Some Sunday morning reading

Pretty impressive lines for Bosh and O’Neal last night, no? But remember, it’s pre-season and just as we warn against extra angst after losses, we’ll caution against extra euphoria after a good game.

Was nice, and expected, to see both the bigs extended out to more than 30 minutes. I’d guess they get fewer tonight on a back-to-back and then get a regular run Tuesday in Edmonton.

Anyway, on to the good stuff before it's back to the yard work:

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Q: Like many of your readers I am mightily impressed with your in-game blogs. There are many observers/writers who could never do that as you do. We are lucky to have you share your way of watching a game with us.

Which brings me to:

Q: How DO you watch a game? And what might you suggest to us long-time (and some, shorter time) fans/watchers? Do you ever pick out one player to watch on d? Are there differences between what you watch for in Q 1 vs. Q3? Is it always specific-game dependent or are there some things to ALWAYS watch for?

School us.

Your next book: WATCHING A GAME FOR DUMMIES?

Charles N, Toronto

A: I stole this one out of the comments section yesterday, hope you don’t mind.

I’m not sure there’s a specific “way” I watch a game but I do tend to focus on specific matchups that I think may determine how a night will end up. Like against the Sixers, I paid a bit more attention to Bosh-O’Neal vs. Brand-Dalembert, who was guarding who, which team attacked which matchup, than I did, say, Calderon-Miller.

I will watch a bit differently in the second half than I do in the first, generally paying more attention to what’s been the big story of the night. Say, Bargnani’s going good, or bad, I’ll watch to see just what he’s doing.

Oh, and I always try to find time for a snarky comment or two, but only type them, and game stories, during breaks, timeouts and at halftime.

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Q: I enjoy the wit of your comments. So here's a good question. Is the Raptor fan base big enough to call us the Raptor Nation, similar to "Leaf Nation". I'm a part of that too, so I come to Raptor nation forever bitter at the world and ready to celebrate at two or three game winning streaks.

Jason S, Singapore

A: Heaven help us, I hope not.

The whole notion of “nation” nauseates me, as a matter of fact.

Of course, I don’t have the passion that unites us all, which is a good thing.

Maybe someone comes up with something far more original than “nation” which, as I am led to believe, was something the pucks actually stole anyway.

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Q: I'm wondering if the players take pre-season games as seriously as regular season. Do they argue calls or, for the most part, let them slide? Has there ever been a suspension during a preseason game?

Sam C, Kingston

A: Well, I remember a confrontation between Oliver Miller and Shawn Bradley in, I believe, the first ever Raptor pre-season (it might have been the second, it was out East, that’s all I know for sure). Don’t think there was a suspension out of that, but I presume there has to have been one at least.

Players, though, tend to give officials a break on calls in the pre-season, they know the refs are getting back into the swing of things, too. And the intensity level just isn’t the same in the pretend games; it’s not that they don’t care because they are all competitors, it’s like they don’t care as much, if you get my drift.

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Q: We all know that Solomon has some things to work on, like picking up his dribble too early and too often, too many shots and bad ones at that, being unable (or unwilling?) to execute set plays, etc. I think he'll be able to come into his own though, with some time and work. It may be hard to judge this early on, but how much of his struggles do you attribute to adjusting to the NBA, and how much are just pure deficiencies in his game?

Amanda F, Barrie

A: It is early, yes, but there certainly are some physical deficiencies to his game, he has a tendency to dribble ball about chest high and pound it rather than dribble it. But I think the biggest part of his struggles is speed of the game, the speed at which point guards have to make decisions with the ball and those are things he can get used to as time goes on.

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Q: Doug, as with every new season expectations are set. What would constitute a successful season?  How are you going to judge the success of the O'Neal / Ford trade by the success of the teams or the performance of the players.  Clearly the Raptors should win at least 15-20 more games than the Pacers.
One last thing why do you continue to answer questions on Ford when the debate is over.  Most fans got their wish as the Raptors committed to Calderon.  End of story what TJ does is up for his fans to follow. The only time the comparison will need to come up again is when the 2 teams play.

Patrick H, Richmond Hill

A: This will only be a successful season is they advance past the first round of the playoffs. I don’t think it matters if they’re third in the conference or fifth or sixth, if they don’t get to the second round, which is just a natural progression, they’d feel – and I’d agree – it was a disappointing year.

Because I value team success over all else, the success of the trade will be who has the biggest impact on the better team. And you can’t, and I won’t, judge it on stats alone. If the Raptors improve defensively because of O’Neal and Ford averages 15 and 8, what’s more important?

