Of Agent Zero, Ettore Messina and some other stuff

How good does that $111-million Agent Zero contract look now?

Yup, a little cleaning job on his knee and he’s likely out for the first month or two of the regular season. Somewhere, I can imagine Wizards owner Abe Pollin is a tad irked. That’s a lot of cash for a guy who’s been hurt more often than not for the last two seasons and, seemingly, things still aren’t right in his knee.

Of course, some of us thought, and still think, the Wizards are a better team without Arenas and that they should have save the cash they gave him after re-upping Antawn Jamison.

What’s it do to the East?

Nothing, really. I don’t think anyone thought the Wizards were legitimate contenders and perhaps the only thing it does is leave them scrambling to make the playoffs rather than a solid fifth or sixth.

Oh, and tell me how much they'll miss Roger Mason now

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Here’s a report from Reporting Central.

Had a quick chat with Sam Mitchell yesterday and he says things are progressing just fine at the informal workouts over at the ACC and there’s a big crowd in already.

Some scrimmages, some shooting drills, some defensive drills, some conditioning work are all part of a routine day for the six or seven guys who are already here.

And he says Jermaine O’Neal’s expected in Saturday, Bosh and Calderon and their Olympic medals arrive Sunday and next week should be a de-facto extra week of training camp.

Of course, I’m not surprised he said he’s happy with the way things are going – the next time a coach starts killing his players this early will be the first time – but there did seem to be a greater sense of optimism in the conversation than I can remember in any other September.

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Okay, here’s the thing for all you who’ve been asking about “First teams” and “Second teams” and wondering where the scoring or the defence or whatever will come from on each.

If, as we all expect, they go with an eight- or nine-man rotation most nights – the variable being foul trouble and injuries, of course – there won’t be any time, let alone extended minutes, when there are five backups on the court at the same time.

And even if there were – and I presume it’ll happen every now and then when one of the bigs gets into early foul trouble – someone will always find a way to score. Or, for that matter, make defensive plays. It might be Moon and Bargnani one night, it might be Hump (when he plays) and Ukic or Solomon another night.

It’s a worry that people shouldn’t worry about.

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First mail of the day:

Q: Hey Doug, I got a quick question for you. Which are your two darkhorse teams from each conference for the upcoming season? I like Toronto and Portland, respectively.

Mike S, Toronto

A: Hey, Mike, I’ve got a quick answer for you.

If you mean darkhorse to win the conference, I’ve got to go with Houston (which hasn’t won even a playoff series in the McGrady Era) and maybe Orlando (although that’s a pretty easy one).

If you mean a darkhorse to make a big move in the regular season, I’ll give you Portland and maybe take Milwaukee in the East. Still not sold on Scott Skiles (I think his act wears out very, very quickly) but I like what John Hammond has done.

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So, Vince.

Still not coming back, by the way.

Anyway, Andrew over in the comments section reminded me yesterday:

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.

My opinion?

He was an athletic supernova who never really put as much work into the game as he should have. There is no questioning his breath-taking abilities to jump and dunk and explode; there were often questions about how long he could sustain it because he always seemed to be getting by on raw talent rather than hard work.

I don’t think anyone would disagree that he was, at times early in his tenure in Toronto, an absolute joy to watch. He could do things no one else could.

But it struck me near the end that he never really took responsibility for his greatness, never really pushed himself as hard as he could. Oh, he’d respond every now and then (if Oak challenged him, good things seemed to happened; when Butch challenged him, he could rise to the occasion) but those were too infrequent.

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This has nothing to do with basketball but I cannot think of a greater team name than Joe Public FC.

That’s the club team playing Montreal in whatever soccer thing that’s going on that isn’t the Champions League.

Great, great name.

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One more from the mail and a quick check of the in-box makes it look like a long, long day at the computer answering questions is ahead:

Q: Hi Doug, love the blog.
Did the Raps make a move on Richard Jefferson before he went to the Bucks? He seems like the perfect fit for Toronto, slashing g/f with no ego and ridiculous athleticism.

Chris A, Bowmanville

A: A move? Well, they did have some interest and there may have been a call made but there was really nothing the Raptors had that the Nets wanted or needed at the time.

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Perhaps some of you have noticed that I think one of the most important things that has to be done to improve the overall calibre of basketball in the country is to improve coaching at every level.

Well, the good people at Ontario Basketball (or Basketball Ontario if you wish) are trying to do something about it.

The iconic Ettore Messina is coming to coach CSKA Moscow against the Raptors in the pre-season and if you click here, you’ll see he’s also doing a clinic that’s got to be a don’t-miss proposition for all of you.

Sign up quickly because I know this will fill up in a hurry. Or at least it better.

And, in what might be the best part of the whole thing, the fee is going to a great, great charity. That’s just icing on the cake, isn’t it?

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Remember way back in the spring when Josh Howard was in the news with the dope stuff and there were a zillion or two of you who figured he was exactly what the Raptors needed and surely he would be cheap to get in a trade.

Well, what do you think his value is after this stunt?

And do you still think teams will take a flier on him? How toxic is he now?

Sometimes, the best moves are the ones not made.

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.

In search of global domination

Okay, so there have been players from the four corners of the Earth (and outer space if you count Oak), who’ve played for or been with the Raptors.

There’ve been guys who have contributed greatly (see Calderon, Jose), some who’ve been oddities (we give you Bateer, Mengke) and those who have really made no impact whatsoever on the court (Gangster, The).

They’ve had Europeans and South Americans and Asians and now maybe a new area’s on the horizon: The Philippines.

Check out this story that was brought to my attention yesterday.

Say one thing for Jim Kelly, he is world renowned and he’s big in Filipino basketball circles. Not that it’s likely to yield any, you know, players or anything but it should keep the Raptors popular over there.

Now, when they announce the fully-funded training centre to develop young Canadian basketball talent, we’ll be even more impressed.

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Oops, I have to correct a mistake here the other day.

Seems RaptorsTV will be showing the four home pre-season games and the big tilt in Edmonton against Denver. And, if the past is prelude, somewhere on a satellite the games in Los Angeles will get on the tube, making it seven of the eight available for viewers.

So, yes, you can see delightful NBA pre-season action if you subscribe to the network.

And anything on there is better than another Miami-New York playoff game.

My humblest apologies.

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AP FILE PHOTO

Candace Parker struts her stuff in high school.

