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.

-

Q: Hi Doug; I have noticed that Reggie Evans says "And stuff like that" very, very frequently during interviews. While it seems like this is something that just comes out regularly when he speaks. Does it bother you? I don't mind it. Sounds like Reggie being Reggie. But you must have heard it hundreds of times so far this season. Are there other players who repeat the same word or phrase constantly the just drives you up the wall? Any examples of what they say?

Thanks

 

 

Richard H, Whitby

A: Bother? No, not at all, it kind of becomes white noise after a while.

Mo Pete: “Most definitely.”

That’s the one that resonates with me more than any.

-

Q: One question from a mostly-regular irregular. (And, on the subject of the Baker Street Irregulars, have you seen the new BBC series "Sherlock" - setting Holmes and Watson in contemporary times, but with mostly Conan Doyle's themes and stories? Sounds terrible, but has to be one of the best presentation of Holmes, right up there with Jeremy Brett's).

My question is this: I catch almost every IGBT but I missed the original "Spurs by 12" comment and can't seem to find it, and believe me I've looked. What was that all about? Context, etc. Thanks.

 

 

Blake K, Breslau

A: Okay, the memory is a bit shaky and I’m sure an Irregular or two will correct me on the details I have wrong.

Raptors are in San Antonio one night, decided underdogs as you’d expect, and the Spurs are going to have to play without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker as it turns out. Well, as you can imagine, it’s almost Guaranteed Win Night for the HOTH in that case, two stars not playing and the masses are all excited about the prospects of an easy road win.

Finally, I relent to make a prediction (and I am of the school of thought that predictions are silly and only hold you open to ridicule) and suggest that, because it’s the NBA and You Never Know, that the Spurs would win by 12.

They won by seven, as I recall.

-

Q: Hi Doug, love the blog, its one of the first things I read everyday! Just a question about the new uniforms the players are wearing this season. What do the players think about the change in the material for this season? I know they are supposed to be lighter and dry faster but have you heard any feedback from the players?

Thanks, Doug

 

 

Martin H, Kingston

A: I’ve asked a couple of guys and they’re pretty ambivalent about them. They don’t notice any real difference although there was one, I think it was Jarrett but I’m not 100 per cent sure, who thought they fit a bit tighter. But other than that, not a whole lot of complaints or comments either way.

They look pretty much the same to me, although I’m not a big fan of the warm-up look, for some reason.

-

Q: Hey Doug how's it going?

Two unrelated questions if you don’t mind. Do you think if Peja fits into the system will it make Linas more expendable or do you see them sticking with Linas for the long haul?

Also when you write about the previous nights game in the morning blog you always add in the respective city's paper (which I always appreciate) do you ever get a thank-you for the added exposure of the columnist?

 

 

Robert A, Oshawa

A: I still expect them to see what, if anything, they can turn Peja’s expiring contract into between now and the trade deadline so I don’t think it has much impact on Kleiza whatsoever.

Thank-you? Sure. The fellas and ladies I deal with and offer up as a different perspective are always chatting and giving each other thanks.

-

Q: Since the 2 and 3 are interchangeable, what's in store for Sonny Weems? -- is it just to early in the season to lock him up when BC might get an equally athletic but more consistent wing at the trade deadline?

 

Len G, Vancouver

A: I think you wait for the summer, see how the season has gone, see what the new economic landscape is under a new collective bargaining agreement and go from there.

He’s had flashes, no question; but they’ve been flashes in a season and 17 games with a non-playoff team and I don’t see any reason to lock him up now.

-

Q: Hi Doug! Now, Reggie as Cheerleader is not my favourite role for him with the team, but as I recall he approached that role with the same infectious energy and enthusiasm as his role on the floor (and, hey, and with apologies to Leonard Cohen, do you think he still has that Famous Blue Jacket?) and he was kinda fun to watch doing that, too.

But, kidding aside, his leadership on this young team, both on and off the floor, would be missed, I think and I wonder (and not just about The Regend) when one of a team's "leaders" is injured, how much is their involvement with the team is left to the player to decide? Or, is it generally team policy that, if medically able, injured players are expected to attend team practices and meetings, travel on road trips, etc.?

I would think that contribution on the hardcourt is only one facet of what a team "loses" when a player, such as Reggie, is injured, and that encouraging as much continued interaction as possible is good for everyone. Thanks!

