When you're done with the wedding, this is here for you

Man, can you imagine being the bureaucrat who had to come up with all that wedding planning stuff?

Yikes!

Anyway, tea and crumpets all done, can we please get back to some semblance of normal?

Thanks.

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So, what about Orlando?

It’s not exactly a mess but it’s certainly not a good situation and their ouster in six games by the Hawks is sure to raise an awful lot of questions.

Most will circle on Dwight Howard, of course; he’s a free agent after next season, I doubt he’d look at signing an extension this summer before seeing what the lay of the land is in a new CBA and what management might do to improve a somewhat flawed team.

The Magic live and die by the jump shot, in all truth; Howard is a great, great post player and he’s going to get his but the rest of the roster doesn’t provide the support needed.

They don’t have a slasher, really; someone who can explode to the rim and create his own shot on the perimeter. And until they get one, I can’t see that team doing much damage and it may ultimately cost them their best player.

The deal for Gilbert Arenas was an abject failure and his contract will be an albatross for a couple of years to come, depending on any amnesty in a new CBA. But, and this is what I like about some GMs, the fact that Otis Smith went out and made a bold move should be, in many ways, applauded. I’d rather have a proactive manager rather than a reactive one and if gambles don’t pay off … well, they don’t pay off and changes must be made.

The Magic probably weren’t going to win with Vince and Rashard Lewis, and they didn’t win with Turk and Arenas but sometimes you have to try something.

Too bad it didn’t work but it’s going to make for a fun summer in Orlando as they try to fix things again.

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I wonder which usher is going to, um, meet up with which bridesmaid at the reception?

That still happens at weddings, right?

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We’re going to have all the next series predictions and fuller breakdowns either here or in the actual paper in either tomorrow or Sunday or Monday (I’m pretty vague, no?) but suffice it to say, I’m leaning towards experience in most of them.

The Oklahoma City-whoever one is kind of intriguing, though.

You’d think if it was the Spurs – and it still may be – San Antonio’s big game history might move the needle in their direction against a team in the second round for the first time.

Except …

Except for the fact what Kevin Durant did last summer – leading scorer, best player, focal point – with the American team at a tough world championships puts him in a unique position.

Even before he’s gone though the true toughness of an NBA playoffs, he’s got huge big-game experience that will serve him well.

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Speaking of Spurs-Grizzlies, I know everyone was up super early Friday morning to watch TV but if you want to stay up late at night, we should probably do an iGBT tonight, no?

Pretty big game, hopefully as exciting as the other night and may as well talk while we watch.

So, be here at 9 p.m., okay?

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Oh yeah, the white dress was really nice and quite understated but the red jacket with the blue sash? Not sure about that.

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Are the Lakers back?

Are the Mavericks now more mentally tough after a great rebound from their Game 4 collapse?

I guess, in the end, no one should be surprised that Los Angeles easily dispatched the Hornets in six games – told you Chris Paul couldn’t win four on his own – but what Dallas did was pretty impressive.

That team wasn’t known for its (a) mental toughness or (b) recent first-round playoff success, shrugged off a choke job of biblical proportions to play two very tidy games and move on.

Maybe it’s the weight off their shoulders they need to really make a run in the next series?

I kind of doubt it but it was a rather thorough and impressive win.

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Wonder what kind of wedding celebration they had at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese?

I guarantee my day at Derek’s birthday party was better.

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This is kind of timely out of the mail:

Q: Hi Doug, earlier this week you commented that we may be seeing the future of Brandon Roy - Dominating in one game, passenger for the next. This sounds like a platoon situation, but is that workable in the NBA

Can there be a Garth Iorg who can be equally as good, but in a different way? Would the team have trouble changing the focus of their offence depending on the condition of his knees?

 

Joe U, Markham

A: I think a team would specifically change anything in that regard but most teams have more than enough offensive sets and defensive systems that they could change “focus” so to speak, during any particular game.

That is, if Roy’s got it going, run a lot of stuff for him; if he’s hobbled a bit, maybe cut his minutes a bit.

It’d be a bit of a juggling act but, to me, the nights he could be good are more than worth the nights he’s so-so.

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Okay, now that I was able to practically totally ignore the wedding, time to pay scant attention to the fighting thing that’s going on downtown tomorrow.

Seriously, if they held it in the backyard, I’d probably go sit on the front porch.

I presume I’m in the minority but I just don’t get it. The fact they sold 55,000 tickets probably also means they don’t care what I think.

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Yikes!

They just said the Princess Di wedding was in 1981!

Wow. I’m old.

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Remember a while ago when I had that list of favourite sights in sports? The triple to right, the gentle draw, that kind of thing?

Well, I forgot suicide squeeze and it did my heart proud to see the TOD pull one off in a big, big win in Texas.

You take three of four on the road, send down the Snider kid because you can’t wait for him to get over the Mendoza line and as my man Zorro quotes the manager as saying in this piece, it’s time to get serious about winning.

Bring on the Not Mighty Yankees at the stadium this weekend.

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Speaking of weekend, some of it has to be spent doing mail because that’s what I do. But you need to do your part, please.

Click here, write down words, send them along.

Thanks.

 

 

 

Comments

[Jeff]

Regarding the "squeeze" in the Jays game, that was not a "suicide squeeze" (I agree that it is one of the best things in sports) as MacDonald did not break for the plate until Patterson had bunted.

