Happy anniversary. And a talk about commitment

Well, at least the soiree was nice.

Fun, fellowship, a story or two, good friends and I was still able to stay in touch with the game a wee bit. Not a bad night, at all.

But that’s not what we’re here for, is it?

We’re here to talk Real Professional Men’s Basketball.

And the Raptors.

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Let’s change up the order today; the sameness of the game in Orlando made it virtually impossible to learn much, except that this group has very little heart, next to zero determination and less will some nights than any Raptors team I’ve covered.

Of course, if they beat New Jersey, New Orleans, Detroit, Detroit and Charlotte on a five-game winning streak and some will be singing a slightly different tune but, until then …

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All fans wearing black today? As the inimitable Jalen Rose once said, “right down to the drawers?” Why, you ask? Well, if the franchise is finding some reason to “celebrate” a bogus anniversary like 15 years, you should be to “celebrate” the fifth anniversary of, ta-da!!!!!

The Vince Carter Trade!!!

Talk about black days in franchise history. I don’t think there’s been a blacker one. Really.

Yep, five years ago today, we stood stunned in the hallway of Conseco Fieldhouse, waiting to get reaction to the trade.

Jalen, and he’s was in full-on great quote mode, first said, as he walked by us:

“For the first time in his life, Jalen’s speechless”

A bit later, we got something along the lines of …

“When I first heard New Jersey, I figured we had to get Richard Jefferson.”

Yeah right.

Thomas Jefferson might have been more like it.

Anyway, we’ve deconstructed that deal far too often, I just wanted to mention the anniversary.

Kind of fitting, isn’t it, that it comes on a week when Toronto sees Alonzo Mourning’s number hanging from the rafters in Miami a night before Vince gets an easy dozen against them for Orlando.

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And now, regular stuff:

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THREE THINGS I LEARNED

As I mentioned …

It was tough to really concentrate on the game with all the hullabaloo going on around me but it sure seemed that the old “lack of energy” thing got ‘em again.

Now, as you well know, I think Orlando’s the best team in the East and if they played Toronto 10 times now, I’d say Orlando wins eight of ‘em, maybe nine, so the result should not be surprising to anyone.

But the danger sign is still there.

No fire.

I was talking the other day to someone closely connected to the team, a guy who’s around it an awful lot and someone whose opinion I respect as much as anyone in the game.

What is it, I ask, what’s missing.

One word answer:

Commitment.

It’s committing to doing the right thing the right way on every single possession at both ends of the floor. It’s not easy, and I think if you wanted to you could closely look at every team and every player and see moments of, um, laziness, for want of a better word.

But thing that separates the good teams from the middling one – and 11-17 aside, this is still a middling team right now – is having that commitment more often than not.

And until they get it, not only are they not going to be able to stay close to better teams – like Orlando – and hope for some upset win, they’re not going to be able to beat even lesser-skilled teams.

Sam used to say all the time the more important thing was finding some way, every night, to stay in touch until the fourth quarter and hope someone would make a play to win a game.

This team doesn’t stay close until halftime most nights.

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It’s a different look

I think Jarrett Jack’s done a fine job filling in as the starting point guard, he brings a different look to the offence, and the defence.

That said, I’ve noticed in the last two nights a subtle move that seems to take them out of one of their best offensive sets.

Watch him when they run a high screen.

More often than not it seems – and this is anecdotal rather than something backed up with numbers – he’ll “reject” the screen and dribble back into the paint.

Now, that’s a fine move every now and then, especially if the big is showing hard on the other side of the screen because it gets the defence scrambling, but for a set designed for the point guard to turn the corner and either find the big rolling, get an open shooter in the corner, pull up for a jumper or find the big (Andrea) picking and popping for a three, turning back isn’t always prudent.

Little thing, for sure. But something that’s been noticeable the last two nights.

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Oh, yeah, he’s a shooter.

I’m standing right under the TV with My Man Perk as the first quarter draws to a close, chatting with him but watching the action rather intently (yes, it was very much a multi-tasking kind of night).

