A dreary game but still some things to talk about

Well, you’re going to get some stinkers over the course of an 82-game schedule and that’s what we got Sunday, no?

First half was kind of competitive but the only thing memorable about the final two quarters was that they were unmemorable.

Luckily, there are 65 more to go!

On that note …

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THREE POINTERS

Joey’s surprise start

As far back as Friday, when they knew Reggie was going to be gone for a while (and we don’t know how long but it’ll be a bit), the word was Amir Johnson would start.

But then it was the 280-pound Joey Dorsey out there on Sunday and there were two good reasons, I guess.

First, it meant less disruption to regular roles (and that’s been something Jay’s done for while) and it may have worked very well had Amir not come in and committed two fouls in his first four minutes. Had he started and done that – which is entirely possible – it would have messed things up even more.

But I wonder if this isn’t in the plans, and I have had no indication that it is but it kind of makes sense to me.

What if they give six minutes at the start of the game and six more at the start of the second half to Ed Davis now?

The kid is coming back from the minors this week, all indications are, and since things have changed so dramatically with Evans out, could they throw the kid out there and see how he does? It leaves Amir in his regular role, gets the kid some minutes that are available and would allow them to use Dorsey again as a fourth big.

Again, it’s all because of the circumstances they find themselves in but might it be worth a shot?

I think so.

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What was that?

End of the second quarter and I look up and what do my eyes behold?

Jose Calderon, Jerryd Bayless, Leandro Barbosa, Sonny Weems and Amir Johnson on the floor together.

Sure, it was only for about a minute, maybe less, and it was driven a bit by foul trouble and the desire to change things up for a couple of possessions but I don’t imagine we’ll ever see that again. Especially when it ended up with Bayless covering Joe Johnson.

Nor should we see it. Ever again.

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A 3 1-2 or a 4?

We all knew it was coming sometime, especially now with the front court down a guy, so the extended minutes Linas Kleiza played at power forward weren’t a surprise.

So, how’d the coach like it:

“Good, except they went right down at him on the other end. I think he can extend the offence but they went and posted him up and when we tried to help, they pitched it out and that’s why guys like Josh Smith had a great game, 10 assists. He throws it out and they pick us apart when we come and help Kleiza.”

I do think Linas is more effective inside rather than out and he does have some post skills but I guess Sunday wasn’t a good matchup day for him. I’d think, though, that we’ll see it some more in different circumstances.

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And now, more stuff …

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Leslie Nielsen was a giant.

Surely, he’ll be missed.

And, of course, there’s a good basketball story about him floating out there and recounted here by Mr. Stein.

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I really needed Peja to play yesterday so he could make a three and I could tell this story.

But, since we’re a little light on stories today, and I’m quite late after sleeping an extra 45 minutes thanks to Grey Cup festivities, I better tell it: With his next three-pointer, Peja’s going to tie Dale Ellis for third on the list of guys with the most made three-pointers in NBA history, with 1,719.

So what? Well, there’s a Dale Ellis story. That’s about trash-talking and its dangers.

Second year, game at the World’s Worst Basketball Arena, against Seattle, where Ellis is playing.

Darrell’s coaching, and he’s a bit of a chatter and early in the game, he makes some reference to Dale’s battle with drink, a rather cheap shot, actually.

Well, Ellis proceeds to make about four hundred three-pointers against Toronto in that game and after every single one, he looks over at Darrell with a “bleep you” kind of look on his face.

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How’d they recant that one in the pages of the Atlanta Journal Constitution?

Like this.

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Speaking of three-pointers, let’s get this one out of the mail:

Q: Hey Doug. I know there's only so many conspiracy theories that the Irregulars can throw at you as to why the recent trade went down (Laughed when I saw someone ask if Jack got jettisoned due to his friendship with Bosh).

That said, there's a fairly obvious reason why we brought in Peja - and I'm not talking about future financial considerations or trade bait for a contender.

Yes, I'm talking about the most hallowed statistic in Raptor-land History: the 'Streak'.

I think it's been noted before on NBA.com, but in your opinion, who are your Top 5 contributors to the HOTH's 3-pointer streak? Not necessarily by the volume of long-bombs they put up, but the memorability of their prowess from behind the arc.

Something tells me that Weems isn't on that list yet.

 

 

Andrew P, Toronto

A: I’ll give you a bunch off the top of my head:

Darrick Martin has to be No. 1 because he saved it that night in Dallas by making one in the final seconds of a blowout. He knew it, the bench knew it and while I wasn’t at that game, I could sense the tension sitting on my couch.

The afternoon when Donyell Marshall made nine 12 of ‘em against Philly in Toronto was kind of cool.

