One job done, more still to be done. Eventually

RICHARD LAUTENS/TORONTO STAR

Triano has the ear of his players, and that's a good thing.

Okay, so they’ve got a coach, the expected news finally happened and everyone got their fix of Raptors stuff, right? Hope so because outside of the possible hiring of assistant coaches we’ve been talking about for months, there’s no news until the lottery in a week’s time.

Until then, though, the good teams continue to play. And tonight could be great with the Celtics-Magic and Lakers-Rocket doubleheader providing the possibility of two gems. We’ll be here, of course, with the in-game blog off the 8 p.m. Boston-Orlando thingy. Well, not “here” exactly because I’m at home and home doesn’t have TSN2, which has both games but we’ll be somewhere. And you’ll be here, right?

And now, we bring you …

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Quick answers to persistent question: Expect Marc Iavaroni to be here in the next 10 days or so at the outside as Jay’s lead assistant.

Would be surprised if either Alex English or Mike Evans are back but one could be and I’d suspect from conversations I’ve had, there’s a better chance it’s Alex.

Can’t get a read on the future of Gord Herbert at the moment.

A Professional Bum in Atlanta is not surprised at all by the news. Off the record, of course.

The third year of Jay’s deal is not guaranteed.

Not sure of exactly the financial value but if you guessed $1.6-$1.8 million for the first year and $1.8-$2.0 million for the second, I don’t think you’d be too far off. And, because Lionel Hollins is in Memphis, the lowest-paid coach in the NBA does not coach the Raptors.

They have had conversations about some kind of basketball development-assistant coach-behind-the-bench role for Alvin Williams. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if it happened inside a month.

Am sure there will be more as they come in various conversations I’ll be having.

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About last night

Really, the only marginal surprise was that Dallas survived itself and that spate of embarrassing technical fouls brought on by relative immaturity, and extended that series.

Dirk was great, Carmelo not quite great enough but if this one’s not over on Wednesday night, I’ll be shocked.

In Atlanta? Yawn.

The Cavs now have until at least Saturday and probably Monday before they have to get back on the court for real and that’s a huge advantage. It pays, as we’ve said all along, to take care of your business early.

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Here is a list, totally subjective but I think most would concur it’s pretty good, of five attributes all good coaches must have. Tell me if you don’t think Jay has them:

Full support of his boss

As a wise man once said, ‘duh.’

If anyone thinks Bryan hasn’t been fully behind Jay since, oh, December, she hasn’t been paying attention.

Good tactical knowledge

I think it’s safe to say on such matters plays out of timeouts, plays to start games, halves and quarters, this team does all right. Not the best, not the worst but when you’re best breakdown offensive player is a 6-10 power forward, that’s rather limiting And, I think with a full training camp and season worth of practice, this is an area that will improve.

Respect of the players

Maybe you don’t believe Bryan and perhaps you won’t believe me but there was no one in that locker room last year who didn’t respect Jay’s knowledge of the game or his handling of men. The one thing that may pop up is how Jay will handle having to discipline some relative miscreant but, because of No. 1, I think you’ll see a firm hand when needed.

Ability to manage a roster

I think the rotations were crisper in the final 65 games of the season than they might have been in the first 17. There is always room for improvement – it would have been better, in my opinion, if Jay had let Roko go a little bit longer most nights – but because we’re not sure what the roster’s going to look like this year, we’ll only say Jay’s proven that he can get a rotation and stick to it.

Willingness to learn

Would it surprise you to learn that Jay is willing to listen to almost anyone in a pursuit to get better? Would it surprise you to learn that he had dinner during a road trip to Orlando late in the season with Butch Carter just to pick his brain on how Butch ran practices and managed games? Would it surprise you that Jay’s been keeping a “book” of what other teams do in certain situations for as long as he’s been around the NBA?

All true. All good signs.

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A couple of other “statements” I would like the league to release unsolicited:

“It has come to our attention that the “travelling” rule remains in our rule book as an illegal move and, since it hasn’t been called consistently since Patrick Ewing joined the league, we can only blame the printing company for not removing it per our instructions.”

And the next day, it’d be cool to read this:

“Of course stars get the benefit of the calls, do you think people pay to watch scrubs? You dopes.”

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A rather interesting start to the Raptors workouts yesterday.

Sam Young, the Pitt big, is doing some vertical leaping drill that involves jumping and pushing aside little levers sticking off a pole and as he does, he turns, gets “stabbed” by one of the other levers. Big cut, thing’s protruding out of his arm, he’s off to the hospital to be taken care of. He’s okay, I was told yesterday, but how’d you like to be Bryan calling the agent:

“Um, about your first round draft pick? Well, he stabbed himself doing a drill every kid who works out for every team has to do. Sorry ‘about that.”

