Some points, some picks, some places that I like

Erin go bragh.

Yes, it’s that day, not quite the amateur hour Gong Show of New Year’s Eve but it’d be on the list.

Anyway, be careful and have fun.

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THREE POINTERS

Yes, it was bad

Brutal game, no?

At least the first quarter was and there was no excuse, really, for coming out that flat.

But it’s what you’re going to get some nights with a team of mostly young kids late in a season that’s already in the toilet when everyone’s kind of hoping it gets over sooner rather than later.

I don’t think a bad start is truly indicative of anything rather than a one-off bad start, they looked lethargic, the Pistons – at least the group that started last night – are old and smart and they made the Raptors pay.

You hope – well, they hope – that that kids learn something from nights like last night, not only how bad it is to get stomped early but how you need to summon energy when maybe you don’t have a lot by using your mind as much as your body.

It’s not going to happen overnight, you won’t see a stark contrast night to night. It’s a slow evolution and last night wasn’t a step back, it was just a step.

In a long, painful, season-long journey.

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Some chitchat

You know how some coaches are micro-managers, calling every play?

Jay can get like that but he’s also trying to give Jerryd a little rope, to see if the youngster can run a team, pick the right matchups at specific time and exploit mismatches.

It’s what coaches, and good point guards, do.

Well, it’s the third quarter, Jay sees something he wants run and as Jerryd’s walking the ball up the court, Jay’s yelling “early middle, early middle” for the play he wants run.

Jerryd looks over and says, quite calmly and quite confidently:

“They know it.”

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What could have been

Talking to some Pistons people and the conversation got around to the two rookies in the game – Ed Davis and Greg Monroe.

And as it turns out, there might have been a very good chance Davis could have been a Piston. Detroit had figured Monroe would have been gone when they got around to picking No. 7 and had their eyes on Davis.

But when the Golden State Warriors took Ekpe Udoh over Monroe at No. 6, it gave the Pistons the guy they wanted.

And, like everything to do with a draft, it’ll be years before we know how it worked out.

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A wee bit more?

Got some things.

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In case you were wondering, and I’m sure a lot of you were, it’ll be Ohio State, Notre Dame, Duke and Florida in the Final Four.

And if I had to guess, I’d guess Ohio State wins it all.

And, in case you were wondering as well, I’m thinking the Richmond Spiders might make some noise (mostly ‘cause I like a team called the Spiders) and that Jimmer dude at BYU will score a lot of points.

And that, folks, is about the extent of my knowledge of NCAA basketball.

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No, I am not wearing green today. It doesn’t go with my eyes.

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What I would like to see?

The HOTH come out Friday night with the green jerseys and red shorts so that they look like Christmas trees.

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So, have you heard about this Jalen Rose-Grant Hill thing that’s going on? Big news in the Detroit area after Rose’s Fab Five documentary on ESPN Sunday included lots of shots and denigrating comments about Hill. Called him, among other things, an Uncle Tom, kind of ripped his family and was quite something. It’s was how Jalen felt as a teenager headed to Michigan and was quite a look at how someone his age thought back then.

Well, Hill wasn’t going to take it lying down and offers this as a rebuttal in the pages of the New York Times.

Now, I have no problem with two grown men having a difference of opinion over such matters, I find it quite enlightening in some regards as a matter of fact.

I like Jalen, I sometimes think he may speak too quickly too often and not think of repercussions of what he says, going for impact rather than substance. But I do imagine what he said he felt like 20 years ago was indeed fact and who am I to argue. I’m not of that background, few of us are and if that burned in him, it burned in him.

I wonder, though, if he still feels that way today and in the documentary, and in the time since its airing, he hasn’t taken a step back or put some context to his comments and I find that a bit troubling.

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What’d they say in Detroit about that one?

This.

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List time?

On a day like today, but of course!

In consultation with the one and only Jack Armstrong and in a continuing effort to hammer the St. Patrick’s Day thing to death, we present …

Top Five Irish Bars In NBA Cities

The rules?

