Making do, working out and, yes, more Rudy Gay!

That was kind of a fun game until it became a bit boring in the last 11 minutes, wasn’t it?

I could get to like watching that Golden State team a lot.

The Raptors? Well, as we mentioned in the game, they looked like they it some collective wall there with about 10 minutes left and hit it hard.

Anyway, as they say …

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THREE POINTERS

A move out of necessity

There’s lots to like about John Lucas III, he’s a good kid, quite personable, fun to watch and can make a bunch of shots in a row every now and then.

But I’m not sure how much Dwane likes using him as a point guard; the coach sees Lucas as more of a scoring guard who doesn’t have the greatest grasp on getting his team into its offence.

And that’s why we saw what we saw on a bunch of times in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter: Alan Anderson trying to facilitate the offence while Lucas played a bit off the ball.

It’s certainly not an optimum deployment of the players but something they just had to do to try and get things going again.

It didn’t work but it was the only option they had.

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An odd scene

Not game-specific but a thing unfolds about 2 1-2 hours before the game these days that’s kind of interesting. And might provide a bit of hint about the timeline on a Jonas Valanciunas return.

He’s out there with assistant coach Eric Hughes and a couple of ballboys going through a drill that encompasses a lot of things. There’s a chair, Hughes puts a ball on the chair, Valanciunas takes a couple of steps, bends down to get the ball and takes about a 15-foot shot. He does it five times at each of the five “shooting stations” around the paint and then runs the stairs to the top of the lower bowl in the arena.

It’s a three-pronged drill, Hughes told me. They run the stairs – and shoot two free throws after each jog – to do some cardio work, which makes entire sense.

The chair serves two purposes:

By forcing him to reach down on the run to get each ball, it gives him a consistent shooting motion of bringing the ball up in one flow and – this is more precautionary than anything – they don’t want to pass him the ball to make sure nothing untoward happens to his finger with some awkward catch.

Not a big deal and nothing anyone sees but maybe that answers some questions about what he’s doing to get healthier.

-

Impressive total

Lost amid the result and the bad ending – and in the shock of Aaron Gray’s career scoring night – were DeMar DeRozan’s career-best nine assists.

It’s an aspect of his game – recognizing the different defence he sees and moving the ball quickly – that needed some work and he seems to be getting it.

He had back-to-back seven assist games down in Florida last week and now nine against Golden State and if he’s making that kind of contribution, it can’t be a bad thing at all and speaks to his overall development, as Dwane said after the game.

“When he comes off pin-downs, he’s got a big guy coming at him also. He’s getting basically double-teamed on a pindown so he’s doing a good job. What we have to do on the weak side is make those shots if he kicks it out.”

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A bit more? Why not.

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In this era of institutionalized security paranoia (a termed first coined by My Man Sheridan back in the early 2000s when we were considering investing in a firm that makes those wands), I believe I have now seen it all.

Did you know that patrons entering the Air Canada Centre must remove their hats before going in the door?

Not sure if they’re checking for bad hair-dos or teeny tiny pipe bombs or trying to catch the silly men who carry their concealed weapons precariously balanced on their heads but doesn’t it strike you as a bit much?

But it works, I guess. No one’s snuck any contraband into the arena by hiding in the coiffures. Way to go! I feel safer already.

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You know I prefer my music of a certain age but someone should have told me about these folks before.

Heard ‘em last night and unlike the incessant bass and drum noise and indecipherable lyrics or wildly inappropriate sexual innuendo in videos, this is stuff I could actually pay a bit of attention.

And the name Of Monsters and Men kind of sticks, no?

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Which Toronto centre wearing No. 34 had the best game: Aaron Gray last night or Hakeem Olajuwon at any point in is Toronto tenure.

Discuss.

(I’m joking. A bit)

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Delta Airlines today to Atlanta; wonder what it’s like. Don’t think I’ve been on it more than once this season and it’s always an adventure trying something new.

It also goes out of Terminal 3 at Pearson which I would suggest is one of the weakest international departure areas at any airport anywhere in the world.

Tiny Customs hall, oddly laid out security area and a shocking lack of services (ie NO STARBUCKS) once you clear the x-ray machines.

Hate Pearson.

-

I guess I’ve got to do this, although it’s definitely not going to become a habit.

Nothing new – at all – to the reports yesterday about discussions with Memphis about Rudy Gay, we’ve been writing they’ve had interest for, well, longer than I care to admit and, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, it continues to look – right now – less and less likely something gets done.

That could change, of course, but the price has always been too high, continues to be too high my spies tell me, and yesterday’s report was just a continuation of chatter that’s been around seemingly forever.

Stand down, folks.

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Comments

[JHK]

Let's say you have to do the Gay trade with either of Jose + Bargnani or Lowry + Ed Davis.
Which one do you go with?

Blogger's note: Sorry, don't play those games.

[larry lukeeborg]

you hate pearson, doug? you should take a trip to havana...i think it might change your perspective on pearson! :)

[Mike D.]

