A good night not to stick around all night

I sure know the nights to take off, don’t I?

That was a mutt of a game even from the comfort of the house for the most part; can only imagine what it felt like to sit through it in its entirety.

Anyway, on to the next one, and Delta Airlines willing, I’ll talk to you from Milwaukee much later this morning.

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THREE POINTERS

An odd and intersting sight

Not sure if was out of necessity or just something that happened in the course of play, but we saw an intriguing play happen a couple of times early.

A 2-3, or 3-2 screen and roll with DeRozan and Gay and that’s something I think they should explore a little bit more.

Neither of them are great ball-handlers so I’m not thinking the guy with the ball gets all the way to the rim ever but to get the defence moving, and to get the screen guy a chance to be moving when he gets the ball should make an effectve play.

It should allow the point guard or stretch four to set up outside the three-point line and when their guys cheats a bit to stop the forward who got the screen from getting in the paint, it has to be a usable set, no?

Now, neither Kyle Lowry or, these days, Andrea Bargnani or Alan Anderson, are particularly good at hitting three-pointers but if they get open looks they eventually have to knock some of them down, don’t they?

And with the isolation-dominated offence they run now, with the ball seldom swinging side-to-side, anything that gets the defence moving and has the least bit of a chance of moving the ball for the Raptors is something they have to try more often.

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That’ll teach me

I go all off on DeMar DeRozan and he has his worst night of the month when they could least afford it.

Not blaming him, the Pacers are one of the very best defensive teams in the league and there was scant space for him, or anyone else to operate.

It was too bad, though; not sure there’s anybody else on the team who wants it as bad as that kid does.

And I’m expecting a big one out of him tonight.

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So what’s next?

Well, we saw Terrence Ross as the first wing off the bench and it was pretty much just foul trouble that kept Valanciunas out of the game so maybe there are a few more minutes ahead for some of the kids. But it’s not going to be tonight – Dwane pulled the chute with about five minutes to go Friday so he could rest some guys for this evening in Milwaukee – but if things keep going like this, I’d say the end of next week is the time to go all in with Ross and Valanciunas and, maybe to a much smaller degree, the smaller Acy.

Again, until there is nothing left in the dream for these guys – and they don’t ever share the same feeling that the season’s over that many of you do becasue they are not wired that way – you’re going to see them make every effort to win every game with the lineups and rotations that Dwane figures makes those chances the best.

It’s just the way it is.

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More?

A quick little bit, sure.

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First off, this might be the last call for mail (askdoug@thestar.ca) since the trip has begun and time’s at a premium and, yes, we’ll be here tonight for an IGBT right around the 8:30 p..m. tipoff.

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Okay, true confessions time for the boy Irregulars of A Certain Vintage.

Was sent the news yesterday that Bonnie Franklin had died at the age of 69. Way too soon.

But here's the query:

Did anyone join me in having a wee crush on her in the glory years of One Day At A Time?

You remember that one? Schneider the Super, single mom and two daughters?

Come on, there was something about her, no? Or am I just remembering teenage times?

And, as someone whose level of cynicism and snark rivals mine points out (no names, sorry)

"Who would have thought she'd die before the daughter on the show?"

The daughter, of course, was Mackenzie Phillips, who courageous fought some battles and demons, to her ever-lasting credit.

And she was, of course, the daughter of John Phillips and he was in the Mamas and Papas so ...

And, now that I think of it, as a teenager with too much TV time on his hands, a show with those two and Valerie Bertinelli would have been almost too much.

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Oh

My

God,

Did you see this one about the possibility of a poisoning scandal at the Westminster Dog Show?

Yikes.

Now, we know I watch a lot of mindless TV that's more white noise than anything but of all the "annual" events I see, that's a favourite.

Seems I'm on the road and watching silly day TV when the Little League World Series is on (won’t watch it), when the NCAA men’s baseball tournament is on (might check it out), the NCAA softball champiosnhips (same as baseball) and March Madness, which is the ultimate white noise for fhe first three weeks until there’s some buzzer beater because I hate the game and don’t know the players.

But Westminster?

You’ve got to watch Westminster on the road and flip to it at home becasue the sight of Super Dog charging the TV barking like crazy is hilarious.

(Yes, she can be a dopey little dog every now and then and is probably miffed that the Boston Terriers never win).

But allegations of doping? Or poisoning? Yikes.

How low do you have to be to poison a mutt to better your chances to win a contest?

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Comments

[Hope Caper]

Good points on the screen and roll Doug. There does seem to be a lot less ball movement and more dribble and shoot than long time fans are accustomed to. That's all I'm going to say about that as I am ranted out.

I feel sorry for Casey in that I don't think he was entirely ecstatic over the trade but couldn't argue with early results. With his knowledge and experience he had to know this was coming. There was a reason he started Jose when Lowry was available.

