The end of the weekend mail, as usual

Sorry I’m a little later than usual for a Sunday, decided to get out to the stadium early so am finishing this off from there.

You came through as always with some good stuff and there are all kinds of music ones left over that I can use during the week in the never-ending search for something, um, different to do.

Back to the usual grind on the holiday Monday with all kins of weird stuff from a weekend in New York.

Have fun.

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Q: It is reported that Wilson Chandler signed a contract to play in China. Also, the CBA said they will not sign players with an opt out clause. As Wilson is a "Restricted" free agent, how is it possible for him to sign without an opt out clause?

Dave B, Cornwall

A: He doesn’t have one; he’ll have to spend the entire season in China, unable to come back when the NBA settles its new deal. A gamble by him, for sure. And when his deal in China is up, the Nuggets will still hold his NBA rights; same deal as when Carlos Delfino went to Russia as a restricted free agent with Toronto.

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Q: Doug, some tech type questions. I know answers will be roughly.

How many hits does the Star get?

How many hits does the blog get, (season and non-season?)

How many questions per week?

Just curious.

Bruce M, Winnipeg

A: I can’t really speak to the Star’s overall numbers but I can track those here and do every now and then. Not every day, of course, but once in a while I like to check in.

Now, these are rough numbers for sure but I’d guess we average somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 a day in the off-season (it might spike to five figures on a day when there’s news) and we’ll get to about 12,000-14,000 on a regular in-season day. Again, they can spike if something happens.

I appreciate them all.

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Q: Long time reader, first time correspondent. A baseball question if you don't mind. Does a ground ball double play count as two ground ball outs when compiling the pitcher's stats?

Jim S, Belleville

A: This is a question that spawned a Friday night stool discussion that left the mattered unresolved. But after checking with a member of the crack TOD media relations staff on Saturday, I can dutifully report that, yes, a ground ball double play counts as two ground ball outs in the stats.

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Q: Hi Doug. I watched the game today and thought both teams had a great deal of difficulty adjusting to the officiating. With this in mind, how many of the young players going off to the NCAA this year (Pangos, etc) will either make the team or be ready to contribute if Canada (put nickname here) makes it to the qualifying tournament next year?

Kevin M, Maple

A: I obviously can’t say for sure because development times different for every player but I would be shocked if anyone other than Tristan Thompson (with an NBA season under his belt) and Matt Bonner (if he’s a citizen) play any kind of meaningful role.

I don’t see a kid with one year of college under his belt, or even less, being able to step in and play right away, especially any point guard who’d have to be better than Cory Joseph.

And I warn you: If Canada gets to that final tournament next year, it will be exponentially harder to earn one of three Olympic berths there than it is to get one of two in Argentina this year. There will be four European countries there that will have a far better chance than Canada does.

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Q: Hi Doug. Josh M. asked a question on Saturday about bringing your game every night. Building on his idea, what would be the factors in a perfect NBA schedule that would allow players to play their best on a more consistent basis?

Kevin M, Maple

A: I bet if you asked them honestly they would say a rhythm. Maybe a game every other day, or three a week, no back-to-backs, no two-games-in-three-days and absolutely no road trips of four-in-five.

One other thing? Consistent start times in the evening. I know some fans might like those Sunday afternoon games but players want their body clocks to run the same all season and if every game was a 7 p.m. start, they’d love it.

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Q: Hey Doug! It's All About You!

The Economist or Vogue Fall Fashion Issue (The Really BIG One We All Wait For!)?

Van Morrison or Jim Morrison?

Steamy Heat or Biting Cold? (Weather, Not Drink!)

OK, Drink: Warm Beer or Cold Quad Venti Latte (tee-hee)

What Could You Repair Most Easily: A Flat Tire or A Leaky Faucet?

Fedora or Ballcap?

Picasso or DaVinci?

Best 2nd Banana: Art Carney or Jason Alexander?

Real Book or E-Reader?

Speed Boat or Canoe?

Best First Season: CSI or Law & Order?

Lassie or Rin Tin Tin?

Field Hockey or Ice Hockey?

Migraine or Ice Hockey?

Finish this Sentence: A Day Without Irregulars is Like A Day Without........?

Cheers! And a big thank you for all you do for us.

Lorie P, London

A: Man, that’s a laundry list of quickies, isn’t it? Well, here goes:

Vogue (Economist way to dry for me; I’m New Yorker, Vanity Fair all the way).

