Winners and losers and must-wins

How’s that post-deadline hangover? All out celebrating the flurry of activity? Dreaming of Patrick O’Bryant triumphantly riding down Bay Street holding aloft not only the Larry O’Brien Trophy but the Bill Russell Trophy as well?

Well, wake up!

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Some time over the next 24 hours, I know someone in New York is going to write the definitively spun story saying, breathlessly and without a doubt, Chris Bosh is going to play in New York in 2010.

I offer the following as a cautionary tale (and if I’ve told it before, I’m sorry to be repetitive, but it is a pretty good one):

We’re at the 2004 finals in Detroit on an off-day and Mehmet Okur is around and since he was to become a free agent that summer, there was some interest in talking to him.

A bloke from one of the New York tabs called the Post starts chatting up young Memo and the next day the blaring headline says Okur is going to New York and Isiah’s a genius and the Knicks are back and all is right in the world.

The Pistons PR staff, fresh from I believe their quiet time at a church social, heard about the story and saw fit to ask Mehmet about his apparent desire to flee Detroit at the first possible chance.

Said Okur:

“He asks me if I like New York. I say yes and he make me Knick.”

Take heed of this story when you read the dispatches from New York this week. And forever.

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Imagine how different life would have been had Rafer followed through on his suggestion that wintry night in Boston so long ago that he might retire because he and the NBA “weren’t made for each other.”

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They’ve got the practice gym in the Air Canada Centre and it’s been named after every shoe company except Buster Brown but after reading this gem from my man Perk, it shall forever now be known facetiously as the John Wallace Court.

I knew everything around that joint was for sale, I hadn’t had confirmed the fact guys back in the day had to bring in their own money to get things done.

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My, how times have changed.

Michael Jordan announces his un-retirement with a fax:

“I’m back.”

Chris Bosh announces his un-retirement, sort of, with a tweet.

“I’m back.”

(And that will be the last time I speak of Michael Jordan and Chris Bosh in the same item).

Speaking of Bosh, wasn’t it interesting timing? I guess I first heard about this tweet, or twit, or whatever it is (although I do see it in my future, I fear) sometime just after 9 a.m. yesterday.

Interesting in that Bosh has always said he needed a full practice to know for sure that he was ready to come back and had told us on Tuesday he would give it a run on Thursday before deciding about Friday.

Interesting in that the Raptors didn’t start practice yesterday until 10:30 a.m.

Or maybe it’s not interesting at all. You decide.

But if he knew Thursday at 9 a.m. he was going to play Friday, maybe he should have made same determination Wednesday at 5 p.m.

This is what Chris said yesterday about the five games off:

“I’m trying to play at a high intensity. I’m trying to play my best basketball of the year right now. In order to do that, I have to be healthy. It does no good if I play a game and then I have to sit out four more because of the damage that I’ve done. I want to make sure that I’m fully recovered.” “I’m not scared. Even if I’m tired I’m still going to get back on defence. That’s how you get your legs back as quick as possible.”

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In that blockbuster Raptors-Kings-Celtics move yesterday, I got the money wrong. It goes from Boston to Sacramento, which I guess eases the Kings cost of taking on Will Solomon.

Doesn’t make a difference, I still say the Raptors won the deal.

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Speaking of winners and losers off the day:

WINNERS

Orlando

Rafer looks like he’s grown up (the fact that neither he nor Jeff Van Gundy are in jail for homicide after being player and coach tells me that) and if continues to act that way, he’s a huge boost for the Jameer Nelson-free Magic. Not enough to win the East, but certainly enough to give either Cleveland or Boston a tough run in the second round.

New York

Knicks got rid of four guys, only one of whom was even remotely a factor, and added two in Larry Hughes and Chris Wilcox, who should at least provide depth.

LOSERS

San Antonio

Not so much because they didn’t do anything but because they didn’t do anything and then lost Manu Ginobili for three weeks, which might just be enough to keep them from finishing second overall in the conference and take away homecourt in the second round of the playoffs.

Memphis

So they facilitate a trade that makes Orlando better and probably helps Houston as much as it hurts them, take on Chris Mihm to show that whatever spell Mitch Kupchak holds over them from the Gasol trade remains and they pick up Orlando’s first-round pick in 2010, which figures to be somewhere in the mid- to late-20s. Yeah, they got it going on down there in Memphis.

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A sign? Maybe.

