What's it all mean? We don't know quite yet

LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO STAR

Enjoy it while you can because you never know when the Raptors are going to fall down again.

So they batter the Bulls and crush the Kings and all’s well in the world, right?

Maybe. Maybe not.

This is a pretty telling week coming up, the Nets on the road, Bucks and Magic at home and check back here during the Super Bowl to find out whether this thing is turned around or if beating two weak opponents was nothing special.

I have a feeling that it's more turned around than anything but, as we’ve seen a lot this year, sometimes this group doesn’t handle success as well as it should. But today’s a good day in Raptor land and enjoy it while you can.

On to the stuff:

-

Action: JO’s double-double.

Reaction: They were watching in Miami.

Make no mistake about it, if Pat Riley calls today and says the O’Neal-Marion-bit parts deal’s a go, Bryan signs off immediately.

Yes, the injury to Hump clouds the front-court issue in Toronto if Jermaine ends up with the Heat but the GM here can’t be all that worried about the next month when it comes to getting the financial flexibility – not to mention a 30-something game upgrade at the small forward spot – afforded by the proposed trade, which is very, very much still on the front burner.

If Toronto had to go a month or so with a frontcourt rotation of Bosh, Bargnani, Voskuhl with Marion sliding to the four for a few minutes a night, I’m pretty sure they could live with it given what they’d be able to do with player acquisitions in the summer.

And I will reiterate one more time: Having substantial cap room this summer is not only about signing free agents so if you look at the list and are underwhelmed, don’t worry.

It’s more about having the chance to obtain guys in trades as anything which opens up a whole raft of other possibilities.

O’Neal looked exponentially more comfortable yesterday than he did on Friday in Chicago or Wednesday in Detroit and you can be sure there’s a tape of the game floating around the Heat offices.

-

How much of a grind has it been lately? Not having games today or tomorrow is the first time the Raptors have had more than one day between games since they were off Dec. 23, 24, 25.

I know us grunts are glad to be not getting on a plane or going to a game for 48 hours, I can just imagine how welcome a break this is for the guys who actually have to take the pounding on the court night in and night out.

-

Action: Bargnani’s rebounding

Reaction: Everybody chill

Much has been made about the kid’s rebounding prowess but, really, there’s much more to it than just his numbers.

In the 15 games he’s started since Dec. 31, when Jermaine O’Neal first missed a game with the knee injury, not only has he averaged about seven boards a game (not bad for a third year centre who does his best work about 20 feet from the basket), Toronto’s out-rebounding the opponent in nine of those games.

A couple of times yesterday, and a couple I remember clearly in Chicago, he’s held his man off by effecting boxing out while someone else got the board, which is just want you’d want him to do.

No, he’s not an Italian Rodman or anything but he’s certainly not a huge liability on the boards.

-

A question of time:

Q: Nice back to back wins.. Now that Jose is back and AP is handling the majority of the backup PG minutes, do you think that coach Triano will think about deactivating Solomon or Ukic (probably Solomon at this point)? Seems like a waste to have 2 backup PGs on the bench that aren't playing that much.

Tommy P, Edmonton

A: No reason to de-activate anyone, they can dress 12 and someone’s got to play the final 90 seconds of a rout. Besides, deactivate them for who? With Hump hurt, they’ve only got 12 guys.

And I think Roko’s going to keep getting four or five first-half minutes a night as they balance the Calderon-Parker minutes.

But from now on, with so much in the balance over the final 36 games, AP’s going to be the primary backup.

-

I know the Oklahoma Thunder have one less victory but to these eyes the Sacramento Kings are the worst team in the NBA by a wide margin. A very wide margin.

And I have no idea how they’re going to get better. Sure, Kevin Martin’s okay (he’s a pure scorer and having one of them always helps) but beyond that? Marginal talent, at best.

