All kinds of mail on all kinds of things

We’re all over the map with this mail, thanks for that.

And there are a few lists and ones that demand a lot of creativity in the answers that we’ll get to during the week, I promise.

Have fun.

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Q: You wrote, "Steve Nash has eight games this season with at least 20 points and 15 assists." What other NBA players dominate their position in a similar fashion?

 

Bo K, Mississauga

A: Well, that’s a statistical anomaly for Steve, actually, and says more about his team than him I think.

Not sure there is another like it; maybe Dwight Howard as a true centre? There’s too much depth at the two, three and four, really, to come up with one guy. Maybe Kobe as a shooting guard.

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Q: Hello Doug. Maybe there was a bit of literary osmosis happening in a pub in London. Or is it a trace of wistfulness as you contemplate the effects of a lockout and cessation of play? Then again, perhaps you're just getting old! But, I believe there's been an increased element of kindness and compassion in your Raptors' stories lately. And, I think to myself: "Well, surely Doug's had years to perfect the art of writing good stories about guys who lose a lot." And maybe that's it.

Sixteen seasons of watching them try. Sixteen seasons of baby steps, but never that giant leap. So, here we are: Sweet Sixteen And Never Been Kissed By Lady Luck. Or Even Caught Her Eye. And I'm not at all suggesting that you're maybe tiring of writing about futility.

But what if? What if you were writing stories about a Raptors' team that instead of once again being eliminated from post-season play, had just won their first championship. (Yeah, if you're going to dream, dream BIG!) How might you - the fella who's been there since Day One - capture the moment? What would your first sentence be?

Thank you from a patient, and ever hopeful, fan.

 

Lori P, London

A: I’d go with “It was the best of times … “ but that’s been taken.

Know what I might want to do? I might want to find the longest-serving member of the organization at that time and see what their face looked like when it finally happened. That might be cool.

I do know I’d think back to all the good people who’ve run through the basketball side of the organization and hope they realized what roles they might have played in the development.

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Q: Hi Doug. I'm assuming that this not-so-great season coupled with a team that's not-so-great for sound bites has made finding story angles somewhat difficult for you. Has this been the worst season for that, in your memory? If not which season was? And which was the best season for you as a journalist trying to dig up stories?

 

Kevin O, Waterloo

A: Oh, no, this is not the worst. By far, the worst was the 16-66 season of 1997-98; it started with a 17-game losing streak that ended the season before it really began, the players were just going through the motions for most of the season and it was entirely dreadful.

This hasn’t been the greatest, that’s for sure, but it’s not the worst.

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Q: Following up on you mentioning someone treating you to a nice dinner in your Wednesday blog... 1) What is the coolest out of the blue nice thing that someone has done for you in your Grunt capacity and 2) what is the coolest out of the blue nice thing that you've heard of happening to some other Grunt. You can omit names to protect the innocent and/or generous.

 

Andrew S, Toronto

A: Out of the blue? Not a whole lot, actually. A couple of guys (Oak in a couple of places, Darrick Martin at a pre-season game, Alex Radojevic one night in Vancouver for a big table of people) have bought dinner totally unexpectedly.

And as for other grunts, not an awful lot that I know of, actually. We don’t share a lot of stories but the single greatest thing I ever saw a player do to show respect to a writer was Sam Dalembert flying from Sacramento to Philadelphia to attend a service for the late, great Phil Jasner and I can’t imagine anything topping that.

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Q: Hi Doug. Here's one for the mail, but it might be more of a rant. So, there's a rumour that a questionably legal source to watch games on the internet is no longer broadcasting NBA games. Then there's the fiasco of the Raps on multiple networks, and multiple channels within those networks, and to top it all off, I'd gladly pay for NBA League Pass to be able to watch games on my computer or my phone, but the last time I checked, they black out any local games that are also being broadcast on cable. With a growing family in a tough economy, we've chosen to get our HD TV over the airwaves and skip the pricey cable and satellite route. We can get every TV show that we're interested in watching on either the internet, or the over the air TV, but I can't get Raps games.

