A new title for snippets and the usual entertaining stuff

A dangerous trap game, sandwiched between a big road win and a big home game and they look utterly disinterested for much of the first half.

Time to fold, right?

Well, six weeks ago, a resounding yes to that question.

Now? Not so much.

Which is a testament to team growth, methinks.

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THREE POINTERS

(It’s a bit more catchy, no? And it was maybe time for a change. Same basic format and I appreciate all the suggestions).

Go right, young man

A couple of things on that final basket by Bosh jumped out at me even more than him finishing, getting fouled and making the game-winning three-point play.

The first was that he “slipped” the high screen, that is he cut towards the basket before hitting the guy guarding Turkoglu. It was a heads-up play because Dalembert took a step out early to slow Turk, Bosh recognized and headed for space.

The play, an anonymous e-mailer replied after the game, was always designed for Bosh to get iso’d but he got set up more quickly because he decided to slip it rather than wait for the contact.

The second?

Well, the second was where he went once he got the ball.

I imagine there were more than a few among you who figured he’d take a jumper, especially when Dalembert played off him a little bit.

But the drive was the correct play, what made it entirely more interesting is that, from the left side of the court, Bosh went right.

A lefty, his default move in that spot is go to left, towards the baseline. Scouts know it, coaches know it, heck, I imagine even he knows it.

He goes right all the time on the other side of the court but I don’t know how many times he’s gone into the middle from the left side.

But I do know this: Knowing scouts and knowing coaches, now that he did it once and won a game, they’re going to be thinking, “oh, oh, now we can’t overplay him as much.”

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Little play, big time move

In the scheme of things, it didn’t mean very much but there was an Amir Johnson play that, to me, was hugely impressive.

About seven minutes to go, if I’m reading my notes right, and Philly's Thaddeus Young is under the basket about to make a layup.

Johnson, behind him, not only blocks the shot, he takes the ball away from him in the same motion, an entirely difficult thing to do. They tied it up and a get a jump ball (I think Toronto’s up about three at the time) and the Raptors get possession after the jump.

The most surprising thing to me might have been the fact Johnson made the play without committing a foul.

Baby steps, baby steps.

-

Bad, then okay

By all accounts, Hedo Turkoglu was invisible last night. One of those games where he really had little impact at either end, or shooting or passing.

Still …

With about 4 1-2 minutes left, whatever lead Toronto had was all gone and Turk hit a huge three from the corner, the only one he made in four attempts during the game, that gave the Raptors a wee bit of a cushion.

And then on that last possession, before making the right, quick pass to Bosh for the game-winner, you know the Sixers were showing hard on whatever screen Bosh may have set because they fully expected that Turk was going to go around the corner and either take a shot or hit an open teammate in the corner.

Some times, even guys who don’t play well can make a play when it’s needed most.

-

In other matters that matter …

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Your statistical anomaly of the night.

Chris Bosh led the Raptors in points (29), rebounds (nine), assists (six) and turnovers (six).

Not sure what that is, but it’s a Quadruple Something Or Other.

To say nothing of a 1:1 assist to turnover ratio.

-

I’m sitting there at the desk doing some typing after the game (I know, thrilling Friday night, no?) when I look up to catch a second of Cavs-Nuggets on the TV.

What do my eyes behold?

There’s Joey Graham posting up Anthony Parker, bumping him almost out of bounds and finishing with a nice floater in the lane.

That’s when I knew I was (a) too tired and should call it a night; (b) having some back flashback to a Raptors practice from any of the last three season, or (c) happy to see two ex-Raptors going at it each other, albeit early, in a game that mattered.

Still, it was kind of an odd feeling.

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In Philly, where My Man Jasner got to catch up with people but, sadly, not me, they seem to be gunning for Eddie Jordan, already as this story shows.

Man, that’s cold.

-

Because I was able to watch the game on TV – and will mention the drunken scoreboard bug operator and the penchant for coming back late out of commercials to the first broadcast big shot I see – got to catch the little Antawn Jamison address to the Washington crowd during Sixers-Raptors halftime.

And, yes, it was probably a day late and a dollar short in many regards but it was also the first time the team was at home since the Arenas suspension.

It was a rather classy, quick speech from a classy young man.

It can’t possibly eliminate all the ill will created by the tawdry Arenas mess – and why do I have the feeling there might be more to this story as time unfolds? – but it was a baby step.

So was taking down the huge (and I mean four- or five-storey huge) picture of Arenas outside the arena.

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So the Celtics lose in Atlanta and they’ll be chuffed when they get here for tomorrow’s matinee. Great, eh?

Here’s how the fishwraps summed up that one.

Because the desire is always to give you the news first here, I’ll let you know what tomorrow’s (yawn!) story is:

“We have to play tougher.” “We have to hit first.”

“We can’t let the Celtics come in here and punk us.”

“They play physical defence, we have to match that.”

I have no idea who’s going to say what but that’s what they’re going to say.

And some of us will collectively roll our eyes and think:

“Don’t tell me. Show me.”

