Beware the case of diminishing pre-season returns

If I were a big pucks fan (hahahahahahahaha) the news that they might be able to salvage an 82-game season (I’m dubious because these negotiations seem to be just starting for real) would be pretty neat.

But the part about them only having a week for training camp would be met with cheers and huzzahs and hoorays and whatever else you have.

We’re just over halfway through the interminable NBA pretend season – first game of Raptors regular season is two weeks from last night – and I would be if you asked every connected with the team from coaches to players to management, if they were totally and completely honest, they’d tell you it’s time to get started for real.

Yes, I know coaches want the practice days and the hours that affords them in the gyms but I honestly think that as things drag on they see diminishing returns.

As Dwane said the other day, the players are tired of the coaches, the coaches are tired of the players, the players are tired of each other and I wonder, really, how much good work is actually being done every day.

There has to be a staleness to the practices and I know there’s a staleness to parts of every game because everyone’s going over the same thing with no new challenge ahead of them.

Players, and coaches, love to have something to look forward to in the immediate future like the next game or the next trip or the next time something’s really on the line.

Now?

Now the sense of humdrum is palpable. I don’t know how many people shook their heads and agreed when I mentioned the pre-season is two weeks too long when we’ve been exchanging pleasantries these days. Everyone knows it, everyone says it in private conversation, the pre-season is at least two and probably four games too long. Take into account the two weeks or so of “informal” workouts before camp even began and you’re looking at six weeks of getting ready.

And I wonder how much good work is actually being done in practice, too. Yes, they need to work on specific sets and defensive systems but when you’re going against the same guys day after day after day after day, concentration has to wane.

The thing about practices in the season is that they are infrequent enough that they can sort of be “fresh” because they provide a respite, and a few teaching moments, from the grind of the games.

Now they are the same old, same old. And with a drawn out pre-season – the Raptors will have three stretches of four days between games and one three-day rest – it’s almost too much time in the gym.

So be excited, my pucks friends, if they do cut things to a week before they get going. The alternative is a bit worse.

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I just wanted to announce that I’ve severed all ties with Lance Armstrong, too.

Take that, Lance!

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After four games I’m still not sure what Landry Fields is going to give the Raptors on a regular basis but if it’s close to what they got in spurts last night, it’s going to be okay.

It wasn’t particularly flashy by any stretch of the imagination but it was a solid professional effort that added to the overall performances. A couple of solid off-the-ball cuts for easy layups, a couple of fast-break finishes and a vital contribution.

Dwane noticed, too.

I thought he did an excellent job running the floor, back-cutting, moving without the ball, we were going to DeMar in the post but his movement on the weak side created havoc and took out their help.

Those things you can’t teach, those are instinctive plays. We have ‘em in but a lot of times guys freeze over there and get like a magnet on the three point line. He did a great job of cutting and moving without the ball.

Now, we all know a dynamic three was on top of the summer shopping list but the hole didn’t get filled. No sense whining about it now, things are what they are and maybe that’s a spot that’s going to be quietly efficient rather than overtly exciting.

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Mail, please.

Missing some familiar names over there this week along with the kind of missives that make me sit up and take notice.

You know the drill.

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I need a joint with good TVs near the Marriott in downtown Montreal to watch some baseball early this evening, please. Maybe a joint with good bar food to sate the early appetite and maybe somewhere with a variety of taps to pull from. Oh, and somewhere not inundated with Rush fans, please.

Porter-willing, I land just before opening tip of the ALCS and I do think I’d like to sit and watch the Evil Empire get its just rewards.

Thanks.

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Okay, two smallish guards at the same time. How’d you like the 11 minutes or so of a backcourt rotation of Lowry, Calderon and Lucas?

Looked okay to me, actually. Don’t see it working all the time – it’s going to depend on the size of the opponents most nights – but there are merits to it. Another ball handler to play on the weak side, a handful of good shooters and I guess the one drawback is that it might cut a bit into the minutes for DeRozan and he’s looked pretty good so far this pre-season.

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Comments

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

I just got a chance to read the IGBT from last night this morning. Wow! Were there ever a lot of crazy comments - for a pre-season game, no less! Do you typically get that many negative comments, and don't usually post them? Or was last night an aberration?

I do have to put the blame for it partly on you - I've noticed that in recent IGBTs, you haven't started off with the 'no knuckleheadism' disclaimer!

Blogger's note: Was about normal

[Diego]

How's Bargnani's calf? any news?

