Suns hurting; is it a help or a hindrance?

Well, I’m getting a wee bit better on the time zone thing but it’s going to take me another day, at least, to get used to working outside in the 20C sunshine. But I’ll try to improve, promise.

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What’s the difference between smart basketball, which the Raptors are trying to play, and run-and-gun basketball, which is exactly not what they’re trying to do? Let Jay explain it:

“We’re not necessarily running to take a shot in five or six seconds. We’re running to look for an advantage and create tempo and flow and not hold on to the basketball. That’s what our focus has been and we’ve been pretty good at it the last little bit.”

So, heretofore, the phrases ‘run-and-gun’ and ‘Phoenix North’ are forever banned.

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It used to be, back in the day, you’d get into the end of an NBA practice and more often than not see some three-point shooting contest, perhaps with some buttons on the line, between players and players and players and coaches or players and trainers or equipment guys.

Now? Not so much.

Now it’s halfcourt shooting games or H.O.R.S.E. competitions that we see and they’re even relatively rare. Sam used to get into a guy’s pocket every now and then – Fred Jones was his particular patsy if my memory’s is correct – and Jay as an assistant used to horse around a lot more than he does as the head coach.

The issue came up yesterday because as practice wound down, I was trying to develop the three-point streak story for the paper. It was impossible to find anyone who could remember those three-point post-practice contest and, given that every player in the NBA has recently sat through an anti-gambling meeting, no one was interested in talking about friendly wagers.

Of course, who’s the first guy to go to? Jason.

“No, it’s more halfcourt games or trick shot games like HORSE. No one really does a three-point game, especially now that I have a couple of trophies.”

The best post-practice halfcourt shooter in these parts? Mo Pete, by far. But Jay isn’t too bad, either.

So what are we reduced to for entertainment while waiting for guys to come over and chat? Yesterday, it was a school-yard shooting game between the true brains of the operation: Equipment and travel gurus Kevin DiPietro and Paul Elliott, fitness magician Keith D’Amelia and the video genius Casey Whalen.

“Look,” one guy said. “A game of midget Bump.”

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The word out of Phoenix is thatSteve Nash is “questionable” for tonight, which has to warm the cockles of your hearts, right?

Not sure how many of you were able to watch the Suns last night in L.A. (was it a TSN2 debacle?) but let me tell you they are “questionable” without him. Leandro Barbosa, who killed Toronto earlier this year as I recall, is a fine, fine player but he’s not a front line NBA point guard in the Nash mould. The Suns just didn’t look close to the same team.

But having an advantage over an injury-bothered team is nothing the Raptors have shown they can live with. Remember the times they’ve played teams – New Orleans and Memphis come quickly to mind, so does Milwaukee – that were missing key players?

That sure worked out well.

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Hey, you know how you hear all the time about coaches going in after games and ripping their players or praising them or making some heartfelt speech that rallies the troops for the next game?

Doesn’t happen with the Raptors.

This isn’t new at all, but I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned this before. Jay, after games, doesn’t talk, he calls the players in, says stuff like ‘okay, tomorrow at 11’ and then retreats to his office.

As he put it to us once:

“I may praise ‘em for the doing the wrong thing, I might criticize for the right thing. I need to sit back and see the tape before I really say anything.”

Makes sense to me, actually. Why say something in the emotion of the moment and then have to either backtrack or apologize after closer scrutiny.

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This is getting out of hand:

Q: I heard that Shawn Marion's underperformance is caused by him having a hard time adjusting to the cold weather north of the border. Is this true or just another rumor spread by the Raptors faithful?

Jonathan M, Thornhill

A: At first, I thought this was a joke and then I started thinking, ‘no, this is obviously the kind of crap that’s out there’ and it needs to be dealt with. And it’s not just you so don’t take it personally.

Marion made a joke about the Toronto weather, like we all do, and like something that can be fully expected from a guy who’s lived the past decade or so in Vegas, Phoenix and Miami.

He has nothing to do with his future, it has nothing to with your ill-conceived notion of “under-performance.” It has nothing to do with anything.

It was a throwaway line in a conversation and now it’s an issue?

I don’t know where you “heard” it but you’ve got to listen to other people.

My goodness, people have to chill.

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It’s official. I believe Don Nelson has lost his mind.

And, if this continues, making a mockery of the game.

I understand the need to see what young players have, especially if you’re a going-nowhere team playing out the string.

