A bit of the mail to get the weekend started

I know.

Huge bonus day for you.

Have fun with this; hope you enjoyed the regular stuff, too. No such luck tomorrow, though. It’ll be simply mail and if you’ve got any last queries, now’s the time. I see a quiet evening after a long flight.

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Q: Hey Doug. Non-basketball deep thought here or more like idle curiosity. I heard on the radio Sly Stallone was performing at a casino, talking about his life and was perplexed. It seems so pathetic. Your thoughts?

Kim A, Toronto

A: Um, it’s certainly not a “lecture” or presentation I’d care to listen to but I guess there’d be some people with too much money and too much time on their hands who’d like it.

“Celebrities” who pretend to be other people for most of their lives wouldn’t seem to have an awful lot of their own stories that would amuse or educate me.

Good Stallone story.

He used to be a big fan of the Miami Heat – may still be, I’m not sure – when they played in their old downtown cesspool of an arena. One day, we’re in the hallway and a mass of very large men headed our way. Somewhere in the middle was this tiny little bloke. Yep, Stallone. He’s hardly the imposing physical specimen you’d think.

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Q: Doug, what are your thoughts on the NHL Fantasy All Star Draft to pick sides for the all star game??

A T, Niagara Falls

A: I actually think it’s a cool idea and wouldn’t mind if the NBA stole it in some fashion.

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Q: Hello, Doug. Just wondering, do you have any scientific knowledge to help explain the dreaded sophomore slump?

David M, Ottawa

A: I wish I did, I’d sell it to a lot of teams in a lot of sports and make a lot of money.

But my theory includes the point that by their second year – in any game – players are no longer “new” and opponents know what they like to do and can do and act accordingly. And that puts the onus on the sophomore to improve his or her game.

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Q: Hello Doug! So, you want a bit of away from the game stuff? Well this is pretty far away? In fact, up into space in its awayness! Did you read where Newt has promised to set up a space colony on the moon? Of course, the really scary part of his promise is that we'd have to survive two terms with him as Leader In Chief before he did it. But you've got to look for the positive in all things and here it might be. This does provide an opportunity to fulfill Ralph Kramden's desire to send annoying, irritating people (not Alice!) "to the Moon"! So casting your glance around the NBA, which players or coaches or owners would you like to offer up to President Gingrich to launch up to that space station on the dark side of the Moon? Chiefly, in the name of science, of course. But also for the betterment of the NBA. Thank you!

Lorie P, London

A: I don’t want him banished, per se, but wouldn’t it be cool to see how Metta World Peace would interact with beings from another planet? That, of course, is presuming there is life on the moon.

Otherwise? Maybe the guy who did this year’s schedule, the game-ops people who never let fans enjoy a moment of silence and coaches who continue to call timeouts at the end of games that are already decided.

I’m sure there’s more. What have you got?

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Q: Doug: I don't care much for the NFL, but one thing bothers me. Why is it called, Super Bowl 46 or 47, and not Super Bowl 2012? How can you remember anything relevant to say, Super Bowl 33? Anyway, just an update on my can of Stella. It went down during the Clippers game. I give it a B-. The minus because it came out of a can. Still, a pretty good brew. Keep up the great blog!

Ken B, Matheson

A: I’m guessing the use of Roman numerals, which, as my man C Kelly pointed the Romans ultimately dumped, was to give the game some sense of self-importance.

Now it’s just confusing and all I remember games by is by who played.

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Q: Doug, before you dismiss this question as one from an enamoured (or crazy) fan, I wonder, based on his play this year and his 'potential improvement' on defence, can… or, is Andrea Bargnani better than Chris Bosh.

Consider the obvious stats PPG (similar), rebounds (Bosh certainly wasn't and, really isn't, that great a rebounder) and blocks. Consider the non-tangibles: leadership in the dressing room (Bosh probably has the advantage), attention (double-teams) from opposing teams and scouts (Bosh had the up but I'm sure most game-plan for Andrea now in a similar fashion, and finally endurance (Bosh had more games lost due to injuries).

If, and it's a big IF, Andrea is comparable, isn't the concern (and this sounds crazy, I know), 'Shouldn't we building around Andrea while we have (or had) him playing at this level?

Or is this just crazy talk.

Andrew F, Toronto

A: Better? How about different? And you can’t diminish Bosh’s rebounding abilities, that’s just silly.

