Change, of some sort, might not be a bad idea now

How’s everyone today?

That good, eh? Cool.

All right, still the crack of dawn here so it’s a new day, new challenges, new fun.

Here you go.

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THREE POINTERS

Change coming?

Just doing some tea leaf reading and no one has suggested this anywhere near the record, on or off, but I don’t think it would be a surprise if you saw Amir Johnson starting and Jonas Valanciunas coming off the bench. Maybe as early as Friday.

Now, please, for the love all that’s good in the world, do not take this as some huge slight at Valanciunas, he is still good and going to very good and he is not personally to blame for what’s going on. And even the harshest critics would admit he’s had a lot of quite good games for a kid 19 games into his career.

But he’s also learning and maybe it’s easier to learn against second unit guys now.

I still think it was right to start him from the beginning to see what he had and to throw him right into the fire; some nights it worked, some nights it didn’t.

But they are at a crucial juncture of the season and I think maybe it wouldn’t be that bad an idea.

It might be tough for Dwane to sell to his bosses but that’s part of the job. It’s not like Valanciunas won’t still get his 25 or 28 minutes or whatever it is, they’ll just come later in the game.

And it’s certainly not a done deal but I think it’s something they should consider.

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But why not the other guy?

Oh, you mean Andrea?

Two reasons:

Whether you like it or not, they need his offence, or at least the threat of it, out there as much as possible.

You may not believe it and, yes, he’s had some dreadful shooting nights, but teams do pay major attention to him, still.

It should have been no surprise to any basketball person that Kyle Lowry benefited greatly from Bargnani’s mere presence on the court late in that Sacramento game.

Dwane even mentioned it when the discussion got around to Ed Davis’s role in the Kings game.

“We needed spacing for Kyle to get to the bucket; Andrea would space the floor for us. Eddie would have been our next option but with (Bargnani’s) three-point shooting, it would space the floor for Kyle to get into the paint because he had it going.”

Tell me that doesn’t make sense. You can’t.

And, if you want your second unit to provide some energy – and all good teams do – I don’t see how Bargnani coming off the bench does that. It doesn’t.

And the next time he goes for 25 or 30, you’ll agree. For a night at least.

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A slashing three?

Michael Pietrus gets the ball on the left wing just after halftme and we all figure a three-pointer’s coming, at best.

Whoah.

Two or three dribbles, he’s in the paint, up in the air and dunking. With some authority.

And someone asks when was the last time we saw that from a Raptors small forward.

Vince?

Might have been. Now, Pietrus isn’t going to do that every time, or even every game, but if he can at least be an attacking threat, it’s got to help, right?

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A tiny bit more before the cab comes to go to the airport to continue this journey.

And the fact we’re only two games into five is a tiring thougt.

But, first. Mail. Please. Give me something fun to read. Thanks.

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So, I’m told by the great Scott Howard-Cooper that, no, we weren’t in the “new” terminal at the airport here and that the luggage in that picture was leftover/forgotten from the old terminal and that there is an even newer one that houses some other airlines.

Don’t think we get to it this trip but I like new airports so hopefully next year.

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Hey, Super Son?

I know you’re reading this because you read it every day, right?

Well, there’s this guy named Dave Brubeck and I don’t imagine you’ve ever heard of him but …

Go tinkle the ivories a wee bit and do some sax practice. Listen to this and I’ll be back Tuesday night to check it out.

Love,

Super Dad.

RIP, Dave Brubeck.

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So me and Quag arrive in Salt Lake City one year on Grey Cup Sunday and like all good Canadians, we’re trying to figure out where to watch the game.

I find us a spot with a lot of TVs, including about eight that hang over a very nice bar. I sit down, ask the person pouring if it’s possible to see a game from Canada, he checks and says, sure.

And then he changes one of the TVs hanging over the bar to the Grey Cup and takes a New England Patriot game off.

A woman wearing a Pats jersey, breaks the land speed record charging up to the bar with malice aforethought and I’m banished to a tiny booth with about a 10-inch screen to watch the game.

Nice of them to do it, though, and it’s made me go back there every time we’ve been in Salt Lake City since.

Just can’t remember the dang name of the joint.

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Oh yeah, one more thing.

Bryan? You’re accountable.

There, that satisfy some of you?

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So Kobe goes over 30,000 points for his career, only the fifth player to do that all time and loads of people are making a huge deal of it.

Yes, it’s a significant accomplishment and good for him but this is one of those fake milestones, I think.

