There's this to say about that

Tell you what, these guys are fun to watch most nights, aren’t they?

No way anyone can complain about that one last night. Great offence, high entertainment value, some sparkling plays and a win.

Not a bad night.

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THREE THINGS I LEARNED

Sure, they give up points …

But that’s going to happen.

They score a lot, there are a lot of possessions for the other team and, of course, they’re not the greatest defensive team in the history of the league.

Me? I’m fine with it, to tell you the truth.

This offence is simply going to over-power people many nights and you have to figure they’ll also have the odd night when they’re getting key stops at key moments.

Like last night.

The Pacers pull within five late in the third and the Nervous Nellies are going nuts because they’re certain the game’s going to end badly.

What do these guys do?

They get five stops in six Pacer possessions, go back up 13 by the time the fourth quarter is 2 1-2 minutes old and the uprising is quelled.

That’s doing the job when the job has to be done.

This team doesn’t have to be great defensively, it’s just got to be passable and I think we’ve seen enough glimpses of passable to feel okay.

Sure, there will be nights when they don’t get those stops and lose but there will be more nights, I think, when they do make a stand and do win going away.

Besides, I’d rather watch 120-115 than 89-85 any old day of the week.

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The little things count

All right, we all dog Andrea Bargnani for the perception that he’s a bad rebounder, right?

(I believe the standard phrase is, “Bargnani, who has to get better on the boards …”)

Well, you know what? He doesn’t suck. At least not lately. He’s had 43 rebounds in his last five games (that’s more than eight a game, the old abacus tells me) and last night he did something I don’t remember him doing for quite some time.

Fourth quarter, game’s closer than anyone wanted – although not once was there the feeling the Pacers were going to come all the way back and win – and he gets two offensive rebounds to provide second chance opportunities that Toronto capitalized on and once he kept alive another miss with a tip that ended up in someone else’s hands.

That’s just effort and it’s not something he was known for.

Now, I have no idea if he can keep this up but a whole lot of people need to cut him some momentary slack about his rebounding skill and effort.

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The little things count, 2.0

It’s early in the second quarter and Amir Johnson showed something his coaches and teammates will love and I imagine some fans might have missed.

Right in front of where we were sitting, Turk’s got the ball on the right side and he wants to go left.

Johnson comes up from the other side and sets one of the best screens I’ve seen a Raptor big set in a while.

He gets in perfect position, holds the screen a split second longer than many do and it allows Turk to get some separation, he hits Belinelli with an easy pass, Belinelli drills a three-pointer and it all happened because Johnson did one of those little things that don’t show up in the boxscore.

Setting screens, and holding them without rolling early or moving and getting called for an offensive foul, is a skill that will earn a kid lots more playing time.

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And, in other news

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All in all, I imagine the good folks who run the Canadian women’s basketball team must be feeling at least okay about the draw they got for next summer’s world championships in the Czech Republic.

Canada gets Australia, China and Belarus in the first round, from which three teams advance.

Now, Australia may end up winning the whole thing, or at least grabbing a medal, but China and Belarus are hardly among the world giants in the sport.

I think a top eight finish would be spectacular for the women, who are young but very, very good, and being able to get out of the first round with a couple of wins will go a long way towards accomplishing that goal.

They’re first round of the Sept. 23-Oct. 3 event is Ostrava, which is in the north east corner of the country, an old mining town of about 1.2 million that’s enjoying something of a renaissance. So, boss, as you read this, just let me know when I should book my ticket.

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My man Mike Wells summed up last night’s game thusly in the pages of the Indianapolis Star.

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And while we’re surfing, today in Charlotte, this appears.

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I didn’t know Abe Pollin, the chairman of Washington Sports and Entertainment who died yesterday at 85 years old.

But I’ll tell you this, I’ve seen what he helped create in D.C. and if that’s his legacy, that’s enough.

The area around the Verizon Center, the arena the Wizards owner built with his own cash, was a wasteland before the facility got built. Now it’s absolutely bustling and has revitalized an area that was dead.

