Did anything really change? Oh, and Carleton tix next week

I’m sitting around waiting for something marginally interesting to happen in the world of basketball and the Raptors and I got to thinking: Was there one move that vaulted a team from pretender to a legitimate contender status anywhere in the league?
I mean one KG-to-Boston-like move that turned a team into something it wasn’t? Either through a trade or a free-agent signing?

Can’t see it, really.

Sure, there were some significant moves – Elton Brand to a good, young Philly team chief among them – but none really that changed the balance of power in either conference.

If you had to pick today, wouldn’t the easy choice be to suggest another Boston-LA final?

The most important move, right now in my mind, is that the Lakers seem to have a healthy Andrew Bynum back and that’s not really an addition, technically-speaking.

Other than that? Which team in the West really, really made a bold move to challenge? There were a lot of good teams out there before and there still are.

The East?

I guess Mo Williams to Cleveland may have vaulted the Cavs to second-best in the East but they still aren’t good enough up front, I don’t think. Other than that? Some teams have improved, some of have regressed and if the season started tomorrow, you’d have Boston and a whole bunch of question marks.

Or course, this all could change when injuries occur. Chemistry either works or doesn’t and coaches either command respect or lose their teams.

Right now? Status quo.

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Presume this is out there in Ottawa but here’s the lowdown on tickets for that Oct. 4 intrasquad game after camp in Ottawa and I’m guessing a few of you will have to cut a class or two to get them.

Tickets – at what the Carleton folks are calling a “suggested donation of $15” to the schools Adopt-a-Raven program (how cute) -- are going to be available Thursday, Sept. 25 at the school.

Apparently there are only 1,300 tickets, for seats and standing room, available; they’ll be offered on a first-come, first-served basis that day with a limit of four per person. Haven’t heard of a time when they’ll be on sale so you might want to go camp out now and bring the textbooks.

Now, before you rush out and make plans to sleep overnight at the school, let this be a word of a warning: This is not real basketball. It’s a nice, little, low-intensity scrimmage but I imagine The Chicken might be there, I’m guessing the Dance Pak makes an appearance and it’s as much about the show as it is the sport.

Don’t go expecting to see anything close to how the team will play when it starts games for real.

But have fun.

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Here, we dip in the mail, as we often do:

Q: Not quite Raptors related, but basketball nevertheless.  Give the monstrosity of some player contracts and the marginal return on the court of some clubs on those investments, do you foresee a time when salaries come down instead of always going up simply because GMs figure out (long overdue!) that big ticket players - especially some past their prime - doesn't necessarily guarantee winning seasons? It seems unconscionable that someone - no matter how skilled - makes over $20 million shooting a ball in a basket.

Colin W, Ajax

A: Salaries going down? Across the board? Because owners and GMs suddenly all become fiscally responsible? Surely you jest! Sorry, not going to happen because there will always be a handful of them doling out big bucks.

And, of course it’s unconscionable that someone makes $20 million a year shooting a ball into a basket, just the same what it’s unconscionable that someone makes $20 million for less than a year reciting someone else’s lines in a film; just as it’s unconscionable that I have to pay $1.30 for a litre of gas, just like it’s unconscionable that some CEO’s get annual bonuses that dwarf the income of entire neighbourhoods.

End of rant.

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I’m looking at the pre-season schedule and trying to remember what the games are generally like and why I get this wave of nausea I’ll never know.

Oh, wait, yes I do. The games, generally, are crap. Maybe a quarter, perhaps a half of intensity and then, poof!, pre-season.

So, here’s a quick list of things they should do to improve, if not the quality of the games, the quality of the experience:

No team shall sell pre-season games at regular prices to season ticket holders, who have to sit through enough dreck in the regular season. All tickets shall be two prices -- $20 for the lower bowl and $10 for the upper bowl – and they shall be sold on a single-game basis as soon as the exhibition schedule is released.

There shall be no TV timeouts during exhibition games, just to quicken the affairs.

