The Raps Basketball Jones Pays Us A Visit

Bob McCown of Prime Time Sports has often said he never sees Eric Smith without Paul Jones and vice versa. This was not planned but yesterday we had Eric Smith stop by the Dino Nation Blog and today we have his broadcast partner Paul Jones. I am delighted to have him regardless of when. Paul and Eric have worked as the Radio Broadcast team on radio side on the Fan 590. They also work together on “Hoops” and “Double Dribble”.  Paul has also taken a role in Raptors Gameday pre game shows on Raptors T.V this past season.  He has long been active in the Toronto basketball community in a variety of ways including being part of the recently created basketball facility Hoop Dome.  That is where I started my Q&A with Paul. In the Q&A you can find links to Paul’s past work on Sportsnet as realates to the topics we talk about.

Dino Blogger Goes One on One with Paul Jones

1. Before we get to the Raptors, Glen Grunwald (Former Raptor G.M) yourself and a number of others started Hoop Dome. I thought it was a great thing for the Toronto area and development of the sport. How has Hoop Dome been doing since it got started?

P.Jones-Hoopdome is doing well. It is a great spot to get into a league or a send a kid to a camp or just play pick up. One of the most difficult and frustrating things as a kid for me as I grew up between Toronto and New York City (spending time with family) was access to courts. There was no place to play and if there was, there never seemed to be enough guys who wanted to “run one” .

Thank goodness for George Brown College (Casa Loma Campus) where the best runs in the city would take place. Many big names showed up to play there and that’s what made it the best place to play pick up. It’s actually the spot where my brother Mark and I first met Danny Ainge, when he was playing baseball with the Jays.

The good thing is that there are more places to play now around the GTA and its great to see. The best thing about Hoopdome is that you can always get a run. Ted Badner, who oversees much of the programming at Hoopdome came to me in September of 2006 and it looked like a great idea. I was convinced after talking with Glen Grunwald and then Nick Kypreos who is also involved.

If you would like more info on Hoop Dome just Click Here for Contact Info ,it also has a map on how to get to Hoop Dome if you want to check it out for yourself.

2. Keeping in that theme are you hopefully that we are getting to a point we will start to see more Canadian born talent in the NBA in the near future? Maybe even a home grown Raptor?

P.Jones-I think we will, particularly with many other international players dotting the NBA landscape. It has taken some time for NBA folks to put trust back into international players. They tried it early but the gap between the NBA and internatioal basketball was so huge that only a select few could make it. I witnessed that first hand in Spain at the 1992 Olympics when the one and only Dream Team (if USA Basketball had put Shaquille O’Neal on that team instead of Christian Laettner you might have seen the whole team in the Hall of Fame) showed how much further ahead the NBA game was with respect to the rest of the world. It’s changing now and I don’t doubt we’ll see more Canadian talent in the NBA. Hey it says something that Joel Anthony made Pat Riley’s Miami Heat squad this year.

3. Eric Smith had his thoughts on the # 1 topic with Raptor Fans of the whole Ford and Calderon situation what is your thoughts on the future as relates to these 2 players. Can this still work with both wanting to start if Bryan Colangelo can’t find a deal prior to training camp?

P.Jones-Too bad it has come to the point where it looks like eventually one of them will be traded. The fans seemed to have zeroed in on this notion that you had to pick one or the other…NONSENSE!! I still think when one goes you will see the other’s play drop off in the short term because of heavy minutes being logged. It sounds to me that there will be a deal and the fans seem to want T.J. gone because they look at his game and because it doesn’t “fit” with what they their perception is, its wrong which is another misnomer. Both have strengths but both have flaws as well and the complementary system worked well. You need to examine the “warts” of the one you keep and have a complement come in when a deal is made or else we’ll be hearing the cry from Raptor fans that they need a good back-up at the point.

4. NBA Finals are set to start Thursday. I thought maybe you could give us a educated guess on the series and some keys you see to both teams success?

P.Jones-Going to be a great series. Kobe wants to prove he can win without Shaq and KG, Pierce and Allen want to bring a banner to Boston in the worst way. Lamar Odom will be a key because he is long, athletic and can put the ball on the floor. Boston’s defence was solid all year and if they contain Gasol and Odom even if Kobe “goes off” they will win the series. Remember when the Pistons let Shaq do his thing and shut down the rest of the Lakers in the Finals a few years back they came out on top. Pierce will be a tough cover for LA as he’s not Kobe but, he takes the ball to the basket and gets to the free throw line. Really looking forward to the series as it takes me back to my youth.

5. What can John Lucas do this summer with Andrea Bargnani that will help him take a step to the next level as a player? Can you teach a player to be better at things like Rebounding and to be tough or is that up to Andrea?