Anyway, today’s lineup, all forwards:

Robert Dozier, 6-9 of Memphis; Danny Green, 6-6 of North Carolina; Dionte Christmas (coolest name so far), 6-5 of Temple; Terrence Williams (who didn’t work yesterday because he was paired with Young and we all know how that turned out), 6-6 of Louisville, Joe Ingles, 6-8 of Australia and local yokel Javohn Shepherd, 6-5 of Michigan.

And underwhelming group, indeed, for a team with a top 10 pick.

Oh, the Durham College kid, Anthony Batchelor, gets cut because Williams stuck around.

(Okay, here’s how crazy and unpredictable these things are. I typed that note at 8:21 this morning and at 8:23 I get an e-mail from the Raptors saying Dozier’s flight was cancelled, he’s not coming and Batchelor’s back in. Lord’s fans everywhere rejoice!).

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I’m going to go to the mail for one that’s topical. Well, sort of topical.

Q: Doug, watching Raptors TV interview Brian after the press conference for Triano he mentioned that Delfino told him that he would come back when Jay is the coach. Is this because he didn't get along with Sam? If so why haven't we heard about this before today?

Steve H, Mississauga

A: It was actually reported here, oh, about six months ago. In a conversation in Beijing at the Olympics with me, Jay and Carlos, there was a joke made right at the end that went along the lines of: “Carlos, you’ve got to come back.”

“I will,” he said to Jay. “When you’re the coach.”

So file yesterday’s comment by Bryan as old, old news being revisited.

And I don’t know exactly how they got along but the fact there was some friction between Sam and Carlos over minutes and role is not news, nor a surprise.

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Comments

[doug]

conversation piece, here is the top 5 owners and 5 worse owners in the NBA according to S.I.....Mark Cuban was 3rd best...which i agree with....they do all major sports, interestingly enough and not a surprise MLSE was voted worse owner of a NHL team...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/nba/05/08/nba.owners/index.html

[aditya]

i swear if blake ahearn gets an opportunity with the raptors instead of jason kapono, he would have a better impact on the game...(points wise also)....kid can play....

[Imran]

Dionte Christmas is a SG not a forward. Pretty interesting kid, a senior who put up a lot of points last year. (19.5 ppg)

Anyways check it out,
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/dionte-christmas

Blogger's note: Call him whatever you like, the Raptors called him a forward, I'd never even heard of him until yesterday.

[Jim M]

Both JT and BC spoke of having the same philosophies in regard to how the team will play. What exactly are those philosophies? I have seen no consistency in style of play since BC took over. Even the style of play of the individual players he has acquired has been all over the map.

Blogger's note: An offence predicated on getting easy baskets in transitions and players who can play multiple positions and create difficult matchups would be one way to put it, I guess

[chili]

Dionte Christmas.

Where's Tree Rollins these days?

Those two would make a good 3-4 combo.

[Darko]

doug; you got yourself whole bunch of quality wins in that 9-4.
Only Orlando and first win vs. Bulls were games where opponent played for something.
Other W's, Clippers, Oklahoma, decimated Bucks team...
yup, get the bubbly going and let me know where is the parade going to be.
Please tell me that you were not serious.

[Allen]

How much would Delfino net if he actually came back?

Blogger's note: Can't take a guess at the moment.

[DH]

Doug, was that a typo or did you say there was some friction between Sam and Delfino over minutes. What a shock, this from a player who complained about minutes in Detroit. So if he comes back, does he bring the same attitude about minutes. This team isn't a playoff team if Delfino is playing a role anything other than 8th - 9th.

[PJ]

Continuing the theme of "Where Amazing (sort of) Happens", how about the Lebron clip where he drives the lane on the Celtics? Just as he's about to finish the dunk KG slides over and, without making any attempt for the ball, delivers a forearm to the chest that causes James to (barely) land off-balance on one foot? Obviously not a foul as play continues...

[doug]

hey Darko...at least I have a opinion and stick to it....you just waffle around, saying whatever comes to your mind, your ramblings on here are much appreciated as there amusing for one and all....if you do don't agree with Jay being coach just say so, its only a opinion, and your as anyone else's on here means nothing really in the big picture, cheers...oh I believe the parade will be down Yonge street and end up at the ACC...just my guess,....

[Bob Sr]

I am very pleased for Jay now we can put an end to this Ettore Messina nonsense for good.

[doug]

oh that parade route comment was sarcasm I thought I better explain that...as sarcasm, sense of humour seem to be beyond the grasp of some on this blog..its a b-ball game, team, anyone that thinks others should take there opinion as facts are delusional...Darko don't be so defensive, just go with the flow, relax, kick-back and don't be a hater (heard my nephew say that I liked it)....