And if Raptors fans have learned one thing over the years wouldn’t it be that it’s foolish to “build a team” around one guy? What’s that mean, anyway? You add good players, or players you think will fit with your roster and system, regardless.

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Q: Hi Doug. I agree that coaches get too little credit for victories and too much blame for losses. Many of the adjustments they make during games go unnoticed by fans. Which active coaches, in your opinion, are the most effective at influencing NBA games?

Thanks

Andy F, Aberdeen

P.S. Did you have a good Burns Night haggis supper?

A: As you may understand, I don’t get to see too many games not involving the Raptors, especially this year with the condensed schedule leaving little time for lounging around somewhere watching on TV.

But if I was asked to give you three who make adjustments well they’d be George Karl, Stan Van Gundy and Rick Carlisle.

And if you asked me the one guy who could keep his team on an even, positive keel regardless of the situation, it’d be Doc Rivers.

Surprisingly, haggis didn’t appear on the pressroom menu in Salt Lake and there wasn’t any recitation of great Scottish poetry during timeouts.

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Q: I mentioned this in one of your recent IGBT. When Jose first came to the NBA he made good use of the bounce pass. I think it is a great pass into the paint because the ball is on the way up and the bigs just grab it and continue the upward motion to score. Whereas the lob pass must be caught, held, change direction and then try to score. Many times the ball is turned over when it is brought down. I also notice Steve Nash and Rubio still use the bounce pass quite often. What happened to Jose's bounce? Was it coached out or does it have more to do with the bigs that are receiving the pass?

Dave B, Cornwall

A: It’s got as much, if not more, to do with the defence and what’s available. I don’t think he’s forgotten how to throw it, or been told not to and he’s not worried about the guy catching it. It’s just part of the way the game goes.

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Q: Hi Doug. As far as the Raptors getting off to a slow start in games this season, if I was Dwayne...:) I would be starting Barbosa and letting DeRozan ease his way in after watching the flow from the bench. Any reason they haven't tried this?. Keep up the great work.

Paul H, Toronto

A: Yeah, one, DeRozan’s not as bad as you’d suggest; Barbosa’s far more effective coming off the bench and changing tempo and there’s no way they want, right now, to give up on a kid (DeRozan) who is a huge part of their future. They need to let him grow and learn.

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Q: Doug, when I see some of the defensive games James Johnson has strung together this year I can't help thinking he's becoming one of the better perimeter defenders in the NBA. His blocks per game and BP48 are unreal for a wing player, especially when you consider that many of them are on the ball blocks and that he's also strong enough that wings can't post him up; he's not just a Jamario Moon type pogo-ing around outside the key. What stands between JJ and "elite defender" or even (dare we dream) DPOY status?

Mike D, Toronto

A: Consistency. Being able to do it for more than a few games in a row before trying to do too much and flying around the court a bit out of control and breaking defensive gameplans.

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Q: I sent this in as a comment the morning after the Utah game and you didn't answer the question (you were probably so sleep-deprived that you could barely post the comments, far less reply to them), so I thought I'd try again in the mailbag, cause I'm quite interested in hearing your answer: with Andrea LITERALLY pulling his hair out on the bench, EVERYONE came over to try and console him. I distinctly got the feeling that the team wanted to win this one for him. Did anyone mention that in the post-game interviews? And even if they didn't, do you get the feeling that thanks to Andrea's newfound dedication, his teammates have bonded more to him than in previous years?

Lee Z, Ottawa

A: I think the other players see how hard he works, how much he’s improved, they realize what he means to the team’s success and they all felt horrible for him. Closer? Maybe a little because of the way he’s been performing and leading by example.

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Q: Hi Doug, thanks for the Blog! My question is about the different kinds of offences that teams run in the NBA. I hear people talking about Flex Offences, and UCLA Cuts and even the Triangle they used to run in LA. Obviously the basic stuff like pick and roll is simple enough, but could you elaborate a bit on the other types of offences that teams in the NBA use, and maybe any types of offence they don't use, or used to use.

Thanks Doug.

Peter R, Regina

A: They really are quite simple and it’s more vernacular than anything and, frankly, I try to avoid it. UCLA, or a zipper cut, is a player come up the middle of the lane from the baseline; the “Princeton offence” is a bunch of weaving along the three-point line; “floppy” is a series of baseline screens for the most part.

I try to just enjoy the flow and the movement without worrying about the names.

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Q: Andrea on the bench was broken, angry,_sad, frustrated and near to cry. He put his effort, his heart (and leg) to win the game. As Raptor fan I did not like it and it could be avoided, really.

