Everyone's back and ready to go

Miss me?

Anyway, we’re on central time for a week with some awful travel (the 7 a.m. flight out of here to Dallas to complete the back-to-back sucks, having three days in Houston isn’t the greatest thing to ever happen because I’m not a big fan of the city) so I have no idea when I’ll get this done every morning.

But done it will be, like it is now:

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So, what’s up with the post-Christmas HOTH?

Nothing good.

A brutal schedule – six of seven on the road, the lone home game against Boston, Andrea’s not on this trip – could have them dead and buried shortly after 2011 starts.

Of course, we know “that’s why they play the games” and who knows what actually transpires but man, things seem bleak, don’t they?

I know they’d had four days off after the Detroit game but it looked like the same old banged-up group here Sunday night.

Amir Johnson was wandering around like the 2,000 Year Old Man (and he was …) with ice on his back after practice, I asked Sonny how his back was feeling and got an expletive as a one-word answer and things didn’t seem a whole lot better than they were after the Detroit game.

But, on the bright side, seems everyone had a happy holiday.

Chef Solomon Alabi was relatively pleased with his first attempt at a nice chicken and rice stew (“It was okay, only good for me, I’ll be better next time), Amir got his gumbo (“ate great and slept, a nice break”) and the rest of ‘em seemed quite relaxed.

I do think the mental break was almost as important as the physical respite they got; they were stumbling along, playing poorly, with game piling up one on top of the other before Christmas and getting away from the game – and each other – probably wasn’t a bad idea.

And since they’re about to start a stretch of seven games in 12 days, being mentally fresh is significant. They don’t have good physical health but at least they seem mentally rested.

Wonder what that’s worth?

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One of the big surprises of walking into the Grizzlies practice facility to catch the final few minutes of the Raptors workout Sunday night?

Everyone was there.

Well, almost.

Alvin got stuck in that blizzard that was raging in Philly yesterday morning; Micah was in Indy on Sunday night scouting the Grizzlies but, other than that, everyone who was supposed to be there was.

There have been guys – hello, Mo Pete! – who historically had travel woes getting back after the Christmas or all-star breaks and missed the first practice (their wallets were lighter for it) but this entire roster arrived on time.

And that includes Leandro, who made a quick trip to Brazil, and Sonny, who came from across the Mississippi.

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What’s up with the Grizzlies?

Well, they knocked off the Pacers on Sunday and here are the gory details.

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Speaking of Memphis, I don’t recall a whole lot of extraordinary things happening at games here (they did get drilled here a year ago that really exposed them as physically unable to compete some nights) but there have been a few stories that create trips down memory lane.

Like …

Rob’s excellent idea

It was late 2005, I think, when the Raptors had an off-day here during a road trip.

Rob, bless his heart, arranged for a second bus after the team plane landed to take whoever wanted to go to the Civil Rights Museum for a private tour.

A great, great idea to show the players and coaches a bit of history they should never forget – and that many of their parents and grand parents lived – and it was one of the best things he did.

The fact that about three players and a couple of coaches were the only ones to take advantage of the offer says more about them than anything.

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A memorial work place

The media room here at the FedEx Forum always evokes memories – some sad, mostly good – when I arrive there.

It’s named after Don Poier, the long-time radio and television voice of the Grizzlies here and in Vancouver. Don, who also did some EA Sports work and kids would know his voice for sure, died of a heart attack in January, 2005, in Denver during a road trip.

I know it gets to Jay a little bit, too; they were broadcast partners and it was always a gas to do a game in Vancouver and hang out with them.

He’s missed to this day.

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That’s Mr. Mayor to you

You remember KO, right?

Well, after his rather short and unglamorous stint in Toronto, he did a bit of work as an assistant here in Memphis.

Now, if there was one thing KO knew, besides how to sap all the excitement out of NBA offence, it was to know a place to decompress after a bit after a game.

I remember the year he worked here and we were coming; the Grizzlies where headed out on a trip right after the game and when they were in Toronto earlier that year, I remember asking Kevin for a post-game recommendation and wondered if he knew of a good place on Beale Street.

