Golf needs something and OKC has something to prove

Another in our series of relatively unrelated notes because, well, partly because there was too much going on over the weekend and partly because not one thing truly stood out.

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Is this just a changing of the times or what?

I used to consider myself a pretty big golf fan; I knew most of the key players, knew who was going well and who was scuffling and looked at least once a day Thursday through Sunday to see who was winning whatever tournament was on.

And majors? I’d be in pools and conversations about them and would be sure to be near a TV when it came back-nine-on-Sunday time.

Now?

Now they have The Players – great tournament, tries to hard to be The Fifth Major – and the only reason I know who won is that I clicked up one station at the end of the Heat-Pacers and watched – and it was more like white noise, actually – the final three holes.

Why?

I can’t figure it out and judging by conversations I have, I’m not alone.

It is the absence of Tiger, who evokes passion on both sides of the ledger?

Is it because these guys are simply too good and it’s boring to see fairway-green-birdie chance?

Is it because these guys are, for, the most part, horribly bland? Everyone’s a good guy, lots of smiling urchins and adoring wives waiting for the winner at the 18th green. Everyone had “a good day” even if it included three bogeys and a fifth place finish; there are “lots of positives” they can take away from whatever they’ve done.

Sports – and, yes, I see golf as a sport – is at its heart conflict-based. It’s my team against your team, me against you, there should be a clearcut winner and a loser.

You don’t get that in golf, unlike any other sport. Everyone seems relatively happy, there are no black hats, there are seldom any built-in human dramas that make the games we watch so often so compelling.

Or maybe it’s just me. Maybe you still love the game played at the highest levels by the best practitioners of their craft in the world.

Me? I want to either cheer for Tiger or cheer against him, I want man-to-man competition, I want some drama that unfolds in front of my eyes, not some competition that unfolds kilometers apart, with one guy not knowing what the other guy is doing.

Sure, I’ll back – I love The Open championship for the conditions they have to fight; I love the U.S. Open because it reduces many great players to mortals and that’s enough of a narrative to draw me in.

Week-to-week? I don’t get it any more.

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As more than a few people pointed out in various locations, Heaven’s band got a little bit stronger on the weekend and, man, do I wish I were in Memphis to hear some music on the weekend.

Would have been all kinds of tributes to Duck Dunn; great with The Blue Brothers, great on almost everything he did.

Like this ..

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I know there are those among you dying for some Raptors news.

Sorry.

But …

Giorgos Printezis hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer as Olympiacos beat CSKA to win the EuroLeague Final Four on Sunday in Istanbul.

Oh, wait. Printezis is no longer Raptors property so I guess that doesn’t count.

Never mind. Carry on.

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So the L.A. Clippers move on to the second round of the playoffs, just the second time they’ve ever done that, with the Game 7 win in Memphis on Sunday.

One thing struck me as the game was unfolding; well, two actually.

The first: Can’t anyone here make a shot????? Really, that was some simply atrocious offence from start to finish. Now, I know collars get a bit tight and defence gets a bit more aggressive in deciding games of playoff series but, man, watching that game unfold was almost retina-burning and having watched the HOTH for 17 years, I’m one of the world’s leading authorities in retina-burning offensive basketball. I’m all for seventh games, there’s nothing like it in sport, but they need to be played at some higher level than that mess Sunday afternoon.

The second: I picked the Spurs in five, they’ll probably win in four and should win in three.

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Okay, advice time.

There’s a whisper around Casa Doug about the need for new deck furniture. Deck’s about 1,000 square feet, has a 40-year-old maple rising up through it, a couple of nice benches for relaxing and, thanks to some Irregulars, a big ass Napolean barbecue that wintered well and did a great job on the burgers, chicken and sausage yesterday afternoon.

Now, what do you have for me in the way of furniture sets?

Thanks.

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In all the years I’ve been going to games in Oklahoma City – and it goes back to when New Orleans moved up there post-Katrina – the crowd has been almost as much the story as the team.

Great people, unfailingly polite, entirely supportive, quite collegiate and far more interested in cheering their team on than worrying about what the other team does. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a boo.

That said, it will be interesting to see how they react tonight to Metta World Peace, who faces the Thunder for the first time since his thuggish attack on James Harden.

World Peace, because he’ll never quite get it, shows no contrition and, in fact, exacerbated the situation on the weekend by telling anyone who’d listen that he’s not sorry, he won’t shake Harden’s hand and then going off on some diatribe about Brooklyn or somesuch and his music. Yawn.

Anyway, I have a feeling there will be – and should be – a large measure of animosity among the faithful towards him. Not that it’ll matter, World Peace seems quite happy to play the villain, but the reaction of a normally happy-go-lucky audience will be something to see.

So, too, will the reaction of the Thunder players. I’ve often wondered about how tough that team was up and down the roster, we know Kendrick Perkins can be a hard-ass and I’m all right with that, I want to see Durant and Harden and Westbrook and the rest of them have that physical edge and determination that comes with a pure dislike of the players they are going against.

I do think the Thunder will win the series – they are simply more talented and they match up well with the Lakers – but tonight might be about sending a message.

It’ll be fun to see what it is.

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The end of the weekend mail

You did it again, fine people.

Lots of good stuff in here and if you can pull yourselves away from various Mother’s Day celebrations (and a sincere Happy Mother’s all of you out there) you might be entertained and informed.

Or not.

See you in the morning.

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Q: Hey Doug: Being of a certain vintage myself, I was wondering about your opinion on two related topics: What did we have/do in our youth that today's youth doesn't have/do? And what do they have/do that you'd wish we'd been able to have/do?

Thanks for all the work that you. I am sure other writers at the Star feel pressured to write blogs and do mailbags because of what you do. But, we're glad that you all that you do!

Tim H, Windsor

A: You know what we had that kids don’t have today and what might be the most important thing:

Time.

Remember just going out after school or on the weekends and in the summer and playing? Baseball with the neighbourhood kids at the park, soccer, hockey, kick the can, hide and go seek, whatever. Just playing. No lessons, no practices, no clubs, no nothing, just time to be kids. Bet they’d like that but in the often over-structured world they inhabit, they don’t have it. Too bad.

Now, what I wish we had that these kids have? Hmm. You know, I’m trying to come up with one or two and it’s hard. I guess facilities and equipment and the tools needed to learn are better but I wonder if computers and video games and the like aren’t making our kids lazier.

