A quiet day all around, except in Phoenix where Turk talked

I’m trying to figure out the last time I went a day without even writing a note about the Raptors or the NBA and I couldn’t come up with it.

But the well was dry, my friends, dry as a bone Wednesday which can mean only one thing: Something’s coming.

Really, with all the tweets and premature stories and information dribbling out that’s true in the moment but fluid enough that it could change in a minute, the flow of information from a lot of people I talk to is drying up.

Guess it’s a sign of the times and the 24/7 news cycle we live in but it does make a guy’s job harder.

And here especially, given the Charlotte thing and the Barnes thing and the relatively intense scrutiny this franchise operates under.

I’m not saying it’s going to be impossible to be out front on stories, but I’m sure it’s going to be much more difficult.

But I’ll also say this:

I did talk electronically to a guy I trust implicitly at the Raptors yesterday and asked whether there was anything going on that I should care about and was told it was quite a quiet day.

I guess that means stuff’s percolating but not sure how hot it’s running.

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Here’s the story out of Phoenix yesterday covering the triumphant arrival of one Hedo Turkoglu.

Not really huge news to anyone here, he wondered about the way he was used and the fit in Toronto; changed his number again for some personal reason; yada, yada, yada.

But I will say this:

I think he’ll have a pretty good year out there and there’ll be some “where was that” talk in Toronto.

Turk’s a good player with a unique skillset and a style that actually should fit okay with the Suns. No, he won’t run a lot of screen-roll stuff on his own but I have a suspicion that just being around Steve Nash will elevate his game.

Right Amare? And Joe? And Shawn? And Boris? And About A Hundred Other Guys?

Anyway, the Turk fit wasn’t good here, I don’t think the team handled him well – I don’t think they kicked him the butt enough early and a sense of entitlement crept in – and I certainly don’t think he handled himself very well either.

I wrote about mid-season that’s a bit of an odd duck, that his default position is to laugh stuff off even if it bugs him tremendously and he isn’t a guy who is going to wear anger or disappointment or even frustration on his sleeve too often.

It’s the way he is and they couldn’t figure out how to handle him; he couldn’t figure out how to really deal with the issues he thought exists and it just didn’t work.

Doesn’t mean it was a bad idea, in fact an overwhelming majority of people thought it was a brilliant stroke when he arrived a year.

It means they took a shot, it didn’t work out and you move on.

End of story.

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Things I Like About Being Golf Boy, V 1.0 Of Many This Week: No night games.

Was pretty cool to shut the machine down about 5 p.m. yesterday and be done. Not the same today, of course, but the evening will still be free.

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Kind of missed the under-17 girls yesterday because they played late in the afternoon Canada time and I was dealing with some stuff.

They lost, as I’m sure you heard, and now played for spots in the bottom eight rather than the top eight and a chance at a medal.

Not a great result, and I’m pretty sure the girls and the coaches are quite disappointed. I don’t think they had any idea what they were going up against when they landed in France but I do know from talking to them a few times that top eight was their first and biggest goal.

But at least now they have an idea of that the age-group talent is around the world – specifically Europe – and it’s a good baseline to establish.

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So David Lee is ruled officially out of the world championships, Robin Lopez is going to take the summer to work on his wonky back and Amar’e Stoudemire can’t get insurance his knee.

Coach K tells Mr. Sheridan that the USA will play a more unconventional style and calling guys forwards or guards or twos or threes or fours really doesn’t matter.

I’m entirely on board with that – pigeonholing guys by position really doesn’t make a lot of sense to me with the way the game is evolving – and it might actually be fun to see what style emerges.

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Now, I’m going to admit to being a bit of a golf fan and a player who can get the ball airborne more often than not (a fact that really helps with first-tee Nassau negotiations) but Anthony Kim kind of summed up the game the way of lot of people see it when we were chatting with him at the Canadian Open.

Was the undisputed line of the day and purely a joke.

Kim’s hurt and won’t play but was up pressing some flesh as a guy in the RBC stable players.

Not sure who it was in the scrum but someone asked him if he’d been watching a lot of golf on TV as he recovers from wrist surgery:

“When I want to go to sleep sometimes, I watch it.”

Ding. Ding. Ding.

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Okay, back the course and the quiet.

Want to help me keep busy? Send a letter for the mailbag here; entertain me, please.

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Comments

[Ben]

Listened to your appearance on primetime, well done, I think you really clarified the Barnes situation and made a strong point regarding what BC needs to do.

[WSG]

Really, I think it’s too easy to predict that Turk will have a good - or better than last - season this upcoming year with Steve Nash (which veteran wouldn’t?) ... and I don’t necessarily disagree. But ... you also said - in stronger terms - something similar last year, about VC joining the Magic. I thought that might turn out to be true as well ... so I’m not giving you a shot. I’m just kind of saying. Cheers.

