A few quick hits before the hype really starts

The Ghost of Red Auerbach vs. The Logo.

Magic and Larry

Russell and Wilt

Rambis Youth and The Human Victory Cigar.

This is going to be a great few days of setting up a compelling NBA final.

You’ll be inundated with looks back and memories between now and Thursday’s Game 1; let’s just say for now that the league couldn’t have scripted a better championship series. Five days of hype and a bunch of games that should set TV ratings standards not set since, well, maybe since Magic and Larry. At least since Michael.

For now, though, let’s look back. The lookahead stuff will come.

Wither the Pistons?

Talk around the arena last night was that it’s an even money bet that Flip Saunders is gone and the coach-in-waiting is ex-Raptor Michael Curry.

And you know it’s on everyone’s mind around here. Second question for Saunders after the game – about 15 minutes after his season ended – is whether he thinks he’ll get whacked.

"That’s not a good question to answer right now,” he said. “I’m sure that’s something Joe (Dumars, the team’s GM) and I will sit down and evaluate.”

Best guess? He’s gone.

It’s only been three seasons (seems like he’s been in Detroit longer, doesn’t it?) but three straight losses in the conference finals might be enough to cost him his job. Saunders has now coached four times in a conference finals and has never won. That’s not a good track record.

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Yes, the Celtics won. Yes, they played a great fourth quarter. Yes, they showed some heart.

But watching Kevin Garnett pass up a dunk or a layup or at least a foul with about 1:40 left and Boston up four to pass off to Rajon Freaking Rondo for a jump shot was a hugely questionable decision and then watching him clank to game-sealing free throws was equally disturbing to Boston fans.

That’s not Big Game play.

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So, I walk out of my room in the wee hours, off to get some fresh air, and almost physically bump into ref Bennett Salvatore, who’s in the next room.

I resisted the urge to ask: “What the hell was that call on Pierce?”

Am sure you saw the play, Pierce pump fakes Richard Hamilton in the air, draws more contact than Brent Barry did on Derek Fisher, somehow gets a shot off that goes in and Salvatore calls an offensive foul on Pierce.

I don’t know if there’s anybody who’s seen every NBA playoff game ever played but that has to be the single worst playoff call ever.

I can’t even think what would be second.

Unreal.

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I’ve probably got enough to put up a mailbag Sunday morning but here’s one leftover from the other day.

Q: Counting the days to the draft has triggered a question for me. Do you think the Raptors have enough trade chips in its roster to compete with other teams to land their missing piece or pieces?
For example, any Toronto piece(s) for the 2nd round pick vs. Chicago piece(s). In my opinion, I would take what Chicago would have to offer rather than what Toronto would have to offer if I were Miami.
Your thoughts please.

Anthony R, Toronto

A: My thoughts are pretty easy to figure out. It depends on what the Raptors and/or Bulls offer in a trade. You can’t say one’s better than the other without knowing specifics and figuring out a team’s specific needs. You may think Chicago has more “good” parts but if they don’t want to lose them and Toronto has something people think is “good” to offer, then that’s a better deal to make.

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A guy goes out for some halftime fresh air on the Palace loading dock and finds himself hanging out with Bob Seeger and Kid Rock.

Very cool.

As was the Porsche that gravelly-voiced Seeger rolled up in just before the game.

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At the end of the first quarter, the goofy jumping-dancing-flipping troupe hits the floor and one of ‘em starts firing little plastic balls out of some toy cannon into the crowd.

Jalen Rose, sitting about five seats over, catches one.

No, he didn’t shoot it.

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David Copperfield would have been proud.

Rasheed Wallace made himself disappear for almost an entire basketball game.

I don’t know what the Pistons are going to do player-wise this off-season but the sense I’m getting is that any team that wants ‘Sheed can have him.

Heavy duty delivery

There’s lots and lots and lots here.

And lots more in the pipeline so if I get some down time in Detroit this afternoon or before a flight to Boston tomorrow, we’ll get up a bonus mailbag.

Have fun reading:

Q: I have two questions for you. One of them is a Vancouver Grizzlies question and the other is a Raptors/Grizzlies question.
A few friends and I were sitting around the other night and had a heated debate about who scored the first Grizzlies and Raptors baskets. We all knew Alvin Robertson 3 from the left elbow but what about Vancouver's? An adult beverage rides on the outcome. I'm convinced it was Chris King whereas my friend swears it's Benoit Benjamin. Can you help?
Now Benoit Benjamin is the segue to my next question. Who are all of the players that have been members of the Grizzlies and Raptors organizations?
Off the top of my head I can name this list: Benoit Benjamin, Roy Rogers, Mighty Mouse, Tony Massenburg, and Darrick Martin. Any others?
P.S. Be sure to pick up a 150th anniversary of Welland T-shirt! They're selling....though not particularly quickly!

Bernie T, Peterborough

A: Ah, Mighty Mouse is cheating, ‘cause he never played in Vancouver.

And you forgot the illustrious Milt Palacio and Aaron Williams.

Hope your friend is ready to buy (I'd order the Johnny Walker Blue). It was Chris King, a layup about 90 seconds into Game 1. And I know this is true because of the original Vancouverbeat grunts, Howard Tsumura, told me so. He also reminds me that King won Game 2, too, with a tip-in at the buzzer as Vancouver beat Minnesota in its home opener.

Someone else has suggested that King’s game-winning tip at home came over – get this! – Sam Mitchell.

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Q: Just wondering a couple things:
a) what in your opinion is the "best case" scenario come mid August? (for the RAPTORS, and the state of the franchise)
b) of the free agents we have right now who are the best 2 available minus Jose?
I read your blog everyday, I haven't gotten a response yet, and am looking forward,
Marc C, Scarborough

A: The best-case scenario in August? They will have at least one new starter at the two-three spots, Jose Calderon will be signed to a five-year deal worth between $33-$40 million and they’ll have a better fourth big man behind Bosh, Bargnani and Rasho. Or a good third big man behind Bosh and Bargnani.

Not sure what free agents you’re referring to: On the Raptors? Well, there’s only one, Delfino. And I guess second by default goes to The Gangster.