The question part: Is this normal? Do fans in other cities have as much difficulty getting their games on TV too? Does the team know that I'd have an easier time watching every Suns game then watching my local team online? I can't justify getting cable, and every sports package just so that I can watch my Raps games. If the team wants to keep their fans, something needs to be done.

 

Peter L, Toronto

A: No, it’s not normal at all. Some teams split games between two networks (and I’ll also point out don’t have 82 games broadcast) but I know of none who split the telecasts over four different stations on two networks.

It needs to be fixed, no question about it, but some of the blame has to lie with TSN and Rogers Sporstnet, the CRTC and cable providers for the way out cable industry is set up.

But I agree, it is in some ways a travesty and costs them fans.

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Q: Hi Doug. IYHO (In your humble opinion):

What is the most important position/role for an NBA team with championship aspirations?

What is the toughest position to address via free agency?

What is the easiest position to address via free agency?

Thanks

 

Greg M, Halifax

A: Here’s the problem with the first question: History has shown us there isn’t one. To me? It’s someone, either a guard or a small forward who can defend multiple positions, break his man down off the dribble and make a shot. But to say it’s a point guard or a shooting guard or small forward is folly.

Toughest? I’d say point guard since teams tend to lock them up.

Easiest? End of rotation wing.

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Q: Which three players have impressed you most at March Madness?

 

Bo K, Mississauga

A: I think I’m in the vast majority to say that it’s the Kemba Walker kid from Connecticut, the Derek Williams kid at Arizona and, after watching some of Sunday, I like the Harrison Barnes kid a lot.

But, I warn you, that’s after seeing very little of them.

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Q: Hi Doug: Question for the mailbag. Why is it conventional wisdom that Leandro Barbosa and Reggie Evans will likely not be back with the Raps next year? I understand that Reggie is the 4th big in a 3-man rotation and that LB is probably in a similar predicament. But the fact is that injuries happen all the time, there's a need for veteran savvy (and talent) on this roster, and both of these guys have shown real value this year. I don't even see how money should be an issue given that large sums are regularly written off for buy-outs, and $6M is an "average" salary, yet these two are above-average players (aren't they?).

So why wouldn't Raptors mgmt want to bring these guys back if at all possible?

 

Kevin R, Winnipeg

A: I think, all things considered, management would like them back. But, as with all things NBA these days, it will depend entirely on the new CBA, the contract requests in terms of length and money and what other moves might be made.

But, in a perfect world, they’re both back and quite willing to accept their roles.

And, as you read this week here and on our website, both would like to be back if things can work out.

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Q: Hey Doug. So I'm watching the season wind down and my thoughts turn to the CBA. And part of me (a large part as it turns out) wants a lockout. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of THOTHC. But there is something ugly brewing in the league (and not just the penchant for too many tattoos) and that is this awful sense of entitlement. I grow weary listening to another franchise player pouting about how he hasn't won a championship yet. And that unless the management brings him another all-star he's gone. What has happened to competition? Where is the drive to compete and defeat other teams? I think we need a hard cap to distribute talent and develop chemistry. Forget the all-star teams that really turn out to be all star egos (yeah, I'm looking at you Miami). Two all stars and a supporting cast that knows there roles. I think that a lockout and subsequent hard cap is the only way to save the soul of the league. Thoughts?

 

Raja S, Waterloo

A: The competitive nature you talk about is there, it’s just that some players want, they think, to assure they have a better chance at winning by having, they think, better teammates. I guess at some way you can’t blame them, can you? Wouldn’t you want to work with the best possible workers in your field?

Anyway, I’m not a big proponent of a hard cap, although I do think there needs to a shorter limit on the length of contracts and their guaranteed nature.

And I don’t think there needs to a lockout that costs games to achieve that.

