Key conversations are coming

Hey, March Madness starts in a week or so, right?

Guess it’s almost time to begin paying close attention to college basketball; after all, there are going to be brackets to fill out and I’m sure Super Son is going to want some help.

But, before then, we’ve got these guys to worry about.

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Okay, so you’re Bryan Colangelo and it’s April 16 and time for the regular exit interviews.

You’re sitting there with your braintrust and coaching staff and in walks Mr. Bosh.

What do you say?

After all the niceties about the season and whatever, how about this:

STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR

Chris Bosh will be listening this off-season.

“Hey, Chris, here’s what I want you to do.

"Trust me.

"For next few months, trust me to do something to get this thing turned around. Trust me to do a sign-and-trade with Shawn to find someone with a better offensive game who’s a bit younger and still a force on the boards.

"Trust me to turn the roster spots of AP and Joey into something; either one of them and Delfino or two new guys entirely.

"Trust me to make a good coaching decision, maybe I keep Jay and bolster his staff, maybe I get someone new.

"You trusted me three years ago when you signed the extension and we had a pretty good run. Remember the division title? The playoffs?

"Yeah, we’re off the rails at the moment but I can get it done. I’ll have some money to spend and pieces to offer, we have no idea what the economic picture is going to look like exactly but having versatility is better than not having it.

"If we’re in this same predicament next fall, come and see me and I’ll move you to a contender in the middle of the season, you can maybe win a ring and cut a more lucrative free-agent deal in 2010.”

If you’re Bosh, do you trust him?

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It looks like at least one of the Raptors from back in the day took to the local custom. Courtesy of once of Canada's pre-eminent junior hockey writers, check this one out.

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Here’s one thing everyone who’s dead certain they should re-sign Joey in the summer might want to think about.

There is no question, as was pointed out in today’s yarn in the paper, that Joey’s thrived under Jay and that’s the argument many use for bringing him back.

But what about Jay? While there is a large group of bigwigs with decision-making power who think he’s done a good job with what he’s had to work with, what if the coach isn’t here and they hire someone more Sam-like?

Then what of Joey? Does he continue to thrive under someone else?

Personally, I think there’s a chance he would and I think they should go to great lengths to try and bring him back for something like two years and a third at a team option. But then they have to make sure that if there’s a different guy calling the shots, he better have some patience for a guy they’re locked in to.

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A quickie from the mail:

Q: Hey Doug, in a previous blog you had mentioned that the Raptors may buy a first round draft pick in the year they have to give up their pick to Miami as part of the O'Neal trade.

I was wondering, is there some kind of rule that prevents teams from buying first round picks every year?

Joseph C, Toronto

A: No, there’s no rule at all about acquiring any number of picks; the only limit is that no more than $3 million can change hands in any transaction.

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We had such a good time with the top five at each position last week, let’s extend it today to the benches and try to come up with the best coaches all time.

And this is hard, very hard.

Is it only wins? Can’t be, because then it would be easy.

Is it only coaching the best players? Can’t be, because then it would be easy.

Longevity? Has to play a role.

Differing styles? Sure, that’s got to be part of it.

How hard is it to cross eras, is someone from the 50s a better coach than someone from the 90s because they had fewer great athletes to deal with? I’m not entirely sure.

But here’s one man’s subjective top five list:

Red Auerbach

One team, all those titles, he kept re-making his championship squads

Phil Jackson

All those rings have to mean something; but there’s the Jordan and Kobe-Shaq factors.

Okay, now it gets really, really dicey and subjective:

Gregg Popovich

When you’re considering all-time success, his last decade’s been pretty damn good.

Larry Brown

Tough to put him on the list because of his peripatetic nature but the man can coach.

John Kundla

A throw-back I never saw but check out the records of his teams.

Okay, no Lenny and no Nellie, who got their win totals simply by a matter of years, I think and once again, Jerry Sloan gets short shrift but Pop’s titles and Brown’s championship put them ahead of him. That was the toughest of them all.

How could I leave off Red Holtzman? Or Pat Riley? Or Chuck Daly? I don’t know, but I did.

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Okay, my new favourite player of all time (well, maybe more current than all-time) was at it again last night.

I’m telling you, I’ll be glad if they put an eraser on the pencil I’ll be using to fill out an MVP ballot if I get one.

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I’m told Picture Day went off without a major hitch. Only problem was that the dude they were going to use as a stand-in for Nate Jawai phoned in sick or something and they had to go find someone who was in the building doing some TV commercial to fill in.

So when you look at this year’s portrait, realize that not only wasn’t Jawai actually there, neither was the guy they wanted to use instead of him.

Oh, and it delayed things by about 45 minutes, setting us grunts back a bit of time.

Like you care.

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Dribs, drabs and delightful stories

There’s really not much to say about that one, is there? Stay close, collapse in fourth, lose. Ho, hum, just another day in the gym.

But there was more than enough to get me to 1,000 words of gems, insights, outlooks and high comedy and that, my good friends, is all that matters.

