A bit of this and what I hope is a good Mo Pete story

I realize we’re a bit late today but I’ve got to tell you, dragging your sorry butt out of bed closer to 8 a.m. than 6 a.m. is highly recommended every now and then.

Have yourselves a nice day. Get all your shopping done early.

After you read this, that is:

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THREE THINGS I LEARNED

Does it mean anything?

It’s funny. I’m getting a few “who cares, it’s only the Nets they beat” comments and, yeah, the Nets were unspeakably bad but, still.

A win is a win. They aren’t easy to get and heavens knows you’ve seen this team play down to the level of its competition enough times that I bet a few of you were worried.

But they did what they had to do.

Got a team down and stomped it and I don’t care that New Jersey scored 62 in the second half, that was about 21 minutes of garbage time.

As I mentioned in game story, Jay had told us before the game he wanted a more aggressive early defence, quick hands, fast doubles and he got it. I don’t know how many runouts the Raptors had in the first half after creating turnovers and rushed shots but it had to be a season high.

No idea if they can keep it up against the Hornets tomorrow but if they do, I remain convinced this isn’t a bad team.

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What a mouthy guy

This is something I noticed about Andrea the night in Milwaukee when he didn’t play but I didn’t mention it because I figured my mind was playing tricks on me.

At that game – and I was sitting about 10 feet away from him – he kept up a steady stream of conversation with guys on the court, moving them here and there, calling out screens and plays and generally being involved.

Like I said, I figured I’d been slipped some hallucinogen in my cheese-based Milwaukee dinner and let it go out of my mind.

So last night, I’m watching him again, on the court this time, and he’s doing it again.

Communicating on defence, moving guys around on offence (in two third-quartet sets in a row he moved Amir Johnson to the right spot to start a play) and generally being yappy.

And since I’m sure the good folks in the media room here wouldn’t slip me a mickey, it must have happened.

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They love that play

First possession: Bosh gets the ball at the elbow, they run the dribble-handoff action with Turk and he finishes with a layup over Lopez.

Raptors get the ball about two minutes later and Jay stands up and yells “first play, first play” as they start up the court, which is Raptor-speak to run the same set they started the game with.

Anyway, they do, Bosh gets the ball, fakes the move to Turk, turns on Eddy Najera, who’s guarding him, drives and draws a second foul on the Net.

It’s two options off the same play, a new play that they run an awful lot and one I quite like.

I’ll have more on this in tomorrow’s paper, I think, but suffice it to say, Bosh likes it a lot, too.

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And elsewhere …

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The Irregulars will know that I have had some issues with the “celebration” of 15 years of franchise history, although it was nice to see Muggsy last night.

Sunday, though?

Sunday might be cool.

As part of the ongoing recognition process, they’re going to take time out to honour the one and only Mo Pete, I’m told, and that’s one I can fully support.

Mo’s one of the true great guys and I would presume the fans will stand and cheer loudly – very loudly – whenever they do it.

After all, the guy played more games – 542 in the regular season, 19 more in the playoffs – than anybody in franchise history.

Now, that’s a dude you should recognize.

They got that one right.

A Mo story I don’t think I’ve ever told out here in the big, wide world.

It’s the second week of the 2005-06 and somehow Sam’s decided the rookie Joey Graham will start in the spot that is historically Mo’s.

Well, Mo says all the right things ‘cause he’s a pro but it’s obvious he’s miffed and Joey’s not exactly lighting the world on fire.

We’re in the locker room after a home game and someone’s getting scrummed about two lockers over from Mo. I’m on the periphery of it, not really listening to closely when I hear Mo in my ear over my shoulder.

He’s telling me he’s ticked, I should write it, he wants his job back and “something’s got to change.”

Me? I keep pretending I’m listening to the scrum, all the while taking notes on what Mo’s saying.

Get a story no one else has, Mo gets his starting job back like the next game or something and a Day In The Life Of A Grunt turns out to be a good one.

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About six minutes into the second quarter, I’m watching the Nets and thinking:

“How’d they ever win two?”

But, you know, the pieces actually are there and I imagine if you’re an unemployed coach, it’s not a bad situation to explore at the end of the year.

I like Lopez, I like Devin Harris (but I do think he misses Vince Carter) and they’ve got a lot of cap room and a shot a very, very good draft pick.

And if the ownership works out, they’ve got a dude with deep pockets and a love of basketball rather than a love of real estate deals.

That might be the best coaching gig out there this summer.

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So I’ve got to do/start/finish some Christmas shopping this morning. You think the malls will be busy?

Oh, and I hear candlesticks always make a nice gift.

