A cliche, a return, a tubby D Leaguer and it's Superdraft day!

Kind of tough times for the fans, no?

But there will be more times like these, folks; might best be getting used to them.

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THREE POINTERS

In spite of it all …

Look, they shouldn’t have won that game on the basis of their overall play without question – too many slow closeouts on shooters, too many bad decisions on offence, too little resistance to DeMarcus Cousins inside – but still …

They were right in the game with less than a couple of minutes left – can’t read my chicken scratch to know when exactly it was but I think they were “stuck five” – and it was there to be stolen.

But Barbosa has a three-pointer go in and out and Amir misses a gimme lob from Calderon on two straight possessions and any chance to steal one went away.

But it also underscores that no matter how poorly they function for long stretches of time, if they work hard defensively – and holding the Kings to 37 per cent shooting is pretty good – they might be in a lot of games.

And if they’re in them, they might find a way to win some; they didn’t last night but they might some night.

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Welcome back

I’m sure it was as much adrenaline as anything but Linas Kleiza sure didn’t look too bad, did he?

Kept up with the pace, gave them 14 1-2 minutes of solid play and with doubts now about Bargnani – we won’t know until Friday, please don’t ask a lot – he’s going to be more valuable than we originally thought.

Yes, he’s going to get some time at small forward – sing your hosannas, people – but as we saw last night, he’s going to get some minutes at power forward, too, if the big Italian has to miss a game or two.

Dwane went a fair amount with either Kleiza or James Johnson at the four and I can smell a bigs rotation of Johnson, Davis, one of those two and a bit of Magloire if Andrea has to miss a few games.

And so can Dwane:

“Everybody’s role is going to be a little different, we’ll see how that plays out.”

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You know what they say …

Among the favourite silly basketball clichés, I’ve got “you can’t teach height” right near the top.

But it’s almost a tie in my mind with one that suits the Heroes Of The Hardcourt (that’d be HOTH and that’s about the last time I’m spelling it out for a whlle) best right now. And that’s:

Your best players have to be your best players.

And until DeMar DeRozan starts playing again like he’s one of the team’s best players – and he is – there are going to be more nights like we’ve seen this week.

Forget Rasual Butler or Anthony Carter or James Johnson, they are bit players with specific roles.

DeRozan has to be better, it’s that simple.

Dwane suggested last night that teams are defending him differently and maybe that’s the case but DeRozan saw some double teams and one-and-a-half-men last season when he was the absolutely focal point of the offence and he still seemed to thrive.

I do think it’s one of those slumps that athletes go through and he’ll be fine eventually but until he is again there are going to be continued tough times.

And you know what they say about slumps, to go to another cliché and borrow from the seamhead world:

Slumps are like a common cold. Everyone’s got a cure but they still take two weeks go away.

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And

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Hey!!!

No one told me The People’s Choice Awards were on last night!

Thanks for that.

Actually, had I known, I still wouldn’t have watched because I have them as the most bogus of ‘em all.

The winners know they won – why else would they show up?; it’s more popularity with the general public than I care to know about -- most people’s tastes and mine generally differ greatly; and they’re televised on a Wednesday night in early-January.

Plus, awards shows in general are like bowl games: Too many have diminished them greatly.

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Mail. Here. Please.

Seems a bunch of you took yesterday off; we can’t have that.

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OMG!!!!!!

For some reason, I was in a saloon last night finishing up some work and saw a wee bit of Bakersfield vs. Idaho from the D League Showcase.

No, this has nothing to do with Solomon Alabi.

It has to do with Antoine Walker and I saw Antoine Walker play and Antoine Walker looks like he swallowed Boris Diaw.

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Well, I know what I’m doing this morning.

The MLS Superdraft is at noon and I haven’t worked on my mock yet.

But I was heartened – and I don’t know why I found this funny, but I did – to find out the TFCs had signed some tiny Ecuadorean teen to a multi-year deal.

That’s one of those phrases that I just found cool.

Sort of like Panamanian strongman.

Remember him?

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The Kings?

Man, I don’t know I’ve seen a team more selfish than that one.

It was like they were afraid to pass the ball more than once or twice a possession. It’ll kill ‘em in the end and all I can chalk it up to right now is the vagaries of youth.

I will tell you this, though: DeMarcus Cousins is a beast and I know he has some maturity issues and maybe some anger management issues but if that kid ever figures it out, he’s going to be a good one.

I also suspect, given the troubles he’s had in Sacramento already, that he’ll leave the first chance he gets and teams should be figure out how they’ll be able to make a run for him because he’s got some skills.