I’m finishing this up about 16 hours after the big Solomon-O’Bryant deal went down and in that time I haven’t had one request to find out what number the new guy is wearing. I’m presuming there wasn’t an extra overnight shift in some sweatshop stitching his name on replica jerseys.

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I’d tell you what they said about the trade in Sacramento and Boston but why in the world would any of you care.

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So, is tonight a must win?

Or a must, must win?

Or, heaven’s forbid, a must, must, must win?

I’m not sure where it fits on the continuum but seeing how the Raptors can ill afford to lose to any team immediately ahead of them in the standings, it’s pretty dang big.

Of course, I’ll be watching from the comfort of Casa Doug, it’s been a long week already, there’s Phoenix-Dallas-Houston coming up starting next Wednesday and it’s a welcome respite.

Still, we’ll be here with the usual antics if anyone wants to stop by.

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Besides ripping on them for losing to Cleveland and busting on Bryan for not turning his roster into a gaggle of Kobe Bryant’s at the trade deadline, I’m noticing the mail contributiosn are a bit lacking. And with Sunday being mail day this week, and me having no life, why not send one if you’ve got some time.

Comments

[Jeff]

Perhaps your mailbag is empty due to the combination of passionless effort on the court, and the corporations to get this tsn2 thing settled. Still not as bad as the citytv days or the new vr, but tis the season for expectations.

[Simon S-G]

I love what Hollinger said on espn.com today about Sacramento's role in the trade:
"Kings get paid to take Solomon and indirectly lower the Celtics' luxury-tax bill. Here's the punch line: Sacramento's point guards are so bad that he might actually play."

[Jamie Buckingham]

Nice to read a little humour, a bit of tongue and cheek (if you will) first thing in the morning (hhahahahahaha). In all seriousness, I like this move. Willie was never gonna play or amount to anything in T.O moving forward. Now BC has a chance to watch/progress the skills of a seven footer who is not clumsy or from a different part of the world where the competition is low. He was buried in Boston, Nellie doesn't give any youngsters a chance in GW so O'Bryant was left-out there. Mabey with some support we grabbed a cheap flier who has potential if he takes the oppertunity to it's fullest? Mabey not!

[Matt]

When the biggest name moving is Alston you know you have a dud for a trade deadline. Maybe that's why the Chandler trade was rescinded. It was a conspiracy by the Hornets and the ex-Sonics to bring a real story to a day of failed rumors and the Knicks wondering how they are going to get Curry off their payroll.

[Aaron Campbell]

"Interesting in that the Raptors didn’t start practice yesterday until 10:30 a.m.

Or maybe it’s not interesting at all. You decide."

Did I miss something? What does this mean?

[Aaron Campbell]

Has Mikki Moore fallen off the radar. Waived to give Will Solomon a roster spot. He was always good against the Raps when he was a net. Does he have any value for Toronto today?

Blogger's note: Far more value in Boston or Cleveland

[DougG]

Since it appears MLSE refuses to spend in tax territory, like other big city teams do, and given the unbelievable morass of rules the league runs under now and the fact we went from having lots of assets two years ago, to none now, I guess Raptor fans should be happy with the trade yesterday. They should also pray we make the playoffs and somehow survive the first round.

I think all the sports businesses should reconsider a system that lacks serious trading, so the fans have some hope that their poor team might get better, during the season. It will give them a reason to keep going, which is good for both sides, players and owners, I imagine.

However, on the bright side, it is starting to look like Bosh would be foolish not to resign with Toronto this summer, given the economy and cap situation.

[Claudio DiG.]

"I’m noticing the mail contributions are a bit lacking. And ... why not send one if you’ve got some time".
Hey Doug, you know, with the season in the toilet since months back, the very end of illusions etc etc, our depression came to an apex (if I can tell it) with the latest new: Patrick O'Bryant! These are the altitudes we fly around: what a squalor! And the feeling is, on the playoff run, we are about to consolidate our 14th position. This crystal ball is depressing!

[Chris]

Rules question (I think I saw this)

A few weeks ago Raptors got their 3rd foul and while the other team was inbounding they committed another foul (before the inbound pass) - their 4th.

The other team then got 2 shots (it was not inside of 2 minutes).

Is that a rule that I have missed?

Blogger's note: The last foul was committed before the ball was inbounded, teams inboudning keep possession

[Rahim]

Hi Doug, has Sam Mitchell said anything about the Marion-O'neil trade?

Blogger's note: No. WHy would he? He's an unemployed dude in Atlanta living the high life.

