Fun night, big win and other exciting stuff

You know, if they play like that, you’ve got to think this team’s going to win more than its fair share of games down the stretch, no?

And if they play games like that, the entertainment value goes through the roof and they’re simply fun to watch.

Anyway …

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THREE POINTERS

It just takes too long

It struck me late in the game last night what I find kind of objectionable about the way Chris Bosh played last night.

You know, it’s not that he takes jump shots because he’s pretty deadly from 15-feet and might have the best mid-range jumper on the team and I’ve always been okay with him taking that shot when he’s open.

It’s just that some nights – and the third quarter last night was a perfect example – it just takes him too long to decide to take it.

It’s the kind of offence-deadening play that gets them out of all kinds of rhythm.

No, if he wants to take it because his man’s playing far off him and there are two, and sometimes three, defenders on the weak side waiting to double on the dribble, I’m okay with it. But he’s got to decide more quickly to shoot or move the ball.

Of course, he waited a while and then won the game and I don’t imagine too many of you were too upset about that.

“I said if I touch the ball I’m shooting it with not too much time left on the clock. I didn’t really want to give them an opportunity to get a good shot off.”

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One armed man

I counted four times – and I often warn, the chicken scratch in the notebook may be slightly incomprehensible so it’s more of a guess – that Jamario Moon, er, Sonny Weems went up to grab a rebound and collared it with one arm.

It’s a wonderful sight, a rather emphatic taking of an errant shot, but isn’t it also fraught with the peril of bobbling the ball out of bounds?

But that’s about the only thing Sonny did even remotely questionable last night in what was a pretty impressive game.

Yes, Jamal Crawford went nuts but if you watch, a lot of those shots he made were pretty well contested and Weems made him work on every possession.

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A promising sign?

I’m not entirely sure what got into Hedo Turkoglu last night but he finished at the rim more often in one game than I think he has in one month.

No pull-ups, no avoiding contact, just driving the basketball and making tough layups.

I can’t say it’s something you’ll see on a regular basis – I’ve watched this team too long to suggest any kind of consistency is coming – but I will give him credit for a solid night’s work.

And credit for doing what the coach wanted. Here’s Jay when I asked him about the new-found energy:

“He’s got a little bit more bounce, he’s not limping around. His ankle’s still sore but I don’t think it’s restricting him at all. This is a game where they’re going to switch so we’re going to have mismatches down low or we’re going to have him with speed on other guys. We’d hope that he’d take the ball to the basket when he has that opportunity.”

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More? A little bit more.

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I don’t know about you, but I think that little Jose Calderon fella is turning into quite the agitator, no?

Wasn’t it just last week that he picked up a technical foul after getting cut under the eye and then got himself a flagrant in a game out west?

Then last night he somehow gets mixed up with Mike Bibby early in the second and Bibby get a technical away from the ball; minutes later he’s in that little brouhaha with Josh Smith when Smith kind of over-reacts to a foul call?

Of the Smith thing:

“No idea at all. He fouled me and I just tried to stand up and after (it) was the whole thing. I don’t know if it was with me or with someone else.”

Got Calderon three free throws, too.

“But I missed two free throws so it was bad.”

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The reports out of Atlanta say this.

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Hey, did you notice they’ve banished the infernal drum players and the in-game screamer to a far upper corner of the Air Canada Centre?

Guess they realized that having them set up in a handicapped seating area was probably not the wisest of ideas.

They’ve still got amplification, though, so it’s not a total win.

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Mail. Please. Here.

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Dallas 113, Chicago 106

Charlotte 100, Oklahoma 92

.

A so-so night.

I think what we might see unfold as this thing gets really interesting is a couple of distinct races that will be fun to watch.

Up at the top of the standings, where the good teams live, you’ve got Cleveland and Orlando pretty much home and cooled out at Nos. 1 and 2.

That leaves Atlanta and Boston to fight for Nos. 3 and 4 and I really thin we’re going to see a pretty intense battle between Toronto, Miami and Charlotte for 6, 7, 8.

At least there’ll be something fun to watch.

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So, My Man Jack Armstrong goes on TV to celebrate the Irish in us all by picking his top pubs of all time.

And I have to say, going with McSorley’s in New York, the Kells in Seattle and the Irish Embassy here as his top 3 gets a seal of approval from this corner since I’ve frequented all three – the latter two in the company of Mr. Armstrong himself.

If you’re talking strictly in Irish or British pub lists around the league, though, I’m thinking you need to put on Tir Na Nog, kitty corner to the Garden in new York, on the list and, perchance, the joint whose name I can’t remember on the corner right outside the Target Center in Minneapolis. It’s just across the street from Prince’s place, which is a rather dark and foreboding establishment I’m a’scared of.

