Bargnani's pet move, some free throw zaniness and I (heart) Hughes

That was rather a “blah” night, wasn’t it?

Kind of lethargic at both ends, fans more interested in a hockey game it seemed and at no time – even when they got the deficit to one in the third – was there any level of confidence that they’d come back and win.

One of those nights.

And one of those mornings:

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THREE POINTERS

A move made too often?

It was early in the game, first quarter if my chicken-scratch notes are to be believed, when Andrea Bargnani did it again.

He gets the ball about 18 feet from the basket, pump fakes to get his man in the air and when the guy doesn’t bite, Andrea still tries to lean in, draw contact and a foul and hoists some odd, flat, silly shot.

Didn’t get the foul – which was the right call by the officials – didn’t make the shot and it’s about the third or fourth time in the last couple of weeks I can remember him pulling off the same play.

And I don’t remember it working too often.

It’s maybe something he only wants to pull out rarely, or work more often on in practice because he doesn’t quite have it down pat.

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Good, then not so good

Sometimes even hustle plays aren’t really rewarded.

A couple of minutes into the fourth quarter and Reggie Evans coverts a layup, gets fouled and is at the line, which is always an exciting proposition because you’re never sure what you’re going to get.

Well, not surprisingly, he misses the free throw, only to have Amir Johnson get on the floor scrambling after a loose ball and kick it back out; one of three offensive boards Johnson would get on the night.

Ball goes out to Sonny who gets in the lane and gets fouled.

He makes his first one but – you know what’s coming – he misses the second, the Blazers get the ball and all the Raptors get out of it is a three-point possession they could have had if Reggie had just made his free throw.

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Getting all zany

Yeah, the game was all but over and it was time for drastic measures but we saw something last night that I cannot imagine we’ll see again.

About a couple of minutes, maybe three, to go and Jay really tries to junk up the game, sending out a fivesome of Jarrett Jack, Jose Calderon, Antoine Wright, Sonny Weems and Amir Johnson.

Full court trapping with his quickest group and a signal that he was trying just about anything to kickstart his group.

Didn’t work, of course, but I never thought it would.

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Oh, yes, there’s more. Quite a bit.

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Got asked the other day if I’d had an Olympic “moment” yet and figured I really hadn’t.

Have one now.

Clara Hughes.

Happened to be in the press room on some idle time when she won her bronze medal and I have to say I didn’t tear up but it was a pretty emotional moment.

Great kid, spectacular athlete, helluva way to end a career.

Great story hidden a bit, sadly, by a hockey game.

Oh well.

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Okay, now The Chicken has made it.

Never mind getting all kinds of love here, did you notice the camera crew out on the court during a late timeout when everyone’s favourite stuffed animal swallowed a June Taylor Dancer?

Inside Edition, kids. Inside Edition.

I guess that schtick where the blown-up dinosaur gobbles up a dancer has gone viral, if that’s what they call it. Everyone’s watching it, and the big TV shows are all excited about it.

I’m sure fame won’t go to his/her/its head but it’s nice to know we knew her/him/it way back when.

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In Portland, they read this about that game.

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It’s almost the weekend so it’s almost mailbag time and the solicitation shall begin. Send the questions here and please try to limit the rants and the game-specific stuff and I’ll start planning my Saturday night in Oklahoma City.

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No, there was no video tribute to “honour” Marcus Camby as it turns out. Didn’t see him on the bench during the game, which may have had something to do with it; or maybe they just realized this whole saluting of players for a manufactured anniversary thingy really doesn’t make sense.

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Rasho on Rudy, when it was mentioned the somewhat electric Fernandez reminds one of an equally-frantic Belinelli, only better:

“No, he’s a right-handed Manu.”

Probably a more apt description but, I tell you, I like Rudy’s game a lot.

Not sure how it fits with the way the Blazers play, which is at a rather sedentary pace but he’s going to be very good in this league when he finds a team that plays more quickly.

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Speaking of the crowd, it was a rather surreal experience at times during the game.

Nothing of substance happening on the court when all of sudden there’d be a huge buzz in the crowd, lots of cheers, murmuring, happiness.

Yes, there were more than a few multi-tasking pucks fans among us and it was odd.

And here I thought they all had their little computerized devices tuned to the in-game blog.

Silly me.