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Okay, it’s an off-day for the lads and since a few of you have been asking for more league-wide stuff, we’re going to do some kind of weakly weekly item in the Friday paper (and the Thursday night website) to give you what you want.

It, like the HOTH, is a work in progress but give us a break – and some feedback – and we’ll get it rolling today.

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Comments

[Matt M]

Yesterday was kind of a fun game to watch, in that it was close throughout, the Raps didn't buckle when the going got tough, and in the end they had a chance. Sucks that they lost but without Bargnani, not to mention the third game in three nights, they don't really have anyone who can consistently score.
Consecutive losses to the Kings and Wizards, eh. Here I thought that the Raptors might actually have become a decent team. Thankfully this season is all about building the culture and rebuilding with better players. Luckily they might be able to do both if Bargnani is out for any period of time.

[sam]

If we learned anything last night it was how important Andrea's offence is for the HOTH.
I hope his injury isn't anything to serious.

Good to hear Kleiza was back on the court last night. I didn't see the game, but read the IGBT - and a couple of articles this morning. It seemed in the limited time he was on the court he was an effective scorer, not sure how his defense was, but the added points off the bench must have been a nice surprize for Casey.

[Aditya]

I also suspect, given the troubles he’s had in Sacramento already, that he’ll leave the first chance he gets and teams should be figure out how they’ll be able to make a run for him because he’s got some skills.
---------------------------
I think he'll mature enough in time to make Sacramento his home when he's eligible for a long term extension....

[Leonardo]

Andrea have already two double double this year. He is playing good defense, he is attacking the basket more often then ever before. It looks lke that Casey did to Bargnani, in a couple of months, what Smitch and Triano haven't been able to do in 5 years. According to you is more Bargnani maturity or different approach to his skills by the new coaching staff?

Thanks
Leonardo

[LakeSimcoe]

Yes DD played well at end, but it should not be taken too much as the Kings were just to avoid 3-point play.

[JHK]

Tank rolls on.
Bring on the high pick to land Drummond, Davis or Barnes.
Bring on the big name FA with all the cap space this summer.
Bring on Jonas the true center for this team.
Bring on the 2012-2013 season.

[Mike D.]

Andrea struggled on offense last night, but I think it was the best I've seen him rebound. He was snagging loose balls all over the place, and Cousins' rebounding (and put-back scoring) numbers didn't really start to climb until Bargs left with the calf injury.

Jonas V already seems to have that "My shot's not falling, so I'll grab a couple of dozen rebounds instead, to make myself useful" mentality. If Andrea can do that, as he did last night, regularly then the two of them could be a pretty good tandem.

[Tabber]

Aditya, yeah, like T-Mac did with Toronto. Players don't seem to want to stick around after they feel they've been dissed by the organisation. There's very little attitude that I'll try to get along, there's far more of the attitude that they don't get how good I am, that I should be able to do whatever I want 'cause I'm so good. It's on the media for blowing the egos up to reach the stratosphere.

[Beans]

Doug! The awesome games last night! SA/HOU! MIA/LAC! It was sure refreshing to see some good basketball. Thank God the lockout is over!

[james]

Who gets your vote for the Laffs' top dynamic duo ever? I'll take Charlie Conacher and Busher Jackson.

[Nick M]

Do you mean to say that although you will effort to make this 'weekly league-wide stuff' successful, at times it will be well written with one succinct thought forming the next, and then, just when the irregulars begin to look forward to the Thursday evening special you will completely disappoint us with a lack of effort and inability to follow the game, err, column plan?

Blogger's note: Yeah, that's precisely what I plan. Just to tick you off and make you write snarky comments. Thanks for taking the time.

[Dave]

I am not sure if the number of games is catching up to the players, but in most of the last few games the HOTH looked like they were running in wet cement. That was obvious last night with Andre's shooting with tired legs.

A agree that DeMar has to step up his game. He seems to be too concerned with the Referees. If he drives and doesn't get a call he becomes distracted and not involved. Ed seems uninterested also. Overall, the team is more than a draft pick and a couple of Free Agents away from being a top tier team.

Casey is getting a lot of credit for Andre's good play. While I am sure he has been a major influence, we shouldn't overlook the post season interviews in the spring. I am confident Jay and Brian told him exactly what he needed to do. Some people have stated that Brian "called him out". Andre was in Toronto a month before the season started working on his game and post moves. We hadn't seen that type of effort from Andre in his earlier years. I think a lot of it is just his maturity.