League wide? Let’s see who opts out of their contracts before we compile any list.

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Q: Hey Doug, long time reader and 3-time writer-with-no-answer! Let's hops this works.
What do you think of our beloved raptors moving up in the draft for the purpose of drafting Mr. O.J. Mayo. I think his stock is low right now and he has the most potential in the draft.
Not to mention, he'll be our starting 2 for the next decade.
As long as we don't treat him like T-Mac.
Even if we don't draft him, let the record show that I think O.J will be a great player in the NBA.

Chris M, Detroit

A: The record so indicates. And I don’t envision a scenario in which they can move up, I keep hearing Minnesota’s interested in Mayo and there doesn’t seem to be a fit with Toronto in a deal. And his stock is not low, at all.

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Q: Any talk of the D-League team being put in Kitchener Waterloo? The Memorial Auditorium has similar capacity as Ricoh, and you wouldn't be competing with so many other teams. I know the Marlies had a pretty good team this year but had a lot of trouble filling the stadium.

Travis S, Waterloo

A: Kitchener-Waterloo’s intriguing but the fact is, Maple Leaf Sports is going to be an investor, not a sole owner, and the people with the most of the most money aren’t looking that far afield.

Marlies? Trouble filling the arena? Yeah, I’d say so.

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Q: Can a player, team willing. sign an extension before the end of his contract?  For instance, could Anthony Parker sign a new contract with Toronto starting in 09/10, now?

J L, Oakville

A: No, as a basic rule, they can’t. Players on their rookie scale contract can sign extensions, as can players on a deal for longer than three seasons. But those players can only sign extensions after their third season.

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Q: My friends and I were having a discussion about the NBA Hall of Fame and it's exclusivity. We came to the conclusion that players like T-Mac, Vince Carter, and Chris Webber will never make the fame. Great career numbers, but they've never accomplished anything of significance (assuming T-Mac and Carter go championship-less).
Then there was a little disagreement about this group: Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker. They don't have off the charts career numbers, but all are proven winners and should get a chance at the Hall, especially Manu and Parker. But, we all came away saying that we could see them not making it. Fair enough.
The discussion then came to Robert Horry. Everyone was in agreement. Definitely going into the hall. 7 championships and counting. End of story. Right? Is he going to make it simply based on the fact he won 7 championships? I'm not saying he piggybacked his way to those championships, because he played crucial roles in a lot of them. But, would he be one of the worst players in the hall...talent-wise?

Mike S, Georgetown

A: You know, when I think of Robert Horry, I sure don’t think Hall of Famer but if he wins another, he’s in a very august group – Bill Russell, Sam Jones, Tommy Heinsohn, Satch Sanders and John Havlicek – and that’s got to count for something.

But Horry also will have played more seasons and on more teams than any of that group of iconic Celtics.

I don’t know. If I had a vote? I don’t think I put Robert Horry in the Hall of Fame.

A finalist determined tonight? I think so

You think the Spurs have any chance tonight?

WINSLOW TOWNSON/AP

Speaking of finalists, these guys have to pick it up or else.

I don’t, which means they are pretty much a lock to win.

Not sure what’s happened to San Antonio but blowing big leads and falling behind too far at home are not characteristics you normally associate with the Spurs.

And it will be likely be their fatal flaw as they try to repeat as NBA champions for the first time ever. The Lakers just seem mentally stronger than the Spurs, which is often the determining factor in a series between teams evenly-matched in talent.

And I’ll tell you this, I’d have to do a bit more thinking about it, but having watched all of these conference finals games, I’m leaning to suggesting the Lakers win the final in five games. That may change when we look more closely at the individual matchups but L.A.’s just going so well right now.

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Okay, maybe time to revise the thought on that Derek Fisher non-call at the end of Game 4? The league is.

Check out this Marc Stein story and see the quote from the league official.

I’m pretty sure if I’m Joey Crawford, being hung out to dry like that is not appreciated.

I still agree that it was a borderline call that probably doesn’t get made in any game – an opinion shared by many of the Spurs, by the way, but the history between Crawford and

San Antonio – the ref was suspended for last year’s playoffs because of an incident involving Tim Duncan – adds a layer of intrigue.

Because there are so few truly qualified officials available to conference finals and finals, the familiarity and contempt grows as the post-season unfolds.

I’m not saying Crawford did anything but make the call he felt was right – he is among the very, very, very best refs in the league – but I know there are people out there who wonder.

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Take yourselves back to February, when the Celtics – along with Spurs and Raptors – had some interest in waived Memphis Grizzlies guard Damon Stoudamire.

I know the Celtics had their eyes set on Sam Cassell all along and didn’t get serious about Stoudamire and that’s turning out to be a horrible mistake. I guarantee you Stoudamire could have got the ball over halfcourt against the defence of 192-year-old Lindsay Hunter, something Sam I Am couldn’t accomplish in the two whole minutes he played last night.

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I’m watching Kendrick Perkins go all Wilt Chamberlain on the Pistons and I’m wondering just when Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess turned into Andrea Bargnani wannabes.

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Cleaning out a couple of things from the mailbag because we’ve got a full one coming tomorrow. Keep the cards and letters coming:

Q: Hi Doug, I was having a bit of a discussion with some buddies, and we were wondering: can Calderon dunk? Have you ever seen him? Who do you think is the best dunker out of all the point guards in the league? (We don't count Nate Robinson.)

Louis F, Woodstock

A: Yes, I have seen Calderon dunk.

Best dunking point guard? Well, the immediate reaction is, “who cares?” or “no one” but I guess Deron Williams finishes pretty well, as do T.J. and Baron Davis. And Rajon Rondo can get to the rim every now and then.

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Q: In going through some Draft Express profiles for the upcoming draft I ran across Victor Claver a SF from Spain. He is young at 19 but with excellent size at 6'11"-217lbs and supposedly good athleticism, and able to get to the basket. Have you heard of him, and might the Raptors have some interest as a 2nd round pick for the future?

