Of Bosh and that V. Carter fellow

Yeah, crazy late. Major issues with Your Friendly Internet-Cable-Phone Provider.

But we’re here. Finally.

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How about that Bosh news, eh?

Kinda bites, given that this was going to be a pretty important training camp.

But what can you do?

Deal with it, I guess.

No, not deal him, as some more over-the-top people have suggested.

Deal with it by keeping him out for maybe a couple of weeks, letting him get treatment and rest and then walking him back into things somewhere around the middle of the pre-season.

It’s not like there isn’t some time until things get going for real, the opener’s not for another month and, I’m told, Bosh is as good shape now as he’s ever been. Shouldn’t take him all that long to get back up to speed once he’s able to go.

There was a bit of disappointment in the voices of people I talked to at the golfing extravaganza yesterday. But they’ll get over it.

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Second-to-last one here

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

What happened

Here’s the nba.com rundown of movements to and fro.

Is Zero a plus?

Yes, Gilbert Arenas says he’s healthy; yes, he should be back dominating the ball in Washington; yes, he is likely to make things interesting for people who follow him with his penchant, much appreciated, for saying what he thinks.

But are the Wizards better with him? I honestly don’t know.

One thing I do know is that Flip Saunders is a pretty good offensive coach, if anyone can figure out how to mesh Gil with all those other scorers, he might be able to do it.

Good luck to him.

Under the radar

I’m going with Brandon Bass in Orlando, actually. I kind of liked his game last year and think he might bring something that was missing to the Magic second unit.

Is this a fit?

Is Jamal Crawford destined to be a guy who puts up big numbers on bad teams and little more?

I like his game a bit, he’s certainly not shy about trying to “announce his presence with authority” once he gets on the court but that’s a pretty set pecking order down in Atlanta and I wonder if he’ll disrupt it.

A note of thanks

Is what every Raptors fan should give to Orlando GM Otis Smith for helping facilitate that four-team, double sign-and-trade transaction in the summer.

Oh yeah, he’s there, too

I have a feeling we’re going to see a monster year from ol’ No. 15. Really.

With Dwight Howard there, and Rashard Lewis, he can slide somewhat into the background and that’s where he can kill you.

There’s no denying he’s still got the skills, now he’s got some motivation and, in my opinion, the best team he’s ever been on and a coach who can be tough enough to challenge him.

I know it won’t sit well in these parts but watch out, he could be great. <p>Wait ‘til next year

Check out those Heat transactions and tell me that’s a playoff team. No way. Not now. Maybe next year.

What will happen?

Two teams that are going to be right in the thick of the 4-8 race with Toronto – Atlanta and Washington – reside in this division. That’s going to make it worth everyone’s while to pay close attention.

I wish I had a good crystal ball but let’s just say today I like the Raptors are much as I like the Wizards and Hawks.

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If Bosh rolls an ankle in February, I don’t want to hear it has to do with his hammy, okay?

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So a fella comes home to deal with some family stuff mid-afternoon on Friday only to find no cable, no internet, no phone.

Sweet.

After maybe an hour on the telephone with various Rogers employees and a suggestion someone might be able to stop by Monday morning, someone finally got me a supervisor who kind of understood the predicament over here.

So, yes, this is later than it should be but the dude was here about 8 a.m. trying to figure out what happened.

Got it fixed, too.

Now, I guess I can call Bell

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Best Bosh comment from readers? The one that suggested -- tongue-in-cheek, I really, really hope – that they’re holding him out because there’s a trade done.

Seriously. That’s what one said.

I truly hope it was a joke.

I truly fear it wasn’t.

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In the weight loss department, not only is Jose Calderon slimmed down a bit – although you can hardly tell he’s 10 pounds lighter like he says because he looks the same – but Rasho’s been avoiding the all-you-can-eat buffets, too.

I’m not saying that if he turns sideways you won’t be able to see him but he’s shaved more than 15 pounds or so off his frame and looks a lot lighter.

He’s still big enough, don’t get me wrong, but he’s definitely lighter and, I suppose, in better shape.

I guess being away from the many red-meat emporiums that dominate downtown Indy might have something to do with it.

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Know what I need to find?

I need to find me someone who can get me in this foundation golfing tournament next year.

Swag? Sweet.

Bags, balls, clothing, and fun and frivolity.

Those toffs know how to live well.

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Slight change in the big game for the national women’s team tonight at the world qualifier in Brazil.

They get Argentina, which upset Cuba late last night to finish off the first round.

Not sure what that means, but Canada was going to have to beat one of Cuba or Argentina to get in; now they might get the chance in reverse order from what everyone expected.

Shockingly, it’s not going to be anywhere on your television unless you’ve got one of the all-time great satellites. So, guess you’re going to either have to pay attention to the play-by-play on a computer (which I did for a bunch of the Puerto Rico game and it’s really frustrating) or check back here later tonight to find out how they did.

The women, unlike the men, have a bit of a history to uphold. They were in the 2006 worlds, after all, finishing ninth.

