The Goods On The Game, Hawks at Raptors

Good evening, again.

Things are well, I hope.

Let's get going.

Of hard work, postponements and I don't quite get young people

A series of unrelated notes, items, and wildly informative tidbits on the first really snowy morning of the season.

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If Ed Davis doesn’t show some kind of improvement in his offensive range, it won’t be because he’s not getting very good coaching or putting in the work.

At the end of practice Tuesday, Davis put in a good long session with Alex English, working shooting little 15-foot jumpers rolling off screens.

Alex was showing him the right angles at which to set the screens to make sure he got open and Alvin Williams was playing some token defence so Davis had to make a move before getting off his shot.

We’ve seen first hand the improvement in Amir Johnson after spending a chunk of the summer and last season working with Alex and if that’s matched by the other young Raptors big man, everyone’s going to be pretty happy.

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In light of Atlanta not playing last night …

There’ve probably been a couple hundred Raptors games that in hindsight I wish has been postponed but there’s actually only been one.

It was way back in February, 2003, when we were supposed to go to Washington but the weather made it impossible.

The game was moved back a month and the Raptors actually won.

Other than that? Nada.

Don’t recall very many scares, actually. There was one here a couple of years ago or so – against Boston, maybe? – that looked dicey because of a big storm but that’d be it.

Too bad.

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It warms the cockles of my heart to see that it’s just past 7 a.m. and Super Son is out there, shovel in hand, making a good dent on the driveway.

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Lakers 112, Cavaliers 57?

And LeBron apparently tweets “Karma is a b----“ right after?

That’s cold and if the guy is indeed willing to embrace the villain role, he’s playing it to the hilt.

And obviously more than willing to take a cheap shot from afar when he feels like it and to rub salt into a wound he opened.

Classy.

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You have to admire Leandro Barbosa for his honesty.

Lots of NBA players with, um, odd releases on their shots tend to think there’s nothing wrong or out of the ordinary with what they do.

Leandro?

“My shot is all about the snap. My form is not that pretty and not that comfortable.”

He’s right and it was good to hear.

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I have to get this one out of the mail:

Q: Dear old Doug (you did call yourself an oldster):

Nowadays we cringe if we hear the entire song being played. A dj's true talent is the ability to mix songs well and too much of one song is not a good thing! On to our nation's sport.

Amidst all this talk about Carmelo and really, that is all it is, where do you think he would be best suited to play?

 

 

Simone S, Toronto

A: The apocalypse is upon us, my (apparently) young Irregular because let me get this straight (and I say it in a joking, yet incredulous voice if you could hear me): There are all kinds of wonderful songs out there that people enjoy hearing for whatever reason and the people who play music for a living are judged by their ability to cut them off in mid-stream so that no one gets to the hear the entirety of what the originator of the music wanted them to?

Wow. Yes, I am old. And we live in a world that’s too, too fast or something. Anyway … thanks for the tip. J

Now, Carmelo?

I guess if you’re him, or thinking like him, you’d probably pick New York over New Jersey if those were the only two options but if what’s out there is true and Dallas has some interest, that might be the best place to land to have a chance to win quickly, no?

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Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday, dear TBJ,

Happy Birthday to you.

(Sung, badly, to the tune of Happy Birthday).

Anyway, as public service – and because I like the stuff that Skeets and Tas do – if you’re a fan of The Basketball Jones over at The Score site, you might want to check out this link.

Seems there’s a big bash coming up and if you want to go, I bet you have a good time.

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Are the Atlanta Hawks what the Raptors want to be?

There are worse things to emulate, according to Jay.

“They’ve put together athletic guys who’ve grown together, yeah. That’s what we’d like to do. We’ve become more athletic and we’d like to have these guys grow together and learn how to play with together. You look at what the Hawks have done, gradual win improvement over the last five years so obviously they’re doing something right.”

Now, I don’t for a second think the Hawks are legitimate contenders – and they might not be in the top five in the East any more. But they did get a good group that they allowed to grow and made major strides doing it.

