This year I am heading to Los Angeles to take in a game at Staples and then off to San Francisco for a game at Oracle. What’s even better is I have my friend Holly MacKenzie coming along. Make sure you follow both of us on Twitter to get updates from the games — @Nat77 and @stackmack. I may post some game recaps with pictures and such and will be back here next Monday with a breakdown of the Raptors 4 game west coast swing.

After a rough road trip the Raptors look to bounce back at the ACC. As of right now, Chris Bosh and Hedo Turkoglu are a game time decision — safe to say this team needs to get back to 100% for the final push. The Raptors have lost 4 in a row but can make up some of the ground over the next two games. Fans got a glimpse of what life would be without CB4 and it wasn’t pretty. The offense seemed forced and the defense backtracked to November ‘09.

The Knicks have been playing like they have nothing to lose with new addition Tracy McGrady stepping in as a point forward. Guys are playing for contracts next season and Coach D’Antoni has released his bench. Players like Bill Walker are getting serious burn and most teams don’t even have a complete scouting report on the guy.

The key to tonights game is to erase the memory of the past 4 and go back to playing like this did for the 20 games before them. The point guards will have their hands full tonight and it is vital they manage the game without forcing things. If Bosh isn’t able to go they can use some of the energy from the home crowd to boost them. Either way, in my opinion this is a MUST win game. No excuses.

Photo Credit: Ron Turenne/ NBAE

Don’t they look dapper?

The Toronto Raptors held their annual Red Party event last night and I had the pleasure to attend thanks to @fortressman. This has been the flagship event for the Raptors Foundation (now called Team Up Foundation) over the last 15 years and while I have attended in the past, last night was by far the best. The team has always been at the top of the list when it comes to giving back and this party does that while giving love to the fans who support them.

The event held at Muzik Nightclub, was sold-out to the tune of 800 guests who got a chance to mingle with the players and team personnel. The silent auction had something for everyone, including the “infamous” blue linen blazer worn by Reggie Evans while he was sidelined with an injury. To top it off, there was a surprise guest brought in for the event — none other than, Toronto’s very own “Drake”.

The tickets for the event are on the pricey side but with the proceeds going for charity there is always a nice tax write off involved. While most of the attendees were those who usually fill up the lower bowl at the ACC, it was nice to see some fans come out and support. The players were making the rounds and stopped to take pictures with anyone who asked. The club setting doesn’t lend to too many conversations but just getting a chance to share a few words with people involved with the team is always a great experience. By the time I got home I realized my throat was sore from trying to talk over the music all night.

The whole night is like eye candy for a Raptor fan. I got to chat at length with some of the radio and TV personalities and then moved on to cracking some jokes with Jarrett Jack. Never did make it around the whole place and totally missed Jose, Hedo and Rasho in the house. Oh and I missed out on the food too which was apparently to die for. But with me getting all dressed up, the last thing I was about to do was attempt eating kobe beef sliders while standing.

If I had to pick my favorite part of the night it would be the performance by Drake. As the rapper took the stage, everyone gathered around and even the players joined in as fans. I turned to see Reggie Evans mouthing the lyrics to the songs and DeMar DeRozan bobbing his head as he took it all in. While the suits may not have appreciated this as much, it was nice to see the players just let loose for one night.

My two gripes about the event were minor ones. Firstly, the silent auction was set up in a way it was almost impossible to see what you were bidding on. I got a Jamario Moon playoff worn autographed jersey a few years back and was looking forward to nabbing something but the display turned me off. Secondly, the gift bag had Olive Oil (!), a bag of chips and a coupon for a 12 pack of coke. Seriously? I got a pair of glasses last time with the Raptors logo etched on it. This time the best part of the gift was the bag it came in.

Overall, its definitely an experience I think any fan would love. If you can save up for a good cause and try to make it out next year it will give you a lifetime of memories you won’t soon forget.

• Read the Raptors.com recap of the event w/ photos (link)
• Read another recap from @Mrballer who attended as a guest (link)

After holding a successful contest last month (pair of tickets), I decided to continue with the giving. This time, up for grabs is a “Digital Photo Frame” that was given to me as a gift for being a Raptors season ticket holder. The frame has the Raptors logo printed on the bottom right and comes in a box commemorating the 15 year anniversary of the franchise. These frames were not available to buy so you would have a rare item in your collection.

- Make a collage showing your memories as a Raptor fan.

Contest Details:

• You can be creative using favorite quotes, screen captures, images but try to avoid using copyright material
• You can create the image in paint/photoshop or even in word. Creativity is KEY
• The final image must be no smaller than 400×600 pixels and no larger than 1600×1600 pixels
• You must upload your image to a site and provide the link to view in the comments section.

Contest Rules:

• You must live in North America to enter this contest (due to shipping)
• Any inappropriate images will be removed at my discretion.
• You must provide your e-mail when submitting your entry (fill it in comment section)

Contest Deadline: 6 PM (EST), Sunday March 7th 2010

Before looking at the end of the game though it is important to see how the team got there in the first place. The Raptors had a week off between games and they came out playing like they were still on vacation. The Grizzlies having played the night before got in late but that did not stop them from exploding out of the gates. A 12-0 run to open the game prompted a time out called by the Raptors but it didn’t help much. The momentum started to shift when Coach Triano made some substitutions late in the 1st and having Calderon and Weems come in to replace Jack and Turkoglu. The ball started moving and Jose was finding guys for easy scores. Weems being more athletic was able to stay with some of the younger guys on the Grizz. By halftime the Raptors had clawed back to cut what was once a 16 point deficit down to 2.

