Mandatory viewing for all.

“I still think they’re about the same, … they’re still behind the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns and also the San Antonio Spurs, … Jason Kidd is an upgrade; he’s a Hall of Famer. But they’re going to lose something in that paint area.”

Meanwhile, from New Jersey’s point of view … this move allows the Nets to re-stock their cupboard (with useful pieces for the future) while keeping their hopes alive to grab the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference Play-offs this season.

If you’re a Nets fans today, looking at the following line-up …

Starters:
Devin Harris/PG
Vince Carter/OG
Richard Jefferson/SF
Sean Williams/PF
Nenad Krstic/C  

Key Bench Players:
Marcus Williams/PG
Bostjan Nachbar/G-F
Josh Boone/PF
DeSagana Diop/C

(with a plethora of serviceable reserves AND multiple 1st Round Draft Picks)

you’re smiling, ear-to-ear … as this is the best you could’ve hoped for following Jason Kidd’s recent ‘public’ trade request.

… when ‘motor racing’ enters a special realm – of concentration, expectation, and danger speed – others simply cannot match! 

A prime example of exactly what’s needed, right now, by the the new (old?) Leafs’ GM … i.e. disregarding efforts to move Mats Sundin and, instead … focussing on their three other veteran players with ridiculous ‘no trade’ contracts, Bryan McCabe (D), Darcy Tucker (F) and Pavel Kubina (D).

Calling every GM in the league (except one?), regarding these ‘tier two’ players, accomplishes several goals, simultaneously:

1) Identifying the Leafs as ‘sellers’ in the current market
2) Clarifying their priorities (i.e. the need to shed ’dead-weight’ contracts), and
3) Removing Mats Sundin from ‘active’ consideration (showing him the Respect he’s earned in Toronto) … unless, of course, other GM’s wish to initiate talks with Toronto about him.

It’s a game of high-stakes Poker, and … despite the fact he’s holding the weakest hand in the league … Fletcher’s got to make it seem as though he’s playing from a position of strength, not desperation.

With this type of shrewd ‘media-savvy’ response … Fletcher is sending a specific message to his colleagues …

There is now a competent hand stearing the rudder of this ship and it knows exactly what it needs to do – short and long term – to right itself and, then, set sail for open water.

“Priority 1A” – JFJ is gone – has already been accomplished.

“Priority 1” – the hiring of a full-time GM – will be accomplished this off-season, under Fletcher’s direction.

“Priorities 2 & 2A” – shedding ‘bad contracts’ & replacing Paul Maurice – both need to be accomplished, either: (a) now, before the ‘trade deadline’, or (b) in the early period of the off-season.

By the way he’s starting out, in his 2nd go-round with Toronto, Leaf fans should, at least, feel comforted that the Silver Fox hasn’t lost his guile or his Poker Face.

8 days left to the ‘Trading Deadline’ … tic, toc, tic, toc, tic, toc …

Let the games begin! (in earnest) … with the Fox in the henhouse.

However, in sharp contrast to the current chatter in ’Leafs’ Nation’ …

January 22, 2008 Leafs call back Cliff Fletcher
February 15, 2008 Leafs future hinges on Sundin deal

… ‘The Remedy’ for their present plight does NOT revolve around:

a) Their search for a competent, full-time GM
b) Their lack of high-ranking draft picks (in the next few seasons)
c) The ‘no trade’ clauses in the contracts of their most highly payed (and, in some cases, least productive) players
d) The overall lack of ‘skilled hockey talent’ on their roster
e) The overall ‘lack of Grit’ on their roster
f) The ‘price of (hockey) tape in Orilla (ON)’, or
g) Whatever else you might care to mention …

but the disappointing work of Paul Maurice (Head Coach), game-to-game.

When a team performs in this manner …

(over the course of its last 20 games, since Jan 1/08, while striving to make the Playoffs for the first time in 3 seasons)

- Winning games vs top teams in the league (v 1-10)
- Losing games vs middle (v 11-20) and low-end teams (v 21-30)

… it’s the responsibility of the coaching staff.

In the NHL, when a team’s Specialty Units perform at the bottom of the league … 

Power Play - 14.4%/28th
Penalty Kill - 78.4%/29th

while their

“Shots” Per Game/30.6/5th
“Shots Against” Per Game/29.2/18th 
” Goals For” Per Game/2.7/17th

are solidly in the middle-of-the-pack …

and, their

“Goals Against” Per Game/3.17/28th

is 3rd from the worst …

it speaks directly to the type of ‘strategic/technical defensive coaching’ their players are getting, consistently (or not), in practice and games.