But in keeping with the theory that building a true contender is a multi-pronged effort, there are still some pieces needed – pieces that have to come in trades or by hitting a home run in free agency with little money to spend – to take that next step.

And while it’s all well and good to grow from within, it’s not the only way to move all the way up.

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Speaking of mail, be sure to drop me a line any old time you feel like it; it gives me great pleasure to read some of the rants.

Do. It. Here.

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A little break from the tedium of the times

Well, that was a quiet day and a good night, everyone decked out in their finest to take a bit of a break.

Except here, we don’t do breaks.

So …

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There’s this little game we play with Jay every day now.

He arrives in front of whatever podium or backdrop that’s in use that day, looks out over the assembled masses and one of us says: “So, who didn’t work today?”

He looks back at us, seems to concentrate hard on his answer because the list is so long and yesterday he said:

“Jose, Andrea, Amir, Kleiza, Ed Davis. Oh, Ed got a little bit of stuff in.”

And so it goes with these fellows, no one’s really hurting all that bad (well, outside of Sonny, Reggie and Peja, that is) but no one can really go 100 per cent in practice because they need to save legs and limbs for games.

(Jose touches on that point a bit in today’s yarn out of the paper here)

That’s got to be tiresome for a coaching staff because I know they want to work these guys hard and wouldn’t mind working them often but if they are worried about making things worse, they have to pull back.

The worst part is that this week was going to be a time to get some solid practice in. They had Monday, they have today and they’ll have Thursday as about the only days to practice for a week or so.

The games come fast and furious starting Friday, they go Friday at home and then Saturday-Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday on the road.

Tough schedule, no time to work, a bunch of nicked up players.

A true recipe for success, no?

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Hey, did Carmelo Anthony get traded yet?

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From the department of Which Guy Was Most Out Of Place, we bring you this from the Red Party thingy:

Fun was had by all but I have a musical question.

When did DJs start playing half songs? Really. Like just a chorus or a stanza and you’re just starting to enjoy and, poof, it’s on to the next one?

Confusing to an oldster.

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On the topic of trades (Carmelo’s still in Denver, right), the question over the next few weeks is going to be what, if anything, the Raptors can get for Peja Stojakovic.

There is no question he doesn’t fit into the team’s long-term plans (he was acquired for more as an “asset” rather than as a player) and there are two parts to his future that have to determined.

First, his knee. I’m told there is no structural damage – he’s a had a couple of MRIs and they show nothing – but there was some swelling and discomfort. But he needs to get back on the court for a handful of games to show some kind of fitness so a team will be sure he can contribute for the last couple months of the season and in the playoffs.

He can only do that by getting into a couple of practices and a handful of games and the sooner, the better. I know the organization would like him out there quickly so there can be some resolution and I would think this week, during this mini-homestand, there might be some movement in that direction.

Now, the second part?

What will they get? Or what do they need?

I can’t pretend to know how Bryan is thinking – well, I can, but it’d probably be wrong – but if I’m him, I’m looking for a young kid who might be able to join this core and a draft pick for two. I don’t know that I’d necessarily take back all of the contract value in deals that go past this season.

Oh yeah, one other point: A buyout.

As we’ve said all along on the highest authority, there is little chance of a buyout before the Feb. 24 trade deadline because Bryan needs to explore every option. And I know the last thing they want right now is to come to some separation agreement and have him show up on the roster of some Eastern Conference rival at this point in the season.

That may be unavoidable later in the year but right now it’s not going to happen.

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Guess that whole “cheer for the Ducks” thing didn’t work out too well.

I will tell you, there were more than a few people at the thing last night anxiously looking for a television and not finding one. I will also tell you I have no interest whatsoever in American college football and can’t tell one bowl from another.

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This from the mail:

Q: Hey Doug. Non-list question for you.

I’m a closet conspiracy theorist. My theory is that if a player with lesser talent is playing higher that expected minutes, he is about to be traded. Jarrett was named the starter in camp and played more minutes than I expected, traded. Andersen played more minutes than expected, traded. Currently Wright and Dorsey could fit into this category, are they the next to go?

