It's much more a matter of being smart

DAVID COOPER/TORONTO STAR

All this running talk and suddenly everyone's all atwitter.

A nice quiet day yesterday around the lads. Everyone was pretty much doing the same story everyone did on Sunday, more energy, more speed, fun and games and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Let’s see ‘em do it two games in row, then we’ll talk.

Until then …

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I’m so tired of all this running talk that it feels like I’ve been actually running.

(Of course if I had, it’d be carrying around an oxygen tank and be hooked up to heart monitors so it’d hard to type).

Really, it isn’t “run-and-gun” because that’s the old Paul Westhead Denver style or the Mike D’Antoni Phoenix style and to be even marginally successful, it takes that kind of unique blend of talent that doesn’t exist on this roster.

So spare me all that kind of chatter about these guys.

What the Raptors want to do is play smart offensive basketball. It’s that simple.

When they rebound, get going; don’t wait around to hand the ball off to the point guard, either pass it to midcourt or dribble it yourself. It helps to have more solid ball-handlers in Anthony Parker and Shawn Marion on the court so the bigs can look either for them or then can take off themselves.

And then it’s just a matter of taking what you get on the offensive end. If there’s a runout layup, great; if there’s an open three for a trailer like Bargnani or Calderon, great; if there’s an easy post up for Bosh, great.

If not, get into your stuff.

But, please, we need to stop with all this blather about it being some quasi-revolutionary style of basketball. It’s one that’s worked for good teams for eons, even marginally good teams, and it’s something these guys should have been doing all season.

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We’re all a’twitter over this tweeting stuff over here now.

Thanks to people who know what they’re doing – as opposed to, say, me – little “tweets” go out whenever I do anything. Work-wise, that is.

It’s at http://www.twitter.com/SmithRaps in case you were all wondering. And I hope you were.

Now all it’s going to take is me to figure out how to use it without it being too much extra work for me.

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Q: Hi Doug, since becoming the starting centre 27 games ago, Bargnani has averaged 19 points and 6.7 boards per night (if he can ever add 5-6 points per night by getting some easy low post points watch out). Has he finally turned the corner for good?

Andrew J, London, England

A: Hmm, a young teenaged 7-footer takes into his third year to fully develop? Wow, who would have seen that coming!

I have no idea if he’s turned a corner – I think he’s at least a long way around the bend – but I also think some people need to listen more closely when some NBA head coach suggests it takes time for a young teenage big man to develop.

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This is odd. Trying to do my usual “what are they saying” thingy, I go to the Star-Tribune site and can’t find a single word of news on the Timberwolves?

Hmm.

Anyway, here’s what they’ve got over at the Pioneer Press.

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So, Anthony Parker has zero points in New York and 24 two days later and it confirms a theory we’ve had for almost three years now.

No matter how, he’s going to average 12 a game. It might be 0, 0, 0, 48 or 0, 24 but when it comes to the end of year? A dozen.

Wait and see.

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Speaking of, remember a couple of weeks ago when the shackles were coming off Jason Kapono? He was going to be the modern-day Vinny Johnson?

It was in Memphis right?

Check out the FGAs since then:

15, 10, 16, 9, 13, 5. Which by my math averages to about 11.3 per game.

Before that? In the first 50 games, he had 354 attempts, an average of 7.0.

It’s coming, slowly but surely. But it’s coming.

And I think if they play like they say they want to (and that’s a rather substantial ‘if’) he should benefit perhaps more than anyone..

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A Marion question from the past:

Q: Doug, I am not sure if I am remembering this correctly, but I thought you were not all that fond of Marion's game in the past. Have you changed your mind or has he gotten better?

Terry D, Kingston

A: I still don’t think he’s adept at creating his own jumper and I think there are serious questions about his shooting range (the two things that led me to believe he was a product of Steve Nash) but I am impressed with his court savvy. The guy just knows how to find space and he has the quickest second jump of any Raptor that I can remember.

