Better late than never, as they say

In honour of my surroundings as I type this in Miami …

Away we go!

(People of a certain age may get that)

-

THREE POINTERS

Heat? Hot?

Um, not so much.

The first impression is that they haven’t come close to figuring it out; it’s either LeBron or Dwyane but never LeBron and Dwyane and until they do, I honestly don’t think they can compete with Boston or even Orlando and definitely not the Lakers.

The feeling that it was two individuals working quite independent of each other; which is fine when you’re playing some of the lesser teams of the world. It’s not so good if you seriously think a championship is coming in the spring.

Now, maybe they get it figured out in the next 70 games, I imagine they will because they’re two pretty bright players. They have to because that team, right now, can’t win it all.

Bosh? He is what he is. The third guy, still quite skilled, finesse rather than power and a darn good third option.

Anyone who thought he’d be otherwise on the court when this whole thing started was fooling themselves.

Does that make him a bad guy? Not in the least.

-

Some love for the kids

Oh, those rambunctious youngsters, you gotta love ‘em. Or at least put up with some of their hijinks.

You probably noticed a penchant Saturday for Julian Wright to get up his shots – 10 is a few too many ‘cause a couple of them seemed forced -- and we all know Sonny likes to get his.

And while it may make some cringe (I know I did on one Wright corner three that was the definition of ill-advised) the coach is going to live with it. For now, he said.

“They’re high energy and if you try to get them to calm down you take away a little bit of what they bring. You can take maybe a couple of rushed shots or quick shots if they’re going to bring that energy all the time because you know you’re gong to get those possessions back because of their energy. As we grow as a team and as they grow as basketball players, you figure that kind of stuff out where you keep that intensity and still make the right play.”

They can only wish.

-

He can shoot again

Hey, anyone notice Jose found his jump shot and I’d really like to revisit the whole pre-season and hear from the folks who were absolutely killing him for not making shots.

Yes, he was in a slump, they happen; they also go away and watching him come around high screens and pull up and hit jumpers was like watching him play the way he did a couple of seasons ago.

The one interesting thing last night was that he was guarded for a lot of the fourth quarter by LeBron and didn’t back off. In fact, putting LeBron in high screen-roll action worked like a charm a lot of the times.

Best Jose move?

He runs LeBron into a screen, gets a switch and goes right at Ilgauskas, getting knocked to the floor when he tried to finish at the rim.

That tells me he’s feeling 100 per cent healthy and 100 per cent confident and with Jose, those are by far the two most important facets of his game.

-

Anyway, a wee bit more?

-

Chris.

I didn’t get a lot of one-on-one time with him so I wasn’t able to probe deeply into his mind but here’s some pop psychology because I do that so well.

You know what it is?

The kid just really wants to be liked. He’s stung by criticism, he genuinely feels like his comments about Toronto and cable TV and all that stuff were taken at least a little out of context and, for the very first time in his life I imagine, he’s feeling some heat.

He was pretty much bullet-proof for seven years in Toronto, he was the star, a very, very, very good player on a so-so team; you know he was all-world as a high-schooler and a phenom his one year in college and all of sudden, what he thought he wanted more than anything in the world isn’t coming as easily as he expected.

But he is still an engaging young man on some levels – Kevin Arnovitz of espn.com hit the nail on the head when he called him “confessional” when we were comparing Bosh notes after shootaround Saturday – and I imagine they’ll figure out the on-court stuff as the final 70 or so games of the season unfold.

Bosh is not going to be a tough guy or a menace on the court or a dominant physical presence; he is what he is, a finesse big man trying to fit in with two power players.

-

What's the world in Miami about that one?

We find out here.

-

Hey, know what?

The PA guy in Miami may not be on the top of the list of favourites for a lot of you but he couldn’t have been more helpful to me when we were setting up the Bosh thing and now I’ve got a lot of time for him.

Speaking of the thing, it was kind of cool.

I’m standing at midcourt holding the trophy, over comes Chris as the PA guy is announcing what the award’s for – on-court excellence combined with respect for and a willingness to deal with the media – and with all that’s going on with him, he the presence of mind to walk over, extend his hand, shake mine and say, out of earshot of everyone:

“This is kind of ironic, isn’t it?”

I tell ya, I like the kid.

-

Travel tip:

If you’re coming to Miami, find a way to leave out of the ‘J’ terminal at the airport.

It’s new, wide concourses, lots of room, good services and the security line seemed to move at a pace that suggests they hired TSA folks with, you know, common sense.

The other concourses at this joint are dingy, old and timeworn; the United one that I was in works.

-

The Raptors apparently have a stalker.

And he could very well be the National League’s Most Valuable Player.

