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.

That worked out pretty well, didn't it?

RICK EGLINTON/TORONTO STAR

27 points from the big guy on this night.

I don’t know what was more exciting, a 13-2 Raptor run to open the fourth quarter and put a pretty entertaining game out of reach or Novak Djokovic’s thrilling 6-1, 7-5 win over Nikolay Davydenko in the Masters Cup final.

Dec. 13 is the next TV flash point, by the way. Better get on the phone and e-mail to Rogers so they don’t keep screwing it up for you unlucky viewers here in Toronto.

But, really, is it the end of the world if fans in the team’s home city miss two games on TV? Seriously. Is it? There are those in the hierarchy of Maple Leaf Sports who wonder.

Of course, Brian Burke’s coming so I figure he’ll get this thing resolved in some lunch break in between building the Leaves into this year’s Stanley Cup champions.

Enough, I know. On to the game.

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Action: Big guys, big game.

Reaction: Of course it’s going to stay.

Have had lots of readers wondering if Bosh, O’Neal, Bargnani was a one-time thing or not. Oh, no. It’s here for the foreseeable future, no question about it. There will be nights when it might be an abysmal failure but they aren’t going to start jerking guys in and out of the starting lineup on a game-to-game basis. And see what they got from those three (50 points, 29 boards) and the way Jamario played off the bench, why change?

And here’s an aside: A few critics wondering why Sam left Bargnani on the bench for the first 8 1-2 minutes of the fourth quarter, including one person who wrote:

"Smitch almost screwed it up when he sat Bargnani when Toronto went on its run.”

To which I can only add.

"Duh!!!!!”

They broke the game open with Kapono getting two big buckets and an assists and Hum making all four free throws he took. Yeah, it was absolutely ridiculous to leave Bargnani on the bench when that was happening.

Yeesh!

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The Chicken is a gamer. No question. Hobbled or not, the little fella was out there yucking it up like he usually does. God bless him. Really.

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Action: Will’s a thrill.

Reaction: One game at a time.

Now, Solomon was good yesterday. Not great. Good. Which is just what they needed. But anyone who thinks he can handle more than backup minutes over a long stretch of games is deluding himself. He’s a 14-15 minute a night guy when Jose comes back which, they hope, is soon.

I have no idea if Calderon plays Tuesday in Orlando (we’ll have a better grasp on it after practice in Toronto on Monday morning) but if he’s ready, he plays. His usual time.

Will’s 11-assist, four-turnover, 15-point outing against Miami was much needed. Now they need their starting point guard back.

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Here’s a mail question that sets up Tuesday:

Q: Would the Raptors benefit from going after a scoring wingman like JJ Reddick who is just not being used by Orlando in any form?  Or is the reason he's not playing THAT evident?  What have you seen from him thus far in his career and would his potential be met in Toronto. Oh, and how "safe" is Smitch's job?

Naoto Y, Calgary

A: He’s not being used in Orlando because he’s no good. At all. Would be the 11^th, 12^th, maybe 13^th man on this roster.

Sam’s job? Safe. Very safe. Safer than many wish. Sorry to disappoint.

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Check out what Ira had to say about Sunday:

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Action: Kapono’s dagger

Reaction: Play of the game.

This is one that sums up the afternoon and how well it went.

About 7 1-2 minutes left, Raps up 10 and looking to close it out. O’Neal, a monster, perfectly times a block of a Daequan Cook layup/dunk, Hump gets the loose ball and doesn’t hold it. A quick outlet to Ukic at about midcourt, three or four dribbles while Kapono catches up and drives to the three-point line on the right side. Ukic subtly dribbles two steps left, passes back to Kapono who makes a silky-smooth three. Toronto’s up 13 and somewhere in Chicago, they were getting out some salami and cheese.

That was a helluva sequence.

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A question often posed:

Q: I'm not going to get excited about Bargnani getting called for an offensive foul when he clearly didn't deserve it (replay showed it was a bad call, clearly...whatever). It does bring up something I've been wondering about this season. Everyone wants Bargnani to drive to the net, but he gets a lot of offensive fouls called on him.
Do you feel this has more to do with him being out of control, or do with refs having ideas in their heads about certain players and expecting Bargs to run someone over when he drives (I know I do)?

Paul C, Grassy Narrows, Ont.

A: It’s all on him. He has had the tendency to drive, head down, right into traffic without regard for a big getting settled in the paint. But he’s been better at it this year, he doesn’t drive in a straight line as much as he did in his first two years. It’s all about the evolution of a player.

There was one instance Sunday that illustrates it, as I look at my notes. About four minutes in, Bargnani’s got it going, he drives and instead of plowing into a defender, he kicks the ball to Parker, who makes a wide-open three. Last year – hell, maybe last week – that turns into a charge and a turnover.

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A story, told once so if you’ve read it, scroll down, about Scott Wall, one of yesterday’s officials.

We’re in Chicago to end the regular season last April and the refs are all at our hotel for a meeting the next day to set up the playoffs. We’re hanging with a few that we know well and Scott comes over, proudly showing off a baseball he got at a Cubs game that night.

But he’s got something else, as well. A Flat Stanley that he’d taken to Wrigley to have a picture taken for his kid’s school class back home.

That’s good Dad work.

(If you don’t know Flat Stanley, you’re not a parent, yet. Go look it up).

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And, finally

Q: I was wondering whether the addition of your post-game video wrap-up is, in fact, you auditioning for a part-time in-studio TV gig? It worked for Bosh on the Tonight Show.

Burtley F, Halifax

A: Yes, I believe my agent is handling all kinds of calls because big shot TV shows are falling all over themselves looking for a plump 50-year old with no television experience to turn into a star. Really.

But thanks.