Mo Pete leads the way with 801 and you have to have him on any list and I’m putting in Dell and Dee Brown just because I liked to watch them both shoot.

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Oh yeah, those Riders are going to win for sure.

Honest.

Take Saskatchewan, it’s a lock.

Oh, wait.

Never mind.

Dreary game, wrong team won.

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We’re going to do a Question and Answer thingy Tuesday, if anyone cares.

Noon works best for us.

See you then.

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I guess I shouldn’t be entirely surprised by this, given the circumstances, but I find it at least a little odd that not only haven’t they sold out a game here, they’ve only had one crowd over 18,000 (opening night) and haven’t scared a sellout yet.

I presume it picks up if they have any measure of success this year but so far, I think you’d have to term attendance just a little disappointing.

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Comments

[Lorie]

Hello Doug,
So sad to read the news of the death of Leslie Nielsen - but, my oh my, the laughs he gave us. (And you say he was a basketball fan, too? Well, then wasn't he darn near perfect.) And, since, "and please don't call me Shirley" has been remembered here a few times already, here's my own brief tribute to Mr. Nielsen, who as Det. Frank Drebin, gave us the following: (And can't you hear his wonderful voice delivering these words.)
"Frank: It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girl dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.
Jane: Goodyear?
Frank: No, the worst."

[doug]

a zone in the NBA isn't used often for a reason...NBA players would demolish it...it works for high school ball or in uni ball ...as most teams only have one shooter or so...in the pros a zone isn't used often especially against a team like the Hawks which would be one of the last teams you play a zone against...I wonder do people know how you beat a zone?...if you do then you'll know why against the Hawks or many other NBA teams in the long-term it would be a disaster....and I can hear people now well what they were playing never worked??..it wasn't their defence yesterday it was their offence that was the problem, missing good looks, not getting in a rhythm and as a result of misses the Hawks getting transition bucket after transition bucket...our offence was the culprit..

[Scott]

Walker and Ellis actually had some history before that incident, too.

From Orlando Sentinel, 1991:

"SPORTS
Walker, Ellis Fined
March 5, 1991
DARRELL WALKER of the Washington Bullets was fined $4,500 and Dale Ellis of the Milwaukee Bucks $2,000 for fighting after a game Friday night. Rod Thorn, the league's vice president for operations, ruled Ellis initiated the confrontation by challenging Walker and that Walker threw the only punch."

[GM]

Lower case doug, I wasn't suggesting they play zone for most of the game. Just more than two possessions. And I disagree that defense wasn't the problem. The Hawks were destroying the Raps in the middle. They just waltzed through the lane and scored at the hoop over and over again. So you try and show them different looks when nothing else is working. Two times doesn't count.
Anyway, on to the next game.

[Sparky]

Dale Ellis was actually a Nugget when he dropped 37 at the Dome. Painful, yet impressive.

Blogger's note: Hmm. Memory fading I guess. Ravages of age

[nasko]

hey Doug, did you get a chance to watch Barca vs Real? Wow, what a game!

[doug]

in this day and age of the NBA..a guy like Josh Smith presents match-up problems for a lot of teams...that's why to me there reg season record is deceiving...as once they play the Celts and Magic of the league they are exposed...and have been ...even with Reggie we would have had a rough time with Josh Smith, he just is a big match-up problem for us...the only way we have to beat a team like the Hawks in my opinion is we need Peja and we need Barg's, Weems, and D.D. to be on there game...we just have to score the ball as we'll be dead in the water if we don't as we were....but I could be wrong ..I think Jay realized it beforehand hence the Dorsey start, at least he tried...but his 3rd quarter patience ,rotations need to change...

[Ian Murray]

Leslie Nielsen in the umpire scene in Naked Gun was "gold, Jerry! gold" Funny, funny dude! Will be missed.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

I remember first seeing Leslie Nielsen as dashing Revolutionary War figure Francis Marion in a Disney TV series called "The Swamp Fox". He even sang the show's theme song. And his sidekick was the one and only Slim Pickens! We're talking 1959, 1960. I wonder how many Irregulars might have been watching that one, oh, a half century ago now! RIP, Mr. Nielsen. You, sir, were an absolute classic.

[John]

Hey Little doug... You can't compare NBA zone to high school or Uni because NBA has a defensive 3 second rule so there will always be a strong side and open space to take advantage of on the weak side so your point is rather uh, well, pointless cause you cant compare the two.

[tom]

My favourite Nielsen movie is actually Forbidden Planet. It was only late in his career that he became a comedic actor. He used to be thought of as leading man material. Anyway, great sci-fi classic and the inspiration for Star Trek in many ways.