The arena spurred an urban renewal that was desperately needed and if he did nothing else than convince the owners of Clyde’s to build their restaurant bar where they did, that’s enough for me.

Oh, and insisting the name be changed from Bullets to Wizards was a really good idea, too.

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So, our first look at Tyler Hansbrough last night and I will say this: I think he’s going to be okay and he’s certainly going to be in a fair share of shoving matches, I believe.

Really aggressive, all elbows and shoulders and he’s going to rub a couple of veterans the wrong way, I’m sure.

That said, I’d like him on my team because he can finish in traffic and looks like he’s got an okay little jumper.

My immediate reaction: He’s like a more-skilled Mark Madsen.

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Donny Freaking Osmond.

I’m crushed.

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Over his last four games, totaling 113 minutes on the court, Jarrett Jack has committed one turnover.

Even for a non-stats guy like me, that’s pretty good.

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The astute observers among you will notice that I’m not in Charlotte, nor will I be in Boston. Just taking a couple of games off after seeing the first 15 and the last six pre-season contests because that’s more than any man should have to witness without a break. But fear not, irregulars. I figure we stick with tradition and do a game-day chat today at 1 p.m. Eastern and then I’ll find a nice comfy spot on the couch for the routine in-game stuff tonight.

Sound fair?

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The Goods On The Game, Pacers at Raptors

Hi, everyone.

Back for another night.

Should be a high-scoring affair so buckle in.

GruntTV gets an early ACC start

Live: Raptors Pre-game Chat

Join Doug Smith for a live Q&A today at 1 p.m. as the Raptors prepare to face the Indiana Pacers tonight.

A rather key stretch cometh

A rather calm day around there Monday, they got some good work in (Belinelli and Wright went through the whole session, which is significant) and there no huge issues to deal with.

Just as we like it.

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Yeah, it always gets back to the pucks, doesn’t it?

Jay’s asked yesterday about the importance of these games coming up – the ones against mainly second-tier Eastern Conference rivals – and he goes all hockey on us.

“These are big ones. I don’t think our guys understand what a four-pointer means but that’s what it is. These are big games because they’re teams who we’re going to be competing against in the East. It can create some separation or it can tie things up.”

Seriously, though, the stretch is rather important.

Indy, Charlotte, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Washington, Chicago in the next eight with a Grey Cup Sunday visit by Phoenix to break up the monotony.

It’s too early to say they need to get six of them, or even five of them, but if they want to get some of that separation, this would be a good time to start getting some of it.

It’s tough that five of them are on the road but the world’s a tough place and if you want to be good, you need to win some hard ones away from home.

I’d say 5-3 going through this stretch, which would get them .500 after 22 games would be an admirable start for a shade over a quarter of a season.

Remember, this is not a 50-win team, it doesn’t look like. I’d say 43 is still a pretty good guesstimate and seeing how the schedule eases somewhat in the second half, hovering around .500 between now and Christmas isn’t a bad thing at all.

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You can say what you will about the schedule and eight games on the road out west in the first 12, the 21 back-to-backs and whatever other minor complaints there might be but I, for one, am thankful for one thing:

Orlando’s not coming back the rest of the year

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Here’s one thing I love: Readers write, professing regular attendance here and for in-game blogs and chats and it’s all very flattering.

Then the question: When will Reggie Evans be back?

So, part of our almost daily attempt to bring everyone up to speed, the answer: No ones. Could be two weeks, could be four. Jay said he’ll go on this trip to see a specialist for his foot.

It’s a mid-foot sprain which is a very delicate injury, apparently. The last thing they want is for him to come back to soon, maybe break one of the billion or so bones in there and have to have some kind of surgery.

(No, surgery is not being contemplated, it’s the worst possible result, please don’t ask when it’s scheduled).

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That Amir Johnson, what a cut-up.

As he’s leaving the practice gym, we notice he’s walking a bit gingerly on the left knee he banged up Sunday.

So we point out that he’s walking like a broken-down, 50-something sportswriter.

