With the sharply worded advice of coach Sam Mitchell still in his memory, Jose Calderon has evolved into a player worthy of All-Star consideration this season. Damian Strohmeyer/SI

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3. Cajoling young players. Emboldened by the knowledge that Bargnani was able to walk again, I asked Mitchell about the slump of the No. 1 pick of last year's draft.

"I tell my players this all the time," Mitchell said. "If you want me to judge you on making shots, then you will play as you make shots. But if you want to have an opportunity to remain on the court on the night that you're not making shots -- by rebounding, [playing] defense, help defense, moving without the basketball, being active, getting deflections -- if you want me to judge you on those things which are going to keep you on the court longer, (as opposed to) if you're making shots ... which one do you want? Because you're not going to make shots every night. Does that mean you don't want to play that night? So that's the thing we tell Andrea.

"Everybody's worrying about Andrea. I'm not worried about Andrea. Because I understood a long time ago that Andrea is a young player and that Andrea has added to his game. Now you can't continue to do the same thing in the NBA because people are going to start taking things away from you, so your game has to evolve. And is it painful sometimes? Yes. But what's wrong with a young player going through some struggles? Isn't that what we do in life? Doesn't it build character? Doesn't it make you better when you come out on the other end? Don't it build toughness -- mental toughness -- and don't it make you appreciate everything? Andrea's working harder than he's ever worked before. So those are all the things you want him to learn. And I'm fine with that because his attitude's been great, his work ethic has been great. Him accepting what we're trying to teach him and working on it and bringing it to the practices and to the games has been great. So I look at those four things and I see all positive things. He's got talent, he wants to be great but it takes time. So my whole thing with Andrea is as long as he's in the right frame of mind and continues to get better, he'll make shots eventually."

I had the impression that Mitchell was taking a different approach with 22-year-old Bargnani than he had with Jose Calderon, the Spanish point guard who two seasons ago was a 24-year-old rookie with Toronto.

"Did you see Jose in his first year?" said Mitchell. "A lot of people in this league didn't think Jose could play in the NBA his first year. After that season I had a lot of guys -- in the media -- say he can't play, he's not that good. Now look at him. He went through some struggles. Look at the results. So what's wrong with that? Haven't you been through some struggles in your life?"

"No," I said. "Never."

"Well, I don't believe that," said Mitchell, looking away. "I'm pleased with Jose. I have the utmost respect for Jose. He's worked, and I was tough on Jose. Ask Jose what was his name his rookie year. It wasn't 'Jose Calderon.' I'll let him tell you."

2. The surprising result. Calderon has been averaging an impressive 12.1 points and 8.5 assists with an assist-turnover ratio of 5.4-1 this season while taking on more minutes in the absence of Ford. On Wednesday he played like an All-Star, piercing the Celtics' league-leading defense for 13 assists and 24 points on just 10 shots. Even more impressive was his effect on teammates, and especially Bargnani, who was 7-of-14 from the floor for 20 points with 7 assists and 7 rebounds. He was doing all of the other things Mitchell encouraged him to do.

The Raptors were 15-of-21 from the three-point line, shot 58 percent overall and had four players with 20 points or more to upset the Celtics 114-112.

Afterwards I asked Calderon what Mitchell used to called him.

"I cannot say that for the media," he said in his thick Spanish accent. "It was 'beeeeep rook.'" He made a long beeping noise to emphasize the abundance of syllables.

"In the beginning it was tough, because, you know, we didn't win many games," Calderon said. "He didn't let me practice sometimes. It was hard. But right now I am here because of him too. It was tough on me, but look, everything worked out. I feel really comfortable with him and with my teammates, so it's OK."

So Mitchell made you stronger?

"For sure, for sure," said Calderon. "I'm a better player because I have to wake up every day and work hard just to try to make it so he doesn't call me nothing."

1. A moral for Bargnani. When he was done with his other interviews, I approached Bargnani in the locker room. "I have a theory," I began. "The reason I think you played so well tonight is because ..."

"Because of the Italian food?" he said.

"Yes, because of the food," I said. "But then afterwards you were cramped into a tiny little space for an extended period of time, and when you stood up out of my car your body was relaxed in an entirely new way."

"I don't know," he said, rubbing his face. "Maybe for the food. But I don't know about the car."

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