Last season you can argue the first time the Miami Heat rolled into town was the biggest game of the season. It was so big we packed St Louis Wings up the street from the ACC to watch the game on T.V. It was the biggest event of the Raptors season and it wasn't even close. A year later does anyone really care that Chris Bosh and his super friends are coming to town? I guess will see tonight. The Raptors have had only one sellout this season when Linsanity hit Toronto. Kobe Bryant couldn't sell the place out. Can Bosh along with his buddies Wade and James? Will see, but I don't think people care like when Vince Carter returns to Toronto. Bosh no doubt will get booed, but will it be an all game, loud every time he touches the ball type thing? I tend to doubt it. I just really don't care that he left anymore honestly. I understand why he did and agree with why he did to a large extent. How he left could have been done in a much more classy and mature way but that really doesn't make my blood boil. Bosh has taken a bigger bashing from the national media in the U.S than anything he could face here in Toronto. He wanted more fame and now he has it and he has got to see the disadvantage of that more than the advantage you can argue.
Bosh got to the NBA Finals, but honestly he was not the reason why they lost. His numbers in year two with the Heat are almost the same as they were in year one. Still, you can argue he has had a better year this year in fitting into his role for the Heat. He has a bit more element of respect this season as well. He played in a game with no Lebron and no Wade and was able to do what he did in Toronto and lead his team to a win. The focus of the pressure has shifted on to Lebron James and Chris Bosh has been able to slide into the background to a degree. He had to understand when he made the decision he did that he was going to be the third wheel in Miami. It is something I think deep down he is cool with.
When Bosh was in Toronto he was expected to be a leader and many felt he just wasn't. He was clearly their best player but he wasn't the best leader. He was better than Andrea Bargnani in terms of numbers though. The difference is that Bargnani is not expected to be the leader of this team. He is not the greatest interview in the world. Chris Bosh was a good interview and was always in high demand and after Vince Carter was traded became the Face of the Franchise long before he really should have. Bargnani no matter what he ultimately becomes will never truly be that face of the franchise in that sense. He just doesn't have the personality. Bosh loves the attention and it almost became a distraction to what was important. While he still gets his fair share of the attention he craves, because of a lot of it being negative, Bosh has pulled back some and focused on basketball more. Something many might have wished he did in his time with the Raptors.
In terms of how Raptor fans feel about Bosh it will never be to level people felt about T-Mac and Vince Carter. There just isn't that same hate for him that there was for those guys. Maybe after tonight I will change my mind, but I just don't get the sense that people really even care anymore. In terms of my own personal feelings they are much like the ones I have in regards to Vince Carter. I never have hated Vince just been more disappointed in him. I have the same disappointment about Bosh for a different reason. Vince I just am disappointed he never made the most out of his talent. In terms of Chris, I am disappointed that he lacked the class and respect that he had shown through most of his run with the Raptors. Bosh since going to Miami got a good dose of the lack of respect and class that he forgot about from the media and fans.
I am left to wonder if the Chris Bosh we saw in the first 6 years of his career in Toronto was actually the real guy. I liked that guy. The one I see in Miami now I don't. Did fame or the quest of fame change him? He would deny that he has changed at all and it is all of us that have changed. I don't think I have changed other than in my opinion of him.
There is a basketball game of course and the Heat come in off a win over the team that beat them in the NBA Finals. They now face the coach that was able to keep them in check for the most part in Dwane Casey. The amount of talent Casey has to stop them now is significantly less. The Heat have been by their terms struggling of late just 6-4 in their last 10 games. They sit three and half games behind the Bulls for the top seed in the East. Still they have a comfortable five game advantage over Orlando to hang on to the second spot. They recently lost to OKC on the road and I expect when all is said and done that is who they will see in the NBA Finals. The Raptors have had the ability to play above their heads against some very good teams. Not always pulling off the upset but making it a long night at the office for them. No matter what happens the Toronto fans will likely make it a long night for Chris Bosh. At least you would think they will. Perhaps they will feel like I do and could care little about Bosh being back in town. Indifference is far more insulting than any insult you could come up with to throw at Chris Bosh. This is a guy that if he has proven nothing else that he likes attention.
Showing posts with label Lebron James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lebron James. Show all posts
3/30/12
3/26/12
Superman Returns!!!
Earlier this month when Dwight Howard flew in to Toronto as a member of the Orlando Magic, many probably thought it might be for the last time as member of the Magic. The NBA Trade Deadline was looming and most experts felt the Magic had no choice but to trade their star. This based on what happened here in Toronto with Chris Bosh and in Cleveland with Lebron James. Those moves to create the Big 3 in Miami changed the landscape of the NBA perhaps forever. Despite a new CBA not much had changed in terms of teams being able to maintain their stars. There was talk of some type of franchise tag being part of that deal but it never materialized. Long before the Raptors lost Chris Bosh or even Vince Carter, the Magic lost Shaq to the L.A Lakers. This was more a case of deja vu for people in Orlando. Would they go the root the Utah Jazz who decided to learn from the mistakes of Toronto and Cleveland and traded their star point guard Deron Williams to the Nets. That seemed to be the popular conventional wisdom and it was the same root the Denver Nuggets would take in trading Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks. I think it is safe to say the Jazz and Nuggets are in far better shape than the Cavs and Raptors currently.
Many speculate as to why Dwight wanted to leave in the first place. Orlando had been to The Finals and have done like the Cavs and Raptors and tried to build a team around him. However, the blunders of Otis Smith especially recently in acquiring Gilbert Arenas and bringing back Hedo Turkoglu. Many feel that Howard has not been thrilled with Otis Smith's performance and that is something he shares with Orlando fans actually. Some also wonder in Stan Van Gundy and his rather gruff approach was part of the reason as well. Howard in the past had even made comments about the fact Van Gundy was always so negative and he had encouraged him to be more positive with the team. Not sure how successful that has been. Dwight was complicating the issue by it seemed at times almost daily changing his mind on the topic of if he wanted to stay or go from Orlando. Howard genuinely seems to love the fans in Orlando but also seems utterly unimpressed with management. I would venture to say Dwight cares more for the people in Orlando than Bosh does for people here in Toronto or James does for the people in Cleveland. Dwight seemed to want a way to leave Orlando and still be the good and fun loving guy that people love. He had seen how Lebron James was turned from super hero to super villain. What Howard could seem to understand was you can not make everyone happy and still do what you want and feel what is right for you.
So, the Magic had option A to trade Howard or option B, which was to gamble like the Raptors and Cavs did and risk being left with nothing as the franchise was when Shaq left for L.A as a free agent. In the end the managed to come up with an option C that saw Howard forgo his opportunity to become a free agent this some and agree to accept his player option for next season. They basically have postponed what might in fact be the inevitability of Howard leaving for at least a year. It seems pretty clear the Magic are not going to come anywhere close to winning a championship this season. Chicago recently dismantled the Magic and not even Superman is enough to beat the Big 3 down south in Miami. The Magic are not going to get any closer to a championship this year. Which is what this is all about for Howard. You wonder how things might be different if the Magic were able to defeat the Lakers for the lone NBA Finals Dwight Howard has made.
Raptor fans tend to wallow about how superstars have left here. Some believing it is all about Canada and take it as personal insult. There is a lesson in all of this for the Raptor fans. Orlando does not have the weather issue of Toronto. It is often brought up about the high taxes here in Canada for players. Well Orlando last I checked is the state of Florida which has no tax on income just like the same advantage the Miami Heat enjoy. At the end of the day you can come up with a million excuses as to why people leave Toronto. Ultimately it is no different than why they would leave Orlando, Milwaukee, Sacramento, Minnesota and many other teams. It comes down to to fundamental things. The first is fairly obvious and that is winning and having a player buy into the belief he can win a Championship with that organization. The second is not as obvious but it is about power. Vince Carter left in part because he was unhappy with the choice of Rob Babcock as G.M of the Raptors. He had his own person in mind that being Dr.J. While Carter was clearly right about Babcock there is no evidence to suggest his choice was right either. No NBA team has hired the NBA Legend since. I am unaware if he has even interviewed for an open position since than. That is just one example of a player wanting to have power. Now players and agents would spin what I am calling power into the word input. Whatever you care to call it most players want it. Notice the topic of money never came up. The truth is after a certain point the superstars in this league have made more than enough money. Money is something the guys on the lower ends of the food chain to worry about.
It is important to understand that lots of markets have their problems. None that can't be over come by that magic tonic that is winning. There is no doubt the Raptors have some of the most unique problems of any franchise in some ways but it is not like other teams don't have their issues as well. That brings me to a topic from the game against the Bulls. Which was a fantastic basketball game. Still instead of focusing on the fact the better team won and it was a great effort, it was a lot of Raptor fans blaming the refs. It was those same Refs that kicked out one of the Bulls best players halfway through the game. It was those refs that gave the Raptors 4 free throws that they made one of at the end of OT. Every team from time to time feels they don't get a fair shake from the refs it is not unique to fans in just Toronto. Can we just once say are guys played good and the other guys played better and we lost a close one.
Also this has nothing to do with taking on the Magic but a good example of why tanking is a guarantee of nothing with what went on in Atlanta. Anthony Davis most people believe is the number one pick in the upcoming draft. He got injured in his teams battle with Baylor. It looked serious at first, but he would return and play in the game still flavoring the knee his injured. However, you are always within the blink of an eye of everything changing. So to waste an entire season all with the goal to land on specific player is always one serious injury away from getting nothing. It is also why I will always support any college player that wants to leave school as soon as possible. Kentucky was never going to give Anthony Davis millions of dollars he would get in the draft if he were to go down and lose his basketball career. It is not to say Kentucky doesn't have the millions to do it, that is just how the NCAA works. Charles Barkley once famously said that college football and basketball were the last forms of legalized for of slavery in America. While that does come off as outlandish it is not that far from the truth. Also the Magic are a classic example of why you can never truly have faith in the NBA Lottery. They won back to back lottery's and the second time they had a less than 2% chance of winning.
As for the game itself? It is the same old story. Find a way to stop Dwight and if you can do that you have to find a way to guard the perimeter on defense with all their shooters. The Raptors and Magic once had a rivalry primarily based on players leaving Toronto. First there was Tracy McGrady that went directly to Orlando and then there was Vince who went via New Jersey and was traded to Magic eventually. There is no longer that buzz anymore. Not even the friendship between Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard that produced some of both guys best games of their careers. Dwight is taking a longer path than Bosh did in leaving Toronto but if anyone thinks he is going to be in Orlando long term you are fooling yourself. Just like Dwight is if he thinks giving the Magic an extra year is going to make his exit out of town any easier next season. Ask people that still boo T-Mac and Vince about how it works when you leave town. Fans get emotionally invested in players and even if you hear it 10,000 times that sports is a business for fans it never is. It is almost always personal.
So I am off to Toronto to cover this game. I was convinced Dwight Howard would be gone but I would still get a chance to see Stan Van Gundy as he was going to still be around. As it turns out both will be. As for the Raptors it will be interesting to see if both DeRozan and Bayless are able to play. Calderon would love to see Bayless are being pushed to limit there last two games with huge minutes. While DeRozan had been playing some of his best basketball of this season in the last 4 games. So will talk with you tomorrow with thoughts on this one.
Many speculate as to why Dwight wanted to leave in the first place. Orlando had been to The Finals and have done like the Cavs and Raptors and tried to build a team around him. However, the blunders of Otis Smith especially recently in acquiring Gilbert Arenas and bringing back Hedo Turkoglu. Many feel that Howard has not been thrilled with Otis Smith's performance and that is something he shares with Orlando fans actually. Some also wonder in Stan Van Gundy and his rather gruff approach was part of the reason as well. Howard in the past had even made comments about the fact Van Gundy was always so negative and he had encouraged him to be more positive with the team. Not sure how successful that has been. Dwight was complicating the issue by it seemed at times almost daily changing his mind on the topic of if he wanted to stay or go from Orlando. Howard genuinely seems to love the fans in Orlando but also seems utterly unimpressed with management. I would venture to say Dwight cares more for the people in Orlando than Bosh does for people here in Toronto or James does for the people in Cleveland. Dwight seemed to want a way to leave Orlando and still be the good and fun loving guy that people love. He had seen how Lebron James was turned from super hero to super villain. What Howard could seem to understand was you can not make everyone happy and still do what you want and feel what is right for you.
So, the Magic had option A to trade Howard or option B, which was to gamble like the Raptors and Cavs did and risk being left with nothing as the franchise was when Shaq left for L.A as a free agent. In the end the managed to come up with an option C that saw Howard forgo his opportunity to become a free agent this some and agree to accept his player option for next season. They basically have postponed what might in fact be the inevitability of Howard leaving for at least a year. It seems pretty clear the Magic are not going to come anywhere close to winning a championship this season. Chicago recently dismantled the Magic and not even Superman is enough to beat the Big 3 down south in Miami. The Magic are not going to get any closer to a championship this year. Which is what this is all about for Howard. You wonder how things might be different if the Magic were able to defeat the Lakers for the lone NBA Finals Dwight Howard has made.
Raptor fans tend to wallow about how superstars have left here. Some believing it is all about Canada and take it as personal insult. There is a lesson in all of this for the Raptor fans. Orlando does not have the weather issue of Toronto. It is often brought up about the high taxes here in Canada for players. Well Orlando last I checked is the state of Florida which has no tax on income just like the same advantage the Miami Heat enjoy. At the end of the day you can come up with a million excuses as to why people leave Toronto. Ultimately it is no different than why they would leave Orlando, Milwaukee, Sacramento, Minnesota and many other teams. It comes down to to fundamental things. The first is fairly obvious and that is winning and having a player buy into the belief he can win a Championship with that organization. The second is not as obvious but it is about power. Vince Carter left in part because he was unhappy with the choice of Rob Babcock as G.M of the Raptors. He had his own person in mind that being Dr.J. While Carter was clearly right about Babcock there is no evidence to suggest his choice was right either. No NBA team has hired the NBA Legend since. I am unaware if he has even interviewed for an open position since than. That is just one example of a player wanting to have power. Now players and agents would spin what I am calling power into the word input. Whatever you care to call it most players want it. Notice the topic of money never came up. The truth is after a certain point the superstars in this league have made more than enough money. Money is something the guys on the lower ends of the food chain to worry about.