What a night - Aaron Gray puts up a double-double, and Andrew Bogut returns and looks like he's going to puke (check the game highlights, in which Jack and Leo actually commented on it). Bulky, out-of-shape white guys all over the GTA are rejoicing because we finally feel a connection with the game.

[Wilber]

@Mike D.: ding ding ding.

[Colin K]

Thanks for the trade rumour update Doug. I have been nervous thinking that BC would pull the trigger on that trade. Jose and Davis is just way too much given the importance of Jose to this team and the emergence of Davis. You can't address 1 position by gutting 2 positions. 1 step forward 2 steps back.

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

Any of these things on your Super Bowl Sunday menu?

http://www.thedailymeal.com/super-bowl-xlvii-official-menu

Blogger's note: Hmm, you never know. But with a 2 p.m. Raptors start, not a lot of Super Bowl plans

[Kevin Murray]

The hat check really took a lot of time entering the arena on Saturday night. A few thousand cadets and soldiers in uniform were all checked. Funny way of saying thank you.

[Jerry]

Have you ever flown out of Vancouver to Seattle or another short flight to the west coast... abysmal lack of services, especially after a long flight from the east.

[Derek]

Morning Doug,
The only surprise to me with the latest Gay rumors is that this is the first time I'm hearing Ed Davis as one of the candidates in the trade. Previously I've heard Calderon, Lowry, Bargnani, Kleiza and even DeRozan - all of which makes sense with the right package/price coming back the other way. I'm hoping its just "talk", as I'd hate to see the Raps trade Davis - he's been one of the few bright spots this year, and a player for whom we don't yet know how high his ceiling could be. Have you heard from any of your reliable spies/sources that Davis might be someone they'd consider moving?

Blogger's note: Nope

[Geoff Read]

Of Monsters and Men is great. You'd enjoy their album - it's kind of Arcade Fire meets Icelandic folk music. I hate to admit this but I first heard them this summer on a "dads and their kids" camping trip I take with friends every summer. There were some teenagers at the next campsite who were playing the album and instead of being the cranky middle-aged guy who complained about those damn kids and their music I listened and quite liked it. They were on CBC Radio's Q program not too long ago and sounded great live as well.

LL - I've never been to Havana (I hope to go next December) but for a city that aspires to be "world class" (whatever that means) Pearson is an embarrassment. I'll give you one example. It's the only major airport I've ever been in (and I've traveled a lot) that has nowhere to take kids whatsoever. Nothing. No play room, zip. Parents suffer, kids suffer, and therefore other passengers suffer when the kids get bored and start annoying the bejesus out of all and sundry. I mean the Thunder Bay airport has a kids area for crying out loud. I'll show my political leanings and blame the disaster that is Pearson on the fact it was built privately with the bottom line the main concern: some things government should do.

[Sharkey]

Yeah, you know the guy in front of me entering the ACC last night had to take his hat off, and my dad and I both looked at each other and started laughing. We said the same thing, what is he going to hide under his hat? He's not throwing a spitball or anything. What a world we live in.

[DaveB]

My comments on the game are very simple; timeouts not called early enough and then wasted when the game was over. . DeMar fading on shots, whining about not getting the call and then slow getting back on defense. I think Casey should have replaced him with Anderson to finish the game. It would be a better line-up and would send DeRozan a message. He was given a stqrting job early in his career and is still used to finish games when his play doesn't justify it.

Surprisingly I haven't been called to take over the coaching job.

[LeeZ]

@Mike D.: DING DING DING!

[Felix G.]

Doug, do you think Aaron Gray could consistently put up those numbers? How can you explain his career night against a good Bogut?

Blogger's note: No. And I can't

[Andrew21]

Hey guys, perhaps a comment re. Rudy from an actual Grizzlies fan would be interesting. First of all, we're not taking on Lowry or Derozan. Lowry had a famous falling out with Hollins a few years ago which is why the team traded him instead of Conley. Derozan is just a bad fit; he's actually quite similar to Rudy (which is why I don't understand the Raptors' interest in the first place). If a deal is done, it would be Calderon, with Davis probably going to a third team (Phoenix?) so that Memphis can add a shooter to take Rudy's place (Dudley would be the obvious choice). Of course, if Ross could take Davis' place in that trade we wouldn't need a third team, but I don't think even Colangelo would make a trade like that.

I would like to warn everyone about Rudy though: he's an extremely mediocre player who has driven me crazy these last 2 seasons. After getting hurt in the 2010 season, right when he was playing the best ball of his career, he's just really regressed. He's a subpar defender, who still gets lost on def. rotations and doesn't bother closing out on shooters, which killed us last Sunday against the Hornets and Ryan Anderson for example. Offensively, he's a bit of a black hole. He can't pass, like, at all. Essentially, right now, he's a perfectly league average player who gets confused by many as a borderline All-star. The reason why is also apparent: he's long, athletic and his shot is a thing of beauty, though not very effective this year. A clear case of style over substance. I have soured so much on him this year (and this month in particular, he's been beyond horrible) that I just want him gone; not even caring if we get anything useful back for him. Confider yourselves warned.

