Mail's in, have yourselves a good time

Yes, indeed it was Barca 3, Man United 1 and, yes, I know the whole thing about a blind hog finding an acorn once in a while but what the heck, figured I’d point it out.

Anywho … have at this for now, lots left over for the week, including a Dylan-esque birthday that’ll give us something to talk about on what may be a slow week.

Off to Mighty Rockies practice in the drizzle, maybe we’ll make ‘em do sliding practice in the mud.

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Q: Hey Doug. Do you see Caron Butler playing in the final for Dallas? What happened to Cabbie? I kind of miss him in these playoffs.

Bob W, Winnipeg

A: The last I heard out of Dallas was that Butler was unlikely to be available and I’d wonder about the disruption it would mean to a smooth-running machine if he could come back now.

Cabbie?

I miss the big lug, too.

But he’s taken his unique brand of humour to the real world of TV with the Marilyn Denis Show and while it’s not on my list of must-see shows, I’m told he’s killing. As I knew he would.

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Q: Doug. As indicated to you prior to the Bulls / Heat final, unless "Rose" colored glassed really influenced the outcome, the Heat were going to win. As we turn our attention to the final my theory goes that the Heat should prevail. It comes down basically to three stars (James, Bosh, and Wade) vs. one star (Dirk). Unless the role players of the Mavs really, really out play the role players of the Heat, it might be a quick series. And I think the Miami Heat role players are good enough to prevent that from happening. Anyway, the question that arises is, Magliore and Anthony, with a Heat win, will become Canadian born players winning coveted NBA rings. When was the last time a Canadian born player won a ring? I'm thinking his initials were BW, but, I could be wrong. Oracle Doug, over to you.

Frank K, Orillia

A: I guess we’re not counting Matt Bonner, right? He’s not officially one of us yet.

I don’t have a complete list – and I’m sure some energetic Irregular will find one somewhere enlighten us – but don’t forget the inimitable Mike Smrek when you’re talking Canadian champs.

But, to the best of my knowledge, if one of them gets it this year, he’ll be the first since Fox and then it’s Bill Wennington.

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Q: Hey Doug... let's suspend reality and enter the world of the hypothetical for a moment - it is, after all, an off-day, the Raptors are shockingly not vying for a championship, and I'm sure you've had quite enough of people telling you our Heroes should draft Tristan Thompson.

So here goes: 10 seconds left in game 7 of the Mavs-Heats, Heat are down by one but have possession and Eric Spoelstra keels over on the sideline into a deep coma. Pat Riley is sitting waaaay upstairs, and they need someone to call the play immediately. Bosh turns to you and says "Beat Grunt, it's up to you."

Could you keep your cool? Would you sabotage the Heat's chances, in turn becoming fodder for NBA myths and legends for years to come?

And what would you call?

Take care and have a great time covering what looks to be a fantastic finish to a pretty entertaining season.

 

 

Andrew P, Toronto

A: Well, it probably wouldn’t be a Udonis Haslem drive and kick, that’s for sure. Although that’d be gutsy.

And it certainly wouldn’t be some isolation play because I generally hate isolation plays.

But how about we put the ball in Wade’s hands, run side screen-roll with Bosh while Haslem and whoever else is on the floor set stagger screens for LeBron?

And I’m talking to LeBron, I tell him to fake going to the top and curl into the paint while Bosh elevates.

When we win, I want some props.

If we lose, it was shoddy execution.

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Q: Hey Doug. Are you annoyed as me by this recent trend of coaches "walking" their team up from the backcourt? Last night I'm pretty sure Spoelstra was on the court after every defensive rebound!

Mohamed O, Burlington

A: Doesn’t sound like I’m nearly as annoyed as you are. I don’t really have a problem with it as long as they don’t impact the play. And refs don’t, either.

I will say, one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen in that regard was in Toronto the day HWSNBN came racing back up the court, ran into Stan Van Gundy (who was coaching Miami at the time, as I recall) and went down like he’d been shot.

Stan, hardly the most physically imposing guy I know, was entirely nonplussed.

Classic moment.

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Q: I can remember the summer that BC took over the helm of the Raps. I got up at like 8 am every morning and raced to the internet to read updates on the moves BC was making. He made some bold moves with Garbo, and Parker. I think he brought in a total of like 9 new players or something and they went on to win the Atlantic shortly there after. This was a very exciting off-season. BC in fact, has managed to keep me on the edge of my seat with big off-season moves almost every year... (Turk two years ago, O'Neil before that...)

What type of off-season do you think it's going to be for the Raps? Lots of trades? Sign a big player? or will it be more low key summer. Your prediction.

