Catching up from shootaround and some TV news

Yeah, I’m a wee bit tardy, sorry about that. Work and transcribing tape and stuff got in the way.

News is so-so out of shootaround.

Jermaine O’Neal assured everyone he’s going to play and there’s really no reason to think he wouldn’t, but Jose Calderon remains a no-go and Kris Humphries also gets the night off because his shin’s still bothering him.

Hump’s off to see a doctor today or tomorrow to find out exactly what’s wrong and how long he might be out. That’ll mean Nate Jawai gets to dress again but it’ll take a blowout for him to get on the court, I think.

Oh, and the real big news? Sunday’s game against Sacramento has been moved from TSN2 to TSN so Rogers subscribers will get to see it. No one’s said exactly why at the moment, we’re trying to find out for sure but at least it’s one more game the majority of viewers in the team’s home market can see.

As for the lineup, Anthony Parker remains as the starting point guard in Calderon’s absence and Joey Graham stays as the starting shooting guard, according to coach Jay Triano:

“I thought about just matchup-wise doing something different but we’re going to stick with the lineup that we have. I liked the way we’ve started games.”

O’Neal? No idea how much he’ll be able to contribute coming off the bench having missed 11 of the team’s last 12 games. But he’ll be watched closely, Triano said:

“I’m not going to go in with a specific number of minutes but we’ll have to watch him closely and monitor it. I think conditioning is going to be a bigger issue that his knee and that’s what will restrict h is minutes. If he’s got the green light … it’ll just be based on his conditioning and how much he can do at an effective level.”

Comments

[City Country]

Hey, everyone in Toronto, call Rogers (1-888-ROGERS1 (1-888-764-3771)) and complain about the TSN2 fiasco. Just sound pissed and they'll give you 20% off your tv/internet bill for the next 12 months (I told them the 24 missed games is worth more than the $100 saved to me, and that I still was very unsatisfied, that Rogers isn't trying to negotiate due to an evaluated inconsequential market and is keeping the story out of any media they control, but hey it's something). Also, the customer service rep told me that while a fair amount of people called about TSN2 back in November, not very many have been lately (which helps them take the stance that it doesn't really matter), so if you care about not seeing the games, give them a call!

[Peter Wall]

That is good news about the game Sunday being moved to TSN from TSN2.

Maybe the reason they moved the game is because they know No one except die hard Raps fans would want to watch them play the Kings (10-32).

Either way its good news and thanks for the update Doug.

Go Raps Go!

[D-Wade]

The only reason they changed the game to TSN from TSN2 is because if you look at the ratings that TSN2 receives it is a joke compared to TSN/SN/SCORE. It is a Sunday eveninig when majority of people are likely home and would be watching the game. Since its a 6PM start it is during the "death time" as i call it where between 1-8 PM there is usually nothing on TV on a Sunday anyways. Let there be peace, love, and joy between the raptor fans and the greedy bas***d's at TSN2.

[Peter]

With Joey in at the 2 guard, they've got to post him up against Iverson almost every time they go down the floor. Put Andrea on the perimeter to pull the opposing center away from the hoop, and we should get a quality look every time. Iverson can't guard Joey inside, and if they double, we've got great options. I don't like running the offense through "Bad Joey" but wouldn't this make sense?

[Leroy]

I guess when JO plays tonight, the pistons crowd will boo him like crazy. It will be interesting how the raps react.

[d-wade]

Hey doug. thanks for the post but i got a question if you don't mind answering that is .... LOL. .... question is based on CB4.... if he left in 2010 and thats a big IF. Would Bargs become the next franchise guy? I mean his recent play has been better than bosh (bosh looks so tired all the time). Bargs looks great now and does not look confused as many figured he was in the past. I felt it was the minutes/jerking around but anyways we got "good bargs" now and hopefully "good joey" but my only question to you will be are we ever going to see this will solomon character ever again? I hope not but if he was soo start worthy why did he get the call then ... but not now?

[Scott]

Hi Doug,

If the D-League is a swing mans league and we need a swing man. . . . . I know it is a bad league but there has to be a bunch of guys(ok maybe not a bunch but atleast a few) that can give you what Moon does on a night in night out basis. Moon played well when he was hungry last season but this season he has lost a lot of his drive, and not just to the net. I know there is no point in replacing the last guy off the bench but Moon isn't that far down. If Europe can provide players to fill out rosters then the D-League, while inferior, must have some hope.

Thanks,

[Sivart]

I liked what I have seen from Jerameo Davidson (sp?) who was in the d-league, I'm not sure if any team has picked him up yet. Honestly though picking up a swing man from the d-league will just bring us another player of Moon's calibre, which is exactly what we do not need. Another mediocre swingman will only further complicate things, if we make any move for a wing player it needs to be for a legit starter rather than another bench player.

[Jonathan]

As much as I hope he does well, it's going to be a while before Bargnani and "franchise player" should be mentioned in the same breath. He has a chance to be very good, so let's just settle for that first.

[pooks]

have to agree with D-Wade...normally on a Sunday night you find Sportscenter then some filler before the obligatory Sunday night football they simulcast. Well there's no football this Sunday so of course, "let's get some ad revenue", the TSN execs exclaim. Why do we have so many sports channels when there's nothing on? Sportsnet shows the same "World Combat League" matches over and over....