John N, Oshawa

A: I know absolutely nothing of him and I also know the Raptors don’t have a second round draft pick this year. So I wouldn’t be too concerned about him.

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When good people do good things.

Tammy’s one of most enduring pro basketball players we’ve ever produced, doesn’t get nearly enough recognition and this would be a good way for all of you to help her out.

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I’ll tell you one thing: If Ray Allen shoots tomorrow night like he shot last night, the Pistons have no chance in Game 6.

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Action: Dallas is thinking of bidding on the 2010 NBA all-star game and holding it in the new Cowboys stadium.

Reaction: That might be cool as a one-off deal.

All-star weekend is more about the parties and the people than the game so why not make it real circus.

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Finally, dashing the hopes of another Canadian city:

Q: I'm hearing a lot of people asking whether Vancouver could get a NBA team back there. It made me wonder if Montreal was ever considered in the past? Is there/was there ever a possibility?

Alain R, Canmore

A: No, I’ve never heard Montreal even mentioned when the NBA is being talked about. I know early in their existence – second season, maybe? – the Raptors were going to play an exhibition game there and had to move it because advance ticket sales were horrendous.

Of reunions and non-calls

You know the one cool thing about the Pistons? You can’t turn around it seems without running into some ex-Piston doing something for the team.

Bill Laimbeer coaches the WNBA Shock, one of his assistants is Rick Mahorn. Was watching the Shock-New York Liberty game on TV the other night and at halftime they’ve got an interview with James Edwards.

John Long’s on the Pistons broadcast team, as is Greg Kelser and they had a media row seat for Earl Cureton, although I didn’t see him, for Games 3 and 4.

It’s like one big (and in Mahorn’s case, I mean BIG) happy family.

Made me wonder what it’s going to be like around Toronto in, say, 15 years?

Will Alvin Williams come back every now and then? How about Jerome Williams? If they ever get a WNBA team, would they hire Muggsy Bogues to coach it? How about Dell Curry coming back when his kids are out of college?

Not going to happen, I’m afraid.

The biggest problem is this team has no real history. It’s never really won anything (one playoff series doesn’t count), the best player in franchise history is He Who Shall Not Be Named and he’s not coming back and there’s really nothing to celebrate.

You know, like a championship. Or a conference title. Or much excellence of any kind.

There will be, I suppose, but we’ll all be a lot older by that time.

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Was it a foul?

Did Derek Fisher get Brent Barry in the dying seconds of the Spurs-Lakers last night? Probably. But who cares?

MATT SLOCUM/AP

Please hold your complaints. Spurs were already in trouble.

The Spurs blew that one long before Joey Crawford didn’t blow his whistle – and there are very few, if any, officials who’d make that marginal call in that situation – on that fateful play.

The Spurs somehow gave up 20 second chance points, they never once got the “big” shot that could have turned the game as they mounted their comeback and any time a team can hold Kobe Bryant to zero – ZERO – free throws in a game, it can’t lose.

But San Antonio did.

I have no confidence now that that Spurs, who blew a 20-point lead in Game 1 and then blow Game 4 at home, can win this series.

In fact, I’d be shocked if there’s a Game 6.

But the call? It wasn’t going to get made, wasn’t a grievous enough foul, too marginal.

A good non-call was what Gregg Popovich called it. He was right.

And the game was lost well before that point anyway.

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Here’s one thing to remember about the pre-draft camp that rolls on today in Orlando: Bryan Colangelo is not coming back with a changed roster.

There will be lots of trade talk but I cannot envision a scenario that something gets done; the groundwork may be laid but that’s about it.

The concentration is going to be on the draft picks because, as he said earlier this week, it’s the first time they’ll really get a chance to see these kids up close and personal.

There will be talk, and lots of is, but if you’re looking for a time a trade’s made, I’m guessing June 25-30 would be the right time period.

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Here’s an interesting one from the mail:

Q: Simple, but complicated one for you:

How come when a team goes down 2-0, they tend to win game 3(as the home team) going away, but generally slip up in game 4. Does the adrenaline becomes less of a factor after game 3? It's quite the anomaly that I've never been able to figure out.

Mike S, Georgetown

A: Simple but complicated indeed.

There seems to be a much greater sense of urgency displayed by a team playing at home down 2-0 over one playing at home 2-1. The home crowd is a huge factor in most cities, too, because the adrenaline they help pump seems to diminish between Game 3 and Game 4 in any particular series.

Home teams have a tendency to let down, just wee bit, when they get that first win while a road team knows its goal was the get one win on the road and they still have that chance n Game 4.

I don’t know how many times it’s happened like that, but it does seem quite regular.

Of course, the Celtics and Pistons showed exactly the opposite, which figures seeing how weird those two teams have been this playoff year.

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Which bring us to: Who wins tonight?

About the only thing we know for sure in the Boston-Detroit series is we know nothing for sure.

The easy choice would be to say the Celtics will rebound at home because they’ve been so good there and they realize what’s at stake if they lose.

But Detroit played its best game of the series in Game 2 (also Chauncey Billups’ best game, by the way) to steal homecourt from the Celtics, only to give it back with a wretched performance in Game 3.

I wish I could figure it out because it’s got a huge bearing on how I’m going to be spending my weekend and a large chunk of the finals.

The gut says the Celtics win, Detroit wins back at home on Friday and we’re off to Boston on Saturday night for Sunday's Game 7. Reality may be entirely different.

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Last mail for the day:

Q: Hey Doug, I've got one question and one list idea. 1. Are you going to do a mock draft or at least provide us rabid Raptor fans your opinion on the 5 or 10 most likely Raptor draft choices? 2. How about a list of the top 5 and bottom 5 Raptor draft pick taking into account when the player was taken? I guess that was a question too.

Jeff F, Toronto

A: And hold myself up to ridicule and scorn? Of course I am.

But much, much closer to the draft.

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This has no impact on your day-to-day lives even as passionate basketball fans but anyone who cares a whit about the game in the country should greet the news that Therese Quigley of McMaster University has become the new president of Canada Basketball as a very, very, very good thing.

