All kinds of struggles and all kinds of stuff about Reggie

Told you I had no clue about time zones and when things would get done here.

Anyway …

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THREE POINTERS

Who’s fault is it?

There is no doubt the Raptors offence struggles without Andrea Bargnani but, really.

There is very little creativity, far too much one-on-one play and precious little off-the-ball movement and just no flow.

That’s on everyone, the coaches and the players and it’s verging on unwatchable. Not sure who’s more to blame, I know Dwane wants more stuff to happen, we’ve seen sets in the season where it does but unless it rapidly improves, we’re in for another KO year and one of us is going to stick a pin in his eye about the 25th game of the season.

And we don’t want that, do we?

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What’d we find out?

Not much, really.

But if there’s a good sign, it’s that Linas Kleiza, playing his eighth game in about a calendar year, looked better than he has.

He was as good at 30 minutes as he’s been at 17 and he actually made some shots. Now, a lot of what happened late in the fourth quarter doesn’t count because the game was out of hand but Kleiza at least looked a bit more fluid. Now, if he can string together two or three games like that, there’d be reason for optimism.

-

Start of the story

There’ll be more on The Regend but …

Man, does Dwane (heart) Reggie.

Check this out:

“Reggie is one of my all-time favourites. I love him, he’s like a son, I fought for him to make the team in Seattle.

He was undrafted, we brought him in, I got in an argument with Wally Walker (the Seattle’s GM) that day when he was deciding who he was going to cut. I said, ‘look, we have nobody on our roster like this guy, he’s fearless, he wins every one on one drill, he has a nose for the basketball.’

I always say there’s a lot of things you have to have in basketball but one of the most important (is) you have to have an act. He has act; he gets away with it. I love him … but he has an act. He can hold all day long in the paint and the referee is going to call it on the next guy. He’s good at it.”

And he’s right. Reggie may be little more than a one trick pony but, man, is he good at that trick.

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And … Idle thoughts of an addled mind after a long flight delay …

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I’m not entirely sure why but getting carded in an airport bar kind of makes me feel good. Not young, just good. And when you can laugh with the barmaid about being old enough to be her dad, it’s cool.

Oh, and you get to hang with Gumby on some Concourse Stool and chat with Our New Friend Stefanie The School Teacher From Half Moon Bay and learn that, yes, there are Americans who think Newt’s a dope not intelligent enough to lead the free world and you hope the new friend has some friends who don’t allow this to happen.

Oh, and many of the problems with the U.S. public school system stem from too many districts with too many superintendents wasting too much funding.

Just in case you were wondering.

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Right. We’re in Phoenix. And that means the possibility of a trip to Cooperstown.

No, not a flight, a walk behind the arena to a joint owned by this guy.

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So, Reggie.

It may be a case of semantics – and I would venture that it is – but he told me before the game that his agent never got a contract offer from the Raptors and it became apparent that he move on.

Now, I’m also told by people I trust in the organization now that there was a conscious decision made to move on last summer, that they were quite okay with Ed Davis taking Reggie’s minutes to see what the kid got and, under different circumstances, they would have wanted him back. But the roster, the time, the future weren’t right and things had to happen as they did.

But when I asked Reggie whether he was surprised about not being back, here’s the transcript:

“Aaaaahhhhhh. I wasn’t, just listening to my agent, there was nothing close at all, you know. Umm, it wasn’t nothing close at all. I wasn’t offered no contract.

I was more surprised than, um, yeah, I was more surprised. I was kind of surprised just knowing that I played for coach Casey in my younger days and just knowing what kind of impact he had on me when I first came in the league because him and coach Nate had such an impact on my career.”

And then a wee bit later:

“I’m kind of happy I was able to answer this question, that way people on the tweets don’t have to ask me why I’m not back.

“It’s cool, though. They wanted to go a different direction; they got some great players on their team that they picked up this year. They got some good veterans on their team.”

Not sure “great” is the adjective I’d use, perhaps “suitable for the season” is the right way to put it.

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Oh yeah, you ask Sandra, who’s filling glasses on the other side of the LAX stool, the oddest thing she’s ever seen and …

“A guy, about 6-5 with a full beard dressed like a woman wearing a v-neck dress with chest hair out to there. A whole bar of guys were scared.”

And, undoubtedly, scarred.

