Q: What happens when you take the Raptors on Tuesday and add Jose Calderon?
A: We don't really have a punch line, but the Raptors are a lot better with him.
Jose had a game - the only phrase that comes to mind is "ruthlessly efficient" - what we've now really come to expect. He's hurting, no doubt. A man averaging nine assists and double figures in points doesn't reach either figure, posting 7 dimes and 9 points, but you can see it in every possession. Nothing forced. No out-of-control spinning drives that end in "didn't I have the ball a second ago?". Just pretty, intelligent basketball. Jose committed one turnover. He had two steals including a game-changing pick and bucket at the other end. We like this guy.
Read the NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Andrea Bargnani was due for a good game - he had a bad game against Orlando, after all - and posted a season high in points with 25 (on 9-15 FG, 3-4 3FG, 4-4 FT) and added four boards and two blocks just for kicks. He did what he's supposed to do - score. It worked.
Notables:
Chris Bosh - 15 points (7-17 FG, 1-1 FT), 11 rebounds, 2 steals. If his 40-and-18 was an ICBM, this was a tactical cruise missile. He saved a little of his energy, didn't kill himself on every possession, and let JO and AP do some work. Isn't it nice when your superstar can take an off night and put up a double-double?
Jermaine O'Neal - 16 points (8-17 FG), 17 boards, 3 assists. JO seems like he's getting in the habit of owning the backboards. Fifth straight game with a double-double. Double double-doubles from down low is a very nice thing.
Anthony Parker - 19 points (6-12 FG, 5-5 3FG, 2-2 FT), 6 rebounds. AP showed up on offense! He was guarding Wade, and he gave up 40, but Flash is one of the best scorers in the league. At least Mr. Parker gave Dwyane something to worry about on the opposite end, making every one of his five threes.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raptors shot 9-13 (69.2%) from the Land of Three Points, led by Parker's perfect 5. Bargs was 3-4, Jose went 1-2, and Moon and Kapono each missed one. This team looks more like the one that was so fun to watch in the first three games. Let's hope it stays that way, shall we?
Next game: Friday, November 21, 7:00PM vs. New Jersey Nets
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2 comments:
whaddaya know...? we can still beat the heat... and i'm still not very impressed... sure we had good stats... lots of people had nice games... but its the goddamn Heat.
when will we beat a legit team?
We can only beat a "legit" team when the NBA scedules a game against one. We still have to beat mediocre teams. Do you think the Celtics beat 66 good teams last year? Of course not. That's where probably 12 or more of their 16 losses came from. You can't blame the Raptors for winning.
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