Sportsnet.ca http://sportsnet.ca/author/eric-smith/feed/ Tue, 19 Mar 2024 02:27:31 EDT en-US hourly 1 AP Dreamworks King Movie Alex English honours MLK Day with ‘I Have a Dream’ Mon, 17 Jan 2022 11:30:42 EST Mon, 17 Jan 2022 12:38:20 EST Eric Smith In honour of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., NBA Hall of Famer Alex English reads Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

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Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States, a national holiday that to many basketball fans north of the border is most remarkable for its full-day slate of NBA games.

But Canadians should also be celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King, who fought against racial discrimination and segregation in pursuit of equality for men and women of all races.

Below is a recreation of Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech (August 28, 1963) voiced by NBA Hall of Famer Alex English.

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English grew up in the Southern U.S. during the Civil Rights movement. As a noted student of history, he was thrilled to be a part of this tribute to Dr. King.

I produced and directed this recording along with former Sportsnet 590 The FAN colleague Ian Cunningham back in 2011.

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Charles Rex Arbogast/AP raptors-lowry-nurse Raptors mailbag: Optimal Lowry minutes, ‘Skinny Marc’s’ impact and more Sat, 01 Aug 2020 10:41:29 EDT Sat, 01 Aug 2020 10:41:29 EDT Eric Smith With the Toronto Raptors’ restarting their season Saturday night, Eric Smith decided to check in on the mailbag and answer some of your questions.

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With the Toronto Raptors‘ restarting their season Saturday night, I thought it would be a great time to check in on the mailbag and answer some of your questions.

Let’s roll.

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@11bkjimena: Do you think the @Raptors have an excellent chance to win it all again this year?

Short answer, Kevin: I do.

Longer answer. In 2018-19 I felt that the Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers all had a chance to be the best in the East. I didn’t think there was a ton of separation from those four teams, on paper and over the course of the regular season that feeling proved to be true.

Then, heading into last year’s post-season, I had the same feeling. The conference was still up for grabs. In spite of the season Milwaukee had, I wasn’t putting them any further ahead than Toronto, Boston, or Philly.

As we know, the Raptors went on to take the East and the championship.

My feelings are exactly as they were last year. Throw the Bucks, Raptors and Celtics into a hat (I’m not as high on the Sixers) and see who comes out. They’re all very good, but if anybody is underselling or not giving Toronto enough credit, they’re flat-out wrong.

The Raptors, in spite of a ton of injuries (10-plus games missed for Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka, Norm Powell, Marc Gasol and others) and the loss of their best player (Kawhi Leonard) from last season, still went out and compiled the second-best record in the East and the third-best record in the NBA. Plus their defence is ranked No. 2 in the Association.

The Raptors are for real. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win the East again, and if they get to the Finals then all bets are off and It’s anyone’s for the taking.

@ankleskater: Who lost more weight: Gasol or Nikola Jokic?

Jokic, I think. But nobody really knows for sure.

The reports out of Denver – some stemming from direct comments from Jokic – have the big man weighing 20-25 pounds less than when the season began. He has said that he dropped most of that weight during the season – before the shutdown – and, perhaps, an additional 3-5 pounds were shed during the shutdown. It certainly seems like a lot more, though.

The info on Gasol is harder to come by. He didn’t really care to talk about it with the media when he was pressed on the issue a few times. The veteran centre just brushed off the queries and didn’t seem to want to make a big deal out of his transformation. However, he certainly looks svelte. And forget the weight, he looks like he has dropped years.

The bigger or better question may be which player will benefit most from the lost weight? To that question I’d probably say Gasol. I don’t think suddenly going to become a poor defender or get pushed around because he’s 10 or 15 pounds lighter. And the shed weight could make him a little spryer on the offensive end.

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@nhlpuckman: What do you think Nick Nurse is aiming for when it comes to optimal minutes per game for Lowry?

I’m not sure that there’s a specific per-game total for Lowry. He averaged 37.5 during last year’s post-season and 36.6 in 54 games before the pandemic shut things down. Thus, I think it’s safe to assume that the all-star guard would clock in somewhere in the 35-plus minutes range.

He’s the Raptors leader, their heart and their soul, and playing Lowry with the “jumbo” lineup or in smaller units with VanVleet in the backcourt as well is a bonus. He’s versatile and flexible and he’s got the edge and the willpower you want on the floor.

Nurse will play his best players as much as he needs to. I think his bench will get shorter in the playoffs. So a lot of guys will have to check their egos and have to simply stay ready.

This is more of a comment than a question, but it came from an @Sportsnet post that asked basketball fans: “What has been the best moment of the NBA season?”

The options were the 2020 dunk contest, Vince Carter’s last basket, LeBron James’ speech about Kobe Bryant, the Raptors’ banner raising and ring ceremony, Zion Williamson’s debut, or “other.”

One of the responses that came in, that I was cc’d on, was from @Vee_Grant, saying, “Raptors banner ceremony and my boo @Klow7 getting that ring!”

And here’s my response:

All of those moments were great, but two stand out.

I can’t deny how special it was to sit courtside and watch the Raptors – a team I’ve covered and/or called games for over 20 years – receive their championship rings and raise their championship banner to the rafters. It was incredible.

However, when life – and, sadly, death – intersect with basketball, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of LeBron James’ speech on Jan. 31.

Just days after Bryant’s death, James picked up a microphone prior to the Lakers tip-off against the Portland Trail Blazers and delivered an impassioned message to 20,000-plus. He was the one everyone was waiting to hear from and he delivered.

“I look at this as a celebration tonight,” James said. “This is a celebration of the 20 years of the blood, the sweat, the tears, the broken-down body … the determination to be as great as he could be. Tonight we celebrate the kid that came here at 18 years of age…”

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@Kobe24Ottawa: Will the Raptors give Danny Green his championship ring on Saturday night?

No. My understanding is that the Raptors were prepared to present Green and Phil Handy (Lakers assistant coach who had the same role in Toronto last season) with their rings prior to Saturday’s tip-off. However, a number of factors put that plan on the backburner – not the least of which were things like timing (before tip-off) and social distancing measures.

But more than anything else was the fact that Green prefers to have the ring presented to him in Toronto, in front of the Raptors’ fans.

Green politely declined the option of getting the ring in Orlando’s bubble and he’ll wait until the Lakers’ next trip north of the border (whenever that may be).

He was supposed to receive his ring on March 24, when Los Angeles was scheduled to play at Scotiabank Arena.

@DannyPereira07: Will the Raptors win the Final in four or five games?

If they’re there (which I have every reason to believe they could be), I don’t think it’ll be an easy series. I fully expect the Lakers or Clippers to come out of the West. If Toronto were to face either of those two teams, I’d anticipate a six or seven-game series.

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Frank Gunn/CP danny-green-raptors-magic Q&A: Danny Green’s words prove prophetic ahead of Raptors-Magic Game 3 Sun, 22 Mar 2020 16:29:11 EDT Sun, 22 Mar 2020 16:29:11 EDT Eric Smith Sportsnet’s Eric Smith caught up with Danny Green before his Toronto Raptors took on the Orlando Magic in Game 3 of their first-round series. Green’s words at the time proved to be prophetic for how the rest of the playoff run would go.

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Sportsnet and TSN will be airing the entire Toronto Raptors championship run, playing a game every single night until the championship game on April 12. Full schedule details can be found here.

In spite of Toronto’s Game 2 victory over the Orlando Magic, Danny Green struggled mightily; scoreless in 22 minutes of action.

But when Eric Smith spoke to Green prior to Game 3 in Orlando, he knew how important it was to have a short memory and for the Raptors to take care of business in their first road game of the 2019 post-season.

The following is a transcript of their conversation ahead of Game 3:

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Eric Smith: Danny, how do you guys take the success you’ve had – I would say in Game 1 and 2, but especially in Game 2 with the victory – and bring that sort of intensity onto the road as well?

Danny Green: Basically, be mature as a professional team, not get too fat and happy, and understand that we haven’t done anything. We’ve lost home-court advantage. Just because we won the last game doesn’t mean we’re up in the series. We’re still behind. They have home-court advantage right now so we have to win this game tonight to even the score.

ES: I was speaking to Serge [Ibaka] moments ago and he was mentioning “sacrifice” – one of the main keys, one of the main elements, that it takes to go on a Finals run. You’ve been there twice, you’ve won one. How important is that for each individual, to just look at the greater good and not individual glory or stats or anything else?

DG: That’s probably the biggest thing for any team in the playoffs, for every team – if you want to win. It’s not about your numbers. It’s not about scoring. It’s about the team and whatever it is you need to do to help the team win. Whether it’s rebounding, taking charges, getting steals, blocking shots or guarding somebody. Or it is scoring or knocking down an open shot!

Obviously, it’s everybody stepping up and doing what’s best for the greater good. Sometimes that doesn’t mean getting your shots off. Sometimes it means finding out that you might not get as many shots as you normally take, but still doing your job and doing it to the best of your capability. It’s about raising your team’s level. It’s about the last team standing.

ES: We often talk about physical attributes or we talk about numbers. How important is the mental aspect of the game and staying mentally strong?

DG: More important than anything at this time of the year. Especially after going through an 82-game season, the team that’s more mentally locked in and focused is usually the team that makes it to the Finals and wins the NBA championship. So that part of it is probably more important than anything else going on in guy’s minds, bodies or situations in this league.

ES: Alright, best of luck tonight Danny.

DG: Thank you.

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The veteran forward certainly lived up to his words, scoring 13 points for Toronto, including a 3-for-3 stretch during a 16-0 run for the Raptors midway through the third quarter. Green was a key cog in helping Toronto take a 2-1 series lead over the Magic.

And as we all know by now, his response to that final question certainly proved to be prophetic for the eventual NBA champs.

You can watch Game 3 between the Raptors and Magic Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE.

