Some things are effective, even if they aren't pretty

I know Kyrie Irving is a very good basketball player because everyone I talk to tells me he is and it’s a virtual certainty that he’ll be the NBA’s rookie of the year.

And he should be glad he doesn’t play the Raptors too, too often because, for some reason, they make him look very pedestrian.

And with that …

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THREE POINTERS

It ain’t pretty but …

Not sure there are too many players in the NBA – especially big men – who drive the ball quite so awkwardly as Andrea Bargnani.

He kind of galumphs along, couple of dribbles and it looks like he’s either going to crash into whichever two defenders are there until he goes careening off to one side to finish one of those finger-rollish, off-balance layups or quasi-jump shots of his.

But if it works, as it did a couple of times last night, it really makes him a much more effective offensive force.

Bargnani looked far more comfortable both driving the ball and shooting it last night than he did in either of the weekend games and the one thing that’s going to warm the cockles of Casey’s mind is his aggressive showing on high screen-roll defence. He got out and disrupted the ball-handler as well as he had in the first 20 or so games of the season and that remains the biggest surprise improvement to his play this year.

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Retinas burning

Was odd to watch a game from a couch, hadn’t done that in a very long time it seems, and it provided one very ghastly sight.

Ed Davis free throws.

Now, I know they’re not pretty at all from watching him live but the low baseline shot from behind him showed just how gruesome they can be.

Ed had one of his best games in quite a while, overall, but the little corkscrew, start-at-his-right-hip-finish-at-his-left-shoulder foul shooting form is quite alarming.

I know they’ve been working on it with him but it might be a case that they need so much surgery on the form that it’s best to just suck it up this season – he’s shooting 65 per cent from the line – and really break him down and start over in the summer.

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He doesn’t miss

No, you did not see Amir Johnson miss a shot last night.

He was 4-for-4 from the floor – and a game-high nine rebounds – and he might be the hottest shooter in the game right now.

Over his last five games, Johnson is 22-for-31 from the field – the abacus tells me that’s somewhere around 71 per cent – and he’s almost perfected a little jump-hook floater from about seven feet.

The thing is, he’s often thrived when he’s been on the floor with Bargnani, the spacing is just better suited for Johnson and now that the other big fella is back, good things may be ahead.

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And …

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Well, Saturday’s coming and you know what that means?

Some of the best music is Irish music and even though this is a Texan (remember this Steve Earle song from Treme right before his character was killed off?) it’s got that Irish lilt.

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Let me get this straight:

The Orlando Magic have beaten Chicago and Miami in the last week, they have the third best record in the East and the fifth best in the NBA and Dwight Howard is bleating about management needing to “roll their dice” this summer because he wants to stay past Thursday’s deadline?

You know, I used to like Dwight Howard an awful lot, he played the game with a smile on his face, was very good and it looked like he was on his way to being one of the very best in the game.

Now, he seems to be something of a petulant little spoiled brat who wants his own way right now; he’s with an organization that’s bent over backwards to accommodate him, they surrounded him with all kinds of good players – good enough to get to an NBA Finals – and paid him as much as they could. He has a fawning fan base to adore him and perhaps the nicest arena in the NBA to play his home games in.

And he wants them to “roll their dice” in the summer.

The Magic ought to find one of those “rental” trade scenarios being kicked around – Houston, maybe? – and ship him out and roll their dice with the rest of ‘em.

And sometime next year, when Howard’s taken a huge financial hit and he’s playing Brooklyn for a team that will always – always – be second fiddle to the Knicks in that market, maybe he’ll realize what “rolling the dice” can mean.

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I don’t know how many of you closely read the various comments that are posted here daily – I would hope most of you do – but I look at them and am continually amazed.

The willingness of people to share personal stories and the often well-thought-out replies to things written here truly show what kind of cool community that’s developing.

Yesterday’s replies to the pro-casino rant are a perfect case in point. You made excellent points, created interesting debate and made this a discussion as much as anything. And if one of them led one of you to re-think a position, or learn something new, then that’s all the better.

