A visitor from the west signals a sign of the times

Join Doug Smith for a live Q&A at noon Wednesday, as the Raptors prepare to take on the Miami Heat.

What’s this? A “big” game on a Wednesday night in January? Seems that way.

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We’re standing on the concourse waiting for practice to end Tuesday – a few minutes before we saw DeMar come limping out of the gym – when a great visitor from the west came out of the elevator.

Wayne Embry, who remains the guy who started this whole Raptors renaissance in motion by getting the Knicks to take Jalen Rose way back in the day, is in town and it can only mean one thing:

Trade deadline’s coming and all hands are on deck to talk about it.

Along with the presence of Jim Kelly, who we saw out and about Sunday evening, it’s time for those kinds of organizational meetings that happen once or twice a year.

(Trust me, Wayne’s pretty anti-winter and to see him here instead of at his warm Arizona home means it’s a command performance).

With the trade deadline three weeks from today, it’s about time to start figuring out what’s out there in the deal world anyway.

About the only thing of real interest I’m hearing from the Usual Suspects I talk to in the organization is that there is some chatter from teams interested in Antoine Wright but that the Raptors would be looking at an upgrade at the backup two-three spot without a huge financial burden if they were to move him.

The sense I’m getting from these conversations is that there’s nothing huge percolating at the moment and that there’s not a lot of activity being initiated by the Raptors.

But I warn you – and I warn you every year about now – things can happen relatively fast and just because there isn’t anything going on now doesn’t mean there won’t be anything going on Feb. 18 when it comes time to fish or cut bait.

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The first clue was the blue shoes on a couple of guys at practice Tuesday.

Tonight’s a Huskies Night!

Yep, lots of extra pressure on the lads against Miami tonight as they put a all-time unbeaten record in Huskies blue and white on the line.

Forget about the 2-0 this year.

These guys have never, ever, not once been beaten in the throwback jerseys.

They’re 3-0 (opening night, 1996) and if that’s not enough to add to the hype, I don’t know what is.

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Chat today? How about noon? Work for you? It works for me so let’s do it.

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It was rather interesting to listen to Chris Bosh talking about the Miami game and what kind of buzz he expected – if any – for a Wednesday night game in the middle of January for a team that’s having a hard time selling out a lot of games this year.

The thing that got me was this one:

“Any time Dwyane Wade is here a lot of Dwyane fans come out and there’s a lot of hype behind the game.”

Coming on the heels of the Kobe love-fest from a large chunk of Sunday’s game, it seems people do take notice of these things.

I have to admit, I don’t remember any particular time the fans were all about Wade like they are all about Kobe, but I guess there has been some open appreciation showing.

Everyone I talked to about Sunday’s Laker game was uber-impressed with the energy of the crowd down the stretch but there were some eyebrows raised about the number of No. 24 jerseys in the crowd.

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The Heat are starting a stretch of something crazy like 11 of their next 13 games on the road or somesuch and here’s how Ira wrote it up this morning.

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Speaking of Huskies Night, it’s also a night to “recognize” a blast from the past.

Hello, Doug Christie, it’s your time to shine.

Yes, I’m told she’ll be here, too.

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As part of daily session with us – a growing number of “us” these days because they’re winning and all the part-timers are coming around – Jay was asked about Marco and his shot selection and how often he cringes when a wacky one gets hoisted up. Jay surveys the crowd around him and gives us this:

“I don’t think I’ve ever complained about any shot any of our guys have taken. The last time I complained about a shot somebody took was probably when Sherman took one back in the Olympics.”

Of course, Sherman Hamilton, who doesn’t get nearly enough credit for being one of the best broadcasters in the game in this country, is standing right there in the thick of the scrum and takes umbrage.

“I was open when I took that shot.”

And as I recall a lot of Sherm’s shots, I bet it went in.

All joking aside, when Jay added this, his point was made:

“Guys aren’t going to take shots thinking they’re going to miss, they’re going to take shots thinking they’re going to make them. I like to give guys the freedom to be able to shoot the basketball.”

Not only is that music to the ears of players, it makes entire sense because, as we’ve pointed out numerous times this year, offence is not a concern with this team; it’s going to score enough points to win on an overwhelming percentage of nights and if some of those points come on unorthodox shots, so be it.

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Okay, here’s the deal.

The First Annual Winter Celebration And Reunion Of The Mighty Yankees – Parents Only Because There Will Be Intoxicants is taking place Saturday night at a local Swinging Hotspot (first one to get that esoteric lyric reference wins undying gratification) and that’s sure to not only take that evening out of the work rotation but make Sunday morning a tad, um, cloudy.

The results are in:

You people are good; and it's not just Young 'Uns here. Nice to know People Of A Certain Age read this stuff. Well done.

So get the mail in early by clicking here because the usual Saturday night at the desk watching games and answering isn’t going to happen.

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A few of us had a very interesting chat with Bruce Kidd on Tuesday morning before practice; he’s the new chairman of the Team Up Foundation, which is the new conglomeration of charitable groups representing the various Maple Leaf Sports teams.

I’ll get into this a little bit more in the next couple of days but Kidd – one of the most respected educators, social commentators and leaders I’ve come across – seems to think his group can take a lead in helping change some blights on youth today because, as he said:

“We’re facing a crisis of physical inactivity in our society.”

I do think the now-defunct Raptors Foundation, run by a couple of hardest-working in show business, did a very good job with its programs to promote fitness, literacy and other issues and I can only hope the well-respected Kidd keeps that good work going.

Giant corporations like Maple Leaf Sports do have an obligation to do more than take money and disappoint fans and they need to be more active in important social causes.