A familiar name checks in from the mail:

Q: To hear that Lisa Leslie makes around $75,000 a year, and then to have someone like Marbury make around $20 mil a year is so wrong it hurts. Obviously the WNBA is not bringing in anywhere near the same amount of revenue that the NBA does. Do you imagine that somewhere, far down the line, the WNBA will ever come anywhere near the popularity of the NBA? If so, what would it take to get there? 100 players just like Candace Parker?

Amanda F, Barrie

A: Unfortunately, I can’t.

The things that drive the NBA’s economic engine – globalization, marketing, television – just don’t exist on the same scale for the WNBA and I can’t see it changing dramatically in the foreseeable future.

To be sure, the emergence of Candace Parker as the game’s great young player has helped – anecdotally I’ve had a bunch more questions and comments about the WNBA this year than I ever have and I think it’s the Parker Effect – but even 100 of her wouldn’t do the trick, I’m afraid.

Sucks, but it’s the way of the world.

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Speaking of the WNBA, it’s playoff time starting this week, in case you’re starved for actual basketball competition.

I’m not sure who can see what networks there but the Canadian content in the Indy-Detroit series is significant with Toronto’s Tammy Sutton-Brown having an excellent season with the Fever. Toss in Kim Smith in Sacramento and Kelly Schumacher in Detroit and there are three Canadian women in the WNBA playoffs. And that’s not too bad.

Check out this Q and A with Tammy from Indy’s website where she touches on her play, and her Canadianism.

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Back to yesterday for a minute.

Did the McCown radio show and one of the topics of discussion – this being Canada and it being September 2008 and all – was – ta da! – hockey at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the role Wayne Gretzky would have with the team.

Forget what we said about that – I’m sure the topic will be raised daily between now and the start of the Games (or at least until Mats Sundin makes some decision) – but the role of the most iconic Canadian in team sports is an interesting one when it’s put in the basketball context.

As regular readers – or at least people who read here yesterday – will know, I’m a big proponent of some sort of College of Elders or Advisory Board or something like that – being put in place to oversee the national senior men’s program.

And there’s one guy they must get and that’s Steve Nash.

I know the folks at Canada Basketball have reached out to him several times already and he’s been listening.

His role? I see him as the face of the team, a de facto GM who cajoles players into taking part, does a couple of corporate things to help raise money and awareness and does some media to spread the word.

The team – and it’s only a part of what Canada Basketball does – needs a boost and Nash is the one to provide it.

It’s never too late to start enhancing the profile of the team, maybe so fans can follow players in their European leagues this year and this would be one big step to take.

You’re welcome.

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And another dip into the mail:

Q: Doug, long-time reader, first time question.

Given his recent injuries and the like, J.O. has been... some would say, inconsistent (compared to previous years of 20 and at or near 10) performance would you find it far-fetched if off to a slow (or the aforementioned inconsistent) start, that J.O would come off of the bench as part of the second unit?
Keep up the perpetually sagacious columns. Your blog will be bookmarked on the ol' iPhone until you're past you're prime *cough Olajuwon cough*.

Michael W, Toronto

A: There are those who would argue that the prime has come and gone. But I digress.

I cannot see a way that O’Neal doesn’t start. Injuries, of course, might have something to do with it but that’s the only way that happens.

I know they always say players determine the playing time but there is no way he doesn’t start any game he dresses for.

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Guess we should start thinking about putting some context into what went on around the NBA this summer, shouldn’t we? After all, with perhaps the exception of Ben Gordon in Chicago, I think all the big moves that were going to be made have been made and teams are pretty much ready to hit the court.

Even the Zach Randolph to Memphis talked has – thankfully for the Grizzlies – died a slow and painless death so I’m not sure there’s a big deal out there still to be made.

That's going to make the next couple of weeks really, really uneventful. I'm sure there'll be stories about this guy or that guy signing with this team or that team but, really, no one signed now is going to have a guaranteed contract and most will just be live bodies for training camp. Teams are pretty set right now, moves at this time are all window dressing.

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And, finally:

Q: I was wondering, hypothetically if there was a proposal from New Jersey that would have Carter returning to Toronto(in a deal that would not include Bosh, JO, or Jose), do you think Colangelo would hesitate because of the history or would he hope that the fans would understand that Carter could be the last piece this team needs to contend with Boston?

Mark R, Toronto

A: Not going to happen, will never, ever even be discussed. Forget it. That ship has sailed. The time has come and gone.

I don’t even imagine, given the past and Carter’s contract, that Bryan would even pick up the phone if that was the discussion.

It's getting closer, finally

Two weeks ‘til camp starts. Everyone excited? Bet it’ll be a lot like a fortnight of Christmas Eves for some of you, waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting.

So we’ll try to help you pass the time each morning with the regular snippets of stuff. And given that things are starting to move around the Raptors, maybe there’ll be some actual stuff of interest pop up.

Like …

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Saw a couple of coaching and front office types on the weekend – more on that later – and they report the halls are getting crowded around the Air Canada Centre.

Guys like Anthony Parker, Nathan Jawai and Hassan Adams have been in town for a while, I’m told Andrea Bargnani is either in or due in any minute now and the rest should start filtering back to the city this week.

Sam and a chunk of his coaching staff are already ensconced in their offices and the practice gym and the grind of the season is almost underway.

So, what do that do, you ask?
What’s it mean if they’re back in town? Does camp unofficially start? What happens around the arena.

Pretty much what you expect, I’d think.

They get in the gym to work out and maybe do some scrimmaging if there are enough of them around. The workouts are typical, weight lifting sessions, shooting sessions, cardio sessions, and some drills. An assistant coach will get a call – “Hey, meet me there at 10” – and they go for anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours.

It’s nothing horribly structured – it’s not like they come up with a practice plan for days when there’s no officially scheduled practices – but they do get in a lot of individual work.

And maybe make some individual improvements in their games.

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Spent a delightful night at the Ontario Basketball Association’s gala on Saturday night.

They do a great job over there delivering programs to kids throughout the province and the one thing I like better than anything?

They really seem to stress the need for better coaching at the youngest levels.

If there’s one part of the sport’s development that needs improving more than anything else, it’s good, dedicated coaches at the youngest levels. We know the kids want to play, they just have to be given more fundamental instruction more often.

I understand there’s a big – and I mean BIG – clinic coming up, more details in the next couple of weeks – that once again underscores the desire to improve coaching for all levels.

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Quickly from the mail:

Q: Would you know if the Raps' pre-season games are to be aired over Raps TV? Or can you ask MLSE to do so? I have Raps TV and if the pre-season games aren't shown there, why keep it? Right?

V C, Markham

A: As far as I know right now, none of the games are to be televised but I would expect the two out in L.A. as part of that four-team  pre-season tournament might turn up on one of the American networks because in the past, they have.