Yes, times have changed and there must be all kinds of wonderful opportunities for youngsters today, better coaching, more clubs to join, a wider variety of choices. Guess that’s a good thing?

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Q: Is Bill Caudill still available?

It has been 50 years since the lads from Liverpool put out their first hit. In 1962, did you listen to any music from 1912?

In lieu of the current financial mess, what kind of toilet do you prefer to throw your money into? I find the Toto the best. (Not Dorothy's dog)

Enjoy the weekend!!

Bob E, Kanata

A: I don’t remember 1912 too well but with a little bit of research (what I don’t do for Irregulars) found out this little ditty was popular.

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Q: Here are some games started/complete games stats of great pitchers of my youth: Drysdale 1964, 40/21; Koufax 1965, 41/27; Marichal 1968, 38/30; Gibson 1969, 35/28; Jenkins 1971, 39/30. Each logged more than 300 innings in the cited seasons. A baseball question inspired by the Jays' problem finding a so-called closer: Is too little expected of starting pitchers in this day and age?

James A, Victoria

A: Oh, yes, sadly it is. With pitch counts and “improvements” in medical diagnostics and the financial investments teams have in players, those days are long, long gone. And I don’t know that it’s a better thing; let’s just say it’s different.

How I’d love to see a four-man rotation, for instance, and see how it would work out in his era.

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Q: Hi Doug. Just reading in your blog that Kobe played through a flu yesterday. Another good performance by a sick star after, to name but two, Dirk last year in the Finals and Jordan in '98, also during the Finals.

Just a bit curious to know what's exactly meant by "flu" because it seems to me that when a normal person has one, she or he is absolutely unable to do anything apart from staying in bed. Furthermore, a flu lasts at least a week whereas in Dirk's and Jordan's case, they were fine 2-3 days after. Are then NBAers really superhuman?

Cordialement

Matthieu B, Bern

A: Not sure “super human” is the right phrase but their bodies are in better shape than ours to fight off stuff like the flu and they have so many more, and better, medical remedies at their disposal it makes it a bit easier to recover.

I know if I’m down with some bug some night I can’t call a guy and magically get three or four bags of intravenous fluids in me to hasten the recovery period.

And, frankly, some athletes will just play through feeling crappy and once they’re on the court or the field or what have you, adrenaline flows and they can block out feeling like poop for a short time.

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Q: Hi Doug. Kenny (The Jet), during the half time of the Clippers v. Grizz game five, discussed the need for the Grizzlies to attack Foye when the Clippers are in the 2-3 zone, since Foye was considered the weakest defender on the floor at that time.

So here's the question: where would you hide your weakest defensive guard/swing man in a 2-3 zone? At the top of the key (one of the '2') or in one of the corners, baseline (one of the corner '3')? What factors might determine the answer one way or another?

Thanks, Diego

Diego S, Toronto

A: Here’s the thing: Most zones now are of some kind of hybrid matchup kind so one guy is never really in one place. But after talking to a couple of coach friends I have, the consensus would be to put the weaker guy at the top where he has more access to help.

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Q: Happy to oblige. Don't follow the Raptors that much but knowing you as a "well-rounded" scribe (ha ha) would appreciate your thoughts on Leafs' boss Brian Burke.

'YEA OR NAY.’

Robert M, Owen Sound

A: Ooh, goodie.

My thoughts are a Nay.

Although in the few times I’ve had any interaction with Burke he’s been fine, a bit gruff but I like that and he certainly does give a good press conference.

But to me – a total outsider – he seems to be making it up as he goes along, not sure what he wants from his coaches, players and himself. I don’t know that there’s a lot of truculence or size or grit; he’s had almost half a decade to fix a glaring deficiency in net and hasn’t and he talks a better game than he plays so far.

Now, before you all get riled up, this is not a comparison to the basketball or the baseball but, whether you like it or not, I think the “plan” in each of those sports is being carried out like it was supposed to be and I don’t think you can say that about the pucks.

(And nice cheap shot about “well-rounded” by the way).

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Q: Hi Doug. What has been the biggest surprise so far in this year's playoffs for you? What are your thoughts about this year's San Antonio Spurs versus last year's team that had a quick exit from the playoffs? They look really good so far.

Thanks as always for the great work!!

Monty M, Toronto

A: Realize, please, that I’m typing this on Saturday morning so I can’t foretell what might happen tonight but, to me, one of the biggest surprises has been the inability of the Lakers to deal with the Nuggets defence on their two big men and the lack of production they’ve been getting from Gasol and Bynum. They’ve been, for the most part, awful because they can’t shake free of JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried.

Other than that? Things are progressing as I expected; the biggest difference between the Spurs this year and last is that everyone’s healthy and rested. Manu’s 100 per cent, Duncan is entirely fresh and the addition of Stephen Jackson and the play of Kawhi Leonard makes them deeper than they’ve ever been.

The start of the weekend mail

Another late rally by you folks so enjoy these and if a few of you come through today there’ll be about the same amount here tomorrow.

Me? My first baseball practice of the year is today, can’t wait to see how the talented urchins have improved over the winter and I can feel the old rotator cuff getting sore already.

(Hey, did you see the Clippers turn back in the Clippers last night? What a transformation!)

If you want to get in on the fun and frivolity here, you know how to do it.

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Q: One of the basketball websites speculated that, with Steve Nash's appointment as GM of the national senior team, there was a high likelihood of Jay Triano returning as coach. Would you agree or disagree?

David H, Mississauga

A: High likelihood? I wouldn’t put it at high at all. For one, there’s a very good chance when it comes time to hire a new coach – and I cannot see that happening before 2013 – Jay may be otherwise employed in the NBA as an assistant and may not have the time to do the job.

That said, if he wants it, he vaults to the top of the list, as Nash said on Tuesday, but he’s always been coy whenever I’ve talked to him about it.

Could it happen? Sure. It is a slam dunk today? Not even close.

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Q: In an effort to help you out in a slow mail week, I have a basketball venue type question. Some time ago, in this blog an Irish Pub in the vicinity of Madison Square Garden was recommended by yourself and others, I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the place. What is the name of the place and any others you might know of?

Roy D, Thunder Bay

A: It’s Tir Na Nog and it’s right at Penn Plaza, you can’t miss it. Good selection of drinks, good food, nice atmosphere.

Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention PJ Clarke’s at 3rd and about 53rd, another landmark, and Jack Armstrong wouldn’t speak to me again if I didn’t tell you to find McSorley’s Ale House and stop by there.

