Passion and purpose? Yeah, right

Ah, yeah, that was really something, wasn't it?

Just think, two more to go!

Have fun.

THREE POINTERS

What could have been

You know what I needed to see after that game?

I needed to see a table of food turned over, or someone’s locker destroyed, or someone screaming in anger.

But, no.

We had guys talking about winning the next two (as if) and seeing what Chicago does and how the season isn’t lost because there are still games to play.

I know Jay wasn’t going to do it – it’s not in his nature and that’s simply a fact of life, anyone expecting otherwise is fooling himself – and maybe that’s an issue.

But it’s the player’s lack of passion and anger that was really shocking.

Yes, Jarrett said something about the Bulls coming in and taking it to the Raptors and Jose was quite up front about how badly the Raptors played.

But just like in the 48 minutes of basketball before, there wasn’t a lot of anger or passion or whatever you want to call it.

Too bad.

Too telling.

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Where’d he go?

If I could tell you why Andrea Bargnani got 10 shots and made six in the first half but only got six in the second when the game got away, I’d love to.

But I can’t and that mystifies me a bit.

On a team starved for offence without it’s best scorer (that’d be Bosh), you’d think the players would realize where the shots had to come from.

I know the coaches did because a couple of them told me before the game they needed a big night from Bargnani.

And as I looked down at the bench at one point in the third quarter, about the time Sonny Weems was hoisting his 19th shot of the night, I saw a lot of people who were aghast.

Now, Sonny’s okay and everything but 22 field goal attempts is terrible decision-making. And short of a coach physically running onto the floor to direct him to pass the ball to someone – anyone – I don’t know what the staff could do.

Until the guys on the floor recognize not only their limitations but the strengths of others and make the sensible play, coaches can talk until their blue in the face and nothing’s going to change.

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It’s okay with them

There was no issue whatsoever from any player I talked to after the game about the vociferous reaction of the fans.

In fact, a couple of ‘em might have wanted to boo themselves.

Close your eyes and listen to Jose:

“For sure they want to be in those playoffs and we didn’t show today that we wanted to be there. We played a really bad game and we were trying but nothing worked. For sure, they are going to be mad.”

The funny thing was, the fans were quite involved early, which is a bit odd. Seeing them stand before the opening tip and cheer was uncommon and showed quite the level of passion.

Too bad the players didn’t have it.

But, and this has to be troubling to the big money-counters who live in the MLSEL vault, the game was not a sellout.

Only 19,515 according the official boxscore I got and that kind of surprised me.

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More?

Not sure why but what the heck.

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A telling sign, and troubling

There was just under three minutes left in the first quarter and a timeout was just ending. I looked up across the court and there was referee Mike Callahan looking at the scorers’ table holding up three fingers on one hand and two on the other while looking alternately at either bench.

He was checking team fouls with the scorers table, obviously, but it begged the question:

Why?

What does it matter to a ref how many team fouls there are? It’s not going to affect his calls, is it?

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To recap:

The Bulls have 39 wins, the Raptors 38 and each had two games left with Toronto holding the tiebreaker.

If Toronto wins twice, the Bulls would have to win twice; if Toronto wins once, the Bulls would only have to win once.

The Raptors are in Detroit tonight and home to the Knicks on Wednesday. The Bulls host Boston tomorrow and finish at Charlotte on Wednesday.

Of course, if both teams lose both their games, Chicago makes it.

I’m thinking that might be the most likely of scenarios.

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Remember way back last week when we went through the defensive player of the year and all-defence teams so you could see what way I was thinking? Well, I don’t have a pick for the all-star teams but if I did …

(And, remember, just two guards, two forwards and a centre on each team, no need to be more specific than that)

First team: Steve Nash, Phoenix; Kobe Bryant, Lakers; LeBron James, Cleveland; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City; Dwight Howard, Orlando.

Second team: Dwyane Wade, Miami; Deron Wiliams, Utah; Carmelo Anthony, Denver; Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas; Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix.

Third team: Brandon Roy, Portland; Joe Johnson, Atlanta, Pau Gasol, Lakers; Chris Bosh, Toronto; Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee.

And I understand my friend Ian Thomsen did his and left Bosh off all three. Well, I’m pretty sure I’d listen to argument that way in favour of, oh, say Carlos Boozer or Tim Duncan but I’d probably still settle on Chris.

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What’d KC say about that game last night?

You can find out right here.

