Ye Olde Mailbag is growing back to its usual length and variety. For that, many thanks. Enjoy this and prepare for the onslaught of soccer that’s to come.
NBA Finals, the Stanley Cup, and the World Cup. So much happening in the world of sports! Lots of things going on, so lots of questions!
1) The Toronto Tempo! An expansion team staying close to .500. Are you surprised?
3) Which narratives are your favorite for the NBA Finals? Knicks redemption? Spurs breakout? Wemby era begins? Jalen Brunson MVP? Or are there other stories that you find intriguing?
4) Raptors trade rumors! Aside from the usual suspects, one name that keeps coming up lately is Collin Murray-Boyles. His play definitely drew attention and any proposed blockbusters involve CMB being a part of a three-team deal. One suggested Sam Hauser and three first-round picks in the upcoming draft. Blasphemy?
Bonus: What about Jamal Murray in a Raptors uniform if the cost is Immanuel Quickley or RJ Barrett?
Enjoy the next few weeks!
A: There is indeed lots going on and we haven’t done a thing about the Raptors in a week.
Without a ton of WNBA expertise, I wasn’t sure how the Tempo would fit. But I’m really impressed and quite like the style they play and guard/wing aspects of their expansion roster construction.
I know Larry Tanenbaum well enough to know that business smarts and a chance to enhance the opportunities for women drove him more than any pettiness towards his soon-to-be-former partners.
I’m still intrigued by Wembanyama and how he now handles adversity and even more attention and pressure.
If you see Murray-Boyles’s name in any trade chatter, stop reading, delete that source from every aspect of your reading/social media network and take a cleansing shower.
Don’t see Murray’s money fitting, sorry.
Welcome to the NBA Finals, with one or two weeks left before this season comes to an end.
Do you have any overall observations about this past season, beyond specific wins and losses, or individual player statistics?
I’m writing this before Game 2, and I have not seen your predictions for the Finals. Who will win, and in how many games? What is the likelihood that the MVP will be someone other than Jalen Brunson or Victor Wembanyama?
And finally, will you be pulled in to help with the Star’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup? Any thoughts about the impending craziness?
A: I went into the series dead certain in my mind that San Antonio would win in five or six games. Now? Not so much. I still think they can win but the Knicks are really, really rolling. And Karl-Anthony Towns is by far the favourite to be the MVP if the Knicks win.
The Raptors season? Nothing emerged other than what I’ve written often, it was a step — a big step — and they handled it very well. I caution this, though: It’s easier to go from 30 to 46 wins than it is go from, say, 46 to 55. They need some roster tweaks and individual improvement but nothing that happened last season, other than maybe the contribution of Murray-Boyles, caught me by surprise.
Finally, no, I am not at all involved in our exhaustive World Cup coverage. And that’s fine with me, I can sit back and watch and do my primary job of dealing with the NBA draft, any trades, free agency, contract extensions and, maybe, a quick visit to the Summer League.
Q: Playoff coverage request: More Iman Shumpert, less Kendrick Perkins.
Do you think the commentary during a Spurs game, re: Wembanyama, is just about right or bordering on hyperbolic? In the last round Reggie Miller sounded like someone who had never seen an NBA game before. Stupendous! Tremendous! Fantastic!
A: Through the two games, I think they’ve got it about right. Wembanyama’s skill set is so unique, it’s not hard to gush. But I also think they’ll tone it back as the series progresses, unless Wemby unleashes a 40-point, 20-rebound, eight-block gem.
Reggie Miller? An assault on the ears, gifted player adds very little of substance as an analyst. But his ability to loudly repeat declarative statement — “what a play; WHAT A PLAY” — is unrivalled. Luckily.
Q: I am glad that you are healthy enough to get back work. Your common sense commentary was missed during the Raptors’ playoff run, and I think they showed us enough that with the right moves they can be a force for years to come.
Over the years you have championed women’s basketball in Canada, and now that we have a WNBA team, I was wondering what you think about them, and can we hope that you will be covering them in the future.
A: I appreciate the nice words, thank you very much.
