Waiting and wondering which group shows up

Join Doug Smith for a live Q&A today at 1 p.m., as the Raptors prepare to take on the Boston Celtics.

This not being on the road and missing games and not being around, frankly, gets old in a hurry.

Luckily, back to the arena and the usual schedule tomorrow.

Until then …

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So, Jay gets to 82 games tonight as a head coach and as Dave pointed out in his column today, he’s got almost the same record over that period as Sam did over his.

Now, that’s a wee bit of apples and oranges – I don’t think it’s entirely fair to compare 65 games as an interim guy one year and 17 the next with a full season starting from scratch – but it does lend itself to discussion of what Triano’s done this year.

Good or bad?

On the whole, I’d say okay.

Yes, there are problems with the team’s defence – as if that’s a huge surprise given the lack of a true stopper anywhere on the roster – but the one thing that will kill coaches quicker than anything with players is a sense of panic or constant change and I will give Jay credit for steadfastly maintaining he’s not making dramatic change to his system and that the players have to play it better.

Maybe that ends up being a fatal flaw but maybe, eventually, they get it and improve. Maybe not, but I’d rather have a coach with the courage of his conviction rather than someone wishy-washy who changes with the wind.

Are they worse defensively than even I thought? Hell yeah. But it’s the little things, like hustling back on defence, missing box-outs, slow rotations, mindlessly running into screens rather than fighting over them that’s the reason. And that is on the players.

Other than that, what’s Jay done this year?

Well, we’ve seen him make solid in-game adjustments – Chicago on Rose, Clippers on Kaman – that have put his players in position to win.

His stuff out of timeouts and quarter breaks is good, I’d dare more consistently creative than the last guy. And, again, it can be the greatest play call in the history of play calls but if someone misses an open shot or forgets an assignment, the fault doesn’t lie with the coach.

The rotations? Well, I’m not a huge fan of Jose and Jarrett on the court at the same time for lengthy periods but you have to admit it’s worked at times.

I think there needs to be an expanded role for Belinelli and perhaps a diminished one for Wright, who’s struggling at both ends of the floor – but I think he’s using Johnson in precisely the right way.

As I’ve perhaps mentioned, I truly believe coaches get too much blame when things go wrong and too much credit when things to go right.

And, on the whole, I think he’s done a good job. Not great. Not horrible. Good.

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I’ve been home and watched a bit of TV over the last couple of days and I will say this: I will gladly pay $10 a month if they get those spectacularly annoying TV tax commercials off the air.

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In Boston, there have been some concerns about slippage with the Celtics – Paul Pierce called them a “work in progress” recently – and here’s today’s offering from the Globe.

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The one thing I’ll be most interested in tonight is the level of “energy” with which the Raptors play.

They’ve paid all kinds of lip service all season to playing hard and playing smart and being aggressive and coming the debacle in Charlotte gives them a perfect opportunity to put some action behind the words.

It’s difficult to measure “energy” but getting after loose balls and hustling back on defence are two of the prime examples.

Watch to see how they make out.

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Speaking of Boston, they’ve got a double-header in whatever the call the Garden today, Bruins-Jersey at noon and Celtics-Raptors at 7:30 p.m., and I actually sat through one of those one year, for some reason covering Habs-Bruins in the afternoon before a Raptor game at night.

True story: We’re in the Bruins dressing room after the game and I don’t know one guy from the next so I’m floating from scrum to scrum trying to get a good quote or two to build into a story I’m sure is going to suck.

There’s apparently a very popular player surrounded by cameras and writers and I can’t even see him as I stick my tape recorder over someone’s head.

The guy’s going on about how good the Bruins are when they put three “big” guys out there, how much trouble it causes when the “big guys” are on the ice.

Now, I’m kind of snickering listening to this guy because my idea of “bigs” is like 6-10 or maybe 7-0, maybe taller.

When the scrum’s over, I figure out the guy I was listening to was Joe Thornton, who’s all of 6-4.

Big? I giggle.

And then go write the world’s most average hockey game story ever.

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Christmas cometh – I know this because I watched two lasses decorate a lounge last evening while attending a Mighty Yankees Dads And Coaches First Of Many Off-season Socials – and that means some kids need some help.

And what better way to help than to make a donation to the Jim Proudfoot Corner of the Star’s Santa Fund.

