This is becoming a rather good story, isn't it?

I don’t think I’ve had an e-mail or a comment with the word “fired” in it for about a week.

Funny, eh?

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THREE POINTERS

Time to bulk up

There is no doubt in my mind that Jonas Valanciunas is going to a fine, fine basketball player and he had moments last night – the first quarter especially – where he showed that.

But he’s also 20 years old, he’s tall but relatively slight and job No. 1 this coming summer will be to hit the weight room and try to get stronger, a lot stronger.

He got pushed around too much by the likes of Greg Monroe last night and it hit home just what he has to do.

I don’t think his game is ever going to be based on finesse so it’s time to find some power and strength for that 7-foot frame.

If he is to become anything of a low post presence – defensively and offensively – he’s got to be able to better hold is ground in the wrestling matches that take place in the paint.

We saw some power against the Pistons, a couple of nice dunks; and we saw some of his speed, finishing on the break and rolling to the rim.

He’s got the disposition to be tougher, no question, and once he gets that, the sky truly is the limit.

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Mr. Fourth Quarter?

Alan Anderson is really turning into the find of the season, isn’t he?

He’s one of those guys who just knows how to play, seldom out of position, a far better shooter than many had anticipating, and the kind of leader teams need.

I think it was on that dreadful trip that I mentioned how he’d make sure to be up in someone’s ear during every timeout and even during play. Now that he’s back on the court, his contribution has increased exponentially.

I’d say he’s being used perfectly, toughness off the bench defensively, a closer who can make shots and plays down the stretch of close games.

He is precisely the kind of unheralded player that just helps a team in so many different ways, it’s hard to quantify his value.

This is how Dwane put it:

“He’s our voice of reason right now, a veteran guy. He’s hungry, the young man’s been to China, Europe, got cut, his back’s been against the wall. That’s why I like him, he’s an underdog and he plays like an underdog, he’s hungry and I think that’s way you have to play in league, like nobody owes you anything. You have to play hungry, you have to play desperate … be the first one to hit.”

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An apt comparison?

It’s awfully early and we have no idea how the season will unfold but you know who Jose Calderon has reminded me of this week?

Antonio Davis.

No, not because he’s strong and tough or anything like that. Because when things were their darkest he simply got determined to turn things around, just like AD did way back in 2002 when he put an injury-ravaged team on his back and led it to 10 wins in the final 12 games and a playoff berth.

I don’t know where this season will ultimately end up but if it gets good, you’re going to look back at this week and marvel at what he did to help turn things around.

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What’s up for the rest of today?

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Hey, notice anything about these three wins at home?

No confetti at the final buzzer!

Good call by whoever made it.

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Mail?

Yes, please. Kind of dry over there, need an entertaining missive or two; figure I’ll be sitting somewhere this afternoon waiting for a friend to celebrate the holidays with he’s been known to be tardy so I’ll need to kill time.

Thanks.

Click. Write. Send.

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Okay, nothing may say Christmas like Twisted Sister.

And nothing really says Christmas like The Ramones.

But nothing really, really says Christmas like The Kinks.

Honest.

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It would appear from this story that it’s going to be tough year – and a devastating penalty – for Toronto’s Myck Kabongo of the University of Texas.

He’s apparently going to be suspended for the entire season for receiving “illegal benefits” during a summer trip to Cleveland to work out.

It’s murky and it gets to the heart of all that’s wrong with the NCAA, in my opinion.

It’s a rather high-handed organization, that seems to be to be quite selective in its investigations and penalties and now it may have taken away the most significant year of Kabongo’s life since he was seen in some circles as a possible first-round NBA draft pick.

I don’t presume to know all the details, just what I read; if an agent – who actually isn’t an agent but a recruiter of some sort – was involved in the paying for a training trip for Kabongo, I wonder what the repercussions are for the agent, or the agency?

Likely nothing and that sucks.

I don’t know what recourse Kabongo has – should he leave school and try to hook up in the D League or Europe, should he stick it out and take his chances on the draft without playing a game for a year? – but this could be a devastating blow.

Again, I don’t know who was right or who was wrong or which rules were contravened, I just know this seems awful harsh to me and I wonder if the NCAA would devote other reasons to other cases that are sure to be out there?

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So the Buffalo Bills centre slags Toronto, the ‘dome, the fact his team has to come up here to play once a year and …

Well, yawn.

Everything he says is right; compared to Ralph Wilson Stadium the Rogers Centre is a mausoleum, no player wants to play a “home” game a long bus ride away from home and there really is no benefit to anyone in uniform to having come to Toronto to play once a year.

But, and this is where the conflict comes in, it’s a business opportunity for ownership and players actually have no say in the matter; nor should they, really.

So even if everything he said on some radio show as true, it’s tough noogies, he’s got to suck it up and play.

Of course, it’d be way easier for people here to at least have marginal interest if the Bills weren’t putting on butt-ugly demonstrations up here and maybe concentrating on that rather than whining might help.

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Okay, the lads are off, gives me most of today to do Nothin’ But Net and I presume I should start thinking about some Christmas shopping, no?

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Comments

[Tim H.]

