Disappearing players and a big day for rumours

Quite the dull night, wasn’t it?

Kind of a boring game, not much to write home about but there was enough to write here about.

Like…

THREE POINTERS

A bad look

No, not the orange Bobcat outfit Rufus The Stuffed Animal was wearing.

It was when I looked down on the court and saw Leandro Barbosa, Julian Wright, Linas Kleiza, Andrea Bargnani and Ed Davis on the floor together.

For some reason last night, it just didn’t work. Julian didn’t have his greatest game, Linas and Leandro had their struggles and we know that Andrea was scuffling most of the night (we’ll get to more on that in a second).

It was one of those nights when Jay was searching for something, as he is wont to do and I’m quite all right with it most of the time, but this time it just didn’t work.

I’m thinking it’s a frosty day in May before that fivesome is trotted out again.

-

Andrea’s tough night

Oddly detached was the way I first described Bargnani’s rather bad effort and I think that’s pretty suitable.

Two plays in particular:

There’s a loose ball under the basket right in front of the Toronto bench and Andrea’s about a foot away from it. Instead of bending at the knees or – heaven forbid! – diving to the floor, he made some half-buttocked effort to bend at the waist and pick the ball up before a Bobcat simply beat him to it and headed the other way.

Change of possession, Raptors are headed back on defence and I saw Boris Diaw, who is not the, um, most sculpted pro athlete I ever saw – simply beat Bargnani down the floor in a foot race.

Now, in Andrea’s defence, I will note that he didn’t do much or anything at shootaround Tuesday morning because his knees were a bit sore, and he did spend an awful lot of time after the game icing down, but they need a better effort than they got last night.

-

Hard hits. Good and hard

Couple of relatively tough fouls committed by the HOTH and it was not something you see every day.

The first came from Ed Davis – who continues to impress – when he came from the weak side to try block a Shaun Livingston lay up and laid him out and then second was a hard hit by Linas Kleiza on Gerald Wallace early in the second half.

Not big plays but not ones we’re used to seeing.

-

And just a wee bit more:

-

Oh, I’m sure you’ve got questions.

And I will endeavour to give you some answers if you come around these parts at noon Thursday.

-

Best.

Question.

Ever.

(Or dang close)

Q: Hey Doug. Probably a silly question, but how come the June Taylor Dancers never do that kaleidescopey thing any more?

I miss that.

 

 

TL I, London

A: I have no answer, I just want people of a certain age to read this and smile like I did.

-

Okay, I can’t remember who but some insightful reader asked in the comment yesterday if I could dig out the Washington cab ride story in light of my shared ride into Charlotte with Oak.

It took a wee bit of digging but here it is, culled verbatim from that day’s offering:

Okay, here’s why sometimes this job doesn’t suck.

Me and Sun No. 2 are in a cab to the airport in Washington the other morning and we strike up a conversation with the nice man driving. Small talk, mainly, ‘til he asks us what we do and we tell him we’re sportswriters.

"Have you ever heard of Oscar Robertson,” he asks?

Duh, sure, the greatest ever in the opinion of some.

Well, it turns out the driver had some stories. Great stories.

He went to high school with Oscar and this might be the best cab ride ever.

The conversation, as I recall it unfolding.

"Oscar was the greatest, went to school with him,” says driver.

"When did you know he’d be great?”

"About the eighth grade, he could shoot your ass off then.”

"Did you play with him?”

"Nah, I was on the reserve team, he was varsity all the way. Did you know he had a brother?”

"Nope, didn’t know that.”

"Yeah, Bailey. Was a good player, too. Uncoachable, though, never made it.”

Wow, I’m thinking, this dude is cool. And then there’s more.

"You ever heard of George McGinnis,” Mr. Driver says.

"Um, yeah, of course. Who hasn’t?”

"Played with him, too; ran him off the playground when he was a kid, clumsy guy, couldn’t play. Guess we were wrong.”

Man, this is cool, I’m thinking.

"You guys see the movie Hoosiers?”

"Who didn’t?”

"I was at that game. Just like in the movie, Milan won, 32-30 and Bobby Plump hits the shot. We called Bobby “Country” back then. Wore a white T-shirt under his jersey. Country could shoot.”

Now we’re at the airport and all I want the dude to do is drive us around for a few hours telling stories.

