A different kind of ending to a close game

Aside from the stress hell of the writing process – the first edition thing written in about 90 seconds while the IGBT went on should be forever banished from the ether and print – that was a pretty solid night.

Good game, some good plays and, if you’re a fan, the fact they pulled it out after blowing a late lead had to stunned you.

Dwane, however, seemed to know what was coming, as he told us after the game.

Anyway, as I sit at NOLA International, waiting for another leg in a Road Trip of Sleep Deprivatin, here we go …

-

THREE POINTERS

Mr. Tough Guy

Alan Anderson may have scored 16 points – and that’s nice – but what he did at the other end to Ryan Anderson was a thing of beauty.

He got up in the taller three-point shooter, gave him no space to operate, chased him around screens like he was attached to him and that was the kind of defence Dwane Casey appreciates more than anything.

Ryan Anderson may have made seven shots and rattled in that game-tying three but Alan Anderson played him almost perfectly for as long as he was covering him.

It didn’t go unnoticed by his teammates, Jose Calderon singled him out.

“I think Alan (Anderson) did a great job on defence and offence and I think he got everyone going.”

Having one guy who can guard one guy pretty well alone is a luxury Casey’s seldom had. Now, no one expects Anderson to do it all himself every night but on night’s like Friday, that’s a huge factor for this team.

-

Live and learn. Still.

Of course DeMar should have driven on that final possession of regulation time, everyone in the gym expected it.

Most of all his coach.

“That’s why we run that play: Take, rip, and go attack the rim, put the decision in the referees hands. When you fade away, you let them hook. It’s something he’s got to learn to do, he’s been told but he made some big shots, got to the free throw line throughout out the game and made the big three that was huge.”

DeRozan’s game has grown quite well this season but it will still be lacking something until he gets it through his head to force the issue in situations like that.

Everyone knows he can barely go left, and that’s where the middle was, but he needs to try to get around the corner going right instead of driving straight to the baseline and fading to the sideline instead of going to the basket.

-

The kid’s going to be good

I’ll tell you right now, Anthony Davis is one impressive rookie.

Sure, he’s got to get thicker and stronger and more savvy in the ways of the NBA but he was as good as anyone on the floor for most of Friday night.

He’s got a far better mid-range jump shot than I had expected, or heard about, and if he can make that and develop his ball-handling skills a bit more, he’s got “unstoppable” in his future.

-

Okay, so what else?

Well, I went to the airport at 5:15 a.m. to go New Orleans-Atlanta-Orlando (yes, the Lewis and Clark Travel Agency got me again) but wish I was going to find this guy.

Never enough Kermit Ruffins in the morning, is there?

-

Things That Irk Me, Vol. 13,205,691:

People who chew gum loudly. And people who chew gum loudly in crowded elevators. And people who chew gum loudly in crowded elevators at 9 a.m. when some of us are tired and a bit cranky. And people who chew gum loudly in crowded elevators at 9 a.m. when some of us are tired and a bit cranky and then proceed to ignore the death stare being aimed at the back of their heads.

That is all.

-

The Miami Heat is one easily offended organization, isn’t it?

Dwane Wade boots Ramon Sessions in the groin – and no matter how you look at it, that’s precisely what he did as you can see right here – and he gets a one-game suspension, totally warranted.

And Heat get all ticked off, put out a somewhat scathing news release defending Wade’s history and character and all miffed about it.

Then Erik Spoelstra gets all defensive about how the Heat are victims of hard fouls all the time and how unfair it.

Pul-eeeeze!

Ever seen LeBron James goes down like he’s been shot at the slightest of contact, Wade’s been rolling around on the floor on more than one occasion and Chris Bosh? Well, let’s just say … ah, you know.

The Heat needn’t whine, Wade – who has some sneaky dirty in him if you ask other players – did indeed boot the guy in the groin and he should suck it up and take the punishment.

-

One last shot at mail, okay?

Figure I’ll do regular stuff tomorrow and a night bonus mailbag and do the usual fare Monday morning.

Click. Write nice notes. Send.

-

The David Robinson story, forgotten the other night and I might have told it before, anyway.

You know what I think of Robinson, right? First class gentleman and athlete, just an excellent guy. Saw him at the game the other night and he’s shaking hands and signing autographs and giving everyone a smile and a look in the eye.