-

All right, practice today (be the first time I’ve seen anyone since last Saturday in Boston, wonder if they missed me?) and then, perchance, a quiet time answering mail.

See ya.

Comments

[Nick]

It appears that Kris Humphries is on the move again, this time to the Nets. Any truth to this?

Blogger's note:Yep

[Neil]

Great in-game blog last night! I was absolutely flabbergasted to hear people slag Jose on the Fan after last night's game. I thought the guy clearly showed he can run the game more under control and in a much smoother way. I know he was going against the second unit some of the time, but the Raps were always doing better with him on the court. In addition I only counted two times when he was blown by, and both of those times there was no weak side help to be seen. I guess he can work on steering his man towards the where the help is, but if the help isn't paying attention, that's not likely to help much either. Oh, and in case you're wondering I called in to the Fan and set em straight. Keep up the great work Doug.

[UN]

... as the players roll their eyes for being asked the same questions time and time again?

Just saying.

[HopeCaper]

Hey Doug,
Great game, good comments for a change over the last while (amazing what winning does to people's physche)and some good inside reporting and insight on what is happening. I recall earlier on how many bemoaned the way the Raps were losing but not a lot of comments from the same on the way they are winning. As in they are finding a way. Stats wise the 6rs beat the Raps. Maybe stats aren't everything (if Tim W is reading this) and that pertains to players as well as teams. Snowy by the Bay today but you know the world is just a little prettier because of a Raps win and a small winter dusting. Thanks Doug.

[Dave]

Neil, I'm not sure I agree with you, I think probably steering his man towards help is what Jose is best (and actually quite good) at. Now, the Raps man defense seems to be improving, their help defense (Amir Johnson notwithstanding) may need to take note of it. It's got to be the system as well as Jose's natural tendency. Not to completely put down Bosh and Bargnani who are OK with the help, as well. Not great, but OK (which has been good enough to win games recently, so I'm content)

[Mike Kovacs]

So HHSNBN gets bumped in the shoulder going around a screen, falls down like he was shot ( or falls down like him ), Magic play 4 on 5 at the other end, score a basket then come back on defense, he is still on the floor so they have to foul to stop play. Memories.

I agree re the FAN - can anyone please come up with something else to talk about? Enjoy the wins!

[TDOTKID]

Hey Doug,

Sorry If I am in the dark, but any words on Pops? Did he clear waivers and if so is he heading to Europe or back to the NBA and where perhaps?

[Zombywoof]

Re tomorrow's quotes today, it does illustrate the difficulty scribes have in coaxing someone to say something interesting. It would be funny if someone would compile all the end-of-game player interviews into a single clip. A surefire cure for insomnia!

[Tiger]

re: "Three Pointers"... humourous in a punny kind of way, which I've been told is the lowest form of humour (so naturally I like it) :)
As to last night, I've been saying a win is a win all along, but last night I couldn't help feeling there might be an important object lesson lost in the euphoria of a dying-seconds-come-from-behind victory over a crummy opponent. Of course, if this season has told us anything, it's that object lessons are not well-taken by this team after just a few bops on their noses.
And that's a lesson that a fan has to learn over and over and over and.......

[Scott]

Bargs got a T.......is this his first? Nice to see the emotion.
Good teams win ugly on the road sometimes.

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

Wouldn't it be better for everybody if these NBA2k/Fanatsy gm/gamer types just dropped Jose from THEIR teams and let Bryan go about the business of running his team? The team is winning, enjoy it-- but nope, guys gotta moan, bitch and complain about something. I must have not read the blog that day when Bryan Colangelo posted a desperate plea to the fans of Toronto begging for their help in doing his job...

[doug]

if anyone thinks Jamison's comments were contrived they don't know the man....he has always been a class act and as he said to a reporter this week, who asked him if the Arenas gun-slinging pantomine was a planned thing he knew he about...his response was if you thought i knew about that before hand then you know nothing about me....plus i wiouldn't be surprised if it was his idea to addresss the crowd...he is everything that is right about b-ball and sports...the Wiz should never let him go, he is the piece to build around....its his picture that should be adorning the arena walls...we make idols out of the wrong people,....

[rob]

I think andrea had his best game of the season yesterday...better than he played in Orl. he was involved on OfF and Def.
The fans that are still criticizing jose for his defense, he did what he was asked to do yesterday which was steer his man towards the help (just like Jack was asked to do when they played the spurs and Parker went off on him)... it is not his fault the help wasn't always there... give the man a break.

[Steph]

Jamison, as with what appears to be most of the Wizzard team really distanced themselves from Arenas. I'm surprised at that reaction which leads me to believe that maybe the most tawdry aspects of this story are more likely then not true. And the previous poster (Doug) said, Jamison has always been a class act, he makes the game and the league better.
..
I wish the Washington organization the best of luck in getting agent zero's contract voided.

[Hoss]

Doug:
I really enjoy the blog. I can't post early during week days because I actually work for my paycheck. I think I owe my employer that. I don't understand how people can steal salary dollars from their employers by doing personal business/surfing while they are paid to do a job. End of rant....