Van in a landslide.

Oh, cold for sure, you can bundle up.

Cold coffee, if I had to pick one.

Repair? Depends on whether the phone number for the plumber or mechanic was closest. But tire, probably.

Fedora, it’s a way cool look, maybe with a “press” card stuck in the brim.

Picasso.

Art Carney all the way.

Real book, isn’t reading a tactile exercise as well?

Canoe, I’m all about the portage.

Law and Order, any time.

Lassie, if not Super Dog.

Field.

Migraine.

And I’d love to say a Day Without Irregulars is like a Day Without Air but … let’s go with sunshine.

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Q: Hi, Doug. It's been said that the difference between college ball and the NBA is that college ball is a coaches' game and the NBA is a players' game.

Do you think a similar comparison could be made between the International game and the NBA game? Feel free to indulge in an extensive analysis, too ;-)

Cheers,

Dave F, Kingston

A: I guess the comparison would be that the NBA game is so full of so many great athletes, there’s far more one-on-one play and more individual action than there ever is at the highest level of international ball.

You’ll see a lot more movement of players in the FIBA game, big men stepping out to shoot jumpers and a lot of drive-and-kick action.

NBA teams use far more low-post stuff than FIBA teams do, which has a lot to do with the individual skill level. International players – the best ones – have more varied skills because they’ve been taught at younger age to develop all facets of the game whereas in North America, all too often tall kids are told to go under the basket and stay there.

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Q: Doug. Can you please explain to me (and the rest of the true basketball fan base here in Canada) why we cannot get other FIBA Americas games on TV? Also, why we can't get any FIBA Europe games? I’m grateful for TSN2 for putting our Canadian boys on, but I want to see more of the tournament. Is it really such a big ratings crime putting on real, team based, basketball on TV these days?

Best

Dan L, Toronto

A: Yes, there probably is. Aside from the cost involved and with no disrespect to your viewing habits, I don’t imagine a Panama-Uruguay game would draw triple figures and am not sure a Venezuela one would get to the thousands. And if you really want to see more, there are avenues available to you.

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Q: Hi Doug. In a recent interview, Demar Derozan said that he would be open to playing overseas if the 2011-2012 season was likely to be lost due to the lockout. Do you think that it would be a good idea for him to do this. On one hand, he could get injured there, but on the other hand, he could continue to improve his skills (something that he isn't doing playing in Drew league games).

What other Raptors do you think should play overseas if the lockout is longer than expected?

Krishan K, Toronto

A: Sure, it’s not a bad idea at all, although I don’t think it’ll ever happen because I’m not sure there are contracts available that would make sense. But for a sense of adventure and a personal experience angle, why wouldn’t a young kid go live somewhere else and get some life experience? Oh, the injured part? That can happen anywhere, you take your chances. Remember Ed Davis and a run in Mississauga? Tough break but stuff happens.

Which ones do I think should play overseas? All of them, for the above reasons, mainly because it’d be fun, I bet.

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Q: Hi Doug. Great work with the blog over the summer. I have been following you for around three years now and I have to say this has been the best summer so far. I love the updates that include comments about the TOD. I would say that a huge portion of your readers are also sports fans. So please don't drop that from the blog!!!!!

I am also using this opportunity to cast my vote for Red Serge. Like you pointed out, nothing more Canadian than a a strong and proud Mountie. More importantly though, it is catchy, sounds intimidating, does not sound like a beer league team (Schooners) and would not give fodder for other teams to make fun of us.

My question is, do you have any update on Linas? I was looking at the Euro Basket box scores and while noticing that Jonas had a nice little game (minus the turnovers), Linas was not on the roster. I am wondering how close he is to returning as I doubt he would miss the Euro tournament in his own country.

Thanks again Doug for your tireless efforts!

P.S. If my punctuation or spelling is off, give me a break because it is Friday of a long weekend!

Sean G, Regina

A: Last time I checked with anyone who’d spoken to Linas, I was told he’s coming along fine and on schedule. That’d put him back on the court near the end of the calendar year and I don’t expect to see him in a game ‘til sometime in early 2012 under the best of circumstances.

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Comments

[ditch]

I'm not sure what defines one of your followers as a bona fide "Irregular". Are there meetings? Secret handshakes? A clubhouse? Is there a drug test?

