Jose tops our little world today

As has been said before,

Well, well, well. What have we here?

Not the greatest of weekend games – shoddy in Denver, thuggish in Orlando – but, to some minds at least, very, very compelling post-season basketball and enough great storylines that we’d like to see both of these series go to seven games.

Not sure that’s going to happen but if they continue to give us this kind of entertainment, this could be a heckuva week.

And a heckuva time to be doing something crazy like in-game blogs, which will have in this very corner of the interweb tonight some around 9. As the wise man once said, dontcha dare miss it!

CARLOS OSARIO/TORONTO STAR

With Jose taking a rest maybe emailers will do the same.

-

But first

Not sure how many of you will have seen this but here’s Jose’s definitive word on his summer plans, news sure to warm the cockles of many a heart.

It goes with what we’ve been writing and what I’ve been expecting since I conversation I had with him in early March. It also goes with what Bryan said after the season ended and what Jose said at the same time.

The decision makes entire sense – he needs the rest, he knows it, EuroBasket in Poland is hardly the Olympics – but one of the more significant aspects is that it leaves open the chance to return.

And with Spain being awarded the 2014 world championships on the weekend, I can see Jose back in the red and gold for the 2012 London Games and an international swansong in front of adoring home fans a couple of years later.

But for now? Now he did the logical thing but, before anyone goes all nuts on me, I would have been fine had he decided to play.

There has been all sorts of Jose reputation besmirching going on in the comments section here and the e-mails you don’t see. Can you all please give it a rest for a while? Thanks.

-

Now …

About last night

Help!!!

I don’t want to say we’re seeing a fatal flaw in the Cleveland Cavaliers because they remain just one good game from making the Eastern Conference final even more compelling but there is no question weaknesses have become apparent.

Look at LeBron’s numbers – 41 last night, 35 in Game 2, 49 in Game 1 – and then look at the most important numbers: Orlando 2, Cleveland 1.

That’s an average of  40.7 41.7 points per game according to my abacus (and I apparently need a new abacus) and still, there is a case to be made that this series is now Orlando’s to lose.

Mo Williams has been an afterthought, Zydrunas Ilguaskas can’t draw Dwight Howard away from the basket to create space and hasn’t been knocking down open shots when he gets them and the point guard play has been abysmal.

The Cavs rolled through the regular season on momentum and the singular talents of James; the Magic seem quite content to let him get his and take everything else away, a strategy that’s working almost perfectly.

I wonder how he’s going to like playing with the same cast of questionable talent – or a cast of even more questionable talent – in New York in 2010?

-

Red Hot Rafer

About 10 minutes into last night, when Skip was four-for-for from the floor, I turned to Super Dog (she and I seemed the only ones interested in the game at Casa Doug) and said: “If he’s making shots, no way Orlando loses.”

Super Dog scratched her ear, turned away and, I believe, said, “you, my Human, are very, very smart.”

But seriously, folks, Alston has comported himself almost perfectly so far in this series; getting the right guy the ball at the right time, staying out of the way and knocking down timely shots.

He remains a rather emotional sort – the slap Eddie House’s head made a lot of us go, ‘hey, there’s Rafer!” – but you have to give him credit. He’s making the right plays at the right time almost all the time.

And he’s treating Delonte West like he’s some CBAer.

-

How do the stories play out in the papers.

Well, Brian puts some historical spin on it in Cleveland.

And Brian plays the supporting cast card in Orlando.

-

Let’s do one from the mail because it’s timely:

Q: Would you say that the Magic's experiences in the first two round have allowed them to grow into contenders right in front of us? It seems like all the blown leads, and players calling out coaches, and all the big games against the Celts, have helped mature and prepare the Magic for the playoffs where as the Cav's had no adversity. It's like they have developed a new mental toughness through their pervious games.

Jeffrey M, Beijing

A: When Orlando blew that 18 point lead, I think it was, in the very first game out of the box, a lot of people – including me – saw that as what might have been their ultimate flaw, the inability to stand prosperity.

They still don’t do it well – and that’s why this series may still have some legs – but the way they responded after the crushing loss in Game 5 against Boston showed me something, the way they went into Boston and won Game 7 with relative ease and the way they hung in there in Cleveland to open this series has diminished those thoughts.

I don’t know what it is, exactly, that turns men’s minds from mush to tough but it’s happened with the Magic. Maybe it’s simply experience and momentum – you win a tough game and the next time it’s easier – but they simply do not get rattled any more.

I suppose that should give hope to fans of other teams, that sometimes something just clicks at the most important moment.

-

Hey, Raptor fans:

My fearless prediction, based on nothing more than a gut feeling and a few very quick conversations I’ve had with a few people over the last week or so, is that Marc Iavaroni will be on staff by the end of the week.