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Memo to self: Cancel Cleveland hotel for this weekend.

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Talk about opportunities missed.

Saturday, right after the Raptors practiced at the Air Canada Centre and while the Bulls were working out, the Globetrotters were playing the opener of their day-night doubleheader three floors below.

And the aforementioned Mr. Johnson and I had a little competition to see who’d be the fires to get Washington Generals into our stories.

Nobody won it seems.

Unless I did just now.

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Not sure whether this is entirely worth it but here’s what they’re saying in Detroit about the Pistons as they play out the string.

And, yes, It’s horribly disappointing here; imagine what it’s like down there.

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The usual question and answer session for today – which I think would have been one of the all-time angst- and anger-filled hours I’ve ever spent – had to go the way of the dodo bird.

The smelly Ford Focus will be motoring to Auburn Hills at the time and a session just can’t be squeezed in.

Hold it all for Wednesday, when we’ll take care of it as best we can.

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The Goods On The Game, Bulls at Raptors

All buckled in?

Big game, no?

Have fun.

The cards and letters just keep on coming

Well, another mailbag brimming with good stuff, hope you can get through it before the epic battle begins at 6.

Have fun.

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Q: Hope I didn't missed your explanation in previous blog, Doug, but I thought I heard that the Raptors traded away their 1st round picks for 2010, as well as for 2011? Can you provide details & your insight into these trades made by our TO GM?

Thanks a lot.

Mary-Anne, B, Toronto

A: Lots of interest in the draft pick, given the playoff uncertainty right now.

Here’s the deal, again.

If the Raptors make the playoffs, Miami gets their 2010 pick; if they miss the playoffs, they retain it. They still have their 2011 draft choice but, if it’s the same deal next year as this: If they make the playoffs in 2011, the choice goes to the Heat and if they don’t they keep it.

Under no circumstances right now will they lose both 2010 and 2011 first-round draft selections.

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Q: In your blog you said that you had problems with the public voting for the MVP. You also had problems with the HOF voting being kept too secret. Doug, in your opinion, what is the best way to vote for awards such as MVP or the HOF?

Jay M, Winnipeg

A: With regards to including the fans in MVP balloting, and giving them, collectively, 1-125th of the vote, I think it’s pandering and denigrates the process a bit. But that’s no big deal to many.

On the Hall of Fame, I don’t really have a problem with the process as long as they’d tell us who is on the committee and what the vote tallies were.

In a perfect world, I’d think having a consistent committee or panel of voters for both would be the right way to go, and to make sure their totals were made public.

The NBA, for instance, asks beat writers, broadcasters and team employees to vote and it varies year to year. In some cities, the majority of the ballots go to team employees, and I think there’s a danger there of a bit too much homerism.

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Q: Hi Doug: Well, it's been a weird and at this moment disappointing-looking ending for our 09-10 Raps squad. But hope springs eternal - let's look ahead for a moment.

Q: We know some players do well because of their teammates' skills. For example, does anyone believe that Amare Stoudemire will do as well with another team if he leaves Phoenix and Steve Nash? So, considering our current line-up and who is likely to be here next year, what skills should some of our current Raps develop SO THAT they can improve the play of their current teammates? For example, what if Jack worked on his pick and roll skills, who on our team might benefit? Can you provide a quick list of such pairings for improved play?

Charles N, Toronto

A: I was hoping to do something like this a day or two after the season in more depth than I can provide here but a real quick list:

If DeMar and Sonny develop their ball-handling skills, not only will they be able to get to the rim more often and with more success, it’d open drive and kick chances for any of their teammates.

If Andrea is going to play more in the post, if he develops the ability to recognize and pass out of double-teams, you’d hope that open shooters would thrive.

I think if Amir develops a consistent 15-foot jumper, it’ll allow them to use him in pick and pop instead of just pick and roll.

There are others but that’s for after the season.

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Q: Doug, the painful (literally and figuratively) ending to the season has led my question to be diverted from the action of the game to a question about action on the court. RE: the Dance Pak. They always wear tights, or some leg covering. Is that a league rule or just a Raptor Dance Pak practice? Does the League ever debate the merits of the Dance Pak versus the WNBA as far as healthy positive body image role modelling for young women?

Geoff H, Toronto

A: Oh, it’s not a league rule, that’s for sure. Other cities have much more scantily clad June Taylor Dancers than Toronto.