Yeah, it was some night.

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Hmm. Pats-Giants. Told you so. And if you think there’s any way in the world that field goal kicker or kick returner can be back in Baltimore or San Francisco next year, I think you’re wrong.

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Here’s a quick one probably gives short shrift to a story that deserves more.

Joe Paterno is dead, as we all know, the victim of the hell that is cancer such a short time after he was fired from his job.

It was funny, being in the United States when the news broke and listening to him lionized by a dozens of people on ESPN on Sunday morning.

Now, I don’t know Joe Paterno from Adam, I have no idea what kind of man he was, what he did for the kids who were in his charge for the decades he was a head football coach. I do know that unspeakable horrors happened on his watch and that he either knowingly turned a blind eye to them or simply had no control over what went on. Both of which are, in my mind, in excusable.

I’m sure he did many good things in his life, taught kids good life’s lessons, was part of a de facto professional sports team that sent many young men onto greatness and success in a variety of fields totally unrelated to football.

But as I was listening to all those tributes, and listening to men tell me how Joe Paterno should not be judged by what we found out in the last few months, one thing stuck in my craw:

Why not? Why not take what happened recently and weigh it against a life’s work and make up our own mind what we think of the man.

Joe Paterno unquestionably did some good and honourable things while coaching football. And some horrid things happened at the same time. He was good; he was flawed; I think we need to hold off the lionization.

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Comments

[JHP]

Happy trails and hopefully the pin will not be required. Of course it will be but try not to use it too often. Going to be a long and bumpy road(49 and counting).

Maybe next week we can start talking baseball :-)

[Matt M]

Read the IGBT yesterday and saw the players that should be kept. Figured I'd spout my opinion. There is no one on this team who should think their job is safe. That being said, I'd probably keep James Johnson. He is young and although isn't a good offensive player but he is the best perimeter defender on this team. As well, he is a plus rebounder at SF and any team that has Andrea Bargnani in the starting lineup needs good rebounders at other positions. Are there better players than Johnson out there in this league? Of course, but then this is also a league where teams won championships with subpar offensive players like Bruce Bowen and Derek Fisher in their starting line up because of their ability to complement the stars in the starting lineup.
I'd turf Calderon. He is coming up to his decline years and by the time this team is back to decent (in retrospect, thinking this might happen next year was dreaming in technicolor) his best years will be behind him. Besides, there is no reason to keep any player who has never been a starting PG on a +.500 team (not his fault but the team can still do better).

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

One of the things that has always struck me about the canonization of US college coaches is how these guys are always lauded for all the good they do for the kids in their charge. That's a two way street. I didn't know Joe Paterno, just like I don't know basketball coaches like Coach K at Duke or John Calipari at Kentucky. I'm sure people talk about how much these guys help their young players as well. But those players are the exceedingly cheap nuts and bolts that go into making a multi-billion dollar amateur sporting industry in the US. They also make their coaches rich. People like Paterno better have been putting some effort into the lives of the players they coach. But I would hazard to guess that their great beneficence stops at the locker room door. They are helping the youngsters that play for them because they are paid handsomely to do it. I doubt the coaches' office doors are open to anyone else on campus who might seek out life lessons from guys who are probably busy negotiating their next contracts with Nike.

These aren't charitable figures. They are businessmen. And that's fine, as long as we keep it in perspective and turn the sound off whenever people like Dick Vitale come on, shilling the great-man-myth of college sport. It's not fine when they are willing to stoop to the lowest level--ignoring the molestation of children--when the bottom line of the business is under threat.

AG, Toronto

[jim Docherty]

Thank You Doug for your comments on Joe Paterno. I worked for many years in the field of Child Abuse and watched many professionals and lay people turn a blind eye and pretend they did not know what was happening. One thought that people might ponder is. Was Paterno able to build his body of work because he chose to ignore problems that might have got in his way no matter what the cost to other people?

Perhaps he knew about the Assistant coach from the beginning and decided that he could live with the behaviour to achieve his own purposes. In history many people have been judged for one act why not sports legends.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Morning Doug, Sounds like your down time at LAX was a well deserved entertainment highlight, cuz lord knows the game wasn't. Good for you.
Thanks too for planting that Hendrix seed yesterday; Watchtower's still spinning in my rinse cycle. So, to shake it with a segue-way, I'd sure recommend Dave Mason's rendition to anyone who's never heard it or may be in need of a redux (he actually sat in on Jimi's session). Meanwhile, on a rainy Monday morning, here's another fine little sampler of Dave Mason at his best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp5Afx_h-r0
Cheers! Go Bargs!

