Are no plays good plays?

DAVID COOPER/TORONTO STAR

... freelancing, getting out on the break, reading and reacting ....

You knew that was coming, right? They had to win, no self-respecting team gets drilled by 30 on the road and then loses to the same team at home less than 48 hours later. Just doesn’t happen. Of course, if it did happen, it would happen to these guys.

But it didn’t and I don’t believe there’s a single “season’s over, what should I do with my time” e-mail in the lot.

And now there’s reason to watch this week.

But first…

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Action: No plays for Shawn

Reaction: So what?

Here's what Jay said yesterday afternoon:

“Until he learns our schemes offensively and defensively, we say, rebound the basketball, get out, push the ball up the floor, run and see what’s available.”

Here's what Doug said this morning:

“Maybe we should just leave it that way, freelancing, getting out on the break and reading and reacting seems to be working more often than not. Bogging down an offence with running sets for another guy might be counter-productive. Marion’s getting enough off breaks, secondary breaks and stuff run for other guys that it might be worth cutting back the playoff book rather than expanding it.”

But that’s just my opinion. Right, though it is.

(That’s a joke).

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Okay, so we’ve all had our guffaws about the big ACC 10th anniversary press release and announcement that asked fans to celebrate:

10 Years Of Excellence

(We were guessing yesterday that 10 Years Of $15 Beers or 10 Years Of Losing With Gusts To Mediocrity probably weren’t considered).

Of course, they trotted out the top 10 moments in the buildings history which, as you’d expect, got us thinking “if they say good, we say …” To wit:

Fire Guy

First Raptor playoff game, halftime clown spills flame accelerant all over midcourt area, second half delayed, Raptors fined.

The TV screen

$8.5 million or something like that for a big television that hangs over centre court and couln’t, for weeks, give, you know, stats. But a helluva picture.

Welcome to our land

Raptors-Panathinaikos. International friendly, called early ‘cause the lights went out. Where’s the ouzo?

A ragged line

Not too many noticed but at pre-season opener this year, the out-of-bounds line was jagged, like it was laid down by a drunk. Out an inch here, two inches there, guess that jigsaw puzzle of a court was a bit tough to put together.

Pink is the new red

First time the new court arrives, the baseline and sideline stripes look quite pink. Some team officials quite red-faced, which is more the colour they wanted.

The swells live, um, swell

Not very many mortals are allowed into the directors lounge down in the bowels but there was a time when it was supposed to be Gruntville. In the original plans, the whole lounge was to be incorporated into the press room; the Leaves got ownership and, ah, not so much. The media room now: “Worst in the league,” according to someone who’s been around.

KO’s good-bye press conference

A classic moment in dead man walking, maybe the single-best self-inflicted firing ever. He stands in a small, packed room off the Raptors locker room and says something to the effect of “My bosses don’t want to win, all they want to do is sniff jocks and crowd my locker room and it’ll never change until they do.” Greatest “I’m getting my butt fired and I’m going out guns, a’blazing thing the building will ever see.

How to throw a party 101

They do catering well and they can put on a good bash. Just like the ACC hosted on June 24, 2004. “With the eighth selection in the 2004 NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors select Rafael Araujo of Brigham Young University.” The booing that followed was classic. Almost as classic as the momentary stunned silence. Yeah, heckuva party that was.

But, seriously, Happy Birthday, ACC.

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Cue the spooky music

Jonesy and I were looking down at the Knicks bench before the game and spied Herb Williams and grew wistful. The hard-core among you will remember that he was a Raptor for a game, obtained in a trade that got Toronto Doug Christie with the provision that he would be immediately waived so he could go back to the Knicks.

Except for one thing: Then-coach Brendan Malone wanted to win, he loved veteran players and instead of letting Herb have a night off for his only game with the Raptors, Brendan rode him for 31 minutes that night in Utah.

The date:

Feb. 22, 1996.