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Comments

[The J]

"...but there were some eyebrows raised about the number of No. 24 jerseys in the crowd."

Considering it is the number one selling jersey it doesn't suprise me in the slightest. He has obviously ascended into being at the top of the league in popularity (maybe between him and Bron Bron), and he is going to get love everywhere he goes, as do the Lakers. Realistically there are probably a lot of #24 jerseys at all of their road games excluding those in maybe Boston, Cleveland and maybe San Antonio.

Plus, was anyone ever surprised at the number of #23 jerseys in the crowds when the Raps used to play the Bulls in the '90s?

[Kelsey]

At Paul:
Sherman Hamilton looks like a nice guy, but he is a horrible, awful broadcaster. I literally try to hit mute when he speaks when the game is on RapsTV..

How can you say Sherman is terrible, maybe he is new to the color commentary, but Sherm knows what he's talking about and doesnt act like a "homer" When I watch some of the broadcasts around the league it gets me sick..Especially Boston's guys they are the biggest "homers" in the league I dont care how long or what experience. They have the "my child would never do that syndrome" Sherman keep up the good work and make a lot of people in Toronto proud. There is life after playing basketball....

Quick side note, Miami fans really throw Beasley under the buss, I clicked that link Doug put up. Wow!! Lets go Rap's aka Huskies!!

[Paul]

"Giant corporations like Maple Leaf Sports do have an obligation to do more than take money and disappoint fans and they need to be more active in important social causes."

Wrong. They have an obligation to return profits to shareholders who are then free to decide whether to support social causes. Investors don't delegate that kid of decision making to corporations.

[Ted]

Looks like I'm stuck at work for the "biggest game of the season" tonight. No TV, but I do have Internet. Not that Doug's in-game blog isn't great (it is), but are there any websites that stream the video?

[LLL]

If you live in "Hazelville"...I'm thinking On the Curve...but that's just a guess..

Blogger's note: Nah, not my style. I have a local close to there and another place we'll be at Saturday. Nice try, though

[pooks]

I was wondering why I was no longer seeing those Raptors Foundation commercials with the cute kids...what happened anyways?

Blogger's note: Just wanted to put all the teams under one umbrella

[Boko]

There are only two reasons a coach should accept it when a player puts up an off-balance shot ... 1) The clock is about to hit zeros, & 2) the player has been pushed off-balance by the opposition, and if he gets the foul call, it could turn into a 3-point play. This tacid acceptance of low-basketball-IQ moves DRIVES ME NUTS! Belinelli is not only fooling himself with his attitude, he's turning his coach into a similer fool. What's more important, having fun or winning the game by 1 point??????!!!!!!

[Eric]

I was at a game against the Pistons in 96. They lost and I'm pretty sure they were wearing the Huskie uniforms. Could be wrong.

[manap3000]

i honestly think we are 2 pieces and just a little bit of luck away from being a stellar (3rd or 4th place w/ boston aging) team. But we are too angry and stupid to see clearly. this is what toronto does; we are hyped up for the beginning of the year but then start whining demanding change and asking head's to roll when things don't go well; assessing this calmly i'd say our only major problems on this team are calderon's defense in general and bargnani's interior defence; dont start panicking toronto we can fix this.

First trade calderon; he would be a welcome addition to the lakers who are weak at the point guard position, and the rest of the teams superb defense will make up for his huge deficiencies on the defensive end; its not like fishcer plays defense either. He wont work in Toronto b/c we just dont have the right players to pick up the defensive slack for him. With calderon gone our offense will take a hit next season; but I see the defensive outweighing the points lost; a player i see having the perfect mix of above average defense and adequate offense would be kirk heinrich of the bulls;

if we get rid of jose, turkoglu who's not going anywhere despite what fan's say will have the oppurtunity to thrive without jose's need to continually have the ball in his hands.

Bargnani has been my biggest issue; this guy just doesn't play defense the way a centre is supposed to; we keep him b/c we wont get much in return for him (its probably common knowledge that along with david lee this is the worst defensive big man in the league); however! we need someone who can consistently clog up the lane to come to this team underrated players like anderson varejao or kendrick perkins or even brandon haywood come to mind; if we can get and underrated player of that caliber here in Toronto i see us being exponentially better (in fact we should drop reggie;rasho; and even bellinelli just to get this player; he's that important). Bargnani is going to have his off nights like every player; the difference is other players have defense to lean on when their shots just arent falling; or when we have a lead seeming about to dwindle away; that's when you bring in this big man who will clog the lane and stop others from scoring (all good teams have a defensive stopper type big man; why dont the raptors?). Look at the most successful team in the league and how they use anderson varejao; its true ilgauskas and shaq pack a punch offensively but they are heavily supported by varejao who is substituted in at the right times (jay plz dont let us down next year if we do get that big man)

if anyone has any suggestions for that big man stopper type i would be glad to hear it

Looking at cleveland its not imperative that we have an all-star at the guard position, they have anthony friggin parker over there a player toronto fans hated on b/c of his lack of creating, i think sonny weems and derozan will both be good enough to adequately play that position.

*the draft pick in my opinion should either go into drafting a center that is most definitely (no could be) good defensively; or traded away for a center that is good defensively

And that brings me to my last point BOSH PLZ DONT LEAVE; you leaving would set us so far back

The biggest dissapointment in my opinion would be if collangelo fell to all the pressure he is facing from dolts in toronto who do not think clearly just b/c we didn't get into the playoffs; dont just tear everyhting apart see what we have here and work with it.