And, dude, people are still asking questions about a guy who was trade four freaking years ago and I answer them because, while some may not think so, they are legitimate questions to the people who ask them and they deserve a reply.

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Q: I have a question that you've probably answered before but I haven't seen on your blog. In your opinion who is the most under paid (best value) player in the league (excluding rookie contracts), and who is the most over paid (worst value) in the league. I'm thinking that Hedo Turk might be one of the best values and anyone on the Knicks is one of the worst.

John M, Fredericton

A: I’ll start with his disclaimer: Everyone in the league is overpaid.

Okay, that said, and not counting guys on rookie scale deals, I’ll give you Shane Battier ($6.3 million), Derek Fisher ($4.7 million) and Hedo ($6.8 milion) on the underpaid team and Eddy Curry ($9.7 million with $22 million left), Mike Bibby ($15.9 million) and Wally Szczerbiak ($13.2 million) among the vastly overpaid. Of course, Stephon Marbury is the gold standard of overpaid compared to production but I figure everyone would have him at the top of the list and I was going for something different.

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Q: I've been hearing a lot of talk about certain players on the Raptors team over and over again. But one player that comes to mind that I haven't heard of lately is Anthony Parker. Is he the same old AP? Has he improved his game? Has he seen enough minutes throughout the preseason?
Thanks Doug, Keep up the good work.

Carlos R, Toronto

A: Same old, same old. Was told he came into camp in as good shape as anyone on the team, still steady if unspectacular. A solid pro. I think he got enough minutes through the first four games and I’m betting they increase in the last four. One thing to look for in the season, though, is this: There is a thought among the staff that his production peaks at about 26-28 minutes a night, usually, and that’s the target.

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Q: Hey Doug, I've heard rumours that Anthony Parker is headed to Olympiacos after the season. Is this true? Also, who do you think is winning the backup point guard position battle at the moment? Lastly, what do you think of the chances of Steve Nash coming to the Raptors in two years?

Philip P, Steinbach, MB

A: Olympiacos made contact with AP last summer to see if he’d void the final her of his NBA contract to join them; they may make another run at him next summer when he’s a free agent.

I still say Solomon has the edge, right now, on Ukic for that backup role but it’s closer than many think.

Nash? Slim. Very slim. I think New York and Phoenix would have a better shot. But who knows? Stranger things have certainly happened.

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Q: Roy Hibbert is looking REALLY good in pre-season for Indiana. 7'2" 278lb beast. I have a bad feeling we are going to regret this trade in a few years if not sooner.
Please tell me I'm wrong?

Bernard B, Toronto

A: Yes, in five pre-season games, no starts, Hibbert has averaged 11.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in 20 minutes. Overwhelming. And I said when the deal was made, Hibbert will be an okay NBA player, never an all-star, his foot speed is suspect and I think the NBA game will be too quick for him. But a solid big man journeyman? Yeah, he could be that. I have no idea if that’ll be enough to make anyone regret the trade; why don’t we wait to see what O’Neal brings for, oh, I dunno, a real game or two before making any decisions.

It's cool outside, but here are some hot questions

Morning, peoples.

Here’s the first of the weekend offerings (I expect to be back Sunday with the rest of ‘em) and you’ll notice that I’m not in Los Angeles with the fellas. It’s a rare weekend at home (I presume the family’s happy with that but I’m afraid to ask) where leaves of the tree nature need to be taken care of. So, there won’t be any in-game blogs from the games at the Staples Center, I’m afraid, but I’m thinking maybe we do one from Edmonton by watching the game on TV like a lot of you.

Sound like a good idea? Think about it, but while you do, get your coffee and check out some mail:

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Q: In a situation like that of Monta Ellis, where a player injures himself doing something expressly forbidden in his contract, how long does his team have to decide whether or not to void his contract?

It seems to me like Ellis put his team in a lose-lose situation with his immaturity. If they decide not to void the contract and Ellis never becomes the player they hopped because of the injury, they're stuck overpaying him for the next 5 years. On the other hand, had they decided to void the contract, they run the risk that Ellis makes a full recovery and they end up losing a future star.

In these kinds of situations, wouldn't it make more sense to let teams wait until the player has returned to in-game action for a few months before reaching a final decision on whether or not to void his contract?

That way a team would be able to better evaluate how well a guy has recovered before moving forward with or without him. Is this option actually available to teams or do they have a timeframe by which they must act or forever hold their peace?