The organization still has some, um, issues to deal with before it gets fully on its feet and gets the game where it should be but having Quigley as the president and Wayne Parrish as the CEO could be the best leadership the group’s ever had.

Ugly game but that's how they like it

That was a dog of a game.

But if you’re the Pistons, dogs are a man’s best friend.

Sixty-six fouls, 67 free throws, two hours 49 minutes. All the flow of sludge. Sweet.

With Chauncey Billups struggling and Rasheed Wallace basically uninvolved most of the night, it was exactly what the Pistons needed and they did it to near perfection.

I don’t know if they can slow it down and make it ugly enough to win on the road, but I’ve learned over the years to never count them out.

The Celtics continue to confound. They looked horrible for long stretches, their point guard play was abysmal but it’d be just like them to do an about-face and look like the 66-win team when they get back home tomorrow.

I picked the Pistons in six when this thing started, I guess I should stick with it.

But the way these teams have played, you can certainly envision a scenario where Detroit wins in Boston and then Boston wins in Detroit and we all head back to Beantown for Game 7 on Sunday night.

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I don’t know if there’s a better Detroit story than Antonio McDyess, which I’ll explore more fully in the paper version of this tomorrow.

Blows out knee in 2001, blows it out again in 2003, re-invents self as smooth shooting big. Nice kid. Can’t think of anyone not happy for him.

I remember back in 1995 when the Raptors were trying to figure out who they’d take with whatever draft pick they had. I can remember one of Isiah’s trusted lieutenants telling me much they loved the kid from Alabama and if they had a chance, they were going to take him.

The day before Game 4, he’s listening to a conversation between Juan Dixon and Chauncey Billups and he’s hearing Juan saying everything was going to be all right.

That’s when McDyess spoke up and said it was time to stop talking and get it done on the court. It’s the new Leader McDyess.

"Yeah, because I’m kind of fed up with excuses,” he said after Game 4. “Since I’ve been here we kind of have had excuses why we haven’t won another championship … and I feel that if I don’t say nothing vocally that we would have an excuse this year. I don’t want us to have no excuses.”

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Here’s one from the mailbag:

Q: Non-Raps related, but to answer why (Tony) Parker doesn’t get any MVP consideration well it doesn’t help if you are only the third best player on your own team. Besides, he might have played Nash to a tie, although Nash obviously wasn't the one guarding him. Paul, however, was clearly the better player in the series overall. But, to get to my question and it has something to do with Euro players (I include Ginobli, etc., in here if they played in Europe before coming to the NBA) doesn't it seem that all the top Euro players where drafted outside the top 10 aka Ginobili, Parker, Nowitzki, Divac, Kukoc, Sabonis, Radja, Petrovic?....the only exception being Pau Gasol...unless I am forgetting someone - while most of the ones that make it into the lottery end up being so-so or even busts?

Jeff D, London, UK

A: Well, most of those guys (and Nowitzki was a No. 9 selection and traded from Milwaukee to Dallas in what has to go down as a deal in the He Who Shall Not Be Named department) spent time in Europe after they were drafted before heading to the NBA.

That might have something to do with it, don’t you think?

Parker, of course, is the exception but it took him a while to gain the trust of his coach.

But you’re right on a few top 10 busts. Nikoloz Tskitishvili comes quickly to mind in the “bust” department.

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Bryan Colangelo’s got another thing to deal with in Florida today.

And it’s something that will have an impact on every team in the league.

Colangelo’s a member of the league’s competition committee and the steering committee that’s part of that group and they’ll be talking about an increase in instant replay this morning in Orlando.

As we’ve seen with a handful of clock mistakes throughout the season and the playoffs, there’s no reason not to expand how replay can be used.

Maybe that takes giving coaches “challenges” or something like that but that’s a slippery slope. Coaches will whine and challenge at the slightest provocation and the last thing we need is a steady parade to the video replay table.

Something has to change, but not too drastically.

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If you’re interested, here’s the list of the 15 potential top draft picks who’ll take part in the Orlando pre-draft camp. Remember, they won’t do much other than take physicals and do some testing. The only basketball will be “light drills” so it’ll be hard to get a true handle on many of them.

Joe Alexander, Darrell Arthur, D.J. Augustin, Jerryd Bayless, Michael Beasley, Eric Gordon, Donte Green, DeAndre Jordan, Brook Lopez, Kevin Lowe, O.J. Mayo, JaVale McGee, Anthony Randolph, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook.

None of the top-rated Euros – Danilo Gallinari and Nicolas Batum chief among them – are there.

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Who do we like tonight?

I’m taking the Lakers, with great trepidation, though. And it’s going to rest on Lamar Odom.

Odom should be able to dominate Fabricio Oberto any time he wants and listening him take responsibility for the loss the other night makes me think he’s going to have a big one in Game 4.

Of course, if the Lakers don’t do something to stop Tim Duncan, who got an easy 20-20 game killing Pau Gasol the other night, the Spurs could very well reduce that series to a best-of-three.

And if both conference finals get to that stage, it might provide the drama that’s been missing for almost the entire playoffs.

Manu's the Man and the series has some juice

All that Manu’s Hurt stuff sure sounds a tad hollow today, doesn’t it?

JOE MITCHELL/REUTERS

High-fives all around for Manu Ginobili.

Sitting in the local establishment here in Troy (and you can put Jimmy Buffet’s Land Shark on the list of tasty beverages to try) it was amazing to watch him play like Manu again.

And, thankfully, give that Western Conference final some excitement, if for only a couple of days before Game 4.

We were all afraid – and the fears still linger – that both conference finals would be over in five, a happenstance that would make the expected good series more than boring.

But San Antonio’s Big Three finally showed up at the same time; no idea if they can do it again – I suspect they will in Game 4 – but if they do, that series does have some legs.

The most interesting part was listening to Lamar Odom in a post-game interview. He took full responsibility for the loss because he thought both Kobe and Pau played well. He was up front about it, and it was refreshing to see. Sometimes players have a tendency to shirk responsibility, Odom stood up and took it, despite getting six assists and 11 rebounds. Oh, his 2-for-11 shooting night from the field probably had something to do with it.