It is important to understand that lots of markets have their problems. None that can't be over come by that magic tonic that is winning. There is no doubt the Raptors have some of the most unique problems of any franchise in some ways but it is not like other teams don't have their issues as well. That brings me to a topic from the game against the Bulls. Which was a fantastic basketball game. Still instead of focusing on the fact the better team won and it was a great effort, it was a lot of Raptor fans blaming the refs. It was those same Refs that kicked out one of the Bulls best players halfway through the game. It was those refs that gave the Raptors 4 free throws that they made one of at the end of OT. Every team from time to time feels they don't get a fair shake from the refs it is not unique to fans in just Toronto. Can we just once say are guys played good and the other guys played better and we lost a close one.
Also this has nothing to do with taking on the Magic but a good example of why tanking is a guarantee of nothing with what went on in Atlanta. Anthony Davis most people believe is the number one pick in the upcoming draft. He got injured in his teams battle with Baylor. It looked serious at first, but he would return and play in the game still flavoring the knee his injured. However, you are always within the blink of an eye of everything changing. So to waste an entire season all with the goal to land on specific player is always one serious injury away from getting nothing. It is also why I will always support any college player that wants to leave school as soon as possible. Kentucky was never going to give Anthony Davis millions of dollars he would get in the draft if he were to go down and lose his basketball career. It is not to say Kentucky doesn't have the millions to do it, that is just how the NCAA works. Charles Barkley once famously said that college football and basketball were the last forms of legalized for of slavery in America. While that does come off as outlandish it is not that far from the truth. Also the Magic are a classic example of why you can never truly have faith in the NBA Lottery. They won back to back lottery's and the second time they had a less than 2% chance of winning.
As for the game itself? It is the same old story. Find a way to stop Dwight and if you can do that you have to find a way to guard the perimeter on defense with all their shooters. The Raptors and Magic once had a rivalry primarily based on players leaving Toronto. First there was Tracy McGrady that went directly to Orlando and then there was Vince who went via New Jersey and was traded to Magic eventually. There is no longer that buzz anymore. Not even the friendship between Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard that produced some of both guys best games of their careers. Dwight is taking a longer path than Bosh did in leaving Toronto but if anyone thinks he is going to be in Orlando long term you are fooling yourself. Just like Dwight is if he thinks giving the Magic an extra year is going to make his exit out of town any easier next season. Ask people that still boo T-Mac and Vince about how it works when you leave town. Fans get emotionally invested in players and even if you hear it 10,000 times that sports is a business for fans it never is. It is almost always personal.
So I am off to Toronto to cover this game. I was convinced Dwight Howard would be gone but I would still get a chance to see Stan Van Gundy as he was going to still be around. As it turns out both will be. As for the Raptors it will be interesting to see if both DeRozan and Bayless are able to play. Calderon would love to see Bayless are being pushed to limit there last two games with huge minutes. While DeRozan had been playing some of his best basketball of this season in the last 4 games. So will talk with you tomorrow with thoughts on this one.
2/5/12
Raptors Surprise Folks With Entertaining Effort In Miami
So let's be honest no one really expected the Raptors to win today. That being said they sure gave an effort to try and make you believe they could. It started out looking like the game many expected. The Raptors would score first but then the Heat would rail off 8 straight points. But the Raptors fought back and took the lead. This would be a theme that would continue through out the day. The Heat proved they were the better team with what was at best a B- effort for them. That might even be kind. Who had an A+ effort, and it started from the first quarter, was Demar DeRozan and it continued to the very end of the game tipping a long pass in the late stages off Dwyane Wade. At first it looked like it was going to be a long day. DeRozan was matched up with Lebron James on defence. Lebron scored easily on first few trips matched up with him. But Demar was attacking with purpose today. He had 11 points in the first Quarter and had an unbelievable jam in the 2nd, as he drove down the heart of the lane past 4 Heat players. He had, when it was all said and done 25 points on 8-16, 9-11 at the line and had 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a couple steals. In the end Lebron James was better than that with 30 points going 10-17 and had 9 rebounds and 2 assists. Those stat lines kind of mirrored the game as whole.
The Heat each time they would start to look to pull away the Raptors would find a way to fight back. The Raptors were just down 53-48 at the half time break. In some ways they were playing a far better game than there demolition of the Wizards on Friday night at home. But the Heat are not the Wizards. Things really took a turn for the worse when James Johnson turned his ankle. The Raptors best defender was forced to take a seat and it seemed like the Raptors had a good 32 minutes but the blowout was on. The Heat's lead started to grow and grow, while the Raptors offence for the first time in the game had skids at the worst time. Johnson would comeback later in the game. His status tomorrow in Washington will be important news for the Raptors. So as you probably started to make your plans for the Super Bowl the Raptors once again had a run in them. They would get as close as 3 points down in the late stages. But the Heat were just to much and to good for the Raptors to complete the miracle upset. Miami takes this one by just 6 points winning 95-89.
What was interesting was for most of this game it was an up and down the floor affair that was very entertaining. But it sure didn't seem like a style that was going to be one the Raptors could hang in the game with. But hang they did and if you believe in moral victories the Raptors got one today. But more importantly will be what they do with back to back solid performances. A re-match with a Wizards a team that was resting today kicking back on Super Bowl Sunday, should prove to be not so easy. It is safe to say the Wizards will be looking to get some pay back for a terrible performance by them in Toronto on Friday. It is vital for Demar DeRozan that we see something similar from him tomorrow. This was in my view his best performance of the season. But the NBA is a what have you done for me lately business. So it will be all about what he can do for an encore. Jerryd Bayless and Linas Kleiza were of help today as both had 17 points. If you want to look at an example of what we can't see from Demar look at Amir Johnson today. After a breakout performance he was not much of a factor today with 2 points and just 6 rebounds.
Another thing that stuck me was how little Chris Bosh stuck out for me in this game. He struggled going 3-13 with 12 points and 8 rebounds. But it wasn't just that. I just never cared to notice him. There has never been a game when Vince Carter or Tracy McGrady has played against the Raptors home or away that I was not fully aware of them at all times. Bosh today blended into the scenery. I am not sure what that says about him or me, there is just not that fire and anger in terms of Bosh. On March 30th in Toronto that might change for folks. But I am not really sure if Bosh will ever be on that level for folks in Toronto. Time will tell for a lot of things. But in the here and now looking at just this game you had to be pleased with the Raptors effort against one of the best teams in the NBA, if not the best.
The Heat each time they would start to look to pull away the Raptors would find a way to fight back. The Raptors were just down 53-48 at the half time break. In some ways they were playing a far better game than there demolition of the Wizards on Friday night at home. But the Heat are not the Wizards. Things really took a turn for the worse when James Johnson turned his ankle. The Raptors best defender was forced to take a seat and it seemed like the Raptors had a good 32 minutes but the blowout was on. The Heat's lead started to grow and grow, while the Raptors offence for the first time in the game had skids at the worst time. Johnson would comeback later in the game. His status tomorrow in Washington will be important news for the Raptors. So as you probably started to make your plans for the Super Bowl the Raptors once again had a run in them. They would get as close as 3 points down in the late stages. But the Heat were just to much and to good for the Raptors to complete the miracle upset. Miami takes this one by just 6 points winning 95-89.
What was interesting was for most of this game it was an up and down the floor affair that was very entertaining. But it sure didn't seem like a style that was going to be one the Raptors could hang in the game with. But hang they did and if you believe in moral victories the Raptors got one today. But more importantly will be what they do with back to back solid performances. A re-match with a Wizards a team that was resting today kicking back on Super Bowl Sunday, should prove to be not so easy. It is safe to say the Wizards will be looking to get some pay back for a terrible performance by them in Toronto on Friday. It is vital for Demar DeRozan that we see something similar from him tomorrow. This was in my view his best performance of the season. But the NBA is a what have you done for me lately business. So it will be all about what he can do for an encore. Jerryd Bayless and Linas Kleiza were of help today as both had 17 points. If you want to look at an example of what we can't see from Demar look at Amir Johnson today. After a breakout performance he was not much of a factor today with 2 points and just 6 rebounds.
Another thing that stuck me was how little Chris Bosh stuck out for me in this game. He struggled going 3-13 with 12 points and 8 rebounds. But it wasn't just that. I just never cared to notice him. There has never been a game when Vince Carter or Tracy McGrady has played against the Raptors home or away that I was not fully aware of them at all times. Bosh today blended into the scenery. I am not sure what that says about him or me, there is just not that fire and anger in terms of Bosh. On March 30th in Toronto that might change for folks. But I am not really sure if Bosh will ever be on that level for folks in Toronto. Time will tell for a lot of things. But in the here and now looking at just this game you had to be pleased with the Raptors effort against one of the best teams in the NBA, if not the best.
The Heat Is On!!
I was stunned to hear a conversation on NBA-TV (Not NBA TV Canada) about if the Raptors could be a playoff contender. It seemed crazy to consider a 8-16 team as a playoff team. But as we enter Sunday the Raptors sit 2.5 games behind the 10-13 Bucks for 8th in the East. The Raptors are 6-7 win Andrea Bargnani and 2-9 without him. So, if Bargnani is able to return sooner rather than later it is not a totally insane thought. If the Raptors some how made it to the playoffs there is a good chance they might play the Miami Heat. The Heat enter today at 17-6 a game and half behind the Chicago Bulls. On paper a match-up with the Raptors and Heat in playoffs would be a 4-0 slam dunk for Miami. A regular season game with no Bargnani offers even less hope of a win. The Heat are 10-2 on their home floor. Chris Bosh is playing closer to the Bosh we remember in Toronto than the inconsistent 3rd wheel that many last season refused to acknowledge as part of the big three. Bosh is averaging 20 points a game and 7.7 rebounds. The Heat after a failed trip to the NBA Finals are not the circus that they were last season. Another guy that is playing more like the former version of himself is Lebron James. Averaging 29.2 points, 7 assists and 8.5 Rebounds. Bosh and James have been so good it as led some to say that they really don't even need Dwyane Wade. It has been an injury plagued season for Wade and he is only averaging .7 points more than Chris Bosh. Added to the mix this season for Miami was Shane Battier who helps a team that already played a solid brand of defence.
So how can the Raptors win this game? They can't or shouldn't have a chance to win this game. Only way they have a chance is if Miami beats Miami. Which playing an early game on Super Bowl Sunday might have already happened in the bars on South Beach. But even a Heat team that partied all night still might have enough for the Bargnani free Raptors. All that said the Raptors are coming off one of their better performances of the season. But that was against the Washington Wizards. There is nothing about the Wizards that resembles the Heat.
So 3 Keys:
Stop Bosh: Miami being Miami will likely look to target Bosh and try and give him a big day vs his former team. So expect the Heat to feed him the ball often. He is going get his if they have anything to say about. Trouble is how much can you really ask a team to focus on Bosh with James and Wade on the floor. If it was me I would stick Amir Johnson on him and take my chances it doesn't get him in foul trouble.
Score 48: No not 48 points. That would be bad. Score for 48 minutes, if the Raptors hit any scoring droughts they are dead. Heat can score easy and often most times and you need to keep pace. A traditional first quarter failure from the Raptors and this game will be over at half time.
Identify Shooters: Important to realize when shooters are on the floor. Guys like Mike Miller and others that are capable of making 3 pointers. It is hard enough to stop the Big 3 as it is let alone if they have guys dropping bombs from around the 3 point arc.
Raptors will lose today that is almost certain but the good news is they move on to play the Wizards. They just need to not get dismantled today and still feel good about themselves when they leave Miami. They might not feel so good about missing the Super Bowl. But this is a business trip after all.
So how can the Raptors win this game? They can't or shouldn't have a chance to win this game. Only way they have a chance is if Miami beats Miami. Which playing an early game on Super Bowl Sunday might have already happened in the bars on South Beach. But even a Heat team that partied all night still might have enough for the Bargnani free Raptors. All that said the Raptors are coming off one of their better performances of the season. But that was against the Washington Wizards. There is nothing about the Wizards that resembles the Heat.
So 3 Keys:
Stop Bosh: Miami being Miami will likely look to target Bosh and try and give him a big day vs his former team. So expect the Heat to feed him the ball often. He is going get his if they have anything to say about. Trouble is how much can you really ask a team to focus on Bosh with James and Wade on the floor. If it was me I would stick Amir Johnson on him and take my chances it doesn't get him in foul trouble.
Score 48: No not 48 points. That would be bad. Score for 48 minutes, if the Raptors hit any scoring droughts they are dead. Heat can score easy and often most times and you need to keep pace. A traditional first quarter failure from the Raptors and this game will be over at half time.
Identify Shooters: Important to realize when shooters are on the floor. Guys like Mike Miller and others that are capable of making 3 pointers. It is hard enough to stop the Big 3 as it is let alone if they have guys dropping bombs from around the 3 point arc.
Raptors will lose today that is almost certain but the good news is they move on to play the Wizards. They just need to not get dismantled today and still feel good about themselves when they leave Miami. They might not feel so good about missing the Super Bowl. But this is a business trip after all.
1/9/12
Spain's Civil War Round One
Knowing Jose Calderon it is unlikely he is going to say a bad thing about Ricky Rubio. However it has always been a tense relationship between the two as they have battled for playing time in the summer for Spain over the years. That battle now hits the floors of the NBA and the first one will take place in Toronto. Rubio has dazzled the NBA after his long awaited debut. Drafted all the way back in 2009 he finally has made his way to the NBA. So if you are upset having to wait a year for Jonas Valanciunas think how people in Minnesota have felt. The Raptors only hope the transition for him goes as well as it has for Rubio. Personally I took a flyer on Rubio in fantasy basketball and am one happy owner. He has impressive stats across the board with 9.9 points per game, 7.6 assists, 1.1 steals and is averaging 50% from behind the 3 point line with a hair under 4 rebounds a game at 3.9 rebounds per game. Calderon has better numbers overall with 12.4 points per game, 9.4 assists the one major difference is in 3 point % where Rubio has the clear advantage with Calderon at just 38.7%. Spain will be watching even if North America in general might find the T-Wolves vs Raptors a snooze.
So three points for tonight's Match-Up:
Ed and Demar Please Stand Up- It has been a rough go for the Raptors two most recent draft picks on the roster. Both are in bad need of good nights. As the Raptors begin this back to back to back it is vital these guys get going in the right direction.
