A weekend's worth of mail

Holy crap. You know how much of a pain the butt it is to replace a cracked backboard on one of those portable baskets everyone’s got in their driveways now?

Oops, sorry, I digress.

Well, it’s a huge pain in the butt but it’s done, the deck and yard are almost ready for the incoming horde of budding baseball journeymen and their families so, too, is the mail.

Have at it now for the weekend because my friend Stella and I are hanging out around the house the rest of the day and I may be tad, um, worn out in the morning.

Remember, though, we’ll be back at 9 Sunday night for Portland-Houston Game 4 to do one of those in-game bloggy thingies.

See ya

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Q: What age do you have to be, before you can bypass being in the NBA draft and just entering the league as a free agent? Ricky Rubio still has a few years left on his contract, if he bypassed this year's draft, and played out his current deal, would he still have to go in the draft? I remember a few years back, Isiah Thomas signed a player near the end of the season from Kentucky I believe, he was still relatively young, yet came on as a free agent. Do you have to be in the draft and not get picked?

Shawn L, Bowmanville

A: As I read the NBAPA guidelines, you have to get old to bypass the NBA draft.

Eligibility rules say, for North American players, at least one NBA season has to have passed after the year of high school graduation (or on NBA season after a non-graduate’s class graduates) and for international players, they have to turn 19 in the calendar year of the draft.

For North Americans, if four years pass from the time of high school graduation they are no longer deemed “draft elibigle” and for non-North Americans, that occurs when they turn 22.

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Q: What do you think separates a guy like AP from some of the better 2's in the league? I've heard that he's got great basketball IQ and is a pretty good shooter. What differentiates him from someone like, Joe Johnson or someone like that? And I think at the beginning of this year or last year Sam used AP off the bench (started JK?) and he struggled to fit the backup role, How do you think he'll handle a backup role if he's brought back next year?

Matt U, Toronto

A: Athleticism, speed, quickness, youth. Smarts and jump-shooting are one thing but it’s the ability to do other things that separates players.

And, actually, Sam thought about starting Kapono over Parker but never did; that said, I have no doubts whatsoever that Parker can handle a backup role if he knows that’s what it’s going to be from the start of the season.

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Q: Doug: Would you agree that the international basketball scene is important context even for died-in-the-wool NBA fans? If so, then I think you could make a case for your attendance and reporting at Eurobasket 2009 in Poland, this coming September. Having watched a good part of the 2007 event via internet streaming, I would certainly support the use of TOStar funds to send you there - it's good, spirited basketball and I, for one, would enjoy your observations. Besides which, it would appeal to the international makeup of the readership, and it could help us to understand the significance for top athletes to play for their country even if not Canada or the U.S.A.

Alfred D, St. John’s

A: Boss? You reading this? I’m all for it.

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Q: Hey Doug, during the in-game blog the other night I had asked you if you are a fan of the Lakers and you replied that you are not a fan of any NBA team seeing as that would be unprofessional. Do you think that play-by-play guys, specifically the local teams' play-by-play guys hold themselves to the same standard, and if not do you think they should?

Ben E, Thornhill

A: I think there’s a different dynamic for employees of the team, which broadcasters are. I think lots of them are fans and that’s entirely cool with me. So, no, I don’t think readers, viewers, listeners should hold them to the same standard.

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Q: What is the greatest basketball playoff game or games you have ever seen? (list?) What about the greatest baseball game?

Jeffrey M, Beijing

A: A quick list, in no particular order, an immediately off the top of my head: 2008 Olympic final, US-Spain; 1998 world championship final, Russia-Yugoslavia; 2000 Olympic round-robin, Canada-Yugoslavia; 2002 world championship gold medal game, Argentina-Yugoslavia; 1992 Tournament of the Americas, US-Cuba (historical significance rather than competitive nature).

Baseball? I don’t really have one. Craziest game I was ever at was Blue Jays 15, Phillies 13 in Game 4 of the 1993 World Series.

