DeMar's got a big fan; and so does Marco

Something of a slowish day yesterday as they basked in the glow. A far cry from some day-after-game sessions, that’s for sure.

But a dearth of truly entertaining nuggets so you’ll have to do with these:

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The other morning, a few of us were standing around talking to Kobe Bryant after the Laker shootaround (including his Close Personal Friend Cabbie, whose Kobe stuff is, like all Cabral’s stuff, excellent) and the conversation gets to DeMar DeRozan.

Kobe lauds the kid for his work ethic and desire to improve and when I asked him if that’s a trait most youngsters lack, he was quick to agree.

“I think it’s the times that we live in. Players at an early age get spoiled too much, everything gets given to them … I think DeMar – (O.J.) Mayo is another one that I knew for a while -- those couple of guys are some of the few that actually work and enjoy playing the game.”

And I guess that’s one of the most impressive things about DeRozan, his willingness to put the work in to get better.

There’s no disputing his jump shot has improved since the first of the season – it’s still a bit wonky and he doesn’t have three-point range yet but it’s smoother – and his ball-handling skills are better. He spends a lot of time in the gym working, he spends a lot of time watching video with assistant coaches and he does take instruction to heart.

And what’s interesting to me is that 45 games into the season, he really hasn’t had a long lull. No collisions with the rookie “wall” it appears and I think that goes to how Jay’s handled him.

Consistent, but not overwhelming minutes, no wearing him out in the first 30 games and the fact he’s now played more games at a higher level this year than he’s ever played before haven’t had an impact.

They’ve fed him a lot but haven’t forcefed him a thing.

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Had a couple people wonder just how odd it was for a game to be decided on last-second free throws.

I offer last night’s Cleveland-Miami game as proof that, while rare, it’s not like it never happens.

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We were trying to think the other day if there’s ever been a Raptor quite like Marco Belinelli. You know, a guy who’ll try anything, always playing at a rather frenetic pace and capable of astonishing moves one minute and confounding ones the next.

I couldn’t come up with one very much like him at all and that’s why he’s become such a personal favourite to watch. You have to watch him because you never know.

Like Sunday. On one play, he catches a pass right in front the Lakers bench, pump-fakes a closing defender so badly that the guy goes right past Belinelli and almost lands in Phil Jackson’s lap.

So what’s Marco do?

Set his feet, square his shoulders and drill a wide open, standstill three?

Hell, no.

He sort of shakes his shoulders, splays his legs, and takes a inward-leaning odd-looking shot that gets nothing but net.

Classic.

And the kid can deliver a good line, too.

When I asked him about that specific play, and about what goes in that mind of his to make him try some of the things he tries, he looks at me, laughs at bit and says:

“I don’t know. That’s me. Maybe I’m a little crazy.”

How can you not love the kid.

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Know what I did last night?

I “lived” a mailbag.

In a very, very cool night set up through Ernst and Young with some hardcore Raptors fans-slash-way smarter than me financial gurus, a quite good question and answer session unfolded after a fine dinner.

A very good night, fine discussion, some very good probing questions and it affirmed my point that the level of basketball intelligence floating around this city is far, far greater than some think.

Thanks.

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I need some help here.

Is Reggie Evans most like:

Bill Russell?

Wilt Chamberlain?

Whatever deity it is you worship?

Seriously, if he doesn’t come back and get like 25 rebounds a night and leave a consistent trail of bloodied opponents in his wake, I swear some people are going to be disappointed. I can’t remember a guy who got this much better when he was hurt.

I like Reggie Evans, he’s a nice guy and a pretty good basketball player. But there needs to be some toning down of expectations. Even if he takes every single backup big minute away from Amir Johnson, and I don’t imagine that happens, we’re looking at a 16-minute-a-night defensive specialist.

Lord help us if he struggles.

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Here’s one for you:

In a discussion with one of the biggest shots of all around the Raptors yesterday, the topic was the relative euphoria around the Heroes Of The Hardcourt after Sunday.

The conversation, almost verbatim:

He: Yeah, but I was ticked off when I got home.

Me: Remember a bad play or something?

He: No, I watched TV.

Me: I know, no Dancing With The Stars re-runs, what a crappy night.

He: Shut up. I watched Sportsnet. We were like the 10th story on the news. Beat the Lakers for goodness sake. The Lakers! We were after the Edmonton Oilers skills competition. The Edmonton-freaking-Oilers skills competition. Do you believe that?

Me: Ah, yeah.