Yesterday’s date:

Feb. 22, 2009.

Ooooh, scary.

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And you want even scarier?

In that game, a 102-86 Jazz win, Utah pulled away with a 47-point fourth quarter. I mention this only because the number jumped out at me when I was checking the boxscore and it now becomes the single highest scoring quarter by a Raptor opponent ever. They had somehow missed it all these years and it wasn’t in the record book.

It will be now. Thanks to Herb.

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He’s no Antoine Walker but, stolen from the AP story, …

Pops Mensah-Bonsu scored 39 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to help the Austin Toros defeat the Colorado 14ers 131-124 in overtime on Sunday.

Just thought you’d like to know.

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A Bosh query, again:

Q: Watching this season, do you believe Bosh is a 'max' player who can be the key piece to build a championship team around (like a Duncan or Garnett). I was convinced that all the Raps needed was to add pieces around him, but now I'm not sure. I figured they had the PG (Calderon and Ford) and centre (O'Neal and Bargs). Is it a matter of complimentary pieces still not being here, coaching, or is it an example of a guy putting up numbers on lousy/mediocre teams.

Bo C, Toronto

A: There’s a flaw in your thinking. And it’s this:

The Spurs didn’t build “around” Tim Duncan, he joined David Robinson and thrived when they got Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Garnett, was to some, an under-achieving big who didn’t come through at crunch time until he joined Ray Allen and Paul Pierce and one year he had better teammates in Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, he got to the Western Conference final.

Here? His teammates haven’t been good enough and he’s had his struggles. He coaching could better and he could be better. It’s a combination of things but it can be corrected.

So, yes, I do think Chris Bosh, playing with two other all-stars, can win an NBA title or play for one. It’s a matter of finding those guys.

“Max” player? Is he worth 20 per cent of whatever the cap number is? Sure. As long as he’s playing for a team with GM that can use that other money to get better players.

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Action: David Lee

Reaction: Good not great

Took some heat during the game yesterday when I suggested the Knicks forward is more over-rated than under-rated.

Here’ why: He is a good player, no question, works hard all the time, it seems, has a nose for the ball.

He is absolutely, at this point in his career, limited offensively and I’d suggest on a team that’s not hoisting 30-something threes a game and shooting within seconds of getting possession, he might not be the Chamberlain-esque rebounder some make him out to be.

Would I like him on my team? Indeed.

Do I think he’ll ever play in an all-star game? I’d be surprised.

Can he be the focal point of any quasi-good team? No.

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Doug Does Economics

Hey Doug, Just saw your short video on the Raptors/Knicks game. Just one question, in the pantheon of economic speak, with billions and trillions being bandied about, what's a cabillionaire?

Allan S, Vancouver

A: Actually, I believe it’s “kabillion” and it’s the sum total of all the bailouts to banks, auto companies but not beat grunts being kicked around today.

Or it’s how much these guys would pay for a 50-win season.

Comments

[Matt]

The Raps can be fun to watch when they put it all together. Hopefully they can build off this game, stay healthy, and give us something to cheer about the rest of the season. Then again, I think that the same has been said a few times this season and the Raps have consistently disappointed. Oh well. Go Raps go.

[Mike U]

Would you trade Bosh for Yao?

I was just watching some Rockets highlights, and I started thinking that Yao and the team have been stuck in the same position (standings-wise) no matter which players surround Yao. I know the health of T-mac, Yao and others has significantly slowed down their progress, but when would you say that Yao Ming should be moved?

Would either GMs even consider it?

[robguy]

Love the blog Doug! Anyways, while I am a Bosh fan, I found it quite interesting yesterday on the Knicks TV broadcast how the announcers kept wondering whether Bosh was a "max" guy and thought he was invisible during the game. We know he is playing hurt but they kept pointing out how it seemed Bosh was invisible on the floor. They were impressed by Bargnani's work on both ends of the court. I guess they do not read your blog and some of these comments!!!

