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

Comments

[Mo Merei]

Doug,

If anyone wants to watch the game, TSN2 is being streamed live at this site:
http://www.calcion.altervista.org/live1.htm

Bargnani looks good early. seriously.

[Mohammed J]

Hey Doug, can you try to keep the updates more frequent this game? Only 'cause most Raptor fans can't watch the game and all.

Thanks.

[m smith]

"on the Rogers Fan 590", as they force us to listen to their radio station...

[Eli]

sam with glasses? lasik not working so well ?

[Dan]

Having Bargnani start seems to allow the Raps to take advantage of Hump. He's too inconsistent and unpredictable to play alone with any of the other bigs, but if Bargnani and Bosh or Bargnani and O'neal are also in there, the Raps can give Hump a chance.

[Rahulan. S]

Hump is playing like he has hair again!

[J S]

that link is magical, thanks

[Saad]

Hey Doug, why isn't Jack a coach anymore? Is he happy to be an announcer or is it that there just aren't options for him at the moment. Don't get me wrong, he's my favorite announcer and I was really upset when I thought we were going to lose him this summer, but listening to him fume for a full minute about how we should be knocking Dwayne Wade on his butt really brought a smile to my face.

[Alex H]

Action: With Roko's 3 first-half assists, it gives him 10 assists versus 1 turnover so far this year.

Reaction: Thousands of fans urge the Raptors to trade Calderon to make room for the next John Stockton.

[Jason]

Doug I think you can play PG better than Solomon

[Mohammed J]

What happens if the Raptors never signed Jason Kapono and therefore had money to resign Delfino for this year. That would've been an upgrade right? Much better defense and a little more slashing?

[Lee]

Thanks for the link Mo Merei!

[Mike]

Hey Doug,

So you know....there's a lot of snow in Barrie. The plow has filled in the end of my driveway....and uh . . . .
Can't get the game. . . . My satelite signal is temporarily un available and has been for most of the day. . . .Rogers or Bell - You can't win.

[KD]

SO TSN IN SHOWING MASTERS TENNIS INSTEAD OF THE RAPTORS GAME!

[Jacob L]

kudos to poster with that site link. A+

[Saad R]

That link is GOLD... thanks!

[Edward]

As long as somebody keeps posting a link for every game on TSN2 life is good ... Heck, perhaps somebody can give a link for every game, and we can unsubscribe from Rogers to let them know of our disgust with them ...

[chris m.]

Hey doug, great job on the blog.. i did some stats work on your behalf.

moon had 14 free throw attempts in 8 seasons games and he has 5 tonight.

oh yeah he got the lesson AND the memo!

[Jason]

Doug,
Strange stat line but a good one.
Every Raptor that played in the game got at least one assist.

[Brian V]

Dougie

Have you had Hockley Dark? You would love it, great beer and a Doug Smith instant classic! Anyways I love the big lineup of Bosh Bargnani and O'Neal as long as they have bosh guarding the three, as he is quick enough to guard threes in the NBA. On offense with that lineup the raptors are always going to a have a huge advantage.
BIG UPSSS!!!!

Blogger's note: I've been to the Hockley valley but never had Hockley Dark. I'm generally not a dark beer drinker but maybe some day ...

[derek]

Has anyone seen BOB?? I'm guessing we'll be seeing a lot more of him. But be careful, he is a three headed monster....

[la vie]

Links for games ARE available quite easily. search "nba live streaming" on google, and the first link is the key to unsubscribing from Rogers.

[Erick Johnson]

All Toronto needs is a real back up point guard... someone who doesn't pick up their dribble. Yes, that's a dig at you Solomon... Sam doesn't do plays for the "jump shooter" role player well, as evidenced by Kapono's inability to get his shot off... Bargnani can play, he just needs the ego to believe in himself. How's that for an analysis?