[Lorie]

@Mike D.: Would seem you've hit some nerves. Or maybe muscles. Though it sounds like they're more the proverbial Molson kind. :) And perhaps you've hit upon an ingenious marketing idea for MLSE. Anyway, saw this and thought it might also hit a nerve. More cerebrally located. For anyone who's not really sure when to use words such as 'there', 'their' and 'they're', the attached might help right some spelling-grammar wrongs. It's kind of fun. And you've got to love a teaching aid that includes the mention of malt-swilling pandas, hemorrhoids and alien-hosting cows. http://theoatmeal.com/comics/misspelling

[Alan]

Doug, please check out "Little Talks" by Of Monsters and Men. Hopefully someone has already introduced you to Mumford & Sons (try "The Cave"). A few weeks ago, my 11 year old had to remove his toque at ACC security while I had to throw out the half bottle of water that he was carrying. By the way, the Jays let patrons bring their own food and drink (500 ml water bottles were okay) to the games last year.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

Here is today's ESPN "story," which no doubt you've seen:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8891818/rudy-gay-subject-active-trade-discussions-toronto-raptors-memphis-grizzlies-sources

The headline was "Raptors Covet Rudy Gay," which leads to Marc Stein explaining that there is nothing really to this story other than murmurs and innuendo. Stein has heard that the Raps are offering Calderon and Davis, but that was the same rumour circulating two weeks ago.

To me this would be a good teaching example of where modern sports journalism is today. There is nothing to this story at all. Sources aren't credited, research isn't done and to my journalistic eyes and ears no editorial staff did any work at all in vetting what Stein has to say. It's rumour to Twitter to broadcast to message boards and it keeps the ESPN name churning throughout the daily news cycle, only because the trade deadline is mere weeks away and something has to feed the 24-hour beast.

When I was in J-school (bashing out greens on a manual Olympia) I would've gotten an F for this type of "reporting." I can see and appreciate why you like to stay away from this stuff. And to be clear, I'm not just bashing Stein here--I read his stuff and I quite enjoy his sports coverage. But when it veers off into gossip disguised as informed commentary, I long for the days when an editor would call him onto the carpet and tell him to do his job right.

AG, Toronto

[Gerry Tanner]

@mike d - seems TO and Halifax have more in common then might have been thought.

[D]

Doug - not sure you saw the article today on how ARod may have been caught using PED's again (shaking my head...). I just wonder how NBA players never get caught. Do they just not use? I know they got Rashard Lewis a few years ago, but that's all I can think of. I've seen some players explode during the years going from skinny to massive over an off season (a few I can think of - Kendrick Perkins, LeBron James, Dwight Howard). I just find it hard to beleive that 'power' players in the NBA have never experimented with this. Is it just better regulation/more intense testing in the NBA compared to MLB and Biking Circuits?

Blogger's note: Testing could be better but just don't think it's a big problem

[DaveB]

@ Lorie - I have to admit I struggle with its and it's because 's usually means possession. It is weird that weird is spelled (or spelt) that way because it is "i before e except after c".

Another one that is often misused is "of" instead of "have". Maybe I shouldn't of brought that one up.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Can anyone explain for me why the Raps would even be interested in bringing Rudy Gay to T.O. at this time – no matter what/who goes elsewhere? I can't see it. At all.
If only we were seven-foot bulky out-of-shape white guys... thare's/they'res/theirs/there's the difference between feeling a connection and winning the lottery. I always liked to flatter myself by saying my fingers were a quarter-inch short of the NBA. Truth is, Gray and Bogut aren't just extra large, they have talent by the bushel. I could just see Yogi Stewart, Jake Voskuhl, Mengke Bateer, Loren Woods, Sharone Wright, Robert Archibald, Nate Huffman, Patrick O'Bryant, all watching last night's game and thinking, "Man, I could've had a night like that..."
Cheers. Go Raps!

[Kerry O]

Hey Doug! I flew into Atlanta last week on the same route (and will be at the game tomorrow!). Delta SUCKS. on TVs, cramped and little in the way of terminal goodness, as you mentioned.

See you at Philips!

[sam]

Is it me or is Rudy Gay the flavour of the month?
There have been other names in the past...Wilson Chandler rings a bell.
Niether seem to be much of an upgrade over what the Raps already have.....

[Mike kovacs]

Was at the game so didn't see the IGBT but is that the first time you have ever seen 2 NBA teams using a zone defence at the same time? Would you agree that DC waited too long to bring Jose back in the 4th? The game was done by then. Finally, they make you take your hat off but don't care what is under your jacket!

Blogger's note: Not sure it was too long, might have been 90 seconds but a gamble is a gamble