We can get serious about what they need do in the summer when we get closer to the summer, for now, let’s just do little dribs and drabs of wildly entertaining items and lists (the lists and rankings coming later this week, actually).

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Ran into Hump this weekend and was entirely surprised to see him still sporting crutches because he told me two weeks ago he was dumping them any day.

Guess not. Guess that broken fibula’s taking a lot longer time to heal than anyone thought.

He’s going to see the doctors today, I presume more X-rays are in order but with five weeks left in the season, I’d be surprised if we saw him back this season.

STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR

Speaking of blowing (it all up).

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Hey, here’s something to chew on for all the advocates of “blowing it up.” Whatever that means.

Let’s say Bosh tells them in the summer he’s not likely to re-sign and they decide it’s best to trade him; and let’s say Marion want too much money and let’s all agree that AP, if he comes back, is as a backup one-two.

So that’s three starters gone and they probably have to upgrade two, perhaps three and if they can deal Kapono and move Graham there might be as many as four spots off the bench to fill.

So we’re looking at five, maybe six, possibly seven new guys in a nine-man rotation.

I believe the “blowing up” thing could very well already be underway.

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First from the mail:

Q: So what happened to this so called "running game" from the Raptors? It seems to have completely disappeared.

Zaki A, Mississauga

A: It hasn’t disappeared, it’s just been lost under a wave of horrible defence. Check out the next game, they actually do go in transition off misses; it’s just that it’s virtually impossible to go quickly when other teams are shooting better than 50 per cent from the floor and the Raps are continually taking the ball out of bounds.

But if you watched closely yesterday, even on misses, the Jazz did something I think the Raptors – a bad transition defensive team – should do.

On misses, at least one Utah player stayed under the boards or on the ball to “jam” it, stop any quick transition and slow the Raptors down. That’s smart defence, and got the game, most times, at the pace Utah wanted it.

And since Toronto is a better halfcourt defending team than a transition defending team – not really good at either, but better when they can set up – it might be something they should think about.

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Action: The fans

Reaction: I gotta say something

I know they are fans and they pay their money and they should be able to do anything they want and I understand that entirely.

But sure to all that is good in the world, booing a Bargnani miss with 1:20 left in a game still in doubt and then cheering – and I mean over-the-top ovation cheering – an uncontested Parker dunk down 10 with four seconds left has to be considered ridiculous.

I just wonder how that hunk of cardboard with some tomato paste on it tastes today; and I also wonder just how many of the 18,541 people will actually go and get it.

A low point of the season? From the fans? Yeah, that was it.

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Speaking of …

You have to put some of the blame on the folks who choreograph the whole “show” don’t you.

There was 2:17 left, the Raptors were down four and a timeout gets called. In most sane-thinking arenas, they’d have on cue some upbeat music, play it loud and have the dancers be more cheerleaders. They might be the June Taylor Dancers (look that one up, young ‘uns) but that’s not what they need at that moment.

What else do they get? Some drab, low-intensity songstress, the dude with the microphone is droning on about some invitation for urchins to come down and shoot (like that couldn’t have been done at halftime, or in the first quarter, or never) and it’s like they put a big old vacuum over the joint and sucked out all the energy.

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I wonder how boring it is to write Team You Cover Wins All The Time Game Stories. Here’s how Ross pulled it off in the Salt Lake Trib today.

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It’s Team Picture Day today and this story might take a couple of hundred words to tell but it’s worth it.

Not sure of the year – 2002? 2003? It was in the Lenny Era – but it’s Picture Day and Jerome Williams can’t make it, I believe his wife was in labour with their twins, if I’m not mistaken. What teams generally do in instances like that is have someone stand in and then airbrush the imposter out and put the absent guy in later.

Usually, it’s a guy about the same size or at least body type (thin, thick, tall, short) and they did have a good kid about 6-7 working for them. Vince also had his own security guy at the time, a fella called Peanut, who was about 6-2 and built like a house.

So they’re waiting – and I’m talking players, coaches, support staff, front office, members of the board – for someone to come be JYD.

Around the corner, unbeknownst to anyone involved, comes Peanut, decked out in JYD’s full uniform. Let’s just say it must have been made of stretchy fabric, I mean Elastic Woman stretchy.

Well, I wasn’t in the gym but I’m told players were physically rolling around on the floor laughing (they were still howling a day later when I heard about) and the head coach at the time was absolutely not amused. The members of the board? Not sure too many of them thought it all that funny, either.

But, trust me, from everyone I talked to, it was the funniest team picture moment ever.

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And, finally

Q: I just got home from the Utah game, where Bargnani and Bosh (I can't stand the "Killer B's" moniker that Devlin is trying his hardest to make stick) once again combined for 50+ points in a losing effort. And it got me thinking, while they seem to be performing well together lately, do you think Chris and Andrea compliment each other well? I bet the number of assists that either puts up for the other is actually very small. But beyond that, do you think their skills sets go together well?

