Friday October 3 2008 – 12:40am Eastern
Last night at Carleton … I had a chance to watch the evening practice/scrimmage.
The reporters were actually allowed in for the final hour or so of the session — a rarity for sure — and we got a chance to see the Raps in action.
With only 12 healthy players (Nathan Jawai (heart) and Joey Graham (hamstring) sidelined), this is how the scrimmage broke down:
TEAM RED: Jermaine O’Neal, Jamario Moon, Will Solomon, Jamal Sampson
TEAM BLACK: Chris Bosh, Hassan Adams, Anthony Parker, Jose Calderon
TEAM WHITE: Kris Humphries, Jason Kapono, Andrea Bargnani, Roko Ukic
Full court 4 on 4
The format wasn’t really like playing ‘King of the Court’ or anything; Sam Mitchell just substituted the teams in and out after getting a few reps on both ends of the floor. You don’t wanna wear the guys out … keeping them on the floor too long. They were playing FULL COURT afterall!
Mitchell was blowing the whistle every few seconds … calling plays, getting guys into proper position, strategizing, teaching, etc. So there wasn’t a ton of flow … until …
They broke out in a legit, full court, officiated, 5 on 5 session. Two 12-minute halves. Black vs White.
BLACK: Calderon, Bosh, O’Neal, Moon, Parker
WHITE: Solomon, Bargnani, Humphries, Adams, Kapono
* Floating subs: Ukic and Sampson
Here are a few observations:
- Bargnani looked solid in the scrimmage – confident with his shot; decisive with his moves; using his body down low.
- Humphries dunking on O’Neal (not cleanly – but a strong move nonetheless) and then nearly getting him again on a steal and break-away that O’Neal ran down and nearly blocked … before committing the foul and sending Hump to the line.
- Moon nailing shots from distance and mid-range
- Around the 6:00 minute mark, Ukic came in for Calderon on Team Black, Sampson switched to Team White, and Bargnani switched to Team Black in place of O’Neal
- Team White with a 7-point lead with under 4:00 minutes to go
- With 2:38 to go, we saw: WHITE: Kapono, Calderon, Sampson, Adams, Humphries and BLACK: Moon, Parker, Bargnani, O’Neal, Ukic
- Airball on a 3-pointer by Ukic that could have cut the game to only 4
- Bargnani with a nifty no-look drop pass to O’Neal in the lane
- Hump iced the first half with a 17-footer with :30 seconds to go
At the “half” … WHITE leads 21-14.
For my money, the best player in the opening 12:00 minutes was Humphries. Defence, rebounding, knockin’ down shots … Hump did it all. He was solid.
Less than :90 seconds into the second half, Mitchell ended the ‘game’ with WHITE leading 23-16. And what came next?
Wind sprints.
EVERY player had to go to the free throw line and take 3 shots. For each shot that a guy missed, every player had to run down the floor and back. If the shot was made, nobody had to run. Here’s how it went down:
O’Neal – 0 for 3
Adams – 2 for 3
Ukic – 2 for 3
Humphries – 3 for 3
Sampson – 1 for 3
Solomon – 2 for 3
Parker – 2 for 3
Moon – 3 for 3
Bargnani – 2 for 3
Bosh – 3 for 3
Kapono – 2 for 3
Calderon – 3 for 3
FINAL NOTE: The official word has come down on Joey Graham: Mild hamstring strain. He’s listed as day to day.
E. Smith
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Wow, what a great read.
- BrandonHey Eric – thanks for the play-by-play of the black-and-white game; it’s the first Raptors game I’ve enjoyed in months.
How did Hump do at the free-throw line (you listed Moon twice)? Isn’t it a toughie that JO went O-fer, knowing he’s got knee problems?
- Jeff WThanks for the coverage, Eric.
Its nice to hear that Hump is working hard to try to carve himself out some minutes. I’m sure the reality is that he’ll be 4th in line for those 4/5 minutes, but all you can ask is that when he gets in, he’s got energy, plays defense, and rebounds.
Other than the air-ball, how are Roko and Solomon doing at getting used to the team, and how does each look?
Thanks again,
- DaleDale.
To bad jawai’s not playing want to see this big bastard play against some real competition. As for Hump what happened to this guy last year, he went MIA after playing well. Did hump think he was MJ is that why he got benched, taking too many shots. Is Hump ever going to finish his web page. Moon hitting the free throws, can tell this guys been working. Who sweats more, Jawai, Humphries or rob hough. Is vince carter going to get booed at the ACC this year or does any body really care anymore. V C SUCKS V C SUCKS V C SUCKS. Nothing brings Toronto sports fans together like a good old fashion former player bashin. December 10 MJ ford will be back in the house that vc built, hope he dosent get booed. He will drop 30 on calderon just to try and show him up but you gotta love that about the guy. live 09 october 7. Is Chuck missing out? Who’s better, chicago or toronto? Is the fan590 ever going to sirius/xm. If the fan was on sirius i would listen. PRIME TIME WITH BOB MCOWAN UNCENCERED. Ok maby not hardcore radio but im shure the odd f bomb will be heard from the bob cat.
- Rob (Mad dog)hough*Corrected.
Hump went 3 for 3.
- E. SmithFYI … I wouldn’t read anything into O’Neal going 0 for 3. Big deal. It was one small component of one practice. He’s been solid all week. Don’t anybody think the sky is falling.
Heck, next time they do that drill, he could go 3 for 3 and Bosh could go 0 for 3. Whoop dee do
- E. SmithYAY, Raptors season is just around the corner. I can wake up now with raptors new to read each day.
and HUMP is the man, I’m not sure why people don’t think that he can be at least an important role player on this team.
- Raptors NewsNice to read, thanks eric.
“Moon nailing shots from distance and mid-range”
That’s all fine and dandy since I guess that leads to defences having to get up on him but did you happen to see any more of an inclination from Moon to go to the hoop? Thanks.
- Binson“Whoop dee do” quote of the week lol
- AaronMaybe JO missed those free throws on purpose? Everyone does wind sprints!
- ChrisEric,
Best blog I’ve read. Ever.
- DanThanks Dan
- E. SmithSeriously Eric you are really keeping us basketball freaks fully fed! Thanks for the details. I know most of us on the RealGM website really appreciate it. Have a great day and keep up the great work.
- Cafguy