I, or we, have to have been there and while we generally lead a cloistered life, we did come up with five, in no particular order, and a couple of honourable mentions.

Ri Ra, Charlotte

Sat there one night and all of a sudden a jam session of Irish music broke on the stage. Good food, good people and I once had a chat with a woman working there who was from Ballinasloe, a great little hamlet in the middle of Ireland.

McSorley’s Ale House, New York City

Classic old time pub, you should check it out some time.

O’Donovan’s Minneapolis

You can spit from the loading dock at the Target Center to the front door, which is a great thing if, say, you’re broadcaster and have a few minutes to kill before the post-game bus heads to the airport and the charter. (Or so I’m told).

Tir Na Nog, New York City.

Across the road from Madison Square Garden. Good music, nice atmosphere and there are always cabs waiting outside to take you home. Or somewhere else.

The Kells, Seattle

I know, I know. There is no Seattle any more but this is a classic, classic joint down an alley with no TVs, and great ambiance. It’s sister joint in Portland is okay, but if you can go here, go in a hurry.

Honourable mention: Not a bar, but the Buena Vista Coffee House in San Fran has to be considered, there’s a joint around the corner from Conseco in Indy that’s good and, no, I don’t have one in Boston, which is odd.

Good list?

“Indubitably,” the people say. “Indubitably.”

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Mail?

Let’s start the process, shall we.

Click, write, send.

It’ll give me something to do on a couple of flights Saturday.

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Comments

[Joe]

Doug,

Thanks for making me laugh this morning. Your comment about having the Raptors dress in green shirts and red shorts on Friday was funny. You know, you may have hit on a great promotion for next year. Maybe the Raptors could have a Doug Smith Unfashionable Colour Coordination Night and let the fans pick what hideous colour combination the Raptors should wear. Perhaps we could start off by having the team wear their black jerseys on top of orange shorts for opening night next year. Since, opening night is usually close to Halloween, it would be a funny sight to see them looking like pumpkins. Have a great day Doug!

[Stew]

Doug,
Grant Hill's response was a great read.
The Fab 5 were something to behold in their day but lets face it, Michigan University has not been the same since. The basketball team's sanctions from the time they were there crippled the basketball program for years and are only now climbing out of the whole that the 5 dug. Not even Tommy Amaker (a Duke grad) could help rekindle a once proud program.
Yes those freshman changed the landscape, but not necessarily for the better.

[GameBreaker]

Jalen Rose is an absolute 'tard. After all these years, money and life that this guy would have a sense of maturity. I used to respect him until I met his sorry ass, in a club arguement with Tracy Murray. Now this? Loser Rose.

[LeeZ]

Doug, Bayless's comment "They know." Not sure I understand what he meant. "They" (i.e. his fellow Raptors on the court) already know that we're running that play (maybe because JB had already called it before Coach yelled it out); or "They" (i.e. the opposition) have seen that play already (and presumably were able to stop it), so no point in running it again? Colour me confused! (then again, I'm often confused.)
:)

Blogger's note: Raptors knew, he'd already called it; guess I didn't make myself clear

[Rob.V]

