The start of the weekend mail

Looks like it’s going to be a nice day in these parts for the long weekend, hope it is wherever you’re going to be.

Here’s some stuff to get you started, there’s a bit more for tomorrow (you can still get in on the fun if you want) and I’ll have some time after Mighty Navy Tigers practice and a couple of NBA West preview things get written to putter around so feel free to send some more.

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Q: I was reading a Raps article that had various clips of turning points in the season...While watching the Bobcat's clip from early in the season I was struck, not by the non-called foul, but how quickly Bargnani's star has fallen. I mean here he was, early in the season, the go to guy for the last second shot. Last season he averaged something crazy like 26 points a game before getting injured. He had plays called for him every time down the floor.

I'm wondering at which point in the last two seasons did Bargnani's stock start to fall... was it after his injury last year? This year? After his second injury this year? I know BC has said he has value, and I'm not getting into the Amnesty debate.... but there has been an obvious drop from Star and game closer to "Boo'ed at home/non-option on offense"

Any thoughts on when this declined started and why his star fell so quickly?

Jeff

A: Well, he got hurt and came back to pretty much a different team with his role changed and it took some getting used to. And when he did – or at least did a bit – he got hurt again and then Rudy Gay arrived and things changed all over again. It was a different team and he was asked to do different things; not sure “star has fallen” is the right phrase, “things changed” might be more apt.

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Q: Hi Doug...Why do so many fans spend ridiculous sums to wear the uniform of some conglomerate's team? Wouldn't a cheap hat do the trick? How about a small pin with the team logo?

Remember Bill, the spaceman, Lee's theory about the great snow ball? 100,000 years from now ( or maybe 10) when the earth is a great snowball hurtling through space, who gives a rats' tail about all those "little things" that we presently consider so important. ( Like the Leafs latest loss)

Carpe Diem

Bob E, Kanata

A: I can honestly say I don't believe I have ever purchased a jersey of any player or team in any sport for myself so I don't get it myself. I'd go for hats, though.

And I seldom sweat the small stuff, hardly worth it.

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Q: Hi Doug,

I've been thinking about Ed Davis. Given what you know of him, do you think he's happy to be a bit player on a team doing so well? Or do you think he just wishes he got more playing time? It's been a shame to hear that he's riding the pine in Memphis -- that's got to slow his development. At the same time, it's got to feel good to be doing so well in the playoffs.

And another thing: it sure seems like the Grizzlies are better off without Rudy Gay. Were they just using him wrong? Do you think the Raptors will be able to plug him into their system a little better and reap the benefits?

Thanks, and keep up the hard work!

Tim

A: I'm sure he'd want to be playing more, if he didn't he wouldn't be normal. But at some point when he gets a playoff cheque he'll feel all right.

I guess you could say they're better off because of where they are but if Russell Westbrook doesn't get hurt and the Thunder knock off the Grizzlies, we're not having this conversation, are we?

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Q: Hello Doug!

Well, it's that time of year again - no, not a certain someone's Birth Month. And seriously, it requires an entire month to celebrate you??? I'll bet once upon a time it was a single day. And, I remember when it was a week. Now, an entire month is required to glorify Our Favourite Beat Grunt?

Wow. Soon you'll be demanding an extension to a full year and then it'll just be all about you all the time. Oh, wait. That's kind of your reality anyway, isn't it? :)

No, what I'm referring to here is the approach of Father's Day and my annual challenge to find the perfect book (while outdoing my sisters, of course; we may be older, but the sibling rivalry continues!!!) for my Dad. And because I've had such a terrific response from Irregulars in the past when I've asked for book suggestions, I hope you'll indulge me once more. Now Dad enjoys books and reading, and he reads a lot. And he reads a wide range of subjects, particularly history.

(Previously, it was mainly about the 20th century, but this past year he became interested in genealogy, traced the family tree back to the 17th century, discovered our ancestors arrived in Massachusetts not long after the Mayflower delivered the first pilgrims, and now he's eager to learn all he can about the early history of New England.) But, he will happily read on a wide variety of topics. (On a recent visit, I noticed that his "to be read" stack of books included one on Wallis Simpson's jewellry

collection, another on colour photography from Russia in the early 1900's and still another on the history of the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City.)

So, Irregulars, what do you have for me - and my Dad, of course this year? Thanks. And thank you, Doug for allowing me to do this.

Lorie P, London

A: Folks, what have you got?

And I was kind of joking on Birth Month but am deadly serious about Birth Week, which began whenever I woke up Saturday morning (am typing this Friday night at O’Hare) and continues until the following Saturday.

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Q: Hi Doug

This is a tricky one. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Jason Kidd. Chandler is exactly my kind of player. So is Kurt Thomas and non-Raptor Camby. I wish the Raptors had somehow secured Iman Shumpert. I loved Amare on the Suns and think he's shown some real maturity in offering to take a bench role, if it helps the team. Heck, when I first discovered basketball, I became a New York fan. So why do I hate the Knicks so much now?

Thanks!

J H

A: I have the utmost respect for Glen Grunwald and like Jim Todd and Darrell Walker and know Mike Woodson a bit and just ran into old friend and Knicks scout Walker Russell in Chicago and kind of feel the same way.

I think it’s because for all the chatter about them, they’ve done nothing to deserve any accolades. In the last decade they have now won as many playoff series as the Raptors, who have actually been in more post-season games than New York since 2001 and have had absolutely no success that would make them be able to crow about stuff.

That they think they’re good kind of rubs people the wrong way.

Hate’s probably a strong word but I don’t get the sense of accomplishment the franchise puts out there.

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Q: In an interview following Andrew Wiggins’ announcement, Kansas coach Bill Self didn’t even pretend he was getting a “student-athlete.” He acknowleged with refreshing candour that Andrew was there for one year only.

In your opinion, is this the best way to prepare young player for the NBA? Are they better off spending an extra year on a professional roster or pretending to be college students. I suppose, arguably, programs like Kansas are professional anyway.

James A, Victoria

A: I think allowing teenagers to spend a year sort of autonomous – they have a large measure of freedom but not total – is a good way to start the transition to adulthood.

And I don’t know that there’s a better way, to tell you the truth.

And because I’m sure someone will ask why they aren’t able to earn money in their careers in the NBA, it’s simple and makes entire sense: The NBA isn’t precluding them from making a living playing basketball, they can go to the D League or Europe; the NBA is just laying down ground rules for employment in that league. I’m fine with that.

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Q: Hey Doug

With the recent decision by Andrew Wiggins on his college choice I have a question in regards to the rules about contact with him by Canada Basketball? With Canada basketball having NBA ties (Nash, Gherardini, etc...) is there a protocol they must follow? Also how much involvement will Canada basketball have with him during his college days - or any other current Canadian College kids?

And when are you going to write the feature about how the impact of the NBA in Canada is finally starting to pay off for both the men's and women's program? Also has there ever been any consideration of bringing the WNBA to Canada? - I have a daughter and I think its important that she sees positive female role models in sport that are not only men; Lebron maybe the best basketball player in the world but Brittney Griner deserves attention also.

Thanks,

Ollie H, Toronto

A: That really is a sticky situation about contact. There are no hard and fast rules laid down, it’s kind of like an honour system where they deal with international play separate from NBA. Impossible, really, to monitor.

And we’ve made mention and written about the NBA’s impact on this generation of Canadian basketball players so many times in so many stories, it’s not even funny. And I’m sure we will do in a few more times in the future.

The WNBA was briefly considered years and years and years ago and they decided it wasn’t a prudent business move. Asking people to buy tickets to watch women’s basketball in the summer in Toronto would be hard sell for sure. Too bad, I’d like to see ‘em try it at Ricoh but I fear it wouldn’t succeed.

The end of the weekend mail

Well done, again.

Here’s what I had left, hope I haven’t missed too many.

Read this in between fawning over Moms, okay?

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Q: Dear Doug

In light of Masai Ujiri's selection as Executive of the Year, was

consideration given to Bob Myers? I had to look up the GM of the Warriors in asking this question.

Given the remarkable roster assembled (Curry, then Thompson, and three rookies in last year's draft), ditching Ellis for Bogut, signing Jack, acquiring Lee for peanuts, what consideration was given to Myers? And who is this guy?

Happy Mom's Day to Superwife.

Frank B.

A: Here’s the funny thing about Bob Myers: He was an agent for about five or six years before moving into Golden State’s front office as an assistant GM and VP of basketball operations under Larry Riley, much the same kind of job that Ed Stefanski has under Bryan right now.

Eventually, the Warriors let Larry go (you might remember his name from working with the Vancouver Grizzlies eons ago!) they promoted Myers about a year ago, and he hit a series of home runs right off the bat.

And I guess it shows you that you never know where a successful GM will come from, he’s a law school graduate, never played in the league, never paid a long series of dues coming up through front-office ranks but did the job spectacularly in his first year.

Myers finished seventh in voting this year.

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Q: Hello, Doug!

Well tonight's the Big Wang Thang and I'll bet you're excited! And inviting you to judge a wing contest would seem a no-brainer and a task for which you're well-suited. But I'll bet wings aren't the only thing you're uniquely qualified to judge.