And I don’t know what the league is thinking, actually, but it’s an interesting situation, isn’t it?

I think the league – and this is from only a few conversations I’ve ever had – sees dancers as part of the overall “entertainment experience” and quite apart from their support of the WNBA. And I don’t know that being an accomplished dancer performing in front of 18,000 or so fans a night isn’t a pretty good role model situation for young women – or even men – who aspire to that career.

Look, there is no question most of the dance troupes around the league are seen as eye candy and superfluous – and Lord knows think there’s too much extraneous crap around game – but I can see how the league reconciles them.

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Q:Hey Doug. So when are you going to write the unauthorized biography of the Toronto Raptors? Would love to read about the history of the franchise from day 1. All the behind the scenes stories that surrounded Zeke's departure, Vince Carter and his beloved 's'mother, the Butch Carter/Marcus Camby-gate etc.?

Shawn H, Toronto

A: When you find the publisher and agent to make it worth my while, I’m in. But I think I’d like to retire from the day-to-day grind before I do it.

As I’ve long said, this organization has been a far better story than it’s been a team since Day 1.

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Q: Doug, what are the rules involving trades during the playoffs? Are 2 teams who are both not participating (the Raptors perhaps) able to wheel and deal while others are playing for the title?

Just wondering if the Raptors can make some noise prior to July 1st when all hell breaks loose.

Shane S, Thornhill

A: Teams can make trades the day after their season ends; for non-playoff teams that’s the day after the regular season, for the others it’s the day after they are eliminated. So, for all intents and purposes, the Raptors could do something.

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Q: I assume, as is the case at most newspapers, you write the article, and an editor decides on the headline (which I assume carries over to the web version).

But your blog headlines sound too much like you for me to believe that an editor writes it for you. Is that the case? Is there a Doug alter ego at the Star who can come up with snappy headlines for your blogs? Or do you just do it?

Tim H, Windsor

A: On all the stuff you see as “news” either on the web or in the paper, one of our crack desk staff does the headline. The morning drivel? That’s all me.

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Q: If a prospective GM was offered any team that finished sub .500 this year, which do you think would make them chomp at the bit, or would it be a picking of the lesser of many evils? Disregard the fact that some of the current GMs are not going anywhere.

Andrew R, Fredericton

A: Well, you’d have to look at New Jersey or New York, wouldn’t you? The Nets have money, a top draft pick and an intriguing piece in Lopez; the Knicks have a boatload of cash and a coach lots of players like.

And you know where else might be intriguing? How about Golden State, some good young players, a new owner coming in and the chance to hire your own coach. Of course, you’re in the West so it’s hard to get competitive really fast but that’d be one I’d put on the list.

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Q: Hi Doug. I haven't seen you mention that Bosh going down at this time of the year provides Colangelo a unique opportunity to see how his team plays without it's star player. I know he wouldn't choose this to happen, but isn't there an opportunity for he and Jay to see, without Bosh, what the team is capable of, the team's needs are, and whether they can compete without him?

Graham V, Vancouver

A: No I don’t think it provides that opportunity at all because that’s assuming that (a) Bosh leaves and (b) he leaves without anything coming back in return. And if (a) happens there is an overwhelming feeling that it’ll be in some sign-and-trade so this Bosh-free team is not the team that will take the court in October.

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Q: Good day Mr. Smith. While I do have yet another question about free agency, I'm not sure that this one has been addressed. Do players try to sway their free-agent teammates to stay on the team or is it taboo around the league?

D B, Toronto

A: It’s not taboo but every teammate, deep down, wants players to get the best possible deal they can in what can be a cut-throat business so they let others take care of themselves. Sure, there can be jokes and quiet comments but everyone realizes this is pretty much a “take care of No. 1” industry.

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Q: Hi Doug. Glad you enjoyed your night off on Friday. As one of the irregulars, I hope you know that you were missed.

I was wondering if there is any more detail you could go into with regards to times when a player is injured on the floor during the game. I am thinking of the Bosh injury earlier this week. In the moment that the injury occurred, I can see that the referees, if they even had time to glance down the floor, might have just thought it was a relatively innocuous bleeding nose, or lip that could wait for a few seconds before being tended to. As it turned out I think that one of the Raptors had to take a foul to get play stopped. I know that your answer in the in-game blog on Wednesday was that there wasn't anything in the rulebook about this.