With the Grizzlies having played the night before, there were thoughts that they would be sluggish in the 2nd half with fatigue catching up. That wasn’t the case as they kept the 2 point lead going into the final frame. The Raptors brought out their “closer” Antoine Wright for the 4th quarter and things started clicking. Bosh scored 10 straight points and the team seemed to be ready to close things out. An inadvertent elbow from Rudy Gay sent Wright to the lockerroom to get stitches and while unfortunate, marked the turning point in the game. Coach brought in a struggling Hedo and left him in by subbing out Weems for the final minutes. Hedo was going through the motions all night with nothing going his way and instead of being a help on the floor he became a hindrance. The ball stopped moving when it got to him and on the other end he was a half second slow on all his rotations. The Grizzlies managed to score 5 points in the last 35 seconds to send it to overtime. The Raptors couldn’t recover from that and overtime was a whole lot of switching gone wrong.

The Raptors had control of this one and questionable coaching decisions may have cost them. It was Triano who decided to mess with what was working. Sure you don’t want your 53 million dollar man warming the bench but Sonny Weems was getting the job done. Hedo admitted to not having his head in the game (dealing with personal issues in Turkey) but it is the coach’s responsibility to recognize that. Triano has been good with making adjustments and as of late was getting a lot of praise regarding the job he has done. This night sent him back a bit. Sitting Jarrett Jack was the right decision but he should have done the same with Hedo. If it ain’t broke… don’t try to fix it!

Injury Update: Chris Bosh injured his ankle late in the game yesterday. It happened when he came down after a monster block and from my vantage point it looks like he may have rolled it slightly by landing on Bargnani’s foot. Reports are that it is a mild sprain and he did not travel with the team to New Jersey. Bosh has played in every game this season and this team can hardly afford to have him sidelined for a long period of time. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery.

Trade Deadline Update: As expected, there was no movement from the Raptors as the trade deadline came and went. For Raptor fans they can breathe easy as the Bosh speculation goes away if only for a few days and then people can start talking about the summer. There were talks about a possible trade with the Lakers to bring Vujacic and Powell over to Toronto but thats all it was. Talk. The team that suited up last night will be the one the Raptors will have going forward and it is now up to them how far they want to go.

There were an overwhelming number of responses to the ticket contest, and most if not all the answers were well thought out. This just solidifies what we already know about the Raptors fanbase– Passionate!

I reached out to Raptor nation asking them to give their reasons why Bosh should stay in Toronto — a topic that I have written about in the past. I still believe he will remain a Raptor past this season with money being the motivating factor but won’t be surprised if he asks for a trade down the road. Like most fans, I am tired of all the speculation. The only people who know what is going to happen in the summer of ‘10 are the guys themselves. For now, I look forward to enjoying what Bosh brings to the floor and appreciate him for the player he has become.

Winner – Ben
Why should Bosh stay? WHY? I have this pair of purple pajamas. Raptor pajamas. As time has gone by, as they were getting old and crinkly and ragged, I thought, “It’s time to let them go. It’s time to throw them away.” But dammit, they are SO comfortable. So soft (like the Raptors defense). I seemed to want to discard them as many times as I wanted to give up on the Raptors, after the heartbreaking game 7 loss to Philly (where I watched IN a hostile Philly bar), after we lost a young Tmac to Orlando, after Vince Carter turned off his heart and stole ours, after we drafted Araujo over Iguodala, after Paul Pierce dunked on Bosh earlier this season and stood above him — I’ve wanted to give up on these guys so many times, but I never had the heart to do it. Never had the heart to turn away from the NBA team that finally came to Canada after so many years of cheering for U.S. teams. And why dont I think Bosh will leave? Because he’s one of us. He’s humble. He works damn hard. He is friendly, a little geeky, a bit of an underdog, just like Toronto. I think he identifies with this city on a level he doesn’t fully understand. I think he belongs here.

GAME RECAP: Written by Ben
I attend a few games each year in hardcore section 318 – the old school Sprite Zone. Natasha’s tickets were a slight upgrade. In the platinum section. Two rows from the floor behind the net. When I got to my seat, three things stood out: (1) the number of security, media and Raptor personnel scurrying around, (2) how small the court looks up close; (3) how big the players really are. Bargnani may look lanky, but up close he’s actually a pretty huge dude.

Although I’ve been watching basketball my whole life, I actually felt disoriented for the first half, finding it hard to follow player movement and spacing, in part because when you’re behind the net your depth perception is off. From section 318, you get to see the bird’s eye view, and can almost anticipate plays and player movement. Up close and from under the net, your perspective is completely different. On the other hand, baseline blow-bys and alley-oops were a thing to behold, and thanks to Derozan and Amir there were a few to admire.

It was also fun walking in and out of the tunnels, which give you access to washrooms and concession stands. I also made sure to walk past when the Dance Pak started to linger. I ended up hanging out with a few of them in the tunnel opening and getting a few pictures. Really friendly girls, and I won’t lie, that experience alone was worth the trip!

