That Shaq guy can really stir it up, no?

Boy, that was a nice quiet travel day, wasn’t it? No practice, no game, no news, no nothing.

Thanks, Shaq!

-

I’m not entirely sure but I would imagine the most-searched phrase on the entire internet yesterday was “RuPaul.”

A firestorm or what?

Over nothing or what?

Seriously, this is the most “much ado about nothing” thing I can recall in recent months.

It was a throwaway line – caustic, but a throwaway line – from a guy who makes ‘em all the time.

He saw Bosh’s comments after Friday as a whiny over-matched big man pointing out what hundreds have pointed out before (Shaq gets officiated differently than anyone in the league) and O’Neal lashed out.

Big whoop.

I don’t think there was lasting psychological impact or diminished thoughts of the Sacramento Kings when he called them the Sacramento Queens way back in the day; this is just the kind of thing guys say.

It was nothing. It will be nothing going forward.

It was, to borrow from the seamheads, Shaq Being Shaq.

Mildly entertaining but, really, nothing more than that.

Oh, I'd be willing to bet that if you lined up 450 NBA players, showed them the comment and asked them for a reaction, the winner would be: "Who's RuPaul?"

-

Let the arguments begin

If you thought it was tough to come up with a list of top five centres, try point guards. Seriously, it’s impossible. But we do impossible around here so what the heck:

First, what’s the criteria? Stats? Championships? Game-changing skills? Longevity?

How about a combination of all of them? Something like a “feel” for who’s best.

And there’s no shortage of candidates; it’d be easier to just throw out a Top 10 and let everyone else pick five in whatever order they like.

But after exhaustive thinking, here’s how it shakes out

Oscar Robertson

I have him near the top – like Top 3 – of best players ever, he’s got to be at the top of this list.

Magic Johnson

Okay, maybe it’s a tie with Oscar.

Bob Cousy

Every time anyone anywhere ever runs a fast-break, think of the Cooz.

Isiah Thomas

Heart? Determination? Championships? Forget the last five years, think of his career.

John Stockton.

Lethal pick-setter, he’d be the one that might come off the Top 5 with the right compelling argument for someone else.

But here are some questions that are legitimate:

Is Stockton really that much better than Jason Kidd or Steve Nash? Yes, he played on one team forever and was part of a dominant duo but was he that much a better player?

What about Walt Frazier? Or Tiny Archibald? The Logo? Or Lenny? Was Earl Monroe worthy of consideration or did he sacrifice too much for his team? Gary Payton, can he be in the conversation?

I think the consensus would be that the Top 5 there are pretty bang-on. But I imagine there’s an opinion or two floating around out there.

-

Here in Houston, where there’s some big rodeo thing going on apparently, they found a few inches in the paper to run this.

-

Speaking of Bosh, I will say it one more time, and I know many will disagree but so be it: The thing that’s keeping Bosh from getting his team to the vague “next level” is the team he’s been on. He’s a 20-10 guy, a four-time all-star (three times voted by the coaches, who know infinitely more basketball than you or I do) and he’s coveted by 29 other teams. Surround him with better players and that “next level” (which I presume is a second-round playoff berth, or perhaps a bit more) is more than attainable.

I guarantee a lot of you are going to miss him when he’s gone.

-

A letter making a point:

Q: You've probably read this already, but thought it was a good bit of Raptor trivia about one of our most loved assistants.

In his big night on Friday, Shaq became the fourth player over 35 in NBA history to score at least 33 points in consecutive games; the others being Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and... Alex English.

Pretty good company Alex!

Ryan M, Kingston

A: Um, I think I'd put it: “pretty good company, Shaq.”

There is a growing feeling that not nearly enough Raptor fans, casual or so-called hard-core, have any idea of who good a player Alex English was.

And that’s a shame.

-

I believe this to be a story every young basketball player in Canada should read.

