Taking stands and catching up

Yeah, sorry. A little later than I’d even thought thanks to a 45-minute de-icing delay in Toronto.

You gotta love winter.

Sunny and about zero with no snow here in D.C. and I’m sure it’ll be okay in New Orleans and San Antonio.

On to the fun stuff.

-

THREE POINTERS

What’s the message?

Yes, that was a rather stern message Jay sent to Andrea on Friday, sitting him down for almost 10 minutes over the third and fourth quarters for some defensive breakdowns, especially on the glass?

Good idea?

I don’t know.

Sure, he probably deserved it – the Pistons were running something akin to a tip drill when they had five offensive rebounds in the first four minutes or so – but it’s not like he was alone in missing assignments and being beaten.

But, on the other hand, there are times when a coach has to take a stand and if you saw what Bargnani did when he got back into the game – he had 11 points and six rebounds in the final nine minutes after his respite – it seemed to work.

I don’t know if it’ll have any carryover effect, I quite doubt that it will, but if Jay’s going to play it like that, he has to keep playing it like that more often and take his chances on the outcome of games.

-

Get used to it

I looked up at one time in the third quarter and guys on the floor for Toronto were:

Jose Calderon, Julian Wright, Linas Kleiza, Amir Johnson and Joey Dorsey and if that’s not the most limited offensive group they could put together, it’s awful close.

And get used to it, folks.

No word on the MRI result on Barbosa but I’m thinking it might be a while and Sonny didn’t even travel with the team so there go two guys who can provide some offence.

That means points could be a premium and we’ll see some odd lineups out there.

-

Another tough night …

For Jerryd Bayless.

I don’t know if it’s the ankle or what but he really hasn’t had a big game since about the middle of December and his three-point, two-assist, two-turnover 12 minutes on Friday isn’t good enough.

Now, with Barbosa sidelined, he’s going to have to really pick it up and provide some offence off the bench.

Seems to me that he’s playing a bit timid and not to his strengths, which is scoring and slashing.

Maybe the absence of Barbosa will actually spark him to have more of impact on games.

-

More? A bit.

-

Darrell Walker and Tracy McGrady were oil and gas about a decade and a half ago.

Not sure they liked each other all that much, Darrell was pretty demanding, Tracy was pretty young.

Talking separately – and privately – to each last night, seems they have a good relationship now they’ve been reunited as assistant coach and old head in Detroit.

Guess time and maturity does heal some wounds.

-

Oh, this was Jay on Julian Wright before Friday’s game.

“He’s our energy guy and if the game lacks energy, he’s going to go in and try to change that up. If there’s an injury or something to either to Linas, Barbosa or DeMar, then he’s going to be the third and not the fourth wing to get in the game.”

So, he’s up on notch now with Leandro’s injury.

-

I’m guessing this is kind of pertinent given the shoddy work of the weak officiating crew that did Friday’s game:

Q: Doug - when players and/or coaches publicly criticize the referees, they are fined by the League office. My question has to do with whether or not the League does any behind-the-scenes checking of the game tapes to see if the criticism is justified and if so, do they then have a word with the head referee? It just seems that for some reason, Toronto doesn't get as many foul shots as their opponents even though they are often going aggressively to the basket. So, if Jay publicly criticized the refs (instead of letting the reporters do it), he would be fined $35,000.00 but would this ultimately help the discrepancy situation?

Penny D, Fredericton

A: The league assigns an observer to every single game to monitor the officials, write reports and submit them to the office overnight.

Officials also get, on their handy-dandy computers, videos of contentious calls that they, or others, may have been involved in.

So they are checked and repeated failures would result in loss of assignments, loss of playoff assignments and, ultimately, dismissal.

Now, whether Toronto’s cause would be helped by Jay spending some of his money? I don’t think so and I can think of far better things to do than invited a $35,000 fine, even if it would spice up one of my stories.

-

Detroit said this.

Washington said this.