Anyway, last possession, Orlando’s up eight and it’s still a game.

But somehow, as only the Raptors can do I believe, they manage to blow a defensive coverage and leave Ryan Anderson so wide open on the perimeter it’s not even funny.

He catches, is probably stunned that there’s no one really close to him, lines up a three and drills it.

Shocking, but true.

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Now, some more junk.

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Speaking of bad trades and apples and oranges, how about that Blue Jay trade?

My learned baseball colleagues before and during the fun-fest yesterday were mentioning that maybe it was the best deal Boy GM could have made but, really?

Come on.

Three guys many have never heard of, one who’s already had Tommy John surgery and a couple of prospects who “might’ be ready late in 2010?

I will tell you this, when Super Son and I venture to the dome, it’s generally planned around a Halladay start and I presume we’re not alone in this.

I’m sure not going to watch Ricky Romero, that’s for sure.

On a positive note, it seems the price of getting murdered in a trade has gone down to $6 million from $9 million, which is the amount the Heroes Of The Hardcourt had to fork out to Alonzo Mourning.

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In Orlando, Brian Schmitz summed up the Wednesday affair thusly.

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Not only are there just a few mailbag submissions, there aren’t a whole lot outside of the “They should trade everyone. Your thoughts?” type of query.

And since I don’t plan on leaving the house today except for the obligatory journey to Starbucks momentarily, dropping some good questions here might give me a chance to get a head start on the weekend.

Or they’ll give me something to ignore whilst lounging around watching another of the CSI franchise shows, we seem to have usurped Law And Order as the mindless, endless repeat show-of-the-day now.

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Think it’s going to be fun around the Air Canada Centre tomorrow night? Back in the day, a Friday night visit by New Jersey and the place would have been buzzing, there would have been some kind of electricity in the air.

Now, it’s a truly dreadful 2-25 team facing one that’s slip-sliding into oblivion if it’s not careful.

If there’s 16,000 people in the joint, given the way the team’s going and the way attendance has been, I’ll be surprised.

But it’s also a Huskies night and another of those “recognition” nights for players of the bygone era.

Who?

Tomorrow it’s Muggsy Bogues and I’m sure there’ll be all kinds of wistful memories of the 83 total games he played in Toronto.

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Comments

[Sammy]

Hey Doug,

In your pre-game chat yesterday you said that out of the top 4 teams in the east Raps would match up best with Orlando. If they're going to lose 8-9 games out of 10 to Orlando given they match up best against them, how well did you think they do against the other 3 top teams. This team can't even beat the sub-par NBA teams let alone the big dogs.

[Boko]

Wake me up when we've drafted our next Vince Carter/Chris Bosh ...

[Mike]

First time posting here. I'm typically a patient man, but one thing really irked me during last night's game. I don't know why, but it did. On top of the disinterested defense, the stale offense, and the Raptors lining up in layup lines to pad Dwight's block numbers, it seemed like there was a lack of emotion from certain folks.

I know it's been mentioned here that some guys are more open than others, but one scene was shocking to me. The Raptors had just pulled off a really good play, and while the team was filing back to the bench Jarrett Jack ran up to give "high fives" to everyone - and Andrea stumps by him without so much as a glance. This isn't the first time I've noticed this from the Raptors as a whole this year.

I realize it is one play, but *someone* needs to step up and light a fire under these guys. They are too talented to be drifting along like this.

[Derik]

Less will most night than a bunch of 40 to 50 year olds playing in a local rec league!!!

[niagarahoops]

This team needs LEADERSHIP from their best player.. Someone to kick em in the behind when they need it... unfortunately it is not Chris Bosh. CB is definitelyone of the top players but he will never LEAD a team to anything significant. Like some colour analysts like to say, "IT IS NOT IN HIS DNA"!!.