Also wondering if there are Irregular coffee cups, Pilsner glasses, 3D glasses, lawn darts or cummerbunds? Perhaps Irregular T-shirts (with three armholes).

Swag-wise, you're sitting on a gold mine, Doug Smith!

I enjoy your writing and the fact that you have made such a commitment to this blog.

[jeff]

Hey Doug

I think that it is finally time that Leo Rautins is let go as Canada's basketball coach. He has a terrible record, and I have not seen any improvement of Canada basketball under his guidance. It Is time Canada finds a coach with some real experience.

[LeeZ]

There are two big problems magnified by Canada's loss yesterday:
1) Lack of a go-to shooter in crunch time. Carl English dribbled the clock down at the end of regulation, made a nice move, freed himself for a mid-range jumper and then inexplicably passed the ball to Denham Brown for a catch and shoot longer mid-range jumper. Brown's strengths are as a slasher, not as a set shot shooter. English is a way better shooter. There's an expression for what English did. It goes something like this: Oh no, last second shot, I'm afraid, here, YOU try it. That was INEXCUSABLE on English's part.
2) Size up front. Undersized centre Anthony played his heart out, but the rest of the team just got butchered on the offensive boards. Tristan would have been nice to have to help out.

[doug]

you know the way I always played as a "athlete' or even lead my life is I never ever give up...never say it's over until it is over...and I can honestly say this I appreciate AA's plan, the moves he has made but there is a month left in the season and what he has done to me is just sickening, he has players going out there everyday playing there asses off, and if you want to get a winning mentality in the locker room or change the culture then don't insult players like Bautista or the fans by giving me a line-up that has McCoy,Teahen and Wise ..yes injuries dictated these guys playing, but injuries are part of the game, if AA wants the team to act professionally then maybe he needs to go and look in the mirror....as you play to win everyday, not write off a season no wonder MacDonald wanted out as AA told him what was going to go down....and if anyone thinks Arencibia is the catcher of the future then there mistaken, he can't call a game, or Bruce Walton can't...I never believe in coincidences, and this pitching staff has underperformed for a reason....tinme for Beeston to call AA into the office and have a talk...

[Peter]

Ummm... I can appreciate that you choose Canoe over Speedboat. (good choice, by the way) but I question your logic... You're "all about the portage" I giggled just a little. I'm picturing numerous fresh air stops along that portage... You've told us enough about your physical condition in the heat to make that one just a bit entertaining. :)

[alex]

leo rautins is not the best thing that happened to national basketball team. i am not sure how much the coach gets working with national team, but for sure no one with great experience will do it for the money. rautins must go, and bring so one new to start fresh.

[JT's Hoops Blog]

Got to give Canada credit, however. They are playing far better than many, even canadians themselves, have given them credit for

[Mike D.]

@ditch, I'm sorry but you are getting too close to the truth. It's only a matter of time before you're grabbed off the street by a group of nondescript people from all walks of life (all wearing t-shirts with three armholes), bundled into the back of a smelly Ford Focus, and hustled to a Mississauga-area Starbucks for interrogation. Nothing personal.

[Lorie]

@Mike D.
The first rule of the "Irregular Club" is that you don't talk about the "Irregular Club". And whose turn is it to fumigate the Ford?

[ditch]

@Mike D
No offence taken. Oddly, that happens to me a couple of times a month already. Don't end up at Starbucks though ... often a place called 51 Division. What's with that? Ok, I get. Don't talk about Irregular Club.

[Alex]

Typically I agree with most of the stuff you say in your columns. But I disagree with you about your stance on the FIBA Americas tournament. While I agree that a couple extra games is not a big deal logistically, if you are unable to finish 5th with just your Round Robin, Canada has played every other team once and if they did not take the opportunity to win the first time then you probably don't deserve to play in the Olympics.

I am a proud Canadian, and huge basketball fan in all forms. I am extremely upset that Canada will not be able to compete at the Olympics again until 2016, but if we can't beat Venezuela or Panama than we really shouldn't be there as one of the 12 best teams in the world.

I have never called for a coach to be fired, but I think that Leo is in over his head. His teams really look lost and completely disorganized far too frequently in most games. Whether they replace him or add some stellar technical/strategic basketball minds to his staff, something needs to be done. There is now far too much basketball talent in this country to continually under perform in most senior level international competitions.