The Goods On The Game, Vol. 11, The Return of Jose

Hey kids, me again.
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Back-to-back? Big whoop!
It's a back-to-back for Miami, too, and the Heat was in Washington last night, not a 20-minute flight away in Orlando. No one gets to use that as an excuse for whatever transpires.
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Wouldn't it be cool if the Heat used music by Ont Ario for the player introduction video?
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They lost in the black jerseys Tuesday so they switch to the reds on Wednesday. I got a feeling someone's superstitions are showing.
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So, Michael Beasley may one day be a very good NBA player. Right now, he defends like, well, I'm not sure what he defends like. It sure isn't an NBA player. Bet his coach is really impressed with him sitting on the bench laughing after getting two fouls in about 90 seconds.
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I like Udonis Haslem a lot. I'd like him waaaaay more if he was two inches taller.
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Toronto has 12 points as I type this and they're all from Bargnani and O'Neal. Who is this Bosh fellow anyway?
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Did someone forget to tell Andrea this is a road game?
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Yes, a somewhat different team with the Calderon calmly running things, no?
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Raps 17, Heat 6 after six minutes.
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Okay, how many people just held their breath watching Jose fall down? And breathed a sigh of relief when he got up?
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Wow, the Heat are horrible offensively.
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Bosh looks tired, doesn't he? And who can blame him?
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Jose's on the bench and I would presume the entire training staff is about to engulf him and make sure he's feeling okay.
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Different substitution pattern, getting Bosh out early instead of O'Neal. Has to do with Bosh's obvious fatigue.
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They better get someone in there who can bother Wade a bit more. It's all well and good to make him a volume jump shooter like they did on Sunday; it's entirely different to let him repeatedly turn the corner and get to the rim. Like he's done on the last two possessions.
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What's that, a little 12-0 Miami run?
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Except for the undetected travel, Hump's three-point play with two minutes left was a pretty good one.
Say this for Hump, when he's in there, there's never a dull moment, is there?
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Jamario Moon bites on every single pump fake. Every single time. You'd think he'd learn, no?
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Toronto 25, Miami 23 at one.
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Here's something you may not know: Because they don't want to fly into Hamilton in the wee hours of the morning (they'll be too late for the Pearson airport curfew), the Raps get to stay the night in Miami. South Beach, anyone?
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This is a longer-than-usual run for Solomon. It began earlier than usual in the first and looks like it'll go longer than usual in the second. That's got more to do with Jose and his two fouls than it does Will. But I'll be a bit surprised if we don't see a bit of  Roko in the quarter.
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This is why some coaches leave guys with two fouls early on the bench until late in the second quarter, if they bring them back in the first half at all. Michael Beasley just got his third personal and now he's got to sit down and be extra careful to start the third quarter, too.
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Yes, from personal experience, I can tell you the PA announcer down there is as loud and obnoxious as he seems on TV. Nice guy, though.
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Sorry, Jose's back with two fouls. Shows you how much I know.
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Raps 40, Heat 31 halfway through the second.
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Why Dwyane Wade ever takes a jumper is beyond me. He seems to be able to get to the rim any time he wants. The guy is that good.
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This may or may not be true but it seems Bargnani has made that one-dribble pull-up move more this season than he did in his first two seasons combined.
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AP is struggling more than anyone on the roster.
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Hmm, third personal on Calderon and that decision to bring him back doesn't seem to be so great now, does it?
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And three on Bosh? This could get ugly down the stretch.
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Seriously, watch Will. Don't you think the officials could call him for carrying the ball every time he turns the corner?
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If you're watching on TV, I would categorize that look on Bryan's face just now as "stern." And his team's ahead!
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The Heat just missed Will Solomon guarding Shawn Marion and settled for an Udonis Haslem jumper. Every coach in the world who saw it cringed.
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Only five turnovers on the Raptors now? Who are these guys?
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Toronto 47, Miami 43 at the half.
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Hands up everyone who, if you've got RaptorsTV, switched over to catch a bit of Houston-Dallas? My hand's up
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We all know that O'Neal's already got his double-double with 10 and 10 in the first half. It's his fifth straight. Roy HIbbert hasn't had one yet. Just sayin'
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They may not end up with a 17-rebound advantage at the end of the night, but the Raptors are certainly conducting themselves well on the boards tonight.
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Bargnani's got 20 and I'm sure you want to know his career high is 28.
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You think Wade looked at the tape of Sunday's game and knew he could get to the rim if he wanted?
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Know what Jose does well? When he doesn't have the ball, he finds space.
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Raps 64, Heat 53 with five minutes to go.
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I know a game and three quarters is not a big sample. But Michael Beasley is way to0 nonchalant and cool to be an impact player in the NBA. I know he's young and all but, seriously, the kid looks like he needs a serious attitude adjustment. Or maybe he just needs to grow up.
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What's that, three three-pointers from Parker and two from Jose this quarter? Who says their backcourt needs help. (Well, I do, actually).
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The ease with which Toronto's bigs are getting shots is shocking.
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Having a timeout to burn in the final few minutes of the third quarter wouldn't have been possible if Sam had wasted one in the first quarter. I'd rather have one now.
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These guys are six-for-six behind the arc in this quarter? That's like back in the Doneyll-era.
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That's a very cheap Flagrant 1 they just called on Wade. Really. They are softening up this game like nobody's business.
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That Wade fellow looks like the Wade fellow from two years ago.
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You know what Jason Kapono needs more than anything else? A jab-step.
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Toronto 77, Heat 67 after three
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Best thing about that third quarter: No fouls on either Bosh or Calderon.
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I haven't seen a second delay of game call in a game and a techinical maybe ever. Now I have.
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They desperately need Jose back in this game as soon as possible. Like two minutes ago.
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I still say Shawn Marion misses Steve Nash more than he'll admit.
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Will Solomon has not been in the NBA nearly long enough to complain after every single call. And the technical he just got was deserved and if his night's not over, it should be. And I think the "block of games" Sam was talking about should maybe come to an end, too.
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Where's Damon Jones?
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Wade's got 31 on 21 shots; that's a stark contrast to 29 on 31 shots the other day.
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I believe we're in for a rather dramatic finish, which is always fun when you're not writing a game story on deadline.
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Raps 86, Heat 84 with 6:41 to go (in regulation).
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Exhale, everyone. It only looked like Jose hurt his ankle on that play.
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Say this for Parker, he's not afraid to take his shots, no matter how it's been going either offensively or defensively for him.
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This is a pretty good game, isn't it?
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I think Bargnani has a bit higher basketbal lQ now than people give him credit for. Just made a nice drive, saw the charge coming and dropped a pass to JO in the paint. This after he waited patiently for Jose to try to feed him the post when he had Daequan Cook on him. I don't think he makes either play last year.
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Has this got Wade with the winner at the buzzer written all over it, or what?
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Bosh just made a great dish to O'Neal for a big dunk. No way he makes that pass last year because there's no way there would have been a teammate there to finish.
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Wade goes left about 90 per cent of the time, doesn't he?
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That's a big-time left-handed finish by Calderon at the rim. The scouting report says make him go left when he drives, too.
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That, ladies and germs, is the dagger. The Parker three in the corner.
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A Daequan Cook pull up three? With Dwyane Wade somewhere on the floor? Pat Riley just threw something. Or he should have.
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Toronto 101, Miami 95 and it's over.
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Nighty-night, folks. See you back here in the morning.
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Comments