For Doug, I am not saying CB sucks and so he should be traded. CB is a GREAT player and we should trade because this team is not going to win. Trade him for even slightly less skills with but with leadership abilities or keep CB and put a package together with some of supporting player and trade them for what this team needs..

I don't think anyone really saw this coming because this team does have talent but there is not that one person that brings everyone together and makes the players around him better.

[Mark L]

Doug, you mention that if Toronto played Orlando 10 times, Orlando wins 8 or 9. Do you still think this is the best match up for Toronto in the first round of the playoffs? winning at best 1 game in 5 means no second round.

Blogger's note: Right now, that's exactly what it means.

[jas]

I think it's time to start discussing where the Raps will need to move Bosh to get back anything of consequence.

I'm sick of the whole "we go beat by a better team". It's easy to say that when everyone in the NBA is a better "team."

To soft, to slow, to reliant on Bosh to have big games. The Bosh Bargs experiment hasn't worked for 4 seasons now. Time to decide what the real direction of the team is and go with it.

[Jake]

Ricky Romero is kind of sweet, actually. He's no Doc, but still a pretty solid pitcher. It's the rest of the bullpen that should be avoided.

Just sayin'

[Manny]

Hey Doug,

A bit of a long comment but i need to rant: Much has been said about it will take time for the Raps to "gel" due to many new faces on the team. With a quarter of the season completed, I can appreciate the 11-17 record with the tough schedule they have had, but what i can't tolerate is how they're losing. You nailed it precisely when you mentioned "no heart, commitment.." and also as Leo had mentioned last night: forget the coaching, forget the schedule, forget the injuries, at some point, players have to get angry, not just by losing a game but more importantly getting beat on each possession.

Its embarrassing to see how other teams always get what they want against the Raps, both on offense and defense. It feels like other teams view games against the Raps just like a scrimmage game... scoring at will, passing like the globetrotters.. smiling, laughin and joking with one another like it was just a pickup game while the Raps are just standing around, looking helplessly lost, mouth wide open wondering what just happened (much like how Bargnani often looks like on most possession). Of the 11 wins the Raps currently have, iam not so sure anymore if those came by the actual talent and efforts of the team or is it simply the other team was having an off day.

Some are skilled players, some are grinders/blue collar players, but one common element they should all have is PRIDE and quite frankly, there is no resemblance of that on this team.

Doug, in your honest, professional, assessment, while this team looks great on paper, after 28 games, do the Raps have the right mix of players to make Jay Triano's system work? Do the Raps have the right mix of players that compliment each other, not just skill wise, but attitude and "testicular fortitude.."?

Great job as always...

Blogger's note: They do have all that to become a middle-tier Eastern Conference team this season

[Andrew P]

On the bright side, the Raptors are starting to save me 2 hours of TV watching every night they play as I end up turning the darn thing off in frustration.

Thanks for all your hard work Doug, this little space is the only part of the Raptors that I like these days.

[Shane-T]

"This team doesn’t stay close until halftime most nights." LOL! The way you said it its kinda' funny actually, but also sad and true...

[chili]

Hey jas,
This is the scenario I read in Sports Illustrated.
Bosh will be traded to Houston for T-Mac, just because of T-mac's huge, expiring contract. So the Raptors will have about $20+ million to spend next year on a free agent or free agents.

Blogger's note: Except they won't have that money because of other salaries.

[Chops]

Doug,
what are your thoughts of Hedo doing some of his pregame shootaround with the Magic instead of his own team? Is that kind of disrespectful to his current teammates?

Blogger's note:I don't know the specifics so have no comment

[Boko]

I agree with Jas ... perhaps we can send CB to the Suns for Steve Nash, & a package to the Spurs for Matt Bonner. At least we'd have a couple of more guys with heart, determination & will in the rotation. And is there any way we could get Shane Battier from the Rockets? He'd bring so much here that we don't currently have enough of ...

[voislav]

One thing I really liked about Doc was you could plan the night around the Jays game. You knew he'd be done by 9:30, so that there was plenty of time for a restaurant/bar outing afterwards. Hard to find pitchers like that anymore.