Energy Level- Raptors will have a tough time dealing with Kevin Love who is taking his "Numbers" to incredible levels. I mean his stats not his cheesy PR driven fragrance for men. The Raptors will need to match the T-Wolves energy and battle hard on the glass. If they don't you can see a result like they had vs the Nets or worse like they had vs the Sixers.
Limit Rubio- If there is anyone that would have a good scouting report on what Ricky Rubio can do it has to be Jose Calderon right? So will see if Jose is able to help his Raptor amigos in how to stop the Spanish Fly that is Ricky Rubio on defence.
Win lose or draw Raps will hop on a plane and head for Washington. They will not get to visit Obama though. The Mavs are doing that today and Vince Carter is meeting the President. Doesn't that just turn your stomach? Leave it to Vince to find a way to meet the President of the United States without winning a championship. That being said Lebron James has met him several times and campaigned for him in the last election. When people liked Lebron in Ohio which in politics is a big swing state. But that is a different story for another blog. In terms of this blog we are not asking for much, just a game that I can watch and not feel like I am being punished for doing something wrong.
So three points for tonight's Match-Up:
Ed and Demar Please Stand Up- It has been a rough go for the Raptors two most recent draft picks on the roster. Both are in bad need of good nights. As the Raptors begin this back to back to back it is vital these guys get going in the right direction.
Energy Level- Raptors will have a tough time dealing with Kevin Love who is taking his "Numbers" to incredible levels. I mean his stats not his cheesy PR driven fragrance for men. The Raptors will need to match the T-Wolves energy and battle hard on the glass. If they don't you can see a result like they had vs the Nets or worse like they had vs the Sixers.
Limit Rubio- If there is anyone that would have a good scouting report on what Ricky Rubio can do it has to be Jose Calderon right? So will see if Jose is able to help his Raptor amigos in how to stop the Spanish Fly that is Ricky Rubio on defence.
Win lose or draw Raps will hop on a plane and head for Washington. They will not get to visit Obama though. The Mavs are doing that today and Vince Carter is meeting the President. Doesn't that just turn your stomach? Leave it to Vince to find a way to meet the President of the United States without winning a championship. That being said Lebron James has met him several times and campaigned for him in the last election. When people liked Lebron in Ohio which in politics is a big swing state. But that is a different story for another blog. In terms of this blog we are not asking for much, just a game that I can watch and not feel like I am being punished for doing something wrong.
8/18/11
DNB Top 10- Things I Have Learned During Lockout
Hello all back again...NBA Lockout is still going on with no signs of stopping anytime soon. So today I thought I would share some things I have learned from the experience. Some are funny some are true. So with that drum roll please. What no drum roll? We can't afford to pay for that these are tough times.
#10- NFL Network is much better at filler than NBATV Canada. I mean if a network can make the NFL Combine into a show really a lockout is a peace of cake.
#9- I forgot how much I truly love the CFL. Have had chance to watch much more than I normally would. To all my friends in Toronto this probably does not apply if you have been watching the Argos.
#8- In every Labour dispute as in any divorce there is really only one winner....Lawyers.
#7- I really don't have to be on Twitter 24 hours a day or even an hour a day. Life still goes on surprisingly
#6- People will go to any lengths to try to create content. I mean some of the things I have seen during this lockout are just a joke. But people are trying to keep working and keep their audiences entertained and engaged. But let's face it with no actual league to cover that is challenging.
#5- Lockout or not Raptor fans never change. Jonas Valanciunas may be inducted into the hall of fame before he ever plays an NBA Game. While Andrea Bargnani would be lucky if they let him in the door.
#4- Just how awful the WWE has become. I mean seriously. I am the Dinoblogger and I am more Awesome than anything I see on their programming. I once almost applied for a job writing for WWE. That was till I got to the line about having 5 years of soap opera writing experience.
#3- How much the game of basketball has brought so many great people into my life and how without it you don't end up seeing them as much.
#2- That Lebron James truly has no clue. Lebron thinks this is all going to get solved by November. I will bet him his Championship Ring...oh wait. Well at least if there is no season Lebron only has to win 4 Championships now in Miami.
#1- Life happens with the NBA or without it. The more people start to realize this the worse it will be for the NBA.
So that is my list I am sure you all have you own. So leave some comments if you like with yours. Or just say hello because at the rate this lockout is going we all might need name tags if we wait for basketball to be back. Hello my name is James Borbath in case you forgot. Take care folks and see you next Tuesday unless a miracle happens and the NBA Lockout ends before than. Not holding my breath for that.
6/13/11
It Is All Over For Another Year
Well another season is done and it offered many surprises along the way. What started with a decision and a pre-season championship celebration ended with Mark Cuban's Mavs winning it all. No one could have seen that coming. Dirk Nowitzki had been known for failure more than success. He won the MVP and then his team was knocked out in the first round. He lost to Miami with Wade and Shaq after seemingly having the series under control. If anyone was going to stop the MWO and South Beach Heat few would have said it would be the under achieving German superstar. I admit I have always been one of the people that have never given the Mavs a ton of credit. They were always a team that choked in the clutch. But they are no longer that, they will forever be NBA Champions. Perhaps the most unlikely Champions in the NBA since the Pistons stunned Kobe and Shaq in the NBA Finals and won a title with Larry Brown.
Celebrate the Mavs for what they did. For the fact a number of veteran guys were able to finally win a title. Earlier in the week I heard Charles Barkley on the radio talking about why people don't like the Miami Heat. He said it was the arrogance of how easy they felt it would be to win a championship. Something that Barkley was never able to accomplish. He like other greats like Pat Ewing, Karl Malone and a list of many others spent a career chasing that elusive championship. Lebron James has been chasing a title too. After years of trying and failing with little support in Cleveland he became part of this group that decided to join forces and look for the fast track to the NBA Title. But the short cut only got them to the door step of that title. Only to see a group that they likely never expected to see celebrate on their home floor. It was suppose to be Kobe and Lakers to challenge this group not the Mavs. But the Mavs swept them away and ended Phil Jackson's career in utterly stunning fashion. They in equally stunning fashion stunned the Miami Heat.
Mark Cuban deserves great credit for taking a team that was always in second place to the Dallas Cowboys and making them relevant in Dallas. Something we can relate to in Toronto with the Raptors always being in the shadow of hockey and Maple Leafs. Cuban took this franchise from no where and ultimately has been rewarded with a championship. There is no owner in the NBA that I would be more happy for. He has been fined by the league and shot off his mouth for years with the goal of challenging this league and his team to be better. In a true act of class Cuban allowed the first ever owner of the Mavs to be given the NBA Championship. Something he has worked hard for and spent a ton of money for and yet he allows someone else to touch the trophy he has wanted for so long before him. Mark Cuban makes more money than Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined. Yet people for the most part love Cuban and hate them. The act of Cuban doing something classy like that is part of why. But the deeper reason is we see Mark Cuban as a fan like us. While Lebron James tells all of you that cheer in his demise that eventually you will have to go back to your actual lives. That he will be happy with his life and choices he has made. Mark Cuban is a guy that you believe if you met him in a bar he would likely have a beer with you and talk to you for 5 minute. The MWO are guys that hang out in the VIP area and would not be caught dead hanging with you common folks.
It was a great season in a lot of ways. It might have been the start of a changing of the guard in the NBA. Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin lead a new generation of superstars that are looking to take the torch from the Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and other superstars coming to the end of the line. In fact with the uncertain future of an NBA Lockout who is to say we have not seen the last of more than just Shaq when we are playing basketball again.
Ironically after one of the best seasons in the NBA in a long time and followed by one of the most interesting playoffs in years the NBA stands on the abyss of joining the NFL is labour hell. We will be lucky if we see another basketball game in the NBA in 2011. That is not exactly something anyone wants to hear but it could in fact be the reality.
Mavericks won a title the right way and although I really have no love for them, I do respect what they have done. At least I am honest about it. I never picked them to win any of the 4 series they did win. I am not going to be a hypocrite like so many made themselves by cheering for anyone that could stop the Miami Heat. Pumping up the Mavericks more as a way to insult the Heat. For those that are true Mavericks fans I offer sincere congratulations. For those of you just cheering for Miami to lose, I just shake my head. People mocking Chris Bosh for crying but applauding Dirk for doing the same. At the end of the day people that root against the Heat have become just as bad as the guys they hate. In fact perhaps more so.
Miami will be back and depending on how the CBA turns out they could be much stronger when they do. But the real story now is when will you get to see basketball again? Not even the MWO can stop a lockout. Only David Stern and Billy Hunter can get that done. It could be a long a cruel summer turning into a long and cold fall without basketball. It is a shame coming off such a great season of basketball.
Celebrate the Mavs for what they did. For the fact a number of veteran guys were able to finally win a title. Earlier in the week I heard Charles Barkley on the radio talking about why people don't like the Miami Heat. He said it was the arrogance of how easy they felt it would be to win a championship. Something that Barkley was never able to accomplish. He like other greats like Pat Ewing, Karl Malone and a list of many others spent a career chasing that elusive championship. Lebron James has been chasing a title too. After years of trying and failing with little support in Cleveland he became part of this group that decided to join forces and look for the fast track to the NBA Title. But the short cut only got them to the door step of that title. Only to see a group that they likely never expected to see celebrate on their home floor. It was suppose to be Kobe and Lakers to challenge this group not the Mavs. But the Mavs swept them away and ended Phil Jackson's career in utterly stunning fashion. They in equally stunning fashion stunned the Miami Heat.
Mark Cuban deserves great credit for taking a team that was always in second place to the Dallas Cowboys and making them relevant in Dallas. Something we can relate to in Toronto with the Raptors always being in the shadow of hockey and Maple Leafs. Cuban took this franchise from no where and ultimately has been rewarded with a championship. There is no owner in the NBA that I would be more happy for. He has been fined by the league and shot off his mouth for years with the goal of challenging this league and his team to be better. In a true act of class Cuban allowed the first ever owner of the Mavs to be given the NBA Championship. Something he has worked hard for and spent a ton of money for and yet he allows someone else to touch the trophy he has wanted for so long before him. Mark Cuban makes more money than Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined. Yet people for the most part love Cuban and hate them. The act of Cuban doing something classy like that is part of why. But the deeper reason is we see Mark Cuban as a fan like us. While Lebron James tells all of you that cheer in his demise that eventually you will have to go back to your actual lives. That he will be happy with his life and choices he has made. Mark Cuban is a guy that you believe if you met him in a bar he would likely have a beer with you and talk to you for 5 minute. The MWO are guys that hang out in the VIP area and would not be caught dead hanging with you common folks.
It was a great season in a lot of ways. It might have been the start of a changing of the guard in the NBA. Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin lead a new generation of superstars that are looking to take the torch from the Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and other superstars coming to the end of the line. In fact with the uncertain future of an NBA Lockout who is to say we have not seen the last of more than just Shaq when we are playing basketball again.
Ironically after one of the best seasons in the NBA in a long time and followed by one of the most interesting playoffs in years the NBA stands on the abyss of joining the NFL is labour hell. We will be lucky if we see another basketball game in the NBA in 2011. That is not exactly something anyone wants to hear but it could in fact be the reality.
Mavericks won a title the right way and although I really have no love for them, I do respect what they have done. At least I am honest about it. I never picked them to win any of the 4 series they did win. I am not going to be a hypocrite like so many made themselves by cheering for anyone that could stop the Miami Heat. Pumping up the Mavericks more as a way to insult the Heat. For those that are true Mavericks fans I offer sincere congratulations. For those of you just cheering for Miami to lose, I just shake my head. People mocking Chris Bosh for crying but applauding Dirk for doing the same. At the end of the day people that root against the Heat have become just as bad as the guys they hate. In fact perhaps more so.
Miami will be back and depending on how the CBA turns out they could be much stronger when they do. But the real story now is when will you get to see basketball again? Not even the MWO can stop a lockout. Only David Stern and Billy Hunter can get that done. It could be a long a cruel summer turning into a long and cold fall without basketball. It is a shame coming off such a great season of basketball.
3/29/11
"NBAz in 7 Dayz"
In case you haven't heard, another 'Big Three' are in the headlines. Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are all suffering from one injury or another and the San Antonio Spurs have no timeline for their return. Talk about bad timing. Or is it? Each player has legitimate injuries which need healing and time off. On the flipside, if they took a little extra time before the playoffs to rest, it wouldn't be the first time a team rested its top players. Look at LeBron in his last year with Cleveland: this move didn't work in their favour but Cleveland was also not in the spot that San Antonio is now. The Spurs are also without Antonio McDyess (sore back). A whack of injuries all at once comes as a surprise since there are 9 games left in the season and the Spurs have been relatively injury free up until this point. Even Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich admits in the case of McDyess, his extended rest may have something to do with the playoffs on the horizon. San Antonio's next game is Thursday against Boston. Coach Popovich thinks maybe Tony Parker and his left knee contusion could heal and make the line-up by then. However, he doesn't know when Ginobili and his left quad contusion will return or Tim Duncan and his sprained ankle for that matter. Maybe this is all a part of their strategy - to make their opponents think they are fallible and create the false confidence the Spurs are going to wobble into the playoffs. Fat chance. If I were Coach Popovich, I would be milking the time off for my starters and giving them the time to rest. Having the best record in the league right now gives you that luxury.
Someone who will not be living 'La Vida Luxury' in Cleveland Tuesday night is LeBron James. Let's talk about the second homecoming of the Miami Heat, Julian Wright and his misguidance and the Sacramento Kings in what could be their final days.
Wright not so Right
If you were an OK player making decent money playing professional basketball on a losing team, would you make the colossal mistake of refusing to play or would you fight for your right to be there? I would take the latter but Julian Wright of the Toronto Raptors didn't. He really is a good guy which is why this news came as a shock to me. In the Raptors' 138-100 loss to Golden State last Friday, Julian Wright is listed as "DNP [Did Not Play] - Coach's decision". Do we really believe Jay Triano woke up Friday morning and said, "Hmmm. Not feelin' JW today - he's a scratch". This is what I don't get. Julian Wright is making close to $3 million right now with one year left in his contract. I can see how anyone would not want to play against the Warriors and get pumped by almost forty points. Maybe the Raptors dealing a fair share of "DNPs" to Wright is their way of suspending him or 'dealing with it internally' as they put it, but it still doesn't sit right with me. Maybe they are giving him a chance because he is a good guy, knowing if they set him free now they would not realistically get anything to help him or the Raptors? All I know is, if this happened in the world outside professional sports, it would get you fired. End of Story.
