Changing strategies and watching scoreboards

Rather quiet around these guys these days, isn’t it?

Guess that’s what having three days between games will do. Thankfully, it’s four-in-six starting tonight against Portland so there’ll be all kinds of stuff to dissect and discuss.

Until then …

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It’s been kind of fun to watch the fourth quarters of games of late, just to see what Jay and his staff have cooked up as their big secret defensive weapon.

We’ve heard him allude to it a couple of times, about waiting to “spring” something on some unsuspecting opponent in the final five or six minutes of a close game.

Sometimes it’s a double-team, sometimes it’s a change in how they defend screen-and-roll, sometimes it’s where and when a second defender comes from.

And lately, it’s worked.

But lots of people wonder why? Why keep some strategy in abeyance until the fourth? Why, if it’s going to work, don’t they use the same stuff in the first, second or third quarters?

Easy.

NBA players are smart.

IF you show some defence to, say, a Brandon Roy or a LeBron James, it’s not going to take them very long to figure out how to counter it. It might only be a couple of possessions before they make the necessary adjustments and then they’re likely to have success.

If you wait and use it late in a game and get two or three stops while they figure things out, that might just be enough to put you over the edge.

Really good NBA players, the guys who run their teams, tend to spend the first three quarters or so feeling the game out, getting teammates involved, checking out what’s working and what’s not.

But when it comes to crunch time, they are going to make plays for themselves because that’s what stars do.

And if you’ve got some new wrinkle to show with five minutes to go that you haven’t used in the first 43 minutes, that might just be enough.

Games aren’t won or lost in the first or second quarter; saving something special for when they are seems to make entire sense.

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Because coaches and players like to keep opponents guessing in all kinds of ways, the word around practice on Tuesday was that they would wait until today to see if Chris Bosh can go tonight.

Well, let’s get this out of the way now:

There’s a greater chance you’ll play tonight than he will.

No practice Monday, no practice Tuesday, no game Wednesday.

Simple as that.

Of course, some miracle could occur but I’m pretty sure it won’t.

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Portland started its long trek East by winning in New Jersey on Tuesday – that’s no biggie – but Marcus turned an ankle and probably misses tonight.

And here’s how the Oregonian chronicled it.

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Let’s see:

Blazers-Raptors hoops at 7; Russia-Canada pucks at 7:30.

Wonder what the record is for lowest basketball TV viewership?

And wonder how many of the Irregulars will forsake us?

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It was interesting to listen to Jose and Jarrett back-to-back after practice yesterday when the talk got around to the team’s place in the standings and the next 25 or so games and where they can go.

Jose’s all about one at a time and see where they end up, not worrying about what’s going on around them:

“What happens is going to happen. We can’t think too far, just the next game and go step by step, that’s the best thing we can do.”

Jarrett, on the other hand, is always wondering about what’s going on around him, he made reference to both Boston and Atlanta losing the other day; he knows where the Raptors are exactly and what might happen in they win one and someone they’re chasing loses one.

Not sure which is the right approach, actually.

Do you turn a blind eye to other results and just take care of your business?

Or do you intently scoreboard-watch and update calculations every day?

Either, I guess although I know most fans are in the latter category, right?

I think it’s too early to be too worried about standings and games behind and who has what game coming up. That’s more fun from the middle of March to the end of the season.

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This a tad sacrilegious but I honestly think the Olympics – which are going on in Vancouver, I understand – are far more about Ashleigh McIvor than Sidney Crosby.

But that’s just me.

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Questions and answers, anyone?

How about here at noon?

I’ll be around post-shootaround.

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Because the Raptors run so many players out during a game – a 10-man rotation is the norm – this whole “first unit” and “second unit” stuff really doesn’t carry much weight.

It’s not like they rotate in five-man shifts and Jose hammered that point home again Tuesday afternoon:

“Like I say, for us it’s not more coming off the bench or being a starter or something like that, it’s just a team. We play together with each other, we feel comfortable with each other. It doesn’t matter how many minutes you play with another guy.

“We do a good job in practice and in the game to be sure that everyone’s on the same page so that’s good.”

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Comments

[Matt M]

I'll be there tonight, forsaking the Canada-Russia game. I reserve the right to jump ship if the Raps game turns out to be a dud and I imagine there will be a lot of flipping channels on my part. And I reserve the right to miss tomorrows offering here if the Raptors get blown out, Aldrige and Roy combine for 100 points, 25 rebounds, and 25 assists while Bargnani get shut out in every statistical category. I imagine you will want to avoid your email in that case as well, Sir Doug.

[KX]

Did you see Joannie Rochette's performance?

