One game, some things, v1.50ish.
1. Here's one thing I noticed at various points of last night's game: Rasho and Bosh chatting at length about various strategies, I can only assume. And Rasho was doing most of the chatting. This is an obvious benefit to having Rasho back in the starting lineup in favour of Bargnani. I mean, there are several, such as Rasho being a better post defender and team defender; being a better rebounder; a better shooter and a better passer than Bargnani, if we're measuring actual performance. Aside from all that Rasho takes some of the leadership responsibilities off Bosh's shoulders by talking things over with him and lending a smart, experienced voice to the process. Not that it mattered much with Chris Paul doing his magic, but it seems a subtle yet important plus.
2. It's says a lot about Mo Pete that one of the reasons that Kapono got the start last night was because the Raptors coaching staff figured the slow-footed Raptor could hold his own on the suddenly slow-footed former Raptor. It's hard not be a fan of Peterson as a person, but if you're a spot-up shooter that runs the floor and your playing with Chris Paul and you are averaging a near career-low in points-per-36 minutes – 11.9, down from 15.1 last year – while shooting 41-per-cent from the field, you wonder -- are his best days are behind him as a 30-year-old?
3. I think I have a new favourite player. My bias has been and always will be guys who combine earned skill and competitiveness. Which isn't to say I'm not a big fan of guys who have remarkable athletic ability – who doesn't like watching Dwight Howard? – but I appreciate players who always have their game face on and have clearly figured out how to maximize their abilities for the NBA. So, with no further adieu, I announce David West is my new favourite player. He's a very good mid-range shooter who uses those skills to compliment a useful dribble-drive game, and he posts up ferociously. And defensively he's not shy about giving a little shove or knock and can cheat with the best when setting screens etc. Nice player.
4. Is Chris Paul God?
5. I have no idea what Linton Johnson's future here is, but in about five minutes of floor time he did some things that no one on the Raptors roster has done all season: he battled Bonzi Wells so hard for post position that Wells got frustrated, shoved him in the chest and began whining to the referees while on his way to missing two longer than normal turn-around jumpers; Johnson grabbed one defensive rebound by pushing Tyson Chandler under the basket so far the ball was out of the seven-footer's reach and then helped his teammates get a rebound by doing the same thing to West; twice he sprinted the floor in transition and went straight to the rim for an early post up; he drove from the short corner and drew a foul. Some of these things Jamario Moon just isn't wired or built to do, and there's things that Moon does that Johnson can't. But I think the never-ending disappointment with Joey Graham is that he has a pretty good dose of Moon's athleticism, but has never harnessed the kind of competitive spark that Johnson showed. If ever did, he would be a really good NBA player. But most are by now pretty convinced he won't, which suggests the seemingly ‘learned' habits Johnson showed might not be so easy to ‘learn' after all. In other words, the more I watch the more I'm convinced that hustle and fire are gifts just like leaping ability and size. The very best have it all.