 

Lorie P, London

A: Most teams don’t “travel” their injured players but do expect them to be around the team during practices and games at home. I recall Reggie making a couple of road trips last year and I know he’ll be around as much as possible this year because he has become something of a mentor and “voice of reason” if you will.

-

Q: Doug, The team has fiscally sound ownership, a young team that has learned to win by playing hard, a large balance in expiring contracts, a fair sized trade exception and two first round draft picks. In this uncertain financial climate (lockout and salary cap reduction looming) where are number of teams are looking to shed salary and reduce costs. Can you think of a time when Raptor fans have had more reasons to be optimistic about the future of the franchise and the prospects of building a winner?

 

Steve J, Toronto

A: Sure. The summer they re-signed Vince, in what some thought was a huge coup, and did Alvin Williams, Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams and added Hakeem Olajuwon after he’d had a great 20-game stretch for Houston provided at least as much reason for optimism as exists now.

And we all know how that turned out.

-

Q: Hi Doug. It's great to see the team winning and you always talk about how Chemistry is always good when they win, and I agree. But I'm not sure what it is, I always get the impression that Andrea is a little bit anti-social. He never looks like he's "really" enjoying himself out there and never seems very comfortable with his teammates. Is he really a little bit of a loner, even off the court?

 

Peter F, Mississauga

A: Not particularly, no. In fact, a couple of guys have remarked on how much more engaged he is this year, in the locker room, on the court and even to hanging with the guys at the back of the bus on the road.

The kid’s not as demonstrative as some would like, and he is quiet but it’s a stretch to suggest he’s anti-social or a loner.

-

Q: Doug, watching games and seeing the number of changes to many teams starting line up causes me to wonder if the pre-season should be more competitive. The Raptors, as an example really throw away the first four games, and you could say all 8 pre-season games really. Then the real season starts, we don't know how well we match up or how well the starters look and after a few games changes are made to the starting line. If pre-season was really about learning who works best in what situations should we not be figuring that out then? And this is a league wide issue. Why does the NBA promote pre-season games when we see mostly D leaguers and end of benchers? If the game is brought to secondary venues should the NBA not try and put it's best foot forward?

I'm thinking the NBA should attach an incentive to have teams compete more during the pre-season. Maybe a small increase from TV revenues to the top 8 teams from the pre-season. Maybe the top teams receive something for the minions from each team, ball boy's ect.. Maybe the first 10 teck's of the season are not fined.

I know you don't like the pre-season, but being that there is one, should it not count for more then it currently does, for the team, fans and league?

As always, thanks

 

 

Steph R, Glencoe

A: The eight-game pre-season exists so teams can make extra money off the backs of the ticket-buying public and so third-party promoters can “buy” games, take them to neutral sites and hopefully make money. And there is scant chance that will change in the foreseeable future although I would be all in favour of a four- or six-game exhibition season and adding 10 or 12 days to the regular season to take away from the back-to-backs or four-in-five grind that makes parts of the regular season unwatchable and too predictable.

-

Q: Hey Doug. I seem to recall you downplaying the impact that Reggie was going to have on our season last year, if he wasn't injured. Do you think if he was healthy we would have made a splash?

 

Craig S, Halifax

A: Not sure I downplayed it but, frankly, I wonder what he would have done coming off the bench a season ago and playing fewer minutes and playing with a double-digit rebounder in Bosh.

So, he probably would have made a splash, but not likely as big a one as he’s made this season.

He’s taken advantage of an opportunity he wouldn’t have had a year ago.

-

Q: Hi Doug. Love the blog and in-game chats! A few years ago, the Raps traded for Mourning but he decided not to play for the Raptors and forced a buyout of his contract, which the team happily did. What happens if a team decides not to buyout the contract? Do they still have to pay the player if he doesn't show up or can he get fired for insubordination thereby saving a team x million?

 

Nick B, Toronto

A: If there’s no buyout arranged and a player simply doesn’t report, he’d be fined, suspended and not paid.

-

Q: Hi Doug. I have a pair of questions that came to mind after Jerryd Bayless bounced from Portland to New Orleans to Toronto this season. It got me wondering why this wasn't a three team deal in the first place (and I realize that the answer to that may simply be that no one had conceived of the latter transactions earlier). The questions...

