The Goods On The Game, Vol., 40, a familiar voice rings out

Hello, kids.

It's about a billion below here in Toronto so I hope anyone who's here from there is all bundled up with the hot soup, comfy fire and warm family member to keep you toasty while this thing goes on. Or, if you're a Rogers customer, just think of how they and MLSEL are screwing you and do a slow burn. All right, let's get started:

A night of many returns?

Wonder if this little missive will generate the kind of bitter vitriol we’re getting used to around these parts? Sure hope not. The whole purpose of this little exercise was always to entertain, inform, and spark interesting, provocative conversation. Not to create some avenue for name-calling and the like.

Discourse and discussion? Yes. Pure venting? It bores me. And many others, I presume.

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Is dilemma time upon Jay Triano?

TONY BOCK/TORONTO STAR

Where would you start with this situation?

Some day soon, as early as tonight if what he was telling people last weekend comes true, Jermaine O’Neal is going to be ready to play and the coach is going to have to deal with the elephant in the corner.

Does he start again?

The one thing that I can see happening – and the way to at least delay a difficult decision – is that O’Neal’s going to need some time to get back into game shape, both for his conditioning and his timing.

Could that allow a face-saving measure of having him come off the bench for the first few games to ease his way back into it? I know it only delays the inevitable conflict but if Bryan Colangelo’s working the trade phones as hard as I’m told he is, a delay might not be a bad idea.

But there’s another issue at play here, too.

In case you hadn’t noticed, Toronto goes to Indianapolis to play on Friday night, which will be O’Neal’s first return to the city he starred in for so many years.

Does that play into any decision? It’s bound to be an emotional night for O’Neal, would he be better off starting or coming off the bench?

What would I do?

Well, I’m on record as not usually being a proponent of a guy losing his starting job because he got injured. But these next six games – Chicago, Indy, Phoenix, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago – are huge and things are going pretty well with Bosh and Bargnani as the starters.

And with O’Neal likely to be lacking timing and a feel for the game, perhaps it’s best to have him come off the bench for maybe them all, start with about 18-19 minutes a night and ease him back into the rhythm of a game.

It’s the wisest choice right now.

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So how big are these next six?

Well, I don’t want to make it sound like it’s make-it-or-break-it time since there’s a half season to go but it’s imperative they go at least 4-2 against the Bulls (twice), Indy, Phoenix, Atlanta and Detroit.

Can they? It’s not like it’s overwhelming opposition that stands in their way but four of ‘em are on the road and that makes things a bit trickier.

But 4-2 is a must, really. Even 3-3 and treading water isn’t good enough at the moment.

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Now, let’s get to the big comeback: The Swirsk.

In case you didn’t know, there was this guy, Chuck Swirsky, who used to do the Raptor games on TV. Energetic young fellow, pretty enthusiastic, too. People liked him.

Well, he moved on and up, to Chicago in fact, and will be back in the Air Canada Centre tonight.

I can guarantee you he doesn’t get the Vince treatment, or even the mixed reaction that T.J. Ford got. He’ll get the Matt Bonner love treatment, I’m sure.

But I don’t know what the Raptors plans are, all I can hope is that they’re not too over the top. A nice montage on the TV screen during some timeout? But please, no disrespect to Chuck, but nothing over the top. After all, there’s a guy named Matt Devlin who’s going to be sitting about 50 feet away and I don’t think it’s really appropriate for the organization to shower love on a former employee while the guy doing the job currently has to sit there and watch.

Something small, please. And under-stated.

Oh, and spies with pucks knowledge tell me Swirsk was hanging with the big boys at the Leafs game last night, he and Larry T were hobnobbing with the beautiful people.

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List time, in the guise of a mailbag entry:

Q: I really liked Naoto Y's query on nicknames, whereupon you presented your 10 best. Along the same theme, how about the best names of moves patented by the stars who used them? The best example that comes to my mind is "The Sky Hook" patented by the great Kareem Abdul Jabbar. In your opinion, who has the best nickname for a patented move. Would you have a 10 best list in this category?