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Q: Hey Doug, Hope everything is going well on your end. With regards to the Kings planning to move to Anaheim for next season, don't the owners have to vote and approve the relocation? I highly doubt the Lakers and Clippers wanting to share their market. Does it actually go up to a vote? Would it have to be unanimous or majority wins?

Thanks

 

Dave R, Markham

A: Any move would require a majority vote among the other 29 owners to be approved and I would imagine there would be some financial incentives to both the Lakers and Clippers if the Kings were to move into their neighbourhood.

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Q: Hi Doug. I am sure you will get quite a few questions about Julian Wright's apparent refusal to play against Golden State but I have a thought and a question for you.

Assuming Jay is back, which I believe you think he will be, I personally don't think there is any chance the Raptors can have Wright back next season and would like to challenge your blog thoughts that a one game suspension would be in order and then everyone would move on.

I cannot think of another sport where a below average player pulling a stunt like this could be forgiven.

Just my opinion but, Julian Wright, really......

 

Mike D, Cambridge

A: I haven’t thought for weeks, maybe months, that Julian would be back, regardless of what transpired or didn’t transpire this weekend. They have Kleiza and James Johnson under contract, need an upgrade at the three in some ways, too.

So what happened in Oakland had no bearing whatsoever on his future, I don’t think.

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Q: What's the culture of the Raps organization like these days? Is it strictly corporate interested in the bottom line or is there a real sense that it cares about its players beyond whether or not the nail game-winning shots and rotate effectively on defense? From the outside looking in, it appears to be the former.

 

Danny P, Toronto

A: Oh, management cares about the players and coaches and staff as human beings, always have and always will. But, the truth is, these are all grown men and women we’re talking about so they have to be responsible for their own decisions and the repercussions of them.

But if a player needs help or something, they’ll get it.

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Q: Hi Doug. First timer and really enjoy your blog. With more emphasis placed on excellent guard play in the NBA, would the Raptors in your opinion, draft a point guard to keep up with all the top teams who have one.

Thanks

 

Jesse A, Mississauga

A: If what they thought was the best player was available was a point guard, I’m sure they would draft him, as they should. I am strongly of the opinion that you determine who is the best player available and take him, regardless of roster.

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Q: Hi Doug. Love the blog and thanks for bearing up with us this season.

Heard Jack Armstrong use a phrase this morning relative to the Madness but I wondered if it applied to the Raptors in their current situation. He mentioned "the residue of winning" in reference to certain schools and their continued performance. I wondered how this might play out for the Raptors over the balance of the season and heading into next year? Frankly while disappointed with the record I think we have seen great individual growth on a number of fronts this year and somehow the season was more satisfying than last year. We didn't expect these guys to do much, and their record is in line with that yet they have been in most games, pulled off more than a few well-earned surprises and barring a few injuries could have had a better record.

Your thoughts?

 

Dave M, Puslinch

A: I think the record is a disappointment. It may be explainable because of injuries and inexperience and the like but they should have won at least a few more games, regardless.

I don’t think there will be any carryover to next season and, yes, there have been some very impressive games against very good teams, but all in all, the record should be better.

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Q: Hi, Doug, I have a question about refereeing. With so many things happening during a particular play, how do the refs decide who watches what? For example, who watches the play on the ball, who watches if the player's feet are inbounds, who watches if there is a foul off the ball, etc. Do they have a particular rotation for that or do they just go out there, watch the game and hope that at least one ref catches all the infractions that happen?

Thanks!

 

Gabriel M, Waterloo

A: I guess the easiest way to explain it is each ref watches the stuff closest to him. The baseline ref looks at post and paint play, the slot ref watches play on the wing and the trail ref takes an overall view and weak side action.

There is a very specific rotation of who goes where on each play.

Next game you watch, spend a couple of minute watching one referee to see where he goes on each play.

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Q: Earlier this season you indicated that the roster's biggest need was for a swingman or 2 that could slash and shoot w/ range. Is that still your thinking, or have DeMar and JJ given you any pause to think that we may already, with patience, have this guy on the roster?