"I’m retired now, my wife retired from the state department five years ago and I’m driving this cab ‘cause I’ve got to keep our marriage together. Gotta get out of each other’s hair.”

I know that the gentleman, a Mr. Proctor, will never see this but, man, did he make my day.

-

KC checks in from Chicago with a laundry list of Banged Up Bulls. Read it here and check back tonight to see who survives shootaroud and plays.

I’ll be on a teeny tiny Air Canada Sopwith Camel headed home so I won’t get to shootaround will let you know what I know when I know it.

-

Speaking of clicking to read elsewhere, Rick says this about that one.

-

So, big day for the rumour-mongerers out there, that’s for sure.

Dec. 15 – and it can’t really be Dec. 15, can it? – is the day all the free agents who were signed in the summer can be traded and you know you’re going to hear all kinds of rumour, innuendo and speculation.

Some it might even be right.

New Jersey, Houston and the Lakers got things started Tuesday night when word of their deal leaked out – it can’t be finalized until today – and I’m sure there will be more.

Around Toronto? I’m told by people I trust that it’s relatively quiet right now, just the usual chatter between Bryan and a handful of other GMs, talk that goes on almost daily during the season.

There is no one “being shopped” (although I have no clue what that really means since all kinds of names are bandied about here and there) and nothing seems imminent.

Of course, nothing seemed imminent on the Friday before the Jarrett trade on the Saturday.

-

Oh yeah, the Michael Jordan ceremony? Muted, didn’t extend halftime even a minute and was quite tasteful.

The “didn’t extend halftime even a minute” thing was important to me, of course, but it did drag a wee bit and the players only had about 90 seconds to get warmed up before the second half and it was kind of odd to see guys lying on the floor getting stretched while they were rolling up the Carolina blue carpet.

-

 

 

Comments

[Guest]

Doug,
Does Ed Davis remind you of a young Jermaine O'Neal?

Blogger's note: Reminds me more of a young Ed Davis

[ak74]

"There’s a loose ball under the basket right in front of the Toronto bench and Andrea’s about a foot away from it. Instead of bending at the knees or – heaven forbid! – diving to the floor, he made some half-buttocked effort to bend at the waist and pick the ball up before a Bobcat simply beat him to it and headed the other way."

Spot on, pretty much sums up Andrea's effort on defence throughout his career. I like his offensive talent, but i really can't see this team as deep playoff run team with 7 foot soft jump shooter. as Shaq said one day, you need a brick wall under the rim where wings-guards will crash as if they were corvettes

[JHK]

At one point last night, Andrea put up a desperation 3 before the shot clock went off and I noticed that the siren (or horn) shuts off immediately after ball touches the rim - is this a technological thing with a transducer converting the impact from the ball's kinetic energy in the form of electrical signal that is processed from the main cpu or simply a guy behind a desk pressing buttons?

[Dancing june]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C07cJjJTOsU

The June Taylor Dancers from January 28, 1956 re-mixed with a great gospel choir just for the hell of it.

Good times.

[Nick]

Doug, do you think most nba refs need lasik eye surgery? Tim D. was right, it is rigged. Do you see the calls last night. God forbid, bobcats lose on jordan induction night.

[Jack]

Iknew it. Doug Smith, the lead counsel for Bargnani's defense offered an excuse. "he didn’t do much or anything at shootaround Tuesday morning because his knees were a bit sore, and he did spend an awful lot of time after the game icing down" Holy cowabunga! Always. You'll find an excuse every time CB* has a game like last night.
True, sometimes he drops 25-30 points. And it's also true that sometimes the sun shines on a dog's butt. But his defense is always atrocious. And it's not going to change. So when his offense is off, he's useless. Like last night.
So all you wanna-be Bargnani's attorneys.. watch his game and don't just concentrate on his scoring. Because sometimes, it's not just there. But his terrible defense will always be.
I enjoyed the game last night. My sides really hurt from laughing at Bargnani's comedy routines. He's funnier to watch than Will Farrell.

Blogger's note: Yawn.

[Johnny B]

Am I crazy to say that Ed Davis has a way higher ceiling than Derozan? All I want for Christmas is for Derozan and Weems to somehow morph into one person. Both players weaknesses are each other's strong point. Derozan can't shoot, no handles and drives extremely soft to the basket (although last night play was unreal). Weems just doesn't know his role, below average basketball IQ and doesn't get to the line like Derozan does but has a sweet jumper.

