It's ugly now but in the end, it's just another victory

Well, this might be a first. It’s not that I slept through the alarm as much as it is I forgot to set it in the first place so we’re way tardy here.

Sorry.

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There had to be times during that one on Friday night that you considered gouging your eyes out, wasn’t there? Sue felt like it courtside.

But it’ll look like a smooth, pretty victory in the history books, won’t it? Guess that’s all that matters.

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THREE POINTERS

Do wrong, make it right

As the game story indicates, the Raptors botched just about every significant offensive possession in the last four or five minutes – and one key defensive one.

And while I was watching them try their best to post up Alan Anderson against JJ Redick, I kind of figured that might not have been the best offensive plan. Seems it wasn’t, as Dwane told us after the game.

“We didn’t want to do that. Again, that was not executing down the stretch. We said let’s stay away from that; we wanted to use clock, space the floor, make them chase us, get to the free throw line.

“I had just told Jose to go do that and again, between the timeout and the court, there was a lost in translatlon moment.”

Those “lost in translation” moments (Anyone figure out what Bill Murray whispered to Scarlett Johansson?) happen and teams that have things going their way seem to overcome them.

Maybe those basketball Gods who’d looked down so much on the HOTH early in the season were evening things up.

No, the Raptors didn’t “think” the game all that well at the end but they still made enough plays to win. They were worn down mentally and beaten up physically and mistakes are going to happen in those circumstances.

Teams playing well tend to get away with them.

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Staying aggressive

Give DeMar DeRozan a little credit.

He was awful most of the night but he didn’t get discouraged and hang his head. He kept working.

And the fact he shot five of his seven free throws in the final quarter shows that. Aaron Afflalo was in his grill all night, giving him no space to operate and DeRozan – who has a tendency to shrink in those situations – didn’t.

The seven free throws he shot marked just the third time this month he’d been to the line that many times in a game.

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Get used to small

We don’t know what’s up with Jonas Valanciunas – and it wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t find out until Christmas night since everyone’s scattering for the holidays – so it’s going to be time for a lot of small.

Yes, Dwane did invoke the names Aaron Gray and even Quincy Acy as possible fill-ins but the small lineup has worked well enough that I imagine he stays with it an awful lot.

What I’d do if I was him – and if you’re reading this, DC, feel free to borrow and credit – would be to start Gray and let him play about six minutes at the start of the game and the start of the third quarter and then get into your regular rotation with Amir the first guy off the bench and then maybe Kleiza for Davis a minute or so into the second quarter.

That’s the least disruptive and lets everything flow as close to normal as possible.

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The rest? Quickly, sure.

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You knew I was going to get to this, didn’t you?

Best. Carol. Ever.

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Couple of stories to write, some major Christmas cleaning to do, a quick trip to Niagara Falls to make, some mail to do and the day’s getting pretty full.

Guess the mall will have to wait. They won’t be too busy tomorrow, will they?

Speaking of mail, I’ve got more than you can imagine but there’s always room for more.

You know the drill.

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Okay, if the two “must-see” movies at this time of year are It’s A Wonderful Life and White Christmas (and I will not entertain any discussion that suggests those are not the two best Christmas movies of all time) what else have you got?

There’s been a lot of chatter among my circle of friends that Elf needs to be in there (The First Lady Of The Beat was pretty adamant about it last night) and there are those with a darker bent on the holidays who gave me Bad Santa.

How about you?

Where does what rank?

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I refuse to think the NCAA is being at all magnanimous in reducing the suspension of Myck Kabongo from a reported season to just 23 games.

I still say it’s an arbitrary evil organization that pays lip service to education while making billions of dollars off the backs of these kids.

And perhaps if the poobahs dragged themselves in the 1990s with respect to what kids need and can get and should have, these situations wouldn’t arise.

But they do, the NCAA’s somewhat selective enforcement works in wondrous ways but at least Kabongo can play a little bit in what could very well be his draft year.

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It was 10 years ago today that Joe Strummer passed away.

Tough not to think of London Calling, isn’t it?

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Comments

[Richie]

Miracle on 34th Street is a nice enough movie, too, but while not a movie per se, the Charlie Brown Christmas Special is a classic as well. I'm not the holiest guy on earth but when Linus stands out there and quotes scripture about the true meaning of Christmas and why it's celebrated at all, I get a lump in my throat every year.

[Matt M]

Metacarpals are in the hand (named for carpal bones in the wrist), Metatarsals are in the feet (named for tarsal bones in the ankle).

[doug]

Christmas Story hands down and Lampoons Christmas Vacation...last night there were 2 key plays made in that game, all by one person, one on our defensive end he dove out of bounds saved the ball and Lucas went down off a pass from to Kleiza to score a 3, then soon after on a in-bounds play which I believe DD missed on the initial shot, Amir went up between two Magic players and secured the offensive rebound....people talk about Anderson being the glue guy or Jose this and that, but Amir is the key guy for the Raps night after night doing things that barely get noticed plus he has grown as a player in that foul issues have been greatly minimized.....he's been nothing short of spectacular lately, ok cheers and happy travels...

[Mike Gillespie]

Those who love the Little Drummer Boy video above should really watch this spoof of it from the show Funny or Die. I love it almost as much as the original.

http://youtu.be/hd6PS179yC4

[Stavros]

How did the Raps know that all I wanted for Christmas was a five game winning streak?

