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On the Sidelines with Leo Rautins - Trouble in Paradise - Mar 7, 2008

2008-03-07 14:23:15

The Raptors finally got off their losing skid this past Wednesday, with a 108-83 drubbing of Miami. Unfortunately for the Heat however, it doesn�t look like their season long slide will end anytime soon. And, as someone that sits and watches NBA games for a living, talks to team personnel and players daily, I see some scary, as well as odd things going on in South Beach.

Let�s start with the Shaq affect. The �Big Fella�, according to Heat sources, mentally checked out sometime last season. Okay�not good, but president and coach, Pat Riley, was able to move the Diesel, and even get something decent in return � Shawn Marion. It�s not Shaq being gone that�s the problem - it�s what he left behind, that is. People have noticed a difference in Dwayne Wade - on, and off the floor. To anyone watching the game, it was clear that this was not the Wade that led his team to the tile in 2005. Apparently Dwayne is sulking, talking out of both sides of his mouth, quitting on his teammates, and generally acting like, well�an unhappy Shaquille O�Neil. That my friends, has many on South Beach very, very concerned.

To see Marion and Wade, in a fourth quarter-long conversation on the Heat bench, with towels covering their mouths, and, for all to see, showing little or no interest in the game, is not something that Miami fans should view lightly.

Speaking of Marion, is he feeling wanted now? Toronto kept the high flyer in half-court mode (props to Jamario Moon), and he was hardly noticeable during the game. A little different when Steve Nash is not tossing alley-oops and back door passes, isn�t it Shawn?

As for their boss, Pat Riley, when have you ever heard of a coach talk about leaving his team to go scout NCAA games? Wow! Riley is threatening, attacking, and publicly questioning his players � the same players that thru his dual role, he brought to Miami. Riley�s words reek of panic and frustration. Isn�t he the same guy that said Shaq should have been an All-Star this year? Isn�t he the same guy that the last time his team hit rock bottom, left the bench for his cushy office, and let Stan Van Gundy deal with the mess on the court?

Sometimes your reactions and words have as much to do with what is going on as anything else. I remember the words of former Detroit �Bad Boy� coach, Chuck Daily, when he said, �whisper criticism�and sing praise.� Good advise when frustration takes over, and damage control is advisable.

I wonder how many fans will take Riley up on his post game babble, �I should write a cheque tomorrow to each season ticket holder and send them back at least for (last night�s) game.� Wouldn�t that be a lesson to watch what you say?

It may be hell in Miami, but it is paradise in Texas � at least in Houston and San Antonio. The Rockets won their 17th straight against Dallas Thursday night, and their 5th straight without Yao. Houston has won 8 straight by at least 12 points in each game � impressive. And, despite no Yao, it may keep on going, as they play their next 5 of 6 at home, with their one road game being in Atlanta.

All the talk is Tracy McGrady � but keep your eye on Louis Scola. The power forward from Argentina is a flat out winner. He was the MVP of the America�s Qualifier in Las Vegas (yes�the one with LeBron and Kobe), as he led his team � void of NBA players (only him and Carlos Delfino) to a silver medal and Olympic birth. Scola is as fundamentally sound a player as there is in the game, and he has become the �glue guy� for Rick Adelman�s Rockets. It took a while for Adelman to figure out Scola�s value, but there�s no doubting it now.

The Spurs, as usual, are rolling with 11 straight wins. And, as usual, despite sitting at the top of the Western Conference, are chugging along with very little fanfare. When you look at who has stepped up for the San Antonio, two other Argentine stars stand out � Fabricio Oberto and Manu Ginobili. Oberto, like Scola, is a glue guy � the perfect frontcourt compliment to Duncan. He only does what is necessary on the floor to help his team win. Ginobili on the other hand, is having an MVP season � putting up huge numbers and knocking down game winners night in and night out. With Parker back and Duncan healthy, folks might want to start taking the Spurs seriously. However, I�m sure if you asked the boys at the Alamo if they minded flying under the radar, the answer would be a resounding no.

Former Michigan St. star and Canadian Team veteran, Dave Thomas, is getting it done in Australia. His Melbourne Tigers are heading to the NBL Grand Final, after defeating last years champs, the Brisbane Bullets, in a wild finish. In overtime, Thomas stole the ball and dunked away any chance the Bullets had to get back to the final. The Canadian small forward had 26 points in the 115-112 victory.

Last summer in Las Vegas, Dave Thomas provided leadership, consistency, and stability off the beach for Canada, and was an integral part of our success. Dave is a tremendous defender that relishes the opportunity to shut down the other teams perimeter threat. He is also a player that facilitates movement of the ball. Dave understands how the game is supposed to be played, and seems to always make the right decisions when on the floor.

As our oldest player, the Brampton native feels the urgency to get Canada to the Olympics, and is very focused and determined to see it happen this summer in the World Qualifier in Greece.

Toronto native Rans Brempong, has his team, Leverkusen (Germany � Bundesliga), on a five game winning streak and sitting 3rd in league standings. Rans, who has attended several Raptor workouts - including the one that Jamario Moon made his impression in, is in our top 15 for this summer. Brempong is a solid team guy, that rebounds, defends, blocks shots, chases down loose balls, and gives you all the effort plays a coach could ask for. He�s averaging 8 points and 5 rebounds for Leverkusen, and is hitting 46% of his shots.

Also in Germany, Jermaine �Rock� Anderson continues to play well. The newly arrived point guard went 7-7 from three for Tuebinge, also in the Bundesliga.

Congratulations to Pickering H.S. who just won their second straight OFSAA championship, defeating Eastern Commerce of Toronto, 47-46. The game came down to the last few seconds, when Devoe Joseph knocked down a huge shot for the victory.

Joseph has committed to the University of Minnesota (I too, was a Golden Gopher for a season) and Tubby Smith, for next season. Joseph is a player that has been part of Canada�s junior program, and is someone that I am very high on (his younger brother Corey, a teammate at Pickering and for Canada, isn�t too bad either!). He is a combo guard that I feel can develop into a solid international point guard for the National Team.

Devoe has tremendous work ethic, is well grounded (thanks to his parents, Connie and David � both ex-ballers), and has all the tools at his disposal to accomplish great things on the court. The sky is the limit for this young man!

For more information on Leo, visit www.leorautins.com