[Dan W]

Hey Doug, what did you think about Wade driving past Parker(one of the toughest defenders). The sad thing is I think Leo was talking about the entire NBA not just the Raptors.

[N. Yang]

12 - 0 run and smitch still hasn't taken a time out. Someone please stop the Insanity.

[Mike - California]

how many shots has Moon altered for Wade find out the numbers of Wade when hes being guarded by Moon and against everyone else

[al]

"Wouldn't it be cool if the Heat used music by Ont Ario for the player introduction video?"
hehehehehhee

I am not a fan of the Flo Rida intro

Onto more important thing(s):
1. love the blog!
2. where can we send you goodies for Christmas? (ya know..for all your hard work and for putting up with us crazy fans!)
3. whoaaa bargnani!

[Martin Q]

Doug, it is a rough night for Parker...he really is in a shooting slump...but at least Jose is ditributing.

[Dan W]

Will S carries the ball almost every time. He then gets so excited he got away with it he jumps for joy. Then he realizes the games still going and rushes to passes it off before it's a travel.

[N. Yang]

It's funny, someone obviously told Will Solo-man to stop taking so many shots after last night's performance. However, he's still committing the turnovers in terms of traveling and carrying the ball, he's simply not getting caught as much.

That clear path foul at the end of the half with 5 seconds left to play, has to be among the top of the list of the biggest all-time bone-headed plays by anyone in the league. Too bad there's no statistical category for that, he'd be leading the league.

[Adam]

Jamario just isn't the same this year. There seems to be a complete absence of high energy plays from him this year, something that was a trademark of his game last season. Is this just complacency on Jamario's part or has he regressed?

