Of Marco and Andrea and a chatty group of multi-lingual Raptors

Join Doug Smith at 1 p.m. Wednesday for a live basketball Q&A, as the Raptors get ready to take on the New Jersey Nets.

It really was just one of those games. No one played well, shots didn’t fall, a pretty good offensive opponent got going early and it adds up to a loss.

Won’t be the last one, certainly wasn’t the worst one, it was just one of those nights that are going to pop up in a season.

Nothing you can do about it except put it behind you and get on with the next one.

But first, read this:

(I know, it’s up crazy early, isn’t it? All three hours of sleep I got were wonderful and it was nice of the indy airport folks to have wireless throughout the concourse so a guy – a tired guy – can do his job.

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THREE POINTERS

Best of Marco

I have no idea where he’d been the last two games – when he went scoreless in a total of about 29 minutes – but the Marco Belinelli we saw in the first quarter last night was impressive.

Not that he had 11 points but how he got them caught my eye.

He made a couple of jump shots – one that prompted an unsolicited e-mail from a friend suggesting it was the first time this season that Marco had set his feet before letting fly – but he also got to the rim aggressively.

Maybe it’s because it happened right in front of me (more on our seating later) but I was mightily impressed with how quick he was and how strong.

On one he simply beat Brandon Rush around the corner curling off a so-so screen and finished with a nice lefty layup.

I don’t know what it is with Marco, some nights he’s got it, some nights he tends to take a few minutes off, but I know the coaches want more of that power and determination on a consistent basis.

One other thing really stood out:

One of Toronto’s favourite plays – and it might be “boom-boom” is to have the point guard dribble to the sideline, hand off the ball to Turk, who then gets a couple of screens from bigs coming back to the middle while there’s lots of other motion, too.

Turk generally drifts to the sideline, or away from contact, but last night, when Marco was running the play the dozen or so times they called it, he always turned the corner and tried to get to the rim.

Didn’t always work but it was a new wrinkle on an old Raptors set.

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A talkative group

Mentioned during the game a few times that the media seats at Conseco – front row of the baseline at about a 90 degree angle to the Raptors bench – are among the best in the NBA at affording opportunities for eavesdropping.

I can dutifully report a fair bit of trashtalking went on during the contest, most notably between ex-Denver teammates Sonny Weems and Dahntay Jones, and that the Raptors as a whole are a chatting group, shouting out plays and defensive assignments and encouragement.

Was a tad confused very early in the game, though, when I heard Hedo chattering away in some language that I’m entirely unfamiliar with and I had no idea who he was talking to.

Well, as it turns out, Hedo was chatting way in Turkish to young ref Marat Kogut (the one that looked like Peewee Herman).

Hedo told me after the game that he knew one of Kogut’s parents – he wasn’t sure which – is from Turkey and he figured he’d just have a little conversation.

No, I have no idea what was being said but it looked quite friendly.

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Good. Really good

I don’t know if I’ve seen Andrea Bargnani better offensively than he was last night.

I know, that’s a “duh!” statement given he scored more points in that game than any that he’s ever scored in a game before but it was the way he took over in the third quarter that was mightily impressive.

He went to the rim and hit three-pointers, had a couple of those two-dribble pull-ups and was virtually unstoppable.

The best thing: How assertive he was.

Even when he’s going good, he has a tendency to wait for the ball rather than demand it or initiate things; there were, I believe, two possessions in a row where he went to the low right block, set up, put his arm up to say “throw me the damn ball” and when he got it he scored.

No idea if that lasts, no idea if it was just matchup driven but it was a welcome sight.

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More stuff? You want more stuff?

I’ve got more stuff.

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Hmm. Let’s see: The last time Toronto gave up that many points was in the now-infamous 146-115 spanking administered in Atlanta way back in January.

Don’t think there’s a team meeting today, though.

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How about those Hawks!

No, not Atlanta.

The Hawthorn Hawks, who opened the Peel Grade 8 hoops season with a 28-18 drubbing (defensive-minded team, I guess) of the dastardly Lyndwood Eagles on Tuesday.

Super Son went scoreless (which means he was as productive for his team as Sonny Weems was for his later that night) but it doesn’t matter, everyone had fun and they got the W.