Now, summer finally seems to be here and with it comes all manner of festivals, fairs, and other local celebrations. And many of these events have opportunities for 'judging': from pies to pickles to pigs to pumpkins, there's all kinds of competitions happening.

So, other than wings (and pizza as mentioned in today's blog) and in an effort to get your name out there for organizers, what else would you like to judge?

And do you see yourself only specializing in food or are you also available to give your thumb's up or down on, say, livestock, stitchery and fiddling?

Thanks!

Lorie P, London

A: Well, I’ve been known to have a rib every now and then; if there was every a contest for most comfortable stool and well-designed bar I’d like to think I have some expertise that would be invaluable; if someone ran a contest on, say, home made ice cream I bet I could add something to it.

And the first Chocolate Chip Cookie Of The Year contest is something I could support.

So, the word’s out, right?

(I really like the pizza idea!)

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Q: Hi Doug,

I haven't written in a long time but since you asked so nicely I thought I would throw you a two part question.

When the board is deciding on whether to bring back Bryan do you think they will take into account his failed attempt to bring in Steve Nash. I actually view Bryan's failure in this regard as a positive because I always thought bringing in Steve Nash made little sense. Bringing a 37 year old point guard with little left in the tank to a lottery team coupled with the contract Landry Fields received would have crippled this franchise even further (from a cap perspective). This gets to the bigger picture of where I think Bryan has gone wrong in the last year, this was a move with no long term view of the ultimate goal of winning a championship and I fear that staying the course with Bryan will leave us as the proverbial 6-8 seed for many years to come. I think Mr. Lewieke has the right idea when he says that our goal is championships and anything short of that goal would be a failure.

My second question is in regard to the new face of executives in this league i.e. Daryl Morey, John Hollinger etc. who use advanced metrics to put together basketball teams. If Bryan is ultimately let go and Phil Jackson is not hired are there any names floating around there that would fit this description? I think this type of executive is the wave of the future and will prevent the Raps from being fleeced again by guys like John Hollinger - yes I am talking about the Rudy Gay trade (looks like the Grizz may be primed for a run to the finals minus their supposed "All Star").

I'm sure you will disagree with many of my points but that is the great thing about your blog the ability to debate and discuss the game. Keep up the good work.

Mkut, Toronto

A: Of course Tim Leiweke says the goal is championships, surely in the name of all that’s good in the world you’re naïve enough to think he’d say anything else. And it’s the goal of every single employee of the team – you can’t believe otherwise, can you? – but everyone – including the brilliant Mr. Leiweke – knows it’s process and cannot happen overnight.

We can debate until the cows come home the Nash thing but you also can’t be naïve enough to think all things are linear and that exactly what happened in Los Angeles would have happened here. You can guess that all you won’t, there are others who think different circumstances – I’m betting he doesn’t suffer a fluke broken leg getting kicked out nowhere in Game 1 if it’s against Indiana – would mean different results.

But, yes, they will take into account every move – including the two playoff years and the delivery on his promise to build from within from ground up until it was time to make a bold post-Bosh move – when the time comes.

Oh, and aside from Miami and we’ll agree those were unique circumstances, find me a prolonged NBA champion calibre team that didn’t start further down the playoff seedings before growing. Not sure you can find outside of Boston in ’07 and Heat.

And sure, there probably are some analytic geniuses out there who’d get consideration and maybe when they do, they can ask Mr. Morey or Mr. Hollinger to show them the championship rings or conference finals appearances they’ve got.

And if you think John Hollinger, who I quite like, “fleeced” the Raptors, you have much to learn about the workings of NBA front offices; John not more had a final say in that deal than you did.

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Q: Can you give us working stiffs a sense of how many hours of work an NBA player puts in during a typical day in the off-season? I guess "work" is subjective; I would define it to include time spent in the gym, at a court or practice facility somewhere, making a public appearance at someone else's request, or in transit to any of those, but feel free to add anything I've missed.

Thanks

Mike D, Toronto

A: Totally guesswork and it truly varies an awful lot but in a week that is gym work at home – shooting, agility, lifting, cardio, other drills – I’d guess six or seven broken into maybe three chunks of 90 minutes or two hours each.

And the days can get longer if they’re on the road with some NBA program or some sponsorship deal where they might have a clinic or two and an appearance or three and it might run out to 10 or 11. And that’s “work” of a different kind.

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Q: Since you were asking for questions from we irregulars, and facing a paucity, I thought I'd oblige with a somewhat irrelevant query:

My kids and I were taking the dog for an after-dinner walk on our downtown street and who should pass on the other side of the street but Amir Johnson and a couple of his friends. Seemed like they were taking a walk to keep Amir's knees and ankle moving, however gently. It was great to see him around.

My son and I noticed him at the same time, and I couldn't help but shout out a "hello-howya feelin-good job this season" to him. I felt a bit bad about it after . it's a bit rude to shout across a street to anyone, let alone someone who doesn't know you. Then I realized that I was surprised to see Amir. Do a lot of the players stay around town after the season ends?

And how do they feel about being accosted on the street with "how's the knee?" sort of questions?

Thanks

David K, Toronto

PS thanks for the licence to eat McD's the other day. My mouth's kudos were louder than my stomach's curses.

A: I don’t imagine they mind at all, especially Amir, who seems to have as a great connection with fans and people here than any Raptor ever. As long as people are polite and don’t do things like interrupt meals or intrude on truly private time, it’s not a problem at all.

Not many stay all summer – Amir even gets back to L.A. for long chunks of time – but most players at least come back once or twice a summer to hang out, check in with old friends and old haunts and say hello. It really depends on circumstances; how much other travel or other responsibilities they have to sponsors or family but the vast majority are back during the summer for a bit of time.

The start of the weekend mail

Well, we did it again.

You folks rallied late, I was preoccupied on Friday so got nothing really accomplished (the Wing Fest was freaking outstanding and we’ll have a lot more of it on Monday) so there’s this now, a Mighty Navy Tigers practice at 9 a.m. and we’ll be back tomorrow with a boatload more.

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But, first.

On this, the anniversary of his death, we need some Bob, don’t we?

 

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Q: Doug.

Do you ever get remarks from the Raps front office staff about articles you write. I cannot believe that Brian or one of his minions does not read every word about the team that you put out. For instance, they must realize that your blog gets read by a lot of fans, and in return gets a fair number of comments.

It, along with your normal articles, and other writers articles would give them a fairly good idea of how their fans, especially outside of Toronto, are feeling about the team. I just wondered if some of your articles or blogs have either drawn favourable or unfavourable remarks from the folks in the team’s headshed.

I realize most players are not going to worry about what they

may read in articles about themselves, but I wondered if you know how much of the news reports are seen by management.

Gerry T.

A: Every morning, one of the hard-working staffers deep in the bowels of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment cubicle-land compiles a package of that day’s media ramblings; it includes anything written here or anywhere about the team and it is distributed to a Henchman list that’s as long as your arm. And to Bryan, too.

How closely any of them reads it is unknown but I know more than a few of them look at it quite closely to check that day’s temperature.

I don’t think the comments section here is included in the package that goes out but every now and then, either I will send a particularly bad or good one off to someone but usually it’s with the tagline: “These are my people.”

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Q: Hi. So Bennett won't be available for Canada this year. Perhaps he could warble "I wanna be around."

Why can't the refs wear shorts in the NBA? Why can't PGA members wear shorts in the ridiculous temperatures they sometimes play. (The caddies can) What about sports scribes, are mandatory pants clauses in their employment contracts?

Should pitchers be forced to wear batting helmets, or the equivalent? Anybody remember Gil Mcdougalld's line drive to the right eye of Herb Score? (I don't)

All the best!

Bob E, Kanata

A: Some of those refs are basically Men Of My Certain Vintage, I don’t think we want to see them in shorts, do we?

And if golfers wore shorts, wouldn’t that take away one place they could sell sponsorships?

It used to be accepted, and commonplace, that some baseball writers would wear shorts; the look became at some level too casual and the writer’s association has instituted guidelines but other than that, the only thing scribblers are asked to is be presentable, and most of us are.

The terrifying accident involving Happ was ugly and scary and dangerous; it was also an anomaly and I don’t know if some kind of faux helmet is doable. But since they did it with base coaches, I’m pretty sure they’ll think of it, perhaps grandfather it in some way.

 

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Q: Hi Doug

Several questions for you:

When players talk to the refs after what they perceive to be an incorrect call, what do they usually say and do the refs find it irritating? Do calls ever get reviewed as a result?

Do you think any of the Raps players read your blog, and if so, do they ever comment on it to you?

During the offseason, especially now with the rumors swirling around the Raps mgmt, do you think the Raps players follow all the blogs and online articles like we the fans do? How do you think they feel about the hiring of T.L?

Thanks!

Meg

A: Most of the players are respectful, they’ll say whine in strong terms but not over the top with things like, “Hey, man, that was/wasn’t a foul” or “you missed that one” or “he hit me, how could you not see it’ and while they don’t get calls reviewed on the spot as a result what sometimes happens is a ref will go look at tape at, say, halftime, and then discuss it with players or coaches. I have heard refs admit, ‘yeah, I blew that one’ after taking a second look.