 

Tony B, Baraboo

A: Since I see DeRozan more as a guard, I think there’s still lots of room for improvement at the three; and more depth needed at the two. It’s a whole that has to be filled.

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Q: Here's another one for the mail. I know the Melo thing dragged on forever, but Denver has a team that is succeeding, and the Knicks are stumbling. From my perspective, the Nuggets look better moving forward then the Knicks.

Is it too early to say that Masai handled the Melo trade just about as well as humanly possible, given the circumstances?

 

Peter L, Toronto

A: Not sure if they look better moving forward – I think the Knicks will figure things out, the presence of Anthony and Stoudemire may attract other high profile free-agents in the future so it’s impossible to tell who “won” the trade – but Masai did an excellent job maximizing the return for Anthony. Especially right now with the Nuggets rolling; however, they also now have a very little post-season experience at two key spots – point guard and the primary scorer – and that may hurt.

But my man Masai did a great job.

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Q: Who on the Raptors team do you consider has "basketball smarts"?

If there are only 2 or 3 players who demonstrate consistency, what to do?

Is this something that is teachable or do you try to trade for these qualities?

Bryan C. has tried already with various combinations....without success.

 

Arlene E, Chesley

A: I think Reggie and Jose are pretty savvy when it comes to the tricks of the trade and knowing what to do when so I’d put them at the top of my list

But, yes, it is “teachable” mainly through experience and living through tough times against veteran teams. You can absolutely develop it. I have no idea if any of these young kids can but that possibility does exist.

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Q: Hi Doug, another question for you. I seem to recall earlier in the year, some people saying that they'd like to see the new CBA for the NBA make it harder for players to team up the way Bosh, Wade, and LeBron did, or Melo and A'mare did. Given that these "superteams" haven't exactly set the league on fire (yet, anyway), do you think that's less of a concern now? Maybe building a team the old-fashioned way, through trades and a drafting, is the best way to go, and fewer players will try this sort of thing regardless of how the CBA shakes out?

Best

 

Tim M, Kingston

A: Not sure if “less of a concern” is the right way to put it but I think the major issue has always been the distribution of salary, either through a strict hard cap or a change in the way “Basketball Related Income” is determined. And that could very well make it impossible for such groups of players to orchestrate getting to the same teams.

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Q: Doug, love the blog, thanks for the great insight and humour along the way.

You have a mock draft in mind for the top 10 youngsters available come June?

Thanks!

 

Dave B, Whitby

A: Now? No way. We don’t even know who’s going to be in the daft, let alone what teams are going to pick when. Mock drafts, which are truly an exercise in futility, are something I might do a day or two before the actual draft.

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Q: Doug, amongst all these contests, just wondering if you've ever held a contest to be you for a day... get to see what you do on game day, help you write a story and perhaps share in a post-match beverage?

 

Felix T, Loughborough, UK

A: So someone could see me sit around a concourse waiting for practice to end and then join some scrums and head to a desk to sit and write and post comments and read websites? Hmm, not sure I’d ask someone to put up with that.

Seriously, we never have although I have had some college or high school students “job shadow” me for a day and, surprisingly, none have asked to come back for a second day.

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Q: Hi Doug,. Here's a question I've had for a while now. Given that the Raptors are entering a rebuilding phase, I'm wondering where the best new NBA players come from, and why.

First, is the Euroleague the second best basketball league in the world? If so, why isn’t it a more attractive destination for top-level high school players? Is it just the cultural differences? A style of basketball thing? Maybe it's too much too soon for a good young player? Yet in the past, we saw several players make successful jumps from high school right to the NBA. Would the next LeBron, or even the next Blake Griffin, be better off tearing it up at say, Olympiacos for a year before entering the draft? Or is the NCAA is just better at developing NBA players for whatever reason? It does seem like most of the best players come from the NCAA. Maybe the good young Euroleague players don’t get snapped up as readily by NBA teams because they’re generally under some kind of contract?

