Of big matchups and busted Chickens

ANDREW WALLACE/TORONTO STAR

Big matchup in Orlando tonight. Literally.

So I wake up this morning, wander to get the daily paper outside the door and notice the frost on the car and the chill in the air and it’s like, ‘hey, this isn’t Orlando!’

No, it’s not. Taking this trip off, too (two more of the 16 or so road games I’ll miss go past the board) which kind of blows because it’s not, you know, warm here.

But the show must go on. And on it shall go. We’ll be in the home watching and blogging the games tonight and tomorrow so do not worry (and I know you all are).

Anywho …

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This should be an interesting one against the Magic.

I still think Orlando’s due to step back from the 50 wins a year ago because that bench is a big concern but as a measuring stick for the new-look locals, the game has some extra juice.

Six bigs, all with diverse skills, clogging the court. If Jose can go (and we won’t know until right before the game, I don’t imagine) an interesting matchup with the guy who killed them last year in the playoffs, Jameer Nelson.

What we should see is how far Bargnani has really progressed defensively. He really didn’t get the job done in the aborted start as a small forward last year but he was just thrown in there back then. He’s a better defender now, I don’t think he’ll as much trouble keeping Turkoglu or Lewis in front of him as he did last spring. The one thing I noticed most of all about Bargnani on Sunday was they he was able to move his feet and cut off the smaller, quicker Daequan Cook in that mismatch.

Sam told us yesterday this Three Bigs (notice it’s not the Big Three) is here for a while so Bargnani better get used to guarding small forwards.

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Here’s one of your more interesting Dwight Howard stats: He’s got a higher field goal percentage (60.3 per cent) than he does free throw percentage (52.1 per cent). That, even to someone who isn’t all the concerned about numbers, is telling. Hope Hump uses his six fouls wisely.

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A visit to the mail:

Q: I was at the game against Miami Sunday which your story describes as a "sellout".  At any given time about a fifth of the seats in the building seemed empty to me.  What qualifies as a sellout and who decides?

Sam S, Toronto

A: It’s all about tickets sold. That’s what determines sellouts, not bums in the seats. Easiest way for us to tell? We look up in the corners of the upper deck, if those seats are filled, the joint’s sold out.

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Can we all, please, throw cold water all over anyone’s idea that the Raptors will have any interest whatsoever ever in renting Stephon Marbury for the rest of this season if he gets a buyout from the Knicks.

The dude is toxic; he’s still got game, but he’s toxic. Can you imagine him playing backup to Jose Calderon in a contract year and liking it? Not a chance. No way.

He would, however, become the first Raptor with a tattoo on the side of his head. Of a shoe company logo. ON HIS HEAD!

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Wonder what they’re saying about this game down in Orlando? Glad you asked.

And I note with great glee that another story in that paper suggests the temperature will dip into the 30s (F) tonight. Tee-hee!

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The Chicken, everyone's favourite stuffed animal, makes it to the big time. Sports Illustrated's Ian Thomsen’s a friend and one of the very best NBA writers out there and now he’s really starting to do some investigative work. Nice yarn here.

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Q: Love the post game dissection, well done. I have a question about scouting reports? Do you ever get to see them? After reading your man Ira's article, I see that the Heat was surprised by our prowess on the boards Sunday. Do you think that the Magic will connect the dots or be caught off guard? Do you think that the "Big 3 Combo" will turn the tide on the rebounding woes?
Tom B, Uxbridge

A: The Heat wasn’t the only group surprised by Toronto’s rebounding prowess on Sunday; you can put the Raptors in that category, too.

We don’t see the actual written scouting reports, although we do normally get a glance on the locker room whiteboard at the plays that day’s opponents run.

But trust me, Orlando has seen everything the Raptors did on Sunday and have dissected it like mad over the last 24 hours.

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The weekly (some say weakly) dancing digression:

Warren Sapp, baby. Warren Sapp. Hope you voted early, and voted often.

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My initial reaction to Mark Cuban being charged with insider trading?

There’s no way in the world he’s that stupid to set himself up like that.

Of course, the only thing I really know about finance is if I put my bank card in the machine and hit some buttons money comes out but it’s inconceivable to me that a guy with so many varied business interests and so much money would make such a stupid, and obvious, mistake.

