Hardly a game worth remembering, wasn't it?

Well, that was hardly worth it, was it?

Stinky game, no question; worst one in some time and who knows what kind of effort we might see tonight in Houston.

But until then, here are some points to ponder:

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THREE POINTERS

Seen enough?

Everyone loves Reggie Evans, right?

Knocks people around, rebounds like a dervish, brings the energy and effort everyone expected when he was acquired last summer.

Great that way.

Offensively? Not so much.

I know he had a pretty big night the other night against Cleveland and that was good to see but there are just too many times the ball goes into the post and it never comes back out for my liking.

And I presume too much for the coaches , too.

The trouble, of course, is that when they pass it in there, they fully expect it to be kicked out so the ball can be swung and open shots created.

Until they get that more often – and I know the issue will be raised in video sessions by the staff – the offence is going to bog down.

You can’t simply say, ‘don’t throw it in there if he’s not going to throw it back out’ because it’s an integral part of what the Raptors do on offence. If you entirely ignored the post, it’d be almost like playing four on five offensively; teams would be able to cheat off Evans all the time.

No, the answer is to impress upon him the need to do what’s proven to work best.

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The wall? Yeah, it must be a wall

Something’s got to give with DeMar DeRozan because what they’re getting now simply isn’t good enough.

Maybe it is that infamous rookie “wall” – this is, after all, about twice as long a season than he’s ever had and there are 20-something games to go – but his drop off some nights is startling.

Last night, he had a couple of turnovers handling the ball going to the rim – a couple of bad-news, good-news plays, I guess – but once again found himself settling for jump shots.

On one play, Kevin Durant played so far off him it was shocking, daring him to shoot. He did. He missed.

Now, I’m not suggesting they take him out of the lineup or anything radical like that; I still think the minutes he’s getting are good for his long-term development and he’s still not on the court at crunch time.

But I do think he needs to pick up the effort a little bit.

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Turk on refs

Last couple of games, we’ve seen Hedo sitting earlier than anyone would like because he picked up a couple of quick fouls and there seemed to be more chirping at the refs from him, the coaching staff and the entire team than there usually is.

And Turk insists it’s a bit out of the norm:

“I never talk bad about officiating, it’s not in my character. We all make mistakes, sometimes they don’t see things; I don’t think they did anything on purpose.”

Of course, he’s been around the league long enough to know how to force refs to blow their whistles:

“If we take it to the hole we have to take it stronger so we can show there’s contact and a foul; just play like that. Tonight I know maybe they miss a few …”

Given what happened at the end of the Cleveland game, wonder if he listens to his own advice?

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More? If you insist, yes, more.

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Oh yeah, there was all kinds of interest among the Raptors in the big pucks game of Sunday afternoon.

Some good natured trash-talking, too.

Let’s see, in the locker room when I was there during the overtime, Turk was paying pretty close attention (and jokingly mocking the Canadians), Patrick O’Bryant was paying rapt attention and Andrea was checking out the game when he came back in from warming up.

And Antoine Wright knew how big it was in our country compared to his. He said if the Americans won, they’d get on a Wheaties box and be forgotten in a week; in Canada, those guys are now national heroes and jerseys will be jumping off the shelves. Pretty good observation.

Toss in all the support staff watching and cheering and the coaches checking out the OT in the office (none of us cared that Jay was 15 or 20 minutes late for his pre-game media thingy, there were other ways to occupy our time) and it was pretty cool, actually.

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Here’s a quirky thing they do at Thunder games, something I thought they only did in New Orleans.

They have an invocation before the game; guy comes out, stands at midcourt and offers a substantial prayer right before the anthems.

Not sure how I like that. It seems a bit presumptuous and entirely out of place before a sporting event.

But that’s just me, a doofus.

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Speaking of Oklahoma City, when they got up Monday morning this is what they read about that game.

And speaking of Oklahoma City, it could grow on a guy. I get a kind of Charlotte feeling from it, cool downtown restaurant-bar district, nice arena right in the heart of the city, very nice citizenry.

And as I was wondering Saturday night, happened across a local place that advertised 250 different kinds of beers and I figured there had to be one I liked.

Turns out there were three:

Samuel Smith’s nut brown, a local draught called Coop DNR and an Italian one I hadn’t tried before, Moretti LaRossa.

All good finds.

I’ll come back here next year for sure.

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Saw something in the game last night I seldom see and something I’m sure drives coaches batty.

Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka got hit with a delay of game call in the third quarter for checking the game with his shirt untucked.

Yep, in This Man’s NBA if you sub in a game and take off your sweats and don’t have your shirt tucked in, it’s an automatic call.

I can’t wait for the day that happens on the second delay of game call against a team – a call that would result in an automatic technical foul.

It amazes me, the picayune stuff the league keeps its eye on.

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I’d say it’s going to be odd going to Houston and not seeing either Yao or Tracy play against the Raptors but, for the life of me, I can’t remember the last time they were in a game against Toronto at the same time.

