Do you folks know how to act these days?

I’m not entirely sure what to do now.

They win, a lot. There’s no angst. Lots of people are happy.

It’s a weird world, isn’t it?

Anyway, sorry I’m late; one of my New Year’s resolutions was to get more rest, waking up at 5 a.m. after a game is counter-productive to that goal. Not to worry, I’ll blow that resolution out of the water inside of a couple of weeks but until then …

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THREE POINTERS

Curly Fields

Okay, so maybe Landry Fields won't turn into some ball handling wizard but he was able to exploit the Blazers a couple of times last night that showed what he was talking about the other day when he said one of the advantages he would have in a small lineup was to take his man off the dribble.

I think the first time was in the first half right in front of the Raptors bench when he easily beat Joel Freeland to the rim and the second time came against the same defender at the other end of the court against the same guy if my chicken scratch note-taking is to be believed.

Now, I don't for a second think Fields is destined to be a power forward the rest of his life -- neither does he or Dwane Casey-- but in short spurts in some matchups it works well.

And if he continues rebounding that well from that spot -- nine in Orlando, seven last night -- it's a bonus.

Imagine that, eight rebounds a night from a guy at the four!

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An expensive career

Was standing in the back hallway of the locker room after the game catching up with some people while the colleagues scribbled and Dwane comes over to join the conversation.

One wag:

“Hey, coach. Quincy’s going to be the first NBA rookie to tell the coach not to play him.”

It’s costing the kid a lot of money to learn what it takes to play in the NBA.

With the technical foul he picked up late last night, he’s now got three for the year and at $2,000 a pop, that’s starting to add up.

And if you want an odd stat, the rookie now has as many technicals as field goals in his career.

Reminds me of another Raptors rookie and weird numbers:

There was a time in his career that Alec Radojevic had more surgeries than made baskets.

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More odd numbers

Yes, that was a very strange statistical game for the lads, wasn’t it?

The two main point guards wind up with 23 assists, two turnovers and zero points in a combined 45 minutes, as odd a stat as I can remember.

But it speaks to what’s really turned things around offensively for this group.

Sharing the ball does seem to work, the 34 assists they had as a team was a new season high, the previous was 33, set last Saturday in Orlando.

I don’t know what’s gotten into them – maybe it’s as simple as everyone’s just having fun playing – but it’s something to see.

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A wee bit more, as usual:

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So I’m driving home – a bit of a white-knuckler with some snow falling – and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird comes on the radio.

Pretty sure we’ve had this discussion before but there might be some new Irregulars who haven’t given it much thought and you know we’re all about though-provoking here, aren’t we?

So, you Of A Certain Vintage:

If you had your choice, how does the high school dance (do they still have high school dances?) end best. With Free Bird, Stairway To Heaven or …

I’m kind of partial to Color My World, actually.

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Still lots of room for mail, folks.

You know the drill, would love to hear from you but I’ll tell you right now, I’ve got more than my fill of Andrea Bargnani questions so we can let that subject go, right?

Thanks.

Click. Write. Send.

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Oh yeah, one more from the stat pack last night, which was as odd a numerical game as I can recall:

Toronto won despite having three members of the starting lineup (Calderon, Pietrus and Gray) not score a single point.

According to the folks at the Elias Sports Bureau and passed on by the good people at Raptors media relations, that’s only the second time that’s happened since boxscores started differentiating the starters from the rest of the team way back in the 1970-71 season.

The other time was Dec. 12, 1994 when Phoenix did it.

Bored of numbers yet?

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Boy, that’s a tough pucks 10 hours, wasn’t it?

No settlement (I believe we should all issue Disclaimer of Interests until they blow the season up or not) and then the teens get their heads handed to them by the dastardly Yankees in the semi (how’d Popeye’s kid look?)

Thank goodness for some that the HOTH are rolling. Puts a little sunshine in everyone’s life.

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So it’s about 8 a.m. here, I look out the front window to banks of snow about two feet high running up and down the driveway, there’s a dusting of the white stuff on the cars and roads and the Super Dog walk was a tad chilly an hour or so ago.

(And she’s not taking to this sleep in plan very well today, thanks for asking).

It’s gloomy and it’s winter and we need something to warm the cockles of our hearts, don’t we?

LESS THAN THREE MONTHS UNTIL OPENING DAY!

Yeah, saw a note to that effect somewhere yesterday: TOD opens April 2 and that’s less than three months.

That’ll get you through some of this snow nonsense, won’t it?

