A few similarities with a couple of young kids

I knew there’d be a day when a major sleep-in and a forgot-to-set-the-phone-alarm would happen.

It was today and now I’m like three hours behind. Grrr.

Anyway, a bunch of little things today if that’s all right?

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You know who Ed Davis reminds me of a little bit?

DeMar DeRozan a year ago and if you want to chart the progress of a couple of young Raptors, I think they might be mirror images in some way.

Davis is young, he’s a tad inconsistent but you can see so much promise you have this feeling that he could be pretty good.

Now, I like Ed, a lot. Good kid, very personable, works hard and you see an awful lot of promise there.

But the youth is the thing, isn’t it?

His first year was delayed because of knee surgery (and you’ll notice none of these kids spent the summer going out to find open gyms with the people) and his second year was screwed because of the lockout that robbed him of summer league, training camp and the pre-season.

But now? Now you see so much promise it’s not even funny. He’s got good instincts on the defensive end, he’s growing into his body quite well, an emerging offensive game and I see him with great possibilities in the next couple of years.

Yes, he has all kinds of things to develop in his game – his jump shot is far from smooth, he still gets pushed off the block too easily, he needs to get some kind of go-to move – but I think he needs to play a lot and see where he goes with his raw talent.

I think he could be tougher mentally and bring his ‘A’ game every night but watching him on those nights when he’s ‘on’ you see so many possibilities it’s not funny.

He’s not there yet but he’s getting closer and if I’m Dwane as this season progresses, you need to find as much time as possible for him.

Davis played a season high minutes the other night in Sacramento, I hope they stay about that level for the rest of the season.

I think he’s one of those kids that if you let them play, they’ll surprise you.

We saw it a bit with DeRozan, they let him go and he kind of figured it out as he went along and now he’s pretty good.

I think Davis will eventually get it and he just needs the time to show that.

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I wonder whatever happened to my 10:30 a.m. flight from Sacramento to Salt Lake yesterday.

Yeah, we’re going to have a travel woe or two over the course of the season and no one really gives a rat’s ass but the 10:30 plane never got there, we were standby and eventually shut out of the 1:30 flight and ended up on the 4:25 flight over to Salt Lake.

So remember when I told you the Sacramento airport was new and way better? Well, after having to sit there for EIGHT FREAKING HOURS I can’t tell you how thankful I was for a nice waiting area and easy wireless.

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Best line of the entire airport/airline ordeal?

We’re right at the start, when we think the original plane might get there, and an obviously agitated woman gets in the line at the podium.

She’s all stressed out that it’s a small plane – a regional jet that hold about 50 – and is getting kind of antsy. She says, to no one in particular but I was the closest:

“I’m glad I took that Xanax, that’ll help.”

I nod in some kind of agreement because it seemed the right thing to do and I was a’scared of her anyway. It only seems to encourage her:

“Oh, and a couple of beers. Those were good.”

I skedaddle, she gets shifted to another airline so she could make a connection and Lord knows how her day turned out.

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Yes, there might be a bad word in here and for that I apologize and warn you but …

(And I think you all know me well enough to know I am not in any way making light of a disastrous moment in world history that occurred today and the Pearl Harbour memorial is as touching a one as I've ever seen).

But …

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Kids these days and their zany lingo.

Ed Davis wanders past us one day early in the trip – it might have been Monday morning in Denver, which was an eon ago – and being the polite small-talkers we are, we ask how he’s doing.

“Pimp-tastic.”

Slack-jawed, I mumble, “um, good” and about two days later I finally run into him again and ask what on earth “pimp-tastic” might mean.

Seems it means you’re having a really good day.

Of course it does.

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Hey, a question.

If you jam your thumb on a bedside table and you wake up in the morning and it’s swollen about twice its size and it’s killing you, is that a good sign?

Didn’t think so.

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How about the pucks?

Having a wee bit of recent experience in the area of sports work stoppages, I can offer this from afar:

It sure seems to me that the season is toast, I’m not even hearing any of the conciliatory phrases and words we heard at the same time in the basketball lockout a year ago.

And it gets to this, as it always does:

No matter what they say, they don’t care a whit about the fans or the workers in and around arenas who are getting killed by this lockout.

These are petulant billionaires and millionaires try to get even richer and if a few little guys get beaten down by their squabbling, who cares.

