Let's get ready to get started, sort of

Games! Pre-season games! Against other teams! We’re getting close now, aren’t we kids?

Of course, the calibre of play might be a tad sketchy, it always is for the first couple of games. By their own admission, the Raptors have walked, rather than run, through the first week of practices, content to let things build until the opener in Philly rather than put everything in now and fine-tune.

You’ll see lots of high screen and roll in the first couple of outings (I know, that’s a shocker, isn’t it?) and plenty of post-ups.

But we will get to see how Andrea Bargnani performs against guys who aren’t his teammates and that’s almost worth the price of admission alone.

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The stages of training camp:

Everything’s sweetness and light: Generally all of Week 1, optimism abounds everywhere, guys look great, everyone’s in shape and they can’t wait to get a 50-win season started. That goes for here and 29 other cities.

Reality check: They start playing games and teams are out of sync, some losses occur and the general populace wants this guy traded, that guy benched and many heads on a platter. Doom and gloom time.

Holding your breath: Starters get their minutes extended in the last few exhibition games and the most important thing – and any coach worth his clipboard will tell you this – is keeping everyone healthy. One tweaked ankle could mean a slow start to the season and if you think the wolves will be out if these guys go 2-6 in the pre-season, imagine the angst if they got 2-6 when things count for years.

Boredom sets in: They play eight games that don’t count (at least three, maybe four, too many in my estimation) and all of a sudden there’s more than a week to kill between the last one and the real start to the season. Nearly every story has been written, every angle explored and finding ways to entertain readers in those final seven or eight dispatches is tough. And while it’s tough for us, it’s even tough for a noted conversationalist like Sam Mitchell, who grows increasingly tired of our same-old, same-old questions.

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First reach into the mail bag:

Q: I just read that the league proposed two new instant replay policies that teams would have to vote on. Three questions:
First, what do you think of the two proposed policies and their effect on the game flow/length if agreed upon?
Secondly, who votes on these issues (including rule changes, the GM or the owner?
Lastly, does the league ever take players and coaches feedback when dealing with an issue such as rule changes and instant reply?
Thank you!

Dave R, Markham

A: Here’s the story with all the gory details and from conversations I had over the weekend, the measures are going to pass.

Personally, the big fear is that it slows the game down and the last thing I want to see is some ref at the scorer’s table with his head in a monitor for a minute or two. And I don’t imagine fans want that, either. The big question, still unresolved or at least not known publicly, is how they decide what to review. Do coaches get to throw a flag? Does a review come immediately, stopping the flow of the game, or at the next whistle? But the end result is that everyone wants to get the calls right so there may be some kinks at the start but I’m sure they’ll work them out.

It’s the board of governors that actually does the voting, but only after a recommendation from the competition committee, which comprises presidents and general managers. Yes, Bryan is on the competition committee.

And I would assume, without absolute first-hand knowledge, that GMs would at least chat with their coaches about how they feel.

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Speaking of those instant replay changes, you’ll notice the story doesn’t mention the infamous Toronto-Atlanta game last season when it sure looked like someone blew it when T.J. Ford’s basket was disallowed. It was, to most eyes, almost as big a mistake as the Detroit playoff one.

Why isn’t it even mentioned?
Well, the league, to this day, refuses to admit that there was a clock issue. They still hold the cockamamie explanation – offered a day after the game and only after some time to dream it up – that the ball was touched when it was inbounded, not that someone pushed a button too quickly.

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Action: Raptors take it relatively easy in training camp, with more days off than usual

Reaction: Does Sam have time to get his handicap down?

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Bargnani, Bargnani, Bargnani.

Q: Do you think the Raptors are hyping up Bargnani so his value will get a raise, so he can be traded? And what do you think his stats will be this up coming season?

Jerome L, New York

A: Um, no. I don’t think that’s even a remote possibility. They are not in any way, shape or form interested in discussing a trade, let alone making one. And I cannot even fathom a guess at his stats, actually. I presume they will be better than in either of his first two seasons but if they aren’t and he has an impact on games in other ways, who cares what the numbers are. I certainly don’t think he’s a 20-10 guy, or even a 20-8 guy but everything depends on how he’s used, who he plays with, and other equally impossible to predict issues.

And

Q: I was able to go to the Raptors scrimmage in Ottawa, since I go to school there. And I know the scrimmage means nothing, but Bargnani and O'Neal both looked really good. Is it safe to say that Bargnani will be productive this year?
Dave R, Markham

PS. The Dance Pack is... amazing.

A: I don’t think it’s safe to say anything but there was a bigger sense of promise about Bargnani than I’ve ever seen before around the team. And not just coaches and Bryan, I’m talking teammates and people around the team who see a new, more confident, capable and personable guy this year.

The Dance Pak? Okay, if you say so. I don't usually notice that sort of thing.

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Hey, did all you folks in Ottawa notice The Chicken was in rare form and showing no ill effects of his busy summer in Beijing? That was refreshing, there were some concerns that he/she/it would be tired.