Rob E, Scarborough

A: I do, actually. And here’s why: They don’t, as you say, make a lot of nifty passes to each other, but they get the ball and initiate their offence in such different places on the court it makes them difficult to defend. Bargnani usually starts beyond the three-point line at the top; Bosh is much more efficient getting the ball 17 feet from the basket on the wing. I think we’ve seen a few times – a very few but still … - Bosh hit a cutting Bargnani and Bargnani drive and try to drop the ball off to Bosh. I think the more they play together, the more often you’ll see that.

And it’s as obvious as the nose on my face that Bosh and Bargnani are far better suited playing together than were Bosh and O’Neal.

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The Goods On The Game, Vol. 64, all Jazzed up

Your regular Sunday morning delivery

Early game so read fast, folks.

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Q: I have a question regarding not only the Raptors, but basketball teams in general. According to your experience, how should a team be constructed? Should a team build around players like most NBA teams or should a team build around a system like most college teams do?

Jon L, Richmond Hill

A: I’d say except in the rarest of cases, teams have to build around players rather than systems because of the itinerant nature of both players and coaches.

The one exception, of course, will be on display this afternoon in Toronto when Utah plays. But the reason Jerry Sloan – and his system – have lasted so long is because of the front-office support he gets and the non-meddling of ownership.

Sadly, that’s a rarity so coaches have to be able to bend to the kind of players they have rather than the other way around.

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Q: Love the blog Doug! Takes away a little of the stress of univ. exam time. Seeing how Westbrook had a “triple double,” what was the last time a Raptor rookie had a triple if ever? Keep up the good work!

Jeremy M, Bay Roberts, NL

A: Well, there’s only been nine in franchise and one was by a rookie, Damon Stoudamire had 31 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in November, 1995.

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Q: There's been little or no chatter about Toronto getting a D-League team (no jokes about current roster, please). Any developments there at all? I am no proponent of tanking, but at this point, isn't this team better off at this point missing the playoffs rather than gunning for that 8th spot and possibly missing it or getting blown out in the first round? Again, I don't want to see them tank intentionally, bit isn't getting optimal lottery odds in the best long-term interest of the team at this point?

Dan D, Hamilton

A: The D League’s idea’s pretty much on hold given the economics of the time. They may revisit it, but it’s certainly not a priority at the moment.

This team is better off playing hard and trying to win every game. All teams are.

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Q: I noticed last night in your in-game blog (which I happily follow regardless of my fate as a disgruntled Rogers subscriber) you used the phrase "down on the block", an expression you've used in the past, albeit sparingly. I've also noticed that Matt Devlin has been using the same phrase almost ad nauseum for about two weeks, never having uttered it previously (to my knowledge).

Coincidently, I noticed Jay used the phrase (for the first time on-air) a few weeks ago in a poignant post-game (loss) interview. Yet, whenever I watch/listen to other NBA (non Raptors) broadcasts or read other NBA related journalism, I rarely (or never) encounter "down on the block".

I typically come across "the low post". So, I'm wondering, is "down on the block" synonymous with "the low post"? And, if so, is it an expression particularly popular with the Raptors, or has it gained similarly common usage throughout the NBA? (And, when/where did the expression get traction?) A cursory research effort using Google suggests the expression is somewhat in use (so obviously Jay didn't invent it).

However, "the low post" trumps "down on the block" by a factor of eight to one. Hmm. Nonetheless, Matt Devlin seems oddly (and annoyingly) enamored with "down on the block" of late. Is this just a case of his jumping on the phrase-de-jour bandwagon, or have I been asleep at the switch (or remote-control during away games) for the last few years?

Gordon B, Toronto

A: They are synonymous and I’ll try to use “low-post” more often. I don’t see or hear a lot of other games during a season – these guys keep me awful busy – so I can’t accurately speak to what terms other guys use most often.

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Q: We have Marcus Banks for 2 more years, why not play him more and see if he's worth not buying out? Pops had a big injury playing last year(?) of College/University. With some concentrated instruction and more time, might he have value for next year (no one else appears to spend any time with him)?

Richard S, Lethbridge

A: They’ll play Banks on the odd occasion they think he might be able to help. Those will be rare. But even if he can’t help right now, buying out makes no sense whatsoever; it doesn’t’ save you a dime in salary cap space and, in fact, costs you money because you have to pay someone to replace him.

And I think Pops absolutely has value here next year. Or on some team if he has a choice and doesn’t want to stick here. If San Antonio hadn’t got the chance to pick up Drew Gooden, he’d still be there.

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Q: Hey Doug. Are recent pickups such as Mikki Moore, Drew Gooden, and Joe Smith (and any others), recently signed, eligible for the playoffs? I know you advocated that teams hold their guys past the playoff eligibiltiy date before waiving them, but I'm curious how many teams actually did that.

Josh S, Windsor

A: Yes, they were all put on waivers before March 1 and are all eligible for the playoffs. Marbury, too.

