The Morning After The Day Before, LXXIX

So, looks like sixth, right? Of course, that may mean having to beat Chicago in Chicago and that’s exactly the kind of game these fellas can spit up like a baby rejecting smooshed peas but maybe there’s some help. Maybe they get Miami tonight and Philly loses to Cleveland and we can all make plans for a trip to Disney on the weekend.

(And if there’s anyone out there with an extra couple to Springsteen in Orlando on Saturday, I know where you can get rid of them).

Okay, on with the show:

Three Things I Learned

Regression in progress

DUANE BURLESON/AP

Pistons are good, blah, blah, blah.

If that wasn’t the worst game Andrea Bargnani’s played in a long, long time, I can’t remember which was. Of two of his shots, I swear the ball never once got over the rim, which even in my limited basketball knowledge means it’s got little chance of going in.

No, I’m not ready to trade him for Andrew Bogut or LaMarcus Aldridge or anyone but whatever funk the kid’s in took entire control of his body yesterday.

And it wasn’t just the shots. End of first quarter, Pistons with last shot and Bargnani simply forgets to switch out on Tayshaun Prince in the corner and Prince drills a wide-open three. Bargnani gets the requisite earful from Sam as he walks back to the bench, seemingly oblivious. That blown assignment has nothing to do with shooting mechanics, that’s got to do with mental mechanics.

I had a coach tell me a couple of weeks ago that if these guys were going to do anything in the playoffs, Bargnani was going to have to be good.

I’m thinking the season’s got a fortnight, at best, left.

-

Things you never see

A five-second violation? I can’t remember the last one called in a game I’ve been at. Not sure if they were trying to call a timeout to avoid it but just another mental gaffe.

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Remembering when

Do you recall how done Lindsey Hunter was when he was in Toronto way back in 2002-03? Yes, that was the same guy out there giving the Pistons a few minutes of intense full court defence. Not sure how he fits into their playoff plans but it’s nice to have an energetic, veteran player on the roster who knows his role and plays it well. That’s the kind of guy a team like Toronto could use.

-

Loads of mail, which will give me something to do this afternoon since there’s no shootaround. Here’s one of them:

Q: I'm usually the glass-is-half-full kind of guy, but when my team loses to a group of inexperienced back-ups in the most important game/quarter of the year (sure, every game is important these days, blah blah blah) how can I expect a decent playoff showing by this Raptors team? Ignore that rhetorical question!
My question has to do with the much criticized CB4 video to the fans, I was wondering how much influence does Colangelo and his marketing dept. have over player's individual promotional efforts? Was this all Bosh's idea or did someone upstairs make sure it was released prior to the sale of playoff tickets to the public on Saturday? I'm not looking for a conspiracy because it sure seemed easier to buy tickets this year compared to last season (less demand?).

K N, Toronto

A: There’s very little influence, if any. As a matter of fact, I know for certain that the first of Bosh’s direct-to-the-fans-videos (way back in the pre-all star time) was a complete surprise to the powers that be and I presume this latest one was, too.

What players do away from the court, whether it be marketing themselves or somesuch, is their own doing. I’m sure if it got far out of hand someone might take a guy aside but, really, the Bosh thing was hardly an earth-shattering event.

-

A subtle change of late. Have you noticed that in the past few games the first big to come out of the game is Bosh, not Nesterovic. And usually it’s only for a minute or two. Back in the day, they’d often leave Bosh on the court for the entire first quarter and for a few minutes of the second.

Asked Sam about it and here’s his (logical) explanation:

"I think sometimes I play him for too long stretches but it’s hard to take him out, he’s my comfort zone. I know if I need a shot, we can throw the basketball to him.”

-

Here's how C. McCosky in Detroit wrote about yesterday’s game, and here’s how Ira got the Miami readers ready for tonight’s big tilt.

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We got Classic Cranky Sam pre-game Sunday. He wasn’t in a playful mood at all. And it’s apparently entirely boring to him to talk about the Pistons, which is natural because at this time of season there’s not really a lot to discuss about them.

"Fifty wins, seven years in a row, blah, blah, blah. Blah, blah, blah. They’re a good team.”

Well put.