Now, I’m not a huge Cuban fan as a team owner for a variety of reasons. I think his over-the-top antics helped cause the meltdown in the final against Miami and I think his spoiling of players is more about him showing off than anything since he’s never attracted a high price free agent to Dallas but he’s obviously a brilliant businessman.

Way smarter than to do something that dumb for such a relatively small amount of money.

Comments

[Bakedpot8o]

"There’s no way in the world he’s that stupid to set himself up like that." I would have to agree.

Here's an interesting take on Mark's case:

http://norris.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/insider-trading-or-political-persecution/

[George]

True Test. After the 2008 playoffs, the organization concluded that our biggest hole was the Centre position, a match-up that was exploited by Dwight Howard. Now comes the true test. Is Jermaine good enough? Would he have been our answer to the elusive second round? The test is not for Jermaine. But for BC. Did he make the right move? And if BC believes that he made the right move, will the finger now be solely pointed at Sam? How important is this game for Sam and BC?

[Carl J]

I'm no Martha fan, but look at what happened with her. I think she's somewhat smart (she didn't get by on looks, that's for sure) and she has a couple of "varied business interests" too. Smart people are capable of doing dumb things from time to time (didn't BC trade Kidd for Marbury?).

[Matty-Pix]

Here's your kryptonite = hack superman ... not with a saw, but send that giant to the line ... not even just for a few potential points saved, but I always love seeing the way it can deflate the confidence of a big man.

[Matty-Pix]

...and i'm not just talking about pulling on his cape! sit him down (although it make take a bulldozer)

[Andy A.]

Word is here in Dallas that Jerry Stackhouse is unhappy and wants out. That's one tough old dude that can still play a little - better than the Marbury suggestion.

[lulu]

When do you think we will see some hack-a-Howard? If the great pop uses it on shaq, why not howard too?

[Chad Nunn]

So the he/she/it in the chicken costume is a 35 year old he. The jig is up.

[Andy]

"It's a long list,'' HE said during a rare telephone interview Thursday.

No more of the he/she/it stuff, Doug - cat's out of the bag.

[NS]

Sam should really consider using smite-a-dwight....i know its a cheap shot and makes the game ugly but an ugly win is still a win....he should have used it in the playoffs last year.
also, vote CB4 on nba.com ....only 62 days to go.

[Paul M]

Hey Doug,
This isn't related to your post, but the Stackhouse developments are intriguing. I presume that the only contracts of interest to the Mavs would be expiring contracts...so any trade would have to include Parker. Is Stackhouse enough of an upgrade to Parker to make this interesting to the Raptors?

Blogger's note: Personally, I'd only be interested in Stackhouse if he engineers a buyout and can be had for a minimum value contract.

[J Popalis]

Not to be a wet blanket... but in the summer when people were salivating at the idea of Bargnani at three and JO at five, were you, Doug, not the one quelling those notions calling them pretty far fetched and not feasible?

What are your genuine thoughts now? Do you still believe this isn't an ideal scenario? Or has Bargnani already proven himself somewhat in this first month?

Blogger's note: No, I don't think it's an ideal situation but it's one that arises out of necessity. I still think he's better suited, all around, as a four or five long-term.

[TO]

hey doug,
so is there any truth to what the toronto sun wrote this morning about MLSE being open to the idea of going over the tax limit if there was a good signing somewhere. ... i think thats big news because we never heard that from them,, i know that you mentioned that in the summer but for it to come from them means that they know how close we are to being an elite team and are willing to go the extra mile.

Blogger's note: It goes to what Bryan said way back when, that if he's got a deal worth persuing that would put them over the tax around the trade deadline, he'd take it to the board. The fact the board would listen is, frankly, not earth-shattering. And, actually, Peddie said it on The FAN590 yesterday.

[Serge Papineau]

Stackhouse would be nice IF he gets bought out by the Mavs. Otherwise he's making 7million this season which is way too much and it would mean having to give up a decent player (Parker, Kapono) to get him which I think would be a lateral move at best at this point in his career.

I'm a fan of Sam Mitchell, unlike many it seems, I actually think the guy's a pretty good coach, not great, but good and still young enough to improve. One criticism I have of him however is that he seems to have this "old-school" reluctance to use the Hack-a-Shaq strategy. I think it would have really helped them in the game against Golden State earlier this year (even though they won it anyway in OT) and against a team like the Magic the same can be said, especially if you're going to play Hump, why not use him to foul Howard on purpose? Like another poster said, it's not just about getting the ball back without letting the other team get a basket, it also frustrates a big man which often leads to him picking up a bad foul or trying to force his offense downt he stretch. I say foul him until he learns to shoot free throws.