"No Place Like Home" - LeBron James
This is what popped up on my Facebook news feed as soon as I checked it this morning. Knowing he is returning to Cleveland Tuesday night, I checked out some of the comments following. Most contained expletives either for or against. I will not dignify or legitimize them by a re-post here. However this one stood out for me as the one intelligent argument out of the over 900 posted: "Cleveland fans, you knew he was a free agent at the end of the season, you knew he could well move somewhere else. He did, did that honestly surprise you? He hadn't won a championship in Cleveland and he went where he thought he would have the best chance of winning. Get over it now, someone else will come along eventually". Someone else will come along eventually? Maybe. Are they getting over it? Yes and no. Cleveland Head Coach Byron Scott doesn't think the hype will be at the level it was last time but he understands the anger still exists and says both the fans and the team remember what happened last time they met Miami. The team has changed, too remember. Familiar faces for LeBron like Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varejao are both out for the remainder of the season due to injury. Plus, the Cavs traded Mo Williams, Jamario Moon and released Leon Powe since LeBron was last in town. Daniel Gibson, J.J. Hickson and Anthony Parker are the three remaining healthy players who actually played with LeBron. It seems like the fans and the team are moving on but clearly the goal for the team and Cavs fans alike remains the same: beat LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
Sacramento Kings saying goodbye?
It is not yet a done deal but it looks like after 26 years of being in Sacramento, the Kings may be on the move. Sacramento Mayor and former NBA player Kevin Johnson describes the franchise's possible move to Anaheim as a slow and painful death. He met with Kings' owners Joe and Gavin Maloof last month and feels the team is on the move after this season. This is where things get a little weird for me. So after years of not getting public money to build a new arena, Kings owners began talking to Anaheim officials to see what their options were. Yet Mayor Johnson maintains that his city needs to focus on building a new arena with or without the Kings. This raises some major red flags if I was an NBA fan and voter living in Sacramento. If Kevin Johnson is the Mayor of Sacramento and he believes his city's true destiny is to be a professional sports town and the only thing standing in their way is a new arena, why couldn't someone with his obvious background make it happen? The crux of the issue surrounds public funding of a new arena. Joe and Gavin Maloof want it and Mayor Johnson wants to kinda-sorta-maybe give it. If the voters don't want public money used for the arena and this has been on the table for years, how does Mayor Johnson make his dreams of being the leader of a professional sports city or even keep his job for that matter?
Now, Kings owner Joe Maloof is making his first public comments about his franchise's possible move to Anaheim. According to a letter written by a city official to Anaheim's City Manager, the move could ruin Sacramento financially if the Kings default on a $73 million dollar (US funds) loan from the city. To put more salt on the wound, the letter also asks Anaheim to stop negotiations with the Kings. Clearly this did not sit well with Joe Maloof who told the Orange County Register he wishes Sacramento and Mayor Kevin Johnson would stay out of his business, saying the team has never missed a payment and is in good standing. In any case, Sacramento's season finale is April 13th at home against the Lakers - a game that could be its last in Sacramento. (Deep breath).
Thanks for joining me again today. Keep your comments and suggestions coming by following me on Twitter (@ddegraauw) and on Facebook (Danielle de Graauw). Remember to join me here on Thursday when we will be discussing our NBA Rookie of the Year picks. See you then and have a great week.
3/4/11
Holly MacKenzie In The DNB's Starting 5
Holly MacKenzie has been mentioned in this blog on many occasions. I consider her not just a talented writer and very knowledgeable about basketball but also a friend. It has always been a goal to get Holly to come be in The Starting 5. It has almost happened a bunch of times. But something always would come along and it would never happen. So FINALLY it has happened and it was well worth the wait. We talk about a variety of topics from how she got to where she is now, to the Raptors future, and a number of NBA Topics including her thoughts on the upcoming off-season with a lockout looming. Holly truly loves basketball more than almost anyone I have ever met, and I am including myself in that. Her passion and love for sport shines through in her writing and it does in this interview as well. We also came to discover something that we both did not know until this interview. It was one of the more fun interviews I have done in the Starting 5 and I think you will enjoy it. Her picks for MVP, Coach of the Year and a whole lot more Stackmack has invaded the DNB. Holly is just a super person and knowing her these past few years has been a real joy for me personally. If you ever met Holly and do not walk away from that encounter with a smile on your face, and love of basketball in your heart... something is wrong with you. She really is just as talented as she is as a good human being. I think the world of her and always am as thrilled for all the success she has had and will have. I am fortunate to know her and am very happy I was finally able to have her come be a part of our world here in the Dino Nation Blog. She knows her stuff and combines that with a love and passion for the sport of basketball that is near impossible to match. I respect her so much and am not ever surprised by anything she achieves. She works hard and has done more in a few years than some people have done in a career. I won't get into what I was doing at her age. But needless to say I was nowhere close to what she has accomplished. I am sure you like me already follow her on Twitter but for the record is it @stackmack and it is well worth the follow.
1/22/11
Raptors vs South Beach Heat
So there was a rumour going around The Basketball Jones Party that Raptors lost by 40. Really that happened? I wish that I could say I was drinking to much and misremembered that. But sadly it did happen and tonight another sad note for some will be no Chris Bosh. He remains out do to over hustle by the Chicago Bulls causing him to suffer a turned ankle. Raptors had Kleiza back and now he is back out. Joey Dorsey also is a game time decision as he was banged up. I mean the Raptors resemble a M.A.S.H unit these days. It is hard to figure this team out. They were as healthy as they have been in terms of active bodies and lose by 40 points.
Wonder if Lebron is aware this is the day Kobe lite up the Raptors for 81 points. I believe that I referenced it as yesterday but it was in fact on this day in Raptor history. Lebron himself has had some 50+ nights against the Raptors. Jay Triano was driven to swear after last night's performance. Honestly who can blame him at this point. I am sure if I had stayed home and watched I would have swore too. So Lebron and we think D-Wade in this one. Why we think? D-Wade missed shoot around due to migraines as you may have read in our preview. Thanks to Ryan for filling in as I was am operating on little sleep today. But it was worth it, I had a great time last night and clearly the Raptors did not. Late word so make no D-Wade so the South Beach Cavs it is.
Andrea has been struggling but gets a bucket and LBJ has an answer. The Heat would take control early and take a 9-4 advantage. Raptors were not doing a good job guarding the perimeter and an open 3 by Chalmers makes it 12-6 Heat. Raps fought back to 12-10 and then Heat get another open look at a 3 and stick it. Raptor were struggling to keep up with the scoring punch of the Heat led by King James and Heat lead 23-15. Heat were pretty much getting what they wanted and extended the lead to 28-15. Raptors were being dominated and this was not a good sign for the present or the future (As in Feb 16th ) with score 32-17 South Beach.
Back to back Miller 3's to start the 2nd Quarter. It was raining 3's and Jay Triano called time out to bust out some umbrellas as Raptors were down 41-21. Good news is Mike Miller was forced to drive....Bad news he scores and is fouled for the and 1 and makes it. Raptors down 49-26 and this is real ugly. To be honest I just glazed over at some point. Mike Miller was looking like he was one of the Big 3. when the pain stopped it was 66-40.
The Raptors were standing around on D and looking like a defeated team. Their pointless 3 point streak would continue thanks to Jose. Yeah I loved that on both counts. It would actually spark a bit of a run for the Dinos and Heat needed a time out to but an end to that with a 75-56 lead. The time out would do what it was intended to do in stopping the bleeding. It was a pretty ho hum effort by both sides be the Raps did cut 11 points off that lead thanks to pushing ball in transition and getting some easy scores.
Some where along the line the Heat decided to stop playing and the Raptors decided to start playing early in the 4th Raptors had the lead down to 10 with score 93-83. Raptors seemingly have reversed their trend of late they had a horrible first have and a pretty good effort in the 2nd half but sadly time nor Lebron James was on their side. Lebron was shifting the Ferrari into 2nd gear and despite solid efforts scoring wise from Demar and Andrea it did not look like it was going to be enough down 110-96. In the end to much Lebron 38 Points and 11 boards with 6 assists and earlier way to much Mike Miller with 32 points and 10 boards..The Raptors lose 120-103.
Raps road trip is finally over and they limp home a disappointing 0-5 on the trip and 13-32 on the season. Raptors will attempt to stop the bleeding facing the Grizzlies at home on a Monday. Kept it on the brief side after a road trip like that think it is doing us all a favour.
Wonder if Lebron is aware this is the day Kobe lite up the Raptors for 81 points. I believe that I referenced it as yesterday but it was in fact on this day in Raptor history. Lebron himself has had some 50+ nights against the Raptors. Jay Triano was driven to swear after last night's performance. Honestly who can blame him at this point. I am sure if I had stayed home and watched I would have swore too. So Lebron and we think D-Wade in this one. Why we think? D-Wade missed shoot around due to migraines as you may have read in our preview. Thanks to Ryan for filling in as I was am operating on little sleep today. But it was worth it, I had a great time last night and clearly the Raptors did not. Late word so make no D-Wade so the South Beach Cavs it is.
Andrea has been struggling but gets a bucket and LBJ has an answer. The Heat would take control early and take a 9-4 advantage. Raptors were not doing a good job guarding the perimeter and an open 3 by Chalmers makes it 12-6 Heat. Raps fought back to 12-10 and then Heat get another open look at a 3 and stick it. Raptor were struggling to keep up with the scoring punch of the Heat led by King James and Heat lead 23-15. Heat were pretty much getting what they wanted and extended the lead to 28-15. Raptors were being dominated and this was not a good sign for the present or the future (As in Feb 16th ) with score 32-17 South Beach.
Back to back Miller 3's to start the 2nd Quarter. It was raining 3's and Jay Triano called time out to bust out some umbrellas as Raptors were down 41-21. Good news is Mike Miller was forced to drive....Bad news he scores and is fouled for the and 1 and makes it. Raptors down 49-26 and this is real ugly. To be honest I just glazed over at some point. Mike Miller was looking like he was one of the Big 3. when the pain stopped it was 66-40.
The Raptors were standing around on D and looking like a defeated team. Their pointless 3 point streak would continue thanks to Jose. Yeah I loved that on both counts. It would actually spark a bit of a run for the Dinos and Heat needed a time out to but an end to that with a 75-56 lead. The time out would do what it was intended to do in stopping the bleeding. It was a pretty ho hum effort by both sides be the Raps did cut 11 points off that lead thanks to pushing ball in transition and getting some easy scores.
Some where along the line the Heat decided to stop playing and the Raptors decided to start playing early in the 4th Raptors had the lead down to 10 with score 93-83. Raptors seemingly have reversed their trend of late they had a horrible first have and a pretty good effort in the 2nd half but sadly time nor Lebron James was on their side. Lebron was shifting the Ferrari into 2nd gear and despite solid efforts scoring wise from Demar and Andrea it did not look like it was going to be enough down 110-96. In the end to much Lebron 38 Points and 11 boards with 6 assists and earlier way to much Mike Miller with 32 points and 10 boards..The Raptors lose 120-103.
Raps road trip is finally over and they limp home a disappointing 0-5 on the trip and 13-32 on the season. Raptors will attempt to stop the bleeding facing the Grizzlies at home on a Monday. Kept it on the brief side after a road trip like that think it is doing us all a favour.
12/7/10
"NBAz in 7 Dayz"
LeBron James is right. He is right to believe the Cleveland Cavaliers can learn a lesson from the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. Here's why. Before Thursday night's game in Cleveland, the Miami Heat were preparing for LeBron's homecoming unlike anything they've seen before. Extra plain clothed and uniformed officers everywhere. The level of intensity surrounding this game was comparable to a game seven NBA final, yet we were only 20 games into the regular season. All this over him leaving Cleveland for Miami. Have whatever opinion you want about him leaving in the matter in which he did but at the end of the day, he did just that - he left. And to put it bluntly, jilted Cleveland fans need to get over it and move on. The anger and bravado towards LeBron is doing nothing for the cause. Go ahead and pursue legal action against him for leaving if you think it is warranted. But he is over it and the 38 points he put up Thursday night shows that. The Cleveland Cavaliers have the potential to be something great. If they don't get on the right path soon, the dream of winning an NBA championship before LeBron James does, won't even be on the radar. Many things on my radar today: the NBA making a historical purchase, Allen Iverson putting on a happy face and George Karl going for win number one thousand.
Shopping for a Bargain
Let's start with the facts. NBA Commissioner David Stern has officially announced the NBA is going through with the purchase of the New Orleans Hornets. The sale has to be approved by the NBA's Board of Governors by a vote which will likely take place next week. Minority Hornets owner Gary Chouest decided not to buy out majority Hornets owner George Shinn and in the absence of any viable purchaser, here we are. I have a real problem with this. While I feel for the City of New Orleans and Hornets fans, I don't understand how it has gotten this far. The outgoing owners are singing the praises of the organization and the Hornet's management team but it must not be all sunshine and roses if they are saying this on their way out the door. Realistically, how can the league afford to do this when they asking players to take a pay cut so the league can remain viable, as they put it. We are on the verge of a lockout and the source evidence of why is already being seen. There are many questions which need to be answered: How long will the NBA own controlling interest of the New Orleans Hornets? Will they remain owners once a buyer is found? What will happen the next time an NBA club dips into financial ruin? What does this say about the league and the amount of say or control of how NBA clubs are run? I really hope the NBA Board of Governors discuss these questions when making their decision next week.
All Smiles and Giggles for Allen Iverson
According to Allen Iverson, he is happy with his new career in Turkey. Knowing how much he wanted to be playing in the NBA just a few months ago, this is just as much about convincing himself as it is about convincing us just how happy he really is. He told his followers on Twitter: "I am very happy here in Istanbul. My family and I are making this our home". But let's pretend an NBA club comes knocking at his door. Don't think for one second he will ignore the doorbell. He is trying to make the best of a challenging situation. He is a talented player in a tough spot. His two year, 4 million-dollar contract with Besiktas came after no NBA team offered him a contract. That has got to hurt. To make matters even more challenging, Iverson's start in Turkey hasn't been all that impressive. After five games so far, He has averaged 9.6 points and 3.6 assists per game. In 2001, he was the NBA's Most Valuable Player. I hope he is really happy over there and is successful in whatever he defines as success. Let's pretend again there IS an NBA lockout and there is no basketball next season. Allen Iverson has one year left on his contract with Besiktas and is playing basketball when his competition isn't. Sound like a good time to start positioning for a spot on an NBA roster? Time will only tell.
