Do they keep the Pops and POB mobs separated?

JOHN BAZEMORE/AP

We may have an answer to Atlanta's shot clock problems.

Everything sort of went by plan in the Game 2s played last night, didn’t it? No real drama, home teams all win oops, forgot Miami, and, for one evening at least, all went according to plan.

And we at In-Game Blog Central had a not bad night, there were more than a few issues in the Heat-Hawks game to keep everyone interested. Should be even more fun and games tonight when by far the best series going – Boston-Chicago – resumes for Game 3 and we’ll be around these parts right around 8. See ya then.

And until then …

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About last night:

JO reads and reacts

I learned a little bit about Jermaine O’Neal in the short time he was in Toronto and I had a sneaking suspicion he’d find a way to have a good game last night.

Jermaine, like only a few athletes, pretty much knows exactly what’s being written and said about him out there in the media and a story yesterday afternoon that had some unnamed scout killing him for being done and terrible and a drag on the Heat would have pissed him off no end.

I’m not saying it was the only reason he had a big game; but I do know it was in the back of his mind when he was on the court.

Up in the air

Watching the first half of the New Orleans-Denver game last night one thing occurred to me:

Chris Paul, for all his greatness, spends an inordinate amount of time leaping in the air with the ball looking for someone to pass to. Thing is, he’s got such good court vision, he usually finds someone.

Time to revise?

Once upon a time, a wise man suggested the Atlanta Hawks would beat the Miami Heat in six games of their first round series.

That may prove to be entirely true but one thing has struck me during the first two games of the series, both of which I watched pretty closely.

The Hawks cannot beat Miami in a game played primarily in the halfcourt, they don’t defend very well, if Atlanta cannot get out and run their offence is really limited and they have no answer to the Heat three-point shooters.

And the Heat, conversely, stand no chance when the game’s up and down, when Atlanta can run and dunk and score in transition. Miami’s too slow getting back most possessions and the Hawks dunk like crazy.

But – and this is the key point – Miami can get the game to its tempo both at home and on the road, it’s not like they need a boisterous crowd to get them all pumped up, as we saw last night.

The Hawks? I don’t know if they can get going in a hostile road environment. They play most effectively in “runs” and you don’t get many of those on the road in the playoffs. That win in Atlanta last night may have swung the series Miami’s way.

A good sign?

Dwight Howard’s a relative non-factor when he fouls out and the Magic withstand another late collapse and still win going away? Maybe that was the tonic needed to strengthen their mental resolve. Or maybe not.

The Magic, it seems, tend to panic at times, and letting Philly steal Game 1 after blowing an 18-point lead and then almost blowing another last night probably did very little to boost their confidence.

If the Sixers come out in Game 3 and blitz Orlando, I can see them winning both games at home and then the series in six.

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I haven’t been downtown in a couple of days but I may head that way this afternoon and I’m just wondering how the traffic’s going to be around the ACC what with the angry mob parading up and down Bay Street insisting that Pops Mensah-Bonsu be the 12th man on the roster next year instead of Patrick O’Bryant.

Really, people, chill.

This is not the end of the world, it’s not the signal of the demise of the franchise, it’s not even cast in stone that it’ll happen.

But if it does, is deciding to keep a 23-year-old 7-footer with about a 7 1-2-foot wingspan and at least a modicum of offensive skills really such a horrible thing rather than keeping a 26-year-old, 6-7 guy whose shooting range goes to about eight feet?

Look, if this is the issue that’s getting everyone worked up, we can officially say the dog days of the off-season are upon us. And they’re not.

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That hawk – yes, the real live hawk that’s part of the pre-game introductions at the Philips Arena – flying around the court and finally perching on top of a remote camera above a backboard during the Miami-Atlanta game might have been the coolest moment of the playoff so far.

Priceless.

Usually, the bird flies from the rafters down to midcourt, lands on the arm of its trainer and is led away. Last night? Not so much.

And more shenanigans in Altanta.

What would have been the coolest thing ever would have been in the hawk had swooped down in the dying seconds of the game and turned on the clock a couple of seconds early.

That, my friends, would have been a perfect Atlanta basketball moment.

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Expect little or no Raptor news for a few days.

Almost everyone’s taking a week or so to decompress after the season and the exit interviews and all that jazz.

