It payback something that exists for athletes?

 

I’ve often wondered whether NBA players have any sense of “payback” in them, whether things that happened in the past had any bearing on what will happen in the future.

I’ve always leaned toward no, actually; there are so many games and so many opponents and circumstances with teams change so quickly, I figure players play a game, move on to the next one and not worry about what occurred in the past.

Guess we’ll find out a little bit about that tonight here.

Having been around this franchise for a very long time – longer than I can care to admit sometimes – I cannot remember too many more gloomy nights than the post-game period last month in Portland.

It was, as you recall, the end of a horrid five-game road trip, the HOTH were absolutely drilled in Portland, both Kyle Lowry and Andrea Bargnani got hurt and Amir Johnson rifled his mouthguard at an official. They were 4-19 and as we stood in the hallway outside the locker room, the look of anger/dejection/confusion on Bryan Colangelo’s face was like I’ve never seen before; one of his Henchman stood almost paralysed against the wall down the hall and Dwane looked like he’d been hit by a truck.

The players? They were speechless. One of the few other nights I can equate it to was early in the 17-game losing streak in the 16-66 season when I walked into some locker room post-game, caught the eye of Damon Stoudemire and both of us just shrugged – he had nothing to say and I really had nothing to ask.

That night in Portland was almost as dark. And Dwane knew it:

"That was probably our lowest moment of the season and a turning point. We kind of found our mojo after that and decided that we were tired of getting our butts kicked.”

So tonight the kids get the Blazers again and while Portland didn’t do anything like run up the score or anything that night, I wonder if the taste of that evening lingers.

I’m of the mind that pro athletes shouldn’t need any extra motivation to play hard but that might be a little Pollyanna-ish and it’ll be interesting to see if these guys come out with a little extra “oomph” tonight just to say: Hey, that’s not who were, this is who we are.

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Someone pointed out that it’s Wednesday, for goodness sake.

How did that happen?

I’ve been so screwed up with the days of the week over the holidays, I had no real idea what day it was.

You guys all back to work now? Or off until Monday?

Anyway, need to figure out a mail schedule and while I have three or four left from late last week, we can start the process now.

You know the drill.

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Saw this last week and forgot to use it, an Alert Irregular also passed it on and if this isn’t the greatest Kiss Cam moment in the history of Kiss Cam, I don’t know what is.

Check out this dude.

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How I missed this over the runup to New Year’s is beyond me.

Any time you can listen to Van Morrison, you should.

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Hey, remember the time when Jan. 2 would arrive and the American college football bowl season would be over?

Was talking to a friend about it yesterday, how there used to just be the big four – one, I believe, on New Year’s Eve and the others on New Year’s Day – and even a non-fan like me would at least pay closer attention.

Well, like everything, it seems, they’ve ruined it by going so far over the top it’s ridiculous.

Where I’d have an interest in the Orange, Sugar, Cotton and Rose bowls now the mere existence of the others has made me pay no attention whatsoever.

And I will offer this as a test and no looking:

Who won, or who played in, or what the hell are the:

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

R & L Carrier’s New Orleans Bowl

Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman, which is not to be confused with the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

Really.

I’m sure some fans of some teams liked the fact their marginally talented teams got to play in “bowls” but the overkill kills me.

You?

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So the holidays are all over – and we can put away the Merry Christmas and Happy New Year stuff for another year – and what have you all got for the inevitable post-holiday doldrums that set it.

It’s cold and snowy and kinda “blah” these days and will be for the next few weeks, I imagine. It’s dark all the time it seems, there’s not an awful lot to look forward to – not sure anyone’s planning the Family Day celebrations quite yet – and I need some tips on how to deal with this time of year.

Anyone share those feelings? Got a solution?

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Wait!

Here’s something to cheer one of us up a bit.

This schedule.

Sure, six home games is almost too long to be home – Super Wife should be asking when the next trip is by about Friday afternoon so I’m out from under foot – but there are no games out of the Eastern time zone until March, Not Grace Kelly’s doing the back-to-back in Florida later this month so I don’t have a multi-game trip until February’s trip to all-star with a road game in Washington tagged on the end so …

Yeah, things aren’t that bad at all.

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Comments

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

"and I need some tips on how to deal with this team of year." You could walk past the dollar store (not sure which 'version') in the local mall two days after Christmas, and see all of the Valentines stuff they have displayed!

[BBall Barry]

solution for this "team" (time?) of year for me (and my super-wife) is to jump in the new MDX and drive to Sarasota to enjoy the great outdoors opportunities we enjoy daily such as swimming, biking, walking along the ocean shores and in the dog parks,golfing a different course weekly, tennis on the local courts AND playing basketball with the younger guys 3 to 4 times a week at the Y - see you down there one of these years???