George Karl Looking for Win Number 1, 000
The Toronto Raptors will be cheering for the Denver Nuggets tonight. I am sure they will be since they don't want to host a team this Friday whose Head Coach is on the verge of 1,000 career wins. The Denver Nuggets will be in Charlotte tonight taking on the Bobcats and chasing a dream for their Head Coach, George Karl. This is an important win on so many levels. The 'one thousand career wins' club is exclusive and has only a half a dozen members like Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson and Charlotte Bobcats' Head Coach Larry Brown (a good friend of Karl's). George Karl has coached over 22 seasons in the NBA and wants this win for practical reasons so he can get out of the spotlight and back to the business of building his Denver Nuggets team. On a personal level, this win is important since just after a few years of battling prostate cancer, he underwent treatment for throat and neck cancer. He's been given a clean bill of health but continues to monitor his recovery. "He is a terrific coach. He's overcome a lot. I think we're all proud of what he's accomplished, and I think he is going to win a lot more before he hangs it up" (Charlotte Bobcats Head coach, Larry Brown). Before joining the Denver Nuggets in 2005, George Karl coached the Cavs (1984-86), Warriors (1986-88), Sonics (1991-98) and the Bucks (1998-03). In 1996, his Seattle Super Sonics won the Western Conference title but lost to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the NBA final. So imagine what a win tonight will mean with his good friend and rivals in opposition.
It will also make it easier for me to cheer for the Raptors on Friday when they host the Denver Nuggets. The DNB will be hosting some lucky fans of the blog to boxed seats at Friday's game - I am really looking forward to it.
Thanks for joining me today. See you on Thursday for more "Behind Enemy Lines".
Shopping for a Bargain
Let's start with the facts. NBA Commissioner David Stern has officially announced the NBA is going through with the purchase of the New Orleans Hornets. The sale has to be approved by the NBA's Board of Governors by a vote which will likely take place next week. Minority Hornets owner Gary Chouest decided not to buy out majority Hornets owner George Shinn and in the absence of any viable purchaser, here we are. I have a real problem with this. While I feel for the City of New Orleans and Hornets fans, I don't understand how it has gotten this far. The outgoing owners are singing the praises of the organization and the Hornet's management team but it must not be all sunshine and roses if they are saying this on their way out the door. Realistically, how can the league afford to do this when they asking players to take a pay cut so the league can remain viable, as they put it. We are on the verge of a lockout and the source evidence of why is already being seen. There are many questions which need to be answered: How long will the NBA own controlling interest of the New Orleans Hornets? Will they remain owners once a buyer is found? What will happen the next time an NBA club dips into financial ruin? What does this say about the league and the amount of say or control of how NBA clubs are run? I really hope the NBA Board of Governors discuss these questions when making their decision next week.
All Smiles and Giggles for Allen Iverson
According to Allen Iverson, he is happy with his new career in Turkey. Knowing how much he wanted to be playing in the NBA just a few months ago, this is just as much about convincing himself as it is about convincing us just how happy he really is. He told his followers on Twitter: "I am very happy here in Istanbul. My family and I are making this our home". But let's pretend an NBA club comes knocking at his door. Don't think for one second he will ignore the doorbell. He is trying to make the best of a challenging situation. He is a talented player in a tough spot. His two year, 4 million-dollar contract with Besiktas came after no NBA team offered him a contract. That has got to hurt. To make matters even more challenging, Iverson's start in Turkey hasn't been all that impressive. After five games so far, He has averaged 9.6 points and 3.6 assists per game. In 2001, he was the NBA's Most Valuable Player. I hope he is really happy over there and is successful in whatever he defines as success. Let's pretend again there IS an NBA lockout and there is no basketball next season. Allen Iverson has one year left on his contract with Besiktas and is playing basketball when his competition isn't. Sound like a good time to start positioning for a spot on an NBA roster? Time will only tell.
George Karl Looking for Win Number 1, 000
The Toronto Raptors will be cheering for the Denver Nuggets tonight. I am sure they will be since they don't want to host a team this Friday whose Head Coach is on the verge of 1,000 career wins. The Denver Nuggets will be in Charlotte tonight taking on the Bobcats and chasing a dream for their Head Coach, George Karl. This is an important win on so many levels. The 'one thousand career wins' club is exclusive and has only a half a dozen members like Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson and Charlotte Bobcats' Head Coach Larry Brown (a good friend of Karl's). George Karl has coached over 22 seasons in the NBA and wants this win for practical reasons so he can get out of the spotlight and back to the business of building his Denver Nuggets team. On a personal level, this win is important since just after a few years of battling prostate cancer, he underwent treatment for throat and neck cancer. He's been given a clean bill of health but continues to monitor his recovery. "He is a terrific coach. He's overcome a lot. I think we're all proud of what he's accomplished, and I think he is going to win a lot more before he hangs it up" (Charlotte Bobcats Head coach, Larry Brown). Before joining the Denver Nuggets in 2005, George Karl coached the Cavs (1984-86), Warriors (1986-88), Sonics (1991-98) and the Bucks (1998-03). In 1996, his Seattle Super Sonics won the Western Conference title but lost to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the NBA final. So imagine what a win tonight will mean with his good friend and rivals in opposition.
It will also make it easier for me to cheer for the Raptors on Friday when they host the Denver Nuggets. The DNB will be hosting some lucky fans of the blog to boxed seats at Friday's game - I am really looking forward to it.
Thanks for joining me today. See you on Thursday for more "Behind Enemy Lines".
11/30/10
"NBAz in 7 Dayz"
Basketball is my solice, my outlet and the means by which I keep myself youthful. When I was a kid, I used to go to the outdoor courts near my parent's place to clear my head and shoot baskets. It was my time to work out the kinks of my game and personal life. On many of these occasions, my Dad would come along, show me his sky hook and we would often play a little one-on-one. I know I am a better hockey player than basketball player - that much I will admit. But those days on the court with my Dad are ones I will remember because we would feed off each other and have fun. He obviously had the height on me and let's face it, I had speed on my side (sorry, Dad). We would butt heads -still do- but there was something about our roles on the court that would just mesh and those debates about Leafs' line-ups or curfew would just go to the wayside. I think this is what's missing from the Big Three in Miami. It's too personal. Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh are great basketball players - that is a fact. But the climate which made them individually great before coming together in Miami is way different than what they are being afforded now. Let's really dive into this and touch on Laker's Head Coach Phil Jackson's latest comments.
Too Many cooks in the Kitchen
It would be overstating the obvious if I were to proclaim the Miami Heat are having some issues. With Thursday's game in Cleveland, LeBron's return to play his former teammates will not be like Bosh's in how he greeted the Raptors' bench and made plans to go out after. I highly doubt LeBron James will be sticking around Cleveland after that game and heading straight for the team bus. The level of hate and revenge against the Heat and LeBron James is so high in Cleveland that according to ESPN, dozens of extra police will be assigned to the game both in uniform and undercover. The Cavaliers management and the NBA will not only be considering the safety of LeBron James and the Miami Heat, but of of LeBron's family, too. Shirts or posters or any kind of homemade device which show any form of disrespect to LeBron James or his family will be banned. This is serious business. One member of the Cavs management team had this to say about Thursday's game: "Honestly, I'm a little bit afraid. Some people don't care. Their mentality is 'I've got to get this off my chest'. There's so much negative energy around this game. People aren't excited about the game itself. They're just like, 'I can't wait to do something'". This is really sad. The Cleveland Cavaliers have never prepared for an event like this with the amount of security detail Thursday's game will have. According to Cavaliers' Senior Vice President of Communications Tad Carper, the team, the NBA and the Cleveland police have been preparing for this game since the schedule was released in August.
It seems as if there are two choices when it comes to the Miami Heat now: dislike and hate. Two very strong areas to be in. I know booing happens at any sporting event and signs like 'Beat the Heat' are normal. To be honest, though, I never thought I would see the day when LeBron James would only draw applause from the crowd on the road when he makes a mistake. But the real issue I have now is the hits he is taking from those within in the league. Even NBA Team owners and players are weighing in on why the Heat are not so hot right now. "I want them to loose all their games" says Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Tracy McGrady is personal, but more constructive in his criticism: "Both of those guys need the ball, and they don't shoot the ball like Ray Allen. That's why they are having trouble scoring in the half court, because they can't get a rhythm, because one of them is dominating the ball". So Cavs Head Coach Byron Scott can get fined for arguing with a referee and impeding his ability to do his job but people like Mark Cuban can just shoot off his mouth. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and should be free to express it but I think owners are held to a higher standard. Would you want to work for someone who stood up for you when things were hard or someone who publicly criticizes those who came before you? I have to give Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra credit. He has to be thinking his job is on the line because with a roster and a boss like his, there is added pressure. He is doing his best to put a positive spin on things saying that adversity builds a team and disagreements are good. However, tensions are high in the Heat locker room and even if they are not saying it publicly yet, I am sure players are looking for change. Chris Bosh has the best attitude through all this: "We all wanted this coming in, so we're going to have to deal with it and just overcome it". I think a little bumping of shoulders between player and coach are the least of their worries.
Lakers are quietly happy
The one team in the NBA happy about the bulls eye on each Heat jersey is the Los Angeles Lakers. Here's a team who is expected to three peat an NBA Championship and in comes the Miami Heat drama train deflecting some of the pressure. Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson and his team are not out of the woods yet. He is as zen as he always is and but with this being his final year as an NBA Coach, there is an expectation he goes out on top. He's been publicly expressing his frustration lately about the timeline for Laker Andrew Bynum's return. Bynum has been out of the Lakers' line-up recovering from surgery he had on his right knee in the summer. Although Phil Jackson wishes this recovery was going a little quicker, I don't think his coaching style allows for public humiliation of his players. He still believes Bynum is working hard in his rehabilitation and is "a very willing worker. Absolutely no doubt". Bynum has said he expects to make his season debut sometime in December but I doubt after all this time he'll be up to a starting position. He's in practice now and slowly building up the intensity but I don't think his conditioning will be deserving of a starting position. Knee surgery is serious business in any sport and can be career-ending for even the best players. He should be happy he has a leg to stand on and go from there.
Thanks for joining me today. I will see you here on the DNB this Thursday for more "Behind Enemy Lines".
Too Many cooks in the Kitchen
It would be overstating the obvious if I were to proclaim the Miami Heat are having some issues. With Thursday's game in Cleveland, LeBron's return to play his former teammates will not be like Bosh's in how he greeted the Raptors' bench and made plans to go out after. I highly doubt LeBron James will be sticking around Cleveland after that game and heading straight for the team bus. The level of hate and revenge against the Heat and LeBron James is so high in Cleveland that according to ESPN, dozens of extra police will be assigned to the game both in uniform and undercover. The Cavaliers management and the NBA will not only be considering the safety of LeBron James and the Miami Heat, but of of LeBron's family, too. Shirts or posters or any kind of homemade device which show any form of disrespect to LeBron James or his family will be banned. This is serious business. One member of the Cavs management team had this to say about Thursday's game: "Honestly, I'm a little bit afraid. Some people don't care. Their mentality is 'I've got to get this off my chest'. There's so much negative energy around this game. People aren't excited about the game itself. They're just like, 'I can't wait to do something'". This is really sad. The Cleveland Cavaliers have never prepared for an event like this with the amount of security detail Thursday's game will have. According to Cavaliers' Senior Vice President of Communications Tad Carper, the team, the NBA and the Cleveland police have been preparing for this game since the schedule was released in August.
It seems as if there are two choices when it comes to the Miami Heat now: dislike and hate. Two very strong areas to be in. I know booing happens at any sporting event and signs like 'Beat the Heat' are normal. To be honest, though, I never thought I would see the day when LeBron James would only draw applause from the crowd on the road when he makes a mistake. But the real issue I have now is the hits he is taking from those within in the league. Even NBA Team owners and players are weighing in on why the Heat are not so hot right now. "I want them to loose all their games" says Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Tracy McGrady is personal, but more constructive in his criticism: "Both of those guys need the ball, and they don't shoot the ball like Ray Allen. That's why they are having trouble scoring in the half court, because they can't get a rhythm, because one of them is dominating the ball". So Cavs Head Coach Byron Scott can get fined for arguing with a referee and impeding his ability to do his job but people like Mark Cuban can just shoot off his mouth. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and should be free to express it but I think owners are held to a higher standard. Would you want to work for someone who stood up for you when things were hard or someone who publicly criticizes those who came before you? I have to give Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra credit. He has to be thinking his job is on the line because with a roster and a boss like his, there is added pressure. He is doing his best to put a positive spin on things saying that adversity builds a team and disagreements are good. However, tensions are high in the Heat locker room and even if they are not saying it publicly yet, I am sure players are looking for change. Chris Bosh has the best attitude through all this: "We all wanted this coming in, so we're going to have to deal with it and just overcome it". I think a little bumping of shoulders between player and coach are the least of their worries.
Lakers are quietly happy
The one team in the NBA happy about the bulls eye on each Heat jersey is the Los Angeles Lakers. Here's a team who is expected to three peat an NBA Championship and in comes the Miami Heat drama train deflecting some of the pressure. Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson and his team are not out of the woods yet. He is as zen as he always is and but with this being his final year as an NBA Coach, there is an expectation he goes out on top. He's been publicly expressing his frustration lately about the timeline for Laker Andrew Bynum's return. Bynum has been out of the Lakers' line-up recovering from surgery he had on his right knee in the summer. Although Phil Jackson wishes this recovery was going a little quicker, I don't think his coaching style allows for public humiliation of his players. He still believes Bynum is working hard in his rehabilitation and is "a very willing worker. Absolutely no doubt". Bynum has said he expects to make his season debut sometime in December but I doubt after all this time he'll be up to a starting position. He's in practice now and slowly building up the intensity but I don't think his conditioning will be deserving of a starting position. Knee surgery is serious business in any sport and can be career-ending for even the best players. He should be happy he has a leg to stand on and go from there.
Thanks for joining me today. I will see you here on the DNB this Thursday for more "Behind Enemy Lines".