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Joakim Noah busted on the street of a college town with some booze and a wee bit of dope.

Never saw that coming.

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Speaking of that Spurs-Lakers game, Pau Gasol looked like you guarding Tim Duncan for most of the night. I know Duncan may go down as the greatest power forward in NBA history (that’s a pretty good debate, no?) so it’s tough to ask Gasol to handle him but Duncan did exactly what he wanted, when he wanted and how he wanted.

He keeps playing like that and this series is certainly going seven.

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Down at the other end of the NBA spectrum, Bryan Colangelo and his merry band of talent evaluators are headed to Orlando today for the pre-draft camp that starts there tomorrow.

About 15 of the top players are invited, mainly to meet, get measured, take physicals and do drills rather than play games, and depending on how the draft actually breaks down, there’s a good chance Toronto’s No. 17 pick will be at the camp.

Talking to Sam last week, he gave no hints of what exactly the Raptors would be looking for and Bryan was equally elusive in a conversation.

As has been mentioned many a time before, there will be players of every ilk available at No.17 – big, little and in between – and I know the braintrust is going into this with very open minds.

You should, too.

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Here’s one from the mail

Q: Regardless of whether or not the Spurs are able to get to the Finals this year, (which seems unlikely at this point) do you think they will need to make some significant changes to their aging roster? I think they would be foolish to get rid of any of their starters, so do you think acquiring some younger bench players will be enough to help them stay at the top of the West for the next 3-4 years?

Amanda F, Barrie

A: I do think they’ll have to make very significant changes in the back end of their roster. They are old, very old, compared to teams like the Lakers and even the Jazz. And trotting out Robert Horry, Mike Finley and Jacque Vaughn is not going to get it done.

I also think that if there’s a GM in the league who can do it, R.C. Buford can pull some of the right strings.

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Oh, next time you’re complaining about your pay, remember this:

The comely young lass serving us those Land Shark’s last night tells us she makes a grand total of $2.65 an hour. And that’s in stinky U.S. dollars.

Nothing to do with basketball but what the heck.

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Talking to Chauncey Billups yesterday and the group conversation gets around to the age of the Celtics, their six straight appearances in the Eastern Conference final (although being 2-3 might be considered under-achieving by some) and the “closing of the window.”

He had an interesting take:

"The window’s always closing, it’s just how much is it closing. I think with our young guys and our bench now, I think that window opened up a lot more for us this year because those guys are able to carry it on and take over games, we played fewer minutes and things like that. It’s always closing on every team, it’s just a matter of how much.”

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More mail for our western friends:

Q: Doug, I know that MLSE likes to avoid the West but how could they not take advantage of the economical, geological and promotional prospects in doing training camp and/or pre-seasons in Calgary or Edmonton?  World class Olympic athletes from all over the world have been using Banff, Jasper, etc for training for decades and if you just want to get a group of guys in shape you don’t hold training camps at sea level. Oh and did I mention there is money out here untapped by the NBA?  Like Toronto Bills pre-season money....

Ryan L, Calgary

A: Yes, but none of those world class athletes are basketball players and a first-class facility – NBA-calibre gym, weight room attached, treatment rooms – is what they’re looking for.

But, the last time I heard about the pre-season schedule for the coming fall, there was a huge possibility of a game in either your city or Edmonton (maybe Vancouver, but I think Alberta’s more likely).

Will try to find out soonest where that game will be played but it was almost a certainty they were coming last time I heard.

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Who do you like tonight?

History would suggest the Pistons can come back with a strong effort because they have so many times in the past but I’m not sure they’ve ever had to do it against a team as good as Boston.

And Chauncey’s hamstring and Rasheed’s extended periods of indifference – and his inability to deal with Garnett’s defence – leads me to think the Celtics get this one and it’s the last game of the year at the Palace.

And if it is, the talk around these parts is Flip Saunders is done as Detroit’s coach after a pretty good run. His replacement: All the buzz is that Mike Curry moves over from assistant to head coach.

Some news and notes from the road

Lots of little things and a few mailbags left over from finally getting to see real basketball. Seems like eons since Game 5 against Orlando.

How was that for a dismantling? Celtics fought through foul trouble, another ugly night from Ray Allen (5-for-16 from the field) and a so-so night from Paul Pierce (only six field goal attempts) and still win going away.

I know I said Pistons in six before the series began but there may be a need for revision at the moment.

The biggest concern for Detroit has to be their utter lack of emotion. No fire, little intensity, just the kind of blasé game they play all too often. Trouble was, it came in the biggest game of the season.

I’ll get more on Chauncey Billups after Detroit practice today (go to the morning paper to check that out) but he sure looks like he’s going at about three-quarters speed. And if he’s not 100 per cent, Detroit has no chance whatsoever.

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First trip down the hallway from press room to court and who’s standing against the wall holding court? The one and only Jalen Rose.

"You’ve got to get a team you cover that gets out of the first-round,” he said.

Yeah, he’s right.

Gotta admit, he looks like he’s taking this whole “TV star” life pretty well. Not exactly in prime playing condition but he’s got the TV host look down pat.

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One from the mail about last night:

Q: Break out the champagne - the Celtics won their first playoff road game! Now I think you said Pistons could take this series - correct me if I'm wrong. If so, is this still your take? A couple of other things that I would love your comments on.
1. How crucial has P.J. Brown been for this Celtics team? He was so key in the Cleveland series and was definitely a factor bringing them to the second round.
2. Jeff Van Gundy and Marc Jackson had a disagreement on booing. Jeff says when the team is down, booing doesn't help and a standing ovation is in order, while Marc says the fans should boo if their team is down miserably.  Do you think it's ok to boo when your team is playing how Detroit was playing? I think it was in the 2nd quarter.
3. And how about that Sam Cassell sighting!

Simone S, Toronto

A: One thing you’ve got to know about P.J. Brown is that he was sitting in a chair in front of his locker about 90 minutes to tip-off eating what looked like a peanut butter sandwich. Looked good, too. And then he went out and gave them 21 solid minutes, just the kind of veteran good teams need. Not sure if he’s going to play again next year but if he decides to sit it out, some contending team will come calling in February again.