Will let you know more when I find out.

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Speaking of that OBA dinner, -- or Ontario Basketball as it may now be known with its nifty new logo – Maurizio Gherardini stuck it out for one very important reason.

And that’s aside from picking up the award the Raptors got for their involvement with the organization.

One of the six inductees into the Hall of Fame was former national team icon Romel Raffin, the 7-footer who played on four Olympic teams in a rather impressive international career.

Seems Raffin was the reason Maurizio made his very first trip to Canada, to recruit the big man for the Forli team Maurizio was running in the Italian league at the time.

So, the Canadian ties for Maurizio go back a bit further than many of you thought, I bet.

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Not sure what this meant, actually, but the tables were named after great current Canadian players and they somehow sat me at the Samuel Dalembert table.

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Q: Hey Doug, I was watching some RapsTV yesterday and caught one of those 'Raptors game in an hour'. I couldn't tell you who they were playing or whether or not they were home or away but I do remember that the game was not that amazing. I was wondering whether you had any insight as to how those 'TV guys' choose the games to replay.
Mary L, Ajax

A: I have no insight whatsoever, actually, and it looks to me like they just pick ‘em willy-nilly and for no particular reason. A good old Toronto-Charlotte game is not a fine way to waste an hour.

I do know one thing after a weekend of clicking through the dial more than I’d care to admit:

Surely to all that is good in the world, they can find “NBA Classics” that are better than Games 3 and 6 of the New York-Miami playoff series from 2001.

Classics? Not so much.

But the one interesting thing was checking out the benches. There with Pat Riley, who hadn’t even quit for a first time, were Stan Van Gundy and Mark Iavaroni and if you looked behind the bench, you probably could have spotted Erik Spoelstra, who was at that time, I believe, an advance scout. Down the other end, Jeff Van Gundy had a staff that included old friend Brendan Malone and Tom Thibodeau.

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Visiting with Ontario Basketball and seeing a couple of familiar faces from Canada Basketball in the crowd got one to thinking: What’s up with them?

Well, as far as I can tell from quick, private conversations, the due diligence on the coaching situation and the structure of the senior national teams program is still going on and it might be a few weeks before there’s any movement.

As regular readers will recall, I think it’s necessary to put in place some kind of “advisory board” to oversee the national team program and I would presume all of CEO Wayne Parrish’s various conversations over the summer are aimed at doing something like that.

I know there has to be a place for a guy like Jay Triano to come back and I am certain that a good basketball mind like Gord Herbert, repatriated now with the Raptors, has to be involved somehow, too.

We, as they say, shall see.

The weekly mail, Part II

And for the second serving this weekend, we offer the following (and respectfully request you start working on next week’s):

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Q: Hi Doug. Please consider some lead up articles in the Star for the Raptors this fall. Note that women are also very interested in the Raptors. So often, in the Homes and Living sections they highlight local celebrities etc. (see their homes etc.). If you began now doing an article per week or so on every Raptor player (highlighting just more than their stats), you might get a better readership and heightened level of interest or build up to opening night. The Star often has profiled hockey, football celebrities - isn't it time the Raptors got the nod?

Susan D, Burlington

A: Believe me, I know women are hugely interested in the Raptors and the NBA, and I think it’s one of the great things about the sport, that it attracts a varied audience.

And I’m sure if the editors of other sections are reading this, they’ll take your suggestion to heart.

Personally, I’d love to have time to do more off-the-court stuff and that’s one of the goals for the coming season.

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Q: Common wisdom is that shooters start to decline at age 32. So, a guy like Jason Kapono only has 4 or 5 good years left. I expect that Kobe's game will start to change in the next year or two.
Has anyone ever bucked the trend? What's the cause? How can Jay Triano hit a half court shot with all that grey hair?
Phil W, Sydney

A: Buck your trend? Well, Reggie Miller comes to mind, so does Dell Curry and anyone named Barry it seems. The cause? I don’t entirely agree with that common wisdom so maybe there isn’t a single cause. Athletes do lose some of their athleticism in their mid-30s (at least compared to the players they are competing against) so maybe that’s got something do with it.

And Jay might be the best HORSE player connected with the franchise, do not let that grey hair fool you.

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Q: I have a question for you.
Was Doc Rivers the first black coach to win a championship?

Sunny S, Toronto

A: I have an answer for you.

No. K.C. Jones did it with Boston twice in the ‘80s and Bill Russell did it twice in the 60s.

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Q: Hey Doug, got a few questions here (maybe you've already answered 'em before, I don't know) so here goes:
1. Who do you see starting for the following teams: Chicago, Miami, and Houston?
2. What do you think is going to happen with Ben Gordon? I've heard him linked to Russia and maybe even San Antonio with Ginobli out but no one seems to see his value as high as he does.
3. Who's your top-8 in the East? I see Toronto, Boston, Philly, Detroit, Cleveland, Orlando, and Washington making the playoffs for sure (barring injuries) but who else gets in?
4. Hypothetical (but entirely possible): Who wins in a best-of-seven series - Toronto or Philly?

Karl L, Grande Prairie

A: Man, that’s a lot of questions. Let’s go:

Starters? This is based on nothing but my own guess since teams haven’t, you know, practiced yet.

Chicago: Rose, Hughes, Deng, Gooden and Noah; Miami: Quinn (when he re-signs), Wade, Marion, Haslem, Blount; Houston: Alston, McGrady, Artest, Scola, Yao.

I think Ben Gordon will end up playing on a one-year qualifying offer from Chicago. The so-called interest in Russia was bogus and if he hasn’t found a team to take him yet, I don’t imagine he will. He may pull a Varejoa and sit out the start of the year.

The East? I’ll take those seven and add either Chicago or Milwaukee.

A best-of-seven? Toronto. They’ve got two guys you have to double and better shooters. Not to mention better point guard play.

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Q: Hi Doug. I've asked this question before, but I'll try it again. Do GMs pay any attention to the difference between how much a player scores versus how much his opponent scores (kind of the plus/minus approach)? I think that such a stat would really highlight some of the Raptors glaring needs, like watching our 2s and 3s get schooled time and again and contribute a couple points here or there. Who do you think would be the biggest plus and how about minus? Who's top five.

Mark P, Ajax

A: No, they don’t pay much, if any attention to that kind of stat at all. They do look at plus-minus a little bit but one vs. one scoring stats? No, the game’s too fluid for that to really be taken into account.