Wasn't that an uneventful evening?

STEVE C. WILSON/AP

All Jazzed up for this one.

Talk about your bitter disappointments. Hands up everyone who was all pumped up for the games last night? Figured Chicago would give the Celtics another run, Dallas-San Antonio could have been a bloodbath and Lakers were going to continue their inexorable run to the conference title.

Yeah, right.

Dogs, weren’t they? Ugly mutt dogs of games; at least two of the three and the other was too late.

But, stuff still happened …

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About Last Night

Who were those guys?

With apologies to Rudy Tomjanovich, about all I could think after watching that Bulls demolition was:

“Never over-estimate the heart of a young team.”

Seriously, the Bulls we saw in Game 3 were entirely reminiscent of the group that gave token resistance when being drilled by the Raptors on the last night of the regular season and no resemblance whatsoever to the team that played so well in the first two games against Boston.

Why?

Well, how many times have you seen things set up so perfectly – huge, emotional crowd; an award presentation before the game to get everyone pumped up even more; so much at stake – and end so badly? Seems to happen a lot, especially to teams that haven’t been in that situation before.

Chicago came out tentatively, looked like they were playing scared and once the Celtics got a whiff of blood in the water, they struck.

I can’t say for sure what’s going to happen Sunday in Game 4 but I will say this: The first eight minutes of that game are the most important eight minutes of the season for the Bulls. If they get far behind again, the game – and the series – are over.

And they know it, as K.C. Johnson tells Chicago Trib readers. And you.

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A Gamblin’ Man

Rick Carlisle sure doesn’t look the part but his riverboat gambler imitation may have salvaged a series for the Dallas Mavericks.

J.J. Barea starting ahead of Antoine Wright? Small for big? Gutsy move.

Sure paid off, didn’t it? Wright had no chance guarding Tony Parker (and he had to because Jason Kidd had even less of a chance) and that’s when Carlisle came upon his stroke of relative genius.

The rationale is spelled out pretty clearly here by my good friend Eddie Cefko in the Dallas Morning News.

Now, that said, I think this series may still have some juice. Gregg Popovich is no slouch as a coach and I figure he’s got a counter to the counter that he’ll trot out in Game 4. And he has to because if the Spurs don’t get Parker going, this one’s over and a big upset.

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Welcome back

Yes, that was Paul Pierce having an exceptional game for the Celtics last night and wasn’t about time?

He had been okay in Game 2, choked incredibly with the missed game-winning free throw at the end of Game 1 and hadn’t comported himself as a Finals MVP at any point., But last night he took over early and put the Bulls in their place.

I’ve always held that Kevin Garnett is Boston’s best and most important player, despite Pierce’s gaudy offensive numbers, and with KG out, it had to fall to Pierce to carry the team. He didn’t in the first two games so I imagine his teammates and coaches were glad he finally arrived.

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All Jazzed up

I didn’t get to see much of the Lakers-Jazz game (the creaky old body doesn’t do 10:30 p.m. starts so well) but what I did see was just what I expected: A hyped up Utah team being carried along by a home crowd over a Laker team that’s going to have to get mentally tougher as the post-season progresses.

Of course, Deron Williams kind of busting a play (the Jazz don’t like a lot of shots off the high screen and roll) to hit the game-winner certainly helps.

Oh, and the atrocious shooting of Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum had a lot to do with the result, which still makes me think the Lakers win in five.

There is no way Kobe goes 5-for-24 or somesuch for two games in a row and there’s no way the Jazz get the same emotional boost in Game 4 that they got in Game 3.

This one was entirely predictable.

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One from the mail to clear up a misconception:

Q: You talked about Atlanta and Miami's different strengths, one runs one does not. In the playoffs historically teams that run don't win. Can you think of a team that was a running team that has won an NBA title? And if this style isn't the best for the postseason, why do general managers continue to build teams that want to run. (umm BC with the Raptors)

Mario A, Toronto

A: I think we need to find new words.