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Q: Hi Doug, After the Miami game I think I'm finally resigned to the fact there won't be any playoffs for the Raps this year. So in keeping with the annual pastime of asking "what do the Raptors need to get better?"

I come up with the following: Bosh-Bargs-Hump are ok for your top three bigs, Marion-Graham are decent at the 3, but the guard positions are frightening. Parker and Kapono as the main shooting guards doesn't cut it, nor does Calderon/Ukic (depending what Calderon we see next year) as our points.

Is it safe to say then that a guard who can penetrate/create on offense and keep his man in front of him on defence is priority #1 this summer?

Andrew J, London, UK

A: What if Marion doesn’t want to come back? What if Bosh wants to be traded? Hump hasn’t played in a month and is at least weeks away from returning, who knows what you get from him?

You can’t prioritize right now, there are too many variables still at play.

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Q: I love Pops.

You know that popping noise you can make when you put your finger on the inside of your cheek and pop it out (as used in that old "Lollipop, lollipop" song)? Imagine an entire stadium making that noise after Pops makes a big play? We need to make this happen! Please help.

Allie J, Toronto

A: Make it happen, people.

Better late than never, or so they say

Sorry to be later than usual, was difficult to drag my sorry carcass out of bed this morning. Not that anyone’s breathlessly waiting for gems after another tough loss, but it is tradition and all.

So, away we go:

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Okay, now we’ve got a situation developing.

If they handed me my MVP ballot today, what do I do having witnessed the display by Dwyane Wade last night?

Do I still put LeBron first, Kobe second and Wade third, as I planned to all along?

Or do I move Wade up to No. 2 and slide Kobe down?

Or do I look at the Heat, Cavs and Lakers rosters, check out their records and make Wade the No. 1 choice? Right now, after last night, after seeing that Wade’s got three 40-plus games in his last four and is averaging 38 per in last seven, I honestly don’t know.

There’ve been a lot of unbelievable games in that arena by visiting players – LeBron getting 24 in a quarter, Carter killing them, Kobe pretty much any time he’s in town – but what Wade did was sick.

And, please, don’t lump this in with other mortal wings who scorch Toronto with shocking regularity. The Raptors actually tried to defend him well, they doubled, they got the ball out of his hands, they zoned up his side of the floor on the catch.

This was simply a work of art. One guy taking on five and beating them every which way.

You know what I think about that fadeaway banker – not more than three or four other humans could make that shot— and here’s another thing about it.

He knew exactly what he wanted to do, I’m sure.

I had a great angle to see his release and he shot it on a line with his eyes on the glass, if it was a playground, he would have yelled “bank” on the release.

Nights like that, even if you’re the most diehard Raptor fan ever, you have to appreciate the greatness of the other guy and say it was a helluva game. That’s just what it was.

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I’ve go to head off to practice in about half an hour (I imagine they’ll be a joyful bunch to be around this afternoon) and I fully expect a swarm of people milling about.

No, not because the Leaves are having their skatearound. I figure they’ll be hundreds there waiting for the first release of the Mensah-Bonsu replica jerseys they were making overnight.

Seriously, though, I’ve got a feeling Pops is about to become something of an icon in these parts. Great energy, good guy it seems, cool name. Kid’s got it all.

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Action: Jose sits

Reaction: Deservedly so.

This wasn’t injury related – Jose told me 90 minutes to tip off Friday that he was feeling as good as he has in weeks – so the 1-6 shooting, 3-point, 6-assist furball he spit up has to be chalked up to one of those nights. Watching the last seven or so minutes from the bench was not something he’s accustomed to, and not something I can remember Jay doing at all this season.

And, no, it wasn’t his defence, which isn’t good by any stretch; this was his offence, his attitude and his effort.

No idea where it came from because I don’t think anyone can or should dispute the fact he’s always had great attitude and effort.

Trouble was, and this goes to my next point, when Calderon isn’t going well, there’s no one else who can pick up the slack right now.

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As many well know, I’m not a big raw numbers guy, stats don’t tell enough of the story to be counted on as the only indication of what’s really going on but these need to be pointed out:

Against Miami, Bosh, Bargnani and Marion combined for 67 points.

Against Houston, Bosh, Bargnani and Marion combined for 68 points.

They lost both games and that’s atrocious production from the rest of the team.

The bench provided a whopping 16 points on Friday; the bench provided an overwhelming 16 points on Tuesday.

The problem is what we’ve been saying since the season began, if someone else doesn’t have a good game – heck, if someone else doesn’t have even an average game – this team has no chance to win.

When Bryan’s out shopping this summer, through trades or whatever, he should have the boxscores from these two games right with his shopping list.

He has to get some backups who can produce with consistency.

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Hey stats folks:

When Wade hung that 42 on ‘em last night, after going off for 40 earlier this season, it marked the first time ever than an opposing player’s had two 40-plus games against Toronto in the same season.

Not Iverson, who routinely killed these guys for years; not Carter with his sense of the moment and drama; not LeBron.

Of course, M. Grange ™ pointed out that, in fact, Kobe had 40-plus twice. It just came in the same game.

