Yes, I sure do know how to take the right games off

Wow.

Yeah, I can sure pick nights to take off, can’t I?

And, no, didn’t get to see it at all, the downtown Marriott in Indy, normally one of the top locals on the road, couldn’t find the game, despite the best efforts of Autumn and her boss.

It left us to follow it on an iPhone and the twitter and, no, at no time did we giggle at the fate of our confreres.

(Well, maybe a smirk but certainly not an out-loud giggle).

So with that in mind, we can’t get too specific but having spoken to a few people through the night and after the game, we’ll still do this.

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THREE POINTERS

Wear ‘em out because you have to

Except for the predictable last-second offence-defence move, or a move necessitated by someone fouling out, no coach in the NBA likes to make substitutions once overtime starts and for as long as it lasts.

Yes, it adds up the minutes in those marathons – DeRozan played an astonishing 60 of 63, Calderon played 50, Bargnani was at 49 – but that can’t be a factor in any decision a coach makes.

The players are going on adrenaline, mostly, and don’t feel the predictable fatigue while in the flow of the game.

But …

Tonight is going to be a different story and with a depleted roster anyway, it’s going to be interesting to see how Dwane manages some worn out players.

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Stroll down memory lane

While that was all unfolding, was trying to figure out the other epic three OT contests in history and, yes, two came to mind.

First was way back in February, 2001. Remember? I bet some writer friends of mine do.

First game ever for Jerome Williams after he’d been acquired from Detroit and had driven up to Toronto to make the game. It was against Sacramento, JYD got caught by a great back screen and Peja Stojakovic drilled the game-winning three right in front of the Raptors bench.

Epic game and I was writing the trade story and didn’t have to worry about filing on deadline.

The last one?

Wasn’t that long ago.

London, O2 Arena, Nets and Raptors and another marathon that Toronto lost.

Don’t remember a lot of specifics except Andrea took a series of potential game-winning shots, I believe.

But it was with a five-hour time zone head start so deadline wasn’t an issue then, either.

Yes, I do know how to live through triple overtime games, it would appear.

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What they need?

Well, a win would be nice, that’s for sure.

But I think the most welcome thing this week will be Wednesday off and two days of practice before they head to Boston.

(Cathal’s going on that one, prepare for quadruple overtime).

Games and travel have been coming fast and furious so far and starting Sunday they have another stretch of four-game weeks (Sunday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Friday both weeks).

A break for three days after tonight’s game will be the most important thing they can get right now.

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More?

As usual.

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A little John Cougar Mellencamp because of where we are and it fits perfectly in this Indy story.

We’re here for the Final Four a few years ago and it’s a big event, of course. Can’t remember what night it was exactly, might have been the Sunday between the games, but a huge storm comes tumbling in.

It actually turns into a tornado at some point, Mellencamp’s putting on an outdoor concert in the middle of the city and as the storm churns, they stop it mid-show and people are fleeing all over the middle of the city.

Me and Quag (an old grunt who’s now a big shot) are not at the concert, we’re safely inside the sports bar we frequent. Trouble is, it’s got huge glass windows at the front and management – worried about the whole liability thing – decides we better get the heck out of there.

So, yes, I have been evacuated from an indoor bar, we were sent up to the second floor of the hotel for safety reasons. And we went carrying our full glasses, obviously.

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Yes, the shrimp cocktail at St. Elmo’s is still as hot and great as ever and with a lunch plan for Steak ‘N Shake, the trip to Indy will be a culinary success.

If only there was a Five Guys for dinner.

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I need to become a fan of NASCAR because those guys are crazy and entertaining.

We’ve seen dudes intentionally – gently, but intentionally -- crash into each other during contentious point of a race, I’ve seen drivers standing on the track screaming at some guy driving by, I’ve seen drivers throw their helmets at passing cars because they’re so ticked off.

And now?

Now they’re getting into full-on brawls after races?

There’s nothing like a nice post-race donnybrook, is there?

Please, tell me this happens a lot and I’m all over the sport.

That’s classic, those guys are berserk.

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The joint we were in last night at the Marriott is a regular haunt of NBA officials; we run into them often nights before games and nights after.

They’re familiar to the staff, too, because the aforementioned Autumn The Bartender was talking about them.

So, which one’s your favourite?

“The one who orders the chicken sandwich.”

Guess they’re memorable only to a point.

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Phil Jackson and his agent didn’t go quietly into that good night, did he?

Take a read of this story from the LA Times and this one from ESPN.com and you’ll see just how ticked off both Phil and his agent are over the decision to bypass him and hire Mike D’Antoni.

Now, I suspect there are, like always, three sides to this story – his, theirs and the truth – but it’s a rather distasteful end to this saga, no?

And Jackson comes off a bit petulant, the Lakers come off looking like they snubbed a legend disrespectfully and I will say this:

If Buss family – Jeannie and her boyfriend Phil, Jerry and his son Jim – have a big Thanksgiving dinner planned for next week, I hope someone takes video of it.

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Comments

[Liam]

Barg-YAWN-i

[Mike kovacs]

Doug, Sunday's game at home at 1 pm is at the same time as the Santa Claus Parade which starts at the north end at 12:30 pm. Any idea if this will affect the usual parking spots for the game?

Blogger's note: Don't think so

[Steven]

The difference between DeRozen and Bargnani so far this season is the difference between someone who spent the summer getting bigger and working on his game and someone who "rested". I've been hoping like most that Bargani would turn into his potential but seven years later it doesn't appear that it will happen here. Maybe he would excel on a team with veteran players who will push him to work hard for an entire game,but unless Charles Oakley comes back, what you see is what you get. Anyone that young with his skills who plays so well in spurts must make teams think that they can turn him into the player we have been hoping for and would give up someone of value to get him. Alright, maybe wishful thinking.

[Johnnyc]

I enjoy the arts and travel content. I travel often and appreciate Doug's opinions....your not going to get those in a Frommers book!,,,I look forward to the B Ball content...I appreciate the validity and quality of the work and it has enhanced my enjoyment of the Toronto Star....Time for a classic martini with a little pink martini on the side!

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Evening Doug,
Bargs... seems to like to keep a low profile and his cards close to his chest. His 'mistake', though, was to show his hand early last year, and now he can't help but look like he's holding out. Just how razor thin do you see the patience level being among the Raptors 'Faithful'? And how does that compare with the Raptors Brass?
Personally, looks like he's improving by 5% increments game to game, but man, he can be aggravating to watch sometimes.
Cheers. Go Raps!