But I wondered - have you ever seen play stopped for a serious injury on the floor? If the play had still been ongoing in the end where the player was bleeding all over the floor would a whistle have blown? If the player had hit his head and appeared knocked out would a whistle have gone? And also, if a coach or one of the trainers made a move to step on the floor to get to the seriously injured players would they be given a technical or fined?

Just wondering - because it seems like many other sports have a way of getting the play stopped within a few seconds of officials acknowledging an injured player.

Brenda C, Sault Ste. Marie

A: I’ve seen play stopped only because teams recognized more quickly that someone has been seriously injured and either call an immediate timeout if they have the ball or immediately commit a foul to get a whistle.

And I think if someone went on the floor before play had stopped, knowing that there would be a quick whistle coming, the league might turn a blind eye.

But every case is unique and you’d hope that referees would give the benefit of the doubt in a truly serious situation and blow a whistle knowing that the request for one would come in seconds.

Some rambling thoughts from an idle mind

A little bit late and a little bit shorter but, I’ve got to tell you, a night off was a wonderful thing.

Now, to the grind.

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Well, well, well.

Wasn’t that a night.

I will admit, the Raptors-Hawks was on in the corner while Sparky and Durocher and I were discussing strategy so I wasn’t paying rapt attention to the goings-on.

So instead of the usual specific points we like to make around here, how about just some rambling thoughts from a jumbled mind?

We’ll be back to normal after Sunday’s game.

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Making history

One part of the night when I did pay pretty close attention was in the second quarter and my eyes are still a bit sore.

Forty-five points is the most this franchise has ever given up in a second quarter – in case you hadn’t seen that in any of the dispatches – and was a well-earned, if dubious achievement.

And the final four points of the quarter were probably the most galling.

Fouling Jamal Crawford as he was in the process of taking – and making – a three-pointer with three seconds left is just silly. It’s a foul that shows a lack of discipline and that pretty much sums up a lot of Toronto’s defensive failings this season.

Contest the shot, sure. Get a hand up and show some resistance but to get close enough to foul?

Silly.

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I know necessity is the mother of invention and there are all kinds of guys banged up and Bosh was back home watching but …

When I did look up at one point and saw Rasho and Reggie on the court at the same time, it took a second glance to confirm what I was seeing. That might be the most offensively-challenged frontcourt the Raps have trotted out in years.

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Speaking of necessity and invention and all that, it’ll be interesting to see who starts against the Bulls in the epic battle that’s coming.

We saw Hedo back in there against the Hawks as he was against the Celtics – and I’d say that mask is just as ugly as the one he wore earlier this season and I guess that’s what Jay is going to have to stay with given the fact Antoine Wright left the arena last nigh on crutches.

Given his druthers, I’d say Jay would rather have Wright and Weems but I don’t if that’s going to be possible.

But I will say this: He’s got to stay with Amir starting because he gives them the best rebounding and hustle they get from a big.

Johnson’s double-double on Friday was mightily impressive, as was his effort, and he’s got to start against Joakim Noah and the Bulls. It’s not like Chicago’s going to pound the ball inside to Noah and inflict early foul trouble on Johnson and if the Raptors really want to get off to an energetic start, Amir has to provide it.

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I heard Kevin Willis was at the game and it would have been nice to see him, and to find out if he knew my name yet.

Now, I like Kevin a lot, funny guy, chatty, always willing to give us what we needed when we needed to talk to him.

But he never, ever knew anyone’s name.

He spent parts of three seasons here and we probably saw him six or seven days a week, wearing a big old credential on our chests, home and away and the only thing he ever called a grunt was “Big fella.”

Got to be pretty funny about the end of his tenure; I’d walk in the locker room and say hi, and he’d say: “Hey, big fella.”

The next guy would wander in five seconds later, say hi and Kev’d say, “hey, big fella.”

Was comical.

But I do believe Kevin was the one who christened Alvin Williams “Boogie” and for that we can be eternally grateful.

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K.C. is on the same kind of rollercoaster ride as we are here and I’m pretty sure the last thing a guy needs is a double-overtime, deadline-killing game to write about.

But he did, and here's the product.

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I think it might be fitting that the Raptors, in the penultimate home game in the glorious 15th anniversary season, bring back Jalen Rose and Antonio Davis to “honour” on Sunday.

After all, they’ve each played for both teams.

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I will point out that neither LeBron James nor Kobe Bryant played last night.