Serge P, Ottawa

A: Not sure if there’s an actual statute of limitations in the standard players’ contract but it would make sense that a team could do whatever it wanted right up until the time the injured player gets back on the court.

And there have been suggestions out of Oakland that Golden State is still holding the opportunity to completely void Ellis’s contract over his head while he does his rehab from the injury.

Of course, that would lead invariably to an appeal from the player and some sort of mediation but there’s every indication Ellis is going to appeal this suspension anyway.

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Q: I was just looking over the schedule and noticed that the last game of the season against the Bulls is scheduled to be played at Conseco in Indy. Just wondering what’s up with that?

Sean G, Regina

A: I see it’s fixed now. Was just a glitch that got corrected.

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Q: Did you catch the coaching class of Ettore Messina? I'd like to know what your thoughts were.

Nicolas G, Toronto

A: I didn’t get to it, unfortunately, I was actually babysitting the Sixers at the Air Canada Centre for an absent friend. But I’m told it was excellent, very meticulous and quite informative. I talked to one guy who was there who said he couldn’t wait to get to his team’s practice to put things into work.

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Q: Hey Doug. Going WAY back now - what ever happened to the first Raptor of all time Vincenzo Esposito and why did he not get any playing time in that first season considering how awful they were?

Jamil B, Sydney, Australia

A: The last we saw Vincenzo was in Vegas at the summer league a couple of summers back. He was living out there but also was getting back to Italy every now and then. And considering he didn’t play on an awful team for a coach (Brendan Malone) who wanted to win and would do anything to help his team should speak to Vincenzo’s talent.

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Q: Doug:

1) Like others, I LOVE your in-game blogging - even though I read through it the next day. Are you really planning on keeping this up during the regular season?? If so, Doug's bosses, please take note - this guy is going WAY above the call of duty, and should receive some sort of compensation for doing so- not having to go to Cleveland to cover the Raps, perhaps?

2) You've made it abundantly clear that you don't think most stats are worth the paper they are written on. What stats DO you think are worthwhile? Or, is there a combination of stats you look to, for those games that you are not able to attend in person?

Love the blogs/mailbags/in-game reports -- and anything else you do -- Olympics included!

Tim H, Windsor

A: The one stat I check out is field goal percentage allowed, I think that’s a pretty good indication of how a team’s playing defensively. And I look at field goal percentage to see how the offence is going, along with free throws attempted. But there has to be a combination to take into consideration.

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Q: Are you aware of Raptors games being streamed live on the web, or at the least posted for later viewing. Subscription or free. I'm currently living in Malaysia and need my Raptor fix. Thanks for the great forum.

Patrick M, Kuala Lumpur

A: Go check out NBA.com, I know they do a league pass broadband that’s hooked up with their league pass broadcast plan.

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Q: Doug - what you do just keeps getting better. There's no limit to how much you can improve over last year!

Speaking of improving, how do you think Calderon is going to perform this year? How would you gauge the possibility of a "sophomore curse" given that he was a near all-star last year. What is the likelihood that he regresses now that he is the centre of attention in the back court?

Carlos M, Toronto

A: Since it’s his fourth year, maybe you mean “senior curse” but whichever phrase you use, I wouldn’t worry about it. I don’t think there’ll be any regression whatsoever in Jose.

Yes, his numbers did drop a bit at the end of last season after he logged all those minutes in T.J.’s absence but I think he learned from that. He knows now how to better pace himself in games and in practice and I’d expect the same kind of production he gave last season.

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Q: A major concern of mine in the off season was a lack of athleticism and general ability on the wing positions (2 and 3). So far in the pre season it appears that Jamario Moon did not improve his game at all in the off season, Hassan Adams looks like he works out with Chris Childs, Delfino is gone and now we are awaiting Joey Graham's return so he can continue to show that he is apparently smart enough to fly a plane, however not clever enough to know where he should be on the floor on most plays.

Please Doug explain to me how the Raptors can win a playoff series being below average in the talent department at the 2-3 position?

Mike F, Cambridge

A: Maybe they can’t win a playoff series. But I think if Bosh, O’Neal and Calderon have monster games it’ll offset the athletic deficiencies on the perimeter. And, don’t forget, this isn’t necessarily the same team you’ll see at the end of the regular season.

The usual hoop-de-doo

End of the home pre-season schedule, the last pretend game I’m going to see, and I really wanted to storm the court and cut down the net at the final buzzer. In celebration, you know.