The game itself is essentially a completely different experience from this angle; it is quicker, more rugged, and the amount of incidental contact that you notice is pretty amazing. A lot of people who don’t closely follow basketball often see the sport as finesse, but in truth it is a sport that beautifully balances physicality and finesse – speed and strength – and this experience has only cemented my feeling that basketball players are the best athletes in the world, playing what I think is the best sport in the world.

I selected some of my other favorite answers to share…

Brian Gerstein: The grass is not always greener, and since the Raptors have the ability to offer Chris the most green, that is taken out of the equation. Additionally, Chris has all of Canada behind him plus he has built a lot of equity in his branding as an original Raptor drafted out of College playing here all these years. Even his endorsement money will grow as Bosh is having a career year and will only get better as he enters his prime years. Finally, and most importantly, Bryan Colangelo has assembled the teamates with Chris that not only are locked up, but are more than capable of growing together with him for the next 5 years and competing for a championship, not just winning a round in the playoffs. Bryan himself will be with us for another year and a half plus should he resign Bosh, in all likelihood Bryan will sign another contract with the Raptors as he will also want to finish the job, meaning winning a Championship.

Jesse: Chris Bosh should stay in Toronto because he is the Toronto Raptors. He is the identity of this team and he is the reason we all stay glued to our tv’s every night. Not often do players get a chance to sculpt a franchise from the bottom up which is what Chris has been given the opportunity to do. To abandon his project before it is complete would be a disservice to the work that he has created and poured his blood, sweat and tears into. He knows it is not about him. He knows it is bigger than him, bigger than this city. It can be as big as he wants it to be, all he has to do is sign on the dotted line and we will continue to support him and this franchise no matter what.

Paul C: …because as he can see from Carter, Mcgrady, Antonio Davis, Mike James, et al the grass is not always greener on the other side. And instead of being someone’s Robin, he can run the Batcave with his improved supporting cast and have the satisfaction of building this contender from the ground up , which will make it sweeter……the extra 30 mil the Rapts can give wont hurt either…

Illest23: truly speaking, Chris Bosh IS the Toronto Raptors. I’m not gonna lie, I’m still sad over Carter leaving, because our future looked awful, if you can recall all those D-League call ups, signing ROD STRICKLAND (LOL). We’ve seen Bosh mature and elevate his play to NEAR-superstar level. He is simply dominating opposing big men now. Bosh knows Toronto loves him, and he obviously loves the city, or else he would have asked for a trade when we were struggling. He knows Colengelo is building the team around him, and if he were to leave, he’s looking for a championship, and if he can’t lead HIS team as the number one option deep in the playoffs, how would that help his ego if he’s going to a contender just to be the 2nd or 3rd option. Bosh is a smart man, and business ALWAYS comes first, solely for the fact that we can offer him the most money, he’d be a FOOL to walk away from what, almost 30 million? Bosh’s heart belongs to Toronto

Last year I went with a simple, why do you think you deserve the tickets question. While it got some original and funny responses, I want to change it up. The Raptors fanbase is one of the more passionate ones and seem to have an opinion on just about everything. Here is the deal…

Tell me why you think Chris Bosh should stay in Toronto and remain a Raptor
DETAILS:

• The Contest ends at 1PM on game day. Winner will be notified by 2 PM
• The Seats are in Section 114 – Row D (Rare chance to sit so close)
• Tickets are for the game on Wednesday, Feb 10th 2010 at 7:00PM.
• Winner will be contacted by e-mail. Tickets will be emailed and winner must have a printer to print them

RULES:

• You must leave your reply in the comments section
• You need to include your real e-mail on the comment so I can contact the winner.
• Do not enter if you can’t attend the game tomorrow.

50 games in the books. Crazy.

The Toronto Raptors held fan appreciation night this past Wednesday, though logistically, it would make more sense to do this at the end of the season. I am pretty sure they planned this after the Vince Carter trade but the game they chose was v/s the New Jersey Nets. Yes, the 4-43 Nets. Rather than the game being the story, it became all about the halftime show — featuring none other than Vanilla Ice.

There really isn’t much to say about the game itself (see: opponent). The Raptors came out with a win even though they were shorthanded and the halftime show surpassed my expectations (Video 1, Video 2). After all was said and done, the Raptors sat with a 27-23 record, coincidentally the same record they had at this mark in both their 47 win seasons.

Now that the team has shown its appreciation (albeit in a strange way), I figured why not return the favor and show my appreciation for each player…

Chris Bosh: Give him Max money now! Ok, that may be a little bold, but his level of professionalism and commitment is something I really appreciate. He is having a career year statistically and has left it on the floor each night. He is never going to be a lock down defender– I can live with that. He is not flashy player and never will be, but the proof is in the results. The positives in his game and what he brings to a team far outweigh the negatives.

Jose Calderon: I may get some hate for this but I do not want to see him leave. When Jose is in the game, I have a sense of calm that he will make the right play and it will end in something positive. On the defensive end, not so much… but the team can live with some of his shortcomings knowing they can make up for them with Jarrett Jack. Having moved to a bench role, Jose has become a scoring threat while making life easy for the 2nd unit. He may be the most valuable trade chip this team holds but I believe it would be a mistake to move him before the season is up.