[AT]

Hedo will have a great year this year, for sure. Playing beside Nash improves eveyones game so I don't think Raptor fans are going to want to see Sun games stats this year cause it is going to be bad for us (good for Hedo and the Suns) I just hope that all those that wanted him gone, are not ripping BC for making the trade when Hedo is having a great year and nailing some game winning shots that he did not do here.
Doug, Is it quiet cause somethings going to happen or is it quiet cause nothings going to happen? summer of 2009 was much more entertaining with a steady stream of good news, this year is horrible so far for Raptor fans.

[Jean-Marie]

In the last weeks, we kept hearing lines going like "Turk, who had chemistry problem with the Raptors, and Bosh" and bla bla bla.
Now, Bosh and Turk being out of town, might it be time for a sportwriter to pick up a little of nastyness and explore how did all this thing get along?
A technical incompatibility on the pitch? A matter of characters, of human jealousy, of leadership struggle, maybe?
This is not a case of being a gossip-searcher, just of make the public known of what happened a few months ago behind the scenes. As long as we are not speaking about a sicilian mafia environment here (are we?) I can't see any damage, or danger, or ethical issues in coming up with some good old story about this special relationship that (as we keep hearing) was actually a big part of the team failure in the past season. Come on!

[Benmarjamin]

Hey Doug,

Sounds like you golf a lot. Just wondering which golf courses you prefer and which ones to avoid.

Thanks! love your blog. Keep it up.

Blogger's note: That sounds like something I should do in the daily drivel. And will

[Anthony]

Morning Doug, yes a bit of a slow news day however I did see the latest word out of the Chris Paul camp which is that he wants out.. NOW, and is expected to force a trade before the start of the season.
Not sure how accurate that is and might be fluff... however its well known that he has not been happy for a while down in NO, maybe that NY Knick Super team does happen after all !
Anyway, could you hook me up with some kind of Raptor related job please ?!

[Matthew]

TPE for Andris Biedrins or Chris kaman or Igoudala, or Roy Hibbert and Mike Dunleavy?

[Johnny's]

Doug,

What do you think of the other SuperTeam (Knicks = Amare, CP3, Melo) brewing under our noses??

Blogger's note: A long, long way away

[Mike S]

Doug,
I saw Chris Paul wants out of NO, like everyone else here. First thing I pondered was how nice that number three jersey would look in the ACC, then immediately banished the thought. Why do Raptors fans have to do that? Even if we had the pieces, it seems like our franchise policy is to build from the ground and not swing for the fences. Don't 15 years of futility usually engender a change?
What about Bargs, trade exemption and picks for Paul? Better than Curry-Galinari NYK offer. Does anyone really think that this 'young nucleus' will challenge for a title EVER?

[doug]

hi doug -

just bought tickets to the france / canada game at the ACC next month ... sounds like J. Noah might be trying to play for the french.

any updates on the canadians? will magloire or bonner be make their returns / debuts? are denham brown, joel anthony and andy rautins locks? who else will be in the mix?

Thanks!

Blogger's note: I'm hearing Bonner and Magloire are highly doubtful. But you never know

[Joe]

Doug,
If Super Team II (Paul, Amare, Melo with the Knicks) does ever come true, would it be good or bad for the league to have so many good players tied up with a few teams? I kind of like the idea of these 3 teaming up in New York because as it stands right now, Super Team 1 in Miami isn't going to have a ton of competition in the next 4-5 years. In the East, the Celtics are the one team that can stop the Heat but they're getting old. Orlando, Chicago, Atlanta, etc. have talent but not enough to compete against the Heat. Out west, really you have the Lakers but they're starting to get old: Kobe is 32, Odom, Arterst, Gasol all 30 or over, Fisher is 36. Bynum is the only true young good player on that club.

Too bad things didn't work out for Turk in T.O. Funny how things change in sports/life. Last year, he was the toast of the town at this time of the year and everyone was thinking he was the final piece to push the Raps into the upper tier of the league. Now, along with VC, he's probably the most vilified player ever to play for the Raptors.

Have a great day Doug.

Blogger's note: I'm all in favour of intense and tight competition

[Lorie]

Hey Doug,
How are things going at St. George's? Is it really as beautiful as I hear (and apparently gorse-free)? Do you think driving accuracy will prove to be the key to success? Would this complement your golf game? Which hole on the course do you think would give you the least trouble? The most?

