And so begins a big, busy week

Join us at noon today for a live Q&A with Doug Smith, as the Raptors prepare to take on the Washington Wizards.

Hmm.

Four games in five nights, three of them on the road and all against Eastern Conference foes.

Big week indeed.

A split? That’d be a borderline disappointment. Running the table? Yeah, right.

Going 3-1? That’s about what’s needed, actually.

Oh yeah, one other thing. Let's move the game-day chat to noon today, if that's all right with everyone? We're still trying to find the optimum time for all concerned.

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The first reaction of a coach is to protect his own and there was Jay, doing it in spades yesterday afternoon.

“I can’t blame it on players for not being able to guard, I have to find the strengths and weaknesses of each guy and figure out how much I have to play them.”

He’s right, of course. One of the biggest and most important jobs of any coach is to put his players in the best possible situation to succeed, offensively and defensively.

If that means devising a system where they, say, switch all screen and rolls or double-team automatically in the post, so be it.

But it’s also an age-old method of deflect attention, and criticism, from the players and while it may play well in the media, it’s not going to fool anybody who wears a uniform.

They know. They know what they can and cannot do, they know what teammates can and cannot do. They are quite hard to bluff.

Look, the simple fact is this team doesn’t have a lot of great individual defenders and if anyone thought they did, they apparently hadn’t been watching.

Jay and his staff have decided that it’s not a bad idea to junk up a game every now and then, switch on screens a few times, show a few times, play a handful of possessions in a zone (usually after timeouts when opponents have likely called a play set up to work against man defence); anything to gain even a slight edge for a little time.

Maybe that works for a little while but it seems to me that clouding the issue with a variety of defensive schemes runs counter to finding one that works and learning.

On the other hand, maybe there simply isn’t one that works well enough and you gotta do what you’ve gotta do.

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So much for altering any lineup or rotation.

The feeling around the lads yesterday was that nothing’s afoot for tonight of the foreseeable future, although coaches always reserve the right to keep quiet about these thing until the very last minute.

And at least one player – Chris Bosh -- has, publicly, no appetite for it.

“Change doesn’t always equal success. I think the only change we can do right now is in the way we play and that’s really it. It has to come from within right now.”

Then he dropped a little history on us, while also making the case that it’s still quite early in the season, which in fact it is.

“The results are going to come, that’s how we have to take it. Rome wasn’t built in a day. There, that’s a little bit of knowledge for everybody. Or 18 games.”

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Speaking of teams not living up to expectations, we give you tonight’s visitors, the 5-10 Washington Wizards.

This is how Mike Lee writes it up.

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You know how they’re “recognizing” a bunch of Raptors from the past as part of this “celebration” of 15 years of mainly mediocrity, as if 15 is some significant milestone?

Well, why not go all out and do it every game?

Find someone obscure for whatever opponent is in on whatever night and “celebrate” them.

I can see it tonight:

A litany of Mike James jump shots in a 20-second video clip.

Or perhaps a retrospective of the half hour that Antawn Jamison spent as a Raptor.

You know, something to get the fans all excited.

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I read that it seems to be a fait accompli that Allen Iverson’s going to go back to Philly.

It’s a move that smacks of marketing triumphing over common basketball sense and I cannot for a second think it’s going to work.

Is he going to really help the team accomplish something on the court that it wouldn’t otherwise have achieved? Do you think Andre Iguodala is going to have the ball often enough? I wonder if Jrue Holiday develops as quickly playing spectator rather than point guard? Think Allen Iverson’s going to walk the ball up and throw it into the post to Elton Brand? You think when Lou Williams gets back that Iverson will cede his spot to him?

No, this, to me, is more about selling tickets and creating a buzz than it has anything to do with basketball. The Sixers are second-last in home attendance, drawing 11,412 per game and just edging out the woeful New Jersey Nets for 30th. There’s the reason.

