News? You want news? Well, we've got some (sort of)

I have no idea how we keep coming up with enough crap – oops, I mean enough vital information you all crave – every day in a slow summer but we do.

For now, that is. 

UPDATE: Oops.

So much for news.

Just heard the NBA pre-season schedule that was supposed to be released today has been delayed a week so what you are about to read is a tad premature.

Still, it's hugely interesting (and I use the term "hugely" in the loosest possible manner).

Anyway, the Raptor news we have is right, the rest ... well, we'll see.

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Ooooh!

And

Boy!

Big news today next week, kids.

Pre-season schedule!

Yes, we find out where and against who they’ll spend eight games running different combinations of players in and out of the lineup and the other sorts of wonderful things that go with games that don’t count.

Two games we know already:

As visitors on Oct. 6 against Philly in London – that’d be the Ontario one, not the big one over the pond – and as visitors on Oct. 23 against Minnesota in Sioux Falls, Whateverstateitis.

(Visitors in London because the company that owns the Sixers owns the rinks there; visitors in Sioux Falls because the Timberwolves have some deal with some regional bank or something and always travel to such far-off locales, by the way).

So, my best guess is that those are the first and last of the eight, which would mean four at home in between and a couple of more on the road.

What I’ve also been told is that there is no visit here planned for any of the EuroLeague teams that are visiting North America. I know Maccabi’s coming again, and so is Partizan Belgrade but neither are stopping here.

Anyway, that’s what passes for news at the moment, I’m sure you’ll all be breathlessly awaiting the official announcement some time this afternoon.

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This is why I love Super Son, among the other zillions of reasons.

We turn on the Blue Jays last night:

Him: “Dad, look at the guys behind the plate, looking and acting like umpires.”

Me: “Yawn.”

Him: “Do they think they’re funny or something?”

Me: “I don’t know, I guess so.”

Him: “Well, they’re not.”

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Okay, so what are basketball fans to do these days? (Besides continually hammering home the silly suggestion that Toronto make some kind of move to get Allen Iverson, that is).

Well, it’s August so it must be international basketball time and if you’ve still got any interest in what the Italian team is doing – besides getting into tiny dustups with Canucks – check this story out.

Italy, France and Finland are in one of two groups fighting for one last spot at EuroBasket 2009 next month in Poland and it would appear to be an uphill fight for Andrea and Marco and the boys now.

We’ll try to stay on top of this – I would imagine the Raptors wouldn’t be totally crushed if Bargnani and Belinelli had September off – as the days go on.

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Speaking of the Raptors and the pre-season and training camp, one thing I haven’t heard is just how many extra bodies they plan to transport to Ottawa for the fun of a week in the nation’s capital.

(Oh yeah, we’ll be looking for dining and dancing suggestions – well, maybe not the dancing part of it -- as we move closer so all you Ottawans start making those lists).

There are two schools of thought:

1. Just stick with the 15 guys you’ve got so the coaches can work with them without having to worry about guys with no legitimate shot at making the team.

The downside is the wear and tear, of course, but with the way the NBA restricts camp workouts – no more than three two-a-days, only one of them can involve contact drills – I’m not sure how big a worry that is.

2. Bring in three or four others who can lessen the load and give you a chance to scrimmage with a fair number of subs.

Not sure this works because (a) you’re devoting time and effort on guys you’ll never see again and (b) if one of them gets injured (hi, Jamal Sampson!) you have to keep them around and on the payroll for a while.

If I had to guess – and right now it is a guess – there’ll be 15 guys at Carleton whenever we get to Carleton.

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Hey, check out this boxscore and see if you see a familiar name.

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So, I see from the various comments the past 24 hours that we have some people interested in political history – especially that of the United States – here.

Cool.

Seriously, where else can you get info on Sioux Falls pre-season games and a mini-debate on the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

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Oh, on an entirely related note, can you gals and guys send some questions so I can get a mailbag together for one of the next few days. Thanks.

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I’m ArgoBoy yesterday (check out this piece of CFL scribbling if you don’t believe me) and I have to say, it’s quite a cool gig.

You get to sit outside on what was a glorious day watching a full practice (if I had any idea what I was seeing, it probably would have been really good) and there’s just a nice, relaxed atmosphere around there. A very nice way to spend a summer work day.

And it beats sitting on the concourse of the Air Canada Centre for a couple of hours every morning waiting for Raptors practice to end.

I always get the question: Why do NBA teams close practices to the media (except for the final half hour, when we usually get into to see shooting drills and free-throw shooting contests) when all the other sports open theirs? You can watch a whole Leaves practice, see everything the Argos do and sit in the dugout and watch batting practice ‘til your eyes glaze over.

The main one is teams want some semblance of privacy to allow coaches to bark at their players using whatever colourful language they like and to allow players to, um, get after each other if they want without having every move chronicled. It’s the way it’s been for about forever and it’s not going to change.

Brendan Malone, at the urging of bosses who weren’t entirely sure if the people talking and writing about the Year 1 Raptors knew whether a ball was blown up or stuffed, did let us in to watch every minute of practice if we wanted. And I can honestly say, by March if we saw one more three-man weave, it was time to gouge out our eyes with a spoon.

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Comments

[Matt Kovacs - Age 12]

Hey Doug, well i guess untill the raptors get a 3 then this will probably be it till preseason. At least i have the game in london to look forward to.

[Sam]

Hi Doug,

I have had this question for quite a while: how does the NBA decide which four teams in the East the Raptors play three times in the season? It seems to me they would play all 14 teams four times a year, but that will make the total games 86, not 82. Thanks.

Blogger's note: It rotates year to year. And 86 games would be about 16 too many, just like 82 is a dozen too much

[ANM]

I didn't notice any familiar in the box score.......help?!

