The balls were heavier, and had holes in them

Bowling, eh?

Guess dodgeball had been done.

We all know by now that they blew off the official practice yesterday to hit the lanes for some bowling and some team-building schlock, er, I mean beautiful chemistry-developing fun.

Jay told us it was long-planned, the only time they could really get away as a group, and it was all sweetness and light, lots of laughs, some quality time together and a nice respite from, you know, getting better on the court.

It was nice, however, to hear that everyone actually got in the gym either in the late afternoon or evening to get some shots up with the assistant coaches and Guru Hopla because, frankly, a full day off isn’t exactly what the group needed.

I guess if you look at the schedule, it was the obvious day to get away from it all, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Personally, I’m not all that sold on off-the-court contrived outings; a nice long team dinner on the road, maybe something impromptu, works in the same manner, to my mind.

But as Jay say, and it’s true, it’s difficult, almost impossible to get everyone together at one time given the lives these guys lead and the tugs on their time so bundling them all into a bus and heading off to the lanes at least assures they’ll be one group.

And they will get time in the gym for some heavy lifting on alternate days.

Hard work day Monday, light day Tuesday, they’ll go hard again today and lighter tomorrow going into the Friday game.

Saturday’s a day off – which has been scheduled since before training camp began – hard work Sunday and taper through Monday and Tuesday before Wednesday’s opener.

I do know they don’t just make up this scheduling stuff on the fly.

They’ve got just about every day mapped out between now and the end of the season – when they’ll get a day off, for instance, in the middle of a tough stretch of schedule. It can change, of course, but they are mindful of rest and travel requirements on west coast trips, when they want to come home right after out-of-time-zone road games and when they’ll spend the night.

-

Hey!

Maybe The Replacements are going to be replaced!

My boyz (and how’s that for cool, friends?) C. Sheridan and M. Stein (both of whom are big fans of Toronto and Canada, by the way) suggested last night that there’s some movement on the referees situation; the latest they had is here.

Good news? Heck yeah. Maybe next week we can go back to whining about officials we know and love.

Really, it just makes entire sense, given the way of negotiations these days that the next pressure point – namely the start of the regular season – would be the thing that got the sides talking and moving towards an agreement.

You may remember that I think refereeing NBA games is the toughest officiating gig in all of sports.

Why?

Because of the speed of the game, the amount of incidental contact and the need for subjectivity so as not to bring the game to a screeching halt.

And I think referees with experience are exponentially better than guys who have never seen the game up close played at its highest level of intensity.

Anyway, it’ll be good to have ‘em back.

-

We were told Marco Belinelli rolled a smooth 157 the first time he keggled in his life.

One of us thinks that at least proves there’s something he can knock down.

Shots are next.

-

So Nate Jawai’s a Timberwolf now.

This means two things, I hope.

First, he’ll get a chance to play more than garbage minutes – and with Kevin Love hurt and Al Jefferson hurting, I think Jawai might be the best big Minnesota has right now – and that’s a good thing for him.

The other?

Well, I’m thinking it means Jake Voskuhl grabs a roster spot in Dallas.

That’s a bit more complicated because the Mavs have 15 guaranteed contracts but they like what Jake brings (guess they haven’t had enough fouls over the years) and they could very well pay Shawne Williams to stay away, like they have been doing for months.

-

Oh yeah, if any of you have ever been to Sioux Falls, S.D. (and I cannot imagine why you would have been), I’m all ears for restaurant recommendations. A Thursday night off in that lovely burg can’t be wasted.

-

You will never guess where I’ll be bright and early this morning?

At the office, learning how to use the video application

(or app, as Super Son tells me) that comes with this fancy-schmancy new MacBook thing I’ve got.

Oh yeah, folks. We’re planning all sorts of fun and games around our coverage this year. Including video. Of moi. GruntTV. You lucky, lucky dogs.

-

This is a pretty sweet deal.