Grant Hill is ALL class!! There are no words uttered (from Jalen no less) that could EVER tarnish his reputation or his name... and I love the little competetive dig about NEVER losing to the (not so) Fab 5.
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But wait, am I allowed to make this statement Doug? (poster)... because as per yesterdays post, I do not know Grant personally. Is this irresponsible of me to call him classy?.
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Now, I don't want to spend too much time on this because there are far more important things to discuss however: I do find your logic from yesterday flawed.
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You: So for me to call (T-Mac) him "lazy" is irresponsible..whats the old parable?..."Before criticizing a man, walk a mile in his shoes… and how can someone call another "lazy" when we don't have a clue about that person.
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Nice thought however… 2 sentences later (or earlier) you basically site that it should be okay (for others) to call Mr. Spooner a cheat. “Why is he making a big deal out of it?”
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Spooner is being lumped with the likes of Tim Donaghy (without any evidence to this point). Isn't this a far worse comment (or judgement) than a player was lazy… but this is no big deal. There are years and years of evidence behind the fact that McGrady was lazy.
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I don’t have to know TMac personally. Jeff Van Gundy and Darryl Morey do, and they tell us he IS lazy… so I’ll agree with them.
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I purposely added 2 quotes to my TMac comment yesterday, I was not being irresponsible at all. An NBA coach and an NBA GM who had worked with T-Mac “personally” for what, 8 years? both said “he didn’t work hard”. I could not quote any closer sources… they were his bosses!
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It doesn't really matter to me one way or the other however I just don’t understand how you can sit up on the middle of the fence with respect to McGrady’s work ethic (and bascially call me irresponsible) when it’s well documented (and quoted) yet, be so quick to allow others to attack Spooner in the exact same manner... and suggest he not defend his name, lay down, and accept wrongfully being called Donaghy 2.0.
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It has to be one or the other, doesn't it?.

[dribbles]

I'm not sure how many people ripping Rose even watched that documentary. He talked explicitly about how he was JEALOUS of Hill's family (Rose was abandoned by his father who was a professional ball player and contrasted that with Grant's situation), and made it clear that's how he felt back then, coming from where he came from. The context was these guys from tough upbringings felt like Duke only recruited the privileged, and they were the unprivileged. If Rose hasn't clarified how he feels today, that's a problem. But in the doc, and you have to watch it before slamming him/them, I thought he was very clear in explaining that's how he felt as a teenager from a tough upbringing. It doesn't make the "Uncle Tom" comment right, but there's a big difference between him saying/believing that as an adult now and saying/believing that back then.

[Bob (Mississauga)]

From the box score at nba.com
Attendance: 15166
If the league is trying to convince the players they are in trouble, shouldn't they report something close to real attendance? Or was it 2 for 1 night so they just doubled the number?

[Matt Kovacs]

Hey Doug, I made the exact same picks as you for the final four, but I took Purdue instead of Notre Dame.

[Rob]

Doug, do you or anyone else have an idea when that Fab Five documentary is going to be shown on TSN. Was poking around yesterday but I couldn't seem to find the info.

Blogger's note: I don't but will endeavour to find out

[ChrisD1]

Doug - How far up the chain does Jalen rank in being one of the all time "cool" dudes to wear a Raptor uniform? Jalen seemed to be a guy who was always willing to help out the media with a quote whenever asked. Aside from him, was anyone else "Jalen-esque"???

Blogger's note: He'd be high up on the list for sure. Might take some time to figure out where, though.

[nate]

Hi Doug,

I'm a little worried, I have the same Final Four Picks as you, and I'm well aware of your "affinity" for the college game.
Just have to mention in response to your Top 5 that there is NOTHING like St. Paddy's day in the Market in Ottawa.

[Peter]

"They know it" as in the other team knows that particular play? Or "They know it" as in the Raptor's had already been given a play by Jerryd?

Blogger's note: Raptors knew

[Doug Thompson]

Japan Electric should hire Smith to apologize for them. It isn;t as bad as it seems...Brian has a plan...Triano is working with kids...nuclear situation is no bid deal.

Blogger's note: No, no, no. A thousand times, no. The nuclear situation is a bid deal for sure

[Kent]

Thunder and Heat last night was fun to watch. It's amazing how getting rid of one defensive cancer (Kristic) and adding two functional bigs (Perkins and Mohammed) can change the dynamics of a team. Points allowed by the Thunder in the last 4 games = 94, 75, 89, 85. Granted, the first 3 were against lesser opponents but the 85 against the Heat last night was impressive. Getting stops is how you win meaningful games in the NBA; the old Thunder team would have lost 115-113.