Frank K, Orillia

A: I’m not sure there are 10, with names, in contemporary times.

I’ll give you the Dream Shake as my personal favourite, although the Sky Hook would be crowding it as No. 2 and George Gervin was known for his finger roll but does that really count?

Other than those?

Earl Monroe’s brilliant spin move never got a name, I think everyone and their brother can throw a “no-look pass” so that’s not associated with anyone, Tim Duncan’s bank shot has no catchy moniker, neither did Tim Hardaway’s crossover, although I did hear it referred to as a killer crossover on more than one occasion.

And Darryl Dawkins used to name a lot of his dunks but those were one-off deals.

Any others out there?

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Wonder what’s going on in Chicago? Check here.

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One more shot at the mail:

Q: How are teams trying to defend against the final seconds inbound lob pass for the win? It seems like the defense is at a disadvantage... Can they really contest that shot? Did Moon do a good job? or did Rondo just miss it? Have you observed an increase in the frequency this play? I don't remember seeing it as often before, let's say, around the time Dwight Howard entered the league.

Andrew M, Halifax

A: The best way to defend it, in my opinion, is to plant a big man under the basket, at least within leaping distance of it, while still trying to stay in contact with the man he’s covering. Switching on all screens helps, too, if there’s a big at the basket.

And the other thing? Put your longest, tallest defender on the inbounder to make that pass more difficult.

It wasn’t exactly the same scenario but I once saw Butch Carter, in a game in Detroit if memory serves, put two guys on the guy throwing the inbounds pass. Brilliant move, I thought, and if memory serves again, the Raptors got a steal or a turnover and went on to win the game.

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This is a very cool item that’s running on nba.com for the next week.

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I notice Darius Miles played about 13 minutes for Memphis last night as the Grizzlies lost to Cleveland. Good for the Grizzlies, bad for Portland and I’m all for that.

Nine down and one to go.

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Please see it for what it was

No blame, okay.

CHARLES KRUPA/AP

Shout if you thought the back-to-back to be highly entertaining.

I know it’s everyone’s nature to bash someone – and a lot of you are very good at it, by the way – but let’s see that one for what it was: A wildly entertaining game between a very good team and one finding its way, a close game of ebb and flow and intensity and probably the best of the season so far.

Chris Bosh didn’t get enough shots? Andrea Bargnani did and they scored 109 points.

They didn’t score for six-plus minutes in the fourth? The defence in that stretch was outstanding and they only allowed four baskets.

They committed turnovers? They got stops.

The Celtics simply had too many good players. It’s the way the rosters are constructed.

Great game.

No blame.

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The most intriguing question? How do they respond Wednesday? If they are making strides, they take it out on the Bulls and win going away. They play with the same intensity as they did in the last quarter Sunday and most of Monday and they win by 20.

But will they? That’s going to be interesting to watch.

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Action: Roko’s emergence

Reaction: He’s moved ahead of Will.

Almost every NBA coach I know likes to use the same five guys for an entire overtime period, perhaps substituting offence for defence in the dying seconds but that’s about it.

And that’s what made the substitution of Ukic for Solomon with 2:43 left in the OT significant.

Yes, Kapono went for Graham at that time, too, and I guess I can see that to get a shooter on the floor (I know, he didn’t make the shots) but changing point guards at that time shows a distinct lack of confidence in the guy being taken out.

And with the way Roko responded makes me think that whenever Jose’s back, he’s the primary backup from now on.

That’s not a huge knock against Solomon, who was fine for long stretches last night. But the simple fact is that Ukic is much more the future than Solomon and having shown he can handle the cauldron of a game like that, he needs to get more time.