I’m not sure too many players read regularly but I am sure their people do and they have an idea what’s been written; don’t get too many comments although Rasho used to bust on me good naturedly every now and then.

Same with the Leiweke hiring, they would have heard about it through channels and their first reaction would have been what does it mean for Bryan and Dwane but Tim’s gig is so far above the players – he’s running a billion dollar company with four sports teams, a couple of arenas, condos, restaurants and TV stations – that his impact on their day-to-day lives will be minimal, and I think they’re just fine with that.

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Q: Hi Doug

Any chance Phil replacing Bryan,bringing brian shaw and coaching home games only and brian shaw taking over away games until next season(2014-15) when he takes over full control of the coaching?

Great Job

Aaron

A: Less than zero.

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Q: Hi Doug,

In the two series in the Western Conference, I think both lower-seeded teams have a significant chance at an upset, with OKC's loss of Westbrook and the emergence of Steph Curry.

It seems to me that a 1 vs 2 or a 1 vs 3 or a combination of the sort tends to be the match-up for the Conference Finals. Do you remember any 5 vs 6 conference finals of significance?

Personally, I think it would be good for the game to have an underdog team make it to the Finals.

I'm not a pucks fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I find

the unpredictability of the playoffs fascinating and I wish that would translate to the NBA a little bit more.

In your entry today, you brought up the Curious Case of Ricky Romero. Do you remember any HOTH who thrived for a couple of years and "lost it", à la Romero? As a big TOD fan, I hope as much as anybody that he regains his swagger from a couple of years ago!

Hope the Wings were delicious!

Cheers,

Alex H, Toronto

A: Without going back year-by-year because there’s a lot to do here, I’ll give you a couple of low seeds that did okay:

The Houston Rockets, in the “Never underestimate the heart of a champion” title season,, were a sixth seed, I believe and won four straight series in which they didn’t have homecourt advantage.

And the Knicks, in one of the lockout years, got the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed but that was a bit of an aberration because of the shortened season.

A player losing it? Honestly can’t remember one here but I guess you could say Landry Fields – for physical reasons contributing greatly – lost some of his shooting skill before he got here.

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Q: H e l l o , M r . S m i t h . H a p p y S u m m e r . Lots of time to think about inane miscellaneous stuff and drum up nifty lists, so how about some head-scratchers.

In hockey, why do announcers go through all that mental torture of calculating how many minutes and seconds it’s been since the period started. If there’s 0:15 left on the clock, why not just say “with 15 seconds to go” instead of going to the troubling of explaining to us that it’s at the 19:45 mark. And if the 19:45 thing is that important, why don’t they just run the clocks forward instead of backward so the fool thing reads “19:45” when there are 15 seconds left and the poor announcer doesn’t have a headache?

There’s no set standard for soccer pitches so why not scale them down to something a little less daunting than a polo field or small municipality in Europe? Wouldn’t a smaller field promote a far more entertaining game for all involved, including the fans? I mean, even the TV kingpins must see built-in moneymaking opportunities there, with more play stoppages, right?

And what’s with the “love, 15, 30, 45” in tennis. “Advantages” I kind of get but why not your basic “gotta win by two?”

T h a n k y o u f o r y o u r c e r e b r a l i n s i g h t s , a n d f o r a fine blog.

David M, Ottawa

A: I was once at a news conference with the world’s press at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics for the Dream Team.

A gentleman of the global fifth estate asked Karl Malone a question that went something like this: “Why are some baskets worth one point, some are worth two and some are worth three?”

Malone, droll, said: “That’s just the way it is, my man.”

That’s about all I’ve got for you.

But I will mention that since soccer is the world’s most popular sport, I think they’re quite okay with pitch size.

The end of the weekend mail

Well played again, folks.

Thanks as always, some good stuff here. And when you take a break from this wondrous weather -- a nice peaceful day with friends would be nice -- enjoy.

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Q: Doug, what are the top 3 must-dos for the Raptors to improve next season, apart from personnel changes?

Cheers

Ron F

A: That’s actually a pretty easy list if you take specific roster moves out of it.

They need to defend better, individually and collectively.

They need to trust and become more familiar with each other so that they have no compunction about passing up a good shot so that someone can get a great one and know that if the tables were turned, teammates would help them in that regard, too.

And they have to shoot three-pointers better because the overall impact on spacing for other wings and the emergence of Valanciunas as a post threat will increase exponentially.

Are those three things achievable? Without a doubt.

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Q: Doug

I have been thinking about the reaction to Jason Collins coming out both in the NBA and beyond. It was treated as almost a non-issue in the league. Does this indicate a general broad-mindedness or just that those who were upset with the event were smart enough to realize that it was best to just shut-up? Don't know if you saw this article about Glenn Burke?

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/05/actually-jason-collins-isnt-the-first-openly-gay-man-in-a-major-pro-sport/275523/

The author makes the point that he expected the first openly gay athlete of this generation would come from baseball. This got me thinking about the 'cultures' of the four major sports. Could you give a summary of how you see each - you can include MLS If you want?

Bruce, Mississauga

A: I like to think the reaction spoke to the way society as a whole is evovling, it’s seen as not that big a deal but I still contend the message it sent to young people, teens who may be strugglng with things, was the most significant part of it.

As for the cultures? I know this is probably too stereotypical but I do think basketball – with its history of race relations and its record with hiring of women in significant roles – is a bit ahead of the curve as an inclusionary sport. It didn’t surprise me at all that it was so accepting of Collins’ announcement.

I think there there remains a macho, war-like element to football that is a bit off-putting, I think hockey is a bit more closed (even many of the Europeans who play have been trained or well-versed in the North American culture) and I think baseball crosses so many different cultures there’s a bigger mix than in any other sport and that makes it hard to pigeon-hole.

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Q: Hello Doug.

There are lists going around of all the things that are new since the last time the Leafs were in the playoffs. How about a list of some improvements since 1967, the last time they won the cup. Can you list, say three things that you wished we still enjoyed? (Cheap gas? the Princess Phone? Howard Cosell?)

Any ideas on what we may enjoy when the Leafs do win the cup again. Flying cars? A transit system that works? A basketball team that is consistently in the playoffs?

Regards!

Bob E, Kanata

A: Three things I wished we enjoyed now that we had back then?

Time.

Time.

Time.

World’s too fast right now.

And here’s one for you: If you’d asked in 1967 what we’d be enjoying if the Leaves didn’t win the Cup for another 45 or so years, I bet someone would have said “flying cars” then so I’m going to stick with that.

And interplanetary travel.

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Q: Hi Doug

As now Mississauga has an NBL team and Brampton just introduced the A's what's you take on the NBL expansion? I believe Mississauga is a perfect location for the Power.

10 teams from 7 in two years, do you think there is a future for growing the league and have western provinces joined soon? Is there a long term plan, if so what does the NBL need to do to have a Canada wide 15-20 teams league?

Thanks,

Corben, Mississauga

A: I was going to get into this a bit more in the next little while but, yes, the NBLC expanding to Brampton and moving the Oshawa team to Mississauga is great for us folks on this end of the GTA but I really wonder if two teams in such a tight geographical area will work.

I hope so but I don’t know if it’s sustainable in the long-term.

As I’ve said from the very start, the most important thing is slow and steady growth, not getting ahead of themselves by trying to do too much too quickly and I think they’ve done that. Western teams may eventually work but I think they need to solidify every in our area and the East first. Montreal’s team has some issues that have to be dealt with and they need to have a solid, established base before too much more expansion is on the horizon.

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Hello, Doug

So, I was sitting in a neighborhood bar the other night with a few friends, and the conversation eventually turned to....bars! And we started ranking the local ones. And then we branched out to ones we'd been to in Toronto, too. And we were having so much fun - which might have had more than a wee bit to do with a patio, a starry night and a couple (okay a couple times several times a few more) pitchers - we expanded the rankings to hotel bars the world over.

Now, some of my friends have travelled a bit more than I have (my pick was for the Coq D'Or at The Drake in Chicago - ever been? Historic significance: it opened the day after the end of prohibition! That's some timing, eh?) and named places like the Bar Hemingway at The Ritz Carlton in Paris (!) and the Bascule at Cape Grace Resort in Cape Town, and another in Hong Kong whose name escapes me.

Now, you've been around, and seen some things in your time, and I'll bet a few of those things and times might've happened in hotel bars. :)

Care to give us your favourite Top 3 Hotel Bars, and then maybe name one or two that you haven't been to as yet, but are definitely on your One Day I'm Gonna Get There List? Thanks!

Lorie P, London

A: I have been in the Drake bar, some years ago, but I remember it being pretty cool.

Now, most of the hotel lobby bars I find myself in these days are nondescript and the same, few stand out.

But three from all time?

The Oak Room at The Plaza in New York. Spent more than a few road nights in there finishing an evening with good company (Hello, Butch) and a good cigar -- that's how long ago it was. You never knew who you'd see in there, once said hello to Richard Belzer and while others were complimenting him for Homicide: Life on the Street, I was all about his star turn in Elmopalooza.

Not sure about the names of these next two -- lobby bars tend to meld together -- but there's one in a Marriott directly across from Hyde Park in London -- the other London -- that was very cool and one on the roof of a hotel called The President, I believe, in Athens that I remember as a standout.