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Speaking of the Nets, my man Dave D, who gets parolled in February to chronicle the wonders of the Winter Games, says this about that.

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You know that I’ve come to hold Marcus Banks in higher esteem now, right? Has come in, done his job admirably and been a pro about it.

Well, last night, people, we witnessed history.

Really.

He made two three-pointers, which is one more than he’s ever made in a game wearing a Toronto uniform.

Yep, he was 1-8 this season before last night from beyond the arc and made one – one – in his entire time with the Raptors last season.

Another reason last night was a night to remember.

Or not.

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In New Orleans, where they’ve got a new coach and a very average team, this is what’s going on.

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Comments

[JHP]

Did not see the game but a win is a win. I'm sure you are constantly being asked/told how to make the team better. I'm wondering if you could expand on what can go wrong. It appears the Nets may serve as a good model.

[Yet Another Mike]

Re: Andrea
Thank $diety. I was thinking I was just another loony. I could have sworn I saw him directing defensive traffic, including pushing Bosh to move to up on a guy, during the first half of the first quarter of the Heat game (you know, the bit they actually played).

[pooks]

Cool Mo story, Doug. I hope he repaid you somehow!

[Quoth The (Rav)en]

You're aware people are going to be sending you candlesticks for Christmas to the Star office right?

[JR]

Some may scoff at the quality of the opponent, but beating NJ (by a wide margin) provided an extra benefit that most people don't consider: 21 minutes of garbage time gives the end of the bench time to get some work in and increase their confidence level. The Celtics had a suspect bench to go along with their three superstars; that was the only big question mark for them at the time. With the 'big three' on the bench with a 20 point lead for most/all of the fourth quarter night after night, that suspect bench got enough PT to become a strength, not a weakness.

Early blowouts are good for your bench development.

[Patrick]

Why would A.Wright get a DNP in a blow out?? Is he that bad?

[Rob.V]

Hey, we'll take anything we can get right now however NJ is currently on pace to have the worst regular season record EVER in the NBA.

That is a bad, bad, BAD team!! Probably the worst I have personally ever seen.

Gotta feel for Belinelli, the kid can't throw the ball in the ocean right now. He missed a couple of easy jumpers, and after blowing a layup going to the basket he just shook his head on his way back down the floor.

Having said this, maybe Don Nelson isn't as crazy as everyone's made him out to be. When the kid is on, he's terrific however as we've seen when he's not... he's not.

His shot is obviously in his head right now... someone needs to get to him and tell him to just get back to having fun!!!

[Oscar Fellini]

I was watching post game footage from the Nets game and Sonny Weems gave a shout out to Alvin Williams saying he was a mentor to him and Demar DeRozan. I love AW - his toughness, his defence and his mentality as a player always impressed me. How are things working for him as an assistant? Has he been tapped by Jay to take players like DD and SW under his wing? What does he do with them in practice?

[Andrew]

Interesting, I never knew Andrea was that type of player. The other night in Orlando the Magic announcers said: "he plays like he doesn't care", I thought that was out of line and unfair.

[HopeCaper]

Hi Doug, I agree they played well and a win is a win so no gripes. The only qualifier I would add is that some were making much of how the Raps lost a game and I think it would be fair to note how the Raps won this game. It was very entertaining ball.

[Matt M]

Good game to build off of. It's funny to hear that some of your readers were unhappy with this win, what with the average third and 62 allowed in the second half. The Nets were driven to start the third and as bad as they are as a team, they do have really good players in Lopez and Harris. The Hornets are playing light-years better than last time they faced the Raps so they had better be prepared.
Hopefully your observations of Bargnani are a sign of things to come. Raps could use him embracing a leadership role on both ends of the court and it sounds like he is becoming more comfortable with this. Maybe this will help his consistency a little bit as well, although part of me suspects that consistency will come for Bargnani in some future season. A visit to Bosh's personal trainer this offseason would help on so many levels, especially when Bosh leaves for the Nets next year (D'Alessandro made sure to point out that most GM's think that Bosh is leaving Toronto in his article. I figured what the hell, let's give Nets fans a little hope he will save that franchise when they move to Brooklyn).

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Morning Doug,
I think the best thing I've heard about the Raps all year is your report about Bargs being vocal. Big, big step in the big lug's development.
Presume everyone's seen the Sporting News story about the five teams in need of a turnaround. Raps' is labelled "Likely". Hornets' is labelled "Unlikely". Your Spurs'? "Very likely". Thought you'd like that.
Go Raps!