May I never have to see Will Solomon, Jason Kapono, Jamario Moon, Andrea Bargnani and Kris Humphries on the floor again. Not bad guys, just a bad mix and the kind of bad mix you’re going to get during experimental games.

(Yes, it was my last of the pre-season, I’m not heading west, which gives me the only weekend entirely free of basketball between now and, oh, June. Many leaves – the tree kind, not the pucks kind, await).

Anyway, on with the stuff from last night:

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Action: Joey starts

Reaction: A shot across the bow at Moon?

Sam sort of made it sound like Joey’s back to a backup in the near future but it was interesting that he got a start last night.

Was, for the most part, all Good Joey which is good because the Raptors are woefully thin at the three and if he can give ‘em anything it’s a big boost.

Joey’s got his, um, issues, as we all know but if he provides 20 minutes a night of aggressive defence and passable offence, it’ll be a big boost to a bench that, right now, is bad.

It also stretches the rotation another guy, of course, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Could they be getting to a situation again where Sam is mixing and matching twos and threes (Parker, Kapono, Moon and Graham) the same way he did last year? That didn’t work so well because he shuffled too many guys in and out too rapidly. Not sure it works this season.

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Mail time (and we’ll do mail bags all weekend since the inbox is overflowing)

Q: Do you agree that the Raps would need at least one of Bosh, O'Neal, or Jose on the floor in order for the Raps to score?
If you bring out the bench (doesn't matter which 5), no one can really create their own shots, especially seeing how Andrea is the best out of the bench to create his own shots and that is not saying much.
With this weak bench, do you really believe the Raps have a chance in the playoff? As in the first round against teams like the Magic and Cavs?

Willy, Hamilton

A: One of 'em? After watching the bench last night, I’d say two of 'em have to play all the time. But, really, one’s probably enough.

I do know that they should have a massage therapist and a member of the training staff within arm’s reach of Jose Calderon 24/7 because, if he gets hurt, this season’s in the toilet.

The funny thing about the playoffs is that rotations generally get tightened so that’s not where this current bench problem is going to be most noticed.

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Man, you people did get worked up about the whole TSN2 stuff yesterday, didn’t you? Nothing since the great TJ-Jose debate, or Chuck leaving, has elicited such a response in e-mail and comments.

Well, here’s the latest.

Am told there’s negotiations between Rogers Cable and the network are proceeding and a couple of people I talked to yesterday say they fully expect TSN2 to be on the system before the Raptors start playing games there.

Of course, nothing’s done till it’s done (that’s my Yogi statement for the day) but it’s better than nothing happening, I guess.

And I know there’s lots of people ticked off at TSN, which has to shoulder some of the responsibility for this mess. But what surprised me is that Rogers seems to be have gotten off easy in this whole mess. And that’s just wrong.
There’s enough blame, for lack of a better word, to go around and I think the cable system has to share some of it. Sure, hammer TSN but don’t forget the company that owns a competing sports network, too.

And maybe you’ll get a look at the broadcast schedule in the next couple of days because, as far as I can learn, it’s been done for a few days now and they’re just holding its release.

One other nugget: There will be two games solely on Raptors TV, I’m told, because of scheduling conflicts with the CBC.

So, let’s see, there’ll be games on The Score, CBC, TSN, TSN2 and Raptors TV this season. They’ve done a wonderful job cutting down the number of networks they’re on, haven’t they?

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Action: Sam’s exasperated.

Reaction: What’d Jamario do?

End of the third quarter, Minnesota’s running one last play and Randy Foye, I believe it was, is dribbling down the clock. He makes his move, drives left and for some reason known only to himself, Moon leaves Corey Brewer open in the corner. Foye finds him, Brewer makes a pretty much uncontested three and I think Sam’s eyes bugged out of his head.

Quarter ends, Jamario walks to the bench, Sam has a few choice (but clean) words for him and the coach drops his clipboard in stunned disbelief.

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Here’s your basic study in contrast. The Timberwolves like the way their bench played last night. It’s not a feeling shared in Toronto, that’s for sure.

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Question of the day: Is Good Joey better than Jamario?

He’s bigger, stronger, not as long, more aggressive, can play more positions and seems much more willing to take a pounding under the boards. Good Joey’s an athletic freak, a lot like Good Jamario but if you really, really, really had to take one, which would you take?

That’s a tough one, isn’t it?

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I don’t know an awful lot (and thanks to the regulars who keep pointing that out) but I do know the Timberwolves are going to lose an awful lot of games this season. That’s just not a very good team. I like Randy Foye and I guess Al Jefferson’s okay but other than that?