[sam]

conspiracy theories abound - Hmmm
Some people need to get it through thier head that andrea is not a true centre -but a big man playing in the centre position - Off night last night for him - no excuses - The Team really misses the steady hand of Jose.

From Yesterday: @Leez - A few names for you Townes Van Zandt - Guy Clark - and for acoustic guitar mastery look up Tommy Emmanuel -

[capt kirk]

Eh Doug, that is exactly why we keep reading this forum. You have a deep well of experience that we can't get enough of . That cab story had the best lesson for a long successful marriage. Who is Sun No. 2?

Blogger's note: As I recall, M. Koreen was the travelling companion that day

[Rob.V]

Nick, I'm not sure the NBA is a full fledged WWE however plays like the over and back that was overturned because... um... Larry Brown wanted it to be ... is becoming very tiring I agree!

The ref made the correct call on that play last night... unless you are going to go to instant replay on all of these calls... the play should stand!!

It's plays like those that make me wonder why I watch so much Basketball... because you're right... it really can be a farce!!!

It's not the sole reason we lost the game... but for the love of all thats good in the world... use more replays or do something to get it freakin right!!!

Oh, and I could care less which 2 teams are playing. "Respect" calls and make up calls are an embarrassment to proffessional Sports... it's mind boggling as to why this sort of officiating hasn't been cleaned up 20 years ago... let alone in 2010.

[Al]

Not that it matters when AB puts in that kind of non-effort, but Triano's line change in the 1st quarter baffled me. All the yound guys were on the floor - Bayless, Amir, DD, Weems and Davis - and they were rocking. Went up big. Jay calls a TO and comes back with Kleiza and another substitution, and the bobcats promptly cut the lead.

Seemed weird to me to sub in Kleiza when the very group of young players the team is trying to develop is bonding right in front of your eyes.

[Lorie]

This is how I remember The June Taylor Dancers...on Saturday nights with The (pre-Gretzky) "Great One".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEQg-L-Rbp0
Please enjoy, and now, Sammy, a little travelling music...! Safe trip home, Doug!

[HopeCaper]

Hey Doug I get it now but it has been a a struggle. I couldn't figure out why over the last couple of seasons that sports writers weren't picking up on the terrible calls made or not made by the refs. It has become clear to me that there are so many bad call made that apathy has set in with everyone connected to the game and they no longer care. Last nite there was a nice play by Barbosa forcing the Bobcats to go back over center. The first call was correct in that Barbosa never touched the ball and it was back over. However another ref who we can only hope is not on some other payroll besides the NBA overuled the call. Over the last few games there have been too many like this to list. I thought it was telling that Rose said he felt he had to push extra hard to get a call at the risk of injury because the refs weren't calling the fouls.

[Pipit]

Andrea, Andrea, Andrea. No need to say more. This guy is loaded with talent and potential but the lack of effort on every other game is killing this team. When you have somebody whose playing major minutes and not giving much effort especially in defense and rebounding, you'll surely lose the game. I don't like what I see on Andrea's attitude at this stage of his career. Didn't prove anything yet but acts like a primadonna. Doug, is there anybody on the coaching staff or even Colangelo who talks to this guy on a daily basis regarding his attitude? Hell, I can just show him the tape of the game last night and bring hell's fury on him if I'm the owner of this team. This guy is not being held accountable on games like last night.

[drew]

Doug. Here we go, a flash from the past. Watched the game last night and all of asudden I see Ed Davis come on the court and it hits me..he looks just like Play from KID AND PLAY, House party!! Man I laughed all night as I expected him to start grabbing ankles and rapping. Made the game that much better for a bitter fan.

[Terence]

Is it not time for a lineup change, Sonny Weems is trying to do too much ( aka play for a contract ) rather than letting the game come to him yet Triano still keeps him on the floor. I think its time to look at players on the team for the long haul ( which Sonny is not) despite the Young Gunz marketing ploy by the Raptors. Amir and DeRozan are part of the future. Raps need a decent long range shooter at the 2/3 spot.

[craig]

Last 6 games with Bargnani Matchup:
Mohammed scored 18 pts, is avg. 8.8 in the season

Wallace scores 23, is avg. 3.7 on season.