Thank me later.

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Q: Hi Doug. Can you give us some insight into the master plan of uber-trainer Alex McKechnie during the off-season? Does he keep in touch with the HOTH between now and training camp and if so, does he focus on the "keepers" or does he also spend time with, say, Solo? Does he have pet development projects beyond the obvious ones? Packing some more muscle on Demar, ensuring Andrea's calf/thigh issues are fully rehabbed, and beefing Jonas up are the obvious ones, but is McKechnie also (say) secretly planning to add a foot to Aaron Gray's vertical jump to facilitate putback dunks?

On the same topic, does the training staff also work with the Chicken to rehab the occasional sprained wing and bent beak or does he/she/it deal with those injuries outside MLSE?

Mike D, Toronto

A: Oh, he’ll be in touch for sure and last I heard was he planned at least one visit with everyone under contract, apart from having already given them some kind of off-season regimen to follow. But don’t forget he can only talk to or deal with guys who are Toronto “property” so there are some he’ll let slide.

And, no, the staff lets The Chicken be The Chicken, who, I’m told, spends a lot of his/her/its summer working on getting the handicap to a lower number whilst teaching youngsters how to play softball. But that’s just between you and I.

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Q: All right Doug, you said you are in need of some mail. I guess the question that I have most is, "What do you honestly think the chances are for the Raptors landing Steve Nash?" Knowing both Steve and Bryan and also the recent news of Steve taking on the GM duties for the Canadian National Team do you really think that it's possible. Personally I would love, but I'm a bit of a homer that way. Thanks

Tom H, Guelph

A: Oh, I think realistically the chances are a bit slim but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try everything in their power to make it happen.

And I think they need to heed Steve’s words on what will go into his “decision”:

“Dig into rosters and situations and even cities and just see what would fit me and what situation I’d fit best in. I haven’t even started.”

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Q: Dear sir/ Madam. I am Nirman Acharya of age 16 years old. I am a Basket Ball players in my School. I won several school level matches held in my country. I am 11 graded science student in my country. I want to enroll with in the school/ college in Toronto where I can study as well as I can play the Basket ball with the fellowship. Please suggest me the best way to fulfill my desire. My height is 5.9 and the weight is 140 lb. Regards,

Nirman K, Acharya, Nepal

A: You know, we do a lot of things here and serve a few purposes but I’m afraid immigration issues aren’t something I’m well versed it. Tell you what: Go find your favourite teacher or coach or guidance counselor and tell them your dreams; they’ll be able to help.

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Kobe goes all Kobe on the Lakers; and Mom's the word

You know what has to be one of the toughest jobs in sports?

Being Kobe Bryant’s teammate.

Here you’ve got a guy with off-the-charts talent and a desire to win that borders on the pathological; a fellow who demands more excellence and effort from his teammates that perhaps they are capable of giving and someone who is quite willing to – as the saying goes these days – throw them under the bus.

And he’s at it again.

While you were sleeping – and while I was sleeping a bit if truth be told – a flu-ridden Bryant teed off on his teammates, without naming names, of course, in the wake of Denver’s win over the Lakers that sent their playoff series to a seventh and deciding game in Los Angeles.

The back story? Bryant’s sick with some bug (his hotel room “resembled a scene from The Exorcist” was how he put it) yet he goes out and gets 31 points in Denver’s 113-96 win. He plays pretty well all things considered by Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are relative pooches and the Nuggets ran by, over and through the Lakers all night.

So, Kobe’s asked, did his teammates play with the heart that he did?

“No. Of course they didn’t.”

Ouch.

So, Kobe, at least you’ll get Metta World Peace back for Game 7, that has to be a good thing, right?

“He’s the only guy that I can rely on night in and night out to compete and play hard and play with that sense of urgency and no fear.”

Double ouch.

So, is that a good thing?

Should that kind of “inside-team” stuff get out in public? Should a team’s best player rip his teammates – without naming names, of course – while sitting at the podium minutes after a tough loss? Was Bryant right?

Of course he was.

Not only did it make good copy (who wants to read or report such mundane quips as “we have play better” or “we have to step up” or “it’s going to take our best effort to win”) but it gets out there what everyone connected remotely with teams knows: Guys need to be challenged and sometimes the more public the challenge, the better.

Sure, Bryant was lashing out in the heat of the moment but good for him. He knows the window on his pursuit of a sixth NBA title is closing; he knows this team might give him the best chance to do it because you never know about health or opposition or what have you.

So a little shot across the bow might be just what’s needed and since Bryant seems to be able to back up his demands with personal performances that show just how good he is, there’s a level of gravitas to his statements that not many other players would carry.

He backs up his words with actions; taking a shot a teammate or two may fire them up to do the same.

Whether this little gambit will work or not is questionable. The Nuggets seem to have devised a defensive system against Gasol and Bynum that’s rendered them totally ineffective and I don’t know that they have the will, or the Lakers have the other parts, to get past that.

But there is no way Bryant isn’t going down swinging, even if it’s at his own teammates, and that’s not a bad thing at all.

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So many mothers, so little time.

But Sunday’s the big day, right? Breakfast in bed, or out at some restaurant; fawning all day; dinner of her choice and no screw ups by Super Dad or Super Son (well, no “major” screw ups at least).

Anyway, the point being it’s time for a list and herewith are the top 10 favourite TV moms, in no particular order.

Edith Bunker.

Estelle Constanza.

June Cleaver.

Maureen Robinson (that’ll take you back)

Claire Huxtable.

Marie Barone.

Lorelai Gilmore.

Murphy Brown.

Lucy Ricardo.

And, of course.

The Car

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There is a serious dearth of mail over in the inbox, ladies and gentlemen.

Help me out, would you?

At least say hi or something.

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You know what truly bites?

The fact the NBA is such a supplicant to its TV “partners” that Saturday’s doubleheader – Boston-Philly, Lakers-Denver – goes at the gawdawful time of 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

That’s just stupid at so many different levels. They’ll hold the tip in L.A. until the game in Boston is done which will likely mean a tip closer to 11 p.m. than 10:30 and, no disrespect intended for our western Irregulars but that’s ridiculous.

There is no doubt in my mind that more people would be better served if the games were at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., or even 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. but, no, the networks run the show and what they say goes.

Sucks.

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Remember last summer when we trundled off to cover the TOD at Fenway?

And how I was entirely underwhelmed by the park and its surroundings and it was kind of disappointing?

