Good opener for Canada, and some scheduling quirks

Not a bad start for Canada, I see.

Of course, I wasn’t there (and I’m waiting for the Irregulars to report in with details of the game and the event) but an 86-62 win over China to start the serious part of the summer is nothing to be sneezed at.

Reading my old friend Gary Kingston in the cyber-pages of the Vancouver Sun (as you can do by clicking here), the game seemed to be the kind of game Canada’s going to have to play to have any chance to make some noise.

Minus a true “star” the Canadians are going to have to rely on balanced scoring and depth, both of which they seemed have had against a China team not expected to fare well at the worlds.

It’s going to work against the lesser teams, no doubt, but the fatal flaw may be when it comes down to a one-possession game and the Canadians need a guy who can beat his man off the dribble and get the bucket they need.

It’s been my experience watching China teams for more 15 years that they don’t put up too much resistance unless that Yao guy is in the lineup and without him, Canada should have recorded a relatively easy win. Glad they did.

A much sterner test will come here in Toronto in the games against France on Thursday and Friday. I haven’t seen a full France roster yet – I don’t think they even get here until some time today – but I know it will be a much better team than China.

Again, I know the whole Ticketmaster charge on the tickets thing bites big-time but if you get a chance, I think taking in one of the games might not be a bad thing to do.

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Right, the Raptors schedule.

Didn’t dissect it too much, being Tennis Boy and all for most of Tuesday, but it looks kind of ho-hum to tell you the truth.

Except the start.

Eight of 12 on the road to open including away dates at Utah, where they can never win, the Lakers, Portland on a tough back-to-back and then at Orlando-Miami on consecutive nights?

Am dreading the angst already.

Anyway, there are 18 back-to-backs, I see, which is down from last season as I recall. No big whoop or hardship there.

The one thing that did catch my eye was the proliferation this year of Saturday games. Nine of them – all on the road – seems a rather hefty number in comparison to last year and what that does is really cut into the number of Sunday afternoon home games. I think I saw there are only 11 home Sunday dates and that’s a smallish number.

Bet Mona’s ticked.

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This really doesn’t have any impact on the Raptors, and may not mean anything in the long run, but seeing how the Canadian team is in mind, I automatically started wondering about Andy Rautins when I saw old friend Roger Mason Jr. signed with the Knicks.

I know the Knicks are high on young Andy but, in the ruthless business side of pro basketball, he hasn’t signed a contract there and the addition of the similarly skilled Mason might cloud the issue just a little bit.

There’s been no indication that Rautins won’t get a deal done, at least from anyone I’ve talked to, but there is now one more shooter with some NBA experience to fight for minutes with.

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Want to start the mail stuff? Why the heck not.

First, a question:

Q: Hi Doug. I hope you are enjoying the relatively quiet days of August. Happy recent birthday wishes to Super Son.

I'm curious to learn a bit more about the TPE and what can be done, or not done, with it. I understand (I believe) it must be used in a straight up trade for another player, and can't be used to pay a free agent in any way.

Can it be split up into different transactions? Can it be an element of a larger transaction - ie Raptors trade a combo of Player A salary plus a portion of TPE to equal the salary of incoming player B whose salary is more than player A? What is the current value of TPE that the Raptors have to work with?

Any explanations/examples you can provide would be much appreciated. I find there's always more to learn about the trading rules and regs. I've always appreciated the time you take to help us learn every aspect of the game.

Cheers!

Kate C, Toronto

A: I’ve been trying to rein in all the questions about the trade exception and thanks for putting it all into one for me since it’s going to be an on-going topic.

You cannot aggregate any portion of the exception with a player; for instance, you couldn’t trade, say, Marcus Banks and $5 million of the exception for a $10 million player.

It can, however, be split into several transactions. They could acquire on player for, say, $5 million and someone else for another portion.

And, yes, it cannot be used for a free agent. If there is a current free agent the Raptors would covet with the money, that players’ former team would have to do a sign-and-trade for a deal to work and would therefore have to have enough cap room, or an exception of their own, to re-sign their guy and simultaneously ship him to Toronto. That was the breakdown in the aborted Matt Barnes transaction, Toronto had the money to ship to Orlando; the Magic didn’t have room to assume it.

