Now it's time for the fun to begin for real

So here we go.

But before we get into the silliness and the angst, I want to say this:

Folks, it’s fun.

I don’t know whether the Heroes of the Hardcourt will win 22 games or 34 games or 41 games and I don’t care and, you know what? I don’t know whether you should, either.

Sports is supposed to be about fun, isn’t it? Isn’t supposed to be a couple of hours of escape, from the boss and the bills and life? A diversion, a thing to entertain you and make you smile.

Yes, being a passionate fan is nice but to live and die with possessions, to dissect every nuance of every game? That’s too much.

Yes, this team will get absolutely drilled some nights and it will win some games out of nowhere. And in every game you watch – win or lose – there will be a moment, a play, a shot, a dunk, a move that makes you say “holy crap” and that’s what it’s all about.

Who cares whether this guy or that guy says they’ll win 20 games or 25 games or whatever? Does anyone really need to obsess about the predictions of others, or seek validation for their opinions all that much?

I think we all need to take a deep breath and maybe a step back and realize what it is:

A game.

It will be nice, indeed, when they win; it will be a tad less nice when they lose but at the end of the day, it’s entertainment.

Please, enjoy the good moments and quickly forget the bad. There’s enough in each of our lives that we don’t need to feel anger and angst and dismay over a bunch of guys playing a kid’s game.

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Now, that said, let’s dissect them, in a good and bad kind of way:

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Good: They will be more athletic, it seems. Tempo will be a word heavily used this year when chatter gets around to the Raptors because a lot of them like to get out and go. But to think they’ll place racehorse basketball as if Paul Westhead were coaching them is wrong, look for them to try and score in transition but they won’t try to put up 120 points a night. A controlled break is more like it

Bad: Leandro Barbosa is likely to play tonight but he’s got a bad wrist that, according to him and Bryan Colangelo, may eventually need surgery. It’s not imminent but if it gets worse and he needs to be cut mid-season, it’ll be a big blow. It may not affect his shot, though. Someone asked the other day if he had hurt his shooting hand and it was pointed out that he really doesn’t have a “shooting hand” since he releases the ball with both of them.

Good: You’ll never really know who’s going to be the No. 1 guy each night. Might be trouble on the nights no one plays well but you have to admit it’s going to be more fun that knowing one guy’s going to get 25 shots and the ball at every significant moment.

Bad: There will be nights when no one plays well and they get killed. Be prepared, it might happen more than a few times.

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And some more stuff

The East is loaded with bad teams. You’ve got three very good ones in Orlando, Boston and Miami, you’ve got Chicago, Milwaukee and Atlanta in a second tier and then what?

A bunch of teams with holes and question marks and hope.

Toronto’s season is going to be determined by how it does against the New Yorks, New Jerseys, Charlottes, Detroits, Washingtons and Indianas of the world, not the others.

Best thing that can happen for this group:

The Magic, Heat and Celtics each win about 68 games, sweeping every team in the East while Toronto holds its own against the other dregs and steals a couple at home against those middle three. That should keep the Raptors around the periphery of the race at least; and add some juice to the second half of the season.

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The one guy I’m most interested in watching this season is Jay.

He’s got a chance to really coach this time around, to be creative rather than “forced” to feed the ball to his top player. I think at times last year he felt he had to satisfy Bosh and wasn’t sure how to handle Turkolgu and it killed them.

This season? Not an issue and when I asked him the other day whether he was excited about having a chance to experiment, he quickly said yes.

“Absolutely. More creative and less predictable.

“Last year, if … if we didn’t run a certain play late in the game, it was like, ‘why would you pay this guy this much money and not give the basketball.’

 

“Now, it’s an opportunity that we can disguise a lot of things and we can change up who we go to when the game’s on the line.” And that might be fun to watch.

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A number?

I don’t really have one, to tell you the truth.

I can see them winning 25 games, I can see them winning 33 games, I can see them doing a lot of different things.

But, I’ll go back to what I said at the top, it should be entertainment and if it’s a fun night out and something good happens to take your mind off the real world, that really should be good enough.

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Torn, folks. I’m torn.

Rangers? Giants? Giants? Rangers? Do I care? Don’t I care?

And I’ve come to the realization that, yes, I care.

And I’m all about the Rangers, for a couple of reasons.

First, one of the best memories I have of watching baseball with Super Son – and those are the memories that count – is sitting out one night watching Josh Hamilton hit homer after homer at the all-star game in New York and it was a great night for a dad and a kid.