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Rick Bowmer/AP Serge Ibaka,Rudy Gobert What it’s like to be tested for COVID-19 and what happens afterwards Tue, 17 Mar 2020 17:49:04 EDT Tue, 17 Mar 2020 17:49:04 EDT Eric Smith This is a first-hand account from Eric Smith about getting tested for COVID-19 and why he’s still self-isolating despite results coming negative for the virus.

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Eric Smith is the play-by-play voice of the Toronto Raptors on Sportsnet 590 the FAN and the sideline reporter during Sportsnet Raptors television broadcasts.

He was with the team during their five-game Western Conference road trip and travelled with them on the team plane. As such, he, like the rest of the Raptors staff, was tested for COVID-19, a trial that came out negative.

This is a first-hand account from Smith about his experience and why he’s still self-isolating.

Arrival in Salt Lake City

Last Monday I was in Utah, getting set to do the play-by-play of the Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz on Sportsnet 590 the FAN. Following the game, I’d be on the red-eye flight home – with the Raptors – heading back to Toronto for the first time in ten days.

My day in Salt Lake City was like many others on the road, especially on a back-to-back. Try to sleep in, go for a walk or workout, get some lunch, do some reading and prep for the broadcast, shower, throw on a suit, and head to the game.

But as I wandered the city that day I do recall bringing a bottle of water with me. And that had less to do with hydration and more to do with the fact that the NBA had already announced – or at least information and internal memos had been reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski – that new safety rules were about to be imposed across the Association in hopes of protecting players and coaches from the spread of the coronavirus.

I knew I’d be out walking around lunch time and I didn’t want to get caught at a salad or sandwich shop without my own drink. I wasn’t going to use a publicly shared soda machine in the midst of a potential outbreak. The germaphobe in me was already kicking into high gear, and the hypochondriac in me had already been carrying a bottle of hand sanitizer in my pocket for years now, anyway.

However, the potential threat wasn’t quite real yet. Or so many of us thought.

Stranger business, but still business as usual

When I arrived at the arena that night, I ran into a couple of the Jazz broadcasters that I know, and I recall joking with them about how we were supposed to properly greet each other in this brave new world. Fist bumps? Elbow taps? Or, as I awkwardly demonstrated, how about foot taps like the old Kid ‘n Play routine?

Prior to the game, at least one routine had already changed: Quin Snyder’s pre-game availability was at a podium (instead of his usual scrum outside the locker room), though Nick Nurse scrummed as usual. One major change that was implemented by both teams: No locker-room media availability for either team.

Other than that, the night was much like any other NBA game I’ve covered over the past 20-plus years.

As the game began, we were well back from the players. The broadcast position is pretty much at centre court, but at the back of the lower level (approximately 25 rows up). At halftime I stayed in my seat, and by the time the game ended and I packed my stuff up, I was heading down the stairs towards the court in an all-but-empty arena.

In the back, near Toronto’s locker room, Nurse, Pascal Siakam, and Kyle Lowry all spoke to the media but I stood just on the outside of their respective scrums – leaning in to listen (no microphone, no phone). Normally Nurse speaks first, outside the room, but the players speak inside after they’ve showered. So that was a new wrinkle, too.

But in the grand scheme of things, any adjustments to the regular way of doing interviews or availabilities was minimal and I wasn’t anticipating any major complications or headaches for future games moving forward. We would all have to adjust until the spread of the coronavirus slowed or ended.

Little did I know when I left the arena that night that I had just worked my last game for the foreseeable future.

Back home at last

As we boarded the plane in Salt Lake City I don’t recall anything standing out. Everyone was tired, as you’d expect.

Tuesday, back home, after little-to-no sleep I got my kid off to school and my wife left for work, and I went to run some errands. That night we spent our first time together in a week and a half having dinner, watching TV and just flopping on the couch as a family before bed.

Wednesday it was much of the same: School, errands, nap, paperwork, dinner, TV and flaking on the couch before bedtime.

But as my kid was getting ready to head upstairs, things got flipped upside down in the NBA.

When all hell broke loose

Word came out that a player from the Jazz had tested positive for the coronavirus and the game between Utah and Oklahoma City was called off right before tip-off. News quickly filtered out that the infected player was Rudy Gobert, and not long after that, late games were being postponed across the league and the Association suddenly announced a cease in operations for the time being.

It was a whirlwind to say the least, but as the NBA and the sports world were reacting to the news, so too was I. Weighing heavily on my mind: Could I have been infected? Did I come in contact with anybody that may have interacted with or touched Gobert? What are the risks for me? But of course I was asking the same questions about my fellow broadcasters and crew, let alone the players, coaches and staff of the Raptors. The entire travelling party for Toronto.

Emails and phone calls began pouring in – not just from colleagues but from family and friends as well. But I didn’t have any answers for them yet. I was still going through all the scenarios in my mind and trying to backtrack and walk through all of my steps and interactions from Monday night.

I didn’t go to bed until nearly 2:00 a.m. that night, but I knew that I was waking up to go get tested for COVID-19. It was later explained to me that given the facts that 1) the Raptors had been potentially exposed to the virus, 2) they’d been in an arena with nearly 20,000 fans, 3) they’d been outside of Canada, and 4) they had been on an airplane, the team and travel group were considered potential “super-spreaders.” Thus, testing was necessary.

What it’s like to be tested for COVID-19

I was tested on Thursday morning. Two large swabs – one at a time – were inserted into and swirled around inside my left nostril – think of your standard sized Q-tip and multiply its length by about two. So the swabbing certainly wasn’t comfortable, but it wasn’t painful, either. The nurse – wearing a surgical mask as well as a secondary plastic face shield (almost like a welder’s mask) – told me I might sneeze afterwards, but I didn’t. The test may have taken 90 seconds, tops.

After the nurse left, a doctor came in to speak with me. He asked me if I had had any direct contact with Gobert in Utah and asked me to walk him through my time in Salt Lake City and my flight home. Most importantly, he wanted to know if I was experiencing any of the following: Coughing, fever, sore throat, difficulty breathing. I told him that I had not come in contact with Gobert and I was not experiencing any symptoms.

I was told to go home and isolate myself until my test results were in, and at that point I would be given further instruction based on my results and further consultation with public health officials.

Many thoughts racing in my mind

I had already started quarantining myself on Wednesday night as a precaution when the Gobert news broke. By Thursday at about 9:30 a.m., after my swab test, I was at home in isolation, and have been holed up in my bedroom since (my wife and kid have full run of the rest of the house).

While I sat in isolation, I continued to replay things in my mind over and over. Did somebody I talked to interact with Gobert and then pass things on to me? What about Donovan Mitchell, who we found out Thursday had also tested positive? Could I have gotten something from Jack Armstrong because he interviewed Serge Ibaka – who guarded Gobert almost all night – and if Ibaka was sweating all over Jack and then I sat near Jack, could I have gotten it that way?

Plus, as concerned as I was for myself, I was still equally concerned for Jack, Ibaka, my other colleagues, and all of the people that I travel with and had gotten to know. Is anybody healthy? Is anybody sick? How is this going to play out?

A whole bunch of things were firing in my head.

Anxious relief

Early Saturday morning I found out my test results were negative. I don’t have the coronavirus. Thankfully, neither did Jack nor Paul Jones, nor any of my friends and colleagues. The entire team/travel party tested negative.

But in spite of the results, I was told to stay in isolation until I spoke with the public health nurse. I was anticipating that call would come at some point on Saturday — however, another 24-plus hours went by.

That only added to my stress and anxiety, even though I knew I was negative and so too was the rest of the team/travel party. Waiting to find out what your next steps may be is not easy, especially when you’re likely not in control of that decision.

On Sunday afternoon I finally spoke with Toronto Public Health. The nurse went over my results again – negative – and asked me a number of questions pertaining to Gobert, Mitchell, where I’d been in Utah, my flight home, my symptoms (if any), and much more.

Following our lengthy chat, the nurse assured me that I was considered low risk. At this point it had been over five days since my potential exposure and I was showing no signs or symptoms and I had a negative test result. I could leave isolation if I chose to and move forward, self-monitoring and keeping a safe distance (six feet) from anyone I may be around.

Taking responsibility

However, after chatting with my wife (and Public Health), as well as factoring in the idea that I’m a germaphobe/hypochondriac on the best of days, we decided, as a family, that I would stay in isolation this week even though I’m healthy. Why? Simply put, to be sure (or as close to sure) of my family’s health and safety.

Given the reported incubation period for this virus and the fact that some people are carriers in spite of negative test results, I knew the guilt I’d feel if I left my room and suddenly became sick and, thus, got my family sick. I figured if I stay locked in, personally sick or not, they should be fine.

Plus, any travellers who return to Canada are now being told to quarantine and/or isolate for 14 days, so I would be on lockdown anyway. The only difference is I am not roaming the entire house. I am staying confined to one room with the hope that this is keeping my family safer.

I haven’t left my room in nearly a full week. Luckily, I have an ensuite bathroom. But I haven’t been outside or left this 10-by-10 space since Thursday morning; I haven’t hugged my wife or played with my kid in all that time. I’m having Skype or WhatsApp video calls with them while we’re all in the house together.

My only interaction with them – aside from those video chats – is when they deliver food to my door at lunch and dinner. They knock, step back six to eight feet and then wait for me to grab my food – so they can wave or fire up a very quick impromptu dance party – before I close the door again.

But I’m not complaining about my situation. I made this choice. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep my family, myself, my community, and my world safe.

As many people smarter than me have already said and written: Our grandparents were called to war, but I’m being called to my bedroom, with a TV and the internet. I’m okay.

So I’ll continue to stay isolated for another week. I’ll keep doing my on-the-spot bathroom jogs (eight-plus kilometres per day thus far), and my family and I will keep syncing up TV shows and movies at the same time on our respective TVs, so we can watch things “together.”

The worst part of isolation isn’t the time apart from family – I can hear them through the floors or shout to them or call them any time. It’s the solo time with my own thoughts and with social media. There’s so much information out there. Whether it’s pro or con, it’s overwhelming, and I’m at the point where I’m not sure what to believe anymore.