I know a lot of people think on the Phoenix Suns whenever one of us talks about “running” when that couldn’t be further from the truth and, actually, not what some of say.

What some of us say is that the Hawks like to play fast and get out in transition because that best suits their talents.

But what good teams do – really good teams – is try to score in transition because that’s the best way to get easy baskets in the playoffs (in any game, actually) but also have a halfcourt offence to fall back on.

Look at Cleveland? If they run (er, I mean get out in transition) they can dominate but they can also win in halfcourt games).

Look at Los Angeles? Same thing. Kobe, Ariza, Odom. All capable in the open court, all deadly when the game slows.

So it’s not one, it’s not the other (and it’s certainly not Seven Seconds Or Less); it’s just smart basketball.

And the style is best suited for any team.

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You saw this about TSN2 and the Jays, right? Rather sneaking dumping the Red Sox series onto that station I can’t see and while everyone’s sounding like, and hoping that, this is the impetus to get a deal done, I refuse to believe anyone involved in this despicable issue until I can actually hit the clicker here and see TSN2.

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Hope no one came here expecting Raptor news.

Talked to a general manager and an interim head coach yesterday and both were chilling doing family stuff, as well they should in the week immediately following a long, hard season.

If I had to guess, and this is a total supposition based on timing issues, I think it’s the week after next that we get final resolution to the coaching situation and I continue to fully expect Jay gets the gig.

The process is unfolding as it does, not quick enough for some I’m sure, but don’t get all worked up, it’ll all get worked out.

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One name you’re not going to hear for at least five or six weeks, though, is Rasho Nesterovic.

The big fella’s back in Toronto but he’s still under contract to the Indiana Pacers until July 1 and no one connected with the Raptors dare speak his name publicly lest tampering issues develop.

But, trust me on this, he’s very much in the mix.

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Now, I’ve got a backyard and deck that are just crying out for some work (gotta have somewhere for the folks to sit at the inaugural nice-weather barbecue tomorrow) so that’s it for now.

In my little mind, I’ve come to deserve a couple nights of respite so we’re going to give the in-game blog a rest until Game 4 of Portland-Houston on Sunday night. I’ll still be watching but I won’t be chatting; the computer will be on but only so I can knock off the mailbag.

See you sometime on the weekend.

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The Goods On The Game, Playoffs April 23

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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The Goods On The Game, Playoffs April 22

Of Deke and Pops and Patrick. And a bunch of other stuff

This whole ‘stay up until 1:30 a.m. watching games and then get up at dawn to finish this’ is going to wear an old grunt down. But it was probably worth it because the Laker-Jazz game turned out not to be bad.

VINCE TALOTTA/TORONTO STAR

Read on to see why Patrick O'Bryant might be back next year.

But this in-game thing, which is turning into some kind of question and answer session as well as breaking down what’s going on in the games has been kind of fun, no? Attendance is a bit down, but I guess that’s to be expected but tell your friends and family we’ll be around just before 8 tonight to see what’s going on.

And who knows, if I get lucky in the several phone calls that’ll be made today, maybe there’ll be a nugget of Raptor news to digest.

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How much does this bite for us schleps beholden to Rogers? The first TSN2 game of the playoffs is tonight’s Game 2 of Philly-Orlando, which might be a good one.

Seems the evil-doers stringing us along just want to keep doing their evil.

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What I get a hoot out of is people talking about the Raptors needing to make “substantial” change over the summer.

Let’s see here

A new starting two-guard (BC made it clear if Parker comes back, it’s off the bench)

A new starting small forward (I fully expect Marion to go in a sign-and-trade).

A new backup point guard (if that wasn’t clear from Monday’s BC event, I don’t know what is)

A top-10 draft pick who will – unless the pick is absolutely blown – be a swingman who’s in the rotation.

A new, or different, backup swingman, other than the rookie, be it a free-agent or someone who comes in a Marion sign-and-trade.

I would think the days of Pops Mensah-Bonsu as the first big off the bench are over so there’ll be another new backup four or five.

