Ho hum, here we go again

Here we are again, trying to dissect another loss, make sense of what happened and it’s getting more difficult by the day, isn’t it? They play well for a few minutes, they play poorly for a lot more and in one stretch a game that could have been competitive is over.

TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO

Something's gotta give.

Last night it was the third quarter, as bad a defensive quarter as they’ve played in a long time, and the sense of inevitability about the result was overwhelming.

It’s not like the players quit playing or quit trying but once the Pistons got it going, the Raptors started to hang their heads, force things that weren’t there and it got away from them quickly.

Confidence is such a fleeting emotion, it can be there one minute and – poof! – it’s gone the next. I really think all these guys need is a win, any win, and things will improve exponentially. They’re not going to rattle off six or seven wins in a row, I don’t think they have the talent, consistency or mental toughness to do that, but I do think they can get on a nice little roll.

I don’t know whether it would be enough to make the rest of the season mildly interesting but at least it’d change the darkness of the mood around these parts. And I’m all for that.

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Action: Seven in row.

Reaction: Trying to ascribe blame

Here’s the interesting point to me: Everyone and anyone is to blame and there’s no clear-cut villain in this latest streak, or this whole season as a matter of fact.

No one’s doing a good enough job.

Sure, some nights some players play well and coaches do the right thing and the general manager’s roster looks like it might work.

And then they play again and they all fail.

Me? I have to put a lot of this on the general manager, who constructed the roster and made the move to whack Sam way back in the day.

I’m pretty sure that Bryan would agree with me that his performance has been subpar, either because he over-estimated the skill of the team he put together or because his gamble on the O’Neal trade really hasn’t paid off.

Being the general manager of any team in any sport is an exercise in adaptation and how he adapts to the mess the team’s in will tell us all a lot about his skills.

It’s easy to run things, or play for a team, when things are going well. It’s how people react to tough times that tells you all about them.

Having spoken to him and seen him after losses, this is alternately frustrating him and making him angry. Now he has to turn that frustration and anger into action and get this thing fixed.

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Action: A halftime stroll.

Reaction: A strange, telling sight.

Maybe this tells you everything you need to know about a guy.

Walking down a hallway by the Pistons locker room at halftime, spied Kwame Brown coming out of the press room with a full bag of popcorn.

Seems he’d ducked in to grab some food put out for the grunts and others.

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Saddest sight of the night:

Hump limping out of the locker room, a manila envelope carrying his X-rays in his hand, getting ready to get a ride back to Toronto with Messrs. Colangelo, Gherardidni and Masai.

Hump told us he’s not sure of the treatment for the broken right fibula he’s got, he’ll see the Toronto doctors today to figure it out.

But he’s many, many weeks away from being back in action.

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Look at these numbers:

Vs. Detroit: 22 minutes, 0 pts, 3 reb, 3 PF

Vs. Atlanta, 21 minutes, 4 pts, 2 reb, 4 PF

Vs. Phoenix, 38 minutes, 22 pts, 7 reb, 4 PF

Vs. Indiana, 14 minutes, 8 pts, 8 reb, 6 PF

No, I’m now not entirely sure Joey Graham can handle being a starter.

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Coolest sight of the night: Nathan Jawai in his stall in the locker room after the game, cell phone to his ear, no doubt talking to either his girlfriend or his family after he made his NBA debut.

It was 3:05 of pretty much nothing, a travel on his first touch, no rebounds, not shots but it was a debut and that’s pretty neat.

And from the department of ‘timing is everything’ there was every chance in the world that Jawai was off to Idaho today or tomorrow to join the D League’s Stampede but now, with Hump on the shelf, Nate’s got a reprieve.

And minus-20 weather in Toronto and a seat on the end of an NBA bench is exponentially better than the D League in Idaho.

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Action: Three bigs

Reaction: So-so, as always

Yes, we saw Bosh, O’Neal and Bargnani on the court for a bit last night, most notably in the second quarter when the game was still a game.

Did it work? Barely. But it was a pretty good move by Jay for this reason: The Pistons were playing small and instead of adapting to what they were doing, the Raptors tried to make them adapt to what Toronto was doing.

It worked in one regard: The Pistons had to go back to Rasheed Wallace and he immediately picked up a third foul and while it ended up having no real bearing on the outcome, it was an action, rather than a reaction.

And when someone asked Bosh about it, and having to adapt to playing with a group he was unfamiliar with, this is what he had to say:

“I think we’re familiar with each other -- this is how many games? I’m losing count now -- but we should know the system by now. No matter who’s on the floor, we should know our spots, know the offence, and we should know just to move without the ball. I don’t think you have to be too familiar with your teammates, you have to be familiar with the system and we’ve been playing with it for weeks now, we should be used to it.”