The Goods On The Game, Vol. 9, The Game

Now, that's a sight gag. The Chicken, injured though it may be, is hanging around spreading its own kind of joy. But its wearing one of those funnel cones around its neck. You know, the kind a dog wears to prevent it from scratching itself or something. Made me chuckle.
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Anway, guess it's time to get on with the, you know, game.
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They just announced Erik Spoelstra as the head coach of the Miami Heat and I swear a guy behind me said, 'who?'
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The Raps have Bargnani on Marion, Bosh on Beasley and O'Neal on Haslem, as we expected.
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Bargnani cuts across the lane off an O'Neal screen, Bosh hits him and he makes a nice little 10-footer. That play's got some potential.
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Two times, Bosh has taken the ball hard to the hole, two times he's been fouled.
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A rather sedate crowd, as you'd expect on an early afternoon, but it looks like a sellout. Wonder how many are here 'cause they couldn't watch it on TV in Toronto thanks to Rogers and TSN?
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Miami coach Spoelstra, the guy not many know, is urging PG Mario Chalmers to pick up Will Solomon hard before halfcourt. Think we'll see lots of that today.
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Toronto 8, Miami 7 after three minutes.
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Someone has to call out screens. Anthony Parker just got drilled by Haslem, I believe it was, and it left Dwyane Wade wide open for a three.
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AP's now hit both three's he's attempted. They were much harder shots than he missed at the start of the Philly game so we'll chalk that one up to being an aberration.
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I'm sitting one guy down from Jack and Matt Devlin and I can tell you, Jack's pumped for this one. I'm not saying he's loud but ...
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Heat's taken Beasley out for Daequan Cook and now the Raps are using Bargnani on Cook and Bosh on Marion.
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Shawn Marion has the oddest looking jump shot of anyone I've seen in a very long time. But he just made a 23-footer so ...
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And here comes Hump as the first big off the bench. He's in for O'Neal.
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Toronto 18, Miami 16 with four minutes left in the first.
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Dwyane Wade is good. Damn good. He's back to his old form, no doubt about it. He just went around Parker and split a double for nice layup.
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You can't keep the sponsors straight. Wasn't it not too long ago that it was the Axe Dance Pak? Now it's Irish Spring. Or maybe the change came a long time ago and I'm just a doddering old fool.
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I'm wondering when Sam's going to get Roko for Will. He used to make the PG substitution right near the end of the first quarter.
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Things you never thought you'd see. Hump makes a nice play on the post for a basket and Sam stands up, walks a couple of steps on the court applauding. Really. For Hump.
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Daequan Cook is 6-5 and guarding the 7-0 Bargnani. If Toronto can't exploit that, something's wrong. And not only by having Bargnani score but by having him make passes out of the post.
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Toronto 29, Miami 27 after one.
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O'Neal's back for Bosh as it looks like they're going to stretch out Bargnani today. Can't remember him having this long a run in any game this season.
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How in the world no one in a Toronto uniform didn't just notice Andrea Bargnani on the block being guarded by Chris Quinn, who's about 6-2 in heels, I'll never know.
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Roko time. Back up PG usually gets about six minutes here, I presume Sam lets him go at least that long.
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JK in for Parker, and no time for Moon yet.
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Ukic looks a bit, um, skittish. Just had a shot blocked rather easily.
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Can't help but notice Toronto has 14 rebounds to seven for Miami. I can't help but notice 'cause it's just so darn strange.
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Here comes Jamario and I presume Bargnani gets a break.
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Miami 34, Toronto 33 with just over nine minutes left.
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Hump's in trouble. Blew a defensive assignment according to Sam, who's yelling at him and Bosh is in a race to the table to get in the game.
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That thunderous dunk by Joel Anthony makes me proud to be a Canadian. Or something like that.
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Hump had eight points and seven rebounds in eight minutes. Not bad.
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Jason Kapono might be the smartest Raptor. Two plays: One, he knows he's got a guy trailing him as he comes off a screen so he curls to the basket and makes about a 15-footer; next play, he flares to the corner to get some space and drills a three. A couple of common basketball plays but I'm not sure how many of his teammates make them.
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Seven Toronto turnovers and we're halfway through the second quarter. Troubling.
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Moon just tried to finish on the break, drew contact from Marion and got fouled. I don't recall Moon being on the deck after trying to finish in a long time. I can't see Sam, but I presume he's smiling.
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Raps 40, Heat 40 with five minutes left.
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Bosh is 1-for-6 from the floor, which many would think isn't good. He's also 7-for-8 from the line. Which is good.
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Jack's yammering on about the pucks. Matt and I are unimpressed.
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Jermaine O'Neal, who now has 10 rebounds, is having a tough offensive night, just 1-for-6 from the floor. And he's got three fouls and the rest of the half off.
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That's too easy. Wade goes right past Kapono and the help is non-existent.
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Will Solomon has just committed two turnovers in four possessions and had one bad pass batted out of bounds, luckily, by a Miami defender. They gotta get better PG play than that.
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The Raptor offence has been horrible all quarter. No ball movement, no player movement, no decisive leadership. I'm not saying the game is getting away. But it might be.
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Miami 54, Toronto 50 at the half.
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Whilst grabbing the traditional halftime fresh air, had about three people stop to wonder about Sam wearing his glasses. He's had some problems adapting to the results of the lasik surgery he had, I know that, and maybe it's got something to with that.
The things you learn here, eh?
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Raps 28 rebounds, Heat 16 rebounds. Strange times, indeed.
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Jose might be active, but he just got to the bench with a nifty suit on. Too bad it's not uniform.
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Wade's got 15 points but it's taken him 16 shots to get them. I honestly think the Raptors can live with that.
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Bargnani has been impresses. Really.
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Toronto 60, Heat 58 with nine minutes to go in the third.
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Hey, who's winning the big tennis match on TSN? Anyone care?
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Ah, the benefits of replay. Andrea just got called for a very cheap offensive foul and the first reaction here was, what a bad call. Saw the little picture-in-picture thing on our screen and, yes, it was a blown call. Badly.
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Chris Bosh so over-matches Shawn Marion when he drives him it's not even funny.
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Will Solomon has nine assists already, which is a career high. Since his career spanned 62 games with Memphis in 2001-02 and eight with Toronto this year, that's not much of a surprise.
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Toronto has more points in the paint, more second chance points, more rebounds and more fast-break points. Not bad.
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Bosh has now shot 12 free throws in exactly the kind of game they needed against the under-sized Heat.
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Toronto 69, Miami 68 with four minutes left.
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Hump's back for JO and Bargnani has to sit down with four fouls so Moon gets some time. There's been no Joey sighting all day, by the way.
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Moon, in the paint, scores off a Humphries pass. Talk about sentences we never thought would be typed.
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Moon, at the top, dishes to Hump, who takes a baseline jumper. Talk about sentences we could type every game.
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The odd man out in this new look offence seems to be Parker, who's only had three field goal attempts so far. But he just made a good runner for his third bucket and, really, he hasn't done a bad job on Wade, whose got 21 points on 22 shots.
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Toronto 80, Miami 78 after three.
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Hardly a lot of famous faces in the crowd but that is J. Bitove over there in the front row right at centre court. Just like the olden days when he was the grand poobah around here.
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Hump's got 12 and 8 in 12 minutes. Impressive numbers. And much needed.
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You know when a lot of us first met Erik Spoelstra, who is the Miami coach, in case you didn't know? Way back in the day, he was an advance scout for the Heat and you'd run into him at games or in Marriott concierge lounges. Now he's a big shot NBA coach.
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Twice now, Moon has driven and initiated contact. You don't think the message is getting through, do you? He's also shot five free throws, which is a single-game season high.
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Toronto 88, Miami 80 with 8 1-2 left.
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The Raptors are extending this lead with Bosh and Bargnani both on the bench which is not what any of us expected. Won't be for long, though, Bosh is at the scorer's table for Hump right now.
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This is as good as they can do it. O'Neal has an emphatic block of a dunk attempt, quick outlet to Ukic, couple dribbles, Kapono open for a transition three. Makes it, it's 93-80 with 7;15 left and this one is close to being over.
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Wonder if he'll bring Bargnani back or let Jamario finish the game?
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Here come Parker and Solomon for Ukic and Moon. Guess Moon won't finish.
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Raps 93, Heat 81 with 5:50 to go.
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O'Neal keeps getting great looks inside but has a tendency to shoot line drives. Once he makes nice soft bank shots, he's gonna be really impressive. His 15 rebounds are a pretty big thing, though.
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Will Solomon just made a nice three-pointer in transition. Big shot. Remember when he had a career-high 9 assists about two quarters ago? He's still got a career high 9 assists.
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Bargnani's back to finish the game as Kapono, with a tidy10 points, takes a seat. So, the starters finish for the Raptors.
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Bargnani's doing a good job keeping Daequan Cook in front of him, which I didn't expect.
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Heat are making a run, Raps have blown one timeout but they might need to take another.
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Wade's 13-for-30 from the floor right now. That's okay with the Raps, I'm sure.
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I get the sense the Raptors are just hanging on, playing as much not to lose as they are to win. They need this one.
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The dagger? A Bosh dunk off a good Solomon feed with a minute left.
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Toronto 107, Miami 96