And you think some NBA teams have wacky schedules?

The Hawks are back at it Wednesday – I know, back-to-backs have to be tough on 13-year-olds, what with the demands of homework and all added on – and that’ll take care of fully half of their regular season.

Really. It’s a four-game season and I imagine being a grunt covering that squad would be a dream gig.

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After they got up and tried to get through all the Colts stuff in the local rags, readers here finally stumbled upon this Mike Wells yarn.

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Speaking of the Colts – and I’m thinking Saints by 10 – there was a distinct lack of hype and hoopla in downtown Indy.

Saw maybe two banners and one flag and the only souvenir stuff was just being set up in a trailer outside of Conseco as we were walking out after the game.

I’m thinking it’s rather understated, perhaps because of how bored they are of constant success, and figured that’s just what it’d be like if the pucks got in the Stanley Cup.

The first round, that is.

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Tell you this, Turk is entirely unimpressed with this whole mask thing.

He told us before the game “maybe not one game, I’m telling you” because he doesn’t like the way it feels.

We never got to see it, but he reports it’s more like a Zorro-type look rather than, say, a Hannibal Lecter thing.

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The Nets, as we know, aren’t good. In fact, they may be historically bad. But, still, they’re NBA players, they might actually play hard and who knows what can happen.

Here’s what happened with them last night as – you guessed it – they lost.

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Air Canada and Canada Customs willing, we’ll chat today, right? At 1 p.m. after I get ferried to Casa Doug.

See you then.

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Comments

[jlongs]

Tough, tough loss. But these things happen (even to top teams) and the ultimate goal is that this type of breakdown happens less and less in the future. Good thing they have a game again tonight. Of course, like any other game, it's a must win.
With Jose most likely out, hopefully DeMar and Zorro are ready to go.

[Matt M]

Raps looked like they were missing two starters and left their defensive energy at home. Hopefully, they find which locker they left that intensity in or the Nets might get their fifth win here shortly. Of course, Indy played like a team possessed from the start, although who knows how this game would have turned out if the Raps got their normal production from their second unit in the the second quarter. For some reason I like Hibberts game, although he is admittedly pretty slow on the defensive end right now. The Pacers have some good role players. Looks like their missing a star or two (who isn't) that can complement Granger, but last night they looked alright.

[Pablo E]

Would Shane Battier be the perfect fit for this team? Is it possible by any means? Is there a "poor man" Battier anywhere in the league? Btw. thanks for your great, great blog.

[mando]

Great question and conversation with Bosh after the Feb. 1st practice, concerning double teaming. Thanks. You and Jack Armstrong are the only commentators that I can read/listen to. Thanks for the good stuff.

[Chops]

On a night where you have Marco, Andrea, and Chris combine for 90 points, you would think it was a for sure win. Do you think they will keep the same lineup tonight? or at least leave marco in as a starter? Or will this affect the bench again.

Blogger's note: If Turk can't, I think they'll stay the same

[brennan]

"Hmm. Let’s see: The last time Toronto gave up that many points was in the now-infamous 146-115 spanking administered in Atlanta way back in January. "

---> was this in January?

Blogger's note: No, it was way back in December. I'll chalk it up to typing at 3:30 a.m. :)

[greg]

i dont even wanna talk about the game, those tiny pacers are just too fast. Speaking of the NFL, when is Pittsburgh getting an NBA team? :)

[Penny]

Calderon wasn't on the floor at the beginning of the 3rd quarter when we went from 5 points down to more than 15. Who are the Jose detractors going to blame all the blowbys and turnovers on this time? CB4 and AB had fantastic offensive games but their defense along with everybody else's on the team was terrible.

[sara]

3 notes on yesterday's game:
- Next time against Indiana , can someone inform JJ that , now , he is wearing a Raptors uniform ?
- Calderon got injured jumping on Jack foot . A sort of 'message' for Triano : don't play them together
- Grabbing 29 rebounds in 2 games have really shocked Andrea . So he's making any effort to run away from them.

[Fritz]

Hi Doug;
I don't know if you caught it but there was a funny moment last night when Jose was coming in for Marco. As they passed each other at the scorers bench they did a hand slap (normal) and then did a quick embrace like they were going to dance. It only lasted a second and they both gave a kind of sheepish "What are we doing?" look before passing each other. It was LOL funny; at least to me.