Anyway, Jonathan’s got this to say about the Rockets this morning.

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You like that Thunder team?

I do, quite a bit.

But, and this is a big but, I don’t know how they’re eventually going to be able top pay all the good young players they’ve got.

Durant’s a stud, Westbrook is really, really, really good and I think Jeff Green has oodles of talent. Toss in Harden, the Ibaka kid looks promising and I’m a big Sefolosha fan.

How they keep ‘em all is beyond me; it kind of reminds me of what Chicago was a few years back, loaded with kids they couldn’t keep.

But for now? The Thunder’s fun to watch.

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Comments

[HopeCaper]

Hey Doug, nice one on the brews. I'm always looking for new ones. Dirty weather in the "Merrytimes" or least it is by the Bay.
Reggie breaking in really shows how chemistry is affected, the team looked unsettled and I knew it shouldn't be the hangover from the "game".
To me it looks like DD is trying to create off the dribble so maybe not getting the ball where he likes it? Somebody needs to tell Andrea that Chris is not in the game and he has got to go to the boards. At times he looks lost in his adjustments with CB4 absent.
Jack is a great slicer dicer but sometimes his poor passes just stops the offence. I think Turk needs the ball more when he is on the floor with JJ.
Anyway hope the boys don't get discouraged and just focus on getting better. Enjoy the weather, surely it has warmed up down there by now?

[Jerry]

I think Reggie is great for a few minutes and gets an amazing amount of rebounds per minute. The problem I have is it is pretty much 4 on 5 on the offensive end. Reggie is very entertaining but 4 on 5 is not a very good formula for winning games.

[chris]

One way to make it work financially is by trading some of that young talent for Bosh, and drawing in a fan base from Texas (he grew up 3 hrs away......LOTS of texans within a 2 hr drive).

Wouldn't Bosh look beautiful beside Durant and Westbrook or Harden? If he does leave Toronto, that's where i'd like to see him go.

[David]

I'm scratching my head in wonder that three players not named Patrick O'Bryant had more shots last night than Andrea Bargnani. Side pick and roll? Run him off a screen, set a pick for him to take a step-back midrange shot? I'm baffled why Triano hasn't adjusted the offence in Bosh's absence to push more of it through Bargnani. What gives, Doug? Is the coaching staff even trying to develop him as a second option to Bosh?

[Dan W]

I know Reggie is an excellent rebounder and brings good hustle on defense. But Amir brings all those things too and adds shot blocking and a much better ability to finish plays around the rim. I find Reggie really disrupts the flow on offense and does not know his limitations. He is alot Like Kris Humphries in that he likes to look for his own shot alot more the he should.

[greg]

Re: prayers before games.

Thats the difference between Canadian and American i guess. Canadians as host will not do anything deliberately that may offend, or make one uncomfortable, Americans dont care, especially in the midwest. Basically, If you don't like their prayers or open displays of faith, you can always just ignore it.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Hey Doug, Happy March!
Pre-season tote board review – Let’s see here, the call in October was for 48 W’s. A bonus Lakers’ win put the Raps one game ahead of that pace through January. The February call was 8-2. Oops. Going 5-5 instead, the Raps are now 2 games behind the projection, or 46 W’s – that is, "if" they can get healthy and workmanlike enough again here to stay on track with a 10-6 March and a 5-3 April.
Or not. Cuz, hey, forecasting W’s and L’s is almost as foolproof as forecasting injuries and trades, no? Yeah, and maybe they’ll go off for 50 W’s. That’s why they suit up, and that’s why we watch. Ball. OT for gold. Go Raps!! Cheers.

[Tiger]

Bas---ket---ball... bas-ket-ball... basketball...

Sounds vaguely familiar... remember something about cutting a hole in a peach basket...

But all I seem to recall is white, green, rain, fog... a bit of bronze, a bit of silver...

...lots of amber refreshments...

...and GOLD!

...and how just a few people can make a nation proud...

AND HOW ONLY ONE THING CAN SPARK A NATION-WIDE PARTY IN THIS COUNTRY!!!

No apologies for that from here.

[Penny]

Doug- painful to watch the game last night. Something has to be done to get the team to start the game with more energy - Jack only seems to come alive sometime after the second unit has been in to show him how to do it and somehow, those early turnovers have got to stop. The second unit can not continually be expected to play catchup - last night it was 16 points when they came in. I agree with you about Reggie - the second unit's offense used to flow really well but ever since he has started playing, it also is bogged down.

[Boko]

I was surprised when I saw Reggie & Amir on the floor at the same time. Can't we alternate Andrea & Rasho at C, & Reggie & Amir at PF (I like Andrea & Reggie on the floor together, along with Rasho & Amir together)?

I also still !@#$%^&*()_+| when Antoine foists a 3 pointer. I don't care how much he's practiced. There are other better 3 point shooters on the team. He kills the possession. That's NOT why he's out there, and he should be sat down just like others that do what they're NOT supposed to do.

