Tonight's game features the Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks - 7:00 PM tipoff, available on TSN, Fan590 and www.channelsurfing.net. The Raps have won three straight for the first time since the beginning of the season and look to win four in a row for the first time since December of 2007! Meanwhile, after Michael Redd sh-Redd-ed his knee, the Bucks are struggling mightily to hold on to their playoff berth without their sweet-shooting star guard. They've lost both games since Redd has gone down.
NBA.com preview
W2W4:
- The Bucks have had to rely greatly on youngsters Joe Alexander, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Ramon Sessions with The Redd Baron's continued injury troubles. Mbah a Moute has been outperforming expectations this year, providing an athletic, defensive presence off the bench.
- Andrea Bargnani had his first "Old Bargs" game in recent memory against the Nets. He struggled mightily against a fairly weak Nets frontcourt, finishing with just 8 points and 1 rebound. It was the first time in 16 games that Bargnani had finished with fewer than 15 points. He will certainly look to prove that Wednesday was the exception - not the hot streak.
- For the fourth time in Chris Bosh's six NBA seasons, he has been named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Bosh is averaging a career-high in points with 23.2 per game, and adding 9.7 rebound, 2.5 assists and 0.9 blocks while shooting 49.8% from the field and 80.3% from the line. As always, remarkably consistent and outstanding numbers from the franchise, CB4.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Raps Squeak Out a W - 107-106 Raptors
Yay! Three-game winning streak! For the first time since the opening stretch of the season, the Toronto Raptors have won three straight games. After Devin Harris missed an open elbow jumper that could have won the game for New Jersey, the Raptors look to extend their winning streak to four games when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. Jose Calderon, Joey Graham and Anthony Parker combined to form a very effective trio, together going for 53 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds. Harris and Vince Carter led New Jersey in scoring with 25 and 27, respectively.
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game
Anthony Parker has been spectacular playing back-up point guard recently, and last night was no exception. Parker finished with 21 points, 6 assists and 7 rebounds in assuming the role of primary wing scorer. While it's not reasonable to expect AP to keep it up for the remainder of the season, it's great to ride his hot streak.
Notables:
Jose Calderon - 17 points, 11 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals. Jose was again magnificent, orchestrating the Raptors offense and even playing some pretty solid defense. When Jose is at the point, this Raptor attack just rolls along.
Joey Graham - 15 points, 5 rebounds. Joey did not have eye-popping numbers, but his contribution didn't show up in the box score. He used his athleticism and provided energy to a sometimes lethargic Raptors squad, and was instrumental in the win.
Chris Bosh - 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal. Bosh, Andrea Bargnani (8 points, 1 rebound, 5 fouls) and Jermaine O'Neal (8 points, 4 rebounds, 5 fouls) were all held in check well by the Nets' Brook Lopez and double-teams by Harris and Keyon Dooling. Bosh showed why he's a three-time All-Star, however, by fighting through and finishing with impressive numbers. It would be nice to see him get on the boards a little harder though.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raptors were on fire last night, knocking down eleven three-pointers and going for 55.7% (39-70) overall and 11-22 (50%) from the Land Beyond the Arc. This helped offset a 11-14 New Jersey advantage in turnovers and the Nets' 15 made threes.
Next Game: Friday, January 30th, 7:00 PM at Milwaukee Bucks
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game
Anthony Parker has been spectacular playing back-up point guard recently, and last night was no exception. Parker finished with 21 points, 6 assists and 7 rebounds in assuming the role of primary wing scorer. While it's not reasonable to expect AP to keep it up for the remainder of the season, it's great to ride his hot streak.
Notables:
Jose Calderon - 17 points, 11 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals. Jose was again magnificent, orchestrating the Raptors offense and even playing some pretty solid defense. When Jose is at the point, this Raptor attack just rolls along.
Joey Graham - 15 points, 5 rebounds. Joey did not have eye-popping numbers, but his contribution didn't show up in the box score. He used his athleticism and provided energy to a sometimes lethargic Raptors squad, and was instrumental in the win.
Chris Bosh - 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal. Bosh, Andrea Bargnani (8 points, 1 rebound, 5 fouls) and Jermaine O'Neal (8 points, 4 rebounds, 5 fouls) were all held in check well by the Nets' Brook Lopez and double-teams by Harris and Keyon Dooling. Bosh showed why he's a three-time All-Star, however, by fighting through and finishing with impressive numbers. It would be nice to see him get on the boards a little harder though.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raptors were on fire last night, knocking down eleven three-pointers and going for 55.7% (39-70) overall and 11-22 (50%) from the Land Beyond the Arc. This helped offset a 11-14 New Jersey advantage in turnovers and the Nets' 15 made threes.
