That certainly wasn't one for the ages

Well, that was something of a stinker, wasn’t it?

It may take some weird kind of osmosis or channeling of past games to make it happen but someone -- anyone -- has to create some tempo in this series or we’ll be hard-pressed to stay awake most nights.

But, I’m not sure we’re ever going to get an electrifying, offence-first game with these two teams, they defend too well, but even by those standards, that was pretty dull. I blame the layoff between the end of the conference final and the final.

That gave the coaches all kinds of time to break down tape and devise defensive game plans that worked almost to perfection for most of the night. At no time during the game did you think either team did anything that was a huge surprise to the other and that’s why we got a grind-it-out, kind of boring game of contested shots and few great looks.

But the beauty of playoff basketball is seeing teams make adjustments game-to-game and to see if they work.

You can be sure that Rick Carlisle and his staff were up late dissecting video last night and they have just today’s practice -- which is always a light one at this time of year -- and tomorrow’s shootaround to make the necessary changes.

And that’s why I love post-season basketball. There’s no back-to-backs, no three-games-in-four-nights, there can be a healthy level of animosity that builds up and the intensity seldom wavers.

I think you can liken Game 1 to the opening rounds of a title fight, teams are feeling each other out, jabbing and running. The real fun starts now, or at least no later than Game 3. And given what happened in Game 1, that’s a good thing.

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Player of the game?

Yeah, guess it has to be LeBron, right? But I’m not sure we don’t have to give a wee bit of credit to Haslem, who played a typically understated defensive game as Miami simply turned the screws on the Dallas offence.

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Oh, this is one of the all-time digressions and I think you might have fun with it.

Q: Hey Doug. This might be a good one for a weekday.  Can you give us your top five fictional novels?

David S, Toronto

A: Well, we certainly can’t talk all basketball here, can we?

Okay, I have to preface this by saying I don’t read a lot of fiction; hard to find the time, hard to find a genre I truly like and, as you can see, I’m also rather old-school.

And, five? Five’s tough. Impossible, actually, but since we tend to the impossible here, why not.

That said, if you put me on an island with these five books, I’d be quite happy. No particular order here, either.

Have at it, kids.

The Great Gatsby

Bootleggers, class races, let-the-good-times-roll stuff? How could you not like it?

1984

It didn’t quite unfold like Oceania, did it? But the next time you talk about Big Brother, ask someone where it cam from.

To Kill A Mockingbird

I know people who use scoutfinch as their e-mail addresses. A wonderful book, it’s also one of those movies that when you’re flipping through the channels, and ou stumble upon it, you stay there

Great Expectations

There are those who think Dickens is a tad over-rated. I, and the people at Olde Cheshire Cheese, would disagree. That said, and a digression off a digression, the next writer who leads a story with “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” need to go work in some other industry.

The Old Man And The Sea

I’m not sure if Papa’s last major work was his best but I liked it. And, really, isn’t that all that matters?

Now, if I had to go to a second five, and I know there’s probably 100 more 5s out there, how’s this sound:
Animal Farm, On The Road, Farewell to Arms, The Grapes of Wrath, Underworld (if only for the spectacular Fenway opening).

And, no, I haven’t read any Salinger or Golding. I know, I know. I should. Must have ditched high school English when those came up.

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Bruins in seven, in case you were wondering.

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Goat of the game?

Well, we tend to rush to judgement but there is no way the Mavs can win even a game if Jason Terry goes scoreless for an entire half.

I’m not a huge Terry fan -- I think he’s got a lot of “look at me” in him and I like my athletes a bit more, um, humble -- so I may be more harsh than some but, really, he’s got to get points.

 

So, we’re less than two weeks away from the deadline to pick up the option year on Jay’s contract and while the silence, to some, is deafening, I guess it does make some sense.

Bryan’s been steadfast in not leaking any information about him, all we get is “all in due time, not going to make it public” kind of stuff but it’s not that things aren’t going on behind the scenes.

I do know that the two men have chatted more than once since Bryan got his new contract and while there wasn’t a formal “interview” -- that would be rather silly given how well they know each other -- they did talk about some specifics.

Anyway I think we have to get a resolution in a week, just so there’s some idea of whether Jay and his staff need to waste their time in the final stages of draft prep or not.

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Remember how I used to love my Macbook Pro?

Remember the morning I had to flit all over Miami looking for an external keyboard.

How about this morning, when I’m working now on Super Son’s personal laptop because mine doesn’t seem capable of holding a charge?

How much easier was my life with typewriters?

So much for the lazy day hanging around Casa Doug ignoring long-ignored lawn chores.

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Perhaps the most significant news out of the night came from Uncle David in his Finals State Of The Union media gig.

He said there’d be full blown negotiating sessions in Miami and in Dallas aimed at averting a lockout and after a couple of smaller meetings not involving everyone have been held, that has to be seen as at least a good, small step.