 

 

Jeff M, Saint John

A: Oh, if I know Bryan, there’s going to be one deal a lot of you would consider a “blockbuster” transaction, no doubt. He’s got a 22-win team, a high draft pick, some financial flexibility, a couple of “names” he could deal (Bargnani, one of the point guards, maybe Amir) and I’m sure he’ll do something, um,, explosive.

But I don’t think it’ll be like the Summer of Change where it seemed there was a transaction every day.

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Q: Hey Doug. Do you know how filming during timeouts works? Although it would be kinda cool to see what was said in the huddle after a game winning shot or in a close game, it seems like we don't really get to see a lot of Xs and Os with these "huddle cams".

 

Moe O, Mississauga

A: Part of the deal between the league and its “broadcast” partners is that most of what goes on in huddles concerning Xs and Os, contentious issues and the like is off-limits. It’s why most of the stuff you see is rather milquetoast and edited for showing a few minutes later.

It’s a glimpse of what goes on but certainly not the whole story. Players and coaches have told me about, you know, foul language, the calling out of players, the criticism of opponents that I can’t imagine you’d ever see on TV.

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Q: Doug. A few weeks ago, I asked whether you thought the OKC situation was similar to the T-Wolves situation when they had Garnett and Starbury and if there was any worry that Westbrook may want to be the 'man' too much to be on the same team as Durant. Unfortunately, you did not answer this, but in light of what has transpired since then, what are your thoughts now on their situation? Seems like another promising team seemingly affected by inflated egos.

 

Felix T, Loughborough, UK

A: I think there might be some issues at play in Oklahoma City but the fact each of the guys are so young and with so much more to learn about themselves, the game and their place in it, I don’t see them as insurmountable.

That said, if Westbrook doesn’t learn what it takes to be a facilitating point guard on a team with a true star, those issues may not go away. I’d be willing to wait a bit and see, though.

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Q: Seems every year around draft time the debate comes up us to draft a need or the best play available. To me we have a few needs none of witch is a "BIG" unless its a big bruising defensive center which we can all agree isn’t in this draft. With that if guards Walker and Knight are off the board the next best set of players seems to be 4's and 5's with Kanter, couple European guys (I cant spell there names so I wont even try) the Morris twins and the Canadian kid his name escapes me but I think its Thompson? In this scenario would it not be better to trade down or outta the draft rather than stock pile PF with basically the same game. Seems to me that we like Andrea, Amir and Davis and would like to keep Reggie and at the same time acquire a center. Does it not seem like a poor draft for us as the guys who would help us fill a need will probably be gone.

 

Ryan M, St. Thomas

A: I think you’re looking for absolutes and there are none. What if one of the guards – Walker or Knight – is there? Do you pass that up?

What if there’s no real interest in bringing the one-dimensional Evans back and they feel there’s a need for a fourth big because, as we’ve seen for years, injuries pop up? Then one of those guys whose name you don’t know might be a good pick.

I can’t suggest “trading out” is a good idea for one other reason: What if there’s nothing on the trade market you like?

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Q: Hi Doug. So Macleans magazine ran an article this week on Sonny Weems and a $20,000 loan he received prior to entering the NBA, on the condition that he repay it after being drafted. He then refused to repay it (for no apparent reason) and the Raptors had to take it out of his wages.

What is your take on this? Do a lot of players receive this type of loan? Does the league care?

Thanks

 

 

Phil L, Hamilton

A: Well, the financial shenanigans of players in situations like this really aren’t any of my business and I can feel fairly confident that this is not the first time it’s happened.

I would imagine all kinds of players receive loans between the time they leave college – or when they’re still in school – to “bridge” them until the salaries start rolling in and the league doesn’t really care at all.

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Q: Hi Doug. I was just reading through your take on Noah's fine versus what Kobe paid. I think one thing that needs to be included in the discussion is "ability to pay". I would venture to guess that Noah's $50,000 fine as a percentage of income is actually quite a bit heftier than Kobe's $100,000 fine, when comparing their salaries. How much would this impact the NBA's decision on the amount of the fine?

 

Mark L, Abbotsford

A: We actually asked some people from the league about this in Miami when it first came out and they said “ability to pay” had no bearing on the amount. And given the significant salaries, that makes entire sense to me.

As an aside, Noah made $3.2 million this year and Bryant $25 million. You know me and math, I’m horrible at it, but it would seem as a percentage, Noah got hit harder. But they say it doesn’t matter and I take them at their word.

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Q: Doug. Really! Such a good blog like yours and you being one of the old school grunts who still worship correct grammar, spelling and punctuation and....__They murder you by printing: "NO PEAKING!!"

C'mon, don't cover up for anybody now and tell us who's at fault: copywriter? editor? janitor?

Love the blog!

 

 

Pete M, Toronto

A: That was entirely on me. All my fault. Used wrong version of the word.

