The first day they were together, John Lucas looked at T.J. Ford and saw the boy he had known since he was 10 years old. Ford had been a rival of John’s own son, John Lucas III, in Houston, and the two men were friends. And so John Lucas tried to get T.J. Ford to quit playing basketball.
"I said, ‘Why don’t you quit?’ " Lucas said from Miami, where he watched the Raptors and Ford practise Sunday. "I said you’ve got money and your health, so why don’t you quit?’ And T.J. said, ‘I don’t want to quit.’ And I said, ‘OK. Let’s get to work.’
"I needed to know how bad he wanted to play … and I think after [seeing him in] practice [Sunday], he’s closer [to a return] than he even thought he was."
They worked six days a week, with two two-hour sessions a day, and an extra two-hour session on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. There was court work, weight-room work and about 60 physical rehab appointments. Lucas counselled Ford on religious daily maintenance of his body – not just to strengthen Ford’s body to attempt to minimize the effects of another injury, but because after an injury, Ford has to stay so still that his muscle tone and mass diminish surprisingly fast.
And because of their bond, Lucas had no trouble telling Ford that he had to change his game – to "really improve his shooting and his skills that will take him into his 30s" and allow him to minimize the dangers of contact.
But Lucas is, above all, a realist.
"He is who he is," Lucas said simply. "I told him that. ‘You can’t change who you are.’"
Mitchell won’t be swayed.
"He’s got to get his timing back," he said.
"The guy hasn’t played in seven weeks. Then you have to come back and try to play NBA basketball, you’re going to need some practise time. Get used to the speed of the game.
"Get your timing. Get your quickness, your legs, all of that. It’s going to take him a while.
"This is just the first step."
Lucas’ workouts are legendary for the demands they put on the body and they were exactly what Ford needed.
"I feel great," Ford said. "That was perfect for me going home and getting myself right. I’m in game shape but I still have to continue to build on what I’ve done. I had to get my body back right. My whole body just shut down. You have to retrain your muscles, get them to refire."
Ford said he is now healthy and says he will be happiest when the day arrives that his health is no longer the first question he hears.
"It’s a matter of trusting yourself and protecting yourself mentally," he said of reclaiming his spot in the game. "I think that was a freak incident. I’ve taken some pretty bad hits and walked away from them. It can’t be on my mind for me to go forward."
It’s not exactly the type of stat you would expect from a Mitchell coached team, but the Raptors own the distinction of having been assessed the fewest technical fouls this season.
The Raps have just three, followed by Memphis with six. Tops in this department are the Boston Celtics, who have been whistled for 32, one more than the Denver Nuggets.
Mitchell, the Raptors coach, said that he’ll put Ford in the lineup when Ford says he’s ready. And with three potential practice days separating tonight’s game against the Heat and Friday’s game against the Clippers, it’s a solid bet Ford will come off the bench to spell Jose Calderon Friday, eight weeks after Ford was felled by Atlanta’s Al Horford in a frightening breakaway takedown that ended with the Raptor in hospital.
"No, it’s not (far-fetched)," said Ford of playing Friday. "There’s a good possibility."
So getting Ford back is great on a couple of fronts.
It’ll ease the load on Jose Calderon, it’s sure to make the second unit run more productively and there’s one other thing: It gives Bryan Colangelo more trade options.
Until Ford future was known, it’s hard to imagine Colangelo having any conversations about Dixon, whose contract (about $3 million) expires this year. And if, as I’m told, there have been some talks but nothing productive yet, you can bet the GM gets a wee bit more aggressive now that Dixon’s in play.
Someone Who Knows hinted the other night that it’s not necessarily a big that Colangelo is after. If he can find a three with experience and grit and a bit of toughness, that’s what he’s going to get.
Nothing’s imminent but the Ford return may make things more interesting in the next little while.
Year 1
Last game, Philly’s in town and the great beat grunt Phil Jasner wants to have a chat with old friend and Raptor coach Brendan Malone.
We wander into the locker room and Brendan’s busy drawing plays on the whiteboard.
Says Phil: “Hey, Brendan, you’re busy, we’ll catch up after the game.”
Says Brendan: “Nah, Phil, let’s talk now, I’m getting fired after the game.”
And he did.
Same game.
Sixers beat Raptors in overtime (and you’ve never seen anything as ugly as a last-game-of-the-season overtime game between those two teams) and Sixer coach John Lucas turns to no one in particular sitting on press row and says:
"We’ve just set basketball back 100 years."
He was right.
The Raptors have four players ranked among the NBA’s top 25, three-point shooters. It takes the pressure off of forward Chris Bosh inside and creates defensive problems for opponents trying to guard the perimeter. None of those wing players is more potent than Kapono. He is the NBA’s all-time leader in three-point shooting percentage, heading a list that includes Steve Kerry, Hubert Davis and Tim Legler.
The Raptors are flush with youth and soon could be flush with cap space. The question is whether they also will be flush with mediocrity for years to come, without anything close to a solid No. 2 behind Bosh, unless Ford reemerges or Calderon takes the next step.
Even during practice, the Heat can’t catch a break. The already short-handed Heat was down to eight players Sunday, with forward Luke Jackson out with the flu. His status for Monday’s game against Toronto is uncertain.
Center Joel Anthony (quad) also is injured and might not be available. Shaquille O’Neal (hip) and Udonis Haslem (left ankle) remain sidelined. Both players were at practice and Haslem continues to wear a protective boot. Coach Pat Riley said he is unsure whether Haslem will play before the All-Star break Feb. 15. The Heat figures to enter the Raptors game with at least eight available players, the minimum required by the NBA.
I am fully confident that after watching Kobe do whatever he wanted on Friday night that the Raps will key in on Wade and not let anyone else do some damage. With no Shaq in the middle, Bosh should reallly be able to do whatever he wants.
All I ask is the Raps don’t let Ricky Davis beat them. That will hurt big time.
Ford also admitted to me that he DID consider retirement after this latest incident. You can hear the exclusive clips on the FAN 590’s 20/20 Sports Updates … or tune in to tonight’s pre-game show to hear Ford’s words first-hand. He said that when he was laying on the floor in Atlanta … unable to move … not knowing if he was ever going to walk again … he’d be lying if he said he DIDN’T think about retiring from the league.
But Ford’s love for the game – and belief in the doctors, trainers, and coaches – kept his desire for basketball burning.
While I didn’t see Sunday’s practice first-hand … when I did get in to the arena in Miami … Ford was in a full sweat … in a 1-on-1 battle with Juan Dixon. It was an all-out grind session … with both players going at it, HARD. It was physical … it was intense … it was TJ looking like he was back in fine form.
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