Some stuff to finish off the year

That was kind of a fun game, wasn’t it?

No, they didn’t beat the ’83-’84 Celtics or ’95-‘96 Bulls or anything but it was a good, tough win forged with some energy and effort.

All in all, a good end to the year.

So’s this:

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THREE THINGS I LEARNED

This ought to keep some people a bit quiet

If they’re going to go down, they want to go down with a fight.

As part of some new defensive tenets, little tweaks that seem to be working all right, the Raptors want to get up into ball-handlers in the halfcourt, apply a little pressure and see what happens.

As Jay explained, it’s not always going to be pretty in general and specifically against the Bobcats:

“Last time we played these guys, we showed the tape and we were five feet off guys and let them do whatever they wanted to do. Even though we knew we were going to get blown by tonight a couple of times – and we did – we thought more pressure on the ball would create turnovers, would create deflections and that’s how we’ve been playing for the last 13 games.

“We just decided to not be positional players; if we’re going to get beat, let’s get beat aggressively.”

Nice.

That means the next time we get incessant complaints about guards getting killed by penetration (like the second Jose comes back), we can put it all on the coach and suggest it’s just all part of the strategy.

Thanks, Jay.

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Something to build on?

It was one game against a vertically-challenged opponent but it had to be at least a little heartening to see Andrea Bargnani work a bit more in the post last night than he has, isn’t it?

It’s not like he’s become Wilt or anything but they ran a set where he flashed from the baseline to the middle of the lane, sealed his man by making himself “big” (large target, arms spread, legs apart, looking for the ball) and either went to the rim or took a little turnaround eight-footer.

No idea if he’ll keep it up but it did show that he’s got some moves down there.

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An early sign

Okay, it was one basket early in a game that was close but there was one play about eight minutes into the game that kind of signaled what kind of night it was going to be.

Ball’s going out of bounds right in front of the Charlotte bench when Bosh dives on the floor after it to make the save and keep it alive.

He knocks it to Jarrett Jack who takes off on the break and hits Sonny Weems for about a 15-footer.

Weems misses but DeRozan’s at the rim for a put-back slam, the joint’s going crazy and everyone’s up off the bench.

It makes the score 18-13 and it’s hardly the turning point but it showed early that the locals had some oomph and energy to their game.

And was a very nice play to watch unfold.

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Oh, yeah, there’s this, too

REGGIE NEWS

REGGIE NEWS

REGGIE NEWS

I know very few of you are wondering but we chatted with Reggie Evans before the game and got this update, which I will mention once now and probably about 1,000 times over the next four or five days.

He’s better.

He had an MRI on Monday, it came back clean and he’s hoping to start some serious on-court work soon.

Given his level of conditioning and the fact he hasn’t played a minute of basketball for two months, he’s probably a month away from putting on a uniform and contributing.

As for his work during this hiatus, he told us he can work on the elliptical trainer now to keep his cardio up, he’s getting in some light, shooting, can dunk, make cuts on his sore foot without any discomfort and is generally in pretty good shape.

He also said he’s been getting some cardio work in at the University of Toronto pool and made it sound like it’s pretty comical to see.

“All the students are laughing at me because I can’t swim. They’ve got all kinds of safety people around.”

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I’m sitting there watching the fellas dance and hug and go through these elaborate rituals right before the game starts and all I can reall think of is this: If they paid as much attention to where they’re supposed to be on halfcourt sets and defensive possessions, maybe they’d really have a reason to hug and love each other.

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Dang. Forgot to mention this yesterday but thought you’d still like to know.

When we’re finally let into practice, one of the first thing we do (after counting the players to make sure they’re all there) is check out what hangers-on are in the gym.

It’s usually a small number – there seems to be fewer family and friends sitting around this year – but there were an extraordinary number of strangers the other day.

Pops had his high school coach and a billion members of his staff in there and there was one guy who looked remotely familiar sitting on a stool watching.

Then I see him talking to Micah and while they’re not actually squishing bugs or trying to hit one back up the middle, it comes to me:

Joey Votto.

