It's hard to prepare for what awaits; and what of Marco?

Man, it’s early out here.

Not an awful lot of stuff off Thursday, actually; long travel day for one of us, a day off for the guys who actually count.

But anyway …

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You know what the worst possible thing for the Raptors might be right now?

The Golden State Warriors.

Really. A team with an unorthodox style of play, guys who don’t have a thing to play for except fun and frivolity and a coach who can run out combinations of players that would appear to make no sense whatsoever.

If there’s one thing Jay and his staff pride themselves on, it’s preparation, knowing what the other team likes to run, having counters for what they do and having stuff in on offence to exploit mismatches.

And I know yesterday they were a bit perplexed because you really have no idea what the Warriors will.

As one of ‘em put it:

“They don’t run anything. How do you prepare? You put your guys on the treadmill ‘cause all they’ll do is run you?”

And there’s the big issue – and the big danger – for Saturday night.

The Raptors aren’t a bad team and can be quite competitive when they get teams that play a more traditional, halfcourt style. Like the Lakers, or Cleveland, or Dallas or San Antonio or the like.

Teams like Golden State? Teams that go all helter-skelter? Not so much.

What’s why tomorrow could be 140-138.

Or 135-78.

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This might have been a bit dicey.

When the Raptors arrived at their ritzy San Francisco hotel, they found the Portland Trail Blazers sitting there waiting.

Portland was in town to face Golden State over in Oakland on Thursday night.

Wonder if the Blazers looked oddly at Hedo when he was hanging around the lobby.

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Oh, can we get a bit more mail over here. Thanks. With games Saturday and Sunday nights, not sure when I’ll get it up, it might end up being an early Sunday morning bonus.

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More time for Marco?

Not sure right now how Marco’s back is – we won’t find out until much later today out here after practice – but if he’s okay, it’ll be interesting to see how Jay uses him tomorrow night against the Warriors.

You know how Jay likes to let players get a shot against their former team – to the point of getting Reggie Evans back a week earlier than expected so he could face the Sixers – and Marco has some history in Golden State.

Figure on Belinelli getting some early run, if he’s healthy.

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Speaking of San Francisco, here’s what the Chronicle had off Thursday’s loss to Portland.

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Buena Vista story time.

For those who don’t know it, it’s a San Francisco landmark known since 1952 for its Irish coffee; in fact, it boasts about having the finest brew this side of Ireland and they are very particular about how it’s made: Warm the glass first, fill three-quarters with hot water, two sugar cubes, a jigger of Irish Whiskey and topped with a collar of lightly whipped whipping cream.

(Late add: Yes, they put some coffee in there, guess it doesn't go without saying)

Anyway, it’s a bit of a rundown place you have to see and last season, on an off-day here, one of the team’s broadcasters (who shall remain nameless) and I do our duty and show up.

So, as Jack (oops) and I are sitting there through three, four, maybe five of these concoctions we do what we do, strike up a conversation with the fella on the other side of the serving area, a guy who happened to a hoops fan. Blah, blah, blah, blah, we prattle on and take our leave.

Next night, Raptors play the Warriors and, if you recall, Jermaine O’Neal first was felled by a flu bug before banging knees with someone and sitting out a half.

But it’s the flu that we’re told is the reason he’s done.

Well, we get back a couple of days later and an e-mail arrives and it says something like:

“I see Jermaine didn’t play because of the flu. Hope he didn’t get the same kind of flu you and Jack might have had.”

It was from the Buena Vista bartender.

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Here’s one thing to watch for Saturday night.

How they get along.

It seems to me there’s some more of the finger-pointing and subtle digs that we saw in November creeping into the picture now and that’s a troubling sign indeed.

Of course, as I’ve mentioned before, nothing helps “chemistry” more than a win or two and nothing hurts it more than continued losses so it could go the other way quite easily and quite quickly.

But right now, the body language I’m seeing and the reading between the lines that I’m doing is showing a team not with a break but one with at least a non-displaced hairline fracture.