What this ordeal has taught me

I’m the furthest thing from an expert on this virus. But I believe that we have to take this pandemic very seriously. It’s maddening to see how cavalier some in Canada and around the world seem to be.

However, I will admit that I may have been guilty of ignoring a serious outbreak back in 2009. In spite of having a pregnant wife for half of 2009, I don’t recall getting too worked up about H1N1. Shame on me for not taking that virus more seriously because, looking back, the numbers (infections and deaths) are staggering.

Yet in 2020, schools, pools, community centres and many stores have closed their doors. Kids sports programs and leagues have stopped. Nearly every major sports league has halted operation as well. And our border is almost entirely shut down. People are being told by the Prime Minister to “stay home.”

All of that didn’t exist in 2009. Not like this.

So, for the time being, stay in. Do your part to help flatten the curve and slow the spread of the virus by staying home and away from the general public.

The old adage applies: Better to be safe than sorry.

Time for another bathroom jog!

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Nathan Denette/CP raps-blazers Q&A: Raptors’ Hollis-Jefferson talks first half of season with new team Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:25:06 EST Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:45:49 EST Eric Smith As the Toronto Raptors approach the official halfway point of their season, Sportsnet’s Eric Smith had a chance to sit down with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson about his first few months north of the border.

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After being selected 23rd overall in 2015 – and then traded, on draft night, from Portland to Brooklyn – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson spent the first four years of his NBA career with the Nets, starting in over 62 per cent of his appearances.

But last summer, as a free agent, the versatile forward left the borough and signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Raptors.

Things didn’t start off the way Hollis-Jefferson might’ve envisioned with Toronto as he was inactive for the first two games of his Raptors tenure and then played less than four minutes in his third game.

Following that, he had a run of five straight “DNP-CDs” but then found opportunity in extenuating circumstances when the Raptors got gashed by injuries, finally opening the door for him to find a rhythm.

In 31 games played with his new team, Hollis-Jefferson is averaging 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, primarily as a bench energy guy and has grown more comfortable as the season’s worn on.

And as Toronto approaches the official halfway point of its season, Sportsnet had a chance to sit down with the Chester, Pa., native about his first few months north of the border and as one of the new faces on the reigning champions’ roster.

Note: This interview has been edited for clarity.

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Sportsnet: We haven’t seen this team – other than a handful of games – at its full capacity yet. How much do you guys look forward to being at this midway point where it looks like everybody is back at it and ready to show what you’ve really got for the second half of the season?

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: It feels good to know that the majority of everyone is back, working those kinks out. I feel like when we’re all back and healthy, the sky’s the limit. You guys have seen how well we play together and how things flourish. Pascal [Siakam] being back, Marc [Gasol] being a great facilitator. Everything will take off I feel.

SN: You never want to see a teammate go down, but when you’re the new guy on the team does something like that help you – more minutes, more burn – to be able to acclimate yourself a little bit quicker to a new squad?

RHJ: At the end of the day it’s just opportunity. It comes your way in different variations. Whether it’s from a team losing and wanting to see something different, or injuries, you must take advantage of the opportunity given. It just so happened that some guys got injured and we had that mentality – next man up – and coach believed in us and the rest is history.

We played our way into earning a little bit of equity into coach’s heart; trusting us. I feel like we’ve got to do a better job of keeping that. We’re not off the hook because we played ten games well or whatever the case may be. We have to grind it out every game, every moment we’re on the court.

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SN: When you think back to training camp to where we are now, give me some pros and cons – of either the team or yourself – in terms of where you’ve grown from that camp back in Quebec to where it is now.

RHJ: I would say just learning each other. Learning where people thrive at and learning how the new guys fit into the team system. I feel like there are a lot of pros in that.

Our veteran point guards, Kyle [Lowry], [Fred VanVleet] putting us in great position to help the team. And they’re talking to us as well, showing us and teaching us. I feel like that’s a big thing that people look over in terms of leadership – the teaching aspect of it.

The cons for us younger guys and the people that are new here? At the end of the day, coach has been here with these guys so he’s familiar with them and they built up that trust. I feel like we have to do a better job of, when we’re out there for 18 minutes or 20 minutes, we’ve got to stay locked in for that whole time.

Once we do a better job at that, things will really start to keep going up for us.

SN: Based on what you just said there, I remember Raptors coach Nick Nurse saying in camp – when he talked about the new guys – “we won a championship last year, guys have got to realize we’ve established a certain way to play.”

Was that clear from the get-go in terms of when you came in? This is the way the Raptors do things, and you’ve got to figure your way and find your way?

RHJ: Yeah, how they played, their identity. They knew who they were. We’re new. We’re coming into something that was obviously established. It definitely, definitely was transparent with that. I feel like everybody knew what they were coming into.

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SN: What has it been like for you this first half of the season? Has it been everything you thought it would be when you made the decision to sign with Toronto?

RHJ: At the end of the day, they told me it would be a grind. [That I’d] have to work for opportunities, playing time, et cetera. So it wasn’t anything I didn’t expect. I don’t put anything past anyone. I’m very open. So I just come in and work hard and do everything that I can do.

SN: When you think back to the off-season, was that a tough decision for you at any point? Where you’re an established guy playing a lot of minutes in Brooklyn, but then you’re going to a situation where it might be better, even if there may be less minutes.

RHJ: It’s definitely something that’s tough to adjust to. But at the end of the day, I’m a competitor and I want to win. So that’s what the decision came down to. I was always told, “With team success comes individual accolades.” So whatever it takes for the team to win, I’m willing to do.

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Frank Gunn/CP leonard-lowry-nba-championship leonard-lowry-nba-championship Raptors Mailbag: What would Toronto’s all-time starting five look like? Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:36:25 EST Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:36:25 EST Eric Smith What is the Raptors’ all-time starting five? Should the NBA expand the size of the court for safety reasons? What’s your fondest memory of Jose Calderon? Eric Smith answers these questions and more in the Raptors Mailbag.

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Welcome to the first edition of Eric Smith’s Toronto Raptors Mailbag.

Throughout the season, Eric will compile some of your burning Raptors questions and answer them here in this space. If you have a question for Eric, tweet them to @Sportsnet or directly to him (@Eric__Smith) with the hashtag #RaptorsMailbag.

And now, without further ado, over to Eric who as he reveals his all-time Raptors starting five and more.

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Q: Will the NBA ever widen basketball courts? It seems very tight for these players to make three-pointers with the current boundaries?

Respectfully, I don’t really see this as a major issue. Is it somewhat tight on the sidelines and in the corners? Sure, but there’s plenty of room to work elsewhere on the court. And there’s certainly ample room, above the arc, on the wings and straight away.

However, if you’re looking for changes, I could perhaps see the NBA experimenting or toying with the idea of a four-point shot long before they changed the actual dimensions of the court.

Players are regularly pulling up from 25-30 feet now so often it has become commonplace. They’re finding room with relative ease. Plus, Ice Cube’s Big 3 league employs a similar four-point shot wrinkle, and the NBA has used the G League as a guinea pig for other potential changes or ideas in the past – they’re currently testing the use of and number of free throws awarded in the G League, a change that may or may not make it to the NBA one day.

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Q: It’s amazing that fans and media are so close to action. I’m curious to know your thoughts about the potential result of a superstar, or any other player, getting injured by landing on a camera worker behind the baseline.

First of all, to be clear, there isn’t a ton of media on the floor these days.

Radio broadcasters have been bumped up to auxiliary broadcast locations (built into the stands) in about 75 per cent of NBA arenas. Ditto for the writers, and TV commentators have started to move in a number of cities, too. More often than not, those folks you see on the floor are game operations personnel and members of the stats crew and team public relations staff. Plus, those people, and the limited members of the media that remain courtside, are separated by the scorer’s table and/or advertisement boards.

So, really, we’re only talking about the baseline, and I acknowledge that it can be an issue.

We’ve seen players collide into or trip over people on the sidelines in the past –whether it be TV mamera people or photographers. There are designated areas for those video operators or still photographers in the way of lines painted on the floor, but the problem is those people are often right on the feet, literally, of the people that are sitting in those expensive baseline seats.

As players get bigger and more athletic I think there’s a concern that perhaps more real estate is needed on those baselines so that players have an ample area to land. But the solution to that could involve pushing the photographers and videographers back even further, which might entail removing a row or two of those baseline seats, a move that would cost teams hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars over the course of a year based on the value of those tickets. So it’s certainly a Catch-22, in my opinion, as you factor in the safety of the players as well as the profitability of your business.

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Q: What would your all-time Raptors starting five look like?

Just a few short years ago this was probably a relatively easy answer, but trades and signings and the championship victory have certainly changed the options available.

For instance where would Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol land on this list? Have they already moved into that starting five? Assuming you’re talking about the five that would be best suited to actually win – and not basing this on longevity or popularity or other intangibles – here’s who I would go with: Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Vince Carter, Kawhi Leonard, and Chris Bosh.

Admittedly, that would be a small lineup, but I’m willing to take my chances with that group. I think they could be lethal.

However, for the sake of argument, if you don’t allow me to play Leonard at the four, then I will switch things up and go with this: Lowry, Carter, Leonard, Bosh, and Gasol (just slightly ahead of Jonas Valanciunas).

It’s a very interesting question, and one that I’m sure could be debated for quite a while. I think there are at least three names that are staples for just about everyone, but I’m sure we could bicker or nitpick over at least one or two names. There really is no wrong answer.

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Q: What’s your fondest Jose Calderon memory? What’s his legacy with the Raptors?

To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure what you mean by legacy. I will simply say that he is one of the most popular Raptors in franchise history and a guy that wore the organization and the city on his sleeve. He has nothing but love for Toronto and for Canada and all of the fans. He’s also one of the classiest people I have covered and gotten to know in my 20-plus years working Raptors games and the NBA.