When we began this little endeavour almost five years ago, no one knew how people would take to it.

We’re at more than 50,000 comments posted, the vast majority well spoken opinions, and when we get the good ones, it makes the few that make me crazy seem far less important.

Thanks.

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Not sure what the issue is about NBA trade deadline going up against first day of March Madness for one season and one season only.

It's not like either is getting short-shrift in the coverage department, there still seems to be lots of stories on both out there.

Is it perfect? No. But things will be back to normal next year; the only reason it's about two weeks later than normal is that this is an abomination of an NBA season thanks to the lockout

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Ready to mock?

I’m told the Smith/Kelly March Madness Bracketopalooza will be posted around here sometime around noon and here’s a sneak preview:

Forget the chalk.

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Speaking of comments, have an early airplane ride this morning to Jersey, will get to them when I can.

And if I can get to some mail to begin the long weekend process with an afternoon puttering in a hotel room, that’d be nice.

Do it here, as you well know, it’ll keep me occupied until the IGBT starts just after 7 p.m.

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So, Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson for Monta Ellis, Epke Udoh and Kwame Brown?

Trade Deadline Week got off to a big start, didn’t it?

Who wins?

Well, we know it’s impossible to tell the winner of any trade in the first 24 hours – and it’s even more impossible to figure out this one since Bogut isn’t likely to play the rest of this year, and Jackson’s just a rental.

But I like what both teams did.

The Warriors got – if he’s healthy – one of the most under-rated big men in the game and sent a clear signal that Stephen Curry is the man of their future.

The Bucks now have insurance for when Brandon Jennings bolts – which will be at the very first chance – but watching Jennings and Ellis share the ball and shots might be enough to cause coach Scott Skiles to have an episode of some sort.

Today?

If you pointed a gun at my head and asked who “won” the trade, I’d say it’s the Bucks. But ask me at this time next year when it’s an awful lot more clear.

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Comments

[JC]

Hey Doug,
I very much missed not having the IGBT last night. Just for old times sake, can you write what you would have written following bargnani's short 3 / rebound / slam in crunch time sequence?

Blogger's note: Bargs shot, miss, follow dunk, dagger. Whoever that guy is, they should trade him

[Juan]

Hi Doug. I couldn't agree more with your take on Howard, except that I got tired of the grinning-isn't-this-all-hilarious-how-goofy-I-am routine a long time ago. Now with the ridiculous "roll the dice" comment. Maybe the Magic should see if Brian Mulroney is available for their soon-to-be-vacated President position?

[JHK]

BC should pick up the phone right now and dial Bucks.
Ask for Jennings + Kwame Brown (expiring) for Jose.
We get a young talented PG who is a good friend of DD.
We can then focus fully on addressing SG/SF position via draft and FA.
Bucks get a pass-first PG with a lot of experience who would be great playing together with Ellis.
Delfino is there for Jose to mingle with as well.
Perfect scenario.

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:
Re: the quality of the comments for your blog. The truth is, what YOU write in the blog provides the 'fodder' for the comments. Because you express your views so intelligently, it brings out the best in the people making comments. And, you're right - sometimes, some of the inane comments make me wonder why I read them, until a day like yesterday comes along, and you realize the foolish comments really are few and far between.
Thanks for providing the 'soil' for the great comments to 'grow!'

[Steve]

Is Dwayne Casey accepting donations of shoes with velcro straps for Mr. Kleiza?

[Boko]

Dwight Howard should seriously consider the Spurs. 1) They could use a player like him. 2) He could use coaching like that. 3) He could use a team like that. ... None of the other teams that are better than the Magic need him, really, especially not at the price that they'll have to pay.

[LeeZ]

First of all, you're welcome!
;-)
Second of all, love the way that Amir is playing, but I always get the feeling that he could be way more (alright, at least a LITTLE more) of an offensive force. Last night there was a glimpse: he saw the lane open up and drove all the way from the three point line to make a nice, twisting layup (of sorts). He has excellent speed for a big man, and good body control as well. I'd love to see him take it to the hoop more often, rather than simpy relying on put-backs and pick and rolls for his offence. Do you think he has the green light from DC to take his man off the dribble more?