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A quick early trip to the mail:

Q: That was a fun game to watch. I've really been impressed with how Joey has embraced the physical role Jay is asking him to play. Bargnani has a long way to go in the post but if he can average 20 being that raw then he will be something special as long as he never has to carry the team. Two questions for you.

Does Anthony Parker lead the league or just the team in the number of off balance tough shots he takes? Having seen all the teams Doug, do the Raptors have one of the most stationary offenses in the league? They just don't get easy baskets (see Allen at the end of the first half).

Kevin M, Maple

A: Yes, AP does lead the team, and perhaps the league, in off-balance fadeaway attempts but he also makes his fair share. It’s his shot and some night’s it’s an effective play. He’s not going to elevate over defenders but no one’s going to block that fade, either.

And yes, they are far too stationary and so is the ball sometimes and that’s when they get into trouble. The only easy baskets they get are in transition, which is why they have to pick up the tempo a bit. That, or the GM has to get some guys who can break their men down and get those easy buckets.

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Not sure if this got mentioned in the dispatches ‘cause I haven’t read them all but the 22 points Boston scored in the overtime were the most ever by a Celtic team and the most ever by a Raptor opponent.

That’s quite the accomplishment.

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Action: Bosh’s play

Reaction: You expected otherwise

Bosh is getting killed in the e-mails and was in the comments last night for some perception that he took too many jump shots when he did shoot.

Memo to critics: That’s what he does.

Seriously, have you not watched him all year? He shoots jumpers, he sets his guy up with jumpers, he’s not a back-to-the-basket strong man, nor is he a regular driver of the basketball. His strengths are his jumper and his quickness, and faced with an aggressive defender in his shirt, that quickness advantage disappears.

To say he should all of sudden “attack” Kevin Garnett is ridiculous; he seldom “attacks” anybody and certainly not one of the best one-on-one defenders in the league.

I do agree with Jack Armstrong, who said during the broadcast that one way to create space with Garnett in his shirt would have been to pull the ball through aggressively and perhaps get an inadvertent elbow into Garnett’s chops but I’m not sure Bosh has that in him. I’m not sure the majority of NBA players have that in them, actually.

Bosh is what he is and the next time someone lays off him and gives him space to shoot and he makes like 10 jumpers as part of a 30-point night, rip him for not “attacking.”

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Wondering how this played out in Boston.This’ll tell you right here.

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You know what immediately silences the Bosh critics? A wing guy who can create off the dribble. You know, like a Paul Pierce or some cheap facsimile.

Look down the Raptor roster. Who can beat his guy off the dribble? Watch almost every other team in the league. When they need a basket, they get someone on the wing driving and create movement among the defenders, scrambling the game a little bit and – presto! – space opens up. Space that big men sometimes fill, not space that big men are supposed to create.

It is, and has been, the fatal flaw with this team since that Carter fellow left.

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Action: Last basket

Reaction: Punk move

There is a way to win and there is being bush league and we saw which way Rajon Rondo goes last night.

Instead of doing what every other NBA player would have done – simply dribble out the clock in the open court with less than five seconds left in an overtime win – he throws up a lob pass to Leon Powe, who dunks with 1.6 seconds left.

That’s classless and don’t think people didn’t notice. It’s why Jay called a timeout – delay the celebration, you saw him about 20 feet on the court I’m sure expressing his opinion to the kid and his teammates – and even Bosh made mention of it post-game.

It’s just a no-class move by a kid. And it fits into the whole, cocky Celtic persona that’s really taken away from their status as champions.

Nothing much Toronto can do about it but it was a punk move that was entirely unnecessary.

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A question about a specific play and I had a couple like this:

Q: It's been a while but I've been reading. One question and I apologize for the caps in advance...with 48 seconds left in the Celts-Raps game, Joey grabs a loose ball after he gets blocked and all of a sudden, the ref starts calling a jump ball. HOW COULD THAT POSSIBLY BE A JUMP BALL!?!?! I really hope you can explain how a ball that is in nobody's possession can be called a jump ball. Home call? I think so.