Don’t get me wrong, Kobe is a brilliant player and will go down right near the top of the greatest of all time lists when he’s done, I’m sure.

But these kinds of cross-era milestones leave me wanting a little bit. Kobe plays in the era of three-pointers, and guys like Oscar Robertson didn’t. Kobe plays in an era where hand-checking on the wing and guys in the past could be physically impeded from getting to the basket.

Yes, 30,000 points is tremendous but it’s also a product of the times, too. That can’t be forgotten.

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Comments

[Jeff]

Yes Doug it makes complete sense to keep Bargnani on the floor with Lowry for spacing - it is making such a big impact that the team is consistently losing games so it must be working. No, it does not work, he's not playing well at all, chucking too many shots and they are losing. I can't understand how a player who gives more effort (Davis) and shows something at both ends of the floor gets pulled for a player who doesn't care (Bargnani). This is why the losses pile up. "With Bargnani's 3 point shooting" - how many did he connect on last night?

Doug, is it still too early to "panic" now? When I say panic, I mean to give a reason to the fans to continue to support and care about the team. They are 4-15. Even if they won 11 straight games they would only be.500. The season is about a quarter of the way through, this is what were getting this year with this group. Enough is enough.

Blogger's note: Do what you want; not my job to convince you either way. Sorry. I offer perspective, opinion, insight born of 18 years covering this team. You don't like it? Sorry but that's your choice and I'm sure there are loads of places you can go to to have your own thoughts validated

[AT]

I was totally on the other side of the fence and did not understand why fans were so upset with Andrea.I used to be a used to be a huge supporter of Andrea but after last nights most "winnable" games this season, I think it is time to move him... despite putting putting him out as decoy....he simply has no clue of how to contribute when his shots aren't falling.... its either boom or bust. that is (at least) the second game when he is taking three's when he has been cold all night...he's not one of those guys who you can say... "he hasn't had his short tonight but he can hurt you at anytime..." when he is cold he is freezing cold....when you are 2 for 14 and there is space in front of you, you should probably drive to the hoop instead of shooting and praying. DC would have probably been better off going smaller and putting Ross in the corner as a distraction and give Lowry more space.

still competing for the eight spot in the east????? I don't think so....

[Alain Boudreau]

In regards to Kobe's 30,000, I agree that it always useful to take the era's context into account. Wilt's rebounds came in an era where teams shot way more shots and made a much lower percentage for example. That being said, while this is not the era of the Riley Knicks anymore, It's hardly the fastest or highest scoring era we have ever had. The Late 70's Early 80's (Alex English) were much higher scoring on average, and If you look at the 60's while scoring was on par or lower, the pace was actually much faster. Guys just didn't shoot the ball as well.(Statistically speaking. Actually attention to getting a high percentage look was just lower). So while I think it's fair to consider the era of a player, I don't think Kobe has had it far easier than most. Although he has had it easier than Jordan, to whom everyone will compare him when he passes.

I think we already know who and what Kobe is, and where he eventually finishes on the scoring list is really just a footnote.

[Mike Mathes]

No matter how big the 'threat' of Andrea's offense is, its still needs to offset the 'threat' of his defense. Thats how basketball works. A team needs to outscore its opponent, not just score as many points as they think they can.

When Andrea's jumper isn't falling, he offers nothing more than some theoretical intangible benifit of stretching the floor (which could be just as easily given by putting Ross or Pietrus or Jose at PF). I'll take real life results over failed theories each and every time.

[Michel G]

"And, if you want your second unit to provide some energy – and all good teams do – I don’t see how Bargnani coming off the bench does that. It doesn’t." Then he should be traded. I'm not being reactionary or emotional. But for the first time in seven years, I now believe the negatives he brings to the team outweigh the one benefit he brings to the table, his ability to space the floor. Casey's quote explaining this in the post-game is the last thing I heard yesterday. It was the first time I found myself not believing what he said. Still looking forward to Friday's game. I'll buy my two tall can of Holstein and some snack and the cheer for my Raptors.

[Canadian Paul]

Doug, any news on the reported Bargnani for Gasol trade proposal?

Blogger's note: Nope.

[PK]

While I agree that Andrea's presence does create a shooting threat and clears out space for Lowry, on night's when he is struggling I feel he continues to make poor decisions in continuing to attempt threes and long range jumpers than trying other options like beating him man off the dribble or going to the net.

While everyone has off shooting nights, I feel what distinguishes an allstar from just another regular player is how they adjust in these situations so they can continue to score in other ways.