I just hope – and I fear it won’t happen – that the fans stay away in droves if this thing ever gets settled.

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Comments

[Peter]

Of course, the fans staying away in droves would hurt the little guys around the arenas even more...

[Ren]

Yesterday you commented on my words, writing that we were possibly watching a "completely different team" when I mentioned that Demar, Ed, and Amir were showing some kind of consistency.
The consistency I was referring to, of course, was in comparison to Bargnani's play. I think the coach made the wrong choice in the game, based on the consistency of the players involved.
Demar, I would argue, brings a consistent effort every night - he simply challenges in every aspect of the game.
Ed's inconsistency, I would argue, is that he is not given the time and the run to feel the game out. But he has been giving a consistent effort as of late, and putting up great numbers in limited time.
And Amir, well, I think he has proven that while not an offensive juggernaut, he will give a consistent effort on defense.
To suggest that those guys don't offer a consistency that is superior to Bargnani's, I think, is wrong.

But let's focus on just the bigs here:

We know for a fact that Casey is a defensive coach - we saw it last year. So where does the weight of consistency really fall for him? I would suggest that is on the defensive side of the ball.
Andrea is not doing that, and Amir and Ed have been better. I think that is clear.
And then, look at the offensive side. If we are discussing consistency, we are not discussing amount of points, but efficiency, right?
Both Amir and Ed have better shooting percentages (by far), better rebounding numbers, and Amir even shoots the 3 with a better average.
And they both, for the most part (and more consistently), play defense!

I know - we don't want Amir shooting threes, Bargnani plays more minutes and has more responsibilities at this point for offensive output, apples and oranges, I get it.

But consistency?
Hands down those boys are far more consistent then Bargs.
So who do you put on the floor when the game is on the line?

Blogger's note: Would depend on the night

[larry lukeeborg]

i happened to pick up an edition of the national post, and in an article written by eric koreen, read that bargnani has been the "subject of locker-room discontent this season." I sorta feel that if no elaboration by the writer is offered, then the comment shouldn't be written. however, given that it was written, would you care to comment, doug? this makes trade talk much more significant to those of us who have no behind-the-scene' access.

Blogger's note: I wouldn't care to comment on someone else's "sourced" sentence, no

[Willy Wonka]

Leo Rautins ripping on Andrea in Sacremento? Pro- Ed Davis blog? Seems like MLSE is telling their minions to run Andrea out of town. WELCOME TO TORONTO, PAU GASOL!

I'm not against that trade, but Andrea AND Jose is too much to give up for Gasol. Jose is a stud, I have always taken his side in the TJ/Bayless wars. I doubt the Lakers will take Andrea straight up for Gasol though.

[Cluck Kent]

The pucks...they got so schooled last time and they are going to get it again. I don't know what the answer is but they better find it or every few years they are going to pay dearly to support hockey in the deep south.

Puck fans? It will be one more generation before they lose their fanaticism.

Sorry to hear about your travel woes. Just reading about it made me want cringe.

Raptors? I would watch more games if they played the young guys more. I've taken so much heat from my non-basketball loving friends for supporting Bryan and Andrea. I'm to the point now where I'm converting to the trade Bargs side of the argument.

[larry lukeeborg]

sorry, i phrased improperly my question re commenting; i didn't mean to ask you to comment on the sentence or article, rather, i should have asked you this question, which i ask now: do you believe bargnani has been the cause of locker-room discontent this season?

and, i would certainly understand your lack of desire to answer this question, too. especially in a blog. [see, i even gave you an escape!]

Blogger's note: Sorry if I misinterpreted. There's been no discord, outside of the predictable workplace squabbles that come up in the course of time. Certainly nothing out of the ordinary

[Rob.V]

Interesting information if it's accurate Larry.
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I was thinking yesterday that Andrea's shooting woes could be attributed to all of the negative talk. Now, he may not read here however in today's day of instant information, I'm fairly certain that some of the trade "chatter" has gotten back to Andrea via his handlers.
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He may be pressing a little too much - and if there's some additional negative talk internally from the team as well then this might explain some of his struggles further.
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No excuses, however it doesn't matter what field you're in (and make no mistake this is a job for them), it can be a distraction having to deal with a team and entire country asking to have you strung up or traded as quickly as possible.
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I haven't read that article, nor do I have any insight into the locker room however there certainly is not a lot of joy on Andrea's face (or the rest of the team for that matter)... and I think that this is conducive to the losing.
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This team needs a little bit of - F. it!!! Let's go play and have some fun (if they can?).