Karthik S, Sarnia

A: Absolutely the right call. Simultaneous possession (both players had their hands on the ball at the same time, during the block of the Graham layup, not after the ball got loose), there was no foul and the refs got it perfectly correct.

The Goods On The Game, Vol. 39, the Beantown rematch

Hi everybody. From the comfort of Casa Doug, here we go again. And considering I just looked at the schedule and I've got games in Indy, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago and New Jersey plus three home games in the next two weeks, I think a night in the comfort of home isn't a bad idea at all. I haven't asked Super Family but I imagine they feel the same. Or at least I hope they do. So even though no one will bring me nachos or wings or pizza or a soft drink (the wait staff here isn't quite up to snuff) this is still pretty good. And away we go:

Not much time to wallow over that one

That was so much fun, what say we do it all again tonight?

VINCE TALOTTA/TORONTO STAR

We'll spare you a photo of Ray Allen this morning.

And maybe in the first 7:05 of the game, they won’t let Ray Allen make five three-pointers in five attempts. Think that’s going to be priority No. 1 when they do the video scouting today at the hotel in Boston?

Other than that, not sure what I make out of the result from Sunday. Yes, the fourth quarter was good but how easy is it to play when you’re down 20? And conversely, how hard is it to maintain focus when you’re up 20? That may have had more to do with the game getting close than anything. But there’s no denying the Raptors felt better about themselves at the end of the game than if they’d been blown out and confidence is a huge thing with this team.

Anyway …

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Action: Bosh’s day

Reaction: Not his best.

Yes, Bosh scored five points below his average and didn’t look dominant much of the day. But here’s a secret: Most guys being guarded by Kevin Garnett, whoever they are, don’t have big scoring days. That Garnett fellow’s a pretty good defender, and he gets lots of help from the other Celtics, who are the best defensive team in the NBA.

Should Bosh have been better than 15 and 11? Yes, if the Raptors were going to win? Can he be better? Not much and that’s why guys like the point guard du jour (a combined 2-for-8), Anthony Parker (2-for-12) and Andrea Bargnani (5-for-14) have to pick up the slack.

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Keeping on the same point, here’s the first trip to the mail:

Q: Hey Doug, It struck me as I was watching Garnett and Bosh play against each other how similar their skill sets are. My question is: Minnesota couldn’t build a team that got deep into the playoffs with Garnett as the centre-piece and Garnett only had playoff success with other all-stars in the wing position. So can Toronto really expect to have play-off success as Bosh as the focal point? Is it just difficult to build a team around the power forward position?

S P, Mississauga

A: Yes, you can. As long as you provide good players at the other positions. As I’ve mentioned before, no one single player can “carry” a team to greatness, there has to be a compilation of good talent around him.

Put better, more consistent players around a guy like Bosh – as they did around Garnett the year he got the Timberwolves to the Western Conference final (a year many seem to forget) – and things will be fine.

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Action: Jose returns

Reaction: Should he have?

Considering what’s behind him? He should have played 48 minutes.

All you folks who have written me to suggest Calderon “cost them the game” in the observation of one should probably sit down and watch again to see what Solomon and Ukic did. Those were not two of the greatest games played ever and if Jose, the trainers, the doctors and the coaches all agreed he should play, he should have played.

Which brings us to …

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They have to start Roko Ukic tonight, don’t they?

I don’t know if Jay will but I think it’s time to see what the rookie can do filling in for Jose.

Will’s had his moments but the offence doesn’t seem to run nearly as well when he’s playing extended minutes, plays get broken off too early, he gets in the lane and trapped too often and there’s just a sense that things aren’t as smooth.

Of course, handing a starting job to a raw rookie is not the best thing in the world – Roko still has a tendency to get up in the air to make a pass, he still can’t shoot a lick so they’ll just lay off him – but it’s worth a shot.