[Richard]

Hey Doug,

I agree with your assessment of Turk's situation in Toronto. I can't remember where I got the impression last year (Maybe something you wrote?) that in Orlando, Stan Van Gundy was regularly up Turk's butt, in his ear and generally all over him, keeping his motivation level high and his on-court performance also at a high level. I think that played a huge role in his success with the Magic. And I don't think it fits into Triano's coaching style. I would be inclined to agree with you that he will have a bounce back year in Phoenix, and that playing with Nash will be a major contributing factor. But I'm guessing his motivation will have to come from his teammates like Nash and Hill getting on him. I think of Alvin Gentry as being more in the Triano style than the Van Gundy mold. That kind of coaching style doesn't work for everyone but I think it's just what the doctor ordered for Turk. It remains to be seen whether Alvin can get him to deliver.

[David McDonald]

Hey Doug. Always love your stuff. I was just curious as to your opnion on Andre Iguodala. Do you think the Raps might make a push to get him and if so you think he would be a good fit. I would guess if Philly was to trade them it would be for purely financial reasons. Therefore the raptors TE becomes even more valuable. Thanks for you time

[Rob.V]

Mr. Colangelo:

Would it possible to swing a major 3 team deal, or use some of your 16 gagillion TPE dollars please... some of us are bored!

Hey, where's Aditya or Adrian... Doesn't anyone have a complaint today?...

We're close folks, VERY close to the dog days of the off-season. I mean, when all theres left is a T-Mac siting... and another NBA Star whining about his "entitlment" in Charlotte... geez!

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Doug,
And an eagle on the first hole to you too, sir! Hey, I'll wish that for all of us (especially BCo).
It's a real Cinderella story, you out der on de course! And did you get your Licence from the United Nations to flush a few gophers while you're out der?
Must be a nice break from this Heroes Of The Hardcourt no-news-but-tweet-"news" month.
Enjoy the sunshine. Stay hydrated. Cheers.

[Rob.V]

Oh, and...

For the sake of your relationship men, share this with the women in your life.

The REAL rules

We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rules
from the male side. These are our rules! If women followed these rules,
living with us would be SO much easier.
Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it
down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining
about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday = sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the
tides. Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it
that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do
not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's
what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In
fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us
to act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways
makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done.
Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during
commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach,
for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have
no idea what mauve is.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's
wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer
you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine.
Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to
discuss such topics as Basketball, Hockey, the shotgun formation, or monster trucks.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round is a shape.

1. Thank you for reading this; Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch
tonight, but did you know men really don't mind that, it's like camping.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

You say something is brewing. And I respect the Raps wanting to remain tight-lipped about what's up, considering how they've been twittered out of two deals.

But my question is this: is there any chance at all that the Raptors can swing a deal for Chris Paul with the trade exception and expiring contracts? Plus a player or two (one being Calderon)? Any chance?

Any chance?

Thanks Doug,

AG, Toronto

[pat]

I would really really like some info concerning the Canadian Men Senior team leading up to their friendly games. (like who is trying out for the team). Will this be the best place for that information?

Blogger's note: Without a doubt. Yes

[PK]

@Rob V
Some are very true, some are so-so, but I can't point out which ones because they are all numbered 1 :p
And I'm also going to assume that you have never read Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus - 'the textbook'.
Also going to assume that you aren't married yet.

[GM]

I read that Chris Paul wants to play on a team with another superstar. So forget about him going to Toronto. And certainly trading away Bargnani (the closest to a star on the team) isn't going to make him want to come.

[BL]

@ Rob V. - touche'

[ANM]

@ Rob V

I would normaly say, "you've wasted our time, and this isn't your blog", BUT you're not Aditya and that was some great Rules.

All I have to say to that is, Right on the Money Brother!!

[Johnn19]

For all the armchair GM's out there that want to trade for Chris Paul:
He is a great player @ age 25, with 11ast-18pts avg nbrs but at what cost ?
He has played 345 games over 5 years avg 69, vs Calderon with 359 games over 5 yrs and everyone calls him injury prone.
He is signed for 3yrs (14.9-16.3-17.7) 48.9mil total, and his next contract is sure to start in the 20's, and everyone is calling Calderons 29 mil terrible, who when healthy and starting is going to have 8/9 asts and 12/13ppg.
So for an extra $20mil you get 2ast, 5pts, and a little better defense, and no money to spend on any other talent. FORGET about Chris Paul.

[Sharjil]

ya know something doug,
sometimes i feel for us. Last two weeks have been horrible..no really...tHey have been. I think we just need to get things happen for us passively in our eyes, while BC can actively get something done behind the curtain.
All in all, two heartbreaks in two weeks. But no complains, i'm still alive.
Looking forward to this weekend, and a new round of rumours on how we're going to end with a true center