A big night for two teams; one bigger than the other

So, everyone’s got to be feeling at least a tiny bit better today, right?

No, it wasn’t particularly pretty and the HOTH were running on fumes for about the last six minutes but what the heck, you have to like the outcome, don’t you?

Thought so. Might be a nicer day around here.

Anyway …

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THREE POINTERS

Kid might get it

Terrence Ross gave ‘em just what they needed from a rookie in that situation, 13 minutes of energy and three big baskets that kept the ship afloat in the second quarter.

One play stood out – perhaps because it was right in front of me.

He was on the wing and was supposed to curl around a screen to the top but when the defender cheated, he went to the baseline, made and an excellent hard cut past the basket, took a perfect pass and made a little 10-foot jump hook.

Ross is an intriguing player not nearly ready for a regular spot in the rotation; he’s too slight, doesn’t quite get it defensively often enough but it seems he has some instincts and could be a viable piece in the future.

There’s no doubting he can shoot, it’s now a matter of getting the rest of the game. For a moment in a biggish role in a game when they needed to go far, far deep down the bench, he gave them what they asked.

Did it earn him more time? Maybe. Not much, but maybe a bit depending on which of the injured guys come back when.

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Déjà vu

We were talking to Dwane before the game and the conversation got around to which officials were working and I mentioned I’d seen Bennett Salvatore around the city in the afternoon so he’d be on the court.

Dwane recalled a game earlier this season when Bennett had missed a call, not a crucial one, but a typical one. A player on the opposing team had tried one of those rip moves with the ball – bringing it down and around in some faux shooting stroke, done entirely to get a foul called. The NBA ruled two seasons ago that it was not a shooting foul – it’s the Kevin Durant Rule – but somehow Bennett didn’t get the memo.

Well, last night, I think it was Kleiza, tried the exact same move – again, right in front of us – and Salvatore made the right call, giving the ball to Toronto out of bounds instead of putting Kleiza on the line.

I looked over at Dwane, who was smiling as he told Bennett he’d made the right call.

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The list grows

So, Jose gets the first triple double of his career, 13-10-10, and now on the notes page that gives us “the last time it happened” Ben Uzoh’s name will disappear. And so, too, will all memory of that last game of last season.

Jose?

He was kind of proud of the accomplishment. And a bit surprised.

“Happy it came with this important win, I never thought I could get 10 rebounds.”

He’s the eighth guy to ever have one for Toronto, joining Damon Stoudamire (3), Marcus Camby (2), Vince Carter, Charles Oakley, Mark Jackson, Alvin Williams and Uzoh on the list.

Heckuva list.

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More?

You knew there would be more.

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If this is the Bob Dylan that shows up in Toronto tonight you are in for a treat.

Can’t imagine it is but, man, that’d be nice.

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Holy crap!

I always figured Alex Anthopoulos had a bold move or two in him but he’s also struck me as a patient man who wouldn’t pull the trigger on anything unless it was exactly what he needed to.

Well, how about 12-player trade?

He addressed almost of his needs in one fell swoop with that mega-deal, he got an upgrade at shortstop, a speedy outfielder and two guys who could be studs for the rotation.

And now all the whining about payroll and not making big moves can stop, can’t it? Don’t think it was ever that they were cheap, it was that Anthopoulos wasn’t going to do something just to do something and he’d be willing to wait and pounce when he figured it made sense.

The deal sends a message, loud and clear, that the Blue Jays are legitimately chasing a World Series, fans can’t moan about not doing anything any more.

Yes, he had to have a willing partner in what might go down as one of the great baseball fleecings of all time (and how cool is it that he took advantage of that carpet-bagger Jeffery Loria to do it?) but Alex waited and waited and made the huge move when he figured it made sense.

This is a message to the other players and the fans: We’re serious. We did what we said we’d do. This is the best Blue Jays team – on paper, at least – since the World Series champions, I’d suggest and next season cannot get here enough.

The Marlins? Loria stole a stadium from the taxpayers, he tried to bamboozle the fans with one season of spending knowing he could give players away if things didn’t work out and I can only imagine the hue and cry in South Florida today.

I’ve been to that amusement park they call a stadium, I saw the circus that was the Ozzie Guillen year and am dead certain they won’t draw flies next year and the team will eventually be sold and perhaps moved.

Montreal, anyone?

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What’d my man Mike Wells of the Indy Star scribble about that game last night?

Glad you asked. Here it is.

