Some draft nuggets and other unrelated items of interest

Yesterday was so slow, I should have been given a citation for laziness.

And I loved it, hope there are more days like it.

Did give me time to get this started, though, and I think that’s how I’m going to be spending a fair bit of time in the next little while.

-

Am hearing that Wednesday is the day Brampton’s Tristan Thompson is going to be in Toronto for a workout with the locals.

It’ll be a big media day for sure but I wonder what it actually means for the Raptors.

I still contend Thompson’s a stretch for the Raptors, at No. 5 or wherever.

He is, by all accounts I’m getting from scouts, a very good college player who needs to expand his back-to-the-basket game because it’s not going to serve him well in the NBA. Good defensively, solid energy guy who has had a tendency to drift during games but a lottery pick for sure.

But does he work here?

No.

While I hope he goes on to have an illustrious career in the NBA, I don’t see how a 6-9 power forward helps this team. If they need to address a frontcourt needs, it’s with a big, imposing presence inside and Thompson isn’t that yet and may not be.

But it’ll be a good story Wednesday and next week at the draft when he’s likely to become the highest-drafted Canadian ever.

Until now, that’d be the Nash bloke, who was drafted 15th overall by Phoenix way back in the day. Interestingly enough, I’ve seen Thompson’s name linked to Phoenix at 13.

-

This is too good to be true.

The Miami Herald runs a three-quarter-page ad from a store on Monday congratulating the Heat for winning an NBA championship?

Classic. Just classic.

Dewey Beats Truman (go google it, young ‘uns) has nothing on that.

-

Who among you haven’t been at a Springsteen concert – still the best musical night out you can possibly think of for talent, energy and singalong-capabilities – and haven’t been transfixed for minutes on the coolness that is Clarence Clemons.

If we are robbed of that talent because of a stroke, it will be a crying shame. Thank goodness for, well, for this:

Super Son?

You reading this?

When you’re done here, get practicing your sax. And practicing your cool.

(Guess there are going to be ways to fill this space in a slow basketball period)

-

So it’s 2-0 for the Bostons in The Big Game when I get in the car after the ball game (more on that later) and 4-0 by the time I settle in a stool and now I’m trying to figure out how a team that’s scored, what, six goals in six games and given up a hundred and thirty can feel good about a Game 7 even going home?

You know me and the pucks: there’s not a whole lot of interest but even for a guy like me, a Game 7 does hold some allure.

And if I wasn’t otherwise occupied, I’d probably watch because, as I recall, a wise man once said Boston in seven.

-

Speaking of the NBA draft, I hear it’s soon.

And I would imagine the HOTH have to be down to a much more manageable list that they started with now that a lot of workouts have been conducted.

The whispers I’m hearing is that they’re at half a dozen, tops, and now have to try to figure out precisely who’s the best fit and who might be around when it comes to the No. 5 selection.

Of course, they remain entirely in a reactive mode because a couple of teams above them are really giving no hint which way they’ll go.

That’d be Utah, with the No. 3 selection, and Cleveland, with its No. pick.

There doesn’t seem to be any consensus on which way either of them will go and that’s going to be the thing to try and figure out between now and next Thursday.

-

Oh yeah, they did not hire a coach yesterday since it was a decompression day following the trip to Europe where they saw a bunch of people work out.

-

Hey, here’s a bright side.

TOD didn’t lose yesterday.

But there was significant action at the ballyard as the Mighty Rockies rolled to a glorious 8-5 triumph over Another Dastardly Team. We’re 4-1 and I wonder when the Anthopoulos guy is going to stop by and check us out.

Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. might work?

-

Not sure if he’d be on the list of Raptor possibilities, or whether it’d be too much of a stretch to take him at No. 5 but one of the few names of collegians I heard around the locals this past spring was Alec Burks of Colorado.

A combo guard, maybe not ready to be a point guard in the NBA, he just has a way of making plays.

But don’t take that as gospel that they want him, just a name that hasn’t been bandied about too much and one I heard in the college season.

-

Know what?

I’m still not a big fan of Mark Cuban but he did comport himself quite well during the playoffs and two things he did in the aftermath of the Mavs win were cool.

First, he said he’s pay for the traditional parade, which is great because I don’t think city governments should have to do it, and then he dropped this one in a television interview:

"I might not get rings. Rings are old school. You've seen it before: There's guys who pick up the sweats and towels and they have these big, blingy rings. I'm like, 'Rings are done. It's time to take it to the next level.'"

He’s absolutely right about every Tom, Dick and Harry getting rings and showing them off like they’d made some big shot or been some integral part of a championship and I’ve always thought there needed to be something to differentiate the players and coaches from the rest of the staff.

I’m also not sure what “the next level” is (besides a hoary cliché that should be tossed on the trash heap) but I would think Cuban would be the guy to find it.

Maybe planes? Or cars?