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Okay, I’ve got about a billion words of mail to answer – you folks are in fine fettle this week – along with a practice to get to and a whole bunch of scene-setting to do for Sunday’s titanic struggle.

I’ll give you one last shot at the mail, click here if you think you’ve got something good.

Raptors pre-game Q&A

Doug held a live basketball chat today at noon.

Cheating the game, and naming the game's top defenders

Join Doug Smith at noon Friday for a live basketball Q&A, as the Raptors get ready to take on the Atlanta Hawks.

Tied for eighth? Bulls at Nets, Raptors at Hawks. How’s everyone’s level of optimism today?

Yeah, figured it was low.

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I think you know my feelings on the Cavs giving LeBron the night off in Chicago on Thursday: It’s a blow to the integrity of the game as well as a sign of disrespect.

It’s wrong, in my opinion, because it screws with a playoff race and there are other, non-essential games (like tonight against Indiana) that he could have bailed on.

And watching that one unfold with Mo Williams taking a series of increasing stupid and selfish fourth-quarter shots; and Anderson Varejao – ANDERSON FREAKING VAREJAO – taking the potential game-winner in the final two seconds – it only affirmed my opinion.

The truth, however, is that the Raptors have no recourse. They can complain, and I’m sure they will, but what’s the league going to do? They can’t change the outcome of the game, I guess they could levy a fine but that’s only money and the damage has been done.

Now, the Bulls may have won the game anyway – although watching them miss four straight free throws in the final 10 seconds makes me feel a bit dubious about that – but that’s not the point.

My point is the Cavs owed it to the playoff race, the league, the Raptors and the game to play their best players in that game. Had they given LeBron Tuesday night off, fine; let him sit out Thursday, too. They didn’t, so he should have played last night.

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One reason to tune in tonight: To see what Turk looks like.

Word we got yesterday was that he wants to play with the broken nose and the mask he hated so much when he had to wear it after his orbital bone fracture is being dug out of mothballs or wherever they stash ugly looking facial protective devices.

I presume Turk gives it a shot at shootaround this morning to see how he feels and, if history holds, we’ll once again be told he tried it but they’re going to wait until game time to make a decision on whether or not he plays.

It’s kind of what they do around the Raptors these days, leave everything until the last minute.

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Still with guys getting rest on the wrong nights and sending the wrong message, the same thing happened in the West when the Lakers sat Kobe down against Denver.

The Nuggets win by two – they may have won anyway but, again, that’s not the real point – and the game could have a huge impact on who eventually finishes second overall in the West.

And it’s not like there isn’t another game Kobe could sit out just because it’s the end of a long season and the playoffs approach.

The Lakers are in Minnesota tonight and if he plays, I’m sure the organizations chasing the Nuggets will feel like the Raptors do.

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There’s this little notes group that I’m a member of, a gaggle of the true greats who send each other wildly entertaining weekly updates of the teams they cover. It’s got guys like Ira and Dave D, Mr. Tom in Milwaukee, our Phoenix Coro-spondent and a bevy of other tuned-in grunts and glamour boys.

Anyway, this is the week we submit our annual awards winners so we can get an idea of what others are thinking.

And because it’s a rather slow day, figured you might care mildly about what I said.

(Now, I have to vote for MVP, coach of the year and rookie of the year in the official league ballots so I’m going to hold those back until I have to send ‘em next week)

But under the heading of defensive player and all-NBA defensive teams, here’s what I sent in, having do to two guards, two forwards and a centre:

Defensive player of the year:

Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City; Dwight Howard, Orlando; Gerald Wallace, Charlotte.

All-NBA defence

First team: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers; Rajon Rondo, Boston; Sefolosha; Wallace, Howard.

Second team: Dwyane Wade, Miami; Deron Williams, Utah; LeBron James, Cleveland; Kenyon Martin, Denver; Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee.

Shockingly, a quick glance through everyone else’s ballot does not show a singe Raptors anywhere. Believe it or not.

We’ll parcel out some of the others like all-star team, sixth man of the year and most improved over the next few days before we get to the biggies at the end of the regular season.

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Speaking of speaking, if you’re around at noon and have a question, please join us at the other irregulars here for an hour. It’ll be nice to see you.

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If you were wondering when we might get a chance to hear first-hand how Bosh feels about his nose, his life and other pressing matters, you’ll have to wait.