Jarrett Jack: It was meant to be. See, when Rob Babcock draft Joey Graham, I wanted him to draft Jack. 5 years later, all is right in the world. Jack has lived up to the billing. He plays tough, is a great complement to Jose and has slowly become the leader this team was sorely lacking. Early in the season I noticed he was the most talkative guy on the floor and that has rubbed off on his teammates. Like he did in Indiana, Jack has taken over as the starter (not by choice) and has played his way into keeping that spot.

Hedo Turkoglu: It never felt like the right fit. While there have been glimpses of a borderline secondary star, the thought that he was signed for 5 years makes me ill. The idea of a point forward is great but hardly made sense on a team financially committed to two solid point guards. The Raptors needed a pure shooter/scorer and right now he is neither. He probably will never be, but having him in the game forces opponents to game plan for him which in turn takes some pressure off Bosh. $53 million sure is a lot money for a diversion though.

Andrea Bargnani: It took long enough. Andrea Bargnani carried the weight of being a #1 pick and only this season are we seeing validation for the draft spot. The biggest change I noticed is his confidence level. It felt like he was never comfortable with Sam Mitchell and we saw glimpses of what could be towards the end of last season under Jay Triano. He came in ready this year. He has developed his game to a point where he is mixing things up on offense while keeping his head in the game on defense. He has become a legitimate secondary scoring threat on this team and looks like he is enjoying every minute of it. That makes me happy.

Antoine Wright: Finally backing up his talk, Antoine has quietly become a solid rotation player. He was injured to start the season and soon after was buried deep in coach’s doghouse. Not playing didn’t stop him from trying to be heard and he was talking to anyone who would listen. I guess someone had to say it and while it seemed out of place then its obvious he has the ears of his peers. Bosh has a good relationship with him and that always helps. Now that he is making shots it would be a shame if the team traded him away come mid Feb.

DeMar DeRozan: Similar to how Bosh was thrown into the fire just one year removed from high school, DeMar has stepped into an NBA starting lineup and held his own. He has had to guard some of the best players in the league and he has accepted the challenge. He is usually the 5th option on offense which is why he doesn’t boast flashy numbers, but his work ethic and demeanor have shown me enough to know he will be just fine. I would like to see more plays run for him but maybe that will come in time. For now, I can just see he is loving every minute of his new job.

Sonny Weems: Talk about coming out of nowhere! A spare part in the Amir Johnson trade, Sonny has been the most pleasant surprise for me this season. He brings a little of everything onto the floor each night. A decent mid-range game, he can rebound well at his position and has dished out some memorable assists already this season. All this for a guy who probably spent the early part of the season planning his dance moves (video)

Amir Johnson: Energy – Hustle – Athleticism. Amir Johnson possesses all these qualities in abundance. He has been in the league long enough to know what works for him and the Raptors got him here at the perfect time. He is not as raw as I had expected and I love what he brings to this floor each night. You can see it in his eyes, he is loving it. He had a rough start to his career but is blossoming here in Toronto. This city embraces guys like him and its no surprise he has become a fan favorite. #freeamir

Marco Belinelli: I present you Mo Pete version 2.0 and this one makes no excuses. You give him the ball and he shoots. There is no such thing as bad shots in his mind. I think the team knew what they were getting when they traded for him and he has done nothing more, nothing less. He has been a big part of the winning and for that I am thankful, because I sure as hell know Devean George could not help this team.

Marcus Banks: For a guy who doesn’t do much he sure gets a fair share of hate from the fans. That is until he stepped in when Jose was out and showed us a little somethin’ something. Marcus Clanks may be what I call him but he has been a pro when it comes to his role on this team. He has kept himself game ready and has carried himself like a vet. Can’t ask for more from a 3rd stringer.

Rasho Nesterovic: He has spent more time laughing at the in-game entertainment than actually playing basketball, but that is fine by me. He is a winner. Now “Let’s NBA”

Patrick O’Bryant: While he hasn’t done anything but keep the bench warm during games, off the court is a different story. Twitter was made for guys like him. He has embraced the social media site and created a fan base solely off that. I never gave him a second thought until he opened up to the fans and with that he bought himself a ton of leeway in my books when it comes to actually, you know… contributing to the team.

Reggie Evans: He currently holds the role of cheerleader and I for one can’t wait for him to get back on the floor. Not so much to see how he can help but rather so I no longer have to see him wear crystallized jeans. Gotta give it to him though, being sidelined for so long he is always into the game. The first guy up to cheer his teammates and has a word or two for each of them. You can feel his energy and love for the game, someone with that much passion can only make this team better.

A Picture is worth a 1000 words

Just when you thought this team was getting things together on both ends of the floor, they come up with a game like tonight.

The home and home series has been a common occurrence in the NBA schedule this season. The 2nd game is always a tough get. With the Raptors riding a 5 game win streak, this was a trap game and they fell for it.

The team came out firing on offense but failed to stop the Pacers in the 1st half. The Raptors have made a habit of digging a hole and then making adjustments at half time. Tonight was different because the Pacers had game planned for various scenarios. They kept pouring it on to the tune of 42 points in the 3rd quarter and at that point the game was theirs to lose.