Oh, the one in the Westin Prince in Madrid, too! Almost forgot that one.

Thanks for the call on the Hemingway joint, that vaults to the top of the list.

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Q: Hi Doug

Should be an easy question to take care of hanging on the deck with Stella (but there are so many other good Belgian women out there... I digress).

Does Wayne Embry still have a role with the team? If so, to what extent?

I remember that he managed to come in post-Babcock and somewhat right the ship in terms of the cap and player situation, setting the stage quite well for the next guy. I'm not necessarily suggesting he do the same patch job (in fact, I don't think the situation is that bad -- I do see ability with the current roster for movement/improvement), but moreso pointing out that in many situations, it's not as hard as it seems to dig out of the hole.

Let's see, spent 18 days in Brazil in April, came back to Ottawa to 25 degree weather -- I guess I'll spend Saturday on the beach. Terriblyhard life we lead.

Cheers,

David.

A: Yes, Wayne is still around in his role as a senior advisor to the board, Bryan and anyone smart enough to seek his counsel. He did spend more time here this season this he has In a couple, not necessarily putting out fires but he does act as a sounding board for everyone and his wisdom is appreciated and sought.

And I'm sure if there was ever a need for someone to step In for an interim period he would have been asked as he was after Rob's tenure -- his ability to jettison Jalen's contract was huge -- he'd consider it but they are no longer at that point in the middle of a season.

The start of the (Phil Jackson edition) weekend mail

Okay, how’s this for a plan?

Not very much mail this week, at least not yet, and since I have this odd sense of obligation to have something here every day (yeah, I’m working on changing that for the summer), let’s do this:

Here’s a solid query right off the bat and then …

All The Phil Jackson Questions You’d Ever Want To Read; and All The Phil Jackson Questions I’d Ever Want To Answer.

And since it looks like a nice, slow, sit-on-the-deck kind of day (and if that deck was a cottage overlooking a lake as the sun set it’d be better) more questions are welcome and we’ll be back tomorrow.

Sound fair?

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Q: Lots of news lately to take us away from the court or the chosen field of play. I don't follow sports for the game re-cap and have no interest in the vacuous talking heads.

I read or listen to informed opinions of well connected professionals who offer opinions based on information from direct sources who provide insight to areas where I have no access. I appreciate a thoughtful unbiased opinion.

I'm having difficulty defining who is responsible when the pendulum swings out too far to the general public opinion. Who is accountable? Do corporations push their talent too far or does the talent believe they have corporate backing to push the envelope to the extreme?

Strange times, indeed.

Regards

Johnny C, Mississauga

A: Strange, yes.

I think there is a bit of shared responsibility for the emergence of “instant experts” for the lack of a better expression.

I think there are too many young people in our craft who are too hellbent on becoming opinionated too quickly; they don’t realize that you need context and nuance and knowledge gleaned over time to really make valid points. They “talk” without thinking because they think it validates them. And, sadly, too many of them do that without taking the time to really listen.

But it’s also on bosses – at every level – as well. There is this strange desire to create personalities far, far too early. Not sure if it’s because there are simply not enough old heads on staffs anywhere to let people grow into roles rather than have them pushed into them.

It probably gets to what Dwane Casey once referred to (and I don’t imagine he was the first) as the “instant coffee” nature of the craft these days, everyone knows everything right off the bat when in fact they know little, or at least less than they should.

I am fully of the opinion that there are too many declarative statements made by people who would know better if they were more interested in informing rather than telling.

-

(And now, our continuing series in weekly Phil Jackson question, in which we play what-if until something remotely real happens)

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Q: Doug, I have two hypothetical questions:

First, if a legendary NBA coach (let's call him Ilphay Acksonjay) became the president of an NBA team in an out-of-the-way location (let's call them the Aptorsray) and announced a master plan to make that team a force to be reckoned with, how much impact would his "aura" have on the perceived attractiveness of that team to free agents? Would players and their agents be leaping onto the bandwagon of the master plan, or would it still be all about dollars?

Second, if all of the championship teams and perennial contenders previously coached by Ilphay Acksonjay, across more than one franchise, had been built around a fanatically driven superstar (let's call them Ichaelmay in one location and Obekay in another), would you expect Ilphay Acksonjay, as president of the Aptorsray, to start clearing cap space so he could pursue a similar player? And in your view, what current NBAplayer would best fit that profile?

Thanks

Mike D, Toronto

A: I’m going to suggest that any “aura” the guy you’re talking about might have as he takes the very first front office position of a career that’s been spent entirely on bench won’t mean squat unless it can aurally (is that word? Know what I mean?) change the current NBA salary cap rules. Yeah, a guy like that might get guys to listen; if he can’t pay them, he may as well be blowing smoke.

It takes about four years, maybe three, to clear the kind of cap space you’d need (don’t forget, if you clear so much that all you’re left with is a garbage roster who wants to join it anyway?) so to even hazard a guess is, well, beyond me.

But since most great young players are already locked – and Chris Paul isn’t coming in the fall – why not suck it up for half a decade and try to get the Wiggins kid when his first contract runs out.

That way the tank-proponents can have four years of relishing in defeat.

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Q: Hi Doug

I know there have been rumours linked Phil to the Raptors. Is the speculation that he would replace BC? My fear would be that great players and coaches does not always translate into success at the next level. Look at MJ in Charlotte. I know Phil is a great coach, but he also had very good talent to work with. I just wanted to get your thoughts on Phil in a management position in general.

Monty

A: Yes, that is the speculation, indeed.

Now, I no clue what his management abilities would be, no one does. He might be great, he might be Michael Jordan, he most likely would be like every other GM in the history of pro sports: Successful in some of his moves, something less than successful in others and an abject failure in others.

It’s a crapshoot, just like every hire.

-

Q: Hey Doug.

Funny random stat of the day: Sebastian Telfair plays only 13 games for the HOTH and – still – comes in 2nd for team assists. Solid.

I think if Phil Jackson comes to the Raptors that there will be a lot of pressure to, maybe, I don’t know, let him run things he’s “Phil Freaking Jackson.” Then again, chimps don’t have teeth.

I just think it would be kind of cool to have him in Toronto because I remember growing up and watching the Bulls and Phil’s championship with MJ.

Can you please tell me more about what you think could happen with the Raptors team if Mr. Jackson decides to come on board?

Lyall D

A: I think they would become marginally more relevant in the media and a bit of a story for a month or so. But as for what they would or would not become on the court, unless he can wave a magic wand and resolve some cap issues and has the ability to hoodwink other, more experienced GMs in player transactions, not sure how much of an impact he’d have. Or what anyone would have, for that matter.

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Q: Hello Doug.

What do you think about Phil potentially taking an advisory role with the Raptors but with a little more power than a Wayne Embry? I think that Jackson would bring much credibility to the franchise in attracting better talent and potentially a new GM that will bring a fresh perspective to the team. I would be in favour of keeping Casey because I think stability within the coaching ranks is needed and I think Casey is a good coach.

Do you not think Jackson would be the perfect person to usher in a new era in management in Toronto and potentially facilitate the “winning culture” that Leiweke desires? I don’t imagine that a team that had Jackson in a managerial role, with all the great assistants he could bring, could do worse than missing the playoffs these last five years, no?

Omari J

A: I don’t think much of it at all. If you’re going to hire a guy, hire hi and give him real power. And wouldn’t Phil Jackson – and we’re absolutely guessing here – be a “new era in management” on his own?

And who knows if they could make the playoffs once in five years; you’d think they could but no one could say with 100 per cent certainty they could or would.

Phil Jackson might turn out to be R.C. Buford, the gold standard. He might turn out to be Michael Jordan.

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The end of the weekend mail

Told you there’d be more.

Thanks, made for another good mail weekend.

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Q: How do make plans in your line of work? Things change in a hurry.

Tim made it clear Raptors were a priority, their TV footprint is small and the brand has been diminished. Although attendance has been strong to me the quickest fix would be a talent upgrade.

Do have any sense if the new regime would be willing to be a luxury tax team? Also it appears MLSE kept the appointment leak proof.

Johnny C, Mississauga

A: Funny you should ask.

It was just the other night when a friend asked if I “was always on call” and I had to say, yes. Things happen when they happen and while there are minor things you might be able to slough off until the morning, most of the time if stuff happens, you have to react, quickly.

And, yeah, even this current regime is wiling to be a tax team in the right circumstances, they are right now, actually. But it’s one thing to be willing to pay a hefty tax, it’s quite another to find the right people at the right time under the right circumstances to get them in order to do it.

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Q: Hi Doug, I hope this finds you well!

Just curious what the Raptors (the main guys anyways - Rudy, Demar, Amir, Jonas, Kyle, etc.) summer plans are - where are they spending it, how are they spending it, etc.)

Also, couldn't avoid reading about the Phil Jackson rumors - personally I'm a huge Casey fan and would like to see him back, but if you had to choose, Phil + new coach or Bryan + Casey, who would it be? Thanks!

Meaghan S

A: Most of them will be spending the bulk of the time in their off-season “homes” with family. DeMar’s in Vegas, I believe Kyle’s in Philly, Jonas is going to be back in Lithuania and I think I heard Rudy was in L.A., as is Amir.