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Action: JO and Jamario

Reaction: Snore

Anyone else getting tired of these much-anticipated returns only have to the returnees be no factors whatsoever.

JO looks slow and old and can’t make a shot; Jamario did get to the rim once but that was it and all and all it was nuch ado about nothing. Put that on top of the non-event of T.J. Ford coming back earlier this season and it's been a dog of a year in the homecoming department.

Don’t you long for the days when Vince would come back and play great, or Tracy would make his first appearance here and do well or even Damon, of whose return I believe I wrote: “It was just like the old times; Damon Stoudamire was great and the Raptors lost.”

Seriously, hopefully Bosh comes back and drops 40 on ‘em, at least then we’ll have a story.

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Speaking of stories,here’s the one from Ira today.

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Remember this when you’re watching Sunday afternoon’s game.

Utah’s Jerry Sloan has won more games as a head coach than the Raptors have played as a franchise.

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Speaking of Utah (a momentary preoccupation with segues), here’s one Jazz fans were reading this morning.

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Oh yeah, we were reminded last night that RaptorsTV will be showing the games at Philly and against Detroit this week – yeah, they’re both TSN2 special –- in their entirety.

Nice patting of self on backs, Raptors, but if you think that’s going to make anyone feel good, you’re more foolish than I expected.

Not only have they, Rogers and TSN screwed fans royally all year, this self-serving stuff only underscores the fact they should have been doing this all season.

The TV situation has been a mess from Day 1 and this isn’t going to make it feel any better.

What they should have been doing is simulcasting them from the start of the season.

End of rant.

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The Goods On The Game, Vol. 63, Moon rises again

Of tanking and 10-days and the top power forwards

Since I didn’t do practice yesterday -- my man Perk capably handled the distinct lack of news in his own inimitable fashion – there’s not a lot I can offer about the specifics of the big game tonight.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t stuff I can’t rile you up with.

How about an anti-tanking screed?

So …

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How about mentioning that is far more important for teams to play playoff games rather than watch them because the intensity cannot be matched and it’s far better to have experience than not?

How about suggesting you try to win each game because that’s at the very heart of competition, and all this talk about losing to set up the future means nothing because the future, for one, is not guaranteed, and losing begets losing. Tank jobs teach teams how to tank.

How about simply remembering that stuff happens. I guarantee you a year ago today, when the Atlanta Hawks were 11 games below .500 and had no chance, there were fans there who wanted them to tank the rest of the season, and I guarantee you a lot of those same fans were crazed watching Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs. And I also guarantee you a lot of those same fans are today think the experience that young team gained last year has been invaluable in their rise to No. 4 in the East this year.

Now, none of this means I think these guys can make some miraculous run to the playoffs because I don’t believe they can, they’ve shown me nothing over the course of the season to suggest something will all of a sudden click. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try.

I tell kids I coach in Little League all the time that the greatest thing they can do is respect the game. It was here long before them and will be around long after they’re gone and tanking is the ultimate sign of disrespect to a great sport.

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You know what I wish I could check?

Of the number of people who are absolutely convinced that the Raptors should lose every game the rest of the way to ensure a better draft pick, how many of them have mercilessly ripped the team’s scouting staff and drafting decisions over the past few years?

But then again, there’s not much accountability around these parts.

TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO

Art Long and Vince Carter, possibly discussing the pros and cons of horse punching, in this 2003 file photo.

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Pops is here and it’s 10-day contract time and I know he’s not here on a 10-day but work with me here, there’s not a lot going on with the lads.

(As a quick aside, I hear it's Independence Day in Ghana today so congratulations are in order)

So I will present to you the most obscure 10-day guys, in one man’s opinion, ever to appear in a game for the Raptors.

Now, they’ve had some obscure dudes through here but two factors before you could make this list: You had arrive on a 10-day and appear in at least one game: Ta-da!

Bob McCann

One game, 1998.

Dan O’Sullivan

Four games, 1996

Damone Brown

Five games, 1997

Art Long

Seven games, 2003

Antonio Lang

Seven games, 2000.

I know there were others (Sweet Pea Daniels comes quickly to mind, as does Jimmy Oliver) and I’m sure I’ve done this list before but it’s a new year.

Couple of stories, though.

Art Long spent his first day here denying the story that he’d punched a Cincinnati police horse four times during a traffic stop that also involved his college teammate Danny Fortson. Some program, that Bearcat program was under Bob Huggins.

Antonio Lang, who I remember being a very fine young man and quite a good player, who probably should have made the team out of training camp. But they decided they couldn’t keep either of the invitees who stuck around ‘til that day.

That would been Lang, who could play, and Percy Miller, who was a novelty act.

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And, finally, let’s do all-time great power forwards to finish off our week. If you’re looking for all Raptor stuff, go to the little scroll button down there on your right.

Another tough one, very tough as a matter of fact. How much does the present influence the thinking? How much does the distant past? Well, a lot, I think.