I have nothing but positive things to say about Calderon, and when it comes to his actual basketball acumen, his International success speaks for itself as does the longevity of his NBA career and the impact he has made on so many teammates in his various stops. Plus, his name is still scattered throughout a number of the top-10 lists in Toronto’s history books/records.

Perhaps ironically – or maybe fittingly – the best memory I have of him has nothing to do with his passing skillsm his three-point shooting or his deadeye accuracy at the free-throw line. It has to do with his heart as a teammate, his sportsmanship and overall kindness. It goes back to the Boston Garden when Jorge Garbajosa was chasing down Al Jefferson late in a ball game between the Celtics and Raptors.

Jefferson was on a break and ready to throw down a dunk that would have little to no impact on the scoreboard as Boston was going to beat Toronto either way. But Garbajosa, being the competitor that he always was, was not about to give up a freebie and chased down Jefferson. The two men collided mid-air and fell awkwardly to the floor resulting Garbajosa suffering a gruesome broken leg. It was truly awful and remains the worst injury I have seen in person in my 20-plus years working in the NBA.

But as Garbajosa lay there screaming in pain with his leg mangled, it was Calderon who ran out onto the floor and all but sat on Garbajosa’s chest to prevent him from seeing the horrific leg injury and to simply comfort his teammate, his friend and his fellow countryman from Spain. It was an incredible moment.

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Q: With Patrick McCaw out for at least four weeks, who do you think Nick Nurse should turn to as that No. 8 guy in his rotation?

I think we’re starting to see Nick Nurse’s rotation becoming a little bit clearer. There’s no denying that Serge Ibaka and Norm Powell are mainstays, but while many of us were assuming that Stanley Johnson and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson were going to be regulars, that hasn’t been the case.

Two rookies have vaulted up the charts in Terence Davis and Matt Thomas, plus we’re starting to see some regular calls to the bench for Chris Boucher, who isn’t playing heavy minutes but at least getting some burn.

Those five mentioned above would appear to be your second unit right now. The issue, however, is that none of those players are point guards. Powell is capable of playing the one for short stints if need be as he has done so in the past, and nurse has even hinted at using Pascal Siakam as a point forward from time to time. But if we’re talking strictly about the second-unit guys and looking beyond Powell, I think that Davis has a better opportunity to eat up some of those minutes that McCaw might have received.

Davis is quick, athletic and has proven that he can defend as well. It has yet to be seen what kind of playmaker he is, though. I also hope that there still continues to be some minutes for Thomas. While I don’t see him as a playmaker, he certainly can shoot the ball and I’ve been impressed with the fact that he’s generally been able to guard his man, or at least stay in front of his man and hasn’t looked lost defensively. If that keeps up he will certainly find ways to stay on the floor because of his shooting prowess.

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Chris Young/CP powell_norman Toronto Raptors; Norman Powell What’s the difference? Stephenson’s layup vs. Powell’s windmill Wed, 05 Apr 2017 16:18:39 EDT Wed, 05 Apr 2017 18:01:40 EDT Eric Smith The Raptors took offense to Lance Stephenson’s late-game layup, but is there a difference between it and a similar Norm Powell play from last season? Eric Smith weighs in.

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The Raptors fan base is still buzzing over Lance Stephenson’s late-game antics on Tuesday night in Indiana.

My Twitter feed has featured a ton of questions and comments regarding whether or not Stephenson was wrong to attempt a layup with the clock ticking down and the game already in hand— and whether or not the Raptors have the right to be upset given their own teammate, Norman Powell, pulled a similar maneuver around this time last season:

Was Powell “right” in what he did last year— going for a break-away dunk in the final seconds, with his team already up 20+ points? No. He shouldn’t have done it.

However, I do see some differences in his situation compared to Stephenson’s layup:

1. Powell’s play came at a point when both teams had emptied out the bench. For youngsters and rookies that’s often their only time to see the floor, and it’s often the only time coaches get to see those players in any kind of real game situations. Hence, both teams were still playing regularly in terms of running their offence and defence per usual. As a result, Powell’s dunk came off a defensive deflection.

Could he have dribbled out the clock and not gone for a dunk though? ABSOLUTELY. Should he have dribbled out the clock? Yes. Was it some extra showmanship in the final regular season home game for Toronto? Yes. But does that make it right? No.

They got mad at me for what I did but look at this. All I did was jelly. When Lance Stephenson do it's a big deal

A post shared by Lance Stephenson (@stephensonlance) on

Yet Stephenson’s play came off a 30-40 foot outlet pass from Paul George (after PG13 grabbed a rebound), with no Raptor defender in sight. Indy had already secured the ball and iced the game. The Raptors, for their part, had conceded the game (not that it wasn’t already over anyway). And I’d be willing to bet that every Raptor and every Pacer had zero thought of Stephenson actually going for the lay-up.

We could even question why the Pacers still had George & other starters/regulars on the floor in the first-place, up double-figures with under 30 seconds to go. But to be fair, many coaches do that, including Dwane Casey. Coaches are fickle for wins!

2. Powell was a rookie.

Stephenson is a seven-year veteran player who has performed in much bigger games on a much bigger stage.

Powell, through high school and college ball, and already into the final month of his rookie NBA season, should have known the ‘unwritten rule’. But I can give a rookie a mulligan (note: It still doesn’t make it right). Stephenson certainly knows better after all these years in the league. And he knows he is/was in the wrong here, or else he wouldn’t have apologized.

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Twitter is all in a tizzy: “How can Toronto be mad at this play when they did the same thing (allegedly) last year…?” is the most common question appearing in my timeline.

I can’t speak for DeMar DeRozan or P.J. Tucker or anybody in the Raptors locker room, but personally I take a man at his word. Stephenson says (perhaps like Powell on the final home play last year) he was caught up in the moment. It was his return to Indy and his first home game in front of the Pacers fans. He played into the emotion of the crowd.

Fine. I accept that. It doesn’t make it right. He still broke the ‘code’ (which the Indy announcers even noted, if you watch the video online, etc). But I accept it.

So this online debate and rage today is utterly useless in my opinion. A mistake was made, an apology was given, and both teams and their respective fans have bigger things to worry about in the final week of the season with playoff seeding changing on a nightly basis.

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Darryl Dyck/CP sullinger_jared Toronto Raptors Jared Sullinger to make Raptors debut against 76ers Wed, 18 Jan 2017 18:16:32 EST Wed, 18 Jan 2017 19:03:08 EST Eric Smith Jared Sullinger will make his Toronto Raptors debut on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

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PHILADELPHIA — The long road back is finally over for Jared Sullinger.

After injuring his left foot in Toronto’s first pre season game on Oct. 1 in Vancouver, the big man opted to have surgery later that month and has been recovering ever since.

“I’m happy, I’m happy,” he said. “Just ready to try and make an impact on this basketball team some way, some how.”

Sullinger’s return may have been accelerated a bit as well. Talk was the team had pegged Friday as the unveiling but recent injuries to Patrick Patterson (knee) and Lucas Nogueira (concussion protocol) forced the Raptors hand.

“Circumstances kind of made it happen,” said Sullinger. “You just got to be ready to play, that’s it.”

Sullinger will undoubtedly be brought along slowly after being sidelined for the last three months. Head coach Dwane Casey was not available for comment before the game but it may be safe to assume that a minute-restriction could be in place for the forward — at least for his first few games.

The 24-year-old isn’t aware of how much playing time he’ll receive and says that the coaches and trainers are keeping it a secret.

Sullinger had a screw inserted into the fifth metatarsal of his left foot back on Oct. 24. During recovery he spent time in a walking cast and even used a scooter for his leg too which limited any weight-bearing moments as much as possible.

“I’m going to be gassed out there but, oh well, I’ll still play my hardest,” he said. “That is always the biggest thing especially when you don’t play for three months. Everybody is kind of in tip top shape just because everyone knows their minutes and what they need to do. I just have no idea what is going to happen next so you just got to be ready.”

Sullinger signed a one-year, $6-million free agent deal with the Raptors last summer. With exactly half of the 2016-2017 regular season remaining, he can show Toronto’s fanbase why Masai Ujiri pegged the former Boston Celtic as a projected starter for his club this season.

The six foot nine, 260 pounder averaged 10.3 points and a career-high 8.3 rebounds last season with the Celtics. He hopes to contribute a strong defensive presence especially in the rebounding department.

“I’m just excited to play with these guys,” Sullinger said. “Watching these guys for X amount of games and being out and watching the enjoyment they have out there, how they play for one another … there’s nothing like having teammates that play for one another so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

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Nam Y. Huh/AP butler_jimmy Eric Smith’s Mailbag: Raptors’ biggest threats & early MVP votes Fri, 13 Jan 2017 09:30:42 EST Fri, 13 Jan 2017 14:39:18 EST Eric Smith Sportsnet’s Eric Smith answers your questions about the Raptors’ biggest non-Cavs threat in the East and shares his MVP top 5.

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Each week this season, Sportsnet insider and voice of the Raptors on SN590 The FAN, Eric Smith, will answer your questions about everything happening in Raptorland and around the Association. Send your questions to @Eric_Smith on Twitter using the hashtag #askE.

Honestly, I don’t think there is.

LeBron James is a generational player. He is, arguably, among the five best of all-time. We are lucky to be able to see him in his prime.

And, just as teams in NBA history had to do against Michael Jordan and the Bulls, or Kobe & Shaq and the Lakers, you enter each season already knowing who the “favorite” is and how tough it’s going to be to beat the best. Ask the Pistons or the Pacers. Or the Kings or Blazers (and many more).

The Raptors are now in that boat in regards to James and Cleveland. They are not better than the Cavs. But can they be better with a roster-altering trade (that would likely limit your depth and potentially negatively affect team chemistry)? Or by keeping the stability and cohesion intact, and grooming a younger core that could help keep the Raptors contending during James’ final years, when he may be on the decline?