Big league hitter, local product and, I’m thinking, maybe one degree of separation for the de facto hitting coach of The Mighty Yankees.

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My guy Rick sums up last night’s affair like this in the cyber pages of the Charlotte Observer.

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Oh yeah. More mail. Send it here, please.

It’ll give me something to do Saturday afternoon in Boston instead of going to Fenway and screaming about the desecration of such an historic site.

Or it’ll keep me out of a bar.

Or not.

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Fun Stat That Means Nothing Except I Have Too Much Time On My Hands And Was Looking Crap Up:

Remember when Chris Bosh was leading the NBA in three-point shooting and how odd that was?

Well, he hasn’t taken, or made, one in a month.

Guess that fad’s gone, right?

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New Year’s Eve, right?

(Or, as some of us know it, Amateur Hour)

Everyone got big plans?

Do me a favour, okay? Right now, make arrangements to get home with someone who isn’t imbibing.

Please.

Thanks.

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I don’t want to say it’s regression to the mean but as I’m watching the Raptor point guards struggle at times with the ball pressure applied by the Bobcats and how it’s taking about 14 or 15 seconds for Toronto to get into its halfcourt offence at times, I couldn’t help but think:

Couldn’t they use their best ball-handling guard right about now?

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You know that marathon took 2:35 to play, don’t you?

About 20 minutes longer than any basketball game should take, in part because of fouls and free throws, in part because of the incessant video reviews and I’ve got to say, as a deadline-stressed grunt, I’m not at all pleased.

Like you care.

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Anyway, big day of practice, working on a feature, radio gig at the dinner hour and then a wee celebration before an early flight to Boston.

Have a great New Year's, folks.

See you in 2010.

Comments

[Matt Kovacs-age 12]

Hey Doug, I wanted to just comment on the refs last night. I can not give the refs all the blame because the raptors did have a poor shooting night, but the fouls called,or if they missed calls,on the raptors were crazy. And the turning point in the game happended because of a bad call with the refs, the raptors were up by 7 with giving the ball in to bosh, bobcats foul him after he made a move and then he dunked. Instead of the raptors being up a possible 10, the raptors have to throw the ball in and turn it over. The bobcats go on a run because of that call. Happy New Year

[Andre]

Happy new year doug.

One quick question, i missed the game, and when i look at the boxscore, i see hedo only play 14mins. Can you tell me why? or was this a typo? thanks
.
Blogger's note: It's kind of all over the game stories and notes on our site but he had a bruised knee that was bothering him

[MC_Brad]

Doug....2 questions...
in no way am i leading as I love bosh, just watching the game last night i wondered about your opinion...one on one bosh vs g. wallace, who you got if you were a betting man? team play I want bosh, but one on one, its a toughie...i still think bosh....

second question/statement, the woman that sang the national anthem, she is my coworkers sister, and we are trying to find video of it from last night...any suggestions?

Blogger's note: Tell your co-worker's sister she did a great job and I can only suggest going to the team website, seeing if there's a "contact us" kind of thing and see what happens.

[Casey]

Jack and Andy must not have the same deadlines you have because they were both praising the replay system last night. I was a bit confused on the one instance it was used. It appeared as if they were trying to determine who was involved with the little melee after the play with Wallace and I think it was Banks. I thought replay could only be used to determine the players involved in flagrant fouls and I didn't think one was called on the play so I'm not sure why they went to replay. Can you shed any light on how/why it was used for that play?

Blogger's note: I believe, and I got this second-hand, they were looking to see if there was a flagrant anywhere. But, again, I didn't get that from a ref

[HopeCaper]

Hey Doug,
Thanks for the great year of Raps coverage, good job.
Happy New Year to you, and yours, and to everyone in the community from ole NB by the bay.

[Matt M]

Good game. The Raps could have easily folded when the going got tough in the third but Triano made adjustments and the players showed intensity and energy. I'm a little worried about Turks injury. I'm still not sure of Wright as a player and to see him starting and finishing games last night to me just means one less offensive option on the court and a defensive option that lost his job early in the season. Oh well, they won a close one yesterday with him on the court so maybe my fears are unfounded.
Boston played last night without Garnett and Pierce. Hopefully they get better soon because I would love for the Raps to beat the Celts with those two on the floor. Either way, the next couple at Boston and Orlando seem as winnable as ever given the Celts injury problems and the Magic on the second night of a back-to-back. Play with the intensity they showed last night and I like their chances they will keep this thing going.