And, frankly, I couldn’t even take a guess at who’d be best or worst of the current Raptor group. Without too much thought, I’d suggest AP would be the best at matching twos for offence and that Kapono is his first year might bring up the bottom of the list.

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Q: O wise one, please help us settle the score,
lend your expertise to this intra-friends deliberation:
"Between NBA Draft Year 2003 and 1984,"
Which stands better in your highly esteemed opinion?"
Also, curiosity hits me, Doug.  Now that Leafs has Fletcher back, Gaston with the Jays, and Matthews to the Argos, should the Raptors underachieve this season, do you think they will follow suit bringing back old familiar face at the helm?  If ever, who would you like to see back running the club?
More power to the blog!!!

Rikki C, Burlington

A: I’m old so take this for what it’s worth but I’m taking ’84 over ’03 right now by a mile. I’ll wait ‘til some of the top ’03 picks actually, you, win titles and MVP awards before I put it in the same class.

And looking back through the suits that have been in Toronto before, I cannot imagine a Jay-Leaf-Argo throwback situation ever developing.

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Q: I posted this question when you complained last week about a light inbox, so I'll take another shot!
If Bargnani struggles with inconsistency again in the first half of this season, do you see him as a candidate to be moved at the deadline? If he struggles again, the window to get value out of him or his replacement will close even more. I am optimistic he does well this year as a 25 min 6th man SF/PF/C, but past first round big men like Kwame, Darko, Diogu, and Gooden were moved for swingmen (Butler, Jackson, Miller) that teams had given up on and blossomed on their new team.  Butler and Miller were top 10 draft picks expected to be big time players, and didn't live up to the promise until moving onto new teams.
I hope Bargs lives up to his promise, but perhaps there's a young G/F out there more likely to blossom and fill a key roster need for the Raps.  Guys I have in mind include Ben Gordon, McCants, Marvin Williams, and Jeff Green. I think all of them would blossom on the Raps long term and their teams could use Bargnani in his natural role, a perimeter oriented PF. Agree/Disagree/Other suggestions?

S A, Toronto

A: I don’t think they’ll move Bargnani at the deadline regardless of how he’s playing and you could make the case that if he’s not doing well, his value – not to mention his contract – would fetch nothing of substance in return.

And I am not a fan of either Ben Gordon (offensively selfish, no real position) or Rashad McCants (can’t play a lick for a terrible team) or Marvin Williams (average player at best) so I don’t see any of them being a huge upgrade. Jeff Green’s gonna be the best of that group, by far.

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Q: I've always been fascinated by the beast that is Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. To the outside observer, MLSE is almost comically opaque, and this explains to some extent why fans dump on MLSE so much. As someone closer to the team day-to-day, you might be able to shed some insight into the how the basketball side of MLSE actually functions. Although I understand that Bryan Colangelo has a fairly significant degree of autonomy in the day-to-day operations of the club, what is your sense of the relationship between management and the MLSE board?  Is Bryan called before the board regularly to report on the progress of the club?  Broadly, how have the chains of command changed since the days of Isiah/Grunwald/Babcock?

Sean K, Ottawa

A: I think Bryan is far more autonomous than certainly Babcock and likely Grunwald (Isiah was pretty much a lone wolf in his days as president-GM-minority shareholder) because of his reputation and the degree of success he’s had so far in his tenure.

That’s not to say he’s unanswerable to anyone – everyone has their bosses, even him – but his recommendations do carry a ton of weight at the board level and will continue to.

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Q: Quick question which is not related to the raptors but relates to sports. You were in China for the Olympics and along with you, there were hundreds of other members of the media. Now that the Paralympics are happening there is almost no TV coverage of what’s going on. I think it’s such an injustice to the athletes who are competing there right now, because they are actually collecting medals where as our other athletes could hardly win anything and would get all the attention.
So my question is, why do you think the Paralympics get almost zero media coverage compared to the regular Olympics.

J K, Markham

A: I can’t speak for television (I presume it has to do with ratings) and I’m certainly not in a position to explain, entirely, why newspapers do what they do.

I would think it has to do with general interest among our readers – if there was a huge hue and cry things might improve – along with a general interest among the public. It’s a bit of a shame, indeed, but we can’t do everything, I’m afraid. I will say this, there is more coverage of the Paralympics in newspapers today than there has been in the past. Is it enough? Probably not. But it’s getting better.

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Q: Have you heard what this years opening tune will be? Will it be the same as 15 other teams opening song again, or will they/have they chosen something original this year?
Also, what is the glass booth their constructing at the ACC around the press area?  Could it be the D. Smith opening act primal assault defense mechanism?

Steph R, Glencoe

A: I haven’t heard, we don’t usually get a sniff of what it is until media day right before camp but I’d be surprised if more than a dozen teams used that same lame Kanye West song they did last year. Or any song that’s the same, as a matter of fact. I think last year was a fluke, or a coincidence.

As for whatever the glass booth you’re talking about is: I can absolutely guarantee you it had nothing to do with me or any other hoops beat grunt.

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Q: Hi Doug, looking at the first and second units on paper started making me a little nervous. How the heck is the second unit going to produce enough offence?

Chris W, Iqaluit

A: Really depends who’s on it, doesn’t it? If Kapono and Bargnani come off the bench, that’s got some scoring potential; so would, to a lesser degree, Bargnani and Moon.

And, if they do use an eight- or nine-man rotation – as I think they should – I would imagine you’ll see one of Bosh or O’Neal on the court nearly every minute.

Another week of mucho mail

I asked, you answered.

Or, more correctly, I asked, you asked.

And away we go (and there’s more coming on the weekend, so please no snarky notes if yours isn’t here).

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Q: I would please like your opinion on where you see this league going in 2-3 years. I am greatly concerned that the NBA only has 2 or maybe 3 more years of elite competition left in the bag. With Euro teams being able to offer whatever they like (no salary cap system) and with big contract deals that have yearly opt-outs
being offered overseas, the attraction level for an NBA free agent is fairly high. I'd think that there’s a good chance LeBron and Kobe might be gone in 2 years. 50 million a year, you'd have to be crazy not to take it and run, and if that were to happen, no LeBron, no Kobe, no Howard, this league would not be as treasured as it once was. Should the average NBA fan be concerned,
Should David Stern be concerned?

A: No, he should not be concerned whatsoever.

First off, no one has ever offered anyone a $50 million contract, the whole thing began when someone asked if players would take $50 million and leave. That’s entirely hypothetical. That’s all. Nothing more, nothing less.

And, frankly, I cannot envision a time when any European league becomes some rival for talent like the old ABA was, for instance.

I think in two or three years the NBA will be exactly where it is today, far and away the best league in the world.