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I’ve been reading an awful lot the past few days about Stephon Marbury and, to a lesser extent, Joe Smith and how they’ll be bought out and sign with new teams this week.

Know what I’d do if I were the Knicks and Oklahoma City?

I’d wait one more week, until March 2. That way, both could still sign with championship contenders but neither would be eligible for the playoffs; the deadline for that is March 1.

Why? I guess I’m just opposed to players engineering their own buyouts so they can go where they want (which is quite different from what Sacramento’s Mikki Moore is doing) and keeping them out of the post-season may seem vindictive but it may give one or of them cause to think about staying where they are. And it may stop teams (Boston, are you seeing this?) from sending out signals to guys looking for a change.

In Smith’s defence, he’s never suggested he wanted to leave; in fact, he said last week he wanted to stay to honour his contract so maybe he wouldn’t be too put out by still being a Thunder this time next week.

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From the Department of Good News Department:

Hump was supposed to dump the crutches yesterday. Doesn’t mean he’ll be back on the court any time soon but it’s an important step. And hopefully it'll mean the return of Ask Hump, although that will be hurt by the absence of the comedic stylings of his locker-neighbour Jamario.

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A good point, and a defence:

Q: Doug, I agree, for the most part, that the Big Ticket and the Big Fundamental owe their teammates over the years to their success. However, I can't let you gloss over Timmy's accomplishments - before Parker and Ginobili played any significant role in the Spurs' success, the Greatest Power Forward of All Time had already collected an NBA MVP award (2002), a ring (1999), a finals MVP award (2002).

Craig M, Vancouver

A: I agree wholeheartedly that he’s the greatest power forward of all time but take a look at those rosters. See what’s there? That Robinson guy, who was no slouch, and a huge factor in both those championships.

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Comments

[Randy N]

Although I do believe it takes time for big men to develop, in all fairness, Andrea Bargnani was 21 when he played his first NBA game, Doug. ;)

Hopefully the growth continues.

Blogger's note: My math skills leave something to be desired. Thanks

[Eric]

No, Doug, unfortunately your excuse of Anthony Parker's inconsistency doesn't fly with me: "at the end of the year"? Then why not throw all mentions of "inconsistency" out the window for every player in the league?! If all that matters is their final ppg average, nobody's really inconsistent!!!

Let's talk Good Joey/Bad Joey for a second. Mr Graham averaged .338 ppm in his first year, .383 his 2nd, .413 his 3rd and .382 this year- pretty consistent! No more inconsistent from that angle than Good Anthony/Bad Anthony- in fact, less so.

As a STARTER, Bad Anthony put up a donut in arguably the most important game of the year last Friday. Good Anthony followed with 24 on Sunday- against the same team and players- but that does nothing to excuse him from the first game in New York. All the guy does is play inconsistently (Bad Anthony usually in important games, Good Anthony in less important ones... but we won't go there). You find a way to cheer him for it and criticize Joey Graham for who knows what reason, and maybe that's why some fans can't stand your opinions sometimes. Grow up and check your bias at the door.

Blogger's note: Dude, I don't know what it is with you and "excuses." The Parker thing was an observation. You gotta chill.

[Matt]

I agree there is something wrong with the Celtics being able to add significant parts after the trade deadline. To me their championship run last year was a little tainted given they were able to add PJ Brown after the fact. That said, the NBA trading system is a little too restrictive for my taste so I guess the fact that a player can be waived and sign where ever he likes just balances that flaw out. After all, I'm sure Boston would have loved to trade for Smith (but not Starbury) prior to deadline.

Just out curiosity, do you foresee the trade restrictions being loosened a bit in the next CBA?

Blogger's note: The next CBA will be all about money; trade stuff will be so secondary they might not even deal with it

[Dallas]

Doug:

you've been stating lately that David Lee' success this year is a product of D'antoni, yet you say Marion in Phoenix was a product of Nash? Do you feel Nash was just a product of D'antoni too. I've noticed a little hometown hypocrisy, not just you, in that people will discount David Lee's success this year, yet they have no problem whit Steve Nash's MVP selections. I suppose maybe David Lee and Al Harrington are products of Chris Duhon?

