A list, some news and all kinds of fun and frivolity

A bit longer than usual but that just means there’s more to enjoy.

Right?

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THREE POINTERS

A lesson learned

Remember the other day when I talked about Jay being miffed by lack of hustle and effort at the end of a quarter. (It’s right here at the top of this one in case you missed it).

Well, they seemed to have got the message.

End of first quarter Sunday, Andrew Bynum scores with 3.1 seconds left and instead of lollygagging the Raptors get the ball in quickly, Bayless goes end-to-end and even though he missed the shot, it had to make the coach feel good.

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Welcome to the bigs, kid

Injuries and foul trouble and already thin front court forces Jay to go deep into the bench and there’s Solomon Alabi on the court in the first half of a close game against a great team.

And he’s got to guard Andrew Bynum (who is HUGE) and Pau Gasol (who is GREAT) and the kid didn’t do too badly. I guess the best thing you can say is he didn’t hurt them at all but I know he’s only going to be used in the case of dire emergencies and, please, don’t think that off six minutes of one game he remains anything but the fifth big man on the roster.

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Tale of two halves.

DeMar DeRozan

First: 0-3 FGs, 4-4 FTs, 0 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 1 assist.

Second: 6-9 FGs, 7-7 FTs, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 0 assists.

The kid’s okay, but he’s sure not there quite yet.

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More? Sure.

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Here’s a wee bit of news if you like.

No, Peja Stojakovic wasn’t on the bench Sunday – as he’s been every day since he got here – for a good reason.

He’s back in New Orleans seeing doctors to get a second opinion on whether or not there’s something wrong with his knee.

He’s had an MRI here that showed no structural damage but the swelling’s still there and he’s going to get checked out some more.

And you have to trust me on this:

There is no buyout in the works.

The Raptors want to explore all options – him playing, whatever trades might pop up if he gets back on the court and shows a level of fitness – before they even entertain that thought.

And I’m assured by people who know that any buyout will not happen until after the trade deadline.

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This was left over from the mail because it took me a while to get an answer.

Q: Please answer my question Doug! Thanks! :)

Can a player be called for a charge if time has expired (example included)?

For example, say the Spurs are up by 1 pt in the 4th quarter and Carmelo Anthony of the Nuggets is driving towards the basket for a layup. Before time expires Anthony releases the ball from his hands towards the basket. As the ball is travelling through the air towards the basket Anthony continues to move in a forward direction and runs into Manu Ginobili of the Spurs, but he only runs into him after time has expired. The ball goes in the net. Is it possible for the refs to call a charge on Anthony after time has expired (therefore negating the basket), or should Denver win the game because even though Anthony committed a charge, he only did so after time had run out?

In reality Anthony actually committed the charge with time left on the clock but I would like to know what would happen in this hypothetical situation.

 

 

Ashley H, Toronto

A: Sorry it took a few days but I got it.

Thanks to a friend on the Raptors clock crew, I was able to get this question directly in front of an NBA official and the answer is:

Yes, there can be a charge and there would be no basket.

One of the phrases I got as part of the explanation is that the ball is alive until a shooter returns two feet to the floor.

Now, whether an official would make that call is another question; and it would undoubtedly involve the use of instant replay to see if time had indeed expired but there you go.

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In Los Angeles, they say this about that.

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List time, and a digression for the season.

So, what do we have, six days ‘til Christmas?

That gives you five nights to watch movies, right?

Well, I’m thinking these would be the five movies of the season I’d have cued up to go, in inverse order:

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

I’m the only guy I know who’s been to the Dr. Seuss Memorial in Springfield, Mass., so I’m thinking I need to put this theatric release on the list. But as TV shows go, Burl Ives Jimmy Durante in Frosty is the classic.

Miracle on 34th Street

I know it’s the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah but this is a Christmas movie. A classic.

It’s A Wonderful Life

Now, some astute Irregulars will know that Jimmy Stewart starred in what I think is the best movie ever (hint: A stunning Grace Kelly) but this is a great one, too.

We’ve all run into an Uncle Billy, right?

A Christmas Carol

Bill Murray should be castigated for doing Scrooged because anyone who messes with the Alastair Sim original deserves condemnation.

White Christmas

Bing. Danny. Crooning.

I’m telling you, a glass of wine or something of that ilk, kids in bed and a fire burning and White Christmas on Christmas Eve is about as good as it gets.

Trust me.

A fun digression, no?

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Stevie Boy was at the big tilt with cameras everywhere and he’s done his usual bang up job.

Take a look at these.

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So, the trades.

You can probably make the case that the Saturday deals were win-win-win in many respects.

Washington gets out of the Arenas contract (never again can we say a player will not be traded solely because of his contract) and can move on with the John Wall era.

Phoenix gets a big they need in Gortat, a wing defender in Pietrus and, I’ll say this right out, if anyone can make that Carter fellow into something close to what he was, it’s Nash. And if he can’t, Vince is a four-month rental with only a partially-guaranteed contract for next year.