Andrea missing all those consecutive three's late in the game, ultimately had a pretty significant impact on the final result, something that his mere presence as a "shooting threat" doesn't make up for.

[Ryan]

I'm sure it makes sense in some way, but I would rather have the 2 or 3 the creating true spacing for Lowry. All the other teams in the league have natural PFs, and those teams seem to do well. Considernig the Raptors record, I think that kind of spacing simply isn't working or helping this team win.

Doug I know you'll defend Bargnani until the cows come home, and this is no slight to you or anything, but whether or not it's my head or my heart I'm thinking with, I feel completely demoralized as a Raptor fan, and Bargnani is simply a cloud hanging over his team.

Whatever his positives and whatever his negatives, he needs to be traded for the sake of my health. There's been some really bad years in the Raptors' history, but this year it's been like staring down an abyss as a Raptor fan.

Something needs to happen and either Bargnani is moved, or we get a GM in there that will move Bargnani. I can't take this any longer.

[Paul Anderson]

Hi Doug

I love your blogs and respect your views and opinion. I must say I would rather shake it up by trying Andrea off the bench. Yes Andrea creates spacing but he has not been making shots or wise decisions on offence. He is like we keeping hoping for Andrea to become why he has not shown this year. One of the major concerns has been the Deffence. He plays D only in spurts and does not rebound. Two areas that are killing the Raptors. I believe for at least one or two games we try him off the bench instead of takingout JV. Amir as we have seen thrives more with the second unit

[Ryan]

Just wanted to add:

Bargnani +/- was the lowest last night at -18. I know that plus-minus isn't an end-all be-all stat but it isn't just a coincidence either.

[Steve]

"Doug, any news on the reported Bargnani for Gasol trade proposal?"

The problem with "Bargnani for Gasol" trade proposals from a Raptors point of view is not the Bargnani for Gasol bit, it's who else gets thrown in to get the salaries closer to matching.

[Chaz T]

We're at the quarter way mark, the team is second last overall, they're going to bench their promising rookie so the season doesn't get away from them (you know, NOW it's a critical juncture) - I mean, what's not to be excited for? Doug tells us we all know nothing - let's just trust him and his 'nothing to see here' "reporting", he's been watching this team fail for 18 years, after all.

Blogger's note: Tell me where I said you know nothing? Please, find it. You can't. Thanks for being such a regular reader, I'm flattered. But, frankly, I do know more than you do.

[joe]

you're right doug, teams with two interior bigs that clog up the lane just can't attack the rim. teams like okc, memphis, chicago, brooklyn, indiana, laclips, or denver have no chance... oh wait.

Blogger's note: Nice misrepresentation, give me that talent and, yes, it can work. But thanks for reading

[LeeZ]

"Tell me that doesn’t make sense. You can’t." Well, yes and no. In THEORY, it makes perfect sense. But what I've noticed lately is telling: they're playing off him. They're daring him to hit those threes. Especially in games where he starts off cold. In many of his poorer games (and I think we can all agree there have been MANY), those shots have been WWWWWWWWWIIIIIIIDE open. So they're NOT, after all, keeping a man out on him, which would open up space for Kyle, but rather sagging in to protect the paint. Watching the game last night, I had a sense of impending doom (I'm a Raptor fan, so I come by my sense of impending doom honestly) that Casey would put Bargs back in. At first I thought he'd keep him out the rest of the way when he took him out in the third quarter, especially with E.D. playing so well. But damned if he didn't put him back in. I hurled every expletive I knew (and some that I didn't; I was actually speaking in tongues at one point, such was my anger) at the tv screen. But Bargs actually made two really good plays on defence as soon as he was put in, so I thought, hmm, maybe he's getting the message. But then he proceeded to revert to his normal disinterested self, and that was that. Yes Doug, at one point your comment about it making sense was bang on. But that time has passed, IMHO. I really think he needs to spend extended minutes on the bench for a while. He's an odd duck, as we know, and maybe that type of motivation won't work for him. But it's worth trying.

[Arlene]

Some of Matt Devlin's commentary has me head scratching. Perhaps you can help. Third quarter, 8 minutes left and he says, "It's a 2 possession game." Well, it is more than 2, for sure.
Fourth quarter, 14 seconds left, Kings in possession of the ball, and he says, "It's a 3 possession game". If all the Kings do is dribble out the clock, how is it a 3 possession game in 14 seconds when the Raps don't get the ball back?
I think I know a bit about basketball after 15 years of watching, but Matt gets paid to do what he does...."so there you go!"