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Q: Hey Doug. Do you think that every generation of players has the same level of greatness? Or have some eras been great in the way that others can only dream about. Or is it impossible to compare.

 

David S, Toronto

A: Same level? No, not even close. More players can do more shockingly athletic things now than in any era before.

And while it is impossible –and blatantly unfair – to compare, I will submit that what defines an “era” is the competitiveness of the game, whether there are multiple teams capable of entertaining and competing and making it impossible to figure out who’s best until it all unfolds. And, for the most part, I think we’re in a pretty good one.

But to say that the Jordan era was better than the Russell ere or the Magic era or the Kobe era can’t be done.

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Q: I read your blog religiously and for the life of me, I can't figure out what TOD stands for when you talk baseball! Please enlighten me!

P.S. Are the Raptors thinking of trading Bargnani for Westbrook. Hahahaha. I need humour on a dull day!

Thanks!

 

 

N B, Toronto

A: I know I should probably have some kind of FAQ on the four or five things we use here, am just too lazy to set it up and would have to involve others in placing it in the blog.

TOD: Team Of Destiny. The Jays.

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Q: Hey Doug. Thanks for being our "Our Guy on the Beat" My question is that if you were able to leave Mother Star (not that I am wishing you leave us) But what team would you cover now in the present day and what team would you cover back in the day.

Thanks.

 

 

Andrew L, Mississauga

A: I think I might have mentioned this before but I think it might be cool to cover the Thunder. Good young team, seems like a good bunch of guys in a city where you’d get a lot of play with your stories.

And I kind of waver on the ‘back in the day’ part of this one when it gets asked. But I think it would have been very cool to cover the Showtime Lakers of the 80s with Magic, Kareem, Riley, Worthy, et al.

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Q: Hey Doug. I'm wondering when workouts will start for Toronto's draft prospects?

Also interested in hearing your thoughts on Kris Humphries getting married to Kim Kardashian. Some guys have all the luck.

 

 

Graham R, Vancouver

A: The last information I had on the workouts – and it’s always fluid depending on scheduling issues – was that nothing happens in Toronto until about June 7. But they are out and about working guys out, they’ll see Kanter in Chicago the first week of June and have been at a bunch of mass workouts already.

Hump? Good for him. Kris is a good guy and I know he won’t mind all being in the spotlight with a high-profile spouse.

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Q: Hi Doug. Great column. My daily read in fact. Quick and simple question. Was the pick in the Miami Sign-and-Trade for CB a 2011 or 2012? (wasn't it the Raptors pick in the first place?) Or did we trade that pick along the way to somewhere else?

Many thanks

 

 

Barry B, Kingston

A: It was for this year, it was Toronto’s pick in the first place, they got it back and then dealt it to Chicago for James Johnson.

And seeing how it would have been the 28th pick in the draft and carried with it three years of salary obligation, getting Johnson for it was an excellent move.

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Q: I know you don't do draft questions, but this is more of a generic one, so I hope you don't mind. If you were a GM during the draft, when it came your time to pick, would you choose 'the best available player?' Or would you choose the best available player in an area of need?

Thanks for all the great work!

 

 

Tim H, Windsor

A: I would pick the best available player and let the coach figure it out. But isn’t “best available player” such a subjective thing in such a crapshoot a thing as the draft that you could probably convince yourself that the “best available player” fits your biggest need?

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Q: I've been watching the Bulls/Heat series and have been absolutely disgusted by the flops made by LeBron, Bosh and co. These are role players, and the best in the world, and they are faking getting fouled and flopping and then winking at the camera as the play by play guys laugh as if its a joke. So my question is, do you think the league will crack down on this? I would like to see a 1 game suspension or large fine on a blatant second offense. What are your thoughts on flopping and appropriate punishment, if any?

 

Stan D, Toronto

A: Nah, I don’t. I do think officials are more cognizant of flops now. Probably not to level many would like, though, because it does go on.

Suspend? Nah, that’s a tad harsh. Maybe one day we’ll get to the point where they call a foul on the guy doing the flopping after repeated incidents but that’d be about as far as I’d like to see them go.

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Q: Hey Doug. Of all the cities that only have an NBA team (Portland, Utah, OKC, San Antonio, Sacramento, Orlando, Memphis), which city identifies with its team the most?

For example, are the Blazers bigger in Portland than the Magic are in Orlando?

Thanks as always.

 

 

Moe D, Hamilton

A: I’ll preface this by saying the most I get to those cities is twice a season so you need to take that into consideration. But I have also been doing this gig for a few years so there’s that.

It would be my considered opinion that, today, Portland beats out Oklahoma City at the top but only by the most narrow of margins. I still have the Blazer fans as the best in the league the city really rallies around that team.

Of the others? I don’t know that there’s a ranking system other than personal opinion but I’d probably put it Utah, San Antonio, Orlando, Sacramento and Memphis after that.

