TSN’s Three Man Weave pushes forward with concerns in the east in Cleveland, Chicago and Terrence Ross in Toronto. Hosts of TSN 1050s 1 On 1 With Will & Duane, Will Strickland and Duane Watson enlist the assistance of their friend from la belle province, Montreal Marc of Hoops Lounge as they muse over their ideal 3-On-3 NBA team in addition to other burning questions. Do you think DeMar DeRozans return will help or hinder Terrence Ross growth? Strickland: Help. Ross has made it clear that while hes a talented athlete, hes probably also not talented enough to take a Top 3 lead role on a very solid team in the NBA. T-Ross squandered a great opportunity to step up and earn trust and his next contract in Toronto while DeMar DeRozan was on the shelf. Would a change of scenery flip Terrences fortunes? Who knows? The possibility was pondered earlier this season on #3MW of Ross being a prime figure in any asset management moves and scenarios that could be made to bolster this roster for the long haul this season. Perhaps Masai Ujiri is pondering the possibilities now. Stay tuned! Griffin: Hinder. You can only learn so much by watching and waiting in this life. So as long as DeRozan is healthy, I can see T-Ross turning into inevitable trade bait. Lest we forget, Brooklyn badly exposed Toronto in the paint last playoffs whenever JV was not on the court. Masai knows this. The Raptors badly need another rim defender if they wanna take that next step in April. Watson: If Ross is waiting on DeMar to right his game that’s a problem in itself. First and foremost, he can work on becoming a defensive presence. Secondly, he needs to attack the hoop and use his athleticism at the rim, which he should be able to exploit as DeMar draws more defensive attention. The question is, does he want to? Theres talk that 3-on-3 will be an official event in the 2016 Summer Olympics. If it were to happen, who is your three-man team? Strickland: LeBron James, James Harden and Anthony Davis. Play-making, scoring, freakish talent. Multi-faceted games. Hard to imagine this squad losing, though Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Marc Gasol were heavy on the radar as well. Whether this becomes an official Olympic event or not, fantasy GMing these teams is a hoop lovers dream! Griffin: In all my years I’ve learned the most important thing in this game is chemistry. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love sit silently nodding their heads. I’d take a group of talented guys who have been playing together for a while, know their positions, and have a glue guy who can hold everything together. And in the spirit of #JeSuisCharlie the IOC has granted me artistic freedom to have a Frenchman playing alongside two Americans. I’m taking Damian Lillard, Nic Batum, and LaMarcus Aldridge. Coached by the ghost of Dr. Jack Ramsay. …We’ll take all comers. Watson: Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler and Anthony Davis. You can’t hide weak defensive players in a game of 3-On-3, as they will get punished in isolation. Having a team that can go both ways is key, and all of the above are exceptional players on both sides of the ball. Who’s got game? Austin Rivers is about to join his father Doc on the Clippers, do you approve, or should the father/son thing be off limits in the Association? Strickland: Tough call. Coaching your kid at biddy/AAU level is one thing. Coaching him in college or even professionally is an entirely different set of potential headaches. Whether joining a veteran or young team, the notion of nepotism/favouritism, the look of any perceived impropriety and the possibility of straining personal relationships between father and son are immediate red flags that come to mind. A delicate ballet must be danced by both Austin Rivers and his dad Doc in the locker room, on the court and off the court with this new work wrinkle on a team that, while talented, has yet, if ever, to achieve its fullest potential. Not sure if Austin Rivers even counts in the grand scheme of things there, but it will be interesting to observe. Griffin: It depends on the situation. Pistol Pete Maravich’s father coached him in high school and college, and all that pressure nearly cracked the man. Doc Rivers is one of the most respected coaches in the game, so if anyone can do this it’s him. Plus it’s a smart move that he got the blessing from Chris Paul and rest of the guys first. Btw, I’d love to be a fly on the wall at the Rivers household; every night Doc slams his hand like Sonny in The Godfather and yells, “We dont discuss business at the table!” Watson: This may be the best thing for young Austin. Undoubtedly the pressure of playing for your father is immense, but that coupled with having the opportunity to learn from Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford, provides every opportunity for him to reach his potential. If it doesn’t work, he’ll forever be known as “Doc Rivers son.” With the apparent open mutiny in Cleveland, what is the ultimate fate of David Blatt? Strickland: Unless Shane Battier shows up, takes the Cavs to Toronto, watches the Super Bowl with them, makes a speech and then inspires the team to win 26-27 straight, David Blatt making it through the full season would be a surprise and a stain on The Decision 2.0. Coach Blatt is on borrowed time as owner Dan Gilbert could end up possibly paying three head coaches simultaneously all while wondering whether The King and Kevin Love will decide to opt out July 1, 2015, putting additional pressure on the front office in Cleveland. Griffin: He’s gonna be sent back to his homeland. Which is America. Since he’s American. And likely back to college hoops, which seems like a better fit for his my way or the highway personality. Blatt was dealt some pretty difficult cards his first year in the NBA, but you gotta know when to hold ‘em and when to turn that Kenny Rogers cassette tape off. …Maybe he’ll end up back in the Ivy