Now, labour talks and stories about them tend to elicit nothing but yawns from me so I’m not going to breathlessly care about what goes on day-to-day but talking rather than posturing can’t be bad.

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Okay, off day on Friday with no player or team availability so I’m guessing we’ll do the mail for here Saturday morning. You can do the usual stuff right there. Thank you.

Comments

[Rob.V]

I agree on Jason Terry. Different positions however he reminds me of Carlos Boozer. Over the years neither of them have been able to elevate their game in the playoffs and it has cost their teams series.
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Terry's not a legitimate 2nd option however they are going to need him to be better. Barea got what he wanted however it may have been a case of "nerves" for him because he usually makes the shots he was getting. Dallas will need both of these guys to be stellar to have a shot.
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Triano has been a good soldier for the franchise, any thought to him becoming an assistant GM and Colangelo bringing in a more defensive minded coach?

[Jacques]

Doug, any chance BC is looking at trading for Ellis in GS. Maybe use the trade excemption, he scores a bunch of points. What about Andrei Kirilenko in T.O. I'm sure our Russian community would love that. your thoughts

Blogger's note: I don't imagine either of them gets traded

[Smalahove]

Why do you need it to hold a charge? Can't you just plug it in? Are extension cords now obsolete?

[Kent]

Dirk injured his left hand as well; Mavs are in more trouble than just being down 0-1...how do you shoot less than 40% and still win a NBA finals game by 8 points? By playing suffocating defense. I can't believe I have to write this out because it's so painfully obvious but I will do it for the stubborn few: DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

[Mich G.]

Hey Doug,

Might I suggest a list of top five Canadian novels?

In the skin of a Lion - Onndatje (sp?)
Blind Assassin - Atwood
Colony of Unrequited Dreams - Wayne Johnston
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Oryx and Crake - Atwood

The Canada Reads contest on CBC is a great way to find some AMAZING Canadian literature.

Enjoy.

[Ray]

Doug,

How about Ken Kesey? Sometimes a Great Notion is by far the most impressive book I've ever read. Cukoo's nest also classic. Was any author better at establishing perspectives for characters?

[John]

Who are the Bruins?

[Kate C]

To Kill a Mockingbird - one of my all-time faves too. Great list.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Morning Doug,
Starting cobwebs and jitters aside, I thought it was a very entertaining game, in much the same way a 2-1 pitchers' duel can be, when a few too many errors get erased by an equal or greater number of defensive gems. I'm fully expecting the flow to pick it up, along with the intensity. Bring it!
Is LBJ the Miami Mamba or what? Scary good, scary upside still to unfold.
Wow. Five fictional novels... To Kill a Mockingbird is right up there at the top of my list too. Catch-22 by Heller. Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Beloved by Toni Morrison. How to pick just one more... brain hurts... you've got your Faulkner, Vonnegut, Tolkein, Hemingway, Twain, London... maybe a top 50? Cheers.

[David Sidh]

I'm pretty proud to say I've read all of your top five! Nice choices! : )

[Lorie]

Hey Doug,
Good luck with your technical issues. Typewriters? We've one in the office and you should see the reaction of our co-op students when they start their work placements. Also not to be missed is the looks on their faces when I tell them I remember a time when they weren't even electric. So, Books?
1. Island of Adventure by Enid Blyton (read when I was very young and recall how much this book transported me. Many have since, but this one was the first)
2. The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne (silly and profound at the same time; and must have E.H. Shepard's drawings.)
3. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (have to re-read it every couple of years)
4. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers (first book that taught me to always look beyond stereotypes and the power of the human spirit)
5. A Room With A View by E.M. Forster (Ahhh...to come of age in Florence, at the turn of the last century....)
But then there's also Moby Dick, War and Peace, Out of Africa, Enchanted April, Pride and Prejudice...and we haven't even touched on Shakespeare. Or Poetry. Cheers! And reading on the deck while ignoring yardwork sounds like a perfect way to pass a sunny afternoon!

[Kelsey]

Im upset because Dirk injured his non shooting hand, now this will give everyone a excuse when Miami takes this series 4-2..Maybe 4-1.. I see hunger in Lebron, Bosh, Haslem and Wades eyes.. Dirk is excellent scorer but a weak defender with his tic tac softy cry baby fouls!!
oooh I cant wait for J Terry to have to remove his trophy tatoo. I know its one game,but Im telling the world Dallas cant win 4 games before Miami...

Look at Miami's rotations, its not OKC. I liked watching this type of game and Miami turned it when??? The clutch the 4th quarter, stepped on the Mavericks Throat!!!

@ Kent...Im glad you said it Defense wins championships.
This is why Toronto must ship Bargnani (if they can get a good deal) not for anything. Watchn playoffs gets me more disinterested in Bargnani. I dont want to say he has no heart, but he certainly plays like it!!!!

Look at Memphis they made it to playoffs and 2nd round because defense..