In cruelest of terms, Kevin Love right now looks like a taller Reggie Slater, Craig Smith is a poor man’s Paul Millsap and Corey Brewer is sooooo skinny.

If they win 30, I’m stunned (I know, there are those of you who think I’m stunned now).

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An oldie from the mail:

Q: If by the end of January, the Raptors are not in the top 8 (East), will they fire the coach or trade to make the playoff? If they are better than 6th place, do you think they will trade for another big name?

Paul M, Toronto

A: They haven’t played a real game yet and you’re wondering about firings and trades? C’mon. That’s impossible to tell, as you well know. Let’s say their ninth but three games out of third? Fire someone then?

Game 5, dispatch 9

I guess Sam's not reading this, or my mind. Looks like Solomon's the man for now and, if he goes to Ukic, he's sure not going to Jose. Calderon looks done with 16 minutes, five points, three assists and a turnover.

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Ditto on Bosh, whose night seems over after 21 minutes, 10 points and six boards. He's got four assists, too.

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Now who looks good? Bargnani. Again. 20 points to here and he's spent a good part of this quarter around the painted area. Go figure.

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One wag, at 80-80 just uttered the word none of us wants to hear

"Overtime"

Now, he just said

"Double overtime"

And a dozen beat grunts want to beat on him.

Pre-season overtime? There oughta be a law.

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Good Joey gets a chance to close out a close one. He's back for Bargnani with 3 1-2 left.

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Even the zany fans with thuderstix seem in pre-season mode, not all that enthusiastic.

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Okay, kids, I gotta run and finish the gamer.

Game 5, dispatch 8

Many fans have arrived dressed as red, gold and green seats. And it's not even Halloween.

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One for Will. Makes a steal under the Raptor basket, leads the break, finds Hump in transition for a layup.

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Hallucination time: I think I just saw Andrea Bargnani back-tap a Raptor miss the same way cagey old Rasho used to do.

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Moon as Oak. Some fan in the fourth row catches a somewhat errant pass. Um, not somewhat. Some fan in the fourth row catches one of the worst passes of the pre-season.

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If you can't see Jermaine O'Neal on the bench, here's why: We're told he wasn't going to play the rest of the night and is in the back getting his usual post-game treatment from one of the many members of the training staff.

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Hey, all of a sudden we've got a game as Raps close within one.

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Jason Kapono just makes a jumper, falls to the floor trying to draw a foul and when he looked pleadingly at ref David Jones, I'm pretty sure Jones wanted to laugh. We did, that's for sure.

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Bargnani has a game-high 18 points in 23 minutes so far. He's also got five fouls.

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A Hump dunk gives Toronto its first lead since I don't know when, maybe the first quarter.

I'm taking a break. Back soon.

Toronto 78, Minnesota 77 with 6:40 left.

Game 5, dispatch 7

Let's put this nicely: Minnesota's Corey Brewer is skinny. Sickly skinny almost. He's been guarded by Joey Graham, who looks like a giant compared to the kid.

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Good Joey just hit a nice baseline jumper. There have been far more sightings of Good over Bad tonight.

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New unis on the Dance Pak. In case you were wondering. Oh, and I presume, like teams, the game ops folks and dancing girls are saving their 'A' game for the regular season.

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Trivia answer (And I was gonna save this for the last dispatch but I'm way behind on notes 'cause I've been writing a game story during stoppages):

Ed Pinckney beat the legendary (well, almost legendary) Yinka Dare on the first ever jump ball. Just ask Ed if you don't believe me. He brings it up often when we chat.

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Newbie ref tonight, in case you were wondering. Eric Dalen wears No. 75. Rule of thumb for a game: If the total uniform numbers of the refs is over 125, you're not getting a veteran crew. Tonight we've got 144 with Dalen, Sean Corbin (33) and David Jones (36).

The stuff we think about here on Wag Row.

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If Solomon's finishing this quarter, I'd give him three more minutes, use Ukic for six and let Jose play the last four. But I'm betting Sam rides Will until there's about seven minutes to and lets Roko play out the game.

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The Raptor starters are making a game of it.

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Minnesota 71, Toronto 64 after three

Game 5, dispatch 6

I'll be the first to say it. Hump hasn't been the same since he cut his hair. Sampson? He might just be.

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First half ugliness: Raps shoot 34 per cent, have seven of their nine turnovers in the second quarter, Timberwolves shoot 51 per cent.