But the generally accepted practice, in basketball and in every sport, is to rest your best players much later in the season and only in games against equally inept teams playing for nothing.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that Charlotte wins tonight because the kids who replace Jamal Crawford suck. And then let’s say, for the sake of argument, the Bobcats go on to finish, oh, I dunno, eighth in the East by one game or by a tiebreaker, over someone like New Jersey or New York. Or even Toronto.

Will this game matter? It sure would.

Not sure what anyone can do but what Nellie’s doing is a shame.

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Riddle me this, Batman.

How tough is Ben Wallace?

A broken leg?

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See ya later, Nate.

Q: With Nathan assigned to the D-League, doesn't that take Toronto down to 12 players? How long can a team operate below the 13 player minimum? Is anyone being bought out of interest to this team? Keep up the good work.

Richard S, Lethbridge

A: Nate (and I actually asked him which he preferred, Nathan or Nate, and he said Nate) is still on the official roster, which keeps Toronto at the league-minimum 13. He’ll just be on the inactive list for as long as he’s in Idado (lucky soul), which might be three weeks or so.

And I don’t think a anyone being bought out is of any interest here.

They could do a guy for a 10-deal and even sign a free agent to a pro-rated minimum contract for the rest of the season and stay under the tax threshold but I’m not hearing there’s any significant interest in any one player right now.

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Comments

[pete]

So we can still use Phoenix of tha east, ha

[Alex]

Interesting bit about how Jay addresses the team after games. Its info like that that makes reading this blog so worth it. I dont know what is with Jay, maybe growing up through the ranks of basketball Canada but he seems to bring such a fresh approach to coaching I love it and hope he gets a contract next year. To all of you who want a "big name coach" take a second and look at what Larry Brown and Don Nelson have done this year and then look at Doc Rivers and Mike Woodson whom 3 years ago people were ripping as the worst coaches in the league.
Players make the team, coaches are not saviors.

Suns games was on The Score last night Doug...TNT double header with Sir Charles who didnt mention his upcoming jail time...but they did have Dwayne Wade on sporting a stupid Nellie-like bandaid on his cheek...weird

Good Luck to Nate-Dawg in Idaho I hear its beautiful this time of year. Hopefully het gets to play 24-30 min a night.

Enjoy the sun Doug remember to put the lotion on your pasty Canuck skin hahaha.

[Kelsie]

Hey Doug,

Couple of comments. I have heard alot of anti-Bosh sentiments lately but if they get him signed to a long-term deal we're set for the forseeable future at least. I won't get into the debate about if he's a superstar or not. He's by far our best player and will be an absolute beast in 2-3 years once he gets a little meaner and stronger. Rarely in Toronto do we ever truly appreciate our players.

I've never been a fan of Marion however after seeing him up close he fits on this team, long-term? not so sure, but for now he does. He doesn't require shots, which is important on our team and for Bosh and Bargs development, he is very active and seems to be constantly moving and cutting towards the basket, not away from it like too many other players on this team. I know he's playing for a contract but I like his energy.

I hope and would be very pleased with Colangelo if he takes the stance in the off-season that we're a solid 2 guard away from being competetive and consistent again.
This point has been beaten home to death but a two that can penetrate and get to the line 5-6 times a game creates draw and kick scenarios, collapses the D, and now makes Bosh and Bargniani lethal. If opposing teams have to consistently worry about dribble penetration, it will create more space for B & B and I will certainly take my chances with those 2 shooting jumpers with space, for the time being. Naturally you want your players going to the bucket being aggressive, but we know what type of shooters both our bigs are, and this would present match-up problems from tip-off for opposing squads.

Unless my eyes were deceiving me when I was lying comfortably on my couch the other night, but I swore I saw that Mensa-Bonsu was called up by the Spurs earlier in the week? Did he not work out for the Raptors last week? Can a team work-out a player who has contractual obligations with another team or am I mis-informed?
Help me out here Doug cause I would actually like to see Pops play here. It would be in a limited role obviously but he would be far less out of his element than Jawai was. I thought there might be something in the works with Jawai being sent to the d-league and Pops being called up.

Blogger's note: Pops is indeed a Spur and, as a free agent, he was free to offer his services to whoever wanted him. Toronto took a look and passed; San Antonio had a spot for him.