[George]

"They look at us like nice guys, We no longer can have that if we want to keep winning games. It was a big-time turning point." M. Banks. their was a time when I said Banks was useless... I was wrong.. sorry Marcus you are not useless. your just way overpaid. (which isn't your fault)

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Tote board review – Let's see here, 7-11 through November: check. 9-6 for December: check. Will wonders never cease... Board goes on to say: 9-6 again for January (good luck, boys!), 8-2 for February, 10-6 for March, 5-3 in April. Can only hope it's wrong for all the right reasons (i.e., even more wins!). Gotta think the gel is just starting to set now, after a couple of very wonky weeks there, that 2010 is looking up, and that the chances of keeping this team together for a long-term run at even bigger and better goals a year or two down the line might be a lot of fun to watch. Happy New Year, Doug, Regulars and Irregulars! And go Raps! Cheers.

[Peter]

Two comments about this team. First, where would this team be without Jack? I'm not trying to start the Jose, Jarrett debate, because I'm thankful that the Raptors have both. Jose goes down and we have the depth to go on a 5 game winning streak that almost certainly would have been a losing stretch had we been forced to play with our back ups from last year.

Second, What a crowd last night. It's good to see that kind of atmosphere mid season!

[thedudeabides]

happy new year doug. and ps i like this new, cheerier, less grumpy, more amused doug- snark is nice for people who really deserve it but some of these crazy questions (probably the craziest) are coming from kids 10-13 years old and getting a response from you is like having contact with a celebrity for them. don't be alex rios!! lol. seriously, your coverage of the raptors is fantastic, and me and mine wish you and yours all the best in the coming year.

[Terence]

Happy New Year, Doug! Here's wishing you get through airport security without undergoing a full body pat down.

[Dallas]

Happy New Year to yours and to the fellow "Beasts"(Insatiable readership). Hope the Yanks can defend their crown.

[James]

"That means the next time we get incessant complaints about guards getting killed by penetration (like the second Jose comes back), we can put it all on the coach and suggest it’s just all part of the strategy".
Give me a break Doug - you know it, and so does everyone else - Jose is a defensive liablity. He allows more points then he generates.
1. The defensive change your talking about was seen on video (against Charlotte) and applied for the game against Charlotte - I think that is what Jay meant. In the interview I saw, no where did he mention that they have been playing 5 feet off every team every game since Jose was out.
2. When Jose was starting the Raps were 105(point something) points per game allowed (3rd worst) in the league. Since Double J has started - they have shaved 10 count 'em TEN points of that margin (this information coming from a report on the Score television). So unless these defensive "changes" from the coaches came at the exact same time as Jose went down with injury, the yes, he needs a chance to prove he can adjust too. But, I know it, so does eveyone else - Jose is the "D" problem! That doesn't mean the others are the best and they too don't faulter on "D", but they have shown as a group without Jose, they can be better!

I know you like Jose Doug, but lets not get nuts over there. The reality is Jose will be traded this year or in this off-season - BOOK IT!

Thank you and happy new years everyone.

Blogger's note: One thing. Don't "think" what Jay meant unless you've spoken to him privately. Like I have.

[James C.]

Your veiled comment about the Raps taking 14-15 seconds to get to half court offence because of Jose's absence. Come on Doug, don't embarrass yourself on your basketball acumen. This was one of senor matador's several weaknesses among others - slow footed, no defense, mindless and endless high dribbling, less than average spot-up shooting, no long penetrating the paint, ball hogging (ever wonder why he and Hedo didn't play well together?) and oh yeah Raps have to pay up $9.5MM/yr for next 3 yrs for this "elite" PG. Your past comments that teams are lining up for Jose is a joke. Unfortunately, we Raptor fans have been played on as a joke by Con-man (oops Colangelo) and his brown nosers like yourself. As they say in the legal world, time is of the essence ... Con-man should call LA/Portland and plead for them to take Jose before he returns and remind everyone of his overrated abilities (a la Alex Rios).

