Fun game, big finish but at least one troubling sign

So as I said to a felllow with a vested interest in the fortunes of the HOTH last night:

“You guys do make it interesting.”

Fun night, though; even if there were some heart palpitations at the prospect of OT without a word written about 9:15 p.m. and a 10:30 deadline looming.

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THREE POINTERS

Troubling sign

Look, I'm not going to rip Kyle Lowry for not being able to keep Ty Lawson in front of him, Lawson is among the quickest guards in the league with the ball and no one can; Lawson living at the rim is as much on the bigs and wings as anyone.

No, the troubling sign was seeing how hard a time they -- and he -- had dealing with aggressive traps on high screen-roll. I didn't chart every play, the IGBT makes that impossible, but I would bet half a dozen of the turnovers came off screen-roll traps.

And you know that every team in the NBA will see tape of that today -- bet my man Walker D. Russell would be phoning the Knicks before he left the arena -- and now that's something the Raptors really have to work on.

Of course, not every team has the quickness of Denver and not every coach would gamble like George Karl would but it's going to be interesting to see how many teams now aggressively trap Lowry.

And how he handles it.

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Just like they drew it up

It was the possession that ended with the first basket Andrea scored, a jump shot with about a minute left in the first quarter, and it had to bring a smile to Dwane Casey’s face.

I can’t read my scribbling to figure out precisely how it went down but I do know that every Raptor on the court touched the ball on the possession before Bargnani knocked down an 18-foot jump shot; one of the few times in the game the ball moved so swiftly and efficiently without a turnover or a quicker shot.

It might have been Bargnani’s shining moment of night – you could tell he was stll feeling the effects of the flu bug that laid him low for a couple of days but it was still good to see.

Bargnani was basically ineffective most of the night but I’m going to chalk that up primarly to the bug, he looked terrible and was a step behind.

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Gambling can be good

We know from the game story that Dwane was itching to get Rudy Gay back in the game in the fourth quarter when he had to sit him with the five fouls for about five minutes with the game hanging in the balance.

But a gamble of equal proportions came in the third quarter, when he sat him for all but 69 seconds with four fouls.

It’s always a tough call for a coach in that kind of situation, when do you roll the dice and leave the guy in versus sitting him so he’s at least around later in the night.

Personally, I’m kind of adverse to pulling a guy with two quick fouls early – I’d ride out an entire first quarter or at least enough of the first quarter so that they can use a regular rotation – but after haftime, I’m erring on the side of caution and have no problem with the way Dwane handled things.

Gay’s a special case on this team because they so desperately need him late in close games and since it seems every single game they play is close assuring yourself he’ll be around for the final five minutes is of paramount importance.

Now, if they’d blown a lead in either the thrid or the start of the fourth with Rudy on the bench, I can only imagine the howling.

I know hindsight is perfect but I have no issues at all with how the timing was handled last night.

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More? Yeah, I’ve got a bit before I have to deliver Super Son for one last check of the collarbone and shoulder down at the fracture clinic.

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So I get settled after the tome is written, turn on the tweeter to find out what's going on in world, especially to see how good -- or bad -- the State of the Union address was.

Imagine my surprise to find out that Ricky Rubio had such an intense interest in American politics.

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Yes, I have been known to have an issue or two with the musical selections at Raptors games because (a) I don't consider some of it music and (b) most of it isn't.

But the game's on the line, HOTH are inbounding the ball and they play this?

In The Air Tonight was an inspired choice.

Well done, folks.

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You saw in the IGBT that Stevie Boy was around clicking off some frames (not sure you can use that phrase in the digital age but I’m an old codger so I will) and here’s the end result of his evening.

Some pretty good stuff here.

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As I said last night, DeRozan Mozgov’d Mozgov!

This was as impressive as pretty much anythig I can remember DeMar doing in a game.

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I’m loafing tonight, big time, since Not Grace Kelly is in New York before I head to Houston so we’ll dump the IGBT for an evening in case I want to have a nap duirng the game. But if I don’t, I’d lke to get a head start on the mail, please.

It’s askdoug@thestar.ca and there’s barely any over there so write and say hello, please.

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I’m trying to figure out precisely why the opening of spring training is so far and away more anticipated than the beginning of any other North Amrerican pro sports pretend season.