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Okay, I’m trying to figure out this whole David Petraeus sage down here, with this CIA guy with that woman and this other woman in the story with some other general and I just can’t.

Too many people, a tad too confusing and because in my mind is a vast wasteland of trivial knowledge and empty space, the first thing I thought of was this.

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I know some of you are interested by there is no way on this green earth we’re even thinking about the 2013 draft, okay?

Search elsewhere if you must but don’t be bringing that stuff here.

Thanks.

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Comments

[Phil A]

I'm so glad the Raptors won but I keep asking myself if I'll ever be able to sit comfortably through a whole game. They keep stressing me out when they keep blowing double digit 4th quarter leads. I don't want to develop any heart complications in my mid 20s as a result of their underwhelming 4th quarter performances.

[JPGR]

@ "where are the jose bashers today???"

Right here,man. He was beasting it last night and the night before in Utah, I loved watching him play that way. I hope he continues to play that way, even when Lowry is back. But lets get real here and put this all into perspective. Jose is inconsistent, he doesn't bring that game every night-if he did, he'd be an all-star and the Raptors wouldn't have wasted a 1st round pick on Lowry. At 10 million per year (half of Lowrys contract) I expect that play (like the past two nights) every night - almost every, cause people do have off nights. What stands out most about last night to me is Jose's 10 rebounds, love rebounding guards, DeRozan is rebounding like a champ this year and Lowry is averaging 7 a contest too.
However, in the last 4 minutes of last nights game, Hill scored 8 pts on Jose. I know he is spent, its been a rough, 48 hrs - however, you have to dig deep and Jose needed to lock Hill down...he didn't, therefore 8 of Indy's 14 points that quarter were scored by Hill all in under 4 minutes - the final 4 minutes. Hill is the guy Jose guarded last night and did a good job up until the most crucial time of the game - DeRozan dug in on his guy (George) on the final 3 shoots and last 2 possessions and made sure George didn't score - but I digress on this one, Jose did his job and more last night. Hope he plays like this every night till Lowry gets back.
@ Radar....Good NBA minds know that there is no debate between who starts when Lowry gets back...Jose had two good games, he is a great 2nd guy, a super sub but his game right now is best suited to dominate second team guys-which he does. As a starter, he is a great fill in, just not the long term answer...its been two games people and (two bad ones: OKC and Philly) so, relax Jose lovers!

[JPGR]

I'm a huge Coach Casey fan, however this season (so far) I have questioned some of his moves on rotations and players being on or not being on floor. The one that stands out most is - Valancunias. With Bargs playing so soft and uninterested last night, why wasn't Vaancuniasl on the floor more in the 4th quarter? This has happen before in other games too - in Philly, Amir was off that night (4 pts/4 rebounds) Valancunias was playing well 10pts/8 rebounds (I believe) not in foul trouble, Hawes was hitting pay dirt eating up the Raps and Valancunias sat while Amir continued to play....don't get it! When Valancunias is playing,notice the Raps are most up points leading the game! any coincidence!?. Casey needs to play him more, play the guys that are playing well, rookie or not. He has shown and proven he can play, he left the game with almost a double/double only had two fouls last night, Brags is off and Casey sits Valancunias!I. It should have been Valancunias and Amir at that time finishing the game. Bargs was obviously, gassed, but Casey left him on. If Valancunias plays 5-7 more minutes a game, he'd be averaging a double double - as a rookie...can you say ROY, Raptor fans!
Last night though, we saw the "Casey-Defacto", that is something that is irreplaceable. That speech that inspired the Raps is something he does often! Loved it!

[Marc Moore]

Hi Doug: Have you been able to watch enough non-Raptors games to comment on whether the referees - across the board - are allowing more physical play to be the standard? Apparently, flopping is being ignored, officials are allowing defenders to have their space (verticality) and the rip move you mentioned.

I think it's a good thing (if they put their whistles away) for the most part.

Blogger's note: Haven't seen a lot but I agree

[lee in ottawa]

My opinion Amir was the best Raptor on the floor last night. This guy brings it every night. Played tough when called apon.Glad we locked him up for a while.

[john]

Doug, Can you think of anything more heart warming than the love-in you are experiencing today amongst the irregulars?

[Fred]

Forgot to mention this earlier this morning.

Quite interesting:

@Fred905: “@RaptorsPR: #Raptors five points are fewest in 4th qtr by winning team in shot clock era (from @ESPNStatsInfo)”

[Garry]

what ever you folks did to the igbt it is now back to normal
on my PC, Thank you very much.

Garry