[Penny]

James,
Did you actually watch the game last night and see all those blowbys that Felton had against Jack? By the way Felton also scored 23 points. The last time Toronto played them (with Calderon playing), he only had 10 points. Once Hedo went out, it was very questionable a lot of times whether or not the Raptors would get any kind of offensive play off at all - it's truly agonizing the number of times Jack misses a wide open Bosh or Andrea on the pick and roll!.

[doug]

it was good last night to feel the enthusiasm of the crowd, and as a fan to truly feel the energy of it all its been to long.....Stephen jackson can flat out play, i'd love to have that guy on my team, he's just intense and can and always has produced....anyone that complains about Barg's hasn't been watchin the last while he's coming around just like he did last year in january, slow starter i guess.....Bell's was great i was thinking watching that game imagine if Carter or even Moon had Bellinelli's desire to go to the hooop...Bell's brought his game when we needed it without Hedo there...these Jose comments are tiring, the raps need Jose, they neeed 2 "starting " guards, how's that a weakness??.....Barg's and Bosh combined for over 50 and Bosh has impressed me lately he has totally bought into this team concept and moving the ball and the flow of the game..i call it the Hedo impact...Happy and Safe new years to one and all...

[James]

"Don't "think" what Jay meant unless you've spoken to him privately. Like I have".
I dont have to think - it is clear what he was saying. Unless your stating for the record in that reply you just sent back, that you had a "private" conversation with him, and eveything he told all the other media is not true? - So from your commment I should believe, Jay is meaning something totally diffrent then he told the media last night? Because Jay said they looked and made those changes from past video against this team for that night and it is quoted in your blog. Your saying because you talked to him "privatley" he didn't mean that (what he said and what you quoted)? He just said these things - saying they tighten the defence on this team from the past game against this team, this is why the won. I dont think so, PLEASE I know your high on yourself, but come on! Next time, I will word it as such; instead of "I think" - I will say "it was obvisous" what Jay was saying. But if your saying that those words he spoke were untrue - then we got some news here! I think I will post your comments on the Raps website to all the other bloggers (Devlin, Eric, etc), plus I will call in the Fan this afternoon at 2:00 to quote you - then we will all read into your news. I'm simply saying Jose cannot play defence, and that you used a WEAK refence to suggest that Jose can play "D" it is the teams fault. I also sent FACTS quoted from the Score. You think,Jose is not the defensive liablitiy everyone else thinks, because even though Jay said they are playing better "D" and that they made certian adjustments last night only for that team That you Doug Smith, talked to him "privatley" and Jay didnt mean that. You want us fans to beleive that your relationship with Jay is more then a "job"? That you have inside information, your not just one of many beat grunts that gets the news first cause it is your job? You are the highest beat grunt and friend that Jay will tell all the others one thing, but then pull you aside to tell you the truth? No way Doug, no way I believe that - niether does anyone else. You wont print this because you know, I called your phoney "inside man to Jay" bluff! Your love for Jose made you write a dumb remark to protect his defensive liablities, just admit it instead of trying to build a huge image for poeple you think cant unprove it other wise...Geez!

Blogger's note: Think what you want, I absolutely don't care. But if you change your English usage and use "obvisous" I fear no one will have the slightest clue what you mean.

[Blake Kennedy]

The Raptors have been applying more ball pressure for the past several games, now. I suppose it finally clued in on Jay that if you let ballhandlers just stand there and get clean looks at everything and all the time and space in the world to do their thing, you're going to lose. I have no idea how on earth a team can provide zero ball pressure when you have four players (allegedly) supporting the ball in help.

And the difference between Calderon getting blown by and the other guys getting beat is, they don't allow penetration on straight-line drives down the middle, and Jose does- while applying zero pressure at the same time.

