Over the Moon with money

How’d you like to make almost twice as much money this year as you did last year? And still be considered a bargain by your employer?

Well, if you’re Jamario Moon, that’s pretty much what’s going to happen.

Moon’s going to make about $711,000 in the coming season, which is about a $300,000 raise on what he made in his rookie season.

Not bad, eh?

The funny thing is, Moon is probably still going to be the lowest-paid Raptor by a large amount (unless some second-round pick sticks, and that’s a stretch) which tells you a fair bit about the out-of-whack salary structure in the NBA.

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Did we finally see the Kevin Garnett the Celtics need show up last night? The strength of Garnett’s personality is quite something but so far in the playoffs – especially in the fourth quarter and particularly in the fourth quarter of road games – he hasn’t taken over and imposed himself on his teammates, or the game.

Last night, it looked like he did.

There are few players with his intensity, and skill set, and watching him pass up shots to the likes of Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins in the fourth quarter of some games was shocking.

Garnett’s the kind of guy who has to take those shots, make plays and carry his team on his back.

He did it last night; now he has to do it – eventually – on the road.

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Checking into the mail:

Q: Hey Doug, just wondering wondering if you knew which team started the season with the longest win streak.
Thanks again!

Sam C, Kingston

A: I’m hoping you mean all-time because that’s what I checked.

The 1947-48 Washington Capitols (coached by one Red Auerbach) and the 1993-94 Houston Rockets each started the season 15-0.

This season?

Boston got out to an 8-0 start before losing to Orlando.

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According to People Who’d Know, the Jose Calderon press conference in Spain yesterday yielded nothing in the way of news. Thankfully.

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Wow, lots of anti-Spurs people out there in comment-land, aren't there?

All good points, you’re all entitled to your opinions but here’s something to consider:

Everyone whines. Every team has floppers. No foul called in any NBA playoff game – and almost every regular season game – has actually been committed according to the aggrieved party.

Whining, gesticulating, complaining are as much a part of playoff games as layups, dunks and hard fouls.

Watch tonight. Watch last night. Watch tomorrow night. See them whine.

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You know what really sucks.

Seeing the Lakers play and seeing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, probably one of the top 10 players of all-time, being reduced to sitting behind the bench instead of on the bench, or in some place of higher respect.

I don’t know if Abdul-Jabbar would ever leave the organization, although he did work for the Clippers for a few years, but surely to goodness there’s some team out there that could use a coach with his knowledge and let him sit in the front row and contribute.

Sam? Bryan? You reading this?

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Here’s another one from the mailbag, and tomorrow’s mail day so fill ‘er up this morning and afternoon:

Q: So Doug, we watch as my pick to win it all -the Celts- lose every single game on the road, while somehow winning all at home.
Two questions, as you have followed the team on the road for years. Tell me:

a) When you have a group of professional athletes, why does a road crowd get to them? So much that it actually makes them perform worst then at home? Or is there another reason why? (i.e. travel).
b) Is there any statistics on free-throw percentages on foreign turf?  Or are all home crowds behind basketball nets just plain acting goofy?

Atif K, Scarborough

A: I don’t know that crowds get to road teams as much as they help home teams, if you get what I mean. Teams tend to play far better at home for a couple of reasons. They have a higher level of comfort in their lives and the adrenalin rushes just a little bit more when the crowd is screaming for you. I think that might have as much to do with it as any athlete getting nervous or something playing in front of a hostile crowd.

Doug Collins continues to make an excellent point on this issue in about every TNT game he’s done lately. He says, and I agree, that bench players tend to play far better at home than on the road because the home crowd carries them along.

And, I’m sure on some stats sight you could find a breakdown of home and road free throw percentages, I’m sure it’s also a stat individual teams chart. I just don’t have that site on my fingertips. And even if there is no difference – and I suspect there is – the crowds behind the basket are acting just plain goofy.

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This just in about the Celtics: Sam Cassell is done.

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I know they gave Danny Ainge the executive of the year award last night (and it’s a rather cheesy little hunk of glass, isn’t it?) but as I was watching Pau Gasol work his magic late in that Lakers-Jazz game, I couldn’t help but think Mitch Kupchak should have been hoisting that tiny award.