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Comments

[robguy]

Hi Doug,

I loved your ending paraphrased conversation regarding Sportsnet. I like hockey myself, but basically have stopped watching sports news for reasons such as the example above. Easier to get what I want when I wish to watch it on the web - I thought I would never type that! Sports network news is becoming irrelevant much like local channel sports news have become - too bad - they have only themselves to blame.

On the Laker's broadcast, they ran a text poll asking their viewers whether Bosh would finish the season in Toronto. I do believe he has not yet decided and am not one of those 'believe every blog or Simmons said...' fan, but find it interesting regardless.

[JR Mac]

Doug

The Raps are turning into a hell of a story...they are developing a goofy, polyglot chemistry that could end up looking real good on this city (and country)---and they've got the right guy in the right place to chronicle it all...I don't think we've seen the last of edge of the seat thrills.

[Patrick Hanlon]

You had me howling about Reggie this morning. Thanks for the great start.

[Shaun]

Hey Doug,

Curious to know how things are going in Memphis attendance-wise now that the Grizz are playing some good basketball. Any insight? Thanks Doug.

Cheers,

Shaun

Blogger's note: Dead last, average about 12,000 a night

[Peter]

So are you predicting a call from an MLSE representative to a Rogers representative today?

[N]

Good morning Doug, DeRozan seems like a good kid who will be a decent pro,but not sure if he will ever be an all-star. With the trade deadline approaching and lots of attractive pieces out there, do you know if Kid Canada is untouchable or is it possible Colangelo is willing to part with him if a nice vet piece can be had to make a push for the playoffs?

[skf]

The big shot is right, how many times I've had to wait 20 minutes and watch ridiculous hockey highlights in cities that shouldn't even have teams, before I get my 30 second basketball wrap up. Brutal.

The sports networks in Toronto are terrible. I long for the day the CRTC finally allows ESPN into Canada proper. I will pay whatever they ask for it just so I don't have to watch Atlanta vs. Nashville hockey highlights ever again!

[GP]

Please tell me He is not Bosh!

[erc]

You are bang-on with your assessment of Reggie.
Bargnani played the best game I think I've seen him play against LA and he wasn't even hot from three-point distance. Bosh is terrific almost every night. Some rest would be nice, but you cannot take many minutes away from them when it counts.
Amir is playing well and he's young. To give Reggie a bunch of his minutes would be short-sighted.
Reggie Evans is a good, hard-nosed rebounder. He will be useful in certain situations that Amir doesn't have the bulk and/or truculence to handle. He can spell the Big Two and be there if one goes down. And IF that happens, Marco and Jose and DD and Turk will have to contribute more scoring to make it work.
It's great that Reggie's almost back, but it's been way, way, WAY overblown. Good blog!

[WSG]

So true re Sportsnet … and most sports broadcasts every night. The game of basketball itself, has SO much to appreciate, never mind the Raptors and how exciting their story is getting to be … I wonder constantly, it seems, what it is that the ‘powers that be’ just don’t get? Thankfully, there’s enough interest growing among younger fans that (I can only hope) eventually, hoops will rival ‘hockey’ (I grew up on it, but I’ve grown to near-hate the word) in those still-inane sports broadcasts. Thank goodness for the internet and your blog. (Really. Thanks. Again.)

[jimt]

Its pretty REdonkulous(my word) (its when an executive decision is made through the eyes of a donkey)how some of these news networks prioritize stories.

Whats the verdict with Jose and his starters role,has he lost it to JJ?
I realize if it aint broke dont fix it,but is there an update?

ps sportsnet is a joke

[Mike Kovacs]

Your own paper is guilty of the same thing. After the Dallas win figure skating took over the front page of the sports with The raps buried inside.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

I know you are not keen on commenting about rumours, but Chris Mannix at CNN/SI has reported that sources say the Raptors front office is having serious discussions about Bosh and whether he will resign next summer--or whether they should trade him.

Now a few things--I doubt that Mannix knows very much about the Raptors. I suspect it is the same for most other US based basketball writers. Also, I think there are a lot of pundits who trade in wonky speculation about which superstar is going to go where in this summer's blockbuster free agent market. Me? My two cents is that I think most guys will stay where they are--there is too much money to be made that way.

But what do you think? Even if trade rumours are flimsy topics to deal with, talk of Bosh's future is huge talk indeed. If he goes, the argument could be made that Coangelo's legacy is no better than Babcock's, because he let another big one get away. And I don't think the emergence of Bargnani will be enough to help anyone forget about CB4. The whole thing could reduce the Raps, once again, to an incredible mess.

Is there anything you can tell us about chatter in the halls of the ACC?