[MC_Brad]

Cooperstown is AMAZING!!!! ... if you havent had the massive sampler platter, DO IT!!!!

[Mike D.]

A question, courtesy of my lunch host last Friday (I don't come up with anything this intelligent): with Sunday's recall of Solo from the D-league, will we start seeing him get Magloire's minutes? Seems reasonable that if we're going to struggle at centre, we may as well at least struggle in a way that develops a young player.

Blogger's note: Think they'll give him some practices before making any decision; hope to get more on him for the morning

[sam]

I liked Reggie and his enthusiasm was a good thing for a young team.
As a player he didn't have the impact we all remember as a part of the HOTH.
He was solid on defense, and was bullish on grabbing rebounds, but a liability on offense. His entire Raptors career on the court was only 58 games, with the rest of his time injured and rehabbing. His offense was a lot better than Magloire's and we don't really know what Gray will bring,but I don't remember Reggie airballing a free throw. Happy to hear he's living large in LA.

It's obvious Linas needs some time to get into game shape - his play yesterday was a good start - I hope Amir learned his lesson.

[David in Oakville]

Who knew Alice Cooper has a bar in Phoenix? Now I do thanks to you Doug... well done.

Doug, do you believe in not tempting the fates in sports? Things like, never touch the cup until you win it. Stuff of that nature. Did anyone else think that Vernon Davis' touchdown celebration on San Francisco's first score was tempting the fates and likely to anger the football gods. Yes it was a brilliant call and great execution by Smith and Davis but... really, it was the first quarter, lots of football left, don't climb the TV platform and stand there like you have just been crowned heavyweight champion. It can't do anything good but anger the gods and the Giant's defense.

[LeeZ]

I was very happy to see Amir benched for not getting back. And not just benched several minutes after the fact, so as not to "show him up", but instantaneously. I believe this is the first instant hook following an eggregious screw-up that I've seen this season (hell, in the past several seasons). Accountability is a wonderful thing. Amir is generally one of the hardest working Raptors, routinely taking on bigger opponents and giving it his very all, so a bit surprising that he'd be the first target of Casey's ire. But in general, at least on the offensive end, Amir has been non-existent on the offensive end lately. Jose and he used to combine for about five easy buckets a game off the pick and roll, but now José almost NEVER looks for him. Yes, I'm sure the other teams' scouts have told their teams about that play and to watch for it, but it's bizarre how the Raps have COMPLETELY removed it from their playbook. And the few times José does look for him the ball gets stripped from Amir. What is that hand injury he has (he's got it taped), and could that be the culprit? I think that between him and Demar, the Raps can count on a good half-dozen such "strips" a game. So, my questions are: why no more pick'n'roll with Amir? Hand injury responsible for recent strips? And as for Gingrich, it's not that he's a dope or lacks intelligence (indeed, he's held up as the intellectual giant of the G.O.P. Um...yeah. Nuff said), it's that he is a pompous, brutish, despicable human being who is almost singlehandedly responsible for the uber-polarization of the political system in the States (from his toxic time as Speaker of the Senate back in the 80's). The fact that he told wife number one that he was divorcing her WHILE SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL RECEIVING CHEMO for cancer, and wife number two WHILE SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL receiving treatment for MS, both time leaving them for women he was having affairs with, all the while criticizing Clinton publicly for his dalliance, makes him even more despicable. He is, of course, rabidly against gay marriage, pleading instead for the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman (yes, that's right, ONE woman, Newt). And to top it all off, he blames all his infidelities on his patriotism. Yes, that's right: his patriotism. You have to see this clip to believe it (and even then, you won't believe it): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4tWJgLLgII&feature=fvst

[Dave]

Doug, I don’t know Joe Paterno from Eve. However, I think we need to consider the age when Joe grew up. I assume he was born in the late 1920s or early 1930s. I once watched some training videos on "you are what you were when". The gist of the video is that we are a product of when we were born and the environment in which we grew up. Most of the values we have are instilled by the time we are 7 years old. That being said, Joe was raised when people had a lot of respect for authority and didn't question their decisions. Joe reported the information he received (but didn't witness) to his bosses. He did everything he thought he should and trusted they would do the right thing.

