Live: Raptors pre-game Q&A

Doug held a live basketball Q&A today at noon, answering questions about troubles in the Miami Heat, Jerryd Bayless and life after Reggie Evans

Offensive woes and the list of the favourite Chickens

So Jay terms his team a “fair-weather defensive team” right now – a bang-on assessment of a club that derives a lot of its energy from its offence, as troubling as that may be – and there are a couple of reasons that’s pretty dangerous.

First, it’s the trap they fell into last season and we know how that all worked out, don’t we? Shows a wee lack of mental toughness because the one thing that should be constant is defensive effort and, for most of this season, we’ve seen that this group works hard. But there has been some slippage that needs to be corrected. The other troubling aspect?

This team can’t shoot.

At least not well enough so far this season.

The HOTH are firmly ensconced in the bottom third in field goal percentage, shooting about 44.8 per cent as a group, and, lately, not nearly enough of them can make a shot.

Even before the season began, the world coming out from them that offence wasn’t an issue, that even without the guy who got ‘em 24 points a nights they’d find ways to score.

And seeing how they’ve only shot 50 per cent from the field in one of their first 17 games, it would behoove them to get better at that end of the floor.

Or it would at least be wise for them to get better defensively because on the (increasingly occurring) nights when shots don’t fall, that’s how they stay in games. As the coach knows:

“As good as we were playing in the fourth quarter of our win streak, we haven’t been able to get to the fourth quarter feeling good about where we are. It’s a matter of breakdowns, letdowns and a loss of focus sometimes by some of the players.

“Against some teams, you can get away with it; against good teams, they’re going to make you pay.”

-

Ah, this tweeting thing is something, right?

Where else are you going to learn that Reggie Evans is having surgery later this week? Yep, he spilled the beans last night, I’m told. No real details – I’ve got to figure they’re going to go in and put a tiny screw in the little broken bone – but we have to be talking more than a month at the very least.

Which means in about three weeks we’ll have daily “what’s up with Regggie, when’s he coming back?” questions and it’ll be exactly like last year.

-

It’s raining out at 6:15 a.m. and it’s already about 5 C and it’s almost December and what do I hear at the Favourite Starbucks (hi, Hurontario and Harbord): Christmas carols.

Way, way, way too early, methinks.

Reminded me of the morning Stumpy and I are standing outside the LAX Marriott about 4 a.m., some November morn waiting for a shuttle to the 6 a.m. flight to go to a game and finish some dopey back-to-back and it’s really warm out and the carols are all over the loudspeaker.

We look at each other with the same thought: Bleep Christmas.

And I have to tell you, if it’s not Bing and Bowie doing Little Drummer Boy, I am so not ready for carols at the moment it’s ridiculous.

-

So now, all of a sudden, it’s a coaching issue in Miami? Erik Spoelstra’s getting killed everywhere you look because those three guys can’t figure it out on the court?

I thing Mssrs. James, Wade and Bosh need to man up and play better.

I don’t think Spoelstra got stupid all of a sudden and it just goes to me oft-stated opinion that coaches get too much blame when things go bad and too much credit when they go good.

At some point, don’t the guys on the floor – supremely talented and quite full of themselves – need to play better? Play smarter? Do their jobs?

But the train wreck of a season so far has been fun to watch, no?

-

Let’s go get this one out of the file of lists I’m slowly compiling (and if you’ve got one, click here and send it along with any other questions you’ve got and I’ll take a look):

Q: Doug, here's a list for you. The Raptor is by far the best mascot in Toronto pro sports. Not sure if you've done it before, but how about top 5 mascots in the NBA? What about baseball mascots from back in the day when you covered baseball? Just curious about what makes a great mascot and who's got one.

Christa M, Barrie

A: Top five stuffed animals-slash-Chickens?

Sure, I’m all over that.

I am putting The Chicken from here at the top of the list and that’s not homerism, he/she/it is the best in my opinion.

After that?

I’m going with the Gorilla in Phoenix, I kind of like the Bison they have in Oklahoma City, and Rocky out in Denver always seems to put on a good show. Rounding it out? I’ll put Squatch of Seattle, RIP, just because he was excellent before his untimely demise.