Comes as no surprise.

It was after the last Spurs championship, whatever year that was, and you know the organization was celebrating as well it should. Robinson was at that game, front and centre with the execs when they get the trophy and very much a part of the party.

Well, it’s about 6 a.m. the next day, a Gaggle of Grunts have dragged their sorry butts to the airport to get home and we’re tired and grumpy and not all the communicative.

And who do we see at that ungodly hour?

David Robinson, standing among the mortals in the regular check-in line, waiting patiently with his son at the security check (like he should have to go through security?) and shaking hands and speaking with anyone who wanted to.

You know how many athletes of Robinson’s ilk would have (a) blown off where he had to go at 6 a.m. the day after his organization won a title or (b) would have insisted on a charter or (c) would have hidden in some private enclave?

How about almost every single one of them.

He didn’t.

Kinda cool, no?

-

Okay, Delta Airlines willing, we're back about 7 tonight for the usual IGBT, right?

See you then.

 

 

 

Comments

[AT]

Doug, sorry if I missed it in any of your writings but has there been any updates on when JV is coming back?

Blogger's note: 4-6 weeks

[Rob]

David Robinson is the superstar athlete all others should look to as a role model.

And the heat do need to shut it. Didnt Lebron just have like a 6 game stretch with NO fouls called against him? How is that even possible without getting preferred ref treatment. Anyone playing 35+ minutes a game, and playing anything close to even half hearted defence, must pick up a couple fouls now and then all things being equal.

[Matt M]

Lebron James went several games without fouling once this season. Since James will often defend the other teams best player, count me as skeptical. But then I haven't researched that phenomenon to any extent. Still, I'd say the Heat have it pretty good when it comes to fouls during the course of any particular game.

[Hope Caper]

I wondered where Ed Davis was getting the move to hold down the NO player. The studied nonchalance and artificial innocence were very similar. However a very similar incident going the other way at the game's end received no foul call so I can see why players seem miffed at the inconsistencies of the reffing. I remember wrestling had the same problem until they fixed it by calling it entertainment instead of sport. Another defensive notable was T. Ross (not to be confused with T-Mac). After Casey's glowing support I watched him closely and at times his assignment must have felt somewhat smothered. Good stuff. I thought Lowry had a good game but as Casey said afterwards Jose didn't have a great game but was solid. All you have to look at are some of the Lowry decisions when he has the ball to understand why this team plays better with a "solid" guard. Great vid clips Doug. Enjoy them immensely.

[doug]

as you mentioned in your IGBT last night (which I just perused) Lowry had a solid game in his return as did DD, as he has grown exponentially as a NBA player in front of our eyes...and him wanting to improve as well as being a gym rat says a lot about his character an why BC extended him in my eyes.....too me its been disturbing lately to hear Casey's explanation for end of games and the constant miscues that occur, last nights was another disaster in the last few minutes of regulation....he has started laying it on the players saying we have told them this and that there not executing, what a load....as its your job to make sure they execute and maybe the way in which your communicating this so-called info/strategy needs to be re-examined as this teams major weakness still is the last few minutes of a game and just poor execution and lack of guidance from coaching staff, last night they were lucky to avoid yet another blown game at the end.....something there needs to change and Casey going public with blame needs to be one of them....ok cheers..

Blogger's note: He told them not to foul until 7 seconds; there were 8 when the shot was made. There was no "blame" from anywhere placed on anyone

[Bob Wesley]

Hey Doug,Is Eddy D hurt?

Blogger's note: Nope, not that I know of

[doug]

I wasn't speaking about last nights game I was speaking about his comments earlier in the week....and yes even jack was noting last night our execution down the stretch in games and lack of adjustments is poor....I wasn't speaking specifically of a incident from last nights game...

[RichardY]

Did the Super Family enjoy, take your family to work day? They got on TV and everything! Trust you did not take them to places with stools.

[Mike D.]

Doug, in one paragraph you note that the death stare to the back of the head isn't working but in another you provide the link to some outstanding video footage of an "accidental" knee to the groin.....seems to me you're not seeing the forest for the trees. Connect the dots, my friend, and you won't have to listen to the irritating gum chewing for long. What could possibly go wrong?