It's all about the new guy and first impressions

So, what’d you think?

Of the new guy, that is.

Seems to have a bit of a “presence” doesn’t he?

Seems to be able to command respect from those around him, can make his points quickly, lucidly and with passion, leaving no doubt that he’s in charge.

I don’t know for sure how that’s going to translate once he gets on the floor as the guy in charge but as first impressions go, I think he made a good one with the people in the room.

The one thing anyone wants in a coach is to be able to capture the attention of his players, get them to buy what he’s selling and a lot of the good ones do it by the force of their personality.

The Xs and Os don’t change all that much from one organization to the next or from one coaching philosophy to another; what the good ones do is get players, fans, bosses and, yes, even the media who distribute the message to listen intently and give respect.

This might have been one of the best lines from Casey:

I don’t need players to like me, I want them to respect me.

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Haha.

Fooled you on the mock draft, didn’t I?

Sorry about that, got caught up in a whole bunch of Dwane Casey for the web and the paper and it got put back a day.

Tomorrow’s paper and the website later today for sure. I just need to find the precise reasons why Brandon Knight makes more sense that Kemba Walker here. You understand, right?

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So, another bargaining session comes Friday and that has to be good news.

But when they start talking about billions of dollars and hundreds of millions in give-backs or takeaways or whatever, my eyes kind of go all glassy and my mind wanders.

I don’t think there’s an appetite among fans or readers for the minutia of contract negotiations, I know for a fact that I don’t have the expertise or even the contacts to fully explain it so I don’t know that I’m going to be much help as this story drags on interminably.

My Man Sheridan does a good job explaining things, he’s been far closer than I to these kinds of stories for years so here’s what he wrote about yesterday’s chat.

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Speaking of the draft, I had a couple of guys in the organization make the same point to me in separate conversations yesterday.

Is there anyone at No. 5 who is better than what they have at the same spot now?

Think about it and we’ll discuss it a bit more in the morning but right now they have a young team with some promise, a new coach who may be able to change things, and there is a feeling of optimism around there. It may be cockeyed optimism but at least it’s not dread and when you look at the possibilities for the pick, is it really a huge upgrade at any spot?

More specifics tomorrow but here’s one: Is Kawhi Leonard really an upgrade over James Johnson? Seriously. Maybe in a few years but that’s a total guess. Is he today? I don’t know. And neither do a couple of Henchmen.

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Oh, this is going to make the new coach popular in some circles.

A hockey analogy:

“In the playoffs, we spliced in some hockey into our game film because we thought we were playing too soft at the start of the Miami series and it really set the tone. I don’t know a lot about hockey, I’ve heard about it, but we spliced in guys checking players up into the windows and boards, that type of thing. That’s the way we’re going to play.”

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This is why I like Rick Carlisle.

Sent him a text early yesterday morning wondering if he was around and able to chat for a minute or two about Casey.

Got one back about 30 minutes later saying, yeah, he was around and to call right then.

I did, we talked, got some good quotes and a bit of insight and when we were making small talk about life in general, he told me he was walking the streets of Paris on vacation.

That’s above and beyond the call of duty for anyone, there are players and coaches who don’t have time for you when they’re in the same gym, let alone on a different continent.

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All kinds of players filtering back into town, I hear.

Saw DeMar and Sonny at the Casey thing yesterday, I understand Jerryd Bayless and Ed Davis are in town and I expect there’ll be some working out and fooling around going on in the gym over the next few days, the same kind of unofficial workouts that happen in September.

That’s not a bad sign, I guess. It’ll give them a chance to at least meet the new coach, hang out a bit and, perhaps, get to know whatever draft pick they end up making on Thursday night.

Oh and because you know me and hairstyles/fashion/stuff I really don’t know a lot about, DeMar shows up with these cornrowy things on his head and all I can think of is that if he lets it grow for a month or two, he’ll look like Oak when he had those twisty things that were, um, unique.

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One more Casey quote on his demeanour, which can be quite animated during games:

As a head coach, I’m not going to be as hard-charging as I was an assistant. With our staff the way it was built in Dallas, that was my job, my role … that’s what I had to bring every day. I may have to do it here, I’m not going to say I’m not going to do it but I may have to temper that and my staff has to do a good job of making sure I temper it with the right disposition.

I don’t want to wear our players out, I want it to be fun to come in and play hard every day … that’s on us to be innovative, be creative as part of our approach to practice.”

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Comments

[Pipit]

With all this media exposure, Casey has been getting all the good vibes making Triano look so bad. It seems like he didn't do anything substantial to the team during his tenure as a head coach. He can't demand anything to the players even with a roster as meek as lamb. He didn't make the players accountable and let those players play who doesn't play hard. He doesn't reward players who plays the right way. This is one huge step for the Raptors. Kicking out this incompetent coach and replacing him with someone whose the complete opposite. His last golden chance to be a head coach in the leagueThe last thing a soft team needs is a softy coach.

