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 …

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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.

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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.

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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.

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In other stuff, some of it unrelated …

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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What they say in Philly?

Let’s see by checking this out.

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More mail, please.

Click here, thank you.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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Comments

[Guest]

I think you mentioned you liked The West Wing....then maybe you would like the Tuesday night show with Julianne Margulie and Chris Noth.....

[Gary]

Peja has one of the sweetest shooting stroke among the elite nba shooters I have ever seen. The ball just seems to "float" toward the basket!! that's nice!! :)

[JHK]

Bayless seems to have similar skill set as Jack's, but much younger and WILLING to be the 2nd guy. That's very good.
Peja was lot bigger than I thought, and he is definitely an upgrade from Anderson who was the previous Barg's backup. I think Jay should keep play him that way. Not like Great fit on that position, but probably not any other positions.
Looking to be a great trade.
If they go above .500 from this point, BC once again set himself up for the Executive of the Year.

By the way, 10 seats are all on same row I'm assuming?
Lower bowl???

[Marc]

Good Morning Doug,

Great game last night. As far as finding a replacement for DWTS, which I must admit to disliking about as much as I do the Super Friends in Miami, I suggest you watch the new HBO series Boardwalk Empire, It's the Sopranos, but Irish meets the prohibition of the 1920s'. Definitely not a show for the kiddies, but definitely a show worth checking out.

[511]

Terrific photos. Hope to see more of those. Go Raps.

[Dan W]

I thought Bayless played pretty good perimeter defense. You could see he was bothering Williams and Jrue.

If your looking for a show to watch Doug, I suggest it's always sunny in philadelphia. If you like Seinfeld it's a similar dynamic. It's just a bit more over the top and the characters are even more self involved.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Morning Doug,
You're right – the difference a week makes. This is an entirely different looking squad than the troupe that fumbled its way through the last tilt versus the Philly's a bare week ago. It's obvious the Raps have figured quite a few things out in that short stretch, and they've got it going right now.
Was thinking back a couple of seasons while watching the game last night, and recalling that squad was depending on contributions from the likes of Quincy Douby, Hassan Adams, Will Solomon, Roko Ukich, Jake Voskuhl and Mr. Jawai, not to mention Marcus Banks, Paddy O'Bryant, Joey, Pops and Jamario. I've suddenly sprouted a new-found HUGE appreciation for this current roster and its upside!!
Now if Leandro will kindly turn the 3-point-shooting duties over to Peja where they belong, I'll be a mightily impressed fan.
Final thought: Who's the MVP on this team so far: Bargs or The Regend?
Cheers. Go Raps!

Blogger's note: Right now I'm still saying Reggie because a lot of what he does allows Andrea to do what he does

[Stu]

Doug big fan of your blog which I read on a daily basis. As for an entertaning program to watch top gear may be the best thing on tv. Even if your not a car guy! A new season has just begun on bbc2 and is as funny a show on anywhere!
Keep up the good work

[PC]

If you're looking for something a little lighter, Modern Family is disturbingly addictive in our household...

[painsev]

Morning Doug,
What can we say Doug? The Raps looked good out there and Regend is doing what it takes night in night out. Concerned about Demar though he played alot of minutes and not that much production. I wish that Jose would toss him a few bones but he's got to make the best play and I think that he did. Jose looked good. As a matter of fact the acquisitions played well. Good team to get their feet wet and unlike Jack their first game was in the win column. Doug, is or was Jack too competitive and not suportive enough in the locker room? Maybe it was that Jose's contract was larger and was not necessarily playing better than Jack and they would rather Jack than Jose. What are you're thoughts on how Jack has played behind in my opinion the best PG in the game? Truly its a toss up between CP3 and D-Will in all honesty. D-Will definitely has the better team.

[Matt M]

Just curious but do you foresee Peja replacing Kleiza in the rotation at some point? Seemed that Triano was leaning in that direction in the second half yesterday but it might have been just a message to Linus.

Blogger's note: No, I don't

[John]

Yes Boardwalk Empire is very well done. Doug watch it from the beginning though.
Well worth your time.

[Bill]

Watching the first half of last night's game and I am thinking "why couldn't they defend like this last year?" It seems to me their defence has improved a lot. What's the difference?

Blogger's note: Some better athletes, harder work, a year's experience and a system that seems to work now.

[Coach K]

Good comment(s) on Kleiza , not one mentioned elsewhere, which is a reason why insights from media committed to the team is fun.