I could talk about the wasted offensive night from Bosh (35 points) and Bargnani (Career High, 34 points), or dwell on the fact that 3 of the guards went 1-17 on a night when the team was already playing short handed. Rather, I want to focus on the defensive end. This team has improved significantly in this area over the last 20 games, but old habits reared their ugly heads tonight.

The team was already playing short handed and Jay Triano had to wing it with his substitutions (which by the way seemed very odd tonight). While all this was going on, the team stopped communicating. Help defense was no where to be found, and the Pacers got pretty much anything they wanted in the paint.

I am a big proponent of Andrea Bargnani when it comes to his man defense. Tonight just seemed that he never got his head in the game until it was too late. Roy Hibbert abused him down low and with no communication on the floor there wasn’t anyone coming to help either. Bosh doesn’t have the same strength as Bargnani when it comes to holding guys out of the block but atleast he looked like he was trying.

I know this is just one game. Even though the Raptors gave up 130 points and allowed 7 guys to score in double figures, they can get right back on track with a win against the struggling New Jersey Nets. A good team would make sure to bounce back and make it look like that one loss was an anomaly. This team needs to keep the winning attitude and brush this game off.

One to the next one…

Things were different this time around. The Toronto Raptors were prepared and even though the Pacers made a late push, at no point in the game did it feel like they were in control. The Raptors closed the game on a 20-5 run to seal their 5th win in a row.

It may not have been pretty as neither team played a lick of defense for the 1st half. There were mismatches all over the floor and the Raptors exploited them by moving the ball. Danny Granger started at the PF spot and he had his work cut out for him. Bosh being the Vet he is, went at him and that resulted in some early foul trouble. Jim O’Brien had to have considered that scenario but his counter-punch was to put Dahntay Jones on Bosh. Instead of forcing shots, CB changed it up. He drew the 2nd defender and kept making the right pass. At the end of the night he had 7 of the Raptors 32 assists and the team shot a season high 60% from the field.

Bosh has been playing out of his mind all season and it almost feels like the fans here take him for granted. When he drops 44 its almost like it was expected. Last night, he had a solid game but the contributions from his teammates became the story.

With Hedo out of the game early due to injury (update below), Antoine Wright played close to 36 minutes. 36 very productive minutes too as he racked up 15 points and showed more of that perimeter defense he was known for when the Raptors acquired him this past off-season. Earlier in the season, this guy was lodged so deep in coach’s dog house I never thought he would see light of day. Makes me happy to see him finally back up all the talking he did when the team was struggling.

Aside from Bosh and Wright, getting efficient contributions from the likes of Weems and Johnson is a major plus. On nights like yesterday, where defense was no where to be found for 24 minutes, they helped keep the team afloat. The 2nd unit is clicking and the team is running on all cylinders. The upcoming stretch of games will give them a chance to make a major push in the Eastern Conference but they key will be — focus. Tomorrow the Raptors head on the road to play the same Pacer team who will undoubtedly make adjustments and it is up to the players to react accordingly.

Don’t look now but 4th spot is not out of reach…

Hedo Turkoglu: Injury Update

Just minutes into the first quarter, Hedo ran face first into Mike Dunleavy Jr’s Elbow. The call on the floor was an offensive foul but that wasn’t what hurt. X-Rays revealed that Hedo has a small, non-displaced fracture of orbital bone under his right eye. He will be re-evaluated tomorrow and the team will explore options for protective face gear. I’m thinking the one picturesdto the left would work quite well. All the man needs is #BALL

[kml_flashembed movie="/bargnani.swf" height="350" width="500" /]

If you missed the earlier cartoons from this series here they are…
- Jose Calderon Cartoon
- DeMar DeRozan Cartoon
- Hedo Turkolgu Cartoon

H/T: Ball Don’t Lie

This is not the first time he has gone on camera with one of his impersonations…

We have seen him do his best Stan Van Gundy

His best Shaq

All this got me thinking… Who else would I want to see Dwight impersonate? Here are my suggestions, feel free to leave yours in the comments

“He’s way more athletic than I ever was in my career,” said Nowitzki. “He’s got a quick first step. What you have to do as a young player is improve year over year and I think he did that. He’s always a tough matchup. … The sky’s the limit.”

Big words coming from a former MVP, as Dirk acknowledged what fans in Toronto have begun to see over the past month. Bargnani’s out of control drives have become more methodical, the jumper is falling, he is growing into a better help defender and has finally found his voice on the court. It took a while, but even the skeptics have to stop and look at this guy for the player he has become. Bargnani is playing relaxed. His confidence is building as he sees his value on this team and with that, truly, the sky IS the limit.

Bargnani was just a part of the big picture when it comes to talking about this game. There was a whole lot of good from the Raptors perspective and the complete opposite from the Mavericks. While it is easy to use the early start and the refs as an excuse for the type of game the Mav’s had, they looked nothing like a powerhouse in the West. Horrible on the defensive end playing right into the hands of their opponent while looking out of sync offensively. Josh Howard made only his 6th start of the season and it showed. His shot was off and he played tentative throughout the game. Terry, Marion and Nowitzki came ready to play but as the game progressed they were using so much energy on the offensive end that they never had a chance to D up.