I’ve never, ever seen a team respond to booing by playing better so I’m with Van Gundy on that one, no doubt about it. In fact, whenever there seems to be an issue between Van Gundy and Jackson, I find myself siding with the coach.

I guess it’s okay to boo, you’ve paid for tickets so why not, but it’s certainly not helping.

As for Sam I Am, it sure was good to see him. Wish he could still play, though. You catch the fourth quarter? Rondo gets his fourth foul in the final seconds of the third and Sam starts the fourth. He’s not in there 90 seconds – which includes a foul and a Rodney Stuckey basket and he’s back on the bench and Rondo’s back.

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More Palace sightings:
Super Fan Nav Bhatia with his usual prime seats; ex-Raptor Carlos Rogers, who looks exactly the same; and Juan Dixon, in a suit on the bench.

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Okay, I have some issues with the Detroit game-ops people, the pyrotechnics and noise at the start of the game are so over the top it’s ridiculous and the PA volume’s at ear-splitting levels.

But in one time out, they do this “sing-along” thing with the crowd. It was hilarious to listen to a large chunk of a 22,000 crowd signing Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing. This is one thing the Raptors people should steal.

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More mail:

Q: Hi Doug, I heard that the raptors might be holding training camp in Halifax. Have you heard anything like that? And also there is talk here in Halifax that we might be getting a D-League team in a year or two, the president of the league visited Halifax two weeks ago, was also wondering if you heard any rumbling about that? Thanks

Ian B, Halifax

A: The word on training camp, at least the last time I talked seriously to someone about it, is that Ottawa looks like the front-runner although Halifax is in the mix. Trouble with Halifax is finding a facility that can be given over entirely to the team for a week.

As for the D League, I’ve not heard a word about Halifax being in the mix although I think it’d go over pretty well. Toronto’s interest in a D League team would see that franchise in Hamilton or Toronto (Ricoh Coliseum maybe?) and, I’d think the new place out in Oshawa might be in the mix since it’s owned by Maple Leaf Sports.

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What do you think about tonight’s game? Lakers sure looked dominant the other night, didn’t they? There are suggestions Manu Ginobili’s hurting a little bit and if he is, the Spurs chances are diminished greatly.

You never want to dismiss the defending champions so quickly but I can see that series ending in five.

Maybe blowing that 20-point lead in Game 1 did stick with them. The 30-point loss might make one think so.

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So I’m sitting in my media row seat, right on the end two rows up, in the first quarter last night and this little stuffed animal – Mini Hooper I think he’s called – wanders up and wants to shake my hand.

That’s me.

A Chicken magnet.

Pretty heavy mailbag today

More mail here than you can probably handle and some left out, too. But that’s okay, I’m actually off to cover basketball this weekend – what a concept – so we’ll get back to seven days a week for now and I’ll need some leftover queries to get me through the weekend.

Q: I just finished reading Pistol by Mark Kriegel, a great, great book about a great, great hoops player. It's replaced Miracle of St. Anthony as my favorite basket ball book. Do you have any suggestions of other great books about the game?

Marc S, Toronto

A: We’ve done books a few times and I love how readers chip in with their favourites.

Me? I’d have to put Bill Bradley’s Life On The Run in there, Wayne Embry’s book The Inside Game has to be on that list, as does Hoop Dreams.

The Breaks of the Game by one of the all-time greats, David Halberstam is another and Terry Pluto’s Loose Balls is a hugely entertaining look at the ABA.

You might want to check out The Last Shot, a book about Stephon Marbury and no basketball library would be complete without They Call Me Coach by John Wooden.

There, that should get you through the cottage season, right?

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Q: (Last) Friday's column mentioned both Lamond Murray and knuckleheads.  Coincidence?  I didn't think so. But it did get me wondering about a new list for you: All time Raptor knuckleheads/difficult players to talk to or interview. Your list can include phonies (eg. guys who smile for the camera but sneer otherwise) but no wives (sorry Jackie & Kendra).

Phil S, Thornhill

A: Not sure if “phonies” is the right word but I always found it a challenge to try to interview Keon Clark, because he somehow figured I’d done him wrong and refused to talk to me for a few months; Oliver Miller would be in that group; and Voshon Lenard was curt and would cut us off after about two questions. But other than that, this franchise really hasn’t ever had that many bad apples, so to speak.

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Q: This is an out of the blue question, really unrelated to what's going in the playoffs, but I'll ask it anyways:
With Rodman in the news recently (charged with domestic violence, skipping the Pistons' anniversary celebrations), I was thinking about the role he played on the Bulls teams. Yes, he was crazy, but apparently also a bit of a fitness freak. I remember he used to stay in the dressing room or aisle during the first quarter keeping warm on the stationary bike, before he was called on to provide energy, defense and crazy rebounding. My question is, why don't more off the bench energy guys do this to keep warm, especially those who aren't a focal point of the offense and therefore don't need to know what defenses the other team is putting on? I'm thinking Hump in particular here (course he might be stuck on that stationary bike all game).

Tim F, Monterrey, Mexico

A: Some players do, especially ones just coming back from injury but, really, they don’t sit all that long and are generally ready to go when called.

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Q: A couple of draft-related questions:
1) When can the Raptors start working out potential draft picks?
2) What's the monetary value of a draft pick when it's used to balance out player salaries in a trade?

Sean D, Toronto

A: They can start holding individual workouts right after the Orlando pre-draft camp ends next week. And the monetary value of a first-round pick in a trade is his rookie-scale contract value.

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Q: Hi Doug, totally unrelated to the Raptors question here.  Since those of us left still watching the playoffs are all in awe over the play of Chris Paul I have a question about where he is in terms of the games greatest 6' and under players?
It's been argued that at least to some point you could say Allen Iverson is the greatest 6' and under player ever in the NBA.  Is Chris Paul (or can he be) better then the young Allen Iverson?
To help you decide i have here their stats from the best years
AI: 31.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.5 apg, 2.8 spg, and took his team to the finals and won MVP.  Team record for the year was 56-26
CP: 21.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 11.6 apg, 2.7 spg, came 2nd in MVP voting and took his team to the "TBD".  Team record for the year was 56-26
I would say at least on some level they're pretty close but which one is bet

Steven T, Winnipeg

A: Well, you’ve got the two there but it’s generally conceded that Isiah Thomas was the best small player ever.