[dave]

knight is 6'3
kemba is 5'11

taller pgs are usually nicer to have?

[GM]

"I would suspect that fans who don't have an opinion on who we should take are simply people who don't watch any college basketball." -- That's why I've been so silent. I love this time of year, but not watching college ball makes me a bystander. I only start looking at the players once they make it to the NBA. And that's no knock on college ball. Whenever I do watch a game, I enjoy it. Then again, I enjoy watching grade five ball, too, or pick-up ball. I just can't commit the time to all those colleges. I watch enough basketball as it is.

There seems to be this meme that Colangelo dictated who Jay had to play. Do we know this as a fact?

Blogger's note: I don't know it as fact at all, which is why I've never written it.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Afternoon Doug,
Defensive accountability balanced with letting the offensive horses run... sounds like a spot-on strategy for these guys right now. If there's one day on the calendar that I'm glad to see come and go, it's draft day. The real off-season fun starts when the FAs start moving – unless it happens to be one of those rare draft days when the swap shop is open early for business. Do you get any sense this could maybe be one of those fun nights?
If not, what are the key dates coming up for both FA signings and CBA developments? (Nothing of note to report from yesterday there?)
Followed your recommended burger trail to an old favourite haunt last evening: the Rosedale Diner. Their bison burger with carmelized onions, avocado and goat cheese, with a cold Stella or three for accompaniment, was better than ever. Love their summer patio! Cheers.

Blogger's note: Player reps meet Thursday, bargaining session Friday, owners meeting next Tuesday

[Arbsn]

Hey Doug!!!!

I'm excited for the draft. I don't know why. I guess I just miss the HOTH. Anyways, you were saying DeMar, Jerryd etc were in town. I think this is great. However, I always thought it was "illegal" for teams to practice during the offseason. Is this true? Happy Summer to you!

Blogger's note: Not illegal to get some gym time if there's no lockout.

[sam]

@Pipit- what kind of statement was that?
I don't understand why you feel the need to slam Jay weeks after he had been relieved of his duties. It's past the due date for criticism and kind of cold. Jay worked with the hand he was dealt. The Team had a rash of injuries and still they competed hard for him on a consistent basis. Does that make him incompetant - or a bad coach - It seems he's a victim of circumstance more thananything else.

We don't know what type of team Casey will have - we know somes of the parts, but certainly some new faces will be in the Raptors colours....The outcome might be the same....

[saatuk]

Just a couple of notes from a college BB junkie. Everyone else is posting their opinions so here's mine.

How are fan-type people or even NBA types able to make a reasonable evaluation of Kanter when he hasn't played (or practiced at a decent level) for over a year? I sure wouldn't use a lottery pick on him.

I don't think Kemba Walker is as great as some others think, either. He certainly did some coasting last season and, even when going hard, he wasn't spectacular.

I saw Kawhi Leonard play at least half-a-dozen times and I think he'll be good for someone, but I really don't see him as a top ten pick unless this draft is weaker than I think.

My preference for the Raptors: trade down into the high teens, get a veteran contributor, and pick Kenneth Farried from Morehead State - the guy who broke Tim Duncan's all-time D1 rebounding mark. He's like a younger, more athletic (and better offensive) Reggie Evans.

[The J]

I too, can admit to not following the college game close enough to have a true idependent view on who the Raptors should draft. But I do believe there is plenty of room for upgrades on any team that won only 22 games. And if it takes a couple of years to find that potential, I think that should fit in their honest timelines as well (we are a couple of years out from seeing anything meaningful from this team). Since I have no true insight, I've stolen some from ESPN:

• Toronto was impressed with the workout of Congo forward Bismack Biyombo Monday in New York, particularly his athleticism and raw skill. But his lack of basketball experience could be a negative in the decision process. The Raptors remain also extremely high on Jan Vesely of Partizan (Serbia) and Knight if the Kentucky point guard remains on the board.

And from Chris Ford:
• The Raptors' hiring of Dwane Casey might affect their draft plans. Casey is a defensive specialist, and when he looks at the Raptors' roster, there isn't much to like on that front. GM Bryan Colangelo has built an offensive juggernaut, but defensively, the Raptors are pretty terrible. That might explain why the team is zeroing in on three excellent defenders -- Brandon Knight, Biyombo and Kawhi Leonard -- at No. 5. I've had Jan Vesely going here for weeks, and others have been pushing for Kemba Walker here, but it sounds like neither player is atop the Raptors' board right now.

I know this has always been an offensively focussed team but an "offensive juggernaut"? I'm not sure about that one. He is definetly right about the "others have been pushing for Kemba Walker here" part. I think if Kemba is the real deal, we will have a never ending run of the "I told you so's".