I know one thing. I prefer to watch the Raps lose by 1 or 2 or in OT rather than the blowouts and the current style is not enjoyable to watch. There is just no flow in the game. There is no substitution for chemistry.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

There's no joy in Mudville. Cheers. Go Jays!

[Fredho]

Bargnani looked good in there, his defence for the most part, and finally some confidence again on offence. Too bad the Raptors no longer play like a team, with their 'point guards' still preferring to hoist up bad shots while Bargnani is standing wide open and obviously heating up. So many bad decisions again from Lowry, Bargs free just near him, on one of his preferred shooting spots, but instead Lowry tries to pass to Gay who's on the other side, can't make 3's and has George in the passing lane who steals the ball.
When Anderson and John Lucas step on the court, the other Raps on the floor would be better off taking a seat in the audience to watch the heroes trying to save the day.
End of rant, just watched the game, needed to vent

[Lorie]

Hi Doug!
Sorry to read of Bonnie Franklin's passing - 'One Day At A Time' was kind of an important show for me. Now, I'm so old that when I got married, friends and family were bemused that I decided to keep working. And when I became pregnant there was surprise I didn't immediately quit my job. And going back to work after having the baby (babies eventually...!) was shocking to them. I was the first 'working mother' in my family/group of friends. And people weren't shy criticizing my choice in returning to the workforce, saying that by doing so I was certainly damaging my children's psyche, my marriage, my health, not to mention taking a job away from a 'more deserving' man. And there weren't many - if any - role models out there. Probably the closest thing on TV was Bonnie (Ann Romano) Franklin: the smart writing, the timely topics covered, the warmth of the relationships, all felt real and sincere. And Barbara and Julie and Ann all turned out OK. As did my girls and me. And, MacKenzie's dad was sort of famous, but her sister Chynna had a wee bit of success with this tune with the group Wilson Phillips.
http://youtu.be/uIbXvaE39wM
Indeed, let's all 'hold on' for one more day, or game, or shift or flight (!) or whatever. :) Go Raps! Fear No Deer!

[Rob.V]

The mom was always just that to me - the mom! RIP. The crush was on Valerie B. of course. Come on now, those skin tight jeans drove me crazy as a boy.

I thought Mackenzie Phillips accused her father of sexual misconduct in later years... definitely some demons there.

Raptors? No need to tank this year but yes play the kids and start Andrea so he can get back to 20PPG... it's all about the bigger picture in the summer now.

[AT]

Some of these losses have to be put on Casey. These guys look like the are running around with their heads cut off on offense...they just seems to be making it look very complicated when it really doesn't need to be. These guys are professional, can't they just run a simple motion offense with multiple options and let them play?? The pecking order is way out of whack as well... when Andrea is out there is lucas and anderson, they shouldn't be giving him the ball (at least) sometimes.

[Gerry Tanner]

Bonnie Franklin!! I cannot tell a lie YES.
Raptors - I will continue to watch as long as they seem to be playing hard. No hope for playoffs - don't care. Feel sorry for DD, but life isn't fair. Never was, never will be. If it was, Doug, you and I would both be 6 foot 8 with a full head of hair and basketball skills.

Gerry T.

[gjp]

Just logged in to say I was at the game last night, have been going / watching for 10 years plus, seen some real dogs, but last night was an all-time low for entertainment value.

And the Raps weren't even the prime culprit. Yes, they are much less watchable post-trade, Lowry can't run an offense and Gay is a ball stopper, but this was the officials' fault all the way.

They didn't really skew the game in favour of one team or another but absolutely ruined it by calling innumerable ticky-tack fouls, mistakes on out of bounds, unnecessary offensive fouls away from the play after the ball is long gone, mistakes on counted baskets, etc. I swear at least every other possession involved a whistle. Total disaster, I might not renew my tickets next year. Worst entertainment ever.

End of rant.

[lee in ittawa]

Rest in peace Ann Romano.

Mommas and Papas in my opinion were the most over rated group ever. I really cannot understand their popularity.

I agree Lucas and AA togeather is a disater.

[GM]

I'm on board with the Bonnie Franklin mini-crush. Yes, she certainly had something. As for MacKenzie Phillips, someone alluded to this. Here's a link. She admitted to a 10-year consensual sexual relationship with her father, John: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/mackenzie-phillips-sexual-affair-dad/story?id=8647172

[doug]

@Fredho what game were you watching to be a Bargs apologist is fine but please don't be blind...he was terrible on D totally a non-factor ...I liked Kelly's article today and Fields reaction when Barg's came in for him that's classic...Casey has not had a good week of coaching, he has gone back to coaching defensive end first some of the combos out there are mind boggling...@lee in ottawa the harmonies on the mommas and poppas are the best thats what makes them so good....and I don't know how to say this without sounding callous, but never,ever trust the rantings or accusations of someone with a drug addled past that's all i have to say on Mackenzie Phillips and her accusations...cheers..

[larry lukeeborg]

bargnani played reasonable d, i thought.