Iverson’s best role right now, without a doubt in my mind, is getting it through his head that he could be a valuable backup on a good team and if he truly cared about winning, he’d have already searched out a solid franchise and offered his services as a sub.

Like, say, Boston.

But no.

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Tough night with no DWTS and only a late NBA game I really had no interest in. (Although I did watch a bit of Indy-Golden State and let’s just say that’s a game where passing was at a premium).

But the big gridiron game now makes me a New Orleans Saints fan, at least for now. The dude Brees is pretty darn good and it was fun to watch him shred Dour Bill and his boys.

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I will give them credit for putting in the time.

The Raps really didn’t work all that long yesterday – slightly under the usual time what with four games in five nights ahead of them – but long, long after everyone else had left the practice court, Jarrett Jack and Marco Belinelli were out there working on their shooting.

No idea if it’ll pay off but they were getting some extra work in.

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Comments

[Paul]

It's not about whether they can "play defence". It's about whether they can be bothered to show up with intensity.

Jose is intense, Bosh is intense. Turks, not so much, at least not until crunch time.

The problem is Bargnani. He's like an intensity black hole. He sucks the life out of the rest of his team. On the odd night (1 game in 20) that he's fired up, it's electric, and the Raps are impossible to play against. But for the other 95% of the time, he's an energy dud out there.

I say bench AB if he doesn't show some intensity in the first 5, put in an energy guy like Amir or even Pops (or Reggie if he ever comes back). They don't need another guy on the perimeter jacking 3's, they need energy.

[chris]

Doug - do you write your blogs the ngiht before or in the morning? If the latter, you must be either a fast writer or a very early riser.

Change from within is good - it may be easier to get these guys to play better than to throw new players into the mix and try to fit the puzzle together - but here are the facts Jay has to deal with to make change from within work......

- switching on almost every screen is making us a giant pin cushion for the league. Maybe we should try fighting through/over/under for a change and make guys fight a little bit. Fighting through and actually competing to stay with your player isn't a bad thing when trying to teach effort (switching breeds laziness)

- Jose Calderon does not work on defense. What happened to the guy who used to meet opposing players before half court? The guy who used to be a pest? He has never been a super-capable defender, but at least he tried. Maybe last year taught him to pace himself, but he has a credibel backup now (who may end up taking his job if he doesn't start defending).

- Bargs doesn't have good instincts for help defense. Not sure that's somehting that can be coached mid-seasoon, but at the very least he can bust his ass to get rebounds. If he does that i'll be happy. Otherwise, trade him for a lesser player who does the big man role with a little more tenacity (Biedrins, anyone?)

Blogger's note: A little bit the day and night before; finish it off every morning. Yes, bright and early

[dave]

Your wiz link doesn't work.

[MC B-Rad]

the link for Mike Lee goes to the sixers article :(

[Lorie]

Hey Doug,
I think the Beat Grunt Blog Gremlins are at work today...both your links here are for the AI article...and does this guy really need even more attention than he already gets? :) Or maybe it is my (infallible!) system here?

Blogger's note: I believe -- and hope -- that's now fixed

[Dave]

What goes unsaid is that long long after everyone else had left the practice court, Sir Grunt of Raptorland was out there to see Jarrett Jack and Marco Belinelli working on their shooting. We notice, thanks Doug.

[Tiger]

ah, whoops!
you double-linked the AI story and skipped over your man Mike Lee

Blogger's note: I believe I have that fixed now

[Young James]

Barhnani NEEDS life! Skills are so there, the heart!??!...well, meh! Calderon is the problem - he has court vision, but makes many mistakes, so refuses to play any "D" at all, can't score and is in his second year in a row degressing. The fact that DeRozan is going through his rookie year it makes for a worse back court then the Jose/Parker combo. I just dont get it! Is Toronto jinked? Seems like no matter what Colengelo does it fails here in T.O! How's the decision to go with the O'Neil trade last year instead of the Wallace from Charlotte trade!

