Decisions, decisions, decisions. And turns out we are done on time

Join Doug Smith at at 1 p.m. Monday for a live basketball Q&A, as the Raptors get ready to take on the Charlotte Bobcats.

You know what? It was kind of fun to sit and watch a game with no deadline pressure looming and no in-game blog to work on.

But, alas, that’ll be the last time for that this season; we’ll be back to the usual schedule tonight in Charlotte.

And I’m sure some of you will have something to say about this stuff.

Go to it, kids.

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THREE POINTERS

A tough lesson to teach

I’m sure you’ve all read about the DNP-CD for Hedo on Sunday night (if you haven’t, it’s right here) and what it meant to the team and to him.

No one has really covered themselves in glory in this somewhat sordid situation and that’s one of the most troubling aspects of the whole affair.

I have no idea if Hedo was out Friday night eating, partying or just killing time before bed like a lot of us do. But, no matter what, the optics aren’t great and I am sure the folks in the upper levels of Raptors brassdom are singularly unimpressed with having to deal with it.

After all, Hedo’s been a bust for much of this season, this just adds to it.

And I can understand entirely that Jay – and you know he had to have let his bosses know what he was planning to do and it met with their approval – would want to send a message by dressing Turk and not using him.

But I also know Jay could have done a better job explaining it to us after the game. In his defence, it’s a pretty emotional time immediately after but he had to know the questions were coming and could have handled it better.

That all said, the question is: What’s next?

Well, I think reasonable men can work out their differences and get past issues and I would imagine Turk’s back doing what he does tonight in Charlotte. I don’t know whether he’ll start but he should play.

It was also interesting to get the players’ reaction to all of this and what happened in the game.

Almost of ‘em distanced themselves from the issues, we got a couple of “that’s a management thing” and a “I’m not sure what’s going on, you have to ask them” and then Social Conscience Antoine Wright (and I mean that in a complimentary way because I like the fact he has opinions and states them) chimed in:

“We’re in support of Hedo, he’s our teammates, we want to see him back on the court but management is handling that.”

But what about sending a message and the cost:

“I don’t make them decisions, man. I think we need everyone n this locker room to play basketball in my personal opinion.”

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Can’t do their thing

The Heat really didn’t play some suffocating defence in that fourth quarter but the Raptors didn’t do themselves any favours, either.

Here’s one:

They’re up six when there’s a timeout with just under five minutes to go and Jay uses the break to get Jose and Sonny back in for Jack and DeRozan so he’s got his starters on the court for the stretch run.

And what do they get out of the timeout:

An airballed Wright three at the shot clock buzzer after they ran around like chickens with their heads cut off for about 22 seconds.

Hardly crisp execution.

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How’s your hindsight?

When it first happened, I was somewhat stunned that Jose would foul Carlos Arroyo with the Raptors down two in what was a pretty pivotal play in the game.

A quick look at the clock made me think they should have played out the possession, got a stop and then tried to tie or win with a last possession.

(Of course, that’s putting a lot of faith in a Raptors defence that probably would have surrendered an and-one to Wade but that’s another story).

Anyway, up further review of the play by play, there was only a 2.9 second difference between shot clock and game clock (I thought it was a bit over four) and in that case the foul makes sense.

If they play out the possession and the Heat do the right thing and take a shot as the clock runs out, it’s going to take a second for the ball to get on the rim, a half second or so to rebound the ball and that doesn’t really leave enough time to get something good at the other end.

So they made a choice and it didn’t work out because not only didn’t they score but the Heat (read Arroyo) didn’t miss a free throw down the stretch.

But I’m okay with the decision after some time to think about it.

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Minor points and story-telling time

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The Heat do this really cool thing right after the anthems and before the game where they recognize an American serviceman who’s back home after serving his country in one of the various wars the U.S. is waging.

A very nice touch where they have the person introduced flanked by a couple of players as the fans stand and applaud.

Odd last night, though.

It was Joel Anthony and Jamaal Magloire who were at midcourt for the ceremony.

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My man Ira has this to say about that.

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We see a whole lot of Chris Bosh love on the road in cities where he’s considered a good free agent possibility.

Miami, of course, one of them and the guy sitting a few rows up from the court across from where we were sitting holding the life-sized cutout of Bosh in a Heat jersey may win the prize for most creative.

But here’s the deal, there is not a single player on the Miami team not named Dwyane Wade that I’d take in a sign-and-trade.