I really like what the Tempo have done. I’ve watched basically every game, they play an entertaining style, the home games seem fun “events” and they are progressing more quickly than I think some imagined.
Toronto coach has won two WNBA titles and has been a staple with the Australian national team
I haven’t done a lot of writing/reporting on them — this look at Sandy Brondello on our site Saturday is my first big foray — and because I don’t want to trod on colleagues who are doing a good job, I don’t know how much I’ll do. I would like to be involved, maybe on bigger picture pieces, but I won’t bigfoot the colleagues who’ve carried the water so far.
There has been a lot of mention of the need to integrate more FIBA playing tactics. So how will more FIBA-style play impact point No. 2? Will this mean that we will play slower half-court basketball with less on-ball pressure? Gosh, I hope not.
In past emails to you, I mentioned Keyshawn George’s strong play at the AmeriCup last year (named to the all-tournament team). I also noted that he has size and can shoot the three and these are two key areas of need on this team. Plus he had a good year with the Wizards. My questions: what is he like as a defender? Do you see him in a starting 5 role? Does his insertion impact the two key areas of strength that I noted above?
A: We asked coach Gordie Herbert about how he envisioned the team playing — and remember we’re about 17 months before the real games start — and he expects much of the same. He understands that the strength of the roster is likely going to be pace and disruptive defence. There’s no reason to change it up.
Yes, they need to handle size and physicality better but I am dead sure the experience of the World Cup and the Olympics will resonate with the core group.
I think George’s relative inexperience — the AmeriCup is NOT the World Cup — might weigh against him and the NBA is really not a precursor to big time international success. So, I don’t see him as a big bit — either in stature or role — but there’s certainly something he can bring off the bench.
Very happy to see you back and wishing you only blessings.
I have a question about our new Tempo team. Why are they waiving centres like Mariella Fasoula and Nikolina Milic when it’s very obvious (like Raptors and Team Canada senior men’s team) that they have a lack of depth at the centre position?
Is the Tempo front office going to be able to address this issue through the wide amount of good players who are not on WNBA teams?
Also is there a beat reporter/insider for the Tempo that can elaborate on their moves so that the public can be better informed as to their reasonings for what they are doing?
Thanks for your time and once again wishing only the best things.
A: I’m not awfully close to the front office or the team yet but I have spoken to a few people and know they are working on addressing size issue. It’ll be helped if/when Temi Fagbenle and Isabelle Harrison get back. Other than that, they’ll watch the waiver wires, look at free agents and know that building a roster from scratch takes patience.
While I can’t speak to Fasoula, I know Milic’s temporary hardship contract expired by rule.
And, because it’s so early in the process, I can’t guess who’ll emerge as the authoritative media voice; I’d give our team at the Star a chance.
Nothing too specific to ask but I have been starting to catch some predictions for the NBA draft. Saw a piece on Christian Anderson of Texas Tech and I must say he looked good. There was even a 13-minute highlight video. Videos are good for making someone look awesome but his stat line seems to back it up. Three-point shooting, 38-41 per cent. Over seven assists per game. Looked comfortable running his team. Hard to find a good floor general.
I couldn’t see anything about his durability though and with this past year, injuries at the point and centre has to be a conversation. Predicting to go around Toronto’s 19th pick. Hardest thing to find and secure stability for any NBA team is an all-star point guard to run an team for years. What do you think?
A: With all due respect, I had never heard the name Christian Anderson until I got this email and, as the great guy once said, I wouldn’t know him if I ran him over with my truck.
That’s mostly because I haven’t delved into the draft at all and it sounds like he’d certainly be in a group of a dozen or so the Raptors might be interested in.
But I warn that a 13-minute highlight video shows no warts on what are undoubtedly on his game. And, if you like Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead, think Chucky Hepburn might be a player and Scottie Barnes as a offensive facilitator, is there a need for a fourth or fifth guard?
Anyway, I’ll certainly check on him and bounce his name off some people I talk to but that list of Raptors possibilities at No. 19 is going to be huge.