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Oh yeah, in Detroit, this is what they’re reading.

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Speaking of Jawai, got this independent scouting report from Darrell Walker, who had worked him out for Detroit before the draft:

Really good hands, good footwork around the basket. Big, strong, tough kid. May be limited by lack of jumping explosiveness but he’ll get into people and box them out.

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A question of money, like I know anything:

Q: Hey Doug: Got more of a question from the business side of the Raptors. With the team basically taking the same route as the economy, how worried is the braintrust at MLSE about future bball revenues? I'm assuming they've got some plan in place in case there is no playoff money coming in, but has anybody there made any forecasts about what the season ticket renewal rate might be next year, especially with an even weaker economy? Would they expect to see fewer individuals renew, or fewer suite renewals from a percentage standpoint?

Roger B, Toronto

A: I think the combination of the economy and the team’s record is certainly going to hit them in the summer, perhaps very hard.

Here’s what I would do: I’d find some way to not only hold the line on ticket prices but reduce some season-ticket costs for seats not only in the upper bowl but down below, too.

I presume some bean counter with more brains than I have tried to guess how bad things are going to be this summer but no one knows for certain where the economy is going, I don’t think.

And given how the team’s performed this year, the toughest job in the building may indeed be season ticket seller.

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Comments

[Kelsie]

Hey Doug,

I think we're all hoping to see them go an a roll of any kind but it doesn't look terribly promising. There is a severe lack of resiliency on this team right now and everyone seems to be getting familiar with losing, which is never a good sign of things to come.

I think you're assesment on "who's to blame" is pretty accurate and to be honest with you, as much as it upsets me regarding this season, if BC comes out and says he over-estimated the roster, most fans would accept it and hope for the best in the future. We've seen losing before so it's nothing foreign to us, but the fact that the team was sold to us like it was a 50 win team, the trade for JO is now not the next step in our evolution to being an elite team, and the sober realization that there is thin talent on this roster has left most Raptor fans displeased and jaded. When Sam was fired I think there was some optimism that we would perform better and more consistently, yet the firing has given more evidence to the argument that it indeed was not the coach, and more likely the players why this team hasn't performed very well this season.

I would love to make the playoffs even as the 7 or 8th seed but it's looking less likely on a daily basis. Our draft pick won't be that high even if we don't make the playoffs so I'd rather they try and preserve a winning culture of making the playoffs and be first round fodder to a real contender, than head back to the lottery.

Doug, I know you said before the season that keeping our main guys (Bosh, Calderon, O'Neal) healthy would be integral to making the playoffs. I was in complete agreement with you initially but I'm not so sure thats true anymore, cause the rest of the roster is weak and no bench player has overperformed this year. Lets assume the worst and we keep on pace with the record we currently have, whats BC list of things to do in order of priority in the off season?

Roster make-over? tweaking the wing positions? hiring a new head coach? re-signing the interim coach? focus on the draft? All of the above needs to be addressed but what is most important to correcting the current situation so we never have to witness seasons like this again in the near future? It's too painful.

[Eddy]

Doug,

Do you think the team would be where it is now had Sam still been here? Something tells me the team would be in a better possition. Also, when does Jay get held accountable for the performance of the team? Thanks!

Blogger's note: He's accountable every night and I don't think coaching is too responsible for this mess at all.

[Graham Rules]

Doug,

Joey has pretty much had poorer performances (minus the Suns game) as a starter because he is playing alongside Moon and, well, he wasn't guarding JJ in Atlanta when he should have been.

I still think Moon needs to go and he should be packaged in a JO deal!

It does make me wonder one thing: Can BC find a way to trade JO for 2 wings (one that can slash and score, one that will play D) or do you think that is highly unlikely?

Getting 2 wings (as mentioned above) in a trade allows BC to split up the mid-level next year to various players and find a couple of bigs that way. After all, the only untouchables right now are Bosh, Bargnani, and Calderon, although I would still hold onto Joey and give him a deal like $10mil over 3 years in the off-season... we can't give up on him just yet, this IS basically his sophmore year (although it technically is his 4th).

[Ryan]

I can't help but wonder, how is the draft crop looking this year? I think another telling story is that while we were unable to watch the game on TV, we were able to watch the NCAA games on The Score. I guess it's about time to do some advance scouting.

[garyv]

Hi Doug

Love the blog. Is there any chance of the Raptors landing Hamilton since his role in Detroit has been reduced?

Blogger's note: No

[Denny]

Hey Doug,

You mention that a win will exponentially boost their confidence. I would think having a healthy Calderon return to play the point (moving AP back to SG) would boost their confidence as well. Do you get a sense from the team that they are just waiting for that day?

Love the blog!