Now, what makes a good Chicken? Silly antics, acrobatics and the ability to warm up the crowd without being intrusive. Oh, and they have to look cute, too. Cute’s big.

Now, you have to know that from baseball I’m all over the Original Chicken but I was huge Youppi fan and the Philly Phanatic was/is outstanding.

-

Kind of missed the Peja update in the morning missive from the newspaper (which is here for all of you who somehow didn’t click on it).

He didn’t practice yesterday and according to one guy close to him, there’s a chance he misses the next couple of games.

Swelling’s down in the knee and that’s a good sign, just needs a little bit more time for it to calm down.

-

Speaking of questions and answers, we’ll be here at noon for an hour if anyone’s in interested.

-

The things you see in the practice court every now and then.

As we’re chatting with players and coaches after practice Monday, there are people draping two tables against the wall with paper Thomas The Tank Engine tablecloths.

I’m figuring it might be The Young Onez having some sort of clinic or bash, but no …

It’s a birthday party for Usher’s offspring, we’re told, and we high-tailed it out of there before they brought in the jumping castle.

Or the kids.

-

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 …

-

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.

-

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.

-

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.

-

And now, more stuff …

-

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.

-

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.

-

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

Like this.

-

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.

-

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.

-

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

Noon works best for us.

See you then.

-

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.

-

The Goods On The Game, Hawks at Raptors

Good afternoon, all.

Happy Grey Cup Day!

Go, Riders!

The usual full mailbag for a Sunday morning

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Lots of good stuff in here today and I’ve actually started a separate one that’s all “lists” that I’ll get to sometime early in the week so if you don’t see any in here, that’s why.

Enjoy this, be back for 1 p.m. for the in-game bloggy thingy. See you then.

-

Hey Doug! I was watching the Post Game show last night and thought it was pretty cool that they have this right inside the arena so that fans can be a part of it. I was wondering if this is a common occurrence throughout the league and whether we will be able to see you there sometime!

Mary L, Ajax

A: Not a lot do, no. I know the Lakers did have a studio just outside the Staples Center where fans could watch as they walked by but I seem to recall it being hermetically sealed, like the old Carnac envelopes (requisite old guy TV reference for those of you of a certain age) but that’s about it.

A lot of arenas don’t have the space or aren’t wired to handle such a production and most teams use studios for their post-game shows.

Me? Not so much. When it’s going on, I’m usually typing furiously in a corner of the media room and making plans to a decompression session shortly thereafter.

-

Q: Doug. I love the youth on this team, the energy they bring, and the hope for the future. I have a question regarding Amir Johnson. Assuming everyone develops as planned, DD at the 2, Sonny at the 3, Ed Davis at the 4 and Bargs at the 5. Does this mean Amir will likely come off the bench for the bulk of his contract?

 

Aaron C, Burlington

A: That could very well be the case but before you anoint a 21-year-old kid who’s played five summer league games since last February with an NBA starting role, let’s let him get out of the minors, shall we?

-

Q: Hi Doug, I was truly impressed with Jarryd Bayless and the way he handled his Toronto media scrum thingy yesterday. His excitement seems genuine and he seems to be prepared to make the best out of his new opportunity.

My question/comment is why is it that in a time when the city is vocally wondering if a Canadian franchise is looked down upon by players from U.S. as a viable long term stop in their careers does some reporter seem to always ask that question. You know the one and indeed made mention of it in your blog today. "What do you know about hockey"

Seriously? We complain as a society that our neighbors to the south don't take the time to understand other cultures and countries, thinking that we live in igloos and all play hockey and we confirm their idiotic view of us at every turn.

Can you shed some light on this from a reporter's viewpoint

 

 

Colin T, Toronto

A: Reporters, especially those after sound bites to lead the 6 p.m news or whatever it is these days, ask questions to elicit quips and quotes.

Some look for more, um, meat in their questions but to each their own. As for perpetuating the stereotype? I don’t think it’s a huge issue; am pretty sure athletes don’t go running to their friends and colleagues saying, “you’ll never guess what this dope asked me today?” Some might, but not all the time.