[Michael]

KO’s good-bye press conference

A classic moment in dead man walking, maybe the single-best self-inflicted firing ever. He stands in a small, packed room off the Raptors locker room and says something to the effect of “My bosses don’t want to win, all they want to do is sniff jocks and crowd my locker room and it’ll never change until they do.” Greatest “I’m getting my butt fired and I’m going out guns, a’blazing thing the building will ever see.

Doug, this is classic but Who's KO?

Blogger's note: For real? Kevin O'Neill.

[Tim MacLeod]

Hey Doug,
A little research for you. They often show at the start of games the raptors record against the opponent they are playing. The raptors havent seem to won many all time series. Is there any team in the league that they have a winning record against?

Blogger's note: I'll check and let you know later

[Pharaoh]

Doug, I can't remember the last time a Raps player pulled down 16 boards, can you? Now I'm not saying that Marion is the second coming or anything like that, but wow, what an astronomical improvement over Moon.

Blogger's note: Ah, Bosh has had three games of at least 16 rebounds this season and Jermaine O'Neal had two. An impressive number but certainly not unprecedented.

[K. Byron Scott]

Maybe the Raptors are starting to figure out the running game the Triano has been preaching from the sideline for months now. In yesterday's game I saw more easy buckets than the whole of February combined(albeit against a porous Knicks D). If they can continue to bring energy like that, they might just have a chance.

David Lee is not a "superstar" but he's a guy I want on my team. He gets to the right spots, and does the little things around the bucket. Like a younger, smaller version of Rasho, he has basketball smarts.

Doug, do you see any possibilty of interest in making an offer to Lee by the Raptors?

[Claudio DiG.]

You know, Doug, I was just expecting some comments like this on David Lee. Of course, you rush at it and I got what I expected. Now, please, can you explain why all you said on the poor Lee doesn't apply with other dozens & dozens of players with a very good name in NBA, or even with your beloved Chris Bosh?
David Lee looks familiar to me, more & more than many others. I'd love to have him in T.O., and spending much less millions for him than for the gritty defence and the polyedrical offence of CB4! Thanks

[Raptoronto]

"Sure. As long as he’s playing for a team with GM that can use that other money to get better players." - D.Smith

Are you insinuating the current GM cannot?

Blogger's note: No.

[Ekim D]

I thought I’d share this with everyone b/c it ticked me off as a Canadian basketball fan:

During the Celltics-Suns game on NBC yesterday, the half-time show included highlights of the days completed games. The panel consists of Stu Scott, Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon, and the Raps-Knicks highlights come on. Speaking of Bargnani’s performance, Stu Scott says something like: “Bargnani has another strong game – why don’t we talk about him more?” Immediately after saying that, Barry responds with “Because he plays up in Toronto” in a derisive, sarcastic manner – though, to their credit, both Wilbon and Scott interrupted him before he could finish saying Toronto.

This absolutely kills me – Toronto has been in the top of the league attendance-wise for the past decade (and were a top-5 team for a few seasons, I believe), has a rabid fan base (as Doug can attest to), spends to the max … yet, the media covering the NBA south of the 49th refuse to give the franchise any respect. After watching players refuse to play for Toronto, force trades and buyouts and the inability to attract top-quality FAs – I have to wonder why the NBA head offices don’t try to put a lid on this, as it undermines an important franchise. No wonder no NBA players wants to come here.

[Jack]

Don't let Jose bring the ball down on offense?
Sounds like a good plan to me.

[Pete]

Bosh is taking a lot of heat for his lack of scoring these days but I really don't mind him scoring 10 ~ 15 points as long as Bargs score over 20. Bosh being doubled every time has allowed Bargs to get many open looks - and I honestly think Bargs is better at scoring than Bosh. As long as Bosh grabs the board and blocks occasionally, he is doing enough to keep this team going. We don't need him to demand the ball and score 40 and then lose the game. Marion is like Moon 2.0. We now just need some consistency from the 2 guard position which AP brings at times but Kapono I have doubts.