Glances over his shoulder walking out and says:

“I’ve go the Alvin limp.”

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So we arrive at practice yesterday ready to wait out the requisite 45 minutes or so on the concourse before we’re invited in to see the final few minutes of the workout.

And it’s like we landed on some Hollywood movie set.

Got a couple of those green screens set up so they can superimpose some background on the pictures or video, cameras on tracks on the ground, cameras suspended from tracks above.

There’s more equipment lying around than we’ve seen any day this season and I’m sure they’re shooting some elaborate television commercial.

Nope.

All for a FIBA-arranged photo shoot for Hedo Turkoglu to get some shots to promote next summer’s world championships in Turkey (the tournament I’ll be covering, right boss?)

So Turk’s leaving the practice gym, the team’s uber-organized media relations department corrals him to remind him. Turk says, “what photo?”

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Claritan. Sinutab. Every imaginable Tylenol product ever produced and still, nothing.

I swear, if this cold doesn’t go away, I’m sacrificing a live chicken or something.

No, not a Chicken. A chicken.

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It’s happening already

Changes to schedule when television networks realize teams are very, very bad, matchups they thought in August would be good are horrible and alterations are made.

Luckily, no one who runs an American network really gives a rat’s bum about the Raptors so there’s no impact on them.

Yet. But that ESPN job in New York late in the season will absolutely be in jeopardy if both teams are bad and I guess there’s a chance for that.

Already, they’ve dumped Phoenix-Minnesota for Milwaukee-Oklahoma City next week (and I don’t imagine they’ve blown off a Suns game for a Bucks one ever, which tells you something) and then they’re also whacking Detroit at Philly in early December for Chicago-Atlanta.

Usually, the networks like to let the season play out a bit more before they start making changes, I think this tells us they’re worried about building viewership through the season and aren’t willing to take dogs early.

And in this regard, ESPN and ABC have it all over TNT. That network’s pretty much locked into a season of games because the league doesn’t routinely schedule a third Thursday night game.

Guess that’s why Charles complains about the games he’s forced to sit through sometimes late in the season.

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Mike Wells, of Indianapolis Star fame, sets up this doozy thusly, with news of a Pacers roster change.

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I don’t know much about dancing but I’m pretty sure if you fall down, your chances of winning a major television competition dwindled significantly.

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Speaking of FIBA, today’s a big, big day.

The draw for next summer’s world women’s championships in Czech Republic (the tournament I’ll also be covering, right boss) is being held and we’ll find out who Canada’s paired with in the opening round.

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Oh, right. Since we had the largest attendance for a game-day chat last week when we went at 1 p.m., we’ll go back to that today, if that’s all right with you.

Given shootaround media goes until 11:30 or so, not sure when GruntTV gets up on the air but the chat seems to be working better the earlier we go.

See some of you then.

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The walking wounded look a bit healthier

It looks like the Raptors may be at full strength – well, as close to full strength as they’ll get until Reggie Evans gets healthy – for Tuesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers.

Just got done practice – they had to throw a late-working Jarrett Jack out of the gym because the Pacers came in to work out – and the reports on Marco Belinelli and Antoine Wright were promising.

According to coach Jay Triano, both of the injured players too part in a full workout; Belinelli’s groin injury is much better and Wright was able to get through the session on his still-tender ankle.

No one will say for sure who’ll be healthy tomorrow night but I’d put it at 95 per cent for Belinelli and slightly less for Wright.

The only other issue seems to be with Amir Johnson’s left knee. He tweaked it a little bit late in Sunday’s loss to Orlando but played through it for that game. He also worked out fully Monday and the only way he doesn’t go is if things flare up overnight.

He was headed right to the trainers room after practice for some treatment to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Sometimes, you get what you deserve

I think it’s pretty easy to figure out what happened on Sunday afternoon:

The better team won.

And, you know, sometimes that happens.

THREE THINGS I LEARNED

DeRozan’s struggling mightily

We all knew there would be times when the kid would look a bit overwhelmed and out of place during games this year but, seriously, I don’t think anyone expected it to be this often, this early.

