaround - was the icing on the cake for many Raptors fans.

Is VC the greatest waste of talent the NBA has ever seen? We've seen that he can still dominate a game when he feels like it. He is the epitome of that slashing/make your own shot SG that the Raptors need so badly when he actually plays; ironic isn't it?

A question, Doug: Have you ever seen a coach rail on a player or banish him to the locker room for inappropriate behaviour on a bench during a bad loss? (I have an image of a psychotic Joe Pesci sidling up to Vince and beginning a dialogue: "You think this is funny? Does this amuse you?..."

Blogger's note: No, no one has ever banished him that I know of.

[A V]

What the hell is up with Feschuk and his article today? Well, I can't be that surprised, he's always writing negative articles.

[A V]

Dear Mr. Feschuk,

I woke up this morning today to read your article, "Memo to Bosh: Shut Up and Win." I think you are taking what Bosh said way too personally. It's very surprising that you do so, given that you write about sports, of all things. Sports involves challenge, competition... and yes, taking it on the chin even when there may be good reasons for your lacklustre play. There's no doubt the fans have been quiet lately. Yes, they have good reason to have been quiet. But this is a team enterprise we're talking about here. We call out the players all the time (and you do more than your fair share), it's only fair they get to challenge us every now and again... we nit-pick their game, so why can't they ask us to be louder every now and again, as well? Heck, it's not asking for much.

What you fail to recognize in your article is that there's a correlation between winning and a great home crowd. You just assume that winning comes first, then a great home crowd follows. As Bosh notes in his video, this is not the case. To say it's not the fans' job to get loud without something spectacular going on in front of them is probably the worst attitude you could have when it comes to being a fan.

I also disagree that the "fans are always right." Are the "fans always right" when they chant for pizza? In the third quarter like on Wednesday night? I fail to see how the fan is always right in these kinds of situations.

Overall I find your articles often very negative and overly cynical about the team. Criticism is definitely required sometimes by no one wants to read something cynical. If that's how you're going to write, I suggest you write about politics instead.

A V

[bballer]

i read that guys posting about colangelo and i heard that interview with bc on the swirsky show. i find it amazing that they guy didn't mention the part where colangelo questioned bargnani's lack of some mental toughness. he didn't mention that bc stated that the rest of the league figured out bargns yet bargns failed to work on the skills needed to progress.

if there is a glut in 2/3's isn't that mainly the fault of the gm who brought them in? nevertheless, bc did mention the consistency of ap and the need for defense put into the difficulties of utilizing kapono. if kapono played better d, then he would have gotten more minutes over moon and delfino. the other thing is, delfino never has problems getting open for 3's without plays being called for him, so why make an extra effort for kapono. no plays were called for him when he played for miami?

i just have a problem for people looking for scapegoats whether it is individual players or coaching. pat riley is one of the best coaches, yet his team is in last. talent is needed in miami has it is needed in toronto. this team has the talent level of a .500 team. i still think smitch has done a good job. you have 4 journeymen playing the wing position and soon to be a 5th with joey graham. how good can a team be with players like that. the coach is partly to blame, so are the players. but full responsibility here relies on the gm who put the team together. like purcell's said, who do you expect me to cook when i have no say on the buying of the groceries.

[bballer]

john hammond has finally left detroit to be the gm of the bucks. it's amazing, he along with rc buford would have been my top choices for gm of the raps over colangelo. with that being said, aside from larry k, what other changes do you think the bucks will make. will jim todd be offered a job back with the raps? would they get rid of yi, even though he is a moneymaker with chinese advertisers? i think andrew nogut is overrated and sulks too much yet milwaukee fans like him.

if the team added a defensive sf like kirk snyder is becoming or pietrus, coupled with a coach like scott skiles, larry brown or carlisle don't you think milwaukee will be able to make a run for the playoffs next year? on paper, the team is talented and has depth. starters like snyder, yi, nogut, redd and williams with a bench of mason, charlie v, simmons and sessions can afflict some damage in the east. what do you think doug? how far off am i?

Blogger's note: I think with different coaching and some roster tweaks, there's enough talent to at least seriously challenge for a playoff spot.