Well, there was one part that pretty much lived up to its billing and that was the PA announcer, the iconic Carl Beane.

Beane died this week, of a heart attack while driving, and the Sox paid one of the greatest tributes imaginable on Thursday night when they played a game with no P.A. announcements, silence where Beane’s voice should have been heard.

That’s a great, great idea.

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Vlad Guerroro Guerrero?

Why not?

Sure, the TOD are searching big time by signing the aged slugger to a minor league deal but this is one of those low-risk, high-reward deals that makes entire sense.

It’s not like he’s been given millions of dollars to play out his dotage (hello, Frank Thomas); Guerroro’s Guerrero's getting some time at extended spring training to see if there’s anything left in the tank.

I don’t personally think there is – by some quirk of scheduling I saw a lot of Baltimore games last summer and it sure looked like he was done then – but if he can give ‘em even a little bit every now and then, why not take a shot and see.

If he flails away at Dunedin, let him go; if he’s got something left in his swing, that’s a not a bad bat to have sitting on the bench for emergency situations.

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Some singing, some dancing and a lost career

Hmm.

I had to do some searching on our website to find this fine piece of scribbling, so I presume you did, too.

But it’s worth reading because this is a pretty good team, a bunch of women that I’ve been writing about for years and I know you can’t be a fan when you do this gig but I hope they do well. That’s kind of cheering for your story and that’s allowed.

Besides, they did this little video thingy and I’d suggest all you Vancouver-area Irregulars go out next week and see them, you should come away impressed.

With their basketball, that is; I’m unsure of their futures as musical performers.

Oh, and while you’re there, they’ve got their regular blog thing going on and it’s a pretty good read.

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Hey, how about them TFCs!

Two goals!

In one game!

And a win!

Red letter day, indeed, as our Man Dangerous Dan chronicles here.

(I mocked when things were going well; may as well heap praise when it’s necessary)

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Now, we all know that the website Grantland does some outstanding work on a regular basis and I could probably put a link to some story every day.

But this one is really good.

It’s on Greg Oden, perhaps you remember him, and is one of few times the star-crossed former No. 1 pick has been interviewed since his latest problems with his chronically bad knees.

I don’t know Oden very well, hardly at all actually, but I do remember him as a thoughtful young man who simply put his head down and tried to work through the various physical problems that have now robbed him of any significant basketball career.

The first year he didn’t play, he travelled with the Blazers to get a taste of the NBA life and in almost every city, he’d dutifully stand there and answer questions about his injury, his rehab, his future.

Guess he didn’t particularly like it – as the story seems to hint he’s a far more private person than we ever really knew – but he did it.

I have no idea what the future will hold for him; I doubt seriously that we’ll ever see him on a basketball court again.

Guess he’ll just go on being Greg.

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Mail?

Not very much over there, kids. Help a fella out, will you?

Do it here, thank you very much.

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Again, we have to thank the Memphis Grizzlies and L.A. Clippers for putting some juice into the first round of the NBA playoffs and if there’s a supreme being out there, he/she/it will make sure that series goes seven.

It is turning into one excellent series, isn’t it? Comebacks, stirring play, some shoddy play that leads to exciting finishes and it’s one of those early-round playoff series where you really can’t tell which is the better team.

You can’t say that about too many of the others – I guess Boston-Atlanta but that’s extraordinarily boring and the Lakers-Nuggets has had its moments – but a couple of weeks in and it’s been an entirely ho-hum post-season so far.

Except Clips-Griz.

Not sure if it’s Chris Paul, or The Regend or the collapses we seen from both teams in so many games – the Grizzlies gave one away and almost blew another, the Clippers almost coughed up a certain win at home – but it’s been rather compelling.

And proves, once again, that it doesn’t matter if the play is scintillating or pedestrian, if it’s competitive and compelling, it’s fun.

It even makes up for the fact it’s been late nights and I’m not quite the late night guy; it’s taking all of my power to keep the eyelids open to see the end of the games but we’re getting it done.

The rest of the first round?

Boring, for the most part, torn asunder by the various injuries that have crippled teams. I think everyone was looking forward to a Chicago-Miami Eastern Final; I think there might have been some juice to a Boston-Miami series but with Pierce hobbled, I’m not entirely sure that has much excitement to it.

We can only hope that the second round – and don’t for a minute think Lakers-Thunder won’t be hugely entertaining and chock full of stories – bails out what’s been a very, very average opening to the playoffs.

Now, they can be resurrected this weekend, of course, because there’s nothing like a Game 7 and I can see some on the horizon.

How’d you like to have a deciding game in Lakers-Nuggets, Grizzlies-Clips and Celtics-Hawks? I can see them all going the distance and the one performance I want to see more than anything would be Kobe at home in a deciding game. I still think there are some trust issues with him and Bynum and, to a lesser degree, Pau Gasol and that’s just the kind of game he’d try to take over.

And whether he goes 24-for-26 from the field or 8-for-27, it’d be something to see.

We can only wish.

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Fred Astaire was born this day, I saw somewhere, and, sure, Ginger did everything he did moving backward and in heels but still …

The dude was a hoofer of the first order, no? Best ever?

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Okay, seems I have some carnage to clean up around here, time to get into the day before Super Wife returns and all heck breaks loose.

Think if I leave some scraps of vegetables on the counter she’ll think we ate salads all week? Nah, me neither.

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The Nash appointment works on so many different levels

I remember back in 2007 either saying to or writing of Wayne Parrish after his appointment as Grand Poobah of Canada Basketball that I didn’t know if the job of revitalizing that organization could be done but, if it could, I was completely confident that he was the man to do it.

And, funny, but I got exactly that same feeling sitting around the Canada Basketball Feel Good Hour at the Air Canada Centre yesterday watching Steve Nash – and his old running mate Rowan Barrett – assume command of the general manager’s job with the senior national team.

To say it was an inspired addition – and you can’t use “hire” since Nash won’t be compensated for his time – is perhaps wrong; it was simply logical and a long time coming.

All you had to do was follow a bunch of twitter nonsense after the announcement was made to see the far-reaching implications of having the single-most recognizable basketball player – and perhaps athlete of any kind – ever produced by Canada take the job.

There were young players and old administrators, guys from Toronto and the East and the West, people affiliated with AAU programs and Canadian colleges who lauded the appointment.

Those far-reaching tentacles of Nash will be his most important attribute in trying to convince generations of young players – and the people who supposedly have their best interests at heart – to play for Canada.