The numbers are mostly awful: A point, a rebound and four fouls n 17 minutes yesterday; seven and seven against Miami on Friday is okay but two points and no rebounds in Utah is bad, the 17 points in Denver’s a fraud because most of them came in garbage time and he was invisible with six and two in Phoenix and a non-factor against the Clippers.

But more than the numbers, it’s the “other” stuff he’s not getting done.

There’s very little energy, his defence is lax and while there seems to be effort there, it looks wasted at time. All those little things, like running, rebounding, setting good screens, aren’t happening often enough.

I don’t think it’s time to make any drastic changes or anything – I wouldn’t even think about altering anything until at least 20 games into a season – but they need him to work harder and be better.

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Little things, again

It’s an age-old problem with this team and it popped up again Sunday at a crucial time.

They are somehow creeping back into the game, down six and the momentum seems to be going their way. Dwight Howard, who turns into some Jose Calderon free-throw shooting clone when he gets to Toronto, is at the line with about 1:47 left. The Raptors get the two misses they need but somehow don’t box out Rashard Lewis, who comes along the baseline and grabs the rebound of the second miss.

They run some more time off the clock, Howard’s fouled again, goes 1-for-2 at the line and down seven with 1:20 left is too much to overcome.

Pure hustle, purely a missed defensive assignment, purely a blown chance to make a late rally.

Seems they have one of those mental glitches at precisely the worst time more often than not.

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Don’t score, can’t win.

This is a perfect example for anyone to hold up that says stats don’t tell the whole story.

If you look at the boxscore, Toronto did pretty much exactly what he wanted to do: Hold the Magic to less than 42 per cent shooting, defend the three-point line (Orlando’s 9-for-32), force Carter to take 24 shots to get 24 points and hold their own on the boards.

So, how’d they lose?

They didn’t score enough. Mostly because the Magic played great defence when it mattered most; they did a delightful job in shading Chris Bosh with Howard on his back that made it next to impossible to get the ball inside and that’s where a lot of Toronto’s swing-swing offence begins.

And the Raptors, usually one of the most powerful offensive teams in the NBA, couldn’t get the ball movement they needed in any other set.

Chalk that one up to great defence because, as we’ve seen, the Raptors generally can score on anyone.

Again, it comes down to this:

The better team won.

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And in other news:

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The tribute was understated and I still say it’s silly to be celebrating 15 years – mostly of mediocrity – but it was nice that someone remembered Brendan Malone because I presume a lot of fans in the arena had no idea of his contribution way back in ’95.

Stan Van Gundy did:

“I did hear them mention Brendan as the first coach and I think that’s great because I was in the league as an assistant and that’s the best job I’ve ever seen anybody do coaching an expansion team. I knew his reputation, but that first year I knew how good he was. That team competed every night and other than Damon Stoudamire, they didn’t have a whole lot and they were in there all the time.”

Now, the next time a head coach disses one of his assistants will be the first, of course, but Stan didn’t probably have to go over the top like that.

Nice that he did, though, and everything he said was the truth.

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Speaking of the truth, here’s Brian’s take on yesterday’s affair.

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So, as I’m lounging last night – you take your rest where you can get it – caught some of the Suns romp over Detroit on TV.

And lo and behold, there’s Good Old Sam doing the NBA-TV show.

I say again, he should be on TV more often because he’s a natural.

I haven’t spoken to the young fella in a while, I presume we’ll catch up this week, but I’ve heard from shared acquaintances that he’s doing fine, got a lot of business deals in the works in Atlanta and the surrounding area and he’s quite content.

I do know he’d like to coach again and I still say he will. I think now, with the passage of time, he may have to come back as an assistant before landing a head-coaching gig but I remain steadfast in the belief that he’ll coach again.

And he should.

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Big, big night, isn’t it? And, no, not because Vesa-mania is sweeping the nation after a glorious weekend win.