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Q: In these slow times I'm always drawn to your blog when I have a spare minute in the morning. With bad knees I can't physically play too often, so I need my fix somehow.
A comment more than a question: I was reading your most hated/most revered re-entries to the ACC and it occurred to me that though I love this team, when I think Raps I still think of Alvin Williams pulling a trick out of his bag that you never knew he had, A.D going for a 2-handed dunk and then saying something intelligent and insightful to Norma Wick on the post-game, JYD ripping down a board, Mo Pete in his slashing days, V.C in his 2nd and 3rd year when he truly was half man half amazing. Heck, even Chris Childs tossing up a 3 pointer when we..... OK forget that one. Point is, when those teams were in their prime they were so charismatic and great to watch. Are there any teams that you remember that give you that warm-fuzzy feel-good feeling?

David T, Ottawa

A: I really, really liked that 2001-02 team that finished so strong under difficult circumstances and snuck into the playoffs. They had a good group of grownups, experienced hands and a bunch of fine personalities.

The 2000-01 team was pretty good in that regard, too, but the over-achieving nature of the ’01-02 team made it a personal favourite.

And reaching way, way, way back in time, the very first team, chiefly because they really did play hard every night for Brendan Malone, deserves a mention.

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Q: From what I'm reading, the starters in practice will be O'Neal, Bosh, Parker, Kapono & Calderon. The subs will be Bargnani, Humphries, Moon, Adams & Ukic. Jawai, Graham & Soloman will rarely see any minutes.
Can you grade the expected performance of each this coming year vs the NBA Average (A, B, C, D or E)?

Bo K, Mississauga

A: Grades, eh? That’s always a tough one.

But if pressed, here’s what I’d say for each of those 10 you’ve got playing regularly. These are graded, in my opinion, against other NBA players at the same position with C being average.

Calderon would be a B point guard

Parker would be a C shooting guard.

Kapono, while it should be incomplete, would, I guess, be a C minus.

Bosh would be an A power forward.

O’Neal? I can’t grade him until I see him play. In the past, he’s fluctuated from an A to a D.

Bargnani? C minus, maybe a D.

Humphries? C tops as a backup, fourth big.

Moon? C.

Adams? Impossible to tell.

Ukic? Same.

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Q: You asked for some mailbag fodder, so thought I'd try and contribute, so here you go.  Edit away as you wish:
1. People seem to love to test your memory and have you rank things.  So - how about a top three or so best and worst drafts by our Raps.  See if you can do the same for free agent moves as well.  Start picking away at the ol' hat rack!
2. I've asked before, and you were kind enough to answer, but let's just see if there have been any developments: any updates on a Raps D League team in Ontario (go Hamilton!)
3. What's the funniest thing you've ever seen a Raptor do on the bench.
4. Are you a fan of Paul Shirley?  Another great basketball blogger.
5. Who has been the best Raptor in terms of community involvement - school and hospital visits, charity, etc.?
Thanks, Doug.  No need to use all (or any) of this in one shot for a mailbag.  Editing will not hurt any feelings.
Good luck and have fun in the upcoming season

Dan D, Hamilton

A: I don’t know about a top three each side, there haven’t been that many. But I’d put Mo Pete as the best, closely followed by He Who Shall Not Be Named. The worst? How easy is that? Araujo, with Mike Bradley probably No. 2.

No updates on the D League team, they continue to work on it.

I like Paul Shirley’s work a lot, wish he had as much game, wish he did writing talent.

I didn’t actually witness this but a player (and I’m not entirely sure who) once ordered a hot dog from a vendor. And I did witness a player send a note over to a comely young fan who was, unfortunately for him, attending the game as a date of someone connected with the ownership group.

Best in the community? Wow, that’s hard. I know Mo Pete did an a lot under the radar.

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Q: Wow thanks for answering my question from a few days ago. I actually took time each day to read your blog and your stuff in the Star. I guess you just pick and choose stuff to respond to without even a courtesy reply?

I can tell you are very loyal to your readers and appreciate their contributions. Last time I ever submit a question or read anything of yours. You just lost a fan.

Jordan F, Toronto

A: I am entirely confused here.

So, I answered a question you submitted. I am very loyal to the readers. I appreciate their contributions. Again, I answered the question.

And you’re done?

Okay. Thanks.

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Q: I read the column daily as I found that you're the best source of info for all things Raptors. I have two questions:
Firstly: Have you/Toronto media had much contact with Matt Devlin ? Thoughts? For a guy to take to the play-by-play throne after the Swirsk, he's got gigantic shoes to fill. I hope he can do it, but I have no idea how.
Secondly : any news on the Raps' third jerseys? God knows we've been waiting years to get a third/black jersey into the mix. Not a lot of teams rock the darkness anymore, when will they be released, and how often will they be wearing them ?
thanks , keep up in the excellence .

Evan R, Toronto

A: I’ve hung out with Matt Devlin a couple of times, once when he was here for the O’Neal-Calderon day and I ran into him in Beijing as well. He’s a good guy, an accomplished broadcaster and will do a fine job. And he’ll do it by being his own man with his own voice and I am sure everyone will appreciate that and let him do his job without any unnecessary, and unfair, comparisons.

The jerseys will be out soon, likely before the pre-season begins. And from what I’ve heard, league rules stipulate they can be worn a maximum of 12 times in a regular season.

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Q: Totally not basketball-related.  I'm spending a weekend with some students at Memorial U next weekend (19-22 September).  I love my job!  I've got a Sunday evening and Monday morning/afternoon open after my commitments - you got any recommendations of places to see/eat at/whatever in St. John's NFLD?  Perhaps your travels in horrific preseasons past have led to some great discoveries in that great city.  Would love to hear your take.  Thanks,
Andrew K, London

A: Hmm, been a long time since I was in St. John’s but thinking back to my old days at the Telly and the 36 hours we spent there for no game years ago, I’d say:

You have to wander Water Street, you MUST go sit at the Narrows and just look out over the ocean and you should get in a car and just drive around soaking up sights you’ve never seen before.

See the harbour, check out the colourful homes and, if you can, get out on the water and maybe you’ll see an iceberg or a whale. (Not sure if this is the right season for it, but it was a highlight of the time I was there).

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Q: It's 6:25 p.m. on Wednesday and if you happen to have Rogers cable check out the 6:00-7:00 p.m. description of Raptors Game in an Hour. It reads "Toronto Maple Leafs at Indiana Pacers". LOL! Now that would be quite a game to watch. :) Who do you think would win? ;)
BTW, the same program is repeated at 8pm and midnight in case you miss it;)
Rick K, Toronto

A: Is Mats playing?