It can heal, but it might take time.

And some wins.

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Comments

[Frans]

I hope Feschuk gets a blog about the Raptors soon.

Blogger's note: Will you leave me alone if he does?

[GM]

I've got a theory as to why so many people think it's a lay-up line-up whenever Jose is on the floor. He's not the best defensive player to begin with, but when he was injured last year he was worse, and that's really when this meme started. People hear it, then go looking. And if you're looking for a guy to get beat in the NBA, you'll find it every single game. If you were looking for the same thing with Jack, you'd find it, too. It's a case of remembering the hits (blow-bys) and forgetting the misses (decent defense or blow-bys from everyone else). So for anyone who believes he can't guard anyone, take a game just to chart any other player of your choice and see how many times someone gets by them. You'd be surprised. And while you're at it, follow someone from the other team, too. The Raptor Truthers always forget about other teams. When a Raptor has a good offensive game, no one ever talks about the horrible defense of the other team's player.

[alb]

"the finest brew this side of Ireland" - Irish Coffee isn't really an Irish drink, so it could well be the finest Irish Coffee anyside of Ireland. I would think the finest Irish 'brew' would have to be a Guinness, or a cup of tea :)

I hope I don't sound like a jerk, but there seem to be many trans-atlantic Irishisms, especially around St Patricks day such as green beer, leprechauns and pinching that are non-existant in Ireland. And for the love of God please don't let anyone call it 'Patty's Day' it's 'Paddy's Day' and you sound like an idiot when you get it wrong.

[doug]

if anyone like the above nlogger does, can condense the raptors season into a Jose-Jack problem then they are missing the boat....plus if Doug wants his opinion he is entitled to it as you are yours....but to go on a rant about how your right and DOug is wrong about Jose-Jack situation is absurd as its irrelevant in the big picture....

[Norrin Radd]

@GM..dude, Jose has never been a good defender...right from when he started in the NBA. I agree that nobody can ever guard anybody straight up in the NBA all the time but honestly...ever watch Jose on defense? Please do tonight against golden state...just watch him and don't watch the ball...see what he does on defense....seriously...he could not keep a chair in front of him. He doesn't even try to fight off picks....

@Frans...funny comment...I enjoy Doug's blogs...mostly because of the comments people have...but I too would join a blog moderated by Feschuk

[Aditya]

doug, tell me something...why would jose start instead of jarrett....? (yes you suggested that) isn't jarrett playing great? i can write a paragraph, but whats the use.....(why stress myself!!)

how's a C average...a B is average....

amd jay triano needs to get a couple of technical fouls and get thrown out to send a message....i believe in this philosophy......

oh, almost forgot, carmelo anthony deserves no mention as an MVP candidate....guy pushed his own teammate, chris anderson, to get a rebound for himself and pad his stats....lacks defence (sometimes absolutely non-chalant), complains to officials (ala lebron) very often....

[JHP]

I think injuries have not been as big a factor. They have roughly 95 games missed and Reggie has fifty some of them. I would say there is very little the team can do to miss the playoffs. Here's my random thought on it

- Nets have a very realistic chance of the top pick
- Teams like the Bulls probably would love to swap picks
- Unless they want to trade away the whole team they need a lottery pick
- And of course no one wants to play Cleeveland in the 1st round.

So unless they lose all their remaining games (they are trying) Toronto will likely finish 8th. Play Cleeveland and not do well. The upside is next year they may actually have a 1st round pick but of course do not bet on it. The GM has a nasty habit of trading away draft picks (of course the NBA does have rules :-)).

[GM]

Hey Norrin Radd, I never said Jose was ever a good defender. I said he was at his worst last season when he was injured and that's when the meme started. Yes, I watch him away from the ball and I stand by what I said. What I want from you is to pick anyone else and watch them away from the ball all game. You'll see the same thing. That's what I was getting at -- that if you go looking for bad defense, you'll find it from 90 percent of the players. So start keying in on others just so you can at least rule that theory out.