How's everyone feeling today? A wee bit better?

Join Doug Smith for a live Q&A at noon today, as the Raptors prepare to take on the New Jersey Nets.

My good Lord, you people are angry.

Seriously, there was some major league venom in those comments yesterday. Maybe even eclipsing those after the Atlanta game. If they lose tonight, not sure I’m even going to turn on the machine tomorrow.

But, for now, we soldier on …

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You know me, all “let’s wait, give it time, it’s too early to go all crazy and nutty and fire this guy, trade those six guys, bench those other nine guys and WHY THE HELL DOESN’T POPS PLAY MORE!”

Well, time’s up.

These next dozen games, eight against teams below .500, only one back-to-back and no horribly arduous travel, are the time to make a move.

Or a time to make some realize it’s time to make other moves.

The five that begin tonight – New Jersey, New Orleans, at Detroit Detroit back here and then Charlotte – is by far the easiest stretch of games they’ve had this season. Depending on how things shake out, it might end up being the easiest stretch of games they’ll have all year.

Now, you also know I think there’s plenty of talent on this team, more than enough to still legitimately challenge for fifth or six or seventh in the East (which is about where some had them at the start of the season).

Let’s say they go 4-1 here (and you know they’ll spit one up for sure). That gets them to, what, 15-19 15-18 on Jan. 1, which is about two games worse than I originally figured.

Can they go 4-1? Sure. No question. Will they? No idea. But it’ll be fun to watch.

If they do, do you think the season’s in the toilet then? No way. It’s not.

Now, if they go 1-4 here and are 12-22 12-21 when the calendar turns and it’s time to think about rushing to make some substantial change.

But if I’m them, I don’t even think about anything until a week or so into 2010.

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This came in a few days ago in a game-day chat from someone or something known as Crackers and I promised to get to it here one day.

So …

Doug, I'm with you with the "defense is a team effort" thing. Maybe you can elaborate more on why it is a team effort (individual skills aside)? Such as communication, bonding, knowing where a player will be in a given position, and such? Maybe that'll make readers understand the "team effort".

It boils down to this: The players, a vast, vast majority of them simply cannot be stopped one-on-one. At least not the majority of times. They are too skilled, they know where they want to and they are, honestly, very good.

So it is communication and system and here’s one example:

A guard runs a high screen and a defending team “shows” a big, that is stepping out to impede the progress of the attacking guard.

That generally means the offensive big who set the screen will roll to the basket and other defensive big, who is usually in the low post on the opposite side of the lane, has to leave his man to guard the guy going to the basket, or at least move towards him.

That big has to let the guy at the top of the key know, by yelling most of the time, that he’s got his man and to stay up with the guard.

Now, someone has to help him, and that’s generally the forward or the guard on the weak side, who has to slide over to take care of the big. He’s not only got to let his teammates know he’s going, he’s got to go quickly and to the right spot.

Here’s what happens all too often to Toronto:

The guard using the screen gets trapped, he kicks the ball to the wing and it’s passed to the corner while the Raptors defence is scrambling.

The big who “showed” on the screen has to get either down low or out to the corner while the weak-side forward has to get in position to guard someone under the basket.

How many times have you see them do a good job on the screen, close out on the shooter in the corner, only to have a missed shot drop into the lap of a weakside offensive player because the weakside defender was either too unaware, or too slow, to get inside the man he was supposed to guard and box him out under the basket? A million times? That’s bad communication and bad execution and why a good “team” defence is needed more than anything.

I have no idea if that answers your question but it’s all I’ve got for you now.

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Oh, saw Bosh’s DVD thing the other night.

Sort of entertaining to me, it does present a look at the kid you won’t get anywhere else and I do know that Super Son, 13, was quite impressed with it.

There are no hugely startling revelations so don’t go looking for that but you do get a look at a guy wrestling with a decision to, well, in my opinion, deface his body.

Should anyone buy it?

I’m not going to tell you how to spend your money (unless it’s to buy me a nice gift or a cold beer) but it’s quite a unique look at an athlete.

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Way back in the day, say six months ago, I imagine the vast majority of you would have been hugely interested in the goings-on with the Nets.

Atlantic Division rival, that No 15 guy, a team you loved to hate.

Now? Not so much.

