Dissecting an easy win, not something we normally do

I’ve got to say, the populace is in a cheery mood this morning. Jay’s the coach of the year JK’s the apple of everyone’s eye and I haven’t got one note in three days from people dogging Chris Bosh ‘cause he hasn’t had a 30-plus game in a while.

Funny what a two-game winning streak will do to a collective psyche.

Of course, it’s also funny what a five-game losing streak does to the regulars around here.

All in all? I’ll take the winning because you’re so much nicer. And I like nice. A lot.

There were lots of things to like about the Nets game, too. Stuff like …

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Action: Six in double-figures

Reaction: Maybe they’re getting it

It was one game against a team that, really, isn’t particularly good so this all has to be taken in context but the most promising sign may be the way the offence is finally flowing.

It’s not so much points on run-outs or textbook fast-breaks that impresses me, it’s the way they get into a secondary break for easy shots. The big runs to the block and if the ball moves swiftly up the court as it has been, there’s a great chance for an easy, early post-up.

And if that’s not there, watch the guys filling the lanes and trailing for easy shots (Kapono) or chances to the get to the rim (Graham). That’s where they’re starting to shine, and contribute on a regular basis..

No, it’s not Phoenix and it’s not running recklessly. It’s controlled break and it suits this team perfectly.

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Speaking of Joey, did you know he’s scored in double figures in six straight games and eight of his last nine?

That’s not bad offensive production from a guy who was buried on the bench 10 days ago.

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This is an absolute classic first paragraph from my man Dave D. as he writes about Friday night’s affair.

Speaking of …

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Action: Carter’s coming

Reaction: Do you still care?

Will there still be over-the-top booing every time he touches the ball or they announce his name?

Or are the fans in Toronto grown up enough to let it pass? It has been, by the way, almost four years to the day (Dec. 17, 2004) since the trade went down. That’s a long time, a lot of water under the bridge, as they say.

Perhaps just letting it go might be a good idea? Nah. You won’t.

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This has been a topic on a lot of people’s minds for a day or two, we’ll use this question as representative of them all:

Q: Hey Doug, written a couple times, but none of my messages have gotten posted. Anyways, I got a question for you: Am I the only one hoping that Yi Jianlian catches up to Garnett in the all star votes and gets in as a starter? I am not the biggest fan of the All star game, but this would give me a reason to watch, simply just to see what Charles Barkley would have to say about it.

John K, Oakville

A: Of course, it’s beyond ridiculous that Yi’s ahead of Bosh, or almost anyone for that matter, in all-star voting and just shows you what a travesty it is allowing the fans to vote.

That said, it’s a travesty I can live with because the coaches will get it right, he’ll be home for the weekend and Bosh will be in Phoenix. The danger, of course, is if enough dopey fans vote some guy in as a starter who wouldn’t normally even be in the game, thus taking away a roster spot from someone worthy. But that so seldom happens, it’s something they can live with as well.

I don’t see them ever taking the voting away from the fans – it’s a good global marketing thing – but, yes, I would love to hear Chuck on Yi if that were to happen. But it won’t.

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Action: AP and The Hump are coming back

Reaction: What to do?

The Hump situation is pretty easy to figure out, he’ll be the fourth big man in a four-bigs rotation behind Bosh, O’Neal and Bargnani and they can only hope he plays as well in that role as he did early in the season doing the same job.

AP’s different, though. Does he get his starting spot back given how Kapono’s played in the last two games?

Jay said Friday that the staff wasn’t sure what they were going to do with that position and it’s got to be a tough call.

Should a guy lose his job simply because he got hurt? Most times, I’d say no. And given that he’s a superior defender to Kapono, will that tip the scales in his favour? I don’t know.

One thing I know about Parker is that he really is a good team guy, a true pro and a grown up so I think he’d handle moving to the bench well.

For now, I’d stick with Kapono and see if things keep going the way they have been.

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Oh yeah, I was getting killed by a few folks yesterday for the wrong use of the word “exacerbate” in a newspaper story on Friday. Yes, I was wrong; I know the meaning and have no idea why I used it in such a wrong context.

But look at it this way: At least I spelled it correctly.

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Action: Bargnani

Reaction: Good, or bad.

Kid had a weak shooting night 2-for-10 from the floor although he did get to 10 points thanks to some trips to the free throw line.

But he also had seven rebounds and four blocked shots and was a key reason the Raptors were able to close down the paint most of the nights.

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Another one from the mail that’s topical:

Q: Doug, I see your list of potential big men signings and want to know if you have any insight on what Dikembe Mutumbo's plans are? I think if Houston really wanted him he would have been on the opening day roster. He and maybe Doleac and Ruffin are the only available big men who could actually garner a few minutes when called upon. And Mutumbo could actually make a difference on this Raps squad. Your thoughts?