-

Q: Hi Doug. When a player gets traded does he automatically give his new team all the info about his old team? All the details about play calls defences etc? Or is there some kind of unwritten fair play rule where the new players keep their knowledge to themselves?

Have you ever seen an instance where players played against their old teams and acted like an advanced scout and detailed all their old teams info to their new team?

Thanks,

 

 

Richard H, Whitby

A: Sure, happens all the time that traded guys give their new teams the play calls, etc., because all’s far in love and basketball but the game is so well scouted these days, it doesn’t really matter.

So, no, teams don’t change terminology or plays just because they get rid of a player or two.

-

Q: Here's another practicalities-of-a-trade question (did you answer the one the other day about players having to pack up right then and there?):

In preseason, the Raptors didn't want to show all their stuff to the Knicks because they'd be facing each other in a few days in the regular season. Which leads me to the latest trade. We heard that Jarred Bayless got the Raptors playbook shortly after his physical. My question: Does the playbook change after a trade? Would not Jarrett Jack, Marcus Banks and David Anderson be familiar with it and tell their new team all about it when they face each other? And ditto for Peja and Bayless? And if not, why the need to keep things from a team one time when you're going to see them again in a couple days

 

 

GM, Vancouver

A: The difference in subtle and has to do with timing more than anything.

By this point in season – earlier, actually – teams are so well scouted that play calls and tendencies are so well known that it really doesn’t matter who gets traded where. It’s all about execution and making in-game adjustments and having counters to whatever opponents do.

In the pre-season, and it’s rather picayune and specific to this year’s schedule, if you can hold back one or two sets it may take a team a quarter or a half or even five or six possessions to figure out just what you’re trying to accomplish and sometimes that’s the difference between winning and losing.

-

Q: Doug. Liking the effort lately from the Raps. Hope it continues. And always appreciate your efforts, Doug.

Curious about someone like Kleiza. He came back from Europe where arguably he was a big deal in Greece (top scorer, making more money, closer to home) and now he's 5th or 6th or 7th man on a team that is extremely hit or miss to even make the playoffs. I know for N American players the desire is always to play on this side of the pond, but for international players, is the decision tougher or still a no-brainer? Former Raptor D Anderson was also a big deal in Euroleague, but came over to be further down the bench than he was in Moscow. Just curious if you've ever asked them.

 

 

Wilber L, Toronto

A: I have asked them, just as I’ve asked Jose, Garbo, AP and a few others in the past.

And while it’s often a difficult decision – those are some pretty great cities to live in over there and the demands of scheduling and games aren’t nearly as great – the one thing that’s come across is that they want to prove themselves in the best league in the world and see how they match up. They want to see if they can make it here – and it’s a feather in any athlete’s cap in any sport to succeed against the very best – and there’s a level of competitiveness in these guys that we can’t really understand. Plus, the money’s pretty good and the life is five-star.

A night that ends with a question: What now?

That turned into quite a night, didn’t it?

Entertaining game, some news to chew on and an admirable showing against a pretty good team that kind of underscores where they are:

Good but not quite good enough on a consistent basis and very, very, very much a work in progress.

And on with the show (it being a slow post-game night, you’re getting this ridiculously early and I hope you don’t expect it all the time).

-

THREE POINTERS

What now?

No clue.

I know you all breathlessly clicked on this story to find out what happened and it was nothing but bad news.

The Reggie Evans foot thing – and it’s going to be at least late this Saturday afternoon before we get any idea of a timeline – is pretty significant on a lot of levels.

Like:

Is Peja really a fill-in four or does that job go to Kleiza, as I think it should?

What’s it mean for young Ed Davis, who had 10 points, five rebounds and a couple of blocks in 18 minutes as the Bayhawks won a big roadie over the previously-unbeaten Mad Ants on Friday? I’m thinking it means he gets more minutes more quickly than they’d probably like but that it’ll be good for him in the long run.

What of Joey Dorsey, whose contract becomes fully guaranteed on Dec. 1. For sure he sticks around now, I imagine, so I guess that’s good for him. Not sure they were thinking of making a move on him but it cements it now.