Starters shall play not less than 12 minutes no more than 24 for the first four games, not less than 18 and no more than 30 for the next two and unlimited minutes in the final two. That way, coaches are off the hook if they are even the least bit concerned about putting on something resembling a real show for the fans.

In the event of a tie, there shall be no overtime. Teams will shoot free throws – each player on the roster shooting two – with the best free throw shooters of the last season going first and the worst going last. If it’s still tied, coaches shoot. In their suits.

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And more mail:

Q: What's your take on the pace that we can expect from the team this year? With the departure of TJ and the addition of a big body like JO, do you see the pace of the Raptors' offense slowing down significantly? I realize it will be nowhere near the "100 shots a game" (was it that high?) prediction that Sam made a couple of years back when they first envisioned a fast paced team resembling the Suns.

Steve D, Toronto

A: Slowing down? Au contraire.

The key to running, as it is from the playground to the NBA, is rebounding and defence, and if O’Neal improves those areas as they hope they will, they should get out on the break more often.

Not 100 shots – that was folly and a number picked out of a hat – but quicker, easier transition baskets is the hope.

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Another day has gone by and Vince Carter is no closer to returning to Toronto.

Just heading off inevitable questions.

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Here we go, again:

Q: Long time reader, and have tried asking a couple questions to no avail, so here goes. With a projected starting line-up of Calds-AP-Moon-Bosh-JO does it not make sense to replace Moon with Kapono? Judging by his playoff performance the space he'll most likely receive it makes to much sense in my humble opinion to keep him off the bench with that lineup.
I appreciate what Moon brought to this team last year, something we've been lacking for years, but with the presence of JO doesn’t that make his job a bit redundant? Instead He can step in for relief and help with the rebounding and defence, and replace Kapono, and Bargs for Bosh/O'Neal.

Scott B, Winnipeg

A: Maybe a long-time reader but, perhaps, not a regular one lately.

That suggestion has been out there, and talked about by people in the organization I’ve spoken with over the summer, for quite some time.

I’m sure it’ll be something they look at in camp; I have no idea if it’ll work (my guess is it will) but that’s going to be Sam’s decision.

Comments

[WSG]

Re: Right now? Status quo ... I have to ask, REALLY? In your mind, Doug, the Raptors now having JO on board - assuming that he's as healthy as I believe him to be (Colangelo's just too smart to bring him here, otherwise) - does not make them a significantly better team than they were? I dunno ... it's hard for me to believe that you really believe that. I must be right out to lunch ...

Blogger's note: Siginficantly better? That's debatable. Still unathletic on the wings, unproven at backup point guard and probably not as deep on the wings, either. Significantly better? Don't think so.

[Patrick]

Buck up Doug!

Pre-season isn't THAT bad. For one, any NBA ball is better than none whatsoever (at least it is for the desperate, basketball starved Raptors' fan this time of year).

In addition, we get to watch the new additions to the team for the first time (regardless of whether or not it's during extensive "garbage time")... and, even at its worst, a preseason NBA game is still better than summer league or minor league play (and I've watched both on many occasions.. and no, I don't want to know what that says about me!).

[Howard Wong]

Hey Doug, you forgot the "addition" of Gred Oden to the Portland Trailblazers. Sure they're not contenders but i think it's safe to say that they'll make the playoffs.

[Andy C]

as a non gambling man which coach is your money on shooting free throws?

Blogger's note: On this staff? I'd never bet against a guy with more than 25,000 NBA points. If I was better, that is

[Jim Rootham]

Assuming everybody plays to form the front court is situation dependent. If they need rebounding, it's O'Neill, and Moon, if they need to shoot the lights out, it's Bargnani, and Kapono. For balance, either O'Neill and Kapono, or Bargnani and Moon.

Rebounding is important and Moon is really good and Kapono is really bad in that area.

With this lineup the coach has options, which is a good thing.