[BC]

Doug, two days ago you said there was absolutely no issue with Andrea Bargnani playing well over 40 minutes per game. Given the wear and tear caused by the compressed schedule and the tendency of 7 footers to physically break down, I didn't agree with you. Now:

“He doesn’t even remember doing it,” said Casey of his star big man, who had been averaging more than 24 points per game. “It’s a lot of fatigue. You see a lot of it around the league right now as far as fatigue, pulls and that sort of thing.”

Will you reconsider, Doug? Look how Popvitch handles the minutes of his starters and his bench and tell us that grinding 40+ minutes out of players like Bargnani is a good idea.

Blogger's note: Nope. Look at the difference in age and mileage on Pop's guys; apples and oranges

[ptboscott]

yikes! i've never responded to the tiresome negativity in the comments section before (except to thank doug for putting up with it and continuing to put out my daily first morning read) but wow Nick M i hope someone follows you around at your job and nit-picks, makes fun of, and generally tries to belittle you....nah i guess i don't really because i'm not that mean but if i believed in karma....
thanks again doug

[Jamieson Currie]

We went to a TFC game last year and the WAGs were lovin Plata. He is just one of those players that is fun to watch because he works hard and he doesn't let his size hold him back. Nice that they signed him, that team is really coming together. I think signing Eckersley would be a good first step in solidfying their defensive core. Just need a center d so Fringes can move up to his natural center defensive mid.

[Nick M]

Doug, hope the blogger's note was sarcastic because the last comment was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. You did compare your new 'league-wide stuff' to the HOTH-a work in progress! :)

Blogger's note: Okay, it's all good

[Tim H.]

Nick M: After your last comment, I went back to read the first one, and I now understand it - perhaps if you had included the 'work in progress' part in the first one, everyone - including Doug - would have realized what you were saying.

[GM]

Nooooo!!!! Let's agree never to use "stuck" for "down" or "trailing by" again. In my 30-odd years of basketball junkiedom, I've never come across that annoying colloquialism before Jack Armstrong, or since. Until today. Maybe it's a regional thing. Have any of the other Irregulars heard it used outside of Raptors broadcasts or outside of people picking up on Armstrong's over-use of it? Please make it go away.

I wonder what the league record for teams on the back end of a back-to-back-to-back is. When I saw the refs keep blowing their whistles on phantom calls against the Kings last night, I thought, "Hey, maybe the league wants teams playing their third game in three nights to win so they can show it's not a significant problem." Unfortunately, the HOTH couldn't even take advantage of all the opportunities.

I, too, stumbled across that D-League game and was astounded by Antoine Walker's profile. His gut is huge! I actually feel sorry for the guy. I'm sure you've interviewed him. Does he have any kind of personality? Maybe he should go the colour commentator route to start earning a steady paycheque.

Blogger's note: Did it to tweak a few Irregulars. Will never use it again. Promise

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Tough day at the mill, and there'll be more of the same as long as Bargs is out. This season is going to be a meat grinder.
Today in music history, Jerry Garcia teamed up with Merl Saunders, live at The Keystone in Berkeley, CA (1973): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V4SrD-thnY&feature=related
Cheers. Go Raps!

[Brad B.]

So Doug, what do you think about TFC's selection of Luis Silva and Aaron Maund? It looks like they got an attacking midfielder to service the forwards and an in-progress defender that seems to indicate that they have some international signings lined up for their back-line. What's your take?

Blogger's note: Someone to take command in the middle was a need, right? Big need.

[Brad]

Passing shmassing, it's over-rated: just look at the HOTH - it produces far too many turnovers! (I keed, I keed)

[Keith]

Need for a small forward becomes more and more glaring. Coaching strategy is back off Butler and dare him to shoot (which he always does and usually misses) and double team Bargs. We have DD who seems to be afraid to shoot and RB who never saw a shot he wouldn't take.

[SheikYurbouti]

Nick M
hahaha, I've suffered the same fate on here with throwing out what I think is a creative bit of humour, only to realize that not everyone gets the subtleties sometimes. At least in part, the reactions are conditioning created by the senseless criticisms that wannabes venture in here with sometimes.

[GM]

@Nick M, I got it the first time! But I was wondering in the first line or two. I wonder if most people gave up after that and didn't see the obvious joke by the end.

[doug]

general managers would be climbing over themselves to get their hands on Cousins, the dude can not only play but he plays with a chip on his shoulder, will it prove a problem at times yes, as he is a emotional player, and responds without thinking, but his teammates like him...reminds me of someone else, who is now in the HOF, Rodman.....I wish Ed Davis had just a bit of that chip on his shoulder, it would elevate his game substantially, but it can't be taught, it's how your wired....all in all entertaining game and i can say this Jimmer isn't shy about shooting...