How about Amir? Can he handle extended minutes against starters without piling up the fouls? Maybe. But that’s going to be the true test.

And, most important, what about Reggie? I like the guy, I love his effort, I think everyone appreciates what he brings every single night. But the guy is in a contract year, I can only imagine there was some interest in him off his torrid start; is this going to set him back far enough that it costs him money on his next contract? Probably. And that sucks.

-

I’m proud of you.

The HOTH trot out Spain (Calderon), Brazil (Barbosa), Lithuania (Kleiza), Serbia (Stojakovic) and Italy (Bargnani) for a long stretch of the fourth quarter and my computer didn’t blow up!

Well done.

I seem to recall one or two times in the past when they have five different countries on the court at the same time but I’m sure one of them would have been Bosh, from the good old US of A, so for the “What the heck is Bryan doing with all these Euros” crowd to stay silent last night was nice.

Thanks.

-

When bad plays go good

It’s about halfway through the second quarter and they’re in a halfcourt set and I saw something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before and hope I never see again. You talk about spacing the floor? I look down and there are five – count em, five! – Raptors on the left hand side of the floor, each looking pretty confused and wondering just who is out of position.

How do they rectify it? Well, Andrea drifts into the lane, Jerryd throw a lob pass over Garnett’s head and about all I can think of is: If they have a play where five guys are supposed to be within arm’s distance of each other and it’s supposed to end with a lob pass to a less-than-athletic-big over a quick, smart defender, they need to get that play out of the book.

And then I realize: Yes, sometimes plays get screwed up.

-

Now, the rest of the story:

-

And the winner is …

Katie Blenkarn of Burlington was the lucky soul who had her named picked out of the MGD draw thingy (check out facebook place site here) and she and nine of her bestest friends will take in tomorrow’s struggle with the Atlantas.

I’m told by the people who actually did the work that there were more than 3,100 entries in our first contest of the season, which strikes me as pretty good. And I appreciate it very, very much.

Can’t promise we’ll do it again but if we do, you’ll be the first to know.

-

How’d it read in Boston? A little like this.

-

List time?

Sure.

The note yesterday about the Garbo thing here in Boston and how it’s the big “what if?” of the last few years got me thinking: What, in no particular order, are five other huge “what it?” moments in franchise history.

And what if …

Vince hits that shot

You know the one? In Philly? Game 7? I’ve said it for years, he makes that, they go on to beat Milwaukee in the conference final and get to play for a championship.

Butch doesn’t go nuts

I still say he’s the best X and O coach they’ve ever had, if he keeps that team together before Lenny takes over, I think he gets even more out of them.

Tracy stays

As their personalities emerged, I think McGrady and Vince Carter could have morphed into a dynamic duo with McGrady the more public and more dominant, just as he wanted when he left.

They don’t draft Rafael Araujo

Really. Yes, Andre Iguodala was the logical choice as protection against the inevitable departure of Vince Carter but even Andris Biedrins would have better if they were bound and determined to go big.

They don’t hire KO

The other two guys on the short list were Sam Mitchell and Mike Woodson and, in hindsight, I think we can safely say if they were going with a guy with no NBA head coaching experience, either of other two would have been better.

-

A quick trip to Where-Are-They-Now-Ville.

My man Eran Soroka, who knows everything there is to know about Israeli basketball in his gig as the deputy editor and NBA writer at the Ma’ariv sports newspaper, writes to let me know Maceo Baston has signed with Bney Hasharon over there.

Funny thing is, the same outfit that signed P.J. Tucker a year ago.

-

Bit of a mailbag thing, bit of a rant:

Q: I thought the Raptors were on their way to setting the ground for a championship- and then disaster strikes! The Raps beat Boston! And (Wednesday), the new players join the line up. I would like to know: What's the plus side of just missing the playoffs (or being first round canon fodder) and getting the 10th overall pick? To me, it looks like a disaster.

Roman B, Toronto

A: Then you’re not an athlete, or a competitor.

Tell me this:

What’s better? Getting playoff experience for young players or having a crapshoot 10th pick in what might be a so-so draft?

No question in my mind; nor in the minds of players or management.

