Another key cog on the market and we need a Canadian bag man

A few questions linger over the latest in L’Affaire Bosh, and I know there are many more to come.

Are we talking semantics here? Was Friday’s “news” actually remotely close to news?

Can it be mid-July yet?

Anyway, it’s what I do so I better do it, even if it’s hard to separate wheat from chaff these days.

So what do I think? You want an educated guess, gleaned from a few conversations and some experience?

There has not been a hand-written "list" put on Bryan Colangelo's desk or sent to his in-box but that it has been communicated to him somehow that if Bosh is going to go, these might be teams Colangelo should think about in a sign and trade. It's a no-brainer.

Does it mean teams like Houston or even San Antonio shouldn't make pitches?

Of course not.

I honestly think, knowing Chris a little bit from years of watching him, that he wants to be wooed. He wants to hear what teams -- Toronto included -- will do for him if he goes there. And while there may at this moment be "priorities" I don't for a second believe it's 100 per cent cast in stone that those are the only options he'll eventually consider.

Is Toronto entirely out of the mix? I honestly don’t think so but I also think the Raptors may be a fallback position more than anything else.

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Okay, well. Now the Bosh story maybe just took another interesting turn.

Marc Stein, who is as wired in as anyone who covers this league, has this little gem today that says Dirk Nowitzki’s going to opt out of the final year of his deal.

While the Mavs could very well re-sign him in July – or even before then although I imagine that’s a stretch – that puts another talented, experienced, really, really good player on the market.

And a guy, you could make the point of, who would be a perfect complimentary piece to a team with, say, Dwyane Wade or Derrick Rose or even, you know, that James guy.

This may be the most significant free-agent news since the season ended.

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Now that we have all the shenanigans of Saturday out of the way – and I sincere thank you for all the notes and best wishes – we can get back to normal, right?

And that means being around tonight to see if the Suns can at least make things interesting in their series with the Lakers. Man, I sure hope so because these playoffs have been brutal, haven’t they?

So be here just before 8:30 if you can drag yourselves away from the fireworks.

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Hands up anyone who is remotely surprised Canada lost its bid to host the 2011 Olympic qualifier for men?

(Click here if you somehow managed to miss it).

As perhaps you’ll recall, it was always going to be about money and Wayne, Maurizio and their gang just couldn’t guarantee enough of it.

And I’m kind of glad they didn’t in one respect. The last thing they should have done was come in with some fanciful, unrealistic financial promise they couldn’t possibly keep, leaving someone on the hook when it was all over.

But as Maurizio told me on the phone yesterday, at least the folks at FIBA Americas and FIBA overall know who these guys from Canada are and that things are really starting to look up for our national profile.

Of course, it’s still going to take oodles of cash and if they could find a bag man for future bids it’d sure help but I do think Maurizio and Wayne Parrish made a valid point.

Canada’s at least on the radar now, which isn’t bad after being thought of as little more than a backwater for years and years and years.

I’m told one of the best things about the bid, and I’m trying to track it down with no success quite yet, was the video message Steve Nash sent – bilingual in English and Spanish -- that was part of the presentation.

How’s that for helping out?

Here’s a guy in the throes of a pressure-packed NBA season, with a few other tugs on his life, taking time to help a program that he genuinely cares about.

Not bad, eh?

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Hmm, so Super Son wakes up silly early on a Sunday morning and before we get to the Three Stooges – traditional Casa Doug Sunday viewing – he’s got the LeBron James documentary, More Than A Game, in the VCR.

First time I’ve seen it; I can recommend it.

It’s not Curly, Larry, Moe and Shemp but still …

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I will never again doubt Doc Rivers.

It was after the last game Boston played here in April, a relatively easy win for the Celtics but not a game in which they had played particularly well. They were in a fight at the time with Atlanta to see who’d finish third or fourth in the East and everyone thought that was a big deal because it would mean avoiding Cleveland in the second round of the playoffs.

Well, I ran into Doc in the hallway when he was on his way to the bus and we stopped to chat a bit about what was coming up. Paraphrasing, this is what he had to say:

“We’ll be all right, really. It’s not about third or fourth to these guys; they don’t care. They know this all that matters is the playoffs and they don’t really care who they play when.”

Guess he was right.

The beat-down they put on Orlando on Saturday night was shocking for its thoroughness. Defence, offence, physical intimidation, whatever you want to talk about, the Celtics dominated.

It was stunning.

We’ll get into it a bit more tomorrow and the next day – and you have to know that what’s transpiring has opened a few eyes about the mental toughness and suitability of the Magic – but suffice it to say, the Celtics are doing just what Doc said they’d do.

Playing their best when it counts the most. Just like a team of seasoned veterans should.

