There's nowhere like Erie in the fall, and other fun things

Little more than a series of unrelated items, thoughts and digressions after a day of travel and no practice. But here you go:

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Solomon Alabi and Ed Davis are with the team today but not for long, I’m told.

I think you’ll see Alabi assigned to Erie of the D League the first of the week so he can go down there and get some practice and game work with the Bayhawks.

And I’m told Davis may get some time down in the minors in the next little while (maybe a week or so away) to get some game work in as he comes back from knee surgery.

I guess both moves make sense, although I do think each of the young bigs would benefit almost as much from practicing against NBA guys than playing in a guard-oriented minor league, but as long as they’re not gone long, there’s no big problem.

The Davis move is the one I’m sure you’re most interested in, given the daily questions I get about his return.

Glancing at the Erie schedule, they play at home the 19th and 20th and then away the 26th and 28th so you’re logically looking at Davis getting back with the Raptors sometime after the 28th and – maybe – being in an NBA uniform for the Dec. 1 home game against the Wizards.

That’s if there are no setbacks, of course.

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This trip?

Orlando-Miami back-to-back; two days off and then Washington-Philly back-to-back?

Oh yeah, I can see one win but they really, really need to get two for their collective psyches.

One puts ‘em at, what, 2-10 coming out of this brutal start? Hmm, that’s not quite good enough, is it? I would have said 4-8, maybe 5-7 would have been a legit goal the day before the season started.

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Quick trip to the mall?

Q: At the beginning of the season, Triano said Andrea had to learn to play big minutes, but Triano, with his erratic substitution pattern gave him 20 minutes against Golden State and has rarely played him as much as 35 minutes a game. Isn't it time to let the big guy sink or swim? It's not like Triano has a lot of choices, but he doesn't appear to have much confidence in Bargnani.

Allan W, Toronto

A: Should Bargnani play more? Maybe but it’s not like he’s the forgotten man out there, although that seems to be the common misperception.

The Golden State game was unique in that he was in foul trouble, the guys who were playing ahead of him were playing quite well in the second half so I have real problem there.

And the fact of the matter is, he averages a team-high 33.3 minutes a game – about six minutes more than anyone else – and he played about 38 the other night against Charlotte. Not that far off his ’09-’10 season average of 34.9.

As long as Jay’s staying with a four-man rotation up front – and I think that’s wrong except on nights when there’s foul trouble – I imagine 35 a night is about what it’ll average out to.

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Man, there is a lot of cable television available in this room.

No wonder everyone wants to live in this great land.

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So, no Barbosa and it’s looking entirely like Kleiza won’t play at least tonight so that’s going to mean more time for Julian Wright and I wonder how he’ll handle it.

You know I like what he brings but the question is whether or not he’ll bring it every night.

I imagine he will because he seems to be quite professional about his work but there have been more than a few players who’ve looked extremely good in one-time appearances before they regress as time goes on.

Hope that doesn’t happen with Wright.

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Yes, the Raptors have had a conversation or two with Erick Dampier this week in light of the deal he had in Houston falling apart.

No, there is no resolution but there’s still a possibility they’ll sign him.

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In a three-hour layover at Dulles (not a bad airport, at all, as a matter of fact), I should have done a scientific study to see which souvenir was jumping off the shelves the most.

Would it have been:

The one with Dubya’s smiling mug on a fridge magnet asking:

Miss me yet?

Or

The one with the three-panel head shots of Bristol’s Mom going from normal to something approximately Edvard Munch’s Scream saying:

Stop the insanity.

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What’s up in Orlando?

Let’s see what Josh was scribbling yesterday.

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Speaking of Orlando, here’s the trip down memory lane:

A major meltdown

This was as classic night. They lose – I think Bosh might have been out with an injury but I don’t remember for sure – and we’re talking to Sam in the hallway outside the locker room.

All of sudden, entirely unprovoked, he starts on this all-world rant about – of all things – Jerome Moiso and how he can’t play him because he doesn’t work hard in practice and how he needs guys to take responsibility for their skill and it was quite a Sam Rant.

Anyway, we run into the locker room to ask Jerome about it – he had no idea what was coming – and he looked like a deer caught in headlights. Not sure why Sam did what he did but it sure made for an interesting story.

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Prank time

Used to be a fellow who covered the beat for the Sun known as Quag and they got him good one day.

We’re at shootaround talking to the coach of the day (think it was Sam again) when all of a sudden two Orlando cops show up. They ask for Quag and start busting on him for blowing off a toll booth on some ride down an interstate and it looks entirely like they’re going to arrest him.

Turns out one of the Raptor media relations guys with connections down here had cooked up the prank with some friends.

But you should have sent the look on Mike’s face. Priceless and gave some juice to an otherwise boring shootaround chat.

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This one might hurt

I still contend to this day that the shot that Bosh took at the end of Game 2 of the 2008 playoffs was a good one.

A 20-footer but a guy who made ‘em far more than he missed them instead of driving against Dwight Howard, who’d just blocked one of his shots, was fine with me.

The miss killed them and might have been the one play that decided the series (at 1-1 going home I’d like Toronto’s chances) but it was still a good shot that just didn’t go in.

