More mail than you'll ever read

Well, you asked. And asked. And asked. And asked.

Warning: This is a big a mailbag as we’ve had in a year or so; settle in with a large cup of coffee.

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Q: You answered a question recently about the economic slump and how it might affect free agent salaries. I'm wondering what kind of effect you think it might have on the league as a whole? Will it affect any of the owners? Will fewer fans come out? Lowered ticket prices? Anything? Or status quo?

G M, Vancouver

A: It’s a pretty interesting scenario, isn’t it? I don’t know the intricacies of all the ownership groups, and I’m certainly not an economist, but there has to be some kind of fallout if anyone’s carrying huge debt load.

I know Charlotte, for instance, laid off more than 30 non-basketball employees on the eve of the pre-season and I’d be other franchises will find some way to cut operating costs.

I can see the ticket sales dropping, which will limit the income of course, and perhaps cause the Basketball Related Income totals (which establishes the cap and tax numbers) level off or drop. That would shrink the pie available for salaries and, perhaps, slow their annual rise.

And if discretionary income falls, as it always does, I’d think one area people would squeeze would be entertainment costs, like sports tickets so maybe attendance does take a hit.

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Q: Hey Doug, What are your thoughts on the two radio hosts who, on air, thought that Magic Johnson was faking his HIV disease? That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I'm honestly hoping for it to be a joke in poor taste rather than it being something they actually believe in.

Dave R, Markham

A: It’s dopey talk radio show hosts talking out of their hats, a not-uncommon occurrence in that industry, I’m afraid. I’d suspend their sorry asses for a couple of weeks and make ‘em go volunteer in an AIDS hospice two nights a week for two months.

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Q: I just finished reading an article on ESPN about the Portland Trail Blazers, the article basically mentions how great they will be and how everyone on the team is on the good side (morals, behavior etc.). My question is the 2006-2007 raptors were in the same position; a bunch of good guys with good rep and a great star in Chris Bosh with the 1st overall pick. Things were looking up and I think the 2006 version of the Raps is better than this version of the Blazers, however the Raps didn't get half the coverage the Blazers are getting and to be honest it is kind of a turn off. I used to like the Blazers but now I’m inclined against them. Do you think the Blazers are becoming the darling of the media and ESPN.

Rob AH, Vancouver

A: Sure, the Blazers are the flavour of the month, we’re always looking for the sexy story and that good, young team is it right now.

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Q: Well you mentioned the lack of cameras (on the first broadcast), but I sure hope to get something better in the way of audio No crowd noise, no Salami and Cheese, and almost a total monotone play by play. And I don't know if you caught it, but the overhead camera showed that Sam has a hole in that haircut.
So Sam won't swear, lost his hair, and his glasses. 
Given the current state of the team (I know it is early), do you think they are going to make player changes before the regular season starts?
John C, London

A: They’re taking the scoreboard feed, augmented by one live camera, I don’t think you’ll get anything different in the next three games as you got in the first.

Player moves? The only possible one I see, and only if Jawai is going to be out for any length of time, is that they might release Sampson and try to find someone better. But that’s hardly an earth-shattering move.

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Q: Hey Doug, Love the blog. I really feel like I've gotten to know you through your writing since you've started the blog. Keep up the great work. My question is not raptor related but as a college student attempting to write a Rhetorical Analysis of President Bush's 2002 speech, "Remarks on Children's Online Safety" do you have any suggestions or tips for me that will help me write a better paper? thanks again for all the hard work on the blog. It's the first thing i read each day.
P.S. How about the Leaves beating the Red Wings? I didn't see that one coming!

Blake H, Provo

A: Dude, the last thing you want is academic writing advice from me. But since you asked, I’d suggest knowing your audience and writing to it, but write to a higher common denominator rather than a lower.

Writers are educators and you can raise the level of your readers by not talking down to them.

Now, go forth and get yourself an ‘A’.

Oh, the Leafs beat the Wings!?!?!? Plan the parade!

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Q: I finally got NBA TV here in Kuwait and got to see the exhibition game between the Raps and Knicks. Jose looked game ready as did Bosh. O'Neal looked alright, what is his conditioning level at right now?
Also, the Knicks look like a decent team, but not a playoff team. I know Marbury is a cancer on that team, but do you think they would start him at the two and let Duhon play the point?
Thank you.