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Regular readers know there are some bad pre-season road trips (a Columbus-Winnipeg back-to-back still causes tremors when I think about it) but there are some not bad ones, including one five years ago that came flooding back to mind this weekend.

There was a day off before the big Toronto-Minnesota tilt in Moline, Ill. (one of the Quad Cities, in case you weren’t sure) and since I had to be in Illinois anyway, and had no interest in spending an off-night in Moline, figured Chicago would be a nice place to rest.

Well, lo and behold, wasn’t that the same night as Game 6 of the Marlins-Cubs playoff series and thanks to the good graces of My Man Griff, I was able to cadge a credential to write a story about the shenanigans that were going to go on around Wrigley when the Cubs clinched a World Series birth and, believe me, those would have been shenanigans to put all other shenanigans to shame.

Trouble was, Bartman! Yes, that was the Steve Bartman Game, where the dude tried to catch a foul ball that Moises Alou may or may not have caught for the second out of the eighth. Not only isn’t it an out, the Cubbies fall apart in the eighth (eight Florida runs), lose that game and Game 7 the next night and they’re still waiting to get into to the World Series.

Helluva story, helluva pre-season road trip.

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Oh, and in case you were out all weekend, the Cubs are dead again and my dream of a Red Sox-Dodger World Series, with Manny Being Manny and Joe Torre against Terry Francona.lives on.

Comments

[Matty-Pix]

I remember this being mentioned previously, but I forget the answer.
Which pre-season games are going to be televised? can't find a listing anywhere.

Blogger's note: The four home games, and the one from Edmonton, will be on RaptorsTV

[Raptoronto]

Doug, what is you take on this comment from Fes at training camp?..."Jermaine O'Neal has looked frighteningly immobile, either out of shape or on the career downslide, to these eyes. But that's a conclusion reached in a short window of observation..."

Blogger's note: Read the rest of the paragraph:

"Sure, I could tell you Jermaine O'Neal has looked frighteningly immobile, either out of shape or on the career downslide, to these eyes. But that's a conclusion reached in a short window of observation of a meaningless end-of-practice back-and-forth, so it's about as bankable as all the we-are-the-kings-of-the-world positivity that has been going around."

There's a bit of context missing, if you just clip out one sentence. Me? I saw a guy two or three days into training camp, looked okay, but it's early, very, very, very early.

[michael]

hey doug last andera got back to back 20 point games at the start at the season. do u think he can go to that level and continue it for the rest of the 08 09 season. u got the great blogs. keep up the good work.

[nigel]

"I certainly don’t think he’s a 20-10 guy, or even a 20-8 guy but everything depends on how he’s used, who he plays with, and other equally impossible to predict issues."

Sounds like a stellar first overall pick to me. After this year, we can finally put him into Kwame Brown, Mike Owalakandi territory...and it will be all his fault

[Amr]

Doug,

Your esteemed colleague, Feschuk, stated in his recent article that O'Neal looked "frighteningly immobile".

You're an objective guy and most people in TO (who care about all things hoops) respect your bball acumen...What are your thoughts? How did you think he looked out there?

Blogger's note: There's a comment on this a couple of posts ago

[Christian from Mississauga]

Hi Doug,

I was just wondering, are the preseason games which starts tomorrow, be aired on Raptors TV?

Thanks!

Blogger's note: As I've mentioned, the home games and the one in Edmonton are on RaptorsTV

[IRAPTORMAN]

is there gonna be a free preview of raptors tv this october (2008)????

Blogger's note: I have no idea since I don't work for either RaptorsTV or your cable or satellite provider. You might want to check with them.

[Sean]

Big ups to the Raps for coming up to Ottawa this year. The intrasquad was the best 15 bucks I have ever spent, and that includes some actual games in the Sprite Zone. More of this, coupled with the increased number of nationally televised games on TV (plus some actual playoff wins) will go a long way towards truely making the Raps "Canada's team".

[John C]

Hey Doug, did you see this article about good ol' Kevin O'Neill? Not the best coach the Raps ever had, but definitely one of the most entertaining.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/oct/04/the-grizzlies-defensive-guru-coach-ko/?partner=RSS

My favourite part: One practice, point guard Alico Dunk struggled with the press break. O'Neill grew so annoyed with Dunk that he left the court, took a seat in the stands and, for the next 15 minutes, booed him.

[Brad]

hey Doug. just wondering if theres any word on Nathan Jawai's injury. I realise we shouldnt expect too much out of him this season but i was looking forward to seeing his game this pre season? do you think he will see any action?

Blogger's note: Just mentioned it in the blog; had the tests, results being examined, we'll know more in a couple of days.

[Jeremy]

"Sounds like a stellar first overall pick to me (as Bargnani was picked). After this year, we can finally put him into Kwame Brown, Mike Owalakandi territory...and it will be all his fault."

Nigel. He's definitely a bust so far, and of KB MO proportions. You could also make the argument that picking Rafael Araujo at 8th was a better decision than Bargnani 1st overall. I hope he turns it around this year, but remember it was not AB's decision (or fault), but Bryan Colangelo's.