Click here if you can spare any extra cash and really help out.

We appreciate it.

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Back to the people at hand – the Raptors – and it’s amazing to me how many calls there’ve been for some kind of change to the team’s starting lineup.

Take Jose out. Move DeRozan. Demote Bargnani.

The only two who escape, it seems, are Turkoglu and Bosh and I’m not sure why since there seems to be a huge panic in the streets thing going on these days.

Well, the last time was asked Jay about change was a week ago and he was emphatic there wouldn’t be.

And he’s right.

I don’t think it makes any sense right now to fiddle with something like the starting five on a team that’s 7-9 and done enough good not to get buried in either the conference or the division.

Now 7-9 is not great and it’s not horrible. It was, pretty much, precisely where I expected them to be about now. The starters are okay, which again is what was expected, not great, not horrible.

I’m not sure what changing would do. I think everyone likes the production the Raptors are getting from the subs most nights, no sense tinkering with that. And there’s no reason to think making change will alter what this team is right now: About average and headed for the middle tier of the East.

They are not great, but they are not the Nets. Or even the Knicks. Or even the Sixers or the Wizards at the moment. They are what they are.

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What’s up today, you ask?

How about the traditional game-day chat at 1 p.m. Eastern time, I think the technical difficulties that took GruntTV off the air the other day are fixed and then the in-game fun and frivolity at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

There, you can plan your entire day now.

Have fun.

Comments

[Jeff D]

Out of curiosity, and because I somewhat enjoy "stirring the pot", what was Mitchell's record when he got fired last year? Thanks,

Blogger's note: I'm sure you can use your intelligence and internet skills to find that out yourself. But because you obviously think you have a point to make, it was 8-9. You gonna compare that to this? Nice try

[Errol]

How can you say that your o.k with Trino's prefromance when Sam had less talent and a younger CB4.Sam did a way better job with what he had to work with then compared to what Jay did with what he has.

[Ian]

Doug, I love the blog, but I don't understand your hatred towards hockey. You live in the biggest hockey town in the world, why are you always ragging on it. It's a great sport, just because the guys arent 7 feet, and can take a hit without a whistle being blown for a foul doesnt make it a bad sport. Not saying i dont't like basketball, I do, it's very entertaining.

[erc]

For three quarters of their last game, the ball stopped at Bargnani. Some nights this is a good things. This wasn't one of them.
For a team supposing to thrive on ball movement, it seems like some nights the other team's best defensive stopper is wearing a Raps jersey. He ain't Wilt. When he's not hitting shots he has to move the ball, maybe Hedo or Jose will be hitting them. They have to get the best shot available because no one on the team, including Bargnani is a one-man scoring machine.
Didn't see what he did in the fourth quarter, cause I switched to the Leafs game. Know what? Bad hockey is easier to watch than bad basketball.
We have some truly dedicated basketball fans that follow the Raps. They really know the game. It's obvious. They'll stick with the Raptors through thick and thin.
I'm not one of them. I've followed b-ball since the epic Russell-Wilt battles and since a young Lew Alcindor amazed us all by putting the ball on the floor. A seven-foot-plus player athletic enough to do that was truly amazing.
My point? I will not live and die with the Toronto Raptors. I do not expect an NBA championship this season, or even next. I do not have to have a first-place team to keep my interest.
I do have to see some energy and effort. Any beer league player worth his suds brings those qualities to the gym every night. If that's too much too expect, there are too many options in life to stick with watching lifeless b-ball.
Does it matter a whit whether I continue to follow the Toronto Raptors? Of course it doesn't, BUT this is Canada. B-ball is a tough sell. You are either building a fan base or tearing it down.
The Maple Leafs have the only total fan exemption in this country. I'm sure there are others who will switch off permanently if last night's and last season's wimp-fests are repeated.
To watch part of a passionate fan base erode because of a group of passionless, professional players would be tragic, at least in a sports sense.
It is also completely unnecessary. PLAY THE GAME. Play it like you're being payed millions to play it. Bosh does it almost every night. He has his flaws, but he plays hard.
I'm sure the other Toronto players could be making the same kind of money doing something else. If NBA basketball is too taxing, maybe they should opt for something easier.
This is a new season and, hopefully, a new team. Last game, however, looked a lot like last season and last year's Raptors. Quitting, like any other bad habit, builds in frequency as you feed it.
In the words of the immortal Doug Smith, " that's once. Don't do it again".