Frankly, I’m quite all right with quiet, I could use some myself.

I am told it’ll be early May before they start thinking about bringing guys into work out so, thankfully, we won’t have to go through the drudgery of listening to guys with absolutely no chance of ever playing here telling us why they’d be such a good fit.

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I’m pretty sure this is a bad sign and just one of the signs of the time for our industry.

Super Son just brought me the mail ‘cause there was a letter in there for me that he thought looked interesting.

Guess it was.

It was a proof of claim request from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware wondering if I had any claims against the Tribune Company, which owns, among other things, the Chicago Tribune and L.A. Times.

Glad I got whatever freelance money I was owed before now.

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A little mail thingy and, folks, the mailbag’s getting a wee bit empty (and remember, no questions about who they’ll draft until the lottery is conducted and the early-entry deadline is passed; they bore me)

Q: I really like LeBron's pregame tossing of the ceremonial powder into the air, it really adds to his whole spectacle and probably gets the crowd pumped up faster than Dee Brown's shoes. My question is, are there any other cool traditions around the league? I know the crowd in New Orleans doesn't sit until they score a basket. What are some other interesting ones? Maybe a top five? Oh and also, what do you think the reaction is from some of the old school players regarding LeBron, and the whole team's pregame show? Would the bad boy Pistons have stood for it? Or Oak's Knicks?

David S, Toronto

A: I once looked at that bottle of resin carefully, I think it might have been one night Carlos Delfino was smushing it around about eight inches from my face. And, lo and behold, the big old Skull And Crossbones logo and warning, “Do Not Digest” sort of caught me by surprise.

But I digress.

LeBron’s resin toss and the whole choreographed intro and all that stuff is cute and I presume the fans love it and it’s mostly harmless. I sometimes watch, I usually yawn. But if he’s having fun and the fans are having fun, who am I to suggest the fun is boring.

But as for traditions, there really aren’t all that many. It’s quaint and collegiate that teams stand until they score (although back in the Year Of KO some Raptors might have cramped up from standing so long) and I will say this:

If some players put as much effort into remembering plays as they do remembering the manner in which they’ll shake hands and pump fists and leap into each other’s arms, coaches would be happier.

Old school players? Old school players never would have had to think about such nonsense because old school players just got ready to play the game.

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Comments

[Sean Peacocke]

One tradition I remember is that Vince Carter would always go to his own basketball net and do a chin up with the net before every game.

[James M.]

Hey Doug,

With regard to the 'pre-game ritual' I know Dwight Howard has one. He'll always roll that tape (I think from that mat used to wipe their shoes) and play 'basketball with it' shooting it into the scorers table. Head fake every time. It's not noticeable but I've caught on to it.

[Grant]

Miami won on the road.

Blogger's note: Fixed

[Dave in BG]

The standing up until they score thing is old. I am surprised to hear they do that in the Association.

That was a standard at U of Waterloo back in the day (early 80s) when I attended. Of course, it was "cooler" at UW because we added rhythmic clapping along with the standing. Oh, and free throws did NOT count !

[Aaron]

"home teams all win". Miami was an away team.

Blogger's note: Yeah, got that fixed

[Lazaros O.]

Doug,

if Rondo was not surrounded by the players he is would he even be half as good as he is today? I recall you were not very high on him not too long ago.

[Kevin]

Sorry Doug, I have to disagree with your take on POPS vs. PO'B and particularly the way you framed it so as to make your point. Other fans might just as easily look at it as deciding to pass over a ferocious, rim-rocking animal on the glass in favour of another jump shooting thin-as-a-reed big man with questionable desire.

This is especially egregious given that it may be decided by a desire to save half a million bucks in a business that regularly sees millions tossed away in questionable decisions. Top it off with the fact that Pops is obviously a far-and-away fan favorite -- last I checked it's the fans who pay the bills.

Given all that Raptor fans have to stomach, I would think showing them they matter by spending a bit more to make them happy -- and you claim the 12th man is really an inconsequential basketball decision anyway -- would be a very, very inexpensive form of good fan relations. I'd argue it would do more good for next year's ticket sales than having Bryan Colangelo and Matt Devlin personally phone season ticket holders....