Zack B, Kuwait City

A: O’Neal’s is still getting used to NBA game-shape but he’s got weeks to go before games start for real to get there. I’m sure he will.

No, they can’t do that with Marbury. No matter what happens, he’s gone at the end of this season and they are building for a future he’s not part of. To use him extensively would be counter-productive to long-term building.

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Q: Does Ukic have a chance to compete for the # 2 PG? Does Sam feel more confident with players that developed through the North American College system?

Guille G, Toronto

A: Sure, he’s got a legit chance to compete for that job. And Sam, like every single coach in every single sport, feels more confident with guys who help him win, it doesn’t matter where they’re from, actually.

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Q: Can you tell me how long Willie Solomon is signed for?  Thanks and keep up the good work!

David J, Toronto

A: Will (and I asked him, he prefers Will rather than Willie) is on a one-year deal.

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Q: I asked this question last year, and you were (if I remember correctly) spot-on with your assessment: Who will win more games this year: The Leafs or the Raps? Please keep in mind the Leafs scintillating win last night while doing your calculations.
Andrew B, Toronto

p.s. "hoi polloi"? It's not too often I'm completely flabbergasted at a newspaper's printed word, but you did it! Maybe you needed a couple words in parentheses?

A: Come on. Really? As I understand it, no one connected with Leaves management expects them to be in the playoffs, the coach gave one of those “wins don’t matter” statements already and if the Raptors don’t win more games than their hockey playing brethren, I’ll be, to steal your word, flabbergasted.

Q: Thanks for answering my last question about which games to draft in my season ticket pool. I got most of the ones I wanted (Lakers, Suns, Phi, SA) and avoided some of your “dog” games. Although I do have the pre-season game vs. Moscow …yikes!!!
Question:
So Coach Sam is vowing not to swear this year, (but apparently has already broken this once). He seems like he is a good smack talker and could come up with some great insults. Ever been on the receiving end of his rants? Is he antagonistic towards you? You think he will ever be on “yo momma!”
Which coach in the NBA has the saltiest language? Maybe a list of best coach diatribes? What is the worst insult/curse own you have ever heard a coach say to a member of the 4th estate?
Thanks and keep up the great work…only a  few more weeks until the season starts!!!

Lorne B, Toronto

A: On the end of his rants? Sure, you can’t be around him for too long without getting ripped. Usually it’s for questions that are obvious but questions I need quotes for; sometimes it’s for clothing, or hairstyle or beer drinking.

Best? I’d put Jerry Sloan at the top of that list, he’s eruptions can be legendary. Gregg Popovich isn’t too bad, either.

I can’t think of a worst at the moment, actually. Most ‘cause if I come up with one, someone will remember one better and I’ll be like, ‘duh, I should have remembered that.’

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Q: How many times do the Raptor players get new jerseys to wear? Do they just use one more do they get one every game.
Also, don't you ever think that when you bench a player to rest them, they can actually get more tired.

John G, Toronto

A: There is no hard and fast timeline on jerseys. Sometimes they rip them and are replaced quickly, sometimes they get given away to charity or fans and they are replaced once a week. And unless they get torn or have blood on them, or far too sweaty at halftime, the ones they wear at the start of a game, they’re wearing at the end.

And, no, I think players on the bench rest and recover, they don’t get more tired.

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Q: What's up with these nicknames that you and your fans use, for example, Stumpy, Hump?
Some I know and some I do not. I know Hump is Humphries but who is STUMPY?!
Please enlighten the readers sometimes when you refer to these players.
VC, Mississauga

A: VC? That you? You won’t even use your name?

Anyway, I’ve protected The Chicken for 14 years, you think I’m giving up Stumpy the quickly? All I’ll say is he’s the short, bald, former hoops beat grunt from the tabloid in town.

Isn’t it fun to guess?

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Q: I remember you mentioning that the Raptors still held Delfino's restricted free agent rights. I would have loved to have seen him stay and personally think he's going to have a big year in Russia. Do you think Brian's plan all along might have been to let him play in Russia for a year and, if he does well, to bring him back in 2009 to replace Moon and/or Parker? Or am I way off?

Serge P, Ottawa

A: Not sure if that’s a cast-in-stone plan but I know Delfino’s in the back of their minds and could very well be a name you hear again in connection with Toronto. Whether the money works or not is going to be the big question.

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Q: Hi Doug. What do you make of the "don't show your hand" during the preseason? I mean would you not be more concerned with practicing/learning what you intend to run during the season.

