I wonder what's next in this wacky year

I fully expect to go to shootaround later this morning and find that a plague of locusts has descended on the Raptors locker room.

It’s been that kind of season.

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Lots of questions yesterday on how the Bosh story developed, why it came out when it did, how things shook out.

Honest answer: I don’t know.

Dave got the story, I’m not sure when but I know our business and I know no one “sits” on a story like that, although I didn’t ask.

That’s the way these things generally work is, if a guy gets something, it’s his. I don’t share a lot of inside information (it’s much better to keep a circle as closed as you can when you’re dealing with sources or tips) and I don’t expect to be keep in the loop on something I’m not working on.

If I were to get something, say a trade of Jermaine O’Neal to Miami, I keep my bosses in the loop and that’s about it.

Should this one have been written?

Absolutely.

And it was written perfectly, in my opinion. Comment solicited from both sides (the opportunity turned down by one), context to timing provided, context to part of the issue that made it news (Bosh’s declining play in December) also provided.

Good story well written.

Of course, as I mentioned yesterday, this is a far cry from being anything proven in court and in situations like this there are layers and layers of truth, fiction and spin. I don’t know what went on between those two kids, you don’t know, nobody knows for sure except them.

I would expect the final determination by the courts may provide some answers (although if there’s some out-of-court settlement – not uncommon at all – it may include some sort of gag order that precludes anything else from being made public and I also presume that’s not unheard-of in these cases).

But I will say this:

If all of the points made in the case are true, Chris Bosh has absolutely bamboozled me and thousands of other people he’s come in contact with on an almost daily basis during the past six NBA seasons.

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Now on to more, less contentious, much more frivilous issues.

Like why this team blows.

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Math time, and you know I suck at math.

Yesterday’s contention that the main fix needed is with the team’s defence was based on anecdotal evidence but here are some numbers:

The Raptors are 21st in scoring, 20th in points allowed;

The Raptors are 27th in points per game differential (which some people say is a telling stat).

The Raptors are 16th in field goal percentage, 21st in field goal percentage allowed;

The Raptors are 12th in three-point field goal percentage; 13th in three-point field goal percentage allowed.

The Raptors are seventh in assists; 27th in opponents assists.

They score enough, shoot it well enough from both sides of the arc and move the ball well enough that I do think they get enough points.

What they cannot do is stop anyone, anywhere.

The anecdotal evidence goes like this:

Jose has to be healthier and better

Bosh has to be better man-on-man and with his help

Bargnani has to be a better help defender

The wings are simply not quick enough to keep their men in front of them.

And better defence leads to more misses by the opponents, which leads to more transition baskets, which is where this team – at times – has thrived. If they get stops and run, they get better looks and score more.

I’m not saying the offence, with its reliance on spotty outside shooting, is perfect, but they get enough points right now; they need to give up fewer.

Of course, you know me and math, this could be entirely botched but I don’t think so.

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I swear, the folks in the Bucks PR department, eminently qualified and one of the best groups in the league, have too much time on their hands. This was passed on by T. Enlund, Milwaukee scribbler, yesterday.

BANGO SURGERY UPDATE

Bucks mascot Bango had successful surgery Monday morning to repair the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, the team announced today.

The surgical procedure was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Gordon, M.D., at Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Ozaukee, Wisconsin.

Bango will begin rehabilitation immediately and is expected to make a complete recovery in time for the start of the 2009-10 season. The popular mascot will continue to set the entertainment pace at Milwaukee’s final five home games of the season next month, and is expected back for the next home game on Wednesday, April 1 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.

The ageless Bango has brought smiles and thrills to Bucks fans at home games, appearances, parades, school assemblies, hospital visits, festivals, and everywhere Bucks fans celebrate since 1977. He has performed throughout the United States, Canada and in China.

That’s one tough stuffed animal. Blows out an ACL and is still going to do some schtick after surgery?

This is old, but it’s how he got hurt and had to have surgery and it’s an absolute classic. And, yes, that is The Raptor down there trying to see if he can help his fellow, ah, er, fellow thing. What a humanitarian.

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Oh, right, forgot one thing. Sorry, but we didn’t get too deep into the whole Quincy Douby in, Marcus Banks out transaction from yesterday.

So here it is:

Marcus Banks is having a bone spur on his toe removed and will be out for the year, Quincy Douby, who got a 10-day deal out of the D League.