Am told by Media Relations all-star J. LaBumbard that Bosh still has the packing in his schnozz (ewwww!!!!!) and not only won’t be doing any one-on-one interviews, he’s probably not going to have any availability with any of us until at least Sunday.

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Last call for mail. It’s pretty full of thinly-disguised rants and questions about sign-and-trade scenarios so if you’ve got something different than that, it’d be nice to see ‘em.

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Right. The links.

Here’s what K.C. did after the drama in Chicago last night.

And this might catch you up with the Hawks, who are reeling a little bit.

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In keeping with a sporadic tradition here, I was trying to come up with some olden days Atlanta story to regale you with and since I’ve told the Oliver Miller goofs around with mascot, Cris Carter wants to fight him, Oliver gets suspended saga a couple of times, it’s tough to find one.

And then I remembered Kloppy.

Back before the Philips Arena was built, the Hawks used to play games at both the Georgia Dome and Alexander Memorial Coliseum at Georgia Tech.

At Alexander, a funky little joint that was the site of the Olympic boxing tournament, visiting teams had to walk down a bunch of stairs and a long ramp to get from the locker room to the court.

Well, Bob Kloppenburg, who spent one memorable 16-66 season as an assistant coach, was getting on in years when he was here. And the walk was a bit much.

I’ll tell you, you haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen an entire NBA team spend halftime on folding chairs sitting in a ramp because they didn’t, or couldn’t, get to the locker room for intermission.

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Don’t forget: Nothing tonight during the game, I have a Mighty Yankees Coaches Meeting And Soiree to attend so I’ll be sitting on stool discussing strategy rather than doing an in-game blog.

I bet it’ll be nice.

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Necessary gambles and odd reactions

I know far too much about nasal reductions than I probably should but it’s all part of the joy of covering the Heroes Of The Hardcourt these days.

And this is all part of the joy of reading about them:

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THREE POINTERS

You do what you have to do

Necessity being the mother of invention and all that crap, there were some moments the Raptors had lineups on the court you wouldn’t see and players who wouldn’t normally play.

And in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter it bit them in the bum.

I’m not saying that’s when the game was lost, but it’s definitely when the final momentum swung occurred as the Raptors went from down six to down a dozen and it was effectively over.

The group that started the quarter was Jack, DeRozan, Belinelli, Bargnani and Johnson, although Johnson left for Reggie after about 20 seconds when he banged up his leg.

The sequence included a terrible Jack cross-court pass that Ray Allen picked off and finished with a layup an Allen three-pointer that came when Marco lost him in a coverage and an Allen and-one as he once again got free.

Tough sequence, turned the game and I know it’s a group that was on the court only because so many players were unavailable.

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He’s right

I don’t know if you’ve seen this morning’s game story (click here if you haven’t) but – and this will come as no surprise to many – I think Jose has an absolutely dead-on point about the boos he heard.

My goodness, it was a three-point game with two minutes left in the first half, a team without its best player was playing pretty well and just because a guy airball’s an open jumper people boo?

That’s ridiculous.

I know there are times when fans have every right to voice their displeasure and Lord knows we’ve seen more than a few of them in that arena this season.

But with two minutes to go in the first half of a three-point game because a guy misses an open shot badly?

Unreal.

Ridiculous.

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A blessing in disguise?

There’s no doubt Antoine Wright’s a bit banged up with a sore ankle and a bunch of people probably figured that’s what kept him on the bench for the entire fourth quarter against the Celtics.

Nope.

Jay knew that he could only get so much out of Wright and didn’t want to push his luck.

“We were saving him to guard Pierce if we had to and when Pierce didn’t come back I thought the young kids were playing quite well. Why risk it?”

Hope it did some good for Wright’s sore ankle but while the Celtics were letting Pierce take the rest of the night off, Michael Finley was making four straight shots – including three three-pointers – and Ray Allen was piling up 10 points.

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Things that might have also been newsworthy. Or at least comment-worthy.

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I always get people asking me what the media’s like in Toronto compared to other NBA cities. Is it as voracious? As confrontational? As big?

Well, you should have seen the pre-game festivities Wednesday.

M. Grange ™ and I counted nine – NINE – cameras set up for Dr. Marks to address the assembled horde and there had to be 25 others sitting patiently waiting for him to speak.

It was almost as big when Jay wandered in and we figured all that was missing was Hail To The Chief.

I, obviously, haven’t been to a lot of things like that in other cities but I cannot imagine that anywhere other than New York there’d be such a gathering.