Steph R, Glencoe

A: I don’t mind it, early in the pre-season. And I’m sure you’ll see a couple of wrinkles put in game action as the exhibition season unfolds. Besides, they get more practice time in during the pre-season than they do in a regular season and that’s when they do a lot of work.

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Q: Do you think the Raptors would ever try putting Andrea Bargnani at the two-guard spot? I know he'd be really tall against his opponents, but he seems to enjoy being out on the perimeter a lot. My only concern would be his lack of quickness and his ability to guard smaller guards. However with Jermaine O'Neal back there blocking shots, I think it would be fine.

Jason S, San Francisco

A: Not going to happen. They need to leave Bargnani as a centre-power forward to exploit mismatches and let him develop, they do not need to be jerking him around to different positions. And, they are not planning on using him much, if at all, at small forward, why move him to shooting guard?

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Q: You had talked in a previous blog that the Raptors pre-season games would be televised. Looking at the guide, Raptors TV has Utay playing L.A. (Tuesday). Can you please give some justice to the thousands of fans that are extremely upset by the lack of Raptors coverage on what is called "Raptors TV"? This just seems wrong. As fans we deserve to see all the pre-season games whether they are competitive or not.

Blake S, Truro, N.S.

A: Money makes the world go around, my man. It costs an awful lot less to take a feed from an LA-Utah game as opposed to sending a production crew to Cleveland.

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Q: I'm pretty sure the team fouls were listed below the scores on the new giant screen.  You know that red bar with the time clock?  Almost certain that I saw them in the bottom corners there.

Alex B, Toronto

A: Nah, they had timeouts remaining listed but not team fouls, at least not Wednesday night. We had a conversation about it courtside and team officials were even asked about it and confirmed our suspicions.

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Q: Since the pre-season games have started I haven't heard anything about Hassan Adams. Is he playing? I thought he was a steal from New Jersey.

Drew F, Oshawa

A: That’s ‘cause he hasn’t really done much yet. He played a few minutes in Cleveland and didn’t look all that bad but he’s got a bruised quad muscle that limited him to five minutes against New York. Until he gets fully healthy, there’s not much to report.

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Q: Hey Doug, I am honestly scratching my head to come up with Raptors questions as over the last two years you and fellow readers have delved into every aspect of things.
How about this: Do some players use professional assistants to help them organize their lives, while others rely on family and friends or just wing it themselves? Do you ever get the 'talk to my assistant'?
Also will you have the same post-game ritual this season of adult beverages at the Harbour Sports Grill with your fellow grunts or are you trying something new?
Alex L, Sudbury

A: Pretty much every player has someone – a friend, a family member, someone who works for his agent’s agency – to help out with stuff. That stuff could include helping arrange housing and cars to making sure bills get paid and other mundane chores of every day living. But, no, I’ve never had a “talk to my assistant” line thrown at me.

Post-game ritual? Well, I am pretty much a creature of habit so …

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Q: I know you said there will be some strange combo's in the preseason but could we see both Solomon and Ukic playing together in games that count? Ukic has the size and maybe with another ball handler it won't be so tough of an adjustment. Also who do you think will be inactive most nights? At least when there is garbage time I like seeing guys like Jawai and Ukic get run.

Mike P, Thornhill

A: I’d be really surprised if you saw them playing together in any game that counts except, as you point out, in games that are already decided. Sam was loathe to play Jose and T.J. together much because he wanted one of his PG resting while the other played, I presume that will be the same this year.

And, if Jawai is cleared to play and dress, I would think the inactives most nights would be him, Joey and Hassan Adams. Maybe some nights Roko would be on that list but he’ll dress most games as an emergency PG.

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Q: A good friend of ours gave us his pre-season tix for an engagement gift (thx IGG!). We enjoyed the game last night, but here's one for your readers who like to imbibe before and during the game ... when there is one minute left, you can hold it in. Seriously -- this adult-beverage loving individual two rows in front of us peed into a cup under his jacket. Then his friends gave him another cup when his runneth over. We're all for having a good time, but come on, think of the example you're setting for adorable 7-year-old Ocean Henry!

JY, SK, Toronto

A: That’s one of the most disgusting and gross stories I’ve ever heard about fans at Raptor games. I would certainly hope that if it ever happens again – to any of you – someone points the fool out to someone who can have him removed from the arena.

That’s simply sick.

