Some old time movement and more celebration needed

What’s this?

A day off?

No practice? No game?

What’s a fellow to do?

Oh yeah, some video for the Facebook thing and some Nothing But Net but it’s going to a quiet day in The Life Of A Grunt and I’m quite fine with that.

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THREE POINTERS

A new look

How about some old-school stuff?

Did you get a look at some new offence the lads ran at time last night?

Looked a bit like some Princeton stuff with three guards running what looked like a three-man weave around the three-point circle with a lot of motion and movement and it worked pretty well.

I’m told it’s the kind of stuff they used to run in Seattle when Dwane was out there and they’d put Ray Allen, Luke Ridnour and Antonio Daniels out on the floor and, I have to admit, it’s more fun to watch than any isolation stuff or screen-roll action with a guard and a forward.

Not sure how it worked out – I don’t chart possessions nearly that closely – but I’d imagine if they wanted to go with Calderon, Bayless and DeRozan (instead of Calderon, Carter and DeRozan as they did against the Spurs) it’ll be a nice, new look that might confuse some fans.

And if the game ops people are reading, if they run it and you recognize it and you play some Sweet Georgia Brown, that’d be way cool.

Like this is.

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Welcome home, young fella

Very nice of Pop to give Cory Joseph a few minutes in front of the home folks.

Not so nice of Jamaal Magloire to welcome him the Air Canada Centre with a nice, jarring screen on Joseph’s first defensive possession but friends aren’t friends when the game’s on.

Joseph, as Pop told us before the game, is simply a young kid learning his way and it was impossible to get a read on the local product in the three minutes he played in the first half.

But Joseph did give all the right answers before the game about being excited to learn from crafty veterans like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili and if he does that, there has to be some good things waiting for him in the future.

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Big numbers

Lost amid another loss – and perhaps quieting for a second those who’d like him traded or benched – was DeMar DeRozan’s season high 29 points, even if it was a rather “quiet” 29.

Given that in his last five games – and that includes the stinker against the Lakers on Sunday afternoon – he’s averaged almost 20 points a game, I’m wondering if the young fella might be getting it more often than not.

I’m not saying at all that he’s absolutely there but his free throw attempts are up, his three-point attempts are down and this might his best stretch since very early in the season.

Last night, especially in the second half when he had 17 of his points, he was pretty darn good.

If he strings together four more good ones in the next five, he might provide some answers to difficult questions.

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And a little bit more

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Oh, boy.

Big summer coming back home, I see.

Dude got approval to walk across the Falls on a wire and not since John Daly had some hokey stunt where he tried to drive a golf ball from one country to the next has there been such activity planned makes.

Makes one proud to be from there.

Sort of.

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A friend reminds me that yesterday was Flag Day here – a commemoration of the day in 1965 when the Maple Leaf first flew – and I’m kind of sorry that I missed it, actually.

Didn’t see people trot it out for one day and one day alone – and I am among the guilty parties – and I wonder if more should next year.

A flag, like a national anthem, is one of the few symbols we have and I don’t know that we celebrate it well enough or often enough. You know me and the anthem, right? How I hate when performers treat it as some kind of demo tape instead of giving it the respect it’s due. Well, same for the flag.

I was barely able to comprehend that mid-60s debate over the flag but for those of you of a certain age slightly younger than myself, it’s all you’ve known as the standard for our country.

Next year, we’ll all do better, won’t we?

Oh, and if the feds would like to make it a statutory holiday – perhaps changing the bogus Family Day we’ll celebrate here in Ontario on Monday – I’d be fine with that, too.

I don’t want us to become too ostentatious in our nationalism but a wee bit more might not be too bad. Be a good reminder about what’s right in this country.

Rant over.

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Sure, I could use some mail, who couldn’t?

You know the drill.

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Guess word’s coming out of Seattle today that they have some kind of arena plan in place and they’re going full steam ahead with a new building in an attempt to lure the NBA back.

Can’t wait.

My personal preferences aside – I love Seattle ‘cause it’s a nice walking city with an interesting downtown and two places I like to go an awful lot in the Kell’s and Metropolitan Grill – I do think the league needs another team in the Pacific Northwest for some geographical balance if not for marketing reasons.

The thing is going to be how they get a team, and from where.

There is absolutely no appetite for expansion – nor should there be given how thin that talent is already stretched – which would leave relocation as the only way to get a team.

But who?