[Michael]

I agree with others that the raptors are fun to watch if they play like this and Marion is so much better in this lineup then Moon. But they were playing the Knicks so I think they will get wide open looks and easy basket. And paying $17 million, you've to play better than Moon. I think Marion is good but paying that amount of money we should get the player that can do dribble penetration all by himself. JS can dribble and pass but he always needs the screen.

We really need the player that can do it all by himself by dribbling the ball to create his own shot or set up others. If we don't get this player we won't be going anywhere. Every good teams get at least 1 of those player. Look at Spurs(Parker, MG), Lakers (KB), Cleveland(James), Boston(Pierce), Portland(Roy).

I hope BC will get that type of player in the offseason. Maybe, not a superstar but have that ability. If not I think we won't be going anywhere and properly losing Bosh as well.

[Tabber]

To Ekim, it doesn't matter what the topic, Americans (generally, not all, just most) just don't think about Canada much - or any other country. I didn't see the Celts/Suns, but when you say "in a derisive, sarcastic manner", might it have been that Barry was denigrating Americans' ignorance of Canada, rather than Canada itself? Maybe he was poking fun at those Americans who ignore anything outside their border? Just a thought, I wouldn't be surprised at your interpretation at all, but I'm not sure how to take his words, not having heard them myself.

[Serge P]

Couldn't agree with you more Doug, David Lee is overrated. He's an energy guy off the bench, like a Varejo, not a franchise-type player. If Lee is one of your top 3 guys you're not going anywhere (see "Knicks" 2006-2009). If you read the NY papers every now and then they're always killing Lee for not playing any defense whatsoever; he'll get you 15 and 10 but he gives up 25-15 on the other end.

[Erc]

This game does NOT prove that the Raps have pride. It proves that they have a sense of self-preservation.
After that spineless, heartless, soul-less effort in MSG, did anyone NOT expect them to come up with a better effort.
THAT is the problem. They are not a bad basketball team. If they were, some of their losses would be excusable. How many times this year have they given 0 effort and then came back with a win over the Spurs or Magic.
It seems like they need to be driven to give an honest effort and once that nasty business is out of the way, they go back to doing what they do best -- float.
DO a number of them have drug and/or alcohol problems? Are they just happy to be there? WHAT makes this bunch fail to tick until they stink up the joint so badly they're forced to play hard for a game or two?
Merion looks like a basketball player. Bargnani looks like a scorer. Graham and Ukic might get better. Blow the rest up.
They are like certain chemicals -- individually they may be realtively harmless but together, they're lethal!

[Dan W]

The comment from Barry could be taken out of context. He may have just ment because Toronto is playing so poorly this year. I think the Raptors were talked about quite a bit at the start of the year when they came in with high expectations. You could be right as well and it was ahot at Toronto.
It's nice Andrea is starting to get noticed. He is still not consistant, but he is better more often and his rebounding and defense have been steady. If his numbers stay around what they are now next year he could be an all star reserve at the center spot. His numbers will stay in the 20's if he keeps getting to the ft line. I've given up on the playoffs this year. If they play more games like yesterday I'll still enjoy watching. It's the games they lack effort that are dissapointing. Ukic on his own is pretty fun to watch. He looks like some average guy snuck onto the court and managed to keep up with all the athletes.

[christine]

To Tim: Isn't it the Sac Kings?

[Camilo Pascual]

Hi Dog: Great game by Parker yesterday, but clearly he is not starter. Next year He would be good to come off the bench at a low salary, 3 million/season. If Marion could be a solution at the SF if they decide to resign him, what can be done about the 2 position? There will be no money left. The Raptors will have enough money to sign one proven good talented player. what's left to improve at the 2 position? Mid-Level exception and trading Kapono?