[Ali]

I would love to have Sefolosha on this team. I would say he's a top five perimeter defender.

[camilin]

The Raptors are being a bit too indulgent with this Kid DeRozan.
He is naturally inmature because of his age and maybe he is not or will not be simply as good as the Raptors would like him to be.
He averages 21 min/game. I think when the team is struggling like it is now they should cut down his minutes to no more than 15 mins/game.
and by the way Finally Doug admits there is an issue with DeRozan being effective, dont take him out of the starting spot, but at least cut down his minutes if the team is struggling to win games.

[Pipit]

Seeing this team without Bosh is evidently showing how bad the team need this guy. Him not playing is making him more a wealthy man this summer. It also shows that Andrea and Hedo is not capable of lifting this team on a daily basis. They're not players wherein you can build a cornerstone to. And by the way, when you see a team having Reggie as their primary low post threat, that significantly means that this team is just shooting for the lottery. Bryan, you have so much work to be done.

[greg]

Don't know if you were keeping up with scores, but the Nets beat the Celtics, really anybody can beat anyone in this league huh. Pretty interesting.

[Pipit]

Doug, what are you suggesting DeMar to do when his defender is daring him to shoot a wide open shot? To not take it? When your playing the shooting guard or the small forward position, you have no choice but to take those open shots or else the whole offensive play will be a mess. So what's the reason of diagramming a play if you have open shots and your not taking it? It's either he takes and makes those kind of shots given to him or sit his huge butt on the bench. We have a lot of guys in the wing position who will gladly take all the opportunities that he's having right now. And by the way, DeMar is not hitting any imaginary rookie wall as you're saying. There's not even any wall to begin with. He's an overrated rookie who doesn't deserve to be in a starting line-up. From the beginning of the season until now, there is no wall whatsoever since he's play is ranging from poor to mediocre. For God's sake, he didn't even made the rookie-sophormore all stars. He might be the first starting rookie in the NBA who didn't made that exhibition game. Correct me if I'm wrong Doug because that's a good mailbag question for you.

[joe]

Doug,
Agree with your assessment on the Thunder. They, the Grizzlies, and the Hawks are three real good athletic teams which the Raptors have trouble with since they don't have the athletes to keep up with them.

How do you compare the Hawks and Thunders? Any similarities/differences?

Blogger's note: I guess the best way to put it is Oklahoma City is the Atlanta of two years ago, promising and trying to figure things out and grow together

[JoeRed]

doug
i think one of the reasons toronto plays badly with these western teams (portland, oklahoma) is because we play them only couple times during the season, and thus scouts dont do/care about good homework on researching these teams

[Jeff Steele]

Was the pucks game yesterday possibly the best sporting event in the history of Canada? I was downtown in Vancouver yesterday and it was unlike anything I have ever witnessed in my life. Feels good to be a Canadian today, doesn't it?

[Mike kovacs]

Doug is the Ref Brothers from last night always 'below average' or just when he is calling games that The Raps are in?

[The J]

Doug,
Normally I enjoy your blog's and agree with much of your comments and analysis. However, today I believe you went too far. To refer to Doug Smith, one of our most beloved sports writers, as a doofus probably crossed a line somewhere. I am all for opinion and free speach, however, questioning a favorite blogger is something that should never be tolerated. If it wasn't for Doug Smith we would all be on RealGM wasting our days coming up with trade scenarios that could never happen. I just don't think opinions on sports writers belong in a sports blog.

[chris]

btw, Doug -- curious on your opinion of Durant. How'd he look yesterday?

Blogger's note: Really, really good

[Aditya]

The trouble, of course, is that when they pass it in there, they fully expect it to be kicked out so the ball can be swung and open shots created.
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you wrote about this a couple of days ago as well, but how are open shots going to be created? if and when reggie evans passes out of the double team? its not like he's getting doubled team or seeing multiple defenders (at least i don't think, been busy, missed the last couple of games)

Blogger's note: Screens, off-the-ball movement, Basketball 101

[Peter]

Gotta agree with the comment by "The J" posted at 1:09 pm. You crossed a line there! We don't tolerate personal attacks in this little corner of the interweb.

[aj]

Charles Oakley is still laughing on Andrea Bargnani. "You ain't going nowhere with 7-footers shooting three-pointers."

[doug]

I am confused....didn't Doug refer to himself as a doofus??...or did someone call him one I looked on all the postings i couldn't see it....anyways people need to relax, as Bosh one of the top 5 players in the league is out....we are scrambling, I never saw the game but it is what it is right now....when a player of Bosh's caliber goes down others need to step up but they also can't be expected to do more then is expected of them....right now the DeRozan's,Evans etc are being grilled and questioned...if Bosh wer ehere it wouldn't be occurring, we just have to be patient....he is a coveted free agent for areason...easy to take him for granted...