The Goods On The Game, Vol. 9, Getting Ready for No Jose

And a find good afternoon to you all.

This just in:

Jose Calderon will be active but will not play. A cheerleading role, it seems. Will Solomon starts at point guard and this should be a something. Just what, I'm not sure. But something.
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I'm sure you're all nestled in with a computer fired up, a nice lunch spread ready to be nibbled on and thoughts of the cold outside (at least here in Toronto) far out of your mind.

As expected, Sam just confirmed that Andrea starts as the small forward but an hour to game time and we didn't know about Jose. When we spoke to Sam, Calderon was upstairs working out and seeing how he felt. Guess it didn't work out.

On Bargnani, here's Sam's thinking:

"The rational is he's playing better than the other two guys (Moon and Graham). We have to get more out of that postion."

Defensive concerns?

"We haven't guarded that position as well as we'd like, anyway."

So, that's all I've got now. Be back right after things get going.

Oh, wait! One other update: I saw The Chicken in the hallway an hour or so ago. It's got a decided limp so there'll be no dunking and probably fewer shenanigans than usual, but It's going to give it a go.

As they say, only the greats play hurt.

A little bit to get the day started

Not all that slow a weekend now that I think about it.

We’ve got the on-going Jose Calderon thingy, and the suggestion that once again Andrea Bargnani will start at small forward.

For a day when it’s usually sleepy around the Air Canada Centre, there was some news. Luckily we’ll get an early look at all this what with the afternoon game and all. It’ll be nice to sit on the couch and watch, won’t it?

Or maybe not, depending on where you live.

Short and sweet this morning, gotta get all gussied up for the big game and there’ll be lots here later to digest. And don’t forget to tune back in at 1 p.m. to follow the game.

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A gamble? Of course it’s a gamble. Moving Bargnani back to the starting lineup – if in fact that’s what Sam does and I got an overwhelming sense from a few people I talked to yesterday that it’s a done deal for now – toys with him, the rotation, the other bigs and puts an awful lot more pressure on the coach.

I personally don’t think Bargnani is a small forward. Being defended by threes takes away most of the advantage he had going against fours, which is quickness and the ability to beat them off the dribble. Defending threes may lead him to the early foul trouble that takes him out of games. I’m not sure there’s enough space on the floor with Bosh and O’Neal to let Bargnani attack the basket, something he’s been doing more of this season. I think the kid was finally getting comfortable in a defined role and now it’s changed, at least for the start of the game.

The plus side? Well, the case was made by one guy I talked to yesterday that it does put Toronto’s five best players on the court to start the game. And just because they start big doesn’t mean they have to finish big. And, of course, I’ve said for days something had to be changed at the three.

Sam? Well, now Sam has to massage minutes more carefully, I think. Does he go with Hump a lot? Use Joey at the four? Can he move his bigs (Bosh, O’Neal and Bargnani) in and out effectively enough so that there are long stretches where two of them are on the floor playing centre and power forward?