Thanks

Blogger's note: Of course Nash was a product of the style his coach let him play. Why would anyone think otherwise?

[Kyron]

Do the powers at be know that you're plugging a blog at "That other fishwrap in town"? :)

I think to get your point across you're going to have to do a feature on David Robinson because I don't think anybody remembers exactly how good he was.

[Claudio DiG.]

Just a couple of readings:
1) Doug Smith before the game in New York: “But they are going to pass some teams, of that I'm sure; Granger's out, Milwaukee has to come back to earth, Charlotte's over-achieving”
2) Doug Smith the day after: “The playoffs? Pah! The playoffs are so far away they may as well be on Mars”.
3) Frank Isola from the NY Daily News: “The other pertinent question is, what is all the fuss about with Chris Bosh? The Raptors' All-Star power forward will be a free agent in 2010 and is often linked to the best of that class - LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. But Bosh, playing with a sprained right knee, has already shown that he is fragile. Plus, it's hard to call him an elite player when the Raptors are 21-36”

[Aaron Campbell]

What do you think of this buzzer beater?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0afz7lz7KGM

The announcers made it seem like it was a nobrainer. I didn't think he got it off on time personally.

Blogger's note: Pretty lucky shot

[dc]

i don't get it. maybe it's not raptor fans that started or spread this run-and-gun garbage chatter.
why is the article in this morning's sports section mostly a superficial analysis with quotes from triano about how they want to push the tempo? personally i agree with what you just said in the blog. but the article i read was just on and on about this supposed running philosophy.
it's ridiculous, the suns had a style of play based on their core players, they tried to change philosophies and not core players and failed.
pushing the ball up the floor is nothing new in basketball, it just requires the will of the players to commit to not waiting for the point guard to set up the offense and taking the first good look that the defense gives (as you expertly explained). maybe some of your colleagues could use a refresher course in basketball fundamentals *cough**griffin*cough*

[Jack]

Jamario will be a free agent after this season, right?
Maybe there's a good chance he'll sign with the Raptors if this up-tempo style of play is going to continue next year. He's not a flashy player but he hustles and fights for rebounds. That's an important part of a team.

[Jamie Buckingham]

I am actually excited about tonights game agianst Minnesota!
Marion does have excellent court savvy (well put Dougie), and now him alone has made the Raptors exciting for me again. He add's that "savvy" that has been missing for a long, long time. I hope he stay's after this year!

[Omid]

I have a question doug, if the raptors decide to to with another coach this summer
Then what happens to jay does he go back to being an assistant.

Blogger's note: No idea, we'll have to wait until the summer to see

[ale]

hey mr smith, any news about raptors taking a look at some veteran players to add to the roster? i believe you said they were looking for another big man or a shooting guard..

Blogger's note: I doubt they do anything soon. But they've got their eyes open for a ninth or 10th guy

[Michel G]

Sam Mitchell said that once. That it takes 4 years for a big man to fully develop in the NBA. Bargnani is proving him right. Maybe this year won't be a waste. Everybody's true colours have come out and the team's weaknesses can now be addressed by management. Now, I don't give my opinion very often, but why in the hell would we trade Chris Bosh. I doubt he's going anywhere. Not with the kind of money he'd be giving up. With the pieces that Raps already have and good management, Toronto can be a good entertaining team for a long time. I don't care about championships. After 40 years of cheering for my teams, only the Jays have won a title. I just want a team that can win a round or two, and I think we have the nucleus here to that here. Now its up to management.

[Rob.V]

@ Ekim

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.*

Sorry to regurgitate this if everyone has moved on however I didn’t get a chance to get to our beloved blog yesterday.