And it’s not just this year with the TOD – although I’ve got a feeling we’re in for a special year – because it’s the same every spring.

Is it simply the time of year, we see sun and grass and guys playing catch and cannot wait for our own summer?

Is it basically because of the length of time between the end of last season and the start of this one?

What is it?

You have to admit that regardless of how your team’s fortunes might look, there’s something special about this week.

Sure, spring training is way too long, there are too many games, too many guys playing that you’ve never heard of before and likely won’t ever hear of again.

But it doesn’t seem to matter; this is an exciting week and month, isn’t it?

How come?

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Comments

[Matt M]

My sense is that Bargnani has looked terrible and a step behind most nights this season, but then I'm biased and happily so. If he is going to be a stretch four that makes an impact then he has to hit shots when he gets them. He has to hit at least 45% on long twos and at least 35% from three. Preferably more. Then maybe he will start to have an positive effect on the Raptors offense or return somebody that will help the team should Colangelo decide to trade him.

[Alan C.]

Doug, I do think it's the hope/desire for spring that makes baseball so anticipated now. For those of us of a certain age, you can add the desire to play in our youth (fewer distractions), and the lack of another sport to watch (I grew up in the U.S.) between football and baseball (the NBA wasn't a nightly occurrence on T.V.), and football finished up a lot sooner without those pesky Super Bowls.

On a programming note, you mentioned writing to deadline, and yet there is as of now no gamer on line, just a brief wire story. Are the tall foreheads throwing away all your good work?

[Geoffrey]

Glad to see Rudy Gay is delivering on what the Raps needed... some 4th quarter clutch. Meanwhile, there's a piece on the Detroit Pistons website with the tageline: "With Calderon in the fold, Pistons assist rates show sharp spike".

http://www.nba.com/pistons/features/truebluepistons_130212.html

It's great to see Jose get some positive recognition in the Motor City. I hope Pistons fans grow to love him as we do.

[Lorie]

Hey Doug,
The allure of spring training? For me (and my currently twitching-in-anticipation green thumb...) spring is the season of hope and rebirth and renewal. And if there's a door through which we must pass to reach it, I believe Spring Training is the key that unlocks it. Now, in an amazingly short time you wrote a great gamer, I thought; in it you gave us some terrific insight into just how much trust Dwane has in the advice of his coaching staff. And with that in mind...and I didn't hear it myself, but on the broadcast last night Jack said they played this song at some point in the game. I'm thinking late in the 4th would've been the right time. (And before Bono meant U2, it meant Sonny and I can't believe it's nearly 15 years to the day that he died.) Cheers. Go Raps!
http://youtu.be/EUtofZzEnbA

[Alan C.]

Nice gamer, Doug -- glad I had a chance to read it.

[Landon]

Hey Doug, spring training is awesome because this means summer is around the corner. Seeing the boys outside in the warm weather means they will be up here soon in the warm weather. Warms the cockles and sub-cockles of the heart.

[Johnn19]

Fantastic photo display by Steve, catching both Gays winner, and DeRozans poster dunk.

[sam]

Lucas hits some clutch shots, but as a PG I'm not sure he is the guy I would like running the second unit. I'm still not sold on Lowry as the starter....the 11 points and 10 assists were good, but 4 turnovers and some sloppy passing takes a little shine off those numbers.

Let's hope for a good result in NYC tonight.....

[doug]

another good game, this team is so much better without Jose at the helm , were much more up-tempo and can change gears...turnovers on this team are going to happen,they have too be looked at in there totality, we were a +1 in TO'S, as we create them as well as we give them...we run a higher risk far more athletic offense now which is the way I feel to go in todays NBA...OK CHEERS..

[David in Oakville]

Good Morning Doug,

I was a little surprised that the Nuggets were able to make it such a close game given that they were missing three key players and went into triple overtime in their last game.

Glad we won but surprised it came down to the final shot.

When any player is successfully trapped isn't it as much on his teammates as it is on him?

The start of spring training? I thought you were talking about the start of Lent.

[joeu]

I just wanted to point out this from The IGBT:

Someone's making or missing a crazy shot at the buzzer; guarantee
by dgsmith 9:11 PM yesterday

Also, you were going to question Dwane about the late-game iso they ran for Anderson - any response ?

