You don't get respect, you earn it

Well, that didn’t take long.

My man C. Kelly reports that there was a little snippet of the “respect” card played at Raptors practice on Thursday when they were breaking down the Wednesday night Indy game.

(I was sitting in a tiny plane waiting to de-ice before the flight down to Dallas, sorry I missed it).

Anyway, here’s the pertinent Casey quote; thanks Cathal.

“Toughness. We’ve got to continue to play hard and aggressive and then that’s when you get the respect of the officials. When our guys are playing hard, when the guys are doing that then the officials will see that that’s how the Toronto Raptors are playing, they’re playing hard they’re playing physical, they’re getting on the floor after loose balls they’re not the same Toronto team of the past.”

Already, two games in, and we are were we’ve been so many times in the past, with the HOTH worried about treatment from officials and the fairness of whistles and the reputation they have.

Here’s a wee bit of advice from a guy who’s heard it so many times before:

Play hard more often. Not two games, not five games, not three games this month and three games in February or a game or two in March and maybe a couple in April.

Dwane’s exactly right: If you do that every single night, “get after it” in the vernacular, it’s not only going to be officials who respect you, it’s going to be opponents and that’s ever more important.

Look, were there some questionable ticky-tack fouls called against Toronto in the Indy game? Sure.

Look, were there some questionable fouls called against Indy in the Toronto game? Sure.

There will be every night. It’s part of the game; I still say NBA officials do, on the whole, an excellent job with their judgment calls. A lot of the whiny about the non-whistles was just that, whining and trying to “work the refs,” and I’m not sure it works (it truly does become white noise often). Nothing speaks louder than action and the only ones who can turn any “perception” of the HOTH are the HOTH.

The Raps have shown in very little spurts a willingness to play “hard” in the past, they have never really done it consistently for more than a handful of games in a row.

We’re at two and counting this season, I have no clue whether it’ll turn into 10 games or 20 or three, but until it’s a regular occurrence, they can’t complain.

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Hey, everyone ready for Amateur Night, aka New Year’s Eve?

Since tomorrow starts stupid early and includes a practice in Orlando that won’t finish until 5 p.m., there’s every chance the night will be an evening at the airport Marriott lobby bar or this really dumpy buck-a-beer joint we know in a strip mall on Semoran.

But in case things get done early, any suggestions welcome.

I’m not a big Orlando fan by any stretch, it seems a city without a soul, or even a neighbourhood, so your help won’t hurt.

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I notice waaaaaaaaay deep in the news down here that there’s some Leaves puck angst going on, they don’t seem to be, you know, very good right now and all that blather about being among the best in the East sure seems a few years ago, doesn’t it?

All I’m waiting for now is for the coach to tweet his apologies that his special teams blow and the promise of the first six weeks is being replaced by reality.

Whaddya say, Ron?

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Last shot for mail, which I think we’ll end up doing both Saturday and Sunday as usual, despite the Friday game. Helps with travel (a 4:30 a.m. Central wakeup time Saturday’s a bit of a pain) and keeps us on the even keel) and it’s all about me.

Do it here, please.

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So the Mavs come home for tonight 0-3 after losing at the buzzer in Oklahoma City on Thursday following two blowouts at home and you have to know they’ll be rather grumpy.

But we do get to see our old HWSNBN friend and he might be a bit grumpy to. But I bet if some of you watch these highlights from last night – where Vince makes an apparent game-winner with a second left only to have Durant win it – you’ll feel pretty good.

All I know about tonight’s game is that there’s a good chance something wacky happens.

Last year the Raptors had about eight guys because of injuries, Linas got thrown out, Jerryd tweaked an ankle or something and they won.

Think it was the year before when they were up 25 or something like that and lost.

And now they get the defending champs on a three-game losing streak after a heart-breaking loss? Might be an interesting night if the Mavs are truly grumbly and want to make a point.

We’ll be here about 8:30 for one of those IGBT if you’ve got nothing going on for a Friday night.

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Teen pucks 10, Danes 2?

Yeah, that’s a true “world championship” isn’t it?