[LeeZ]

Doug, I think you went way overboard on Nellie. While I see your point, his team bites and he wants to give a bunch of young players a prolonged audition. I have no problem with that. And if teams hovering around the playoff line are adversely impacted, they have no one to blame but themselves for being in that situation in the first place. It'd be different if Nellie were to selectively rest starters against one team but not another in a purposeful attempt to screw a particular team over, but he's not doing that. Power to him, I say. And I have to say, if the Raps go 0 for this road trip or maybe only win one, they should do likewise. Sit José down for the rest of the year and make Roko the starter. Two benefits: get José healthy ONCE AND FOR ALL, especially since he's likely to play for Spain in the off-season, and see what they have in Roko.

[dc]

doug, your info about how jay doesn't comment to the players after the game was fascinating! motivators often do their best when they simply don't react and instead formulate something constructive to say. sadly, this makes for much more predictable post-game interviews. kevin o'neil and sam mitchell spoiled you beat grunts for great material.

i think you are over-reacting to the situation with Don Nelson and the Warriors. If you read carefully, his plans are only to rest one starter for one game. he's still relying on Captain Jack, and if you pay attention, the warriors are devasted right now by injury, without their starting PG, SG, C, and PF!!!!!!!!!!!! what else do you want from the guy? the warriors and nelson are not crazy and they're not phoning it in. When Tim Duncan or Manu Gionobili sits for two games to rest a sore ankle, Greg Popovich says he has to monitor his players to prevent further injury. Nelson is faced with a much worse situation with some key players, only his team is lottery bound, not playoff bound, and you bust his chops for telling it like it is. NO chance that Nelson or Golden State would ever purposely tank. he'll take a chance on a hot hand, as he always does, and hope to pull off a miracle... that's just golden state and nelson's game.

[Pete]

Doug

Bargs is gonna need a flak jacket tonight Shaq is one huge dude with deadly elbows, Bargs will have to try to draw fouls early by driving then use the 3.I think Bosh will have to do the same thing drive and then it's up to our shooters to make shats. Your thought's?

Blogger's note: None, really. You're probably right

[Pharaoh]

Doug, first it was "had to get up this morning and shovel the sunshine", and now it's "it’s going to take me another day, at least, to get used to working outside in the 20C sunshine". Thanks for kicking sand in our collective faces. I've got a nice snowball with your name on it when you get back :-P

On another topic, has anyone within the Raptor organization ever opined that maybe Chris should put on some weight? He tends to have trouble with some of the bigger PFs in the league and although a few extra pounds might slow him down, they could also make his low post game more effective. Thoughts?

Blogger's note: More pounds might take away his quickness so, no.

[SY]

Doug,

I really like Jay but like any other first year head coaches in the league, there's learning curve. I am not sure he fits in the Raptorsland though as everyone seems to have a win now mentality.

Doug - Do you see him as a coach who can lead us to the 2 round w/ this group or a slightly better group next year? If not, what is your suggestions? Have him coach in the D-league? I really like to see Jay blossom.

-SY

Blogger's note: D Leauge? Not in a billion years. And, yes, with a group of better players, he could be coach of a team that wins a playoff round.

[sunil]

Hey Doug quick question. It looks like the salary cap is going to take a minor hit this year. Chances are it will take a major hit next year. Would it not make sense for bosh wade and company to sign extensions this summer.

Blogger's note: Depends on what they want most, money or options of moving to a new team.

[Alex]

Doug how rusty do you think Marbury will be if he plays tonight?

Blogger's note: Incredibly

[Conrad]

Alex,
Regarding Dwyane Wade's band-aid. He's been wearing them in games as well recently and had an American flag one during one broadcast I saw. The commentator mentioned something about having received stitches there.

[yertu damkule]

alex - all things considered, brown's done a respectable job with the bobbies. nellie's got a disaster of a roster to work with - some good young players, and some guys with definite skill, but it's all a mish-mash of talent, no real cohesion or sense of chemistry (baron held that team together, & maggette is the anti-baron).

actually, doc/woodson from 3 years ago basically went through what brown/nellie are going through now. you're only as good as your record, right?

doug - so, when pop rests his key players, it's a bold, strategic, 'big-picture' move. when nellie does the same, it besmirtches the integrity of the game ? never mind that, with a horrible team, it's completely justifiable for him to see what he actually has with respect to young talent.

nefariously, tanking can't hurt their draft position. seems like a good move for them all-around.

and if the raps can't make the playoffs (and they won't) by virtue of charlotte getting in ahead of them, i think the fingers of blame will safely be pointed in the proper direction.