[DW]

A while back someone made a comment about listening to the opposing team's audio to see if they are as undeniably homers as our guys. As I sat in my hotel room in southern Brazil last night trying to listen to the 590 feed on NBA Audio League Pass (I know Friday night in Brazil… sitting in my hotel room…) I was treated to a baseball discussion, so I switched to the NJN feed. Apart from them saying “here in Canada” 37 times throughout the game, these guys could have been from anywhere. They had nothing but kind words for our “two headed monster” of Ford/Calderon (or Calderon/Ford if you’re partial to that version.) By their account Jose was credited with the turnaround in the second. They also lauded the “strong defense” of Jamario Moon. All in all it was entertaining, although some of their love for the Raptors’ players was unmerited. Do the Raptors’ broadcasters listen to tapes of any opposing team's feeds? Maybe they should.

[Tree]

Doug -

Did you read your counterparts article re: Bosh? I'm personally dumbfounded by it's message. Bosh is showing leadership and character, and asking the fans to get into it, and Feschuk implies he's an immature baby? That's reporting at it's lowest common denomenator, and just the most ridiculous article I've ever read. Bosh is showing he cares and gets called out for it? Unbelievable! Your thoughts (on the topic, not Feschuk's "reporting")?

Blogger's note: Let me get into this on Monday when there's more time and space. Have mail to do at the moment.

[JoseLuva]

Hi Douggie,

I have a question for ya. Is Dave Feschuk the most unprofessional sports writer in Toronto media history?

[Jamieson]

Personally I think Bosh is dead on...but i think the biggest problem is that most of the fans in TO dont know enough about basketball...seeing fans at a Raps in game is equal to the Coyotes game I saw in Pheonix one year, noone knows the right time to cheer, or even what the heck is going on half the time...it is obviously getting better and will continue to do so...either way, I think everyone is missing the point, it isnt about how much noise you are making...you booo pretty loud...but it is about supporting your team through the thick and thin...we have a team that, at times, has shown signs of greatness, and is approaching a playoff year where, if they play hard and smart, they can go deep...no matter who they are playing...it's the playoffs, anything can happen(see Golden State vs. Dallas rnd 1 06/07)...so next time you are about to boo a Rap player for missing a shot, do us all a favor and think twice...thanks

[Eddie]

Doug whats your take on the Feschuk article? I personally think he's being too harsh and have gone over the limit of singling out a player

[Brad]

Great blog today Doug! I thought Feschuk's article was a little harsh too...but at the same time I bought 2x170 tickets for the Charlotte game, on a student's budget, and was really frustrated after their performance and lack of effort. Was later left questioning whether it was a good spend of money. A hard fought game which results in a loss is one thing, but a crappy effort is frustrating. I know fans support would help the team out, but at the same time, Bosh has to remember that we are paying to see them play, not the other way around, and the only way for the players to show appreciation to the fans is to play hard every game.

The 2nd half of the New Jersey game was great though, hopefully if they continue that type of effort then they will continue to get great support from the fans!

[Millette]

Looks like The Colleague woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning...

[bballer]

how do you think the hiring of hammond will affect personnel and coaching in milwaukee? if carlisle gets hired as rumoured, do you forsee an opportunity for todd to come back to raptortown? would there be wholesale changes with the roster? i believe that they are just a strong defensive perimeter player from being a contender. snyder or pietrus can play that role if they can morph into an artest or bowen type player. it may be the only thing that will prevent them from being career journeymen.

[Serge Papineau]

Upfront and honnest? It was neither. All that article was was a journalist doing what alot of journalists do: trying to create controversy where there is none so that they will have something to write about. It was a manufactured story and was nothing more than a bush league attempt at stirring the pot.

[Matt]

Feschuk's tone is right on. Shut up and Win. Then you get the love.

[Dave]

Dave Feschuk totally misunderstood what Bosh was trying to say. I'm actually pretty dissapointed that a journalist in the most popular newspaper in Toronto would bash the franchise player like that. It's ridiculous. I'm pretty sure Feschuk KNOWS Bosh and knows what kind of player/person he is. The misunderstanding is inexcusable. I wouldn't be shocked if Bosh's feelings were hurt from the reaction of Feschuk and some the FANS. Think in the back of Bosh's mind he'll remember this when his contract expires? Hmm.

[John]

I think Mr. Bosh did go a little to far on the fan thing. He's a young man trying to be a team leader and feeling his oats. But that said at least he offered an opinion and spoke out. From my limited view point there are many NBA cities where he would have far less fun.

[Jays Fan 08]

I just read this thing everyone's talking about... I agree with your readers who say the author went over the line. I also wonder how Bosh is going to respond to him, in the future, when the reporter tries to get a quote from him. Do you think this article put his career in jeopardy?