[Lorie]

'Allo, Doug!
What? No trolls, dragons or wizards??? Fairy tale wedding my ass!!! Seriously, it was a quaint, cosy little affair, wasn't it? Your standard Lancaster fly-by, unbiased Al-Jazeera coverage and Elton John and Posh Spice mumbling through 'Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer'. Best part? Did you get a look at all those Fabulous Jimmy Choo shoes??? Now, that was worth getting up at 4:00AM for! Thought the music could have used a little jazzing up, though. There's never enough sax at these Westminster Abbey things. (And don't you just KNOW Harry will be the usher to...ahh..."indulge"?) But, sadly, now it's back to reality for me: off with the tiara and on with the hardhat. Celebratory Cheers accompanied by a Royal Wave!

[511]

Re your critique of 'the red jacket with the blue sash' ... between this comment and similar other critiquing of players shoes and headbands and how they match/don’t match and such (quite regularly), I get the sense that you’re secretly an AVID fashionista, at heart! (It’s ok, Doug. You can admit it.)

[Jacques]

Doug, where's all the Raptors news. Do we still have a team :)

[Diablo]

I presume by "the fighting thing" you mean UFC? I'd be on the front porch with you. May the minority grow. Too Roman gladiator for me, too much bloodlust, too much brutality. As human beings, we should start being better to one another.

[HopeCaper]

Hey Doug, great job as usual. Thanks for keeping me in the series updates as I am unable to follow them closely. Just a comment on your comment re: Orlando. Your description of the team eerily comes very close to what many were saying about the Raptors when CB4 was here. Trying to build a team around a stud is very difficiult unless you are like the Yankees with unlimited funds. Rather difficult to do in the NBA with the cap and all. It's not impossible but very difficult and some of the BC haters need to take a reality pill when it comes to accountability and performance. Like you I like a proactive manager and certainly BC has been that. Here's hoping that building from the ground up gets better results.

[Rob.V]

Agreed, the Magic are in trouble! Logic would dictate that Van Gundy, Jameer, or even Howard himself (maybe in that order too) are on the next train out of Orlando. Otis has got a rather large payroll to deal with and it's not going to be easy to move Gilbert or Hedo.
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So I'm a little behind however I watched the Spurs- Lakers, and OKC games last night and this is what I found interesting.

- You would have thought OKC won the championship with their post game excitment... while Perkins strolled off like - whats the big deal... its only the first round, yo??
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Same thing with the Lakers. They close out and it's a couple of first bumps, a hug or two, and thats it!. I always find it interesting to see where each players heads are at and you can clearly tell who has their sights set on much larger goals.
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Funny stuff (to me anyway). Durant - after making a big shot towards the end of the game to close out - motha F___s!!! Bleep, bleep, motha F_____s!!!. Then, 10 seconds later with Pam Oliver post game... "I'd first like to thank my savior Lord Jesus".
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Now, I'm sure he's a good kid and all.... but can we just call a motha F___ r... a Motha F____r.... and leave it at that please. I mean, geez... for Christ sakes already. lol!
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Hey, wouldn't it be a great (no GREAT!) story if the Spurs went on to win the championship?? Rocky Balboa like, no?. Seriously, Neal's 3 was like the last scene from that old Carrie movie. You know, the hand from the grave!!

[Yan]

Q: What happened to the Magic?
A: Turkoglu

[The J]

Forget JVG, the Raps need to hire SVG when he gets fired later this week.

[joeu]

@lorie We need reporting coverage of the Balcony Kisses ... what were your impressions ? For me, goofy but heartwarming. Kids.

[Richard]

@Rob. V:

Absolutely funny stuff... and nicely delivered by you. It's so common in the world of pro sports yet no one ever points it out or pokes fun at it. I guess it's just always been that way. But in today's world of HD cameras and tiny wireless mics that double as lapel pins there's going to be more and more 'splainin' to do for parents whose kiddies worship, idolize and emulate pro athletes, and hang on their every unguarded word and gesture.

[sam]

Having a GM make a bold move should be applauded - but it appears Otis Smith's Boldness much like BC's moves have fallen flat. Bryan was able to move the mistakes and and start again with a rebuilding plan. I'm not sure the Magic will have much success moving Arenas or Hedo....Expensive mis steps.

[Andre]

@ Yan

You mean "Ball" LOL

[Lorie]

@joeu
Yes, a kiss is just a kiss unless you're Next In Line To Next In Line, eh? I thought the kids did an admirable job: genuinely sweet, nothing embarrassingly ahhh...exploratory (especially with She Who Reigns With A Sour Face nearby). But you know what I noticed? How they looked at each other, and the little touches on the arms and hands. Shockingly, I think Will and Kate truly like each other. A lot. Will The Windsors survive such bizarre behaviour???

[GM]

Right on, @Rob V. I noticed that, too: "Durant - after making a big shot towards the end of the game to close out - motha F___s!!! Bleep, bleep, motha F_____s!!!. Then, 10 seconds later with Pam Oliver post game... "I'd first like to thank my savior Lord Jesus"."

I knew there was a reason I didn't like Durant. I know he's great and all, but he's never done anything for me. That seals the deal. Not the swearing, but the hypocrisy.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Just a quick comment on the "two faces" of K Durant. One is the "game face", the sportsman in the moment and heat of the game, which is all about psych, street, machismo, bluster, team; it also ties in directly with the article you may have seen just this week about the power of "powerful" words (i.e., "%*$^%#", etc.) to mitigate pain/anxiety/stress. Those are not words that are directed "at" anyone. The other is simply K Durant the person, post-game, no "game face". IMHO, one has nothing to do with the other. I'd suspect one can have a belief system and still say "shit". That's just me from where I sit. Cheers. Go Jays! Play like your god-lovin' lives depend on it, dammit!