[Matt M]

I'm thinking that I agree with Triano and Bosh on this one, the Raps aren't far off defensively. As has been said a thousand times they don't have to be great as they do have the ability to rely on their offense at times. I would still make changes to the starting lineup, maybe only to shake up the team. I think it's time to try Jack and Belinelli. After all, in the last few year the team has had it's greatest success with Calderon off the bench. And Derozan can get his 15-20 minutes against the second string guys, playing a similar role at the small swing position that Amir Johnson plays at the big swing position.
There, opinion stated and I'm sure Triano will give that opinion it's proper respect and rightfully ignore it. But they need to start to reach their potential and bang out some wins and maybe even beat some teams they aren't supposed to beat. By now that includes Atlanta (who are playing out of their mind) and Houston (who prove that if statistics are used properly it is a powerful tool to find great role players for your team). The schedule in the second half may be easier, but it was easier in the second half last year too and look how that turned out.

[Dave]

I agree with you Doug, pick a defensive scheme, stick to it and maybe by game 40 they may get it right 80% of the time. Leave the gimmick defenses to Don Nelson.

[yertu damkule]

re. AI - EXACTLY...all about marketing. it's a good thing our GM would never build a team in a such away...using, say, diversity of the city or it's 'multi-culturalism' as the backbone for acquiring/retaining/extending certain players. phew.

[Aaron J.]

"...but long, long after everyone else had left the practice court, Jarrett Jack and Marco Belinelli were out there working on their shooting."

This is the third time I've heard of Jack sticking around after practice to work on his shooting, so why in the world is Jose not there with him working on his stroke because his shot is awful this year.

[DW]

Doug, that Mike James quip was pure gold.

[Kelsey]

Come one everyone. Bargnani is good, but not for this team. Let's be real? We dont need scoring, need hustle and basic fundamentals. Honestly Doug Raptors will be at best 1st round knock out with this line. BC needs to make some othe small tweaks. Raps dont have athletes to get better defense.

AI to Philly? honestly they need a guard. 11,000+ a night/ ah Philly is low.

[ttfox]

As much as I like Jay being a Canadian, the Raptors need a coach who is not afraid to bench star players when they are not performing well. They need a Bob Knight.

[Marisa Torre]

"You know how" YOU'RE always writing stuff that will spark a reaction from your readers even if it's only a mediocre effort at best? I think that was a cheap-shot. For one thing that's a front-office issue taking advantage of anything that will bring fans to the game and their sponsors in the best interest of the investment they have in the franchise. Why not. True game fans get excited enough whenever we see our team give a solid effort, we get disappointed when our team gets sloppy like the Bobcats game and defeated like the Phx game but there's ALOT of potential here. This is a formative team. It's going to be exciting to see how we fare against these opponents in their next match-up. I think THAT will be the true test of coaching leadership and team cohesion. Defence issues are sometimes as easy as just being on the man and going up with him on the shot to misdirect it. We're excited enough about what's possible with this team. For whatever we're lacking in Raptor defence, I don't think it's fair for you to be on the offensive with Raptor fans.

[Jack]

Yertu, Thank you for stating the obvious. This is a team built on an agenda and that agenda is not winning. It is about having players that represent communities located in the city to fill seats. Anyone can tell that the 'european' flair to this team is an absolute failure. Do you have Italian soccer teams With a Canadian brain trust and North American players as the backbone of their teams? Of course not. It's obvious that it would not work but somehow in Toronto it will. There is a dream mentality in this city that makes it a laughingstock to the majority of the league. I fully understand wanting to cheer for those from your ethnic community. It happens every four years during the world cup, Jamaicans cheer for Bolt, Americans cheer for anything USA but in PROFESSIONAL sports you put all of that aside and build your team around the best players period. Calderone and Bargs aren't even close to being the best in their positions. Not even close. Bargs was never a number one pick. A journeyman sure but a number one? Please. The fact that MLSE gets away with playing on the good spirit of this city is disgusting. Don't be fooled people. Toronto has gone from being at the head of inclusion in pro sports to the tail. Real inclusion is playing those who have been excluded not because of their talent but because of their skin colour or background not by making sure that they somehow represent me ,joe average citizen by ethnicity or skin colour. When a Toronto team won anything you could see the diversity on the court or field. Notice anything about our pro sports team today? Kinda bland if you know what I mean. Could this be the reason for the dearth of success in this town?