-

Okay, more Darrell.

We’re sitting in the stands long before the game catching up and Julian Wright’s out on the court putting in his usual pre-game work.

And, I tell you, no one on the Raptor roster works harder pre-game than Wright does, doing shooting drill after shooting drill after shooting drill. The schedule makes him the first one out every night (although he was joined by Sundiata Gaines on Friday) and Wright works hard.

And sweats.

A lot.

And I mean a lot.

Anyway, Darrell and I are sitting there watching and Darrell was on Byron Scott’s staff in New Orleans when Julian was there. So, being the intrepid reporter that I an, I ask Mr. Walker what he thought of Mr. Wright.

“Ju-Ju? Great kid. Works hard. Sweats like Patrick Ewing.”

High praise indeed.

-

I was watching halftime of the Blazers-Suns and they were showing highlights of other games and I swear the Warriors were beating the Clippers 69-62 at halftime and all I can think of is:

Man, that’s got to be a great game and who cares about defence on some Friday night in January.

-

Oh, and then I look up and see Perk and Griff on the McCown round table and I’m cursing the NBA schedule people who make me work every Friday night.

Toss me in there with those two and Bobcat and it’s like Rowan and Martin meet Martin and Lewis.

I know Bob wasn’t there Friday but you get my drift, right?

-

Speaking of mail, I’m okay with what’s there but it could be better so …

You know the drill.

-

 

 

Comments

[Striker 77]

Another nice post Doug, Thanks...

Doesnt it seem that the Raps are under some sort of curse this season with injuries after big games? If Im not mistaking, The Regend had like 22 boards the game before he broke his foot... Barbosa had 26 points the other night against the Hawks and was making Crawford look like a pylon, and gets hurt last night... Bayless is not the same since he rolled his ankle... Sonny has a back like an old man and he is in his early 20's... And of course, Peja has been a great addition. (I didnt even mention Cadleron or Bargs, o wait, I just did)

I do not mean to be a grouch about all this, but, wowsers... I wonder how much more this team can take...

[MJ Walker]

Who had the worst night?---The Raps--The officials or the camera crew. Hands down winner--the camera crew. The telecast of this couldn't haave ben worse--missed action--showing the people they were talking about while the game was going on. Everyone involved should have been fired.

[Lorie]

Hey Doug!
Ha! I was thinking just that watching The Round Table.."add Doug and Bob and then we'd have something!". The four of you together might not have resulted in a sober discussion of the state of the sporting world, but who cares? The ensuing hilarity would have been the stuff of comic legend. And then some.

[DaveT (Ottawa -- er, Dublin)]

Doug,

Moved to Dublin for work for 3 months. Great city. So young, though (not that I'm grizzled...). Have you ever been? Definitely a good place to sit and enjoy a beverage.

Not a basketball related question, just a call out to yourself and the Irregulars of what things I should get up to while I'm here for the next few months? I've been here for 1 week before, so the Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery is already off the list.

Thanks for keeping me up to date on Raps stuff. This season was going to be tough but man there are a lot of injuries.

Sláinte!

Blogger's note: Spectacular city; stayed at a B and B just off The Green a long time ago during a two-week driving trip in the south. Can't wait to get back

[doug]

I wasn't a fan of what Jay did last night with Barg's just because of one reason and one reason alone...Jay owes it to the the team I feel to do the best job possible to win, any coach does....there you have Amir playing with a bad back, Jose sore foot or feet, Bayless sore ankle and then lose Barbosa to injury...those guys are all trying to win , playing thru injuries for the team...so for me by Jay benching Barg's it would anger me as a player as to me your punishing the whole team and taking away any chance we had to win by "sending a message" ....there were different ways of handling it, far better ones in my opinion then doing what he did for the length he did...and by saying message was received by Barg's as he scored 11 points when he returned is debatable as he had 20 points or so before that, he was our offensive catalyst on a night when we were offensively challenged as Kleiza,Jose,were struggling...I just thought it was a bad move, and has little long lasting effect...you coach to give your team the best chance to win , for the fans sake and the players it's no different to me then trying to purposefully lose a game........football today, tomorrow... Seahawks will cover and may win outright, Pats win, Falcons win and Ravens,Steelers who knows, a turnover will decide it , as in there last 17 games Steelers hold a 9-8 edge and both teams have scored exactly the same amount of points (302) there as evenly matched as you can get...I'd take the Ravens +3.....