Blogger's note: No, surprisingly in the 10 hours since the game ended some of us slept and worked and there was no media availability. Check back in six or seven hours

[Mike Chamberlain]

Hurley's on Crescent Street. Good selection of beer on tap and lots of small rooms, so you should be able to hide away from whatever Rush fans happen to be in the place.

Blogger's note: Appreciate it, thanks

[Eric-in-NS]

So, then, who benefits from the long nba pre-season? As a fan, I'd be happy to see them start sooner -- and finish the playoffs in early June.

[David Scorniaenchi]

Hey Doug,

Hurley's is an okay option but im not sure about the availability of TV's. Brutopia on Crescent St. is right next door to Hurley's and they brew all of their beer in house and have a full menu of different varieties as well as TV's. If all else fails, Le Cage aux Sport is located in the Bell Centre and is a full fledged sports bar.

Love the blog!

Blogger's note: Thanks

[Cluck Kent]

Based on the quality of play so far, I'd like to think they had another month of preseason...

[AC]

Doug, try Champs on St Laurent as well if you are looking for a generic sports bar with good service

[Jonathan M]

I'm willing to use my internet bar sleuthing skills but there's a Marriott Residence Inn and the Marriott Chateau Champlain, both downtown. Where has Mother Star decided to put you up?

Blogger's note: Think I'm cool, but thanks. It's the big one this trip

[david]

My solution to the preseason problems that you describe would be for the regular season to start earlier and the pre-season to be cut in half, but the first 4-5 games of the regular season would be spaced out such that teams have a minimum of three days off between each game to practice and continue to develop.

[MC_Brad]

NYC in Feb to see Knicks v Raptors on a Wednesday night as part of 5 day trip with the better half.... New Yorker or Roosevelt?

Blogger's note: New Yorker

[LeeZ]

Hmm...Kevin Love out a couple of months with a broken shooting hand. Raps have one too many power forwards. Think there's a fit? Do you imagine Bryan is on the phone to Minnie?

[Vincent Lam]

Hey Doug. In last night's blog you mentioned you were taller than one of Tracy Murray and Jon Bon Jovi. My powers of deduction should be able to figure this out. But how tall are you?

Blogger's note: I'm shrinking with age but I still top 6 feet

[Jc]

Hey Doug
I didn't get to watch the game last night. Does this view from the Washington Post (the second paragraph) seem accurate? Homerism? Somewhere in between?

"Okafor played well in his second game as a Wizard, though the game didn’t get off to the best start for him. Valanciunas caught the ball out on the wing, froze Okafor with a dribble-juke move, then drove around him for a slam.
Okafor spent the rest of his time on the floor intent on abusing the rookie by backing him down for jump hooks or forcing him into foul trouble. He had 11 points and five rebounds in just three quarters of work."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2012/10/18/wizards-fail-to-go-down-in-a-blaze-of-glory/

Blogger's note: Somewhere in between

[Paul B]

Hurley's for bevies and Music, but that's after the game. Not sure they have televisions, or what their food is like but the old school pub atmosphere, and the music is usually excellent.

[jimt]

Bonjour,have fun on porter the service is raptacular.
Le Doug the raps need all the pre season they can french fry!
What is the strategy defensively in the paint?
Other teams bigs must be licking their chops at the thought of 2 euros,
one a rook and the other a defensive dud.

[Jonathan M]

Having read your blog for several years, knowing what a grunt of a certain vintage enjoys, I think I might have found a better spot for the game. There's an Irish place called McLean's Pub with multiple TVs, lots on tap and good pub food just spitting distance from you in a big old historic building. Reviews are solid from customers.

http://www.yelp.ca/biz/mcleans-pub-montreal

[GM]

Were people actually expecting Landry Fields to be a star? The guy's a solid pro -- a "glue guy", as the Detroit colour man said. Never flashy, nothing spectacular. I think of him kinda like Anthony Parker, but maybe a bit better.

[JHP]

Injuries and more injuries. The coach is already bemoaning the fact ! Is this an excuse to cover the first half of the season? Or is it a sign of the times and league wide ?

Enjoy Montreal !

[Hope Caper]

Hey Doug, long time no write. Although I have been reading! Anyway just a comment on the defence. I haven't seen a game just the highlights so it is hard to know but their defence (help side) and offence looks pretty lax (not taking care of the ball). Are these just "highlights" or are they as bad as they look?