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This is what they were writing in Boston.

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Action: The start time

Reaction: No one likes it

I’m sure 12:30 starts are great for a TV network or two but for NBA players? Not so much.

And it’s not just the Raptors.

Here’s Ray Allen:

“It felt awkward for me. Normally, I would get to the gym to shoot at the time we started our meeting at the hotel. 12:30 games are tough for us, for most of us not having familiarity with it.”

Hmm, wonder what he would have done had he been in usual routine? Hit a dozen three-pointers in the first quarter?

The reason no one likes afternoon games – and we’ve been writing about this for years – is that it changes a routine. A normal game day for NBA players is up early, shootaround between 10 and noon (depending on home or away), maybe a nap, back to the gym around 4, game at 7.

That’s simply the way it is, disruption isn’t something they like. Heck, disruption to a well-established routine is not something anyone likes.

I’m not using it as an excuse, just stating fact.

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Ray Allen had five three-pointers in five attempts in the first quarter because of a variety of Raptor defensive breakdowns, primarily easy passes by a baseline driving Rajon Rondo.

The Raptors made some adjustments, cutting off Rondo’s path and Allen went 3-for-5 in the final three quarters combined.

Yes, they made adjustments. They just got them made maybe four minutes too late to stop the original onslaught.

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A question about the process:

Q: What are the main difference from blogging at home (or establishment) vs. at the game? Specifically, any different distractions or problems that arise from either one? Also, and I think you may have answered this before but what are YOUR game-day rituals if any???

Dave G, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL.

A: Obviously the biggest difference at the game is you get the atmosphere and immediate access to information, although when I’m not at a game, I’m in pretty much constant contact with someone who is. Of course, not having 19,800 people screaming while you’re typing is a bit easier on the concentration levels so there’s that part about being away.

Rituals? Like whether I open my computer bag one way every game or eat the same thing at the same time? Nothing like that.

But a typical night home game? Up around 6 to finish off the blog from the day before, head out and get to the arena around 10:15 a.m. for shootaround. Hang ‘til around noon checking up on the latest news and gathering stuff for early stories. Type that up until around 1 or so, and either retire to Casa Smith or the office (depending on what paper work I have to do) and then head back to the arena between 3:30 and 4. Coaches, bosses, sources, players start rolling out around the court around 4:30 or 5, hang out there chatting, goofing off until Jay does his pre-game chat about 5:45. Maybe have dinner, get in-game blog set up, refresh any stories I have out there and do the Rapday thing for the next day’s paper. Watch game, do in-game blog, file story at buzzer for web, knock off video thingy on way back to press room from courtside, and then re-write with quotes for 10:15 or 10:30.

Relax.

The Goods On The Game, Vol. 38, the return of Jose

Hello, and welcome back again. We're getting to get started over here with all the fun and frivolity of the usual live blog stuff for the big game. And this just in: Jose Calderon will return from his hamstring injury and be in the starting lineup. There is, however, no Jermaine O'Neal. So, sit back and enjoy.

If this is Sunday, it must mean mail

Loads and loads here and more than a few left that I can sprinkle into the next few days, including a couple of list ideas that just take a wee bit more time to answer. So don’t despair.

Instead, sit back with the coffee, if you’re my area maybe take some time before heading out to shovel, and enjoy:

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Q: I'm pretty sure my questions/comments about recent game-play will be covered by other mailbag submissions, so here are a couple of another ilk: 1) Is the marketing department over at MLSE stuck in the 50s? Are they consciously seeking some sort of feminist backlash? Because the fact that they have put together a Raptors night out promotion, aimed at women, that includes a "Basketball 101 session" is patently appalling. 2) Is Stan Van Gundy the most disheveled coach in the NBA? He's certainly doing himself no favors with those tucked-in mock turtlenecks...and his 70s porn 'stache, while an intrepid choice, isn't a good look for anyone not answering to the name Magnum..