Blogger's note: Got away from my mind, will try to reach him this afternoon

[D-Mac Ottawa]

We get excited about spring training for the same reason we get excited about the Masters; same reason the seed companies mail out their gardening catalogs in February. The prospect of green is strong – even for those of us who actually enjoy winter (though maybe just slightly less each year, now that we're looking dotage square in the face...).
Cheers. Go Raps!

[Dan]

The Phil Collins song was played because that's the song Rudy Gay said plays in his head when he makes those game winners. It was an interview they did last year but they showed in on Raptors tv again after they signed him.

[Arlene]

Equally concerned about Lowry's tendency to bring the ball up too slowly, dribbling too long, then being trapped. Also the number of careless turnovers last night was alarming. Denver was missing 3 key players...had they been present, expect the Raps would have gotten their clocks cleaned. This team has a long way to go defensively. Need a speedier point guard.

[Mike kovacs]

I was disappointed to hear Jack jump onto the Bargnani is bad' bandwagon last night. He was all over him because he missed a wide open 3 as if he ought to make all of those. Smells a bit of pandering to his perceived audience.

[Jimmy]

Baseball is quite boring to watch imo... but if the jays make the playoffs im jumping on the bandwagon!

Btw, Ty Lawson was a beast last night, very underrated.

[james]

As you note, not every team plays defence with Denver's intensity. It will be intriguing to follow them in the playoffs, with their perceived lack of star power, if only to see who can keep Lawson under control. I'd love to see Nuggets vs. Spurs with many close-ups of the coaches thinking and emoting.
Thanks to Dan for the wonderful Rudy Gay/Phil Collins trivia.
Spring training hasn't been the same since I left (real) winter for Victoria.

[Penny]

@Arlene - I couldn't agree more but obviously, @doug sees the game completely differently.
@Matt M - you insist that Bargnani has to make 45% of his 2s and 35% of his 3s but you don't seem to be worried at all that Gay has yet to hit these percentages? Bit of a double standard, isn't it?

[Jamie]

Spring Training is like a little mini tourney, plus a lot of canadians are down in florida at some point over the next 2 months, and spring training is a nice cheap way to see some of your favourite players, and fun outdoors thing to do on a family vacation.

[Tim]

That Phil Collins song always makes me think of this scene from Miami Vice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoHdC9hCQNA

So good.

[Nater G]

Just a note, I coached at a camp with Walker D. Russell and he's an expert in pick and roll defense - says there's basically 5 ways to defend it. He also said not one of them ever works when Nash and Dirk ran it

[R. Angell]

Life begins on Opening Day. You can look it up.

[lee in ittawa]

@Sam "not sold on Lowry as the starter". Really, he started for other better teams but he does not cut it with the mighty Raptors. What are you thinking!

Blogger's note: Check how much.

[Geoff Read]

Spring training is different for two reasons I think. 1) it's a time of the year thing as you say. It gets people anticipating good weather, taking in a game with a glass of suds, and hearing the smack of the baseball on leather. 2) Baseball is blessed with a particularly romantic fan base - baseball fans love baseball unconditionally and they love the culture and mystique of the game as much as the action on the field. Baseball's been fortunate in this regard to have been written about and covered over the years by some especially gifted authors who have helped to romanticize the game in this way.

How about Lucas last night? I'm not a big fan and I don't see him as a long-term solution at the back-up PG position but he hit some clutch shots last night and I'll give credit where credit is due.

[Rob.V]

PG's?

Yes, Lawson was good. Very! I'm not sure I agree we are a better team without Jose. I was "for" the Gay trade and it has paid dividends which is great however Lowry chucking those long distance 3's, I mean, well beyond the arc when they are in need of a "disciplined" possession drive me crazy.

The concern I have is that he's no rookie, he's been in the league a while now so I'm not sure if you can ever break that terrible decision making. Now that we have Rudy there is going to have to be another step and I'm not sure we can make that jump with Lowry. Time will tell however my first thought is that we're going to need a more disciplined PG to contend in the East... hopefully Lowry proves me wrong.

More on PG's: Andre Miller has got to be the most underrated player the history of the game has ever seen, no? This cat is what, 102 years old and still effective. Great career! Dude, can you think of anyone else that might head up the list of most underrated or uncelebrated?