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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Comments

[Patrick]

Morning Doug,

Since it would seem that Jay will be back, who else besides Iavaroni do you think will be on the bench with him? Will any of the current assistant coaches stay on (Eric Hughes)? How about a wily (i.e. older) former coach (a Carlesimo or Del Harris type) and/or a former player (like your personal favorite Alvin Williams)?

Thanks and have a good Monday!

Blogger's note: Couldn't tell you without it being a wild guess; and I'd rather get some substantial information from those involved rather than guess and mislead you. Personally? I think it should be Iavaroni, Herbert, a former player and Alvin as a workout-assistant coach with Eric Hughes. But that's not my call

[Bball]

Doug, do you know if Bryan's press conference will be shown live on raptors.com or some other web site? Thanks.

Blogger's note: No idea, I'd checked RaptorsTV, that'd be about the only place

[Lake Simcoe]

History might reveal that BC has missed the biggest chance to bring Raps to conference final...should he bring SM earlier (and also fire SM earlier)

[K Price]

Will the presser today be on Raptors tv @ noon??

Blogger's note: I have no idea. I presume so because it's not like they have regularly-scheduled hit shows or anything

[Elwyn Jennings]

Agreed on the Toronto Rock stuff; I had interest in attending games, but after watching 10 minutes on tv decided against, specifically because of the music: it was loud on my tv! I also limit my attendance at Raptors games specifically because of the irritating sensory overload. Unfortunate, really...

[Jason]

Doug on Bosh

"second-best player "

Who's the best player? Are you talking about:

1. Actual performance with the Raps?
2. Most talented
3. Best player to ever period (pulling on a uniform regardless of what he did for the team.)

I'd argue that VC would be the answer to 1. and possibly 2. but you couldn't convince me he'd beat of that Dream fellow on answer 3. That would make Bosh 3rd if you used my answer #3
I added that little note on #3 in brackets for clarity.

Blogger's note: I'm talking about the player who -- while he played for Toronto -- was the all-around best, taking into consideration team and individual success while he played for the Raptors. I thought that would be obvious.

[Pharaoh]

"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."

Doug - sounds to me a lot like an evening at the ACC. I know they have to keep the little kiddies entertained, but if I wanted to listen to some lousy DJ, I'd go to a club.

Blogger's note: It was at the ACC and it makes a basketball game sound like the library.

[Jason]

Doug,

"Blogger's note: I'm talking about the player who -- while he played for Toronto -- was the all-around best, taking into consideration team and individual success while he played for the Raptors. I thought that would be obvious."

Doug, it is obvious but then again, I'm not sure that VC is a whole lot better than Bosh. I was actually making the point so that maybe you could say who you believe was the best. Basically your taking VC and I'd also say VC but Bosh is closing the gap and closing it very, very fast if your talking about what he has done for the team overall

Blogger's note: For his individual ability -- and the fact he was on the only team to as much as win a playoff round -- I still have Carter as No. 1 in my mind. But the gap is closing considerably

[anthony.mackay]

Lakers are looking nice, Cavs are looking so good I wanna take a picture... Wade will light it up next game but the heat still might lose... Nuggets are 4 real this yeah and people better take notice.

Doug,
You think the Nugs will make it to the west conference finals?? They got athletic bigs that can bang, proven and steady PG and Melo who has been quietly playing smarter each year.

Blogger's note: Nuggets have a good chance, yeah

[robguy]

Totally with everyone that the music is extremely annoying at Rock games - will never go again. Obviously I am not the target audience. Will not bring my son there though - too loud and in my opinion a damaging level of sound for nothing.

Thanks for the blog Doug - reading everyday!

[RChak]

Umm, Doug

I think Pierce was fouled beneath the 3 point arc on that last play, and Chicago was only up by one. He only shot two free-throws; made the first, missed the second.

Blogger's note: Yes, he was; that's why I phrased it "around the three-point line"

[RChak]

Oh, sorry, didn't see that, but you still got to fix the "two point game" =P

Blogger's note: Yeah, I do

[Pharaoh]

Doug, have any of the players (Raps or otherwise) ever complained about the noise levels during games? I find it disturbing enough as a fan trying to focus; I can only imagine how difficult it must be for players.