And the value of the Bosh trade exception is $14.5 million and is good from for one calendar year from the date the original Miami transaction was made.

I’m sure there’s more but I can’t think of what to add right now.

And now, the link. Irregulars know the drill, the rest can figure it out pretty easily.

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Okay, I think it’s been a couple of years since I’ve been Tennis Boy and I have to admit, it’s not a bad gig.

I love the little stadium up there at York – I think they should hold a concert or two there, it’d be very cool – and the whole walking-around-to-the-outer-courts thing’s kind of neat.

And, having been Golf Boy recently, I hereby give you:

Some Differences Between The Two

You can see a whole tennis match and don’t have to traipse all over heck’s half acre to watch.

A plus.

They play tennis at night and that brings up deadline issues.

A minus.

You only have to pay attention to two guys at a time rather than 144. Or sometimes four, I guess.

A plus.

Par-love. Duece-Bogey. Ad court-Primary cut. Whatever happened to the simple things in life, like basket, jumper, assist? A tie.

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And, finally, yes, Raptors TV should be broadcasting the Canada-France games from the Air Canada Centre on Thursday and Friday nights. Without a question.

I know there’s a cost involved, and I know Bryan and his henchmen do provide all kinds of assistance – monetary and otherwise – to Canada Basketball but this is a perfect opportunity to promote the game and the program that shouldn’t have been missed.

I’m dead certain it came down to the finances involved in mounting a production but that’s a weak excuse, in my books.

I guess what bothers me most is they have, according the schedule I see on the web, some kind of Canada Basketball preview show on but then they switch away. Friday they go to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which is a bit odd, and Thursday there’s something called NBA Special: World Basketball Preview Featuring USA Basketball and that kind of sticks in the craw.

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Comments

[JT]

Doug,
I don't think the schedule really matters this year, so no need for you to "dissect". I don't think the current roster will yield enough wins to even contest for chance at a playoff spot. I have gotten used to and really like the early Sunday afternoon games but seeing as how a bunch of those have been moved to Saturday night games may be a good thing; less people will watch the Raptors losing on the road.

[Sam Rook]

Perhaps MLSE has given you the opening you need to become a super duper media darling. Can you say "Doug Smith Live Blog of Canada vs France"?

Look out Rupert Murdoch!

[doug]

did denham brown play last night? any chance he'll suit up in toronto? heard he is maybe injured?

Thanks!

Blogger's note: Had a bit of a hamstring issue, not sure about his availability

[PeterK]

I play both tennis and golf and I have to say they are both quite unique and fun big time on their own way. Tennis makes you sweat more but golf is more tiring ... strange.
About the national team game...they show some weak pee-wee regional hockey games for U-18 kids on TV, but not a Canadian national team basketball game... unreal.

[Jack]

They should send you to cover the Womens tournament in Montreal... you know, to make it fair and what not.

Blogger's note: They should, you're right; but I'm actually only Tennis Boy for a couple of days to let Mr. Hunter have a bit of the week off.

[Neil]

Denham Brown played. I wasn't too impressed by him maybe the injury is holding him back a bit. Andy Rautins looks about head and shoulders better than anyone else out there besides maybe Yi.

[Lorie]

Good Morning, Doug:
Well, once again the readers of your blog come through big time. Yesterday a commenter suggested a link for the Canada-China game and so I was able to watch the basketball game live (ahh, after I navigated my way through the complicated calculations to work out that time zone stuff - 7 pm is really 10 pm...) after all. Very cool this community we've got here. And thank you. Just a quick question about the Raptors' schedule: I haven't looked at very closely yet, but in respect to those games being played in The Other London in March, are there a few extra days either side of these games to allow for travel etc. considerations?

Blogger's note: They have two days off before and three after

[petro]

To Doug and his loyal Readers...

Not sure if it was written on here some where already (my apologies if so)... but Basketball Canada had a live stream going on their website for the game vs. CHina. I would assume they will do it for the games vs. France.

[Zombywoof]

Who's Mona?

[Andy]

Deuce*

Still ways to go on being a tennis boy.

Blogger's note: Still ways to go on being a good typist

[Angelo]

Doug, curious, when do you start making travel arrangements for Raptors games, do you start as early as the schedule is announced?