Ekim – I guess you have to consider “the source”. You would never hear a respectable broadcaster take a shot at any city or franchise for that matter however let’s not kid ourselves... it happens, and it’s not out of context with your thinking.

(on a slighlty different note - but a similar happening).

A couple of years ago when we were in first place in our division I was watching TNT and EJ, Kenny, and Charles were working through the highlights. I’m trying to recall (but can’t) the day because I do remember there being a handful of games on tap… so it may not have been a Thursday?? Anyway, we had won this night, so I was curiously waiting to see the highlights. I was interested to see what the 3 buffoons had to say about the game/team as things were going well for us. The highlights end and there was nothing, nada! No mention of the game, or the first place Raptors… ZERO highlights.

I thought about it the next morning and went back through the recording from beginning to end (as it was late the night before) thinking I may have just missed it. Again, no highlights, not even so much as one word about the team. The Knicks were near (if not) the worst team in the league at the time, however these “lowlights” they had of course. They also had the Boston highlights (another horrendous team at the time). They were going on about how New York and Boston (maybe Philly, can’t recall exactly) had an “outside” shot of making the playoffs. The show ends, and not one word about the Atlantic Division leader, the Raptors. Pathetic!

I also recall Barkley saying on a different occasion (that same season and again on TNT) that they do not talk about the Raptors because they are “prejudiced against Canada”. He of course played this off with a couple of laughs after the “joke”... however it got me thinking. Hmm?

As a fan of the Raptors (and the game in general), I was insulted at the time. I believe I was so hot about it that I emailed Swirsky as there was no blog available back then to vent to “Dr. Smith”. Swirsky’s response at the time was - “ I know what you mean, it’s frustrating. Just wait until TNT is forced to broadcast a Raptors playoff game though”.

Still sucked though!! But maybe they just didn’t have the game tape or something? Yeah, right!!

My point being that, this stuff does indeed happen on different levels. In fairness, it’s not just us. There are many other cities in the smaller U.S markets that get beat down as well. The league should shut these neanderthals up. If for nothing else, because it’s good business sense for the NBA.

Canadians generally try to be politically correct, and in doing so, we justify or make excuses for some of these morons… “maybe it was taken out of context”.

What I’m suggesting is that maybe it was taken exactly the way it was intended for you to hear it. After all.. perception IS reality. If so, F!! Jon Barry. Who made him an authority on ANYTHING… and that includes Basketball!

There, I said it for all of us Canadians. End o rant!

Doug, you must have seen/heard or experienced some of what we are discussing here. Anything come to mind?. Any stories about the American networks or broadcasters that have possibly perturbed you over the years?

Blogger's note: Actually, not really. Once my friends in the media got to Toronto and saw it, they all pretty much love it.

[Mike]

To be fair to Marbury, I don't think this is the same as some other veterans who have tried to negotiate a buyout. He came in willing to play and when they decided to bench him for the season he said he wanted to be bought out. Besides why do the Knicks care if he goes to a contender, its not like they are in contention.
I think one part of this story that is overlooked is the troublsome precedent it is setting. Here's the scenario, an aging veteran who can still play is in a contract year on a bad to marginal team. The team decides it wants to try to save some money so they bench that player for the season. This is essentially holding the player's future earning potential hostage so that the team can try to get out from some of the "bad" guaranteed money they agreed to pay. And if they pick the right player (like a Marbury or an Artest say at some later date) the player comes off looking like the greedy bgad guy. What do you think?

Blogger's note: There are avenues available to a player in that situation. See Tinsley, Jamaal. I still don't think teams should waive players before March 1.

[DougG]

The thing I love about Marion is his presence on the offensive boards. We haven't had that in maybe forever.

I can see now why they called Moon the poor man's Marion.

I hope Marion can handle cold weather.