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Q: First off, can you imagine how good this team would be if we went with A.I. over Hoffa and Granger over Graham?
PG - Calderon
SG - Igoudala
SF - Granger
PF - Bosh
C - O'Neal
Wow. Best starting 5 in the league?
Sorry to harp on that, but I just can't seem to put it aside. Anyways, I was wondering what you think of Kirk Snyder. Why is he still without a team while guys like Joey Graham still have their name on a contract?

Nick D, Innisfil

A: Dude, don’t torture yourself. Seriously, it ain’t worth it, like it’s not worth it to the other guy in here making a similar point.

If they do that, maybe they don’t get O’Neal. Or Calderon doesn’t develop.

Besides, what if they’d take Nash instead of Vince? Or Kobe instead of Tracy? How good would they be then?

Kirk Snyder? Not bad. Energy guy. A bit Hump-like. And I presume he just got in a situation where he didn’t fit. Happens. Unfortunately for some.

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Q: Hey Doug, how good is Ricky Rubio? Have you spoken to Jose about how good he could be?

Alex D, Toronto

A: Not surprisingly, Jose thinks he’s going to be great. And from what I saw in the Olympics, if he’s not a top five pick in the NBA draft last year, this will be one of the great draft classes of all time. And because everything I read suggests this is a bad draft year, I’ll make a bold prediction that, barring injury, he probably starts the year as the consensus No. 1 pick.

The kid is going to be good. Very good.

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Q: The biggest question mark this year is obviously Jermaine O’Neal. Dave Feschuk said he looks limited in his mobility. I've heard others say his offense is not there anymore except for some midrange. Based on what you've seen, what does he have left? I'm not asking for statistical predictions here so please don't shoot this one down. Just give me your impression of where he's at physically.
Thanks

Paul C, North Bay

A: I don’t know who those “others” are so I’ll leave that alone. To me, he looks like a guy still getting back up to speed with the NBA game and feeling his way with new teammates. I’ve seen enough post moves to know that he’s still got an inside game that should be on display when it counts. Will he be back to the kind of guy when he finished, what?, four in MVP voting that year? Nope. But he’s got more than enough left to be a very good player.

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Q: I keep reading your comments about being disappointed in Jamario Moon. Is it at all possible, that you, and perhaps the Raptors brain trust, were a bit too optimistic on him?  How much could you possibly expect a 28 year old sophomore to improve?  Maybe there is a reason that hasn't been in the NBA prior to his stint with the Raps.  Don't get me wrong, he is long and athletic and capable of providing weak side help, but expecting him to bulk up, improve his handles, and improve his long range jumper is a little bit too much to ask a 28 year old to do over the course of one summer.  After all, it is difficult to teach old dogs new tricks.
P.S. I hope you weren't expecting him to become the second coming of Shawn Marion.  Although you would have at least given it one more year than the crazies on Realgm who made that comparison last year.

Chris C, Kitchener

A: You expect, quite rightfully so, to expect a second-year NBA player, going into a contract year, to work on the deficiencies in his game each summer. I’m not sure that happened. I don’t think anyone expected him to become Marion or even an all-star, there just seems to have not been much work put in. Maybe that’s a character flaw, maybe it’s just the way he is but it can be disappointing. But maybe he provides the same as he did last year, which is fine.

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Q: During our smoke breaks at work, my friend and I, can't help to continuously speculate on what could have been if the Raps had chosen Granger and Roy instead of Graham and Bargs the past few years.  That would definitely give us the best starting 5 in the entire NBA.  Just wanted to get your input on who you were secretly pushing for to be drafted with those picks at the time they were made?  I know you don't want to upset the powers at be, but have some balls and tell us the truth!
P.S. At the time of each of those drafts, I was hoping that they would take Gerald Green (aka I thought he was going to be the next T-Mac) with the 13th pick in 2005, and Rudy Gay with the 1st pick in 2007.  Obviously Gay on this team would be an improvement over Bargs (unless he has really improved), but Green would have been the resulted in a similar bust.

Chris C, Kitchener

A: There’s another one in here somewhere that deals with the same issue.

Let’s say the take Granger, who is better than Graham, no doubt. Do they still win the lottery the next year and have a chance to take Bargnani, or Gay, or anyone?
You can’t play that game, sorry. It may be fun but one doesn’t connect with the other. It’s folly.

Yeah, Green woulda been a huge bust.

