12:30am Eastern
NO DISCO FOR DIRK
Word came down on Monday that Dirk Nowitzki will be sidelined from the Mavericks’ line up for an indefinite period. And while that is terrible news for Dallas – and a stretch run in an extremely deep and competitive Western Conference – the Texas crew has still got to be thanking their lucky stars. The news could have been MUCH worse for Nowitzki.
I’ve watched the replay from Sunday’s nasty fall against the Spurs over and over and I still can’t believe Dirk didn’t break his leg, shatter his ankle, or tear every ligament in his knee. The way his leg buckled underneath his body … I was expecting to hear the Mavs announce on Monday that Nowitzki was gone for the season. At least the team can now hold out some sort of faint hope that their go-to guy and the reigning MVP might just have a shot at returning for the post-season.
Of course, Dallas has to get their first!
The optimist in me says this injury COULD be a minor blessing in disguise. Reason-being … the Jason Kidd experiment has not worked out yet for the Mavs. With Dirk now out, Kidd can focus more on being a distributor to the ENTIRE team as opposed to having to worry more about keeping Nowitzki happy; developing chemistry with him; and, thus, leaving everybody else as a 2ND thought on his mind. This injury will force Kidd to truly take over this team and become the leader and guiding light (sorry for the cheesy description) of a team that is sputtering.
THE MADNESS CONTINUES
Although 90% of my bracket has been OBLITERATED, I still have my Final Four teams a live (UCLA, Texas, Tennessee, and Kansas).
However, as exciting as the tournament has been, I wanted to focus on one issue specifically … other than the games and teams that still remain.
Who is the number 1 pick this June? Are there a lot of “impact” players in the college game right now, that will go on to star in the NBA?
Quite honestly … I’d say … No. No, there aren’t a ton of “stars” ready to make that jump from the NCAA to the NBA.
There are plenty of names out there (Eric Gordon, Derrick Rose, Brook Lopez, OJ Mayo, and more) but the only guy that I have seen to this point that truly has the makings of an NBA All Star / Superstar … is Michael Beasley. Rose or Mayo or anybody else may prove me wrong one day, but as it stands right this second … Beasley is the only guy I see as a future poster-child for the Association.
Don’t get me wrong – many of those players I mentioned (and others … like Kevin Love, Jerryd Bayless, etc) will have solid professional careers – but based on the tournament so far … Beasley is in a class by himself.
Ironically, the most talked about player right now – who is plastered all over every highlight show and website – is Stephen Curry. Yet part of me is still skeptical about whether or not his has the body and the all-around game to excel at the next level.
I hope I’m wrong about Curry … ’cause I feel a slight connection to the guy after watching him grow up in Toronto for a few years during his Dad’s (Dell Curry) days as a Raptor. In fact, Stephen used to talk about wanting to play for Duke when he got older. He never became a Blue Devil but he’s sure helping put Davidson on the map!
TJ AND DR. PHIL
In the ongoing / never-ending “debate” of TJ Ford and Jose Calderon, I thought I’d put on my psychiatrist hat and try to break down my feelings on this issue one more time.
To use the football example … the starting QB is never supposed to lose his job due to injury. As soon as he comes back healthy, the job is his.
However, in some circumstances – like the one that unfolded in Toronto – the back-up ends up playing SO well that even when the starter returns … it seems crazy to upset the balance again and have everyone have to start from scratch with the man who originally held the gig.
Such is/was the case in T.O. … when TJ Ford return after two months away from the Raps … only to find that Sam Mitchell was sticking with Jose Calderon as his “new” starting PG.
The easy response for many – when talking about TJ – is: “Suck it up. Play ball. Be a team player”.
But the reality of the situation is … like it or not … “sucking it up” is easier said than done. The COMPETITOR inside TJ Ford wants to play. That competitor wants to have his old job back; log heavy minutes; play meaningful minutes; control the offence and the team; and be one of the main go-to guys … especially in crunch time.
To suddenly ask that guy to play half of his usual allotment of minutes; come off the bench; sit on the bench during the late stages of most games; and have less of an overall impact on the team … is tough.
None of that changes the fact that Ford has had more downs than ups since his return to the Raptors … but … I’m merely stating that I can see where the man is coming from and where his mind might be at right now.
If I were in TJ’s shoes … would I want to be playing more? ABSOLUTELY.
Would I be happy with losing my starting job and having to accept the back-up role? Absolutely not.
Would I want to be on the floor in tight / meaningful situations and games overall? Absolutely.
Would I still believe that – truth or not – I’m the 2ND best player on this team and I think I can carry this team (even without Bosh) through anything … much like I did last year when I kept my team at .500 despite a long absence for CB4? Absolutely.
But there are signs that Ford is starting to “get it” …
His body language on the floor over the past couple of games has shown great improvements and his interaction with Calderon has been outstanding. Perhaps TJ finally got to the point where he may have said something like … This isn’t fair … but I’ve got to make the best of it and find other ways to help my team.
We’ll see how it all plays out over the final 12 games of the season. And, to be fair, Calderon (and the entire starting 5) need to step up their games as well. The Raptors have been falling behind too early; too often. I’m not necessarily in favour of a shake-up to the starting unit, but a collective head-shake could be in order.
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Your comments are always welcome below. And submissions for “E’s MAIL” or any personal inquiries can be sent to raptors@fan590.com
E. Smith
14 Responses to “Tuesday’s Quick Hits”
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I’ve always liked Jose better than TJ. That being said, I don’t like the way that TJ lost his job & I think that Calderon is MOST effective when he plays off an equally effective Ford. To me its like having two QB’s that are capable of starting but bring different skill sets to the table. The bottom line is that I think one (player) needs the other to find reach their maximum potential.