[Eric]

"perhaps it's because he's a good coach?"

Doug, your a riot!! Why do people disagree with you and oppose so much of what you have to say? Because of statements like that. You're drinking gallons of Team Toronto Raptor kool-aid, viewing a mess through rosecoloured glasses. I hope you're doing it on purpose.

Uhh........ He's stuck around because he's a good coach? Yeah!!!

Name me a single time that it's ever happened anywhere else in the history of the league (good OR bad coach)? I can't name one in the last 30 years (assistant coach kept on for consecutive coaching staffs that have no established link to one another)!!!

So are you suggesting that Jay Triano is the only "good coach" who's ever served as assistant on an NBA bench- he's the only one of the last 30 years worth keeping around?!?!?!?!

You don't think that maybe........ possibly........ Some might say...... it could have something to do with his link to Basketball Canada and the Canadian fanbase in general? Maybe that has more to do with it than his revolutionary ideas in coaching that have helped lead to three playoff berths in eight seasons?

I'm not knocking Jay. I'm sure he's a good coach. Heck, Krzyzewski used him. But take off the glasses once in awhile Dougie, why don't ya. You're like a politician. It's like saying MLSE charges high prices because they're so devoted to charity. It might be true on some level but that's not the reason.

Blogger's note: Hang on a sec; let me see if I've got this straight. You carve because I suggest that a guy keeps a job for seven years because he's a good coach and then, what, 150 words later you type this:

"I'm sure he's a good coach."

Could you do me a favour and go away. Forever.
Thank you.

[Mark L]

I didn't realize there was so much drama happening off the court during that Dallas Denver game. Any potential suspensions or fines as a result? in particular Kenyon Martin.

Blogger's note: I can see fines being levied, and probalby privately without us knowing; but there'd be no chance of suspension, I wouldn't think; nor do people in the league I talk to

[doug]

why are people so indignant,defensive, and accusatory on here at times, it's a game, there are worse things in life believe me then what happens on and off a b-ball court...I love b-ball, am passionate about it, have my opinions, am 50 years old and love the game since I was 15...my friends and I have discussions, disagreements, about coaches, players etc, but there just that difference of OPINIONS...no one's opinion is more right then another persons, some make more sense as the more facts you have to back it up the more sense it makes...but rants are not opinions, personal attacks aren't either, nor are disparaging remarks....this is what I said to my friend last night he is not a fan of Jay's appointment , but I am, I said look at it this way at some point in time you can say "I told you so" as every coach gets hired to get fired (unless your Jerry Sloan), he's hired, it's all fine with me, and I see better days ahead....that's just me, i could be wrong i could be right, time will tell.....but let's retain a level of civility,by the way if anyone ever called me "Dougie" (Doug's my name as well) it would be the last time anyone called me that, unless it's my aunt....

Doug does a excellent job on this blog, answering, providing a forum if you want to be rude go to those other sites where it is not only accepted but expected..

[Cb]

Conspiracy Theory Alert: Is the proffesional bum....Sam Mitchell?

[Mr. Cook]

Thank you! for posting the traveling joke. You may (or may not) recall from various in-game blogs it's one of my pet peeves. Any idea when it started to slip? I'm an MJ fanatic to some extent and you don't see it happen very often in his era of footage. And I don't just mean MJ, I mean virtually everyone on the court. It seems to me that it was around the Iverson rookie year that things started to "slip" (pun intended).

And as a big UNC fan, the Green kid might be of interest in that his hustle is outstanding and his range is far beyond anything that our forwards have (except Bargs).

[aditya]

you know something, i see all this chatter about student vs teacher (burnett vs halladay) and then i am hearing from everyone about Doc being GREAT.... i think all along i have misunderestimated doc and its remarkable how people sometimes underestimate great players because they probably make it look so easy on TV and real life as well.....oops wrong blog

[CB]

Can you believe how some people voted for the MIP!?!??!? This is just disgraceful, but GLEN DAVIS GOT A FIRST PLACE VOTE, AND ALL BARGS GOT WAS ONE MEASLY 3rd place vote. Unbelievable. and who in their right mind seriously voted for rasul butler...honestly, some times I think the media votes mess up more than the fans do.

[mattmelanson]

I just assumed refs only call travels when the pivot foot leaves the ground, and simply don't bother calling travels on 3 steps with the ball anymore. At least that's what it looks like to me, despite what the league tells me.

[GM]

Mr. Cook, were you, like, 9 when you were watching MJ? There was as much travelling in that era, if not more.

And refs still don't call when the pivot foot leaves the ground. At least not whenever Kevin Garnett does his pet spin move.