And now, a much deserved one-day break for all of us

I know, it’s a wee bit later than usual but I really appreciate the extra 45 minutes sleep, it was well worth it.

That Nets game was more about survival than anything and, to their credit, they did. Lots of guys in lots of different roles, backups as starters, extended minutes for guys who don’t get them and I cannot tell you how horrible Jack sounded and looked with whatever bug he was fighting through.

All in all, they got done what they needed to get done, they beat a bad team and the overwhelming sense I got from talking to coaches and players after was that they were glad it was over and can’t wait to have a day off today.

Maybe they can sit around their condos and read this:

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THREE POINTERS

Sometimes, it just works

Best play of the night had to be the dunk Sonny Weems had off the inbounds pass under the basket, right? Second quarter, when Weems really turned the game around, Jarrett Jack’s inbounding the ball, they make eye contact, Weems finds an open path between a group of entirely disinterested Nets defenders and makes the dunk.

It’s one of those things we’re seeing more and more from Sonny, just subtle moves that shows a raw athleticism, a flare and an understanding of what he can do.

I’m not sure early in the season anyone had any real idea what his skillset was and while it’s still raw (scoreless in Indy was a step back), he’s really showing signs of contributing.

Aside from last night’s offence – and he really did change the game in that four- or five-minute stretch of the second quarter – the way he got on the boards was hugely impressive.

If the Raptors can get that kind of rebounding effort, and that’s all it really is, on a consistent basis, it’ll be the first time they will have really had a good rebounding wing in a very long time.

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Long shots, long boards

Here’s what taking and missing three-pointers can do for a team:

Allow it to offensively rebound the ball a lot better.

I’ll have to go and check the video (or just mention it anecdotally and leave it at that) but I counted at least four times the Nets were able to track down their missed threes and three times the Raptors did it and that’s the one oft-forgotten aspect of the shot.

I know the Raptors track this kind of thing much more in-depth than I do but there is no doubt three pointers yield more offensive boards than any other shot.

It’s a bane to teams who allow them, it keeps possessions going, but it’s a boon to teams that take them and I’m dead certain it’s part of the reason Jay would like the Raptors to get up more threes than they are.

They took 19 last night and made 10 and the coach was entirely okay with that.

And it doesn’t seem to take away from what else they do, either.

Bosh still got 20 field goal attempts and 11 of Bargnani’s 17 were either drives or mid-range jumpers so hoisting almost 20 threes didn’t really hurt the inside stuff, either.

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Stats, stats, stats

I’m told by people who keep track of these sorts of things that Andrea has now had a blocked shot in the past 10 games, which isn’t a bad kind of streak for a guy not really known as a great defensive force.

Checking the boxscore from the Nets game, he’s credited with four blocks and I’m wondering if that’s not hometown scoring. I can recall one or two but think we might be getting a bit ahead of ourselves with the four.

Andrea’s defence the last couple of nights has been quite average, as a matter of fact; the first three quarters in Indy bordered on dreadful now that I recall.

But there was one block last night against the Nets that showed what he can do when he puts his mind to it.

It was late – fourth quarter if I’m reading my scribbling right – and Brook Lopez has the ball in the post. He makes a couple of moves, tries to muscle Bargnani off but the kid stays with him and straight-up blocks a little jumper.

Solid defence but they have to get it more often before anyone gets too wild about it.

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More? Okay, a little more.

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So coach Bosh, eh?

Another reason to have to sit through the dreadfulness that is the Rookie-Sophomore thingy but the news that Bosh is going to be some kind of assistant coach did provide us with a line of the night.

We were talking to Jay before the game and someone was asking him about Chris as a coach and whether, you know, it’s something he might see Bosh doing in a decade or so when his career’s over and whether he’d be bright enough to handle it. Says Jay:

“Let’s get this straight: You don’t have to be bright to be a coach. Or a reporter.”

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Well, I guess every team’s got its Kryptonite.

For the Raptors, it’s the Celtics.

For the Astounding Hawthorn Hawks it’s the Dastardly Green Gators, who registered a 46-34 triumph yesterday in dynamic Grade 8 Peel boys hoops.

Of course, the Hawks were on a back-to-back and we can all understand the demands of homework, travel (the three minute walk to school’s a killer) and general fatigue so I’m going that as excuse.

Super Son? I’m told he rebounded like a blonde, skinny, 13-year-old, tattoo- and piercing-free Dennis Rodman and dished it like Steve Nash.

Or something like that.

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Dave D gets a three-week reprieve from covering the Nets to go chronicle curlers and the like out in Vancouver (I hear the Olympics are coming soon or something) and I can’t think of a better break for a guy.

But before he goes, he’s writing this kind of stuff about that kind of game.

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Oh yeah, mail.

Want to send some? Send it here so I can start stockpiling and maybe answering and not get caught at the last minute, scrambling.