" I presume I should start thinking about some Christmas shopping, no?"

Really? it's not Christmas Eve yet!

Blogger's note: True. Lots of time left

[GK]

I'm pretty sure the AD run occured earlier than 2005 (2002-2003 maybe??)

Blogger's note: Typo; was 2002

[LeeZ]

What, José Calderon is afraid of the metric system too? I mean, who knew?
As for JV, yes, quite right, he needs to bulk up. But just as important, he needs to work on his lateral quicks and his defensive posture. He is far too erect in his defensive stance. Time and time again, Monroe (and others like him in the past) slither around him because he goes "tall" (knees not bent at all, arms straight up) too soon. He needs to bend those knees so he can stay with his man. Once his man has killed his dribble and used up his arsenal of moves, THEN do your whole rule of verticality bit and get nice and tall and straight. Watch the film: JV is standing still, arms straight up while Monroe simply pivots around him to the hoop.

[David T (Ottawa)]

A bit of light-hearted fun:

Does Jose Calderon, the European, suddenly have an aversion to the metric system?

Did Jose Calderon's biceps suddenly expand to the size of his quads?

Did Jose Calderon and Alan Anderson walk from the stadium back to the hotel late in the last road trip and decide, together, not to let the season go to the toilet?

And please, for Christmas all I want is Jose Calderon to set up 12 feet on the baseline, fake a textbook short jumper and then curl in for a 2-handed (for safety, please) slam.

[Arlene]

How much influence does BC have in who starts at PG, Lowry or Calderon?
Seems to me Calderon has won that spot, at least for now, and Lowry should be coming off the bench, but does Dwayne get to decide?

Blogger's note: As in almost every employment situation, there will be conversation; it will ultimately be Dwane's call

[511]

Watching Valanciunas, I now understand what people-who-know mean when they say it often takes 'bigs' a couple or so years to adapt to the NBA game. I get it. And, while it's probably true that his game is not likely to be BASED on finesse, I think we see - as a part of his emerging overall game - enough finesse to be excited about how good this boy-playing-a-man's-game is going to be in a few years. Easy to suspect - as I do - that JV is going to be great, one day.

What's also easy, is to be loving Alan Anderson. It's more and more apparent that the good stuff he shows is not just a one-off/here-and-there kind of thing. I loved the moment when JV committed a foul (I think) and AA got right up in his ear and Jonas was nodding, acknowledging whatever was being said. (I'd love to know what AA did say there.) An experienced player who's eager to share what he knows in the right ways can be so valuable. AA is looking like that guy.

[Mos High]

First I will start with the Bills player who made comment of Toronto series. Yes, its not good for the team as its kind of like a road game. However this is where it stops, I wonder if he realizes these games help add some money to this team that anytime in next couple of years could loose the team.

Then your team got destroyed by Seahawks and then team has been terrible all year. I think after a loss like that he is best keeping it to himself. I like most of people I know dont want to adopt bills team. I'll watch, but rather Toronto have its own team one day. I stay stop the series, let Buffalo loose its team then see if city of Buffalo agrees with this guy.

[Mos High]

Yes the Raptors win again got to love it. Team effort, timely buckets and nobody was holding there head down. Team rotations have been way way better. Jose what more can I say playing great. Lowry will just have to fall in line, how ever that goes but its a positive problem.

We will still visit the Bargnani situation, I honestly believe that Colangelo will look to move him. As long as Raptors are playing well, I'm sure the sharks will have to back off and offer better deals. Winning helps in many ways for this team. Forget about the stretch 4 offense, didnt work. Interesting to see what will happen. But I cant see Casey allowing Bargnani to come back and hosit up shots with 20sec left in the shot clock, time and time again.

[sam]

The Usual Suspects last night lead the team to victory once again.
It's not hard to see that Alan Anderson and Jose are playing a pretty big part of leading the team over the last 3 or 4 games....
Anderson has been a bit of a revelation to me - and I wonder why until this year he hasn't seen much success in the NBA.... Somebody said it yesterday, perhaps it was you on the Fan, comparing Anderson's effect on the team to what Garbo, and Parker had done.....
Can we make it 5 in a row on Friday....

[hosni]

I expected one of the 3 pointers to be about Amir's defence - based on a comment you made on the in game blog about a play late in the 4th quarter. Care to grace us with an and 1 three pointer?

Blogger's note: No, since I based entire game story on it pretty much

[hosni]

Sorry. My bad. I did not read the gamer! I like the blog better.

Blogger's note: No problem; and many do

[DaveB]

@511, Alan told JV to use his height and not leave his feet so easily. The video is on the Raptors web site.

Stay away from the stores this weekend as it will be nuts. I recommend you do your Christmas shopping Monday morning.

It was a good win last night. However, I thought they struggled a bit more than the previous games. I really hope they don't get comfortable with themselves and can go into the Christmas break with a win.

Wasn't Amir something else last night. He couldn't even walk off the floor when he turned his ankle. He comes back with a couple of minutes left and makes two key plays. Great guy.

Enjoy your day.