But here’s one of this morning’s offerings about them just to get you up to date, although I notice my man Dave D seems to have enjoyed a day of rest and relaxation. Smart man.

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Speaking of the Nets, we all recall that yesterday was the anniversary of what has to be the single worst player transaction in franchise history. That’s when you take several factors – return obtained, short-term implications, long-term implications, blows to collective psyche – into consideration because there have been other doozies (hello Araujo over Iguadala, which actually started this downward trend).

It got me thinking, which is often a dangerous proposition.

What was the single best?

And after careful consideration (okay, some time on the couch watching Heat-Magic and a few minutes while driving for coffee) this is what I’ve come up with:

Antonio Davis for Jonathan Bender.

Say what you will about AD, and you bashed him ferociously when he left just as you lauded him greatly when he was here, he gave them an edge and inside presence and a sidekick for Oak that was just what they needed.

Bender? Well, too bad it didn’t work out for him.

The other to consider would definitely be Oakley for Camby but considering what Marcus went on to achieve in his career, it has to come in second.

Sound about right to you?

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A couple of writers scribbled yesterday to the mailbox wondering how on earth the Raptors could have taken the day off.

Easy.

They needed it.

Back-to-backs in Florida to end three games in four days and four in six; late flight back from Orlando that would have got in during the wee overnight hours; the theory of diminishing returns.

Now, know this: A handful of players – the rookie among them – would have got into the gym to get a workout in so it wasn’t like everyone went home to play video games all day.

The idea of a “punishment” practice, while sweet, is best saved for some future time. It’s not like they should have beaten Orlando, or that they lost by 60 in Miami.

They lost to one better team and one that, at the moment, is better than them and probably ends up on par with them at the end of the year.

I have no problem with them not having a practice scheduled yesterday at all.

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Speaking of mail, last chance to get some in. Pretty full over there now but I don’t have a lot going on Saturday so there’s time to answer a few.

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All right, don’t forget: Game-day chat at noon my time, in-game blog at 7. Be there, or be square.

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Comments

[Sammy]

Hey Doug,

I'd have to say the Carter-Jamison trade should also be among best transactions all time. I don't think we could have ever been within a shot of Eastern conference finals with Jamison on our team.

[Matty-Pix]

Yes, hopefully people have calmed down from yesterdays venomous comment rampage ... I actually remember seeing the quote "everything is wrong".

The sky's not falling, we've just lost some games badly, and shown a lack of heart. Must be almost time for another closed door meeting to fuel us up for another few wins.

[K Price]

Doug I can't help but notice how passive Jay Triano is in his post game confrences everytime. I see no passion from him he always seems full of reasons why they didn't play well or really reaches for things they did well. My feeling is if there is no passion/anger/drive from the coach don't we have a BIG problem??

Blogger's note: I think "measured" might be a better word than "passive" but that's a good point

[MC_Brad]

2 Parter:

If you put AD for Bender, and OAk for camby as #1 and #2 best, and shipping Carter out of town as #1 worst, where would you put VC for Antawn on draft day?

Blogger's note: No. 2 but it was long pre-arranged; it wasn't like they all of a sudden started talking draft night.

[christine]

Was Coach Triano able to run the torch yesterday? I haven't seen anything in the papers as of yet.

Blogger's note: I haven't talked to him yet today but I presume he did; it'll give us something to chat about at shootaround in a couple of hours or so

[Sam]

Anyone who doesn't know this is a crap team already knows nothing about basketball. There is no need to wait any longer, unless you are hoping for the last star athlete remaining in Toronto, to leave.

Show the fans you care MLSE and do something, anything.

[Chops]

Saw Sonny Weems at Best Buy on his day off. I gave him my magic touch, so look out for him to score 15+ points tonight

[Shawn]

Hey Doug, First of all, Merry Christmas to you and the family. I just wonder if there is anyway that CB4 will stay in Toronto now. It seems to me that that ship has probably sailed. Do you agree? Also, great to see Sonny getting some burn!