I tried watching the Raptors last night and I really couldn't anymore after the 38 they gave up in the first. Same old, same old.

[The J]

There will be a college basketball tournament. It will be played primarily in March and will lead to a certain amount of madness.

And that, folks, is about the extent of my knowledge of NCAA basketball
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I think with all this Fab 5 vs. Grant Hill stuff someone just needs to a call a timeout.

That joke would have been funny 20 years ago.

[Jeff]

I read Grant Hill's article and was simply astounded. If the NBA believes that having Jalen Rose present commentary is colourful, then perhaps they could add Mr Hill (after he sees fit to retire in 3-5 years) as a broadcaster for being insightful and intelligent.

[doug]

Calvin Hill was my boyhood hero growing up, he was a hell of a running back and just a class dude, so Grant Hill has to make no apologies for his father or family...the genesis of Jalen's argument, feelings lies in something Canadians don't get, we watch and appreciate NCAA sports (well i use to)..but the amount of dislike and animosity between schools, programs, conferences borders on fanatical....Kentucky gets sell-out crowds to pre-season shootarounds for god's sake...I remember once golfing in Myrtle Beach and my buddy and I joined up with this other 2some, and we got talking sports...we talked college football i mentioned in all innocence that Michigan had a good team that year, well I couldn't have got a more angry reaction if I insulted his mom....and this was a older man, he was just so thrown off by this, it was uncomfortable...I said whoa college sports are off the table...this really to me is what Jalen's statements were all about...program against program and the ill-feelings that still exist...Americans, and their university teams they root for, are alumni of or boosters for take it all very seriously...just ask Kevin O'Neill and the Arizona booster from last week....it's not just a passion it's a fervent maniacal following...Reverend Jim Jones has nothing on these followers...it's easy to push buttons on here at times , make a statement and watch others run with it...happy St.Pats day...

[Kent]

I like Jalen but he is way out of line on this issue. If you talk to teachers and educators in the States, they will tell you that there are some inner city kids that are so smart, they can do and become anything they want to be. But some of them purposely act dumb to avoid being ostracized by their peers; appearantly, if you do well in school and you speak intelligently, you are somehow turning your back on your "people" and you are viewed as trying to be white. Jalen is trying to ostracize Grant Hill and this is the kind of stuff that keeps people down. Jalen is wrong and, no, I don't need to know him personally to say that.

[Richard]

Okay, soapbox time again. It's getting tiresome but somebody's got to do it. After watching the game last night I caught Raptor's Post Up on NBA TV. And once again Jay is in the scrum talking about missed shots and singling out the guys who missed them. Now I like Jay and want him to succeed, so I'm not advocating a change or anything like that. But I simply don't understand or agree with the constant harping on missed shots. The team shot 50% last night. The problem was Detroit shot 50% too. And put up a near 40-point first quarter. Now Jay did mention the low energy, poor first quarter, but the focal point of the post-game scrum last night, as well as many others, needed to be weak, slow reacting defense and slow, low energy starts.

Youthful mistakes should be about high energy, over-aggressive, over-anxious play. Not sluggish, lethargic, indecisive rotations and coverage. Too often they look so lost and slow to react to open shooters on defense. Or else somebody rolls down the lane unobstructed to the hoop. These are the fundamental flaws that play out over and over with this team in games like last night's and get far less attention than offensive short-comings.

Great young teams like OKC and Chicago have risen because of their attention to defense. When they lose, or at times even when they've won but gave up more than 100 points the post game talk will be about defensive breakdowns or flaws and how they need to tighten them up.

Greater offensive proficiency is not the key to contending. If you look at a team like Golden State, with 4 starters averaging more than 16 ppg. (and 2 of them at or above the 20 ppg. mark), and check their record (30-36) clearly that is not the solution to contending. They put up lots of points and have won a dozen more games than the Raps, but really are no closer to being a true contender than Toronto, unless merely getting to the post season is the goal.

The dialogue needs to be defense. And who knows, maybe it is on the practice court. But if it is there's little evidence in games... and after them.