Looking at the Raptors, this was probably the best game they have played as a team to date. The one broken link was Hedo but even his horrible game couldn’t put a damper on the way the team was rolling. Jose Calderon couldn’t do anything wrong. Made the right pass, got everyone involved while mixing up his own game by driving and draining daggers. I like him coming off the bench because he has that ability to make even the bench guys feel comfortable on the offensive end. He becomes a legit scoring threat on the 2nd unit. Having him on the floor towards the end of the game, gives me a sense of security that he will make the right play.

Right now the one thing that stands out is, win or lose, these guys are loving playing together. Sure getting the W is the end game, but if the team is not on the same page those would be few and far between. A 10-3 record over the last 13 with players like Amir Johnson, Sonny Weems, Antoine Wright and even Marcus Banks contributing has taken pressure of Bosh. When your role players can come in and be effective immediately like they were against the Mav’s, you can’t help but get excited about the team as a whole.

The win gave the Raptors a winning record at the mid-way point of the season for only the 5th time in 15 seasons. I said it before and will do again, it took longer than expected for them to come together but there was no doubt in my mind they would make it work. Pre-season I broke down how the team would match up with the other 29 and the Raptors are on the right track. I put the team 45 wins and after the next 41 games are played, I fully expect that to be the mark they finish at — If not better.

On January 18 2010, Gatorade will be launching “Experience G” which will give sports fans the opportunity to score some unforgettable major league experiences – from court side at the Raptors or rink side at an Oilers game, to field side at a Bombers game, there will be tons of sporting events to choose from.

Fanatics can qualify by becoming a fan of the soon-to-be-launched Experience G Facebook page and uploading a video of themselves completing a specific a challenge that tests athletic ability and will to win – this could be anything from showing their best game face, touchdown dance or slapshot to a three point shot or crazy ball-handling skills. Tickets to sporting events across the country are available, so there are lots of chances to win.

I will get more details out to my readers as the launch gets closer. You can also read what @TorontoMike had to say about his experience at the game. He has a nice Flickr photo set to go along with it.

Oh yeah, there was a game played yesterday so let me break it down.

The Raptors came in to this one having won 8 of their last 9 games, but similar to the last one against the 76′ers, they stumbled out of the gates. The turnovers piled up in the first half and before they knew it they were stuck 9 points going into the 3rd. This is not to say that the first half was all bad. They were sharing the ball and had a few big plays, but given their opponent and the fact that they are supposed to be at an advantage with the early start, this was not a team on the up and up.

Bosh who has been playing out of his mind pretty much all season, imposed his will early and racked up the points as the game went on. He even had THIS to say to Sheldon Williams. Andrea Bargnani may have been getting schooled by Rasheed Wallace on one end but he did make some nice plays, and for the first time I actually heard him talking on the defensive end. A shocker, yes! Bargnani apparently likes the month of January as he showed us last season and that has carried over to this season. He is scoring from all over the floor. Even though the blocks were missing yesterday, he seemed to be more zoned in even while his man didn’t have the ball.

The second half of the game was much of the same thing and while the Raptors did make a run they had already dug themselves a hole hard to get out of against elite teams. I actually think this team matches up better with the Celtics when KG is playing. The Raptors were scrambling all game long and never found a way to stop Rasheed Wallace who went on to score a season high 29. The Celtics play so composed that even when the Raptors went on a run late in the game, they never flinched. They executed their game plan and the result are 1 game away for sweeping the season series.

As the game buzzer sounded, two things stood out. Jarrett Jack has nothing on Rajon Rondo and Hedo mas as well have stayed in bed.

Rajon Rondo doesn’t get enough love from the media for what he brings the the floor each day. His 22-10-13 was a pretty good day at the office I would say. He isn’t flashy but does all the little things well. He even banked in a 3 off glass as the shot clock ran down. He is the perfect PG for this team where any of his flaws are easily hidden while still being effective on both ends. On this day in particular he had his way with Jarrett Jack and pretty much anyone who was trying to guard him. He was making the right passes, staying active on D and hitting the jumpers when needed. His reward? A triple double … and a good one at that.

On the other end of the spectrum, there is Hedo Turkoglu. Just when we thought he was settling in to his role on this team he has a game like this. He couldn’t make a basket if his life depended on it and his 9 assists, while they look nice, were not the only thing his team needed from him. This guy got the big time contract this off-season and he has yet to show me he deserved it. His clutch stats have been very average and he never looks to have his head in the game while the plays are developing around him. He has stated over and over that he wants the ball in his hands more. With both the PG’s playing well he needs to start finding other ways to impact the game and it needs to start now!

As I write this the team is warming up on the floor in Indiana. This team has been so Jekly and Hyde this season that I never know which version is going to show up. Here’s to hoping its the one that brings home the “W”

Coming into the season, the expectations were high. When the team sputtered out of the gates, fingers were being pointed in every direction. As the new year rolled around, the team came in on a 5 game win streak and the same fans that wanted an upheaval started to believe again. I have to admit I wasn’t sold but these past two wins have made me a believer. I’m not talking blind faith here… there is real change going on and it starts with team chemistry.