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Comments

[GM]

There's some classic post hoc arguments about Bargnani going on all over the place. Just because one thing happens after another thing doesn't mean the first thing caused the second thing. Remember last year it was opposite? When Bargnani went down, the team sunk. If one didn't cause the other last year, there's no reason to believe his absence caused this current streak. Yes, it'll be interesting to see how he fits in. I'm hopeful he will. It's funny how these negative nellies were saying before Bargnani would do a lot better on a good team, so trade him to one. Well, now the Raptors may not be good completely, but in these last ten games they sure are. I think he'll figure it out because I sense there's a lot more accountability with this group. If someone holds onto the ball, they won't be tolerated. He's smart enough to see that, I bet.

[Rob.V]

I know it's coulda, woulda however the 3-5 games they gave away earlier in the season would have them tied for the 8th seed at the moment.
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Colangelo's (Nostradamus like) prediction-comment about this team resembling the 2007 squad is pretty interesting isn't it. I'm not sure he knew just how right he was going to be with that statement however I will say this.
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These wins are that much sweeter now having gone through arguably the worst November in franchise history. Maybe the injuries and losses were a blessing in disguise for this team.
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2007 may be a close second (and btw doesn't 2007 feel like it was 2 weeks ago?) however in 17 seasons I don't think we've seen anything like what we have witnessed over the first 32 games this year.
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I cannot recall despising, and then really enjoying a team as much as this squad. I have no idea how they have turned it around and I don't care however they are playing the right way (™- Larry Brown).
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Our bench?. I have no statistics off hand to back this up (anyone got any?) however when our bench comes in I get the feeling that the Raptors are about to take control of the game. Lowry, Amir, Anderson, and now an emerging Ross (and fields) and it would appear that we have one of the best benches in the league.
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Here's the thing everyone. Andrea wasn't the "sole" reason the Raptors lost all those games, and him being out is not the sole reason why they are winning.
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And if you're going to make this statement about Andrea couldn't we say the same about Jonas, Fields, Kleiza, or Lowry?
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Doesn't anyone recall the hero ball that was going on with other players? Other than Jose there were about 4 or 5 guys that contributed to the ball sticking.
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Lowry is a different player, as is Ross, as is Landry, as is... as is...
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The losing was a cumulative effort - as is the winning. Both the L's and W's were managed "together".
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To put all of this on Andrea and to say he has "zero" trade value (whether you work fro NBA TV or not) is frankly the most ridiculous thing I have heard all season.

[john]

Last song? For what ever reason this is the one I remember, and they are all still alive!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbtO_Ayjw0M

[ditch]

Was that a "post hoc ergo propter hoc" reference? Yikes. Doug, are commenters complaining yet about too much Latin in your sports blog?

Blogger's note: I thought it was too much Italian :)

[Mike kovacs]

Doug would you be able to resume adding links to reports of opposing teams' grunts? It is always intersting to see the other side. Thanks, Mike

Blogger's note: Am addle minded and forget too often. Another resolution, I guess

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Good posts today. And I'm still wondering where those trolls wander off to...
Well said, @GM and @Rob.V, regarding the timing of Bargs going down and the Raps turning a corner (not the corner, but a corner). As big a factor as any was getting Alan Anderson back in the rotation – that's been as big a difference as any.
Regarding DeRoz learning to bust left, in addition to a lot of dribbling (and maybe even shooting) with his left this summer, I hope he plays some soccer. Best game to help develop balance between weak and strong sides – Stevie Nash as a prime example. Another great game that gets immediate results is handball. You have no choice but to develop your left breaks, footwork and a left stroke – because your opponents are going to keep pounding it back to your left side until you get good enough to keep them honest.
"Color My World", not a bad call at all. Joe Cocker "You Are So Beautiful" rings a bell. But, hey, can't go wrong with a little Percy Sledge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9SosWvGx64
Cheers. Go Raps!

[Johnnyc]

Now I say.... Please Paul.... Don't sing it.... But for the last dance .... Hey Jude....was a good call......

[J]

@GM, Rob V:

Thank you for saving me the time and trouble of explaining causation to some of the folks here. It's always amusing how often people speak up only when the immediate circumstances appear to back their claim, but they never show up to admit being wrong when, for instance, the team played .500 ball with Bargnani last season and tanked during his absence. It's even more amusing when they claim blanket statement accuracy (i.e. we fans were right, etc.) without the accountability to back it up. If we made a chart with every single fan's opinion on all things basketball, I doubt anyone (including myself) could make the claim that they, individually, were right all along, let alone the entire diaspora of Raptors fans. Without that accountability, even a broken clock is right twice a day, and when you have as many broken clocks as there are fans...