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Comments

[GM]

Garrett asks, "And where are Calderon's fans today?" Right here. I hope you don't think Calderon fans think he's a basketball god who can never have a bad game. He had a bad game. I'm the first to admit it. And Jack had a good game. I've said it before, I like both those guys. Some nights it's the other way around, stats-wise. And that's okay, too. The biggest thing is the W, which unfortunately they didn't get last night. I also hope you get that for Calderon supporters to show when he has a good game, stat-wise, it's in reaction to all those who ridiculously claim that he barely belongs in the league and can't play. But no one is suggesting every game is going to be good. It's a given with every NBA player.

Bargnani's fake: He didn't get the call last night, and that was the right (non) call. He's gotten the call in the past, and those have been the wrong calls. It's a horrible move, but unfortunately star players get away with it, and it's always horrible. It has nothing to do with the fact it was Bargnani attempting it. His mistake was when he attempted it. NBA refs (who are pretty brutal) go with the flow. If he's been knocking down big shots in a game, he'll get that call every single time. But he shouldn't attempt it early in the game before that's been established. He's not a big enough star for that. And NBA refs love stars.

I know you've been outspoke about this "manufactured" anniversary. But what's manufactured about it? Don't you celebrate a wedding anniversary every year? What is a significant anniversary? Ten? Twenty-five? Why is that? Why is fifteen any less significant?

Reggie Evans should never be involved in another pick and roll. In fact, he should be forbidden from ever taking a shot. But other than that I love him out on the floor.

My silver lining is that maybe the Raps will want to avenge this loss when they visit Portland in a couple weeks. Because I'll be at that game. I don't want to go all that way for a stinker!

[Garrett]

Sean, it's fans like you that drive us crazy. You use one example to create a rule. I never said he didn't help the team vs Washington. You just wish I did. I know he helped the team in that game on those 3 sequences. The difference is that my sample size is a tad bigger. I'm talking 300 games.

Bargnani's not horrible. That's not what I said. Nobody's saying he's horrible. I'm arguing that he's not a star. He hasn't been 'hurt' by Bosh being there, as much as some have claimed. He is what he is. When he plays and he gets 0 rebs (as he's done who knows how many times), it's not because Bosh is ripping them out of his hands. It has more to do with his inept pursuit of rebounds. Simple as that. We've had nearly 300 games to make that point. Just like we've had nearly 300 games to conclude that he's a NBA centre whose top asset is 3 pt shooting. If he pulls down 17 rebounds vs Indiana tomorrow, I don't want anyone to say, "See!" One game does not a reputation make.

Don't run from the criticism, Sean. The only simple-minded critics who don't see the bigger picture are usually columnists (not Doug Smith) who make money off of their ignorance. Think Stephen A Smith. Most fan critics are guys like me willing to see both sides and form their opinions accordingly. I don't hate Bargs. I don't think he sucks. But when Bosh goes down to injury and they rely on him to carry the team and he doesn't- and in fact, his production drops- I don't ignore it like you. I see it as yet more proof that this guy's a 7/10- in other words not great, not awful, but not what you claim him to be either. While you're waiting for the next good game vs Washington, the rest of us are watching all the other ones in between. Sheesh. Sorry for the rant.

[Mike kovacs]

Doug one good thing about hockey today - if that game wasn't on last night you'd be hammered by the negatives today! Best thing on TV last night was the Bobsleigh and China getting its revenge on Korea for 2006 in the 3000m relay short-track ( and Canada get the silver!. What would we do without picture-in-picture?

[Earl]

And we didn't even get pizza.

I keed, I keed!

Sort of.

[manap3000]

hey doug,
just wanted to know why you keep blocking me during live chats? I never say anything rude; i'd really like an explanation for this poor behaviour?

Blogger's note: Because, as I explained to you last night, you sent the same comment about 55 times, it froze my machine and the entire process and, frankly, I will not tolerate one person screwing things up for everyone.
It's not the first time you've pulled that stunt, but it was most definitely the last.

[JHP]

Doug

I tried to follow the game but the internet was not working. Of course will be on tomorrow night.

[Aditya]

kenny smith called milwaukee better than toronto......(seriously).........the team, not the city.....

[J]

Garrett,

Typical hypocritical post there man. Why haven't you pointed out each game Jack has been bad in too? I'm pretty sure Jack has some ugly lines just like Calderon has. I wonder if you notice how silly your hypocritical accusation was.