Blogger's note: Wish I could

[SHU]

I gave up my season tickets two years ago...

I'm about to give up watching..

If those two statements, and I'm sure I'm not the only one making them, don't get ownership to get rid of Colangelo, I guess nothing will.

[JGPR]

Anybody who wants Gasol is crazy! He has this year and another year at 19+ million, plus two wonky knee's...Hello Jermaine O'Neil - Colangelo isn't that dumb!

Doug,
the theory you speak sounds great, sounds ideal...as fans we have heard it from many people in the Raptors organization preaching the same theory since drafting Bargnani, it is not new. What also is not new, is that the team keeps losing. Not just losing, but how they are losing. As good as a theory it is to have a guy "stretch" the defense, it has to work practically. With Bargnani and this team (no matter who he is playing with), the "Bargnani, stretch theory" continues to fail when put into practice. Don't understand how anyone can defend that, when the results are there.
Get a new guy to stretch the floor if they are insistant on using that one and only way to win - As a fan I could careless if Bargnani scores 34 one night, and 4 the next....what is missing every game is heart, passion, swagger, a desire to win, defense, focus....every single night for the past 6 years. Example, Demar had a less then stellar scoring games lastnight, but picked up 7 rebounds, 4 blocks and some steals, played defense and tried tohelp in other ways. That doesn't happen with Bargnani - so I don't get this "scoring" argument, when it's obvious that everything else is missing in his game.
If other teams respect him so much that they are willing sacrifice defense to cover then what are those teams doing right? because while they are concentrating on Bargs, they are also winning and why can't we copy that?....adapt to that style of play that wins? There are more theory's to winning, then Bargnani "stretching" the defense. This is why its puzzling to watch (Casey/Colangelo) continue to pound this theory, when it's a failure night after night. It's obvious at 4-15 that what ever this team is doing, DOESN"T WORK! Change it!

[Rob]

This team is snakebitten. Last night, the refs actually seemed to give the raps the benefit of close calls as opposed to the opposition. What ended up deciding the game was this.

With 3 minutes to go and a 1 point game, Tyreke Evans, a 27% 3 pt shooter hits both 3 pointers, and Bargnani, a much better 3 pt shooter, misses both his wide open shots. What are the chances of that scenario.....its about 1 in 35 based on the numbers.

Add to that, the Al jefferson buzzer 3 pointer to tie, someone who has only hit ONE other 3 pointer in his 9 year career.

Add to that Ty LAwson 3 pointer in last 2 minutes of Denver game, and All of the raptors misses.....

etc etc......it just seems that in the final 2 monutes of close games the other teams just hit their shots and we miss all the time.

Thats not because we are that bad a team....its just incredible bad BAD luck, to have that happen as often as it has

[Mos High]

Im sure Colangelo or handlers knows about these post and many other posts out there. Yes none of us fans no better then the coach or GM's but with out us buying the team gear, tickets tv packages etcs life isnt the same.

I know Doug and all of the other reporters, TV and Radio guys who see every game know Bargnani is a cloud over this team. I know you cant just trade him for nothing. He has regressed, no signs of getting better.

Im not going to rant, same thing most nights, bad shots after bad shots no defense. Now they are turning coach into a liar, because he truly cant believe team will stay positive.

[Ren]

Bargnani has been failing all year. That is clear.
We can't look at a couple of great shooting nights and keep relying on those.
Consistency is everything - and Bargnani is on a stretch where he has none.
Davis has been showing it.
Amir has been showing it.
Demar has been showing it.
Lowry is now showing it after injury.
Who is not?
Stretching the floor is just not as important at this point. I t really isn't.
And, really at this point, I feel better about Amir "stretching" the floor and Davis playing the post.
At least you feel Amir's shot will go in, and he won't shoot it every time.
I really feel, whether I like it or not, that the game was lost last night because they subbed Bargnani in the end over Davis.

Blogger's note: Davis, Johnson and DeRozan have been showing it? We must be watching wildly different teams.

[sam]

The only good thing about Andrea being the whipping boy of the 2012/2013 HOTH is that the spot light isn't shining brightly on Jose.

There are very few perfect Basketball players and you take the good with the not so good. Andrea isn't perfect - and for some reason this season he hasn't hit the standard he touched on last season before the injuries sidelined him. I'm not certain the anger that is directed towards him by some folks is warranted, but there is concern I think about a competitive streak that seems to ebb and flow with his shot. We don't know what goes on at practices and what Andrea thinks and how he feels. His consistency is the real issue, and if he could recapture the fire he had last season on both sides of the ball he would be better off. It seemed to me he was attacking the basket more last year. However, in the words of Rogers Clemens, I could be misremembering.
The addition of a shoot first PG like Lowry certainly doesn't help -

I didn't make it through the first quarter last night. My Vintage and need for sleep leaves me at a disadvantage for west coast games.....