Take the Pacers and give the points because you know that someone from the Leaves is going to get hurt during the game. Or maybe that McCabe fellow scores another ‘own goal.’

Of Bargnani and the three

DAVID COOPER/TORONTO STAR

How will the ball bounce for the kid this year?

Boy, apparently a lot of people listen to the Fan when Bryan Colangelo’s on.

He makes a comment about Andrea maybe playing some three this season and the in-box is filled with comments and questions.

Bargnani a three? Why? Why now? Why consistently? I can see the odd – very odd – occasion when it might work but as a matter of course? I don’t think so. Never have. Can’t imagine I ever will.

Look at it this way: If they are planning to run an offence around the unique high- and low-post skills of Chris Bosh and Jermaine O’Neal to create perimeter space for shooters, who do you want taking those shots?

Andrea Bargnani? Jamario Moon? Jason Kapono?

Seems a pretty easy question to answer from this angle.

Kapono’s a better shooter than either of those two right at the moment – I don’t think anyone out there can debate that – and the benefits of having him on the court alongside O’Neal and Bosh in this case seem to be enormous.

Wouldn’t it make more sense right now to tell Bargnani:

"Hey, big fella, you’re a backup four and five; get in there and create some matchup problems, get your shots when you can and we’ll run a bunch of second-unit offence through you.”

Or, how about:

"Okay, you’ve been a rather abysmal failure as a three already – with the whole transition defence thing going against you – so we’re going to try it again and if it doesn’t work, well, you deal with the blow to your confidence. Oh, and the fans will continue to love you, too, won’t they?”

Me? I’d rather hear the first thing.

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Hey, how ‘about this.

I’m looking over the list of Raptor all-time assistant coaches and trying to come up with the most obscure.

It’s a difficult task, given there’s been two dozen of them over the years, and that doesn’t include current assistants for basketball development like Eric Hughes and Gord Herbert.

So, who wins?

Is it Brendan Suhr? Who worked half a season in ’97? How about Bob Kloppenburg? Who was going to revolutionize the defence under Butch Carter?

Both good choices.

But I’m going with Dick Helm, who worked with Lenny. Dick was, um, how to put this nicely? Well, Dick was a tad removed from being right on top of things. One night, he’s looking down the bench yelling, if memory serves, “Jermaine! Jermaine! Jermaine!” to an increasing befuddled group of backups.

Soon enough, Jerome Williams got up and went to the scorer’s table and, apparently, that’s who he meant.

Ah, the good old days.

Anyway, the list is long and intriguing and stories abound.

"Close out! Close out!” on shooters (he’d yell it all the time). And when a shooter invariably got a wide open look (that happened an awful lot in that 16-66 season), he’s get all ticked off, shout “(excrement!)” and take his seat back on the bench.

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The start of the mailbag:

Q: Hey Doug,
Other than Bosh, who can clearly thrive with a microphone in his face, who's your go-to guy going to be this season for a great quote or game analysis.  I've heard the press guys always loved Oak and Jalen Rose for their honesty and controversy; what other Raptors have made your job easier? Which ones are difficult to get a useable soundbyte from?

Paul C, Grassy Narrows

A: Well, again, we’ll need training camp to figure it out, and get everyone trained, but personally, I’m counting on Jermaine O’Neal to give some insightful quotes this season. I’m told by people who’ve covered him for years that he’ll be available every night and answer whatever questions we have insightfully and honestly and that’s all we can ask.

T.J. used to be great, he’d get dressed, turn around and stand there, saying, “you guys need me?” And then he’d answer whatever we wanted.

Carlos Delfino, if you could hear him (he’s a real soft-talker) would answer forever and never minded taking responsibility for any mistakes he made.

In the past? Well, believe it or not, Keon Clark was pretty good with a quote. And Tracy McGrady would have to be on the list of all-time good quotes, too.

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There’s apparently a report in the Spanish media today (in Spanish so I’m using very rudimentary translation skills) that says Jose Calderon, “if he’s okay”, will play next summer for Spain at the Eurobasket.

This comes a day or so after Pau Gasol said he wasn’t sure if he’d play next summer.

The Calderon news should hardly be surprising. If he’s healthy, and the NBA season doesn’t take too much out of him, I have no doubt he’d want to continue a national team career that’s been brilliant over the last three summers.

The Raptors will likely hold their breath, but I fully expect them to let him play if he likes. After all, in Beijing, when Calderon suffered that minor groin strain (and it was minor, it’s fully healed, he’ll be fine for camp so quit hyper-ventilating), he sat out the two most significant games of the summer rather than risk anything.

That has to ease some minds over here.

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One last one from the mail, for now. Will be back tomorrow with a full mailbag:

Q: I'm not sure if this has been asked but I was wondering if during the Olympics Roko Ukic had a chance to not only meet but hang out and talk with Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon? Thanks!

Matt B, Oakville

A: No, not chance at all to hang out. That’s what training camp’s going to be for.

No rest for the winner

I’m not sure what this says about Kobe Bryant but his decision not to have surgery on his injured finger runs contrary to what happens with veterans every now and then.

I’ve heard of a couple of players – Lindsay Hunter of the Pistons was one and the perhaps the most recent – who aren’t afraid to have operations (usually scopes and other such non-serious operations) in September which miraculously allows them to avoid the drudgery of training camp and the pre-season. And, believe me, missing that drudgery – two-a-day workouts and meaningless games often in bad cities – would be the first thing on the minds of many.

And sitting it out allows them to come in fresh in late November or December when the season is really just getting started.

It’s obvious that Bryant’s sore finger wasn’t presenting a huge problem since he hurt it last February and not only led the Lakers to the NBA Final but also was the best player on the Beijing Olympic gold medal team. And it’s obvious that a 12-week recovery period would have cut into at last the first month of the season and was too much of the year for him to give up.

I say good on him.

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Hey, remember yesterday when I was going down the list of pre-season results to find the worst October in franchise history?

Never did give out the best.

Well, I’d certainly put 2001 right at the top of the list. Not only did they play just seven games – one fewer than usual – but five of them were at home, one was in Indiana and even a trip to horrificly boring Billings, Montana, couldn’t take too much away from it.

But the all-time favourite? It’s easy. It was the lockout shortened 1999, when they only played two games, one here and one in Boston. Excellent.

You wonder what a guy like me looks for in pre-season?
Easy trips to cities where they’ve held games before, at least one day off in-between games (a Columbus-Winnipeg back-to-back in 2005 was a flight delight) and, of course, a visit to Rome, Treviso and Madrid.