P.Jones-I think “Luke” is a great basketball mind. In the first year that I worked on the Raptor broadcasts we were in San Antonio as Toronto was playing the Spurs. Philly was in town a couple of nights later and as I sat at a table by myself watching game at a sports bar, Lucas, the head coach of the Sixers, was at a table not far away. He motioned me over and we sat there all night watching games and talking ball. “Luke” will be VERY demanding of Andrea. I believe you can teach technique and some technical aspects of rebounding but the thing that can’t be taught is the desire to go after it and get every rebound. The desire part is up to Andrea. I think this is where the NBA game is different from the international game as there are guys in the league (Jeff Foster, Reggie Evans, David Lee, Dwight Howard etc.) that make rebounding a point of emphasis in their games

6. If the Raptors remain at # 17 in the draft what players would interest you?

P.Jones-I think it depends on what you are planning to do with your point men. If a deal brings in a missing part then you go after something else that fills or addresses another need. If there is no draft day deal then draft the best player available, REGARDLESS of duplication in your line up. If the player proves himself then a deal can be made involving another asset.

7. I asked Eric his thoughts on Chuck Swirsky leaving and wanted to ask you as well. If you have a Chuck Story you can share? Also names went flying around the Internet on who will replace Chuck, your name and your brother Mark have been mentioned as possible candidates. Is it something either of you would be interested in?

P.Jones-Chuck did a great job of promoting basketball in Canada amongst the “hockey crazed” populace. Chuck is a hard guy to follow and I’ve already been put in the unenviable postion of trying to do it on the radio and some people don’t understand nobody can try to be like “the Swirsk”. Just be yourself. Whatever the broadcast people at MLSE decide regarding TV will be great. That being said, I really love the job I have right now and
the FAN 590 is the place for basketball on the radio. Timing is everything and right now I don’t know if the timing is right for Mark to make a move. As a Toronto kid it would be great but he also has a great chair at the “World Wide Leader” over at ESPN.

8. What is the next thing for Chris Bosh to take his game to another level? Does he need a second star type to help get the most out of him?

P.Jones-A second star always helps. I don’t think you can win without one. Toronto had perhaps the widest gap this year between its number one scorer (CB4 at 20+ ppg) and the next guy who was not even averaging 13 ppg. I would love to see Chris improve his ball handling a bit and become a better defender on the ball out on the floor.

9. What things will Bryan Colangelo try to address in this off-season from your perspective?

P.Jones-Defense and rebounding need to be addressed. If you look at the Orlando series they lost it in a total of about 9 minutes or so where they couldn’t get stops at the defensive end . I have my thoughts about that Dino Nation Blog readers can check in on.

10. Sam Mitchell is STILL the coach of the Toronto Raptors. Can he be the coach for this team through the entire process to becoming a contender and hopefully champion. If so, what does he need to do beyond the simple answer of win games?

P.Jones-I don’t see why not. He’s already coached them into an improved position in the East. Mind you, it is only the East but growing together is part of the process in building a winner. Again though, the culture of pro sports does not breed patience and the pressure is always on a coach. Just ask Avery Johnson or Mike D’Antoni

Till contacting Paul to talk with me for the Blog I had only had brief chats with him on my call in apperances on the “Hoops” show on Fan 590.  Much like my experience in getting to know Jack Armstrong, it has been great getting to know him a little more through our contact in putting this interview together. I have always been amazed by the kindness of the people that cover the Toronto Raptors. From my first contact with Chuck Swirsky to now, I have always been met with great respect and helpful nature by everyone. I am very proud to have gotten to know all of these fine folks(a little better) that do a great job in not only covering the Raptors but in showing the fan base a great deal of respect. I see myself as someone who tries to represent my readers and Raptor Fans in general. I take that role very seriously and am thankful these people have seen the value in that. We are all very fortunate to have these people share their thoughts and views with us here at the Dino Nation Blog.

In the end we all share the same goals in wanting to help give Raptor Fans the best we can in providing you what knowledge we have on basketball and the Raptors. So I thank Paul for being yet another person that has taken the time to reach out to Raptor Fans through my forum. I work hard to build relationships that will add more voices and opinions to share with you all. I have my thoughts and opinions on the Raptors but it is important to hear what others can add to the mix. They have interviewed the players, coaches and management and are around this basketball team. I can only know and do so much from my laptop in front of my T.V set. I am happy that people have always been happy to help and willing to help when they have the time and are able to do so. A lot of work is put in to make these things happen and sometimes it doesn’t always come together. I am not always able to get things to happen. But I continue to try everyday to get quality information not just from myself but from others.  These people that do help me, make this blog better.

You can hear both Eric Smith and Paul Jones on “Hoops” on Fan 590 as the lead in to coverage of Game 1 of the Lakers vs. Celtics Final. Which gets started tomorrow @ 8pm with Hoops on Fan 590. I also would like to mention Dino Nation Blog has now set a date for our Raptors Offseason Hot Stove Live Blog of June 16 which is a Monday, the time likely will be 7 pm and more info will come as date gets closer. We also are having the Dino Nation Blog Draft Party on draft night June 26th. Which is now 22 Days and counting. Live Blogs like these are something new and it gives me a chance to interact with all of you in a different way and allows you to interact with me. Mark the writer of the Raptors Core Blog will also be helping out with these events. I know we both enjoyed the first Live Blog Event we did for the NBA Draft Lottery and we want to do more of these in future. I am working on ideas for future events and it will really become a big part of what we do by next season if these events continue to be successful.

Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh, Chuck Swirsky, Double Dribble, Eric Smith, Fan 590, Hoops, John Lucas, Jose Calderon, Live Blog Events, Mark Jones, Paul Jones, Raptors TV, Sam Mitchell, T.J Ford