League, take it full circle. Watson: There is no way Coach Blatt will be back at the helm of the Cavaliers next season. Unless Blatt does the impossible, and leads them to an NBA Championship (which isn’t going to happen), but there’s nothing better than being paid to leave. On whom do the title hopes of the Chicago Bulls rest more this season: Derrick Rose or Joakim Noah? Strickland: Noah. Derrick Roses knee woes over the past several years helped to strengthen the resolve of the Bulls as players had to step up and assume greater roles. No one achieved more in that time than Joakim Noah, the 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Star. But the load of carrying Chicago to scrappy but ultimately failing playoff appearances and the minutes Coach Thibodeau hoists on his starters are weighing heavily on Noah. The arthroscopic knee surgery that took longer than expected for Joakim to recover from this past offseason is now compounded by a recurring ankle issue that sidelined him for four games earlier this season and will shelve him for possibly for several more after re-aggravating it vs Washington this past Wednesday. The Bulls could win the East this season without Derrick Rose. They have zero chance with Joakim Noah. Griffin: Not an easy question. But I’m gonna go with DRose. Simply because at heart - he’s the Batman Chicago knows and needs. He’s the local boy done good. The one player every kid from the block looks up to, and the second coming of greatness. Mind you, I don’t believe DRose will ever be the same player again, I’m pretty certain of that. Yet, if Willis Reed stumbling out on one leg in Game 7 of the NBA Finals has taught me anything, it’s that a hobbled warrior can instill greatness in a team. Question is, if that bullish effect can last until June. Watson: Defence wins championships and Chicago runs a defensive system. The heart, anchor and leader of that defensive club is Noah, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Jimmy Butler has already proven he can provide a level of Rose’s talents, but Noah is indispensable. Follow them on twitter: Will Strickland @WallStrizzle1, Duane Watson @duanewatson and Marc Griffin @MontrealMarc Cheap NBA Jerseys . Louis Cardinals on Sunday afternoon; a brief, poor outing that served to highlight two trends that have developed this season. Wholesale NBA Jerseys . Siddikur, who led on all four days and took a four-stroke lead going into the final day, bogeyed four out of six holes starting at the sixth and continued a forgettable last round in which he returned a three-over 75 to finish with a 14-under 274. https://www.cheapnbajerseysjustwholesale.com/. The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. Nike NBA Jerseys . Napoli beat high-flying Hellas Verona 3-0 to keep up the pressure on the top two while AC Milan had another disappointing night as four goals from teenage forward Domenico Berardi saw relegation-threatened Sassuolo come back from two goals down to win 4-3. NBA Jerseys . PAUL, Minn.TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips answers three questions each week. This week, topics cover if and when the Blue Jays should start rebuilding, how good catchers handle a pitching staff and how best to develop young pitchers to best avoid arm problems. 1. Jim Bowden wrote on ESPN.com this week that the Jays should already be thinking of blowing the team up, deeming last years deals a failure and suggesting that waiting to tear it down would compound the problem. Agree or disagree with Bowdens assessment? Let me first say that I respect Jim Bowden for his knowledge and his experience. He has been around the game for quite a while and knows what he is talking about. That being said, I do not think it is time for the Jays to blow this team up. We are only in the first week of the season. It is far too early to consider demolition plans. The Jays have a ton of offensive talent. I agree with Bowden that on paper they are under-manned in the pitching department. But the game is not played on paper. It is played by people. RA Dickey could return to his Cy Young form of a couple of years ago. Mark Buerhle looked amazing in his first start and Brandon Morrow at one time, when healthy, was dominant. Drew Hutchison and Dustin McGowan have some upside. Of course, there is plenty that needs to go right but funnier things have happened. I didnt think the Pirates had enough pitching last season nor did I think the Orioles had enough pitching in 2012 to be a playoff team. But they both were. Fans need hope. The season begins with hope for all 30 major league teams. Why rob them of that feeling unnecessarily? I agree with Jim Bowden that it is unlikely that the Jays will make the playoffs. I picked them to finish fourth. So I get it. But I have been wrong before and so has Jim. The season is a marathon. There is plenty of time to disassemble if it is appropriate. Quite honestly, if they should do it now, they should have done it in the offseason when more teams could vie for the Jays talent and had money to spend. This may be the worst time to create a market for players as most teams are tapped out financially at the start of the season. They spent their money in the winter. Just ask Kendrys Morales, Stephen Drew and Scott Boras how difficult it is to find GMs with money to spend. The trades of 2013 were a bust for the Jays but it doesnt necessarily mean that things cant work out this year. If and when it becomes clear that hope is lost for 2014, there will be time to tear things apart. But that wont mean that everything has to be done during the season. Take a deep breath and at least enjoy some hope. 2. The Jays players are already expressing admiration for new catcher Dioner Navarro and the way he handles the staff, in some ways taking not so veiled shots at former catcher JP Arencibias struggles behind the plate. What is your assessment of Navarro and can you explain the intimacies of "handling a