What the Leafs should NOT do, right now, to right their sunken ship, is trade Mats Sundin (their best player & Captain), for a combination of future draft picks & burgeoning younger players, yet to hit their stride in the NHL.

This would be another backwards step for this franchise … without a Stanley Cup, since 1967.

What the Leafs NEED to do, in this specific situation, is …

(in order)

1) Replace Paul Maurice with a (better?) Defensive-minded head coach, who has been involved with a Stanley Cup winning team before, in some capacity;
2) Trade away/Give Away/Buy Out non-achieving veteran players with ‘No Trade’ clauses in their contracts, i.e. Darcy Tucker & Bryan McCabe;
3) Re-sign Mats Sundin, to a ‘short-term’ contract extension;
4) Hire a different & improved Scouting Staff, to better utilize their existing (up-coming) draft picks; and,
5) Hire a competent full-time GM/President, in-charge of their complete hockey operations.

A 5-Step Process … without any short-cuts.

Yes, ’blowing it up’ in Toronto … and, starting again from scratch … would be the ’right thing’ to do … but, to do so, right now, involving Mats Sundin … without a full-time GM/President in place, for the long term … is (almost) unbelievably (incomprehensibly) STUPID. 

9 days left … until the NHL’s trading deadline … tic, toc, tic, toc … and, KABOOM!

Note: To Cliff Fletcher … With the ‘puck on your stick, in the high slot’ … sometimes, the ‘best move’ (available) … is to pass. – Khandor’s Hockey Handbook ($19.95, Cdn)

Game 13 – TOR 109 vs Njn (22-30) 91, W 8-5 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 12 – TOR 88 vs Sas (33-17) 93, L 7-5 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 11 – Tor 105 @ MIN (10-38) 82, W 7-4 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 10 – TOR 98 v Lac (15-31) 102, L 6-4 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 9 – Tor 114 @ MIA (9-36) 82, W 6-3 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 8 – TOR 101 vs LAL (28-16) 121, L 5-3 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 7 – TOR 122 vs Was (24-19) 85, W 5-2 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 6 – Tor 104 @ WAS (23-19) 108, OT, L 4-2 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 5 – TOR 106 vs Mil (17-26) 75, W 4-1 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 4 – Tor 114 @ BOS (33-6) 112, W 3-1 … Boxscore 
Game 3 – Tor 95 @ PHI (15-25) 99, L 2-1 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 2 – TOR 89 vs Atl (17-18) 78, W 2-0 … Boxscore, Full Play-By-Play
Game 1 – TOR 116 vs Sac (15-21) 91, W 1-0

Record vs >.500 Opp: 2-3 (.400)
Record vs ≤.500 Opp: 6-2 (.750)

===============================================

Key Possessions which determined the W-L result:

Some NBA games are decided in a specific segment in the early stages of the game … like this one, when

- from the 05:25 mark of the 2nd Quarter to the end of the 1st Half … 

TOR/22 pts; 6-7, FGA (85.7%); 2-2, 3FGA (100.0%); 6-6, FTA (100.0%); 4 Rbs; 2 Ast; 1 TO

Njn/9 pts; 2-6, FGA (33.3%); 1-1, 3FGA (100.0%); 3-3, FTA (100.0%); 2 Rbs; 3 Ast; 3 TO

Key Raptors:
Jose Calderon (3-3, FGA/100.0%; 1-1, 3FGA/100.0%; 1-1, FTA/100.0%; 1 Rb; 1 Ast; 1 TO), Andrea Bargnani (1-2, FGA/50.0%; 1-1, 3FGA/100.0%; 3-3, FTA/100.0%; 1 Ast) & Chris Bosh (2-2, FGA/100.0%; 2-2, FTA/100.0%; 1 Rb) 

Vital Components:
- during this 5 minute stretch to close the 2nd Quarter … Toronto dominated New Jersey, extending its lead from 8 to 21 pts … by (i) Outrebounding the Nets (4-2), (ii) shooting a higher FG% (85.7-33.3%), (iii) getting to more FTA (6-2), (iv) committing fewer TO’s (1-3), and (v) converting on 75.0% of their offensive possessions (8/12), compared to New Jersey’ 38.5% (5/13)

Next Game:
vs Orlando, 33-21 (Wed Feb 20)

Q1. How good is Jose Calderon (Toronto Raptors, PG, 6-3, 210)?

A1. He’s as good as this Man, right here … one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of All-Time.

Digest this ↑ statement while looking at these ’Season Averages’ …

Player 1 – Individual Stats

Player 2 - Individual Stats

… and, the corresponding ‘Team W-L Records’ for the first three years of John Stockton’s (Utah Jazz) & Jose Calderon’s NBA careers …

Player 1 – Team W-L Record

Player 2 – Team W-L Record

Q21. Which set belongs to the former ‘Choir Boy’? … and, which belongs to ‘El Matador‘?