I’ve never, ever been a Michael Beasley fan and watching that performance against Toronto only affirms my position.

Never mind the atrocious shooting, that’ll come and go, he simply has no interest in defending.

So unless there’s some magical multi-team sign-and-trade rattling around in Bryan’s mind – or Steve Fruitman’s – it’s going to cost Bosh about $30 million to go play in South Florida.

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Hey, did you see that the Bulls won?

Half a game lead for eighth?

They come home tied on Tuesday?

Think the collars will be a little tight?

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Oh yeah, we’ll talk. A bit later than usual because of flight times and travel times and the need to walk around the corner from my Charlotte hotel for a quad vente non-fat latte the minute I get in but we’ll answer questions.

Let’s go at 1 p.m. today, I’ll be here if you are.

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Tough crowd, especially the kids.

I’m talking the pre-teen about four rows behind us last night with the screechy pre-teen voice who yelled “Raptors, you suck” about a kabillion times.

No idea what dad or mom or whoever was doing but it wasn’t parenting.

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So you read how Ira chronicled the game just past, here’s how Rick sets up the game to come.

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Oh yeah, disregard that earlier post about not getting this up on time. Turns out I’m pretty good at this gig and the security torture at Miami International’s relatively new south terminal wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected.

See what I do for you folks? Thanks are always gratefully accepted.

(So are gifts but that’s an entirely different story)

Time to board the big bird for Charlotte. See ya.

Comments

[City Country]

I wish you were more into talking about what is troubling Bosh so. It is at the complete centre of what is wrong with the team right now and something is going on with him. It doesn't have to be rantish bashing, but analytical breaking down of the issue.

[sm]

Disapointing loss last night - I don't have Raptors TV - so I couldn't watch the game. I Tried to follow NBA.com -But you know - It's not the same without Doug's in game blog. It sounds like the fourth quarter provided little effort on D - and The Boys just watched it slip away un able or unwilling to stop the Heat....With the game on the line -mere seconds left in the game - I read - Wright - 3 point shot missed. I just about fell into my keyboard. What makes it hard to understand is that for three quarters they were right there.
Hard to figure out what goes on in Turk's head. I'm not sure the circumstances, but if you can't play because you are sick - does it make sense to be out on the town?
Where's the pride in being a professional basketball player? Where's the pride in giving your best effort for the team that invested heavily in you?
It appears that Hedo, because he isn't the main ball handler, or because he doesn't like the system the Raps play with him, has checked out. Maybe it's time to look at what the guy takes away from the team - and not what the potential is. In the long run - it appears he's been more of a distraction than an asset. Aside from the game against the Lakers I can't recall one game where he's been a difference maker.

Perhaps the Raps take a page out of the Blue Jays playbook. Play the hungry and willing players. Weems - DD and

[Mitch]

Positives from last night:
.
Close to getting a first round draft pick back. May not have to be embarrassed by Cleveland in playoffs.
.
Negatives:
.
BC will make the draft choice. Probably go for shot happy, no defense player, who isn't very athletic and folds up like an accordion under pressure.

[coachd]

Hi Doug,

Something is amiss with this team. I'm sure you'll get plenty of fire the guy, trade the guy coments today, but the root of the problem has to be deeper. As a long time sports fan, I've seen this act play out before. Something has happened , behind the scenes, that has torn the heart out of this club. Not sure if it will ever come out, because let's face it, people's private lives should be just that, private. But, there is something going on with this team and that's why the sudden and precipitous drop-off. It's a shame because this season did start out with lots of promise, but whatever it is has gotten in the way. I just hope that good people don't pay the for the transgressions of others.

“I don’t make them decisions, man. I think we need everyone n this locker room to play basketball in my personal opinion.”

Never were truer words spoken.

[G Keeping]

What will you do with your Calderon jersey when he gets traded in the off-season? You sound like his lawyer constantly defending him. I know you enjoy soliciting comments but come on.....

[erc]

Thanks for the effort you put into this. It's a very good blog. Once we get you straightened out, you might be OK.
As part of this process, have to disagree about giving Hedo a little pat on the head and running him back out.
Instead, leave him right where he is for the rest of the season. Weems and/or Marco will have the chance to step up and be a player when it counts. Or not.
Hedo has had all year to put some effort into his game and this team. An approach like his, from a veteran, is cancerous to young players like Derozan.
He's signed for four more years. Next season, if he reports in shape and ready to actually PLAY, maybe he can be what they shelled out 53M for. Worst case scenario is they miss the playoffs and keep their draft choice. Maybe they can drat a SF who doesn't cost millions of dollars, but actually PLAYS.
You can say not having Hedo in the 4th may have cost them the game. You could also say that if Hedo had been lounging through the first three quarters, maybe there'd have been no game to win in the final frame -- again!