Julia M, Toronto

A: I’ve noticed that advertisement in the elevators and am a bit surprised this is the first letter I’ve got on it. Yes, it does seem a bit out of place for the age we live in, doesn’t it?

Stan? Oh yeah, he’d be on the list but it’s one that also has to include Don Nelson, Gregg Popovich and Jerry Sloan and maybe George Karl. They’d be the anti-Sams.

Magnum? Good name from the past!

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Q: Hi Doug.

What do you think about the way opponents interact before and after games now as opposed to the way they did in the Larry Bird era? Larry was from the "you don't be friendly with the other team's players and don't give him a hand after you've fouled him hard" era. CB and Superman were practically hugging in the game warmup. Do you think this type of attitude makes players "soft"?

Bernard L, Toronto

A: Not necessarily soft, no. But it does give the impression friendship, and not competitiveness, is their first concern. I don’t think that’s absolutely true, there’s a lot of competition even between guys who know each other well, but the perception isn’t entirely good.

It is too much but there’s no going back. Most of these guys have known each other since their teenage years, I’m afraid you can’t put that genie back in the bottle.

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Q: Just watched your video wrap up. Curious about your setup for that. Is there a Star staffer camera person there just for the wrap up? Do you put the camera on the desk and hit record? Was it Perk behind the lens? And who edits and uploads it? Someone back at the Star mothership across the street? Just curious. Love how you continue to embrace new technology to keep us entertained. Keep up the good work.

Wilber L, Toronto

A: There’s no way I have the technological ability to do any of that myself. One of the crack members of our multi-media staff wanders over to the arena near the end of the game and does it all. Sets up the camera, tells me when to talk, goes back to the office and posts it.

Me? I prattle on and get on with my night’s work.

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Q: Do the players that are really good at what they do share and coach other players to help them along or do they leave coaching exclusively to the coaches? For example would Jose help someone with free throw shooting or would JO help Andrea with tips on how to play guys like Howard?

Bernard L, Toronto

A: It happens, yes. Sometimes it’s before or after practice or in pre-game warmups but we’ve seen players passing on little tips often. And watch during timeouts in games. If an opponent is really killing a guy, a teammate might offer some kind of tip.

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Q: Doug, You may have answered this question before but I did not see it. On a technical foul or a 3 second violation, who decides who is to take the free throw. I notice that it is mostly Calderon. But it can be anyone on the court and it’s up to the shooting team to pick.

Ian A, Hamilton

A: Usually, the players on the court decide based on who’s playing and since Calderon hasn’t missed a free throw since last season, he’d be the guy everyone would choose.

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Q: Deals like the Adams exchange occur often with players being acquired for cash and/or a draft pick and then waived immediately. The clippers have made 3 such deals over the past week. Are GMs taking advantage of a loop hole in the system? How does it benefit both parties? I know Toronto 'may' get a draft pick, but in what way does it benefit L.A?

Dwayne C, Oakville

A: The Adams deal made the Clippers a little bit of money – the “cash considerations” (which were likely the cost of the rest of Adams’s salary and a few hundred thousand for their trouble) and when you’re the Clippers, a little bit of money is a wonderful thing.

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Q: I saw the question and answer about there being 1 NBA player for 2500 kids who think they are good enough, but really aren't. My question is this: what separates them. Taking Jamario Moon as a case in point; for many years, he was part of the 'not good enough' category, so what changed. I assume he always had his physical gifts, so is it purely a mental thing? Thanks,

S P, Mississauga

A: Timing and opportunity has a lot to do with it, a guy like Jamario doesn’t get invited to an NBA camp with a team that has an opening and never gets a legitimate shot.

Sometimes it’s as simple a thing as talent, some players look great in the minor leagues but can’t handle the speed, intensity and physical nature of the NBA and sometimes it’s simply maturity, guys think they can handle the big-time but aren’t mentally strong enough to do it.