Blogger's note: We'll take a look at the early part today and start splitting stuff up and booking.

[Scott C]

Good to see Jevohn Shepherd make an impact off the bench for Canada. We're lucky enough here in Halifax to see him play for the local Rainmen team and it's the same energy off the bench we see from him game-in-game-out.

Hopefully he's returning for the upcoming season.

[Peter]

Who's Mona?
http://www.ladyluckent.net/
That's Mona.
She's... not so great for our players. She's also probaby the best thing to happen to the opponents on Saturday nights. Making for competitive games on Sunday afternoon's early start time.

[Ian]

Thanks to the irregular who posted that link to the live stream last night! Live ball in August is hard to come by, being able to see the national team play was a treat!!

[WH]

The schedule is a non issue for this year's team. The Vegas over/under for the current squad is 27 wins....and that is exactly where ESPN has the Raptors...tied with New Jersey in the cellar with 27 wins. I hope they will be proven wrong, and the only way is up....but still quite disheartening again for Raptorland.

[The Local]

Doug - do you know when tickets go on sale?

Blogger's note: No, I don't

[Ryan]

Why are there never Raptor games on Saturdays at home? Those are absolutely the best days to go to the games.

I actually went to a game last year, coincidentally on a Saturday (actually not so coincidental, as Saturdays are the easiest day to actually go to a game!!), and the PA guy mentioned that it was the first (FIRST!!) Saturday home game ever!

How do the Raptors get so royally screwed out of Saturday home games?! Are they the only team that never gets any? Why is this?

Blogger's note: It actually wasn't the first and there's this hockey team that usually has dibs on the arena for Saturday nights.

[The J]

The one thing that did catch my eye was the proliferation this year of Saturday games....what that does is really cut into the number of Sunday afternoon home games.
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Ugh, that sucks. I always hate Saturday games because everyone and there mother wants to watch the Leafs lose on Hockey Night in Canada and won't switch the channel to watch the Raps. Meanwhile it's a little easier to get someone to chase the channel from the 15 or so football games to watch one Raptor game. And they are always a fun way to spend a Sunday afternon if you go to the game itself.

[Matty-Pix]

Big 4-team deal ... Collison to Pacers, guess they won't be looking for Jose!! Ariza to NOH could be fun to watch with CP3.

http://www.nbadaily.net/wiretaps.cfm?id=696

[james]

I took in the Vancouver game and I hope the crowd is bigger there. Canada was well organized both offensively and defensively. They put China away quickly and clinically and the score actually flattered the visitors. Andy Rautins and Jevohn Shepherd were impressive but this was a true team effort. Tyler Kepkay was very good at the point in the absence of (the injured?) Anderson, the best of the BC players. I can see why the Bucks gave up on Yi so quickly. It's too bad we don't get to see more of this national team. Is any TV coverage from Turkey planned?

[AJR]

Doug,
1) I read somewhere that Miami will have 29 games broadcast nationally in the US. How many Raptors games will be broadcast nationally there this year? Lack of US exposure was one of Bosh’s beefs, if I recall correctly.
2) There is a rumor of a deal sending Darren Collison to the Pacers. Any legs to this one? I hope BC has other teams still interested in Calderon. http://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/20901006642
Thanks

[Jamie]

RaptorsTV's programming generally doesn't stand up and scream "watch me!"

I def enjoy the sunday afternoon games, nothing better than watching basketball at 1 on a cold, lazy January afternoon.

Any idea when the TV schedual wil come out? I'm seriously on the fence about this Sportsnet One garbage.

[Shawn]

Doug,

Just saw that a four team trade which includes Darren Collison going to the pacers is near complete. (see link below) Does this hurt the raptors chances of trading Jose before the beginning of the season, since Indy was considered to be one of the teams that was most interested in trading for Jose. I love this trade from the pacers perspective, they get a young up and coming pg for troy murphy. (They have to eat posey's contract as well) What are your thoughts on this trade?

[Ryan]

Oops forgot about the Leafs.

Just goes to show how much of a Raptors fan I am, I have completely ignored the Leaf Nation!

Thanks for the explanation Doug!

[Andrew]

why would mona be mad, her harlots still get paid