A defensive clinic and the good and bad of the gig

Analysis?

We don’t need no stinking analysis.

Let’s just prattle on about a series of unrelated items.

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We all know LeBron James is freakishly gifted but what he did last night was, frankly, incredible.

If you saw the game, especially the latter part of the second quarter, you saw just how fast and explosive Derrick Rose can be, those two dunks were something else, particularly the second one where he slithered through about three defenders after beating his man.

But James, who is about 6-8 and 275 pounds, was not only able to get up on Rose and take away his shooting space when he defended him, he was quick enough laterally that Rose couldn’t get by him if his life depended on it.

That last possession of regulation time – hell, pretty much any possession in the final five minutes of the game and the overtime – was as good on-the-ball defence as you might ever see.

I remember writing before the series began that Erik Spoelstra felt James could guard every possession on the floor and being a bit skeptical.

After watching what James did to Rose, who is only the current MVP and a small, quick guard who should punish bigger defenders, any skepticism is gone.

And now I’m wondering how he’ll do guarding Dirk because you know he’s going to get a shot to do it down the stretch of close games.

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Raptors news?

Well, it’s not much – still nothing on Jay – but am told they will in fact meet with and work out Enes Kanter in Chicago in the first week in June.

And, according to one fellow I corresponded with yesterday, there was no huge snub in Chicago last week, it was the case of an e-mail canceling some meetings not being forwarded.

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Hey, how in the world did I miss Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday yesterday?

But when I finally heard, figured if there was a CD playing an endless loop of these five songs, it’d be just fine:

The Times They Are A’changin’

Subterranean Homesick Blues

Mr. Tambourine Man

Like A Rolling Stone

Blowin’ In The Wind.

Enjoy hearing those in your head all day. I will.

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Got this one out of the mail a few days ago:

Q: Doug. This started off as a comment but I turned it into a list question for the mail bag.

I think must of us get what you are saying comparing yourself to an NBA executive but really "a drill press operator...."? Agreed your travel schedule sucks and when you "have to" do something for a living it is "work" and work is work. However, at the end of the day, you get to talk about a sport that is obvious you enjoy, for a living, not a bad gig overall from an outside point of view.

Having said that, what would you say are top 5 best and worst things about being a beat reporter for the Raptors?

 

A T, Niagara Falls

A: Oh, it’s a very good job and I love it and that makes it easier to work hard. But, as I’m sure you and zillions others know, even great jobs have their moments.

But a list you want and a list you’ll get:

Five Best

The places you go

I’ve walked on the Great Wall of China, seen Sagrada Familia, visited the Parthenon and the Placa and seen the Sydney Opera House because of my job.

The peoples you meet.

I’ve been in scrums with Muhammad Ali and met all kinds of fascinating people because of my job.

The differences

No two days are alike and I quite enjoy that aspect of it. The sameness of any job would take away some level of enjoyment.

The autonomy

Yes, I have bosses but it’s nice to know that they give me my head, so to speak; trust me to get the right story and tell it well and that’s a rather liberating feeling.

And …

I am answering this sitting on a stool at a poolside bar in Miami with a glass of Land Shark at my left and a gentle breeze blowing to take the edge off a 30 C day.

Five worst

The travel

Yes, the job has taken to me to wonderful places and outstanding events but for a while there – and it’s eased a bit now – I averaged about 125 days a year on the road. That’s a lot of time away.

The hassle of travel

Airport two hours before a flight to the US, 90 minutes if it’s domestic in the States, take out laptop, take off shoes, remove belt, deal with – often – very dopey TSA employees who must have to check their common sense in the lunch room before they start their shift. Stand in security line behind new travellers who don’t remember to leave cell in bin, take coins out of pocket, remove all metal.

The deadlines

Sometimes they’re simply brutal. There are nights when they need 650 words at the buzzer, the outcome of the game can change once or twice in a split second and you have make enough sense of it that people don’t throw their computers in disgust when they read it. Hardest part of the job.

Extra off days

Seriously, coming up with something interesting and entertaining to write when a couple of off-days fall back-to-back is hard. There’s not a lot of time to develop really good stories, you tend to follow the back and that’s wrong. Easy, but wrong.