11/16/10
"NBAz in 7 Dayz"
This is "Jiggly Bits" with a new title. You are still getting the same great NBA coverage and stories crossing my radar from around the league in the last 7 days - not to worry. I just felt we needed a jazzier title to befit our lively discussions. I am just wondering what Mr. Flynn, my high school English teacher, will say about the title. "Danielle, Z's instead of S's?" My response? Sometimes, creativity forces you to bend the rules a little. However, this does not apply to New Jersey Nets' leading scorer, Devin Harris. The Nets played the Clippers Monday night and Devin Harris decides to vent on DeAndre Jordan's interception of his pass. Jordan goes long to Blake Griffin and Harris decides to pull him down to the floor from behind with 6:42 left in the second quarter. Do you know what they called it? A Grade Two flagrant foul committed against Griffin. Perfect title since Harris' behaviour is reminiscent of the grade school playground variety. Really? You are upset someone intercepts your pass and you take it out on the rookie who received the pass from the player you are really upset at? Even with all "it was the game emotions talking" arguments aside, wouldn't you just suck it up, go to the bench if you had to, cool off and take it out on the Clippers by coming out full force in the third quarter? Grade Two or even gravely juvenile is right. Incidentally, Blake Griffin landed hard on his left shoulder, but stayed in the game and made one of his two free throws. Not bad but the key words here are "stayed in the game". Devin Harris needs to work on this through mind, body and spirit. Today, let's discuss LeBron James' Person of the Year Award nomination, Kobe Bryant speaking out on NBA salary reductions and "Cablegate".
LeBron James - TIME Magazine's Person of the Year?
Let's just say LeBron James would not have unanimous support for this title, not even from himself. Every year since 1927, TIME Magazine gives this recognition to the person or group who "has done the most to influence the events of the year". Clearly, he meets the criteria. But look who he is up against: President Barack Obama. But he won in 2008 and by defacto he is nominated because he is the President of the United States. I would go with others on the list of nominees like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for their Stop the Insanity Campaign or to the Chilean Miners who were trapped underground for two months and captured the attention of millions around the world. LeBron James agrees by saying it's just crazy he's even nominated in the same breath as the miners and should be nowhere near that list. Maybe. However, the qualifying criteria for this award doesn't specify what you did to influence the events of the year, it is recognizing who was the biggest story good or bad. So maybe it is a good thing if LeBron doesn't get it. This may be the reason he's distancing himself from it. Just another reason to fuel the fire.
"Owners need to look in the Mirror" - Kobe Bryant
When asked about the $750 million to $800 million dollar reduction in players salaries being looked at by owners, Kobe Bryant told CBSSports.com "I think the owners need to look in the mirror. They need to make the right judgment themselves and stop trying to force us players to be the ones to make adjustments". Kobe Bryant is the highest paid player in the league and surely does not want to see a pay cut. This is the way I see it. Look at your Hydro bill. You give a company money to provide you with a much needed service. They take your money and use it however they see fit to administer the service. If those decisions lead to shortfalls, they are not going to cut their own salaries, they will put the burden back on you in the form of a debt retirement charge of some sort. I see the same thing happening in the NBA. Sure, it's hard to relate to a $30 million a year salary but look at it from a purely employer-employee perspective. The employer makes some bad business decisions, have got themselves in a hole and now the employees are pegged to pay for it. This is the source of any lockout or strike of any kind. Let's pretend the players agree to a pay cut. Do you think for one second the owners will say one day "Ok. We are back on track. Here's your old salary back"? That would be a big no. Let's face it. This dispute over salaries will not be resolved anytime soon. There's a good chance we will have an NBA lockout next season so enjoy this one while you can.
"Great teammate, great friend" - Jose Calderon on Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh had a chance to reunite with old friends and foes Saturday night when the Heat hosted the Toronto Raptors. For once, Chris Bosh was getting the bulk of the media attention since he was playing against his old teammates. His Miami Heat beat the Raptors 109-100 and was willing to speak to the media, as he always has, to share his thoughts on the game. I think it's funny how he gets the Magic Johnson Media Award this year for being so accessible, so understanding of the nature of a journalist's job and has been described as: "never been disrespectful, never shied away from what was asked for him and has been a superstar without the superstar attitude". Yet, he is not being afforded the same respect. Take for instance the issue surrounding his cable while living in Canada. I think someone of his stature would know whether or not he gets NBA League Pass. He was regarded as anti-Canada because he claimed he did not have good cable while in this country. He actually said he did not get NBA League Pass in the building he was in and was not complaining about the cable in Canada or living in Toronto for that matter. I agree his "should I stay or should I go" tweets may have been a little suspect but there have been worse tweets than that. He stayed true to himself and made a business decision as a free agent. Plain and simple. Want to know what I respect most about him? When asked the "would you do anything different" question, he didn't bow to the pressure of winning over the haters and said yes like LeBron did. I respect Chris Bosh both as a player and as a person. I think he is entertaining to watch and will follow him no matter what team he is on. However, the image of him in a Raptors uniform is far from a distant memory.
Be sure to join me this Thursday for more pre-game Raptor opponent analysis in "Behind Enemy Lines". I want you armed with the right tools when watching Raptors' games next week to help you think outside the box. See you then.
LeBron James - TIME Magazine's Person of the Year?
Let's just say LeBron James would not have unanimous support for this title, not even from himself. Every year since 1927, TIME Magazine gives this recognition to the person or group who "has done the most to influence the events of the year". Clearly, he meets the criteria. But look who he is up against: President Barack Obama. But he won in 2008 and by defacto he is nominated because he is the President of the United States. I would go with others on the list of nominees like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for their Stop the Insanity Campaign or to the Chilean Miners who were trapped underground for two months and captured the attention of millions around the world. LeBron James agrees by saying it's just crazy he's even nominated in the same breath as the miners and should be nowhere near that list. Maybe. However, the qualifying criteria for this award doesn't specify what you did to influence the events of the year, it is recognizing who was the biggest story good or bad. So maybe it is a good thing if LeBron doesn't get it. This may be the reason he's distancing himself from it. Just another reason to fuel the fire.
"Owners need to look in the Mirror" - Kobe Bryant
When asked about the $750 million to $800 million dollar reduction in players salaries being looked at by owners, Kobe Bryant told CBSSports.com "I think the owners need to look in the mirror. They need to make the right judgment themselves and stop trying to force us players to be the ones to make adjustments". Kobe Bryant is the highest paid player in the league and surely does not want to see a pay cut. This is the way I see it. Look at your Hydro bill. You give a company money to provide you with a much needed service. They take your money and use it however they see fit to administer the service. If those decisions lead to shortfalls, they are not going to cut their own salaries, they will put the burden back on you in the form of a debt retirement charge of some sort. I see the same thing happening in the NBA. Sure, it's hard to relate to a $30 million a year salary but look at it from a purely employer-employee perspective. The employer makes some bad business decisions, have got themselves in a hole and now the employees are pegged to pay for it. This is the source of any lockout or strike of any kind. Let's pretend the players agree to a pay cut. Do you think for one second the owners will say one day "Ok. We are back on track. Here's your old salary back"? That would be a big no. Let's face it. This dispute over salaries will not be resolved anytime soon. There's a good chance we will have an NBA lockout next season so enjoy this one while you can.
"Great teammate, great friend" - Jose Calderon on Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh had a chance to reunite with old friends and foes Saturday night when the Heat hosted the Toronto Raptors. For once, Chris Bosh was getting the bulk of the media attention since he was playing against his old teammates. His Miami Heat beat the Raptors 109-100 and was willing to speak to the media, as he always has, to share his thoughts on the game. I think it's funny how he gets the Magic Johnson Media Award this year for being so accessible, so understanding of the nature of a journalist's job and has been described as: "never been disrespectful, never shied away from what was asked for him and has been a superstar without the superstar attitude". Yet, he is not being afforded the same respect. Take for instance the issue surrounding his cable while living in Canada. I think someone of his stature would know whether or not he gets NBA League Pass. He was regarded as anti-Canada because he claimed he did not have good cable while in this country. He actually said he did not get NBA League Pass in the building he was in and was not complaining about the cable in Canada or living in Toronto for that matter. I agree his "should I stay or should I go" tweets may have been a little suspect but there have been worse tweets than that. He stayed true to himself and made a business decision as a free agent. Plain and simple. Want to know what I respect most about him? When asked the "would you do anything different" question, he didn't bow to the pressure of winning over the haters and said yes like LeBron did. I respect Chris Bosh both as a player and as a person. I think he is entertaining to watch and will follow him no matter what team he is on. However, the image of him in a Raptors uniform is far from a distant memory.
Be sure to join me this Thursday for more pre-game Raptor opponent analysis in "Behind Enemy Lines". I want you armed with the right tools when watching Raptors' games next week to help you think outside the box. See you then.
11/13/10
Raptors vs Heat- DNB Game Notes
I had to work and am watching the Raptors and the Heat via a replay so instead of the standard recap just thought we would do it in game notes. I am writing this intro prior to the game. What I am expecting to see is a big performance from Bosh. For a couple reasons. First from Bosh's prospective this is the organization that he gave seven years to that called him a quitter.Second I think that his fellow super friends will want to help Bosh have a big night. If Bosh has all the pride he talks a lot about this is a game that it has to appear on the floor. Will see what happens Amir Johnson and Reggie Evans are likely going to be very physical with him to try to prevent that.
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
Raptors gave a good effort but Heat were just to talented despite not exactly bringing there A game. Chris Bosh's first game vs his former team he sits on the bench during crunch time watching with just 12 points 6 rebounds and 5 fouls. Most Raptor fans will take glee in that. I am not sure what to think about it. Chris really looks nothing like himself at all and it is not just the haircut and new jersey. Raps leave Florida with a split and 2 good efforts. On to Washington and then Philly for a much easier back to back. Two games the Raptors based on their play of late should believe they can win. I really thought we would see a big night from Bosh but it never happened. Was interesting to see James go over and talk to him late in the game. What if Bosh never makes it to Feb 16th with Miami? It seems hard to think the Heat will bail on him that fast. He still has a month to figure it out. He better start doing it. On the flip side....Demar is getting better. His D is not there yet but I get more excited each time I see him this year with a few exceptions.
1st Quarter
- Heat get a 7-0 run to start and Bargnani can't beat Big Z twice. Raps 0-4 to start. This could be a long night. Early Triano Time-out.
- Demar gets to the line... that is good out coming out of the time out. Weems a score. I have been saying it since pre-season play Sonny and Demar together.
- Terrible spacing from the Raps but Weems right up the gut for easy score that has been one of knocks on Miami lack of paint presence.
- Wade and Lebron off to good starts and it is 15-6 all Heat early.
- Amir takes it at Bosh and draws the foul.
- Raptors Butter James Knife = Easy Lebron score down the lane.
- Bosh gets an early exit less than 6 minutes in he subs out for Haslem.
- Heat 9/15 Raptors 2/10 <
- Jones getting open looks from 3.
- Speaking of 3's Money Weems makes another 3 after the big one last night. Johnson a quick 2 fouls and with Reggie Evans out with the flu not good.
- Back to back possessions ending in steals.
- Raptors shooting is just awful. That being said they are only down 26-19. make it 5 Weems starting and has 10.
- Jame Jones a big 3 to close the Quarter. Heat lead 34-25
- Weems played the full 12 minutes or close to it.
2nd Quarter
- 59.1 % Heat and Raptors 38.1% ---Not Good
- Julian Wright a nice spin move made Bosh look silly but couldn't finish.
- 1 think Raps are doing is rebound offensive board leads to a 3. Heat 0 offensive rebounds.
- Note to Raptors James Jones can make 3's might want to guard him shooting 48% on the season 39-28 Heat.
- Nice shot by Bosh...not confirmed by Grandma liked that 1. Next possession Bosh misses on a jumper.
- Uno Dose etc as Miami went under a screen showing Jose no respect and he made them pay with the 3.
- More love for Jose as he pushes the ball hitting Weems leading to the foul. Raps trail 41-34.
- Bargnani a turnover and he is 0-7 with 6 rebounds...More then Bosh but he has been brutal rebounds aside.
- Amir in foul trouble..yeah we have become use to that.
- Bosh schools Andersen scores and 1.
- Bargs final hits and it is a 3.
- Bargs hit the side of the backboard it come back to him and he scores.. Kevin Love look out Bargnani has 7 rebounds...LOL...Kidding.
- Bargs heating up 3 of his last 4 but Raps still down 50-41.
- Sonny is Money again hits the jumper but the other way Wade take DeRozan to school 56-45.
- Wade again take Double D to the hole and he has 17....time out Triano.
- Bargnani gets his lunch money taken by James but he missed the lay-up in transition.
- Bosh a rebound REALLY and gets it to James no miss this time Miami on 12-4 run and Heat lead 63-47.
- Alabi sighting with 18.2 seconds to play in half.
- Julian Wright denies Lebron but Raps still in trouble.
- 63-50 at the Half for the MWO
3rd Quarter
- DeRozan gets stripped and Jack forced to make smart foul on James avoiding the easy score.
- Andrea with Bosh on him and his jumper falls short. Heat score off the miss and lead by 16.
- Tough night for Double D on defensive end as Wade blows by him and scores.
- Amir with 3 fouls draws the charge on Bosh and he now has 3.
- Bosh the one handed jam and one take that Toronto he threw that down. Converts and 1.
- Amir has a couple baskets back to back and has 6 in Quarter.
- Jarret Jack not a great night finally makes his first FG.
- Bosh picks up his 4th and has to have a seat.
- Bargnani get rebounds off his own misses that is how he can get rebounds we found the secret.
- Wright to Dorsey for the SLAM Raptors down 10 ....Another score make it 8. Raps making it a little closer.
- Wade draws the foul on Jose trying to stop this 12-2 Raptors Run.
- Anthony has it stripped and the Raptors cut the lead to 5.
- Raptors on a 16-3 run in the last 5:45.
- Julian Wright Fearless takes it right at Anthony and draws a foul.
- Joey Dorsey throws someone (James Jones) to the floor a silly foul his 5th.
- DeRozan goes right at James in transition and scores.
- Haslem on the James assist nails the jumper.
- After 3 Heat 83 Raptors 73 <>
4th Quarter
- Bosh back in offensive board then gets to line on a Bargnani foul (Bosh 12/5 on night)
- DeRozan and James Jones trade hoops. Then DeRozan again. 87-77
- MORE DOUBLE D WITH THE JAM OFF THE BREAK!!!