[GM]

"Blogger's note: I wouldn't care to comment on someone else's "sourced" sentence, no"

Have you heard of any locker-room discontent regarding Bargnani this season? Or any other player? I mean beyond the usual family-like squabbles that take place in any season.

Blogger's note: I haven't, actually. There are always squabbles in work places but nothing out of the ordinary

[Jeff]

Hi Doug, you wrote some nice articles on Davis, Johnson and Valanciunas this week. While they were a good read to find out a bit more on each player, its safe to say most followers of the team know about this. This is what I would like you to report on:

Ask Casey what he means by his accountability philosophy, and pound the rock. Because Bargnani is showing none of that and he's getting plenty of time on the floor. Is someone telling Casey who to play? Someone try to convince me that an NBA head coach would continue to give Bargnani (didn't have it) floor time over Davis (who had it) in the game due to spacing for Lowry. Give me a break. If you think you have a better chance to win because of Bargnani and his spacing then I'm starting to think there is more politics in basketball than in business.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

Somebody out there loves you:

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2012/12/07/knicks-win-without-carmelo-pau-gasol-rumors-swirl/

Best short explanation yet about why the Bargnani-Gasol trade would be good for both teams. I also think it would be good for Bargnani. This team isn't his anymore--I think it's Lowry's. And since Lowry goes 110 mph at all times, I can't imagine he appreciates AB's mercurial nature. No wonder there are rumours of friction in the locker room.

But if/when a trade happens, I think Raps fans have to prepare for the rebirth of Il Mago. In a new system like LA's, where he is no longer the centrepiece, I think he will thrive. And that's good for him, if it works there. It just isn't working here.

AG, Toronto

[Bill]

If pimp-tastic = fantastic, then does pimp = fan? I mean I was a semi fan before but now...

[TL]

Sorry to hear about your thumb, Doug.
Not your typing hand, I hope!

Blogger's note: An excuse for typos :)

[JGPR]

Well said about Ed Davis - I've been pushing for him all year on here.

DO NOT like the Gasol trade at all....Here is a trade I would love to see:

A. Bargnani - PF/Calderon - PG: to the Lakers

P.Gasol - PF: to Minnesota plus Lakers 1st

N. Pekovic - C/D. Williams - SF/JJ. Bera - PG/Jody Meeks - SG: To Toronto plus one of the two Minnesota 1st picks.

-Khan has wanted Gasol a long time, rumors suggests he is still interested.
-D. Williams is playing behind Kirelinko and at 6'8 could be our SF. in just 19.0 minutes of play this year he is averaging 9pts/5.2 reebs/1 block and 40% FG / 70% FT. He needs time to play 28+ minutes per night.
-JJ Bera is a great number two PG, Meeks has some game.
Pekovic is beast averaging 14/7.4 so far this year, with this year and a qualifying year left on his contract. He'll be here long enough to groom Valencunius.
-Raptor take back reasonable-movable (if needed) contracts no longer then 3 years.
Line up:
PF - E. Davis/Johnson
C - N. Pekovic/Val
SF - D. Wiliams/L. Fields/Anderson
SG - D. DeRozan/J. Meeks/L. Klieza
PG - K. Lowry/JJ Bera

Now this a trade that benefits the Raptors - way better then the rumored (at the end of his career) knee injured PF in Gasol.

[sam]

@ Andrew Gregg...perhaps part of Andrea's inconsistency is that he isn't the focal point. Lowry moves fast, sometimes with out the benefit of peripheral vision. Meaning he's a shoot first - get out of my way guy. It appears last season when he had success he was the focus and was in the paint just as much as he was on the 3 point line.

[Mike D.]

Doug, you should know better by now......a blog post praising Ed Davis' potential will trigger an immediate influx of comments recommending a trade of Amir. Or Andrea. Or both.

And with respect to the thumb, I believe it's more or less customary in Raptor-land to limp off the court, spend the rest of the game on the bench with a towel over your head, and spend the next few games on the IR.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

Here's a picture of Vince Carter with a hurt thumb:

http://www.lionsdenu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/carter_vince-layed-out.jpg

Hope yours wasn't that painful.

AG, Toronto

Blogger's note: I'm totally tougher than he is