And then getting a replica made so he could give it to Chris Wallace of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Comments

[Johnny]

Doug,

That's why Ainge deserved it. He made trades that took guts and could (would) cost him his job if they didn't work out. Kupchak made a great trade, but it was more of a disastrous move by Memphis, then a bold remaking of the Lakers.

[Dave]

Speaking of KG and his intensity, did anyone else notice KG getting in Rondo’s face in the 4th quarter last night after Rondo helped Delonte West up after a hard foul?

Glad to see some intensity and fire in the playoffs, as many of us “readers” dislike it when these guys get so buddy-buddy with their opponents in what is supposed to be the most intense part of the season.

[Kevin]

To be fair, if you're going to give a tiny one to Chris Wallace you should probably give a tiny one to Kevin McHale in Ainge's case. Still, I do agree that Kupchak deserves the award this year for not pulling the trigger on any Kobe deals (besides the no-brainer of picking up Gasol for chump change). I hate seeing GMs cave to whining superstars so it was nice to see two hold out for the right move this year.

Yeah, I'm including Rod Thorn on the Kidd deal. I still think that in the long run Thorn made his team better by trading a huge chunk of his aging cap space for some youth with playoff experience and a lot of talent. Instead of panicking and sending off Kidd at the first deal that came up he waited (knowing that they weren't going to make any noise in the playoffs this year...even if they made it), got a great deal from Dallas and set up his team for the future.

As for the "Spurs hater" thing...well, I don't hate the Spurs, I hate that they beat all the teams I like to watch. I don't like some of the things the Spurs do/tolerate though(Hack-a-Shaq is an abomination but well within the rules). I also don't know how much I can respect a team that continues to employ as dirty a player as Bruce Bowen. Flopping is annoying, sure, but it's gameplay. Whining, same thing. Willfully attempting to injure other players is the worst thing I can imagine in sports. These athletes are given a gift and they use it for their livelihoods, that some dirty rat has determined the best way to defend them and keep his no talent self in the league is to risk ending their careers is despicable.

So, yeah, Pop, I think you're a genius and pretty funny. Manu, you frighten me everytime you have the ball. Parker you annoy me because you make it look so easy despite hitting the ground on every layup. Duncan your boring consistency and skill are not exciting, but impressive nonetheless. Bowen...there is no player I would wish a career ending injury on with the exception of you. Congratulations Bruce, you make me angry everytime I see you.

[CARLoS M.]

Kareem as an assistant to Smitch, the end is nigh!

[Terence Gui]

Hi Doug... a quick comment/question regarding free-throws.

NBA athletes are obviously used to all the noise and movement going on behind the basket, so it doesn't really bother them. Having said that, can you recall any specific occasion where fans have in fact proven to be a tangible distraction to the shooter? i.e. have there been any memorable, inventive, distraction techniques that you can recall?

I imagine if someone could actually organize every single person in the sections behind the basket to act in unison, they could actually do some good, instead of simply "acting goofy".

Blogger's note: No specific instances come to mind because my mind is a tad cluttered by I know anecdotally that Dwight Howard was a much worse free throw shooter in Toronto in the recent playoffs than he was in Orlando.

[Aaron]

Non-ridiculous trade offer---- (iguodala and dalembert for barganani and ford? the only way that might happen is if we get a secret worker in philly to only make trades that benefit Toronto)

We trade tj ford and change (a draft pick, maybe primoz) for corey Maggette. Clippers dont need him, they have a great young front court with kaman/brand/al thornton...and im sure maggette would welcome a bigger role. Plus, clippers need a PG.
This is completly realistic. Raps would still need to draft a big man to replace rasho after next year, but that an be dealt with later, if there is a player like maggette out there why wouldnt raps make a move for him?

[Andrew R.]

"This just in about the Celtics: Sam Cassell is done."

Agreed. I'm not sure why he's been playing as much as he has. Eddie House was playing fairly well in the back-up role. And Doc even had Cassell out there in crucial parts of the game for the road games, while Rondo watched him try to shoot over bigger guys and miss.

And where's Ray Allen this series?