And how does the D-league stack up in this? It seems like the D league is an opportunity to play professionally against grown men, which I would assume is a good opportunity -- but is the quality of play in the D league higher than NCAA? Or is it not "Developmental" enough to be much good? Why don’t we see players skip college and do a year there before turning pro? (I think I remember someone trying this, maybe not with a good result).

Sorry this question went on for so long. Thanks, as always, for the blog.

Best

 

Tim M, Kingston

A: As bad as the NCAA is, I still think it’s been shown to be the best developmental ground for the top players, even if they stay one year. I think Europe would be an option except that American teens are afraid of strange lands, don’t assimilate themselves too well in most cases and are, frankly, boys playing against men.

The D League, I think, should be more of an option for high schoolers who have absolutely no interest in college, but until a first wave makes it a better league, I don’t see that happening.

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Q: I was going to ask for your top five sitcoms of all time, but I figured that would be impossible (although the Dick van Dyke Show would have to be there for me). Instead, I'll pose a financial question: Suppose the Magic are in town, and Dwight Howard throws down a dunk that shatters the backboard. Who pays to replace it - the Raps of the Magic?

 

Tim H, Windsor

A: Oh, the Raptors would. And it might give them an excuse to raise ticket or concession prices.

I keed, I keed.

Sort of.

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Comments

[GMan]

Hey Doug, it's rarely that I disagree with you, but when you answered the guy who wanted the lock out by saying that players are just as competitive and they should have a right to work with the best players beside them...

Sure if you want twenty five teams to be glorified Dleague teams and five All Star teams. The average discrepancy in scores will increase. General attention for games will lessen because who wants to watch most teams get blown out. I realize that what I'm touting here is a bit of a Doomsday prophecy but I'm not the first person who's proposed it as a possibility. We already have enough problem getting high calibre free agents here. If the players have complete control over where they want to play then everywhere that doesn't have a palm tree or an iconic basketball building could, based on current trends, be completely screwed.

[JT]

Doug, do you think BC would overhaul this roster this off-season as he has in the past? With talk of Barbosa, Weems, and Evans moving on (along with the various bit pieces at the end of the bench), do you think it is conceivable that close to half the roster (albeit mostly depth guys) is overhauled? I can't see how the Raptors could be drastically better by bringing back the same group of players, including Barbosa and Evans.

Blogger's note: I think half's a stretch but there will be several new faces; the core will remain together and that's all that really matters

[Lawrence]

I think you need to acknowledge that the low numbers of North Americans playing in Europe is often a function of the caps that the euroleagues put on the number of non-passport players a team can sign.

[GDS]

Any comment on your colleague's piece on Davies over Bargnani? I don't see the first as a replacement for the other, rather a complement. Furthermore, I think best player available should be the golden rule in drafting and in trading. I don't think the market offers a better center than Bargnani, so you don't just give him away. The coexistence of the two on the court is on the coach. Can Triano do it? We'll find out next year, I guess. Have a nice day.

Blogger's note: Comment? No, not really

[GDS]

By comment I mean your opinion on the same subject.

Blogger's note: I don't really have an opinion on rampant speculation that began buried in a New York city newspaper notes column

[nate]

I think the NCAA will always be the destination of choice for one reason over all the others: the coaches.

Top recruits are attracted to big time programs and the chance to gain exposure and development for the pros. If I was the top 18 yeard old point guard in the country (who BTW is a Canadian this year) and John Calipari came to my door, he would only need 6 words to convince me to play for him: Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall. All of these guys played in either one of the gorgeous metropolitan cities of Lexington, KY, or Memphis, TN.
These coaches are celebrities to young ball players, and the best ones deliver on their promise of developing pros.
For an American kid, playing for Duke and Coach K is an honour in itself (Unless you're Jalen Rose)

[Cluck Kent]

Some players can improve their basketball smarts but not all players. Joey Graham didn't improve appreciably and goodness knows we all wanted him to get it.