I guess we’ll find out.

Kevin Durant would have looked nice in a Raptors jersey though :)

The automatic reaction says: Boston. And they’re good. I like their team. They have a nice balance of youth and experience and a versatile roster up front, and in the backcourt. But if the playoffs started today I would still pick Toronto to win in a 7-game series against the Celtics.

The team I would be weary of?

Chicago.

If the playoffs started today, I would be feeling uneasy about the Bulls.

You can’t discount star power (and star calls) in the playoffs, so Dwyane Wade would be dangerous. I don’t have to tell you about Jimmy Butler and how he haunts Toronto—on both ends of the floor. And with Robin Lopez, Taj Gibson and Bobby Portis up front, along with the size and 3pt-shooting abilities of Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic too, I think the Raptors could have issues. A Bulls-Raptors series would be a scary proposition.

On my MVP list today, Harden would be third. He’s a very close third to Russell Westbrook.

Triple-doubles aside, I think Westbrook is doing more with less around him. The Thunder don’t have as many wins as the Rockets, but Harden has more talent around him in Houston, and so Russ gets the nod for second.

So who’s first?

No, not LeBron James. What he’s doing in Cleveland this year (yes, with a fabulous team around him) is as good as any other season he has turned in. Sadly, too many folks have become bored by James’ greatness. And given that he’d likely be 4th on my list, I suppose I’m as guilty as others of not fully appreciating his dominance.

My first place vote— my MVP— would be Kawhi Leonard.

He’s a five (or more) tool player on the offensive end and as tough as they come on the defensive end— a true lock-down guy. His Spurs have the second-best record in the Association (including the third-most wins and second-fewest losses) and Leonard is easily the biggest reason why.

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Darryl Dyck/CP sullinger_jared Toronto Raptors Eric Smith’s Raptors mailbag: Is Sullinger the answer at power forward? Thu, 12 Jan 2017 10:49:33 EST Fri, 13 Jan 2017 14:40:23 EST Eric Smith Should the Raptors trade for a power foward? Do they even need to with Jared Sullinger coming back? Is Vince Carter a Hall of Famer? Eric Smith answers all in his weekly mailbag.

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Each week this season, Sportsnet insider and voice of the Raptors on SN590 The FAN, Eric Smith, will answer your questions about everything happening in Raptorland and around the Association. Send your questions to @Eric_Smith on Twitter using the hashtag #askE.

There is no denying that Paul Millsap has a lot of what the Raptors could use. However, whether he is still actually available or not, I don’t think the Raptors can make a true evaluation of their team until they see what Jared Sullinger can or cannot provide.

Thus, to answer your question, I don’t know. But I’m not certain Masai Ujiri does either. Until he sees Sullinger in action it would be hard to evaluate if some other PF would help move the needle more. Sully may be the guy.

Problem is… if Sullinger doesn’t return until the end of January (I’m speculating) you have only about two weeks to make your assessment of him and your team because the NBA’s trade deadline will be looming in mid-February.

The Raptors were high enough on him to go sign him as a free agent last summer so I’m assuming they’re prepared to roll with him.

That’s hard to say because you don’t know what/who is truly available and what/who opposing teams would be asking for in exchange.

But you wrote in a follow-up tweet to this one that you basically meant a “bang-for-your-buck” kind of deal. So to follow on that note…

A bang-for-your-buck deal may simply involve adding a veteran piece for one of your less-experienced players or a draft pick. However, if you dealt a pick for a player, you’d likely have to make a corresponding roster decision — as Toronto already has 15 guys on its roster.

If Sullinger is healthy you still may look to have that vet up front — someone that can play the four or the five — to spell off either Jonas Valanciunas and Lucas Nogueira or Patrick Patterson and Sullinger (with youngsters Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl waiting in the wings; watching and learning).

https://twitter.com/darealbigf00t/status/819253220665073664

I’m all but certain we answered this in a previous mailbag. So I’ll keep the answer short: yes.

In fact, I think he makes the Hall of Fame. Unlike some people, I think his NBA career alone puts him in. But we also need to factor in that the Basketball Hall of Fame is about more than just the NBA. Carter had a huge impact on an entire country, growing the game and inspiring a generation of young players, too (many of them who are now playing professionally in North America and around the world).

This is extremely hard. And so subjective. But my five:

PG: Magic Johnson
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: LeBron James
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Bill Russell

Note: Magic and M.J. were no-brainers. Thus, I couldn’t get Kobe Bryant in there. LeBron is a lock. And the centre spot was a pick’em with Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem in the mix for me, too.

The toughest call was the power forward spot. But because I’d get enough scoring from Jordan, James and Johnson (not that Duncan can’t score, too), I opted to get some rebounding and blocking from Tim Duncan—making my sixth man Larry Bird as a result.

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Darryl Dyck/CP sullinger_jared Toronto Raptors Raptors Mailbag: What to do with Sullinger & Ross for 6th Man of the Year? Thu, 15 Dec 2016 10:13:08 EST Thu, 15 Dec 2016 10:35:33 EST Eric Smith Sportsnet’s Eric Smith— the voice of the Raptors— answers your questions on Jared Sullinger, Terrence Ross’s Sixth Man of the Year campaign, and more.

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Each week this season, Sportsnet insider and voice of the Raptors on SN590 The FAN, Eric Smith, will answer your questions about everything happening in Raptorland and around the Association. Send your questions to E on Twitter @Eric_Smith using the hashtag #askE

https://twitter.com/_lenito/status/809120751735500800?refsrc=email&s=11

Absolutely not.

Pascal Siakim has been fabulous (what more could you ask for from a rookie that has started every game for an 18-7 team that is only a half-game behind Cleveland for number one in the East?) but when Jared Sullinger is able to play, you absolutely find time for him. ASAP.

Siakim will likely still have a role in the 2nd unit upon Sullinger’s return— his rebounding, defence, energy, enthusiasm and ability to run the floor and make the simple play are all assets. And he’s going to start another 20-or-so games anyway; Dwane Casey said in Boston last week that Sullinger was still about 5 weeks away, and that was in reference to rehab and workouts and practice and not actual game action.

But when he is healthy, Sullinger gives you experience and knowledge, size and strength, defence and help down low for the other bigs. And Sully has range too. He, unlike Jonas Valanciunas (or Jakob Poeltl or Lucas Nogueira) can— and will— venture out beyond the arc.

I do not foresee Masai Ujiri signing a player to a contract via free agency, to only let that guy go midway through the year (after paying him the whole time during his injury) before he has ever played a regular season game for your organization. I just don’t see that happening, nor do I think it should.

Let me preface this by saying that, as a fellow Burlington-born guy, I’m pulling for Heslip.

But his NBA pursuit won’t be easy.

Is he big enough or strong enough to guard opposing two-guards? Is he a good enough playmaker to run the point?

What’s more, the unfortunate reality for Heslip, as it relates to the Raptors, may be this: Is he going to push the likes of Norm Powell or Terrence Ross out of playing time? Or at the point, make a dent in Cory Joseph’s minutes— let alone Fred Van Vleet’s or Delon Wright’s (when he returns in January)?

The last time I saw Heslip play in-person was with the Canadian national team, and I was impressed with how he looked on the floor (and not just as a shooter). There’s no denying his 3-point stroke is quick and lethal. The man can flat-out shoot.

Frankly, I wouldn’t judge a guy based on whether he ever makes it to the NBA or not because there are plenty of opportunities to play—and get paid— across the world, and to carve out a solid national and/or international career.

For now, let’s enjoy having a Canadian playing so close to home and monitor his progress as the D-League calendar unfolds.

At the risk of sounding too much like Dr. Phil, I think Ross has simply grown up.

We (media, fans, et al) often forget how young many guys are when they first come into the Association. And whether a player is a junior or senior in college, some are simply more mature or equipped to handle the lifestyle change that comes with being a pro more than others.

Ross is a father now. He has the security of a contract extension from last year (which, oh by the way, looks like a steal now). And he understands his role within a core group of players that he has forged a chemistry with over the last 3+ years.

He has matured.

Ross is now one of the best 3-point shooters in the league and he has shown the awareness and smarts to start putting the ball on the floor again and attack the rim. Furthermore, he has rejuvenated his defence. He is a multi-tooled player that is absolutely an asset, both now and in the post-season that lies ahead for Toronto.

If he continues to play like this for the remainder of the regular season, he very well may be in the running for the Sixth Man of the Year award— as DeMar DeRozan has recently suggested and touted.

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Frank Gunn/CP valanciunas Eric Smith’s Raptors mailbag: The curious case of Jonas Valanciunas Fri, 18 Nov 2016 10:08:27 EST Mon, 21 Nov 2016 09:18:23 EST Eric Smith Eric Smith checks his weekly mailbag and answers your questions on why Jonas Valanciunas can’t stay on the floor and whether or not the Raptors get enough foul calls.

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Each week this season, Sportsnet insider and voice of the Raptors on SN590 The FAN, Eric Smith, will answer your questions about everything happening in Raptorland and around the Association. Send your questions to E on Twitter @Eric_Smith using the hashtag #askE

Jonas Valanciunas’ minutes were a common theme from a number of folks that tweeted-in questions this week.

Valanciunas is Toronto’s third-best player right now and the third option on this team behind, obviously, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. So I can appreciate your desire to see him play more and be used more.

But when it comes to the last four games specifically, there is a logical explanation.

Let’s work in reverse:

Vs Golden State: After a solid start in the first quarter for JV and the Raptors overall, Golden State went smaller in the second quarter and subsequently went on a run. Warriors centre Zaza Pachulia wasn’t on the floor a ton and the match-ups against JaVale McGee or David West weren’t as favourable for Valanciunas.

Thus, Dwane Casey looked at other options. Ultimately Toronto got caught in Golden State’s up-and-down game, and that pace doesn’t favour the Raptors big man either. The Raps weren’t slowing down and working the post on the offensive end and you can’t rely on JV to be sprinting back on D everytime either (few big men can). So I really think Wednesday was purely match-up driven.