But they’ll get together at least a bit of the time, either working out in L.A. or in Vegas around the summer league season.

I don’t know that I can make that choice unless we know for sure who the second coach is. But I am of the belief that this franchise needs some consistency and not another period of constant change.

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Q: My dad travelled the same bus/subway/streetcar route to arrive to work for the same company doing much the same job in the same office for over 35 years. And with most of the same co-workers. (And I think he ate the same lunch of mac 'n cheese with a side of chef's salad and a glass of orangeade at the same diner across the street, all that time, too.)

But times have changed. Recent studies show that these days most of us will have three or four career changes during our working lives, and often these are welcome challenges and offer us the opportunity to explore new interests and develop other abilities.

However, for professional athletes the road to career change may be not so welcome and the path difficult to navigate. If not treacherous. I've just finished reading the heartbreaking story of

Allan Iverson in today's Toronto Star, and while some of Iverson's troubles would appear to be related to issues of addiction, I'm wondering if the NBA player's association provides ongoing support and counselling for its members as they make the transition from playing to post-playing days?

Thank you.

Lorie P, London

A: I was telling a friend the other day about my dad, who was in the same circumstances and drove the same route to work for about 45 years; same house to the same office. I’d be stir crazy inside of 15 years, I’m sure.

And, yes, the Players Association makes available all kinds of counseling and post-career advice to anyone who needs it; and the good agents out there do the same thing. But it’s always up to the individual player and I don’t presume nearly enough of them do.

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Q: Hope this helps fill your mailbag.

Read about Raptors pursuing Phil Jackson for a position similar to Pat Riley's in Miami. If that is true what are the odds of it happening? What does that do for BC option being picked up or not?

If/when the Raptors make the playoffs do you think there would be a dramatic increase in ticket sales similar to the Leafs?

What is your favourite colour?

When you are doing you IGBT and you mention about local knuckleheads in the stands, which arena has the the worse?

As always Doug, much appreciation for what you do for us fans whether we be irregular or not.

Ken L, Bath

A: I’m not going to lay odds on that at all, I’m afraid. And we’ll have to wait on the BC thing, too. It’s impossible for me to call with the information I’ve been able to get first-hand at this point.

I don’t know that they’d have the stones to hike them as much as the pucks did after a lockout-shortened season and nine years of missing the playoffs; that was gall to the Nth degree. But they would go up, of that should can be sure.

Know whose fans can be, um, bad? Sacramento back when they used to draw and Utah. A fair amount of profanity at both. Philly’s bad, but they’re bad sometimes in a humourous way.

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Q: Hi - a couple of weeks ago during a game, the commentators were talking about a team and its point guard (sorry, I'm weak on the details because I had half an ear on the conversation) and they were saying that it's a great thing to have your best player be a point guard because he controls the game. Or something along those lines ...

Anyway, that got me thinking. (which can be dangerous) If you could start building a team with a star at *any one* particular position, would it be point guard? If all other things were equal, and you could have an all-star at only one position, and then put a supporting cast around that position, what position would you start with? Or would that matter, depending on the quality of that star? What would be the next thing you'd look for? Say your all star is a point guard, do you look for an experienced big man?

Sportschic

A: It probably would be the point guard because the true great ones can not only make themselves into all-stars, they can make it easier for relatively lesser-talented players to maximize their abilities. That said, it’s hard to find those guys so you hope the people you have improve.

I’d probably say next up would be a wing – small forward in the old vernacular – who can play off the guard’s abilities, either by creating and making his own shots or hitting three-pointers consistently.

And then I think you’d fill in the other wing spots and then find bigs.

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Q: Jarret Jack seems to playing at quite a high level this year - his play during the playoffs so far has been great. I don't remember that kind of performance from him while he was here.

Is my memory faulty, has he improved his game exponentially, or was it the environment here?

Brad W, Courtenay, BC

A: He’s indeed having a great year and I don’t think too many people saw it coming at all. I’d chalk it up to his maturity as a man and as a player along with the right combination of teammates and a role he’s willing to accept.

So, I don’t know that his “game” has improved exponentially as much as it’s been a confluence of events coming together in a perfect storm.

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Q: Hey Doug

Hope you enjoy the TFCs today!

I was hoping you would clear up a couple of questions about the salary cap.

You frequently say that using the amnesty on Kleiza and Bargnani would do essentially the same thing: bring the team under the tax but still over the cap.

Why is there a difference between the cap ceiling and the luxury-tax tier? How big is the difference?

It always struck me as curious that amnestying a 4-5 million dollar/year player would have the same consequences as the amnestying of an 11 million dollar player.

Regards,

Alex H, Toronto

A: The TFCs were great; I could do without the buzzer-beater nature of the game and kept wondering where all the timeouts were down the stretch but it was fun.

There is a difference – and it’s always been a percentage of Basketball Related Income – between cap and tax to allow for a little wiggle room for teams. Used to be about 7 per cent of BRI, and it’s going to shrink, I believe, over the course of this CBA as the tax becomes more arduous.

So being the middle doesn’t make any difference in what cap exceptions you have at your disposal; meaning there is no financial benefit to doing one over the other.

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Q: Hi Doug:

I, for one, am not unhappy with the Raptor's progress this year. I like the current core where each member has the potential to get better. If all the players improve their game for next year how much better can the Raptors be? If DeMar and Rudy each get better and work better with each other, do you think they could be the best dynamic duo since Batman and Robin?

Enjoy your summer, I am looking forward to the fall.

GRW

A: They’d be behind Batman and Robin, Burns and Allen, Martin and Lewis, Lewis and Clark, Astaire and Rogers, Rogers and Astaire, Lucy and Ethel and Fred and Barney and a whole raft of others.

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Q: Hi Doug

I'm a first time writer, but regular reader of yours. Thanks for the high quality coverage of the Raptors.

I'm watching Jared Jack and Jared Bayless look pretty good in their back up roles on solid playoff teams. I can't help thinking that for all the point guard discussion around the Raptors over the past 5 - 6 years, management hasn't done very well assessing talent. They traded T.J. Ford to bring in Jack, traded Jack to bring in Bayless and then let Bayless walk and got nothing in return.

I get that Jose Calderon's expiring contract was a tradeable asset and that it brought in a higher end talent in Rudy Gay. Given the absence of a rare top tier point guard coming the teams way via the draft in recent years (like John Wall, Steph Curry or Kyrie Irving) it seems we're having to make do with the next tier of talent at that position. Which isn't a bad thing if you find a complimentary fit for your other parts.

I'd propose letting Lowry walk this summer (not pick up the contract option) and bringing back Jose, who in my opinion makes everyone around him better. They could then draft or trade for a young guard who Jose could mentor over the next few seasons as Jonus and Damar come of age.

A final thought... I know you're sick of the Andrea saga... But hey you do cover a non-playoff team with limited narratives... I think the team would be short sighted to trade him when his value is a an all time low. Frustrating player since he went down with the calf injury last season? Absolutely! Potential star coming in as a 6th man next year? We can hope.

Your thoughts?

Larry, B.C.

A: If you could guarantee that letting Kyle go long before Jose would have to decide his future and knowing that the financial offers Calderon is likely to get can’t be matched here, I’m sorry to say you’re plan is too pie-in-the-sky.

Toss in the fact they don’t have a draft pick and it’s even more implausible.

Andrea? Who’s to say his value is at an all-time low? He could be worse and I’ve never proposed giving him away for nothing, if there’s deal that management thinks will improve the team, they have to make it.

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Q: Doug, do we know what kind of problem Rudy was having with his left?

Glad to know he's had it corrected, but didn't know there was problem to start with.

TL I

A: We don’t. The organization is not the best with sharing medical information these days – a frustrated situation for the writers – but I’m told it was an out-patient procedure that was no big day and a success.

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Q: Tom Anselmi was President and COO of MSLE. The new guy is President and CEO.

Does this mean that Tom no longer has title of President? Is he now a COO?

So who will have final say on the direction of the teams? In other words, what will be their working relationship as normally the COO runs the operation?

Dave B, Cornwall

A: Yes, Tom is no longer president and is COO, which is no surprise to anyone.

The man at the top is Leiweke and will make ultimate decisions in concert with the board and ownership.

But here’s the thing: This is a billion dollar company with four sports teams, a handful of venues, condos, restaurants, bars and real estate. It is sooooooooo much more than sports teams it’s not even funny. And to think one man will handle everything is silly, he will hire and put in place people he trusts to do the right thing.

And I don’t have any expertise in CEO-COO dealings – and, actually, that level of business bores me to tears – but they’ll figure it out.

The start of the weekend mail

You people slay me!

A late flurry of very good questions loaded this up as heavy as it’s ever been. And since I loafed a bit Saturday night – I covered a buzzer-beater soccer game, I was entitled – go through this for this morning and we’ll have the rest of them this evening.

Deal?

-

Q: Hi Doug,

Several years ago, mired in the Isiah era, the Knicks were in the vicinity of being most disappointing sports franchises in recent memory. Perhaps the only saving grace from that time was bringing Glen Grunwald into the fold.

Now that he appears to hold the reigns, the Knicks have had arguably the best year of any team in the league, given pre-season projections and the rash of injuries that they have sustained.