[Dallas]

Doug:

you've been stating lately that David Lee' success this year is a product of D'antoni, yet you say Marion in Phoenix was a product of Nash? Do you feel Nash was just a product of D'antoni too. I've noticed a little hometown hypocrisy, not just you, in that people will discount David Lee's success this year, yet they have no problem whit Steve Nash's MVP selections. I suppose maybe David Lee and Al Harrington are products of Chris Duhon?

Thanks

Blogger's note: Of course Nash was a product of the style his coach let him play. Why would anyone think otherwise?

Hi Doug,

thanks for your response. I have a follow up question, Do you think Nash was deserving of his MVP selections or were his stats artificially inflated by the coach?

And do you see where it could be construed as being hypocritical to give the credit for Lee, to Dantoni, but the credit for Marion to Nash?

Thanks again.

Blogger's note: Yes, he was deserving.
Semantics, maybe? Degrees? It follows that if Lee is a product of D'Antonio and Nash was a product of D'Antonio, Marion would be a product of Nash. if you want to skip the two-time MVP middle man (and I don't think there are too many PGs in the NBA would could have implemented D'Antoni's wishes as well as Nash) go right ahead.
And now I'm going to tweet, or pack for the trip; not sure which.
Thanks

[James]

Doug:

I have a question about "Max Money Deals" and how they relate to the salary cap. I thought I read somewhere that a "max" deal is a percentage of the league cap, limiting the total value of the deal.

With the salary cap expected to fall the next two years, do you think you might see some of the 2010 free agent class sign extentions early to lock in the money they are to receive on their "max" deal? Would there be any benefit to the player to do so?

Sorry about the math related question:)

James

Blogger's note: They might, but I doubt it. It could very well be they are as interested in new opportunities with new teams as they are more money.

[yertu damkule]

'hustles and fights for rebounds.'

jack - that was about jamario moon, right? really?

[Mike D]

Doug, what was more amazing -- Devin Harris's shot, or the fact that the noise at a Nets game came from the fans rather than the speakers?

[Paul]

oh no! I agree with yertu! Jack, they just had a fire sale on Moon jerseys, I think you can rest assured that he's not going to be a Raptor next year. He may even be in Europe (where that twang might not be so adorable...)

[John P]

Season's almost done and the amount of games I have not seen because of TSN2 has been utterly unacceptable.

I've heard from people that Rogers has been telling customers that the reason they can't get TSN2 is because Bell owns the Raptors and they wouldn't allow it. I've heard that Rogers got outbid by TSN for Raptors games, so they won't let the channel on their system out of spite.

Can you please PLEASE do a feature story in your newspaper detailing this ENTIRE sordid affair? How did it start? Who are the players? What are their roles? This whole debacle is an outrage, and the fact that more people aren't outraged is an outrage in and of itself, and I think a lot of that is because they can't wrap their head around what's going on here.

I need to know the whole story Doug. How is it possible that a service provider can actively block me from watching a third of the games my home NBA team are playing? Or is that even what's happening? I think we're all counting on you Doug.

[Pete68]

David Robinson along with Tim Duncan formed the "twin towers" most of these kids have no clue that they Spurs were a powerhouse long before Parker and the others came along. Doug don't you think that both Kevin Love and Brook Lopez are adapting to the NBA game quick both are pretty good in the post?

Blogger's note: Haven't seem much of Love, who I think is under-sized and he was far from impressive in Minnesota; but I like Lopez a lot.

[Pete68]

Doug i am also willing to bet that Moon will get a deal with the Heat, Stan will do wonders with him plus the guy is a bargain.

Blogger's note: I hope Jamario makes tens of millions of dollars over the course of his career

[Rob.V]

Personally, I don’t care who the coach is, what system you are playing, or even if you are somewhat offensively challenged.

David Lee has 44-45 double doubles... that's impressive!!!

He's young, still learning... and even Isaiah couldn’t ruin him... he's legit!

How many Raptors have you seen get possibly 60 double doubles in a season over the first 13 year history?. It's not easy.

Blogger's note: No one ever suggested he wasn't good, as I wrote:

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.