Like anything, you need the basic, raw material and then the right environment and input, support to develop it. Of the young guys on this team, I think Ed has the ability to improve, I think Amir can and I think (hope) that Demar can continue to imrpove his BS (Basketball Smarts).

[Lorie]

Hi Doug!
That's the first line I thought of, too! Closely followed by "The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day"...not easy being an original, is it? Had kind of a silly notion the other day after watching the Butler-Florida game and it was this: why wouldn't the NBA adopt a single-game knock-out system for their playoffs. Wouldn't it be tremendously exciting? Lose one game and you're done! And all teams could be involved! (And this is not solely a shamelessly opportunistic maneouvre to include the Raptors in post-season!) Do you think it would be an improvement to the current setup? (I know, I know...more games, more money...but still...!!!)

Blogger's note: Entirely unworkable but a great idea.

[Kent]

Best new NBA players will come from the NCAA and they will be Americans, like IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN. It's like asking where you will find the next best NHL players, junior hockey or the KHL? Please stop with this Euro-league stuff. The best player in the Euro-league last year was Linus Klaza. That tells you everything you need to know.

[doug]

people that are saying about the intensity of the NCAA and how the NBA needs to learn something...are forgetting a key fact these are these team playoffs, you ever watch a mid-January NCAA game it's like watching paint dry and nowhere near the intensity....in the NBA the intensity is matched in the playoffs, this years playoffs will be far more compelling then this drivel...and watching these NCAA b-ball makes me realize how ridiculous it is for NBA to hire NCAA coaches, they would be so out of their element in the NBA and have been look at Pitino, Calipari, Floyd etc, complete and utter busts...and I find it refreshing for the first time to hear analysts such as Reggie Miller, Charles and Smith question and wonder about some of these coaching decisions as their is some dubious coaching going on....and @ Kent you do realize the best players in the NBA right now don't come from the NCAA don't you..so let's keep it in perspective, it's mediocre ball, with questionable coaching, boneheaded fouls being committed by players at inopportune times, a 3 -point shooting contest with a few bright lights such as Williams, and Walker (if he falls into the Raps laps BC and all fans should be smiling)...it is what it is compelling drama with little meat on it's bone...

and Rick Reilly sums up the whole Jimmer Fredette lovefest very nicely....and puts things in their proper perspective..

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6257636

[Jack]

Rick Reilly on Jimmer Fredette:
"wandered aimlessly through the lane on defense like Moses in the desert. I've seen dead people play better defense. At least they occasionally trip people."

Was he watching a Fredette or Bargnani?

"But until he shows more interest in defense than a blind man has in rainbows, he's going to spend most of his NBA life sitting on padded folding chairs."

Not if he plays for the Raptors. Colangelo seems to have a penchance for players just like him.

[doug]

@Jack your exactly right...but the key difference is no one accuses Barg's or Jose of being solid defensive players or even competent on the defensive end...but Barg's can average 22 a game in the best league in the world... that's far more key ....far more....you know flying home i had a choice between on Bravo a K.D.Lang special and the NCAA game...i chose K.D. and flippped back to the games...plus do people on here realize why these college coaches are busts in the NBA??.....it's because they are excellent recruiters as Calipari is, but in the NBA you have to coach 24/7 these guys can't coach for the most part...but the Butler dude, and VCU guy can...look at the roster's some of these guys have had, Roy Williams in Kansas never won a thing, and look at some of his teams, and yesterday he coached a piss-poor game... recruiting means squat in teh NBA coaching does...

[Mike D.]

Doug, is James Johnson part of the core that you think the Raps want to keep together? With every trip to the NBA rumour sites (we all have our little addictions) the team's "young core" seems to be shrinking.....according to the NY Times it no longer includes Bargnani. Soon it may consist only of Demar and possibly Ed Davis.

Blogger's note: I think he is. And I'm pretty sure you know better than to trust all rumours. Or any of them

[james lannin]

wow! other than the tight mil/cha game, what an odd bunch of games in the nba. glad i don't wager.