 

Thoughts on my theory?

Jay M, Winnipeg

A: Um, thoughts? Well, it’s an interesting one.

Not quite real or anything, but interesting nonetheless. But I will tell you this quite honestly: Unless they are packaged with another player or two, neither Joey nor Julian are highly-coveted in trade talks. In fact, I can’t imagine their names ever come up.

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Get your mail in here, if you like.

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One last party thing, if you don’t mind.

There were all kinds of famous and wealthy people there, businessmen, athletes, big shots from all walks of life, I presume.

And one guy who really dwarfs them all.

Seeing Lincoln Alexander was cool. Very, very cool.

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A win's a win no matter what; and a reason to cheer for the Ducks

A relatively tidy win over a bad opponent isn’t really cause for massive celebration but I guess it does beat the alternative.

And now a couple of days to relax and they will be most welcome.

The two days off now before Atlanta gets here Wednesday night – and I get to meet new friends – is the only time they’ll have that luxury between now and Feb. 5-6. That’s a grind.

For them, too, I’m sure.

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THREE POINTERS

Sometimes, things work

Eight seconds to go in the first half, Barbosa rebounds a Calderon miss and it sure looks like Linas Kleiza, I believe it was, was wide open in the corner for a final shot.

But before the ball could be moved, Jay calls his first-half 20-second timeout and it’s a gamble, no doubt about it. It lets the Kings set their defence rather than have it scrambling and the Raptors do have to execute whatever play is drawn up.

After an aborted first attempt ends up with the ball knocked out of bounds, they run the same thing they were going to run all along, a simple pass-handoff between Barbosa and Bargnani that gets Leandro an easy end-of-the-half bucket.

Simple play, well executed.

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Sometimes, things don’t work

Rewind from halftime to the end of the first quarter.

Raptors turn an Ed Davis steal into an Andrea Bargnani dunk with less than three seconds to go, a good hustle play indeed.

But while they were admiring their work and congratulating themselves on their effort, the Kings inbound the ball, get it up the court while the Raptors loaf and Sam Dalembert ends the quarter with a dunk of his own.

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Surprise starter, for a game

We didn’t get wind of the Joey Dorsey for Amir Johnson switch to the starting lineup until we were sitting courtside, which is our fault for not asking like we should during every pre-game session whether any changes are afoot.

But there were a couple of simple reasons, as Jay told us after the game.

“Just physical size. I also think Amir has a little bit more offence and if we go to the point where we have two of the backup bigs in we need some offence in there instead of just defensive guys and rebounding.”

Now, there’s no indication it was more than a one-off move and I still think Jay’s baseline has to be a three-man bigs rotation of Bargnani, Johnson and Davis right now with the only time a fourth is necessary being because of early foul trouble.

Which, now that I think of it, is just about every game.

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More things?

Got some.

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So I’ve been hearing about this big college football game down in the States tonight and I read up on it and it’s Auburn-Oregon and all I can say is this:

Go Ducks!

And no, I’m not an alumnus or anything and I don’t much love of wacky uniforms but there are two simple reasons:

Bev Smith and Allison McNeill.

Bev might be the best Ducks player ever and coached them for years, Allison was the associate head coach there before taking over the Canadian women’s team and if you’re looking for a rooting interest, there’s one for you.

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What’d they say in Sacramento about that one?

This.

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You know what’s really tiring?

Carmelo Anthony stories.

Seriously, can someone just make a damn deal and have it over and done with?

I guess the latest – and it changes minute by minute – is that it could involve three teams (Denver, Jersey and Detroit) and it might be up to 17 players and if that comes off, I will be stunned.

It’s hard enough to make the math work on six-player transactions, something as big as 17 would require about 10 Steve Fruitmans.

I was told by someone I trust yesterday that it might not be as close as the stories indicate and there is one thing that’s dead certain:

The Raptors will not be involved as any kind of facilitator in a trade that lands Anthony on a division rival, nor should they be.