I don’t know if Paul will surpass him but it’ll be fun to watch him try.

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Q: I've come to the conclusion that you are a very polite Canadian. Why? Because every time I read the blog, and that is daily, I have noticed that somebody uses the word then instead of the word than. If you are a true wordSmith holding your tongue on this obvious error must have caused you to have bitten of a big chunk of your tongue by now.
But I have a legitimate question for you. Towards the end of the season there was some hint that Andrea Bargnani was suffering with an undisclosed issue which may have affected his progress this past season. Do you know if this surgery Andrea has undergone was to correct that?

TC W, Toronto

A: I think the surgery helped a bit, but I also know he was bothered by a sore Achilles, too, which just needed some rest.

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Q: Two questions. Wouldn't it be cool now that we're 10 years in the organizations life to have a former player be the play by play guy replacing Chuck - jokingly I'd say Charles Oakley or JYD would be the leading candidates. If not them who else?
What former Raps have had the best NBA career? The Dream, Chauncey?

Craig M, Aurora

A: I think you’re getting play-by-play and analyst mixed up, there is no one who’ve ever played here who’d be a good play-by-play guy, I don’t think.

And the best NBA career? A no-brainer.

Hakeem Olajuwon is a first-ballot Hall of Famer without question. Chauncey? Not close.

So … I’d say The Dream for sure.

As for the broadcaster? I'd bet Matt Bonner, when he's done playing, would be pretty good.

In appreciation of Parker (Tony, that is)

You think the Lakers got in the Spurs’ heads with that big comeback last night?

LUCY NICHOLSON/REUTERS

Tony Parker in his office.

Up 20, there no reason to think a veteran team like San Antonio couldn’t close the deal, even as tired as the Spurs had to be having had to sit through a seven-hour flight delay on their way from New Orleans to Los Angeles overnight on Monday.

But they didn’t.

And it had to be disheartening to see Kobe go off like he did in that second half and I’m wondering if there will be any residual effect of that collapse as the series goes on.

One impression I got was that Tony Parker can get in the paint and get a shot any time he pleases. I figure he’s going to be as huge for the Spurs the rest of the way as Kobe is going to be for the Lakers.

And watching Parker a lot during these playoffs had led me to wonder why he doesn’t get more love when the topic of discussions turns to MVP.

In two series, he’s beaten Steve Nash and Chris Paul, maybe not single-handedly, but his team’s still won and that’s all that really matters.

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Who do you like tonight?
Me? I’m taking the Pistons.

I can see Chauncey Billups, who didn’t look himself at all in Game 1, getting his rhythm back and dominating Rajon Rondo, and I can see the Pistons coming up with some kind of defensive adjustment that slows KG a little bit.

And, I can see the Celtics, who’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster almost since the playoffs began, finally having a “down” night at home.

A road win by Detroit would certainly add some juice to the series, and turn up the heat on the Celtics heading to Auburn Hills on Saturday night.

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First trip to the mail:

Q: Couple of questions:
1) Will the first year of Calderon’s new contract be considered base year compensation?
2) Obviously, the Bargnani story is pure speculation from people outside the Nets. However, what do you think is Colangelo’s mindset regarding Andrea? Is he willing to trade Bargnani for the right price or does he see him as part of the Raptor’s future?
Rob C, Montreal

A: Yes, indeed, Jose will be a base-year compensation guy, meaning if the Raptors wanted to trade him with a year, they can only take back half his salary in a trade.

I think Colangelo’s mind-set on Bargnani is the same as it’s been for two years. He sees a uniquely-skilled 7-footer learning to play in the NBA. I’m sure he’s frustrated by Bargnani’s regression last year but the skills that attracted him to Toronto are still there and the GM is willing to suffer through some bad times because he thinks there’ll be good times coming.

I happen to agree with him, many out there in reader-land don’t but I guess it really doesn’t matter a lick what we think ‘cause it’s Colangelo’s reputation that hinges on Bargnani not being a bust.

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Did Tim Duncan go to the Dikembe Mutombo School of Foul Commission?

I believe they may be the only two players who are absolutely convinced they have never, ever committed a personal foul.

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This in overnight from my man Eran over in Israel, who’s been a great help with all things Israeli all season.

Seems our man P.J. Tucker’s had a great season, named the Israeli League’s MVP by a player’s vote in Eran’s Ma’ariv Sports and by the rival Yedioth Aharonoth (I’d prefer you all read Eran’s paper, of course).

Tucker led Holon to first place in the regular season and their in the Final Four next week in Tel Aviv.

Not sure what it is with Raptors and Israel but that’s very cool for P.J.

And, no, this does not mean P.J. should be back in the NBA next year. He remains too small to be anything more than an end-of-the-bencher.

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More mail and, don’t forget, tomorrow’s mail day:

Q: Hi Doug. Do you really think the Raptors are looking to Europe in the draft again? To me their Euros are all guys who lack athleticism and toughness and just want to shoot 3's all day. Don't you think it would make more sense to add size, toughness or athleticism instead of yet another 3-point specialist who is terrified to go into the paint?

Patrick D, Toronto

A: Oh yeah, you wouldn’t want any of those scaredy-cat Euro-trained players like Ginobili or Scola or Parker or Gasol or Nocioni or Oberto or Kirilenko standing out behind the three-point line smoking their Gitanes and looking down their noses at us all-knowing, all-seeing North Americans, would you?

Come on, can we please dump the decades-old, quasi-racist stereotypes?
If they can get a player from Mars who’ll help, they should, and will, do it.

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The AP finger surgery yesterday? Am told it’s nothing serious, he’ll be fine. Just a bit of minor fixing of a nagging problem.