Why don’t they cut it down to the three or four teams that are, you know, legitimate, play a round robin and get it all over with.

It’s kind of like women’s Olympic hockey (wanna good bet? The 2018 gold medal game will be Canada-US) with no depth of talent and it’s becoming something of a joke early in the tournament, isn’t it?

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Hmm, this whole idea of getting this thing up and posted by 7 a.m. East each day might take a beating now that time zones are part of my life.

You Tall Foreheads understand, right?

Thanks.

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Comments

[jon]

It sucks that Vince keeps changing teams. Every year I have a new team to root against. Its starting to become difficult to keep track of.

[Dave]

Good Morning Doug. I agree it is difficult to find the city of Orlando, especially in the area around the arena.

I have less interest in the pucks than you do. I am not even following the standings for the teen pucks because the whole thing is irrelevant. As for the Leaves, do we cancel the parade? Knowing that they would eventually fall to the norm was the reason I wasn't impressed with this article by Kelly.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/nba/raptors/article/1093983--kelly-raptors-had-better-get-ready-for-the-new-normal

Best wishes for the New Year to you and your family. Wishing you the best heath, happiness and prosperity for 2012 as well as safe travel.

[Wallace]

NBA referees would have more respect from basketball fans if they simply called the game straight. Teams like the Raptors have enough of their own deficiencies to deal with. When you also have to battle biased officiating, it makes the task of improving your team that much more difficult. It is a shame that the NBA is the biggest offender in all of professional sports when it comes to deciding what is and what isn't a rule violation based on who the player/team is.

[Dave T (Ottawa)]

I don't get Toronto sports fans. Fair-weather when the player is playing for them and LONG memories when the player moves on. "Jose sucks" (4 years ago there were all-star rumblings), "Bargnani sucks" (D needs work but try to replace 20PPG in a big), "Go Pops!!" (OK, fun to watch, but where is he now?).

This comes up fairly frequently, but don't we all think it's time to let Vince Carter just be Vince Carter. He's a good basketball player, could have been great (I mean all-time great) but he just never had the mentality for it. He got frustrated with injuries, got frustrated by his wife (who wanted out of Toronto as much as Antonio Davis'), got frustrated by losing and is not strong enough to shrug it all off.

Toronto sports fans had their role to play in that as well. You take someone with a fragile psyche who's not a "tough guy" and you get on his case. And stay on his case, again and again beating on him. He retreated in himself a little more, stopped doing the things he did so well. Do you really believe he showed up to the gym consciously thinking "I'm not going to play well tonight on purpose so I can get out of here and Rob Babcock can trade me for 10 cents on the dollar"?

Sure, Vince Carter played his part in it. Some things he should have just embraced, used to fuel the fire rather than fuel his discontent. But sometimes that is easier said than done. But that was a long time ago now. Vince Carter came here, was half-amazing for a time, re-signed here, eventually was only half-half-amazing and left town. I don't think there's a single decision maker or player (Ed: Jay Triano) in the Raptors still associated with that era. There were a few mediocre years you can attribute (partially) to being "his fault", but that time is now gone. Let him be.

[Troy Phan]

Hi Doug,

I know you despise hockey but I strongly disagree with your remark about the hockey tournament. You wouldn't say that about Canada playing in a basketball tournament would you? I've read your blog for years and I know you would praise the Canadian basketball team competing and getting the experience at any level. We wouldn't like it if our team gets kick out of the tournament without even stepping on the court. I think it is great for the other countries that don't have hockey as their main sport to have more exposure and experience to the game of hockey.

Best wishes in the New Year

[Rob.V]

Yeah, either we're going to get drilled by 30 tonight... or our young legs might surprise the Mav's. Should be interesting!
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One thing I think I have discovered early this season is that the Raps will go as Calderon goes.
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You can pretty much pencil in Andrea and DeMar for 18-20 a night however this team is going to need that 3rd and 4th guy to get over the hump.
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Assuming the defense stays solid we will need Jose to be double digits in some category.
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If he does either one of the following: 10 + assists or say 15+ points we'll have a shot to win each night. If he does neither like Wednesday nights game we're gonna be in tough (unless Baarbosa or Bayless is having a great night).
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This team somehow (someway) is going to have to establish that #3 spot as a scoring threat.
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Dude, has Casey talked about DeMar possibly playing some 3 with maybe either Barbosa or Bayless in the starting lineup.. or is it too early for this?