Once John Salmons puts his head down and starts dribbling he never, ever passes (maybe God did everybody a favour by, as he puts it, telling him to renege on the Raptors); point guard play is spotty at best, Brad Miller’s at the end of a pretty good career and the bench is brutal.

That team’s a long, long, long, long way from even sniffing the post-season.

-

Oh, and here’s how they wrote up yesterday’s affair.

-

Back to the mail:

Q: Hey Doug, is Jeff Van Gundy losing his mind, or does he just try to be funny? Aside from his preference for Varejao over Bosh for the All-Star Gme he always seems to have odd suggestions and opinions about the game. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but with some of the things he suggests, I don't know if he is nuts or some sort of visionary.

Alessio G, St. Catharines

A: I heard that Jeff said he’d take Varejao over Bosh and wonder what kind of hallucinogens they’re putting in the ABC catering truck. Anderson Varejao’s a pretty good player but he can’t tie Bosh’s shoelaces.

But Jeff’s an entertaining analyst and, if he gets people talking, isn’t he just doing his job?

-

There is nothing quite like garbage time in the NBA, is there? I don’t imagine too many of you saw it, but sitting in this place with lots of TVs late last night, the end of the Clipper-Golden State game was hilarious.

Only at the end of a blowout would you see 7-1 Clipper Chiekh Samb hoist a three-pointer and get up about three shots in the final minute of a game or watch Marcus Williams of the Warriors throw some goofy behind-the-back pass to someone sitting in about the second row of the seats.

Classic garbage time.

-

Speaking of classic garbage time, I love Nate Jawai and hope he has a good and long career but his Toronto debut isn’t going to be memorable.

A foul, an airball and getting dunked on in less than two minutes isn’t going into the highlight Hall of Fame.

-

Comments

[Darko Dubajic]

Doug, how does having lot of cap space relate (in good way)
to trades, considering that you have to trade approx. contracts of same value.

Blogger's note: Not if one team's under the salary cap. If, and these are raw, approximate, numbers, Toronto is $10 million under the cap, they could trade, say, a pick for a player making $10 million and not suffer any repercussions financially.

[Bobby]

It pretty much seems like Marion or bust when it comes to trade talk. Is there anyone else out there that catches the Raptors eye? Or yours for that matter? I, for one would love to get Kirlenko if at all possible. His contract maybe long but at worst he'd become our best defender and at best a change of scenery (away from Jerry Sloan) could make him the player he used to be. Of course they have no use for O'Neal but a man can dream. Thoughts?

Blogger's note: I have no idea who might be legitimately available but names will trickle out as we get closer to the deadline.

[Dunk]

From Eric Smith's blog this morning:

Tom from Parts Unknown:If Nathan Jawai gets into foul trouble, Doug Smith, the former Niagara High all star will come out of retirement and get some minutes at the four spot. Can you confirm this and does he still have that wicked low post game?

ERIC: I've never played against Doug, but I'm sure he's still got game! He honed his skills going toe-to-toe against Jay Triano back in the day (well, as Doug tells it, he was on the bench while Triano was scorching everyone on the floor).

Any comments?

Blogger's note: It's hard to play anywhere while carrying a defibrillator; I'll stay in my cushy media seat. But, yes, I did have a nice few of a young Triano laying waste to the Niagara peninsula.

[S]

Robert S above has it right, when they showed JVG's all-star picks he was saying he has a rule that he would not have anyone from a losing team in the all-star. That is why he picked Varejao over Bosh. From what I saw it seemed it was for more entertainment purposes rather than serious.

[GM]

Eric, so by your reasoning, Garnett should not have made the all-star team when his Wolves were horrible? Wade shouldn't have made it when his Heat were terrible? Let's get serious. I don't think Bosh is a lock to be an all-star, but I think he's deserving. I think Van Gundy might have just been in coach mode. He'd rather coach a team with a hustling, unselfish guy than a team with five guys who demand the ball.