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Last letter for today

Q: Earlier in your blog you mentioned the Raps might run another free agent camp similar to last year.  Any idea when this will take place? Are the Raptors looking to fill a need through this camp or are they just looking for a diamond in the rough?  Any intriguing players you would invite?

Fred E, Belleville

A: The camp’s going to run June 20-22 at the Air Canada Centre and it’s just a way to keep track of some guys they’ve been bird-dogging over the course of the season.

I can’t see how they find another Moon (that was an absolute aberration, albeit a good one) and I’m sure the list of invitees (which is still being finalized) will include a bunch of other guys no one’s ever heard of.

As for intriguing players? Can’t think of any off the top of my head, maybe Randy Livingston, the D League point guard who was the league’s MVP I believe, would be the only guy I can think of who might have a shot at sticking.

Other than that? Nobody, really.

You might see John Lucas’s kid here, maybe another friend or two of existing Raptors but, really, it’s to find a summer league team more than it is to find a gem.

No lottery luck in this precinct

Pressure’s on at 40 Bay St.

Can you imagine a worse lottery scenario than the one that played out last night?
I guess if the Knicks or Nets got third, it might have been, but that’s about it.

BILL KOSTROUN/AP

And with this, the playoff race in the East tightens up.

Chicago takes Rose to go along with Hughes and Deng and it means they don’t have to trade for a point guard. Or they take Beasley to give them a low-post beast and no way Toronto makes them better by dealing them Ford.

And then Miami takes Beasley to go with Wade and Marion or they take Rose to fill out a formidable backcourt. If they get Beasley, they still need a point guard but can you imagine Toronto flipping them one to make them a 45-win team? I don’t know about that.

All of a sudden, two bad teams are good and the bottom half of this year’s playoff lineup – read Toronto, Philly and Atlanta – are a tad nervous.

That puts a tremendous amount of extra pressure on Mr. Colangelo to improve the roster and on Mr. Mitchell to get the most out of it

The summer, or at least the time between now and the middle of July, just got a tad interesting for those of us who have to follow and write about this squad.

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Okay, this is how it works, sometimes.

Reporter calls someone in the organization, trolling for a story. They get around to talking trade and the chat goes like this:

"So, what have you got going?”
“Not much.”

"Think you could get Melo and Camby away from Denver?”
“Sure, for a steep price.”

"What else is out there?”
“Well, Miami might want to do Haslem, we like Wilcox in Seattle and God knows what they might do in Chicago.”

"What would it cost you?”
“We would move Player X if we had to.”

“Any other teams talking.”
"Bet Toronto wants to do something, they’ve got to move one of those point guard and I’m sure they’ll shop Ford.”

“Anyone else?”
“Sure, maybe they’re tired of the big kid, he had a pretty bad year.”

"The Bargnani kid?”
“Yup.”

"Okay,  thanks."

Presto, change-o, story gets written, my inbox gets filled.

That’s an over-simplification, of course; but sometimes that’s how it goes down; that way there are names in the story, chat rooms go bonkers and a guy sitting in a local looks up and sees Bargnani on TV with a throw line to a possible deal.

Lovely world, isn’t it?

A lot of the names you read in various stories are absolutely legit when it comes to interest. But there is a long, long, long, long, long way between interest and something getting done. Just a gentle reminder.

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Sitting watching halftime of last night’s game and there was Avery Johnson goofing with the ABC-ESPN dudes. Last week, he was in the TNT studios with Chuck, Kenny and Ernie.

Guess what Avery’s going to be doing next season while he sits back and spends some of Mark Cuban’s money?

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Let’s get into the mail:

Q: I was wondering, with the recent comments made by J.J. Reddick, why do players say this kind of stuff in the media? Do they think the coach or the team are going to say "hey, we should play him cause he said he wants to play or trade me"...?
Also, with what is going on with OJ Mayo, is his draft status hurt now?

I really think he should have stayed in college, but I guess that can't happen anyway.

Zack B, Scarborough

A: I have no idea why players say such crazy things – it diminishes their trade value (as we may have learned from He Who Shall Not Be Named and others) and it makes them sound, in this case especially, like a whiny kid who’s never done anything wanting to make some noise.

But, as reporters, we love it.

And, no, I don’t think Mayo’s stock drops much, if at all, because of questions about financial improprieties. We did see Marcus Williams tumble a bit when he came out of

Connecticut with some, um, issues, and Boston College’s Sean Williams might have gone higher a year ago if not for his off-court problems. But Mayo? I think his talent still makes him a top six or seven pick.

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Okay, as we approach workout time for draft picks, let’s make one thing clear.

Most teams will entertain between 30-50 prospects over the next month or so, either in individual workouts or free agent camps.

They will end up drafting two players and, perhaps, inviting one or two others to camp in October. They will maybe fill out a summer league team with the debris from those workouts and camps.

So every time you read a story or a note about this guy or that guy being “signed” by the Raptors, or the Raptors being “interested” in some guy you never heard of, remember that a lot of this time is wasted. And those guys are mostly fodder.

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You check out Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, on the day before they did the Celtics-Pistons game last night, watching the John Lester no-hitter at Fenway?

They looked like regular fans, high-fiving guys after the last out.

Of course, regular fans who somehow got third row seats at Fenway.

Still, very cool. And makes a lifelong Red Sox fan hope for an early June night off in Bostonso he can do the same thing.

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Here’s another dip into the mailbag:

Q: Regarding Jamario's contract, it is great that his salary is being doubled, but were the Raptors limited by the amount he could have been offered? It somehow doesn't seem right that for a guy who started as much games as he did, and played well enough to make the Second All Rookie team, he only gets paid $700K, while some who will remain nameless, make off like bandits (salary relative to effort/production).

Colin W, Toronto

A: The fact is, next year’s salary was set almost a year ago now. Toronto signed him to a one-year deal with a team option for the second and he knew going in to last season what he’d make next year.

Sure, he’s a bargain but a year ago he had no guarantees of anything and a chance to make the league-minimum of about $711,000 must have looked pretty good.

I guess the Raptors could have made a bigger offer last summer but why would they? They had no idea what they were getting.