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Here’s a very timely one:

Q: In Toronto there seems to be a recent trend towards "What is old is new again". The Jays, Argos and now the Leafs have all brought in people from their past to fill new roles with their teams.  What I was wondering was who would you bring back from the Raptors past in some sort of coach/scout/management role.  I myself would like to see Grunwald back what about you?

Jason K, Toronto

A: Yeah, these are indeed wacky times, aren’t they? Although I’ve been watching the Blue Jays closely and re-signing Cito was a stroke of genius and if he’s not back next year, everyone who works above him should be fired.

Anyway, I digress … if I had to pick one guy from the past, I’d have to go with Brendan Malone and put him on the bench as the old head to help Sam Mitchell. Guy was, and still is, an excellent coach, and had a lot to do with what’s going on in Orlandothese days.

Glen would be a nice one, too, I guess, although the front office is pretty solid right now. But, again, you can’t have too much experience in your basketball braintrust.

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I think it you went back one year to the day from today and asked a handful of NBA types which coach they thought might get fired first in the 2006-07 season, Mo Cheeks would be somewhere near the top of everyone’s list.

Today, he’s got his second contract extension since that time (he got one year in February and another yesterday) and his Sixers are one of the sexy picks to make a big move in the East this coming year.

Not sure about how much better the Sixers will be – they still don’t shoot it enough and I’m not a huge Andre Miller fan – but Mo’s one of the good guys in the game and it goes to show that sometimes not pulling the pin too quickly on a coach is a good idea.

I still don’t think they should have fired GM Billy King a year ago (he pretty much put that team together) but the brass did make a smart move by not making a move on Cheeks.

Panic firings are never the right thing to do.

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From all you people who wonder what Andrea’s been up to this summer? And to those who don’t believe me when I say he’s been working and not sitting around eating bon-bons and resting on his laurels, news that new assistant coach for basketball development Gord Herbert has been over in Italy working with Bargnani must be welcomed.

Herbert’s going to do a lot of teaching and one-on-one work this season – notably with Bargnani, Ukic and Jawai – and he’s spent the summer getting involved with them all in every facet of their games.

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A sreies of qestions:

Q: I know that the Raptors have no interest in paying the luxury tax, but I would like to know if you ever see them, if close enough to being a championship calibre team, going for it and going over the cap short term.
And, what's it going to take for Canada to start producing NBA level talent soon?
Also, we all know 2010 is when there are monster free agents available.  When you dream big, who can you see as a starter along with Bosh (assuming he signs here again), Calderon and Bargnani?

Hammond A, Toronto

A: I’ll ignore the fact you incorrectly used the team cap when you meant tax (argh!) and let you know this.

If there was one guy they felt would absolutely put them over the top in not only the East but the entire league, I’m sure Bryan would make a pitch to the board to creep into the tax and no one knows what reaction he would get. But, the simple fact is – and this is indisputable among the people who make the big decisions in the front office – that one guy does not exist right now. Maybe next summer he will. Now? They don’t see him, and neither do I.

As for Canadian talent? What they need is better coaching from the grassroots level right through high school and college and some kid as driven as Steve Nash does. But, as I’ve mentioned many a time, I don’t see the next Canadian NBAer out there in the next half decade. There is a chance – a very, very, very, very slim chance – that a guy like Olu Famutimi might finally twig to what he needs to do to make it (concentrate on defence, first and foremost) but I don’t know if that’s going to happen.

And let’s nip the 2010 stuff in the bud right now. It’s two years away, there are all kinds of issues at play (injuries, opt-outs, team performances) and I’m not going there.

Some pre-season trips to forget

Sorry I’m a little late, a bit of a sleep-in issue over here this morning. And then Dopey Dog needed to be walked and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

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Anyway, I’m looking over the list of past pre-seasons trying to figure out a best and a worst and, you know, it’s pretty hard.

I’m thinking the year they played games in Bridgeport, Conn., Grand Rapids, Mich., Moline, Ill.(it’s one of the Quad Cities, by the way) and had the game cancelled out in St. John’s might be right at the top of the list. Four bad neutral sites and a game cancelled in a city I really enjoy made 2003 pretty crappy.

It’d probably be rivaled by 1997, when we went to Springfield, Mass., Hamilton, Halifax, Hartford, Conn., and Fort Wayne, Ind.

That was eventful on two occasions: In Hartford, I believe it was, the arena is physically attached to the hotel we stayed at and I recall a long-ago beat grunt from another paper in town took the wrong stairway trying to get out and found himself locked up tightly and unable to get out. Thank goodness for cell phones and people willing to rescue lost souls.

And, for some reason, I had to spend at least one extra night in Fort Wayne (I recall it being the first game for new Pacer coach Larry Bird and that was a pretty big deal in Indiana in those days). Anyway, the so-so, bordering-on-sketchy hotel I stayed at in downtown Fort Wayne was directly across the street from the city’s Welcome Centre.

The Welcome Centre, that is, that was closed for the entire three days we stayed there. Some welcome.

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I notice the fine story in the paper edition our of paper today on the passing of Don Haskins, the legendary UTEP coach who died on Sunday.

It’s interesting that the story didn’t make huge headlines, or even minor ones, up here on Monday but anyone who’s a basketball fan at any level should know who, and what, Haskins was.

I’m sure many of you have seen Glory Road, the movie depicting Haskins’s team – with five black starters – beating the all-white Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA championship game. It’d have to be in the discussion of top basketball movies of all time.

Anyway, the significance of that game – the colour-blind Haskins just wanted players, not caring what they looked like as long as they could play and would accept tough coaching – shouldn’t be diminished.

Sure, somebody may have eventually done what Haskins did in 1966 (and it’s a shame it was that recent), but he did it first. And, really, changed the college game – and eventually the pro game – forever.

I never knew Don Haskins but he helped make the game I cover what it is.

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Stepping back in time for some return reminiscences:

Q: I've just read what do you think reactions will be to TJ when he gets back to ACC. Covering the league for so long, you probably remember some of the most emotional welcomes. Besides the returns of The One Who Shall Not Be Named to Toronto, could you make us a list of the most hostile and most approving receptions of the ex or just rival players? And maybe some anecdote about how the players reacted (amazing performances, game-winning shots, etc.)?

Toni H, Zagreb, Croatia

A: There’ve been sooooo many, I guess I’ll try

If you’re leaving He Who Shall Not Be Named out of the conversation, I think it’s probably a dead heat between Tracy McGrady and Damon Stoudamire in the Most Hostile category.