I’m sure there are going to be a few names left off this list that’ll irk some, or make some eyebrows raise but that’s what we’re supposed to do, right? Encourage dialogue. Nice, clean, well thought out dialogue, that is.

Talk away

Tim Duncan

He’s got it all in every facet of the game. Boring? Only if you’re bored by true greatness.

Bob Pettit

Mind-boggling career numbers (26 and 16), oldtimers swear to his greatness. ‘Nuff for me.

Karl Malone

Yes, Stockton’s a factor but the guy was seemingly indestructible. And very good.

Elvin Hayes

Can you make the argument he was Malone before Malone was Malone?

Kevin Garnett

He’s not covering himself with glory with his Boston antics but no denying the talent.

Yes, I know. I left off Charles Barkley, who would win The Best 6-5 Power Player Of All-time Award and that was tough. But it was no tougher than not having Kevin McHale on this list, or Dave DeBusschere. It was easy, though, to leave off Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Webber, two modern-era names that came to mind. For about a second, that is.

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Check out Ira from today.

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Oh yeah, here’s another reason you don’t give up.

Let’s say Bill, a devout fan who doesn’t have a lot of disposable income, saves and saves and saves because he wants to see one game from a great seat. He looks at the schedule and decides he and his son should see Indiana on a Sunday afternoon to start the March break.

He buys his tickets, buys his over-priced beer and expensive yet cheap souvenirs and when he gets there, he sees Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon, both healthy enough to play, in suits on the bench instead of in uniform on the court.

The team has decided that it’s not going to play its best players even for 20 minutes because “losing is good.”

Think Bill ever comes back? I wouldn’t.

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Because it wasn’t on Evil TNS2 and that meant no interference from Uber-Evil Rogers, I was able to catch the Mavs-Hornets last night.

And there’s Sean Marks, first big off the New Orleans bench, running and dunking and looking great. Which is good to see because he’s a guy and if he wasn’t playing well, it’d cause some angst back home.

How do I know? Back in the day he was here, the NBA still have its archaic “injured list” where you had to stash excess bodies for a minimum of five games. I don’t know how many games were lost to “upper respiratory ailments” or “left knee tendinitis” or “left arm contusions” which was NBA speak for “we need to stash these guys so let’s make up something plausible.”

Well, this kind of knowledge wasn’t as commonplace in New Zealand as it was in North America so every time they’d put Marks on the list with some trumped up illness, the media relations department would get all kinds of calls from New Zealand wondering how bad things were with their favourite son.

It actually happened with every foreign-born player until the league came to its senses and changed the injured list to the inactive list.

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Raps' proud new Pops

This doesn't qualify as huge news by any stretch of the imagination but there's a new Raptor in town. Keep it under your hat until it becomes official later today but they're signing Pops Mensah-Bonsu to a contract through the rest of the season.

Now, for all of you still reading and not racing out to grab up the first of the replica jerseys, Pops is a 6-9 forward who's bounced around the NBA for a couple of seasons.

He's been in the news - no, wait - make that he's been in the transactions recently after being cut adrift by the San Antonio Spurs this week when they decided they could use Drew Gooden more than Mensah-Bonsui.

But Pops - not to be confused with Pape - did have one biggie of a game, with six rebounds and 11 points last week for the Spurs against the Cavaliers.

So, where's he fit?

Well, after watching guys like James Singleton and Carl Landry chew up the Raptors in Texas this week, Pape, er, Pops is probably going to fit in right behind Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani on nights Jay Triano doesn't feel entirely confident using Jake Voskuhl or Patrick O'Bryant, which is pretty much every night, although Jakle will see time against big thick bigs I imagine.

Pops is actually in town for a second time. He was one of the guys Bryan was looking at right before the trade deadline. He didn't get the gig then because Bryan was able to turn Will Solomon into a warm body.

Time to put up or shut up

So, what do you think? Seven wins in the next 11? Eight? Six? Three?

I think they started pointing to this stretch of the schedule about the day after Sam got fired, hoping it was like Kramer’s balm and thank goodness it’s here so we don’t have to listen to chatter about it any more.

It does actually hold some promise – there are some equally inept teams stopping by the ACC in the next fortnight or so – but that promise would be much greater if these guys had shown even the slightest indication of being able to rattle off a significant winning streak.

Three games twice doesn’t cut it.

Maybe they can win seven of the nine at home and steal one of the road games in Philly or Charlotte but history would suggest otherwise. But, that’s why they play the games because you never, ever, really know what’s going to happen.

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I’m not surprised at all by the number of people writing to suggest the Raptors put Bosh and Calderon on the shelf right now for the rest of the season.

I am surprised, however, that anyone seriously thinks they will.

Rightly or wrongly – and I know which way the majority thinks – they still harbour hopes of making a push to the playoffs and the last thing, the very, very, very last thing, they’re going to do is take two of their best players out of the lineup.

I can’t see them even thinking about it until they’re eight games into this 11 game stretch so you can put that right out of your mind.