It’s a late start, 9:45 east, so it’ll be a late night around here, it appears.

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Mail’s looking good. Not great, but good. We’ll do a mailbag tomorrow and then wrap up the divisions with the Atlantic on Monday, if that’s okay with you?

And if it’s not, guess you really don’t have an alternative.

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Comments

[Jack]

Hi Doug,

About the Bosh tongue in cheek comment; Do you hope he said it in jest because he was thinking about being traded? Or because he was hinting the organization had a trade in the mist? Basically I'm wondering if you disliked his mindset, or whether the trade comment was actually true.

Thanks. Nice to see a Saturday blog.

Blogger's note: It was the inane rambling of a reader who suggests maybe he's healthy and they're bald-faced lying about a minor injury because they've got a trade done and, for some mysterious reason, won't announce it.

[sean]

Is that an actual rumour that the Raps are considering trading Bosh? Or was that an inane comment left by a Raptors fan? The way it's worded is causing some confusion.

Blogger's note: Inane comment

[doug]

I am liking your overviews of the conferences and I am agreeing with tme for the most part...as my buddy and I have this "discussion" continually to muc has far as i am concerned...he is a Carter "hater", and thinks he is a prima donna etc...I say what you say, the guy never ever wanted to be a teams leader, he just wants to be one of the guys, to me its obvious in his actions, body language, words or lack thereof, with the Magic he will excel

Arenas is in for a big surprise, although they are not alike in personality so much i feel Flip Saundrs and Jerry Sloan are very much alike in how they run their teams...so if Arenas thinks he is going to win a power struggle with Saunders he is sadly mistaken, it will be his way or the highway, or the bench....so it will be interesting to see not how Flip handles it but Arenas and if Arenas listens they could have a hellava team there...if he doesn't he may just be a second-coming of A.I....

like your international ball info, as I follow it constantly but to others its a important aspect of world b-ball...

[Keenan]

I've seen and heard rumblings of Joey G being signed by Denver. Thoughts?

Blogger's note: Good for him, hope he makes the team

[John]

Well I really hope Bosh is ok. Of course it's probably as good a time as any to have some time off. After last year's effort do you feel this group of players can adjust to injuries better then last year's team ?

And no more pizza questions :-))

Blogger's note: This team has more players with more talent than last year's team so, yeah, theoretically, it should be able to withstand injuries with greater success

[Jeremy]

And tomorrow it will be "sorry folks, my dog ate my blog post"

[Nick]

What? No little blurb about the Bobcats?

[Erc]

If the Raps do or have traded Bosh for draft picks, who do you see as the starting PF. If it's AB, who do you see as the starting centre?

Blogger's note: That was the rambling of an inane fan who has no idea what he or she is talking about. My point was that it was, perhaps, the single most ridiculous thing I've ever read here.

[Mando]

What's the difference between a rumour and an inane comment? Seem about the same to me.

[Ian]

Maybe that reader said that just to fill up your comments box with posts from overreacting fans!! Your track record has proven time and again that if something happens with the Raptors we'll see it hear first. So far I haven't seen you post anything like that. Besides who would trade their marquee player less than a week to go before training camp when almost the whole roster has been redone?

[WA]

Good Joey got a training camp invite (and likely non-guaranteed contract) with Denver!

Congratulations to him, I wish him all the best but with 17 players on the roster I have a feeling he's just a camp fiddler in Denver. What confuses me is Denver's NBA roster page shows 13 players - too early to update it with Joey but who are the other 3?

Blogger's note: No real clue who all's in Denver and going to camp

[Aditya]

remember the debate a while ago about who's better: thaddeus young or al thornton (you were comparing them since they were from the same draft class, i believe)....well just watch them this season and see who's better....you argued (back then) that thornton was better....while i chose young....watch this season

[doug]

well if that posters comment was the most inane...this latest one about this Young-Thornton "debate" has to be a close second....who the hell cares who's the better player??...this guy holds a grudge for just a bit to long in my mind.....let it go, I for one wil be watching this season but this "riveting" Young-Thornton "debate" may be the 123rd reason why and thats giving it the benefit of the doubt...

[M]

Hey Doug,

Could you be more specific on what the disappointment was at the golf extravagaza? Or is it regarding Bosh being injured.

Blogger's note: Just having to do work with the injury story popping up.

[Mike]

Hey Doug

Question....Do you think Chris and Evans can co-exist in practice, considering they'll be battling each other. Last year, I noticed that when they played each other, they were brutal with each other. To some degree, it got a little dirty. Does that sort of thing ever "truly" go away?

Excellent job in covering our beloved Raptors, thank you.

Bloggers's note: They'll be fine. It does go away with the mutual respect there is between teammates.

[petro]

Doug,

What a game... Canada nails a three with 4 seconds left to take the lead... then Cuba nails a three at the buzzard to tie it up(looked like the Cuban player was on the line too???).

In OT... the Canadian girls re-focused and pulled away.

Final 59-49.

Blogger's note: Just posted a little story, looked like a helluva game.