[kelsey]

This Team is hanging on by the ropes. Good effort, but old habbits stay the same, all Raptors did was take jump shots for the last 3minutes. Denver hurt, but this lost was maddening. I lost it at home, slammed down a bottle and had some colorful words, my wife shouted what was going on. Then I realized a "Game" had done this to me.

Ah Toronto Raptors, need a 2 guard that can get to the rack bottom line. Bargnani is just to soft. He allowed Wade to have 3 or 4 and 1's just sick. .5 in front of Chicago. Raptors must make the Playoff's.

How will BC make up for the ULTRA BUST HEDO TURK? What a cancer to the team.

Raps have Cha,La Clip, Phil, GSW,Cle,Bos, Atl,Chi,Det,Knicks to close season....Wow Really need to win tonight.

Doug do Raptors change coaching in off season, I mean whole staff?

[Dan W]

Is it true that if the Raptors don't make the plaoffs they keep their draft pick this season?

Blogger's note: Yes, it's true.

[Blake Kennedy]

I think the screechy pre-teen's mom and dad did a fine job of parenting: that kid was thoughtful enough to recognize that the Raptors do, in fact, suck and self-confident enough to repeatedly shriek that in front of over 10,000 people and that close to the bench of extremely large athletes.

Well, at least they've sucked lately. And their suckitude doesn't look like it's going anywhere anytime soon. I think we should get all the screechy preteens in the GTA to scream that they suck at their next home game and maybe they'd be motivated enough to, you know, not suck.

[Yama F]

Doug, here's a question for ya. Do you think the Raptors have a prayer shot at make the playoffs this year?

Blogger's note: Sure, slim but yeah, they have one

[Peter]

Whatever the situation with Turkoglu, I'm happy that management sent a message. In the preseason both you, other writers, and many fans questioned the need for so much "rest" for Hedo, and I wondered about the message that was sent to the team by seemingly catering to the new "star".

I think the team will respect management who takes a hard line regardless of the value of your contract. It might create a tough situation with Hedo, but it's not like he's been stellar all season.

[Manny]

Hey Doug,

While the Raptors have many shortcomings, they are probably the best in finding ways to lose a game. Games that they dominate they still lose. Not counting close games such as the loss to Denver, as they did enough to win, they have lost every single possible way, from blow outs, last second shots, blowing big leads. Every possible reason: bad third quarters only to be replaced by terrible first quarters, and last night terrible fourth quarter. They've had team meetings, players only meetings.

Obviously there's only so much coaches can do, as they all do their due deligence in preparing the players as best they can, but, like you've alluded to many times, it comes down to the players to execute. It would seem, based on what we see on the court, the players genuinely like each other. So in my opinion, mental toughness seems is this team's number one problem. Can't close out games, backs away when pressure and physical defence when throw at them as they settle for jump shots continuously. This is the time of the year that teams change gears, start playing tougher and more intensity, with playoffs at stake, yet the raptors are the complete opposite.

In your years of covering this team, has there been a team as mentally weak and fragile as this years team is?

[Ben]

We played so well last night... right up until the end of the 3rd where we started to lose that 17 point lead. Disappointing 4th by the Raps, but typical. Mental strength is not something we come by easily, why is that?

Anyways as for Turk, Doug what do you think should be done?

Cheers and thanks for being on the ball this AM. :)

Blogger's note: I think you get him to play better

[Juan]

Hi Doug
You make some interesting points on Jay handling the questions last night. i watched the postgame and it was, um, awkward to say the least with the long silences between questions you just knew were coming. A question for you: one guy (didn't recongnize the voice) seemed to be asking all the questions as it related to Hedo. There seemed to be some reluctance in the asking. Do you as a group select/volunteer someone in advance to make the query in a situation like that, or is it pretty free-flowing?
Thanks

[mdc]

Kudos to Sherman Hamilton for the professional job he does regularly on Raptors TV and the Score. Very knowledgeable, good insight, well-spoken, well-dressed, no tiresome schtick. Keep it up Sherm!