[Jerry]

It is certainly time to blame the GM. After all the buck has to stop somewhere. That does not mean it is time for him to be fired, it does mean that it is time for him to prove himself.It is him that signed O'Neil and made the statement that this was his best team yet.

I always thought that the O'Neil move was a mistake. Rumor was that G. Wallace was available.

By the way, where is Morris Peterson now. He would at least put in the effort on defense.

Blogger's note: Mo can barely get off the bench in New Orleans and as much as I love him, he would add nothing to Toronto right now

[Jacques]

Hey Doug,

Any rumblings yet this morning around the ACC. I hear that BC and Pat exchanged medical records. Is this true?

Blogger's note: Not sure, wouldn't surprise me, that's standard operating procedure when trade talks are under way, as they have been for a while

[mw]

Doug

Agreed with everything you said. Best blog in a while.

[Alex]

Best part of last nights game....about 4 minutes to go and I see a hulking silhouette rise from the bench on my TV screen....I try to make out who it is...Joey, Will? nahh too big...then I hear the 'click click' of Doug's blog entry confirming what I thought.....HERE COMES NATE!! awesome! Mind you he's not shy clearing out the post and demanding the ball in his first possession. Too bad it was one step too many or one dribble too few!
I think if he styles his game after Big Baby Davis who has the same body and skill set he will do fine.
Now, we do need a nickname for him. I think like all people named Nathan you just call him Nate Dawg and leave it at that!

As for Kwame Brown, he must go to bed at night thinking how lucky he is. Not only has he made a fortune but he is also part of the lifestyle as an NBA player so in that sense it is way better than winning the lottery.

[Uncle Zeke]

wow Doug you've finally seen the light on BC. I guess the bloom is off the golden rose? maybe there is hope for you after all... is it time for BC to call his dad for help?

With BC's record finally coming under scrutiny he's under alot of pressure to make a deal- any worries that he sacrifices J.O.'s cap flexibility in 2 years for some short term gains that are limiting to future success?

Blogger's note: Dude, or dudette, do you think the dozens and dozens of times I've written that the roster is flawed was praise for the guy who put it together? Just because I don't scream doesn't mean I'm not critical.

[Andrew]

Hey Doug - I read the blog everyday, thanks for the insights. Not sure if you have answered this question already but what 4 players currently playing in the NBA would you pick to play with Bosh as a dream Raptors starting line-up?

Blogger's note: You mean just ex-Raptors? Chauncey, Vince, proabably Tracy and Bonner.

[Rolemodel]

Okay, although I do admit that the trade for JO hasn't worked out exactly as planned, we have to remember that when this trade first became a possibility, the prospect of having the $20M come off the books in 2 years was more enticing than whatever dimished skills JO could bring to the table. (sorry for the long, run-on sentence there).
If the trade had never happened, we'd still be in the same position. Gerald Wallace could not have helped this team, and Ford/Calderon would've caused dissention in the locer room.
It's time to look at the bright side: We're going to get a lottery pick this year (or trade it for a quality swing), and have an expiring contract to play with. Coupled with the resurgence of Bargs, and the return to pre-Allstar form of both Bosh and Calderon, I say our future is still darn bright!
BC will probably admit that this team is not playing up to its potential, but the plan wasn't to win the championship this year.

[Jack]

Hey Doug,
It is sad to see that the team has pretty much given up.
My question to you is that one of the well known sayings in the league is that a team can never have too many good bigs and all winning teams have atleast 2 good bigs. Here in Toronto they have 3 good bigs and we have seen the results. Do you think that the saying is no longer valid or is it that the NBA is a guards league?

Blogger's note: It's been a twos and threes league for years

[Rob V.]

After last nights game it's clear that this squad does not have the mental toughness to fight through adversity anymore. I mentioned the "physically challenged" woman singing in this blog last week. SONGS OVER!!! folks.

What's really great about the NBA is how quickly things change though.

Did Sam have the team "overachieving" at 8-9?. Did we underestimate his importance, leadership, and most importantly his mental toughness? Smitch was arguably the toughest guy "mentally" associated with the organization. Looks to me as though a couple of months after his demise his stock continues to rise...

Oh, and if we were to hand out an award for just one positive to the season so far (not much more than one) the award would most definitely have to go to...drum roll please....ANDREA BARGNANI!!

Bet NONE of us saw that one coming when the lynching was to take place a couple of months ago.

Interesting how a month or so can change perspective no?

Personally, I’d have to say our PG situation has been our biggest achilles heel this season – also ironic considering how strong it was last season.

Doug, if you had to single out one thing with this roster what would you say went wrong this year?

Blogger's note: Let's wait 'til the season's over. But if I had to say today, it's the regression, inconsistencies and deficiencies on the wings.

[K Price]

Doug, can u please clea something up for me. I don't understand why everyone is hanging on this jo for Marion trade. I myself really dont think it is gonna help us...what r ur thoughts???

