A bit of fraying at the edges for the first time

Well, wasn’t that something?

Now, I was out and didn’t pay a whole lot of attention after the first, oh, seven minutes so I don’t think I can get to the usual format.

Maybe tomorrow if tonight’s any better but not today.

So …

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ONE POINT

If you’ve read Dave’s piece from the game, you’ll know there was a bit of an issue between Jay and Julian Wright, who refused to go into the game.

That can only mean one thing:

They’ll need to suspend Julian for a game for the usual “conduct detrimental to the team” reason they always give.

Now, you know I quite like Julian, he’s a hard worker, maybe the hardest worker on the team, but you cannot behave like that without there being repercussions.

The funny thing is, I don’t think anyone saw anything like this coming. The one thing about this team that’s stood out all season is how they did keep working and got along and suffered the losses without any noticeable fractures or anything.

I guess there always comes a point when people do irrational and wrong things and a beat-down administered like the one last night must have been the breaking point.

I don’t think there are any long-term problems but this is an incident that has to be dealt with. And from what I know of professional athletes and coaches, it’ll be dealt with and they will move on.

And I imagine everyone’s pretty dang happy that there are only 10 games left before the season is over.

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Now, on to more.

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So now I get it.

You come for the basketball but stay for the TV theme songs.

I love this place.

(Most of the time).

And I figure the numbers are down but the comments are up and I’m guessing if we do a few other-than-basketball-things once this season comes to a close, we’ll be all right.

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This is too much.

OMG, LOL? In the dictionary?

Isn’t a dictionary where you go to, you know, find words?

Really.

Now, I know I’m not perfect and certainly don’t speak the King’s English or spell it right all the time but, come on.

The ruination of the language continues.

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How’d that play in San Francisco?

This is how.

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Yes we have winners in the contest and I think they’ve all been notified.

I’m told the numbers were once again quite good, somewhere north of 1,500 so, again, thanks very much.

And we’ll see some of you, I hope, at the game Wednesday.

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There’s all kinds of mail, it seems, which will give me something to do after a drive to the peninsula; this one is an early snippet:

Q: Hi Doug. The acquisition of James Johnson has been a really pleasant surprise. He has the size, defense, and handle that make me think at the tender age of 23 he has a lot of upside. Do you think anyone in Chicago is thinking that they might have let a good one get away?

 

Andy F, Aberdeen

A: Nah. Given their circumstances, maybe the best team in the East, Luol Deng playing well, the financial benefits they got moving Johnson, I’m sure the Bulls are just fine. You never want to let a young talent go away for nothing but they can live with the repercussions of their decision quite happily.

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Man, do I know how to pick ‘em or what?

NCAA games, that is.

But incorrect prognostications aside, is there a better story in all of basketball than the Butler Bulldogs?

Tiny school, kids who aren’t likely to be NBAers, at least not significant NBAers, and they’re on the verge of two Final Fours in two years?

Not bad and I guess it’s the best thing about that tournament.

I remember covering the Final Four that George Mason was in a few years back in Indy. I stayed at the same hotel as the team and with the other giant programs there – I believe it was Florida, UCLA and LSU – it was great to see a bunch of kids no one had heard perform on such a large stage.

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So, what to expect tonight in Los Angeles?

Well, I know everyone connected with team is tired, most are probably quite cranky and they can see the end of a long and difficult trip on the horizon and a lot of them will just want it over.

So, you can see that it all adds up to Blake Griffin having about seven zillion dunks and another dull night for the HOTH as they get ready to come limping home.

Or maybe we get one of those “That’s why they …” moments.

Kinda makes you want to stay up a bit late and see what transpires, doesn’t it?

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Comments

[dribbles]

???? Did you need all those question marks or was that just a way to emphasize your disrespect for someone else's opinion?

This didn't come out of the blue and it's not as simple as asking a professional player to go into a game. Wright's obviously not happy about his role on the team, and I have a hard time believing Triano was unaware of that. So what do you do with a player like that? Not play him for weeks and then ask him to go into a couple of games that are already lost? How about the TJ Ford treatment in Indiana? I think you can make a case that the latter shows more respect for the player.

These guys aren't robots. If Triano doesn't value his game and sees no future for him on the team, maybe have a chat with him and see what the best solution is for both parties. Whatever the case, I sympathize with Wright.

[mike kovacs]

I see some people have crawled out of their holes to comment. They are welcome to crawl back.

[Aditya]

andrea bargnani has an excuse for last nights dismal performance......he has a bone spur....