And way back in the day, and I’m talking way back in the day, I was hooked up with a great, great bunch of Tillsonburg Red Sox, glorious OBA Senior D champions in 1984 believe it was, a spectacular come-from-behind win in a double-knockout provincial finals in some tiny town out east of Whitby as I recall) and our replica hats were the Texas model, with the ‘T’ emblem on the front. It may have been conflicting fashion – Boston replica jerseys, Texas hats – but it provided me with some of the top baseball moments I’ve had.

So, go Rangers.

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We’re here at 1 p.m. East, right? Questions. Answers. Fun. Frivolity. And then again for the game? You’re going to get sick of me.

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Total aside:

It shocks me every time I see Erik Spoelstra as head coach of the Miami Heat to think about the kid I used to talk to in various Marriott concierge lounges when he was an advanced scout making it so big.

Very cool.

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This quote from Chris Bosh dismays me. A lot.

“Really, it’s all about being on TV at the end of the day. Seriously. A guy can average 20 (points) and 10 (rebounds), and nobody really cares. If you don’t see it (on U.S. national TV), then it doesn’t really happen.”

Doesn’t that sort of sum up what’s wrong with so many of our athletes today?

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Comments

[Skiff]

I have no doubt that the Raps will do what they always do...win just enough to ensure another middle draft pick and no impact player as always. Roast me for saying the team should do all it can to ensure it gets a high draft pick, but would anyone really say they'd prefer to have Ed Davis to John Wall right now. Get real. Let the mediocrity continue...but oh yeah, I'll just remember all the fun it is as I pay my money to cable providers and MLSE to watch an endless stream of lousy teams with no accountability!! Woo hoo!!

I guess it's easy to forget that unlike sports reporters, the rest of us actually have to pay to watch this stuff!

[Matt M]

Bosh's should have said you can get your 20 and 10 but when your third option on the team no one really cares. Of course, judging from last night, he might have trouble getting to 20 and 10 most nights. 10 and 10 might be a more realistic goal. Hopefully Lebron and Wade share some of their endorsement money with him, because he is clearly the Ray Allen of this big three.

[DanM]

Doug,

I think you are going to have to keep your first entry fromt eh blog today close at hand and insert it often into the reporting this year. Possibly print it on T-Shirts and try and make some coin for the local homeless shelters you point us to with the pizza give-away.

[Nilay]

What Bosh said really doesnt make a difference for me either way ..he still sucked it up against the one team that miami needs to beat and with Bosh as the main interior offense they wont get past Boston or Orlando. Miami has no interior offense...Bosh is a jump shooter against tough interior "D" and in the playoffs when it becomes a half court game who will post up against Shaq, KG or D.Howard and if miami's answer is Bosh they wont get past the second round! They should have went with Amare over Bosh.

[Robert]

How pathetic are the Raptors for showing the first few games ( let alone the opener) on the second tier network - Honestly! It is a stupid move, they took a hit with Bosh leaving this summer so the average fan is left wondering "now who do we cheer for?". To answer this, and to show fans what great product we have moving forward - they stuff this game on TSN 2. Almost nobody carries TSN 2....however you can get all the Habs vs Islanders you need in the Toronto area on TSN, but no Toronto team to watch. Makes sense to me!!!!

[Mark]

Hey Juan, it's about team, not about me. doug is right - no question. you win and that stuff takes care of itself. the irony here of course is he will be 3rd fiddle on this team and may be more buried and insignificant from a media exposure standpoint that he ever was in toronto. i think it's great

[dribbles]

Telling fans not to care too much about their favourite team is a bit of a dangerous game. Of course it's entirely irrational that people can get so agitated about a bunch of millionnaires who are complete strangers playing a friggin game. But it's also that insanity that fuels the sports business as a whole. If you don't really care about a player, you're not going to buy his poster, or his shoes, or his jersey. If you don't really care about a team's wins and losses, you may think twice about spending a ridiculous amount of money to go see a game with your kids who put up posters of their favourite players.

All I want for Christmas is a team that's going to bust their butts every night and play with pride. It's hard to be entertained when your team gets outworked night in and night out and can't stop anyone from scoring.

To me, this is a bit of a microcosm of the debate over Vince's tenure with the Raps. Personally, I appreciate that he was the most entertaining player ever on this team, but at the same time he embodied a lot of the negative traits that agitate fans so much.

[Kevin]

Doug: just curious if you know the context of Bosh's quote about being on TV. Was it possibly part of a conversation or question about the importance of media coverage to a player's popularity or success, that got pulled out of context to rile up Toronto fans? Or was it actually a reply to a question about why he picked Miami over Toronto? Only if it's the latter am I truly disappointed.

Blogger's note: Haven't spoken to Dave, who was there, to know for sure

[John]

You guys are crazy, I don't think Miami will win the title this year, but they'll hit their stride at some point. Bosh shot a terrible percentage last night which is not normal for him. Wade didn't look great either, all that can be said is that Miami won't win every single game this year, but they'll still go deep into the playoffs.