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Amir Johnson made reference to the “lucky” green uniforms when he was chatting with us after the game and a couple of us immediately blanched and expressed concern that they’d trot them out again.

Now, I’m no fashion maven (well, at least not a fashion maven with much good taste) but I’m entirely down on the green.

The black’s good, love the Huskies blue and really liked the ones they wore in Spain with the red and yellow piping but the green? Not so much.

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I would imagine Alvin’s going to be strutting like a little peacock today when it’s mentioned that, while watching TV in a post-game bistro (hello, Harbour Sports Grille!), we saw none other than President Obama pick Villanova to get to the Final Four.

Makes me and Super Son okay with our pick.

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Saw something last night that we haven’t seen in quite a while, actually: The bench up cheering and dancing and goofing around. It was during a first quarter flurry under the basket, when the Raptors were actually fighting hard for a loose ball, getting on the floor and, as the TV guys say, “getting after it.”

It’s the kind of enthusiasm we saw often during the middle half of the season and the kind of enthusiasm that’s been missing the last 10 games.

Guess that hard work and effort is infectious and appreciated.

Kind of like you all standing and cheering for the hard work and effort here, right?

Or not.

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Comments

[Peter]

This is me... standing... cheering... for the hard work done here. :)

[Simon S-G]

What happened to cousin sekou? I thought he covers the hawks.
Great win last night, I think it was just what the doctor ordered for this team. It also gives them confidence should they play Atlanta in the playoffs, even with Johnson in the lineup.

Blogger's note: Cousin Sekou's gone over to the bright lights of nba.com

[charles n.]

Check out the broadcast replay:
Jose technical comes after he is bashed AFTER Reggie bashes Bibby with a hip check.
That was the sequence. Bibby was furious that there was no call.
Jose received payback from a Bibby teammate.
Reggie instills fear but we also pay a price.

[Tudor]

Hi Doug,
I was at the game last night... Quite subdue crowd until the last 2-3 minutes .... On Bosh , having the whole field perspective, different from TV , you can see indeed how , specially in the 3rd quarter, clogged the offence. Not only Bosh, but it looked like they went deep in the clock almost every possesion . Bosh's shot looked flat all night like he has some nagging ankle or knee problem. His only 2 FT were result of a foul away from the basket, fighting for possition , but with Atlanta in foul situation. At the end of the day, he was the Crosby of the night, bad night overall (it was one of the worse double double you can see), but made the shot that counted.

[Mat L.]

Re: Bosh holding the ball
I was never a big Bosh fan, I always thought he held the ball too long killing the offence... That was until this year!
I saw it at the beginning of last year where he came out with a flurry, being more decisive (with jump shots, drives, and passes), which resulted in a nicer flow to the offence.... but it faded early.
He converted me this year by starting the season the same way as last, and keeping it up until comming back from injury.
To me this is a case of falling back into old habbits which i can live with (because he is still working back from injury) as long as it changes SOONER rather than LATER.

[Anthony]

A win is a win and lets not talk about "what if's" if we saw a clank instead of a swish on that fall away jumper with 2 ticks to go.
Over all I loved the energy and pride I seen in this game, one play that stood out was Hartford scoring on Andrea then on the next position Andrea takes it quick and strong to the rim, gets fouled and shoots 2... that was a direct answer by Andrea and was impressive. Lets hope this win lit a fire under all of them, time to chance down the Heat, GO RAPS!!

[Mike]

Doug, what do you make of Bosh not acknowledging the crowd when they annouced his Raptor milestone? He hardly showed any emotion when he nailed the game winner as well.

Blogger's note: Nothing

[coachd]

Hi Doug,

A very good win last night. I saw something that I haven't seen from Turkoglu all season-- INTENSITY. He wasn't goofing around , talking to players from the other team or the fans. He looked ticked and it showed in the way he played.
I hope he keeps it up. Key shot by Bosh too, to win the game, in what was a pretty poor shooting night for him.

[Frans]

Doug, can't believe you finally gave Weems some props for his defense....about time. He is our best defender and most athletic player...he should get more playing time....clutch jumper on the baseline late in the game when he just subbed in too....
Great game last night...Bosh was crap the whole game until the final few minutes when he came up big...Andrea looks like he got the message (for one game anyway)...3 offensive board and 11 total.

[LeeZ]

Doug, during the in-game blog, you responded in the negative to a suggestion that maybe they should put Banks in for a few minutes to stop the bleeding on the defensive end. Could you elaborate as to why you feel that way? To my eyes, they were getting slaughtered from the 3-pt. line due to the usual problem: guards drive and kick back out to the perimeter. Banks has proven that he is by far the team's best defender at the pg spot. I would have put him in about five minutes into the third quarter. Obviously, you disagree. Can you give us your thoughts on this? Thanks.