Next Game: Friday, January 30th, 7:00 PM at Milwaukee Bucks
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Raptors Set to Visit Nets
Tonight at 7:30 we have the Raptors paying the New Jersey Nets a visit. The game is on TSN2 (booo), the Fan590 and www.channelsurfing.net. The Raptors have won two straight and look forward to their third straight game against a sub-.500 team. A game against (shudder) former Raptor Vince Carter is always important, and hopefully the Dinos will bring their A-game to continue along their road to .500.
NBA.com preview
W2W4:
- Eric Smith points out that over Andrea Bargnani's last 15 games, he has put up 21.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 37 minutes per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and an even 50% from three. He's been dominant in 2009, and it's getting to be a given that he'll have 15+ and more than three boards - it seems the days of 4 points, 0 boards, 5 fouls and 3 turnovers are gone.
- Anthony Parker, as well, has put up some impressive numbers recently. In his last five games, he's averaged almost 15 points, over 7 assists and 6 rebounds, while shooting 50% from the floor. Jay Triano's plan to have him play point guard with Jose Calderon playing limited minutes has been ingenious.
- Against the Thunder in the Nets' last game, VC15 and Devin Harris combined for just 18 points on 6-of-29 shooting. Hopefully AP and Jose can keep them both in check and off balance.
NBA.com preview
W2W4:
- Eric Smith points out that over Andrea Bargnani's last 15 games, he has put up 21.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 37 minutes per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and an even 50% from three. He's been dominant in 2009, and it's getting to be a given that he'll have 15+ and more than three boards - it seems the days of 4 points, 0 boards, 5 fouls and 3 turnovers are gone.
- Anthony Parker, as well, has put up some impressive numbers recently. In his last five games, he's averaged almost 15 points, over 7 assists and 6 rebounds, while shooting 50% from the floor. Jay Triano's plan to have him play point guard with Jose Calderon playing limited minutes has been ingenious.
- Against the Thunder in the Nets' last game, VC15 and Devin Harris combined for just 18 points on 6-of-29 shooting. Hopefully AP and Jose can keep them both in check and off balance.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Raps Slam Kings - 113-97 Raptors
Last night was another triumphant night for the Dinos, albeit over a very poor Kings team. Each of the Raptors big men put up impressive games, and the backcourt of Jose Calderon and Anthony Parker was brilliant. Nathan Jawai even made his debut for the home crowd. With the Raps on a little two-game winning streak, hopefully we can take some confidence into a tough stretch of games.
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Last night it was the franchise, Chris Bosh. He tore apart the Kings frontcourt, giving Jason Thompson and Brad Miller fits, both of whom ended the game with 5 fouls. Christopher put up 31 points on 12-22 from the field and 7-8 from the line and added 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. Whenever CB4 asserts his dominance in a game, he's nearly impossible to stop.
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani - 24 (7-14 FG, 2-4 3FG, 8-10 FT), 7 rebounds. He can hardly go a day without at least a Notables entry, as he's been on fire lately. Another excellent performance from Il Mago.
Jose Calderon - 16 points (6-9 FG, 1-2 3FG, 3-3 FT), 8 assists. In just his second game back, Jose was spectacular once again, putting up great numbers in just 27 minutes. Along with Anthony Parker in the backcourt (11 points, 7 assists) the Raps guards were very effective.
Jermaine O'Neal - 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 FT), 10 rebounds. Not an overwhelming game for JO, but he was effective on the glass, didn't force shots on offense and for the first time in a while, looked confident out there. A step in the right direction.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raptors were ahead in almost every statistical category last night, but one thing stands out. The Raps were plus-11 (25-29 for 86.2%, versus 14-17 for 82.4% for the Kings) at the line. This really shows that the Raps are making a concerted effort to get the ball inside. It's certainly a testament to coaching and Bargnani's confidence that he made 10 trips to the line, actually finishing with more attempts than Bosh.
Next Game: Wednesday, January 28th, 7:30 PM at New Jersey Nets
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Last night it was the franchise, Chris Bosh. He tore apart the Kings frontcourt, giving Jason Thompson and Brad Miller fits, both of whom ended the game with 5 fouls. Christopher put up 31 points on 12-22 from the field and 7-8 from the line and added 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. Whenever CB4 asserts his dominance in a game, he's nearly impossible to stop.
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani - 24 (7-14 FG, 2-4 3FG, 8-10 FT), 7 rebounds. He can hardly go a day without at least a Notables entry, as he's been on fire lately. Another excellent performance from Il Mago.