Are there any teams that the Raptors have never done a trade or transaction with? Are there some teams that the Raptors tend to do more trades with?

 

 

Mark A, Guelph

A: It didn’t develop in the summer because the Hornets thought Bayless would provide them what they needed in a backup to Chris Paul. It didn’t turn out to their satisfaction so they looked elsewhere.

As for trades and transactions, without going through every single team and every single deal for 16 years, I imagine there’s been one or two with whom they haven’t struck at least some minor deal, although none come quickly to mind.

-

Q: Dear Doug. Proud to be an Irregular. Along with my email I check in with your blog every day. Keep up the lovely work.

Perhaps you've answered this before, but I'm wondering if NBA players strange dislike of playing up north requires the Raptors to be the Tampa Bay Rays of the NBA? Lots of cheap young talented players who, hopefully, gel in the right year?

Perhaps this isn't even possible given that player controlability is harder in the NBA. But could a creative executive, with the requisite patience, make it happen?

Cheers

 

 

Stephen K, Calgary

A: Sure, they could. They have in Oklahoma City and did in Portland but eventually you have to pony up and pay the piper (that might be my greatest mixed metaphor ever!) but I will also say this, and have: If this team wins, the “strange dlslike of playing up north” that you refer to will disappear.

-

Q: Doug, my apologies in advance if you've already discussed this: I was looking at the Raps' schedule and noticed in March they play New Jersey back-to-back, both times in NJ, on consecutive days! Isn't this bizarre? Have you seen this before? Have you heard an explanation for this? I'm sure the Raps like the travel and time savings. Maybe NJ doesn't care since the Raps wouldn't draw anyway, so it's not like the second game would be cannibalizing the attendance of the first?

 

Brent J, Barrie

A: Those are actually the two games in London, England, and back-to-back makes sense to lessen the time spent overseas by a day.

The reason they’re listed anywhere that would give you an indication that they’re both in New Jersey is that they are both Nets “home” games.

-

Q: I suspect you have covered this before. I believe that Toronto has a Miami first round pick. Is it the 2011 pick and is it lottery protected? I doubt that Miami will fall into the draft lottery however the longer the Heat take to come together, the better the pick is getting.

 

Ray N, Mississauga

A: It is the 2011 pick and it is lottery protected and we’ll talk about this again in April.

-

 

Comments

[jimt]

hey doug,theres a report saying peja will play for olymbiakos if the buyout from the raps is sufficient enough. and if thats the case why dont we just keep him as the 3 point threat we so desp need.im sick of the raps buying the alonzzos out.the last thing i want to see is peja stickin threes in Zeusss old stompin ground at the raps expense.Is there any logic 2 this for the raps?

Blogger's note: Haven't seen "report" and don't have an opinion

[jimt]

Kostas Papanikolaou(2.03-SF) and Marko Keselj(2.09-SF) have been recruited to the cause but it seems that Papanikolaou has only started his Euroleague career and Keselj is finding it difficult to adjust to a team like Olympiakos where playing time is not abundant. So this rumor comes from gossip column "Svetlana" of basketblog.gr and it says that although a strict economic policy has been outlined by the owners of Olympiakos the possibility of another addition is not unlikely. The rumor says that Predrag Stojakovic(2.08-SF) is likely to think about moving to Greece and Olympiakos if the compensation fee that he gets from Toronto is adequate. That means that he would be willing to perhaps sign a contract with Olympiakos. He was recently traded to Toronto as a part of a 5 player deal that landed Jerryd Bayless (1.91-PG) and Predrag Stojakovic to Toronto. The Hoop

Blogger's note: Yawn. I give it zero credence. Double yawn.

[Jacques]

Doug, I read that Troy Murphy isn't really working out for the Nets. Would he be a fit here in Reggie's absents.

[Aditya]

"...and adding 10 or 12 days to the regular season to take away from the back-to-backs or four-in-five grind that makes parts of the regular season unwatchable and too predictable."
------------------
Is it that unwatchable Dougie? Oohhh....poor boy....Let me give a call to David Stern

[GM]

Is the studio at the Staples Centre also kept on Funk & Wagnell's porch since noon today?

Blogger's note: Ding! Ding! Ding!

[Bill]

Pony up and pay the piper!!