Forget the appetizers, the real meal awaits

Well, the prelims are over. Time for the main event.

Memphis, Washington, Milwaukee, Orlando and Houston are one thing; the Celtics, even though the suck right now, are quite another.

Normally, Sunday afternoon games have a tendency to be rather lackluster affairs, especially the 12:30 p.m. starts because there’s no way the players’ body clocks are ready to operate at that time.

But I’m sort of anxious to see how the locals react to the situation; it’s not a “statement” game or anything like that (there’s still more than half a season to go, we’re not at that point yet) but if they play hard and continue to show the aggression they have at both ends of the court, it’ll do wonders for their collective psyche.

Now, with memories of the quasi-Naismith Cup running through your heads, here’s the usual goodies:

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Action: Bosh 32 and 10

Reaction: Ho, hum

Another great game from the kid and while Bargnani’s getting all the love for his six-game stretch as a starter, check out Bosh.

He’s averaging about 24 points and 10 boards a game since the Denver game and he’s playing as well as he did in November. The difference? He’s getting consistent backup from Bargnani and I remember mentioning that, yes, he’s a franchise player and capable of helping this team to success but not alone because no one can do it alone.

Can this last? If the other guy keeps playing the way he has been, absolutely. And if O’Neal comes back and gives them 16 and 8 again on a nightly basis, that’s only going to make Bosh more effective.

The guy is the team’s best player, hands-down, no doubt about it, and we’re seeing that. Again. Just like we did.

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Action: A new nickname

Reaction: A blast from the past

I have a sick feeling that it’s going to stick but I’m not entirely sure I can support Killer B’s for Bosh and Bargnani.

Unless, of course, they show up as John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd and the rest of the team looks like Laraine Newman or Garrett Morris or Jane Curtin.

Now, I am sure there is a segment of the readership who have no idea who any of those people are but, trust me, Killer B’s is theirs, not Bosh and Bargnani’s.

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The best thing the Grizzlies did Friday was decide to re-sign Darius Miles to a 10-day contract. Not sure how much he’ll help them – a couple of people told me Friday night he’s relying on smarts now instead of athleticism – but it screws over the Blazers and after that boneheaded e-mail from the president, they really deserve to be screwed over.

Officials that I talked to from both teams Friday were privately stunned at the stupidity of the move.

As well they should have been.

Here’sRon’s game stuff from the Memphis Commercial-Appeal.

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Action: Celtics lose again

Reaction: That’s one struggling team

Because I’m not around them every day, I can’t speak to any huge issues enveloping the free-falling Celtics right now but I will make a few points.

Last year, after the championship, Ray Allen alluded to the fact that things weren’t always good between teammates, that they had arguments and clashes and were able to keep them minor and out of the news. Well, maybe that kind of thing’s happening again? It would explain the relative lack of cohesion we’re seeing some nights.

It might, however, just be one of the lulls that teams go into every season, just one that’s made more glaring by the fact the Celtics got off to that record-setting start. It’s impossible to keep that pace up for an entire season, this might just be the time everything’s catching up with them.

And, lastly, maybe they’re not as good as they were last year. The bench played well to start the season but I don’t think Eddie House, Leon Powe, Glen Davis and Tony Allen scares anybody.

Here’s Marc's take on things from Boston today.

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Okay, promised a Benoit Benjamin story on his last moments as a Raptor. Here it is:

They used to practice at Glendon College (and you haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen an expansion NBA team thrown off its practice court at 1 p.m. sharp because the intramural girls volleyball game has to start, which happened a couple of times a week) and his last day unfolds there.

Benoit was not a very, um, diligent worker (and that’s a huge understatement) and he’s loafing through a sprint drill near the end of the day. Darrell Walker, never one to mince words, urges him to pick up the pace. A couple of times. Kind of angrily, as I recall.