[Juan]

Doug
Just wanted to thank you for your commitment to the blog. There's always something interesting coming from you and you do it every day which is very much appreciated by many here. It's that commitment that has built this little (probably not so little any more) community. Like any community there are bound to be a few jerks but I think you handle it with a commendable sense of patience and wit. Merry Christmas and best for the new year.

[Matt Kovacs - Age 12]

Hey Doug,

Just a question about when Jose gets back, I know when he gets back they will definitly play him off of the bench for the first few games. But on the way home from the post game radio show from the Houston game, they said throughout this year since Jack is doing so well as a starter they might have Jose as a back up. Do you think that will ever happen?

Blogger's note: I doubt it

[Striker77]

How many dunks did the Huskies have last night? I must of counted in the teens... Dont get me wrong, I love basketball that is well rounded and not all points in the paint, but, wow... watching all of those fast breaks and dunks was really fun. Since the nets did not seem in any hurry to get back and defend most of those breaks,it was obviously easier to get them.

Do you think that the raps should really try to adopt that fast running game, especially with athleticism that Weems, Johnson, and Jack have?

Blogger's note: They should try to score more in transition, yes

[Tiger]

Good to learn that Bargnani is starting to direct traffic.
Three things that would be good to see:
1) he does it against offenses that, you know, actually know what they're doing out there;
2) whether or not he's reading things right out there;
3) if his teammates trust him enough to react well to his calls.
It would be nice to know how his overall defense compares to Rasho, who we know is well regarded for his basketball IQ.

[smd]

Nice Bull Durham reference Doug.
It made me laugh. A very quotable movie . . . . .

[Dan W]

Hey Doug you were in the shot at the end of half tiem as they interview the assistant.YOu were looking at your screen and shaking your head at what I can only guess were some bad comments during the chat

[Barry]

We're 4 years into Andrea's career. For him to finally be communicating with teammates is nothing to savour. We'll never get those 4 years back unfortunately. For him to finally speak up after the team bottoms out again is exactly the problem. It's a lot easier to speak up when no one respects you anymore with the exception of one Toronto sports writer. Also, I'm not sure it took 4 years for Rondo, Roy, Aldridge, Gay, Millsap and Brewer to communicate with their TEAMMATES. If Colangelo expected it to take 4 years for Bargnani to use his voice, he should be fired today. 4 years is a career in this league.

The Raptors in general seem to enjoy bottoming out and claiming their fans as the enemy in order to motivate their play. It seems to be the only thing that wakes them up and that's pathetic. "The fans don't believe in us! Let's show them!" Yes nobody believes in you because you get trashed by lesser teams on a regular basis and you're already well below .500 in the weak conference. Fans have just reason to not believe in you.

The problem is not the fans who have suffered with you for 15 years. The problem is a team that needs constant reminders to play hard.

This NJ game means squat. Sure, it's not a bad thing. But it doesn't mean anything good to blow out a team that loses 92% of their games. There should be no satisfaction. You get up tomorrow and you work hard again. Stop looking for a reason to take days off.

Sheesh... This team makes me so mad! :)

[GM]

Barry, go away.

[mando]

Barry, go away.

[david998]

During bargnagi's rookie season there were occasions when he would stand at the three point line with a smaller ( aren't they all?) player guarding him and he would fake one way then the other and the cover didn't buy the fake so bargnagi just shot over him and made the 3.
The commentators (not the raptors crew) rhought he was unguardable at the 3 point line.
Now he has improved around the basket and even posting up but at the price of not being that same 3 point threat.
Have i got that wrong and if not is he more valuable attacking the basket or just shooting 3's?

Blogger's note: He's shooting roughly the same number of three-pointers a game as he has in his career; and it's always better to have a multitude of ways to score

[david998]

If I could add another question.
How many wins would it take to make the playoffs in their division?
35....38??
And is it worth it to lose in one round and not get a draft pick as opposed to missiing the playoffs and getting a lottery pick?

Blogger's note: It's always worth being in the playoffs, in my opinion. And I can't guess at a number yet.

[erc]

GM, Have always enjoyed your posts, although they are less frequent these days.
I agree Barry probably shouldn't have ripped our resident blogger for simply reporting something positive. Positive can be hard to find this season. Our resident blogger has been giving pretty forthright opinions -- good balance between negative and positive.
Maybe a little hard on Bargs, but four years is probably close to the average lifespan of an NBA player. He has talent, but perhaps has been cut too much slack by the organization.
As for the rest of his post, if you haven't had more than a few moments this season and last when you agreed completely with how he feels, maybe they need to decrease your meds.lol.
Hope neither you nor him go away. Different opinions are interesting and this is almost always an interesting blog.