Blogger's note: I didn't, no

[nick]

Hey Doug,

I totally agree about the Olympics being more about Ashleigh McIvor and Alex Bilodeau (also others like Devon Kershaw and Alex Harvey and all the other amateurs). That hockey tournament would bring on the same reaction from most Canadians if it were held as a stand alone event. Athough we are pulling for ALL canadians (even our professionals) those that only come to the fore every 4 years really represent what the Olypmics are about.

Thanks....

[Wayne]

Hey Doug

Will Rasho continue to play like Arvydas Sabonis, can the bench keep it going the rest of the way does Barg's supply shot blocking to make Mutombo proud? I want Bosh back at 100% nothing less so that he can come back and hit the ground running being the dominating CB4...... "Lets Go Raptors"

[Camilo Pascual]

I wish Canada the best but I will be watching basketball tonight!!!
Hockey olimpic tournament is a overrated I think.
Go Raps!

[Tom Beckeing]

Doug,

I will be right there with you focused on the Raps tonight, we may be the only ones from what I can tell because of all the hype by the olympic puck heads.

I agree with Jose and Jarrett, you will have a goal to focus on and you have to take it a day at a time, but with all great plans you need to stop and take a look at where you are related to the plan and see where you need to get to in order meet or exceed the intended goals.

Go Canada, er I mean go Raps... Keep up the good work.

Tom

[RD]

Doug,

You can move this to the mail-bag if you'd like, and apologies if you've addressed it before:

Your take on professional athletes at the Olympics (NHL/NBA)? Yes, they have the right, but the Olympics can change lives, and such professional athletes already have fame and fortune. Do you feel it would make a difference to let younger athletes have a chance?

Much thanks,
Remy

Blogger's note: I'll try to remember to move this to the mail bag

[Ray Ray]

Hi Doug,

I'll be watching the Raptors game for sure. Olympic hockey is great, but the Raps have my heart.

Quick question, why is the old Raptors logo still being shown on many NBA broadcasts and major websites? Why haven't they switched to our "newer" claw?

[sherry]

I'm ALL about the hoops not the pucks. :) And when I channel surf - it will be to watch the two Canadian teams compete for medals in bobsleigh!! And there's the 3000m speed skating relay that we might get a medal in......
Go Raps! Go Canada!
:P

[Pipit]

Explaining the reason about changing defenses on dying minutes of the game..... Doug, tell us something that we don't know. Your way better than this, Doug.

Blogger's note: I presume all the readers aren't quite as all-knowing as you apparently are.

[Paul]

well, Ashleigh McIvor is far hotter than Sidney Crosby, which is saying something according to my wife.

[Pipit]

It's disheartening that Canada doesn't support Basketball that much eventhough the most valuable player in the game twice in a row is a Canadian. I fully understand why Hockey is having full attention on mostly everybody but Canada has great potential to be very good in Basketball if they will support the game more. They can start on this on having added basketball tv coverage on a daily basis. I've got all 4 channels on Sportsnet which shows zero basketball coverage (Shame on you Sportsnet!!!!) What's your take on this, Doug?

Blogger's note: Sportsnet's out of the basketball business, their decision, no big deal to me.

[GM]

Presumably Jay will throw a new look earlier in the game if need be. Not all NBA players or coaches are that smart. I remember the Clipper game in L.A. Kaman was killing them and Jay changed the look right after half-time, if memory serves, and the Clips never figured out what to do.

I, too, will be watching hoops tonight (this afternoon). Considering I just had to Google Ashleigh McIvor, that's probably obvious. But even if you don't get the numbers tonight, maybe some will do what I did. I couldn't watch the game on Saturday, but recorded it. I eventually got around to watching it on Monday and Tuesday, and I scrolled along with your in-game blog while watching in fits and starts.

[cb2]

you think I'll get destroyed if I walk into a bar and ask them to switch the Can VS Russia to the Raptors game?

[Mike]

It's definitely just you :)

[Andre]

If thats the case, Sportsnet should change their name to Hockey net.

[Kevin]

Hi Doug,

I totally agree with your Olympic comment. I like hockey but the stories that come out about dedicated people who love their sport are much more interesting than the stories about the millionaires. Same thing in the summer. A Canadian upset over the Dream Team (from the US or Europe) is much more interesting than a beatdown.

[Prize Drexler]

Doug!
"Far more about Ashleigh Mcivor than Sidney Crosby" - no, not just you. While I certainly agree the Olympics used to be more about amateure athletes and less about a slogan/dollar dollar bills y'all, I am still a proud Canadian and will therefore be watching the Hockey. A reg season game will always take a backseat to a game of this magnitude. So if you're a true sports fan, I would expect the same approach.
Still loves my Raps!
Also, try not to paint a negative picture of Jack on his response to following other teams. Your outlook of the common fan and Jack's statement draw parallels.
Don't hate Doug, anticipate!