JK a two and a look into Sam's world

You people are cool. By “you people” I mean all the lovelies who’ve written with restaurant and cocktail lounge suggestions for the nation’s capital, even when you’re all atizzy with debate fever.

Speaking of, they should let us do the questioning, it’d be way more entertaining.

Anyway, solid evening last night, with the traditional Bryan Takes The Media To Dinner dinner. Much conversation (little suitable for here), wine flows, food’s great, fellowship fun and it’s a nice tradition we have to uphold.

And maybe we can hold it over Sam’s head and get a dinner with him, too.

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So, Jason Kapono as a two-guard? Didn’t cause a lot of angst among the faithful here so I guess everyone’s okay with it? As we’ve been saying for a month, the culling of the roster is going to reduce the number of rotation decisions Sam has to make and moving Kapono behind Parker is only logical.

There really isn’t another experienced two on the roster (I’m told Hassan Adams isn’t quite the answer) so who else?

But there are concerns. Here’s how a private conversation with a guy in the know went the other day:

Inquisitive Beat Grunt: “Jason a two? Can he guard twos?”

Person In The Know: “Could he guard threes?”

Good point.

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We all know Sam’s been in mid-season form since media day Monday. We’ve seen Snarky Sam and Funny Sam, Caustic Sam, a bit of Grumpy Sam and some Good Sam.

Yesterday he was on fire.

One thing he really doesn’t like is questions that include vague references to criticisms or comments; he figures if you want to ask a question, ask it directly, don’t allude to things without being specific.

So, when someone started a question about Kapono with something like “last year, people said …” it got his blood boiling a bit.

In a good way, that is.

"Now, if one of you have a question about something I did specifically, you ask me and stop saying ‘other people.’

"'Other people’ told me that some of you suck as a reporter. I can come and tell you that every day. So don’t come ask me that. Be a man and tell me, “I thought Jason could have been used differently” and then we’ll talk about it. Don’t come and give me ‘the fans’ or ‘some other guys in the reporting pool.’”

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First mail and there’s lots to come tomorrow, too:

Q: Heading into this season there seems to be a great deal of optimism concerning this Raptors team, especially with the arrival of O'Neal and the new full time starting role at PG for Calderon. However, the team still possesses significant flaws: a thin bench, lack of a slashing wing player, toughness, no true centre etc. What would you say the Raptors' greatest weakness is regarding this upcoming season?

Nick L, Montreal

A: The weakness? I think the biggest is going to be the bench, specifically in the backcourt. We have no idea how Will Solomon or Roko Ukic are going to handle the backup point guard role and if Jason Kapono and Anthony Parker are the only guys who are going to play the two-guard spot, there’s got to be some defensive concerns there.

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Too bad about Joey having to sit out a couple of days with a tweaked groin.

Really, this was going to be his year and now it’s off to a slow start.

Really.

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If there was any wee bit of news last night, it was that Jermaine O’Neal took the end of the scrimmage off after he started to get leg cramps.

Nothing serious but they shut him down as a precaution.

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Oh, so we arrive to our little curtained off enclave at the Ravens’ Nest yesterday – wait, our luxuriously-appointed, comfortable, best-damn-curtained-off-enclave-in-the-history-of-curtained-off-enclaves – and there’s stuff for us there.

Coffee. Donuts. Good stuff.

I tell ya, mention something’s not up to snuff even in a joking manner and things get fixed.

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A query:

Q: Do you know if the NBA TV Real Training Camp program will be running again this year?
Thanks,
Stu T, Oakville

A: As far I know, after asking a couple of people, there are no plans to come to a Raptor workout and no one I speak to thinks NBA TV’s going to do for any club this year.

But those things are fluid and it could change as we get more into the pre-season.

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THE CANADIAN PRESS

Who said watching Raptors practice was boring?