@Aamou:

"This is just proof of what WE fans were saying about him all along."

No, the only things the current streak proves are 1) that the hero ball being played earlier in the season does not work for this squad, and 2) that the team as a whole (including Bargnani) played like crap for the first 20-odd games. Both of these observations were apparent even before Bargnani went down. The main difference is the team finally snapped out of it. I'd like to think Jose had some impact on their epiphany.

[Vincent Lam]

I'm catching up on some PTS podcasts and there is an interview with Butch Carter (December 27, 3pm) where your name is dropped by Butch. Elliotte Friedman sits in for Bob. It's worth a listen to if you haven't heard it already.

One of the statements he makes is he believes BC should keep his job. He says we need someone who is committed to the city and organization. He also cites BC's strong ties to the league office and ability to work in a big market as other positives. Very interesting stuff.

[J]

@Doug:

That tidbit about it being the second time since Phoenix did it in 1994 is nice and all, but I'm guessing the Portland game was probably the only time since starters were differentiated that any team had 3 starters AND the sixth man (Lowry) go scoreless and still win, albeit in blowout style as well. A very bizarre statistical game indeed.

[DaveB]

Good selection of music today from you and the irregulars. I am surprised you didn't mention Patti Page today. This song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0t9I3vfNq4 and How Much Is That Dougie In The Window defined her career.

RIP Patti

[truth be told]

"Sam stirring up stuff"

Are you sure it's that or perhaps there is some truth to what he said.

He's often been very complimentary of Andrea in interviews so why would we have reason to believe he is now stirring something up because it might be a negative on the player?

I do remember Sam back then very well and he used to RIDE Jose. If Jose didn't come hard off that pick and roll Sam let him know it. I never saw him tear into Andrea.

I like many other fans have believed for quite some time there may be more to the micro managing GM (yes thats you Colangelo) than meets the eye. The media has been fearful of approaching the subject but it is a valid point of concern. Andrea has been coddled by BC for years and it's done nothing to help his game.

Blogger's note: So, do you believe the complimentary stuff or this? Look, the simple fact in life -- and this goes for widget-makers and professional athletes -- is that every personality is different and some have to handled in different ways. In the first two years they were together as coach and player, didn't Sam and Andrea win 47 games and a division title and then make the playoffs again? Imagine how good they could have been if he'd been "allowed" to coach him

[doug]

instead of enjoying the win(s) a lot of consternation on here about a situation that hasn't even occurred yet and is still a few weeks away from doing so...there are 3 factors not discussed much in Barg's return, one is Casey finally has assumed the reins and is coaching his butt off, earlier in the season he was trying to hard to appease to many even assistants...now it's his team and if anyone thinks that he is going to let Barg's be his disinterested self then your wrong, Casey won't let it happen....also another element in all teams and probably the strongest one is peer pressure, Lowry/Fields/Anderson as was mentioned earlier have been hurt and returned and bought into what was going on, so teammates aren't going to sit idly by and let Barg's be the bad Barg's, they just won't.....and 3rdly and most important is Barg's himself he hears/reads all that is being said, so let's just wait and see , he's surprised before and has pride....so to me all this naysaying is just drawing attention away from the excellent b-ball that is being played....ok cheers..

[Michel G]

The song I mostly remember being played at the end of dances was Stairway to Heaven. There was an April Wine song that was also popular, but for the life of me, I can't remember the name of the song.

Regarding Andrea, whether the shot clock is winding down or it's the last play of the half, having a 7-footer parked at the 3-point line that can shoot is a tremendous asset. If he can be reintegrated and be productive, the Raptors chances of beating the really good teams in the league improve a lot.

[doug]

and P.S. if someone wants to have a article taken seriously they can't do this as Doug can surely attest to it must be journalism 101 stuff...., I read it chuckled and didn't read any further..., it's worse even then someone submitting a resume with spelling errors, it goes straight in the trash...

on Hoops hype this is the headline...

"Sam Mitchell says he wasn't allowed to coach Andrew Bargnani the way he wanted to "

[john]

Hey GM, I think what you saying is "just because there is glass on the highway doesn't mean there was an accident" or something like that....

[AC]

hey... http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199412120PHO.html
any ideas doug?

Blogger's note: No, I don't. Just passing on information I got

[Ewandro]

Hi Doug

I love Hoosiers. But, I always avoiding to make a team building movie session with my 12-13 years old players with Hoosiers because I can not convince myselft it does not glorifies individual game. The idea we cannot win without Jimmy seems too strong. Am I wrong? Any better movie to work team building with my boys?

Cheers

Blogger's note: Can't think of any off the top of my head