Blogger's note: Not to me; I presume they're pretty inured to it.

[Rob]

I thought the exact same thing when I saw the replay of that Noah play. Wow. Great first playoff game for Rose, Beasley had a decent statistical game as well although his team getting thumped kind of negates that. Any idea the last time that the top 2 draft picks were in the playoffs in their first year? Is this rare?

[Patrick]

saw Rasho on the street yesterday walking around, enjoying the city. Have read before he and his wife love Toronto.

Any news on him resigning?

Blogger's note: Nope

[Lorie]

Afternoon,
I read Mr. Johnson's article in the Trib and couldn't help but be impressed by Derrick Rose's mature response to his outstanding performance on Saturday afternoon. (Interesting his choice of movies also - intrigued by the subtley inspired choice of Coraline!) One wonders given the same set of circumstances how many of us would have reacted with such focussed attention to the task still at hand at such a young age. Chicago is indeed very lucky to have him for all kinds of reasons apparently.

[Rory Gold]

Just curious, do the Rock give away free pizza when they score 10?

[Nika]

this is a tad late, but the past few days there has been alot of discussion about how houston has performed better with Mcgrady...going somehting like 22-8 without him....have you all forgotten how last year they went on a 22 game win streak without Yao??or did I imagine that one....so unless they get out of the first round, then 22 game win streak is better then going 22-8, making t-mac the best player on the houston team....I'm just making an observation...and think that the rockets will get passed teh first round, not because they are better without t-mac but because of the inexperience and youth of portland...which was demonstrated in Game1

[Amr]

Doug,

I think everyone can agree that this team is made up of solid character guys. Based on the existing Bosh/Calderon/Bargnani/Parker character make ups, could they handle one (or even two) knucklehead type players without severely affecting the locker-room karma? Guys like JR Smith/Artest have their baggage, but they're fantastic players that provide the exact skill and grit that the team needs. Does the TO locker-room have the strength in personality, that, say, a S.A. locker-room would have that would allow them to withstand the impact of a volatile personality (or two)?

[Matt McCready]

Haha

Weekend highlights include Derrick Rose and Doug's blog.

Maybe I should've gotten more sleep last night but that's pretty funny.

[anthony.mackay]

Melo might not be the stat stuffer his draft bro LBJ is but the kid's IQ for the game has been increasing each year (aside from the retarded WWE stunts).

I'm not a big fan or Melo OR the nuggets but they appear to have some very solid pieces in place.. Smith coming off the bench to play the Manu G role can make this team very dangerous. Its time for the celtics to rattle off a couple wins and take the series in 6.

Keep it up Doug, just cause the raps are not at the party this year doesn't mean us real fans are watching any less ball!!

[Rob.V]

Dude! That was an "extra" funny one today.

You must get so tired of all the politically correct comments from players, coaches ,and management.

I agree, it's all a sham!... and I bet you hit on 80-90% of your predictions.

Could you please remind us of the actual important upcoming dates. July 1st (I believe) is when FA can be signed however would you happen to know when the lottery order will be determined, and when the actual draft will take place?.

Thanks.

Blogger's note: Lottery May 19, draft June 25, free agent negotiation period opens July 1, free agent can be signed July 7.

[JD Salinger]

C'mon Dougie! Those of us at work right now would love an update on the press conference this aft...if only you were as diligent with things like this as you are with your in-game blogs...

[Anthony]

VC was by far the best.... His years in Toronto were incredible, however fizzled quick. Just note his appeal was universal as he garnered the most All-Star votes a few years. Add to that he was arguably the most dynamic player in the league for 2-3 years should not be discounted. Give him the work ethic and determination (only needed 70%) of Kobe and LeBron and who knows what could have been.

As an aside, note the last 2 weeks we beat Orlando, Philly and Chicago (x2), which certainly affected the playoff seedings.

[Mo]

BC: "I'm not a nice guy when we lose"
Don't you wish the rest of the raps were like that?

He seems pretty set on bringing delfino back, no?

It also sounds like he explicitly (off the record) told Jose not to compete this summer.