Yes, Joey Votto was traipsing back and forth across Florida to see the lads on the weekend.

He’s tight with Jay and assistant coach and noted baseball expert Micah Nori (why do you think the Mighty Yankees have had success, I soak up such information as teaching hitters to squish bugs) and caught both ends of the Florida double-header.

Not literally, of course.

-

Think this is fraught with peril? The HOTH had Saturday night in Miami, a day off on Sunday (there’s apparently a football game with the Dolphins that beckons some) and then practice at the Heat arena on Monday before they head up to Washington.

Yeah, life sucks, eh?

-

Okay, I’m breaking off from this trip, Mr. Dave will pick ‘em up in D.C. for the Wizards-Sixers back-to-back while I coast.

We’re still working out the logistics of in-game bloggy thingies for Tuesday and Wednesday; I’m thinking sitting on a stool and watching in peace might be a good way for me to spend at least one of those nights.

But we’ll do one of the mid-day question and answer things for sure, maybe Wednesday and we’ll let you know.

 

Comments

[Eddy]

I'm a bad pop psychologist too but it seems like Bosh had to flee from the responsibility of being a number one option, even though he seems attention starved. Maybe he will find peace now that he is riding the pine in Miami and is not expected to add much to the game, like the two real stars on that team?
.
Bosh should also stop worrying about what he says with respect to Toronto and Canada, as stupid as those statements are. He is pretty much hated here no matter what he says. In fact, I think the hatred for Carter may ease up at bit so more hatred can be directed at Bosh.

[sb]

"I tell ya, I like the kid."

Regardless of your personal feelings for him, at some point a biography of CB is going to be warranted (the results of this season may define the demand). I can't think of a better writer than you, Mr. Smith, for that gig. What do you think? You up for it?

Blogger's note: Depends on the advance :)

[Joe]

Excellent comments as usual Doug. Your comment about Bosh is bang on. To me, he's a 26 year old kid who's gotten caught up in the Hollywood hype. His comments, though immature, shouldn't take away from the fact that after Carter left, he's the guy that kept the Raptors franchise a noteworthy item in many circles and was far and away the best player for the Raps in so many ways. Also, many people quickly forget the vast amount of charity work he did here. I hope things do work out for him and that the fans don't treat him too harshly when he returns. Right now, his mood reminds me of his first few years in Toronto, when the team was losing, he was being pounded as an undersized centre, and Sam Mitchell was on his case 24/7. I remember in an interview when he didn't feel like playing anymore because of the losing. To his credit, he kept working and evolved into the player he is today. Right now, the problem as I see is that Wade and James love to run once they get the ball whereas Bosh is more suited to a half-court game. Miami will figure it out, however. at some point. One final question Doug, any whispers out of Miami of possibly canning Spoelstra and replacing him with Reily. I would venture to guess that if things continue as they are, Spoelstra might be held up as the sacrificial lamb. Too bad, because he's a good coach.

Blogger's note: In light of Stan Van Gundy, there are always going to be whispers in Miami.

[Michel G]

Sonny Weems has been playing under control since he was called out a few games ago. Anyway, the man makes 50% of his shots and he nailed the winning three in Orlando. He can shoot whenever he wants. More than Wright anyway.

[doug]

a few thoughts...first off to me Weems can shoot all he wants as his play warrants it, he has been a bright spot for these raptors so to me Jay can't curtail it...next is Bosh, somewhere he just has to be quiet and move on, as he can't have it both ways, somehwere he was given bad advice on a few fronts but most importantly he needed to be told your decision is your decision but be aware of some fall-out...your feelings on him are immaterial as i am sure he is a fine young man but somewhere he has to wake up and smell the coffee..and to realize quit commenting and trying to please all involved it's fool's gold to do so...plus even if the Heat get it all together there still vulnerable in the middle, and in this whole Heat fiasco there has been many "blind "parties from Stern to Riley down to James and Bosh....but Riley to be sitting like a vulture over Spoelstra is just so bush league...Riley's mission isn't hard to see he wants to best Jackson...well he won't, jackson has class....Riley is who he is, if Spoelstra had any pride he'd walk into Riley's office and say thanks but no thanks see you later...and his respect throughout the league would not be diminished it would be in fact increased...as Riley is playing him for a fool...the Heat have a few weaknesses and they have been exposed quite clearly thus far...

[V]

Who is Joey Votta? Maybe you mean Joey Votto?

Blogger's note: Yeah, typed in a hurry in an airport waiting lounge. Oops

[Juan]

Terminal J! It's great - clean, lots to keep you occupied, decent food, and at times live music in the food court. Air Canada flies out of it and you're right the other terminals seem like dumps next to it.