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Why should anyone here care that much about Minnesota's Mark Madsen? Well, because it was Madsen who knocked T.J. Ford to the ground -- quite legally and quite inadvertently -- that began the series of head, neck and back injuries that have cut into Ford's game in each of the past three seasons. I remember talking to T.J. about it last year and he and Madsen have become friends over the years.

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Starters are back for Toronto and there's more energy and Good Joey's got two baskets in the first two minutes.

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AP just made a three-pointer and looked to heavens as if to say 'thanks.' That's what an 0-for-4 start to a game will make a guy do.

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Unreal. A ball just bounces right next to us, hits the computer of my man Zic from the Sun and where's Sherm? Talking on TV or something.

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Raps cut the deficit to eight before two straight Randy Foye three's make it a 14-point game again. Sorta takes the steam out of a comeback.

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Solomon's gonna finish up the quarter.

And I'm gonna finish this missive up, too.

Game 5, dispatch 5

Yes, Rob Babcock is here. Looks good. Seems fine. Still a very nice man.

He did have a nice chat with Jose Calderon before the game and well he should have. Rob discovered the Spaniard, as you'll recall. Good pick up.

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So, Will Solomon replaces Ukic and as soon as Ukic sits down, assistant coach Mike Evans goes to the middle of the bench to sit next to him and explain some things.

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Those were the first boos of the season, as I recall. Comes with Minny up 41-29 and the Raptors looking horrid.

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The level of exasperation with Hump is palpable. He just missed a wide open Kapono under the basket and the groans from the bench were heard here in my seat.

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Will Solomon scores. It's been about an eon since the Raptors had a bucket, it seems.

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Joey's back and playing the four. Sam told us that might happen. I think that might be his best position, actually.

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Man, this is some ugly Toronto offence.

How ugly? Matt Devlin just points out that Ahearn has 15 points in this quarter and the Raptors have 14. But they have played almost 10 minutes.

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Okay, gotta go get some no-doze.

Minnesota 52, Toronto 37

Game 5, dispatch 4

Ah,  now I know why that first quarter seemed so dreadful. Toronto misfired at a 26.1 per cent clip and missed its last eight shots. Regular season form indeed.

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If there is anything close to a celebrity at this game, they are hiding. As well they should.

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Okay, this is Jamario in a nutshell. Just gives up a baseline drive to Rodney Carney but recovers enough to block Carney's shot on the other side of the rim. Heckuva play, unless Carney's able to score, then it's just bad defence.

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Bunny Ahearn just made a jumper. Or maybe it was Blake Ahearn. Of who, one wag, just noted, seconds before he made his second straight three:

"That Ahearn doesn't see the sun too often."

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Oh, thank goodness. Another timeout and there are shenanigans going on on the court. Some dance contest or somesuch. At least it's not just quiet, 'cause something always has to be going on. Check that. Some clown in a suit just did the chicken dance. Silence would have been waaaaaaay better.

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Bargnani's three-for-four and his only missed was a gawdawful airball on his first attempt.

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Here's a stunner: Cute little kid wins dance contest! I smell a fix.

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The Raptors really have no offensive flow whatsoever in this quarter.

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Be back in a bit

Minnesota 35, Toronto 26, 6 1-2 to go

Game 5, dispatch 3

It's a week of Day 1'ers around here, it seems.

Check out the Minnesota bench and there's Ed Pinckney, the starting centre for Toronto in its very first game.

Trivia time: Who'd he jump against? And who won?

Answer in some other quarter when I need a note.

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Hello, Good Joey

Just filled in the wing on a break, went strong to the basket and made a finger-rollish kind of basket. Just the kind of strong, athletic play this team doesn't get nearly enough of.

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Hey, got a front row seat tonight (we get 'em every third game) and luckily I've got Sherm to my left to catch any errant basketballs and save my life. And my computer. Not sure which people would care about more.

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Here comes Andrea for the final three minutes. He'll give Bosh a rest. Bosh has six points already and seems to be the focal point of the offence right now.

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An entire timeout just passed with not a single thing going on on the court. No games, no jesters, no nothing. Was sort of nice and calm.

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This is rather telling. First guard off the bench tonight is Roko Ukic.

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Hmm. Moon's in and the first thing he does is hustle to get an offensive rebound off a missed Bargnani free throw. Message delivered?

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Hmm. Hump gets the ball up high, can't apparently find anyone on the court to pass to so he decides to drive left and nearly misses the entire backboard with his runner. Message not delivered?

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A rather uneventful quarter.

Minnesota 18, Toronto 17.