I also believe, as I have forever, that someone – anyone – has to be first concerned about the education of our teen prodigies because the chance of making a dime playing professional basketball anywhere in the world are miniscule.

And the chance of every putting on an NBA uniform are exponentially less than miniscule and the last thing I want to see is kid with a shattered dream and the inability to find significant work because education went by the boards in a futile journey fueled by unreal expectations and people looking out for their own interest rather that a kid’s.

-

Things You See In An Airport, Vol. 1,340,873:

DFW, Gate 33, waiting for the flight to Houston when what comes walking by: Two little birds. Happily chirping, wandering like the owned the place and all I’m thinking is, “well, hope they stay inside ‘cause I don’t want ‘em anywhere near the engine of my plane.”

-

I’d get to more mail but 95 per cent of it since late Sunday night has been about Shaq. There was, however, this:

Q: Hey Doug, any clue on when, if ever, we will expect Humphries back?

Dustin J, Minneapolis

A: Hmm, I smell some old Big Ten allegiances.

But I think it’s going to be at least 10 days before the Hump’s ready to go. He just off the crutches a while ago, and glancing at the schedule for practices and games, you’re looking at the start of the week after next.

Comments

[Simon S-G]

Hey Doug, will TSN show the rodeo over the raptors?

[Nick]

"I guarantee a lot of you are going to miss him when he’s gone."???

Doug, have you lost your mind? You know that now you'll be dealing with comment after comment about this don't you?

By the way, what do you mean? Is he leaaving?? :) Now I kid.....

-

[Kelsie]

I guarantee a lot of you are going to miss him when he’s gone

Doug, did you have to throw that one out there. Not only will this incite the masses but it's not really something I want to consider right now.

I only saw clips and games later on after he retired but the logog might have to make that list. I can't tell you who would be omitted but West porbably makes honorable mention at worst.

I've heard alot about Jose being hurt and how it is affecting his play this year. Aren't most ball players playing at less than 100% during the year? Do you know if he's intending on playing for Spain this summer?

Blogger's note: Pretty much everyone's beaten up at this time of the year; Jose and Spain? No decision yet

[Rahil]

Doug's Blog. Where impossible Happens.

[Pat]

Thanks, Doug, for posting the article about Tristan Thompson. I really disagree with the way the NBA (and other leagues) sell the dream of being a professional superstar to kids. The reality is, there are only a handful of players in the world that have the talent and the opportunity to even get a shot at an NBA career.

[Matt]

My personal opinion on the RuPaul of big men is that if the Raps ever get a Manu Ginobli or Joe Johnson then no one questions Bosh's ability again. That said, without a dominant 2-guard coming in this summer Bosh ditches Raptorland for Greener pa$ture$, and his career will be better for it, especially if it turns out to be Cleveland or Miami.

[alex]

"I guarantee a lot of you are going to miss him when he’s gone."

Foreshadowing?

[Nathan]

Simon S-G If I was TSN I'd show the rodeo over the Raps, poker over the Raps, darts over the Raps, bowling over the Raps and even mini-golf over the Raps.

As for "RuPaul" Bosh, the only way he can make that nickname go away is if he actually starts playing like a star instead of whining. Bosh has a tendency to complain and yell at his teammates even if he's playing badly. I won't miss him when he's gone. I just hope we can get something for him.

[Peter]

I've got to agree with the earlier comment Doug, if you say that we're going to miss Bosh when he's gone, you're just going to bring on an insane amount of useless mail to answer. Hopefully you'll do the basketball fans a favour and refuse to answer any more RuPaul, or Chris is leaving mail, at least until the end of the season. I'm sure there are a few of us who still enjoy the basketball section of your blog, over the gossip and rumours section.

Thanks for your hard work Doug!

[Craig A]

The Atlanta scoring table is at it again...

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=8325

[grumpy]

You have to at least mention Pistol Pete. He changed the role of the position. He drove, he created, he wore grey wool socks and died way too early.