[The J]

Oh and congrats to Richard who at one time couldn't even get anyone to reasonably discuss the idea of trading the pick, and know can enjoy people suggesting something he was saying a couple of months ago.

I still say keep the pick and hope it pans out, but I do understand the argument.

[pain777pas]

Here is something to consider bringing Casey in. We don't like the comparison but lets think about the Dirk vs Barg thing. He coached and Dirk won a title for his team. I feel that the uniqueness of Dirk is far greater than Bargs however, BC may think that Casey can work wonders for his defense. Dirk was criticized in times past for that very reason and rebounding and now look at how good he is at both ends. Bargs can shoot. Not a high percentage but he may become a Dirk LIKE player one day. Let us consider that Dirk had all the attention like Bargs will and DELIVERED a title. I don't think that Bargs is as diverse and patented as Dirk is in all honesty I don't think their will be another player with such scoring prowess at his size. What BC is doing is having someone who knows what a Dirk like player looks like and what he can do and BC will be making a decision on what to do with him. Is he the franchise player in waiting or is he the deer in the headlights about to get struck? This will be an interesting year indeed. I think that the experience of winning will help Casey earn the respect of the players and the league right off the bat. Plus working with Dallas lite type pieces bodes well at developing something similar or going in another direction. Seeing that he is already using templates like the Bulls and OKC as teams to model with his Dallas experience bodes well for this teams future. What do you think though Doug? Is Casey in here to evaluate Bargs intently to see whether the organisation pins their hopes on him or not?

Blogger's note: He's here to coach the entire team

[Richard]

@ The J:

Thanks for the memories...
I have indeed healed from the beat-down I endured out there on the "crazy" limb by myself but I've been reading this blog for long enough now to know what I was in for when I first floated the idea. I didn't think it was an entirely unreasonable idea though and am glad to see it is not only up for discussion/debate here now (which is really all I was advocating back then) but it seems it actually is being considered within the management ranks (which I believe is their due diligence at the very least).

I must say that I do find it quite interesting though to read the various proclamations about which draft choice is better than players already on the Raptor's roster. Reading claims that Walker is better than Bayless or Calderon; or Kawhi Leonard is better than James Johnson always makes me wonder what is the frame of reference that people use to make these claims with such conviction and certainty. I watch my fair share of basketball and there's no way I can tell anyone that an NCAA standout is a can't miss prospect at the NBA level. No way.
Comparing top flight NCAA players or top Euroleague performers to NBA players, established or not, who have spent some time in the ranks of the NBA, to me is the epitome of speculation. It's a difficult task for professional scouts and GMs with years of experience and first-hand exposure to young would-be draft picks, not to mention careers on the line (I'm referring to their own), and have great difficulty determining who the best draft options are and projecting success for 18 and 19 year-olds entering the best men's basketball league in the world.
So for me, it continues to boggle how even the most avid fans of college and other men's leagues can write with such certainty who the right and wrong picks are or who will be better at the next level. A level, by the way, reserved for only the very best of players (a single digit %) from the NCAA or any European Men's League to enter each year. So unless a given player is absolutely handing it to every opposing player and tearing up every team in their respective league, it's the old apples and oranges comparison from my POV.

If I had that talent, I would not be wasting it flexing my prognosticatory (I think I just made up a word) muscles here, that's for sure.
(No offense intended Doug, I'd still read the blog. It is very entertaining.)

[doug]

I am not much of a pucks fan anymore but I find it both interesting and perplexing that the NHL is holding their draft a day after the NBA's...if Bettman is serious about growing hockey in the states then he can't hold his draft a day after the NBA's when the talk in all the U.S. newspapers will be on who picked what, trades etc...the NHL will be relegated to the back pages, not a bright move from a P.R. perspective...but then again that's Bettman's leadership he loses track of the little things...I must say the draft tomorrow night will be interesting ,maybe one of the most interesting in years, i will be watching to see what trades, moves are made...teams are playing their poker faces today, Cavs saying they are keeping both picks etc.etc...it's all talk to up the ante and see who bites...be interesting, and the T-Wolves in of themselves are entertaining...watching TOD I think it's time Alex A made some roster moves, and philosophy from a teams coach no matter the sport is key, John Farrell's is manufacturing runs, players have lost their confidence and the team has turned into a punch and judy type team...they have lost their aggressiveness at the plate he is in danger of losing his players I feel, as a coach you have to let players play and believe in them, this jays team is micro-managed far to much...

[Sam]

Doug,

Any news about the current assistant coaches? I hope Alex Englsih can stay - he has done an excellent job to develop Amir Johnson and Ed Davis. Also the coach (Nori or Hughes?) who really helped DD to develop in the last two years. Do you think Casey will consider these factors and the management will recommend them? Thanks for the great insights as always!