Blogger's note: As I wrote last week, if the Heat agrees, they should do it.

[UK]

So is the Heat's 12:30 press conference just the Alonzo announcement?

Blogger's note: Yes

[Joe T.]

Good for Nathan Jawai! I'm glad he got to play and that's the first thing I wish I'd seen that I missed this season by not having TSN2. And Doug, you forgot to mention he had NO FOULS in those 3 minutes. Does that automatically make him better than Aruajo (who used to start for this sorry team?)...

[Doug]

can we just get over Sam, he's gone, is not a elite NBA coach he had his chance...and frankly if he lands himself another NBA head coaching job I'll be surprised..he's a middling coach, so let's move on, it's so easy to blame or look back...

[camilo pascual]

Doug: So you think Raptors mess this year is not the coaches fault. But is it really the GM fault?
Calderon has missed 12 games. Bargniani was bad for practically half the season. Moon regressed. Parker has clearly underperformed. Graham, Humps and Kapono got stuck in mediocrity. and Everyone has found out this season that it is a fact that Bosh can not deliver on the clutch.
is it the GM's fault to expect better from his players?

GM's fault? yeah, the JO gamble for sure it is. Jo got injured again which should not come as a surprise since that was considered one of the possible scenarios when the trade was made.

I think the bad season is mainly the players fault; Moon was promissing last year, and we all thought Kapono would be a better player by now. and I dont think anyone expected Parker's numbers to go down this year (I know he has been picking it up). Wing players have been awful, they are all bench players at best yet two of them play starter minutes every night.
2/5 of your starting unit under-perform and 2/5 get injured-combined missed over 25 games ...what can the GM do besides changing the coach and making a trade?
The GM like a lot of people did not expect these players to perform so badly regardless of the coach of style of play. I think the GM has not made any stupid moves. I think the hardest test for this GM is still to come, which is rebuilding the team in the next 1 or 2 years. Then we can definitely blame all Raptors problems on the GM and have him fired.

[Dan W]

At no point in a game lately do I ever feel like they will come out with the win. They can hold a lead for a bit but once a team catches up they are done. The bright spot has been Andreas improvment and if Calderon goes out again they should just let Ukic start. I'm not saying tank the season obviously any real fan wants to see the team win, but at least this will help him develop and save Bryan from having back up pg as another need in the offseason. Even if through some miracle they make the playoffs, they will be an easy first round out. Chances are Parker is gone after this year based on his age and from what we have seen out of Moon and Graham, Ukic is the only player that looks like has a chance to be good. His style fits well with Joses because he plays faster and attacks the basket. Maybe they can draft a wing who can contribute right away.

[GM]

Of course Colangelo is responsible. Every GM is ultimately responsible for everything. He hires the coaches and players. So if anyone screws up, you can ultimately point your finger at the GM. But I think it's irrelevant that he announced that it was the best team he's ever assembled. On paper, he was probably right. General managing isn't an exact science, though. So he was wrong. That shouldn't take away from the personal responsibility of the players and coaches. We've seen the Raptors show glimpses and play very well in games. If they don't do it enough, it's on them and them only.

I also think firing Sam was the right move, even if the team's record has gotten worse. Until last night's game, the Raptors were playing better even though they were losing. And Bargnani was finally developed into something. That alone was worth the firing. The mistake was in handing the reins over to an inexperienced assistant coach, thereby essentially throwing away the rest of the season.

[D-Wade]

Doug ... This team doesnt need a shake up ... it needs a shake down .... I don't want to see anybody on this years roster next year except for CB, Jose, Bargs, and resign Parker hes obv the most clutch player we have and he should be taking more shots. I am going to the Miami and Cavs games that are coming up but guess what i am going to see wade and james cause this sub par raptor team is not worth the 300$/platinum seat. This Raptors club brings me to think are we just as bad as the Wiz? OKC? Probably. The Raps are a dissapointment but i am not ready to jump ship. I am still patiently waiting for 2010.

[bballer]

doug,
the blog is amazing and is far more advanced than other major media blogs around north america. has your traffic gone up since torstar added coveritlive? since nobody else are adding such features, even in other sports including hockey does that mean that raptor fans are the most online savvy fans in north america? although we may not be the loudest at games and the most hilarious when treating our real stars like bosh and heralding our mediocre players like ukic and jawai, our online support is surreal.

despite the bad fortunes of the raps, your blog is still very addictive. keep up the good work and ask torstar for a raise! lol

[Ryan]

Doug, would you really want to rent Marion for the year, and then be stuck with Banks' contract for 2 more years at the end of the bench?

Blogger's note: I have no problem with the Banks contract in the context of having money to spend sooner on improving the roster.