Blogger's note: When I hear legit chatter, I'll let you know

AG, Toronto

[pet peeve]

A bit off topic, but what's with Adnan Virk's writing skills? I'm reading his article and compared to your stuff on the Star it's quite comical really.

"If it's atmosphere that you crave ladies and gentlemen, you couldn't do much worse than the Lakers-Raptors game at ACC on Sunday night."

Did he actually watch the game? The crowd was fantastic...

"Brian Burke has pointed out he's willing to take on salary at the trade deadline as long as there's draft picks coming back the other way."

So Burke's willing to take on salary AND give draft picks the OTHER WAY? What the heck does this sentence mean?

"I thought the book The Blind Side by Michael Lewis was terrific, but fear the movie will be a treacly mess."

Treacly? Does he write with a thesaurus in hand? Treacly?

"His barbs in their direction were warranted but were also unprofessional"

What? So unprofressional conduct is warranted?

"...on the much-cherished rottentomatoes.com"

Cherished? Does he just pick random thesaurus words?

Sorry about the rant, but I expect professional writing skills (reasonable would be enough actually) on a 'public' site such as Raptors.com, and that article just wasted 2 minutes of my life.

Doug, please hold down the fort while we separate the journalistic rabble from the pros such as yourself.

"great basketball minds" indeed.

Take care.

[craig]

thanks for a reason to use the internet everyday doug love the blog. I honestly stopped watching that channel years ago it gave up on this team they will come crawling back when the boys make the 2nd round of the playoffs book it

[Binson]

Sportsnet tends to be so hockey biased that I never watch it anymore. Tell the person you were talking with to switch to The Score. They seem to have switched up the order and more often than not, they have basketball highlights ahead of the pucks lately (with the exception of the leafs). For the Laker game, they had it after NFL playoffs which is understandable since it is post-season.

[Matt K]

ya, that's why sportsnet is bunk. the score is the only channel that puts the basketball story in the proper slot of importance. tsn isn't brutal like sportsnet, but can't compete with the score for ball highlights.

[norm]

Sadly, it's things like that sportsnet coverage that make me shake my head about the level of basketball intelligence around town. Would you not say it's affected by the slighted attention the team gets at times?

[Dan]

Hey Doug,

Love the blog, I check it about five times a day (Hi my name is Dan and I'm addicted to Doug Smith's Raptor's Blog). Is it fair to say that Marco and Joey could be compared? If on nothing else but the level of frustration they provide with their up and down games. Could the new "good Joey, bad Joey" be "good Marco, bad Marco?" Love to watch him though.

Dan

[Frank]

The score network is the only sports channel that respects basketball and gives it dues by playing the Raptors highlights early in the recap show.

[aditya]

Like Sunday. On one play, he catches a pass right in front the Lakers bench, pump-fakes a closing defender so badly that the guy goes right past Belinelli and almost lands in Phil Jackson’s lap.

So what’s Marco do?

Set his feet, square his shoulders and drill a wide open, standstill three?

Hell, no.

He sort of shakes his shoulders, splays his legs, and takes a inward-leaning odd-looking shot that gets nothing but net.

Classic.
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That person was Kobe Bryant (who flew by Marco), and since Marco was at the corner, and Kobe went by Marco's left shoulder, there is no way he landed on Phil's lap....(and if you don't believe me, you can check out the replay of that..i will bet any amount of money on that....its a fact....)

the reason that belinelli took an inward-leaning shot was because he was scared Kobe was going to block his shot from behind (since he did not land on the Laker's bench all that much, and Kobe had time to recover, at least that's what i thought)...and please feel free to check out the replay....

[Johnny's]

Triano?

[Nilanka]

Doug, please tell that player (whoever he was) that The Score is the only sports channel that puts basketball on par (if not higher) than hockey. TSN and Sportsnet are the worst. I mean honestly, how many times can you watch someone named "Darren" (and there are a lot of Darrens) talk about Crosby???

[TMF]

Closest former Raptor to Marco?
Well, Carlos Delfino was just as maddeningly inconsistent, in a similar role. Mo Pete hit some crazy shots. Mike James seemed to equal his level of confidence. Muggsy Bogues was as frenetically all over the place. Oakley had the same "try anything" mentality, at least when it came to passing. Rafer Alston had similarly terrible shot selection at times. Tracy McGrady shared his tendency for looking half-asleep. And Vincenzo Esposito was equally Italian. So it's probably some combination of the above.

[Nick]

I heard Reggie had his first full practice, any word on how it was?
Thanks