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So yesterday I went to Raptors practice with absolutely no story ideas. It’s funny how when the team wins, ideas seem tougher to come by. Once I got off the elevator at the ACC, I was greeted by some Canada Basketball people that I’d become familiar with over the last year or so. They handed me a folder that detailed a new partnership they’d just forged with the Raptors… and more importantly, MLSE. Hopefully with corporate backing as strong as MLSE, the “Be One” grass roots program they’re working with will get a nice boost. Tomorrow, versus the Pistons, all the fans are encouraged to wear red and white for support of our country.
So after a brief conversation with Canada Basketball’s media relations guy, the Raptors’ equivalent hands me a sheet of paper, which reads:
“Charlie Villanueva Recieves NBA Community Assist Award for February.”
Congratulations, Charlie.
What did Coach Mitchell think?
“Hey Sam, are you aware of Charlie’s award?”
“No… Nope.”
“Any thoughts?”
“It’s a good thing.”
Another reporter asked if he had ever won one, to which Mitchell replied:
“I don’t know… I couldn’t tell you about half the things I ever won… They’re probably at my mother’s house.”
Personally, I would have thought there would be more praise for a guy who’s doing good things both on and off the court, but I guess not.
The rest of the practice went quite smoothly. With most of the beat reporters following the team to Philly, it was just me, a guy from RapsTV, one reporter from the Star, and another from the Sun. With that being said, it gave me a lot more of an opportunity to get my questions in. Instead of giving you quotes, though, I’ll show you the post-practice notes that I made, and sent to the sportscasters (this is done after chopping up clips, and recording “voicers” or reports.)
Raptors Practice Notes – Mar 13
CHARLIE VILLANUEVA (3 clips) was named the recipient of the NBA's Community Assist Award for the month of February.
Charlie V visits with families affected by Alopecia Areata - a condition he's been living with since childhood, at selected Raptors home and away games.
In all, he's met with kids and their families in 16 NBA cities, and by season's end, with have met with over 800 people affected by the disease.
He was named the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) spokesperson in July 2005, and has been with the organization since early 2004.
While Charlie was happy about the award... COACH SAM MITCHELL (3 clips) said he "didn't know about it." Frankly, it didn't look like he cared, either way. He didn't seem to be in a very talkative mood, and really it only got interesting when he was talking about how he doesn't believe in "clutch shooters."
He said if the "the man" (the team's star) draws in the defense, and dishes to the open man... he's done his job.
"An average shooter is a better shooter if it's an open shot." (Sam clip 1)
While he did says he's generally pleased with how the team shares the ball, CHRIS BOSH (6 clips) said sometimes their offense gets stagnant, and as seen in previous losses... people (*ahem* Mike James) will try to take over the game. He related it to the childhood feeling of trying to hit the game-winning bucket (Bosh clip 6)
Most of the Bosh stuff is look-ahead to the Sixers - Tues Night in Philly.
3 clips are labeled as such.
VOICERS:
1 - No Such Thing as Clutch/Sharing is Caring
2 - Charlie V: The Community Man
3 - High Stakes in Philly
Thanks.
-Zack
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The night before, the Raptors played host to the Pacers… Since I was at the station with my sportscaster’s hat on… well, you know how it goes by now…
Raptors 93, Pacers 89
After allowing Jeff Foster to look like an all-star in the first half (career-high 19 points, 12 boards), the Raptors buckled down, and allowed only 14 Pacer-points in the 4th quarter.
Toronto had only 11 assists, but managed to outscore Indy in the paint (48-38).
The Raptors set that NBA record of consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer. Mo Pete got the money ball early in the second half… making it 595 straight games.
In hindsight though, his game-tying 3-pointer with 89 seconds left was more crucial. Mike James hit a tough jumper with 8 seconds left, and then on the ensuing possession, Charlie V blocked Anthony Johnson with 3 ticks left, which allowed James to nail the game-clinching free-throws.
Mo had a team-high 25, Bosh had 24 and a team-high 8 boards, while James scored 21. Charlie shot only 3-of-9 for 6 points, but had 3 big blocks.
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Then there was the game against the Nuggets… also known as the worst 3-point shooting team in the league. No one sent the memo to the Raptors though (ummm, yeah… I’m gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Saturday…).
Nuggets 108, Raptors 97
Greg Buckner nailed 5 of his 8 threes… Earl Boykins, 4 of his 7… as Denver shot a whopping 52.6% from behind the arc. While the Nuggets connected on 10 of their 19 long-balls, the Raptors frivolously jacked up 28 of them, and hit only 11. While not a bad percentage (39.3%), it shows that shot selection could have been a little better.
Carmelo Anthony was dismantling the Raptors, before leaving the game with a strained hamstring 4 minutes into the 2nd half. He picked up 14 points (7-of-9 jab-steps) and 6 boards in an unselfishly dominant performance.
On the Raptors’ side of things, Mo Pete missed his first 9 threes, before finally connecting on his 10th… after the game, despite finishing with 20 points; I asked if it was just one of those tough nights at the office…
“Yeah, real tough… we didn’t shoot the ball well, we didn’t play aggressive defensively, and I think yesterday’s day off showed on the court. We really came out there flat, and let them dictate the tempo of the game.”
The discouraging part of it all was, the Raptors had their chances… but missed most of their open looks…
“The effort was there… We missed our open shots – I missed a LOT of wide open shots that I normally make, and for some reason the ball didn’t bounce my way.”
If you watched the game on TV I’m told you not only saw my face (or my beard) an awful lot… but you also likely saw a dejected Chris Bosh. I noted how this team had been through some rough, frustrating times this season, but never had I seen Bosh look as frustrated as on that night (numerous occasions, he’d set a hard screen for Mike James, but not be rewarded with the pass on the roll…)
“Frustrated… who, me? Nah, I wasn’t frustrated. It must have been somebody else.”
Sure it was. And I’m sitting courtside tomorrow against the Pistons…
Oh wait, I think I am.
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