[Lawrence]

Feel real real bad for the nets. Seems they have fallen victim of the Vince "Depart"er curse, and got the "Bring me to the team who won the eastern conference last year in replace for nobody's." Aside from the 4-43 record, You know its bad when you have "The Hump" in there on a tied game with 40 seconds to go. Really feel sorry for these guys.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

I really like this team--it's the kind of squad you can get behind and root for. They are unlike any other NBA club, with the game's best power forward, a seven foot tall Italian three point assassin and enough other characters to cast a sitcom around (especially Belinelli).

BUT I think Britt Robson's on-line article about Bosh yesterday asks an excellent question: is Bosh an alpha-star who can be the cornerstone of a championship team or more of a beta-star (like Pau Gasol) who needs to be paired with a world-class, cold blooded scorer at the two or three? If I'm not mistaken, you've said once or twice that a good slasher would could come in handy for the Raptors.

I tend to think that if Bosh is ever going to win a championship he's going to do it running alongside someone like D Wade, Joe Johnson or even Ray Allen (though he's getting old).

So, assuming that Bosh re-signs here next summer, can you ever envision Coangelo being able to open up the MLSE wallet to go and get one of these guys via free agency, rather than watching Bosh head off to Atlanta or Miami? Would the Raptors brass ever let the GM head into luxury tax territory to make Toronto a contender? I think I already know the answer, but I wanted to hear what you think...

Thanks Doug. Excellent blog as always...

AG

Blogger's note: In the event Bosh re-signs (or leaves in a sign-and-trade), all Toronto would have is the mid-level exception to use on free agents. And I'm beginning to think more seriously that, yes, Bryan could convince the board to be a tax team for the right guy. No, I have no idea who that guy might be.

[James Online]

Conventional wisdom is that Marco should come off the bench to give the team a spark. Indeed, he has done that often. But Marco's excellent performance yesterday stems from the fact he started and got enough minutes to be effective.

He often comes off the bench with the team behind and has to play a different way. Yesterday he could more calmly and confidently go about his work, and look what happened. Much more confident with his shot, and went to the rim well too. His rebounding was good and his passing, as usual, excellent.

Raps got nothing at all out of Weems (who started!), and Jack, Wright, and Jose were all bad too. 3 for 23 shooting!

I'm still unconvinced that the Raptors' stand around offense is all that effective. Bosh is a fabulous player, but when everbody clears out for him to patiently start his move, there is no offensive energy or rebounders in position. Bosh makes it; good. He doesn't? Back on D.

DeRozan: high flying athlete. Marco: basketball player.

[Steve]

Disappointing night for the good guys.

On many occasions when the Raps were down big, as they were last night, I would shrug and turn off the game to find something more productive to do with my time and catch up with the box score in the morning. Not last night. With their improved play over the past several weeks and the four come from behind wins during the streak, I thought they could still make it close. They lost, but they didn’t stop fighting when they could have easily, and have in the past, rolled over in the fourth. As much as anything else that’s a testament to where this team is now.

[Jacques]

It looks like Boston wants to move Ray Allen. Would there be any interest from BC.

Blogger's note: I'm told no.

[Mike kovacs]

I think last night shows too how much this team needs Turk's steady hands on the ball. Anyway see you at the game tonite!

[Anthony]

Dems the breaks, We get on a nice role and have Turk, DD and now Jose go down... Bosh put up another beast of a line but just wanted enough without a bit more help.
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I expect DD back next game and a masked Turk should be back with 1 week max but how serious is Jose, I watched the reply and he rolled it pretty good.

[Bill]

Doug, you start off by saying: "A pretty good offensive opponent got going early and it adds up to a loss"

The Pacers are only a "pretty good offensive opponent" against a "poor effort on the defensive end" team like the Raptors last night. The Raptors gave up 130 points to a team that over the season doesn't even average 100, and by the way they are middle of the road offensively and scored the majority of their points on the inside, so one cannot claim "a hot shooting team got the better of the Raptors". Piss poor effort on the Raptors defensive end which not surprisingly resulted in (in my eyes) an ugly loss over a great stretch of games for the Raptors.