And why not get excited about those two wins? They're wins and they were convincing. If you negative nellies got all bent out of shape when they lost to top tier teams (even though those teams were "expected" to beat the lowly Raptors), you can't very well begrudge them wins against bad teams. It sure beats the alternative.

[Tim W.]

Eric, if people who defend Bosh are apologists, does that make you a hater? Just wondering. And I don't think anyone has said that Bosh is on the same level as someone like LeBron. Or even Wade. A notch or two below them is where I would put him. Still top ten, though.

And Doug, as someone who has constantly criticized Bargnani's rebounding, I have to say the excuse that he plays 20 feet away from the basket doesn't hold water. He doesn't play 20 feet from the basket on defense, where he should be getting 90% of his rebounds. I like him boxing out (something Bosh should learn to do more of), but A seven footer with his mobility should be going after way more rebounds.

[Paul]

Guys, going after rebounds is "ouchie".
Does Bargs play dirty, but in a sneaky way? I'm just wondering because he seems to get a lot of cheap shots against him, and I'm wondering why that is.

[Chris Riedinger]

Hi Doug,

would part of the hold up to the JO/Marion trade potentially be that BC is trying to get an extension commitment from "the Matrix"?

Are GM's allowed to speak to players before trading for them under the current CBA?

Thank you

Blogger's note: No, no contact allowed

[Kyron]

I didn't know you played Doug, can we have a special edition of the blog on a boring day highlighting your high school career? :)

[Big Mac]

Think the Raps will bring back the 3 big man lineup vs. the Lakers? I'd love to see that, I'd love to see Jay walk up to PJax and say, "Throw your big guys out there, I'll throw out mine and let's do this!"

I don't like Bosh vs. Pau or Bynum, they're both the type of player he struggles against and could get him in foul trouble, I'd rather see JO battle Bynum, Bargs on Pau and let Bosh deal with Ariza/Odom

Then you throw the AP/Moon/Joey/Solomon kitchen sink at Kobe and you've got the makings of a very interesting game! Raps match up well with the Lakeshow.

[Serge]

Re: Eric

To imply that Van Gundy is right in his assertion that Verajo is a more deserving all star than Bosh is ridiculous. Nevermind that Bosh's individual stats are way better, nevermind that Bosh doesn't have the luxury of playing alongside the best player in the league and therefore gets double and triple teamed every night (when's the last time you saw a double on Verajo?) and nevermind that Bosh's PER is much better than Andy's. Instead, look at it this way: if Bosh and Varejo were traded for each other at the beginning of the season, based on how each of them has played this year, do you really think that Cleveland would be WORSE than they are whereas Toronto would be BETTER? Please. Bosh is an allstar, Verajo is a role player who greatly benefits from playing with a guy named Lebron.

[Kevin]

"I didn't know you played Doug, can we have a special edition of the blog on a boring day highlighting your high school career?"
I got a feeling this would be the shortest blog Doug has ever written.

[Kevin]

I know it is putting the cart ahead of the horse, but if we get Marion I say let him go at the end of the season. I loved Marion in Phoenix, but the Raptors are not the Suns. Marion has done nothing in Miami and while he would be an upgrade in Toronto he certainly is a declining asset.
That money would be better spent on a younger free agent or to pay someone brought in on a trade.

[rob]

Doug, sorry but I had to suggest this one:
Can you or your technological savvy staff throw a poll out in the blog to see how many people in raps nation like the trade (JO-Matrix), just like what you do in the gameday updates..
Thanks

[Eric]

I'm not a Chris hater, I don't "hate" any athlete. He just could be a lot better than he's been this season. A LOT. This team has been ineffective, boring and often embarrassing. He's played in every game. He gets every excuse conceived by man from this town's writers and that irritates me. For example, apologists say he's not clutch because he's not a wing- and only wings can be clutch. But no one brings up the fact that he plays like a wing and has somehow become a more frequent jumpshooter than anyone at his position. Sooooo, if he's not going to be a wing, then why does he play like one? He doesn't get criticized for that and I'm baffled. If Jose Calderon started playing with his back to the basket every time downcourt and patrolling the paint, I think he'd get his share of abuse from the media. But Chris doesn't. Somehow he gets a blank check.