[kazbid]

do you know if either of the canadian longhorns are gonna be in the draft this year? they both look like NBA players

Blogger's note: No clue yet

[Lorie]

A "cloistered" life? Hmmm...there'll be "nun" of that today I hope. Happy Saint Patrick's Day, and as they say, may the hinges of friendship never grow rusty; and may the ale in your mug never turn musty. Slainte!

[GM]

* Someone commented in the IGBT last night that Ed Davis' tweets made him look not so good. You said, essentially, don't judge a book by its tweets. Or something like that. I don't follow Twitter, but took a look to see what's there. Here's one of Ed Davis's tweets: "aye the person sittin next to me at this restaurant is baby talking I'm about to smack the shit out of her" Now, I'm positive he wasn't being literal, but someone should tell him that kind of language isn't appropriate, especially if you're in the public eye. Gilbert Gottfried just got fired as the voice of an insurance company after 11 years because of some jokes on the Japan disaster, so tweets matter these days.
* I can't believe you wrote about what you overheard Triano and Bayless saying to each other on the court! Did you check with them to find out the context?! Conversation rarely happens in a vacuum. Maybe Bayless was talking about the other team! (Just giving you a hard time.)
* I believe Spooner is hoping and praying that AP apologizes and rescinds their tweet comment and it doesn't get to court. He'll only win if the statement is proven to be untrue (or not proven to be true). If it goes to trial, everything's an open book. Nobody's saying he's a Tim Donaghy. Maybe that's what some are taking away from this, but that's not what it's about. It's that he, and others, on occasion do make make-up calls. If he swore under oath he's never made a make-up call, he'd be laughed out of court, I'm sure.

[Steph]

Just because Jalen had a story did not mean he should tell it. He very likely was living a life he was not ready for with fame, uncertainty and confusion ruling the day. It must have been a scary time, even for a star athlete with everything handed to him.
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Jalen did not learn what he should have learned during his time in school. He should have learned that you need to accept who you are before you can accept others. He should have learned that a family is not defined by the colour of there skin, the make up of ones family, the colour of their jerseys, or the kind of education one receives. Jalen should have learned that the virtue of a person is measured by what you do with opportunity. Entertaining others does not mean that you get a free pass toward manhood and maturity.
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Grant Hill may have opportunities other may not have had. But it’s not the opportunities you have in life that matter, it’s what you do with those opportunities. Grant Hill learned, respected and appreciated. He’s a person who has always looked forward with the hope and fervour of a person who is thankful for what he has, never forgetting the sacrifice others made to provide him those opportunities.
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Jalen is a small man with a few funny quotes. Easily forgotten because the impact he’s made in life is negligible. Another wasted education by an under appreciating individual with athletic talent and a big mouth.
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Insecurity is the devil in life. It’s the reason racism exists, it’s the reason wars are fought, it’s the reason genocide still happens. That’s why education is so important. Knowledge is life.
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To Grant Hill I say thank you. Thanks you for making yourself and your surroundings a better place for others. Thanks you for being a beacon for others to follow.
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To Jalen Rose, it’s time to read the books that were provided to you by the schooling system that made it possible for you to earn all the money you did. It’s time to appreciate the privilege provide to you and it’s time you do more then simply sigh a check to feel worthy again. It’s time you learned who you are and that you can still become so much more. The opportunity is still not completely lost yet.

[GM]

Just found that a site dedicated to Blake Griffin (don't know if he has anything to do with it or not) is called Quake Griffin dot com. They say it's "the epicenter for all highlights and news". The March 15 story, four days after the Japanese earthquake, is titled, "The Quake: Shaking Up Memphis". Then there's "Tremor: Blake Griffin on NBA TV." I bet they're regretting that name now. Or they should be if they're not.

[Binder]

Enough Toronto Raptors for one year. Had all I can take. See you all next year.

Blogger's note: A nation mourns