I honestly don’t remember more venom being spewed by the fans those nights, it was pretty incredible.

McGrady, bless his little heart, loved it, he milked the crowd and fed off their negative energy, which he does until this day.

Stoudamire? He was more bemused than anything, as I recall.

Portland won that night and it was all I could do not to write a lead that said:

"Just like old times, Damon Stoudamire played well and the Raptors lost.”

Others: Doug Christie detested and Antonio Davis got more boos that I think he probably deserved given what he’d done for team on the court.

And I remember a smattering of boos for Oak, which, thankfully, were drowned out by the standing ovation he got from press row. On the positive side, well, we all remember the love for Mo Pete a year ago, don’t we? All well reserved and him going out and kissing the logo on the court got the folks into even more of a frenzy.

And Jerome Williams got raucous cheers, as I recall.

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You know what we didn’t do? Pay nearly enough attention to the last week’s Hall of Fame inductions.

Hakeem Olajuwon was inducted and I cannot think of another guy with even a marginal connection to the Raptors who might be honoured like that.

Don’t envision at the moment this team that’s on the rise finding a future Hall of Famer to help put it over the top – as the early 2000s Raptors hoped would happen with The Dream – so Hakeem might be it for a very, very, very long time.

I know he was old and broken down by the time he arrived in Toronto – not to mention the issues that existed between him and then-coach Lenny Wilkens (issues no one really knew about until Olajuwon got here) – but the guy was one of the greatest big men to ever play the game.

If you get a chance to watch those vintage Rocket games from the mid-80s, do it because to see Olajuwon play in his prime was to see true greatness.

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Lots of questions like this floating around:

Q: Hey Doug - quick question we all want to know - when do single game tickets go on sale?

Doug S, Peterborough

A: I’m told “a couple of weeks” so I imagine you’re going to have to wait at least until training camp starts on Sept. 29. But as soon as we know, you will.

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Keep those cards and letters coming, folks, we’re a bit dry in the old in-box.

One last move to be made?

Man, these are slow times.

Guess we’ll have to invent some lists, or look back at previous pre-seasons, or the summer, or whatever, because coming up with three or four items every morning is going to be difficult until camps get going.

I guess the only domino left to fall in the Atlantic is the proposed Memphis-New York deal that sends Darko Milicic to the Knicks and Zach Randolph to the Grizzlies.

A quick thought about it would suggest it’s very much an ‘addition by subtraction’ thing for the Knicks, who probably vault past New Jersey in the Atlantic rankings if the deal gets done.

Last report I saw this morning was that it’s either going to be a go or no-go in the next couple of days and the sense I’m getting from reading is that it’s more likely to get done rather than not.

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I presume this is too late for this writer, but maybe some of you others are facing the same situation:

Q: Love the blog and your commitment to answering the (sometimes) ridiculous questions of the Raptor Nation.
Here's an easy one:
My buddies and I share season tickets and we are having our annual draft this weekend.
Any suggestions as to which games are must sees? Top 5? Any dark horse/sleeper teams I should definitely check out this year? Which teams are dogs to be avoided?
Thanks and keep up the great work
Lorne B, Toronto

A: It’s funny, I’ve been going over the schedule to work out early-season travel (shockingly, there’s lots of it) so this is pretty timely.

If there were five I’d suggest as ‘should-sees’ they’d be Philly on Nov. 12, New Orleans on Dec. 5, Portland on Dec. 7, Indy on Dec. 10 and probably the Lakers on Feb. 4.

I know that’s three of them jammed into one week, but what you gonna do?

To avoid? I know Detroit’s talented and all that, but there games are never, ever really exciting; same with Utah. I think the Clippers and Warriors are going to blow so I wouldn’t spend too much money seeing them.

Dark horses? I have no idea what to make of the Knicks, or the Heat so that might be two to check out.

Hope you’re draft went all right.

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Here’s one for you?

You see that game against Indy on Dec. 10 listed above, what do you think the reaction to TJ is going to be?
Raucous cheers? Boos? Ambivalence?

If I had to guess, knowing you like I do, I’d say it’d be a mixed reaction with more cheers than boos.

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I’ve heard nothing but good about the LeBron James movie that debuted at the Film Festival on the weekend, guess I should take this advice and go see it.

Hi Doug. You mentioned that you wouldn't be asked to cover anything at TIFF. However, have you seen More Than a Game? It's a documentary about a high school basketball team in Akron, Ohio. Turns out, one of the players is LeBron James. I was at the premier on Saturday and the whole team, including LeBron, was there, along with their families. It is a truly inspiring story. It's playing twice more at TIFF. Try to check it out!

Mary Ann H, Toronto

Thanks for the tip.

It’s funny, but basketball does lend itself to those kinds of documentaries, doesn’t it? I’d put Hoop Dreams up there on a list of the tops in that genre any time; I can only hope this one matches it.

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A very nice tongue-in-cheek note here:

Q: Hi Doug - I'm surprised that you haven't paid more attention to the long-awaited story that Vancouver basketball fans have been dreaming of.
The NBA is returning to Vancouver. Sort of. The next best thing to the NBA is returning to Vancouver. After the NBA developmental league. And University basketball. And some of those well-funded high school programs.
Yes, the establishment of the Vancouver Titans as the latest team to be added to the International Basketball League is official, and I'm emailing you to find out exactly what that means.  Are we talking NBA developmental league level?  Is this Will Farrell in Semi-Pro, with no timeouts and lots of marketing?
A local newswriter explained today that this could also mark the beginning of bringing the NBA back to Vancouver.
Ya, we wish.

Graham V, Vancouver

A: The IBL? Vancouver Titans? Minor League?

Hmm, pardon my skepticism but it comes with having seen, or heard, or been told about, all these crazy minor leagues that are going to have teams hither and yon and bring pro basketball (and I use the term loosely) to long-suffering fans.

And then they never play. Or practice. Or do anything. And disappear into the night.

Sure, there are exceptions but they generally only prove the rule that these things never really take off.

I have no knowledge whatsoever of the IBL and hope to never get any. If I were you, I wouldn’t be handing over any money to anyone for tickets.

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Well, while we’re on minor league basketball, here’s one that’s really legit.

You remember when the Raptors changed their D League affiliation to the Idaho Stampede (or The Team Luke Jackson Made, as I like to call it) from the Colorado 14ers, right?

Well, how’d you like to be a Stampede? Or a Stampeder, or whatever they’re called.

You can. If you’re good enough.

The team’s holding an open tryout here in Toronto in early October, all the details are right here.