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:

-

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.

-

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.

-

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.

-

More? Okay, a little more.

-

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.”

-

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.

-

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.

-

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.

-

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.

-

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?

-

Comments

[Logan from Saskatoon]

whose absence is missed most? Calderon, Turk, or DeRozan. Who could they survive without the longest?

[kelsie]

Hey Doug,

Any word on opposing teams scouts on the defence of our bigs (Bosh, Barg's Amir)?

Don't know if you've even had the chanc eto inquire about it, but I was wondering, as Raps fans always have their opinions but it would be nice to know what the other teams think as well.

Blogger's note: Dang, I forgot to ask; have now written myself a note. Thanks

[Ray Ray]

I hope you'll be the first to let us know if Josh Howard, Mike Miller or Andre Iguodala are headed our way :)

[joe]

Doug,

Is Amir Johnson a restricted or unrestricted free agent this summer? Do the Raptors have a good chance at re-signing him or would another team overpay to get him?
Thank you for the great work on your daily column and blog.

[Keith Wagar]

So the mask is uncomfortable!!! Maybe some one needs to tell Turk,"Gee that's too bad we feel sorry, now, suck it up, put it on and get your butt on the floor."

[Juan]

I find it ridiculous and unbelievable that people think little/nothing of what it means to have a BROKEN FACE and the risk that it represents. Or maybe they can't read: the team doctors advised against him playing. Give it up and get real you spoiled bunch of whiners!

[Phil A]

I was really starting to get worried when the Nets went on that 20-2 run. I was thinking to myself there is no way the Raptors are going to lose this game. Thank god they bounced back and earned the W.

This is kind of random but how in the world did Brandon Jennings win the eastern conference rookie of the month? I've heard that he was shooting something like 32% from the field in the month of January. That's awful...

[Sean]

Stupid Trade Proposal Time...not worthy of a mailbag entry...

Would the Spurs look to move Matt Bonner for a more athletic wing player (ahem, Wright)?

[Steve]

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

really? I'll give you that the guy stunk it up to begin the year but over the past month he is shooting .433 and if you take out his only two stinkers in that stretch he is shooting .523

On another note, I mentioned this last night towards the end of the game Doug .. does there seem to be any understanding around the Nets of just how bad their record is? The seamheads play nearly double the games and to finish the season 40 under .500 is almost unheard of .. this team is on pace to be almost 70 below.

[Matt M]

Dennis Rodman and Steve Nash combined. Tell Colangelo to sign him up.

[aditya]

@ Steve......Hey man, welcome to the blog, but that comment (trade antoine wright..>!!! for a better wing defender....and who can shoot it better than him.....) was meant for doug smith who thinks antoine wright cant shoot a lick...and he thinks the last shot he took against miami that went in was a bad shot (when it was indeed a good shot... lets not argue...thx)....i am not going to expand any further....

[Richard]

Not a great game last night. They did what had to be done to eke out a win and get out of there. I just wanted to acknowledge the contribution of Marcus Banks though.
Remembering back to the summer and early season, the amount of flack and assumptions of "malcontent" and expectations of attitude issues that fans put on this guy, he has proven to be a consummate professional and, from all we can tell by watching the team, appears to be well liked and a good teammate. It certainly is not his fault that someone in Phoenix (not Colangelo by the way) may have overvalued his skill set. I wonder how many intrepid Raptor fans would say to a prospective employer, "Oh no, you are offering to pay me far more than my services are worth. I cannot accept that. Really, you should offer me about 50% less. I insist."
Way to go Marcus (like he'll read this...). Keep it up.

[Kyle S.]

I completely agree with the other posters regarding the poor TV coverage this season. Not only are plays sometimes completely missed due to not switching back to the game camera quickly enough but sometimes you just can't make out what is happening because the camera selection is so bad. I hate when the director tries to use novel camera angles, like the camera man sitting under the basket on the baseline. When this camera is used it is hard to see what is happening on the opposite end of the floor. Furthermore, when this camera is used and the play is in the same end, it is still hard to see, especially when the ball is at the rim; you can't see who's tipping it or who is going to come down with the rebound. End of rant.

[doug]

I think Rondo publicly stating there are problems in the Celts dressing room....was bone-headed to phrase it as nicely as possible....the guy is immature and if he thinks he is going to go up against garnett in that dressing room he is crazy.....I like how in the post-gamer yesterday a reporter asked Rondo about those issues and Garnett was sitting there, wouldn't allow Rondo to answer and took over....Garnett wants to keep it private as it should be.....the next while will show what kind of cajones Ainge has he he needs to do something....me i would seek a trade for Baby Davis....and send a message to that team that needs to be sent....

[Dave]

I'll add to Juan -- I don't think it's just that team doctors advised him not to play, but (and here's a question for Doug) if the team doctor says, "No, you can't play" then can the player circumvent the doctor? I doubt it, right, if for nothing else than insurance won't pick up the tab if he gets elbowed and his face decides to.. I'm not even going to finish that because no matter what image I give it's going to be gross.

Blogger's note: Exactly

[squarepush7r]

Hi Doug,
is there any other team in the league that plays the same kind of defensive scheme the raptors have? How many different ways of playing defense is there?
Do the celtics play straight man-to-man (no switching?)
Peace.

Blogger's note: Not sure of the exact numbers, but yeah, other teams do; it's pretty basic defence.

[J]

Dan W:

It was D'Antoni who gave Banks his big contract; BC was with the Raptors that summer.