[stoneman]

@doug, you make some relevant points but what you, and all of us, don't know is the process - conversations, coaching, admonishing, etc. - that proceeded the actual 'benching.' The coach's job is multi-faceted and, while it includes giving his team it's best chance to win 'this' game, ultimately making the team better in the long term is far more important.

And, are you saying to the other players that the Raptor's can't win with them?

Cheers.

[511]

“Toss me in there with those two and Bobcat and it’s like Rowan and Martin meet Martin and Lewis.” Really Doug? I mean ... really?

[HopeCaper]

Hey Doug, I was coaching my own HOTH last nite and missed the Raps so didn't see any of it.Since I have no idea how badly Bargs was playing I can only assume that he was brutal because Bargs on other nites has not been the most defencive player on the floor. Certainly he was not sat during those games so I can only assume that Jay must be sending a message to all of his players. Most coaches can live the limited ability of their players but I don't know any coach worth his salt who can live with poor effort or sheer obstinacy
not to do what the coach needs. Bad habits are contagious and certainly the coach's options are few when a player is not getting with the programme. Defence can be taught but the player needs the desire to learn and get better.

[Jeff R]

Hey Doug,

Send the temporary Dubliner here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilmainham_Gaol

Awesome historical site.

[doug]

if you saw the game last night Barg's defensive digressions weren't that bad it was just a few possessions one in particular where the whole unit was just out of sorts in their coverage and getting beat on the boards...as Doug said and i concur it was a "team" problem and not a individual one ..it was just a strange time to send a message and a harsh one that to me served little purpose...I have played sports for years coached b-ball and baseball for years and there is just other ways to handle it...and yes as a above poster noted we don't know the communication that occurred etc..I like when coaches sit down entire starting units at times as Pops will do or Doc etc......that sends a message a team message, ..when coaches start sending individual ones they can backfire and their starting to play with fire....anyways it is what it is, just a peculiar strategy when the team needed Barg's out there , the punishment was out of whack with the crime it seemed to me...and kudos to Doug for raising it and discussing it...

[LeeZ]

Doug, you are absolutely bang on when it comes to Bayliss. He's not playing to his strengths. His idea of distributing the ball is making a pass along the perimeter. If you're gonna be a distributor first and a scorer second, then you have to do what José does, which is keep your dribble alive, penetrate a bit to open up some passing lanes, etc. These are the types of things he can work on in practice, summer league, etc. But for now, as you say, play to your strengths. Be like Barbosa: drive, drive and drive some more, and then (unlike Barbosa) kick the ball out. THAT'S where his distributing should come. And that's what he was doing before. I think the reason he no longer does that is twofold: 1) his injury has hindered his ability to move laterally and his speed; and 2) I think he feels pressure to be a prototypical pg. Mistake. As for Bargs, by all means, Jay did the right thing. And he needs to do that kind of thing more often, IMHO.

[Johnn19]

Doug;
Good call on Bayless's inefectivenes, (1/5-2ast-2to's) as that's where the game was lost, with Jose going out at about 2 mins left in the first at -1, and coming back in around 7-1/2 to go in the second at -11 to Detroit, with the offense stalling with Bayless.
Also Barbosa at 1/4 and 2 points to show for 9 mins, before leaving with the hamstring for the night, left the bench with 18pts to 35 for the Pistons as the Rap's starters could not make up the shortfall.
Unfortunately they were unable to get any closer than -5/6 as the Pistons made the big shots when needed, and Rap's could not.
Super Wright had no better luck with T-Mac than DeRozan as he schooled them both (a 13 year vet, scoring champion, with motivation vs TO) continues to excel here, player of the game.