A player CANNOT play 82 (or 66) games with playoffs intensity that is necessary for the Raptors to win games. Andrea CANNOT play at that pace on offense and defense 40MPG on consecutive days games. A pro team cannot use 40MPG on consecutive days an athlete returning from a calf's injury.

There is no good or bad luck with the calf, when already injured. In your opinion what's is the first muscle that provides the first symptoms of fatigue and tiredness (cramps), to basketball and football players? In the sports everyone knows that if you returning from a calf injury the first thing to avoid is the fatigue and overexposure to risk it.

Any player wants always to stay in the field, but the coach must define a correct use (limited minutes) of the player with the medical staff.

Popovich said that this year's schedule is crazy and that to avoid injury to Duncan, he will not play back to back to back making him missing some games (maybe will be limited to drastically reduce the duration in minutes). Andrea, returning from the calf strain, played 40 minutes to win the game.

The day after, after a trip, Andrea, returning from the calf strain, plays 40 minutes to win the game AGAIN. IT WAS TOO RISKY. There will be a doctor that said to Casey the level of risk 3 minutes before the 4th quarter's end Andrea was gassed, tired and his face was PURPLE (I just wrote it in your blog 3 times and I was worried for Andrea).

The theory we win the game and pray to the basketball's god hoping it will not spoil the best player on the team does not exist even among amateurs.

Doug, injuries always can happen BUT_NOT in this not professional way.

Paolo P, Roma

A: I understand your point fully. I also think injuries happen at any time to any player and it’s part of the breaks of the game. I don’t think he was over-used at all; I think he caught a bad break. And, yes, some players can handle 40 minutes a night, some can’t. Andrea, for instance, is averaging less than one minute more per game than he did last season.

I wouldn’t have taken him out; not sure many coaches would have taken him out and Popovich is resting Tim Duncan, who has an awful lot more miles on his body than anybody on the Toronto roster.

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Comments

[JHP]

I'm very excited for the women's soccer team and hope they enjoy the Olympic experience. It's amazing how big how women's soccer is and which they could play more games in Canada.

Hope you enjoy a couple days at home.

[Jeff]

Hi doug

It appears that kaman is on the trading block do you think the raps should look into getting him, it would provide the team with the center they are missing and I believe is salary is up at the end of this year, giving the team more flexibility this summer. Maybe the team moves Amir and someone else to match up contracts.

Blogger's note: I'd probably make a call but it's going to be hard to find $14 million to send that way without gutting the team

[doug]

best thing about the soccer game to me was how we were playing a style of soccer that suited the teams talent, free flowing, up-tempo and pressing forward, and the girls were having a blast playing it so Kudos to the new coach for letting his athletes play and fitting his system around them not the players having to fit a system....too bad Canada never had him at the helm during the World Cup, as the difference in play is night and day.....see the trading Jose rumour mill is heating up once again....but to me every player except Barg's is on the block always, it's whats offered that counts...

http://hoopshype.com/

http://hoopshype.com/

[DH]

I know its human nature to compare. But why must we compare those who are gone with those who are left. Doug different is the right word. From an offensive stand point Bargnani has the better range but isn't as diverse as Bosh. Rebounding Bosh is clearly better although his numbers have dipped in Miami for rebounding. Bargnani will never average more than 6 boards a game. Defensively Bosh has shown he can be pretty good on D whereas Bargnani doesn't know what it means. The other thing is put Bargnani on another team with 2 of the game's top scorers and he won't he 15ppg.

[QD]

I understand that DeRozan is supposed to be the future, but lets face it , he stinks.

Can you really justify in the future handing him a deal like Kevin Love's simply because he is eligible? I mean, he has not earned that type of money, but that is what he is looking at simply for years in the league. That seems like a massive gamble to me for a kid who regresses nightly.

At least with Love, Gallinari, etc.... you get guys who hustle, score, rebound and are looked at as true players, DeRozan is know for one thing only. His hops. And with his unwillingness to go to the hole these days, jumping isn't going to help his outside game very much.

[M]

DH your post is basically nonsense. AB is playing tough defense these days.