Not only would the optics be bad, there doesn’t seem a whole lot available that would make this team appreciably better and that has to be the overall goal when Bryan’s looking to spend some of the $12.2 million trade exception he’s got left from the Bosh departure.

I’m told by insiders here that there is some trade chatter going on involving Toronto – no specifics – but that nothing is certainly close to imminent.

I’m still thinking it’ll be February before things get really serious and the GM is able to peddle either the money he’s got stashed or Peja Stojakovic.

So we sit and wait. Patiently, please.

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Here’s mail and there’s news in the answer:

Q: Not sure if this has been asked before, but what happened to the black away uniforms? I don't recall them wearing them this year.

 

Rob H, Brampton

A: Glad you asked.

I’m told be highly reputable sources that, finally, some manufacturing issues have been resolved and the uniforms are either here or on their way any day and, yes, they will trot them out sometime in the future.

Don’t know when that’ll be, but it should be soon and the people will be pleased.

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Hmm, wonder if I’ve got anything red in the closet? Does mauve count?

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Could we be seeing a new guy in town today?

There were tiny rumblings that a 10-day contract addition – a point guard – could be coming soonish, especially if Jose and Jerryd had any other issues with their ankles and feet coming out of yesterday’s game.

They didn’t have anything serious – Bayless said after the game he felt not bad after going 15 minutes and Jose was limping post-game but that’s a tradition there days – but I bet the coaches would love an extra body.

Irregulars will know how I feel – by the time a newbie gets up to speed the other guys will be healthy – but there are smarter, more connected people than I clamouring for someone.

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Let me get this straight. Teams fight all year in the football to get home-field advantage in the playoffs because they’re used the local elements and it’s a big boost and the only home team that won on the weekend was the sub-.500 one that beat the defending champions?

That’s why …

Oh, you know the rest.

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The Goods On The Game, Kings at Raptors

Hello everyone

Welcome back.

Any number of good questions in this full mailbag

There’s a little bit of everything in here for you.

Have fun going through it.

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Q: Please help me understand something. It is clear that the NBA and its franchises are very careful about image. The dress code and emphasis on wholesome community involvement are two simple examples. In light of this, why does the NBA permit colour analysts (TV) to murder the English language? Tommy Heinsohn is an example, Leo is another. He consistently says things like: "He could have went baseline", or "He drove real fluid". Don't they care about the example this gives kids who watch these games?

Peter B, Ottawa

A: The decimation of the language by broadcasters is certainly not anything new nor is it something limited solely to basketball. I have no idea how old you might be but if you’re youngish, google “Blue Jays and Early Wynn” and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

There’s nothing we can really do except to hope that teams hire erudite, informative analysts and play-by-play personnel and hope they elevate the craft.

The leagues? They have tickets and t-shirts and jerseys to sell and ratings to increase, the last thing they seem to be concerned about is the butchering the language by team employees.

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Q: Watching the Raptors play with these days is becoming painful to watch, which raises these questions:_• Over the past several years, it appears as though the Raptors have had more players out with injuries than most teams. Is this in fact accurate, or is it an illusion because we play closer attention to this team?_• Is the team's conditioning somehow at fault or deficient for this rash of injuries?_• How does the ACC's court rate as a playing surface? Outside of locale or history are there some NBA basketball courts surfaces that are better than others, that players prefer?

Phil U, Toronto

A: I’m not sure that’s actually true, that they are more hurt than other teams. They had six guys play more than 70 games last season and if you take out the extended absence (20 games) of Reggie Evans and the time Peja’s missed this year, the total “man-games lost” isn’t all that bad. And I don’t think there’s anyone to “blame” actually, just one of those things were a couple of guys tweak ankles, bend backs the wrong way and break feet. As for the court? According to the players I talk to, there’s not any significant difference in the actual court from one arena to the next.

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Q: As a long time raps fan living in London you really are my connection to the HOTH and I appreciate that!

I recently read somewhere that the Raptors actually lead the NBA in fast break points, which to me means dunks, nice passes, alley-oops = excitement. Which teams do you consider to be the most exciting to watch this year? Are the Raps up there?