The folks at Canada Basketball have somehow secured the rights to the Canadian general release premier of More Than A Game, the highly-touted documentary about LeBron James and his high school class.

It’s part of a fund-raising gig next Tuesday night and it’s a good first step for the organization to raise some much-needed cash for what’s shaping up to be a costly summer of 2010, what with both the men’s and women’s headed to the worlds. Which gets me to the Czech Republic and Turkey, right boss?

-

Can I just add, in light of what seems to be a long of to and fro on the decision whether or not to start the rookie that who finishes the game is of far, far, far, far more importance to everyone connected with the team.

Given no serious foul trouble and a game unfolding as usual, who’s the other wing with Calderon, Turkoglu, Bosh and Bargnani?

I know the coaching staff hopes it’s Wright. They haven’t seen enough of him to get a true indication of what he brings and how hit fits but I guarantee you that, from conversations I’ve had with decision-makers, that finishing job is his to lose.

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If you see nothing in the papers tomorrow or on the web today, it’s because the grunts hung out playing paintball.

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Comments

[Boko]

Doug,

As usual, you nailed the number one question going into the final pre-season game: "Who’s the other wing with Calderon, Turkoglu, Bosh and Bargnani?" The number two question is, "Who's the sub at SF/G?", in my humble opinion. That's what I'll be watching for at the start of the regular season.

GO RAPTORS!

[BiLL]

Conspiracy Theory Alert!

So I think the replacement Refs are like New Coke. Too many people were taking the old refs (like Coke Classic) for granted. David Stern (ingenious Coke marketer) decides to give the league a substandard version to make people miss and appreciate what they really had.

I can't wait for the Ref Classics to hit the court.

[kathyt]

Sweet, GruntTV! Can't wait to see it action.

[Tony]

According to Roadfood.com http://roadfood.com/Restaurant/Review/671-671/bobs
http://www.bobscarryout.com/ is your place in Sioux Falls. Counter seating only.

[AK]

Doug,

Keep up the awesome work. A suggestion re. whatever you do on the video front -- please make it blackberry friendly.

Regards,

AK

[MC B-Rad]

Doug....NBA Live 10 or NBA 2k10....which is better in your mind?

Blogger's note: Not sure, I'm a pong guy

[Lyndon]

Ex-Raptor alert. Check out the stat line on Kris Humphries in the Mavericks vs. Cavs game last night. I know it doesn't mean anything but nice to see anyways.
29 minutes. 20 pts 9rebs 2 blocks.

[Oliver]

Hey Doug:
I'm a freelance editor and videographer as well as a huge Raptor fan. I work on a Mac also and I'd be happy to help if you need.

Blogger's note: Appreciate the offer; think my "training" is very simple; they don't want me to know, or do, too much :)

[Lazaros O.]

I know you are a Marriott guy, but when I go to Sioux Falls for business I always stay at the Staybridge Suites. Close by is Foley's perhaps the best restaurant in town. You can look it up on the web. Have a steak and a nice glass of wine.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=611985302]

Doug

You do have a dog in the referees fight. As long as scabbing is legally and socially acceptable your union is weaker. I have decided not to watch the games until the lockout is over. The more people who do that.the faster this gets settled.

Of course, if the players decided not to cross picket lines it would be settled even faster.

[Mo Merei]

Hey Doug...

So who won in bowling? and why weren't the grunts invited ;)

Blogger's note: Not sure who won and we were diligently working

[Jamie]

You guys have to keep the GruntTV name...it even looks good as a word...you and your gruntlings could make some fancy logo for it and everything

[Mark]

@ Mc B-rad

Nba 2K all the way.

On the subject of bowling, I think it's not a bad idea to lighten the mood sometimes. With a new group and a very competitive environment in camp pretty much 24/7 (especially among the wings) it can be hard see the ultimate goal. (To form a good team and win.)

Millions aside, every player remains human inside :).

[AS]

Before the glory days of mac books, how did a grunt take his in-game notes?