[Tree]

What can be said at this point? Bosh essentially blames his team mates for losses a few days ago with his whole "I can't do everything" rant ... and follows that up with 2 games where he's the biggest factor in 2 straight losses. The Denver game, in the last 1:30, featured him holding the ball for almost all of the shot clock and not moving, before turning it over, bobbling the loose ball out of bounds (with not one Nugget within 6 feet of him) then missing the FT. Oh, and he shot 7-18 and had 5 TOs in that game. Yesterday, he took more shots than he had points ... I'm no expert, but that is usually the mark of a bad game.

So not only does he show zero leadership, he also has seemingly given up. I see no urgency from him on the court, and his post game remarks reek of someone playing out the string and going through the motions. My respect for him has dropped immeasurably in the past month.

[chris]

Wow. Get rid of Hedo as soon as possible. I don't care if he's a good player sometimes. A guy like that can erode the entire team.

How do you feel if you're chris bosh and you work you butt off and that jamoke is the supposed 2nd best player on the team.

Get him outta here!!!! (if there're any teams that'll take him)

[LeeZ]

Doug, what do you make of Andrea? I mean, he gets red hot in the third, looks for his shot, makes his shot, is completely engaged, and then...he goes back to be INVISIBLE in the fourth. When he touches the ball, he gets rid of it like a hot potato, showing no interest at all on the offensive end. I just don't get it. Do you?

Blogger's note: No, not really

[Andre]

now im thinking about it, maybe not making the playoffs may work out for us. We will get our draft pick back (since its lottery protected) if bosh leaves (which i dont think he will) we can start rebuilding. If bosh stays, we can try to move some ppl.... what am i saying? I WANT TO SEE THE RAPTORS IN THE PLAYOFFS BABY!!!!!! get that 7th seed, and ROCK OLANDO's World toronto...

Dont worry fans, they will wake up :D

[Matt M]

Second tough loss in a row. I'm not sure this game would have been won with Turk. It would have been nice to have that extra offensive player but defensively I'm not real sure Turk provides anything. Maybe the Raps will get lucky and the NBA will negotiate a one time get out of your bad contract free in the next CBA negotiations like the NHL did a couple of years ago.
Oh well, the Raps are exactly where they were one year ago. They need a consistent scorer from the wing position who can defend his own position. Not the offseason yet but I'm pretty the offseason is coming real soon, whether the Raps make the playoffs or not.

[Aditya]

After all, Hedo’s been a bust for much of this season, this just adds to it.
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I stopped reading here.....A bust? Are you kidding me Doug Smith? A bust? A BUST? No he hasn't (hey, i am just saying what you were saying a couple of weeks ago, and all of a sudden he's a bust)

[Anthony]

When does the bad news stop, seems like there is some distraction with this team every other week.... I can't believe its got to this point where the season is on the brink of going down the toilet (some will say it already has), we had a legit shot at the 4-5 seed !!!
I still want to see the playoffs even if it is against the King and Shaq.

[Michel G]

The feeding frenzy is on. While Eliot Friedman was commenting on the FAN this morning that Hedo was having a terrible year, he felt a need to state that Bargnani was having a terrible year also. Bargs has his faults but he's not having a terrible year. Many have also stated that we should dump Hedo, get rid of him. I guess they don't realize that this in the NBA. Once you sign somebody, there ain't no going back. Trust me, when Wright was throwing up that desperation three with a few minutes left in the game, all I was thinking was I wish Hedo was shooting that shot. I certainly wasn't thinking about where he was going for dinner after the game, nor did I care. If we were handing out early report cards, nobody on this team, from top to bottom, would be getting high marks.

[Lavi]

Thank you Doug!

[Mr. X]

So someone finally gets some guts and tells Turk to sit it! All of this is the Raptors front office fault. They babied him from day one by letting him sit out the preseason so from there he felt "man I can do anything over here". Look this season is done, Bosh is leaving and this team is in shambles.......Now yo my second point (let me take a deep breath) WHAT THE HELL WAS ANTOINE WRIGHT DOING LASTNITE!! I swear Jay's substitution decisions are beyond me. You have this guy out there chucking airball after brick after etc. Not to mention he's getting carved up by Wade (so nothing is being balanced out) and you stick with him. The only guy that hit a jump shot in the last 5 mins was Weems and you yank him. Damn it, yank Wright! We needed offense, and we needed a shooter at the top of the key or the corner why not go with Bellineli and Weems. Oh! And that last play, even though we never really have a
chance, who the heck was he trying to pass it to? I was at the game and Bosh was pissed! He was looking at him with a sarcastic "that was the best you can do?" Lol