[Thane]

Hypothetically, Doug (and yes, I know you hate this) But if Bosh were to re-sign, we wouldn't only be limited to Free Agents, would we?

I mean, assuming another superstar were not to re-sign with their team (we're looking at you, Wade), we'd be allowed to have Miami sign and trade him to us, if he wanted to join Bosh, no?

As long as we could make the money work (trade-wise) (and we could, although we'd have to shake up our starters and rotation) and convince Wade to join us (and convince Miami to get something in return) is there anything preventing us from doing something like that - regardless of our cap situation?

Blogger's note: If they could find the money without gutting the team, that scenario could be played out, yes.

[T I]

I was worried this would happen - Wright plays a few bad games and all of a sudden thinks he is a 3 point specialist even though he's like a career 30% shooter. Out of his 0/8 effort last night from the field, 5 of them were three point attempts.. FIVE?!?!? absolutely ridiculous. I don't care how good of a defensive player people think he is, he has no value when we waste posessions on such foolishness.

p.s. Saints by 10? Ya right.. if the saints win they squeak by barely.. if anyone is going to win by 10 points its the colts.. this is their year - they are essentially undefeaded in all games they've tried to win (u can forget the backup games). Manning is playing on a level never seen before by a QB and should be appreciated by all while it lasts.. It would be like watching Jordan in his prime whether you liked the Bulls or not - u just embrace and cherish those teams because guys like that don't come around twice in a lifetime. No offense to New Orleans but they are majorly overrated.. losing to Tampa? ppppplease.. Colts by 10

[Freddy]

Interesting comments in the Indy paper, with most commenting that Jim O'Brien is disliked and has been tuned out by his players. Have you heard anything supporting this, Doug?

Blogger's note: Only small snippets but I'm not around enough to have really formed an opinion

[Ecnerwal]

It looks like Boston wants to move Ray Allen. Ray Allen once said he loves Toronto and wouldn't mind playing for the Raps. Is there a chance we can trade Vince Carter for Ray All...oh wait, that ship has sailed and left.

[The J]

Anyone else think Jarrett Jack pulled a Tanya Harding last night? I mean, Calderon has been looking more and more ready to take back his starting spot and then...BAM! Jack hits him with the well-placed foot. This may sound like a far-fetched conspiracy theory, but from now on I'm calling Jack: Gilooly (Sp?).

[Paul B]

I wonder if Jose's injury makes the rumoured Banks trade "negative"

Blogger's note: No, it has nothing to do with anything, I'm told

[Perry]

Complacency kills. I don't understand how people are not more perplexed by this loss. So many reasons, perhaps too many to name, but here are a few:

- The Raptors just beat this pedestrian Indiana team on Sunday, and handily at that. Now they lose handily. Sure, Turkoglu might've been missing but when did Turk become Anthony Mason? How can his absence possibly be used to explain how the Pacers went off for 130 last night- with incredible "points in the paint" numbers to boot? Are the 17-32 Pacers an offensive juggernaut that the rest of the league has simply not yet discovered?

- Even our favourite blogger was anticipating a letdown. Am I alone in thinking that expecting the unexpected might be a cause for concern? A "trap" game is not a trap game unless it comes by surprise. How could the team have let this happen? Where's the pride?

- I see a lot of people praising Andrea Bargnani for his career high in points this morning. Let's be honest- if we're talking about statistics that mean nothing, I'll have to remember that one. What did AB put up in the 3rd? 17? More? And the Pacers shot the ball at 76.5% in the same quarter (42 points!), growing their lead from 5 to 15? How much were Andrea's points really worth to the cause?

I promise you, if anybody dares to watch the third quarter again, keep an eye out for Andrea's horrific defensive performance throughout, and even Jose Calderon's in his very short time on the floor. My wife was watching with me and she thought they were "doing it on purpose."

This game was not about the Pacers hitting their shots- I don't know if they took many shots to be honest, but I sure remember a lot of layups! This game was about the Raptors (with a few exceptions, namely Chris) taking their foot off the pedal and throwing a game in the trash because they had won 5 in a row coming in and winning 7 of 8 is "not bad". Read those two words again and tell me you can't recognize the stench of complacency.

Toronto fans deserve more than this. It's surprises me how they don't feel the same way.