So, let’s see how that falls out:

That’s six new players in a nine-man rotation.

That’d be, what, 66.7 per cent turnover of the guys who play a lot?

And let’s even downgrade that one, to say that AP’s one of those guys off the bench. That’s still five guys entirely new in a nine-man rotation and one playing a different role.

Okay, let’s even say by some miracle of modern financial shenanigans, Marion’s back, too. That’s half your rotation (okay, four out of nine) that’s new.

That’s not “substantial” change?

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About Last Night

(And I recall taking a friend to see a movie by that name eons ago) …

- Did you notice a familiar face sitting behind the Portland bench? Dana Sinclair, the noted sports psychologist Bryan hired to be around the Raptors this season also works for the Blazers and there she was. She’ll be a familiar sight around Toronto in the next couple of months, though. A lot of her work will be use in pre-draft assessments of possible selections.

- How much would the Rockets benefit from having a veteran point guard? Watching Aaron Brooks turn the ball over and let teammates take crazy, crazy shots, all the while not getting Yao involved enough when every Portland big had five fouls was the difference in the game.

- How much does Philly miss Kyle Korver?

- How pissed were the Cavs that they couldn’t give LeBron and the other starters most of that fourth quarter off? The whole thing about the playoffs – for teams with legitimate chances at winning, that is – that is, is to lessen the number of games. Getting time off now saves bodies later and the Cavs needed to work far too hard in a game that should have been over. That said, they still win in four.

- I would really like to know what Jerry Sloan said at halftime last night after the Jazz got lit up for 66 points by the Lakers and looked dead in the water.

Make no mistake, they’re eventually going to be dead in the water but the solid comeback and taking the game to the final minute might just give them enough confidence to win one game back home.

Speaking of the Lakers, the night we were out there this year, I had a long chat with a former player still involved with the team who’s got more than a handful of rings to admire.

His biggest concern back then – and they looked like world-beaters at the time – was the collective mental toughness and inability to bury teams. Looks like he might have been right because they should have won that game going away and taken all hope away from the Jazz.

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Pardon the digression

So, Super Son slays ‘em with a sax solo of In The Mood at the school spring recital (and there’s an hour of my life I’ll never get back) and all I can think is, man, if that doesn’t get him the chicks, I don’t know what will.

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Saddest sight last night?

Dikembe Mutombo writhing in pain on the Rose Garden floor.

Quite aside from the fact he doesn’t think he’s ever committed a personal foul in his life, Mutombo was one of the all-time great players and arguably the most significant philanthropist in all of professional sports history.

I don’t think he was ever considering playing again next season so to suggest the injury ended his career is a stretch but if there was ever a guy who deserved a long and loud ovation as he left a court for the last time, it’s Deke.

That he won’t get it saddens me a bit.

And here's a nice piece on it, and him.

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Here’s why the Raptors, right now, look like they could have Patrick O’Bryant on the roster next year and not Pops Mensah-Bonsu.

(I’m not entirely sure I agree with it, I truly believe Pops has more potential than Patrick, but here goes).

They like the fact O’Bryant’s contract is so cheap -- $855,000 for the one season – and may wonder what kind of offers Pops would get as a restricted free agent they might have to match.

I think they see more potential in O’Bryant’s offensive game and, having seen Pops for a little while I guess you can’t argue with them.

There was a time when I thought they’d buy out O’Bryant (and they could still do it because his contract doesn’t become fully guaranteed until July 1) but that seems not to be Bryan’s thinking right now. But, really, aren’t we getting a bit worked up about two guys who’d be so far down the bench they’d be inconsequential on any team that’s any good?

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Remember me ragging on Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro for blowing all his timeouts and not having any left at the end of either Game 1 or 2?

Well, he was defending himself to the writers yesterday.

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Speaking of O’Bryant, they’ve got a deal with him that means he’ll be taking part in the Vegas summer league this year and he’ll be joined by a few irregulars from this season. Nate’s got to play, Quincy Douby’s going to play and Roko will be back from Croatia to take part in the early-July session.