Blogger's note: Ferocious, rim-rocking animal on the glass? Um, he averaged one-tenth of one rebound more per game than that other ferocious, rim-rocking animal on the glass -- Andrea Bargnani.

[doug]

this is why a guy like Wade has a championship under his belt already....

www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/100258-d-wade-tells-teammates-to-shut-up

[RAJ]

Doug,
Around this time of the year, what do the GMs of teams not in the playoffs do?

Blogger's note: Try to figure out how to get back into the playoffs; talk to each other, plan for the draft, free agent camps, summer leagues, workout schedules, watch tape, leak nuggets of big news to breat grunts (well, I can hope, I guess)

[Patrick]

Hi Doug,

Do you forsee the Jazz making any significant changes once their season is over (i.e. pretty soon in all likelihood)? I'm thinking specifically about the whole Boozer/Millsap situation, along with Kirilenko's massive salary.

Thanks.

Blogger's note: I figure they'll do something

[Rob]

Doug,

Would this be an unrealistic trade: Bosh to Detriot for Prince, Maxiell and their 2009 first-round pick?

Rob

Blogger's note:If it actually gets to the point where it's remotely discussed between the two teams, I'll think about it.

[Nate]

Pops averaged more rebounds than Bargnani in nearly 20 min less per game...
Yeah, Doug, they're really comparable.

Pops is clearly more effective, fun to watch, and the kind of player that this team actually needs compared to Patty O'Bryant. You say he'd be the 12th man on the roster, and that might be the case, but the guy obviously has a talent for grabbing rebounds. Give him a training camp with the team and some instructions on how to put those o-rebs into the basket and he's gonna get a bunch more minutes.

Seriously, it's not even close in who is better for the Raptors between O'Bryant and Mensah-Bonsu, 12th man or not.

Blogger's note: Facetious, folks.

[Chris]

Pops- 13 minutes a game, 5.1 rebounds

Andrea- 32 minutes a game, 5.3 rebounds

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Were you watching any games this year? Pops attacks the rim every chance he gets.

I myself would much rather have a guy like Pops as my 12th man to go to battle with than P'OB

Let me ask you this Doug, how many standing ovations did O'Bryant get this year?....how many standing O's did most of the raptors team get???

The fans are speaking clearly on this one. If the 12th man is so inconsequential, then why not throw the fans a bone after such a disgrace of a season?

Blogger's note: Facetious, folks.

[TMF]

Cmon, Doug...

Bargnani: 5.3 RPG in 31.4 mpg.
Pops: 5.4 RPG in 13.8 mpg.

Not to mention Pops grabs about three offensive rebounds for every one of Bargnani's. Now if he could just learn to not bring the ball down every time he grabs a rebound...

Blogger's note: Facetious, folks.

[Chris]

Pops sells tickets, Patrick O'Bryant = invisible

Blogger's note: Come on, this is getting out hand. Someone is actually going to only buy a ticket on the off-chance the 10th or 12th man will play in any specific game? I call shenanigans on that.

[George]

This discussion is very amusing. And you did start this one Doug.

I see Pops and Hump having similar qualities and don't really want both of them to occupy spots on the team. Sure O'Bryant's size is great but if he can show that he cares a little more it would be nice! So if Hump can be used as a trade filler, then Pops can have the energizer job. And Rasho can round out the big men in the roster. So Hump, Rasho and POB is decent for second line of big men.

[mary]

doug, did you see this report in the detroit news?

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090423/SPORTS0102/904230358/1127/rss13

"If the Pistons are going to rebuild and add a young, elite-level forward, they may not be able to go the free-agent route. It might have to come through a trade, and if that's the case, the most valuable chip other than picks is Prince.

Prince has two years and about $25.1 million left on his contract, far from unmovable. The Raptors have shown interest just as the Pistons have barely hid their interest in forward Chris Bosh. Nobody is saying that will happen. But Prince is no longer untouchable."

what do you think?

Blogger's note: I think Prince is probably untouchable and it's a relatively slow news day

[GM]

I like what Pops brings (except for when he gets in Hump mode and thinks he's a scorer), but I don't quite get why fans are so up in arms over the possibility -- possibility! -- of him not being re-signed. Given all the factors, I think O'Bryant is the way to go only because of his potential. He was, afterall, a high draft pick so a lot of people thought highly of him. Maybe he's just starting to get it. Why risk throwing that away. If he doesn't, he'll still just be an end-of-bencher. But if he does, then he can potentially move up in the rotation.