Besides, you know my feelings about sitting good players when they’re healthy and playing against teams that have something to play for. I don’t think you should do it out of respect for the opponent, the game, and yourself.

ERIC GAY/AP

When his career is done, LeBron will probably leave every other small forward in his dust.

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If selecting point guards was tough and picking centres caused a mild kerfuffle, can’t wait to see what happens when you get through this list of small forwards.

First off, the position has changed so dramatically over the years – John Havlicek to Lebron James – that it’s probably tougher than any other spot in which to judge different eras.

Are they scorers? Defenders? Bigs? Smalls? Is it the spot to hide your weakest link? All, and none, of the above.

But, after some careful consideration (lots of time on plane home from Houston after finishing off The New Yorker) this is how a Top 5 list looks:

Larry Bird

All those championships, all those big shots, all those big plays.

LeBron James

One ring and he vaults to No. 1; I have a feeling he’ll eventually get there anyway.

Julius Erving

He revolutionized the game, and the position.

James Worthy

Big Game James was vastly under-rated for his play all over the court.

Elgin Baylor

It’s been said he was the best 6-5 rebounder in history.

Okay, this ought to stir it up a bit because look who we left off: Scottie Pippen could probably nudge Baylor out of five and I’d listen closely to that argument; if Bernard King had played, oh, four more healthy seasons, he’d probably be a lock; I found it almost impossible not to put Havlicek in there; how about Rick Barry? Or Dominique Wilkins?

Yeah, this was one of the toughest.

Have at it.

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From the rather light mailbag:

Q: So when do you think Jay is gonna catch the drift and let Bargnani play through early foul trouble? I'd say when he's carrying our whole offense he needs to be in there. I can remember at least three times when Bargnani has started off hot only to get his second foul in the first our third foul in the second, come out of the game and then not be ice cold when he gets back in. How many games has he fouled out of this year anyway?

Johannes G, Toronto

A: You mean like Tuesday night when he left Bargnani in with two fouls in the first three minutes of the second quarter only to see him get a third and the momentum of the game change dramatically?

Asked Jay specifically about that and here’s what he said:

“We were going to try to squeeze as many minutes as we could. I’m not going to play a guy with three but I’ll play a guy with two in the second quarter.”

And sometimes when you gamble, you lose.

It’s not about fouling out, either. It’s about not having to sit a guy with five or four personals in the fourth quarter of a game.

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Well, a promising season ended in a bit of disappointment.

The beloved Hawthorn Hawks, after showing such promise by jumping out to a 1-0 start to their season, finished up yesterday with a couple of losses in a couple of playoff games and finished fourth. Which wouldn’t be horribly bad if there’d been a fifth team in their league.

The mighty Hawks lost a two-point heart-breaker in the post-season opener and then dropped one by a few more than two.

No word on whether their star player is going to demand max milk money to return next year or whether he’ll demand a transfer.

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What do you think the reaction is when they announce JO and Jamario as starters tomorrow night at the big game?

My best guess is something even more muted than the somewhat mixed reaction T.J. got upon his return earlier this season.

More cheers than anything but, most likely, some indifference.

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Wow. Our friend Shaquille wasn’t too impressed with Stan Van Gundy pointing out the rather amusing and floor-shattering flop of the other night.

Oh, and the Suns went oh-for-Florida this week and they’re now three behind Dallas for eighth in the West.

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Somewhat timely:

Q: Great blog keep up the nice work. Jermaine O'Neal has worn a headband most of his career and now that he's with the Miami Heat he was not allowed to wear the headband for the first few games, team rules introduced by Pat Riley, I believe.

He's now allowed to wear the headband, and a few season back their was this ordeal with Ben Wallace getting fined for wearing one, even though it was against team rules. What's the big deal, why do some coaches and teams have a no headband policy, shouldn't a player have a right to wear the headgear that will provide maximum comfort?

Frank B, Ottawa

A: I’m sure you’ve seen that Jermaine is now wearing his headband, consistently black, because he went to Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, pleaded his case and they relented.

I’m not entirely sure of the precise reason teams like Chicago and, previously, Miami, have banned head bands. It probably had to do with conformity, team rules and the personal choice of coaches and GMs. And, frankly, I’m quite fine with that. Of course, I would have been quite fine with them banning headbands entirely after Slick Watts retired because I think, mostly, they look foolish.

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Oh, a bit of a warning: I’ve got some stuff to do this morning that’s going to keep me away from this machine for a couple of hours, I imagine. So don’t get your knickers in a knot if comments are posted within seconds of you sending them. I’ll get to ‘em when I can later today.

Haven't we been here before?

You know, the whole Groundhog Day nature of this trip would have been made a lot more interesting had Andie MacDowell been around. But, no, I see Jack Armstrong!

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Action: Coming home

Reaction: Another city to lose in?

Say this for them, they are brimming with confidence seeing nine of the next 11 at home:

Jose:

“We played good for most part of the game we just couldn’t finish it (last night). Now we have a lot of games at home, the other teams are trying to help us a little bit so we are close.”