You should want to win every game you play and try your hardest to do it; if you don’t, you cheat the fans, yourself and the game and that’s stupid.

-

Hey, good travel story for a change that I forgot yesterday. Started bad, ended good.

I’m in the practice gym about 12:50 Thursday afternoon, done the interviewing and ready to head somewhere and write before my 5 p.m. Porter flight off the island when the phone rings.

It’s Porter telling me weather’s coming and the flight’s cancelled and they’re putting me on one at 7:15 or so. That bites so I ask if there’s an earlier one and, presto!, there’s one at 2:45.

They book me on it, I grab a cab about 1 outside the arena and am at the gate and through security at 1:25.

How good is that?

Now, if I can get Porter to fly to a dozen NBA cities, I’d be way cool.

-

No idea what the day’s going to be like getting home, tracking down Reggie news if there is any and doing any number of other things but if you want to give the mail bag a shot, click here to do it and I’ll see what I get around to sitting wherever I’m sitting this afternoon or tonight.

-

 

 

The Goods On The Game, Raptors at Celtics

Hey folks.

Happy belated Thanksgiving (I'm just in that kind of mood, I know it was in October).

Enjoy the night.

It's all about the reaction, and a trip down memory lane

Rainy Black Friday morning here, bet the people who’ve been lined up to shop for hours are feeling quite wonderful.

Hahahahaha.

(I hate shopping, by the way. And crowds. And lineups. And people. Well, maybe not all people.)

Anyway …

-

I think we can all agree that one of the more surprising things about last Sunday’s win was the, um, fight these guys showed. There were times when the Raptors have cowered at the sight of the Celtics or at least backed down and there was none of that in that game.

Blow lead, get down late and still come back? Unheard of.

Bargnani going right at KG? Shooting 13 free throws? Creating shooting space by pulling the ball through on tight defence with elbows swinging? Doesn’t happen.

And I guess that’s what makes tonight kind of interesting.

Will they still have that determination on the road? Against a very good team bent on revenge?

This was Jay after practice Thursday:

“The Celtics have tried a lot of times to jump on you early and get into you physically and you’ve got to weather that initial burst, not back down, not show any sign of weakness and then play possession by possession.”

Now, this is one game and all, and it’s not going to determine an awful lot but, still, it’s interesting.

And, aside from the aberration in Washington, the HOTH have shown to be quite competitive on the road – win in Orlando, the Laker game, final three quarters in Utah, first half in Sacramento, stayed with the Heat – and it’s kind of become what you expect.

That’s entirely new.

-

Last shot, kids.

Contest. Here. Now. Noon (Eastern time) deadline so get cracking if you already haven’t.

The stakes are high, 10 tickets to Sunday’s game, a box, comfy seats, vouchers for drinks, food and the ride back home and wonderful prelude to the big football game.

I’m told by the Powers That Be that the winner will be informed this afternoon some time and I’ll have a name in the morning.

-

If this is a road trip, it must be memories time.

(And it must be a road trip because I can’t find Harpoon IPA or a Legal Seafood in my neck of the woods)

Anyway …

The Gruesome Night.

We all have those moments that stick with us for bad reasons, right? Well, I’ve got the Garbo injury indelibly etched in my mind and it speaks volumes about what kind of guy he is.

Late March, 2007, pretty much a nothing game, a play he could have let develop but, no, Garbo hustles and tries to block a dunk and we all know what happened.

Truly a turning point not only for that season but for the next one or two; I wonder what the future would have been like had that one play not happened.

Now, back then, we sat at the far baseline from where the fall happened by even 120 feet away, you could tell how ugly it was.

Don’t think I’ll ever forget it.

-

Skip’s done?

Hey, remember the night Sam – bless his soul – banished Rafer and Lorne Loren Woods to the locker room after they got technicals? Thought Sam might slug them on the bench and that would have been cool, indeed.

Anyway, we’re talking to Rafer after the game (I don’t remember even looking for Lorne, he was so inconsequential to the whole event) and Skip drops this bomb on me and Stumpy, or words to this effect: “I may be done. I don’t know if me and the NBA are made for each other.” Well, a kid quitting or threatening to is pretty big news and we’re wandering around looking for reaction (Sam’s long gone by now) and there’s good old Jalen, who’s always ready with a quip and his relationship with Rafer is, um, strained and we figure he’ll give us something great

Us: “Hey, Jalen, Rafer said he might quit.”