And what about Jamario? Is he out of the rotation entirely? I don’t imagine so but now you’re looking at a deeper rotation, using 10 or 11 guys for sure (five starters, Moon, Kapono, Hump, maybe Joey and whichever point guard is the backup of the day) and that’s too many.

Yes, a gamble.

And at 4-4, I’m not sure this isn’t too big a gamble to take.

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Here’s how my friend Ira sets up this afternoon’s tilt in the pages of his paper.

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Hey, when you Rogers subscribers are not watching the game this afternoon, remember this statement from Raptor poobah Tom Anselmi, borrowed from Zelk’s story in Friday’s paper:

"If we missed one game I suppose that wouldn't be the end of the world but for a long period of time it's not the place where any of us want to be, TSN, Rogers or us.”

Well, trust me, I know there are people out there for whom missing one game might be the end of the world, don’t imagine they’re too impressed with that quote.

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Quick stop for a question:

Q: Just wondering, if I recall correctly, the Raptors still have the rights to Carlos Delfino (restricted agent no?).  If they do, do those rights have any meaningful value in a trade?  I mean, he's getting paid zero by the Raps so I guess there is no monetary value in this cap system, but do they hold any other potential value in a trade?

Sohail G, Collingwood

A: Nope, no value whatsoever. Delfino remains a restricted free agent, meaning Toronto can match any offer he gets from an NBA team next year or they may be able to get involved in a sign-and-trade transaction but nothing until Delfino’s out from under his contract in Russia.

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So what about Jose? No one knows for sure. I do know he looked way better Saturday than he did on Friday and if he’s that much better Sunday, I’m sure he’ll go. But if he’s got a slight chance at making the injury worse by playing, he should shut it down.

I’m finishing this up about 8:15 a.m. and I presume he’s already at the arena getting treatment and seeing how it goes.

But just think:

If he can’t play, it’s Will Solomon and Roko Ukic against Mario Chalmers and Chris Quinn in the point guard matchup! Springfield, take note.

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And, finally:

Q: Doug, when the Raptors beat Miami and Calderon only plays 20 minutes, can we return to the 78-4 talk?

Ted S, Waterloo

A: I would suggest that for as many people who are on the 78-4 bandwagon, there will be some who are all about 5-77. It’s the nature of the zany Raptor fan base.

What's this? More mail? You betcha

Holy mailbox overload, Batman. Here’s another 3,500 words or so and there’ll be another dispatch sometime this weekend.

But we’ll also be back to our old stuff tomorrow after a couple of much-needed, and well-deserved, days off. Gotta get to work, this hanging around the house can only lead to, um, housework. Ack!

Speaking of the house, if you’re around yours tomorrow afternoon and wonder what’s going on with the Raptors-Heat game, don’t forget to look here ‘cause we’ll have all the dope for you.

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Q: Here is my criticism/question for you (and please take this in a tone of polite discourse): When was the last time you disagreed with a decision that Sam Mitchell made? When was the last time you disagreed with any decision from Colangelo or Mitchell?  I ask because it seems like your blog simply reflects positively on whatever happens to occur, as if whatever decision Mitchell makes was the best possible scenario for the Raptors. Your explanation of the Kapono on Pierce decision makes it seem that Pierce would have scored those points regardless of what the Raptors did; by your logic, victory for Toronto in that game was impossible. You agree with his decision not to run plays for Bosh even though the evidence (a loss of a winnable game, after a 3rd qtr 16-point lead) clearly indicates that that decision was a factor in the loss. For the benefit of your readers who share this legitimate criticism, please outline areas where you believe Mitchell has fallen short in the execution of his duties as coach.  Either that or change the name of your blog to "Sam Mitchell is always awesome!!!"

Evan M, Ottawa

A: I don’t think he’s awesome at all. He’s got flaws, many of them. He could be a better X and O guy, I think he ran too many players through his rotation last year, I think he could handle the media better some days. But he’s also a good motivator, I’ve been around this franchise since it’s inception and I can honestly say the four years-plus that he’s been here have been, at times, quite rocky and yet he’s managed to get the most out of almost every player and no one has quit on him.

But I also truly believe that coaches get too much credit for wins and too much blame for losses. I can understand why moves are made and, quite frankly, I often agree why they’re made when they are explained.

I am not, like many readers, of the mind that a coaching change is the be-all and end-all that will all of a sudden change a team’s fortunes eight games into a season.

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Q: You asked to hear from us normal, quiet non-freakazoid readers so here you go. I am hopeful for this season and am wiling to be patient before I declare the sky is headed earthward.
Enjoy the blog and your column.

Nick L, Toronto

A: What???!!!! What are you? A heretic?

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Q: Here's a question Doug. My first that I've sent in.
How much cheering goes in among you beat grunts during the game? Are you guys rooting for the team out loud? Who's the biggest die hard Raps fan? Who's, dare I ask, is not a big fan?

Jeremiah M, Toronto

A: No cheerleading. At all. Ever. Never. Unprofessional and unacceptable. If anyone did it near me, they’d get a stern talking to or an icy glare and I’m pretty good at stern talking to’s and icy glares.

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Q: Hopefully this is a little change of pace from the sky-is-falling emails you are surely getting these days.
Two questions:
1. I have recently moved to South Korea and was pleased to find a professional league. Any word on the level of play here? I would imagine something below NBA-D League at best.
2. We are thinking about heading to Beijing around Christmas - getting near three months since your visit, what's still standing out for you?
Thanks Doug, and we're still believing in our Raps over here.
Peace.

John B, Busan, Korea

A: Far below the D League, probably, although I don’t know for sure. But you know what? As long as the games are competitive, go and enjoy them.

Beijing? The Wall, of course, is first and foremost. And the Summer Palace. But I’d be really interested in what the smog and traffic are like and there’s a street known as Bar Street during the Olympics that I got the feeling was very, very temporary and just for us interlopers. I’d be interested to see what it’s like. It’s down by the embassy area, I believe.