Also, I really want to check out the two raps games in London this year but can’t find any link to ticket sales on the Raps website, how can I go about getting tickets? In exchange for this valuable info I'm happy to trade the names of some great pubs with really good local beers on draft next to the arena!

Thanks Doug

 

Mark E, London, UK

A: Not sure I’d put the Raptors up there because as “fast” as they play, they don’t win enough. And, personally, I like watching San Antonio, which plays more up-tempo now than ever before, along with Golden State and Oklahoma City. But, I must admit, with so many games to cover and trips to take, I don’t see as many games as some people do.

Now, on the tickets? Both games are Nets home games so maybe checking out there site might be a place to start or go right to the source at www.the02.co.uk might be a good idea.

And, don’t worry, I’ll be putting out the call for locals often and I would hope you’d help a fellow out.

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Q: A Doug Question. How do you usually divide up your working hours during the season? How many hours do spend a day on the blog, IGB, writing articles, interviews? Does mother Star monitor your hours worked? Do you get overtime? (I know you will laugh at that one) Is travel time considered working hours? What part of your job do you love the most? Least? (and you can't say travel).

Part 2 - have you ever intentionally asked a player / coach a question that you knew was "sensitive" or would result in getting a rise out of someone? What has been the worst reaction to a question you have asked? Thanks for the daily read, I'll save more questions for the next time you are starved for some irregular questions.

 

MC C, Winnipeg

A: How much do I work? Too much. But it kind of depends on your definition of work? Is 10 minutes here and there reading and posting comments “work” or is it just something you do when you’re sitting around at the desk with nothing else going on? I don’t have “hours” if that’s what you’re getting at, I kind of work when it has to be done; it’s usually 6:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. dedicated to the blog, maybe noon-2 or 1-2 at practice, 4-11 at games but on non-game days nights are given over to relaxation, unless something comes to mind for the next day that I have to write down before I forget or there’s mail to do to ease a Saturday. And, yes, I consider travel work because I wouldn’t otherwise be doing it. The folks at the office are great about me taking a day or a few hours when I need it and if I have to disappear for a chunk of the summer, there’s never been a problem. I am, however, retiring at bit early thanks to time I’ve built up.

And the part of the job I love most is writing and telling stories and the part I like least is the deadline pressure that doesn’t allow me to write as well as I’d like to if I’m given more time.

Now, I’ve never intentionally asked anyone a question looking to provoke some kind of angry response but I ask whatever I feel is necessary to get a good story and almsot 100 per cent of the time, the athletes are professional enough to give answers without getting all snippy about it.

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Q: Morning. Hope you made it home ok. Not really much of a question but more of an observation. Has the GM gone on vacation? Do you seem him now and then or does he travel in such rarified circles we the public only seem him at the lottery draft on TV. Which occurs way to often. If he's the guy picking/trading/moving players and Jay's the guy trying to win games then I'd say he has a pretty good deal. To kind of make this a question has he been extended?

 

John P, Vernon Hills

A: I see him all the time, talk to him frequently and he’s going about his job. Just because he’s not in the papers or on TV every day doesn’t mean a thing. If there’s something newsworthy, we’ll talk to him about it but there’s no sense in writing “nothing’s going on” stories every day, is there?

Hey, someone make this stinky snow go away. Please

Hmm.

Snowing here.

Hear it’s snowing there.

Having once spent about eight hours in the tiny Air Canada Holding Pen at Logan, a guy hopes for a break in the weather.

Anyway …

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THREE POINTERS

Asleep At The Switch

You can’t ever let a team like the Celtics get second chances, they’re too good and too accomplished not to take advantage of them.

Yet, twice the Raptors did what they should have and them gave away whatever gains they had made.

Two times they fouled Shaquille O’Neal right under the basket, as they wanted to do.

Two times, O’Neal went to the line and missed both free throws, as the Raptors wanted.

Two times, the Celtics got the rebound of the second miss while the Raptors watched. Once, they turned it into a three and the second time they got a missed field goal attempt on the subsequent possession.