[Marcus Rush]

Great to watch these guys play...it's about the name on the front of the jersey. An interesting comment that is starting to come out most nights...."the opposing point guard (insert the name) is looking out of sorts". Leo last night and in other recent games.

[Tim]

Hi Doug,

You know what would be great? If you could routinely link to "Nothin' But Net" from the blog. I hate searching through the sports page to find it, and I often forget to look when you don't mention it. Plus the "More Articles by Doug Smith" link under "Hoops Link" is broken and has been for some time. That makes it tough for Doug Smith fans to navigate around this place.

Thanks!

[ChrisD1]

You know, I realize this wont be popular opinion, but as Doug says, this is an open forum etc. Calderon has had a good stretch of 4 games, but let's not go overboard and think he's the PG of the future. Lowry is so much more of an upgrade than Calderon. Calderon has been the starter for how many years now?? And how well has he done in all of these years. If the the PG position was 'Rock Solid', Colangelo and crew would not be constantly looking to either upgrade or trade him. If anything, Colangelo will be licking his chops, because combined with his good play of late and expiring contract, his trade value couldnt be higher right now. This Lowry fan for one hopes that couldnt come sooner.

Blogger's note: Actually, Jose's been a starter as long as Lowry, has played in as many playoff series in his career and has started more post-season games. So, there's that

[Boko]

ChrisD1, the primary objective in playing the game is to win, and José is on 5 of the 7 winning 5-man floor units that the Raptors currently have. Kyle is on 1. I'd keep José and get a new PG of the future that can make the others on the floor play winning basketball ...

[JT]

Doug, do you think there is either "home team advantage" on scoring stats such as rebounds, assists, etc. or "away team disadvantage"? I've been paying attention to this quite a bit recently and noticed that individual Raptors players get more generous calls for assists and rebounds at home and get shafted on the road for the same stats. There appears to be more "team rebounds" for the Raptors on the road that I think should be individual rebounds and definitely less assists for Jose and co.

Blogger's note: Team rebounds are pretty clear cut; there is a fair amount of subjectivity in assists

[Alan C.]

Boy, Doug, I am finally getting FIRED up about this team and this season. After I FIRED up the woodstove last night, I got to watch as Jose and AA FIRED up those three-pointers to basically win the game. And you're right -- Anderson plays like he's desperate not to get FIRED. Later, I FIRED off some comments because I was just so excited about the Raps team play. The whole team is acting like it doesn't want to get FIRED! And I, too am glad that no confetti got FIRED onto the court at the conclusion of those games. And don't get me started on the Blue Jays -- talk about being FIRED up!!

[Alan C.]

Just in case you were really missing that word... ;-)

[Geoff Read]

I've dumped all over KL several times this year, but I do think he needs a chance to prove that he can learn from his mistakes. But clearly, at present, JC should be the starting PG. You don't mess with success.

Anderson's been great. He's quickly evolving into one of my favourite Raptors. I love guys like him. The poster who compared him to AP in terms of his steadying presence and leadership was bang on.

What I like about JV is his attitude and competitiveness. This gives me faith that he, unlike certain other key players in the organization, will realize his considerable potential.

[511]

@DaveB - ahh, thank you. Cheers.

[john]

@ChrisD1, I get what your saying and as much as I have always, always been a Jose fan and loved his game I think your point has some validity cause I do not think that BC has future plans for him so why not move him now while his value is high.
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But for the sake of all thats good in the world can you please just wait till the trade deadline or even later in the year to start the trade Jose talk so we can win a few games and not give the Thunder a top 10 pick!!! PLEASE!!!

[sean]

I don't think trading Bargnani at the current junction of the NBA season is a good idea. When GMs carry out transactions, they want to get the maximum value that they could yield from the market. Raptors have been playing well recently but their record still hinders their chance of getting into the postseason. With a lopsided losing record, coupled with the recent media comments from Bargnani, Colangelo will not get the maximum value for Bargnani. Raptors should keep Bargnani, keep everyone's mouth shut, and let the current group play their game. Let Casey work his magic.
Doesn't seem like Bargnani will come back anytime soon anyway, so let see how the Raptors do in early 2013. Trading Bargnani right now is equivalent to fire sale, any GM worth their salt would not do this. I understand the frustration from Raptors fan and I have been a diehard fan since the Alvin Robertson and Ed Pickney days, so I fully understand fan's motives on "getting rid of " El Margo. Bargnani could be a useful player when he's "focus" and motivated, every raptors fan saw a glimps of that in the start of the 2011 season. When Andrea comes back in full health, Casey's job is to fit him into the current group, instead of fitting the current group to Bargnani. I think winning does help, thus, this is where Casey needs to come in and earn his pay cheques.

[sean]

With regards to Jose and Lowry. If it ain't broken, don't fix it.
In my opinion, Raptors shoudl ride out Jose right now, irrelevant of whether Lowry is healthy or not, winning sales tickets, not who's starting. Since they are winning and Jose is becoming a captain/leader of this team, status quo.

[Steve]

"I don’t think I’ve had an e-mail or a comment with the word “fired” in it for about a week."

I would imagine you won't see a drop off in the ones with the words "traded" and "Bargnani" in them if these guys keep winning while he is riding the pine.