Vs Cleveland: Valanciunas logged 34:29 minutes, only 44 seconds less than his season high on opening night against Detroit. So I don’t have an issue with his usage on Tuesday at all.

Vs New York: After the victory over the Knicks, Casey acknowledged (I’m paraphrasing) that he wasn’t certain how healthy his big man was. Was he fully back to 100% after missing a couple of games with a knee contusion? The coach was being cautious. But furthermore, Lucas Nogueira was playing out of his mind in what was arguably his best game as a pro. The decision to limit JV was easy and not without merit.

Vs Charlotte: It was Valanciunas’ first game back after a week of rest—sitting out two straight games – and he was simply eased back in. Nothing more, nothing less. And based on Casey’s words the next night (as noted above) there was certainly a feeling of cautiousness from the coaching staff with their big man.

With battles looming over the next few days with Jusuf Nurkic, Nikola Jokic, DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan I would expect to see a whole lot more of Valanciunas. I bet he averages 30+ minutes and his role increases again.

I’m not sure I would describe it as a “hole”, Dan.

Though Toronto has gone small at times this season, we haven’t seen DeMarre Carroll play much at the four. Instead, Casey has gone with a heavy dose of Pascal Siakim and Patrick Patterson, with a small sprinkling of Jakob Poeltl (though most of his minutes have been at the five).

Yes, Jared Sullinger was supposed to be the starter and I think he could have had a solid impact on the Raptors starting unit this season (and will when he returns in the New Year). However, even with Sully sidelined, Toronto got off to a 7-2 start with a rookie power forward.

Siakim has not looked out of place. He’s active and unafraid on defence, and he has shown confidence to take a shot (when needed) on offence, while running the floor, setting screens and chasing down rebounds and tip-ins. He’s high-energy and hustle— the kind of characteristics every coach wants.

Personally, I’d be more “concerned” about Toronto’s team-wide inconsistent 3pt shooting right now, and not their alleged hole up front.

I know there has been a ton of talk over the last two games about the whistle and the perceived notion that Toronto doesn’t get calls (hey, at times, I buy that theory too). But Vince Carter is certainly not the last Raptor to get calls.

See: DeMar DeRozan.

On Wednesday night, though hacked and whacked without a call on a few occasions, DeRozan still went to the free throw line 17 times! In fact, he set a personal record for consecutive free throws in one game with those 17.

He has been to the line 15 or more times in three games this season and has headed to the stripe 10+ times on five occasions. And then there’s this:

2016-17 Avg. free throws per game: 10.5 (4TH in the NBA)
2016-17 Total free throws attempted: 115 (4TH in the NBA (tied with Damian Lillard))
2016-17 Total free throws made: 94 (6TH in the NBA)

Last year’s numbers? Among the league-leaders as well…

2015-16 Avg. free throws per game: 8.4 (3RD in the NBA)
2015-16 Total free throws attempted: 653 (3RD in the NBA)
2015-16 Total free throws made: 555 (2ND in the NBA)

For what it’s worth here are Vince Carter’s highest free-throw numbers during his time in Toronto:

6.7 Avg. FT per game (1999-2000 and 2000-2001)
551 FT attempts (1999-2000)
436 FT made (1999-2000)

Check back next week for Eric Smith’s weekly mailbag, and remember to send your questions to E on Twitter @Eric_Smith using the hashtag #askE

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Bill Haber/AP trump_donald720 Trump’s election goes over poorly in Raptors’ locker room Wed, 09 Nov 2016 18:01:30 EST Wed, 09 Nov 2016 18:31:32 EST Eric Smith When Republican candidate Donald Trump was announced as the President-elect on Tuesday night, none from the NBA’s lone Canadian franchise seemed pleased.

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Like so many people across the United States, North America, and the world overall, members of the Toronto Raptors were glued to the televisions in their hotel rooms in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday morning as well.

When the dust settled and Republican candidate Donald Trump was announced as the President-elect, none from the NBA’s lone Canadian franchise seemed pleased.

“It’s a mockery,” said DeMar DeRozan. “It’s a joke.”

And Kyle Lowry echoed the sentiments of his friend and fellow All Star as well.

“It wasn’t my decision,” he said.

But Lowry added that he won’t allow the election results and Trump’s victory to silence him.

“I think athletes and celebrities all over the world – and especially in America – have to make their voice vocal. We have a lot of following (and) we have children that look up to us and we need to understand that. Putting your voice and mind behind (things) and pushing for it is never a bad thing.”

Raptors forward Patrick Patterson used his voice on Tuesday night – on Twitter – to simply but effectively get his message across, tweeting: “Dual Citizenship”. However, at Toronto’s game-day shoot-around in Oklahoma City he expanded on his views of living in Canada during this tumultuous times in the United States.

“With all of the stuff going on in America it makes you realize and appreciate my circumstances I’ve got right now,” he said. “I’ve been here for a long time. Canada’s a great place – and I’m not just saying that because of circumstances. I’ve always felt that way. It’s less problems and people are a lot more friendly and I’ve always loved Canada.”

Dwane Casey – a Democrat who lived through segregation as a child – said he too respects the “diversity, freedom (and) openness” that Canada’s has but noted that no nation is without its flaws. He said that while he’s disappointed in the results of the 2016 U.S. election, he respects the position of the presidency.

“At the end of the day, like we asked when Barack Obama was elected, let’s pull behind the president,” said Casey. “Hopefully that’s what we’re going to do as a nation.”

Yet based on the reaction from Patterson and others in the Raptors locker room and across the NBA, it may take a long time for support to swell for Trump.

“It was hard to watch, on both sides,” said Patterson. “I feel like people wanted to vote for Hillary just because they hate Trump, not necessarily for what Hillary (stood) for and her views and what she (wanted) to do for the country. They just didn’t want to see Donald Trump in the White House.

“The uncertainty of people worrying about their families (and) people worrying about getting kicked out of the country; all of the statements he made throughout his campaign – will he do it? Will he uphold it? It’s got a lot of people scared.”

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Tim Seddon/Sportsnet demar-derozan-05-03-2016 Mailbag: Is DeMar DeRozan the greatest Raptor of all-time? Thu, 03 Nov 2016 10:12:41 EDT Thu, 03 Nov 2016 15:19:49 EDT Eric Smith Forget his hot start to the 2016-17 season— DeMar DeRozan has already claimed the title of ‘greatest Raptor of all-time’, writes Sportsnet’s Eric Smith in his latest NBA mailbag.

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Each week this season, Sportsnet insider and voice of the Raptors on SN590 The FAN, Eric Smith, will answer your questions about everything happening in Raptorland and around the Association. Send your questions to E on Twitter @Eric_Smith using the hashtag #askE

Also: “Hoops” returns for it’s 16th year tonight with a jammed show featuring interviews with DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Cory joseph, Demarre Carroll and Terrence Ross. The show airs at midnight on Sn590 The Fan. Podcast available on iTunes.

I think it already has.

Unlike some people, I still have a ton of respect for Vince Carter, the person and the player. He put the Raptors and Canada on the map and put the league on notice too. He helped cultivate generations of Canadian basketball fans and players. To me, there’s no question that his jersey should be retired by the Raptors one day.

But the minute DeMar DeRozan re-signed in Toronto this past summer— on the heels of an All Star season and a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals—on the verge of winning another gold medal at a world competition he took the mantel.

A kid from Compton has adopted Canada. He didn’t even entertain any other offers. It was Toronto, long term, from the second there was a decision to make.

His ridiculous numbers to start this season only add to his lustre. But, coming off a franchise-best 56-win season while playing alongside a fellow All Star, Kyle Lowry (the greatest 1-2 punch the Raptors have ever had) he was already in the top spot.

DeRozan’s name is scattered throughout numerous pages of the Raptors franchise-record books and his stranglehold on history with the organization will only grow. He will sit atop all of the records that matter most.

Carter. Chris Bosh. Lowry. But it now all starts with DeRozan. And when he’s done, nobody will ever wear #10 again for the Raptors.

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The offense may be the least of my concerns Bob.

DeRozan likely can’t keep up this torrid pace. But together, he and Lowry can—and should—be able to carry at least 40 if not 50 per cent (or more) of the offense on any given night. Throw in Jonas Valanciunas, Patrick Patterson, DeMarre Carroll and Terrence Ross and your offence should keep you in most games. It did last year and thus far it’s been fine through four games in 2016-17 (bolstered, of course, by DeRozan’s explosive play).

The greater concern— and I use that term loosely given that the season is eight days old— is the defence. Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl have done well thus far, as good as could be expected for two rookies. But can they match and approve upon this early season success as time goes on and opposing teams start figuring them out and start going at them that much more?

And will Toronto’s perimeter D improve? They were among the worst in that category last season and the trend has sort of continued over the first handful of games this year as well.

In the end I think Toronto may win fewer games than last year but still be in position to be as good or better, playoff-wise, than they were in 2015-16.

I’m not concerned about it at all.

I think there are a few things at play, not the least of which is DeRozan’s all-world start to the season; you’ve got to keep DeRozan on the floor as often as possible.

Second, the Raptors have had some issues scoring on the perimeter, meaning Terrence Ross has to play. While some may disagree, Ross is arguably your best 3-point shooter and as such he can help stretch and space the floor.

Finally, DeMarre Carroll is (mostly) healthy and his defence and intangibles are an asset for Dwane Casey.
So he needs to play, too.

Where does that leave Powell?

I think you can find roughly 8-10 minutes for him right now. Then, perhaps, as we get beyond the first 10 games of the season (let’s remember the year started just over a week ago) you can steal a minute or two from both Ross and Carroll and maybe even a couple from DeRozan if his workload is decreased in an attempt to avoid over-usage. Suddenly now you’re seeing Powell in the 12-15+ minute range. And on nights when fouls pile up for others, funks occur, or any injury happens, Norm springs into action.