Still, the kind of frustrating gaffe that drives coaches bonkers.

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Costly Turnovers

As crazy as it sounds, the HOTH were actually on the verge of making a game of it – maybe – early in the fourth quarter when they got the deficit to 12 with about nine minutes to go.

(Now, I am virtually certain that no matter what had happened, the Celtics would have righted the ship but fans can dream, can’t they?)

Anyway, these guys shot themselves in the foot anyway with turnovers on back-to-back possessions and it was really over. Both were questionable decisions by Leandro Barbosa, who was playing point at the time and no way Jay was killing him.

“I can’t get all over Leandro for all that. He’s a guy who’s at the receiving end most of those passes and we’re asking him to make those passes when we give Jose a little bit of a break.”

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Stop us …

If you’ve heard this before but one of the big stories coming out of the Celtics locker room after the game was that Jermaine O’Neal’s knee was killing him and that’s why he barely played.

Good thing, I guess; it made it easier for Luke Harangody to begin his inexorable march to the Hall of Fame.

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Now, the more.

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No, I have nothing on this crazy three-team trade story that’s floating on there with Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton somehow ending up in Jersey.

But it was all the buzz in the Raptors locker room after the game and a couple of us were standing there thinking …

Good for Sam.

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Yes, we have winners.

Not sure who they are because the people who actually did all the work on the contest had too much to do but I do know we had somewhere in the neighbourhood of 1,500 entries, which is down a bit from the last time but it is a mid-week game against a so-so opponent.

But, I do want to thank every one of you who entered, and the good folks at MGD for putting it all together and I hope we can do it again sometime later this season.

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What’d they have to say in Boston about that one?

Here’s the story from the pages of the Globe.

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Here’s one I’ll grab from a very light mailbag, people.

Q: Hey Doug - silly question, but at Sunday's game the Celtics version of the Chicken was there. I was curious to know if the he/she/it who fills the costume in Boston travels with the costume to other cities? Or do they get a local he/she/it to wear the costume when it travels?

Thanks!

 

 

Carla H, Toronto

A: First off, there are no silly questions.

And, nah, those are almost always locals who are conscripted into being dupes for The Chicken or whichever stuffed animal is hosting the game.

Now, there are odd occasions when a whole bunch of mascots will converge on some city, usually for some marketing ploy like a Chicken’s “birthday” or some other momentous occasion but that usually includes six or seven of them and it’s like sensory overload and goofiness galore.

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Know what I like about games in Boston?

No games.

No timeout shenanigans where they spin some dial at midcourt or play some silly game with boxes and prizes or some zany over-under game with cards on the ribbon boards around the arena.

No “in-game hosts” and nobody screaming at fans to scream.

Sure, they have June Taylor Dancers and some group of kids who fire T-shirts into the stands and leprechaun but, for the most part, it’s a “basketball experience” and I’m all for it.

Not sure it would go in Toronto – fans at home tend to want to be otherwise “entertained” rather than to just watch the game – but maybe it’s worth a try some day.

Wonder what it would be like at one Raptors game to have nothing but the game to deal with.

Odd, I bet.

But fun.

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Okay, this is your last shot at clicking here and deciding if you want to go to this Red Party thingamabob on Monday night and the whole process has started the memories flowing.

Way back in the day, and I’m talking last century, they used to invite the grunts as a matter of course; perhaps as a way of paying us back for having to watch, you know, expansion basketball.

Anyway, they also used to hold it very late in the season as some sort of wrap-up party and there was one year it was the Saturday night of the NCAA Final Four.

It was at the Convention Centre and it was so long ago that they had a cigar roller there and he was hand-rolling cigars down in a back corner. Well, he was also working right near where they had set up a television just in case anyone wanted to watch the games and I believe there were more than a few miffed Super Wives at how the night unfolded.

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So, I seldom ask you Irregulars for anything, do I? I’m not a very demanding kind of guy, am I?

Well, I need a favour.