Anyway... you asked so here's my Christmas movie list:

1. It's a Wonderful Life
2. A Christmas Carol (Alastair Sim version)
3. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
4. Home Alone
5. Scrooged

Honorable Mention:
Elf, Bad Santa, Sound of Music (My Wife insists it belongs on the list)

Not trying to ruffle ornaments, but I've tried to watch White Christmas; I just can't get through it. I think it's a great Christmas song!

Merry Christmas to you and the family!! All the Best in the New Year!!

[Dean]

I just watched "lost in translation" 3 times last week while on vacation - love that movie. Anyways, love the way they are playing now and more importantly getting rewarded with some wins. The biggest change that impresses me is aside from the Detroit game it is the defensive rebounding and lack of second chance points allowed. This has drove me crazy for so many years with this team after they get a stop they allow a second and third opportunity - I love to see them coming together as a team with great team defense.

[Mike D.]

Christmas Story is my unequivocal #1 ("But the bell rang!"), followed by the Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol.

I think the Christmas present for Dwane Casey this year is Terrence Ross - he's looking better and better, and I'm just as impressed with his tight man D as I am with the Flight 31 highlights. When he threw down that putback dunk last night the radio commentators on the FAN bellowed so loud it that I think people could hear it outside my car.

[O.J.]

I always catch the end of it's a wonderful life....I guess it's time I sat down and watched the entire film!

It's great seeing Jose play great these last few games. However, I would have to imagine that it would be difficult to trade Bargs straight up unless you include Jose seeing as many playoff teams would want a low maintenance backup up pg (or for the Lakers right now, a starting pg) and would be interested in Jose especially come the trade deadline.

The question I ask myself is unless we get a star in the draft, which may be unlikely with the Raps improved play, how can this team get better? Yes, the team will grow through its core of JV, DD, TR and KL which shouldn't be touched unless an amazing deal comes along but does what Jose get us on the market outweigh what he brings to this team? I guess we'll have to wait and see (and I would prefer if BC weren't the one making this decision) but I would have to think that you would have to shop Jose because of his expiring contract (we don't want to be left with nothing again) and the fact that packaged with Bargs they could fetch us that wing or even more importantly, scoring and defensive inside presence that would take us to the next level. I also think that Lowry's play will improve once he returns and gets a few more games under his belt and when Bargs is traded as that will open up the perimeter as well as allow for more fast breaks due to better rebounding and better post play which allows for more assists.

[bob]

The line in Lost In Translation is intentionally inaudible, i assume it was meant for the viewer to fill in their own blanks, and only the director and the 2 actors really know what the line was. But numerous sources have claimed it's some variation of "go tell that man the truth", i guess meaning Charlotte should tell her husband she's not in love or something like that. Although there is also a youtube video made with digitally enhanced audio that apparently shows the line as "even though i have to be leaving, i won't let it come between us, ok".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MV7Sym8bIQ&eurl=http://davenetics.com/2007/12/final-scene-of-lost-in-translation/

[bob]

Hey Doug, since you seem like a fan of Classic Rock, here's a great Christmas song for you: Thin Lizzy + Sex Pistols = Yuletide Awesomeness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW9fdDDMygg

[J]

For those with a refined taste, two hardly mentioned best non-traditional christmas movies are Die Hard and Gremlins!

[james]

Continuing a theme explored by Mike D., my Xmas wish for Bryan Colangelo and the entire Raptors administration is to luck into a star, and maybe they have in Ross. I think they deserve it. I know they have the right coach to develop that talent.
Compliments of the season to you and yours, Mr. Blogger, especially the injured boy. The amount of work you put into this endeavor is greatly appreciated on this end.

Blogger's note: Thanks very much

[doug]

today did some last minute xmas shopping....picked up the Celebration day blu-ray set for my brothers (they don't follow b-ball so this is safe) by Led Zeppelin...well I decided why not and picked one up for myself, I must say as I am sitting here listening to it it is one of the best live concert's ever recorded, talk about being on your game and aging well, just listen to Kashmir /Whole Lotta Love back to back as they are on this compilation and you'll be blown away....they are the definitive rock and roll band and Robert Plant the definitive lead-man....I suggest true rock music fans listen to this....best 2 hours of music you'll listen to....cheers...

[raptorsfan]

As I said before when they're losing badly that Casey is one of the reason why they're losing but he's also one of the reason why they've this streak. Maybe don't trade anyone for now and wait til everyone to be health again to see what he can do to this team.

I got to say T Ross should be a pretty good pretty and properly better than DD as his overall skills are better than DD's first year. He can shoot, dribble the ball, highlight dunks and most important defense, stay in front of his guy which something DD is still having trouble. Ross's defense is actually better than DD now. Many times guys just blow by DD so easily if you really watch it carefully. DD got to improve his defensive game.

[Colin W]

Merry Christmas Doug and to Super Family as well. A five game winning streak and a team playing well, despite some brain cramps, is about as much as Raptor's fans could ask for. Six against SA will be tough but we stayed with them when we last played so who knows.

Two quick question: I do not know much about Quincy Acy but he seems to be a decent player and a good team guy who is usually cheering his mates on from the sidelines and bumping chests during time-outs. What does he bring to the team? Does he have to skill set to play meaningful minutes in meaningful games?

Blogger's note: Today? No. And thanks

[Matt M]

Dear Doug,

Sheridan proposed a trade of Demarcus Cousins for Jonas Valanciunas, citing the Raptors are desperate for a trade and JV is at least three years away from being a legitimate center. Feel free to use at least one sentence to bash the stupidity of this idea in your blog.

Thank you.