Him: “That’s strong.”

Story written.

-

That’s some debut

It’s the start of the lockout shortened 1998-99 season and the Raptors, with this young Carter fellow looking like he might actually be a player, are here to finally open the season.

And sure enough, a guy in his debut with Toronto has a huge game.

Dude by the name of Willis, Kevin Willis.

The Big Fella goes off for 28 points and 16 rebounds as the Raptors win easily.

And a legend is born.

Not quite as legendary as the Carter kid turned out to be but still pretty good.

-

What’s up in Boston?

Let’s see what Murph wrote on the big holiday.

-

This is a somewhat topical thing out of the mail on a point I was going to bring up:

Oh yeah, probably your last kick at the mail, too. Click here, please.

Q: Hi Doug. Thanks for the IGB Thingy -- I missed seeing the game live the other night and it was a pleasure to read through the blog afterwards and get a feel for the game. (Kinda of missed the other irregulars too ... go figure)

Here's the question. I saw a little news item stating that Marcus Banks wasn't going to be reporting to the Hornets after all and they were still responsible for his contract. Can you find out some more information about that? I liked the guy - he always seemed ready to play and while his minutes were limited - he never seemed to hurt us when he was in the game. It's a shame if things aren't working out for him in the trade.

 

 

Brenda C, Sault Ste. Marie

A: Yes, that is indeed the case with Marcus. By mutual agreement, even before the trade was official, it was decided he wouldn’t report – the Hornets waived the reporting and physical exam requirements of the deal – but they aren’t about to waive him yet, I’m told.

His value now is only as a trade chip with his contract and New Orleans isn’t about to make any kind of move until February after the deadline.

And, yes, he did play kind of okay when he was here in such a limited role but the coaching staff didn’t trust him to have the discipline to run the offence or carry out the defensive assignments they wanted, which is another reason why didn’t play.

Frankly, I will be absolutely stunned if he’s in any team’s camp next year on anything other than a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary contract.

-

We’re talking to Jerryd Bayless after practice yesterday and he says he felt great Wednesday because Jay told him just to go out and play, have fun, shoot when you’re open.

He asked when the last time he had that freedom and when he said “college” my eyes widened.

This kid went to Arizona when Kevin O’Neill was there and I know KO pretty well and “freedom” is not something he gives to his players. Yeah, Jerryd admits, maybe it wasn’t in the KO era and then he says this:

“KO is obviously a tough-minded guy but me and KO have developed our relationship better since I left college.”

And I’m thinking, yeah, bet a lot of his former players say that.

-

 

 

 

The normal fare and another kick at the contest can

It’s funny, isn’t it?

I don’t imagine there were many among you who didn’t “expect” the HOTH to beat the Sixers last night and given all the doom and gloom around here in the first two weeks of the season, that strikes me as an odd thing.

Strange how things turn around. And proof again why sports is so cool.

Anyway …

-

THREE POINTERS

A telling comment

I’m looking at the notebook from last night and while my penmanship really seems to have deteriorated over the years, I can make out a little bit of chicken scratch. It says:

“1st 1/4. Speed kills.”

Must have been when Barbosa and Bayless were first on the court and the game really turned simply because the Sixers couldn’t keep up with the pace.

I’m not sure this is the “fastest” team the Raptors have ever had – I suspect it is but that’d take some thinking and it’s way early in the morning for too much thinking.

But the simple fact is a team that isn’t blessed with the greatest of outside shooting now doesn’t need it every night. The pure athleticism and speed of guys like Barbosa, Bayless, DeRozan, Weems and even Calderon and Johnson, will allow them to stay competitive offensively on nights when shots aren’t falling.

And we saw the first glimpse of it last night when they simply ran away from Philly early on.