Let me know what it’s like.

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Q: Great blog!! I read it every day. With the question you left us fans with on Nov. 12, "And when you see a team use the exact same play for every possession, let me and the others here know, okay?" Even though the Utah Jazz never won a championship 1997-1998 were great years. The Stockton/Malone high pick and role was used so often and efficiently that I can't remember too many more plays from that team.

Rod I, Guelph

A: That’s a good example but there were so many variations, reads and reactions off those screens that it was really about 10 plays rolled into one. And that’s why it was so successful for all those years.

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Q: Hey Doug,
1) the Raptors are undefeated when Roko is the first guard off the bench...COINCIDENCE?
2) Harrington or Wallace for Hump and Kapono, would you do that if you were either team?
3) What do you prefer more, facetious remarks, trade speculation or substantial dialogue about actual basketball?

Phil S, Ottawa

A: Hey Phil

1) Yes, entirely coincidental.

2) I would do Harrington ahead of Wallace for financial reasons before I’d do Wallace but I wouldn’t do anything for a dozen more games.

3) Facetious can be good, substantial dialogue about basketball is excellent, trade speculation often makes me want to stick pins in my eyes.

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Q: I was reading a blog by Eric Smith and he has been on a few different rants about how the Raptors don’t get the respect that they deserve for being a bigger market. It bugs the hell out of me that if I can go into a store that sells baby clothes or furniture and I can find something that has the pucks on it. Yet you never go into a sports store and find anything that is Raptor merchandize besides jerseys. Even when I do down to the city I see the same things. Are many other markets like this or is it just because of the pucks? Also would you know a good store that someone from Barrie wouldn’t know about besides Centresports.

Tim M, Barrie

A: You mean the people at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment are losing out on opportunities to make money? Someone’s gotta fired for that.

Not sure about Barrie, unfortunately. My only forays there are to visit the in-laws down by the bay, I don’t do a lot of shopping.

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Q: Doug; I usually only write you when I disagree with something you have wrote. Lately I have agreed, especially concerning Mitchell and his tactics versus Boston. Anyways, this topic is going nowhere on Realgm.com fo.rums and it needs to be addressed everyone is taking a hush-hush approach and it is sickening. I pay for Raptor tickets and for Raptor games, I am a Raptors fan, we pay salaries, we must know, what exactly is going on with Nathan Jawai. It has been way WAY too long! "They are waiting on test results and having more tests done" is not an answer...
Sorry that this comes across as a "rant"
Can you help please.

Steve M, Toronto

A: Rant? Nah.

Here’s what I know about Nathan, from talking to people who are reluctant to talk on the record because of medical privacy issues, which is an entirely understandable stance.

The doctors, and not just the team doctors, want him to have a prolonged period of inactivity so they can see if that makes any difference to the cardiac “issue” that came up and so they can establish something of a baseline.

That period of inactivity is not yet over so it indeed true that they are waiting for test results. Sorry if that doesn’t satisfy you or anyone else but there no news.

When there is, we’ll let you know. Believe me.

As an aside, I can barely understand the over-the-top concern(not from you, but from many) for a guy who was destined to spend almost the entire season on the inactive list trying to learn the NBA.

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Q: I posted in the blog and it may not have warranted a comment, but I'll repeat it here nonetheless.  How did I not know this until now? I saw Stephen Colbert last night and his guest was the mayor-elect of Sacramento, former NBAer Kevin Johnson, now known as Baby Barack. He was always a favourite player, and now is one of my favourite mayors. Good Luck Kevin.

Doug G, Oakville

A: KJ was an outstanding player, vastly under-rated in most circles. I know he had a tough go to win that election and it’s a great accomplishment. Baby Barack is, however, quite a stretch. But a cute nickname.

The craziest mail week ever? Maybe

Yes, there are a lot of questions here.

Yes, there are a lot of questions still to be answered.

Maybe on Sunday afternoon, when you’re sitting in Toronto watching men’s tennis on TSN or NFL football or something entirely other than the Raptor-Miami game, you can re-read this in between checking with the in-game blog that we’ll be doing. Just a thought.

Seriously, folks, this might have been the most voluminous mail week in the history of our mail. I swear it beats Jose-TJ, KO’s got to go, He Who Shall Not Be Named is coming back and Sam did (fill in the blank).

So, onward we go:

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Q: Doug - How DARE you criticize people who are crapping all over you.  Don't you know it's YOUR fault that Colangelo can't instantly undo several years of mismanagement? Don't you know it's YOUR fault that Sam can't win every night when he arguably has the worst collection of 2's and 3's in the league?
Oh yeah - It will also be YOUR fault when we can't land Al Harrington because any trade would have to be at least a 3 for 3 deal and Golden State won't be impressed with what we have to offer. Just thought I'd let you know in advance before I crap all over you.

Brent J, Barrie

A: I am fully aware of my complicity in everything bad that happens to this team. And I look forward to future correspondence.

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Q: Hey Doug, as we all know hydration is important. Proper hydration cannot be emphasized enough for anyone participating in any basketball game. As such my question to you is this: with full regard to proper hydration during games, which NBA cities in your considerable opinion have the best adult beverages and what are those beverages specifically? After all while it's important for the players to drink plenty of fluids, spectators watching from the stands or at a local convivial establishment also tax the body.

Pat A, Mississauga

A: Yes, hydration is of the utmost importance, no question. And after sweating out a game story or two and various web things, it has been my experience that if you can find a Yeungling like in Philly or along the Eastern seaboard, that’s not a bad thing. There was a tasty treat called Samuel Smith’s Organic Ale that I found worked wonders in rejuvenating a worn out writer in Indy, and I believe, in Portland. The recuperative powers of a Harpoon in Boston always seemed to work wonders, too.

Truthfully, I’ve found that if you ask the doctors and medical practitioners who work on the other side of the bar what they would recommend in the way of a local elixir, you generally can’t go wrong.