Blogger's note: Hasn't talked about it, probably 'cause it's too early

[CARLoS M,.]

@ Dave T (Ottawa) You must be new here. Hate of HWSNBN is eternal.

[Ian]

@Dave T (Ottawa),
I agree. When he requested the trade I was among the ones that really sports hated the guy. His interview stating that he stopped trying was blown out of proportion because the media kept playing one line from it over and over again. As the years have gone on I really don't get why people still have an issue with him. What we should be pissed off about is that the GM at the time did an awful trade that gave us no real assets in return. Where was David Stern on this one? He put the Raptors on the NBA map and led the team to the most success it has ever had. There is no need to boo him anymore. I think he gets it...

[Mo Love]

The Raptor players do a poor job of flipping and flopping and flailing their arms forcing the officials to look bad if they ignore the call. Indiana did a great job of going into a death spiral every time so much as a player's shadow glanced them. Toronto needs some serious acting lessons to compete with the flopping teams and show them two can play at that game! The officials tend to have more respect for some players more than others but I do agree the team has to work on earning officiating respect.

[Lorie]

Hi Doug!
Nice clip of the Mavs-Thunder game last night. Sets up a very intriguing (read: potentially frightful!) match tonight for the Raps! But the best part? Jalen's sensible analysis. Refreshing change from the TNT team that have been soooo over the top lately. Last night's broadcast was so wacky (and it's not all on Shaq) that Charles came across as the restrained, low-key voice on the panel. :) And Canada's not topdog in every pucks tourney. I believe I heard our team was bounced from the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. In the preliminary round. Yikes. Cheers!

[Cluck Kent]

I like to think that I dislike Vince for all the right reasons: arrogance, lost potential and call me old fashioned but when you sign a contract, you sign a contract with the understanding that you will fulfil the terms of the contract.

Gosh, how I love to hear that Casey is working their butts off. It's been too many years now that I've felt that the Raptors were never with the best conditioned teams. And not being all kissy-kiss with his old championship pals? What a great example to set for the players. Dwayne Casey, if you're trying to win me over you can stop right now cause you've already done it.

[raptorman]

why stop booing so close to the jerks retirement....that would be foolish....finish what ya started i say

[Phil A]

"Teen pucks 10, Danes 2?

Yeah, that’s a true “world championship” isn’t it?

Why don’t they cut it down to the three or four teams that are, you know, legitimate, play a round robin and get it all over with."

I couldn't agree more. It's a joke of a tournament.

[Penguin]

Have to agree with Cluck Kent. It isn't that HWSNBN wanted to leave Toronto; it's how he left, making him the poster guy for what's wrong with pro sports, and elite athletes in particular. He didn't honor his contract, screwed his team and teammates, and stuck it to the city. Not that he's alone in that hall of shame. I'd add his cousin T-Mac and, to a slightly lesser extent, Damon Stoudamire. I'll keep booing until Carter is retired and T-Mac as well.

As to the juniors hockey tournament, I have to disagree. This is way different and better than the woeful women's situation. Yes, the Canucks crushed Denmark, much as they did Finland. On that basis, maybe you'd have said it was a mistake to include the Fins. However, wasn't it Finland that then turned around and whooped the might U.S.?

[Ted S.]

Heard 2 million + viewers watched the self-indulgent mini-pucks vs. a Danish team that would struggle in Junior B and that made me think how many will tune in to watch this year's edition of the Raptors.
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Amazing how the Canadian sports viewer can be manipulated by the TSN hype machine to watch a competition (or perennial round robin blow-out) that virtually no one in the world cares about.
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Canada's (amateur) Jr. Team not playing for gold is about as common as a Raptor playoff appearance......ohhhhh, there's the appeal.

[chris]

Danes are better at hockey than Canada is at basketball...yet you cheer their efforts.