I guess all eyes are going to be on Sacramento, given their difficulties in getting an arena there. But past that? Don’t see too many good candidates. The league is going to exhaust all manner of possibilities before it gives up on New Orleans and the business community there seems to have rallied around the franchise. Charlotte might be a possibility given the difficulties the Bobcats have in drawing in a college and NASCAR region and Memphis might make sense except getting out of the lease at the arena there is so financially punitive it’s hard to imagine the Grizzlies being a logical target.

So while it’s all well and good that Seattle seems to be back in play, if Sacramento gets its act together, I don’t see a logical franchise to move.

Of course, things can change rather rapidly in the world of high finance and big business – owners who are solvent today may not be in 18 months – but right now Seattle looks like a tough market to fill.

And that makes me sad.

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Comments

[Lorie]

Hey Doug,
I remember The Flag Debate. And I remember some of the truly wacky designs that had been submitted.
http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/language_culture/topics/80/
But what I most remember is a cold day (and a very long ceremony leading too quickly to numb feet and hands) in February where I was one of the fortunate student representatives chosen by the North York Board of Education to be present for the first raising of our new flag. As time passes, this remains a very clear memory, for which I'm thankful. It was an important moment in our national history. And I was there.

[LeeZ]

I agree Demar is playing better lately. Actually, I'm more impressed with his improved defence lately than the offence. His defensive stance and lateral quicks are now what they should have been from day one. As for the offence, I have a favour to ask you, Doug (and since you and I go waaaaaaay back, I can't imagine you not wanting to help out! :-) :
Eight times out of 10, when his release point is on top of or behind his head and he "flings" the ball, the shot won't go in. It's as close to certainty as any science experiment. And 7 times out of 10, when his release point is where it should be (i.e. just above eye level and slightly in front of his forehead), it goes in. It's a fun game-withing-the-game, actually. You should all try it at home next game: predicting which shots will go in and which won't, based SOLELY on where his release point is. So Doug, if a complete idiot like myself can ACCURATELY predict his shot success, I'm guessing this release point thing is not lost on his coaches. Have any of them SPECIFICALLY mentioned this release point problem with you? If not, and if you too have noticed it, would you mind asking one of them? Pretty please? As a belated Valentine's Day gift to a longtime Irregular (I was really hurt you didn't send chocolates or flowers; this will make up for it!)

[D-Mac Ottawa]

To have a 9-win team playing with this level of confidence and (mostly) consistent effort is a tremendous credit to a coach – and a new coach at that – who's doing and saying the right stuff, the right way, at the right times. And his staff.
Doug, for your post-game, pre-scribe calming campaign, you might want to knock off the game-time coffee and the sugars (especially those carbonated sodas, "diet" or otherwise); if you have to stick with one or the other, keep the coffee, ditch the sugars. Try taking 250 mg of magnesium around lunchtime: magnesium calms restless leg syndrome, among other 'jitters', and you'll sleep better to boot. If you could share a nice bowl of Primo pasta with Bargs ("Before Andrea hits the court, he must be ready for anything..."), Mike D. is right about those carbs, and pasta is about the cleanest carb going (but easy on the creamy sauces, buddy!).
But nothing could be more effective than a few simple nice long, slow deep breaths: your blood pressure will drop immediately and your noodle will have no choice but to slow down to accommodate the exercise (as long as you're willing to find a quiet spot and concentrate on giving it an honest go).
Okay, 2 magnesium and call me in the morning... Cheers. Go Raps!

[joeu]

@lorie

Thanks for the cbc links. It was just a little before my time, but what I find interesting about the flag debate is that anyone with pencil and paper could submit an idea, and in doing so, came up with a personal answer to the question of "What should Canada stand for".

[joeu]

Hello, Doug ...

In terms of unwinding, what about music ? either an mp3 player on your laptop, or an ipod, or streaming a favourite radio station to your laptop. For me, music has a direct impact on my state of mind, and I often work with headphones on, to filter out the outside world.

[Pipit]

I applaud the team for playing hard most of the night. We all know that the talent is not even close to the other teams that they played against the past few games. Last night is another one of those games wherein they had a chance to win. What I don't like last night was the lack of adjustment of defending Parker. Parker kept on destroying both Calderon and Carter especially during the crucial minutes of the game but there was no adjustment made. Just a few nights ago, D' Antoni pulled one against Casey by bringing in Shumpert against Calderon. He should have done something similar. Casey as good as he is as always been projected by the local media still has a lot to learn.