Blogger's note: Think Senegal-born Raptors

[Pat]

So that's where L. TSELAN TSIENE ETOU is playing these days.

[Raps Fan]

Do, you think Marco Belleni is better than Anthony Parker in terms of shooting and defense?

Blogger's note: I honestly can't say for sure and no one really can given that Belinelli played in a whopping 42 games for Warriors last year. I know the Raptors presume so but it's rather subjective and an impossible question to answer right now

[Ross]

P.SOW!!!!!! 18 minutes, 6pts, on 50% from the field.

Blogger's note: We have a winner!

[Julien B]

Hey Doug ! Have you watched the France-Italy game yesterday ? Marco Belinelli looked pretty good (he scored 26 points) and Andrea seems to have put on a few pounds. He did not have a great game offensively (mainly because of Turiaf's defense) but looked stronger down low taking rebounds and blocking shots. Bryan and Maurizio (who were apparently in the arena) must be pretty excited.

[Lola]

is there a prize?

Blogger's note: I notice the prize closet is empty. Sorry

[LeeZ]

So it has all come down to this, Doug. A Sophie's Choice conundrum, if you will: whom do the Raps keep, and whom do they reject. Do we keep Pops? Or, in a daring move, do we go for Pop? (as you know, Pape Sow's first name is pronounced Pop). Or (and stay with me here, Doug, because this is TRULY inspired, if I do say so myself): we cut Banks and sign them BOTH! That way, we'd have THREE (yes, THREE, count 'em) Pops!!! Pops, Pape and P.O.B. Doug, we'd have cornered the market!!! (oh dear lord, let the season begin. My brain is turning to mush...)

[KX]

A three point attempt for Pape, I wonder what Sam's reaction would be if he was in a Raptors uniform instead

[ANM]

Wow, I figured it was Pape Sow but I didn't see his name on the player list at first glance......Saw it now, Thanks

[Forbes]

Looking at those stats, I can also see Desagna Diop played! And Boniface N'Dong who also had some NBA experience am I right?

Blogger's note: He did, a handful of games with, I believe, the Clippers a couple of years ago

[Lorne]

B. NDONG 26 mins, 64.3% shooting, 7 boards. Who is this guy and why aren't the raps signing him to back up the 3?

[joe m]

ugh, i see Super Son inherited the beat grunt snarkiness

"yawn" indeed

[doug]

that was a funny little exchange between your son and yourself..they come up with the darndest things...reminds me of my sister, my nephew (who is 8) and myself were watching a ball game on t.v. and some guy was on the cell phone waving away...well my nephew turns to me and says, see that guy waving...i say yea...he says he's stupid...I say i know those guys bug me...he says well no he's stupid because if he is talking on the cell phone to someone, he must know them so why does he have to wave to them, they can see him, everyone can....I cracked up...kids...make you realize waht is important in life and what isn't...good for a reality check...

[Lou]

Are the Raptors looking for a way to sign Boniface Ndong as the 15th man on the roster? Clearly he shoots, rebounds, and blocks better than the Legend AND he can hit the 3! I keed, I keed.

[marc in Burlington]

Forget Iverson. Forget Pops. The Raptors should re-sign Pape Sow at all costs. He is the missing piece. Trust me. ;)

[Alex H]

I had the same thoughts about those guys in umpire garb. They've taken their act on the road too, as I saw them at a Jays road game in (I believe) Cleveland. When they're there, pay attention to the expressions of the people sitting behind them after a few innings of them standing up after every pitch or batter. Having to pay big money for good tickets only to have those relentlessly annoying clowns constantly blocking their view. At least the famous heckler in Tampa Bay picked one player from the other team, so the 100 other fans in the stadium didn't have to listen to him more than 5 times per game.

[Eddy]

Doug, with the changes in the East, is it fair to assume 41 wins doesn't get you into the playoffs any more?

-Eddy

Blogger's note: We'll know in April, I don't think you can say that at all.

[LeeZ]

Now that it looks like Donyell's not returning to Philly, do you think the Raps might have an interest? Best days are long, long gone, but he's still capable of hitting clutch shots (as he proved time and time again last year), is totally fine going long stretches without playing, is (from all accounts) an excellent teammate, and would be a fan favourite from his halcyon days. Granted, he's a power forward, but could play some emergency minutes at the 5. And I'm sure he'd accept the veteran's minimum.

Blogger's note: I think they have no interest at all at the moment

[petro]

Doug... Question... would you rather keep Antoine Wright for one year... or attain Linas Kleiza under a "fair" monetary contract for 3 years?

Thanks

Blogger's note: Shorter the better on contracts

[aditya]

ok common i noticed pape sow as soon as i saw it was senegal vs someothercountry.... i just woke up too late

[kempsanity]

Can you give us any idea of when the Raptors are coming to Ottawa, trying to plan a road trip!

Blogger's note: Not entirely sure but camp usually starts around Sept. 29

[Dave Thomson]

Was that also the one and only Mahamdou N'Diaye on the box score, as well?

Doug, a few tips on Ottawa:
1 - The Manx on Elgin St. Prepare to wait for a seat with a libation or two.
2 - The Gastropub on Wellington - Classy place, amazing food, not too far from Carleton.
3 - For a lunch time snack try Patty's pub on Bank St., again close to Carleton.

If you know those few then you can round it out with your favorite brand of ethnic food. The last thing you can't forget is Bridgehead coffee, which blows your triple-or-quad venti latte from Starbucks out of the water.

Looking forward to the Raps coming, it's always nice to have a little extra buzz around campus when things get going again.

[Dave Thomson]

Missed one: Murray st. pub right downtown on (you guessed it!!) Murray st. Go for the red meat tho, the pidgeon was way over cooked.