Not a whole lot of news but some tidbits

Oh, how I wish there was some hard news to pass along.

But Media Day’s been done about an hour and as I just mentioned to a friend, it was pretty much a news-free gong show.

Yes, they want to work on defence first as training camp unfolds.

No, there have been no decisions made yet about who will comprise the starting five.

Yes, they truly relish the underdog, disrespected role and that sounds like a card they’ll play all year.

Coach Jay Triano:

“That’s absolutely fine. I love that challenge, I love the challenge when people tell us that we’re not good or people don’t think that we’re going to be that good. I want the other teams to believe that when they come here that this is going to be do an easy game.”

I sense a theme for the season:

Ignore us at your peril.

Sounds as good as anything, right?

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Did get a chance to check in with Bryan and a henchman or two about the move to add a big.

They have spoken to Erick Dampier and his people, as we reported a few times, but if it looks as if that ship has sailed, the impression I’m getting from folks is that Earl Barron, a 7-footer who finished last season with the Knicks, is next on their list of possibilities.

And there’s every chance that if they hear Dampier’s going to choose Houston or Milwaukee over Toronto, Barron could be in town as early as Tuesday to start working out.

And if they want to keep him, despite having 15 guys on the roster, it sounds like the Joey Dorsey contract, not fully guaranteed right now, would be the one they eat to create a roster spot.

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Huge throng out there today, a few media types that we won’t see again until the season ends.

I have to say that, having been around this business and this league, for more than a few years, this team has always attracted broadcasters and writers entirely disproportionate to its success on the floor.

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One guy I didn’t get a chance to talk to, and I’m not sure I even saw, was Solomon Alabi, who’s got a hamstring issue.

But one guy did tell me Alabi had been doing some light running and might even be able to do some on-court stuff late this week.

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Oh, and we did get the requisite vow from the general manager that the goal is to be in the playoffs. I have no problem with talk like that, I’d be far more bothered if he said that wasn’t the goal or something like that.

Not much bold talk, though, from any of the players or coaches but there does seem to be a quiet confidence about this group.

Said Jose Calderon, who is 100 per cent ready to go Tuesday:

“We go into the season with great expectations, we can be a better team. I think we have a lot of players who can play, maybe we don’t have that star role for somebody, I prefer sometimes it’s better to have five guys scoring 12, 15 points than to have one get 35. We have to play like that, share the ball more than ever and play like a team.”

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Anyway, hope that holds you over until the stuff gets filed for the paper, which is all about the “grind” of media day.

 

Comments

[chris]

Damp was/is never coming here. His agent was/is just using toronto's interest as leverage to better his deal with Houston.

[kareem]

The reason Dampier said no to maimi is becuz he received a call from the Big Three and told him they're serious about a championship and want hard,stressful practices and workouts, countless team bonding assignments and round the clock check in's to a manager that overlooks your diet and activities, daily !!!..Dampier was like,' R u effin kiddin me playa, iam old, i need a vacation..ayo agent, call up T.dot, see wud dey r sayin yo!!'

[Jack]

Erick Dampier is going to choose Houston or Milwaukee over Toronto. Jeez... that really tells you something. It can't be the city because Toronto is far more superior than Milwaukee. In Milwaukee, you look at any direction and you think you're in Russia. So it's got to be either the organization or the current roster. Even a discard like Dampier doesn't want to play here. It can't be the organization. So it's got to be the current line-up. Maybe Dampier doesn't see this line up has a chance to be in the playoffs.
Earl Barron...
It's deja vu all over again. 16-66.

[sam]

Hi Doug,
I just looked up Earl Barron - Didn't know who he was. It seems to me that a true 7 footer would be a lock for a Spot on a NBA Team if he had the slightest bit of athleticism - His Resume is a little spotty -
A couple of years with Miami - a year or two as training camp fodder - and a cup of coffee with the Knicks last season. Do you know much about him, or is he second coming of dearly departed Patrick O'Brien?

Blogger's note: I don't know much about him at all

[doug]

really who cares about Dampier....he was released had had a few tryouts, he is what the is...really not much of a player at this time....it would be good to have another big man at camp but as it stands now do any of these guys really present a viable solution??...no...the Nuggets i see are wondering if the Warriors will include Curry for Melo...are you kidding me, the Warriors have did a lot of strange things, but to do that would be assinine...adn it surprises me as a sports fan, a Toronot sports fan how ho-hum fandr are towards tghe year Bautista is having, it's phenomenal, he's been uneal....close to 60 are you kidding me, and doing it naturally....impressive...

[Kyron]

@chris

You couldn't be more wrong about Dampier's agent using Toronto's interest to "leverage" Houston into a better deal. Houston can ONLY offer Dampier veteran's minimum salary while Toronto can offer more than that so it's not a situation where they can ask Houston to sweeten their offer. They're handcuffed by the salary cap.

[Lorie]

Hi Doug,
So, once again a "ship has sailed"? So many ships have sailed away from this organization that the waters to the south of the ACC might soon be filled with a fleet of vessels to rival that of the Spanish Armada...which brought to my mind "The Spanish Inquisition" - not the tribunal but that hilarious series of Monty Python sketches. Remember how they would get bogged down by the description of their weapons ..."amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope and nice red uniforms...." which if you were to remove the mention of the Pope, d'ya think this laundry list of "weaponry" would serve the Raptors well??? (They already have the red uniforms.)

[Jacques]

why not bring back Patrick O'Brien?

Blogger's note: Going to play in China, I'm told; plus he's got no game.

[Jon K.]

I appreciate a usable 7 footer as much as the next person. However, when they are as interchangeable as some of these guys ( see Barron, Earl or Ramos, John Peter), perhaps it might be better to just stick with what we have? What we have is a shorter big (Dorsey) who will hustle on every play, instead of relying on height or reach. With Dorsey and Evans spelling Bargs and Amir, we should clean up the glass on every possession right? (haha...kidding...sort of). Besides, I'm assuming that since Alabi's injury was just called a "hamstring injury", that its not a tear..perhaps a strain. While nagging, shouldn't be looking at x number of weeks prognosis. Between Dorsey, Alabi, and Kleiza playing the occasional PF, I think we'll be alright.
Besides, I for one am still holding out for the deal that sends away Evans...
I also still believe (but not hoping for) the deal to release our "logjam" at PG will come at some point.

[Aditya]

here's a good article for you doug...
http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/david_aldridge/09/27/morning-tip-antione-walker/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

Blogger's note: I took the usual cheap shot out; and I think you might be done around these parts. Thanks for the link

[d]

Why is Joey Dorsey not the big we are looking for? He's already here, is an absolute beast physically, and will be great to have around vs Boston, and Orlando in the East.

Is it just his contract that makes him so expendable, i would have thought it makes him more attractive to keep. All additions of a new player seem to be predicated on Joey being let go.

I vote he stays !!!!

Blogger's note: Contract coupled with size and skill, yeah.

[Colin W]

Hi Doug: Looking forward to following the dinos and your as the start of the season looms. Triano as head coach still makes me a tad nervous and it would be interesting to see what happens if the Raptors get off to a slow start.

From Aditya's link, interesting article on Antoine Wright. What a "tragic" story.