I had a measure of admiration for Grunwald as being honest, self-effacing (in contrast to some other Raptors GMs), and forthright. His apology to the Raptors faithful at the end of the disastrous '98 season (see Isiah) at MLG was both a high and low light in the franchise's history.

Could you please reflect on the factors that led to Grunwald's dismissal and your appraisal of his work here and in NYC?

Sincerely,

Frank B.

A: There was no one specific thing that precipitated Glen’s mid-season departure that I ever heard of; I think ownership and upper management just thought it was time for a change. I know the mixture of personalities between he and Kevin O’Neill, who was hired primarily by people above Glen’s pay grade when he was interested in hiring a guy by the name of Mike Woodson, was toxic and that might have had something to do with.

I will say this with 100 per cent confidence:

Firing Glen Grunwald was, by far, the single worst management move the franchise has ever made and likely will ever make. It set in motion a chain of events that took them the better part of a decade to dig out from under and it was the most regrettable move they ever made.

-

Q: Hey Doug,

A couple of random things for you:

What's the deal with Tomislav Zubcic? Is he still the property of the Raptors? Is he any good? Is he going to come over to the NBA anytime soon?

Last week you talked about Sports Icons Jackie Robinson and Mohammad Ali. I've got another that I can throw out there, how about Jessie Owens? In his time, he was about as global as an athlete could get and how about the courage as a Black American to go into Nazi Germany in the Olympics and out performs the world.

You did the grades for the players, coaches and management, but what about a grade for the Chicken?

Thanks as always,

Jay

A: Zubic is still property of the Raptors and the last time I asked about him was a couple of months ago and I was told he was going to come over and play in the summer league. That could have changed but I haven’t heard otherwise. Can he play? I honestly don’t know, guess we’ll find out.

Sure, Jessie Owens was hugely significant but he was more a one-off thing that either Ali or Robinson.

-

Q: Doug, I can supply a couple of questions for the mailbag. What do you think of the Cavaliers re-hiring Mike Brown? I think it is unusual to recycle a coach and wonder if he brings anything more than Byron. Does this affect the rumoured potential of LeBron returning to Cleveland to end his career?

I read yesterday that the NBA TV ratings are down this year? Why do you think this happened? Did the lockout last year keep the NBA in the news and lead to a record year? Did the games almost every night help? Did the lack of balance in the teams this year (which the CBA was supposed to fix) lead to the decline? Did the boredom of the Heat riding over everybody and expected to win the championship remove hope for other teams and their fans?

Do all the bottom feeder teams take away interest in games? Does the lack of Raptor games on TV in the USA ("USA-USA-USA") lead to lack of interest in the NBA? J

Dave B, Cornwall

A: It’s unusual to recycle a coach to the same franchise, no question, and I was quite surprised that the Cavs acted so quickly to bring back a guy they didn’t want such a short time ago. The LeBron thing, I think, is being over-stated. First, it’s at least a year away and I don’t think any team should make such a major decision on a coach with something that might or might not happen in the future in mind. Plus, I have spoken to people who’ve written extensively about LeBron and have some insight into his character and they suggest it will be talent around him rather than a coach that will be the biggest factor.

TV ratings? I imagine it has a lot to do with the basic fracturing of viewing habits, there are a lot of good other choices available and maybe some people just found what they think are better things to turn their attention to. It might not be because of anything basketball did; it could be what other networks did better.

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Q: Disappointed to see that you wont do IGBT for the TFC. Would have been a fun change from the Raps, where you correct and (mildly) berate posters, to having the fans (politely) correct your soccer knowledge

Dan N

A: The thing with the IGBT is that it needs some sort of talking points – like plays and baskets and issues – to be as interactive as I want. You can’t get that from soccer, it’s almost as if there’s too much action to slow down and talk about.

Sure, my knowledge isn’t nearly technically-sound enough right now (it’ll get there) but people say it’s the same in the basketball.

Oh, and if you’ve done any of the IGBTs, and I appreciate and expect you have, you know we need stoppages – whistles, quarter breaks, timeouts – for it to work.

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Q: Hi Doug

It's always a pleasure to you read your blog daily. I have two questions for your mailbox. I'm asking you because I truly respect what you do. The topic is not Raptors related, but I think some of your readers might relate to this.

I'm revamping the way my company does business development on the web and I hired two very trusted marketing professionals to advise us. The new plan is for the individuals on the leadership team to blog alongside some of our subject matter experts to increase our web traffic, lead generation, and improve our overall brand. I believe this will be successful because the folks in my company tend to 'go big or go home'. Now I find myself needing to write on a somewhat regular basis on the industry I am in, for anyone or everyone to read. I'm an opinionated individual, and I've always been a bit of a black sheep with the way I think and I believe I am somewhat-not-normal with the way I think. Frankly.... Sharing worries bejesus out of me.

What are some guiding principles or rules that you put in place when you write your entries? What are some cardinal sins of blogging that you try not to commit?

If you find yourself in the Yonge/Adelaide area, I'll gladly buy you an adult beverage :)

Alex

A: Very cool on the blogging for your work, I bet it’ll make you feel far more “connected” to whoever it is you’re trying to reach.

My principles very simple, actually: Never mislead, never write something simply to provoke, always believe in what you’re typing.

I think readers of blogs want to know the writer on a deeper level than, say, a reporter so I would suggest letting them know a little about you personally. But the one hard and steadfast rule I have is no family names. It’s Super Son, Super Wife, Super Dog and that’s all. Ever. People don’t need too much information.

But mostly the one guideline: Have fun and don’t let the crazies get you down.

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Q: Hi Doug

First of all thanks for the reminder about Sports Night! Think I saw them all but have never seen since so just downloaded both seasons. The ultimate compliment to this show was my wife, who hates sports, used to love the show as well.

My question is what Bryan and the Henchman are busy with now? I assume there is still pro scouting to do? Perhaps they have to stay ready in case they get a draft pick but I don't think they are the slightest bit interested.

Also just out of interest will the Raptors be represented at the draft lottery or does Houston have a representative in the chair? I assume the Raps have to send someone just in case they win the lottery and get up to top three.

Thanks

Mike in Cambridge

A: There’s not a lot of scouting to do right now but if an agency is putting together some group workout they’ll go and take a look. There’s also the pre-draft combine in mid-May that they’ll be at; other than that, it’s business things, a bit of long-term planning (training camps, summer schedules for coaches to go see players, run of the mill stuff).

And, yes, they will have someone on the podium at the lottery and someone in the back to make sure nothing nefarious happens. I don’t know yet who those people will be.

The end of the weekend mail

Told you there’d be a little bit more, got some of the lollygaggers in and some I’d mised.

Have fun.

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Q: Hi - not sure if this is too late to fit in the mailbox, but sending it anyway.

This is good news and bad news. The bad news (I think!) is that the Raps are no longer your beat. (That is bad news for Irregulars, for you .....?) The good news is that you are now a roving reporter and you can cover whatever games you like. What are your dream road trips *with* matchups you'd like to see and why?

Sportschic

A: If I’m reading this right, it’s what other basketball games I could cover? Well, you know how I do those three games to watch as part of Nothing But Net each Friday? I’d love to have the budget and the space in the paper to wake up each Friday and find two compelling games in the next five days and go write lengthy takeouts on either people or issues that would run twice a week while I do the normal morning stuff. Alas, that’s a pipedream.

Now, if you’t taking me out of basketbal “beat” coverage entirely, I’d like to carve out a job where I could go write about the four major North American championships, the World Cup or whatever signficant summer event there was and the EuroLeague basketball championships.

That’d fill a year, wouldn’t it?

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Q: Well, as you mentioned "Another Bites the Dust". If making the playoffs was the goal than it was a poor showing. If improving the team and learning to play together and play for each other, than I think the season was a little more of a success than a lot of folks might think.

I agree the team does need a solid veteran big with an attitude, and I think that is more important than a backup PG. I think that John

Lucas has shown that he can fill the job. He may not be all one would like but he provides a change of pace, and he can shoot which means

teams cannot play off him as they might at times with Telfair or another like him. If Fields can fix his shot, or if they find another 3/4 who can shoot the three and also get to the basket, than it is just the end of the bench.

I know I am just repeating stuff I have gathered from you over the course of the season, but your insight has made it easier for me to understand what I am watching and what I should be looking for.

And I thank you for that. It has made the games that much more enjoyable.

Gerry T

A: John Lucas, while a good guy, good teammate, good shooter, doesn’t have the necessary decision-making skills that a point guard needs. He doesn’t see open teammates, has a hard time getting the team into a halfcourt set. He’s a good third guard for emergencies and a shooter off the bench.

But I agree he might have been a better fit for this team than Telfair was in his 20 or so games.

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Q: Hello Doug,

Hope you're enjoying your summer holiday (Although, I don't know about where you live but this morning there's snow resting on the almost-ready-to-bloom daylilies in my front garden. Guess I should turn the air conditioner off.)

So, in the blog the other day you spoke of the 'coaching carousel' and the old familiar faces and I'm wondering if you could name a couple of names we're all less than familiar with who you'd like to see get a chance to coach in the NBA. And, do you know if Pat Summit was ever approached to join an NBA coaching staff? Thank you.