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Q: As a journalist, I know you have to remain objective when watching games, but do you ever find yourself getting emotionally caught up in the moment when you're watching an exciting, compelling matchup?
Take the Raps-Celtics game the other day. By the middle of the 4th quarter, I could feel some real hate towards the Celtics and desperately wanted the Raptors to win, if only to shut up KG's smack talk. In fact, I felt so bitter after the loss that I haven't read any Raptor-related news for 2 days as I didn't want to be reminded of the game (not even your blog, sorry Doug - but I'm getting caught up as I type this).

Terence G, Mississauga

A: I think we’re like anybody, a good game is much better to sit through than a dog of one. I can tell you we all enjoyed the Golden State game here (even with the stress-inducing overtime) exponentially more than that piece of crap in Charlotte. But we do remain objective. At least the good ones do.

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Q: Hello again Doug.  With the very real possibility that Antonio McDyess will return to Detroit, do you think the league will do anything to change this scenario from repeating itself?  I see to much opportunity for collusion to take place without ever being able for anybody to prove it has taken place.

Steph R, Glencoe

A: Hello again.

It better. I’m not sure how, though. The fact is, guys like McDyess are free agents after they negotiate their buyouts so they can offer their services to whomever they like. I do think the 30-day waiting period is a good start, but maybe extending it to the next season would be better. But it’s something that will have to probably be collectively bargained so who knows what they’ll come up with.

They do have to do something, though, because your collusion point is a valid one.

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Q: The Acie Earl years.

Do you think they were worse for the Celtics or the Raptors?

Steve M, Toronto

A: Well, I can absolutely guarantee you Acie Earl never had his name among the single-game scoring leaders in Boston so I’m suggesting the Raptors got the better of the Earl Year(s).

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Q: This is coming from the hinterland of Canada and outside of the bright lights of the centre of the universe...
So I'm watching Game Night Live on Raptors TV, and they have a segment asking their audience to pick a game of the week to watch. One of the games this week is the Raps vs. Philly. Chris Webber offers the Raps as one to watch and Gary Payton rolls his eyes and deep sighs... what is a country or BC to do? It must be very hard to extend the professional atmosphere in the NBA outside of the excited States without the NBA broadcasting that view through their shows. Must make it hard to get good players and their superstar agents to take Toronto seriously. Whats your take? Keep up the good yakin eh...

Don D, The Pas, MB

A: Ignore Gary Payton, as much of the world does. Seriously, the moment Gary Payton’s advice to free agent carries one iota of significance is the moment we know the apocalypse is nigh.

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Q: If Green tries to save a ball going out of bounds, wildly tosses it inbounds, it goes off Gasol’s knee and flies out of bounds, is this a turnover for Gasol? Please tell me know cause if yes, you just cost me 2 points in my league

Graham H, Toronto

A: If Gasol does not have possession of the ball, he is not charged with a turnover.

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Q: A quick question for you regarding Sam (and even past coaches) and the media. I've noticed some of your colleagues (well one in particular) seems much more critical of some of the moves and decisions made by Sam. I assume a lot of coaches say they do not read the papers, but have you noticed his attitude different towards some of the members of the media who tend to be more critical of his coaching? Is there any additional tension in the media scrum towards one member than the others?

Gordon P, NL

A: No, if there’s one thing Sam is, it’s an equal-opportunity ball-buster. Doesn’t matter if you hate him or love him, he’ll go at you.

Something's gotta give, and it's not Jose's hamstring

RICK EGLINTON/TORONTO STAR

Andrea Bargnani: One of the good signs right here.

The fans are angry this day, my friends. Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.

It’s not the same anger as after Monday’s game (and you cannot imagine how good I feel about that), it’s anger at the realization how bad this team can be when its flaws are exposed and no one’s putting the ball in the basket.

Now, before you start marching on Bryan’s office demanding heads roll and changes be made, understand that there’s lots of basketball left to be played and they will, I assure you, win some more games.

But, for the moment, things are not good.

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Action: Jose’s hurt

Reaction: Everyone’s holding their breath

Sure, he told us he felt way better after the game than he did when he was running around but that’s pretty logical, isn’t it? He’ll have an MRI today and even if there isn’t a tear in that hamstring, that’s a muscle you have to be soooooo careful with, it’s not even funny.

Solomon and Ukic are probably passable backups at this stage in their lives; they do not, in any way, shape or form, approximate starting point guards.

We’re not going to get any news on Jose today, though, so you can twist in the wind a little bit longer.

My best guess? He plays Sunday.

My second-best guess? The Raptors are considering having someone from the training staff move in with him and his wife to be on call 24 hours a day because Life Without Jose is a scary, scary thought.

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This may or may not be a significant point but what the heck, it'll give you something to talk about:

I forgot to mention this last week after the Atlanta game but now it has to be brought up.

An interested observer at that game, and a guy who had a chat with a Raptor type or two, was Damon Jones.

One thing for sure if the Raps find a way to bring him on board, it won’t ever be quiet around the locker room again.

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Action: Jamario’s 1-for-8.

Reaction: Time for a change.

There is no doubt that Jamario Moon’s play has – how shall we put this? – tailed off this season. And watching him miss seven of eight shots and get only three rebounds in 23 minutes the only realization  a sane-thinking person can come to is that it’s time he relinquishes his role as a starter.

Listening, Sam?

But for who?

Well, it has to be Joey, no? And isn’t that an indictment, given his foibles?

It can’t be Bargnani because Toronto’s has so few bigs he has to play behind Bosh and O’Neal. It can’t be Kapono because he needs to score coming off the bench. It can’t be Hassan Adams because, well, because it may as well be you in that case.

Here’s the Moon moment when it became obvious a change was needed: He finally takes the ball to the basket but goes tentatively and gets his shot blocked and on the next possession hoists a near-airball three-pointer. I swear, before the miss hit the court, Kapono had his sweats off and was at the table.