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Mail?

Click here if you like; we’re on the same schedule as last week with the usual drivel Saturday after the Friday game, Sunday after the Saturday game and a big ol’ mailbag on Monday so you’ve got lots of time.

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Okay, new arena to check out and grief to give HWSNBN for his unfortunate facial hair decision.

See ya later.

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Comments

[Jacques]

Doug, reports out of Minny, Kevin Love might be on the block. Would there be a fit for him here? what is his trade value?

Blogger's note: He's pretty good. His value? No clue; I know Minny doesn't need a PG

[JHK]

Two Q's for you today Doug:
1. If Raps use the TPE to give up let's say a player who earns $5 mill a year, and get someone who earns $10 mill a year. Is TPE gone now? is there 'left-overs'? Does it get transferred to the next team at all? (They now have $10 mill TPE).

2. Okay, Q1 was like 3 questions so this one will be short. Do you talk to HWSNBN like buddy-buddies?

Blogger's note: I believe there are leftovers.

[JHK]

For Q1, I did the math wrong. Does the next team have $5 mill TPE now? ($10 - $5 = duh)

[Steven]

Doug, in your column today you said that the Raptors will receive the Heat's 2012 first round pick, however, I remember it being the 2011 first round pick. Please tell me its the 2011 pick. The Raptors can't wait another year to add first rounders to their line up and the Heat will probably finish lower this year than next. With not much to be excited about this season, at least cheering against the Heat in the hopes of getting a second pick in the 20 range gives us something to distract us our home team.

Blogger's note: 2011, a typo. Sorry

[Mike D.]

Will we see some of The Man Who Rhymes with Horsey tonight to try to keep Dwight out of deep post position and off the boards? Or do you see the Raps going small, potentially allowing Howard to put on a dunkin' contest on offense but drawing him away from the hoop on offense?

Blogger's note: I think they'll play Howard the usual way, with Bargnani and a second defender on the dribble

[Mike D.]

Sorry, that should have read "drawing him away from the hoop on defense". I would be OK with drawing him away from the hoop on offense too, but somehow I doubt that a small lineup will achieve that.

[MrManswell]

Would the Raps Entertain bringing back TJ Ford for the season, swap him for Marcus Banks and use part of the TPE...He's a guy that can beat his man off the dribble...and i think his contract is up at the end of the season. Your Thoughts?

Blogger's note: Been there, done that, ain't gonna happen again

[Derek S]

Morning Doug,
Once the Raps send Alabi and Davis down to the D-league, does that mean that they could sign Dampier and NOT be forced to waive Dorsey (until such time as they wanted to call those guys back up)?

Blogger's note: No, the two guys are still on the roster

[Eddy]

I see no reason to not sign Dampier, if they can. Reggie can do what he does on the second unit , limiting the time the other second unit has the ball, and be dangled as trade bait. Dampier can rebound and score and the Raps need a starting point guard, even an old one will do for now, if the plan is to draft one.

[Anson]

Ding! Ding! Ding!!!
Man, there is a lot of cable television available in this room.

No wonder everyone wants to live in this great land.

Hahahahahahaah!!

You just made my day man!

Great line

[Dan w]

After all the comments Bosh has made I think he is going to get booed just as bad as Carter. Carter at least didn't make a bunch of stupid comments every few days and bash Canada over trivial things. Last week he mentinoed to a reporter his rebounds are down because it's hard to rebound when your going full out on defence. The more I hear him talk the more I see a guy who was just out for him self and a stat stuffer. I don't even think he went to miami to win as much as get more tv exposure.

[pain777pas]

Morning Doug,

Florida has the best cable system ever. The Cosby's, Seinfeld, Fraser... you name it anytime they got it. Good stories about Sam, Quag and Bosh. LOL! Now, Doug would you sign Dampier at this point and why would you? I just don't see the point to get to .500 now is not impossible but highly unlikely for the rest of the season. Everyone talking about Harrison from Duke coming to Toronto as a first round pick sounds real good. BC is tempted to tank the season and take his chances I'm sure that is his overall plan but, does BC have to use the trade exemption this season?

[Rob.V]

You know, one would guess that Colangelo is simple posturing now with E. Dampier because I honestly do not see why this guy wont be signed by this coming Monday. Makes absolutely zero sense to me if he's not!

You think maybe we could have used him tonight against that guy in Orlando?

Listen, we all love Reggie Evans however he is what he is. A guy that gives you everything he has and a good rebounder. But a shot blocker, or rim protector he is not!

I would be shocked if they do not sign Dampier. To win in this league you have to have a few key elements. One is a big physical defensive minded centre who can rebound the ball, set hard screens, take up space, lay some wood on people, and be somewhat of an intimidator in the middle.

Dampier can provide all of those for 20-25 minutes a night... and be somewhat of a leader and mentor to the younger kids. Trust me, you want guys like Dorsey, Alabi and Ed Davis learning what to do on the defensive end from a Dampier rather than Bargnani.

By signing this cat to a 2-year deal it also gives Colangelo so much more flexibility going forward (at only $1.5-$2 million per season).