[JO]

Some comments on the season:

- Solomon does not belong in the NBA as a point guard. He is simply not skilled enough. Far too many turnovers, plays out of control, not a great passer, poor court vision, below average defender, etc. He may be passable as an end-of-the-bench shooting guard (a la Hassan Adams). The Raps look completely out of synch every time he is in the game. He also seems to have an attitude issue: always arguing with refs, shooting the ball after the play, preseason issues with Mitchell when he wasn't running the plays, etc.
- O'Neill is solid on the glass and makes a few nice defensive plays every game but he has lost a lot of his athleticism (both jumping and speed) and his post-up game is very weak. Every time he gets the ball on the left side he backs down and take a very straight-legged fade away jumper. His moves are very predictable. The Raptors should have more high-low post passing and need to hit Andrea more often when he flashes across the high post.
- Ukic is a rookie and has played like one. He has solid potential but struggles to run the team. I think he has still done a better job of this (in small doses) than Solomon.
- Parker needs to figure out his role in the offence. He cannot seem to get into the flow. The same goes for Andrea, he is just too indecisive with the ball. When he does make up his mind right away, it often ends up well.
- Kapono seems to gravitate towards Solomon whenever he has the ball because Solomon rarely finds him. Also, Kapono realizes Solomon usually loses the handle and Kapono is able to grab the loose ball and get up a jumper.
- Bosh is one of the top 10 players in the league. He has really stepped up his game. He is a phenomenal talent and an emerging leader.

[DV]

I agree with you Doug. D. Wade gets to the rim at will. With all do respect to Parker, he just can't guard players the likes of D. Wade, Kobe, LeBron. Parker should be coming off the bench, not starting.

As for Andrea, I wish he was more consistent this year offensively. That being said he works hard on the defensive end every night this year. However, there are signs that he's close. I'm feel much more positive about his game this year as compared to last year.

[z]

Hey Doug, how ugly was that Marion jumper?

[Martin Q]

I guess Parker just shot his way out of his slump...he has hit 3 in a row now and playing D on Wade!

[DV]

I wonder when Sam is going to start using Roko rather than Will. That lead disappeared rather quickly.

[Kevin Allison]

Will Solomon has single handedly destroyed our lead.

Mitchell needs to get him out of there.

[Dan W]

Why the heck is Will Soloman still getting minutes. The guy flat out is not a pg.
Thank goodness there is not many Canadians in the NBA because Leo's love for them is ridiculous. I bet at half time he went into the heat locker and had Joel Anthony break out the salami and cheese balls for him.

[Achiever]

What are some of you guys talking about?
Parker off the bench cause Wade is scoring on him?
Wade scores on everyone -- that's why he is a first team all-star.
If not Parker, than who?!
This isnt talk radio where you get to just say "we should trade for Bowen or Artest" or "Parker should come off the bench cause he can't guard Wade." Here at Dougie's blog we demand reality.

[Nick M]

Absolutely the worst player management ever. The 'three bigs' line-up does not work if one of them is Hump!
Sam does not have problems playing CB 45min the first game of a back-to-back but Andrea hot and he sits him for a 6min break in the second half of this game. What the...

[N. Yang]

That's it, I've had it with Sam Mitchell. When asked about the loss of the 17 point lead in the 3rd, his insightful analysis consisted of "they made their shats, we missed our shats". Never mind the absolute horrible decisions and turnovers made by Solomon, including a baffling technical foul for arguing with the refs about a foul that he CLEARLY committed, this guy thinks he's League MVP or something, when he isn't even skilled enough to play in the D-League. I'd rather have Roko in there holding the ball for 24 seconds for a shot clock violation every possession and it'd still be more productive than Solo-man, because Roko doesn't actively sabotage his own team.

Sam's coaching during the 4th when Miami took the lead on a ridiculous Wade dunk was lean back in his seat. When wade hits a ridiculous fade away 3 with 2 on the shot clock cause AP backed off on him, Sam's reaction was lean back in his seat some more.

These are fundamental mistakes that a coach must recognize and correct or this team is doomed. Can't just play Jose and Bosh 40 minutes every game and hope it all goes well.

Let's compound that with the fact that Smitch has NO CLUE on how to utilize his personnel. Case in point, Jason Kapono, he's a pure shooter, like a Reggie Miller. However unlike Reggie, the Raptors have ZERO plays designed for Kapono. Reggie used to run of at least 3 off the ball screens and gets an open look. Every time the Raptors give the ball to Kapono, it forces him to put the ball on the floor which usually results in a travel or a horrible off balance shot. That's not Kapono's fault, that's the coach's fault.

Off with his head!

[Ryan]

BARGS. (read: BARGS period) Loved the intensity tonight! fueled on the D end, and O'neal owning the glass. You saw the fire back in their eyes, maybe it was Jose's return! GO RAPS

[eric]

Parker can't guard Lebron, Kobe or Wade? Uh, who CAN ?