Blogger's note: I know nothing more about seven months from now that I knew six months ago

[brennan]

Good explanation on the "screen/roll" defence - although i don't think the casual fan can understand that - there are some vagueries. how about uploading a GIF? anyway...

what i find toronto doing lately on screen/roll - is switching and staying. which is ridiculous because:
a) only athletic teams can do this
b) or teams with big men like KG, josh smith
c) teams who double hard on the mismatch ie. chicago
we are none of these things. so why switch?
b/c are guards are too lazy to actually fight through a screen and recover...

[Matt M]

Watched Bosh on PTS yesterday and for someone who is ready to join Lebron and Wade in Miami he seems to like playing in Toronto quite a bit. Maybe the writers at ESPN aren't omniscient after all.

[Lawrence]

So Doug, in essence you are truly saying that the next five games are "must win" games? lol

Blogger's note: No, in essence what I'm saying is we won't know until after the next little while how much, if any, change is necessary

[brent]

Doug,
Can't agree with you on AD/Bender. Who knew that Bender would blow his knee out? If he had stayed healthy and gone on to be the player some people thought, he'd still be playing today at a very high level and people would be blasting that trade. So as strange as this may sound, I'd put Hump/Haffa #1. Now don't get me wrong, Hump was nowhere near as good as AD. But the fact that Bryan was able to get a serviceable rotation player for an absolute total stiff still astounds me.

[AS]

I do find that Coach Triano lacks the raw passion needed to inspire other players. However, most coaches lack this. I find that teams with "player" coaches (ex. Doc Rivers) tend to have someone on the team who has the passion to inspire other players to reach their potential (ex. KG). I only see two players on our team who have shown glimpses of this (Jose and Reggie). Neither of whom are playing.

Anyways, can we finally consider this a "must-win" game and do you think the players have that mentality?

[Miller]

doug,
if they go 4-1 in the next 5 games, they will go to 15-18, not 15-19 as you wrote. The same goes for if they go 1-4 they will be 12-21, not 22.

Bloggers's note: Oops. Math and I have issues

[Jack]

The Raptors were never going to challenge the big 3 before the season started. I thought they would have come in anywhere between 4 and 8. After watching Atlanta play, I did not think we match up well against them either. There is a low probability for us to get to the second round of playoffs even if we had won against Miami and Orlando. I still think Raps will make it to the playoffs. I don't really think it makes a difference between being number 5 or number 8 as there is nothing to look forward to after the first round. I hope with the schedule easing I get to see some good ball that would help me relax and make me happy to know that my team won. If they lose well I ll live to see the next day :D. Thanks Doug. It is good to read your blog and see how you are "measured" with your thoughts as well. After reading some of the comments from yesterday, I have no idea why people are mad at you!! For your sake I hope they don't lose to the nets since some think you are "employed" by the Raptors and that you are not entitled to your opinions. Go Raps!!

[chris]

Even if they win the next 5 games, this team lays down against good teams.

btw - don't be so hard on the jays (yesterday's blog). If MLB playoffs were like the NBA the Jays would be in most years.

In the NBA more teams make the playoffs than don't make it.

[Matt M]

I apologize for the multiple posts in a short time but I have a small rant. Anyone who accuses someone of 'knowing nothing about basketball' because that individual does not support their opinion should save their time stating their own opinion in a public forum. Just because you do not respect my (or anyone else's) opinion does not make your own opinion valid. And I'd hate to break it to you but watching games and posting a comment on a blog does not give anybody the credibility to know more about basketball than anyone else. Make a case using evidence on the court by all means, as you do have a right to form an opinion, but leave the personal attacks out of it because they do not do you any favors.

[JT]

Doug,

I've noticed Bargs has his best games when he gets his touches early and scores a couple of baskets. However, the Raptors don't seem to be going to him much and while I understand he's struggling, in no way shape or form should he be offensive option #5 in the starting lineup (which he has been). And when he plays with the 2nd unit (or Bosh and Turk are on the bench), for some reason he's still just "a guy" amongst the other guys and not "the guy" on the floor. They don't run many plays for him (like they do with Bosh on the floor). I know he's getting his shots but it's because he's got the Wright syndrome, where he feels compelled to shoot it every time he touches the ball.

[Bill W]

Finally. There was no opposing player dunking on us last night while 3-4 Raptor players watched without playing any defence.