Nash’s cache cannot be understated; these kids and coaches see him and listen to him and when he calls, it’s going to be awfully hard to say no. Nash would seemingly have some financial resources to work with – the Sixth Man fund-raising arm of the senior team, a group of “high net-worth” individuals, according to Parrish – is about halfway to its goal of raising an extra $4 million for the team for the next four years – and money and his reputation should be enough.

It won’t be easy – and the results might not be immediate because we’re still talking about a bunch of relatively unproven kids who’ll be asked to play against men – but the over-riding sense is confidence.

As it should be.

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Mail?

Yes, please. Here, if you don’t mind.

Again, unsure how the weekend will play out – could be the same as last week, could be different, we like to keep you guessing –

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Boys Week At Casa Doug update.

(Super Wife, avert your eyes now, please. That’s if you’re reading, which I doubt)

In a moment of weakness, something happened and I saw a toilet seat down but we took care of that rather quickly; we ran out of milk a day or two ago; the ice cream needs to be replaced during today’s shopping spree; I haven’t even looked at a vegetable; it was dinner out after saxophone last night and I’m looking longingly at the barbecue for tonight or tomorrow.

A fair amount of video game playing has been going on, Super Dog’s been taken care of and spoiled with the odd bit of People Food.

Anything I’m missing?

House is still standing; it’s a mess but it’s standing. That’s a good thing right?

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Oh yeah, Nash to Toronto in the NBA? Who knows?

The sense I get, and this is shared by a fellow I know who scribbles about him in Phoenix, is that he’s truly not thought about it too much but that the HOTH (if Bryan does the right thing and make a substantial offer) will be in the mix.

This from Steve himself:

“I haven’t had a chance to start thinking about free agency but obviously the next six to eight weeks is going to be an important time for me. I’m not going to close any options or opportunities. We’ll evaluate strongly every single opportunity that I have to continue to play the game and we’ll see. At this time I’m not ready to make any proclamations.”

So what kind of research will he do?

“Dig into rosters and situations and even cities and just see what would fit me and what situation I’d fit best in. I haven’t even started.”

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All right, I get some early sleep so I can stay up late (man, am I getting old or what?) and thank goodness I only watched the tremendous finish to the Lakers-Nuggets game and didn’t flip over the TOD.

It is still early and no one’s really running away and hiding from them in the standings but another ninth-inning bullpen meltdown and another game that got away has to continue a wearing-down process on their psyches that’s been building since the opening series of the season.

I still say it’s a pretty good team with some serious pitching woes and you can only hope someone emerges from John Farrell’s bullpen to do the job consistently or that Alex can come up with some mid-season deal.

Blown saves cost more than one game, in my opinion. They ratchet up the pressure on everyone, guys start to press so they don’t have to put the bullpen in that situation and the confidence level wanes. Hope that doesn’t happen but if there’s an indication it is, it’ll be time for some drastic measures.

I need important September baseball to give me some relaxing time post-Olympics and I was counting on these guys to provide it.

And, as we all know, it’s all about me.

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So what do you think happens first in Orlando?

Stan Van Gundy leaves? Or Dwight Howard demands a trade, again?

Am kind of glad the Pacers dispatched them in five – although it runs counter to my pre-playoff predictions and I’ve only had one mocking text/e-mail/call about it – because it can hasten what should be one of the more fascinating off-seasons in the league.

That’s a weird team, a pretty good one with a star who doesn’t like the coach and a coach who would seem to be completely tired of the circus swirling around him and a general manager, Otis Smith, who said after his team’s ouster that he’s not even sure if he wants to come back for another year of nonsense.

Can’t wait to see how that plays out.

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Nash news nothing but good; and Reggie's still being Reggie

Basketball? You want basketball?

Yeah, we’ve got some today.

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I’m hearing that the good folks at Canada Basketball are putting a new, old face on the senior men’s program today.

Dude by the name of Nash. Steve Nash.

They tried to get this done about six weeks ago or so but some contractual snafus came up at the last minute but we’ve all be summoned to the Air Canada Centre today at noon for some big old announcement.

No one’s saying anything on the record early this morning – am getting some “can’t confirm or deny” replies to e-mails – but it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure it out.

Not entirely sure what the title will be, or how hands-on the role will be, but getting Nash back in the fold in some management capacity is a pretty good get for those folks. He remains the greatest male basketball player this country has ever produced, he played for a dozen years on the national team and gave it its most exciting run since about 1936 during the 2000 Olympics and when anyone around the world thinks of basketball in Canada his name rolls quickly off the tongue.

If there’s one thing Nash has done over the last few months, it’s to reach out to the younger wave of Canadian player, the young kids in college, the two yutes in the NBA, and if he speaks, they tend to listen. And if listening means they actually end up playing for the senior team at some point, that’s about as good a service as Nash can provide to an organization he gave more than a decade to as a player.

No, I don’t imagine he ever takes to the court again – that era is gone, it was a fine one while it lasted – but the strength of his personality and his history as a player will make it hard for kids to say “no” when the national team comes calling.

Some will, of course, because there will be other people in their ears and bad decisions will be made but having Steve Nash in the fold and making the calls not only helps recruit players, it helps the corporate side go out and make deals and it really is a win-win all around.

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All that was missing – and it may have been there, I was kind of watching and drifting and listening more than paying rapt attention at about 2 stinking a.m. – was the chant:

“Reg-gie, Reg-gie, Reg-gie”

Yep, our old friend Reggie Evans was up to his usual hijinks sometime early this morning, creating havoc, clandestinely beating on people, doing his Regend kind of stuff as the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies continue to salvage a rather awful first round of NBA playoffs.

Too bad the games are so damn late, eh?

Anyway, perhaps you were sleeping but Chris Paul did his Chris Paul stuff as the Clippers blew a late lead before they beat Memphis in overtime to take a 3-1 lead in their series and when the game end there stood Reggie, holding the ball aloft after rebounding the final Grizzlies miss.

Kind of fitting, and kind of nice to see.

With so many series so boring – they really hasn’t been another compelling one – the Clips and Grizzlies are at least adding some drama to this first fortnight of the post-season and there’s still a sneaking suspicion that this series could end up going seven games.

There was a 27-point rally by Los Angeles in Game 1; there was a buzzer-beating finish in Game 3 and then Game 4, while far from beautifully played, it was at least dramatic.

And at centre stage: Reggie.