“Team Chemistry” was a phrase used a lot this summer as Bryan Colangelo pulled off a major overhaul of the Raptors. With 9 new faces, it wasn’t a matter of “if”, rather a matter of “when” this team would come together. Most were hoping for 20 games, but with injuries and a tough schedule that didn’t really happen. Game #36 was played last night and it was probably the first time all season that I could say this team had it. Chemistry that is. Knowing where your teammates like the ball. Talking on defense so your teammate is not left to out to dry. Moving the ball with purpose (31 assists v/s Orlando). These are all things teams that are on the same page do. Over the last couple of games the Toronto Raptors have looks like that kind of team.

This team has proven it is offensively potent. The next step is on the defensive end. The last 8 games have shown the team is capable and with the team chemistry improving so has the team D. At the start of the season, sitting by the Raptor bench, all I could hear was Micah Nori (Asst. coach) screaming out the defensive assignments. Slowly I began to hear Jack on D and now its become almost all the guys. Andrea is still too quiet for my liking, being the last line of D at the center position, but as his confidence grows so should his ability to do the little things like call out picks and such. Over the last couple of games the team has won on the heels of holding teams to a low shooting percentage. They are going into games with a defensive plan and sticking to it. Still not seeing much zone defense from the Raptors, which helps when you need to give teams different looks, but with more practice days in the next couple of months it should be on Jay Triano’s to-do list. This team is not going to be breaking any defensive records anytime soon but if they can pull themselves up to a middle of the road defensive team they will give themselves a chance to be in a good position for the post season.

Jose Calderon returned from injury at the perfect time. No one ever wishes a player to go down but it seemed to have helped the team that he was out. It gave the new players enough time to get used to playing with Bosh and as well as a chance to find their roles on this team. Jarrett Jack was trying to do too much at the start of the season but when he was relied on as the primary PG, he was able to settle down and bring a new dimension to the team. Hedo Turkoglu seemed lost at the start of the season. Under utilized and a non-factor in games, but with Jose sidelined got a chance to show his play making abilities and build a pick ‘n roll game with Bosh. With Jose the coaches know what they have. It took him being out for the coaches to figure out what they had in all these other players. Last night v/s Orlando, Jose came in off the bench and within minutes fans were reminded of what this guy can do. It was like he didn’t miss a beat. There is a sense of security with him on the floor and everything just seems to run smooth.

The defense is coming around and the offense is flowing. For all this to come together, the players have to accept their roles and embrace them. If you told me that Sonny Weems would be subbed in at the end of games for defensive purposes, I would have questioned your sanity. If you told me that Bargnani would be trusted to defend Dwight Howard without a double team, I would have questioned Jay Triano’s sanity. Thing is, slowly these guys are being put in positions to succeed which in turn helps confidence. Chris Bosh is the pillar but over the last few he hasn’t had to be the man. The supporting cast, the so called role players have found their role. Now it’s all about momentum. If this team has truly found an identity, they need to band together to build momentum and start making their push now rather than waiting for seasons end when all the other teams are thinking the same.

Elite teams keep their foot on the gas… the Toronto Raptors need to show they can keep up.

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Animation by Ian Cartoons

1. Bosh re-signs in Toronto
Raptor fans are used to their stars leaving, let’s hope things turn out differently this time. Chris Bosh is playing out of his mind and with each passing day the fans are growing ulcers from the stress of his departure. There are always the haters who don’t think he is worth it, but if there is one wish I have for the New Year it would be to lock Bosh up for the next 5 years. While he is at it, he may wanna contemplate a haircut.

2. Raptors win a playoff round
2001 was way too long ago. The fans need to let go of Vince Carter and it will only happen once this team gets to the 2nd round. The Bryan Colangelo era has been full of ups and downs but this is the best roster he has put together… its time they prove it.

3. Andrea Bargnani crashes the boards
Andrea is never going to average double digits in rebounds and I have come to terms with that. He has been known to play better in the 2nd half of the year and I would like to see his current average of 6.1 to be upped to 8 by season’s end.

4. Let DeMar Dunk
Not since Vince Carter have the Raptors had a bonafide dunker. Sure there was Jamario but he didn’t have the flair. This kid throws ‘em down with swagger and needs to be dunking on the rims at Jerry’s world in Dallas at the All-Star game. If you want to help him get there, visit the website Let DeMar Dunk and sign the petition.

5. Reggie Evans the player
For the first part of the season, we have gotten to know Reggie Evans the cheerleader. He has been a great presence on the sidelines but it is time he gets himself right and starts earning that paycheck. Amir Johnson has stepped in nicely to do what fans hoped to see from Reggie… but its time. It’s time we stop talking about his attire (crystals on jeans are still a no go for men!) and see him rocking some warmups.

6. Team D
It started off ugly, its gotten better, but they have a long way to go. If this team can come together on the defensive end they will be fighting for home court in the playoffs. Obviously the “protect our house” mantra hasn’t really worked. The house has been robbed clean! Time to switch it up, maybe they should just watch this video over and over and something will seep in.