“Know a place? I’m the Mayor of Beale Street.”

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Oh yeah, you might want to grab up the Raptors No. 12 jerseys.

At least all you Ronald Dupree fans; he’ll wear that number in honour of Donald Whiteside maybe? Or the Big Kitchen? Or Skip To My Lou?

Wait!

Rasho!

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This is why I kind of like just chatting with Jerryd Bayless.

Stopped by his spot after practice to see how he was feeling after what was a really bad bout of stomach flu that floored him for almost a week.

He’s better, no question about it, got home to Phoenix for the holidays, but said he was throwing up a little bit even when he got there. Then, kind of sheepishly, he adds: “And I was going to bathroom a lot, of course.”

Don’t know why, but I found that kind of funny.

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I’ll tell you, there’s nothing quite like sitting upstairs at BB King’s, eating catfish and hush puppies and listening to live jazz.

A nice Sunday night.

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Okay, we’re back to some semblance of normalcy here, everyone have a good week.

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Comments

[Peter]

Wow, this is the first time that I've ever read about an NBA players bathroom habits over Christmas. Thanks Doug! :S

[doug]

this will be a long trip in more ways then one...but the players have to step up and get the job done and not let it bring them down, tough way to start things after the break...I think you need to get a new little part of your blog...the Blake Griffin play of the week or day at this rate...yesterday i just arrived home flicked on the tv there was the Clippers-Suns game...within 5 seconds of me watching Blake goes and does this over Gortat the kid is unreal...he's brought the buzz back to the dunk his vertical leap from a standstill is just out of this world..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdSeL9N2Yrs

[Joe]

Sounds like the Raptors are in for a tough stretch. Looking at their schedule, from now until January 31st, they have 20 games, 13 of which are on the road. This includes this week's 3 game road trip, another 3 game road trip, and a brutal 5 games in 7 day trip ending off with games against San Antonio, Orlando and Miami. They've played their hearts out most of the year but the wear and tear is likely beginning to get to them. On the bright side, the nagging injuries do give the young guys like Ed Davis more playing time. This will be invaluable to their development. Also, should their win/loss record go south in this stretch, it would move them closer to a top 3-5 pick in June's draft. That is one way for them to upgrade thier talent level. What I'd like to ask is how is this schedule made? Humans? A computer system? It's tough to understand at times. The team is on a 3 game swing with the final stop in Houston this week. Two weeks later, they have to come back and play San Antonio. Wouldn't it make more sense to have them just play in San Antonio since they're already in Texas for the week?

[Keith Wagar]

Joe, I have asked that question over and over! Even more ridiculous -- play Lakers one night, leave come back another night on another trip play Clippers in same building!

[Lorie]

Hey Doug!
Nice meal. Now, was it a perfect one? Accompanied by a Yeungling? (Some dessert details, too?) And to help us totally immerse ourselves in the experience - were there any sweet bluesy sounds in the background? Salut!

Blogger's note: As a matter of fact, there was Yeungling and a not-bad band on the stage.

[doug]

let the bloggers who boo or support it read this article ...there booing is self-serving as it only serves to motivate...plus Mcgrady is exactly right when he speaks of Bosh, Bosh needs to just be quiet as really when he spoke lately not much of any substance has come out..

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/256931-t-mac-loves-the-boos-rips-bosh

and to all that look at the Lakers-Heat game as a barometer it isn't, not at all...why do you think Phil sat there and showed no emotion or concern....because it's the end of December he has a team that is pissed off and embarrassed what more does a coach want...remember this , this time last year the Lakers were struggling and everyone was questioning the move to sign Artest and let Arazia go...and the Celts were being called "to old" and "washed up" yet who were the 2 teams to go 7 games in the championship??...it's December a long season and all coaches have to work with is players prides...and remember playoffs are the playoffs 7 game series not one and dones...

[d]

Ouch,

This team is about to get crushed in the next 30 days. The true shame about it is that if a lockout is looming, we have two 1st round draft picks in the most useless draft in the past 10 years.

Is there ever any good news about the Raptors?