He got a huge offensive rebound that led to second-chance basket in overtime, he wrestled Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol all night, as he’s done all series, and I know I’m preaching to the choir here when I say he does all the little things for none of the glory that you want from a good teammate.

(An aside because I know it’s coming: Rightly or wrongly, the HOTH decided last summer they were moving on from Reggie. They wanted a chance for young kids to play, they didn’t want to tie up any extra money – that Reggie ultimately signed a one-year deal with the Clips was a function of what was available at the time more than anything – and you can debate it ‘til the cows come home but that’s why he wasn’t back. Had he come back and they’d won, say, three more games, would that have been worth it? Debate that among yourselves)

Anyway, I think we can all be quite happy for Reggie, I’m glad he’s on a big stage on a pretty good team and contributing. I remember talking to him when we were out there in January and he wanted to make 100 per cent certain that folks back here knew how much he loved Toronto, the city, the fans and the injury-riddled time he had here. I know that was reciprocal with the fans; I’m sure you’re all happy for him, too. And probably, like me, wish the damn games were earlier.

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Raptors news?

Well, it’s not huge but it’s important.

Am hearing that DeMar DeRozan will eventually be added to the USA Select team – can’t find an official announcement but believe it’s already done – that will practice with and scrimmage against the USA Olympic team in Vegas in early July.

Good for the kid, no question. It speaks to his reputation among the good young players in the game; he’ll get a few days of intense practice with the best the NBA has to offer and he’ll pick up work ethic things by osmosis if nothing else.

And he’ll have a familiar face around, too.

Again, not official, but am told Jay Triano will reprise his role as a coach with that select team, something he’s done for the last five or six years.

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Best line of the night, and I’m repeating it second hand because I think I was snoring when it was spoken, came from Charles Barkley on Blake Griffin.

I paraphrase:

“This guy's the new Vince Carter, man. Every time he gets hit, you think he's dead."

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The Derby, Dravecky and friendly advice for NBA GMs

Been a while since we’ve done a series of totally unrelated things in this little space. But that’s what we’ve got today.

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I paid scant attention to the Kentucky Derby – and judging by the buzz in my little circle of the world it was the same for a lot of people – but I have to tell you this:

It may be retroactive expertise but anyone who knows me knows that I would have most certainly picked a horse called I’ll Have Another.

But speaking of the Derby, we’ve done those lists and chatted about sports events that have lost their allure with the general population and I’m thinking we can pretty much put The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sport right near the top of list.

Time was when groups of people would sit around some house or some saloon on Derby Day and run some small pool, everyone picks a horse, you cheer for it, mock the headwear of the other owners and goofy-looking people in the stands and generally have a good time on the first Saturday in May.

Every paper in the city would send someone to cover it, we’d get three or four days of solid reporting and good stories in the days leading up to it.

Now? Now it’s basically an afterthought.

Could have something to do with the lingering distaste for watching horses having to be put down on the track (was 2008, a filly, as I recall), the fracturing of the sports entertainment market (you could have watched basketball, baseball or hockey when the Derby was being run) or just a basic ennui with the sport across North America but there is no question it’s not nearly the event it used to be.

Now, the sport may get a one-week boost if I’ll Have Another wins the Preakness and is running for a Triple Crowd at the Belmont but, even then, it won’t capture nearly the attention it at one time did.

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Okay, it’s Boys Week around Casa Doug (Super Wife’s off dealing with some real-life issues) and that means a few things, doesn’t it?

Like:

Toilet seats up.

Ice cream eaten right out of the carton.

Vegetables treated as if they contain bubonic plague.

What else have you got for us?

Thanks.

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Not sure if I’ve mentioned Chris McCosky in a very long time; he was an old friend who used to cover the Pistons, a great guy with whom I shared more than a few laughs and decompression nights after games.

He’s off covering the pucks or football or something right now, I know he misses the NBA and I know we miss having him around.

But I kind of got back in touch with him, in a very odd way, when I was forwarded this piece he wrote in the wake of Junior Seau’s suicide last week.

Please read it, please make sure anyone you know who should read it, reads it as well. It’s one of the more important columns you’ll ever read.

Thanks.

And thanks, Chris.

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I saw written somewhere, or heard spoken somewhere, that Philadelphia 76ers centre Spencer Hawes, an unrestricted free agent this coming summer, is “making himself a lot of money” by his performance so far in the post-season.

Now, I presume every GM in the NBA reads this so, as a public service to them and the fans of their teams, I offer four words of warning:

Jerome. Moiso. Trevor Ariza.

You’re welcome.

Yes, Hawes has had a couple of good games against an injury-ravaged Chicago Bulls team. He’s hit some shots and made some plays and generally performed well.

But so, too, did Moiso and Ariza in recent post-seasons and they became the flavours of the month. They got good deals and lots of hype and the last time I looked, one of ‘em was living the Life of Riley spending the money he got and the other had morphed into a run-of-the-mill NBAer.

GMs, some of them at least, can be a tad reactionary when it comes to watching the playoffs, they see guys do something out of the ordinary and become enamoured of them. Agents fuel the fire with highlight videos and stories of how their guy rose to the occasion when it mattered most.

Don’t, GMs! Don’t be fooled! Don’t buy into it!

You’ll thank me at luxury tax-salary cap time.

Honest.

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Oh yeah, Super Son is one special kid.

While a zillion of you have been lining up and fighting crowds to watch The Avengers at the local cinema, Super Son and I were checking out The Three Stooges, at his insistence, gleefully agreed to by me.

Yeah, that kid’s got a future, I say.

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Yes, that was one gruesome injury Baron Davis suffered when he dislocated his kneecap out of nowhere in the Knicks-Heat game on Sunday and as we watched it far too many times, there was an uneasy feeling in the pit of our stomachs.

It was ugly.

And, of course, those of us of a Certain Vintage flashed back to Joe Theisman breaking his leg on that Monday night game so many years ago, an injury that ranks right up there with the worst we’ve seen.

But, to me, it’s second, maybe third in a tie with Davis; the worst was San Francisco’s Dave Dravecky breaking his arm simply throwing a pitch against the Expos one night.

I’m not going to find out if youtube even has it, it was so ugly; suffice it to say those are the three that few of us will ever forget.

It’s kind of funny, isn’t it? We relish in the brilliant exploits of the athletes we watch and want them to push themselves to the limits of human endurance in pursuit of greatness. We marvel at their ability to do things we couldn’t possibly do and then recoil when the inevitable gruesome accident pops up.