And I also think the rest of the staff will be in place; all I have to do now is figure out who that’ll be. Guess I know what today’s job is.

-

About tonight

I’m not sure the Nuggets can play much worse than they did in Game 3 (and neither is George Karl according to Benjamin’s story) with below average performances from Chauncey and Carmelo and a reliance on three-point shooting that bordered on the ridiculous.

But I also wonder how they’ll respond. For all the veterans they have, the Nuggets have never been in a situation like this – heck, they hadn’t even won a playoff series for about a billion years before this year – and the Lakers still have that Bryant fellow.

It is not a stretch to say this is the most important game Carmelo Anthony has ever played in his NBA career, wonder what he’s got in his heart?

I’m sticking with my Noogies (and can you imagine the angst the NBA and it’s television “partners” are feeling at the prospects of a Denver-Orlando final?) so Carmelo better do something.

-

Comments

[A.V.]

this could have been 3-0 for the Lakers...

[Dan w]

Hey Doug, I didn't see the elbow on Williams. After the game Johnson claimed it wasn't on purpose and he's not a dirty player. But hasn't he had a few incidents the past couple of years. I think I remember one from when he was with hawks, maybe on Jose. Does anyone remember any of this?

[DH]

"this could have been 3-0 for the Lakers..."

It could have easily been 3-0 Nuggets as well. Lakers were awfully lucky to win the games they did. The games were sealed on 2 basic plays (in bounds pass). Derrick Fisher arose from the dead for a last swan song.

[peterz]

How about that Marcin Gortat?! Sign him up I say!!
Doug, we're looking smart for picking Orlando :)

Peter
-President, the Marcin Gortat Fan Club

[WA]

When the Cleveland guards aren't knocking down shots, why play them so many minutes? Why keep Wally "I've still got a shot but no D" Szczerbiak on the bench?

Hmmmmmm, I think Van Gundy & co. outcoached Mr. Brown on this one - and this is coming from a Cleveland (and Raptors) fan.

So far Orlando's strategy, as you put it, to let LeBron "get his" is working to the same level that Pop's same strategy let the Spurs sweep the finals.

Right now when you are not knocking down shots at all, I think the 8-man rotation is utterly useless. Boobie makes it 9, Wally makes it 10 - hmmmmmmm, wouldn't fresh legs be able to shoot?

Hedo ain't that quick and putting Wally on him instead of West might actually provide more of a nuisance and visual distraction than someone who you can still pass over their head with clear vision.

Pavlovic I'm fine with playing because he's got "some" D, but the notion that "legs are well-rested due to 2 swept rounds" to justify playing one-injury fill-in all-star (Mo W) and another marginal role player (Delonte "I love tattoo needles on my neck" West) 40+ minutes is apalling.

Doug, is it me or was Dwight Howard the only one in the game that didn't have any visible tattoos (arms, legs, neck, back)???

Even Gortat had a few!!!

[Michel G]

Thanks for the info on Jose. I'm equally baffled at people's reaction to him. The man gives his team everything he's got. Of the remaining playoff teams, only Denver wouldn't eagerly trade their point guard for our's.

[Dallas]

Hey Doug,

This could be 3-0 for the Magic. As soon as the tech wasn't called on Mo Williams in game two, i was like, okay, the fix is in. Stern and the NBA feel they need another finals with cache like the Lakers and Boston. I felt in game 2 the Magic outplayed the Cavs greatly for the fourth quarter, they were all over them, the only reason it was even close at the end was offensive fouls called on the Magic, when the same things were called a block on the other end.

And Howard doesn't usually have so much foul trouble, as he gets "superstar calls", but I guess there's another superstar, of whom, Nike has developed a puppet effigy, which along with the Kobe puppet, has become ESPN's top TV personality.

The ref's just try, imo, to keep the Cavs in striking distance and hope for the best.

Kudos to the Magic and Van Gundy, for not hanging their heads and for fighting through it, but it's only going to get harder for them. I doubt the league wants to see the cavs go down 3-1, when they are so close to Kobe Lebron they can almost taste it. The Magic are still the underdog in this series for that reason, imo. They need to create a large enough gap the outcome can't be altered, or hit the final shot, so they don't leave any chance for anything funny to happen. I predict Magic will not win another "close game" in this series, unless they hit the final shot.

After what Donaghy leveled at the league last year, the officiating of these playoffs have been astonishingly bad, and inconsistent, which is the most inexcusable.

Doug, You once wrote in relation to rookies that Rudy was robbed from a rigged dunk contest. If you believe dunk contests are or have been partially rigged, and if you acknowledge that there are "susperstar calls" and if you find in funny how Lebron and Wade can get so many blocks and steals yet so few folds called against them, why would it be a stretch to think think things like game 6 in Lakers -Sactown happen, or that the league wants there to be a Lakers Cavs final, and the refs will try, within reason to help.