[kelsey]

I wouldnt mind seeing Rangers win World Series

Well 2010-11 Nba season has started.

Was not a fluent game between the two titans last night. Miami really lacks inside presence at this point. Bosh is my man but he looked like a deer in headlights last night, wade tried to hard. But Lebron is still on.

Boston is the real deal, Rondo 17 ast. Wow.. Shaq looked good..They are a true veteran team. With 4 guranteed hall of famers..

Lakers are also the real deal...

Nash 9 turnovers, this team surely will fall back

On to the Raptors:
Well we can just hope for that effort, they need to get 1st couple games against teams that are also weak.
Hopefully Jack controls PG and doesnt try to take whole team on his back. Bargnani just make some shots and let Reggie and others rebound. I dont care if Bargnani gets much rebounds as Amir or Reggie should be taking to many jump shots. Klezia depending on you to score some points. Derozan keep attacking until ref's respect you and get the calls. Reggie, Reggie,Reggie...Mr Rebound

On that Bosh clip, I understand what he is saying but it comes off much worse. Well he will get his time to shine. I like Bosh but still want Miami to loose!!!

[Alex]

Bosh's quote is indicative of his entire generation. Don't skewer him for verbalizing the Single Goal of the reality TV generation (being on television).

To most people in the U.S. under the age of 25, being on TV really is all that matters.

[Mike D.]

If "it's all about being on TV at the end of the day", then Bosh should be just fine with his 8 points and 8 rebounds against the Celtics [giggle]

[charles]

What an excellent opening day blog, Doug.
Good life and hoops perspectives for us to mull over.

Bosh and celebrity: he is a sign of our times...whatever happened to people leading a worthwhile life as who they are rather than waiting to catch the eye of the celebrity-makers. Sad really.

The baseball Rangers!!?? The Giants are a bunch of retreads who have found team leadership and chemistry. They have characters, a panda, pitchers, a manager who won a game this season by catching an opponent's manager going back to the mound for a second time in one visit, the pitcher was removed and the Giants won!

Many believe a championship NBA team needs superstar ( along with intense defense ) to win. Maybe it is true. But this year shows us that when a team is really a team it contains much more interest and for the fan, the "winning only" is replaced by more integrated enjoyment.

Diversion and sport: it is true BUT the Mexican revolution started 200 years ago in part because the people could not get their playing cards from the usual variety of sources. So sometimes DIVERSIONS are VERY IMPORTANT.

[Steven]

I think when you're paying top dollar to watch a basketball game at the ACC and your team is getting blown out by half time night after night like we faced five years ago, its not fun now matter how much of an escape it should be. If the Raptors play as a team and not "Mike James basketball" and we see substantial improvement and development amongst their young core (DeRozen, Bargnani, Weems, Johnston and Davis) I think we will enjoy the games and have reason to be optimistic for the future no matter the win total. Hopefully, now that the first game is out of the way, all of Bosh's silly quotes will be ignored here and we can move on. By now we get it that he's attention seeking. This is why total silence and indifference over booing when he comes back will be a more effective message from those who feel that he should have been upfront with his desire to leave so the Raptors may have received some assets in return. Let's hope for an entertaining season all over the league and thanks again for your great blog.

[TLI]

Hey Doug - Reading your intro remarks got me thinking about my golf game - I think you can relate to this. My dreams of being a scratch golfer are long gone; today, my memory erases the 90+ hooks, scuffs and misses of every round and I bring home the (very) few really nice long balls and tricky putts I make. They're the fun part, and the reason I play at all. I've always watched the Raps that way, and I fully expect this will be a "fun" year for that reason.

About Chris' TV comment - I wouldn't be quite so hard on him. It's that "tree falling in the forest" thing: what's the point of doing great if nobody knows or cares? Not so much an "it's all about me" attitude as wanting some acknowledgment for the effort.

[Ian Small]

"It is what it is. A game"???? We shouldn't care who wins? Wow, I know you get a media pass for the games but you should try paying the hundred plus bucks per seat that we pay and say it doesn't matter if they get drilled that night. A little too much company kool aid for you in these dark times Mr. Smith because they are selling an inadequate product and need to be ripped apart by the fans and the media. Your kind of mentality is the reason why MLSE gets away with putting an inferior product out year after year. I've been a fan since 95 and have no problem calling the team and organization out when they suck. As a paying fan I'm allowed to expect more.

[Nick M]

Doug,

I hate when people correct you but...

It is Tillsonburg, not Tilsonburg. I thought you were once an Oxford County journalist???