And all that for a broken nose.

Of all the great medical news conferences I’ve been at with the Heroes Of The Hardcourt, that one might have been the second best.

I remember way back in the day when Vince Was King and he banged up a knee and we were all trying to figure out how serious it was.

I don’t remember if it was Dr. Marks or Dr. Doug Richards – who’s not around anymore – who was trying to explain, in layman’s terms, what “jumper’s knee” was and us trying to figure out whether a strain was a tear and whether HWSNBN was done forever.

We figured that one out – a strain could be a tear but it’s not usually that big a deal – and when we got to Vince about it, he gave us one of the memorable quotes of all time. He was being pestered about the joint and what it felt like and how he’d possibly go on. He says:

“A knee’s a knee.”

And we’re kind of dumbfounded.

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Second to last mail call. Send ‘em here and I’ll try to get at as many as I can before Sunday morning.

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Okay, it’s like 12:30 Thursday morning when I’m trying to get some of this out of the way and the Spurs are playing the Suns over there on the TV.

And at the end of the third quarter I see Canada’s Soon-To-Be-Favourite-Son, Matt Bonner, grab an offensive rebound just before the buzzer and hit something that can only be described as a “red-haired geeky looking guy Sky Hook on the baseline that would put Kareem to shame” and I think:

Is there nothing this guy can’t do?

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So there’s this guy I know who’s really well connected to the Celtics who knows a thing or two about basketball and whose opinion I respect as much as anyone in the business.

And I run into this bloke in the hallway after the game and we start talking about the relative merits of the two teams.

The conversation goes like this. Him first:

“What do you think Bosh does?”

“Six weeks ago, I say he stays; today, I think he goes. July? I have no real idea.”

“He should stay. It’d be great for the franchise and that team’s got some talent. One through nine, that’s a talented team. A lot of talent.”

“I know, I can’t figure it out. Good one night, horrible the next. Makes no sense.”

“Well, they have to guard people. They do that, they can be really good.”

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What’d they say in Boston? Glad you asked. Here’s what Murph had to say.

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Oh, and keeping up with the Chicagos, here’s KC’s yarn from this morning.

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The Bulls, of course, get the Cavs at home tonight and the question on a lot of minds is whether or not LeBron plays, or if Jamison plays, or if the Cavs decide to rest some regulars.

I bet they play and if they don’t, the Raptors have every reason to call the league and whine. And, I would imagine Bryan might, in the course of routine communication, call the league as a pre-emptive strike today.

It’s all about the integrity of the game, and legitimate competition and the Cavs need to play their best guys.

Let’s make another, slightly different sports analogy along the same lines: Let’s say it’s late in the baseball season and a team that’s out of the playoff race is playing one that’s in the heat of a pennant chase.

The right thing to do, to protect the integrity of the game, is for the team that’s out of it to use its best players, like a Roy Halladay, instead of calling up some no-name Double A knuckleballer to make his major league debut.

Save that kid for a start against some other no-hope team, use the best you have against a team playing for something.

So maybe LeBron rests Friday at home against Indy, or Sunday against Orlando or Wednesday against Atlanta, all games that mean nothing.

Oh, and don’t you think the folks at TNT might be miffed if the first game of their Thursday double-header doesn’t include one of the best players in the game.

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The Goods On The Game, Celtics at Raptors

Hi everyone.

A bit tardy tonight, hope you understand; circumstances kind of made it a busy pre-game

Anyway ...

Let's go

Raptors pre-game Q&A

Doug held a live Q&A today at noon, answering questions about Bosh and the Raptors' playoff chances.

No news on broken bones but many interesting items (really)

Join Doug Smith at noon Wednesday for a live basketball Q&A, as the Bosh-less Raptors get ready to take on the Boston Celtics.

Okay, so Bosh breaks bones, they lose a game very few thought they’d win, Boston’s here tonight and then there’s a trip to Atlanta.

But Chicago lost, the magic number is four and I guess it was a bad news-good news kind of night.

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THREE POINTERS

We won’t know

I wish I could tell you right off the bat what the long- or even short-term prognosis is for Bosh and his broken face and nose but the simple truth is right now I can’t.

I don’t imagine I will be able to until much closer to game time; about 5 p.m. Eastern time maybe.