Big Ben stops, turns to his head coach and says, and I paraphrase, “Bleep you, you bleep-faced, bleep-bleep-bleep.”

I don’t think he got the final “bleep” out before Isiah was on the phone putting him on waivers.

Ah, the good old days!

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Here’s one from the mail:

Q: In tonight's game near the end of the second quarter Solomon committed a foul on an in bounds play. It was the Raps 4th team foul but the Grizzlies got two free throws out of it. Why is that? Also, saw Jawai and Calderon on the bench tonight but no sign of JO. Any reason for this?

Antonii C, Toronto

A: It was because the foul was committed by Solomon before the inbounder released the ball. Not the brightest of moves.

And O’Neal was in the back getting treatment on his knee, as he has been for every game he’s missed. Calderon got his done early – he wasn’t on the bench to start the game – and Jawai’s not hurt so he was out there.

It’s not unusual, it’s nothing sinister. Injured players usually get any treatment at home – whirlpool time, massage, ice and stim – during the game because the staff is busy before and after dealing with players who play.

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Okay, since I’m strolling down memory lane, one more Benoit story.

I believe it was the 19996 when they played the Naismith Cup game in Calgary and, as they are wont to do, the players are out wandering the city the night before the game looking for amusement or some way to pass some time.

And back then, the players liked to keep a low profile, it was not a group of really out-going sorts but not Benoit.

Now, I wasn’t there but I’ve heard the story from so many people that it has to be true.

Benjamin and a teammate, keeping that low profile, mind you, end up in an establishment where ladies take their clothes off for a living and if a bald 7-foot NBAer wasn’t enough to attract some attention to himself, the fact he was wearing a full-length fur coat sure added to the spectacle.

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The Goods On The Game, Vol. 37, the Naismith Cup returneth

Well, not exactly, but it is the Grizzlies-Raptors and that's something, isn't it?

Okay, maybe not.

Anyway, this just in, there's no Jose Calderon tonight. He went through a pre-game workout but there was still some discomfort in his hamstring and he's got another night off.

And still no Jermaine O'Neal, of course.

All right, we're into Game 3 of this new blog style-format-idea-whateveritis and hope we got some more kinks worked out. Remember, it's not a chat room so if you don't see your comments posted, it's not because I don't like you, it's more because they don't fit. But I do read them all

 And chuckle at a lot of them.

The ones that are supposed to be funny, that is.

 

Still waiting on Jose

Wish there was some definitive news to give you about Jose Calderon’s availability for tonight’s Raptor-Memphis game but no one knows for sure whether he’ll play – which is a great way to drive traffic back to this site but it’s also legit.

Just got done the morning shootaround and, yes, Calderon took part but there’s still an afternoon to get through and then a pre-game warmup to see if his wonky right hamstring will allow him to return to the Toronto lineup after missing four games.

The worry is that it will tighten up again while he rests this afternoon and he won’t be able to get it loose to play even for a few minutes tonight.

And it sounds like if he can go, no one can guess how long he’ll play.

Coach Jay Triano put it this way a few minutes ago:

“That’s something Scott (McCullough, the team’s trainer) and I will have to talk about after he goes through his warmup tonight to find out how many minutes he can go, whether it’s better to keep him in short spurts or better to have him play longer minutes so it doesn’t tighten up when he comes out. We’ll play it by ear and, like they say, it’ll be a game-time decision.”

Game time’s 7 p.m. but we’ll know probably an hour before that.

What we do know for certain is that slow-healing bruised right knee that has Jermaine O’Neal on the sidelines still isn’t ready. He’ll miss his sixth straight game and that means Andrea Bargnani gets to face Marc Gasol in all-Euro centre matchup.

Other than that, no big news this morning.

Proud papa Jamario Moon didn’t get back in time for shootaround but, the airlines and weather willing, he’s expected here in time to start. He missed Wednesday’s game to head to Alabama for the birth of his first child.