[Joe T.]

It is somewhat interesting to note that Sam was fired after the team fell to 8-9 with a 39 point loss on the road to the Nuggets (eventual Western Conference Finalists). This year's model just fell to 7-9 after a 35-point road loss to a team that, on paper, is worse than the Raptors and is certainly worse than last season's Nuggets. Yet Jay still has his job. Clearly, though, there's more to this firing/retaining thing than one game or a team's record early in the season. And for the record, I don't think Jay should be fired either...

[Ted S.]

Jay also got his team to control the tempo in Phoenix - something every team has trouble doing - albeit in a loss.

Jay deserves the mixed reviews based on his record. Sam did get a lot out of relatively inferior talent in retrospect. Jay appears better with the Xs and Os and in game adjustments; not Mitchell's strong suit.

I'd love to hear your review of the management team over the same period.

Blogger's note: Same, good, not great. Willing to gamble, willing to admit mistakes and try to fix them.

[John]

Doug, I'm curious as to your readiness to demote Wright, a guy whose playing time has been all over the map, while you continue to advocate keeping Bosh, Bargs and Jose together. Those 3 are the one consistent link to several iterations of a bad defensive team. That chemistry clearly has to change.

[Errol]

I for one love Doug's attitude towards hockey if you don't like it don't come here and post your comments. I'm tired of hearing non-stop hockey coverage from all forms of media with a little sprinkle of B-Ball. Thanks Doug for a fresh breath of orange ball and hardwood air.
And a place for B-Ball heaven.

[anthony.mackay]

Morning D,
Were in the home stretch before the weekend!

Call me crazy but I like the way our starters and bench match up with the celtics, assuming the high energy Raps team shows up and now the team that got litup by the Bobcats.
Obviously our BIGS can space the floor just like Bostons, we got a few athletic wings now like Boston and our PG play is much improved recently, plus we can make it rain from 3 like Boston... were just missing Evans to bring that toughness inside.

This could turn out to be one of those weird seasons when we hang with the elite teams and have a chance to win in the final 2 min (ie-see PHX) and get beat by the bad teams cause the players are thinking its an easy win so they don't bring that same focus.

[gdr]

Ian,

Mr. Smith reports on a real sport. Hockey in this city is so watered down that it drives the casual fan away. Too much coverage, too much micro-analysis. Keep up the good work Doug! NBA, It's FAN-tastic...

[Matt M]

I kind of like the job that Triano has done with this roster. You can't ask much more from this group on offense. The defense may be historically bad but then no one in the starting five have a reputation for defense. They have also proven at times that when properly focused they can play passable defense, and I still believe that after a few more games playing together the defense will come around.
If I was in charge, and ignoring the fact they would be 0-16 in this instance, I'd probably put Belinelli and Jack in the starting rotation with Calderon and Derozan off the bench, as Jack appears to be slightly better defensively and it would simplify the rotation simpler to ensure Belinelli was rested enough to finish games. I would not start Belinelli with Calderon, as that sixth man role is pretty important considering and no one else off the bench could be considered a scorer.
I also wouldn't mind Colangelo picking between Bargnani and Bosh, and magically acquire a good to great post defender and rebounder for the second starting big. And while I'm dreaming I want Wade, LeBron and Bosh in the starting lineup.... oh wait I'm starting to sound like most of the writers at ESPN. I'll be happy if the current starting five could consistently find their defensive chemistry and win games.

[George]

JT and Smitch have two different styles. Last year's roster was a sensitive group in that Bargnani, Joey et al. performed better without being constantly yelled at. This year's roster is different. I don't know what impact Sam would have had on this group. But if you were to compare Sam vs. Jay, would you say Sam is the better motivator and Jay is the better strategist?

[fritz]

Good Morning Doug,
I don't think you can make any comparisons between Sam & Jay based on there record over their first 81 game; different schedules, different personnel, different assistant coaches. Just as well, and silly, to compare him against any other past coachs over the same number of games.
Doug: How do you feel DeRozan compares to Bosh or Bargnani in this, admittedly, very early stage of their careers? I'm thinking maturity, BB IQ, fits in with the team, learns quickly etc. I remember we were down on Bargnani much of his first year too.