-

Speaking of shooting

Jay’s been all over these guys to take shots when they’re presented – not crazy early-clock bombs but good, open looks – and on Sunday, when Jose came around a screen wide open and passed up a look, Jay climbed all over him and quicker than you can say, “Leandro, get Jose” Barbosa was at the table.

Well, third quarter last night, late in a clock, Jose’s got a pretty good look at the left elbow and passes it up. He exacerbates the issued by committing his only turnover of the night by throwing a cross-court pass over DeMar’s head and into the front row.

Well, Barbosa doesn’t go to the table and about two possessions later, while one of his teammates is shooting free throws, I notice Jose walking around at midcourt muttering to himself:

“Shoot the ball. Shoot the ball.”

Sure enough, next time he got a good look, he let it fly.

-

A brief look

Not sure how often we’ll see it but there were a couple of brief moments last night when they had both Kleiza and Stojakovic on the court at the same time and, I have to tell you, I kind of liked it.

I still think Kleiza’s a four in a three’s body, I think you can make the case he’s the most accomplished post player on the team and I think there should be instances every night when Jay uses those two together when Bargnani’s getting a blow.

It gives them a great shooter on the perimeter and a guy who can get in the lane and do stuff and makes them a tough cover for anyone.

-

In other stuff, some of it unrelated …

-

I’ll tell you this:

I don’t know anything about anatomy expect mine’s the pits and Gray’s is good but hearing that Udonis Haslem has a ruptured Lisfranc ligament in his foot makes me think we’re not going to see him until the fall.

Remember Lamond Murray?

Used to play here way back in the day? Well, he had a torn Lisfranc ligament and it cost him one entire season and a lot of another. No surgery, just a little tear and if they had to go in and fix Haslem’s, it would seem to me that’s more serious.

-

The contest!

No idea how we’re doing for entries, my responsibilities lies mainly in promoting it here today and tomorrow, but it’d be cool if you enter.

And even cooler if you won, I guess.

Anyway, the gory details are here; it’s 10 tickets to Sunday’s game, some vouchers for food and drink and, who knows, perhaps a quick appearance by a Special Guest if I can get Santa out of the mall.

Click here to get even more information and be among the dozens trying to win.

-

So Rene Johnston handles the photography duties at the tilt against the Sixers and comes up with this post-game stuff that I’m sure you’ll appreciate.

-

Let’s get a quickie out of the mail:

Q: Hi Doug. You have probably answered this a bunch of times before, but here goes anyway.

If teams routinely say "Terms of the deal will not be disclosed as per team policy" when it comes to signings,” how do the numbers eventually pop up on the internet? Is their some other source for this info than the teams doing the signing and the player who signs with them?

Thanks

 

Richard H, Whitby

A: Chatty agents, GMs or other Henchmen, mainly.

Because “releases” are generally out there for public consumption, the teams don’t really want to make that information known in their own for some reason.

But all it takes for is for an enterprising reporter to make maybe one call and the numbers are out.

-

What they say in Philly?

Let’s see by checking this out.

-

More mail, please.

Click here, thank you.

-

I’m sitting there courtside late in the first half, Peja’s in the game and after missing his first shot he drills a sugar-sweet three-pointer right in front of the Raptors bench.

It strikes a fellow that over the years, this has been a pretty good gig.

First Dell Curry, then Jason Kapono and now Peja and if those are three of the prettiest shooting strokes around, I don’t know what are and it’s been nice to see them up close.

-

I’m troubled.

No destination viewing any more with DWTS over and I think I need something to occupy what little spare time I have.

Suggestions welcome.

-

So Quag’s in town for some high school gridiron festival or somesuch and he’s in the post-game crowd hosted by Stumpy and chatter gets around to the big football game out west on Sunday.

Me? Given that I witness glorious CIS hoops triumph by the Huskies last April up in Ottawa and because the Green Riders are everyone’s favourite team, I’m all about Saskatchewan in the Le Coupe Grey Cup.

Now all I have to do is find some local hosting a good party after the Hawks game.

-

Oh yeah, for all the Irregulars south of the 49th, Happy Thanksgiving.

-

 

 

 

The Goods On The Game, Sixers at Raptors

Good evening, everyone.

Hope it was a good day and that it'll be a good night.