Again, I’m not overly concerned. Let’s let the season breathe a bit.

Each week this season, Sportsnet insider and voice of the Raptors on SN590 The FAN, Eric Smith, will answer your questions about everything happening in Raptorland and around the Association. Send your questions to E on Twitter @Eric_Smith using the hashtag #askE

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Nathan Denette/CP Terrence-Ross Eric Smith’s Raptors Mailbag: Casey’s tough decisions, Ross vs. Powell & more Wed, 26 Oct 2016 10:04:47 EDT Wed, 26 Oct 2016 10:32:04 EDT Eric Smith In the first of a weekly instalment, Sportsnet’s Eric Smith answers your questions ahead of the Raptors season opener #askE

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Each week this season, Sportsnet insider and voice of the Raptors on SN590 The FAN, Eric Smith, will answer your questions about everything happening in Raptorland and around the Association. Send your questions to E on Twitter @Eric_Smith using the hashtag #askE

The key for Jonas Valanciunas is finding consistency— and I believe that extends to both ends of the floor.

I have always felt that he could, or should, be a more integral part of the offence but with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan as the primary ball handlers and scorers, Valanciunas isn’t always going to get his touches like he did when he exploded against Indiana (and the first three games against Miami) during last year’s post-season.

I asked DeRozan on Tuesday how much is on he and Lowry to get JV involved and here’s how #10 answered: “We’re the ball handlers (and) the play-callers. We’re the anchors of the offence. It’s on us to use the pressure that we get to get him easy (baskets), to get him going.”

Anyway, I think being involved in offence can help the focus and production on defence. Valanciunas is not going to destroy teams with his athleticism or jump out of the gym with highlight-reel blocks. But he’s a big body, and he positions it well, consistently putting up solid rebounding numbers. Plus, he often plays with an edge and attitude that says he’s not going to back down from anyone.

Two keys for the Lithuanian this season: 1. Staying out of foul trouble, and 2. Improving pick and roll defence.

Said head coach Dwane Casey of Valanciunas on Tuesday: “He’s improved (and) he’s more vocal now. He’s talking on defence (and) he’s knowing where he’s supposed to be defensively right now.”

Pascal Siakim and Jakob Poeltl will see the floor (especially Siakim, I believe). But as a fifth-year player who still hasn’t reached his full potential, it’s on Valanciunas to fill a large chunk of that void you speak of.

The thing that sticks out about that question is “when (the) bigs are healthy”, because right now they’re not.

Jared Sullinger is out for 2-3 months, and during his absence, rookie Pascal Siakim and Patrick Patterson are expected to fill the void at the power forward spot.

However, Casey had said earlier in the pre-season that he was, at times, going to slide Sullinger over to the centre position and use him as Valanciunas’ back-up in certain lineups.

Thus, with Sullinger out until some time in 2017, those backup centre minutes need to be gobbled-up. The door is now open for Poeltl, as well as Lucas Nogueira. And at least for one night— Tuesday’s opener against Detroit— Nogueira is banged up as well and not expected to play.

The big Brazilian has struggled to stay healthy at times during his young career so I could certainly see the Raptors needing “insurance” with the big club more often than not (until Sullinger finally returns). So I think Poeltl could stick with the Raptors and spend more time in the 416 than the 905.

When he does play, expect Poeltl to take his lumps, though. He’s a rookie big man after all. However, as his comfort level increases I believe you’ll see a steady (not flashy) young player. He’ll do the little things and his nose for the ball around the bucket will be an asset. He’s a smart player.

As discussed in the previous question, the injury bug has bitten the Raptors out of the gate, so that MAY hamper Toronto’s early-season record. But to be honest, I’m not expecting a major drop-off. I believe Casey and company have enough weapons, or options, to fill the void that Sullinger leaves.

That said, Boston is a very good and very deep team. The addition of Al Horford was a big plus for the Celtics. The front court rotation and depth is solid with their marquee free agent signing as well as the likes of Kelly Olynyk and veteran Amir Johnson. Brad Stevens’ backcourt— starring Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart, and Avery Bradley— is stacked with speed and athleticism and edgy defence too.

Boston could easily be a 50+ win team but there will be a lot of competition outside of Beantown for that number two seed in the East. Yes, Toronto is certainly still in the mix (and likely the favourite for a lot of folks) but the Indiana Pacers are a very intriguing team to keep an eye on as well.

And the next “tier” in the East could be a wild ride to watch throughout the season, with a ton of parity between clubs like Detroit, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Orlando, Charlotte and Washington…..and X-factors in Chicago and New York too.

I think the bulk of Sullinger’s minutes will land in the laps of Patterson and Siakim.

But Casey has already acknowledged that whoever starts against Detroit may not be the same guy that starts on Friday against Cleveland or in future games as well. It could be a match-up driven decision regarding Sullinger’s “replacement”.

So, yes, I think we could see Carroll start at the 4 from time to time. Or if he doesn’t START, I certainly believe there will be stretches during many games when DC slides over to that position; allowing Toronto to play a little “small ball”.

The Powell portion of your question is intriguing. I’m not prepared to write-off Terrence Ross. I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that Powell will get a bulk of minutes again and vault ahead of T-Ross.

Ross’ leash could be short though and Powell is always ready to pounce.

Let’s end the mailbag here with a little more on Ross and Powell…

As I stated above, Ross is still an important part of what Toronto wants to do. He’s a legit 3pt threat, arguably the Raptors best long-distance shooter. So it’s probably foolish to think that he’ll be cast aside or buried on the bench. Call me naive if I’m wrong (I’ll be the first to admit it)…but…

Fact is, I think Ross has matured. Age, pure and simple, has done that to him but so has becoming a father as well. At the risk of getting all “Dr. Phil” on ya, I think as you grow up, you “grow up” in the metaphorical sense, too. I’ve seen it too often for it not to be true. There’s a difference in the likes of DeRozan or Lowry or Vince Carter or Chris Bosh as they mature and figure out their lot in life and in the league, both on and off the floor.

However, Ross playing does not mean Powell won’t. There is room for both. Casey will need guys to back up DeRozan (who is still expected to log heavy minutes) and Carroll, and Carroll may see time at PF as well (as previously discussed). So the shell game for the head coach will not be easy. He’ll have a lot of moving parts. And that should bode well for Ross AND Powell.

Who ultimately plays more or has more of a prominent role could come down to who is able to play better defensively. Ross has shown an ability to lock it down in previous years, but not so much of late. And Powell looked very strong and unintimidated as a rookie last year. Can he repeat that?

Check back next week for Eric Smith’s weekly mailbag, and remember to send your questions to E on Twitter @Eric_Smith using the hashtag #askE

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Chris Young/CP lowry_kyle1280 Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors; NBA Playoffs Raptors Media Day Roundup- Lowry, Sullinger, Carroll & more Mon, 26 Sep 2016 14:52:46 EDT Mon, 26 Sep 2016 14:52:46 EDT Eric Smith Basketball NBA TOR sn-article Brett Davis/AP kidd_jason1280 Jason Kidd on Raptors: ‘You can see their growth’ from Nets series Wed, 16 Mar 2016 15:01:01 EDT Wed, 16 Mar 2016 15:01:01 EDT Eric Smith Eric Smith and Paul Jones sat down with Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd about what he remembers about that Brooklyn-Toronto playoff series when he was coaching the Nets and how the Raptors have grown.

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Prior to Tuesday’s Toronto Raptors game in Milwaukee, Paul Jones and I had a chance to chat with Bucks head coach Jason Kidd.

We spoke to the third-year coach – and former NBA champion – about Toronto’s growth over the last two years and what it takes to win and grow (especially in the playoffs).

Sportsnet: Coach, going back to two years ago – with Brooklyn and Toronto in the playoffs – have you seen a change in this Raptors team? Two years ago they were a defensive-minded team that couldn’t score and last year they could score but couldn’t stop anybody. They’re trying to find more of a balance this year.

Jason Kidd: I think as you get older you get wiser. They’ve been together. You can’t discount some of the playoff battles they’ve gone through, two years ago with Brooklyn, being able to be in difficult situations – and how do you handle them and how do you learn from them. And you can see, being one of the best teams – not just in the East, but in the NBA – they have some very talented pieces and they’re well coached. So you can see their growth.

Now the next step is making that next step in the playoffs.

SN: How tough is it to make that step? For you guys (the Bucks) to get there and for Toronto to get past that first round? You’ve been there. How do you make those marginal increases?

JK: It’s hard because everybody has that same goal: Everybody wants to get to four [wins] first. And for that it becomes who is going to make the mistake at the wrong time and what x-factor is going to step up?

Your stars are going to be stars, but what x-factor is going to step up and shine in that moment? And when you talk about Brooklyn [two years ago] you talk about [Marcus] Thornton in that Game [7]. He was the X-factor. He probably wasn’t on the scouting report like Joe [Johnson] and Paul [Pierce] and D-Will [Deron Williams].

Then it comes down to the little things: Free throws, being able to capitalize and do the little things.

I think Toronto will be fine. They’re going to grow and they’re going to get out of that first round and they’re going to be a threat in the Eastern Conference.

(Note: Thornton had 17 points – including 4-of-6 from three – off the bench in that Game 7 victory (104-103) for Brooklyn on May 4 2014).

SN: When you’re trying to go from very good to great, what are some of the little things that make a difference? Things that the layman may not even notice that are important?

JK: Luck. Luck, the ball has to bounce your way.

This isn’t meant as a ‘shot’ but when the shot clock wasn’t working in Toronto, that was to our [Brooklyn’s] advantage. We just felt that that was going to help us. Sometimes those things that don’t have an affect [directly] on basketball, people will overlook, but those things can sometimes mess with you. The ball has to bounce your way.

(Note: The shot clocks – on both ends of the floor – malfunctioned halfway through the third quarter of Game 1. The back-up system failed as well. The final 18 minutes of the game were played with Herbie Kuhn, Toronto’s public address announcer, essentially counting down every possession for both teams. The Nets would go on to win Game 1, 94-87).

