Paul Jones

Paul Jones is the voice of the Raptors on the FAN 590 and writes regularly for Sportsnet.ca.

Gilbert Arenas may be in the headlines for the last time.

The Gilbert Arenas - Javaris Crittendon episode is getting a whole bunch of attention, as it should, but in these eyes until somebody decides that the second amendment in the constitution of the United States is going to be modified, there will always be surprises when it comes to where firearms materialize. As one NBA security official said, "Stay tuned."

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There has been quite a change in protocol over flights going to US destinations in light of the recent security threat. Checkpoint Charlie was definitely in effect as security was beefed up before the team boarded the flight to Boston.

I totally understand; it should always be safety first, but the only request would be to make sure everybody knows the rules.

It seemed that it was a sliding scale when it came to what was allowed to go on board in a carry on and what had to be sent away. Wonder how all of us broadcast types who use valuable, and I mean preciously valuable time to work on the airplane, are going to survive if we can't bring notes, registers and guides on the aircraft. I will have to check with my media posse, Doug Smith, Steve Buffery, Michael Grange, Mike Ganter, Eric Koreen et al about what it was like to fly commercially. It must have been a nightmare; which is even more of a reason for them to be flying on the team charter if this keeps up.

But that's just my two cents.

And yes, we all work on the plane. That's where the fellas on the TV side like ace stat man John Rusin crunches numbers, producer Dan Gladman develops story ideas, director Troy Clara and associate producer watch opponent's games and mouthy types like myself and my broadcast partners Eric Smith, Matt Devlin, Jack Armstrong, Leo Rautins and Sherman Hamilton inhale the information in the game notes that are handed out by Jim LaBumbard like a guy eating food after being starved for a month.

(OK, I've already said too much about what happens on the plane.)

Now it is on to all the e-mailers and people who are scoffing at Toronto's five-game winning streak. There is no "degree of difficulty" adjustment in the schedule. It's not like Olympic diving, each game counts for one win and it doesn't matter if its against the New Jersey Nets or the Los Angeles Lakers, they look at where your are at the end of the season and that's it. True, Toronto has not taken down "world beaters" over the last 5 but imagine the outcry if there had been losses? Enough people; to overuse and already overused phrase: It is what it is.

Hedo Turkoglu was on the flight to Boston, but it will be a game time decision as to whether he plays against the Celtics. Toronto has a chance to win if nothing else because they are playing better and have a confident attitude heading into the matchup, with or without Turkoglu.

We'll see how their new found self-assurance serves them tonight as the Celtics are going with a depleted line up as there will be no Paul Pierce, no Kevin Garnett, and no Rajon Rondo. Does this mean an automatic win? Nope, since other players relish the chance to step into the spotlight and all the fancy scouting reports and tendencies can be thrown out the window. You tell me what the book is on J.R. Giddens.

Have you noticed how Kendrick Perkins offensive game has improved lately? Why? Well because he is getting one on one coverage in the post. Seriously, with Pierce, Garnett, Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace on the floor would you double Perkins? Boston has taken advantage of that as head coach Doc Rivers has told "Perk" that if he can get the ball in the lane after it has been shared adequately, he can look to score. That's exactly what Perkins is doing and it is paying off for him and the Celtics.

Now what Perkins has to do is keep himself on the floor. At present, he is collecting technical fouls at an alarming rate.

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OK, so I'm watching Team Canada vs. Team USA at the World Junior Championships with a very knowledgeable hockey man, Russ Herrington, who happens to be fine coach and a neighbour, and it turns out he is the brother-in-law of one of the Canadian coaches, Steve Spott. We're watching closely and get to chatting and it's amazing how similar the strategy is in hockey and basketball with respect to puck/ball movement and defensive schemes. The vaunted "neutral zone trap" in hockey is akin to a half court trap in basketball that is put into play on the ice. I wonder if some of the youngsters realize that the late Fred "the Fog" Shero who coached the Philadelphia Flyers to Stanley Cups in the 1970's (you yung 'uns can google him) actually used basketball zone presses for his forechecking schemes.

I guess that the similarities lead to things like Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown showing video and imploring his team to make the "hockey pass" which is, in NBA circles, the pass that leads to the assist. Cleveland actually rewards players for that pass and charted it last season. It's probably why the NBA should modify its assist rules. Somewhere, there may be an article in my parents basement that was written for a coaching magazine, some 25-30 years ago where a friend of mine who was coaching hockey and I, a budding University coach at the time, did an in-depth look at strategy crossover in the two disciplines. Please don't ask me to find it, my mom has probably recycled it long ago.

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And finally, it was a veritable Maple Leaf Sports front office staff meeting when the Raptors checked into the hotel in Boston as there in the lobby was none other than Brian Burke. The head "poobah" of the Leafs spent a few minutest chatting with his counterpart on the basketball side, Bryan Colangelo, as Burke was in town for the Winter Classic at Fenway Park and the naming of the US Olympic team.