Im sorry Triano a nice guy but really time to go another direction, I dont see him leading this team with a successful(and thats with low expectations)

Blogger's note: But if they don't get a good deal, they should keep him? That's ok?

[Thane]

Uh Doug, all five of those are real novels.

A novel, by definition, is a book containing a fictional story - so saying 'fictional novels' is obviously not refering just to novels, but rather to made up novels - say if an author has a character in a book read a book that doesn't actually exist.

Examples would include 'Misery's Dilemma' (a book by the character in Stephen King's novel 'Misery') or 'Romance in Paradise' (a book by a character in Margaret Atwood's 'Lady Oracle')

Still would make an interesting question for the lit geeks amongst us. =)

[John]

Who needs a Thesaurus, Dictionary or any sort of resource or training in the English language when we can simply turn to a Blog about Basketball for reference...

[Kelsey]

@ Doug Im a realist if they dont get a good deal then yes they have to keep him and just dont depend on him. Toronto cant affort another Babcock move, we know Colangelo would never let that happen anyways.

Less minutes for sure. But I would honestly disapointed if Bargnani is on this team for another full year. Team needs to head in a totally different direction.

[Kent]

@ kelsey. You are truly a #1 raptor fan. Here we are, watching and talking about the NBA finals and you are still thinking about Bargnani and the raptors. It's like someone standing in front of his dream car at the Autoshow and still thinking about the 7-passenger van back in the garage.

[Robert Bertuzzi]

I blame expansion from which the league has never recovered. Adding seven teams in less than 25 years, roughly 100 more players, has really diluted the product.

AAU culture which seems to give primacy to playing games over skill development.

And control freak coaches who insist on micro-managing the life out of the game. Somehow Spoelstra has managed to take three supremely sublime player-athletes and turn them into a more skilled/talented version of the 1995 Knicks. "Riley Spoelstra" indeed!!! I guess I should be grateful that Lebron has the build of Anthony Mason but not the skills. That D-Wade unlike John Starks can actually make a shot and that Chris Bosh is just a much better version of Charles Smith. I will never understand how Riley went from the architect of "Showtime" to the bureaucratic slowtime. Ugh!

[Lorie]

@Thane
"Possession" by A.S. Byatt makes nice use of the "fictional novels" device. I hear "Jonathon Strange & Mr. Norrell" does also, but that weighty tome is currently being used as a door stop. (Just couldn't get into it...)
@John
This IS the most curious, surprising place some days, isn't it? You come for the basketball and stay for the esoterica.

[Kelsey]

@ Kent Why wouldnt I be thinking of the Raptors. Draft is coming up soon...I love to watch Miami and Ill love it more when dump dirk and mavericks down the drain!!!!
This way when Dirk gets ousted and starts to cry, Ill be able to appoligize to all the people that I have said they shouldnt comparing Dirk to Bargnani... It looks like I will have to write a big sorry to them and say they were right because all Dirk can do is score and play NO DEFENSE!!!! (obviously im over exagerating for real basketball fans)

If you read my comments I also was talking about the finals check above in the blog!!! Kent!

[sam]

@kelsey - I find your posts amusing simply for your need to tell everyone you're right, and wanting so desperately to prove it just so you can gloat about it. Your choice of imagery and dedication to running Jay and Andrea out of town is also commendable.

[doug]

many years ago well 10- or so...the Globe and Mail ran a top 100 fiction books of all time...from Joyce on down , so i cut it out and decided to tackle that list i think i made it to reading 77 og those books and never again have I read
"disposable" books such as Grisham etc...most of those writers on that list wrote when we never lived in a visual age as we do now they lived when words and expression of speech were king, and they were true wordsmiths, my fav book of all time is the Grapes of Wrath....@Robert Bertuzzi you hit the nail on the had...when i grew up quarterbacks called there own plays, mangers managed by feel and their gut instinct and NBA coaches let their players play...this isn't even b-ball, it's just dreadful, and it has nothing to do with diluted talent level, or whatever it's just over-coaching...and @Kent your so delusional if you think this is all about defense, Dirk had a fine game, it was Terry ,Peja that missed open looks, and Bosh,Lebron and Wade turned on the offense when they had to, try watching the games with a open mind instead of this constant proving your "theories" right, you are proving something alright, just not what you may be thinking you are...and someone else mentioned it and it's the truth but how can someone be watching the NBA finals and yet it somehow it becomes all about Barg's, that also says a lot as well......

[doug]

oops sorry...here the topic was on writers and I made spelling errors not good ...never bothered to proofread sorry...

[pain777pas]

Jay Triano is gone Doug. Thoughts? I'll wait till tommorows blog but...wow. Why am I so happy about this? Strange?

[Matt M]

Too bad about Triano. I was looking forward to seeing if he could turn it around next season. C'est la Vie.

[Dave in BG]

WOW

Nothing here about Jay being removed as head coach!

Wakey wakey people