[Lorne]

What no one seems to be talking about is why Shaq would reference such an outdated cultural figure. To my knowledge Rupaul has been out of the public consciousness for years, but upon further research I discovered that RupPaul has a recent reality show and released his/her latest album less than a week before Shaq's comment to Bosh. I suspect that Shaq has either been watching this reality show or listening to RuPaul's new record. To me, this is the true embarrasment of his statement. I bet Bosh and most NBA players have no idea who RuPaul is. Shaq is either is either an old man giving obscure outdated references or is a fan of RuPaul and has been consuming the latest RuPaul entertainment.

[anthony.mackay@gmail.com]

Seems to be lots of hype building around Wade being the season MVP since he is carrying a bunch of scrubs and putting up huge stat lines... while I am a big D-Wade fan I really hate this argument. If people wanna give him the MVP this year then James should have got it last year, and Kobe should have got it the year he averaged 35 for the season.
The league rewards winning which explains the previous reguarl season MVP... it drives me mad when I hear a Kobe hater saying Wade deserves it this year (yes D-Wade is on the same level as Kobe and James but the league rewards making those around you better, thus usually a 50 win season will do the trick).

Doug who would you pick as the MVP if the season ended today?

Blogger's note: Luckily it doesn't; if it did, I'd probably vote for LeBron but there's more than a month to go

[yertu damkule]

if fans of any team assume that 'their' star will stay with the same team for the duration of their career, well, most are in for disappointment, no? there really are no 'locks' for players, young or old, to remain with the same team for their entire career, especially today. if you're a marquee player, there will always be teams trying to pry you away from your current one. if you play in a diminishing market, there will always be pressure to move on to greener pastures. if your team struggles, or is doing poorly financially, they may be forced to deal you. it's just the way it is. the chances bosh remains a raptor for the remainder of his career are exceptionally low...beyond exceptionally, actually.

off the top of my head, i can think of just a handful of guys who are even remotely likely to be a 'one-team' player - dirk, kobe, maybe CP3(though unlikely, that team's in trouble), pierce, roy (perhaps), milsap & williams (it's a utah thing...).

you never know. things can change quickly.

[Aaron Campbell]

It just keeps getting worse for the Raps. What a miserable season. Jose should get the Garbajosa treatment if he plays for Spain this summer and get shipped out of town.

[Sams Fan]

It is really sad how people are trying to convince others that bosh is not the player we thought he was bla bla. Whats worse is that on espn, we have some of our "raptor fans" representing the so called raptor nation in live chats with other reporters, where they bring out opinions on bosh being an average to a 2nd player on a team. This ends up becomming "fans dont want bosh in toronto, they are fed up of him". Dude, dont go on international levels to make urself look stupid. I had promised myself to never comment in this blog because all i could think of writing was something bad towards the fans, but honestly can anyone blame me? look at the way we think, n i think its not just in basketball but in all other sports aswell, toronto fans r considered umm...unique.

Even the youtube video posted by pete yesterday, like dude it was the fans chanting MVP, same fans that want to trade him n build around andrea bargnani. Bargnani is gonna be a special player but, u cannot have another Chris Bosh. I hope Chris or his brother dont come on this blog n read the comments daily by raptor fans. I mean definately not all of us feel this way.

"i guarantee a lot of you are going to miss him when he’s gone" no doubt we'll miss him. Same way we miss carter right now, its because of the fans he left, and when Bosh decides to leave we will have these same fans booing him because he left.

(sorry for the grammer n wrong sentence structure..but this was an emotional rant so i just wrote wat came to my mind as it did..n i really didnt care about the sentence structure or watever...)

[Pipit]

Doug, why didn't you comment on this one?

Jermaine O'Neal and especially Jamario Moon is playing very well in Miami. Many are saying (correct me if I'm wrong) even you that Jamario's talent won't be starting on a good team except in Toronto. What can you say about that now that he's starting on a rather good team.