Jose Calderon - 16 points (6-9 FG, 1-2 3FG, 3-3 FT), 8 assists. In just his second game back, Jose was spectacular once again, putting up great numbers in just 27 minutes. Along with Anthony Parker in the backcourt (11 points, 7 assists) the Raps guards were very effective.
Jermaine O'Neal - 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 FT), 10 rebounds. Not an overwhelming game for JO, but he was effective on the glass, didn't force shots on offense and for the first time in a while, looked confident out there. A step in the right direction.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raptors were ahead in almost every statistical category last night, but one thing stands out. The Raps were plus-11 (25-29 for 86.2%, versus 14-17 for 82.4% for the Kings) at the line. This really shows that the Raps are making a concerted effort to get the ball inside. It's certainly a testament to coaching and Bargnani's confidence that he made 10 trips to the line, actually finishing with more attempts than Bosh.
Next Game: Wednesday, January 28th, 7:30 PM at New Jersey Nets
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Raptors Host the Dethroned Kings
Today the struggling 10-34 Sacramento Kings fly in to Toronto to face our beloved Raptors. This will be the Raptors first time coming off of a win since January 9. More importantly, the Kings are an astounding 0-17 against Eastern Conference teams. On the whole, the Kings are sitting last in the Pacific Division and have lost their last 4 straight. The game goes at 6 o clock and will be available on TSN, the Fan 590, and on channelsurfing.net
W2W4:
- For the first time since December 31, Jose Calderon was able to play the full game. He finished with 23 points, 10 assists, and 0 turnovers, completely changing the Raptors game for the better. Even Jay Triano agrees that "it’s completely different with him on the floor".
- Amidst lingering trade rumors and the outstanding recent play of Andrea Bargnani, Jermaine O'Neal, centrepiece of Brian Coleangelo's offseason, has been cast to the bench and finding himself to be much less influence in a game. Hopefully he will adjust to his new, not-so-flattering role.
- Sacramento has dropped 14 of its last 15 on the road, and bring the leagues worst road record to Toronto at 3-19. The Raptors simply need to capitalize.
W2W4:
- For the first time since December 31, Jose Calderon was able to play the full game. He finished with 23 points, 10 assists, and 0 turnovers, completely changing the Raptors game for the better. Even Jay Triano agrees that "it’s completely different with him on the floor".
- Amidst lingering trade rumors and the outstanding recent play of Andrea Bargnani, Jermaine O'Neal, centrepiece of Brian Coleangelo's offseason, has been cast to the bench and finding himself to be much less influence in a game. Hopefully he will adjust to his new, not-so-flattering role.
- Sacramento has dropped 14 of its last 15 on the road, and bring the leagues worst road record to Toronto at 3-19. The Raptors simply need to capitalize.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Raptors Welcome Back Jose With A W: 114-94 Raps
Two sadly unfamiliar sights for Raptors fans tonight: a win and Jose Calderon playing. Raptor fans would love to see these two things happen more often, as Canada's team improves to 17-28 and Jose played in just his third game of 2009. On Chicago's side, Kirk Hinrich (17), Ben Gordon (19), and Luol Deng (14), led the charge. Rookie sensation Derrick Rose finished with 12 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 4 turnovers.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the game:
Jose Calderon - 23 points, 10 assists, 2 rebounds, 0 turnovers, 9-10 field goal shooting. Jay Triano summed it up best when he said, "It’s completely different with him on the floor, he’s in control of the ball. He’s in control of the other players on the floor. He makes shots. He makes plays."
Notables:
Anthony Parker - 14 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds. Parker's stats only went up with his return to the 2 spot and the return of Jose.
Andrea Bargnani - 22 points, 5 rebounds. Raptor fans are used to seeing streaky production from Andrea. However, this is an Andrea that we are not used to seeing; Eerily consistent, poised, and aggressive.
Joey Graham - 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals. Joey still played a significant 31 minutes despite moving back to the bench. Most importantly, he shot 6-7 from the field and his numbers did not dwindle.
Chris Bosh - 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals. Although an off shooting night from Chris (6-17 from the field), Chris found other ways to contribute. Notice his 6 (six) steals! Overall he was an impressive +25 tonight.
Full box score
Stat of the game:
With the return of Jose, the Raptors shared the ball much more, with 27 assists on 43 made field goals. However, most impressive was their defense. Tonight the Raptors caused 23 turnovers and held to Bulls to a pseudo-respectable 94 points.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the game:
Jose Calderon - 23 points, 10 assists, 2 rebounds, 0 turnovers, 9-10 field goal shooting. Jay Triano summed it up best when he said, "It’s completely different with him on the floor, he’s in control of the ball. He’s in control of the other players on the floor. He makes shots. He makes plays."