I think you all know that, unlike other sports, writers and reporters don’t get to watch entire NBA practices, the policy (league-wide and one that’s been around forever) is that we’re supposed to get in for the last half hour of a workout. Trouble is, most days, that gets us to watch stretching and free throw shooting which is almost boring enough to make us gouge our eyes out with our pens.

Well, when we mentioned this to higher-ups around Raptor land, all it took was one check with Nice Friendly Sam and we’re told tonight we’ll get to see a full scrimmage.

That’s good, even if it is just the third scrimmage of camp and is hardly going to representative of what the team will become.

The thing is, while a lot of people think it’d be great to see a full practice, I’m here to suggest it’s a case of “Be Careful What You Wish For.”

Back in the day, Brendan Malone used to let us watch the whole practice because there were concerns that in the new market of Toronto some people might not have known whether the ball was blown up or stuffed and every bit of education about the game was a good thing.

Trouble was, Brendan’s practices were long, long, long. Lots of teaching and sitting around for sometimes three hours watching from the stands while coaches walked players through sets and defensive schemes was, at times, mind-number.

Sometime around December of that year, a couple of us wanted to run out of the gym like our hair was on fire every time they started a three-man weave or a layup line. Fun? Not so much.

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Q: Hi Doug, from what I recall hearing, part of the idea of having Andrea come off the bench was to give him some consistency in his role and some of the starter's pressure off him. Now, assuming that at least one of either JO or Bosh misses some time due to injury, who do you see replacing them in the starting lineup? Does Andrea get the nod, or in an attempt to keep roles consistent, do they try Hump there first to see if he can handle it?

Jason C, Port Perry

A: I understand your point but if either of the bigs go down, I’m almost 100 per cent certain they’d start Bargnani. It would change his role but it wouldn’t change the position they want him to play (which is an interchangeable four-five with Bosh and O’Neal) so they’d be okay with him starting rather than remaining a backup.

Comments

[Matty-Pix]

I'm sorry, but I'm a bit lost about all this "Jamario as the defensive stopper" stuff. I watched 82 Raptor games last year, and by season's end, Jamario still hadn't learned to close out on 3-pt shooters!!! He cheats, doesn't position himself well, and then bails himself out sometimes with his athleticism.
No doubt, I love watching him throw down a sick jam, and think he has some untapped potential even in his late 20's, but a savvy defender, he is not. (Best we have? maybe...)
-I think this IS Joey's year ... reeeally, really

[Craig]

Hi Doug,
Not sure about NBAtv doing a training camp, but apparently they are following the Grizzlies Hamed Haddadi as he makes the transition to the Association.

[Uncle Zeke]

"I’m told Hassan Adams isn’t quite the answer"

Ha!! many of your readers told you this months ago- good to see you're finally seeing the light. Funny too how the mighty Rocky Ukic has already dropped out of the rotation too and training camp has just started... Indefencible that Colangelo didn't bring in an experienced backcourt player this off-season.

Raptors are in big trouble at the backup 1,2 and 3 positions. They have maybe the worst depth at these spots in the league. But everyone will continually to be blinded by the glorious JO and Bosh frontcourt.

Get ready for the cold slap of reality- the frontcourt won't matter so much with the backcourt getting destroyed every game...

[Josh Swanburg]

Hey Doug,
Sam's "it's just this simple, and you guys must be stupid not to recognize it" attitude novelty is wearing off... In is interview you alluded to in the blog, he went off about Moon getting the start over Kapono at SF because he can't guard SF's and went so far as to name Gerald Wallace specifically. Does that mean that he will fair much better agains Jason Richardson? The way I see it, Kapono's defensive deficiencies would be best hidden if he started, and at SF. If SF's getting past him and to the hoop is Sam's concern, wouldn't it be best covered up having Jermaine O'Neal starting behind rather then bringing him off the bench around the same time O'Neal is due for a rest?
If you ask Sam and he roasts you for asking someone else's question, let him know I would've asked him myself, but I live in Nova Scotia.