I would love to know if Kleiza was trained, predominantly as a youth player, to play the post. Although like most Euro players trained under the FIBA youth model, he can handle the ball, is skilled technically with a consistent shooting format, it would be nice to hear what happened in his development as a youth player. I agree with Doug, a 4 in a 3 body and was this a result of youth coaching? Maybe Doug if you could ask and post, many of us youth coaches could benefit?

[Lorie]

Morning Doug!
Those damn Raptors! Now they're fun to watch AND they're winning! Good Golly! Somebody pinch me! Anyway, this free time of yours thing? So, we know you're really into DWTS. And you've admitted to not being much of a hoofer. Well, here's an opportunity to change all that! Monday and Tuesday (and Saturday mornings, too!) my gym runs Zumba classes. Zumba is this really fun way to work out: it fuses those hypnotic Latin rhythms (mmmm Derek, I'll miss you) and sexy dance moves to create a calorie burning, body energizing fitness program. And you can just wear sweatpants. And lots of other guys are there. (Well we gals kinda giggle at them at first, but I'd have your back and everyone catches on after 2 or 3 classes.) And who knows where this might take you? One day we might be watching you on DWTS Season 18!

Blogger's note: Um, I'm thinking perhaps not :)

[doug]

Raps have a lot of nice peices...sort of the type of team i envisioned before ..like the Rockets, of a couple years ago....some skilled players, some grinders, no set star and all just hustle...you need to watch Secret Millionaire on BBC Canada, it's a excellent show as well as Pawn Stars and American Pickers on History channel all good viewing..

[Lindsay]

Doug the contest asks for a daytime phone number but that would vary for most depending on if that day is Friday or Saturday?

I clearly have high hopes, see you Sunday!!!

Blogger's note: The day would be Friday; I understand we need to reach the winners that afternoon if at all possible.

[Derek H]

Great! Another win post Jarrett Jack era. New Orleans 0-2 with Jack and Raptors 2-0 with Calderon at the helm. At this rate the Raptors will finish 73-9 with Calderon and New Orleans 11-71 with Jack as a backup. Great trade. Okay so my intelligent (tongue in cheek) analysis again continued from yesterday.

Where are all the Jack lovers and Colangelo haters today. Funny how several wins changes things.

Hope Calderon stays consistent and gets back to his days of 8 - 9 assists average and low turnover ratio. Hope that they can go into Boston and play tough. You could assume a letdown could occur. You know the Celtics want to atone for their loss on Sunday.

[HopeCaper]

Hello Doug,
Great blog and the usual comments on background are always entertaining. All the whiners are off licking their wounds it seems and the optimists have the floor.I was impressed with both new additions to be so productive in the time they had on the floor. I am also happy to see Jay getting some props for this team because I think we can safely say that this is his team now. A number of people have commented that he is not a major league coach and I just find that so unfair because he is certainly thought enough of by the greatest BB power on earth to coach their players. Jay has conducted himself very well in defending his team in speaking to the press, what's not to like? Right now this team reminds me of the Thunder over the last couple of years- developing and on track.

[Steven]

Doug Collins looks a lot older already than he did as a broadcaster last year. It is going to be a long season for him.

[Ian]

Doug,

It is fair to say that this is the best 4 game stretch that Andrea has had in the league? Yes, it only 4 games, but do think he is quietly becoming the leader of this team?

Blogger's note: He's playing quite well and is their best scorer; leader I'm not so sure of

[Al]

Try UFC to fill the DWTS void Doug... some testoterone to offset all that dancing and glitter-induced estrogen buildup.

[ChrisD1]

Doug - looks like New Orleans is waiving Marcus Banks. Do you think he ever gets another job in the league. I remembered you said that Hoffa would never get another contract after his rookie contract expired. You were bang on.

Blogger's note: Not waiving him yet; going to keep his contract on the books as an asset to possibly use.

[Matt G]

Doug,
Was reading the AP recap of the Hornets/Jazz tilt and I read this except:

"The first standing ovation Wednesday night wasn't for Williams; it was for Utah's second unit.

Reserves Earl Watson, Ronnie Price, Francisco Elson and C.J. Miles fueled a 13-4 run to start the second quarter and give Utah a 44-34 lead."

Outside of Watson, never heard of the other players. Reads like Mr. Sloan is coaching another stellar team guaranteed to win him yet another Coach of the Year award.

mg

[Jeff]

For a different show that would fit with your lifestyle (on the road and asking about food places), I would suggest Diners, Drive Ins and Dives on the Food Network. Broadcast Friday at 10PM (Raps games interfere) and then redone Saturday at 5PM.