[Dana, Hopewell Cape, NB]

Hey Doug as you have so often experienced in this blog people are so quick to criticize but so reticent to credit. If you are a fan I don't see how you can look at this last game and say well they only beat the Knicks who are going nowhere and have a porous defence.
Hey they got their butt kicked and instead of lying down and sucking their thumb they got up off their ass and did something about it. I don't know what some fans are looking for but this is one fan who likes that kind of mental toughness.
As the departed and missed JO stated, there are lots of talented teams in the NBA so it takes more than talent to be a winner. I wish the Raps could have kept him or could get someone near his class and ability that they can afford because with JO and Marion this would be a tough team to beat. Unfortunately you can't buy heart.

[Harley]

The season this year has definitely been a disappointment. However, I’ve never been particularly optimistic about their ability to get beyond the 1st round, even if they made the playoffs this year. Even after they traded for JO, I’ve always thought that they needed to correct three things to become a legitimate contender: (1) Replace JO with a piece that doesn’t overlap with Bosh and Bargnani (JO’s production came at the expense of Bosh or Bargnani – not in addition to); (2) Sign a “decider” that can literally change outcomes for the team when things are on the line (neither Bosh nor Calderon are “deciders” ... they play best within themselves and don’t have the mental makeup or tools to consistently alter game momentum when it is required); (3) A deeper bench (cannibalizing the bench to do the JO deal has really hurt production from this team this year).

I think that Marion is a much better fit for the Raptors than JO, so we’re starting to address (1). If the team can pull things together, and at least finish with positive momentum and better chemistry by the end of this season, then I’ll be happy (enough to renew my season’s tickets for next year :-) ) even without any playoff appearances. Next year, they need to fix (2) and (3). Perhaps they will have a shot at repatriating Nash, given the financial struggles of the Suns and his pending free-agency :-). Definitely, the rise of Graham and Ukic, and the pending opportunity to resign Delfino will strengthen the bench.

So, next year might be interesting – but only if they can get things together and start playing more cohesive team ball for the rest of this season. Forget even talking about the playoffs this year – just play each game with pride, and build confidence and momentum going into the summer to allow BC to assemble a real threat next season.

Go Raps Go !!!

[Pete]

To Mike U, it would be stupid to move Yao if you were a GM. He is like a jackpot in terms of marketing (billions of jersey sales), he also has established himself very well within the organization as well as the city of Houston. None sense trading Yao.

[SJ]

Camilo...don't kid yourself....AP won't come back - and shouldn't come back for that salary. He'd be making at least double what you said (or @/more than MLE) over in Europe - and no tax....so that's even more in net money.

But I see you didn't even notice that Banks makes the SAME salary as AP...and delivered some awesome 10 min and 2.6ppg...14.3% from 3pt!!!
What about our 3pt specialist...paid >6mil/year..?

[Anthony]

Very interesting seeing AP's line yesterday. Yes he played well, but the key was he got to the basket with 7 lay-ups (8 attempts). These were gimmes. Was this a result of playing up-tempo, the opponent or Marion being in the line-up?

Same can be said of Bargnani's game. He was aggressive and made jumpers, while also attacking the basket (resulting in free throws).

So I am sure we are back on the wagon and excited to see if the Raps keep it up a few games.

I'm curious as to how low we rank in the league in lay-ups and dunks? I imagine we are at the bottom and that is an issue. Even yesterday New York made more lay-ups/dunks then the Raps, but it was a huge change that for once we did run and have a number of easy baskets, particularly AP.

[Ekim D]

Tabber and Dan W - it is entirely possible that I mistook the context ... but it was the way he said it that led me to believe it was not. When he said it, he snickered - that made me think it was a 'who cares about Toronto?' type of comment. Dan - you could be right, it may have been due to their poor play. I can't find it anywhere online, but my interpretation (based on the snicker and with how Scott and Wilpon both seemed to try and drown him out) was that it was a shot at the city/franchise.