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All right, gotta check the papers for the viewings of Shrek IV because Super Son’s got it in his head that it has to be seen. And who am I to argue with a 13-year-old film critic.

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Comments

[Striker 77]

Hey Doug,

Havent commented in a while, but am a consistent reader... Thanks for your work, as always.

What is up with Big Baby? The guys is playing incredibly well, dont you think? He has been good all playoffs, and Docs giving him the minutes he has earned. Rondo is so impressive...2 years ago, when the Celts' big three were running the show, now they have aged a bit, but are still effective (as long as not injured, obviously), and they have the insane play of Rondo(incredible) and Davis is a force in the paint! Do you think they can take the lakers if we see that final (which ought to happen)?

By the way, did you catch the champs league final yesterday? Are you a fan of the beautiful game?

Sorry for the poor grammar...

Cheers

Blogger's note: I'm a fan of it well played; saw very little of yesterday's game, though. Was tied up with other matters

[JHP]

Personally hope the Lakers/Celtics appear in the finals. That way I can focus on other things and wait till next year (no matter what Bosh does). These playoffs have been brutal and very hard to watch. If a team losses by 15 it's a close game.

[doug]

I don't know what process the for is appealing a fine in the NBA but if i were Cuban and Kerr I'd appeal as they'd win...one simple reason Stern has not being following is own advice, nor setting a example...he's beent alking about this free-agent class openly, just because he is not a team exec he is "the" exec...he's the one that set a precedent...

Cavs-Magic to me made one cardinal sin, they set all their moves, their player acquisitions on the plan of meeting each other....in the NBA you don't do that as any team can moreorless rise up and beat any other....both were woefully ill-equipped to play the Celts as to them the Celts were just a after-thought....the Celts are intimidating as you say, but their intimidation is coming through in just playing so well, the Magic don't have a clue how to beat them, there done, you can see it in their faces, body language....their just being beaten in every facet of the game, a complete beat-down..

[CARLoS M.,]

For all the ups and downs the Raptors had this season, it will all be forgotten when HWSNBN does not win a title. And I will be happy. Is that wrong?

[greg]

you have a VCR?? a video cassette recorder ? Still ? Thats awesome.

Blogger's note: It'll always be a VCR to a guy of my vintage; plays Beta, too

[GM]

Gotta love these playoffs! The NBA: Where Boring Happens.

Yeah, if it's the Lakers and Celtics, I won't be watching. Just not interested. Usually I like to have at least one team to cheer for.

Man, soccer sure has a good publicist. Who came up with "the beautiful game". I can't see anything "beautiful" about it. Or at least nothing more beautiful than any other sport.

[dav1 998]

Do they still sell tapes for a VCR?
And I bet you still have 45 rpms and a turntable.
BTW..I'm older than you so it's not like I'm making fun of an old guy..

[doug]

ny nephew always makes fun of me.....as i say to him "hey i bought a new album"..or what new "record did you buy"...he now knows I mean CD, but at first he was somewhat mystified....love my 8-track, what a audio system...what were they thinking with that thing??...but i do have one in the garage, throw in a Styx tape for nostalgia sake, its a good party item actually...oh and some Chris De Burgh Spanish train...and Boston ...just to blow the lid off the 8-track player...its all good, records, VCR's and Jiffy Pop stove top popcorn what more do we need....???...

[Joe]

Hey Doug,

Good points on the Magic. Not shocking to seem to lose to the Celtics but the manner in which it is happening is stunning. They looked totally lost last night. I've never like the Magic at all. To me, there similar to our beloved Raptors. Big Man inside surrounded by perimeter shooters on the outside. This works well in the regular season but won't cut it come playoff time against a strong defence like the Celtics. Only difference between Orlando and Toronto is the talent level and the fact that Van Gundy gets more out of it than Triano. Some questions I have:
1. Did the easy 1st/2nd round series that Orlando had against Charlotte/Atlanta take some of their edge off?
2. Did the long layoffs between both series hurt them?
3. What's Van Gundy's long term future with this team considering what's happened.
4. The ineffectiveness of Howard continues to add proof to the notion that the NBA is a guard's league not a big man's league anymore. Give me a talented point guard who can set up players and a shooting guard who can create his own shot any day over an elite big man.

As for the Celtics, amazing. I love this team. That's the way you play basketball. Gotta think that they'll beat LA in the final with the way they're playing D. Can't wait to see Artest vs Pierce, Kobe vs Allen/Fisher, Pau vs Garnett, etc.

[greg]

I saw a sign saying saying will pay cash for old records and was completely lost as to why someone would want 'records' before i remembered that's what we called those LPs and 45s :)