And speaking of 'old-timers', didn't that old fossil Cliff Richard (who actually looked pretty fabulous carrying that torch at London 2012...do you think he and Tim Duncan sip from the same Fountain of Youth? Or is Cliff's more of a 'medical' miracle than a medicinal one..?) have a nifty hit way back when about a 'Summer Holiday'? Remember singing it with my sisters annually as the old family jalopy chugged and gasped its way up to Fenelon Falls.

Lorie P, London

A: The ice and the snow on the Smelly Ford Taurus this morning was a shock to my system, not to mention Super Dog. Sit on a patio one day, winter coat the next. Some Decompression Days.

The names I've got are basically familiar, they are current assistants like Mike Budenholzer in San Antonio, everyone expects Brian Shaw to be successful and I have long held that Michael Malone would be an excellent choice.

But I want to find a GM bold -- and secure enough -- to give Butch Carter another job and I don't think anyone would regret hiring Brendan Malone, either.

And I don't know about Pat Summit 100 per cent but I would doubt it, the time just wasn't right.

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Q: Hey Doug,

When are the closing interviews going to take place?

Thanks,

Nick

A: For the media? Already done over the course of the last week of the season, lots of players had early flights out Thursday so there was no one day, which was 100 per cent fine with many of us, it allowed us to do end-of-season stories rather than inconsequential game stories in the last four or five games. And that stand around and wait Thursday after a season ends is, to me, the worst day of the year, by far. You never get anything to interesting and it's about five hours in a tiny room for about 40 minutes of actual work.

Bryan and Dwane are doing media sessions on Monday late-morning.

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Q: Hi Doug,

Maybe you've already covered this, but what do you think will happen with Gary Payton's (my all-time favourite player) induction into the HOF? Obviously, he will go under the Sonics name, but with the rights being held by the Thunder how do you envision that all going down?

Thanks

Felix Tsui

A: I think it'll be wildly entertaining, pretty emotional and full of good stories. And there's a slight chance we'll understand them all despite Gary's rather unique use of the English language.

But there is not a question that regardless of how or where he finished his career, he will always be known as a Sonic.

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Q: Doug:

I have never been an Andrea basher. While I still see his potential, I acknowledge that his 2012-2013 season was terrible. I can accept that it might be in everyone's interest if he were to be traded in the off season.

That being said, you and others have suggested that the Raptors might very well have to include another piece with him in order to find another team willing to take back Andrea's contract.

My question is what piece do you foresee as having to go with Andrea? I would assume that the five starters (Rudy, JV, Demar, Kyle, Amir) are to be included in the core that everyone talks about the Raptors have moving forward and wouldn't be a throw in to get Andrea moved.

Kleiza will likely be amnestied and Pietrus' career appears to be over and doesn't constitute an expiring contract, so they are out. Alan Anderson and Sebastian Telfair are free agents, so they could only be part of sign and trade and that wouldn't be an enticement on taking Andrea. Landry Fields' contract is a significant amount as well and given his need to recover from the nerve issue and rebuild his shot, I can't imagine that he'd be considered an incentive piece. So that leaves, Aaron Gray (a serviceable 5th big) and John Lucas III (a serviceable 3rd PG) -- neither of which would be an incentive -- and Quincy Acy and Terrence Ross. So I assuming the other piece will have to be one of them. Correct?

David H

A: I see your point but there are all kinds of possibilities; hear me out:

What if a team needed cap or tax relief at a small level at the end of next year and even the year after and would take Kleiza to have two consecutive expiring deals?

What if a team needed some quick, small financial fix and would take Lowry (a PG would have to come back) and waive him to save more than $5 million this summer?

We’ve seen a summer that included a four-team, double sign-and-trade transaction so who knows what a creative mind could come up with.

I’m not suggesting any of those things would happen but there are ways to make a deal out of nowhere sometimes.

The start of the weekend mail

Okay, here’s the deal, folks.

Got these done, I see a couple of late-comers there this morning (and you know who you are) so have at these and we’ll be back in the morning with a bit more and a bit of look back at today’s game since I imagine there’s going to be some decompression time watching TV.

Sound good?

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Q: Hi Doug

How do you assess the saga of Carmelo and the Knicks? Against some big coach-changing odds and many ups and downs with styles of play and adding lots of new players, somehow this team did come together and play with strength. Carmelo himself seemed finally to find a very comfortable place from which to exercise his tremendous abilities.

How did they do this? What does this story tell us about super-stars and how they do-don't adapt to a new team; about how a new team grows around such a star?

Their chances in playoffs?

Charles N, Toronto

A: I believe that, at some point, the game’s top players come to realize that winning cures a lot of ills and if there have to be subtle changes in attitude and play, it’s more than worth it.

I don’t think Anthony is a substantially different player today than he was a year ago today but he seems more comfortable in the team dynamic and, just important, his teammates and coaches are comfortable with him, too.

It takes time to figure things out for everyone connected with a franchise. And, it helps that the Knicks had tremendous success right off the bat to start the season so every saw how well it could work.

That said, I can see them getting to the conference final but that’s about it. I can also see them getting some injuries that won’t allow them to get past whoever they meet in the second round.

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Q: Since you asked -- I have a question about "perspective."

I think of how the Coaches for any team, and especially struggling teams, have to keep a kind of perspective on their fortunes and misfortunes that will help them to keep on battling no matter how their future seems to be, for any given season. You've commented often on the "supreme confidence" of athletes at this level who will always always believe they can make the next shot or beat any team.

Then I think of the Coaches who have turned commentators who often offer us some useful insight into just how bleak things really are and why they are that way. Whether it's "Coach" Jack Armstrong or Stan Van, the ex-coaches

have no problem at all seeing real deficits in a team's make-up or its style of play or personnel issues.

So - and I understand that this is not the position you're in personally, but you do know some people - is there a real shift in perspective when

these coaches move from the bench to the booth? Do they actually start to see things differently, or do they simply work differently on how they respond to what they see on the court?

Thanks for keeping a tough season enjoyable, Doug!

TL I

A: Not sure there’s a shift in perspective more than an ability to speak openly and honestly that doesn’t exist when a coach is employed.

There is no way an active coach is going to be publicly and openly critical of another team or pick apart the abilities of players.

They think it – just like they think of and know the limitations of their own players – but it’s not politically astute to broadcast it worldwide when they’re actually working.

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Q: Hi Doug

You've asked for questions so I shall give you one. But before that I would like to express my thanks for helping us go through this not so good

season. Without the blog and all, following the Raps would be close to unbearable. Anyways.

Going through Thursday's Q&A I noticed you said that the HOTH would not have started 4-19 with Nash on the team because "he wouldn't let it

happen". Would you be willing to expand a bit on that? Can a veteran presence on a team make such a difference? Wasn't José able to provide this?

Many thanks,

Matthieu B, Bern

A: Yes, a veteran can make a huge difference in a team’s performance down the stretch of games. I can say with 100 per cent certainty that some of those last second losses wouldn’t have occurred with Steve running the show, he would have gotten someone a good shot, made one himself and just brought a sense of calm to everything.

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Q: I think we were all surprised to see Dwane spend much of training camp and the early season focusing on offence. His rep was as a defensive specialist and we saw improvement in that regard last year. So I'm wondering if Dwane was trying to do it Bryan's way at the start of the season but as we know that did not go well. It seemed out of character for Dwane but maybe he was trying to keep the boss happy. Thoughts?

Dave M, Puslinch

A: Not sure if it was totally trying to keep the boss happy but that might have been a small part of it. I do know they – organizationally – thought the offence was a problem last season and needed some work.

I agree they probably had too much focus on an area that could work itself out and I am certain Dwane regrets not putting more emphasis on defence at camp, he said as much to us in the middle of the season.

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Q: Hi Doug

Bill Simmons wrote this in his April 18, 2013 column:

"As for Valanciunas, the promising Raptors big man who's been averaging a 15-7 since mid-March, here's a true story: When Sam Presti was quietly shopping James Harden last October, he called Toronto to feel out a Jonas package. And got rebuffed. Quickly."

And there is a footnote to it:

"Our pal Chris Broussard told me this one and nearly made my eyeballs fly out of my head. But I got it confirmed - it's true.”

I'm wondering if you know more of the details of that proposal and I presume that other significant pieces were being sought as well. Because otherwise I find it astonishing.

Tom O

A: Astonishing? Why?

Don’t know what, if any, other significant pieces would have been included but they would have been substantial in order to make a maximum contract deal with Harden.

I don’t find it astonishing at all that Bryan wouldn’t want to include his best young player – a 7-footer with unlimited potential in a deal.

That’s not surprising at all.

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Q: Hi Doug,

I was wondering why you are talking about the Raptors including an asset of some degree in a Bargs trade. Why not just amnesty Andrea. I feel like this would be best as it would get rid of him, and we wouldn't lose anything (i.e. draft picks, or someone else). MLSE has the money. It is times like this they need to use it.

Thanks,

Isaac H, Toronto

A: Giving away assets for nothing to get nothing? Not the way I’d do business.

And to amnesty him gains you nothing, cap-wise, to bring anything back.

