And a few things about the game

Told you I’d get here eventually.

Hello from the under-renovation O’Hare Marriott; can’t find check-in (it’s on the third floor), concierge lounge closed (dang Saturday games) and lobby bar closes at midnight (game better be quick).

Livin’ the dream.

But …

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THREE POINTERS

My fault; no my fault

Gotta love a guy who’ll admit a mistake.

Or two guys.

Look, in hindsight, everyone around the game knows Jamaal Magloire should never have caught an inbounds pass with less than 15 seconds left in a three-point game.

Of course the Pacers fouled him, of course he missed the two free throws, of course the game was lost.

And Dwane Casey took the hit.

“I take the full blame for that. I don’t think they were intentionally trying to foul but I should not have had (Magloire) handling the ball. He was the last big after (Amir Johnson) fouled out and I should have had it flip flopped. I should have had Ed Davis at the top (taking the inbounds) so it’s on me.”

Magloire was equally contrite, he knows he’s a professional athlete who is handsomely rewarded to make the requisite plays and he didn’t.

So, everyone learns.

Casey had a mental blip and Magloire isn’t likely to be on the court in that situation again. Actually, I have no problem with him being on the floor; Casey said they were looking for a quick two with the intention of extending the game and Magloire was the best rebounder available, it’s just where on the court he was that was the issue and that can’t happen again.

A lesson; a tough lesson, indeed.

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End of AC?

I don’t know that last night spelled the absolute of Anthony Carter’s run as backup point guard in Jerryd Bayless’s absence but the rotation was kind of telling.

Needing size, quickness and offence, they when seven minutes with Gary Forbes in the backcourt with Leandro Barbosa while Carter, who wasn’t hurt and available, got a DNP-CD.

As we’ve mentioned, they’ve been working hard with Forbes in practice and at shootaround, trying to turn a two-guard/small forward into a point guard (he’s never played the position) and he acquitted himself pretty well. Nothing flashy, no horrible decisions, no egregious turnovers and in the right matchup, I’d run him out there again.

But until Bayless gets back (maybe on this trip) and to save some wear and tear on Calderon, why not let Jose play the first 10 minutes of the half, Forbes and Carter go for maybe four minutes each and bring Jose back for the final six.

Then in the second half, use Calderon for another 10 minutes or so, get four or five minutes out of whichever Forbes or Carter are playing better and then finish with Jose.

That’d be about what? Thirty-five minutes for Jose? Works for me.

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Where’s it gone?

Know what we haven’t seen much of lately?

A zone defence.

Don’t think they played in for one possession against Indy, don’t remember it all against Sacramento and all I can chalk it up to is lack of practice time and personnel.

I know Dwane’s a bit of fan – it was tremendously effective for him in Dallas – and I’d presume as soon as he can get ‘em in a gym for a while, he’ll get more work on it.

Good way to “hide” guys and a good way to change up the flow of a game for a couple of possessions. It worked earlier in the year, I suspect we’ll see it again.

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And …

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Digression?

Don’t imagine you’ll mind.

Could be the theme of the day.

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It’s only 10 a.m. here, don’t have to be at arena ‘til 4, nap can’t take longer than a couple of hours so where’s the mail?

Yeesh. Send it here. Please.

Oh, and the Atlanta suggestions have been few and far between; guess a lot of you feel the same way about the city as I do. And Sam hasn’t called.

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Anyway, short and sweet ‘cause you’ve got all that mail to deal with; will be back tomorrow with another couple of offerings.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Matt M]

One last thing. The cliche that the draft is a crapshoot is a poor analogy. Unless dice are loaded, you have no better chance of rolling any two particularly winning numbers. The draft is more like Texas Hold-em. Having the number 1 pick is akin to holding pocket aces. It isn't the nuts, but all the best players know that it is better to bet on that then nearly anything else.

[doug]

call the draft whatever you want..it is what it is, Kobe,Karl Malone both drafted 13th overall and Nash 15th so yea it is a crapshoot, or texas holdem, or better yet pull Tebow and pray... ...good old Nat Guitar Murphy, a 15 year old's golfing buddy for a day, good memory and better guy, top of the shelf dude....

[SheikYurbouti]

Matt Murphy- I can't remember a better Saturday afternoon ever than sitting having wobbly pop or two at the now defunct King Eddie in Calgary, when Matt and his band were holding a jam session. Among the participants (some very good locals) there was another dude in town, at another bar with his band, who showed up to join in the fun with his harp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNkNuVRhkks&feature=related
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Forbes: Amazing that his best minutes with the Raps, by far, were playing a position he's unfamiliar with. I don't think he's going to turn the world upside down any time soon, but would like to see him get more minutes there.
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Magloire inbound: When I saw it, trusting in coach Casey's expertise and experience, after shaking my head, all I could smell was perfect timing for a subtle, but effective "tank" move. Team played hard, stayed competitive vs a better team, fans got their money's worth, lesson to players that every nuance counts in a play, and eliminate even outside chance of a useless win. BUT, I still trust that coach always plays to win, and it was just my over analytical imagination at play. Such a basic brain cramp, with so much experience behind him, makes a guy wonder how many more of those are in the future before Casey becomes known as a great HEAD coach though.

[Blake Kennedy]

Doug:
.
Dallas actually used a matchup zone, not a pure zone. That may sound like nitpicking, but there's actually worlds of difference between them.

Blogger's note: It actually is nitpicking, teams (and someone as well versed as you should know this) use more than one. But thanks

[GM]

* Games like last night's can be the death-knell for a team that relies on hustle. A few of those and the players – consciously or subconsciously – start to figure why bust our butts so hard when we can never pull it out at the end?

* Magloire is positively Shaq-like at the line. I think he's had ten attempts this season which, granted, is a small sample size. But he's had four airballs from the line already! Four! You might see that once or twice a season, and he's had four! I'm also shocked at just how bad his hands are, not to mention his touch around the hoop. So they had their best rebounder in but with the time remaining, he'd probably have to put it back up if he got a carom, and I don't like his chances of making a put-back in that situation. Could happen, but I wouldn't risk it.

* I remembered Carter playing last night so I double-checked. Sure enough, he played one second! That doesn't count as a DNP-CD, does it? I mean, it effectively is, but no officially.

* Forbes was okay at the point. Liked him better than Carter. But he did have one egregious turnover I recall. From about three-quarters court he left his feet and threw the ball ahead and between Barbosa and someone else. Not even close to either of them.

Blogger's note: Technically no, not a DNP-CD

[KD]

Hey Doug,
I saw Moneyball for the first time recently. Its taken over number one on my list of favorite sports movies of all time. The most interesting facets of it were the portrayals of major league scouting and the media. Anyways, I was wondering where you would put it on your list? (If you've seen it), Thanks.

Blogger's note: Unfortunately, haven't seen it. Maybe on the flight to LA next week