Nene scores 26, is avg. 15.2 on season

Stoudemaire scores 34 and 31, is avg. 26.2 on season.

Hibbert scores 13 is avg. 14.4 on season.

Something has to give here, what good is BArgnani when his offense is wiped out by his Defense.

Doug what did the raps get for Roy Hibbert?...his numbers are impressive.

[SheikYurBouti]

@Jack... dude, are you simply a postal clerk that just needs a place to vent? If so, I'm happy you've found a safe place. It says something of your mentality that you shout about the joy in seeing someone have a bad game. Too many bad days in your life?

PS. Doug, I'm still "banned" from the IGBT when I use this tag. If I change the tag, I have no problem. Anyway I can contact the techies, or somebody, to ask what is wrong?

Blogger's note: I'll check tomorrow, I have no idea

[CC]

doug, isn't it time for Weems and/or Demar to come of the bench?

Blogger's note: Is there some hugely consistent star to replace them?

[Geoff]

I can't beliece that all anyone wants to write about is Bargnani. He has always been and will always be an up and down player. But....how about the 4 turnovers from Bayless and the total lack of point guard leadership down the stretch. Great potential, but too young and new to have pulled off that one!

[Steve]

Hey Doug, hear anything on Calderon? Is he gonna play tonight?

[saatuk]

Hang on Snoopy. Loved the Sopwith Camel! Firsh chuckle at Air Canada in decades.

[Rob.V]

HopeCaper - It's an interesting point and sort of reminds me of the NHL. For years the NHL had struggled with change and always thought that it was directly related to too many old board members. Guys that were afraid to take the game in a new direction... Traditionalists (if you want to call them that) that couldn't pry themselves away from anything that they felt would "tarnish" the history of the game.

We'll I turned off hockey during the clutch and grab years because frankly it was a shitty product - But I will give the NHL credit because removing the centre ice line, the shootouts, and I just noticed that the goalies can no longer touch the puck in corners of the ice. i still dont watch... but it would appear that they are trying to move the league in the right direction.

Applying 1930's philisophies to 2010 Sports will never work.

Anyone in business will tell you that they have probably had to adjust their model probably 10 times over say only a 10 years span!!! Imagine if fortune 500 companies never adjusted to change?

.

NBA players are simply bigger, stronger ,and faster than they were years ago. The refs?... slower, older, not as sharp.

My point is that the NBA may be falling into the same trap. Someone needs to look at this league with a fresh perspective... and starting with the horrible officiating would be a great place to begin. One would think after the whole Donaghy fiasco that there would be efforts made to ensure "transparency".

Simply remove some of the unecessary time outs (which we all hate anyway) and offer the coaches a couple of challenges per game. In the NBA, video replay could be done in under 1 minute in an effort to get the call right.

Or how about removing the guy who sits in the stands each night to monitor the refs performances. I mean, the refs suck anyway... so what good are these cats doing around the league each night???... Yeah, nada!!!... and isn't every game recorded??? Why have some guy sit there only so he can report what he deemed a bad call at a later date.... use the freaking video of that game... at a later date!!... buddy in the stands is a moot point!!!

Why not use this same guy behind a computer monitor each night so that maybe he can notify the refs of the correct call (quickly) if the refs reqeust a replay. None of us care if they identify that last nights over and back... actually was an over and back say 3 months from now at a conference in New York???

Simply, get it right TONIGHT!!!

We have the technology... but the NBA "traditionalists" seem to be asleep at the wheel!

Don't ge me started on raising the rims 1foot, or my thoughts of a 4-point play with another arc just shy of centre court!!!.... but someone has to start bringing a fresh perspective!!!

[Michel G]

When are people going to accept the fact that Andrea is not wired the same way as most ball players? Would I have liked him to dive headfirst and wrestled that ball away from the Bobcat player? Yes. Is it going to happen? No. Accept the good with the bad. If he had had just an average offensive game we would have won last night. He has to be consistent on the offensive end or he's useless. That's what I'm pissed off about.

[Jeff]

Hi Doug

I think it is becoming too much of a common theme with Weems and Klieza turning the ball over in critical points. They both seem to try to do to much with the dribble, and I would say neither is good on the Dribble. Klieza is better either one dribble move in the post, or spot shooting, and Weems, seems to only be effective in the open floor