A2. See the bottom of this blog entry for the answer. * 

Whether or not Jose Calderon actually makes the All-Star team this season is irrelevant – re: Agent Zero’s blog: Thoughts on the Shaq Trade – as … barring injury … he has The Talent, The Attitude & The Game to become a multiple time (10?) All-Star over the course of his NBA career.

Jose Calderon is THAT good … as a ‘spectacularly efficient’ PG who:

I) Gets his teammates the ball ’when & where’ they need it to succeed;
II) Has an exceptionally high Basketball IQ;
III) Plays the game with tremendous Passion & Poise;
IV) Is ‘big enough’, ‘quick enough’ & ‘strong enough’ to defend multiple positions on the floor, in a defensive ‘switch’ or ’designated rotation’ situations;
V) Is a solid rebounder;
VI) Is improving his shooting stroke (i.e. Pull-up J, Catch & Shoot, 3FGA’s & FT’s) every year;
VII) Is a terrific finisher of layups at the rim, with either hand;
VIII) Is a well-conditioned athlete;
IX) Is a consumate professional (& a 1st Class teammate); and,
X) At 26 years of age, has already captured one World Championship (2006) with his native Spain.

Q3. Name the Point Guards in the history of the NBA to shoot …

+50.0% on FGA’s
+45.0% on 3FGA’s
+90.0% on FTA’s
with an Assist : Ratio of +5 to 1
while Averaging 31.9 MP

for an entire season?

A3. Prior to this season … there has NEVER (ever) been one!

* Player 1 is John Stockton; Player 2 is Jose Calderon.

Game 12 – TOR 88 vs Sas (33-17) 93, L 7-5 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 11 – Tor 105 @ MIN (10-38) 82, W 7-4 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 10 – TOR 98 v Lac (15-31) 102, L 6-4 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 9 – Tor 114 @ MIA (9-36) 82, W 6-3 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 8 – TOR 101 vs LAL (28-16) 121, L 5-3 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 7 – TOR 122 vs Was (24-19) 85, W 5-2 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 6 – Tor 104 @ WAS (23-19) 108, OT, L 4-2 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 5 – TOR 106 vs Mil (17-26) 75, W 4-1 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 4 – Tor 114 @ BOS (33-6) 112, W 3-1 … Boxscore 
Game 3 – Tor 95 @ PHI (15-25) 99, L 2-1 … Full Play-By-Play
Game 2 – TOR 89 vs Atl (17-18) 78, W 2-0 … Boxscore, Full Play-By-Play
Game 1 – TOR 116 vs Sac (15-21) 91, W 1-0

===============================================

Key Possessions which determined the W-L result:

Some NBA games boil down to the final 1 or 2 possessions for each team … like this one, when

- at the end of regulation time … 

00:36 … Bosh (flat out) missed a wide open jump shot from the top of the key … and the D-Rebound was corralled by Ginobili (oo:35)
00:12 … Ginobili missed a 3pt shot but managed to corralled the O-Rebound  
00:07 … Finley knocked down 2 FT’s, which put the Spurs up by 5 pts (93-88)
00:04 … Calderon missed a wide open 3, at the top of the key
00:02 … Udoka got the D-Rebound

(see the italics below)

Key Raptors: Chris Bosh & Jose Calderon 

Vital Components:
- in the game’s final 36 secs … the 2 “best” Raptors missed the 2 shots they had to hit; while 1 of the 3 “best” Spurs corralled 2 vital Rebounds (1 Off; 1 Def)

Note 1: Great Players (i.e. Ginobili), sometimes, make Great Plays.

Note 2: The remainder of the “stats” for this game are, essentially, meaningless.

Next Game:
vs New Jersey, 22-29 (Wed Feb 13)

e.g. Kelly Dwyer, Yahoo! Sports: Behind the Boxscore, where reprises happen

began to see yesterday what was alluded to … here … last week, re: the upcoming ‘climate change’ in South Florida.

Despite their loss to the Lakers (94-104) – who are very very good right now - as Hubie Brown (NBA TV Analyst) told the ‘Hoops World’ (during the 1st half of ABC’s national broadcast),

“Shawn Marion is an energizer … that, when they (the Heat) get (Udonis) Haslem back, look out!”

If Pat Riley can resign ‘the Matrix‘, add the right Free Agent signing(s) this summer (Rasho Nesterovic?), and then secure a solid (Lottery?) pick in the 2008 NBA Draft … the Heat should be right back in the middle of the Eastern Conference next season … playing an exciting (Elton?) Brand of basketball.