[Mike kovacs]

Doug I still wonder - when Bosh told you in your one-on-one in early 2010 that he wanted to 'be the man' is that truly how he felt or was he just saying what he felt the fans wanted to hear?I wonder more with these kids that got into the NBA after high school ( or 1 yr college )that although they may be smart they have never had the opportunity to properly learn how to handle themselves.

[GM]

The Miami PA announcer and Chris Bosh may be peachy guys, but if it's their work you're critical of, it shouldn't matter how nice they may be. Granted, it's always easier to be critical of jerks, but hopefully they're professional enough to know if you're in the public eye, it's their public activities one can criticize without implying anything about their personal lives. I think the reactions to Bosh's various comments in the press are overboard. In context, what he said and what he meant are absolutely fine. So I have no problems with them. And he seems like a nice enough guy. But it's his work as a professional basketball player that I never much cared for.

Raps played great in Florida. Hopefully they don't revert to the Raps of Bosh's days where they play well against top teams then coast against also-rans.

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
A little late reading the blog today, but here's my pop psychology. The Raps draft a young Bosh who is barely 19. The one man who has been with him throughout the entire time is Jay. In fact, I recall hearing Bosh give Triano a lot of credit for making him a better player when Jay was an assistant with the team. Then, Colangelo comes along and makes Bosh the Face of the Franchise. He was probably this before Colangelo gets here, but Colangelo puts it into hyper-drive. For four years every decision he makes is about pleasing Bosh. It doesn't work out. Fair enough. Bosh becomes a free agent. Fair enough. Bosh decides to leave for Miami. Fair enough, he's earned that right. It's just business, right? Except that for both Triano and Colangelo it looks like it's personal. Both of their reactions to Bosh have been completely out of character. I can't think of any time that Colangelo has ever called out a player like he did with Bosh when he said that Bosh "checked out". And Jay, who questioned Bosh's leadership , barely spoke to him when Bosh went over to shake his hand during the pre-game on Saturday. You would think that there would have some degree of warmth between these two men who had spent so much time together and yet there was nothing. It's a fascinating story. And, I'm sure we haven't heard the end of it.

[Matt T]

I wonder Doug with the way things have played out if given the choice again Bosh would stay in Toronto where he was loved and hardly every given a hard time. I feel for the guy who admittedly has said some dumb things seems to genuinely like and miss Toronto. I suspect he will get booed upon his return due to Toronto Fans being that way. However hes a guy who gave his all in my opinion should be cheered

[jc]

Just a reminder that we don't chew up all the ex-Raps. Nice to see the Rocket finding success

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Matt Bonner scored 21 points and just missed the Spurs franchise record by hitting all seven of his 3-point shots, helping San Antonio stretch its winning streak to seven games with a 117-104 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.

Bonner swished home three of his 3s during a 21-8 run to open the fourth quarter, and the NBA's best 3-point shooting team went 6-for-8 from behind the arc to pull away in the final period.

Bonner led the way, falling one shy of Steve Smith's record for 3-point accuracy. He went 8-for-8 from 3-point range against Portland on Nov. 3, 2001.

[Heath]

So, Miami is now off the "worst" list? It'll never ever be off mine.

[511]

To your opening ... How Sweet It Is!

[james]

At least one of us is old enough to appreciate the reference to the Great One, and I don't mean Gretzky.
You can't fault the effort of these players regardless of the win/loss ratio. Given that Derozan could be a junior at USC, his upside remains intriguing. I'm enjoying this season a lot more than I thought I would.

[Al]

the two Florida games made me want to watch the Raptors again this season. I don't care if they win a bunch of games, but I just want to see that effort level, teamwork and development (including of AB).

[Zombywoof]

Doug has to be the world's biggest fan of a show that's been off the air for forty years! My mom used to get all flustered when Crazy Guggenheim came on, she thought that character was mocking disadvantaged people. I guess she was ahead of her time, that schtick would never fly in this day & age. Not to mention coming out with a smoke and a drink in hand. These days you can fill shows aimed at kids with sexual innuendo, but dontcha dare show a cigarette on stage.

[Leaf fan in Van]

Doug: As a man of integrity, I understand that I must admit I was wrong saying the Raps would lose (easily) to both the Florida teams. I almost choked on my pasta Friday night, and was pleased at their effort on a B/B in Miami. I think the fact that CB did nothing made the loss a little more acceptable. I hope fans are starting to understand that Bargs can/should be a big part of this team's offense each and every night!

[Tabber]

Leaf fan in Van: Way to stand up! Interesting that you're the only one, but kudos to you for coming back and admitting your error, and even more for understanding that you should. Doesn't say much for your former fellow know-it-alls though - not showing up to admit they were wrong.