Jesse N, Oshawa

A: Dikembe’s said the only place he’s at all interested in playing would be Houston and I can see him signing there later in the year. Like when Yao gets hurt. But he would be a good fit here indeed.

And I notice Friday that Juwan Howard signed in Charlotte we can take him off the list.

I’m still hearing that something might happen pretty quickly.

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Oh yeah, the Hornets played Friday night, here’s a report on their loss in Boston.

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Which brings us to …

Action: Hornets are coming.

Reaction: And so’s Mo Pete

One of our all-time faves is scuffling at the moment. He doesn’t start, his offence is spotty at best and he’s going through some very tough times.

So cheer loudly when he comes in the game, the kid deserves it.

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Loads of mail for the morning – and answering it this afternoon will keep me off the streets and out of trouble – so check back for some good Sunday reading.

Comments

[DougG]

They better sign Jay up long term before they can no longer afford him.

[christine]

Quick q: Is AP still co-captain or is it Caldy?

Blogger's note: Every time I've ever looked up before the game, it's only been Bosh out there chatting with the refs and the other captains. But, truth be told, I don't look every night.

[papa]

I don't know doug...as much as I agree with you that the carter booing is over the top and should probably stop at some point, I also know that the IZOD center is a crappy place to play for a home team cause the fans just don't care. and it's not the only place like that.

at least here in toronto the fans put on a show. and that can't be all bad. even if it's 'immature'. it's a sporting event after all, not a board meeting.

[WSG]

Impossible not to see that the coaching change has been a good thing for the team. (Funny comment DougG.) Seeing them play, seeing them talk (interviews), seeing all that talent (finally?) being used systematically and regular … sweet.

[rob]

Doug, you always talk about Toronto fans needing to get over the Vince Carter thing, but I do personally hope that never happens. And I am not saying that just from a "hating VC" perspective, although I do, but also based on the fact that those Jersey games are the ones I circle when the schedule comes out because they are some of the most enjoyable ones to go to during the year. Last season my top 3 home games were 3) Dallas where we won by 20ish, 2) Portland and the double OT, 1) the last Jersey game here in Toronto. Why? Because the atmosphere is great!! We should continue for the rest of VC's career doing what we have been doing! It makes those particular games unique and special and there is nothing wrong with that.

[Steve Graham]

Without a doubt the best defensive effort of the season (excepting the rebounding). If they played D like that all of the time there wouldn't be all of this collective angst because they would be winning a lot more than they lose. Let's hope last night was a sign of things to come.

[Tabber]

Let it go, people! Don't you realize that he gets up from the booing? Please, try the silent treatment, no noise when Wince gets the ball - he'll be so surprised he'll probably throw the ball into the upper deck! C'mon, for the Raptors' sakes, just shush up and let's at least see what happens - prove me wrong with Wince excelling in the silence and I'll shut up about it!

[Aaron J.]

Oh baby, bring on the Hornets!

[Brian]

Doug,

I'm glad you mentioned Andrea's defensive efforts, I've always been a believer that his offense will come once he plays better on the other side of the ball.

[Greg S]

Doug, I can't make the game, so when you talk to Mo Pete pass on some love for me. Or, tell him to engineer a buy out - a la Mcdyess - and come home to TO.

[scott]

hey there doug, hope you enjoyed the game from the comfort of the couch!
it seems to me that the booing of V.C., although fun, just serves to motivate him. games in jersey are so dead that there really is no home advantage (the record makes that obvious) so why not studiously ignore vince and take away his swagger?
do you think that an eerie silence might be more effective?
the boredom in jersey sure seems to decrease the mojo!

[Nick M]

In my opinion the fans are the only reason this league exists and it is their right to vote in whoever they want, period.

Ok rant time, If the NBA really wants to fix something about the Allstar game they should find a way to stop it from being the back slapping, a#$ grabbing, ego fest that it is. What a joke. No one plays hard. If they do anything they should drop the game altogether. For that matter they can get rid of every allstar game. Except for the MLB, that is.

[lulu]

Hey Mr. Smith,

How likely would it for the raptors to keep Jay as HC, if the raptors go to the playoff with only the first round? I would assume that if they do go to the second round they most likely keep Jay.

BTW: I like the new system better. On offence it looks more like a team with 5 players rather than 2 or sometimes 3

Blogger's note: It's hard to say right now; I think a lot of factors will figure into the decision on Jay, not just playoff success/failure.

[LC]

Oh... if Raps keep winning, I can see a Jay-for-next-Prime-Minister mood going.

Doug, you think Bad Joey is finally gone? Will you want to have Good Joey or Good Moon? If you like the either one, do you think BC should trade the other one for something before we lose him for nothing (i.e. Draft picks)?