Graham is a gamble but, really, what isn’t with this group after the two bigs and Calderon? Say this, though, when he got the starting gig in the absence of Garbo two seasons ago, and got a chance to play regularly, he was more Good Joey than Bad Joey.

Besides, he can give you 1-8 and three boards in 29 minutes in his sleep.

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This dovetails nicely, doesn’t it?

Q: Doug, it's painfully obvious that the Raps need to make a change on the wing. Who's expendable and who's available? I'm wary of Gerald Wallace (what use is a slasher that can't hit free throws) and the only other thoughts I've had surround one of Portland's many young guns. Any thoughts?

Ernest B, Sudbury

A: Mr. B, you speak for many and I hope they’re reading, too.

Here’s the thing about a trade for a good, starting wing: I can’t see how it happens for the simple reason that Toronto is not dealing from strength.

There’s no way they will – nor should they, in my opinion – deal Bargnani and after that, what do they have? How much value would a package of, say AP, Moon and Joey bring? A starter? By default but only since you’re dealing three of the four wings on the roster. A good starter? Nah.

Face it, a third of the roster – Adams, Ukic, Solomon, Jawai – have absolutely no value whatsoever in any transaction. Bosh, Calderon and O’Neal are untouchable. Bargnani is the only backup big on the roster and he’s showing signs, dealing him weakens the frontcourt to improve the wings. Hump? He makes about $3 million and you won’t get a starting quality guy making that kind of money.

See where I’m going with this? Unless Bryan has some magic up his sleeves, a big transaction isn’t possible. The improvement is going to have to come from within.

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What’d Phil have to say? Read all about it.

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Action: Big guys, big minutes.

Reaction: A more equitable distribution, please.

We all know how confounding Andrea Bargnani can be, right? But even all you people out there who want him traded yesterday have to admit there are signs. Good signs.
But a quick check of the boxscore in the fog of an early morning shows Bosh played 42 minutes, O’Neal played 29 and Bargnani 27.

Surely, there’s a way to even that out, no?

How about taking six of Bosh’s minutes and giving, say, five of them to O’Neal and maybe one more to Bargnani.

That’s probably a better way to share the workload.

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Just thinking out loud but do you think the people who get Rogers in Toronto are actually going to be the winners in this Sunday afternoon fiasco. They can go rake leaves instead of beating themselves up watching this team in its current form.

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I’m trying to figure out how Brian Burke’s going to fix this mess.

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Action: The Chicken’s hobbled

Reaction: A nation mourns

Yep, everyone’s favourite stuffed animal screwed up his ankle jumping off a tramp (an inanimate object, that is) in the first half and was pretty much done for the night.

And it provides a digression:

A few years back, we’re in Phoenix and the Gorilla (another of the top things in the league) really hurts itself pulling off the same dunking stunt. A few minutes later, we get one of the league-mandated injury reports on press row. It said:

The Gorilla: Torn ACL.

Will not return.

That’s respect.

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I’ll tell you this, if The Chicken can’t go Sunday and they trot out that dopey bear from the pucks, I’m charging the court.