Not quite the riveting quote that turns average stories into good ones, but not a bad assessment.

-

Once more into the mail:

Q: Doug, You probably won't answer this, but I was watching the Bulls game last night and couldn't help but to wonder who should have been fired Scott Skiles or John Paxson. They could have traded for either Kevin Garnett or Kobe Bryant two leading candidates for MVP. All they would have to give up is two players that probably won't re-sign with them anyway (Ben Gordon and Luol Deng).

Terry M, Mississauga

A: Now, why would you think I wouldn’t answer it? It’s kind of cool to get questions that aren’t about who I’d trade Bargnani for, which free agents they can sign in the summer and TJ-Jose.

Actually, I think Paxson’s largely responsible for the mess the Bulls became because of his paralysis over the possible Bryant trade early in the year. But even if he didn’t or there wasn’t a good offer or a legitimate offer out there, he should have handled the situation better because it became obvious early in the year that chemistry on that club was horrific. That had a huge impact on what’s transpired.

Comments

[Joe T.]

Tough loss yesterday, and certainly one they could have won if they'd played just a little bit smarter. Good win for the Pistons, though, whose backups have now beaten both teams they may be facing in the first round. If that isn't a confidence booster, I don't know what is. Not that the Pistons need one, of course, but still. After watching those backups manhandle our starters,
I can see why poor Walter Herrmann spent the game in a suit. It still hurt to see him there when he would possibly be logging major minutes in a Raptors uniform. He'd at least be WEARING the uniform. Aargh!...

[Eric]

I think it's come time for some fans to get credit for what they were saying earlier in the year. Fans are often ridiculed by those around the team (media or the team itself) for being impatient, bandwagon-jumpers and the like, but I think a lot of them were spot-on this season. While the team was making calls for patience while they struggled and couldn't put a streak together, many fan critics were prematurely ignored. When Sam Mitchell would say something like, "Just wait until we put together a string of seven or eight wins in a row..." to get the media out of his face, these fans were pretty much the only ones retorting with, "If something doesn't change, Sam, you'll NEVER win seven or eight in a row." And they were proven correct.

Obviously, not every fan is always right but the fans who anticipated this train wreck deserve some respect, I think, for seeing what the team did not want to see long ago. If the team had chosen to at least acknowledge their criticisms instead of viewing the future through rose-coloured glasses, maybe this retreat into the post-season (i.e. plateau) could have been avoided. What do you think?

Thanks.

[t-vor]

Wow, was that ESPN/ABC commentating yesterday ever a sound for sore ears. Onions baby.
Made me reminisce of the days when NBA TV experimented showing games without commentators at all. Those were the days.

[Adam Glatt]

There are two playoff results possible, depending on what happens to finish off the regular season.

1. Pistons sweep Raptors
2. Magic beat Raptors in 5 (and that's my optimistic judgment)

[Aaron Campbell]

This Raptor season is a mirror of the Ottawa Senators are having, isn't it.

From flying high, to forgetting how to play all together.

...and Bosh has to remember after almost 40 years of non-Stanley Cup winning years around these parts, it's going to take this city alot more than an inconsequential late season game vs. the Nets for the fans around here to get excited. Playoff time, different story.

[yertu damkule]

nothing lifts my spirits when thinking 'bout the raptor's woes than thinking about the bulls:

http://www.firejohnpaxson.com/index_files/ff9d8af31b9f6550ac03cfb17d1f5db0-2.html

http://www.firejohnpaxson.com/index_files/0bf7028eabb7c99431ac9db3abd0e102-3.html

not overly well written, and they don't talk about letting chandler go & signing wallace.

[AK]

Did you PVR/watch the ESPN/ABC coverage? Refreshing to a degree. What did you think? It seemed to me that Hubie was almost cheering for the Raps.

Blogger's note: Didn't see it, sorry.