If you’re at the game on Sunday, when Sam Dalembert first checks in, I would really appreciate it if you cheered as loudly for him as you would any visiting player, even the likes of a Matt Bonner or Kobe.

You may recall that when I went to Philadelphia to Phil Jasner’s funeral last month, I turned around while waiting to pay my respects and there was Sam. He’d flown across the country from Sacramento, ended up missing a game, all because he felt he needed to be there for the service.

I never got a chance to thank him after, we only chatted briefly before, and if you were to show my appreciation by cheering a bit when he gets in the game, I’d be thankful.

His coming to Philly might be the nicest, most unexpected thing I have ever seen an athlete do in my career.

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Oh yeah, last kick at the mail, please.

Write. Send. Keep me entertained.

Thank you.

 

The Goods On The Game, Raptors at Celtics

Hey folks.

Welcome to another big game.

Well, another game at least.

Raptors-Celtics pre-game chat

More lists to talk about and they run the gamut of topics

I knew if I saved enough of these for a rainy day, they’d coming in handy and since yesterday was an entire non-HOTH day, I’m glad I did.

No idea if you like these, read these, care a lick about them but what the heck, maybe they generate some discussion.

Oh, and before I forget, today at noon is the deadline for the big tickets contest and if you go here, you can get ticket info on the Red Party for the charitable foundation – and it does good work – and you might see a out-of-place oldster there.

Right, one more thing.

We’re here at noon for an hour to answer questions and if you can’t make it, the mailbag’s still open.

Have fun.

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Q: Hey Doug. A while back, at the time of John Updike's passing, you mentioned you were a fan. Recently, I was fortunate enough to come across John Updike's "Rabbit Redux" at a recent book swap (thanks for helping me to recognize a good find).

Do I need to find "Rabbit" before reading this one, or does it stand alone.

You also provided a link to one of his stories he wrote. I can't remember it for the life of me, but do recall having enjoyed it. Maybe you could post it again.

And this of course leads me to a list: Your top 5 (or more, or fewer) writers who dabbled in sports but would not necessarily be considered sports writers.

Thanks. As always. Peace

 

 

John C, Cairo

A: I don’t think you do need to read one before the other; great writers make seamless transitions, I think. And the link you want is to an essay in The New Yorker entitled “Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu” and it’s one of the greatest pieces of sports journalism ever.

Now, to a top five list? Wow, that’s hard.

I’m going to give you these and hope that others can help out:

David Halberstam, a great social commentator and political writer who dabbled in sports like few have.

Ernest Hemingway, because bull fighting and fishing are sports, I’m told. And he might be my favourite author of all time.

Updike, because he has to be on the list.

Joyce Carol Oates, because you should read her boxing stuff, please.

Norman Mailer, because while his book on Gary Gilmore resonates to this day, he could write boxing, too.

I know there are more and Irregulars will help augment this list.

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Q: Hi Doug. Love the blog! If you could build an all-star team made up of former players who are now head/assistant coaches in the NBA, who would be on it? If they were to play a game against a team of your choice made up of current NBA players, who would be on that team and who would win the game? Cheers!

Dominique K, Ottawa

A: I’d put a team out there of Patrick Ewing (Orlando), Paul Silas Charlotte), Alex English (Toronto), Adrian Dantley (Denver) and Mo Cheeks (Memphis) and come off the bench with Jack Sikma, Darrell Walker, Charles Oakley, Bill Laimbeer and Damon Stoudamire.

We might not beat the best today but we’d be fun to watch.

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Q: Hi Doug. I hope I am not to late submitting my list question.

I hear commentators, reporters and coaches always state that a certain player has a very high basketball IQ, even though he isn't regarded as the best player on that team.

Stating that, I would like to know, from your perspective/opinion, which 5 players currently in the NBA have the highest basketball IQ's and why?

Also, your overall top 5 players in league history with high basketball IQ's.

Thanks!

 

 

Sam S, Toronto

A: Currently?

I’d have to go with Kobe, Jason Kidd, Shane Battier, Kurt Thomas, Steve Nash and Chris Paul. I know that’s six but what can I say.