[Kelsie]

I'm sure they are trying to find ways to improve defensively but if there is one thing that is troubling from a fans perspective, is the switching. Teams do not switch constantly in the NBA. When it does happens it's particualr possessions here or there when your man can't get over on the pick and roll, but certainly not for the majority of the game.

I sincerely thought that playing Phx again we would not try to employ the same tactics we used previously against them, because Nash would have a better answer for it this time. Not surprisingly we employed the same switching, having bigs guard smalls and vice versa and we paid dearly for it.

I agree that there are no defensive stoppers in this bunch but when have we ever had defensive stoppers on this team, yet played such uninspired defence?

I think the coach has to take some heat on this one.

[Johnn19]

Why have the Raptors lost 11 of 18 games ??

Maybe it has as much to do with who they are playing (remember the opponents are trying to win the games also)
and the talent level of those teams vs where the Rap's are currently in their TEAM learning curve.

They have played 8 games vs the 6 current division leaders, winning 1 vs Cleveland, and losing 7. The Division leaders currently have a combined average record of 13 & 4, being Orlando, Cleveland, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver, & Boston. The Rap's are not the only team struggling to win vs this Elite group.

We still must give more time to allow the schedule to even up, and let the Rap's play some more eastern teams, and less talented than the cream of the NBA, that they have been playing, and struggling with.

[dave]

Doug,

Triano as head coach has all final say but why has no one questioned Iavaroni? Wasn't he supposed to be the defensive specialist? What is his take?

[Matt]

Wow more Iverson hate.... I have a feeling that he will prove all of his critics wrong when he plays for Philly. Book it!

[Wade T.]

Simply put the lack of energy on the Raptors is representative of the lack of grit that comes from its coach and best player. Competitive players have a fire, see Kobe Bryant, see Kevin Garnett; these guys are intense players who take losing seriously. Think anybody on the Lakers and Celtics aren't frightened at the prospect of disappointing those guys? As long as the overly mellow Chris Bosh (who gets knocked down and can't even defend himself in his fifth year), this team will always be lax on defense. It starts from the top, if your best player plays defense with intensity and holds people accountable, which is what star players do, things will improve. Based on the pass the buck vibe Bosh gives out, I don't think that will happen.

[Ralph]

Doug,
I think this team has everything it needs except attitude. Notice that 5 minutes or so after Pierce put his knee into Bosh in the Boston game? It didn't last, but they went back out ready to knock somebody down...seemed that they actually started to believe that they owned at least some of the court. Do you think any of those coaches are asking for or teaching attitude? My memory of teams like Detroit when they were winning is that they had at least as much attitude as skill.

[The J]

Johnn19, your point is valid, but does not explain the losses to Memphis and Charlotte. Not exactly division leaders! Hopefully over this stretch they will know better than to look past teams, and give anything but there 100% effort.

Iavoroni as a defensive specialist? How is a guy who coached on that run-n-gun Phoenix team here for defense? What's next Mike Brown as an offensive specialist?

[BrianV]

Once Williams returns to the Philly lineup, I guarantee you, Iverson will say this, when it is suggested he be their 6th man:

1) Was Williams voted league MVP?
2) Did Williams lead the league in scoring?
3) Is Williams a first-ballot Hall of Famer?

The answer to all these questions is "No".

But the question that needs to be asked of Iverson is:

Is it 2009, almost 2010?

Was 2000 almost 10 years ago?

If Philly does not make it perfectly clear to AI, BEFORE signing him, that he will be coming off the bench when Williams returns, no matter what, then they deserve the distraction that is coming their way.