[Nick M]

@Robert Bertuzzi,
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Just read the comments section yesterday. There is a small blurb and locations/times of the games mentioned on the Huntington Prep website, which you can find @ http://www.huntingtonprep.com/#.
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Just wanted to point out how great it is having someone mention some interesting local basketball games, at any level and any locale. I imagine most of us here are basketball fans, even if it is a 'SPORTS' blog and, like me, wish more people would mention these types of games.
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Too bad I won't be able to make the one at MacNab but keep the recommendations coming!

[Mike kovacs]

Spurs by 7! Anyway the veteran team got all of the close calls last night in the last few minutes. Even a double-dribble at a crucial time. I can't remember when the last one was called even though it could be called every game. Nice salmon-coloured shirt last night Doug! Also it was funny to see you scrambling to get out of there before the anthems. I didn't know you could move so fast!

[james]

As others have pointed out, the Raptors have played with gusto the past four games. The effort cannot be faulted, the entertainment value has been high. San Antonio offers an interesting template or role model. It's one thing to luck into Tim Duncan; it is quite another to continually surround him with complementary players and contend for 15 years. Such consistency begins with the management and coaching staff of a small market team being on the same page and knowing what they want. No team has better realized the world-game aspect of basketball than the Spurs (the list of players they have drafted and sent to other teams is impressive, e.g., Barbosa). If the Spurs have a counterpart, it might be the Detroit Red Wings. Ideally, this is what the Raptors will become.
There are some great suggestions on calming a grunt down. I'd add deep breathing and a bit of meditation. Learn the technique and about a minute would be enough.
I remember the flag debate very well. My family was on the losing side of the debate. It was one of the bitterest political events I've ever seen. And they say Canadians aren't passionate!

[Gerry Tanner]

I was on the Quarterdeck of HMCS New Waterford for the lowering of the White Ensign and the raising of the new Canadian Flag. At the time the Admirals were bitter about losing the White Ensign(Naval Flag) but they were also bitter that Naval Officers no longer went to Britain to learn from the "real" Navy how officers should lead (snicker). It also meant they didn't get to practice their phoney British accents. Ah well, all water under the bridge. I served very happily under that new flag for 35 years and would still be doing it if I could.

[TLI]

..."John Daly had some hokey stunt where he tried to drive a golf ball from one country to the next"

Heck, let's all take a field trip to the lakehead, pick ourselves a spot and everyone can PUTT from one country to to the next!
;)

[Van City]

Doug Seattle would be cool... but what about Vancouver we have the wonderful Rogers arena and isn't it an even more beautiful walking city?

Please Doug give us Vancouverites some hope!

Blogger's note: There's always hope; Seattle's not a slam dunk and I know Vancouver's of interest to people when they think of other places the Kings might move

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

This has nothing to do with this particular blog (been so busy, haven't had time to read it yet!), but can you let the Tall Foreheads know that I am NOT at all in favour of the new 'design' of the website's main sports page. It used to be nice to be able to look at the top right of the page to find a link to your blog. Now, I have to go to the Raptors article to find a link. And, if as so often happens in your puckhead-centric paper, the Raptors article has been 'bumped' off the page, I have to click on "Basketball," then an article, until I finally find a link to your blog.
You may want to remind them of the number of hits your blog receives - they may not want to make it so difficult to find in the future.
Thanks!

Blogger's note: Passed on. Thanks

[Steph]

I'm ready to hear an update on Mr. Bargnani. Last I heard he was not running yet. Is he running yet? If so, for how long now? Is there a time frame anybody is working on for his return?

Blogger's note: Working out in the pool, no timeline

[Peter]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for the blog, as always!

This comment realtes more to the Lin story from yesterday, but I was reading an article on Grantland about how the writer's Asian friends were taking a fair amount of pride in Lin's play of late, and it got me thinking if it isn't similar, although on a much smaller scale, to how Canadians admire Steve Nash.

I know I'm confusing race and nationality, but for me it helps to explain the buzz around Lin, and in a similar way how Canadians take pride in Nash being a Canadian All-Star in a mostly non-Canadian league.

Anyway, great story all around.

Thanks Doug.

[RichardY]

@timH
Once I find Doug's blog, I just bookmark it / add it to mu favourites. Then I go straight there every time. I go to the rest of the paper after I read the blog.

[J]

It's been almost 15 years since I moved to the U.S., but the last 12 years in a row, I've had the Canadian flag hanging in my room. I'm an American citizen now (dual citizenship), but it's still the one and only flag mounted on my wall. Whatever my skin color, whatever country I'm living in, I'll always be Canadian and proud of it.