As for all-time? Sorry, that’s too all-encompassing for me.

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Q: Hi Doug, I've been reading your blog since day 1 (pretty much). Great work!!

I'm really sad about the latest news on Yao. Hopefully, this won't force him to retirement. Just in case, can you share on his 5 best moments/stories/whatever you think which are appropriate in his career?

Thanks.

 

 

Frankie T, Markham

A: With the news Thursday that Yao had surgery on his ankle giving us a bit of an angle on this, I’ll give you four since I can’t think of a fifth

Vs. Canada: Not sure how many remember this but his first game in North America after being the No. 1 draft pick was against Canada in Vancouver in 2002. There weren’t too many of us there – C. Sheridan and I might have been it – and it became more newsworthy because Steve Nash told us that week he wouldn’t play in the 2002 worlds.

-Yao’s first home game in Houston, as ballyhooed an event as I can remember, was against the Raptors and I’m sure if I dug far enough into the carnage that is Super Son’s room I’d find the wall growth chart they gave out that night.

-There have been innumerable start that have come though the Air Canada Centre who have created quite the buzz but none more than Yao. In his first visit to Toronto, they had to set up a separate pre-game interview spot In the back area to take care of the overflow media. I have still not seen anything like it.

-This is entirely personal but I covered the very first game of the 1992 Dream Team at the Tournament of the Americas in Portland and the reception they got was overwhelming. It was surpassed only by the first time I saw Yao play in China at the Beijing Olympics.

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Q: Hey Doug. Yer blog is bonnie and not fur eejits!

Every time I see Andrew Bogut I cringe as I recall his horrific injury. What are your top 5 most gruesome basketball injuries or sports injury moments for that matter?

Thanks

 

 

Andy F, Aberdeen, Scotland

A: Well, this is a tough one because there’ve been a few I’ve only seen on TV or on video.

I will say the worst one I’ve seen in person was Garbo crumpling to the ground in Boston that night.

And, in no particular order, I’ll give you four more to round out a list and send some of you to google, and I’m going all sports here:

Joe Theismann breaking his leg when he was sacked by Lawrence Taylor on a Monday Night game.

Shaun Livingston blowing out his knee and all but ruining his career.

Dave Dravecky breaking his arm delivering a pitch; as sad a sight as I can recall.

Clint Malarchuck, the Buffalo goalie, getting his throat cut by an errant skate blade.

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Q: Looking back and thinking about Yao, and seeing how we love lists. Can you list a few NBA players who had their career cut short from injury or illness?

Henry W, Toronto

A: A few? I can give you a few. How about:

Danny Manning

Ralph Sampson

Bill Walton

Grant Hill

Bernard King

And the jury is still out, although deliberations are almost complete, on Yao, Greg Oden and Brandon Roy.

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Q: Hi Doug. Looking for a top ten list - your preference: Top ten active players without a championship that really deserve one before they retire. Top five cities that should be given an NBA team/top five cities whose NBA team should be moved. Top ten moments in basketball for 2010. Fantasy Team - if you could pick any ten players (assuming two at each position) to create a team that would be really fun/entertaining to watch - who and why? Assume taking them at their best and within the past 10 years.

Cheers

 

 

Ron F, Toronto

A: Okay, we might have to put a term limit on the number you can ask for but I’ll five you your first two, if that’s okay.

Dudes who deserve to win but haven’t at least in my opinion and only including active players, right? You know me, I’m mostly going with old guys at the end of their careers who’ve had good, long runs. Kids like Durant, Rose, Williams don’t make my cut.

Steve Nash

Dirk Nowitzki

Grant Hill

Jason Kidd

Kurt Thomas

Antonio McDyess

Marcus Camby

Juwan Howard

The Five That Should Have Teams?

Seattle

San Diego

Kansas City

Vancouver

San Jose

The Five We Could Do Without?

Memphis

New Orleans

Sacramento

And I don’t know that there are two others because two that would come to mind, Milwaukee and Indy, for instance, are cities I kind of like.