- Calderon his a runner has 13 and is 5 of 6 on the night. Raps only down 6..time out Miami.
- Out of time Amir scores of a Heat miss lead down to 4.
- Heat Score and DeRozan looks for a call the on other end doesn't get one.
- Big Z and Bargnani trade baskets and C.B is chilling on the bench.
- Amir picks up his 5th foul. Dorsey in for him.
- Demar a miss but Dorsey the board he has 11 boards. Raps killing Heat on the glass.
- James Alley Opp Haslem Heat by 6.
- Wade the big dunk and Miami up 10
- Bargnani hits a foul line jumper.
- James walks past Andrea and slams it home the Heat up a dozen.
- Heat were gonna take this but not really blowing you a way.
- Bosh had 5 fouls and was glued to the bench with 12 points and 6 rebounds.
- Amir with throw down but this is done.
- Heat dribble it out for an underwhelming 109-100 Win
Raptors gave a good effort but Heat were just to talented despite not exactly bringing there A game. Chris Bosh's first game vs his former team he sits on the bench during crunch time watching with just 12 points 6 rebounds and 5 fouls. Most Raptor fans will take glee in that. I am not sure what to think about it. Chris really looks nothing like himself at all and it is not just the haircut and new jersey. Raps leave Florida with a split and 2 good efforts. On to Washington and then Philly for a much easier back to back. Two games the Raptors based on their play of late should believe they can win. I really thought we would see a big night from Bosh but it never happened. Was interesting to see James go over and talk to him late in the game. What if Bosh never makes it to Feb 16th with Miami? It seems hard to think the Heat will bail on him that fast. He still has a month to figure it out. He better start doing it. On the flip side....Demar is getting better. His D is not there yet but I get more excited each time I see him this year with a few exceptions.
Raptors Take Their Talents To South Beach
It is the most talked about 5-4 team in the history of basketball vs the Toronto Raptors. Chris Bosh for the first time in his career will suit up against the team that drafted him. Bosh claims he would not change a thing in how he left. I would venture to say in terms of his start with the Heat there is a lot he would like to change. The Raptors come in with a new attitude snapping a 6 game losing streak and likely feeling like they have nothing to lose vs Miami. The Heat are the team under a microscope and feeling the heat of the media with none more than Bosh himself.
The Basics: Miami 5-4 ( In South Beach 3-2) Toronto 2-7 (Snapped 6 game losing streak)
When Last We Saw Them: It was the best effort of the season last night vs the Orlando Magic. Andrea Bargnani started thing in the first half and Demar DeRozan with a little help from Sonny Weems and everyone else closed the door. A career high 26 for DeRozan and a surprising 110-106 win in Orlando the first road win of the year for the Raptors.
Key Match Ups: Bosh has heard all his doubters and would like nothing better then to use his former team to shut them up. Amir Johnson and Reggie Evans will likely draw the assignment of making sure Bosh does not get to help his super friends with a big night. The book on Bosh as they well know is to play him physically and Evans and Johnson are capable of that. The key will be to do that without fouling. The Young Onez vs the Great Ones. If Kleiza is still unable to go it will be Sonny Weems and Demar DeRozan with the task of stopping King James and D-Wade. Demar has saved some of his best for the NBA's best. While Sonny has been looking good of late. Will be more about their D tonight though.
In Case You Missed It: I couldn't help myself not to do this. Speaking of missing I will be for this game. Have to be doing some work for The Score so will have to catch the replay of this one. However, more people can watch this one as for the first time this year the Raptors will appear on a network without a 1 or a 2 behind it. On the main TSN tonight.
Other Things Of Note: It has been well documented the lack of rebounding by Chris Bosh. Just 6 a a game and only 1.1 of that on the offensive glass. Bosh's worst numbers as a Raptors were 7.9 rebounds in his rookie season and he never averaged below 2 offensive boards in a season with the Raptors.His worst season on offensive glass was his 2nd averaging just 2.4. The Miami Thrice make up 61 of the 102 points the Heat average on the season which is 59.8% of the Miami offence. James Jones has been the guy that has filled the Miller role as the 3 point shooter he is hitting 49% from beyond the arc.
Canadian Content: I was hopeful for one guy in the MWO and it was Canadian Joel Anthony. But things have not worked out like they did for a Rondo and Perkins in Boston when the big 3 came to the Celtics. Anthony on the season averaging just 17 minutes with just 1.7 points and 3.8 Rebounds with 1.2 Blocks.
11/9/10
"Jiggly Bits"
Silly Bandz. They are all the rage right now with anyone under the age of ten. I am not sure what is the draw to them - crazy shapes on your wrist out of rubber bands? Hmmm. So imagine my surprise when the Charlotte Bobcats are advertising "Bobcat Bandz" as a game promotion and I suddenly look for my wallet. Wonder what the shapes would be? Michael Jordan with his tongue hanging out or maybe Stephen Jackson going off the deep end. This is what he did, apparently, according to game officials working the Bobcat-Pistons game on November 5th. Bobcat Stephen Jackson has been fined $50,000 for what is being called verbal abuse of game officials according to Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. But the incident happened following the Bobcats' 97-90 loss to the Pistons Friday night. Hence the announcement coming down from top NBA brass. Really? If the incident happened the way officials said it did, why wouldn't Stephen Jackson just walk off the court and blow off steam in the locker room? This is making me more and more uncomfortable with the crackdown on NBA players. I agree some need an attitude adjustment, but is this going to be a "Mommy, he hurt my feelings" kind of a thing, to stand up to the big bad basketball-playing millionaire? Let's take a look at the game in question. Stephen Jackson led the way with 28 points for the Bobcats, including 10 points in the third quarter when Charlotte cut the lead to 59-56. Despite Jackson's efforts, the Charlotte Bobcats were having issues with turnovers - making 22, in fact. Plus, it didn't help that Detroit made 26 of 27 free throws while Charlotte made 7 of 11. So I can see where the frustration may have arose for Stephen Jackson. But I hope everyone falls into line soon because I really don't want to see David Stern issuing a strong 'use your nice words' or a 'time out'. Now lets move on to the love-hate relationship with LeBron James and Allen Iverson feeling appreciated again.
Back in the Saddle
So finally, Allen Iverson signs with Besiktas, that Turkish Club you have been hearing about, to a 2-year, 4-million dollar contract. Picture this: fans show up at Ataturk Airport to see Allen Iverson wearing a Besiktas jersey and a Philadelphia Phillies hat. This is where the confusion for Turkish basketball fans may begin. Sure, never forget your roots but when you are trying to show your new team your heart is in it, you don't wear your heart on your head the first day on the job. This is what kills me about the whole situation. Allen Iverson signing with Besiktas is the Turkish League's biggest signing, yet many see this as his chance to re-group and prove his NBA worthiness. Even Allen Iverson himself is calling his move to Turkey a chance to get back on track with his basketball career - still believing he can play in the NBA and is hoping this stint in Turkey will land him back home NEXT YEAR! Why on earth would Besiktas sign him when he really doesn't want to be there? Answer? Both sides are desperate. In his first television interview about arriving in Turkey, he is already looking at his departure, "Before I leave, I will be speaking a lot of Turkish". Is Besiktas managment hoping the light and music show they have planned for Iverson, as a sort of pre-match celebration, is going to make him change his mind? What will his new teammates think of this sideshow? Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess.
The Same Old Song and Dance
You are driving along on the highway and see a car crash up ahead. You complain about all the rubber-neckers slowing down to take a look, yet as you inch closer, you want to see it for yourself. This is how I like to describe all those so-called basketball fans who love to hate LeBron James. Sure, comment on how he left Cleveland or his record so far in Miami but the booing - wait, let me qualify that - VICIOUS booing is really getting old. Do you know what I think is funny? Nobody is looking away from the Heat - not the casual naysayer or the rabid fan. People are showing up to games, tuning in and giving their playoff predictions. Over the weekend, I was doing some online Christmas shopping for Raptors tickets (shhh) and just for fun I clicked on Wednesday, April 13th when Toronto will be hosting Miami. Professionally, I have been court side for many a college game but never for an NBA game. So out of curiosity, I click to see how much one court side seat is going for to witness how Chris Bosh survives in his old stomping grounds. ALMOST $3,000 - are you kidding me? For one ticket? By the time I would buy two, I could fly down to Miami the next time the Raptors are in town and get the same seats for less. (In case you are wondering, I also checked out the Lakers' arrival in Toronto, too: $1,000 a ticket). This love to hate thing going on with LeBron James is responsible for ticket prices being jacked and opposing teams around the league promoting Miami games to cash in on the hate train heading for LeBronville. I know some of the biggest criticisms were directed at David Stern for defending LeBron's right to choose where he wants to play. But that's his job. An NBA Commissioner can't say whether a player's move to another club is good or bad - they need to remain neutral and defend a player's right to choose. Now, the casual or non-fan is intrigued by all this mess and comes back to the game with full force to see what all the fuss is about. This is the only silver lining I see to all those making Miami public enemy number one. But if there are some fans coming back to the game, they won't be able to sustain their curiosity because they can't afford a ticket. So, to all the Miami haters out there: for the love of all things holy -including this great game of basketball, please stop your whining - we can't afford it. Thank-you.
"Behind Enemy Lines"
We apologize about last week and a lack of post in the DNB's new Thursday feature "Behind Enemy Lines". We have tweaked a few things and will be ready to go this Thursday. I hope you can join me. See you then.
Back in the Saddle
So finally, Allen Iverson signs with Besiktas, that Turkish Club you have been hearing about, to a 2-year, 4-million dollar contract. Picture this: fans show up at Ataturk Airport to see Allen Iverson wearing a Besiktas jersey and a Philadelphia Phillies hat. This is where the confusion for Turkish basketball fans may begin. Sure, never forget your roots but when you are trying to show your new team your heart is in it, you don't wear your heart on your head the first day on the job. This is what kills me about the whole situation. Allen Iverson signing with Besiktas is the Turkish League's biggest signing, yet many see this as his chance to re-group and prove his NBA worthiness. Even Allen Iverson himself is calling his move to Turkey a chance to get back on track with his basketball career - still believing he can play in the NBA and is hoping this stint in Turkey will land him back home NEXT YEAR! Why on earth would Besiktas sign him when he really doesn't want to be there? Answer? Both sides are desperate. In his first television interview about arriving in Turkey, he is already looking at his departure, "Before I leave, I will be speaking a lot of Turkish". Is Besiktas managment hoping the light and music show they have planned for Iverson, as a sort of pre-match celebration, is going to make him change his mind? What will his new teammates think of this sideshow? Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess.
The Same Old Song and Dance
You are driving along on the highway and see a car crash up ahead. You complain about all the rubber-neckers slowing down to take a look, yet as you inch closer, you want to see it for yourself. This is how I like to describe all those so-called basketball fans who love to hate LeBron James. Sure, comment on how he left Cleveland or his record so far in Miami but the booing - wait, let me qualify that - VICIOUS booing is really getting old. Do you know what I think is funny? Nobody is looking away from the Heat - not the casual naysayer or the rabid fan. People are showing up to games, tuning in and giving their playoff predictions. Over the weekend, I was doing some online Christmas shopping for Raptors tickets (shhh) and just for fun I clicked on Wednesday, April 13th when Toronto will be hosting Miami. Professionally, I have been court side for many a college game but never for an NBA game. So out of curiosity, I click to see how much one court side seat is going for to witness how Chris Bosh survives in his old stomping grounds. ALMOST $3,000 - are you kidding me? For one ticket? By the time I would buy two, I could fly down to Miami the next time the Raptors are in town and get the same seats for less. (In case you are wondering, I also checked out the Lakers' arrival in Toronto, too: $1,000 a ticket). This love to hate thing going on with LeBron James is responsible for ticket prices being jacked and opposing teams around the league promoting Miami games to cash in on the hate train heading for LeBronville. I know some of the biggest criticisms were directed at David Stern for defending LeBron's right to choose where he wants to play. But that's his job. An NBA Commissioner can't say whether a player's move to another club is good or bad - they need to remain neutral and defend a player's right to choose. Now, the casual or non-fan is intrigued by all this mess and comes back to the game with full force to see what all the fuss is about. This is the only silver lining I see to all those making Miami public enemy number one. But if there are some fans coming back to the game, they won't be able to sustain their curiosity because they can't afford a ticket. So, to all the Miami haters out there: for the love of all things holy -including this great game of basketball, please stop your whining - we can't afford it. Thank-you.
"Behind Enemy Lines"
We apologize about last week and a lack of post in the DNB's new Thursday feature "Behind Enemy Lines". We have tweaked a few things and will be ready to go this Thursday. I hope you can join me. See you then.
11/2/10
"Jiggly Bits"
Life is too short. It really is. I was going through some of my old newspaper clippings and articles thinking, "What ever happened to Maurice Lucas?" I was barely walking when he helped the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA title. He was a power forward known as "The Enforcer" and this always made me laugh considering the NHL players we normally give this name to. But those of you who know your NBA history will know, the early days of the NBA were almost set up like the NHL just minus the skates and equipment and insert basketball nets - penalty boxes and two minute time outs, too. Well, after a long fight with bladder cancer, Maurice Lucas died at age 58 over the weekend. He joined the Portland Trail Blazers in the '76 ABA dispersal draft and averaged about 20 points per game and about 11 rebounds in their championship year (1976-1977). That was a team high back then. Lucas was also an assistant coach with the Trail Blazers for 6 seasons but after surgery last year he left the team and did not return to coach this year. He played in the NBA for 12 seasons with Portland, New Jersey, New York, Phoenix, the L.A. Lakers and Seattle and two ABA seasons with St. Louis and Kentucky. You know Luke Walton? Currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, son of Bill Walton? He was named after Maurice Lucas since he and Bill Walton were teammates in Portland. It's a shame he never got around to writing his memoirs. I would have loved to hear what he thought of the league now having survived the ABA and making a name for himself in the NBA. In case you are interested, there are two books which touch on the life of Maurice Lucas: The Breaks of the Game by David Halberstam and Loose Balls by Terry Pluto. He is survived by wife Pamela and children David, Maurice and Kristin. He will surely be missed and remembered by friends, family and fans of the game.
"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone..."