[Chris]

Well, at least their brutal effort allowed me to catch the second half of the Bucks-Lakers gem. Kobe is not human.

[kelsey]

Couple things I noticed. "commitment" agreed dont really see the full "team" commitment. Raptors on pace to have one of the worst team defense in league histoty (opp shooting %). Bosh seems physically and emotially tired (8rebs in last 2 games) Bosh gets a pass for his effort this year.

I like Jay Triano and coaching staff, however Im really concerned that may Alex English, Triano may have been around to long. I know Rap's dont have best defensive players, but we must also look at the "system". Colangelo what are you going to do with this roster. Hedo mr fade away jumper,Belleneli what does he have green light? Wright a DNP type player. Bargnani no boards no defence, demar would benefit comin off bench..A long season, every loss is a trashing ahhhhhhh!!!

[Matt M]

As a basketball fan I really like this Orlando team and it was fun watching them run their stuff yesterday.
Too bad about the Halladay trade. I don't mind what the Jays got because they was no way they were going to win this trade anyways. Hell, even if they got Cliff Lee in addition to all those players they still would have come up short. It was a little encouraging listening to the Jays spin on the deal, with Anthopolous thinking he got two-three future all stars out of the deal. Hopefully he's right. Not sure about flipping Taylor for Wallace though. If Taylor is going to become a five-tool right fielder (as I heard somewhere last night) then I would think that he would have been a better fit for the Jays than another first baseman. Maybe if Wallace turns out to be the next Albert Pujols, or even Justin Morneau, then I'll get over it.

[chris]

I'd trade Hedo Turkoglu for only one of those prospects. Get that guy out of here.

Good read on Jack refusing the pick, btw. Really good.

[James MacFie]

That was a low blow to Ricky Romero. He's Fine.

[anthony.mackay]

Its a bird, its a plane! No.. that's just Howard playing against a bunch of no heart little boys.

[LeeZ]

You know, I'm not usually the type to get all out of whack at the sight of fraternization between a player and his former team. Couple of hugs, a high-five, a brief chat before a game...no huge deal. But this little nugget from the A.P. article on last night's game strikes me as beyond the pale, to wit: "Turkoglu spent the last few minutes before the game warming up on the Magic’s end of the court, taking shots with his former teammates". Um, is it just me, or is that just a wee bit too much!!! If it were from a player that leaves it all on the court come opening whistle, that would be one thing. But it's from Turk, who the next time he leaves it all (or even half of it) on the court will be his first time. And switching topics to another Raps underachiever, it is getting really painful to watch Andrea loaf listlessly around the court, confused about which man to pick up on dee when playing on the perimeter, only to see his man take a three so wide open that the guy probably thought he was dreaming. Rince and repeat. But back to Turk: Doug, how do you think that A.P. excerpt sits with his Turk's CURRENT teammates?

Blogger's note: I didn't see it; I haven't spoken to anyone who did; I notice none of the three Toronto writers there even made mention of it; I'm thinking it's a throwaway note in the middle of a story that's much ado about nothing. But that's not from any first-hand personal knowledge

[Boko]

Hmm, if we got Samuel Dalembert, he'd be our 5th best player (depending on who we traded away), and our starting C ... just saying ...

[Peter]

You're serious? They're honouring Mugsy Bogues? Nothing against him, but when we honour a player who played barely over 1 year here, then you know it's a bogus celebration. Once again, you're right Doug!

[greg]

I say Bosh to Miami, or Dallas. Cuban would sell his soul for a Dirk/Bosh front court , especially with Jason Kidd who has a few good years left. I know speculation isn't your game doug so no need to address this :).

I don't mind a team losing but the way they lose is pathetic the entire raptor organization should be embarassed by these guys. That's 7 losses of 20 or more out of 17. of the 11 losses 9 have been by more than 13.

The raptors this year seems like the oakland raiders of basketball where players are just showing up to get paid.