Blogger's note: If they're both good, why trade either? Unless they're in a package, their individual salaries won't yield very much so why not wait until the end of the year and make a decision on which one you want to keep?

[UK]

Looks like Mo Cheeks is gone in Philly. What are your thoughts Doug? Do you think it was too soon as well, considering what he accomplished with the team last year? I am curious because I see a lot of similarities to what has happened with the Raps

Blogger's note: Absolutely too soon; and his GM did him no favours by adding Brand and forgetting about the fact no one on that team can shoot the ball.

[Carl J]

About the booing thing. I'm almost willing to bet that a lot of fans that boo Carter, have no idea why they're booing, other than he used to be a Raptor.

As for the others, I'm sure that they're over it, but they boo for the heck of it, to try and get under his skin and hope that he has a bad game. But, as we've seen in the past, it only gets him going. What they should do is be as quiet as possible whenever he touches the ball. It would be like playing at the Izod, and we seen what that's like last night.

[Tabber]

Okay, Scott, now can we spread the idea beyond the 2 of us + Doug? Doug, can you maybe try to publicize the silence for Wince idea? Please? People, can you not see that the quiet last night could have contributed to the 3 points? Keep it quiet for Wince, he needs his beauty sleep, or maybe just laugh whenever he gets the ball. Have a good time, and help mout the Raps, not Wince.

[Roll With Tha Clan from Chicago's northside.]

I agree. the GM of philly seemed to sign brand under a fantasy perception. "we need a 20-10PF so lets get one," when philly was really winning because they were creating turnovers and running the fastbreak with athletes, plus, lue williams has been struggling without a doubt.

i like this feeling. if the opposing team beats us with jumpshots so be it. its like how we beat boston last year when the team was unconscious from three. Garnett just said, "hey i'll take that lost if you have to shoot like 75% from three to win."

i guess coaching does matter. i have always been like 'the players play the game type'

[WSG]

You might be right, Tabber. While it’s our right, I believe (and sometimes, duty) to jeer him with NO mercy (haha – it’s always a laugh) … wouldn’t it be funny if the WHOLE crowd went dead silent whenever he touched the ball for a game? Would probably get high-lights all over the league.

[GM]

So what if the booing motivates Carter. The team needs practice against playing against the best. If they can't beat the Nets with Carter at his best, they are in trouble. So boo away and let's see what they've got.

As for you getting 'exacerbate' wrong, I didn't read the newspaper story, but can't you just blame it on the editors? I mean, that's their job. They should have caught it.

[Dan]

Carl J

trust me, we know why we're booing vince, and there's a LOT of reasons.

quite simply, he mailed it in when times got tough, to the point where we got back 20 cents on the dollar and set the franchise back at least 3-4 years. that's why.

[eric]

The great thing about defense is that when a good team comes in, you can jack it up a notch or two and it doesn't hurt a bit. Same thing doesn't apply to jump shots.

[bballer]

that fact that so many gm's keeps firing coaches with no remorse is ridiculous. it is the gm's who pick up players that can't play d or are one dimensional and expect the coach to work miracles. it is like what bill parcells said "you can't expect me to cook a good meal without allowing me to buy the groceries". the sixers needed time to integrate brand into their system. smitch needed more time to integrate o'neal. sloan has time to deal with adjustments due to the power given him by his gm. if people complain that players have too much control it is because gm's make coaches expendable. so if you don't like the coach, don't try and he will get fired. but in utah, sloan is the boss.
most gm's don't have a style they want to play and a system you want to implement. they just pick up players regardless of the make up of the team. aside from detroit, la lakers, boston, utah and now portland and cleveland, most nba teams have no real identity, with things just being done on a whim.
so i guess every team that doesn't make the playoffs will see the coach being fired this year. the over/under this year is 10. only d'antoni, del negro, skiles, brown and carlisle will be the only safe non-playoff coach this year. goodbye theus, iavoroni, dunleavy and o'brien. build a championship program, bring in the right coach and then players. coaches should not be as disposable as colangelo has stated in the past. it's a joke!

[Don D.]

Hi Doug. Nice to read your sunnier disposition with the 2 wins.
What sort of upgrade in $$ does Triano get moving the 18" on the bench? I bet part of the decision was based on having to keep paying Sam so MLSE wouldn't want to pony up for another high priced coach in the short term.
Despite not being a high profile coach, JT is doing justice to this team. They are buying what he's selling...

Blogger's note: I'm sure he got a bump in pay, just not sure how much.

[Rene L]

I guess correcting an error with another makes for a double negative so you are correct?
In the interests of constructive criticism "I used it in such a wrong context." is just bad grammar, it should be "an incorrect context"
Love the Blog, keep it up!