[Doug]

other night in the Suns-Bobcats game when Nash went out...Suns up by 18, when he came back and tried to go again later the Suns were up by 4...he is the Suns, without him there so-so at best....

[Jason]

Doug,
I get the feeling the up tempo style is a BC mandate. First Sam tries it (unsucessfully) at the beginning of last season (I think) and now Jay is trying something similar only at a less breakneck speed.
Is this BC's doing and if it is, everyone can forget about Jay being the coach next year.

[dc]

after some feed-back, are you willing to change your stance on don nelson's sanity?

Blogger's note: You're kidding, right? Of course not

[Matt]

I agree Doug the Warriors team is a joke. Not just with him sitting his best player, but the reported infighting between Nelson and Mullin is embarrassing to the organization and the league, not to mention other reports have Nelson doesn't even really coach the team, but leaves that all to the assistants. The team has no plan (unless the plan was to see if a bunch of 6'7" forwards could gel as a team), and now has alienated the majority of it's best players. Good for other teams in the west I guess if the Warriors keep Nelson.

[Allen]

Doug, how has Nellie not been fired yet?

[Dan]

Regarding Marion and the weather, he's originally from Illinois, so I doubt that Toronto weather is any harder on him than it is on the rest of us.

[Vincent Lam]

Hey Doug, I've been away. But did you answer that question regarding the Mount Rushmore of sports writers? Also, have you read Bill Simmons article regarding league revenues? It's very interesting.

Blogger's note: I don't think I did; I will

[Darko]

On Raptor coaches talk after the game. Spoke to one Raptor player this summer and on this very subject, thing that drove him crazy was "it's always good job, good job" . Or " we get blown out by 20 and it's good job". Best was : "Hate to see bad job, if down 20 is good".
Support and encouragement is one thing, but lack of accountability ....

[Mr. Cook]

I'm with you won the GSW and Nelson's decision, Doug. Beyond the points you made (which were correct) it's a huge insult to any ticket-buying fan. If I had paid to see Toronto and they sat Chris and Jose to give the young guys a chance I would never pay to see a game again--and I'm a die-hard fan of the team like most readers of this blog.

It never fails to amaze me that people within the sports industry fail to realize that they are being paid millions of dollars to provide the highest level of entertainment possible for the fan-base. That's the crux of the business. So when you acknowledge defeat, acknowledge that you aren't trying your hardest, then 1) you don't deserve that million dollars and it should be given to charity and 2) no fan should be asked to pay for what you are admitting is sub-par entertainment. Disgusting.

[Cameron]

Hi Doug,

I was wondering if you had a chance to read Bill Simmons' latest article on espn.com regarding the incredibly precarious financial state of the league? He interprets much of the way the league has progressed this season (e.g. lack of trades, the importance of the Raef contract, aggressive ticket promotions, etc) as a direct result of the economy. For him, it is only going to get worse, with deep changes about to occur for the league.

I am interested to hear your reactions - whether this is too alarmist, or whether he is interpreting the situation correctly?

Blogger's note: I don't think anyone anywhere in the world can know for sure what the economic situation is going to be. I'm sure there will be less money for salaries and such but I'm not sure how much less and how much of an impact that will have.
Time are tough all over, sports are not inured of it.

[Graham]

Is anyone that reads this article actually able to watch the game tonight? It is on the channel that no one has.

I wonder when any action will ever be taken on this. It's a shame that fans can't watch their local team play.

[Doug]

that Bill Simmons article is not very enlightening, it's nothing no one didn't know already...like the economy the NBA , the NHL etc...will gom through a "correction" and thru that a may franchises may fold...it's happened before, it's really just fear-mongering....best point he raised was in regards to the officiating and i have been a fan for 35 years and never has the officiating been as consistently bad, inept or destroying the flow of the game as this year's refs...they are to be frank terrible...

[Jack]

Hey, you know how you hear all the time about coaches going in after games and ripping their players or praising them or making some heartfelt speech that rallies the troops for the next game?

Doesn’t happen with the Raptors.

This isn’t new at all, but I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned this before. Jay, after games, doesn’t talk, he calls the players in, says stuff like ‘okay, tomorrow at 11’ and then retreats to his office.

Jay knows he's gone next year. And so is the entire coaching staff. So why is there a need to motivate the team?
They're playing for pride. That's it.
Other than that, they are a lottery team this year.
Maybe next year.

Blogger's note: You might want to check with Jay before purporting to think anything that he "knows."