Your thoughts Doug,

PS I threw a little cheddar to your 100 holes charity event, good cause. It's one beer per hole right?

Blogger's note: Many call me naive, I refuse to believe games are "fixed."

[Thane]

Doug, you may want to consider using a calculator rather than an abacus in future - LBJ is averaging 41.7 this series.

Do you think that he enjoys being a singular star? I've always gotten the impression - since he was a draft prospect, that he adores the spotlight - do you think he'd be willing to share it with somebody of near-equivalent talent (eg Bosh, Kobe, or Wade)?

[chris]

Doug - how good would Pietrus look in a Toronto uniform? Does the emergence of Courtney Lee make him obtainable?

Blogger's note: Pietrus would look good in about 25 different uniforms and, no, Lee's good rookie season in no way makes him expendable

[doug]

last nights game helped me get a better understanding of a statement I heard a few weeks ago from George Karl...in it he stated the most important stat to him was +/-, an it left me perplexed as i couldn't see how, but I knew it had to do somehow with match-ups, situation etc....

well last night Mike Brown could have used it,as he was lost, and terribly out-coached....in your in-game blog you even mentioned about using Wally, then rationalized it by talking about Wally's D...well the issue was not D last night for the Cavs it was offense and the need for it from anyone besides LeBron,,,,and that is where I get Karls's statement a little more as the game is at times just about numbers, so let's say Wally plays scores 12 points, which he can has he is a prolific shooter, but his man he is guarding scores 6, there's a +6...plus when he is out there you play Wallace as he would supply stronger inside defense, as Wally will get beat off the dribble....also you play Gibson as he would play at a different pace and may supply assists, points, let's say he plays scores 4 points, 2 assists, his opponent scores 4, there is a +4......

there you have a +10, two meaningless stats, two players with seemingly meaningless impact yet you have a tie game...the Cavs bench is not a earth-shattering one, but Brown needs to utilize it not only to try and find just a few more points, but also alter the pace of the game as each player brings in something new an thereby making Gundy adjust...Brown coaches just like Woodson in Atlanta he doesn't change the pace of the game, modify his plan....he does the same old same old, he would be easy to coach against as he doesn't change....Barkley even alluded to it in the post-game scrum, he needs to at least try, he is not at all...he's the one being faced with adversity, and so far failing by his own fear...Adelman is not afraid to try you see it, it may not work but he tries, or tries combos to get one to work....even if it doesn't work it does as the opposing coach has to constantly be in the game responding...

[Vincent Lam]

I just noticed the new photo at the top left. Very nice Doug, you look happier than in the last one. And you're not slouching as much.

[David Sidhu]

Nice new pic!

[WA]

Games may not be "fixed" but even refs have a bias towards their favourite teams/players. If a ref really loves a player, he's more likely to ignore "incidental" contact caused by that player whereas another ref might call a foul.

Also, a ref may be so astonished by a play, he may not call a foul on a spectacular block just because, well, the ref was stunned. Whistles blow as easily as they don't blow - it takes the brain to tell you to blow it or not blow it.

Refs don't have to be paid to fix games, they could just want to see their personal favourite team advance so they'll look the other way with certain calls if it gives them a chance to make their dream come true.

I wonder if anyone thought about that. It doesn't take a hidden handout from Stern or bookies to influence how you are going to call a game, it just takes personal bias.

How many times has Duncan been tossed or T'd up by his worst nightmare official? LOTS! Vendettas figure into this as much as favouritism because of...........

PERSONAL BIAS!

So stop picking on Doug for saying games aren't fixed by the league. They aren't - refs are humans, refs have emotions and refs have favouritism - it isn't going away so accept it. At least it isn't as bad as OUA/CIS basketball where 50% or more of the calls/non-calls are wrong!

[Lorie]

Thanks for the link on Jose Calderon. As a Raptors' fan it is good to see that he is so committed to be in top physical health to start the NBA season, but it is clear this was far from being an easy decision for him to make. I hope Raptors' fans appreciate the personal sacrifice he is making in waiving his participation this year with his national team. And, by the way, nice new pic!

[Justin]

Did you even finish school Doug?

Blogger's note: Apparently not successfully enough because I still haven't learned how to completely ignore idiots.
But thanks for bringing your unique level of intelligence to the conversation.

[Hani]

Hi Doug,

The more I see and hear Mo Williams the more I dislike him. Look at this comment about Anthony Johnson from (ESPN):
"I got bigger fish to fry," he said. "I got to go and figure out how I can make some shots and get open looks. I couldn't care less about Anthony Johnson -- he plays 12 minutes a game. I couldn't care less."