staff" and what that really means? Many fans know and use the term, but few really understand the minute details or why it is so important. I am not surprised that Dionner Navarro is getting rave reviews for his ability to handle the pitching staff. Some part of that is about him and some part of that is about the deficiencies of JP Arencibia in the past. We often talk about a catcher "handling a pitching staff" and just assume that everyone knows what we mean. Let me see if I can explain it. It is imperative for a catcher to know his pitchers. He doesnt just have to know what pitches they throw but he has to know when they should be thrown, to whom they should be thrown, how hard to throw them and where to throw them. He has to understand how each individual pitchers arsenal of pitches can attack each hitter on the opposition. The catcher has to know how each pitcher handles pressure. He has to understand when they arent quite right on a given day and what to do to get them right. He has to know the keys for each pitchers delivery and when they are out of sync how to get them back on track. The catcher has to read body language. He has to communicate confidence and support with his own body language. Some players are smart. They can rationally think through situations and know what to do. Some players have instincts, which is defined as a "feel" for the game; an idea about what needs to be done in this time and space. Their natural reactions can lead them down the right path without tremendous thhought.dddddddddddd The best players have a combination of intelligence and instincts. Navarro has both and it can be seen in his work behind the plate. He has the feel and intelligence to evaluate the situation and what is needed to be successful. This will lead to improved preparation and execution over the course of the season. The Jays need to maximize the talents of their pitching staff as they are not as deep as other teams. Navarro is just the guy for the job. 3. Another season, another rash of pitching injuries, with the Mets Bobby Parnell the latest to possibly face Tommy John surgery. He would be the third Met to have TJS in under a year. GM Sandy Alderson told the NY Times its an "industry-wide problem." Pitch counts and innings limits for young pitchers dont appear to have made much of an impact. Do you acknowledge this as an industrywide problem - or is it more of a team/system problem as it does seem to hit some teams (including the Jays) more than others. What do you think is the best way to bring a pitcher along after draft day? And has your mind changed on that over time? Injuries for pitchers is a GMs worst nightmare. Just when you think you have enough pitching, injuries happen and you can find yourself shorthanded. The arm is not built to throw a baseball. Every time a pitcher throws the ball, there are fibers that tear in the shoulder, bicep, tricep and forearm. I have seen thermodynamic pictures of a pitchers arm before and after pitching. The amount of heat given off from the bleeding in the arm after pitching is profound. You can only imagine the toll that throwing a couple of hundred innings can take on a pitchers arm. In 2013, Justin Verlander threw 218 innings and 3692 pitches (most in majors). That doesnt include the 23 innings he tossed in the playoffs, nor does it count spring training innings and pitches. In addition to all of this game activity, Verlander had pitching practice between starts. The bottom line is that his arm took a ton of abuse. When I became general manager of the Mets in July of 1997, one of the first things I did was call a meeting with our top pitching coaches and team doctors. We were having a significant number of arm injuries and it was severely impacting the pitching depth in our organization. The outcome of that meeting was clear; pitchers can injure their arms in two ways: fatigue and poor mechanics. Too much throwing for any pitcher can lead to injury. It doesnt matter if he has perfect mechanics or the worst mechanics; too much throwing can break down any arm. There was an old school belief that the more pitchers throw the stronger they get. The science doesnt support that. Fatigue breaks down the arm. Mechanics for a pitcher is critical. He has to be able to repeat his delivery in order to throw consistent strikes. If a pitcher has poor mechanics in his delivery, he can put more pressure on his elbow or shoulder, making it more prone to injury. Pitchers can pitch with poor mechanics but they are much more prone to injury, especially if they are fatigued. Poor mechanics lead pitchers to tire more quickly and when tired, the poor mechanics make the pitcher more vulnerable. It is really that simple. After this meeting, we implemented very stringent pitch count limits in our minor league system and dramatically reduced the number of arm injuries. The arm only has so many bullets in it. They cant all be wasted in the minor leagues. We had to learn to be more efficient in our player development. I predicted Stephen Strasburgs arm problems a couple of years ago. He has poor mechanics, which put a significant amount of stress on his elbow and shoulder. You might wonder why they just dont try and correct his mechanics. Often times, cleaning up a pitchers poor mechanics can rob him of what makes him special: velocity, movement or deception. In Strasburgs case, his mechanics are his mechanics. It is how he is wired to throw a ball. I completely supported the Nats when they made the unpopular decision to shut Strasburg down even when they were going to the playoffs in 2012. If the Nats dont take dramatic steps to protect their big right-hander moving forward, he will break down again. He is so valuable to their franchise they are crazy if they dont. Arm injuries will always be part of the game. But I truly believe that individual organizations can make significant strides in reducing arm injuries. Throwing less to pitch more is the answer. ' ' '