Orlando? Well, Orlando might be a train wreck or it might be a very fun team to watch because they won’t defend much but they might score in bunches. Sure, they’re weak up front and if Howard gets in foul trouble in any game it might be a disaster but what the heck. I’d much rather have a GM who makes bold moves than one who doesn’t. If that team faltered, and it was faltering, Otis Smith was going to get fired; he may still but at least he will have gone out with guns a’blazing.

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Okay, one last personal digression.

Not sure if there are any of you up in the Milton area but if there are, Super Wife passes this on (and I know where my bread is buttered) about a Christmas toy drive led by the One And Only Tiger Jeet Singh (and that’s a name from my grappling-fan past) for Sick Kids Hospital.

All you have to know is that every time I look at Super Son, I thank someone for Sick Kids and Dr. Rutka and his staff.

So … Yes, it’s a personal plea but sometimes that’s what I do.

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Comments

[Guest]

Doug, speaking of lists... can you direct me to the url that shows your list of top basketball books? I am sure it is somewhere on the web-site but cannot seems to find it using the search tool provided by the star.

Blogger's note: I'll see if I can dig it up

[Eric]

Doug,
Did you purposely write guns a blazing or was that accidental?

[Mr. Cook]

This one is not just for the kids: A Muppet Christmas Carol is an excellent retelling of the classic story. It may not be a seminal piece of film history but it does star Michael Caine, the song-writing is excellent and the muppets are muppets. I'm 26, my youngest sibling is 19 and we sit down as a family to watch it every year and still get a kick out of it.

[Rob.V]

Hey, any irregulars out there cheering M...V...P for Kobe at the end of the game yesterday? If so, shame on you!!

I've always wondered why this happens - I guess it's EASY to back a winner. This guy comes into town wanting to rip your heart out... and we roll out the red carpet? 81 folks, 80 freakin 1!!!... Stay loyal Raptor fans.

Since it was mentioned. That Manu sequence at the end of the game Vs. Denver: The off balance bucket (while being fouled), and the charge to seal the win was definitely Jordan-esque! When Manu is healthy, and it would appear that he is this year... he is EVERY bit the player Kobe is (I know I'm gonna get drilled for that comment).

Dude, is Manu a Hall Of Famer?

Blogger's note: Yes

[sam]

White Christmas - Without a doubt is my second favourite Christmas Movie - Not for Bing - Not for Danny Kaye - Rosemary Clooney or the incredibly skinny Vera Ellen.
Hands Down favourite is The Christmas Story - Ralphie's quest for the Red Rider BB Gun - The Bumpus hounds - and Darren McGavin at his comedic best -

Klieza and DD - were pretty solid yesterday - Jose, I thought, led this team pretty well on the floor -
hopefully Amir's Back issue and Andrea's ankle won't keep them out of Wednesdays Game.
Injuries aside - it seems the shorter that Jay keeps his rotation the better the team plays -
Kleiza scored 20 plus as a starter in the last couple of games, and has rebounded pretty well too - Is this the Norm for this guy? or Has did he pick up his game becasue of the injuries?

[Meestervinyl]

Doug great list, but a small correction, it was Jimmy Durante who narrated Frosty. Burl Ives was indeed the snowman, but in Rudolph.

Blogger's note: Oops. Thanks for the catch.

[Kevin W]

Hey Doug,
I know that this one is better served for the mailbag but I'm hoping you can shed some light here.....
Player tampering is dealt with seriously in this league i.e. the Isaih Thomas/New York situation, coaches cannot even comment on contract status or 'wanting' another player on another team. With this in mind- how do you take the comments from Orlando GM Otis Smith saying "I speak with Arenas 2-3 times per week, almost as much as I talk with my son"....Is there a grey area here? Seems to me that a GM having constant communication with another teams player and then trading for that player should cause some angst in the NBA offices, but yet I've heard nothing. Am I just being dramatic here??

Blogger's note: Probably

[Mike D.]

I'm with @sam. Nothing, but nothing, tops The Christmas Story. "You'll shoot your eye out", the Battle of the Lamp, the tongue/flagpole scene, and the neighbourhood bully with the yellow eyes. Priceless.

Another little-known favourite is Blackadder's Christmas Carol.....Rowan Atkinson in his absolute best role (miles better than Mister Bean, for those with dark senses of humour), beginning the story as a too-nice doormat before undergoing a reverse Scrooge transformation.

[doug]

Rear Window is your fav...I have to say Christmas Story with Ralpie and the best lamp in history is my fav XMAS movie...Kleiza needs to remain a starter not just for his sake but for Jay's as it takes pressure off Jay on how to use him in a game as he wasn't used properly before, inconsistent minutes...Amir deserves credit easily could have packed it in when he went into the locker room with his sore back...but no came back out, played thru it although he was in obvious discomfort...not only do fans etc. notice, but more importantly his teammates..DD deserves credit as well, picked it up and did what he has to do , he's still only in his second year a young player and let's face it , having to guard Kobe would throw anyone off for a half of b-ball...the Lakers second unit could be most teams first, they have a lot of talent there...