Let's say he comes in and does what he's asked to do. If you pick up another big next off season you now have a solid back up centre already inked and have the option of moving Amir or Bargnani... if Ed Davis shows some promise.

I'm not sure what Colangelo is "thinking" about. They could use him, and at the pocket change it would take to bring him in... get it done already please.

[Jack]

"Blogger's note: I think they'll play Howard the usual way, with Bargnani and a second defender on the dribble"
Magic - 114 Raptors - 76
Howard - 30 pts. (mostly dunks), 17 rebounds, 6 blocked shots, 8 assists (off that second defender)
Hoo-wah!!

[chris]

Doug -- its probably to get Davis into game shape. Practice doesn't do that.

[Rob.V]

Not sure if anyone has seen this yet today.

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/7-foot-14-year-old-from-India-is-ready-to-follow?urn=nba-284256

[doug]

nice little dig on Bosh and his cable comment...well played...

[kelsey]

I have a positive comment (well begining).

Turkaglou is a certified DUD..Thank you Colangelo for at least correcting that error. He cashed in on that contract and has been horrid since. It made me smile to read the negative comments of him in Phoenix.

The worst feeling is that my red/purple(raptors heart) is fading and turning cold and grey. I love watching Raptors but its getting bad. Ed Davis lets hope there is some that comes from this youngster.

Ill say it everyday....CHANGE IS REQUIRED>>> Bargnani, Colangelo, Gheradhini...The secret family connection needs to be removed from this team and franchise.

[kelsie]

Hey Doug,

Is the interest in Dampier genuine? Wouldn't that most likely present a logjam in the frontocurt if he did sign with the Raptors?

On a seperate note, do yourself and Dave Fechuk report to the same editor? If so how can I contact this person? I read his article this morning, especially the comments on NBA players being loathe to make contact with women in Canada beyond strippers, due to generous child-support laws was an absolute disgrace. What is the insinuation being made here?

Dissing Bosh for cable comments is a waste of ink, but those type of comments and observations from Mr. Feschuk create stereotypes that he should have to explain with some facts rather than trying to be clever and satirical. His continual attempts at being contraversial so his columns make it to the Truehoop blogs are embarrasing and lack any shred of integrity.

Blogger's note: Marginal interest that's waned with Reggie's good start

[Chris]

Apparently, this comes from Charles Oakley via twitter...

"hey raptors fans...keep your head up. maybe TOR will hire butch carter to coach & me as the asst. I would promise TOR a champ in 2 yrs"

I'm in, if only 'cause it'll make your job SO much more interesting, Doug!

[Kball]

Doug, now that you're an avid Tweeter ... or Twitterer ... or whatever, did you happen to see Oak's tweet about how he and Butch Carter should take over Raptor coaching duties? He guaranteed a championship in 2 years.

These are the dreams we cling to in such a dark start to the season.

Even your "grumpy old man" heart must grow a little warmer at the thought of this :) If it didn't change the win/loss column it would certainly make life more fun for fans and media grunts!

Blogger's note: That would be classic and I'm all for it.

[Lorie]

Oh man, Doug! Your blog is such a delightful cultural smorgasbord! Dubya as a memoirist? magnet? memory? (Mercy! George, Baby, how can we miss you if you won't go away?) And Sarah Screams? Don't stop that insanity too quickly...she can stick around until Liz Lemon's finished having her comic way with her. And how's the (US)$480 million Magic playground? Are you impressed? Is it charming, or just vacuous?

Blogger's note: Seems very nice at first glance

[doug]

speaking of road trips...a non b-ball related item, if ever a band and it's music should be played accompanied by a symphony orchestra its Supertramps..perfect blend and match...Roger Hodgson the voice of Supertramp and it's driving force is up in Orillia this weekend at Casinorama playing...guess I am taking a road trip of my own....I recall many moons ago sitting at the old J.W.Little stadium with my wife before we were married...watching Supertramp give one of the best concert performances I have seen...Fool's overture was classic...last outdoor concert at J.W. noise complaints...which appalled me, one that people can't tolerate a couple hours of inconvenience, and second and more disgusting was calling Supertramp "noise"...they play music...

[Coach K]

Bargnani Bashing, while he's averaging 19.5 PPG and 4.9 Boards come on....and he's what.. 24... with a body that should weather years of abuse, learning to fit in an evolving offensive format.

Colangelo Choking, while his dealings have been reasonable with a departure of Bosh, skilled in the liquidation of Turkaglo , smart in his retention of Trade Exemptions, professional in his handling of other GMs mind changes.

Gheradhini Galling, while he provides the leagues best insights into the Raptors' ability to find Euro players, which is probably the Raptors' way to long term success.

Leave it alone. Let them become a family and finally determine what Raptor Ball is. Let's pray no one panics and they stay the course.

[Mike kovacs]

Doug I have tickets for the Magic game against Atl on Dec 6 ( I'm there for a mtg not for Mickey ). I look forward to your impressions of the new arena and any dinner recommendations. Thanks!

Blogger's note: From one shootaround, arena looks very nice