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Q: Hey Doug. Quick question: if a player is fouled in the act of shooting and the shot does not go in, does it count as a missed shot?

Thanks

 

 

Diego S, Toronto

A: No, they catch a break on that one.

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Q: Eh Doug, I am wondering with the great hiring of Mike Brown by the Lakers what happens to the Triangle offence? Do you foresee other teams trying it out or will it go to archives of basketball lore? Well at least the Lakers will be better defensively if that is possible.

 

C K, Mississauga

A: I think the triangle, which is predicated on reads and reactions, likely goes the way of the do-do bird if the Lakers abandon it and it’s not surprising. What’s the common denominator in the teams that have run it? A transcendent star in Jordan and Bryant, guys whose physical gifts are at least matched by their basketball intelligence.

Better defensively? Not sure. They’re pretty good now and, truth be told, a lot of what Cleveland did was due to the impact of assistant coach Michael Malone so if he joins Brown in L.A. – and there’s no legitimate suggestion he will.

 

 

 

Comments

[J]

@Doug:

"It was for this year, it was Toronto’s pick in the first place, they got it back and then dealt it to Chicago for James Johnson."

Just a little correction. The pick they dealt to Chicago was Miami's 2011 first rounder. The one we got back was a conditional first rounder that was lottery protected through 2014 or 2015 (I forget which year was the last year of protection). Effectively, we got back our first non-lottery pick between now and 2014/2015, or (if we never made the playoffs) our 2015/2016 lottery first rounder.

Blogger's note: Yeah, they got back their own pick and deal it for No. 28. If anyone cared about the protection. they're delusional

[Matt M]

Flops are bad? That is the only reason I even remember Vlad Divac. Now there was the G.O.A.T. for flopping.

[Matt]

Hey Doug,

After finishing the blog this morning I came across this right after:
http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2011/05/new_orleans_hornets_give_laker.html

Not an indication that it will happen but seems the interest is there.

[doug]

to me as far as drafting best player available or by position I think in today's NBA it's not that big a issue for teams...their is such a grey area now in pinpointing exactly what position guys actually play anymore...back in the day a center was a center, a guard a guard...now that's not the case, as these kids are so much more athletic..I just don't see it being a factor at all unlike in football where a offensive lineman is a lineman and a running back a running back that is where it's a issue...in the NBA it's becoming a moot point....my buddy and I were discussing the Raps last night and Jay's situation came up, my feelings are that if BC let's say signed a 4 or 5 year extension Jay would have been signed and sealed by now, but he only has a 2 with a option, this is a whole new situation, as to even just pick up Jay's option leaves BC only a year after with a new guy if he decides to go in a different direction, or to sign Jay to a 2 year deal and in doing so that ties BC's success or failure to Jay, ..so to me I would be doing exactly as BC is now, waiting thinking it out and checking out all the options as this may be BC's last coaching hire as a Rap's GM and having the right guy in place can make a huge difference, we saw 2 examples recently, Tom T with the Bulls over Del Negro exponentially better and Vogel with the Pacers far better fit for that team then O'Brien...I think Jay should be back as he brought the younguns along nicely but I am not BC nor in just a 2 year contract situation as he is...it's a tough call for BC hence to me the hesitation

[Lorie]

Good Day, Doug!
I've got to tell you it's taking some time getting used to this new team name. What about you and the kids? Is it feeling familiar yet? And what do you model yourselves after with the name "Rockies"? Is it the mighty, enduring mountain range? Or maybe a down-and-out boxer from Philadelphia (who had a no-nonsense, highly quotable manager!!!), unbelievably winning a championship with gutsy hard work and determination. Or, (and my fave) a certain flying squirrel who routinely came up with creative solutions to dicey situations a certain moose got him into? Or maybe it'll be something all their own! Cheers! And is it a blind squirrel (just following this Rocky line of thought)???

Blogger's note: If one of the new families is Boris and Natasha, we've got a story

[Joe]

Hi Doug,

ESPN is reporting that Cleveland is in negotiations to secure the 2nd pick overall in the draft via a 3 way deal with Minnesota and Detroit. Here's the link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6603100

The story goes on to say that if consummated, the Cavs would select Kyrie Irving and Derreck Williams. What a coup that would be for the Cavs.

Do you think this is something worth doing for Cleveland, Doug?

Thanks

Blogger's note: I can't see Detroit doing it so it matters not

[doug]

there's no way in hell Detroit can do that deal...the semantics alone for a new ownership group alone would be disastrous...the amount of rumours and innuendo we hear between now and the draft will be endless...but it's like I said before BC can do nothing until the Cavs, Wolves, etc all play their hands...as the Raptors getting the 5th pick limited severely BC's hand be a interesting few weeks...