Now, I can hear some chuckles and I can imagine some eyes are being rolled and there’s all kinds of “yeah, right, they can snap their fingers and turn this disaster of a season into something.”

But before you dismiss their confidence as ridiculous, realize this: Athletes are by their very nature supremely confident in their abilities. They think they can win every single game they play and they should feel that way.

Is the optimism justified? Maybe not to me and you but to them it is.

I don’t think they can suddenly rattle off six wins in seven games or nine in 11 or something silly like that but it’s not right to chastise them for feeling like they can. It’s in their DNA.

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Here’s a hypothetical

REUTERS PHOTO

One of the only consistent things about the Raptors during Bosh's tenure has been his game.

Let’s say you’re 24 years old and you’ve been in the NBA for six years.

In that time, you’ve consistently averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds, been chosen to four all-star teams (three times by the coaches) and been a pretty big role player on an Olympic gold medal team many think is the second-best team ever put together.

Now, in those six years you have:

Played for three different head coaches.

Played for two different general managers.

You have seen 48 players come and go in that period, and that doesn’t include your current 12 teammates, at least a few of whom will be gone when the next training camp comes along. So, it’s 60 guys who’ve worn the same uniform as you in almost six season, a startling roster turnover by anyone’s standards.

In those years, of those 60 players, precisely two have been named even the NBA player of the week once and only one has been in the top three of any significant year-end award.

You’ve re-signed once with your current team and saw its win totals diminish in each of the past three seasons.

Tell me, in all honesty, would you stay?

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No, yesterday’s line about you missing Bosh when he is gone is not insider info or foreshadowing or anything like that. But it’s a fact. If he goes, you’ll miss him.

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Okay, this is too good.

Somewhere, Vlade Divac is smiling.

In Orlando, Stan Van Gundy was unimpressed.

“I was shocked, seriously, shocked. And very disappointed ‘cause he knows what it's like. Let’s stand up and play like men, and I think our guy did that tonight.'”

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Action: A pre-game chat

Reaction: An international incident?

Standing on the baseline pre-game chatting with a couple of coaches, we spied Jason Kapono out by midcourt being interviewed at length by one of the omnipresent Chinese television reporters who follow the Rockets.

Now, Jason’s a hoot for North Americans and people for whom English is a first language; we’re all a bit worried about how his act is going to play in China.

He finishes the chat, wanders by us and it’s suggested to him that the interview had international incident written all over it.

“Nah, dude, we’re cool. I’m a diplomat.”

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I’ve had a couple of suggestions from readers that perhaps the Raptors should trade Bosh and “build” around Bargnani by making him the “franchise player.”

Besides wanting to open a window and scream, it makes me want to suggest this:

Hasn’t it hit home that “building” around a big guy doesn’t work? Didn’t anyone realize that, say, Orlando, was bad with just Howard but very good with Howard and some better players? Shouldn’t the focus be on improving the rest of the roster to give the bigs some help?

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This came from Barry, the Bay dude, over in the comments section but might fit better here:

Q: Read back a few days a comment re Jose's low turnover numbers perhaps "dulling" Raps offense (Jose needing to be "too sure" before passing, resulting in missed opportunities, dull overly conservative playmaking). Could you comment on this low turnover rate vs. dull offense -- especially with Marion presence & more initial breakout game?

A: It’s a horses for courses thing in a lot of ways.

There was a time when slow and steady was necessary and demanded; the Raptors didn’t run much with Sam, there was a lot of throwing the ball into the post with Jermaine. It was the right way for that team, as constructed, should have played.

Now, with a change at the three and a coaching emphasis on transition basketball, you’re seeing more quickness – and more turnovers.

And judging by a lot of what I read, fans want Jose throwing the ball into the second row every now and then. They must be happy that he’s two games of four turnovers in the last couple of weeks and that 16-assist, one-turnover gem last night (an opponent’s record at the Toyota Center, tying his career high) needed more mistakes.

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Seems that top five point guards of yesterday didn’t meet with universal disapproval. Which was nice for change.

Let’s see if we can get shooting guards right. This is sort of tough after No.1 because there are guys whose positions were sort of blurred; they were 1 1-2s or 2 1-2s but this is what I’ve come up with.

Feel free bend, fold or mutilate

Michael Jordan

No one can make a case he doesn’t belong at the top of the list.

Jerry West

The Logo’s one of those multi-position guys in some minds; I’ll put him here.

Kobe Bryant

No. 3 with a bullet; I can see him getting to No. 2 when it’s all over.

Earl Monroe

He probably would have made this list as a PG if he played there his whole career.

Joe Dumars

Lewis to Isiah’s Martin, he had the complete package.

And the questions:

Does Dwyane Wade get on this list when it’s all said and done? I’ve seen Clyde Drexler and George Gervin listed as twos in some compilations; if they were, which one of them makes it to No. 5? Or do they become Nos. 4 and 5 right away?

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And, finally, here's what the locals in Houston were reading.