- DougIn Regards to the Starting PG position, yes i understand that you dont lose your job due to injury, but in the end this is professional sports it happens. Look at Drew bledsoe, he goes down, Tom Brady Steps up they Run the Final games in the Season and Win the Super Bowl. In the Offseason Bledsoe gets traded. I know it sounds Bad, but sometimes it takes an injury for a Team to see someone’s Full Potential and what there capable of. I understand its hard for the Guy being a second String, but in a business perspective BC has alot invested in Him as a player and a Big Contract, if he doesn’t Man Up and be a Professional in regards to his situation, come offseason his stock fades. We both know having to 8 Million Dollar Pg’s wont work against the Cap, so come offseason, im sure one will be one that way out…….
- roscoI couldn’t agree more Doug. They both need one another – the team needs both PG’s – ’cause their differing styles are (or, “can be”) a huge asset and weapon for this team.
- E. SmithI think TJ’s body language (and overall play) has been much better over the last couple of games. Maybe, Ross, that is him realizing he does have to “man up” as you say.
- E. SmithI personally don’t feel as if TJ Ford is the problem for the main slump…yes I feel he contributes to it, but lost in the shuffle is Andrea Bargnani’s ineffectiveness….Against Denver, he looks all-world in the 1st Quarter, then disappears the rest of the game, and when the Raps so badly needed another scoring option near the end, they did’nt have it, everybody in the building knew the ball was going to be in Bosh’s hands and Denver defended appropriately…..the raps season has been just as inconsistent as Bargnani’s.
That being said, I think the raps will be in solid position to take a quality big guy in the draft…I would love to see one of the Lopez twins in a raptor uniform next year!
- MarkAndrea has struggled Mark … you’re right. As I said on the radio the other day, he has regressed this year. If you’re not moving forward – progressing – then you’re regressing. Even if you’re standing still … that means you’re not moving … so … you’re regressing in my eyes. He has to step it up.
But I have full confidence that he can do so and he’s still a solid player with a bright future ahead of him. He just needs to do more, and bring more consistency.
As for the NCAA … I like one Lopez more than the other (Brook) and I’m really high on Kevin Love’s game.
- E. SmithWell on a Positive note, the Raps can’t fall further than 7th seed in the East, Wow saying 7th really hurts inside, with the players that this organization has, you start to wonder how the heck where in this position. Its sad but true. Hopefully they can tighten up there game on the Defensive End and pick up the Intensity and start tightening up there rotations, with the playoffs just around the corner, the Raptors as a Team need to Wake Up and look deep inside and start playing some basketball, Will see tomorrow night against the Pistons what there made of, again another possible First Round Matchup.
- roscoI love the idea of the Raptors taking Love or Hibbert with our first round pick.
We need a big, who can do dirty work and actually grab boards. Kevin Love is Kris Humphries, but a better shooter, better banger and better overall player. By the way, Kevin Love can make a turn around 20 foot jumper.
- Brandon in TorontoDo you think, given the raptors most recent struggles, that the logical move is to start TJ and bring Jose off the bench?
I love Jose in the starting lineup and would hate to see TJ be “rewarded” for his most recent behaviour but is a change not necessary at this point?
I was all for brining Moon off the bench a couple weeks ago but Delfino has been Horrid of late.
Thoughts?
- Steeeboto be honest this so called “dilemma” of tj or jose isn’t even on my radar. i like having both of them. i’m far more concerned about the poor defense, poor rebounding, and what looks like very inconsistent mental toughness.
- tyTJ didn’t lose his starting spot because of an “injury” he lost it because of a pre-existing “condition” which he now claims could cripple him….go back and watch the interviews he gave when he first came to Toronto and claimed he was “at NO risk” and had “been %100 cleared” by his doctors.
- julieHe would not have been given his huge contract if it had been clear that he would be out THREE times over the next 2 years with this pre-existing condition…the last time for long enough to totally change the chemistry of the team.
TJ was “medically” cleared to play 10 days after the fall in Atlanta….the Raptors let him “take his time”….
His condition has not now suddenly disappeared and the team would be as stupid as most of the Toronto fans to risk the lack of stability he brings..he is not worth it in the starting lineup. If there was a huge drop off in the talent level between the two, it would be worth it…
Jose made a name for himself because the bench last year OUTPLAYED the starters far too often…
If TJ really cares about anything other than himself, he has the opportunity to do the same thing Jose did last year…
He hasn’t come close to showing he is capable of doing that yet.
ENOUGH!
I like many others I know have become very frustrated with the Raptors this season.
- DavidLast season was so exciting for the Raptors,like what Philadelphia is experiencing down the home stretch.
I used to never miss a game, now I rarely watch.
I see multiple issues with the team that cannot be fixed overnight.
I hope that MLSE and Bryan make a sincere effort to address the team deficiencies in the offseason, or we will have another Toronto Maple Leafs team on our hands, and that would be unfortunate.
Steebo – I would keep things as-is. I think folks have been too harsh on Moon (though he needs to drive MUCH more – he’s still a guy that flirts with being in the Top 50 in FG% in the entire league) … and I would still stick with Calderon as the starting PG.
- E. SmithTy – Mental toughness/execution … especially down the stretch … has to improve, no doubt.
- E. Smith