Blogger's note: I'm sure they'll be considered but nothing's done yet

[T i]

Brandon Knight is 'almost' two years younger than Kemba Walker. He is longer and supposedly more athletic. That is why people are loving his potential. But on the other hand, I recently re-watched UCONN v Kentucky semifinal from the final four, and let me be clear - Kemba owned Knight in that matchup. The huskies also beat Kentucky in the regular season matchup by the way. With respect to walker, the other reason he is slightly lower in mock draft projections is his size. He is 6'0" apparently (some have claimed a little shorter in reality). Some people worry that he will get stuffed too often and will just get posted-up on defense. The truth of the matter is that Kemba Walker is a winner. People have been calling him too small for years yet he just wins wins wins. I would note be surprised if Kemba ends up being a stud. On the other hand, you have a slightly younger, more athletic Knight whom (mainly because of those attributes) gets scouts salivate at what he may one day become. Should one prefer the player with unflattering measurements but a consistent achiever or the player who was outplayed when matched up against the other but has the size and potential to be even greater. It's a tough call. The higher pick you have the more teams tend to think you need to take advantage of the high pick for the athleticism you can't find in later picks. To conclude, there are reasons to favour both young men over each other. I would be seriously content with either. Hindsight will be 20/20 as per usual in a few years. But any person on the planet who thinks they can definitively say which will be a better pro, is talking out if their arse.

[J]

Yay, finally, for all the reasonable talk in today's response section.

I'd like to make a change to the following though: "I would suspect that fans who don't have an opinion on who we should take are simply people who don't watch any college basketball." It should actually read like this:

"I would suspect that fans who don't have an adamant opinion on who we should take are either people who don't watch any college basketball, or aren't so swamped in hubris that they think the only reason they're not making many times their current salary as NBA scouts (despite their obvious expertise in evaluating NCAA -> NBA talent) is because they don't want to."

I do hope we draft Kanter (assuming he doesn't get picked by Utah or Cleveland), but it's just an opinion and nobody is moron for not agreeing with me. =)

@The J:

You're right. The only time the Raptors could have been considered an offensive juggernaut is the 2009-2010 season. The season before that, as well as this past season, we were in the bottom third of the league's offenses. It's probably the same reason why people say BC always drafts European players, even though Bargnani and Printezis weere the only actual European picks. Two of the last three years, our offense has been almost as bad as our defense.

[Rob.V]

More specifics tomorrow but here’s one: Is Kawhi Leonard really an upgrade over James Johnson? Seriously. Maybe in a few years but that’s a total guess. Is he today? I don’t know. And neither do a couple of Henchmen.
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ME: There simply may not be a significant amount of talent available (which would be an upgrade over what they already have in those positions) to keep the player they draft.
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Okay, now I'm just thinking that the "henchmen" read here. You know... to rip me off!!!
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Yup. That'd be me tooting my own horn.. beep, beep!!!

******
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Seriously though, it does make entire sense. The Raptors are going to either move back in the draft, or trade the 5th pick.
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Yes, I am guessing like everyone else however given the talent in the 5 spot at the moment... it's got to be 80/20 that they wont be drafting the #5 (for themselves)...unless Knight or Kanter slip to 5.
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On the other hand, this could be the greatest smoke and mirrors act (by Colangelo & Co.) if they really believe Kemba Walker is their guy... history would suggest that Colangelo is a straight shooter though, so I could not subscribe to them selecting Walker at #5 (for the Raptors).

[Hope Caper]

Hey Doug, thought I would check in as my year winds down and I start looking for sun, not much happening for sun by the bay. There are some interesting looks for the Raps in new talent. Personally I hope they take the best they can find at whatever postion is available. I don't think they have 2 keepers at any posdition, at least for the long term. Possibly the guard positon as an exception (I'm not a jose defamer). But history has taught us this team needs depth and I don't think trading away or dropping someone is going to get it done in hopes of picking up a Nash, Parker etc. that's been done too often in TO and they have the management changes to prove it. I believe BC was on the same theme with Bosh before Bosh put the team out of its misery by forcing the change from trying to make the playoffs to rebuilding. I believe that DD can't be considered part of the rebuild because he was in the Bosh era.
So then how much rebuilding has been done?
Not much.
Really, they have some recycled players who might turn out and they have one good pick since Bosh. The whole good part about being bad is to take advantage of the draft not give'em away. There's a reason why teams dump players in their "prime" for a top pick. If BC wants to develop a team I hope ownership gives him some time to grab some picks and go with that.
Anyway thanks as always for the info and when I get near a computer over the summer I'll depend on your nose for news!

[dave]

With the fifth selection of the 2011 NBA Draft, The Toronto Raptors select

Bismack Biyombo

or Raptors will trade down, or whatever scenario that will play out, B-smack will be a raptor.

you heard it here first.