Personally: I was fine with Graham over Granger at 16, there were questions about Granger’s knee at the time and at that point in a draft, it’s a crapshoot.

And Bargnani year? He was the logical pick, bigger than anyone, more multi-skilled and there was, no matter anyone’s revisionist memory, a clear-cut No. 1 selection in the absence of Greg Oden.

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Q: Pick me, pick me, this is not my first time writing in without a response. blah, blah, (maybe now I will be picked) LoL. Anyways, i will keep this short...
Bargnani's has gained 20lbs or so, looks to me that he's gained maybe 5lbs of muscle and the other 15lbs well fat. He reportedly isn't in the best shape either?
So with him in need of getting into better shape, chances are he'll end up losing most of the "gains" he made over the summer (he's clearly gained weight in his face)? Shouldn't the Raps Org have had better control over his conditioning during this past summer?

Mark V, Toronto

A: First off, it’s 12 pounds he gained, not 20 and there’s a difference. He is noticeably bigger through the chest and arms and if you think his face is fat, that’s your opinion.

The Raps organization actually had someone with him for about seven weeks this summer, about three in Vegas and about three in Italy. They monitored his workouts and his on-court training.

Is he ‘cut’? No. Is he working towards getting into basketball game shape? Yes. Is it a concern? Not to anyone I’ve spoken to connected with the team and, if it was, someone would have mentioned it, they always do.

So, no, I don’t think he’ll end up losing any of the ‘gains’ he made over the summer.

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Q: Hey Doug, (insert standard lt listener, ft caller comment here) as the season begins and the questions become more serious I have one more irrelevant but entertaining question for you - If you couldn't be a basketball reporter what job would you like to take on with the Raptors this season (at your current rate of pay and not withstanding any commentary on the job performances of the current staff) and why? :
A) GM
B) Head Coach
C) Assistant Coach
D) Advance Scout
E) Dance Pak Towel Boy
Colin M, Innisfil

A: Let me see if I’ve got this straight: At my pay, which gig? Hmm, tough one. I think I’d probably like to be a GM first, ‘cause you get to put the pieces together and make changes if you must; then it’d probably be head coach, pulling the strings would be neat. I’d probably put advance scout next, not bad travel, can help shape strategy; Dance Pak Towel Boy ‘cause it’s gotta be the easiest and then assistant coach ‘cause they do all the work in practice, get drilled by the head coach if things don’t go right and get none of the glory.

Of course, at the same rate of pay, I'm way underpaid for any of those gigs.

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Q: Hey Doug, You referred to Will Solomon as "Euroleague's guard of the year" in your column today. I've seen that written elsewhere but I can't find it on the Euroleague website. Can you confirm?

Rick K, Toronto

A: I quote from his biography in the team directory. 2007-08 season: Named Eurobasket.com first-team all-Euroleague and all-Euroleague guard of the year.

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Q: Do you not think that it was Charles Oakley who made Vince Carter a super-star, ever since Oakley left Carter started to go down super-star wise?

Jay J, Richmond Hill

A: Vince Carter’s stunning athletic abilities made him a superstar. Oakley was good for Vince and made him a bit more accountable to himself and his skill but Carter, for that brief period, was good because he could do things no one else in the game could.

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Q: I asked a few questions before, but you never answered one of them. I was wondering is it possible for the Raptors to get Shane Battier? Ron Artest is probably going to start, so I would assume that the Rockets may want to get rid of there other SF. Shane would definitely help the Raptors out defensively.

Lawrence L, Winnipeg

A: Well, you probably won’t like the answer to the first one I use. No, I do not see a possibility at any stretch of the imagination that the Raptors would get – or Houston will trade – Shane Battier, who, in my opinion, might be the most under-rated player in the league.

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Q: Hey Doug, love the blog. A quick question. Do you see Jamal Crawford ever joining the Raptors? I think he's an excellent slasher who can take over a game at times. Since the Knicks are rebuilding, do you think that the Raptors could pick him up?

Ben S, Thornhill

A: No, I don’t ever see Jamal Crawford joining the Raptors.

Comments

[petro]

Doug... happy Thanksgiving. Nice start on the basketball season... hope your pacing yourself!

Now I'm serious... given all of your basketball exposure over the past decade and more... do you think you have enough basketball knowledge to coach a top notch HS team or a CIS team!

Blogger's note: I have no idea and am not about to try to find out. I do know one thing, talent makes good coaches.