The Spurs-Hornets series is a good one. David West is playing way better than the player I thought he was. And Duncan is showing that he's on the decline in his career.

[Don]

About the whining: watch any of those "classic" games on Raptors TV that are from 20 years ago or more, and what's the first thing you notice? No whining. Or, at least, very little. Jeez, these days every single dang player starts crying after every single dang call, and, quite frankly, I find it pathetic. Where did this sense of aggrievedness and entitlement come from? Why are players such babies these days?

[MD]

When talking about Ford yesterday, Calderon says:

"I would like to start and that's the most important thing," Calderon insisted. "I've been two years with him but I don't know if I could be another year because things would have to change."

Hey - Calderon is entitled to his opinion - he believes he's a starter in this league (as does Ford) and he deserves to be a starter. But what happened to Calderon's 'team first' attitude, Doug? Starting is the most important thing to Calderon?? Wasn't TJ supposed to be the 'selfish' one? Go ahead - I'd like to see what kind of spin you put on this one.

[GM]

Couldn't agree more with your comments on whining and flopping. All the teams do it. I don't know why the Spurs get the worst rap. Maybe it's the bias against Euro players. Back when Sacramento had Divac and Stojakovic and Turkoglu, they had the bad rap, but a team like the Lakers were the real worst culprits with Rick Fox, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher. Some teams just get a stink on them that doesn't wash off no matter what the facts are. Even our own Steve Nash is a master flopper. Unfortunately, it's part of the game. A part I wish the refs would do something about, but that's another topic. That being said, I find myself rooting against the Spurs, too, and I'm not sure why. I think it's just because they win so much. But if it's a Spurs/Celtics or Spurs/Pistons final, I'll be cheering for them.

It seems your assessment of Garnett last night differed mightily from Grange's (TM). I didn't see the game, but because I think Garnett is over-rated, I'm gonna go with Grange!

Oh, and I believe Kareem was with the Knicks in some capacity, too, fairly recently.

[petro]

Doug... is The Star getting you a translator so you can give us your spin on this story?

http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/gen/20080514/noticia_53462921998.html

I'd say it's pretty surprising how Jose is being so candid... and I'm glad... he is not biting his tongue... and ultimately is forcing B.C. to choose one or the other.

[Chris]

I may be wrong, but am pretty sure Kareem is there to coach/develop andrew bynum. Not sure he has an in-game role (esp. when Bynum isn't playing), so why should he be on the the bench? (or even there).

I personally was/am very interested in what Calderon has to say. You may not agree with him doing the press conference (either do it), but what he said in his blog was VERY interesting to anyone following the TJ-Calderon drama.

Blogger's note: Not sure if Bynum has anything to do with it, Kareem's been sitting behind the bench the entire season.

[Naweed]

Re Calderon,

What's with the sudden "I want to be a starter" bit? How much of his statement was his agent as opposed to Jose himself. Obviously, and without a doubt, Jose is a competitor and wants to play a huge role towards helping a team succeed. The way I see it, however, by releasing that statement, and in light of TJ's comments that he sees himself as a starter, that Jose is effectively telling the Raptors organization to choose between himself and TJ Ford.

Re Moon,

What a wonderful story. You have to appreciate a man that really sticks with something and finally gets his due. I really hope he bulks up over the summer and works on his dribbling skills. Hopefully he will be coming off the bench next year and can dominate on defense against bench players of other teams.

[Jim Rootham]

That's still the NBA minimum salary.

BTW has anyone asked Bryan Colangelo about the (modest) parallels between him signing Moon and his dad signing Connie Hawkins?

[EVan]

Did LA Lakers get 33-0 to start the season with Wilt in the 70s or 60s??

Blogger's note: The Lakers won 33 in a row in the 1971-72 season but it began nine games into the regular season. Interestingly, it began the night Elgin Baylor announced his retirement.

[Dan Flemming]

Didn't the AI/Ratliff Sixers team start 2000 by going 15-0 as well?

Blogger's note: I take it you're referring to an old question about fastest starts? According to the 2007-08 NBA record book, the '48 Washington Capitols and '93 Rockets were the only teams to start a season 15-0; those Sixers might have won 15 straight at home or something but they aren't in the record book.