Not enough time

I guess this is a combination of those last two but we tend to have to write so quickly that it’s hard to turn a nice phrase, develop a theme, and tell stories well all the time. The giants of the business can, I’m not quite there yet.

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No one guessed the two northern most cities correctly here, although a couple of keeners back in Toronto took time out from draft prep to figure it out and let me know.

Bloomington and Minneapolis.

Bit of a trick question but what the heck.

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Oklahoma City’s got no chance tonight, right?

Too mentally worn down from blowing that big lead in Game 4, up against the team that’s playing the best in the playoffs and on the road to boot?

Spurs by 12.

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I guess if Kristie couldn’t win, it’s good that the athlete did, right?

And, next season, we are paying much closer attention to DWTS.

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Worst part of going to Chicago today?

Mighty Rockies opener tonight and I’ll have to miss it.

If any of you kids are reading this, play hard, play for the guy sitting next to you, respect the game and have fun.

Oh, and hit line drives right through the pitcher’s legs, field the ball down to up in the infield and hit the cut off man.

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Comments

[Lorie]

@dave
If by "everyone who comes here" you mean, YOU, then I guess I'm okay with that phrase (although I wonder why you wouldn't simply ask the question based on your own interest? Isn't that reason enough?). However, if by "everyone" you mean "every single reader of this blog", then I must insist that you not use that phrase around here. You have NO IDEA what I am interested in reading (and today it most certainly is not Doug's thoughts on this loopy, article whose very accuracy was questioned almost immediately because of the poor translation it apparently relied on). And, I'm happy for Andrea that he's in Europe right now because the over-reaction on this side of the pond to this odd "story" is mind-boggling. He, and we, deserve better.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

May I offer a few more Dylan ditties here? "When the Deal Goes Down", "Things Have Changed", "Beyond Here Lies Nothin' ", Knockin' on Heaven's Door", "Thunder on the Mountain" and leave us not forget our Travelin' Wiburys and "Handle with Care". Cheers. And may you remain forever young.

[GM]

I'm of the opinion that the Bargnani comments are much ado about nothing, so in a way I get not addressing them. However, since you know how people are, why not tell us exactly why you think they've been blown way out of proportion?

Also, @Kent, if missed @J's response yesterday (it was the last comment posted), I suggest you go back and read them. Then maybe you can give us an excuse about your faulty numbers.

[Steven]

It looks like the Heat will be in the finals. Any chance for another shot at that Rapture thing before then?

[Aditya]

apparently, you're on bargnani's payroll as well... you refuse to comment on his recent comments about toronto and BC....

on the other hand, i have a new found appreciation for the job you do as a sports writer for the Toronto Star....(hey, something just clicked in my brain or something).....

[Dave]

@Lorie

I wasn't the only one who wanted to know. Other posters asked as well. Everyone.... that's a Raptor fan wants to know. Besides. Doug has been defending him from day one. I didn't expect him to make any comment. Just his way of covering up his love to Andrea.

Trade him! (get a real 5 that plays defense!)

Blogger's note: Yawn

[doug]

for Dylan songs i love listening to the lyrics of "Gotta Serve Somebody: truer words have never been song or written and "Jokerman".....come on people Barg's could say anything and the haters would be all over it...this isn't TMZ, there are other places to read tripe...

[george]

Well, I guess if you only know 5 Dylan songs, those would be the five.

Blogger's note: Or, you just might like 'em. Go figure

[J.R. MacLean]

Five more from Bobby. How many other songwriters could you get ten out of?

Just Like a Woman

Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands

Don't Think Twice Its Allright

Lay Lady Lay

Desolation Row

[Lee Z]

Indeed, 10 is the bare minimum for a list of great Dylan songs. I mean, without exaggerating, you could EASILY make the case that he has penned a good 30 of the best songs ever written. But Doug, this is all fine and well, but this blog has weightier issues to deal with other than the top 10 Dylan songs. Like...which is Dylan's greatest album! The answer? Bringing it all Back Home. And if anyone dares counter with Highway 61 Revisited, please include your address with your post so I can personally toilet-paper your house! @Lori: you're with me on this, right?