Blogger's note: Sure, if it's there

[mattmelanson]

If Tim Duncan is the 'Big Fundamental', maybe we can call Bargs the 'Big Galumph?' i smell a new nickname Doug!

[LeeZ]

LOVE the Steve Earl clip, btw. That song is one of my favourites. Going to a Steve Earle concert (as I have several times) is an experience, let me tell you. First of all, you get frisked at the door. That's because Steve has a huge audience of Hell's Angels and assorted other bikers, who have a tendency to get...um...a tad unruly, at times. They (more or less patiently) wait for him to dispense with the bluegrass stuff, the political songs, the folk music, etc., until they can hear their beloved Copperhead Road (they yell their lungs off, demanding to hear it right from the get-go, and Steve, with a weary voice, tells them "what, do you really think I'm not gonna play that? Settle down!". And Steve's story of personal redemption is quite compelling. So, thanks for the video, Doug!

[Rob.V]

Dwight? Agreed! I'm so tired of reading about this guy... send him to Sacramento or something.
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He asked to be traded. He created a public spectacle all year long, then complained that the constant chatter was a bother (what did he think would happen after going public?).
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He's inslulted his (talked about good friend) PG Jameer Nelson, and affected the team chemistry. But now, he's going to hang around because it's convenient for him to bolt in the summer to exactly where he wants to go?.
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I personally could care less if the Magic goes 0-82 next season however this is worse than the job Chris Bosh pulled on us and all the "begging" to try to get him to stay in Orlando is pathetic.
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Otis, for the love of all thats good in the world... TRADE HIM NOW!!

[Grant]

Doug: I appreciate your work because you do not offer opinions on things that no one would could possibly have an informed opinion on - who won a trade that was just made, which players will definitely be moved before the deadline, draft grades handed out the day after the draft,etc. If I want to read idle speculation that passes for journalism I will go to espn. I am sure that they will already have an article up on who won the Warriors/Bucks trade. This pretense of insider knowledge is great for pushing Internet traffic but I would rather read something real.

[Alan C.]

Doug, the best part to me about Barg's rebound/dunk dagger mentioned by JC above is that he FOLLOWED HIS SHOT. I don't think I'd ever seen that before. If he continues this type of play until the end of the season, I will be more than happy to eat crow right here in the comments section for some (all right, a lot of) previous doubt.

[Rob]

If you really want to 'punish' Dwight Howard, trade him to Toronto hahahaha.

All kidding aside, I find the NBA becoming slight more intolerable lately in terms of players dictating to teams, and these teams (and fans) bending over backwards to support these players. Teams need to show some tough love and stop coddling stars.

[james]

Boko: There is one problem with Howard going to the Spurs. Popovich has said they like to get players "when they are over themselves". I don't think Dwight is quite there yet.
A really solid effort by Bayless against Cleveland in a sort of "must perform" situation; if Irving is rookie of the year and the point guard of the future, perhaps Bayless may yet be up to the job in the long run. He was certainly by far the better of the two last night.

[saatuk]

He's inslulted

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BEST TYPO OF THE YEAR and it's only March. :)

maybe we can call Bargs the 'Big Galumph

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Let's stick to his given nickname 'Il Mago'. I think that it covers 'galumphs'.

[Steve]

@Rob, I certainly see that point of view but given the gay abandon with which the teams themselves have shipped players around historically (and the same goes for fans call for it via their fantasy trades) I have a hard time feeling sorry for them getting upset when the shoe is on the other foot once in a while.

[doug]

I just glanced over your NCAA bracket and I like yours as opposed to Cathal's as Syracuse without Melo is hurting...but it's all a crapshoot so who knows...I have never been a Howard fan and have stated as much as on here he's over-rated to me, and a few weeks ago Kobe (who I have a lot of respect for much more then Dwight) stated it correctly, he said Dwight should be the 2nd,3rd scoring option on a team, and he is exactly right, ...but Dwight see's himself as "the man", which is all well and good but he'll never lead a team to a title, and if the Magic don't trade him especially after Howard's latest statements then their bigger fools then Dwight is showing himself to be...