I am not excusing what happened (although nothing has been proven yet and people used to be assumed innocent until proven guilty - not so much today). However, I think Joe believed he did everything he could. Who are we to judge him?

The whole worshipping of College coaches is another issue and one which many of us will never understand.

[Waldo]

Love your blog, but I think that everyone needs to cut Joe Paterno a little slack. Nevermind all the things he's done for the sport and the students. But the thing he did that was so wrong was that he didn't do "enough" with regard to the Sandusky scandal. He worked with this guy for 30 years. To me, sports people have always been a fiercely loyal bunch. I mean, would you turn your brother in? Maybe you would....maybe you won't. But man-o-man that decision's a difficult one.

That being said, right's right and wrong's wrong. He was wrong and deserved to be fired. But for that to totally taint all the good he's done? I think that's wrong too. Sandusky on the other hand....deserves unspeakably horrid things to have happen to him.

[Rob.V]

Maybe a top 3 draft pick isn't such a bad idea after all?
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Let's get Kleiza up and running for a few games then clear the decks by trading him and Barbosa for picks and TPE's or something that wont cost us our cap flexibility next off season.
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2 weeks ago I wanted "nothing" to do with tanking however times change I guess.
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This team sucks!... and we're getting a big fat "zero" return from the kids.
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I know it's a long season however my patience is short... and it's all about what matters to me, isn't it.
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I guess this is where BC will need the patience of "jobe" (whoever he was) that I don't seem to have right now.
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You know it's going to be a long boring night when Matt and Jack have gone into "garbage time" conversation in the 1st quarter!!!I
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Let me just say this on the off chance that the inventor of the PVR happens to be an irregular:
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From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for allowing me to turn a 2 1/2 hour Raptors game into a mere 20 minutes. God bless you my friend... I will forever be eternally grateful! Blessings on you and your family.

[Mr. Cook]

I agree with you completely about Paterno. There is an obvious fallacy when the ESPNers tell us not to judge him on what transpired in the last few months; it didn't transpire in the last few months. The spotlight has revealed that it was going on in his facilities, by his staff, that it was reported to him and even if he did pass it on he did nothing afterward to stop it from continuing to happen. Historical sexual abuse (by which I mean it goes on for a long time, not that it happened a long time ago) only occurs because of complicity by others in the abused and the abusers life it is extremely rare that it is actually a secret.

[doug]

excellent blog this morning, (not that they all aren't) and I agree with your take on all the subjects touched on...JoPa has to be held accountable for what occurred on his watch and how NCAA coaches are treated is mind-boggling, even watching a NCAA b-ball game you will never hear a announcer criticize a coaching decision/strategy their teflon....as far as Raps O goes it's in a word "terrible" and Casey has to take some of the blame , so what if Barg's is out, they still need to run some semblance of plays, and be held accountable on the offensive end, Casey likes to coach the defensive end, he needs to learn their is 2 ends to the court, if I was a player on this team I would be confused, he preaches, effort/discipline on defense whereas on offense it's the direct opposite it's playground ball...is it just me or wouldn't Jay and Casey as co-head coaches make a hell of a pairing, Jay can coach offense, Casey D.....I bet the waitress that carded you got a good tip, it's a good trick for all waiters/waitresses to learn, ask a 30 year old woman for I.D., guaranteed a tip...cheers and safe flying..

[Andre Cousineau]

Hey Doug, myself and another fellow Raptors fan are heading down to Utah on Wednesday which just so happens to coincide with the one and only visit by the HOTH this year! From what I understand Utah is definitely one of the great towns to see a basketball game, but the state not exactly renowned as a place for a libation or two. Since our flight arrives at 3:20 and the game is at 7, any tips for a couple of thirsty/hungry irregulars in the vicinity of the arena? Much obliged for any help you or any of the other irregulars might be able to provide ...

Blogger's note: Surprisingly, I do know a place. Lumpy's Sports Bar, not sure of the street but it's an okay place within short walk of arena; watched a Grey Cup in there one year

[Steven]

"Unwatchable". Well said. I wouldn't mind the losing if the young core was developing but DeRozen, Davis and Johnson look worse this year than last. This team is looking very much like an expansion team. We are a very patient group but this season could really set fan support in Toronto way back if the team continues to struggle this way. Very sad considering the potential we've seen for this to be a great basketball city.