Nope, it’s the finale of DWTS and I’ll probably be cheering openly for my gal Kelly.

Remember: Vote early, vote often.

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More good Stan quotage, passed on by My Man Perk:

“I think it’s just become a tradition now. Half the people probably don’t know why they’re booing him. I’m going to say half the people booing never saw him play here and don’t have any idea why. It’s just a tradition. He think it’s funny; we thinks it’s funny. It’s really irrelevant.”

Of course, he’s referring to HWSNBN.

The Goods On The Game, Orlando at Toronto

An early Sunday matinee; as you know, there's no Wright or Belinelli for Toronto but Bargnani's a go.

This just in

I have no idea how many of you are killing time on a Sunday morning breathlessly waiting for updates but here's one:

No Antoine Wright (ankle) and no Marco Belinelli (groin) for the Raptors against Orlando this afternoon but Andrea Bargnani has apparently recovered from the flu-like symptoms that felled him Saturday and he'll strap it on and play.

Other than that, not much new in the pre-game period today; it's always a bit sluggish for these early Sunday starts.

Be back with the in-game blog in a bit.

Mail to get you through the morning

Blow leaves into ginormous pile in back yard; drag big-arse tarp out of garage, lay on ground next to pile. Rake leaves onto tarp, haul to curb. Repeat, ad nauseum, for hours. Curse Mother Nature, loudly. Eventually retire to comfort of couch, arise from slumber to finish mail.

And how was your Saturday?

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Q: Hey Doug. It seems like your reactions to everything are always very toned down compared to us fans. Is that on purpose to keep things in perspective? Or are these your true reactions?

David S, Toronto

A: I’m far more dispassionate than a fan, that’s the primary reason. And if I’ve learned anything in the 15 years I’ve been doing this and the years I covered baseball and football it’s that the one adage that’s more true than almost any other is: Don’t get too high after you win, don’t get too low after you lose.

But, really, my reaction is always going to be muted compared to those of fans. And I think the world – and my in-box – would be a better place if more people lived by that credo.

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Q: Hi Doug,_I can totally appreciate how a game night story at deadline might get expanded, with some more meat on the bones, for the morning edition. But then shouldn't the expanded version be posted in place of the original, rather than alongside it, to help readers out a bit with their navigation selections?

I also wonder how (or if) your duties/approach as a blogger differ from or influence your duties/approach as a journalist. For example, do you try to more directly "engage" your readers than in the past, even with a game story? Are you also more inclined to get into the "predicting" business with your blog followers than you might have otherwise as a beat grunt?

Keep up the terrific work, as always. And thanks!

P.S. Doug, did you know that the web format The Star has been "BETA" testing for weeks on end is, for all practical intents, purposes and functionalities, identical to the web format long used by dozens of small-town Midwestern newspapers? The larly.difference is, the small-town websites are dead simple to navigate, their content options are crisp and clear, and they're flawless in operation. (Check out www.wcfcourier.com, www.trib.com or www.qctimes.com as examples.) Not sure what your web people are trying to accomplish, but they're sure not re-inventing any wheels here and they're also coming off as fumbling amateurs while they continue to test the patience of your reading public. Meanwhile, here's to 10 million more for you, sir!

David M, Ottawa

A: Sorry, I can’t speak to how or what gets posted through the night but I know someone will see this.

The approach is a balancing act, a difficult one at times, to tell you the truth.

I aim for strictly reporting in game stories that appear on the paper while also providing some kind of context while being more “conversational” in blogs. The “engaging” part comes here, and in the comments. It has dramatically changed the way I do my job and, sometimes frankly, it’s difficult trying to find the right tone in each aspect.

And I try my hardest to avoid making predictions.

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Q: Doug, with the replay having been expanded this year can you see it in the future being extended to include the dreaded charge/block call? That call can change the momentum of a game especially in the last 2 minutes when replay can be used and its always a tough one to make.