Blogger's note: In the morning? Sure

[Kerry O]

They frown on the standing and cheering here in cubicle land, but if I was ay home you'd get a standing O.

I'm with you on the Bosh waiting thing. When I watched the game I thought he was waiting for someone to cut to the rim or screen for him, but based on his comments that's not the case. That fadeaway jumper was a heart-stopper.

I'm glad they pulled it out, mostly because if they had lost Turk's first big game in a while would have been overshadowed by that missed free throw.

[Nick M]

Agreed Mat L., Hopefully he reverts back, err, steps up to what he brought before he left.

And Doug. I jump off my office seat, step onto the hallway behind me and slap my jacket against the ground every time you post!

[Johnny's]

Doug,

Is it me or is Jarret Jack constantly pouting and being a little bit of a TJ-like suck?

[Shaun]

Hi Doug,

Have frequented the blog, but last night was the first time I sat in on the in-game thingy, and I really enjoyed it - thanks for doing it!!

A couple of questions RE: playoffs:
- Who do you figure takes 5th in the East if you had to venture a guess?
- In the west, the Spurs and Blazers seem to be a tough first round match-up for any of the higher seeds; who do you see as the biggest threat to knock off a high seed in the west in the first round?

Thanks Doug.

[John MacDonald]

I know that at some point someone has asked Jose why his ft% is down so much (17% less, which is huge) compared to last year? Has he given any kind of answer that explains it. I know we can't expect 98% all the time but 90% should be achievable right? Good win last night and they really needed it.

[Vincent Lam]

I believe Bibby got his technical arguing the non call screen Reggie Evans set on him. The play freed up Calderon for an open jumper. Bibby got up limping and argued the entire way down the floor.

I noticed they put Bibby off the ball on defence defending Demar. What does Demar need to do to take advantage of this situation? Learn to play the post? Or just demand the ball and drive past Bibby?

[joe]

Doug,

I agree with your assessment on Bosh. He does seem tentative, thereby slowing the offence down. I have noticed that he does not seem to be as physically big as he was when the season began. He seems to have lost muscle mass. How often do players get to workout during the season?

[kazbid]

you're completely right about bosh holding the ball too long but one of ur commentors is right too..he had stop doing that as much earlier this year and it led to really improved offense by him

its a definitely a regression in his game..he didnt seem to have much lift..maybe he's just tired.his shot's been off since he got back from injury

I heard triano has been making the team practice extra lately? i know u mention the shorter leash in game but is he coming down on the guys harder in practice as well?

[Matt]

Doug, I know it always takes Bosh time to get back into a rhythm after injuries, but do you get any sense he's playing injured? From the unwillingness to go to the basket, coupled with his lack of explosiveness in the paint and on the boards, he looks injured to me. And the team really needs him healthy down the stretch. Thoughts?

Blogger's note: He shot 10 and 12 FTs in Golden State and Portland so, no. I think last night he took what they gave him and he missed shots he normally makes.

[Andrew]

Doug, do you think Milwaukee is a bit out of reach?

Blogger's note: Yes

[Steve]

Hi Doug,
I haven't posted in awhile but I promise I read this every day and have no problem giving you a standing O here in the office .. in fact, your blog is the subject of "watercooler" conversation between a few of us.

On to my point, I don't know why everyone is hating on Bosh for not acknowledging the crowd when they did the points things during the timeout. From my perch at the game he took a step off the block (free throws were about to be shot) and looked around while everyone was standing and cheering. Sure he didn't wave or grab Herbs mic or anything but to make a big deal of it is a little much. We should be cheering because we appreciate him not so that we can make it part of the "he is leaving" drama.

[Pipit]

I love the win last night but enough sugar coating. They just got lucky. The same old problems has been hounding this team for many seasons now and its pretty evident yesterday. The inability to stop Jamal and Bibby's sharp shooting. They should have lost the game with the how hard the Hawks played. They should be thankful to Amir because he's the only consistent guy in this team bringing much needed hassle, defense and rebounding every game.

[Bobby]

@ Johnny's
It's you.

[Jacek]

No one has said it so I will. There is an Carter-esque odour wafting from Chris Bosh... no emotion last game and just wanted to hit a game winner.... beware the Ides of March!

[Matt kovacs-almost 13]

Great win, it has been a long time since the raptors have beaten atlanta. If they do end up facing atlanta in the playoffs, this win will give them a lot of confidence!