7. Young Guns
My favorite part of this Raptors team has been the camaraderie between the young guys– Sonny Weems, DeMar DeRozan and Amir Johnson. I have to go way back in memory to remember seeing Raptor players showing pure joy on their faces and loving life the way these guys do. They have anointed Jarrett Jack the grandpa (even though he is 26) and have become a family along the way. Check this video and #freeamir

8. PG Rivalry
With Jose injured and Jack playing well, cue the PG controversy. Raptor fans have been through this before with the whole TJ/Jose thing and it didn’t end well. From my point of view, some healthy competition is a good thing. These two play a very different style and should be able to complement each other rather than make it a negative thing. I hope when Jose returns he is able to slide back into his role. Jack has had enough time to get to know the players which added together will only keep things running smooth for all 48 minutes.

9. Health
The Raptors have gone all season without Reggie Evans, a month with Jose sidelined and Wright is still not RIGHT. They have been lucky compared to what some other teams are going through, but these players are a big part of the plan. With Jose in the game, the offense seems to run smoother. Reggie would bring some much needed help for Bosh on the boards. Antoine is known for the one thing the Raptors lack – defense. Add these three back into the mix and it can only get better!

10. The 6th man in the Stands
Raptor fans had little to cheer for in 2009. The team missed the playoffs last season and played a lackluster style of basketball. The ACC wakes up in the playoffs but fans need to show it in the regular season. Toronto needs to become a tough place to play again and it starts with the fans in the stands… TDOT – STAND UP!

Anything I missed? If you have anything to add, throw it in the comments.

The Night in Numbers:

Boston Celtics 108 – Charlotte Bobcats 90
27 points a season high from Ray Allen after he clearly struggled v/s Miami with his mind more focused on his sons health.
4 game win streak comes to an end for Charlotte as the Celtics hold them to 40% from the field and 2-11 from long distance.

Washington Wizards 106 – Toronto Raptors 102
1-6 from the FT line. The Raptors resorted to playing Hack-a-Haywood trying to find ways to stop the guy who had stopped Bosh all night long.
17 turnovers on the same night they had 50 rebounds (season high). The Raptors have yet to play a complete game on both ends and we are 1/4 done with the season.

Phoenix Suns 99 – New York Knicks 126
8 Assists for Steve Nash in the game… Larry Hughes had that in the 1st quarter!
1 st game this season that the suns were held to under 100 pts. The Knicks are known to give up 110 ppg on average

Golden State Warriors 107 – Denver Nuggets 135
62 points in the paint for the Nuggets as they got a much needed 28 point blowout to get the team back on track after the loss to the Wolves.
30 minutes for Monta Ellis a night after he goes off for a career high? GSW threw in the towel early and even though they had a short bench they finally rested the kid.

Miami Heat 107 – Portland Trailblazers 100
27 points for Michael Beasley. For a guy who had a rough off-season he has sure silenced the doubters.
20 Rebounds for Greg Oden (career high) in 30 minutes but 4-13 from the floor is straight ugly from your big man.

New Orleans Hornets 99 – Los Angeles Lakers 110
29 min = The average floor time the Lakers starters saw last night thanks to a 2nd quarter where the Hornets were held to 15 points and never really recovered
19 % from 3 point range for the Hornets who played again without Peja and CP3

SI is reporting that the Philadelphia 76′ers have offered Allen Iverson a 1 year non-guaranteed contract. This may not be a great basketball decision int he long run but for a team that is struggling and needs a boost it seems to be the perfect fit. The nostalgic fans (me included) will turn tune in to catch games as this becomes a storybook ending to a gripping career.

The Sixers have lost 7 straight games and could use some scoring. They could use assists as well, with the Princeton offense based around passing and all, but that may be asking for too much. With Lou Williams sidelined for up to 2 months, Iverson can step right in and take the starting role he so much desired. This is a win-win situation for all except probably the “OTHER” AI. Either way, this I know, I will be cheering for him til the end.

The Night in Numbers:

Chicago Bulls 97 – Milwaukee Bucks 99
14 points in the 2nd quarter en route to 22 pts, 15 rbs, 4 blk and 3 assists for Bogut as he returned after 6 games to help his team get their 9th win.
4 Bulls starters scored in double figures but they got no assistance from the bench (9 pts) which ultimately hurt them.

Philadelphia 76ers 102 – Dallas Mavericks 104
36 years old? No problem as Jason Kidd helped the Mavs in every facet of the game putting up 22pts, 11ast, 6rbs, 4stl and 3 blks.
1 boneheaded move to go along with 19 rebounds for Samuel Dalambert. Iguodala threw up the buzzer beater and Sammy decided to intercept it!!?

Memphis Grizzlies 93 – Utah Jazz 120
3 assists shy of a triple doube = Carlos Boozer who finished the night with 24-15-7. This team seems to go as he does and he has been on fire over the last 5 games.
5 points from Marc Gasol is not going to cut it especially on a night when the team played without Rudy Gay. Gasol has quietly become the 2nd most important player on this young Grizz team.

Indiana Pacers 107 – Golden State Warriors 126
45 points (career high) for Monta Ellis before he fouled out on a horrible call. He is averaging 35 ppg over the last 5 and GSW is 3-2 over that span
24 turnovers is not going to win you many ball games. Both teams were sloppy (22 for GSW) but on the road if you need all the extra possessions you can get…

Tweet of the Night
Bout time we got a win VS Chicago! Squad 6: Best Chant of the Night. “You look like a lady!!” hahahha I LMAO in my head during a FT attempt. – @AndrewMBogut after returning early from an injury and playing out of his mind.