[Amanda]

Here's a cool little feature article on Joel Anthony if anyone's interested: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/basketball/story/709898.html

[Aaron Campbell]

Hello

A couple things.

I think they should start Kapono, and bring AP off the bench. This does a couple things. It makes the bench stronger and it gives AP a chance to be the anchor/leader of the second unit.

Secondly, if Andrea plays decent this year, what is the possibility of a 5 like this, Oneal, Bosh, Calderon, Parker, and Barnagni, finishing games?

Thanks.

Blogger's note: Remotely possible. Very remote for the primary reason of not having Andrea being guarded by, or guarding threes.

[GM]

The higher-up's comment about Kapono's defense could also be said about Bargnani. Can he guard a 3? Hell, can he guard a 4?

Ah, Sam. What a condescending jerk he can be when he wants. I hope the reporter replied that he represents the people. And if he hears certain criticisms, it's irrelevant whether he himself believes them or not. He's there to get the answers for the fans. It's hard to believe Sam has been in the NBA as long as he has and still doesn't realize that.

[Chris]

Hi Doug,

Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't there a night last year where a reporter was "being a man" and directly criticising Sam's coaching decisions...so Sam gave that reporter a whistle, and took over the recorder? I think I recall a "you go coach the team" soundbite. What approach do you take, or do you just ask a question and hope not to get blasted?

Blogger's note: I believe it was a practice where that happened. And I ask what I need to ask and see what the reaction is. Fun part is that it's seldom the same reaction two days in a row.

[Archie gillespie]

Hey Doug, looking forward to the season and your blogs. Just caught Sam's interview from yesterday and it was hilarious and refreshing. Seeing as how these are part of the grunts' everyday lives whom would you consider some of the best "interviewees" you've had since covering the Raps, those that didn't draw on old cliches, offer rhetoric or monosyllabic responses?

Blogger's note: Oakley would be on top of that list, Tracy McGrady would be near there, too. Toss in Sam, Butch Carter, KO and Darrell Walker, too, we've had a lot of good, quotable coaches to cover.

[Patrick]

Hi Doug,

Any news on when Jawai will be undergoing the "further medical tests" the team alluded to? Just curious as I assume that they'd like to get additional information as soon as possible so as to hopefully ease any worries Nathan might have at this time.

Thanks!

Blogger's note: Well, he was in the gym this morning and they've always said it'd be 'some time this week' so I'm guessing tomorrow. But maybe they'll wait 'til they're back in Toronto next week.

[chris]

If Kapono can be used like Dell Curry was, then I think its fine. That model works best when there's a slasher beside him though, and neither calderon or moon (or joey graham) can do that well.

Still, what are we going to do? Options are seriously limited.

[CARLoS]

"'Other people’ told me that some of you suck as a reporter."

As much as Sam drives me nuts sometimes, it is a quote like this that make me happy he is the Raptors head coach. As a player how could you not want to play for this guy?

Great post as usual Doug. Keep up the good work. And don't forget to watch the debate tonight.

[Tyler L]

Doug,
How can you be okay with the idea of Kapono playing the two spot if he can hardly guard a small forward? The idea that they are considering not starting Parker is a joke. Also when you are talking about this being Joey's year are you being sarcastic or serious?

Blogger's note: If you keep saying this is going to be Joey's year, sometime you have to be right, don't you? Oh, maybe not.

[Andrew Gregg]

Interesting to hear you compliment the Raven's Nest. There was a time when Carleton had a worse gym than most Ottawa high schools. When I went here in the 80s they had one dark, crap-hole court with a shin-splinting rubber floor. The university was more interested in attracting revenue by signing up non-students for exercise programs. Subsequently, the floor was often taken up with old lady's aerobics classes. It was a shame, because Carleton had a good basketball team in those days (Kieth Kelso, Brock Cowan, Rick Powers, etc.), but they couldn't draw flies because no one wanted to spend any time in that gym.