I agree that player quotes are predicible. However, I also don't understand how the players can attempt to give a serious answer to some of the bone head questions from reporters. I shake my head (a la Sam Mitchel) at some of the questions. I also get quite frustrated with the constant attempts to try to provoke controversaries (Jose vs. Jack) or distracting players with some stuoid stat.

Have a great day and hopefully we can at least give Boston a challenging game tomorrow.

[GM]

On the Johnson play, you wrote, "The most surprising thing to me might have been the fact Johnson made the play without committing a foul." I think what was even more important was that no foul was called. It's always a gamble because a foul could be called on just about anybody at any time.

I'm sure it's not lost on that commenter yesterday who said a PG should never be a negative or a zero in +/- that Calderon was a +7 and Jack was a -8. (Again, though, that's not meant to slag Jack. Like I say, I like the styles they each bring to the table. Vive la difference!)

[SkyJ]

As I recall, there were a few times when Jack got beat too, but it wasn't as glaring because the help was there. People will tend to seek out the facts that prove their side of the argument. It's like waiting on the street for a blue car to go by as proof that cars are always blue. And if that blue car happens to be foreign, oh boy!

[John]

Did the people who are slagging Jose watch the game? The raps couldnt get the game closer than 6-7 until he entered the game and turned the tide. Holiday was lost against Jose and pretty much just watched him do what ever he wanted. No way Jack had the same effect. And just to prove to all the knuckle headed Jose bashers who constantly bring up his poor +/- (which is a stupid statistic in basketball) and want to trade him and keep Jack - Jose +7, Jack -8. Please stop the insanity! And do yourself a favour and stop listening to the FAN. Friends don't let friends listen to the FAN. Nothing good will come of it... Unless of course you want to find out how many times a certain leaf player picked their nose today...

[Simon S-G]

Hey Doug, don't know if you saw espn's daily dime this morning with yet another silly rumor that Houston wants Bosh. I only bring this up because it's absolutely ridiculous that any trade is going to happen, and I really think ESPN makes half this stuff up to drum up hits on their page. Agree?

Blogger's note: Not made up but the fact a team wants to explore a Bosh trade ranks right up there with "sun rises in East" as news

[Jeff]

Doug, I realize that Demar had a rough time guarding Iverson last night but also saw the reverse to be true. Are the Raps afraid to run 2-3 plays in a row for DD? Seems to me it would have been a great way to open the middle up with AI needing help on defence.

For the Jose haters out there, check out the +/- for Jose and JJ. I know some people don't like the stat but it tells a story. AS for Jose's defensive issues, Jarrett Jack does an OK job on offence. Jose is a better ball handler and distributer of the rock. With our best player a PF, we need a PG more than a combo guard running things.

[Neil]

Just to make my previous comment clear. I have nothing against JJ, but I am a Jose fan through and through. I can't wait for him to get the starting job back and I think his play warrants it. The only reason I mentioned the steering to help thing is because nobody's perfect. He did it right 90% of the time, but the better you get at defensive awareness the fewer and fewer times you will let a guy get past you to the side where your teammate is less likely to get. Personally two defensive miscues by the team in which Jose had a part is something I will take any game. I just try to be a positive critic, I figure the more open you are about where a guy can improve the less the slaggers have to work with.

[matt perry]

Easy there "Hoss". You seem to have some personal issues with folks checking in on Doug's posts during 'work hours'. You're obviously doing enough work to make up for those who 'slack off'. Keep it up!
Anyway, I was just going to praise Bargs and admit he's made of fool of me as of late. I had joined the troops in criticizing his lack of emotion, disappearing act on defense. Instead of keeping his head down and sitting still in a sinking ship, this man-child continues to quiet the critics, such as myself. I think it's the beard!
Much love/respect Doug.
Sugar P

[Juan]

Great game last night and as someone said it's pretty cool to be interested in the 4th quarter of games, and even cooler to be winning them. Can't wait to be in the ACC tomorrow to see the real test.

I don't know Antawn Jamison from Adam so I'll take Doug's word that he is a first rate individual. He is also a great player and I respect his game. My point about questioning the sincerity of his comments had more to do with this photo: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/gallery/enlargePhoto
id=4809060&story=4810297
I'm just sayin'.

Doug have you ever considered how different a team the Raptors might have been if that trade with Golden State on draft night never happened? Or was it pre-arranged?

Blogger's note: Very pre-arranged, not worth even imagining about.

[Striker77]

Hey Doug,

I was watching the Cavs-Nuggets game too last night, and thought the same sort of thing! Watching two ex raps playing for different teams, and being matched up for a play or two was kind of fun to watch and as you say, odd. I finally saw Lebron not getting all the calls... He seemed pretty ticked in the dying minutes at some calls, or non calls... Great game.

I soooooo feel sorry for K-Hump... Poor guy, if he goes to the Nets. However, if the Nets are just waiting to make a bid at the crazy free agency this summer, maybe Hump might be an integral piece of a team that is literally, starting over...

[Phil A]

I don't understand why people keep bringing up the +/- stat and acting as if helps determine a players performance. Guess what? It doesn't!