What did he accomplish in his career to say such things?? Being named an allstar replacement after 3 guys were injured?? give me a break. I really hope the Cavs lose cuz I don't think he deserves to be in the finals.

[Zombywoof]

Ha ha, you are showing your age! How many readers will know who the wise man was that used to say, "Dontcha dare miss it!" ?

[Terence]

Hiya Doug,

The comment you made in your last blog re: the Cavs having a (potentially) fatal flaw got me thinking... don't most teams -even championship contending ones (especially in the modern free-agency/salary-cap era)- all have inherent weaknesses in some area of their game? i.e. if you look at the 4 remaining teams in the playoffs, could you really point to any one and say that they're a complete team with no significant weakness in any area of their game?

I guess my point is that I don't think the Cavs are any different -insofar as having an exploitable weakness- than any other 'elite' team.

[aditya]

just thinking, initially they just called a personal foul on mo williams when anthony johnson elbowed him... and then when mo williams was down, and the trainer came and he got up, they changed the call to a flagrant 2 so that they could review the flagrant 2 on video...BUT, aren't the refs supposed to call the flagrant 2 within like 25 seconds (meaning quick enough) of the foul occurring.... i mean just cause there was blood on mo williams face, you can't just call a flagrant 2 JUST SO YOU CAN CHECK THE VIDEO AND SEE WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SEE IT.. that's abusing the system in my opinion

[the ref]

For all the ref bashers out there. These guys want to have integrety. If they were truly biased most of them could not blow the whistle and believe in their calls. They are given direction on what to call but you can't get them to cheat. (one notable exception to the rule noted)

[aditya]

Jason Kapono: Was put on the '07 Select Team after the Raptors threw all that money at him, but his stock has dropped to the point where even getting an invite this summer is uncertain.

says something about kapono....

Blogger's note: Dead wrong. Was put on the '07 team to give it a three-point threat to work against in practice; was originally invited to '08 team but had other commitments and that team was many of the young guys who are there this summer. Never had a promise to be included on the '09 team which will probably form the nucleus of the 2010 worlds and 2012 Olympic team. Your supposition is dead wrong. But nice try.

[doug]

the cavs have one huge flaw the other teams still playing don't have...and its plain and simple they have no consistent secondary scorer whereas all the other teams still playing do...even the raps have a better 1-2 punch then Cavs...thats their exploitable flaw,no team is perfect, far from it, but the further you go the more your flaws become apparent as the teams you are playing are that much more capable of exposing them...

It's the cavs biggest weakness, and Brown only exacerbates it by not trying to fill that flaw with points from whatever sources he can, in fact he exposes it more, as he sinks or swims with relatively the same 5-6 guys more or less....last night LeBron, West and Williams all played over 40 minutes, leBron yes he needs to the other 2 are bringing nothing to the table.....so that is a major flaw, and totally exploitable which the other 3 teams left don't have...so the Cavs are far different and in fact in the biggest trouble of being eliminated just by that one flaw

[Mando]

"Did you even finish school Doug?"
Justin
If Justin finished school, it appears to be a waste of the taxpayers money!

[kb]

Games are fixed? Uh, ya cause the league wanted a Celtics - Lakers final ... oops, I mean a Kobe - Lebron final ... oops, now Orlando is cruising so what's next in the world of black op helicopters? The fact that star players get better treatment than the rest of the league is not news to anyone but thinking that the whole thing is rigged is hilarious.

[Eric]

LBJ is not alone. It just seems that way from the way he plays. Larry Hughes, Ilgauskas (return from injury), Donyell Marshall, Mo Williams (all-star!), Drew Gooden, Wally Sz, Joe Smith, Ben Wallace, etc. Every year there's a new cast, every year the expectations change ("Mo Williams was the missing ingredient, folks, you just watch") only to see the same results happen again. [lather, rinse, repeat]

Sort of like the Raptors and their constant search for toughness. Bring in Rasho/established centre! Trade Rasho, bring in Jermaine O'Neil/six-time all-star! Trade O'Neil, bring in Marion/rebounding wing! (Now they want to sign & trade Marion- of all players- to find the right perimeter defender, can you believe it?!?!) There were several others in between. They never look in the mirror and think, "Maybe the problem lies with who IS here, not who is NOT here!"

I don't think Lebron is a problem, per se. I think he's just so spectacular that it will always seem like he's shorthanded. I'm just pointing out our inability, as a society, to learn from past mistakes- we keep using the excuses and none of them work...... of course it doesn't stop us from using them again. The day Lebron gets a "proper" supporting cast will be the same day the Raptors develop a toughness while building around softies like Bosh and Bargnani.

By the way, I like the new photo Doug. You look slim. The ladies like. :)