[Mike kovacs]

I was at the game last night and I have to say that it was the most uninteresting game that I have seen at the ACC. The first 2 baskets were promising but then there seemed to be absolutely no energy. The frustrating thing is that Detroit was there for the picking - they are a team with no direction, no future and players who don't know where they will be playing ( or if they will be playing ) game to game.

[jimt]

wondering if going out and getting gaines didnt jinx barbosa,kinda like lebron tweeting about karma then spraining his ankle,lol,caused his team a win,lol.

[DaveT (Ottawa -- er, Dublin)]

Just to follow up Doug -- Don't know if you have a place where you actually write this stuff down, but if you then then if you make it back look up "Kilronan House".. it's the B&B I stayed in just a couple of blocks off the Green while I was apartment searching.

Clean, cozy, great breakfast and really good staff who actually helped me in my apartment search. Come to think of it, I owe them a nice bottle of Jameson's or some such.

Cheers!

[Bob Wesley]

Hey Doug,I had a bit part in a Movie shot here in WPG The Goon.Did you help write it?Or was it another Doug Smith?

Blogger's note: No, it must have been some other lucky soul with a great name.

[vank]

Bob Mccown is growing on me. Have you ever been on his show?

Blogger's note: A few times, yes.

[Rob.V]

...so for me by Jay benching Barg's it would anger me as a player as to me your punishing the whole team and taking away any chance we had to win by "sending a message" ....there were different ways of handling it, far better ones in my opinion

Doug (not dude), I completely disagree. It doesn't matter how many points Bargnani (or the Raptors score). The Raptors will always score close to 100 points however if Bargnani is providing zero effort defensively (essentially depriving the team of his god given ability to contribute to the team) he should sit. And if i'm Amir?? (and others)... I'm insulted that I've been breaking my back (literally) over the last month (with lesser talent) while this kid is loafing around!! If you dont play hard... you shouldn't play.

Scoring is easy for Andrea, he's the most versatile big man in the game. Sort of reminds me of a younger Gasol with Memphis. He has all the talent in the world, but it would be nice to see him break a sweat every now and again. The goal is to win games, not stuff your "offensive" stats.

Bargnani had what, 9 boards in only 2 quarters of work. When was the last time you've seen him corral 9 boards? Imagine if he played that hard night in night out for 4 quarters?. Your best player should be your hardest worker.

We've given it to Triano for a couple of years now for being too lax with players so when he is disciplining his team (as we've always wanted him to)... maybe we should be commending Jay for trying to instill the right principles. Maybe it's DeRozans turn tonight.

Good call coach!!.

[GM]

@MJ Walker, "The telecast of this couldn't haave ben worse--missed action--showing the people they were talking about while the game was going on. Everyone involved should have been fired."
YES!! That's the best comment of the day. I was thinking the same thing. The telecast was absolutely brutal. The worst yet -- and that's saying something. We had Matt and Jack talking about Dumars so the director thought they had to show a close-up of Joe Dumars sitting in the stands for 12 seconds (I went back and timed it) while the game was going on! We saw the Raps take the ball out of bounds, then had to look at Dumars for 12 seconds while we heard a whistle (something happened, don't know what). After Dumars we saw something else. When we finally got back to the action, Detroit had the ball. Still no idea what happened because Matt and Jack were blathering on about the Pistons.
Then they guffawed for about five minutes about Jack's new hairdo, so of course the director had to show the hairstyle.
And there were a few other instances in the second half where the director kept cutting to close-ups of players while we missed what was going on on the court. You'd think since the Raptors have control over the broadcast, someone higher up would be watching and instruct the director on how to put on a basketball broadcast. It was shockingly bad.