[JGPR]

I was such a big supporter in Casey and Colangelo, but I'm not anymore. I can't defend failure as good as Doug Smith. I guess if being "right" or "knowing more" on a seriously bad NBA team that consistently loses is something to coax about - well then you can have it! I'd be embarrassed to admit that though.

Pulling Big Val is about the dumbest thing I've heard this year from Casey. His words and actions seem to be far apart-no one has accountablity on this team, no one! I watch the games to see Lowry, DeRozan, Davis, along with Val and Ross growing into NBA players, the rest are garbage. I know we don't have a winning team or a play-off team, but because of those players I see a future in this team and as a basketball fan I see them growing and I see the promise. If I can't have that, then why am I watching.
Casey is troubling for me right now. The team is nowhere near the defensive team they were last year - Bargnani mentions this in a Italian article recently - this team has taken a step back, no accountability, no defense, no team identity. Like or not, Casey's actions mimic what he did when with Minnesota. A promising 1st year, then a debacle in the second year blamed on injuries....fired before the second years ends.

Blogger's note: Find me where Casey said it. If you're going to rip, be at least a bit close to factual, would you?

[Peter]

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8719587/los-angeles-lakers-rebuffing-trade-inquiries-pau-gasol

I know you've addressed this a little bit. But ESPN says that the Raptors have made Bargnani, Calderon, and Kleiza available to the Lakers. Have you been able to confirm or get anyone to deny that those names have been talked about as being available?

Usually, you're the first one to tell us when a rumour is not true. Just thought I'd ask. No worries, if you don't have answers.

Blogger's note: They 4-15 or whatever it is. They've made just about everyone "available" to everybody else. It's what a GM does

[Rob.V]

Change? Preposterous!! The audacity to suggest such a thing.
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Change???. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that day came and went about... oh... 14 days ago!! Glad someone else noticed though.
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Yup, it's too late for that now. But hey, it's never too late to introduce to you my new HBO series which I will be starring in and producing myself of course. We even have a cameo appearance from Charlie Sheen Fly.
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Ladies and gentleman, I present to you:
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The Adventures Of Raptor Fly. Episode #1 - The Glass Window!
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Pomb!...Pomb!...Pomb!
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Irregular Fly - Hey there Raptor fly, what are you up to?
Raptor Fly - Same as every day. Why, I'm going to try to bash my head right through this pane glass window - Pomb!, Pomb!, Pomb!... See all of that beautiful daylight on the other side of this window.
Irregular Fly: Mm hmm.
Raptor Fly: Well, that's where I'm trying to go... Pomb!, Pomb!.
Irregular Fly: Are you...
Charlie Sheen Fly: (Cameo) - Winning!!!.
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Irregular Fly: Charlie Sheen Fly Loco!!! don't mind him. Anyway, how long you been at it?
Raptor Fly: About 19 games now... Pomb, Pomb!
Irregular Fly: Any luck?
Raptor Fly: Nope!... Pomb!, Pomb!
Irregular Fly: Ever think of changing things up?
Raptor Fly: What do you mean?
Irregular Fly: You know, like a new direction?. Shaking things up a little
Raptor Fly: Why?
Irregular Fly: Well, you've been crushing your skull against the same glass window for 19 games... with "NO" results!
Raptor Fly: Yeah, but what's your point obe-e-wan irregular fly?
Irregular Fly: Well, have you noticed that giant open window 3 inches to the left?
Raptor Fly: I sure did!!.
Irregular Fly: ... and?
Raptor Fly: And what?. Look, I'm busy here... can we talk later!.
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... Pomb!, Pomb!, Pomb!
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This has been: The Adventures Of Raptor Fly
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Tune in next week when Raptor Fly battles... The Immovable Spider Web!!.
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Anthomyiidae_sp._1_%28aka%29.jpg/220px-Anthomyiidae_sp._1_%28aka%29.jpg

[Naveed]

Doug, I respectfully disagree with your perspective on Bargnani, and I think that the results speak for themselves. How the Raptors can keep losing games over and over with him failing is beyond me.

And even though I disagree with you very often Doug, I still come and read because it is interesting getting the "embedded" unfiltered management view from you.