If you’d like to stay away from game-specific queries, crazy trade suggestions and rants, it’d be greatly appreciated.

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Fan night?

Maybe not the greatest of hits.

Attendance was just 15,222, which is the second-worst crowd of the season, eclipsed only by the 15,167 that saw Minnesota way back in early December.

But I guess you could look at it this way: How much worse would it have been had it not been, you know, such a special occasion.

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Let’s see: Two games, two days, two question-and-answer sessions, two in-game blogs and now nothing until Sunday?

I’m going to have Irregular Withdrawal or something like that.

Anyway, no practice today, either so it’s a day of relative coasting, searching the notebook for something marginally interesting to write and chilling.

Maybe I’ll sit around with my Vanilla Ice 8-tracks and reminisce.

Sounds good, no?

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Comments

[Mike]

"...it’ll be the first time they will have really had a good rebounding wing in a very long time."
I think Shawn Marion was a pretty good rebounding wing. Would you say so, Doug?

Blogger's note: As a 27-game rental, yeah

[Geoff Read]

Hey Doug,

Good blog today. Your analysis of the game seems about right to me - the Raps looked like they wanted to survive and get out of the building with a W. Nothing fancy but it was a businesslike effort.

[RC]

Best all-time wing rebounder for the raps?

Blogger's note: Tough call. Doug Christie?

[Johnny's]

Doug,

No comments on BC saying the raps are going to be 'buyers'??

Also, Vince was a pretty good rebounder in his earlier (playoff)years.

[Ray Ray]

Good morning Doug.
In this mornings article with BC, it seems that he may be looking into a big deal as well (not just a minor tinkering with the roster).
Any thoughts or ideas what or who would be considered a "big deal"?

Blogger's note: No, not really at this time

[brennan]

bargnani's man defence is decent...its his help defence that really hurts us....if you go back and watch, say, the second quarter...watch every nj drive to the hoop...everytime bargnani "stepped" in to help, the nets scored on a layup....no kick outs, no pump fakes....no one on new jersey was intimidated by bargnani.

[Sam]

Not sure what happened to Turk...if Jack could give what he had in his big heart while fighting with the illness, why Turk could not stand up and fight for his team who is paying him $53 millions, just because he did not like the mask????? I saw Jose also dressed up in case the team needed him to play couple of minutes...Good for the team to have both Jose and Jake!

Blogger's note: Hate to rain on your points here but I'm going to: Turk would have played without a mask but the doctors wouldn't clear him and there was too much discomfort and soreness to play with it.
Jose was only in sweats because he didn't have appropriate clothes with him; he was on the inactive list and could not play.
Other than, you're bang on

[K Price]

Hey Doug, I was reading on the net that Nets owner would like to bring Colangelo in to be GM of the Nets. I was just curious ppl talk about players being traded do you think we could loose Colangelo?

Blogger's note: There's a chance of anything but I'm getting no sense at all that there's a possibility of that happening now

[Dan]

Doug, I know you hate to speculate, and I'm not asking you to do so.
But I was surprised you have no comment on BC's interview with AP where he claimed to he is searching for a big move.
I guess you don't want to fuel the crazies' fire. So without delving into absurd scenarios, do you think it is wise for the Raptors to make a big move now? Aren't they finally playing well and gelling with all their new players? Why do something bold now?

Blogger's note: It was CP, actually and the direct quote is:

“We’ve never sat back and been comfortable. We’re always going to compete and improve our levels of competition. I’m talking about not only a tweak, but in a big deal, we’re going to be a buyer, not a seller.”

It means he's not dismantling and would rather add and is not in any way different than what he's been saying for months.

I don't know that a major deal is necessary but, as you know, if something big comes up that he likes, he'll do it.

[aditya]

It was late – fourth quarter if I’m reading my scribbling right – and Brook Lopez has the ball in the post. He makes a couple of moves, tries to muscle Bargnani off but the kid stays with him and straight-up blocks a little jumper.
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when was the last time bosh did that?.....straight up block.....not a help block.... really....i am serious......bosh never tries to block shots against bigger players (most of bosh's blocks are on small players going for a layup)...so lets just say bosh's help defence is solid....but talking about his individual defence, lets just say i saw yi jianlian muscle around bosh in the paint for a layup (bosh had his hand up) twice at least..... and bargnani had 3 blocks in the second half (i missed the entire first half).....he must have had one block in the first half.....

@brennan -- you are spot on, bargnani's help defence is horrible at times....john hollinger wrote about this when raps were giving up 11111 pts per game (think he referenced the utah game)......

[Rob]

Doug,
I was watching the game with a couple of friends yesterday and we were very disappointed with the job the camera crew did broadcasting the game (and that's not the only game this has happened), we missed a lot of plays because they weren't focusing the camera on the game but rather on somebody's face who is not usually involved... for example we only saw the end of Sonny's dunk that you just described because they focused on the back of Jack's head instead of the play.itself... they also missed a lot of other important moments in the game.... is that something you can probably mention to them (we would really appreciate it because it is happening with regularity)

Also Sonny leading the fast break is usually not a great idea,,, it almost always ends up with him turning it over.