Blogger's note: Stone tablet and an awl

[Mike W]

Doug

I suggest Monk's House of Ale Repute. That place has over a 150 different beers and great food too. I have very fond memories of that establishment.

[Eric]

Interesting to see an interview with Calderon yesterday on Raptors today, admitting his too few drives to the hole and horrible defense last year. He blamed it on injury and that may or may not be true, time will tell. Personally I think he's fooling but time will tell.

It's interesting to me because so many of the Raps' Apologists last year were ignoring criticism about these two issues with Calderon, in some cases saying it wasn't even true! "You don't know anything about basketball, Calderon is driving as much as ever your just complaining, his defense has nothing to do with him it's the team, etc."

I'm happy that Calderon shut up the Apologists for once. It's still the biggest problem with this team. Too many excuses. You will never solve a problem you ignore! I hope you improve, Jose. At least you took Step 1! LOL.

[Peter]

Stone tablet and Awl eh... that's funny!! I figured it was a feather and inkwell kind of thing.

GruntTV also sounds quite interesting.

How long do you think it will take for the New York media to pick up on your newspaper story today that says that Chris Bosh doesn't like the daily schedule that the Knicks have implemented? That's sure to cause a panic among fans with nothing to cheer for but an offseason of misguided hope!

[Boko]

I'm seeing a lazyboy, a cold beer in a big glass with a red maple leaf on it, and you with a couple of days growth, a sleeveless undershirt, and boxers on.

[AJR]

Doug,

A while ago you were convinced that the Raps would pick up next year's option on Belinelli before the Halloween deadline.

Whats going on with that? Any movement? Still convinced?

Blogger's note: Yeah, I am; and there's lots of time left

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Hi Doug, Great to hear A. Wright's making progress. How many minutes do you suppose he'll get in vs. the Wolves this week? Will you be posting any intro articles on him soon? GruntTV sounds fantastic! Really looking forward to the premier of Gruntzilla, The Movie, too...

[GM]

Great blog today. Especially given there's nothing happening. Good work.

[Serge P]

Hi Doug,

Why is it that some days readers can post comments for your stories (the ones for the paper, not the blog) while others they cannot? This seems to apply to all of the stories I read in the basketball section, not just yours in particular. Is this a kink or is there a specific criteria that is used to decide which stories will allow reader comments and which won't?

Blogger's note: I honestly don't know; I do know that 99 per cent of the comments here get posted, but that's by me

Thanks

[Jeff]

Two things: Bill Simmons spoke about this is his article today, noting that today's NBA players don't have the fire and competitiveness that was on display in the 80's, with Bird vs. Isaiah, Magic vs Bird, Celtics vs. Lakers/Pistons/Bulls, Knicks vs. Heat in the 90's, and well, Michael vs. anyone at any time.

I was in a club this weekend in Toronto, and witnessed Bosh in a VIP room with Garnett, Pierce, Ray Allen, Rasheed and others -- and they were all buddies. This isn't news to you or anyone else (you can read about this stuff on the "internets" all the time). I think Bosh is a great player and a fine role model in public. But Toronto would embrace a competitive, hard-nosed no-nonsense NBA team, like few other cities.

My question to you is: Being someone around the league and the players all the time, is the whole "buddy buddy act" and the hugging before and after games -- does it get old for you? It sure has for me.

Blogger's note: Sure it does, but it's just the way things are these days. Us oldsters pine for the olden days

[Danny]

Doug,

What are your thoughts on Charley Rosen? I constantly find myself getting irritated while reading his columns. He doesn't seem to like the Raptors. However, in his latest article, he praises AP & Jamario and their dynamic defense. I can't stand this guy!

Blogger's note: He's been around the game for eons, and I don't think there's anything personal between him and the Raptors. I read him regularly

[Vince C]

Demar had a live stream last night with him and Sonny playing Madden. A user posted a question and asked him what the intro song was. He ignored the question many times until Sonny read it and blurted out "Forever by Drake" and they said the song needs to be changed.