[rd@hotmail.com]

Hey Doug, love reading your blog, question, why do you call the Raptor a Chicken? And if you could trade for a mascot who would it be?

Blogger's note: All the stuffed animals are from the San Diego Chicken; and I'd bring Seattle's Squatch out of retirement.

[chris]

Doug -- they could have been waiting to see if the knee swelled after a full practice on wednesday. Waking up thursday with no swelling would have been a sign that everything is ready to go.

Bloggers' note: No full practice Wednesday, they had a game

[Jack]

Hey Doug,
Are the people running the show in Memphis the same people who were in charge when they were in Vancouver?

[jimmie]

It's hard to have much of an opinion on a trade that brings in a guy who hasn't played more than 4 minutes per game in his career, and who will likely not be a Raptor at this time next year. But it was a good trade.

Solomon was going to be Darrick Martin without the cheerleading, and at least O'Bryant might shore things up behind Voskuhl (yikes, I can't believe that this team is such that Voskuhl has become important enough that he requires a backup...). The money is nothing, and he's off the books by the '10 offseason anyway if BC hasn't already packaged him by next year's deadline.

[Manale]

Such a shame that O'Bryant is a Raptor now.

Was there a better name to see on the back of a bright green Celtics jersey than 'O'Bryant'?

Well. Maybe 'Bird'. Or 'Cousey'. Or 'Russell'.

I heard O'Bryant's nickname in Boston was 'The Blarney Stone' – Presumably because a) he was completely immovable when he was boxing out for a rebound and b) he hit so gosh-darn many game-winning baskets that fans wanted to kiss him.

[Tim W.]

Am I the only one who noticed that the Raptors traded away an O'Neal and then traded for a (O')Bryant? Is Colangelo confused about something?

[Pharaoh]

Doug, if the Raptors go on a long winning streak and somehow manage to sneak into the playoffs, who would have the rights to the games? If TSN, do you think they would have the cojones to broadcast playoff games on TSN2?

Blogger's note: Would depend on things like NHL playoffs, which are at the same time. And other scheduling items

[JM]

Buckingham, MABEY you should learn how to spell.

Some GM we have - trade a young, mobile big man to get TJ; trade TJ to get O'Neal, get rid of O'Neal at the trade deadline for a rental player looking for a huge contract this offseason; sign Will Solomon as the backup point guard to supposedly replace TJ, trade Solomon for a stiff at the trade deadline after he drops to 4th on the PG depth chart. The rotating door in Raptorland has to be one of the most worn out in the NBA and Mr. Colangelo needs to be held accountable at some point for this team's inconsistency.

[Skipper]

Remarkable! A game on TSNzero and you get to stay at home!

[Andre]

Hey Doug,
Question about salary for next year. how much cap room will the raptors have? from what i see is that they will be on the books for about 46Million, so whats the salary cap? and how much do they have? and do they have a midlevel exception or whatever they call it? Its kind of confusing.

Thanks

Blogger's note: No one has any idea until July

[Dan]

That NYPost anecdote has Peter Vescey written all over it.

[rob]

Doug,
being buyers in a seller market this summer is a huge advantage,,, is toronto considered one of the few prospective buyers this summer? does that help us a lot?

[John Culligan]

Little light on the mail? Here's my take.

Must wins? Check the 5 and 6 game losing streaks.

Must, must wins? Lost on lack of hustle back in Dec/Jan.

Must, must, must wins? 2009 NBA Lottery - watch for it

Anyone thinking that the rest of this season is anything more than a jump start on training camp or a lengthy "what-if" scenario should go apply for the Raptor's PR department.

But I'll be the first to be happily wrong in this regard, and that's why we have 20+ games to go (minus those few on TSN2 of course..)

Doug, if the team stays healty, and I know it's early, what's your take on record here on out? What's needed and what's a reasonable expectation?

Thanks, as always, love the blog to SMITHereens ;)
J

[Prabudda]

"Interesting in that Bosh has always said he needed a full practice to know for sure that he was ready to come back and had told us on Tuesday he would give it a run on Thursday before deciding about Friday.

Interesting in that the Raptors didn’t start practice yesterday until 10:30 a.m.

Or maybe it’s not interesting at all. You decide.

But if he knew Thursday at 9 a.m. he was going to play Friday, maybe he should have made same determination Wednesday at 5 p.m. "

Hmm, what are you insinuating here dear sir? Hmmmmmmmmmm????

[Jack]

It's a boring day.
Where's SY?