[dc]

Doug,
Just want to let you know that your response to the 'Crackers' question, about team defense, is probably the best summary to describe how and why the Raptors are developing as one of the worst defensive squads to ever play professional basketball. Thanks for not offering crazy theories about what they need to do to win. You stick to the straight analysis of what's going on during the game, what is clearly not working defensively right now and why they can't stay competitive against good teams.
As a fan of the Raptors, I don't need much explanation about how the offensive works, but watching them lose over and over in a seemingly indifferent fashion is hard to explain.
After reading your description of a common defensive breakdown, I understand how important communication, quick thinking and predicting behaviour are to team basketball. The question it raises for me: is the language/culture/familiarity barrier between American and European players the real problem right now? What have other teams done to overcome the yelling, working together and communicating problems?
keep up the great work!

Blogger's note: No, it's simply a matter of doing the right thing more often; they do it sometimes but not often enough and it doesn't break down along any consistent group of players

[Phil A]

I truly believe that the next 5 games will either make or break the season for the raptors. Going 4-1 or even 5-0 would make this team regain their confidence. Winning 3 out of the 5 is the minimum and anything less than that will be extremely dissapointing. Look who they start off with in 2010: San Antonio, Boston and orlando...

[Sammy]

Doug I see a number of teams being allowed to add players because of injury. Given that the season is a third over and Reggie Evans has yet to make an appearance would the Raptors qualify and if they do, why haven't they tried to find some help for their dismal defense?

Blogger's note: It's one team -- Portland -- and you need to have three players injured and out at least three games and going to be out at least two more before you can even request a 16th player from the league.

[erc]

You make an interesting point about AD giving Oakley a 'partner', another guy willing to do the dirty work.
That's what Reggie's return would give Bosh. CB had a phenomenal run of playing up until the past two games. He was better than I'd ever seen him -- the only guy getting minutes who consistently worked the boards; going to the basket as often as settling for jumpers, getting to the free throw line -- great job!
Don't believe anyone can sustain that effort over a full season. Easier to drift towards the 'norm' than to rise above it. This is where Reggie's return would help.
Bosh needs someone to help underneath. Right now, Johnson and Pops are the only candidates. Amir is prone to fouls and Pops is trying so hard in the few minutes he gets, he's out of control at times.
Evans, a veteran presence, would be Sundance to Bosh's Butch. Maybe it would start a trend? Maybe the norm would shift towards effort and away from disinterest. Maybe.
For now, give Johnson and Pops more minutes. They have flaws, but they work. They have offensive limitations, but the Raps have a lot of guys who can score. They need some who sweat more. Effort, in pro sports, shouldn't be nearly as hard to find as talent.

[Eric Michaels]

Dougy, Dougy, Dougy...I think that there is something not right with the organization, I think it starts at the top with MSLE only caring about making money while the sports come second (not the same way with Cuban). I think that Colangelo doesn't exactly know what hes doing (signing J.O. for 20 million and Hedo for 53). Also the other thing is that teams have chemistry when they are together year after year (Atlanta building up from the draft). Its hard to put 9 new players and expect them to be coherent. I'm not saying that they did not need to blow up the roster last year, but I'm saying that fans should expect this type of season (but the players need to show more heart). I think Triano is an intelligent man but I think that they need a tougher and meaner coach to motivate these guys. Triano has been with Mitchell for 5 years and I dont think they should have kept the same coaching staff. Also I would get rid of the scouting team, there have been some awful decisions in the last few years that really could have changed our team. I guess what I'm saying is that its an unfortunate for the fans that thought this team was going to be a real tough, competitive team, that can play with the best of them. No one is really stepping up be a consistent help for Bosh and that doesn't help either. Colangelo needs to realize D-Fense first when building a team also. And truthfully, I can't stand Andrea and his no rebounding, jumpshooting from the perimeter or the one dribble pull up, grow some balls and go get downlow where normal big men SHOULD be.

I think its a big problem that they are going to lose their first round pick next draft if they make the playoffs. I hope that when Bosh leaves we can get a pick back.

Happy Holidays

[George]

http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2009/12/nj_nets_the_secret_tonic.html

Looks like the Star Ledger has a few more things to say about the Raptors. And even has a nice little shout out to "Smitty". Can't blame the guy for writing that. The Raps do give up a lot of points and everyone should be lining up to play them.