[Migs]

Speaking of injuries, there are rumours that Jawai has an enlarged heart, and may not even get to play in the NBA.

Doug, any word on what's going on? He played overseas without incident but has yet to formally practice with the Raptors - is this a product of more stringent health regulations in the NBA, or did this problem occur just recently or wasn't disclosed previously?

Blogger's note: Without knowing all the details, I think whatever's wrong with his heart was only found after extensive examination he wouldn't get in any other league.

[DougG]

Wasn't it BC who suggested using Bargnani at SF last summer? Moon and Parker look pretty good, as backup SFs. If this change is long term, they have almost solved their small forward problem. Assuming the Australian Shaq gets back soon, maybe the Raps should spend their extra money on a shooting guard.

[Vincent]

Hack-a-Howard? You might see it a little at the end of games. Shaq and Howard are different though. Shaq had a complete offensive game that Howard currently lacks. The reason Shaq was hacked was because you know he would get it in the post and punish you inside. You're not so much as worried about Howard going 40 and 10 as you are worried about him going 20 and 20. And there's nothing to really hack when the guy gets an offensive rebound and slams it home. You're more likely to give him a 3 point play.

Anyways, I seriously doubt you will see Hack-a-Howard in the near future unless it's a game that means something and Howard is on pace for a 40 point game.

[Eli]

Doug,

Why would Bosh not guard opposing 3's? He seems to have better lateral quickness while Bargnani is an equivalent shot blocker. I also think Bargnani's post d is pretty good. what do you think?

Blogger's note: The post defence is pretty good and I think with Bosh and Bargnani, you'll see them switching on screens, etc.

[Dan Witzel]

My personal opinion which still holds is Sam should try and give Graham a minimum of 15 minutes for maybe 5 games in a row and see if he can out preform Moon. I feel Graham has his good and bad but I don't really recall them ever giving him an extended amount of minutes in any consecutive manor to give him a fair shot. I feel with his size and potential he could be a decent guy of the bench just needs some support from the coaching to get him going. If after that he hasn't shown any signs than I say go back to around that 4 minute mark.

[Archie gillespie]

Hi Doug, not be taken as a professional opinion here's a link with regards to what might be Jawai's issue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athlete%27s_Heart_Syndrome

Cheers

[SY]

Stackhouse is a 2 time all-star and an excellent penetrator (which is something we desperately need - due to the departure of Delfino). If we can sign him to a minimum value contract, our team would definitely improve. I am sure half-a-dozen teams in the NBA would want to sign him at min.

Doug, in terms of character, do you think Stackhouse fits into the team? Is he a high-character guy?

Again, thanks for your hard work.

Blogger's note: I'm told he's of high character. I haven't had much first-hand experience but any time I've dealt with him, he's been fine.

[GMt]

The Orlando article said Bargnani is 6-10. I'd always thought he was 7-0. What's the official measurement? And what do you think the reality is? When you line Bosh, O'Neal and Bargnani up, who's tallest in reality?

I'm a big fan of Mark Cuban, but I still hope he goes to jail. I dunno, there's just something fun about a celebrity going off to the hoosegow!

Blogger's note: According to team and league information, Bargnani's 7 feet tall. His weight is listed as 250 but that's what it was last year, too. He hasn't shrunk but he has put on weight, I've been told he's 7-0, about 262 today.

[Nick M]

I just got done listening to Bob McCown's Monday show.

Just like to commend you Doug on your numerous unabashed comments about Sunday's game not being broadcast on Rogers. ON A ROGER'S SHOW.

The readers/fans should be proud!

[SY]

Doug, between Dice and Stackhouse, both to a min contract, who would you pick & why?

Blogger's note: Good question. All things being even, financially; for this team at this time with Bargnani solidified at the three, I'd take McDyess because while Hump had one good game, they are more thin on the front line than they are at the wings.
I can see arguments both ways, but I'd do Dice.

[John S]

Re: Bargnani's size.
Per the 2006 NBA pre-draft measurements, Bargnani measured in at 7 feet without shoes and 7'1" and a quarter with shoes with a standing reach of 9'2".
All that size and length and he still can't average more than 4 boards a game...