[jimt]

5 in a row,say it ain't so,hohoho,thank you Maurizio..
Hoopy New Year ev1, except you Boston,well maybe just Big Red and Big Bird :)

[DougG]

Doug I spent a few days in the US over the holidays and watched a Cleveland game. During the game one of the announcers claimed that he had it on good authority that Bosh was about to be traded to Cleveland. In fact, hardly a day goes by that a US sports writer doesn't make the claim that Bosh has already decided he will not resign in Toronto and BC is shopping him so he doesn't end up with nothing. My sense is you have about as much empirical evidence on this issue as anyone, given that you live in Toronto and cover the team, and I have yet to see you give any credence to these rumors. Why do you think the US based writers keep insisting Bosh is gone and if they do not have any evidence supporting their theory, why are they lying about the fact that they do?

Blogger's note: Because they don't know, they extrapolate and, sometimes, entirely fabricate stuff. It bores me

[dc]

Watching Raymond Felton sink baskets from any spot on the floor he felt like made me think Jose wasn't the real problem with the humiliating losses that piled up early in the season.

Watching the Raptors these past two weeks on television, there is a noticeable difference in the level of communication going on between players during the game and out of time-outs. I had grown accustomed to seeing Bargnani with a dead expression and sealed lips or slack-jawed, bosh growling or screaming in effort or shrugging and acting politely professional. Now, every player is more engaged in communicating where they are from the early stages of the game. It's still not crowded in the arena, and you can hear them shouting out over the broadcast like never before.

All those good things earned from poor teams aside, watching the opposition focus in on pressuring the ball-handler as the raptors bring it up court does highlight the fact that the team needs a more confident and reliable player at the back up pg position.

Does that mean Calderon will come back (in limited minutes, to be extra cautious about any lingering injury) playing off the bench? It not being a reflection of his defense (which I'll say is probably not much different from Jarrett Jack), but more to the fact that Jack so far hasn't shown signs of being worn out or overwhelmed with playing extended minutes and the last thing a coach would want to do is change what's been working for a team that hasn't been 6-0 in how many seasons?

[Mike A]

Doug, any word as to why Jed Lowrie was in the house?

Blogger's note: No one I talked to seemed to know

[Jeff]

Hey Doug, great job on the blog. Being a basketball junkie, I always love hearing information from someone close with the organization. I've got 2 quick questions and would love to hear your thoughts (I'm sure you've touched on this already, but when your following a daily blog, everything becomes smushed together)
1 - For the record, I'm a Jose fan. He brings great leadership to this team, but from a basketball view, would it not make sense to have him running the 2nd unit? His offense and again, leadership, would definitely help.
2 - What do you think about a Bosh & Lewis for Yao Ming & Luis Scola trade. Bosh gets to go home (not to mention we get something for him, in case he does leave at the end of the season), and both Ming/Scola would fit in well with the Toronto Culture.
Keep up the great grunt work and happy new yr. to you and your family!!

Blogger's note: Everyone pretty much knows what I think and everyone one pretty much knows I don't do far-fetched trades

[Tiger]

I used to be a die-hard Red Sox fanatic way back when they were lovably bad, long before the Jays were a yolk in anyone's imagination. I even made it down to the hallowed grounds of Fenway. But with the changes to its structure and additional seating it no longer looks like old Fenway. More noticeably (at least to me), and in large part to the Sox's focus on top-notch pitching, the stadium doesn't "play" like old Fenway. And most importantly, because the Sox finally won a World Series, it doesn't FEEL like old Fenway when I watch a game.
So if they can desecrate old Wrigley Field with pucks, I certainly won't bah-humbug the upcoming shinny game in Fenway.
Anyhoo, as to our Dinos, sweeping 5 should-win games wouldn't be remarkable for a good team, but hey, much better to go to Beantown on a high than pointing fingers.
Hopefully Hedo won't miss any time. As much as I like Pops, I couldn't help but thinking that it would have been nice to have Quincy Douby around for last night. Such are the vagaries of the 15th spot on the roster.

[Paul]

I love Belinelli. He makes plays, brings up the energy of the whole team (like the Clippers game), and always seems to get at least one opposing player really irate at some point during the game.

Great to see the emotion from the Big Quiet (Bargs) at the end of the game, too.