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You know me and the pucks, right? Expertise out the ying-yang.

Well, I wonder if any L.A. Kings fans, way back around the trade deadline, were thinking “we should be sellers, not buyers; let’s blow this thing up and see where the summer takes us” and I wonder if any were thinking “sure it’s a longshot but let’s make a run at the playoffs, play for this season and see what happens.”

And I wonder who, in the end, was right, seeing how the Kings just apparently knocked off the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the first two rounds of the playoffs and have given their fans some joy and unexpected excitement.

I know, they won’t get a high draft pick, though.

Different sport, yes; same theory, yes,

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The end of the weekend mail

Well, well, well.

Ask and ye shall receive.

Well done, folks.

Looks like a nice day coming, could very well be time to break out the barbecue around here.

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Q: Since it's that time of year again (playoffs), I was wondering if every series has at least one ex Raptor and of course stating the less then obvious ones would be appreciated.

I'm glad Matt has had such a long run out West and am still puzzled why he was traded?

John P, Fredericton

A: Well, let’s have a quick look, shall we.

Knicks-Miami

Yeah, you’ve got Bosh, we all know that. How about Darrell Walker and Jim Todd on the Knicks coaching staff? They have to count, right? And, obviously, Glen Grunwald in the New York front office. And here’s a rather obtuse one: The Heat drafted Norris Cole with the pick that the Raps used to get James Johnson; not sure we count that.

Indiana-Orlando

Turk! Ball! Oh, and Brendan Malone, obviously but another Orlando one? Magic assistant coach Bob Beyer spent an ill-fated year here on KO’s staff. And lived to tell! Once you get by Leandro with the Pacers, though, that’s it for Indy.

Sixers-Bulls

Check out the Philly bench and see Mike Curry and Brian James as assistants to Doug Collins and there’s a link. Chicago? It’s a veritable smorgasbord. You’ve got Mike James on the playoff roster, you’ve got Ed Pinckney on Thibodeau’s staff, where he’s joined by Rick Brunson and when you’re running down Obscure Raptors From The Past, you don’t go too far down the list before you hit Brunson. And, no, I don’t count Chuck, he’s not on the team, as much as he’d like to think he is.

Boston-Atlanta

Outside of Tracy you have to look really deep. But if you do, you find Jannero Pargo, a five-game HOTH who might give Brunson a run for his Most Obscure money.

Out west?

Hmm.

Spurs-Jazz?

Obviously there’s Matt and it’s nice to see him do well but there’s also Ty Corbin coaching the Utahs and he spent some time here.

Lakers-Nuggets

I’ve got nothing, you can ignore this one.

Clips-Grizzlies

The Regend!!!!!!

Dallas-OKC

Sure, you’ve got HWSNBN and Marion in Dallas but you’ve also got Tony Brown on Rick Carlisle’s staff and he’s another survivor of the KO Year. Once you get past those guys, though, that’s it.

Enough for you?

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Q: Was it not a Miss Washington who asked what a difference a day makes? The TOD is back. Well, maybe not the bullpen. Are there any submariners out there? Where is Eichorn?

If Reggie was the straw back in the day, is Hobbs the espresso machine?

Bob E, Kanata

A: They keep getting outings like Morrow and Alvarez and starters who continually get into the sixth and they could have Joey McLaughlin out there and it might not matter much.

Hobbs is like Red Bull, espresso and a greenie (that dates me, right? But apropos for seamheads) all rolled into one.

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Q: A great song from one of the great songwriters. We know who we're dedicating this one too, don't we?

John C, Mississauga

A: Well played, sir.

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Q: Hi Doug. With regard to the New York centred universe, given the Knicks rather unimpressive season, to what degree does the media's influence there bear the brunt of responsibility for Chandler's flawed selection as Defensive Player of the Year?

Frank B, Toronto

A: I don’t think you can put that one on the media – although I did vote for Chandler because of the impact he had on an otherwise atrocious defence and defensive players. The league spreads the votes out evenly and I trust us voters not to be swayed by other media types.

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Q: I know that you don't follow soccer too closely, but you have mentioned Messi before. Since you have a couple of days to figure out an answer, I figured that I would ask. Messi is in the news again for setting a new scoring record. If you had to compare Messi to a basketball player, and another sports figure, who would you compare him to? In other words, Messi is (NBA player, past or present) and, Messi is (Other sports player, past or present)

Peter L, Toronto

A: It’s funny. I was talking to a friend who knows exponentially more about football and Messi than I do and he said Messi would never be in the GOAT conversation until he leads a team to a World Cup or something. So how about LeBron? That an apt comparison?

As for other footballers, I’ve got no one (had it not been for Hand of God maybe Maradona) but I’m sure some Irregulars (hello, Sportschick!) can help out? Would Drogba be one?

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Q: Was recently teaching in my class the age-old debate as to whether things are genetic or environment based and which has greater impact into personal development. This discussion, the role of genetics and potential in athletes, prompted a question that might do for a list. We of course have the Griffeys and the Bonds where both father and son have had good to great careers. Yet a son like Josh Barfield has languished in the minors and never came close to dad’s accomplishments.

So perhaps a list of sons who have outperformed their dads accomplishments (see Kobe and Jelley bean, Prince and Cecil), father and sons where the career was comparable (Rautins v Rautins) and my favorite, and because I am of a similar vintage to you, cases where the father still kicks the kids butt. I am intrigued as some of the stars I grew up watching are now having kids drafted and, sadly, it makes me feel quite old. Would be interested in your perspective. Thanks again for your great work this season.

Randy M, Crystal Beach

A: You’ve hit on the two where the sons have certainly eclipsed the fathers in the same sport.

But I’m with you in the dads better than kids department so how about Yogi over Dale Berra and probably Rick over any of his Barry offspring to played in the NBA with Ken Norton over Ken Norton Jr. in the ring and Jack Nicklaus over Gary on the links.

I’m sure there are many others but we’ll let the Irregulars chime in.

Now you have the Rautins in comparable careers and right now that’s probably correct but here’s one for you: Do you put Bobby and Brett Hull in that same category? I probably would.

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Q: Please name Raptors core players or who do you think will be back.

Glen B, Markham

A: So, has “core players” replaced “franchise player” as the cool lexicon of the day? Someone has to give a clear and precise definition of “core” player and I don’t think there’s one out there.