[Eric]

I haven't seen the practices, but it jsut sounds like the same problem as last year: This team is not feeling the urgency. THey appear to be reading what they want to read, denying what they want to deny, and if the same thing happens this year, it'll lead to another unproductive season.

These quotes by Sam (and Bryan) about making the "roster leaner" have always pointed to the problem, for me- tell me, Doug, off the top of your head, can you name a single team in the recent history of the league who's improved by intentionally getting RID of talent? I can't! A few years ago it was that they didn't have enough players who could play. Now it's that they had too many of them last year. Is this not a transparent case of denial? They'll use whatever excuse they need to use to let themselves off the hook. That's the easy way out. They're just contradicting themselves, and as fans we're helpless to do anything but watch!

Speaking of excuses, Joey and Jawai this week have got me thinking again- this team is now in absolutely no position to sustain the loss of a key player like Caldeorn, Bosh, O'Neal, Bargnani or Kapono in the event of injury. They already showed us last year how they can overcome injuries- or rather, can't. Now you don't have a Calderon to come in for Ford, Delfino to come in for Garbajosa or Moon- this excuse obsessed team will have even more of them at their disposal this season when Bosh or O'Neal go down like they always do. "How do you expect us to win when Jermaine's out with a hip flexor?" "Chris Bosh is an All-Star, why don't you wait until he comes back before you judge our team!" "Jose's got an infection. We have a rookie taking his place- give him some time!" I'm already scared of the denial!

I think teams looking past reality is generally what causes them to underachieve. It has become a major mark of this team to do that. And they appear primed to do it again. We'll see for sure when November rolls around.

Blogger's note: Top of my head? I can't.

[Blake Kennedy]

Funny you applaud Smitch's outburst at a reporter, when (since Sam wants specifics and a list) Bryan Colangelo himself used the category "underutilized" for Jason Kapono. Somehow Sam seems to have forgotten that - or who really runs this team.

Enjoy your ripostes from Smitch while you can: he'll be getting his pink slip before the clocks move up an hour in the spring.

[dallas]

Hey Doug,

Forgive the rant, Tell Sam I said a lot of team beat Chicago last year who didn't beat them the year before did Jamario play for them, too?

You've been around the team a while, what do you think the three main things Sam brings to the table that make him the right coach for this team other than current job status and money owed on contract?

If quotes and reports are to be believed, there was not one less interested person in the Raptors over the off season than Sam Mitchell. I'm sure he expected a lot from the players to work on, what do you think he worked on, besides not cussing, or not golfing during off day in the playoffs?

Also is Sam's the only person I know of who's either not impressed or did not notice the difference between how Bosh played in the NBA versus playoffs. Maybe Sam couldn't recognize it because the difference was good coaching and Sam's not aware of what that is.

Thanks for listening, I feel better now.

[JM]

Frankly, I'm surprised that Jason Kapono has been played at the 3 for the majority of his career. It's painfully obvious that he cannot gaurd 3's, who are typically stronger than he is (as well as better defensively than 2's).

Playing him as the main backup to AP allows him to potentially flourish in a Kyle Korver sort of role, where he can come off screens and pop his jumpers (which is how AP generates his offense today) against second-team defenses. In addition, most 2's in the league (save Kobe) are more concerned with getting their points and aren't too aggressive on defense. If he played (and started) at the 3, he'd be contending with Paul Pierce, LeBron, Rashard Lewis, Richard Jefferson and Tayshaun Prince on a nightly basis (in the Eastern Conference alone!). Jamario Moon, for all his issues, provides us with a better chance of winning games when he starts against these players - the stats from last year bear out this thinking.

Finally, a word (or two) for all the Sam-haters who think they understand basketball more than the much-maligned coach - if you COULD do it better, I'm pretty sure you'd be more than an armchair quarterback.

[Andrew]

Its a shame Primo Brezec isn't around the rock the "1" jersey.

Otherwise with Bosh, O'Neal, and Brezec, we would've had the 7-foot combo representing the good ol' "4-1-6"