[Colin W]

I'm not sure I understand the hoopla around CB4's video to the fans. Time and time again the complaint have been about how "quiet" Toronto's fans (basketball and hockey) can be, but a player gets criticized for asking fans to make more noise? Sure the team is struggling at the moment, but I agree with Bosh, this is the time to rally around them. For sure, more noise in the house can't hurt. And yeah, I can hear the voices: "Win more games and fans will cheer", but therein lies the rub. No team has gone 84-0, and the Raptors are still learning the nuances of how to win. We all expected more than the 40 wins to date, but in looking at the cup being half-full, for the second straight year, we are in the playoffs. Our record is what it is, so lets save the blame, the trade and fire demands, the Smitch bashing, and whatever else, for the off-season. Right now, lets make some noise. It amazing how crowd support often times can lift a struggling team.

[sara]

Maybe is time for Andrea to just sit on the bench and decide if he really want to have a future with this team and Sam Mitchell. Now he's just an extraneous entity , disinterested in what is doing,and totally disconnected from his teammates and his coach. I know it's illogic but he acts like a player who ''wants'' to be moved.

[PG]

The only responses when asked if you would take Bogut or Aldridge for Bargnani are:
1) Bargnani and who?
2) Bargnani and how much?
3) Is that hydro or outdoor?

[Jam]

I don't mind the loss since simply their bench is better than ours (and some of our starters). The only starter that played most of the 4th quarter was Bosh. Sam is in love with Delfino these days, although he is worse than Moon. I think Rasho entered at the 5min mark and TJ entered at the 3min mark, when they were already pts behind. As for Parker, these days he is not better than Joey. Maybe they should find some guy in the D-league to play the 2.
And let's not forget Sam's substitution patterns!! Ford leaves at the 2min mark of the 1st and comes back when there was 2min left in the 2nd. Incredible!!

[Andrew R.]

That game was one of the worst all-round games I've seen in a while. Since I can, I'm (unusual for me) blaming Sam. Jose was a huge defensive liability last night. TJ has consistently been better than Jose since he's been reasserted in the starting line-up, including last night, and for some reason TJ sits for long stretches in the 4th. Besides that Jamario played excellent defense, but sits for the entire 4th quarter, instead we go with Jose and TJ down the stretch. And if there were any game where I'm gonna put in Humphries, it's that one, especially since Bargs was stinking out the joint with his 3-pointers. Although you can't blame him, because Jose was never giving him the ball on the block. It was like Andrea was invisible to him unless he was behind the 3-point arc. Since I'm on a roll, the officiating was brutal too.

END RANT

[John]

I kind of take issue with Bosh urging the fans to get louder.

Raptors fans ARE loud, insanely loyal, and were unbelievable down the stretch last year. Isn't it more on Bosh and the Raps themselves to give the fans reason to be excited? I.E. winning a game in Detroit and making a statement going into the playoffs? The problem is that in the last 20 odd games this team seems headed towards a first round exit. Not because the crowd abandoned them, but because they simply are not playing consistent basketball.

They needed some quality wins down the stretch to build on and their only W's have been over sub-par teams it seems lately. A video message to the fans just kind of seems like a desperate alternative to the logical way of motivating fans (PLAYING GREAT BASKETBALL).

Hope they can get that 6 spot, but I'll still be there wearing red and getting loud regardless of a video message or if we land Detroit!

Go Raps!

[Amanda]

Colin W I agree with you whole-heartedly. And besides, as long as you make the playoffs, it doesn't really matter what their record is going into it. It's about what they do in the playoffs that determines whether this season was a success or not. So to any other fans going to the game tonight... let's make some noise!

[Ryan]

I don't at all take issue with Bosh calling out the fans, because it proves one thing clearly: fans matter. Good to know we can have an impact on the outcome of the games, isn't it?

[Rob]

Eric, good point. Fans have been questioning since the beginning of this seaason or earlier whether the team could have TJ and Jose on the team long term - initially because it would be costly to have 2 players making about 8 million dollars each and only playing 24 minutes a game. The media as a whole often dismissed this point and suggested that the team could long term have 2 starting PGs sharing minutes. The reality is that you can't invest that much money into 2 players at 1 position when they are each only playing 1/2 the game.

[Jim]

Maybe if ACC lowered prices just a tad bit they would actually get fans who would make some noise instead of the suits. If any team plays the raptors like detroit did they will easily win. Go ahead and let bosh score 30 40 it doesn't matter, just guard the perimter tight because no one else on the raptors beside Ford can penetrate. Wherein lies the problem, and im sick of Chuck always mentioning Orlando like it's a cake walk. Whose gonna guard hedo and rashard on the perimter, whose going to guard dwight down low. Keith Bogans and evans cancel out parker, and keyon dooling is fast enough to stay up with ford.