Chris also gets a free pass on this team's incredible slide of mediocrity and complacency while he's been captain. But isn't Chris the one hugging Jermaine O'Neal from behind on the sideline every time the Raps snap a six-game losing streak? Isn't Chris the one looking like life couldn't be better any time the team takes the smallest step forward?

As we know, this team doesn't compete for loose balls. They lose 50/50 balls at an 80/20 clip. It's like they feel they don't "deserve" them. They fold against stiffer competition without so much as flexing. They get intimidated by almost any foe, and intimidate no team themselves. Chris Bosh has over the past three years personified these traits as much as anyone else, leading me to think that the team has assumed his identity. Hence, 18-28. Loose balls carry infections. Other teams deserve to win, we don't. Let's do the 'classy' thing and lose. Let's just give them what they want and get out of here alive. ETC!

Underacheiving teams are to me a reflection of weak leadership. The Raptors are probably underachieving to some extent, and have been for some years. Chris Bosh is their leader. You put it together. JVG would rather have Varejao. Other than citing CB's fame and other irrelevant factors that have nothing to do with winning games, I don't know how to disagree with him.

[petert]

Hey Doug,

I read your blog every week, but rarely post. Re: Marion, I would first say that I would sign off on that trade too. But I'd like to say one thing: Marion really isn't a three, he's a four. Jack McCallum's book goes into this about Marion when he was with the Suns. The Suns were better when Stoudemire was at the five and Marion at the four. I believe he said that on defence, Marion can take advantage of his quickness over other fours, but that advantage is negated when he plays the three. As well, he's such a good rebounder because he's quick, he's better off at the four than on the perimeter. In that way, you wonder if he'll get in the way of Bosh and Bargnani, or at least take away their minutes rather than complement them. On offence, because he's not a very good ball-handler, he's better off at the four than the three. He's not that guy who will break down defences that we've been hoping for, which is what they really need. Don't get me wrong. He can play the three, but it might not make the Raptors better. Good job.

[Sivart]

I think its funny how some people legitimately question the fact that Bosh will be an all-star. One commenter makes the argument that Bosh being a superstar should surely lead this team to a better record, that no superstar's team would perform this badly. My response... see last years Miami Heat and D-Wade.

Then people love to constantly harp on the fact that Bosh isn't very productive against KG. Perhaps these people don't watch any of Boston's other games, cuz KG pretty much does that to every opposing big man, there is a reason why he is always a first team all-defensive player in the nba. For instance he made Dirk look like a powder-puff in their matchup on Sunday, Dirk was downright awful.

There really aren't too many other 24 year old nba players with the well rounded game that Bosh possesses, sure he has a few flaws but try finding one player currently in the league without any flaws, I guarantee you will be searching for a long time.

[Michel G]

Eric (earlier post). I can remain silent no longer. Anybody who would choose Sideshow Bob over Chris Bosh is insane. Put Varejao on the Kings and lets see how he shines. By the way, I've never defended Chris Bosh because he doesn't need defending from me or anybody else.

[Dan]

Doug, why does the music in your videos sound exactly like the theme from Roseanne?

[jordan]

much like everyone, i've been picking through the 2009 free agent class in the event of "the trade" happening. You, however, have gotten my interest by pointing out that trades may be the way to go.....anyone in particular that you have in mind (as long as you don't get fined for tampering :))

Blogger's note: No, no one specific because you have no idea what teams might want to make significant change, because of financial considerations or on-court issues, until the season is over

[jordan]

PS. seems that you, like me, think "the trade" is a good idea (or at least that Brian will take it)....would you say the same if we have to give up the Moon as well?

Blogger's note: Not as good, but still good