Thanks

Reid B, Guelph

A: I cannot imagine any support for that suggestion, and that includes from me. While block-charge is without doubt the hardest call In the game, I don’t think even video replay would get it right 100 per cent of the time. And three’s almost too much replay in the game now.

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Q: Which Raptor is the most likely to be reading this right now?

P H, Toronto

A: None, I don’t think. But I do know that “people” associated with some players, coaches and management read the blog regularly and report what’s being written.

The mail bag? Not so much.

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Q: Doug, Great job at providing fair balanced reporting on the team. Do you think the increased media spotlight on the team over the years (blogs, twitter, game day chats, 4 "national" TV networks, even some clown doing "Grunt TV") has created a hyper-critical fan base? I am amazed at how every game seems to be life or death of the franchise, trade this player or that. It seems the "educated" fan (I use the term loosely) is more invested because of the wealth of knowledge but also more critical. Thoughts?

Steven C, Fredericton

A: The demands for absolute and immediate gratification are so great in every aspect of life today, it’s only logical that it would invade sports. I’m not sure hyper-critical is an apt description, I think hyper-impatient may be.

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Q: Hey Doug. Suppose there were robots that could be refs, and would be entirely impartial and were GUARANTEED to get every call right. Forget whether or not this would be possible.

Would you be in favour of this? Or do you think the subjectivity of the refs is an indispensable part of the game? For example, having more respect for some players than others.

David S, Toronto

A: No, I wouldn’t at all.

Human failings – of players, coaches, referees, management – are such an integral part of the essence sport that to take that away would, in some small way, diminish the overall experience.

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Q: Hey Doug, love the blog. Was at Friday Nights game and besides the two HUGE threes JJ made down the stretch, the biggest impression made on me was from the Raptors "extra" coach, Reggie Evans. Boot and all, he was one of the biggest cheerleaders there. And a number of times I saw him go out and talk to guys as they were coming off, sharing his thoughts and observations. I'm sure you've seen much the same. Do you know what the particulars are of his contract?

Scott M, Ilderton

A: Reggie’s got this year and next left on his deal, about $4.9 million this year, a shade over $5 million in 2010-11.

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Q: Bonjour Doug. If I remember correctly, you had written before the 4-game stretch on the West Coast that the trip would also be interesting in terms of team cohesion and chemistry. What's your assessment of the team in this regard after Friday's win? It was nice to see the whole team going crazy after Turk's three at the end of the first half, so I guess it's quite good.

Kinda similar question: it seems to me that the Raps have the potential to be an excellent team this year. If we take Friday's game, how much do you think they can still improve? The obvious thing to say is that they should be better on the defensive end, but I don't know if it's realistic to expect that from them.

Merci et good luck with your leafs (at least you can get rid of them),

Matthieu B, Biel-Bienne, Switzerland

A: I do sense a growing chemistry between the players, on the court that is, as they become more familiar with each other and, frankly, more trusting in each other. That trust extends to such instances as giving up the ball knowing you’ll get it back and perhaps gambling on defence knowing someone’s got your back.

And I don’t think this team has the skills to be among the top five or six defensive teams in the league but I do think they can improve and that improvement will come with more familiarity and more consistency of effort. How much? Impossible to tell but I do think some will come.

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Q: Hi Doug!_A question about your "process". Fifteen hour travel days must tax the patience of even the most intrepid traveller. What tools or skills have you developed over lo' these many years to help you navigate so calmly and professionally through the unpredictable obstacles you have to deal with? Things such as flight delays and missed connections, wonky or even non-existent wireless, shortages of appropriately positioned wall sockets and other issues big and small, that threaten to interfere with the smooth running of your day?

Lorie P, London

A: I vent to friends and family. I get frustrated and angry but have found that, as the years unfold and the issues continue to arise, I’m much more able to let things go more quickly, deal with whatever crap has to be dealt with and move on to the things that have to be done.

I guess it’s just because I’m getting older and more used to the troubles that pop up year after year after year.

But, trust me, when things first go wrong, it’s like there’s a big Do Not Bother The Animals sign that comes over my face and people know to stay away.