Thanx as always for the great blog

[Michael]

Hey Doug,

My little brother was on the Green Glade Gators, and dropped 15 points on the Hawks yesterday evening. Good game, they also have a back-to-back ending today.

Blogger's note: Ha! Outstanding. Hope they finish the back-to-back strongly

[aditya]

trade antoine wright..>!!! for a better wing defender....and who can shoot it better than him.....

[Dan]

Thanks Doug. Sorry about the AP/CP goof, it's late over here in Korea.
I know BC loves to mix things up. Of course, the quote doesn't mean he's going to overhaul the roster, I just found it a strange comment to make with the team gelling as it is.
And I turn to you for perspective and context on these things. To keep from becoming, you know, a crazy.
Thanks. Cheers.

Blogger's note: Sanity works. And I think Bryan probably could have phrased it a bit better.

[kazbid]

sorry doug..dont know if u commented on this already but why did wright start over (and play more minutes than) belineli?

i thought he provided a nice spark the previous game..sorta plays like the way we want hedo to play..creates his own shot..sets up others..handles the ball..plays D..etc

Blogger's note: Wright started because they didn't know how much they were going to get out of Jack and needed Marco to be a PG perhaps

[ashm]

Hey doug
what you think about the following article on how NJ has its eyes on BC?
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-netslosing020310&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Blogger's note: Bryan's a very good President\GM, why wouldn't teams covet him?

[Dan W]

I may not always agree with Doug's oppinons but I do respect his knowledge of the game and the Raptors. This morning on the fan 590 (I think Gord and Stellick)they were talking about the Raptors. The one guy mentions how they only ever made the playoffs once during Sam Mitchells time, then the other guy said don't forget about Miami(in Florida too so close enough i guess). Then they went off on Marcus Banks and how they have no idea how Pat Riley gave him that contract. Which is funny because unless i'm wrong and it was Sarver, i thought BC gave him that deal so they are really making fun of him who could be listening. Sorry for the rant.

[Anthony]

Best all-time chicken wing rebounder for the raps? Oliver Miller?

[Mike Berman]

Im calling here first Josh Howard for Turk! Everyone wins, espically the Raptor fans. Goodbye Hedo, Im sure you'll get the "Ball" more in Dallas

[ptboscott]

hey doug just wanted to add to rob's comment on the camera work. i know you mentioned this earlier in the year and i was hopeful that as the year went on the bugs would get worked out but the visual coverage is just not getting any better! the choice of who to show and when is often incongruous and the number of plays missed seem to be expanding. in the indi game on sunday(?) there were at least four significant plays that were entirely missed (one of belli's buckets for example) b/c they were either showing a montage of some sort or focusing on a bench close-up for ages while the play is on. it seems like whomever is directing the show hasn't picked up the rhythm of the team or b-ball in general and is just making bad choices on what to show and when to get back to the action. it may not be much but i like to watch a play develop and not just the last 14 seconds of the shot clock. ok sorry end of rant!

[Marius]

Hi Doug, Love the blog.First thing to read every morning.
Any update on Jose. What was the result of the MRI?
Thanks!

Blogger's note: Mild sprain, day-to-day

[The J]

I have to say that with the state of attendance in the NBA the way it has been this year, a season low of 15,167 is probably not that bad. When the Raps are on the road some arenas look like 15,167 would be their season high! That's whats frustrating when Americans question the Raptors fan base. We typically end up in the top 10 in attendance every year, and really support (okay, and criticize) our team.

[David]

I know you already answered a question where somebody asked if any of the players read your blog. Does Jack Armstrong, Matt Devlin or any of the coaching staff read your blog that you know of?

Blogger's note: Not sure but people seem to know what's in here

[Mike kovacs]

Props to Marcus banks last night. The first half was a bit shakey and I think JJ was brought back in a little earlier than JT would have liked but he was solid in the 2nd half. Also at the game apart from the half-time skit and 2 extra prizes in the stands I didn't see much extra for fan-appreciatioon night - and no I don't appreciate Brian Mulroney ( BM the PM ) being there and I didn't count the number of t-shirts thrown into the stands.

[GM]

Rob, I hear you! Man, the TV coverage has been worse this season. So many missed plays this game. I also hate how every game that is out of reach in the final 30 seconds or so, the director feels the need to focus in on every face instead of the game. I know, they won't be doing anything with the ball, but it's still in play. There's time to get face shots when the buzzer goes. But even before that, during the game, presumably the director is sitting in front of a wall of monitors and can actually, you know, monitor the game so he doesn't miss anything and can cut back in time. But so often we miss it. I say when the clock starts ticking, the camera should be focussed on the wide angle of the court at all times.