[Joe]

I was at yesterday's game and I'll say that a few things stood out for me. First, the Lakers are a classy bunch. Many of them stopped off to sign autographs after warm ups, including Gasol and Fisher. Second, Lamar Odom is quite underrated. He's a really good player who is often overshadowed by his more well known teammates. Third, Bynum is a beast on the boards. Fourth, Gasol is a wonderfully skilled player. Fifth, our Raps keep impressing me with their never quit attitude. Hopefully, some day, they might develop into the same type of team as the Raptors. Anyhow, Doug, this brings me to three questions:
1. What's your opinion about Odom? Underrated player?
2. If the Lakers can three repeat this year, can they officially be declared a dynasty?
3. If the upcoming collective agreement negotiations do produce a hard cap in the NBA, will the Lakers be the last dynasty we see for a while?

Thanks Doug.

Blogger's note: 1. Not by anyone in the game; 2. yes; 3. most likely

[Christa]

The Christmas Story!!! I cannot argue with that.

My kids favourite Christmas movie of all time? Home Alone. No kidding. They want to watch it every holiday and still laugh out loud. (They're not to be totally trusted though, because they think food with artificial colouring is automatically tastier.)

[Lorie]

Hi Doug,
Very nice list, Doug, and wouldn't you say the movies we choose as favorites this time of year are ones we have the happymemories of watching with family and friends, over and over through the year? So, with that in mind, here's my planned viewing:
December 20 - Muppet Family Christmas (the one where Kermit and the gang visit Fozzie Bear's Mother's farm)
December 21 - One Magic Christmas (inspired casting of Harry Dean Stanton as the angel Gideon)
December 22 - Trapped in Paradise (totally hilarious seasonal flick, cause the family that laughs together...!)
December 23 - The Bishop's Wife (1947, B&W, and perfect)
December 24 - A Christmas Carol (the one with Alastair Sim, of course) watched in a room aglow from the lights on the tree, the warmth of the fireplace and the joy of us being together again.
A little request, Doug. Is there a new book or two out there that you could recommend for a sports fan? Thanks!

[Eric]

Is there no buyout in the works or none til after trade deadline? What does a buyout accomplish besides saving team money? Why would one of the top NBA teams in attendance be more concerned with saving money and putting a better team on the floor? Did I answer my own question? Thanks.

[Eric]

should read THAN putting a better team on the floor.

[painsev]

Morning Doug,

Weekend went as expected. About the charging call on Melo. If you look at the footage that was a good call no matter which way you look at it. Just like Hinrich against Miami. Jordan would tell you never leave a game in the hand of the officials. Plus there was no foul in that instance either. When you think about all the missed calls I'll admit that I have agreed with so many of the calls late in games over the last week. Officiating has been better of late. This Raps team is just to tough to get a read on. Doug, should Kleiza continue to start when Weems is healthy? Jose shows he's worth the contract as well back to back exceptional games. He's been the difference in the team.

[Mike kovacs]

Doug what are your odds for Orlando regretting those trades: 1/ this year and 2/ in 2 years? thanks, Mike

Blogger's note: 95-5, 98-2

[Smalahove]

Holy Jeet, is Tiger still around? Wow!

[HopeCaper]

Hey Doug,
I thought they played great and I'm a little more willing to cut the team some slack because without Reggie and Andrea they just don't have much up front. Add Amir's back injuries and all of a sudden the depth becomes very shallow indeed. It could be interesting if they get everybody on the floor at once.

[JHK]

I still think Home Alone 1 and 2 should be in there some where.
All my childhood Christmas memories unravel from those two movies.

[tom]

For some of us, with no spouse or kids or much family, Christmas movies can bring on the melancholies. It is my own tradition to take in some movies during the holidays though not of the Christmas variation. This year it's a box set of Bogart movies, 24 in all. Black and white movies relax me for some reason, and remind me of simpler times and though I'm only in my late 40's, I've a thing for old movies and old music. Humphrey Bogart on a 110" screen (hd projector), Chet Baker and maybe some Dean Martin on the stereo, and perhaps a shot or two of brandy. Looking forward to it actually. Happy Holiday Doug and the other irregulars.

[Geoff Read]

Bad Santa.

[Geoff]

My favorite is still Prancer. How can you not love a real Santa's reindeer in Vermont?

[Rob.V]

Happy Holiday's to you too Tom. All the best this season brother!!!... you have some family here.

Okay, I'm surprised there are no Chevy fans out there. What, no Christmas Vacation on anyone's list.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=decUIVkZ4GI

[D-Mac Ottawa]

What, no love for "Elf", "The Santa Clause", "Polar Express" and/or "A Charlie Brown Christmas"?! Good grief.
Good lists, everybody, and god bless us every one. Happy Holidays to all!

[jc]

All in all, great game yesterday. At about 9 minutes of the second quarter, Phil Jackson (11 time champion Phil Jackson), had to make a decision and go to his bench to counter the play of Solomon Alabi. It was a great game.