[PK]

JoPa's Legacy
#1 in regular season wins
#1 in bowl wins
2 National Championships
Several coach of the year awards from different groups.
High graduation rate among his players.
A child molester enabler.

Only one of these points is worth remembering.

[Rob.V]

Dave, good point.
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It's easy to pile on Joe P.
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I could care less about any of his achievements with the football program... but lets hold judgement until all of the facts have been presented.
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Also agreed. The whole worshipping of "anything" is probably not a good thing.

[Bill]

What rankles me with the Joe Paterno situation is that everyone doesn't seem to realize or acknowledge that the sad story of abuse at PSU was not of his making. Not to belittle the true victims of the abuse, but Joe Paterno was a victim of Jerry Sandusky as well.

We will probably never know the real story or what Paterno could have done, but he was not the one that did the abusing. He may be guilty of turning a blind eye, etc., but he is not the real bad guy in all of this and I find a lot of ppl seem to be forgetting this. (these ppl are of course the uninformed that read headlines for the most part)

[Penny]

Watching the game yesterday (in between peeks at the Patriots game) a few things struck me as odd. Amir is pulled immediately for not getting back, James is pulled for two dumb plays in a row but DeMar seems to get a pass for stupid offensive decisions and very little defense and Ed just ambles back in transition. The other oddities are the 16 foul shots the Clippers had in the first quarter to the Raptors goose egg and the fact that yesterday was the Clippers 10th home game (with lots of accompanying practise time) and the Raptors 10th road game. In this age of computers, surely the scheduling could be done more equitably.

[jc]

Hey Doug,
I've got nothing constructive to say about the Raps these days....just riding out the storm and looking at the horizon. So, instead, a question for your IT guys. Not sure if it's been mentioned before but there is an ongoing problem when trying to read your IGBT with any delay (of course, my apologies for not always reading it live). If you are a screen behind, you have to scroll all the way through to get to the beginning of the page and then when you're done, scroll all the way back to the other end to chose the next page (the humanity!). Does anyone else notice this? Hopefully there is a simple IT solution that does not involve pins in eyes. Thanks

[Raptorman]

Fantastic Doug; actually critical of this mess! I may actually come here more often.(I know you don't care) I was THE biggest raps ran for years....but i cant bring myself to watch anymore...i cant imagine what the ratings for this crud is.
Bottom line, i dont think 2 young players are going to make much difference next year...this team is doomed...so sad to say cause I really do love ball.

[SheikYurbouti]

I totally agree with all you said about Paterno. I don't buy any excuses for him not doing everything an honourable man would do to stop what Grand Jury evidence says he knew was going on. Inexcusable.
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Patience running thin all over the place. Even those (me included) who buy in to the current plan have to be feeling discouraged with the lack of progress from DeMar and Ed. I understand the obstacles they have to overcome in this crazy season, but hopes were they'd be showing more by now. It's looking like to road back to even a respectable younf team is going to be longer than expected.
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Nice to see Kleiza starting to round into form though. He could sure help to make the team a little more respectable and fun to watch.
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Something weird happened during the IGBT. Using this handle, I had submitted a few unanswered comments that couldn't possibly be taken as offensive in any way, yet suddenly was banned from making comments. This isn't the first time it's happened. I changed the handle and a comment was accepted. Any clue what that's about? Is my handle a problem?
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I hope you'll respond to this question:
During the IGBT, you mentioned that one of the descriptions that been tossed out about James Johnson is "permanent potential". I'm likely missing something, but the only two reasons I can imagine to induce this description are that he has the physical abilities to be better, but either:
- does not put in the work
- is missing something between the ears that can't be coached into him

Why do you think some have labelled him as "permanent potential"?

Blogger's note: Not sure about the IGBT, wasn't anything I did, I don't think. And, right now, and it's early, it's likely the second point but the kid's still real young

[SheikYurbouti]

@Bill,

Turning a blind eye to such acts should never be downplayed in any form. he didn't commit the acts upon those children, but please don't downplay that his turning a blind eye resulted in more despicable acts upon more children.

We certainly don't know every detail, but we do know the real story about what he could have done and didn't.