Toss in the first-round pick, who’s sure to play; maybe Pops (if he’s not playing for some other team) and even a second first-round pick or a section second-round selection and the roster is almost set.

And that’s why, sadly for us grunts, there will be no free agent camp here the weekend after the draft like there’s been the last two summers.

Why sadly, you ask?

Well, two years ago we eventually got a good story on the emergence of that Jamario Moon fellow (who we didn’t write about until he signed in July but who made his mark that weekend) and last year, sniffing around there for the weekend got the break on the impending Jermaine O’Neal trade.

On the upside, it might mean a weekend off.

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The Goods On The Game, Playoffs April 21

Some post, post-mortem items to think about

Quite the day yesterday.

Bryan gives us all kinds of fodder – not huge news but lots to digest – and then the Bulls and Celtics give us one for the ages.

Long day, but quite the day.

Things have to slow down a bit now, don’t they? Next up is for Bryan and Jay to chat – that could happen as early as today – and we’ll see where we go from there news-wise.

Other than that, guess it’s hanging out here for the live in-game blogs (we’re going to do Houston-Portland tonight at 10 for the night owls) and waiting to see if we can unearth some news.

We’ll be trying. But until then, have at it:

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Okay, what did we really learn yesterday in what was quite the BC session. It went longer than usual, he was a bit more combative than he’s been in a while, more revealing his personal thoughts and quite interesting in many regards.

But …

There was nothing new on Bosh (will talk extension, doesn’t think it’ll happen, won’t trade him just because).

There was nothing new on Jay (I figure middle of next week we get the call to the news conference; hopefully you read about it here first).

There was nothing new on Shawn (it’ll be about money and Marion wants lots of it).

So, what was new?

Well, the one thing that caught my ear was an obvious desire to get a second first-round pick in this draft, odd given the general perception that this isn’t a particularly good draft but understandable that it’ll give them another young player with “contract certainty” going into very uncertain economic times. He sounds like he’ll be rather, um, raptorial in his pursuit of a second pick.

And, the other thing was that he’s obviously taken a shot across the bow at Our Friend Roko with repeatedly pointed remarks about the failings behind Jose. I honestly think Roko comes back far better than when he left and he’ll turn into a good NBA point guard but I’m not entirely sure Bryan shares that opinion.

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This was as good a non-statement statement as maybe I’ve ever heard.

Because of the agreement between FIBA and the NBA, Bryan can’t say publicly that he doesn’t want Jose to play for Spain this year and he can’t – and won’t divulge much of the substance of their conversation about it.

Except that maybe he did:

“I'm advising him as an individual who has many years of pro basketball to play, with two years to go here and maybe beyond what's here, maybe he needs to approach it a little bit differently. Maybe he's at that age, he'll be 28 in September (where) that's something he's got to think about, but I can't make that decision for him.”

And then it was brought up that Jose said he wouldn’t play if the Raptors asked him not to, which was when Bryan turned defendant.

“And I'm going to have to plead the fifth.”

End result: No way Jose plays in the European championships, I don’t think.

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I’m trying to think of a three-day period in recent NBA history that’s had more great games by more point guards in one short time frame.

Rajon Rondo’s triple-double last night was a gem; Tony Parker’s night may have salvaged the series for the Spurs and, while I didn’t see it all, Chauncey’s Game 1 was an absolute gem. And we haven’t even started talking about Derrick Rose and how good that kid’s looked in his first two playoff games. And Chris Paul’s not in the discussion because his team got drilled so badly.

But if this is isn’t the greatest point guard era in NBA history, I’m not sure what was.

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Did you hear one of the names that popped up during the session? Rasho.

And since Bryan brought him up – as an example of the kind of good locker room guy teams need – I can see them having some interest in him this summer. But I also heard Bryan suggest Patrick O’Bryant will be back (there’s some misinformation that his contract for next year is fully guaranteed, which it won’t be until July 1; the Raps can waive him before then and save $300,000, although that seems unlikely.