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-02-07/dwight-howard-kobe-bryant-nba-trade-rumors-lakers-rumors-denies-real-gm-report

[Lorie]

@Tim H:
So, Doug's the dirt and we're the manure? Hmmm. How about, Doug's the book and we're the pretty coloured pictures? Or Doug's the wick and we're little matches? Or Doug's the footings and we're the skylights? Footings...footwear...OK, Doug's the sensible suit and we're the fabulous shoes! Anyway, now I'm losing my train of thought and thinking about shopping and patio bars. But before I go oogle some Louby's and enjoy a some of this beautiful March sunshine, a little something in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.
http://youtu.be/oRdDnpkR3AQ
Cheers!

[doug]

so D'Antonio resigns, what a surprise..not!!...he finally gets to run the team as he sees fit when Melo was out and no J.R. or Davis on the scene yet ...a guard dominated offense which is what he runs...Lin flourishes as do the Knicks, then viola' back comes Melo, and in comes J.R. and Baron and the Knicks hit the skids...now all of a sudden D'Antonio can't coach, or has "lost the players' or some other pile of crap...I hope to god he did resign and walked away from that mess that management gave him, Melo is a volume shooter, that kills a offense and can't or won't play a lick of defense..., and in hindsight D'Antonio when handed J.R. and Davis shouldn't have tried to fit them in, he should have sat them on the bench and said sorry things are going well....I have no respect for Knicks and their management team, D'Antonio is far from the bad guy in this scenario, I am not a person that makes excuses for coaches but I do feel bad for D'Antonio here and have to say my respect for him increased for walking away from this situation and team....some organizations have cajones' and don't allow the players to run things others just don't get it....I hope they do hire Phil Jackson Melo wants to0 run things well good luck with that with Phil or even

[doug]

I sent that before I meant to, I wasjust saying I hope Phil or Jerry Sloan do get hired, let's see Melo whine then....cheers...

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Hats off to Jerryd Bayless – a fine evening. And I kinda like "The Big Galumph", both the name and the player. The big guy's got it, and good on ya, @Alan C. for stepping up to the podium like that. Another gut that;s got it us The Blur, who I'd love to still see playing as Rap 10 years from now. He is a pure joy to watch.
Okay, a little more lead-up to the Irish gig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_94i_DWCW1g&feature=BFa&list=AVGxdCwVVULXfo2OivG_5YNExPCqB11Ibv&lf=list_related
Cheers. Go Raps!

[Rob]

@ Steve - I see your point, and I don't disagree. Players (in any sport) are private contractors who can choose where to play, and who to play with. I don't begrudge this. It's fair. But, the hoopla around this can be unbearable.

I guess where I find fault (or a sincere lack of understanding) is with the teams and fans themselves. Both are always going to be irrational. I never understood a team wanting to bend over backwards for a player, knowing they could pick up and leave (example, VC, McGrady, Bosh). Conversely, I never got the emotional attachment some people have to their teams (Leafs fans) - it's just a game. I almost want to say it's not real, but I know it is. I love sports, I really do, but I don't have the same emotional attachment some do. It's crazy.

[511]

So, BIG NEWS -->> Mike D’Antoni resigns as Head Coach of the New York Knicks ... and on the front page of every sports section of every on-line Toronto newspaper, a headline features the story prominently, as it of course, should be. Except ... the Toronto Star. And those newspapers don’t have Doug Smith writing for them.

And hockey fans wonder why basketball/baseball fans resent the over-coverage of hockey.

[SheikYurbouti]

@511
And how many of those on-line sports new writers are in NJ trying to set up for an in game blog, instead of sitting at home in their PJs, drinking beer and constantly searching through on line reports to re-report on?

[LakeSimcoe]

So MD is gone, who will be the next in Big Apple?....GG?