Blogger's note: Such different styles, impossible to compare. I do think, eventually, DeRozan will be all right. Gotta get used to working every possession and the speed of the game night in, night out.

[CC]

Doug, i love the puck story.. got more?

[Terry]

Doug,

I have noticed that Bosh's shooting percentage has been poor over the past few games. Has he been just taking poor shots or has been fed the ball in poor positions to shoot? Is it on him to correct this or his team to make the adjustment? Thanks

Terry

Blogger's note: It's not on one guy, never is. He's taken some bad shots and missed some open ones. It happens.

[Ion66]

I still keep hearing Oakleys comment of "You cant win with 5 shooters out on the floor."

[Grits]

I have nothing really against Smitch but the record at the time had less to do with the firing than the recent performance. Huge blowout losses, and remember they started 3-0, so they were 5-9 after that start.

[Ian M]

Just wondering... Why would the Star even need a Habs-Bruins game story? Did the Star lend you out to a Montreal or Boston paper for the afternoon!

Blogger's note: I actually have no recollection of why. Seems silly now

[rob]

Doug,
Wright's criticism from te fans and you in this club is not warranted... the guy has been hurt most of the season and has played on a tender ankle for the last couple of games ,,, it is hard to be as mobile when you have such a sensitive injury,,, I think he has done ok before he got the injury.

[Matt G]

I'd pay $20.

Blogger's note: Ding! Ding! Ding!

[J.R. MacLean]

Hey Doug, you are SO right about those TV Tax commercials. I hate the way they beat you over the head saying YOU SHOULD BE PEEVED YOU SHOULD BE PEEVED.

Well, I am. At them and their big buck brainwashing tactics.

I agree re Bellinelli- at little more time- he seems to have the capacity to spark others-ie. hopefully Andreas.

cheers
J.R.

[Matt A]

Hockey is boring to watch, I truly believe that half of fans are actual hockey fans and the other half go to see fight and hits, and hope to catch some teeth.

It's all chasing the puck around and you only get to see actual skill plays a few times in an HOUR long game.

[greg]

if you are an averaged or below averaged hockey fan, living in toronto can easily make you hate it. Particularly if their are other sports or sporting events that you are interested in. During something like the NBA playoffs at a time when the NHL season has just ended, all you find on our sports channels are analysis of hockey of last season, analysis of what to expect in the off season and what to expect in the coming hockey season, you hear it all summer, no talk about baseball, basketball, soccer or anything else. It gets very old, very fast.

Its as if nothing else exists in this town.

Also good luck trying to find highlights of what is happening in other sports on any given night, i give the score credit for showing a broader interest than those other 2 guys when it comes to the news.

[camilito P.]

I dont think Jay Triano is that good as a coach.
I think that BC hired Jay Triano because he was cheaper than going after an much more experienced coach given the fact that he fired Mitchell with practically two years left on his big 4 million/year contract. What 's the lenght of Jay Triano's Contract? 2 years guarateed? and by how much?

Blogger's note: Debunking myth No. 1: Sam's deal for this year was not fully guaranteed so take the $4 million a year stuff and throw it away. It's less than half that. Jay's got two years guaranteed for about $4 million total, I believe, a team option on the third.

[Mike]

It can't just be little things that have this team on pace to be the worst defensive team of all time in terms of points allowed per possession. We're 20% of the way through the year and for the team to finish the year as a dead average defensive team they'd need to play like a top 8 defense for the next 66 games .... that's insane.

Across the board in every defensive metric you could think of they rank at the very bottom - fouls commited, turnovers forced, proportion of 3pt shots given up, assisted field goals allowed, effective FG%

It is an outright trainwreck.

It goes from the system to the bigs to the wings to the point guard. The whole team is a defensive failure.

Does Jay or Marc have an explanation for how the team could be at the very top of the league in fouls committed but at the very bottom in turnovers forced? It makes no sense. If you're going to foul a lot you should at least reap some benefits in the form of increased aggressiveness leading to forcing turnovers. I guess we're getting all the wrong kinds of fouls ..... not from getting in passing lanes with active hands, stripping the ball or making hard plays at the rim ..... too many fouls from blow by's.