Ah, Waterloo! I think I mentioned this before, but my favourite moment of their stupid history of standing until their team scores was in the 1983 CIAU final against UVic (I think it was '83). The Vikings scored something like the first 18 or 20 points of the game. That was priceless.

[Sean]

"But if it does, is deciding to keep a 23-year-old 7-footer with about a 7 1-2-foot wingspan and at least a modicum of offensive skills really such a horrible thing rather than keeping a 26-year-old, 6-7 guy whose shooting range goes to about eight feet?"

The above is lawyer-speak and is a weak form of argument. If you (or anyone who's watched more than a couple of games these guys have taken part in) wanted to, you could make a proportionate argument for Pops benefit. It's this kind of statement that sometimes makes it appear like you're part of the Raptors PR department, smoothing the way for what will be an unpopular Colangelo decision rather than representing your faithful readers or your own intelligence.

Blogger's note: I don't give a rat's ass what decision he makes; I'm suggesting -- and telling you -- there is a very likely scenario by which they keep one over the other. Personally? And I think I was pretty darn clear on this throughout the last three weeks of the season, I see huge problems in attitude and effort with O'Bryant.

[Rob]

After seeing the serious depth problems on the team this year because of how close they came to the luxury tax level I'm perfectly willing to compromise talent at the end of the roster in the interest of saving money, even if it's only a little bit of money. I'd much rather BC spend his money on investing in good players at the 1-8 spots on the roster instead of the 12th. We're already basically wasting 4.5 on Banks but there isn't anything that can be done about it now.

Don't get me wrong, I could care less how much money MLSE spends or doesn't spend but given their stated desire not to go over the luxury tax level they have to spend as wisely as they can. If I were BC I like Pops more but not sure I'm willing to waste my money on the marginal upgrade he provides.

[Johnny Bravo]

I have to agree with George and a number of others on this one. The biggest issue this team seems to have is heart, desire and and will to get to the boards. Sure Bosh averages 9-10 boards, but how many are the offensive boards. Mainly it's because he's the only guy standing in position for a defensive board. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Pops is the second coming of Dennis Rodman, but play him 12-15 minutes a night and you got a heck of an energizer off the bench! Package Hump in a move and pay Pops 1/3 of his salary - easier said than done I know.

[Kevin]

Just following up on my original comment on the Pops vs. PO'B debate...yes, one could make the argument that PO'B has more talent, potential, etc. However, my main point(s) are that: 1) what Pops brings to the Raptors fills a bigger need than what PO'B brings, and 2) For obvious reasons, Pops is a runaway fan favorite, and I strongly believe this should count for something given that it's a relatively inconsequential basketball and finance decision.

Lip service is constantly paid to the fans on air and in last-game addresses. In this Web 2.0 world, with all the fan feedback coming in through blogs like this and elsewhere...and given last year's on-court disappointment coupled with the tough economy, I'd think BC would be foolish to not let fans have some influence in this decision. As Doug will attest, Raptor fans are not only passionate, they're also reasonably well-informed.

Last point: true, Pops didn't look as impressive during the latter part of his stint as he did during the first few games, but did he not have a thumb injury that likely impacted his ability to finish and grab boards? Just as José's play improved significantly once his health improved, I think the same argument can be made for the drop off that Pops had at the end.

Blogger's note: Any general manager in any sport who lets fans make decisions will, as one wise sage once said, soon be sitting with them.

[John]

BC mentioned that this team lacks toughness. So he decides to get rid of the toughest player on the team (Pops) and keep another pansy (POB)... makes tons of sense.

[Bill]

Are we watching the same games Doug? Pops actually looks like he's playing for something. Granted his skills are limited, he knows his role and brings toughness to a team that lacks it. With more playing time and work in the off season I don't see him as a 12th man, and anyone with any basketball sense would have to agree. Especially when being compared to Patrick O'Bryant. Maybe BC should sign Celine Dion for 3 years as starting C.

[Lazaros O.]

Raptors sending anybody to the Euroleague final-four? Printezis will be playing....

Blogger's note: Yeah, all 30 NBA teams will be represented at the Final Four.