[John MacDonald]

I find it funny that people get so upset at what an NBA salary is. What people have to understand is that either the players get that money or the owner(s) do? So I would rather that money go to the guy who does all the hard work (it's definitely not easy being a NBA caliber player) then the owner who does nothing on the court. That's just my opinion though.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

A few weeks ago I posted a query about the demise of Vince Carter: has anyone in recent memory fallen as precipitously as he has? From perennial leader in All-Star voting to not even a sniff at the ballot box. From the best dunker in history to an mediocre jump shooter. I was interested in your opinion on Carter's sudden absence from the limelight--from big three to the only one left in NJ. You had mentioned you'd like to think about it before responding so this is a gentle nudge. I'm not necessarily opening the floodgates to a Vince Bashing frenzy--I just want to know if you can remember anyone else falling so far, so fast? He's not old enough to be washed up yet.

Blogger's note: Thanks for the nudge. It's on the agenda for tomorrow morning.

[Freets24]

I feel JO's presence on the floor will be much greater than most seem to think (including you Doug). An interior defender at the level of JO (if he is truly healthy) makes everyone a much much better defender (think the "KG effect" on a bit smaller scale). Also, all of BC additions to this team for the upcoming season are above average defenders. I predict this team will be one of the top five defensive teams in the east (if not the league). If JO has any positive effect on the offense, this team will be a top three contender in the East and is going to get alot of press south of the border.

I'm not so worried about the wings as our "interior presence" will give our wings a heck of allot more freedom on both sides of the floor (no more "gang" rebounding, they can now leak out on the breaks, no more in your face defenders with teams having to respect both JO and CB4 down low so lights out on the threes).

Bargnani and the point guard position are the "x factors" on this team. If Calderon can play at the level he did last year (I think he can) and Roko can give anything positive (not so sure) then we are going to be very competitive every game. If Bargs has a decent year then this team is contending for the East title.

Bold but keep this post for your all-star break review because I'm certain it will sound alot like what I just wrote.

[Sean]

Hey Doug,

No use in lining up for the Carleton tickets, they will only be made available through the goravens.ca website. Its good the revenue is going to a good cause too

Blogger's note: Let's see, 1,300 tickets at a suggested donation of $15 per; that's almost $20,000. I bet there's some worthy charity (Children's Literacy, maybe) that could use $10,000 of that.

[matt]

Well I dont think Mo Williams is gonna turn around the Cavs, as he'll take the ball away from LeBron. That, and, you know... he sucks. But Doug you have to give more credit to Philly and Toronto for those 2 big additions. When you compare that to the huge makeover of Boston obviously they dont compare, but how often does a situation like Bostons 2007 offseason happen? Extremely rarely, and you dont go into every season saying stuff is status quo.
In fact last year should give you reason to give much of the NBA credit. Usually even obvious and long awaited deals never happen and stars only ever leave when they force their way out or their teams cant afford them. Last year Shaq moved, Gasol, Hughes/Wallace was a big risk. And Brand and JO only add to the list. Its nice to see some GMs taking risks and trying to go for it.

[Mark]

Watching the Olympics I get the sense that in Rudy Fernandez the Blazers have the next coming of Ginobili. Throw in the man-child Greg Oden, in addition to the excellent experience the rest of the Blazers squad picked up last season, and I can confidently say that the Blazers will be the most improved team in the West.

ABL = Anybody But Lakers ... for the Finals!

[Ali]

Since you are on the topic of significant moves, how about you list some (in your future blogs if you feel like) which turned teams from pretenders to contenders, I would put Rasheed to Detriot in 03-04 and Shaq to Miami in 05 in that list.

[Jamieson]

I honestly can't believe people still want to see Carter back in TO...it is completely beyond me...

[Jeff T]

Andrew, there is one player who i can think of who has fallin faster and harder than Vince..... Steve Francis.

[Casey]

In regards to your quandary... I'd say you have it all over your puck writers. At the end of the day you get to watch a basketball game, they are still stuck watching hockey.

I'll take a hoops game every single day of the week over a hockey game, go ahead and call me un-Canadian! I'm use to it.