[sportschic]

My solution for the winter blahs is to plan a trip to visit my friends in San Francisco.

I can't recall what game it was last year, but I seem to recall thinking that one player, at least, had payback on his mind. Was it a hard foul against someone who took a 3 point shot late in the game to run up the score? I can't recall quite what it was, but it was something that suggested that that player had a memory of a certain game.

[sam]

Back at work, and missed the opportunity to wish Doug and the Irregulars the best for the New Year....
Let's hope the HOTH can continue to grow as a team.....and play some entertaining basketball....

Blogger's note: Happy New Year

[Rob]

Any updates on the progress of JV or Bargs?

Blogger's note: Nope. When there is, we'll write it; no sense asking

[JHK]

Is Bargs even travelling with the team?
Practicing?
It would be pretty awkward knowing that you won't be playing for this team again, yet you travel and hang out with the guys 24/7.
How would other players react?
Very curious.

Blogger's note: Neither of them travelled, which is the norm; neither of them are practicing because they're injured and your about 1,000,000 years ahead of yourself with the "won't be playing for this team again" stuff

[Grant]

Doug - I'm glad that you haven't disappeared behind the torstar paywall yet. In case this does happen I would like to take a moment to tell you that I have truly enjoyed reading your blog since the "Nothing but Net" days - and wish you and your family all the best!

Blogger's note: Thanks

[Tim]

Here's an interesting tidbit. John Hollinger's Playoff Odds calculator has the Raptors at a 48.3% chance of making the playoffs! If you had told me that last month after the Portland game, I never would have believed you.

God bless you, Jose Calderon.

[Mos High]

I hope the Raptors do remember that loss and use it as motivation. The team looks to be bonding nicely at this time. Im sure its even better for the players, coaches and even you media guys who cover the games.

I just hope when Bargnani returns he has had time to reflect and know he has to try harder. He doesnt have the clout to be rushed back into large minutes Im sure Coach Casey knows that.

I dont care for any of that college football stuff at all its non sense to me. I used to watch the important final bowls as well, but now I just dont care.

Side note in NBA wow those Lakers sure dont like right, I wonder how long it will be before they give D Howard some time off he just doesnt seem right. Im sure that back is still acting funny. I wonder how the media is handling it in LA.

Lets Go Raptors!!!!

[Greg]

... Van The Man...

[Hal]

Let's not forget the 'GoDaddy.com' bowl.

[Johnn19]

When and how Andrea Bargnani plays, when he returns to healthy status, is completley up to coach Casey, as it was with Lowry.

[Grant]

@Tim. Also interesting that the Raps are ahead of the Celtics and the Magic on both the Stein and Hollinger Power Rankings.

[GK]

My apologies if you have addressed this in the mailbag or in the comments section, but is there a possibility that we will have to pay to read the blog soon? Don't get me wrong in that I think your blog and writing is worth the $$$, however it would be a shame if your readership declined because of it. Your blog is very interactive which is what makes reading and following it enjoyable. I'd hate to see that reduced because of a reduction of readers!

Blogger's note: At some point in the calendar year 2013 some undetermined pay wall will go up. No one knows when or any of the details so it's not really worth thinking about at the moment

[GM]

I hope the Raps have payback in mind. And wouldn't it be funny if David Jones were officiating tonight, too? Has he done one of their games since?

I'm impressed with their swarming. They go after rebounds hard now, they get out and run, they share the ball. It's fun to watch. If they do that and just happen to lose, so be it. Hope this attitude sticks in 2013.

Blogger's note: We haven't seen David Jones since that night

[Stavros]

Doug, enjoy your approach and perspectives.

I will continue to click onto your blog until I'm forced to pay to read. Nothing personal and this is not a reflection of my opinion of your skill or worth. Simply, I will not pay for internet content. Feel free to pass on to the "Tall Foreheads" at Mother Star.

Cheers and Happy New Year.

[nasko]

LOL, the pay wall comments truly amuse me. Especially the ones that claim to love the blog but refuse to pay a few cents to read it. Cheers

[doug]

have too agree in regards to bowl games and how they have lost their meaning, there was a time when I knew what conferences were represented in those games, now it's a complete and utter sham and totally unwatchable ....plain old greed by NCAA and ESPN destroyed a New years tradition, the same old NCAA that can suspend a kid 23 games and maybe ruining his draft chances all for a little trip, NCAA is a joke, except for Stanford as they maintain their integrity or try too when all around them Rome burns....as for this team of year and doldrums, go visit a cancer ward at sick kids and that'll snap anyone out of their doldrums as we have it pretty good....ok cheers....