So, you’ll have Bosh, Bargnani, Hump, O’Bryant, Jawai with contracts and if they bring Rasho back, guess who’s the odd man out?

Yep, if I’m Pops Mensah-Bonsu, I’m not sure I’d be signing any long-term leases around these parts.

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TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO

When the toughness issue comes up we usually run this photo.

Perhaps the most interesting thing Bryan admitted was the distinct lack of toughness on the roster, as I alluded to in this morning’s paper.

And that got a guy thinking, just who has ever been “tough” around these parts.

Hence, a list:

Oak.

By far the toughest Raptor ever, he just didn’t give a crap. And was like Bryan said, a nice guy off the court, a wee bit maniacal on it.

Popeye Jones

Not sure how many remember, but here’s a guy who got in people’s faces on the boards every single night.

Garbo

The dude just had “it.”

Reggie Slater

Guy was really about 6-5 but he’d battle anyone.

Antonio Davis

He's a late add because he had moments where he wasn't as tough as he needed to be but he should be on the list.

And you know what? I’m not sure I can think of more to round out the list much further. Pretty damning indictment, no?

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I’m turning K.C. Johnson into one of the best-read grunts in Toronto, even though he works in Chicago. But you’ve got to admit, his stuff off the Bulls-Celtics has been consistently good. Like this one from last night’s gem. And in the pursuit of fairness, check out what Frank wrote in today's Boston Globe.

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Speaking of gems, it’s generally considered that the better teams are out west, right? So why is is that the best games so far – by a wide, wide, wide margin – have been in the East?

A quick run through the dozen games so far and I absolutely cannot think of a really memorable moment from a Western Conference game.

Sure, there’ve been some great performances (Chauncey, Tony Parker last night, Yao in Game 1 for Houston) but for games? Nothing comes even close to either of the Celtics-Bulls games or the Orlando-Philly opener.

And there’s no reason to think that’s not going to continue.

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Speaking of the West, having watched Puerto Rico play about a zillion international games, at no time did I ever think J.J. Barea would be this good in the NBA. Funny how a kid can get a chance and make the most of it for a week or two. And funny how all that time he played alongside Carlos Arroyo, he was going to be as good or better. Not many saw that coming.

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The Goods On The Game, Playoffs April 20

Putting words in people's mouths, it's a fun gig

STEPHAN SAVOIA/AP

Weekend highlights included Derrick Rose and Doug's blog.

That weekend kind of fizzled, didn’t it? Couple of really close games in Boston and Orlando but other than that, not a whole lot to get excited about.

The Sunday night double-header? May as well have watched a movie; what a snorefest. Hardly worth the in-game blogging which, by the way, we’ll continue tonight, picking up the Boston-Chicago game about 7:45 or 8 p.m. Eastern, or whenever I get settled back after a radio gig, and stick through Dallas-San Antonio.

But, really, enough about me (not that there can really be enough about me, that is)

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Bryan’s got his big State Of The Raptors thing today (noon at the Air Canada Centre) but I figuring it’s got a chance to fizzle out just as the first weekend of the playoffs did.

I’m sure he’ll be asked about Jay and about Bosh and about Shawn Marion and next year’s coaching staff.

And while I don’t ever want to put words in his mouth, I think I will.

On Jay

What he’ll probably say:

“Jay did a tremendous job under difficult circumstances, we’ll sit down this week and have a discussion about moving forward.”

What he should say:

“Look, everyone and his brother thinks he’s coming back so I’m going to tell you we’re giving him a two-year deal with a third-year option.”

On Bosh

What he’ll probably say:

“Chris is a cornerstone of our franchise, I’ll make that clear to him when we talk and assure him I’m going to put better pieces around him.”

What he should say:

“Look, I let the dude down by constructing a thin roster than didn’t really perform last year. It’s on me to fix it or the second-best player in franchise history is going to walk away.”