Trust me, I’ll be making calls and hanging out beforehand but with no shootaround this morning (typical on the morning after a game, the Raps will come in around 4 p.m. to walk through the Boston stuff in the practice gym) there aren’t going to be many people around. And that means information might be scarce.

And I refuse to guess what might happen with him because it’s a disservice to you.

The sight of him on the court, blood streaming from his nose, holding his head in obvious pain, might have been the most gruesome injury with these guys since Garbo went down in Boston.

Aside from the dozen or so times He Who Shall Not Be Named cheated death over the course of his career, the Raptors haven’t had too many ugly injury incidents.

As for Bosh, it truly sucks that he’s hurt right now. He was playing pretty well, I know he wanted to finish the season strongly and what started out as the best year of his life back in November and December is certainly not close to that now.

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Stepping up? Or stepping back?

You know my feelings that it’s never on one guy to win games, that it’s a team game and placing blame in one spot is folly.

Well, as I watched that contest unfold Tuesday, I will say that this team stands no chance if Andrea keeps shooting at the 12-37 clip that he’s on right now.

He continues to confound – looking really good at some times, really invisible at some others – and while he has been better for most of the season, he’s got to be great in these final five games to salvage something of this season.

Watching him disengaged against the Cavs when Bosh was having his broken fact tended to makes me wonder if he can.

A couple of times last night, he got in the post and went to work; on one occasion I saw him flash into the paint and finish strong.

But a couple post-ups and one or two flashes won’t cut it.

And this is on him. His coaches run stuff so he’ll go there and he floats, at least one time last night I saw the point guard (and I don’t recall who it was) wave a teammate away so Bargnani could post up a smaller defender and he ended up being moved about 18 feet along the baseline.

That’s simply not good enough.

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I wonder …

When we were talking to Jay one day last week, it might have been Thursday or Friday, I can’t recall, the conversation got around to his newly-minted starting five of Calderon-Wright-Weems-Bosh-Bargnani.

And when he was asked if that’s the group he’d finish the season with, he equivocated a wee bit, said nothing was etched in stone and he couldn’t promise not to make changes the rest of the way.

Well, after giving up 37 to start the Golden State game and 35 last night in Cleveland, I wonder if he might tinker, even under the presumption that Bosh won’t play tonight so that’ll mean one change at least.

Not sure what he’d do – and Wright’s ankle may play a factor – but I found it interesting that even when everyone was healthy and things looked good that he wasn’t 100 per cent sure that was the group he’d stick with.

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A few more tiny items on a relatively quiet morning:

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How ‘bout them Bulls?

There’s some angst in Chicago, too. And KC’s chronicling it and I’m sure having a rip, roaring time.

Here’s what he had to say about the Bucks game last night.

And while you’re clicking to other papers, how about Mary's coverage in Cleveland of that epic struggle.

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Hey, it’s voting time as you may recall (which reminds me I have to get my awards ballot into the league by this time next wee) and there are more than just the usual coach of the year, rookie of year, MVP, all-NBA teams to worry about.

And one of your own is up for a biggie.

The PBWA administers three awards – the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award to a player who does exceptional community work; the Magic Johnson Award to the player who combines on-court excellence with excellence and willingness to deal with the media, and the PR Staff of the Year award to the group that shines in dealing with us.

Well, after our membership spoke, the finalists for the Magic Johnson Award includes on C. Bosh, who is up against Manu Ginobili, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bogut.

That is an excellent group of excellent players who deal with us as professionals and as men and women, they give us time and thoughtfulness and courtesy.

The finalists for the Kennedy Award, our most prestigious, are Samuel Dalembert, Ronny Turiaf, Adonal Foyle and Charlie Villanueva and the PR Staff will come from among Dallas, Milwaukee, Golden State and Detroit.

(As an aside, J. LaBumbard and his crack crew are former winners of that award, which should tell you we’re pretty spoiled in these parts).

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Got questions? Well, I might have answers. Or at least I can bluff.

Be here at noon if you do. With no shootaround I don’t know what I’ll have to add but, what the heck, it’s tradition.

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Oh.

My.

God.

Did you see Charo the other night? With Pam Anderson?

Iconic, I tell you.

Iconic.

And it helped Canada’s own rise from the bottom to the middle.

Still, whatshername of the Pussycat Dolls wins going away.

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First call for mail, although a couple of you are in there already and I appreciate it.

We’ll be back to a normal schedule of game stuff Saturday morning and mail on Sunday this week so click here and send ‘em along.

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