Doug, does this also signify how poor the Raptors coaching staff in utilizing the strengths of players just like what happened or is still happening with Kapono, Bargnani, Graham and Ukic.

Blogger's note: Your revisionist history is showing. Strictly by numbers, in seven games in Miami, O'Neal's averaging 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds; he averged 13.5 points and 7 rebounds in Toronto; Moon, in Miami, is averaging 9 points and 4.7 rebounds, in Toronto it was 7.3 and 4.6
The Heat, in those seven games, are 3-4
They are playing no better, no worse there, than they did here.

[Donald]

Hey doug, here's what your man says on Nelson (from yahoo):
"Utah coach Jerry Sloan, who’s nominated for the Basketball Hall of Fame along with Nelson this year, didn’t see anything odd about Nelson’s tactics—and he certainly didn’t object to them after the Jazz finished off their win.

“I’ve always said other coaches have got to do what they’ve got to do and what they feel comfortable with,” Sloan said. “Don’s teams have always played hard and they’ve always been difficult to play against.” "

This is a seperate question: Jerry Sloan is such a great coach and his team has always been winning consistently, wouldn't you agree that he has a formula to win in the NBA? If I'm a team looking for a new coach, and I know Sloan is not avaliable, shouldn't I target one of his long time assistants instead of someone that does not have a whole lot of experience/creditability?

Blogger's note: If you could get one of Sloan's assistants to leave, you'd have to interview him. But sometimes, assistants are assistants; and I give you Marc Iavaroni as a perfect example.

[Barry Pond (bball Barry from the 'Bay)]

Hi Doug, no submitted q's for months but still a faithful Raps and your blog follower. 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?

Blogger's note: I'll put this in for the morning but my immediate reaction is you play to your, and your team's strengths. In the past, that's been playing a more "controlled" game with the likes of Bargnani, O'Neal and Bosh. Now, with Marion, you're seeing more quickness, albeit not as much as many would like, and turnovers are up.

[Mo]

Hey Doug,

Question about Raptors TV. Remember how a little while ago someone sent them a complaint, and they said they were going to start playing the FULL game instead of the game in an hour after TSN2 broadcasts?

Do you (or anyone reading) know if that has happened yet? I won't be home to watch today's game (on the internet of course), so I'm wondering if I can catch the full replay tonight.

Blogger's note: No idea. Anyone?

[Mo]

Do you know if Marion's feeling better now? Will he play tonight (actually play, not force it while he's sick again)?

Thanks Doug.

Blogger's note: He's better, he'll play and even if he's 50 per cent, he should go out there.

[Mo]

Actually, nevermind my question about RaptorsTV.

I just checked their website, and it says they will have the game from 11:00 p.m. till 1:30 a.m.

[Pete]

"I guarantee a lot of you are going to miss him when he’s gone."
Welcome to the reality Doug! Join the club! I've had many new members joining these past few weeks!

[DGW]

Probably should've asked this during the ACC 10-year festivities. I watched the game against the Grizzlies and noticed a female referee. It's not Violet Palmer. Who is she and what happened to her?

Blogger's note: Dee Kanter, last a season, maybe two and was replaced.

[Doug]

top 5 point guards..no definite order..

Robertson -first true athletic point guard, just a great player

Thomas - probably one of the most competitive guys that ever played, Booby Clarke of the NBA

Magic - changed game as people for the first time realized a guy 6'9" doesn't have to be a power forward

Cousy - managed many different parts, utilized are there games and strengths

Nash - just because of one simple factor, first guard to take the true run and gun style and flourish in it, it's probably the hardest style in the NBA to master ...Suns first team to almost win playing that style, his vision of court and how to utilize his players strengths is his strength.

and a aside, could people quit talking about Moon ...he is what he is a marginal starter, off the bench guy exactly how the Raps used him...his numbers the same, there as here plus if anyone has watched those Heat games he disappears for long stretches as he did in T.O.,,,Moon is Moon, is Moon...