Here's a tune LeBron James may be humming at the moment. He is now saying if he had a chance to do things differently, he would change how he made the jump from Cleveland to Miami. He is not saying what those changes would be but he said he would definitely have changed it. However, he is still happy in Miami. Why now? You are bonding with your new team and slowly emerging from the booing to loud cheers for some powerful dunks. Why admit to your detractors you may have been wrong? The last tactic to help fans over the "get over it" hump? Maybe. Whatever the reason, I hope this is the last of it. I even watched some television broadcasters go on about Chris Bosh and if the Raptors are happy without him. If you ask Sonny Weems, Jarret Jack and DeMar DeRozen, I 'd say the answer would be yes since now they are getting to show off what they can do. C'mon people, let's get over it already.
Chris Bosh for President?
I don't know if we will ever see this headline but never say never, right? Former Knick, Nets and Trail Blazer Chris Dudley is fighting to represent Oregon as a Republican Governor. Remember, he isn't the only former NBA player turned politician. Former Cavs and Suns All-Star Kevin Johnson is the Mayor of Sacramento and the first African-American to hold this post. Also, NBA Hall of Famer Dave Bing is the Mayor of Detroit. Now, if you know anything about politics, half the battle is name recognition - the other half is money. So clearly the fact that these guys played professional basketball helped them in both. Being in the public eye helped them raise money and support for their campaign but is this necessarily a good thing? What political experience do they have? I believe if you care about your city and want to be a part of the solution to see it grow and flourish, for sure, take a stab at running for Major. It is not as easy and as glamorous as it looks. But are we setting a trend for the Gilbert Arenas' of the NBA who think this is an option for them? Let's just hope voters continue to educate themselves.
Joe Tait Update
In last Thursday's edition of "Behind Enemy Lines", I mentioned Cavs' Hall of Fame Broadcaster Joe Tait was scheduled to undergo a heart double bypass this week but now things have changed. He remains hospitalized with a blood clot in his lung. The Cleveland Cavaliers says he passed out at home and was rushed to Medina Hospital and then transferred to the Cleveland Clinic. He had an umbrella filter procedure done on him Monday which is supposed to prevent further clots from reaching his lungs. I am following this story since I am also a play-by-play/ color broadcaster for the PWHL and I can't imagine being in my retirement and not going out on my own terms. At 73 years old, Joe Tait was set to retire this year and the Cavs organization expected him back after fully recovering from heart surgery. Something tells me they may have to throw him an early retirement party. My heart goes out to him, his family and Cavs fans.
See you on Thursday for another edition of "Behind Enemy Lines".
"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone..."
Here's a tune LeBron James may be humming at the moment. He is now saying if he had a chance to do things differently, he would change how he made the jump from Cleveland to Miami. He is not saying what those changes would be but he said he would definitely have changed it. However, he is still happy in Miami. Why now? You are bonding with your new team and slowly emerging from the booing to loud cheers for some powerful dunks. Why admit to your detractors you may have been wrong? The last tactic to help fans over the "get over it" hump? Maybe. Whatever the reason, I hope this is the last of it. I even watched some television broadcasters go on about Chris Bosh and if the Raptors are happy without him. If you ask Sonny Weems, Jarret Jack and DeMar DeRozen, I 'd say the answer would be yes since now they are getting to show off what they can do. C'mon people, let's get over it already.
Chris Bosh for President?
I don't know if we will ever see this headline but never say never, right? Former Knick, Nets and Trail Blazer Chris Dudley is fighting to represent Oregon as a Republican Governor. Remember, he isn't the only former NBA player turned politician. Former Cavs and Suns All-Star Kevin Johnson is the Mayor of Sacramento and the first African-American to hold this post. Also, NBA Hall of Famer Dave Bing is the Mayor of Detroit. Now, if you know anything about politics, half the battle is name recognition - the other half is money. So clearly the fact that these guys played professional basketball helped them in both. Being in the public eye helped them raise money and support for their campaign but is this necessarily a good thing? What political experience do they have? I believe if you care about your city and want to be a part of the solution to see it grow and flourish, for sure, take a stab at running for Major. It is not as easy and as glamorous as it looks. But are we setting a trend for the Gilbert Arenas' of the NBA who think this is an option for them? Let's just hope voters continue to educate themselves.
Joe Tait Update
In last Thursday's edition of "Behind Enemy Lines", I mentioned Cavs' Hall of Fame Broadcaster Joe Tait was scheduled to undergo a heart double bypass this week but now things have changed. He remains hospitalized with a blood clot in his lung. The Cleveland Cavaliers says he passed out at home and was rushed to Medina Hospital and then transferred to the Cleveland Clinic. He had an umbrella filter procedure done on him Monday which is supposed to prevent further clots from reaching his lungs. I am following this story since I am also a play-by-play/ color broadcaster for the PWHL and I can't imagine being in my retirement and not going out on my own terms. At 73 years old, Joe Tait was set to retire this year and the Cavs organization expected him back after fully recovering from heart surgery. Something tells me they may have to throw him an early retirement party. My heart goes out to him, his family and Cavs fans.
See you on Thursday for another edition of "Behind Enemy Lines".
10/28/10
"Behind Enemy Lines"
I think it's hilarious how both Cleveland and Toronto started their season in the same way but dealt with it differently. Cleveland is still extremely bitter about LeBron James jumping ship and being extremely petty about it, I might add. Chris Bosh leaves Toronto, albeit in a less 'flashy' way than LeBron left the Cavs, but the Raptors basically address the loss and get down to business. This makes me respect this club more and more. By all rights, the Toronto Raptors should have beat the New York Knicks on Wednesday night since the Knicks are in more of a transition than the Raptors. The Raptors did a good job of closing in on a 16 point lead by the Knicks in the first half, going to the second quarter with only seven points to catch. The Raptors took the next two quarters on points alone with New York coming out on top in the end (98-93). It is clear they are still finding their way but have a solid fighting spirit. It's a shame Amir Johnson got into foul trouble and only played 12 minutes on Wednesday because maybe that may have been the difference. Brian Colangelo couldn't have been happy since the club just signed Amir to that 5 year, $34 million contract in the off season. So for these next few games against Cleveland, Sacramento and Utah in the coming week, the Raptors need to stay out of foul trouble, stay healthy and keep fighting.
Cleveland - What should we do? (@ Toronto Friday, Oct. 29, 7pm)
You knew this was coming. LeBron James hooks up with NIKE on a commercial poking fun at himself and the Cleveland Cavaliers were surely to respond. A little clever with a heavy dose of bitterness. The Cavaliers posted an article on their website responding to LeBron's commercial. Here's a taste: "What should we do? Should we admit we made a mistake? That we believed you? That we believed who you said you were? All the way up until the night you humiliated our city and mocked our loyalty on national television?..." The piece then goes onto brag about beating the Boston Celtics without him and how the Heat lost their first game of the season in sweet redemption. Cleveland Cavalier fans have every right to feel upset and the organization has every right to feel frustrated. But in my honest opinion, they need to take the high road and get over it already. This is reminding me too much of high school: the immature break-ups and inability to move on with your life kind-of-attitude. Sure, he hurt you but as our mothers always told us "there are other fish in the sea". Ok, celebrate the fact that you won and the Heat didn't. Carrying around all this bitterness and wasting your energy on what he's doing is no way to get over it and move on - This is what Cleveland needs to do fast before they embarrass themselves even more.
On a side note, the voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers is off preparing for heart surgery and a double bypass. Hall of Fame radio announcer Joe Tait has no specific timeline for a return but the Cavaliers want him behind the mic later this season.
Young Kings in Sacramento (vs. Toronto in Sacramento, Monday, Nov. 1st, 10pm)
When you click on most teams, their home page comes up. Not for the Sacramento Kings. The first page is a celebration, if you will, of the 117-116 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to start the season. When you get over the splash of DeMarcus Cousins and the "Young Kings Hang on For First Season-Opening road win since 2000!" banner, you actually need to click on 'Home Court' to get to any information on the team. I guess they have every reason to celebrate because with a score like that it could have gone either way. Minnesota Head Coach Kurt Rambis blames silly fouls for his team's loss to Sacramento. To the Kings' credit though, Carl Landry had 22 points, 11 rebounds on the night and DeMarcus Cousins put up 14 points and 8 rebounds. I am sure if Tyreke Evans was in the line-up, it would have given Sacramento that extra push. Evans was serving his one-game suspension for pleading no contest to reckless driving in the off-season. He will be available to play and start for the Sacramento Kings for the remainder of the season. Good thing because the Kings are looking to keep him through to next season by extending his contract. They couldn't ignore Evans joining the company of LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson as the only rookies in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Aside from the reckless driving charges, he really is a good kid. He purchased 13 season tickets and donated them to local youth and special groups in part with the "Kings for the Community" program. With him back in the line-up, the Raptors will need to be on watch when they meet up on Monday in Sacramento.
Not so Jazzy in Utah (vs. Toronto in Utah, Wednesday, Nov.3rd, 9pm)
The Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors have a lot in common. They both have never won an NBA Title, they both lost big names this summer (for the Jazz it was Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Kosta Koufos and Wesley Mathews) and they are both looking for a new identity. With the veteran additions of Raja Bell and Al Jefferson, the Utah Jazz are looking to be a Championship contender - eventually. I say 'eventually' because if you look at their stats, their road record doesn't look too hot and this needs to be strong if they are going to survive the highly competitive Western Conference. Just look at their game Wednesday night in Denver versus the Nuggets. Denver took a 9-0 lead in the first quarter and never trailed after that. But the real clincher for me was the whopping 22 turnovers which lead to 19 Denver points. Not good. Not good at all. But a light at the end of the tunnel, after a 110-88 season opener loss to the Nuggets, comes in the form of reserve forward Gordon Hayward. Utah is lucky to have him. Remember Butler's surprise dance in the NCAA Final earlier this year? Well, in case you didn't know, Gordon Hayward was a big part of that. Plus, he had 9 points and 5 rebounds in his first NBA game with Utah. Not bad for a small fry - if you consider 6-9, 207 pounds small, that is.
Thank-you for joining me. Keep today's discussion in mind when you watch the Toronto Raptors this week. I hope I have provided you some food for thought and armed you with some information to help you think outside the box. Have fun and see you on Tuesday for some more NBA discussions in "Jiggly Bits".
Cleveland - What should we do? (@ Toronto Friday, Oct. 29, 7pm)
You knew this was coming. LeBron James hooks up with NIKE on a commercial poking fun at himself and the Cleveland Cavaliers were surely to respond. A little clever with a heavy dose of bitterness. The Cavaliers posted an article on their website responding to LeBron's commercial. Here's a taste: "What should we do? Should we admit we made a mistake? That we believed you? That we believed who you said you were? All the way up until the night you humiliated our city and mocked our loyalty on national television?..." The piece then goes onto brag about beating the Boston Celtics without him and how the Heat lost their first game of the season in sweet redemption. Cleveland Cavalier fans have every right to feel upset and the organization has every right to feel frustrated. But in my honest opinion, they need to take the high road and get over it already. This is reminding me too much of high school: the immature break-ups and inability to move on with your life kind-of-attitude. Sure, he hurt you but as our mothers always told us "there are other fish in the sea". Ok, celebrate the fact that you won and the Heat didn't. Carrying around all this bitterness and wasting your energy on what he's doing is no way to get over it and move on - This is what Cleveland needs to do fast before they embarrass themselves even more.
On a side note, the voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers is off preparing for heart surgery and a double bypass. Hall of Fame radio announcer Joe Tait has no specific timeline for a return but the Cavaliers want him behind the mic later this season.
Young Kings in Sacramento (vs. Toronto in Sacramento, Monday, Nov. 1st, 10pm)
When you click on most teams, their home page comes up. Not for the Sacramento Kings. The first page is a celebration, if you will, of the 117-116 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to start the season. When you get over the splash of DeMarcus Cousins and the "Young Kings Hang on For First Season-Opening road win since 2000!" banner, you actually need to click on 'Home Court' to get to any information on the team. I guess they have every reason to celebrate because with a score like that it could have gone either way. Minnesota Head Coach Kurt Rambis blames silly fouls for his team's loss to Sacramento. To the Kings' credit though, Carl Landry had 22 points, 11 rebounds on the night and DeMarcus Cousins put up 14 points and 8 rebounds. I am sure if Tyreke Evans was in the line-up, it would have given Sacramento that extra push. Evans was serving his one-game suspension for pleading no contest to reckless driving in the off-season. He will be available to play and start for the Sacramento Kings for the remainder of the season. Good thing because the Kings are looking to keep him through to next season by extending his contract. They couldn't ignore Evans joining the company of LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson as the only rookies in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Aside from the reckless driving charges, he really is a good kid. He purchased 13 season tickets and donated them to local youth and special groups in part with the "Kings for the Community" program. With him back in the line-up, the Raptors will need to be on watch when they meet up on Monday in Sacramento.
Not so Jazzy in Utah (vs. Toronto in Utah, Wednesday, Nov.3rd, 9pm)
The Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors have a lot in common. They both have never won an NBA Title, they both lost big names this summer (for the Jazz it was Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Kosta Koufos and Wesley Mathews) and they are both looking for a new identity. With the veteran additions of Raja Bell and Al Jefferson, the Utah Jazz are looking to be a Championship contender - eventually. I say 'eventually' because if you look at their stats, their road record doesn't look too hot and this needs to be strong if they are going to survive the highly competitive Western Conference. Just look at their game Wednesday night in Denver versus the Nuggets. Denver took a 9-0 lead in the first quarter and never trailed after that. But the real clincher for me was the whopping 22 turnovers which lead to 19 Denver points. Not good. Not good at all. But a light at the end of the tunnel, after a 110-88 season opener loss to the Nuggets, comes in the form of reserve forward Gordon Hayward. Utah is lucky to have him. Remember Butler's surprise dance in the NCAA Final earlier this year? Well, in case you didn't know, Gordon Hayward was a big part of that. Plus, he had 9 points and 5 rebounds in his first NBA game with Utah. Not bad for a small fry - if you consider 6-9, 207 pounds small, that is.
Thank-you for joining me. Keep today's discussion in mind when you watch the Toronto Raptors this week. I hope I have provided you some food for thought and armed you with some information to help you think outside the box. Have fun and see you on Tuesday for some more NBA discussions in "Jiggly Bits".
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