Look, this hate of Bargnani is out of all proportion and the scape-goating of him is ridiculous. Yes, he had a terrible, injury-plagued year; no, his NBA career is not over and he still a player in the league, regardless of what people here might think.

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Q: Doug,

Thanks for all the season-ending news and reflections. Following up on your article handing out grades earlier this week, I am wondering if you'd be prepared to tell us what your grades would have been for Calderon and Davis had their seasons continued in the same fashion as they started with the HOTH.

Thank you!

Kevin, Toronto

A: Probably C-pluses, but we also can never know since they were gone for about 30 games.

The end of the weekend mail

Told you there’d be more.

Have fun.

See you in the morning.

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Q: Hi Doug.

Last week in the mailbox you took me to task for the question about Rudy Gay. I asked about leadership and the thought process on an extension for him. Your response was something about too early to consider it.

On one hand, fair enough. On the other hand, I would open Brian and his henchmen have our #22 already penciled in for a specific value and role moving forward. It is likely far too early for them to share any information with fans, but I would think a pro-active front office always has their options in order.

If I was running the Raptors I would have a pay slot and designated role for Rudy Gay. I would also have then eight to ten guys that I would compare Rudy to for either trade or contract purposes.

Your rebuttal please.

Kevin Murray

A: Well, you’d be like every professional sports general manager on earth, then. They have an idea of what the value is of their players, they have contingency plans if things don’t work out and that’s just basic, common sense.

But they can’t be nearly as rigid as I think you might be suggesting, there are about a million contingencies to think about; injuries, a falloff or an improvement in play or other roster additions through trades or signings.

But as for an extension or anything longer than two years out, it’s folly to think seriously about anything, it’s pie in the sky stuff at the moment, like all long-term planning is.

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Q: Hey Doug,

On the scale of 1 - 10, where 1 is Joey Graham (frustrating inconsistent bench player) and 10 is Tracy McGrady (All-Star and scoring champ), where do you think Terrence Ross will end up? I know that it is impossible to tell and that he's most likely going to end up somewhere in the middle. But you've been around him for almost a year now so if you had to put a number to it, what would it be?

Thanks,

Jay

A: As you mentioned, this a total guess based on a very limited body of evidence but I’d probably say in the 6-7 range. A bit above average and that’s not too bad.

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Q: Hey Doug, love the blog and have been reading it daily for many years. I have a question about the history of coaches that have coached the Raptors since its inception. It seems as though none of them except for Lenny Wilkins had any prior head coaching experience.

Certainly not since Lenny. Kevin O'Neil, Sam Mitchell, Jay Triano, and now Dwayne Casey. All of these coaches were rookie head coaches having to coach young players and young teams. I can’t imagine it being very easy for a rookie coach to learn how to become a good one, while coaching young players that are still

learning the NBA game and how to be successful.

Wouldn't it make more sense to find an experienced coach for a change? One that can teach our young roster the game? I'm sure its costly, but certainly not impossible as the 76ers and the Wolves are both young teams that got Doug Collins and Rick Adelman and the teams they coached played well (Not getting anything back for Iguodala and Vucevic is obviously not Doug Collins fault) but I hope you understand my question.

No disrespect to any of the coaches in the history of the Raptors, but I wonder if an experienced head coach that's been to the playoffs and had success is what we need to actually get there. Seems like our players and coaches are consistently the poor man's version of someone else.

With the exception of Scott Brooks and Vinny Del Negro who both lucked out with all world talent at the top of their rosters, it seems like the combination of young coaches and young teams rarely "get there". What are you thoughts?

Ajit, Grand Cayman

A: I understand entirely and you have a valid point.

But I will counter it with this: Sometimes, it’s a chicken and egg thing; when you have a job opening for a head coach there might not be anyone who fits your criteria either (a) interested in the job or (b) worth pursuing if it’s simply a matter of recycling old coaches.

For instance, I don’t know how many people threw out the idea of hiring a “name” coach when they hired Dwane, as if it was a simple as calling, say, a Jeff Van Gundy and giving him the job. First, in that specific case he had no interest in coaching; other times it’s a matter of budget, what a GM thinks is best for his team and whether the job is even remotely attractive to someone with a wealth of experience. Some of that is the responsibility of the GM to deal with – like money and the willingness to give long-term deals – without question.

So, yes, in a perfect world they would have gone from proven winner to proven winner; we don’t live in anything remotely close to a perfect world.

But, yes, I do think a coach with limited head coaching experience can often teach well enough and grow fast enough that it works.

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Q: Hello Doug!

2-4-8. Has a nice ring, doesn't it? Reminds me of that old school yard cheer: "Two! Four! Six! Eight! Who do we appreciate?..." And you'd just fill in the name of the hero of the moment...and thinking of people who should be appreciated (in addition to you, of course) by Raptor supporters, here's a question for you. Earlier this week you offered up the most egregious blunders by Raps' management and, of course, Irregulars were able to suggest even more for consideration. (Bet that surprised you!)

But, in fairness, it's not all been a tale of Disasterous Decisions. Or has it?

Can you identify a couple of management decisions that - if not exactly mensa-like in their astuteness - advanced the franchise, short or long term, in its evolution. Thank you. (And soon it'll be: One! Two! Four! And Then No More! DRINK!!!)

Lorie P, London

A: I was actually going to do this one morning this week and probably will anyway.

So here are three quick ones and while I am going to scoop myself, we’ll get into them in more detail maybe Tuesday morning if I remember.

Engineering the draft of Vince Carter. Trading for Charles Oakley.

Finding Garbo and Anthony Parker on the relative cheap.

More later, as they say.

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Q: Top of the season to you, couple of random thoughts this week.

Regarding Kobe's injury, first and foremost please understand that in no way do I feel anything but bad for Kobe. Harkening back to a mailbag question from much earlier in this season in which I posited that maybe it was time to consider moving Kobe. I am not in any way gloating, but in the stark reality of the business world as it pertains to professional atheletes they are but "assets" or "liabilities" to their employers. In the unfortunate event that Kobe"s career has come to an end, as all careers must, then in this situation the Laker's organization has a taller mountain to climb in their attempt to replace Kobe(like there will EVER be another Kobe). Among all the tasks and decisions entrusted to the management of a team of any sort is to know when to "hold 'em or to fold 'em". Hopefully Kobe does not go out in this manner, from a humanisitic point of view he deserves far better.

Secondly, in consideration of Mike Weir's anniversary of his Masters win. Rivetted to the TV I was for that final round all those years ago, and most certainly I took great pride in his success for his country, beyond the fact that it was a great victory on it's own merits. Subsequent to his Master's win I began to think that expectations for his ongoing performances on the golf course were blown way beyond any reasonable degree. I truly hope that he has been able to enjoy his win and at no point afterward ever felt that somehow he was letting his country down by not being able to scale the mountain again.

As always thanks for what you do,

Doug T, Brantford

PS: visiting Hazelville tonight, the Harp for dinner followed by the Abbey Road Pub to catch a friend's band, it will just like old times!

A: I can tell you this about Mike, without doubt. He knew how much support he had and has here and desperately wanted to do well for his fans across Canada and it bothered him a bit that he never won a Canadian Open. But to be the first Canadian to win the Master’s was an incredible accomplishment and an historic moment that made him prouder than you can imagine.

And Abbey Road is like a home game for me, been there a few times and always enjoyed myself. Hope you did, too.

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Q: Hi Doug Smith

Just wondering about John Lucas. When he is on the floor, there seems to be added energy, not just from John but from some of the other guys as well. I know that a second unit guy's job is to bring a shot of energy into the game so I guess that explains some of what I see.

He seems to have good chemistry with his teammates; they seem drawn to him more than...well, you know...that guy who starts.

I don't know enough about the game to critique Lucas' play and

development so could shed some light on John Lucas and how he might fit in the Raptor plan? Assuming there is one. A plan, that is.

Doug, you sure took some heat for your Thatcher comments. Yikes. This town is in a very testy mood these days as Mr. Kelly pointed out.

Ditch Dickinson, The Beach

A: John’s biggest problem – and his biggest blessing – is that he’s more of a scoring guard than a point guard, he’ll often miss open guys because he’s trying to get his shot. I think his future here is, frankly, cloudy. There’s a team option at about $1.5 million for him next year and I’m not sure they’ll exercise it right now. He would come back to the role that he has, a third point guard and as a scorer off the bench in dire circumstances.

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Q: We are losing games this season by an average of 2.3 points. If we had just one more three-pointer made per game, we'd be between Brooklyn & Chicago, in 5th place! Which NCAA player or NBA free agent could fill the void? And which current player could they push out of the rotation?

Bo K, Mississauga

A: It’s certainly not that simple that pure arithmetic would suggest a five-team leap in the standings, I’m sure you understand that.

And I pretty much guarantee you that there is no college player ready to come in and consistently knock down NBA three-pointers on a regular basis, it’s a longer shot, the defenders are better and it’s not an easy transition at all. So, quite aside from a pipedream of a kid taken with a draft pick they don’t have, you can put that one out of mind. Please.

NBA free agents?

They don’t have enough cap space other than a mid-level exception to offer anyone and I’m not willing three months before the fact to suggest who might be a possible addition.