But, if you’re asking me which group I expect them to try to add to, it would be Calderon, DeRozan, Bargnani and Davis, with the two Johnsons also in the mix. Toss in Valancuinas, the draft pick (if they make one) and, likely, Bayless and there’s a group.

Now, Gary Forbes is under contract next year so I presume he’ll be back, too.

The start of the weekend mail

Okay, here’s the deal.

It’s Friday afternoon, I’ve been puttering around for a couple of hours on this and don’t want to work any more.

So we’re done for the day and since I have no life we’ll be back Sunday with more after I putter around a bit sometime Saturday? Sound cool?

And, yes, there’s still time to get in on the hilarity. You know how, right?

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Oh, before I forget. I wasn’t a fan by any stretch of the imagination but if you hear this song, you kind of take notice, don’t you? May not be entirely my cup of tea, or yours, but no disputing the talent.

RIPMCA.

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Q: Greetings, have found myself thinking about questions of parity and the relative lack of "dynasties" across the professional team sports' this week. While there are, obviously, both basement and penthouse dwellers it would seem to me that at least currently one would be hard pressed to look at any current team and say, "they are/were/going to be a dynasty". Perhaps the sample size of time isn't fair to make any judgements from, but at this point even the Yankees' team isn't one that looks invincible.

My take on this leads me to wonder if the athlete's ability to become a free agent is the main cause of the parity that I believe we see in professional sports these days? Perhaps, on the other end, there are just to many positions to fill for the available talent. Between affordability issues from the team's perspective and the fact that the athletes themselves have a greater amount of say as to where they ply their trade there is sifting action that occurs that makes it hard for a team to accumulate a steady stream of "A" listers.

Curious on your take. As always thanks for what you do.

Doug T, Brantford

A: There are two factors, of equal significance I believe, at play here and I don’t imagine either ever changes.

And I guess the common denominator among them is impatience.

The first, obviously, is the financial investment that franchise make in those players who can either make, or break, a “dynasty.” In basketball, at least, the way contracts are structured, and the realities of the cap-and-tax system, means franchises have to make relatively quick decisions on whether they “pay” this guy or that guy or the other guy. And few and far between are the owners who are willing to tie up the significant, long-term money in a few player without any assurances that results will follow.

The second, and this might edge out the other in importance, is the ego-driven nature of some good young players who tend to believe, wrongly in many cases, that the grass is greener somewhere else and that they deserve to be The Man, with the subsequent place in the financial pecking order.

And that, sadly, has lots to do with youthful impatience; I think if we asked them honestly and truthfully, neither Tracy McGrady nor Damon Stoudamire would have left and who knows what would have happened.

It takes time, and some luck and some willingness on the part of all “stakeholders” to build anything approximating a dynasty – in any sport – and society’s desire for instant gratification, at the pay window and in public perception – runs counter to that.

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Q: Hey Doug. You stated in the blog that you know how to make a jump shot. I was curious about how much organized basketball you have played. If you did not play a lot of basketball growing up, and you were able to magically go back in time to tell your younger self what your future career would be like, would that change things? Do you think that playing a lot of basketball would be of any advantage when writing about the game? Or is it apples and oranges comparing it to the game the pros play? Thanks for keeping the blog interesting everyday!

Jason G, Port Elgin

A: I played sparingly in high school and college; games were a bit slower when before they cut the bottom out of the peach basket. I told Dr. Naismith that from the start.

But, no, I don’t think it’s prerequisite at all, nor does it help you do your job. We tell stories, and backgrounds don’t matter.

And, as my man M. Grange ™ used to say (he knows waaaaaaay more about playing than I do), and I concur wholeheartedly, if you think you’re a good basketball player who has an idea what it’s like to be in the NBA, think of the highest calibre game you’ve ever played in. Now, take that same game with the same skill of all those “great” players, put two more guys per team on the court at the same time and move the basket down to eight feet. Then tell me how you survive.

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Q: Hey Doug. What is your prediction for the outcome of the NBA playoffs and how (if at all) has the Derrick Rose injury affected your predictions of the final outcome of the finals?

Apologies if I missed your predictions in an earlier blog.

Starting pitching has been solid, if unspectacular thus far for the TOD. Would you go after another bat or a veteran arm to shore up the staff?

Alex H, Toronto

A: You can never, ever have enough pitching.

And, yes, I did first-round previews before they began and, yes, losing the current MVP will probably greatly effect what happens in the East.

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Q: Doug, in the season end briefing, both coach and GM put some emphasis on needing better shooters. I hope we haven't come full circle from the Jason Kapono signing and see the Raps give obscene bucks to pure shooter and fall back again on the defensive front. How do you interpret what they said? Is it a matter of making current players better (although Casey's comment about shooters being born rather than made argues counter)? Is it a sign to look for the selection of someone like Lamb or Beal in the draft? Or are there free agents/trade targets you could see meeting this need (Novak, Mayo)?

Gary M, Ottawa

A: I don’t think it’s a sign of anything, actually. There is no question that perimeter shooting is an issue with this team’s offence but they aren’t going to sacrifice their defensive principles or needs just because of it. They want multi-dimensional players; whether or not they can get them is the question.

Beal or Lamb? Pretty good projects who, like almost every rookie, will be a couple of years from being major contributors.

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Q: My mailbag question for you is sort of multi-pronged. I hope you don't mind.

 

To what extent did the lockout and its aftermath - which resulted in zero coaching contact in the offseason, no training camp, and reduced practice time in-season this year - hinder the development of all of the young players the Raptors were hoping to develop?

Further to that, is it reasonable to expect more development from our young players next year, compared to this year, because Coach Casey and his staff will have considerably more time and contact with the players between now and the end of next season? It sure would be nice to be able to count on continued improvement from within.

Craig K, Winnipeg

A: It killed them, I can’t tell you how much. Dwane and his staff are single-minded on helping players improve individually not being able to give them a grounding in what was expected at the start of last season was critical. And having that opportunity this year – a mini-camp of two or three days before summer league, the games themselves and the various visits that coaches will pay to players this summer – will allow them to really hit the ground running in late September. It’s reasonable to expect this team to get off to a far better start this season than last.

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Q: The abundance of injuries in the post season made me wonder what roster moves are allowed in the post season. Can a team make a trade, sign an inactive/no contract or amnesty guy or promote a D-league guy? Or, are rosters frozen once the post season begins?

David W, Oakville

A: Rosters are frozen in early April so it’s go with what you’ve got once the post-season begins.