The Goods On The Game, Vol. 7, Game's on

It's been two minutes and Toronto has three rebounds, the Sixers have two. I don't imagine that lasts.
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Philly's got Dalembert on O'Neal and Bosh on Brand, that has to work in the favour of the quicker Bosh.
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Moon just took a one-dribble pullup from about 19 feet and I'm thinking Sam's going to be just as angry tonight as he was on Monday.
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Hey, pucks fans: Larry Tanenbaum's not in his seat. Maybe he's having dinner with Brian Burke?
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Two straight Sixer baskets in transition and that's just what the Raptors were worried about.
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AP's had three open looks for three-pointers in the corner and hasn't made one. Troubling.
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JO shed the big bulky brace he was wearing about five minutes in the game. He immediately goes down the floor and gets an offensive rebound, a putback basket, is fouled and makes the free throw. Coincidence? I wonder.
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Kapono's in for Parker, I'm thinking AP's 0-for-5 night from the floor might have something to do with the out-of-character substitution.
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Okay, gonna take a break as the Raptors call timeout.
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Philadelphia 12, Toronto 7 with about six minutes to go.
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Little scoreboard malfunction going on here. The boxscore that's on top of the TV screens has all zeroes. I'm pretty sure that's not what you want for your $8.5 million toy.
-
Seems it must have been an equipment malfunction. JO's got the brace back on.
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Joey for Jamario. Good? Bad? We, as they say, shall see.
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Bosh and O'Neal have nine of Toronto's first 11 points, that's an advantage they'll have to exploit all night.
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Toronto, firing at a 26.3 per cent clip, or should we say mis-firing at a 26.3 per cent clip, has no chance at this junction. Of course, letting the Sixers make 9 for their first 14 shots kind of sucks, too.
-
I'm thinking thinking the dude in the white panama hat sitting across from us is dressed for the wrong season.
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Remember way back when, when Toronto had more rebounds than Philly? It's 14-9 Sixers now and all's right in the world. Funnily enough, Philly's way ahead.
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Hmm, Joey just tried to make a one-handed catch of a shoulder high pass from Andrea and lost the ball.
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I don't want to say this is a disaster. But Jose just limped off the court holding his hamstring and went right to the locker room. Okay, it is a disaster.
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Philadelphia 26, Toronto 13 after one.
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Oh my. Andrea just pumped faked Reggie Evans so bad that Evans fell down and Bargnani completed a dunk along the baseline. That'll be on the highlight reels all night.
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Will Solomon's got the Jose role tonight but I know we're going to get some Roko time.
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After seven misses, Parker makes a shot.
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Watch Kapono. Closely. Watch his hands on defence. He's always got 'em moving, slapping at the ball. Sometimes he's slapping at arms and legs but you can't say he's not active.
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Sixers had 17 rebounds in the first quarter, they had 22 in the first quarter opening night. Baby steps, I guess.
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Jason Kapono just had a wide-open three, right in front of Sam, and didn't take it. I thought the coach was going to reach out and throttle him. That's EXACTLY the kind of play -- passing up open shots -- that Sam's been talking about for days.
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You cannot say Jermaine O'Neal hasn't been active under the boards. He's been all over the offensive glass tonight.
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Jose's back on the bench. We're told it's a right hamstring cramp. Somewhere in this building, Bryan Colangelo just wiped the sweat off his brow.
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Okay, the Chicken's jumping off a tramp and dunking, that means I'm taking a break.
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Sixers 39, Toronto 27 with 5:55 'til halftime.
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Calderon is back in the game, looking fine.
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The Chicken missed all of its dunks, by the way. She/he/it is in a slump, too.
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Sam's just had private chats with both Bargnani and Calderon while Bosh is shooting free throws. Both players nod like they fully comprehend what the coach is saying. I'm not sure about that.
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I think there might be a sellout crowd in the joint tonight.
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Sam Dalembert just travelled. Leo didn't laugh.
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Jonesy just brings up a good point I make every now and then. Toronto's on a run, lead gets cut to seven, the Sixers call a timeout and what's the crowd do? Shuts up and watches some stupid lame game they play on the ribbon scoreboard around the arena. Talk about taking the life out of the audience. Stupid.
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Sam seems to be going to finish the half with Bargnani, who's been excellent, and Bosh instead of Bosh and O'Neal.
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Raps get it to five with two minutes to and a big finish to the half would do them wonders. This is a big point in the game. If they let this run stop, it'll kill 'em.
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Moon just passed up a three in the corner to drive the ball, Bosh tips in his miss and I swear Sam smiled.
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STOP with the M-V-P chant when Bosh is at the line. Please. I beg of you.
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Sixers 51, Raps 45 at the half.
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A somewhat sluggish start for the Raptors, who find themselves down 10 after just 2 1-2 minutes.
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If there's a silver lining, it's that Sam Dalembert now has four fouls and the rookie, Marreese Speights, now has to get some extended time.
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Chicken update for all you mascot lovers out there. It's got a bad ankle after going through the springs on the tramp during those aborted dunks in the first half. That kid is a gamer, though, 'cause I here it's coming back.
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First half rebounds: Philadelphia 25, Toronto 14. All is right in the world. Or wrong in the world, depending on your view point.
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If there are some blips with this thing tonight, it's 'cause my wireless keeps cutting out. I HATE computers.
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There's 7:59 left in the quarter and the Raptors are in the bonus. They have to attack the basket now and get to the line.
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Speights now has four fouls, too. The Sixer bigs are in big trouble.
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I'm taking a break, be back later.
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Sixers 64, Raps 58 with 6:12 left
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My error. Big time. First half rebounds were 25-23 Sixers. I read Toronto's defensive boards and missed nine on the offensive end. Sorry.
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The Chicken, we're told, is getting "treatment" and may in fact not return.
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Moon's 0-6 with 3 rebounds in 19 minutes. That's simply not good enough from a starter.
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There's a Jason Kapono three pointer on a nice dish from Bosh.
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Elton Brand seems to be fitting in quite well, he's got 19 for the Sixers and if his teammates can't get adjusted, well, that's got to be on them. He's a fine, fine player.
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The Raptors keep hanging around but they can't get a timely stop to really make a run. The Philly lead's between six and eight all the time, it seems.
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Jose's night is over. He's got a tight right hamstring and he won't be back.
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Bargs is back, he waited about a minute and a half at the table as there was no whistle to get him in the game.
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Sixers 78, Raps71 after three.
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If you're wondering where our old friend Donyell Marshall is, he's on the bench in street clothes. Sixers made him inactive about an hour before the game. They went with Theo Ratliff instead.
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Speaking of Donyell, he's doing fine, still the most diehard Pittsburgh Steeler fan I know. A pre-game conversation was as much about football as it was basketball.
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That's a tough break doing a good thing. Will Solomon just had a break, took the ball strong to the basket, it got knocked out of bounds (looked like by a Sixer to me) but the refs couldn't see. Ended up in a jump ball that Solomon won.
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Reggie Evans has that shaved head-bushy beard thing going. Not sure about the look.
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Sixers on a 5-0 run, up by nine and the first boos of the season are heard. Given the way they've played, they are entirely warranted. Two ugly turnovers and a horrible blown defensive assigment that gave Philly a wide-open three.
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The Chicken's on the court and limping noticably. I believe it's day to day.
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Roko's going to get some time. Will's struggled for about three possessions.
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Talk about a bailout call. Shot clock's at one, Sixers are scrambling, Willie Green throws up a prayer and Moon gets called for a questionable foul by an official who was on the other side of the court.
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There is no flow whatsoever to Toronto's offence, which isn't surprising given the inexperience at the point guard spot.
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Break time.
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Sixers 91, Raptors 80 with seven mintues to go.
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Yes, that is Anthony Parker at point guard, on the court with Bosh, Bargnani, O'Neal and Kapono. You may never, ever see that fivesome on the floor again.
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It's not so much the offence that's a problem tonight, a quick glance at the stats monitor shows Philly's shooting 55 per cent. You don't win letting teams shoot 55 per cent.
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This one is over 'cause Sam's emptying the bench with 1:10 left.
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Sixers 106, Raptors 96

The Goods On The Game, Vol. 8, Pre-game

Breaking news, folks.
No Hump.
Seems Kris has a sprained big toe so he's on the shelf for the night, leaving the Raptors with only 11 guys dressed to face the Sixers.

Now, it's not as if Humprhies was going to play a lot -- 18 minutes in seven games would be a pretty clear indication of that -- but it does take the fourth big man out of the equation should Sam Mitchell want to use one.

We asked him what that might mean if there was serious foul trouble to Chris Bosh, Jermaine O'Neal and/or Andrea Bargnani and it looks now as if Joey Graham's in line to play some power forward if need be.

Anyway, that's the news from here now; we'll be back with the usual pap and drivel once this contest begins.