[GM]

"DeRozan’s not as bad as you’d suggest; Barbosa’s far more effective coming off the bench and changing tempo and there’s no way they want, right now, to give up on a kid (DeRozan) who is a huge part of their future. They need to let him grow and learn."
--- I have no doubt DeRozan will get back to where he once was, and even surpass that. But right now he is horrible and a detriment to the team. How is letting a guy come off the bench, and still getting decent PT, in any way "giving up" on him? He's part of a collective. He doesn't come before the team. If he doesn't take to it, it's not like he's going to get any worse. But maybe the change of scenery will be what it takes to shake him out of his slump. It's worth a shot.
--- There's this conventional wisdom that Barbosa is "far more effective" coming off the bench, but what's it based on? The fact he's always come off the bench? Where's the alternative? How many games has he started in his career? And how bad was he? I agree he's effective coming off the bench, but he might also be just as effective starting. Again, it's worth a shot.

It's odd, isn't it, that a bad team like the Hornets would keep Kaman off the court while they shop him. And since he's coming off the books at season's end anyway, why the need to trade him at all? It's not like they're in the hunt for the playoffs. I wonder if there's more to it.

[SheikYurbouti]

Good try Paolo P, Roma,
You did get a response, but one of the things that should be fairly evident about Doug by now is that once he expresses an opinion, you'd just about have to move Roma across the Atlantic and over the Rockies to get him to budge. I love that the vast majority of the time, but once in a while it can get a little frustrating when presenting a different opinion that has a reasonably solid base in both logic and history.
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I would add to your assessment that minutes played per game last year doesn't compare to the mpg in this insane schedule where, for example, the first injury happened at the tail end of 5 games in 6 days. Those kind of conditions never existed last year or any other, but it's how the story progresses from there that's to be questioned the most. That is, playing him such big minutes on both ends of a yet another back-to-back on the first two days he's back from injury, when the fact is the result is him suffering a worse case of the exact same injury. Silly to question that decision? I think I need new meds, because even liking Doug's take on stuff enough to not miss an internet word, and an abundance of single malt and dark ale can't make me understand that?
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As I said, Doug is going to stick to the "injuries happen" story, which taken in isolation, and in it's simplicity, is logic that's impossible to argue. When taking into account the unusual schedule (can't compare other years), the very standard practice of easing back from injury (is that history all bunk?), the fact that a worse case of the exact same injury occurred, I agree with you that it may just be short sighted to write it off to lightening striking twice in the exact same location in such a short span.
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I'd like to know if the GM, Coach, and medical/training staff are maintaining the same stance. Are they, Doug? And if so, is it possible it's only a defensive public one?

Blogger's note: As a matter of fact, they are; you don't think, given the circumstances of the season -- rebuilding, looking for a high draft pick -- and the financial investment they have in Bargnani that they would bring him back and use him unless he was 150 per cent healthy. There were no minute limits as there are sometimes when guys come back from injuries. Crap happens. And it happened

[511]

Re Kim A’s comment on Sylvester Stallone: I know a little something about the man and he’s actually quite a bit more interesting and far more intelligent - FAR more - than his appearance or acting performances might tend to suggest (to some). Not kidding. He wrote Rocky remember (all of them) as well as other screenplays. No dummy.

[SheikYurbouti]

Thanks for the heads up on what the powers that be feel, Doug

[doug]

@ Sheik what is your problem>> you can call me all the names in the book as you did in a earlier post, which quite frankly I could give a hoot about as you know me from squat....but you have a opinion, and fine have it, why attack??...or seek others for confirmation of your opinion...I heard this somewhere lately where I am not quite sure...i keed ..."stand up and be a man" and you my friend aren't even close, your unaccepting of others opinions, your crude,rude and lude as I am sure Jackie Chiles would say, you represent all that is wrong with sport and society today, their just opinions , just opinions do you get it there is no right or wrong answers....quit attacking, your once respected views mean squat, sort of like Nortel stock....oh i know i will get some verbal mud-slinging, go ahead but my time with you is thru....cheers, and keep on keeping on...

[SheikYurbouti]

@doug, the poster,

whoa lad,, when I address you or what you say , I speak to "doug, the poster", not "Doug" as in Doug Smith the blogger. That does seem to be the standard used here. What I wrote here was in direct relation to what Mr. Smith has held fast to, and I was addressing his stand on the issue. Feeling a little jump are we? Speaking of rude, take a look at what you wrote, dude.
Cheers
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I'm what's wrong with sport and society? WOW. Mr. Smith, this and the "crude, lude, rude" stuff was passed but my use of a simple species name, not close to profanity, used to describe a persons actions was deleted? Wow.
Cheers