What’s it mean? Um, nothing really. But, dutifully, I shall report that it has no impact whatsoever on the court or on the balance sheet. It does give the Raptors another guard should they have to play, you know, garbage time in any of their remaining 12 games.

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Speaking of T. Enlund, chronicler of all things Bucks and a general bon vivant, here’s how he set up tonight’s mighty struggle, in which Scott Skiles channels his inner Sam Mitchell on the importance of games.

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Cue the scary music, this is a bit spooky.

It’s yesterday’s Horoscope from our newspaper

If today is your birthday:

Without troubles, we would never be able to appreciate the good times. The sky is offering a clear cosmic promise of some much-needed and highly anticipated positive change. Chris Bosh is 25 today.

Comments

[Sams Fan]

"No one's having fun. That never would've happened on Chuck's watch."

HAHAHA....for a second i thought u were talking about krusty the clown.

[Eric]

I think people may be overreacting to the Bosh controversy. My uninformed guess is this: Bosh impregnated his girlfriend, they broke up before she delivered (which has happened before many many times to many many people), Bosh wanted to keep private from public so he didn't tell anyone (in true Bosh style, for better or worse), he chose not to be there for the birth because he felt a responsibility to his team (in true Bosh style, for better or worse), he's made child support payments but she now wants more because she'd rather live in luxury and has taken it public to exert some pressure on him.

If it happened like that (and who said it didn't?), it would make sense. I wouldn't have a problem with it. I'm not Chris Bosh's biggest fan but in this case, if it happened the way I think it did, I think people are overreacting today because they're looking for an excuse to take their minds off the bad basketball team. But fans like me are not that weak! I want to get back to basketball and figure out how to make this team better. If the truth is less generous to Chris, I'll deal with it then, but until then we don't know so why bother talking about trading him on the basis of a worst case scenario? That's superpremature!!

[Peter]

Doug:

Dancing with the stars????? Is that what Raptor fans want to talk about? That really is a comment on the season we've had. Personally I have trouble getting through the hoochy girls at half time. Better we just concentrate on building a time machine and getting to next season?

[DougG]

As long as Bosh does the right thing in the end that is what is most important. It was 24 years ago when I first learned I was going to be a father but I recall it being pretty overwhelming emotionally. As it turns out being a parent is one of the best things going, but sometimes it takes a little time to figure that out in the midst of the shock of being a parent in the first place.

[Scott]

Hey Doug, heard about the latest piece of NBA gossip? Maybe this'll take some of the attention away from CB4 (South of the border at least):

"SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- Kobe Bryant's former housekeeper is suing the NBA star and his wife, contending she was "harassed and humiliated," denied health insurance and forced to quit because of "intolerable" working conditions."

Kobe being in the news for legal reasons is nothing new, but I think he's a decent example of a guy who, despite being in the news for the wrong reasons, has been able to make people forget about that stuff with his on-court performance. Another example, among many, is Jason Kidd who's still seen as an "NBA nice-guy" despite the 2001 arrest for assaulting his wife. I think in both cases, it just comes down to keeping the off-court separate from the on-court, and doing so results in being well-respected league-wide.

It's obviously still too early to pass any kind of judgment on Bosh because doing so would just be unfair given that his side of the story has yet to come out. Worst case scenario though, if he is found to be guilty, it's obviously not a good thing (just like most other off-court issues players encounter), but it won't be the end of the world as players before him have proven.

[Ali Hussein]

Note from Grange at the Globe.
According to court filings, Bosh initiated the legal battle between the former lovers before the baby was born, filing a petition in Texas, where he said he believed — pending the outcome of a paternity test — he and Mathis would "enter into a written agreement containing provisions for support of the child."

This I think changes things quite a bit, because at least it shows that Bosh had every intention of supporting his child and was completely responsible as to how he went about it.

[mary]

so now grange reports that bosh actually INITIATED legal action.

therefore, he wasn't trying to duck his responsibilities.

somehow i doubt we'll see as many splashy stories in newspapers and television clearing this up.

[Lee]

Hmmm, let's see now. Bosch's ex-girl friend's obnoxious courtside hackling of Lebron James who responded by scoring xx points on Raptors...Girl friend got pregnanted in July...Bosch having a grand time playing along side Lebron in the Olympics in August...Bosch told girl friend Chao after Olympics...

Yes, let the rumour mill churn.

Besides, who cares? Happened to lot of 9-5 working stiffs.It's not like Bosch can't afford the bills.

Go Raptors Go!

[Snowman]

DUNDUNDUUUUNNN!!!! To the part about the horoscope..