SN: Is it the mental part of “those things” – when they happen – how you react to them?

JK: It’s all mental. At the new season, it’s all mental. Everybody, physically, could be tired or banged up, but it’s a mental game. It becomes chess at a higher level. You tend to see the team that plays chess the best is the one who is holding the trophy.

I think you look at Toronto, they’ve got some very good chess players who have been through some battles and some heartache and that will only make them better going forward.

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Alex Brandon/AP lowry_kyle Toronto Raptors Lowry proud, honoured to represent Raptors in three-point shootout Sat, 06 Feb 2016 08:43:07 EST Sat, 06 Feb 2016 08:48:44 EST Eric Smith Kyle Lowry is one of eight competitors in the three-point shootout during this year’s NBA All-Star Saturday Night and couldn’t be more proud to represent the city and organization that has provided him the chance to see his career take off.

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The 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend tips off in Toronto in just one week and thanks to Kyle Lowry the festivities will have an even more local flavour than originally expected.

Word leaked out on Wednesday night that rookie Norman Powell – who had hoped to have a shot at representing the Toronto Raptors in the slam dunk competition – had not made the final cut, and though DeMar DeRozan admitted that he considered entering the contest for a third time in his career, he ultimately decided that, physically, he wasn’t up to it.

But Lowry will provide the Canadian connection as one of eight competitors in the three-point shootout and he couldn’t be more proud to represent the city and organization that has provided him the chance to see his career take off.

“I’ve got to do something ’cause Terrence [Ross] and DeMar punked out,” joked Lowry. “I just wanted to make sure we had representation on All-Star Saturday Night for our fans.”

Lowry becomes the third Raptor in franchise history to compete in the event. Walt Williams was the first to do it in 1997 and Jason Kapono took part in both 2008 and 2009.

The task at hand won’t be an easy one for the two-time all-star. Lowry will compete against James Harden (Houston), Chris Bosh (Miami), J.J. Redick (L.A. Clippers), Klay Thompson (Golden State), Devin Booker (Phoenix), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee) and reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry (Golden State).

“It’s kind of an honour to be able to shoot against some of the best shooters in the NBA,” Lowry said. “I’m competitive enough that I want to win but … I’m shooting against some excellent shooters so I’ll just let the pressure be on those guys.”

Lowry, who competed in the skills competition last year during his first stint as an all-star, recalled his first true encounter with the three-point contest.

“I remember my second year in the league [when] I was helping Mike Miller prepare … and it’s such a different preparation,” he said. “When I’m home I’ll work on getting some shots up off the rack and just go have fun with it.”

The Philadelphia native won’t have a ton of time to get in that prep. The Raptors took an early-morning flight from Portland on Friday and following a practice in Toronto on Saturday afternoon the team will depart on Sunday for two more road games – in Detroit and Minnesota. The club won’t return home until the early hours of Thursday, and by then the city-wide hype and festivities will be in full-swing.

“I’m just excited to represent Toronto and the Raptors and Canada in a competition that’s known for being fun and highly anticipated,” he said.

Lowry currently leads all Eastern Conference players in three-pointers made with 142 and is shooting a career-best 39.7 per cent from beyond the arc.

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Frank Gunn/CP derozan_demar Who deserves invite to NBA All-Star Game? Mon, 25 Jan 2016 14:01:28 EST Mon, 25 Jan 2016 15:17:01 EST Eric Smith The NBA will name its All-Star Game reserves on Thursday. Here is who Eric Smith would pick for the 2016 showcase in Toronto.

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The NBA announced the starting lineups for the 2016 All-Star Game last week and though there were a few surprises, fan voting resulted in more hits than misses.

Sure, Jimmy Butler should be starting over Dwyane Wade in the East and Kobe Bryant isn’t having an All-Star calibre season in the West, but until the NBA changes the process — or weighs fan votes along with players, coaches and/or media votes — the outcome will always be based on popularity. And I’m OK with that. The fans pay the bills, so let them see the stars they want.

That said, the true honour will now come for 14 more players when seven reserves for each conference, as selected by NBA coaches, are named Thursday (live on Sportsnet ONE at 7 p.m. ET). This is the truest recognition of a player’s success and impact.

Here are the reserves I would name for the 2016 tilt in Toronto:

EAST

Starters: Kyle Lowry (TOR), Wade (MIA), LeBron James (CLE), Carmelo Anthony (NYK), Paul George (IND)

Reserves:

DeMar DeRozan (TOR) – He could easily be starting alongside Lowry.

Chris Bosh (MIA) – Coming back from his health scare last year to lead the Heat (more so than Wade) to more-than-respectability this year.

Pau Gasol (CHI) – Father time is not knocking; he’s been a huge key to Chicago’s success.

Jimmy Butler (CHI) – He probably should be starting alongside Lowry.

Andre Drummond (DET) – An absolute monster on the glass with a defensive presence that has Detroit eyeing the post-season.

John Wall (WAS) – Ordinarily I reward winning more than personal glory but in the absence of Bradley Beal, Wall has done all he can to keep the Wizards afloat.

Paul Millsap (ATL) – Honestly this was a pick ’em.  Millsap or Al Horford will get the call, but not both.

Close, but missing the cut: Kyrie Irving (CLE), Isaiah Thomas (BOS), Al Horford (ATL)

WEST

Starters: Bryant (LAL), Stephen Curry (GS), Kevin Durant (OKC), Russell Westbrook (OKC), Kawhi Leonard (SA)

Reserves:

Chris Paul (LAC) – The glue that holds it all together in Clipperland — even with Blake Griffin gone for a month-plus.

Dirk Nowitzki (DAL) – Put your hand up if you had the Mavericks being this good this year?  Dirk is the primary reason — the oil in Dallas’s engine.

DeMarcus Cousins (SAC) – Much like Wall in the East, Cousins has done all he can with the Kings.  He may be the best all-around centre in the league.

Tony Parker (SA) – My toughest choice in either conference.  His numbers are down, but he’s still the leader of a team that is right on the heels of the Golden State Warriors.  The Spurs deserve two All-Stars, not just Leonard by himself,  and I give Parker a slight edge ahead of teammates Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Draymond Green (GS) – An absolute no-brainer.  He should be starting.

Klay Thompson (GS) – If the Hawks could have four All-Stars last year, the Warriors can certainly have three this year.

James Harden (HOU) – He doesn’t play a lick of ‘D’ but his offence is his best defence and Houston would be lost without him.

Close, but missing the cut: Anthony Davis (NO), Damian Lillard (POR), DeAndre Jordan (LAC)

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John Raoux/AP derozan_demar Raptors locked in on task at hand in London Wed, 13 Jan 2016 22:45:19 EST Thu, 14 Jan 2016 08:31:21 EST Eric Smith The Toronto Raptors wrapped up Day 2 of practice in London on Wednesday and now they can truly lock-in on the task at hand: Thursday’s game against the Orlando Magic.

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The Toronto Raptors wrapped up Day 2 of practice in London on Wednesday and now they can truly lock in on the task at hand: Thursday’s game against the Orlando Magic.

Toronto is riding the high of a three-game winning streak heading into the overseas showdown against Orlando and the club will be looking to exact some revenge as well — Scott Skiles’ club handed Dwane Casey’s crew its first lost of the season back in November after the Raptors had started the year 5-0.

Outside of DeMarre Carroll (knee surgery) and some team-wide jet lag, Toronto is healthy and ready to roll. The Magic, on the other hand, will be down at least one key body.

Forward Aaron Gordon rolled his ankle towards the end of Orlando’s practice on Wednesday afternoon and he’s now officially listed as questionable for Thursday’s game. But the Magic did get some good news when they learned guard Elfrid Payton is expecting to return to the lineup against the Raptors. He has missed four straight games with a left-ankle bone bruise.

Orlando has lost three of the four games since Payton was sidelined, and five out of six in 2016.

MORE SOCCER TALK
Much has been made — in this space and others — about the handful of Raptors that planned to attend Wednesday night’s match between Chelsea and West Brom.

But Payton and Magic teammate Nik Vucevic were scheduled to be in attendance as well.

An NBA representative told me that a number of Premier League players (no names given…yet) are planning to take in Thursday’s game at the O2 Arena, and they’ll be alongside celebrities like Idris Elba and chef Gordon Ramsay.

A sellout crowd is expected.

MORE BIG NAMES
The league office has also invited a number of former players to attend the Magic versus Raptors game, including Horace Grant, Muggsy Bogues, Rick Fox, John Amaechi and Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon. Commissioner Adam Silver will also be in attendance.

A number of the names listed above will join yours truly, live, during Sportsnet’s broadcast of the game.

4K ANYONE?
Rogers announced on Wednesday it had partnered up with the NBA and BT Sport to deliver Thursday’s game in 4K. It’s the first live NBA game to be broadcast in 4K.

Rogers cable customers can tune their NextBox 4k set to Channel 999 to get the game at four-times the pixels of HD.

The Raptors and Magic tip off a lot of 4K coverage that will be coming to Rogers in 2016 and beyond, including select marquee NHL games and every Toronto Blue Jays home game.

THE GLOBAL GAME
Outside of the common chatter that has been stressed by Dwane Casey and company throughout their stay in London — “This is a business trip” — another interesting topic came up Wednesday when Luis Scola weighed in on a number of European-related queries, from the league hosting more games overseas to the NBA actually expanding to Europe and beyond.

Scola was not necessarily on board with full-out expansion outside North America, and logistically I just don’t see how it would be feasible either (let alone the financial implications — currency rates/values being right up there among the issues), but he did think the league could do more than just the one game that’s currently on tap.

The veteran big man said he’d prefer to see a handful of teams make the trip across the pond to play three or four games over a week-and-a-half period, as opposed to the current set up that has Toronto and Orlando committing a week of travel in the middle of the season for only one game.

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