-

 

 

Comments

[Peter]

If Super Son is reading his dad's blog about the 3rd worst team in the NBA, in the offseason... I fear that may not qualify for, "Practicing your cool.". :)

[Rob]

They're going to all walk out of the locker room with championship belts.

[Jacques]

how about the cash value of the ring or a free vacation to Richard Brenson Necker Island with spending money of course.

[chili]

Hey Doug,
Sax and basketball.
Grover Washington, Jr.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsqE_yKfkhE

[Johnn19]

What's not to like about an owner (Mark Cuban) who has an overiding "will to win" at whatever the cost, and willing to pay for his comments.
Since he bought the team in 2000, 11 straight playoffs, avg 50 wins, 2 finals appearance's and one Championship a 1st win, with a 31 year old franchise.
As an additional benefit he has reportedly contributed $1.2 million to the NBA charities with his critique of the NBA and Stern.
A great read in the Star by Dave Feschuk on Mark Cuban as an NBA owner.
MLSE will never be an NBA owner with an overiding will to win, unfortunately.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Morning Doug,
Alec Burks would look good alongside DeRoz, especially if Leandro takes his talents to Sao Paolo. I haven't really heard a name associated with the #5 slot that wouldn't be of help; of course, whoever it is, two years from now we'll be hearing "why didn't they take..." etc.
@chili: You totally nailed it! Man, I wish I had a loonie for every time I've listened to that sweet stuff these past 30+ years. Thanks for the 7:49 interlude that refreshes! Cheers.

[Lorie]

Hey Doug!
Let's do a list of "Rock's Greatest Sax Solos" soon! And, thanks @chili for the link to those sweet sounds. Sax and cool go together, don't they? I've always been partial to this one:
http://youtu.be/WkS169P_Eeo
Cheers! Sax-y cool laid-back ones today!

[joe]

Hey Doug,

Couple of questions:

1. Do you anticipate any big deals being made prior to and on draft day or will just sit tight until the new CBA comes in?

2. Have you heard anything in regards to progress being made between the union and league? What seem to be the big sticking points?

Thanks

Blogger's note: If there's a deal to be made, it'll be made regardless; and there are too many sticking points for here

[H]

So who are the raps going to pick at 5?

Blogger's note: Tell you a week Thursday

[JHK]

Air Canada strike... thoughts?

Blogger's note: Not sure it'll effect the usual level of service

[bill]

Hey Doug,

type-o : Anthopoulos not anthopolous

Blogger's note: Gotcha

[m]

You want sax, the real deal..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S46dhVcYWpY

[The J]

This has got to be the kind of draft a GM hates. If a good draft is a crapshoot, I don't know what to call one like this. Odds are one player in the top 10 will eventually impress, and there could be 9 relative duds. So that could leave up to 9 GMs getting killed by their fans. There will be plenty of "I knew they should have drafted Kanter, even when I was saying they should be drafting Kemba, I knew they should be drafting Kanter". Well if it's a crapshoot, let's just hope the Raptors get lucky and hit the right number, or shoot the right crap. Not sure I completely get this metaphore.
-
I don't know much about Dewey-Truman, but I could also compare it to George W.'s "Mission Accomplished" Aircraft Carrier moment. But in the paper's and Macy's defense they usually make those shirt for both teams without waiting to see who wins. So there is nothing that says they couldn't sell them. If they could hold a championship-like rally before the season, why not sell championship t-shirts, regardless of the outcome, after the season?
-
Speaking of the Heat and clothing, did anyone else notice they had been using pink towels for atleast a couple of rounds? I know it's red lettering on a white towel, but seriously, if you do laundry for a living you've got to figure it out. Hard to look imposing when you are looking less like the Justice League Super Friends, and more like My Little Pony.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

@lorie, you totally nailed it, too!! As you say, if there's anything Westminster Abbey could you, it's more sax! Maybe they'd let this guy step up to the podium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTkUeb6zQFA&feature=related Cheers!

[Penguin]

Thanks for the Clemons solo, Doug. Great stuff. Love the guy, the band, and the Boss...and your blogs.

[m]

So Garbo had retired.

[varicose]

Air Canada strike... thoughts?

Blogger's note: Not sure it'll effect the usual level of service

Actually, the service will improve exponentially. I've heard Air Canada flight attendants discuss passengers as 'jerks' and 'ugly losers' and laugh that they could do whatever they wanted because of their job security. I hope the strike doesn't give them even more leeway to abuse and disappoint passengers who expect a decent amount of service in the air.

Among my travels, Asian and Middle Eastern flight attendants are the prettiest (because they aren't guaranteed jobs into their 40s and 50s) and most courteous (for the same reason) -- the polar opposite of those in Air Canada.

[doug]

this is a pretty good observation by Steve Kerr, and pretty accurate on the Pippen/LeBron greatest ever statement..

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=6656859