Shame, shame on you!

Blogger's note: What a mental blip, thanks, got it fixed

[DaveT]

Skiff,

I watched Boston-Miami and part of LAL-Houston. If you don't like watching the Raps because the product is mediocre, then don't. There's a lot of options out there.

[Pipit]

Impressive article today Doug. This what makes me comeback and read your stuff. Any thoughts on Miami's play last night?

Blogger's note: Choppy, not unexpected since the top three players had played about three minutes together the entire pre-season

[Geoff Read]

You know, I'm a pretty even-keeled guy when it comes to my sports - I love my teams, I root for them, but I do try and remember that it's only a game.

Which is why I'm actually a little surprised at how much I've come to despise Chris Bosh. He has made himself the poster child, or at least Exhibit B (after Exhibit A - Lebron "The Decision" James) of the spoiled attention-seeking egomaniacal athlete. Dude: do us and yourself a favour and just shut up and play.

[joe]

Great post today Doug, especially the two last paragraphs. Spoelstra is an example of all that's good. A hard working guy who worked his way up the ranks. He's also a real good coach. I do hope Riley doesn't do what he did to Van Gundy in 2006 when he canned him and took over. As for Bosh, well the more he opens his mouth, the more he tarnishes his image. He's a 26 year old caught up in the Hollywood hype. I wish those around him would sit him down and set him straight. As for his play, he looked lost last night. Watching him for 7 years, I've never seen him so disengaged. He'll get his attention but if he doesn't step up his play, it won't be for good reasons.

[ad]

Your right to a certain extent that its all about fun. But I think most Raptor fans are tired of the endless cycle of mediocrity and want to see a winner. We are told the team will spend and bring in good players but that never happens.

[Steph]

I would say playing if fun, but winning is more fun, but I love what you said and how you said it and why you said it.
..
I have trouble thinking Bosh has changed so much since his days in Toronto. Was he somehow insulated by journalist from the fans? Or where we all duped?

[David in Oakville]

Doug, I love your blog, I love your writing style. Whenever I hear you on the radio you manage to elevate the discussion with thoughtful comments. But come on.... it isn't only about having fun. These are professionals, from Colangelo to Jay to the trainers to the scouts to our hard court heros. At some point, someone's feet has to be held to the fire and an assessment made.

Last year, as a splurge I bought 2nd row seats (not courtside) behind the Raptors bench for OKC's only visit to TO. Paid less than face value (season ticket holder still made some money on them) and could not believe my luck that I could get such awesome tickets to see the most exciting player and young team in the league. My girlfriend (now wife) and I had a hoot. We got awesome photos, Turkoglu blew kisses at her and The Raptor came by for a photo op too! We had fun, agreed! But as the game wore on to the third quarter I sat there wondering, WTF, do our guys ever practice together... do they even care.

At that moment, I wanted less fun from our side and more professionalism. I was wishing we still had Oakley because he would have put someone on their butt and raised hell in the locker room later. (Although to be fair, I do remember a hard foul on Durant by Bosh I think)

At the end of the year, I want to see improvements in all these youngsters and I want to see the hard decisions made on any failed projects from Triano to Bargnani. Sometimes I expect a GM to deal with the less fun aspects of the job.

[Adrian]

We were told before not to assume the worst. Now that's it's happened, we're being told to move on. At what point are you permitted to complain? With this team, it continues to be all talk. 1) They "almost" launched a Bosh campaign similar to We Want Wade (you know, the one that actually worked?) in June- they now want credit ! in spite of the fact they didn't do anything. Are they saying the Trailblazers deserve credit for allowing the Bulls to take Michael Jordan? Is that the point they're makingt? 2) Now the Raps have "approval" to go into the luxury tax- and they want credit in spite of the fact they haven't actually done it. Saying it doesn't make it happen. I can say it too. Doesn't mean you should believe me. 3) "Wait until the Bosh S&T is constructed before rendering a verdict on how it was handled" - and now we have to wait until the Miami first rounder develops and the trade exception is used before we render our verdict? And even if nothing ever comes of it (ask yourself, what are the cahances they'll use the exception if it'll put them well into the tax- maybe 1%? Less? How could this mediocre at best team justify a tax expenditure when the more competitive teams of the past could never justify it?), we'll presumably be asked to move on because it doesn't help to be negative.

Unfortunately, the only thing more negative than being negative is to not acknowledge a bad situation, to stick our heads in the sand and not fight back (which is what we're being asked to do)... because in that case we'll just be allowing it to happen again. I'm not a well spoken guy but I know when I'm being ripped off. I've given up my season seats but I promise I'll be watching tonight. I'll need a toilet nearby.