On Marion

What he’ll probably say:

 “I said when we acquired Shawn that it wasn’t a short-term rental and we’re going to do everything in our power to retain his services this summer.”

What he should say:

“You know and I know and Shawn knows and everyone knows it’s about money. I don’t know if we have enough but I’m not going to overpay.”

On the staff:

What he’ll probably say:

“We’ll sit down with the new coach, whoever that is, and see who everyone feels comfortable with moving forward.”

What he should say:

“Alex and Mike did a great job when they were here but when they both got passed over for Sam’s job the writing was on the wall. Oh, and Marc Iavaroni’s out in the hall if anyone wants to interview him.”

You’re welcome, now you don’t have to watch. But be sure to check back here about mid-afternoon just to confirm stuff.

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Big win by the Bulls on Saturday, no? Dramatic, excellent Derrick Rose day, Ray Allen shot jumpers like you.

And as lucky as you can imagine.

Not only was Allen as bad as you can imagine, Paul Pierce missing that free throw with two seconds left was absolutely shocking. And if he had made and the Bulls had lost, they probably should have traded that Noah kid right then. I’ve seen some stupid, stupid fouls in my day, a big coming out around the three-point line to foul a guarded Pierce with three seconds left in a one-point game might have been the worst foul I’ve ever seen.

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I digress ….

Was lucky enough to have four tickets to Saturday night’s Rock game bestowed on me so off go I and a trio of urchins.

And let me tell you, that lacrosse stuff is quite the, um, experience.

They play music EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF THE GAME! That is, every single second when they aren’t announcing goals or contest winners or asking the fans to applaud themselves.

Now, I know the NBA gets bashed – rightfully so sometimes – for its sensory overload abilities and music during play – but this lacrosse stuff was absolutely over the top.

Good game, though Rock wins, everyone’s happy.

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I guess because the games were so good, I’ve developed quite an affinity now for the Chicago-Boston and Philly-Orlando series. I still think the Celtics and Magic will prevail but it’s not going to be as easy as we might have thought.

And because I’m interested, you should be interested, too. So here’s how good friends K.C. in Chicago and B. Schmitz in Orlando were entertaining their readers this morning.

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An interesting query from the mail, sort of:

Q: Hey Doug, I'm curious, how much importance do coaches place on winning the tip? Is having the ball at the start of the 1st and 4th a lot better than having it for the other two periods? Is that the only impact the tip has on the game? (Other than maybe getting a quick opening basket.) I'm also curious why a play like Lebron doesn't take the tip for Cleveland? No doubt he can get up higher than Z right? Is it because he is shorter and would get to it a bit slower?

David S, Toronto

A: I don’t think they place very much importance on it at all, as a matter of fact. I’ve never heard a coach as much as mention the opening tip.

And I presume the Cavs use Z so he can tip the ball to LeBron?

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Two games, two familiar faces

I’m pretty sure you all saw Matt Devlin doing the TNT coverage of the Philly-Orlando game with P.J. Carlesimo; Matt’s a well-respected broadcaster with previous ties to TNT and NBA-TV so he was a logical hire when they needed an extra play-by-play guy.

What you might not have noticed without being as eagle-eyed as I am was that the Raptors timekeepers were handling the Chicago-Boston game. The league uses the home teams stats crews in the playoffs but brings in neutral scorekeepers to work the games.

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Mentioned this last night during the game but figured I’d do it again here for benefit of those with, you know, lives that kept them away from a computer on a Sunday night (although your attendance is expected this evening).

With every time Derrick Rose finished uncontested at the rim and when Chicago got series of open looks how many “Tom Thibodeau Is A Genius And We Need Him In Toronto Because He’s A Real Coach” signs were ripped up?

I’m not saying he’s a bad coach or that his schemes are crap but I am saying this: Coaches are only ever as good as their players and it’s as easy as pie to be a Defensive Guru when you’ve got Kevin Garnett to trot out there for 40 minutes a night.

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