End Rant

Anyways wasn't the seattle game yesterday sad Doug, reminded me of the last expos and grizzlies game.

[Jamieson]

@ Andrew...Raps fans arent loyal, they'll turn on their best players in seconds....all it takes is a missed shot or...a video maybe...

[josh]

Just another soft, weak, gutless performance by the Raptors yesterday. Perhaps if Detroit had a 3rd team, we might have been able to compete with that unit. The Detroit Shock would have beaten the Raptors yesterday.

[Ellie]

Joe T., I thought Walter Herrmann announced he was leaving the NBA or something a while back.

Blogger's note: Actually, he announced that he was retiring from international play with Argentina. He hasn't given any indication of his future in the NBA or Europe.

[jk]

The only good thing about the Detroit game, as it was apparent that the Raptors starters are not even as good as the Detroit bench was the lack of the moronic Swirsky and Rautins on the ABC broadcast...I realize how much worse they make the mediocre Raptor games...
If this team is going to go anywhere, they need massive upgrades on and off the court...new wing players, new coaching staff, and definitely new broadcast team...

[JoseLuva]

So... Bosh wants the fans to get louder, crazier, zanier at games. Should we also do the same in our comments and questions to you, Doug? Might intimidate opposing teams who browse these parts of the web.

Blogger's note: No, we've got quite a good level of loud, crazy, zany types around here as it is, thank you very much.

[Jeff R]

You mentioned...

(And if there’s anyone out there with an extra couple to Springsteen in Orlando on Saturday, I know where you can get rid of them).

Bruce's management always drops a whole bunch of excellent seats in the few days leading up to each show (partly because it helps kill the scalper's market and partly because they know that a lot of his fans travel to multiple shows from all over the world.

I'd be joining you for the three Florida Springsteen concerts and (hopefully) two Raptor playoff games if it wasn't for the Passover holiday :)

If you don't want to wait for Ticketmaster to release the good seats, you can always check out a fan-based, face-value only sell/trade ticket forum at http://www.backstreets.com/btx/viewforum.php?f=5

Any time you can combine sports and Springsteen on a road trip, it's a good idea.

I think Smitch should make attendance at the show MANDATORY for all of his players and coaches. If they play basketball with the same intensity as Bruce and the E Street Band play rock and roll, the Lakers and Celtics COMBINED couldn't beat them in the playoffs.

Jeff R

[jk]

@Jamieson...Raptor fans are loyal to hard work and leaving it on the court....if you think the way the Raptors are playing now deserves loyalty, then you deserve the mediocrity that you are being served...you seem typical of that complacent arrogance so common here.
The Raptors are barely competitive against the Heat right now...and that cretin Swirsky keeps going on and on about wanting to face Orlando...there is something wrong here....a crap team telling people who pay money to watch them, to cheer when they are embarrassed by the worst team in the league.
Only fascists are blindly loyal...sports fans who pay to watch games played by millionaires expect competitive athletes who don't mail in games. All Stars don't tell people to vote for them, their play makes people vote for them...championship teams don't slither into playoff seeds praying for the least challenging team and praying that they somehow "get it together" at the right time...the Craptors are not deserving of cheers..they should be embarrassed.

[bballer]

i think hermann will be perfect in memphis. they are looking for a swing man that can guard both the 3 and the 4 off the bench. vincent was crazy for giving up on that guy. fabio was one of my favourite players coming down the stretch last year. if memphis picks him up, i'll definitely watch more of those guys. yes i've watched a few grizzlie games - i kind of enjoy them. i'm still waiting for darko to put it together. i mean, he has all the skills and can do it in flashes but never consistently. i, like many others, has been deceived by darko.

Blogger's note: One thing to think of: Walter's really tight with the Spain guys (Garbo's one of his best friends) so if he's talking to Gasol, or Navarro (who'll bolt as a free agent this summer), I'm thinking they'll tell him that the Grizzlies shouldn't be in his future plans.