Notables:
Anthony Parker - 14 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds. Parker's stats only went up with his return to the 2 spot and the return of Jose.
Andrea Bargnani - 22 points, 5 rebounds. Raptor fans are used to seeing streaky production from Andrea. However, this is an Andrea that we are not used to seeing; Eerily consistent, poised, and aggressive.
Joey Graham - 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals. Joey still played a significant 31 minutes despite moving back to the bench. Most importantly, he shot 6-7 from the field and his numbers did not dwindle.
Chris Bosh - 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals. Although an off shooting night from Chris (6-17 from the field), Chris found other ways to contribute. Notice his 6 (six) steals! Overall he was an impressive +25 tonight.
Full box score
Stat of the game:
With the return of Jose, the Raptors shared the ball much more, with 27 assists on 43 made field goals. However, most impressive was their defense. Tonight the Raptors caused 23 turnovers and held to Bulls to a pseudo-respectable 94 points.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Raptors Implode In Second Half: 95-76 Pistons
At the end of the first quarter, things looked great for the Raptors; they carried a 22-17 lead, and all three big men were off to a flying start. At the end of second quarter, the Raptors fate was far from sealed, only losing by 3 going into halftime. However, the second half of the game told a different story. In the end, the Raptors fell hard to the Pistons. Tayshaun Prince led the victory with 25 points, 2 points shy of his point mark last game versus the Raps. Ex-Raptor Michael Curry now has bragging rights, his team is up 2-0 in the season series.
The Raptors are officially in a depression. They have lost their last 7 and are now a miserable 16-28. Speaking of losing, Kris Humphries is now out indefinitely with a sore leg. If the Jermaine O'Neal for Shawn Marion deal goes through, our thin front court will become much thinner.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the game:
Chris Bosh - 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists. Chris did not have a spectacular game, only shooting 9-17 and grabbing a technical foul. This was one of the times when it was hard to pick the player of the game for the wrong reasons.
Notables:
Anthony Parker - 10 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds. AP continues to run the point efficiently in the absence of Jose. Unfortunately, the point guards coming off the bench were not much help in the effort.
Andrea Bargnani - 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists. Andrea has not had a single digit point game since before December 3, although he did have a poor shooting night, going 6-16 from the floor.
Jermaine O'Neal - 11 points, 1 rebound, 1 block. Only Jermaine's second game played in thirteen games, it was good to see him out there.
Full box score
Stat of the game:
The Pistons simply owned the paint, while the Raptors had arguably their worst game on the glass this season. How bad you ask? The Raps were outrebounded 40 to 28, allowing the Pistons to grab 12 offensive boards. The Raptors were furthermore outscored 38 to 20 in the paint. This should not have been the case seeing as three of the four Raptors in double figures in points tonight were big men.
We are now 3 games past the halfway point in the season. The Raptors sit last in the Atlantic Division and have lost 7 straight. Next game the Raps go to Chicago and simply must take advantage of playing an 18-25 team. Last meeting saw Chicago winning 102-98. Hopefully the Raptors will see this as a must win game.
The Raptors are officially in a depression. They have lost their last 7 and are now a miserable 16-28. Speaking of losing, Kris Humphries is now out indefinitely with a sore leg. If the Jermaine O'Neal for Shawn Marion deal goes through, our thin front court will become much thinner.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the game:
Chris Bosh - 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists. Chris did not have a spectacular game, only shooting 9-17 and grabbing a technical foul. This was one of the times when it was hard to pick the player of the game for the wrong reasons.
Notables:
Anthony Parker - 10 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds. AP continues to run the point efficiently in the absence of Jose. Unfortunately, the point guards coming off the bench were not much help in the effort.
Andrea Bargnani - 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists. Andrea has not had a single digit point game since before December 3, although he did have a poor shooting night, going 6-16 from the floor.
Jermaine O'Neal - 11 points, 1 rebound, 1 block. Only Jermaine's second game played in thirteen games, it was good to see him out there.
Full box score
Stat of the game:
The Pistons simply owned the paint, while the Raptors had arguably their worst game on the glass this season. How bad you ask? The Raps were outrebounded 40 to 28, allowing the Pistons to grab 12 offensive boards. The Raptors were furthermore outscored 38 to 20 in the paint. This should not have been the case seeing as three of the four Raptors in double figures in points tonight were big men.
We are now 3 games past the halfway point in the season. The Raptors sit last in the Atlantic Division and have lost 7 straight. Next game the Raps go to Chicago and simply must take advantage of playing an 18-25 team. Last meeting saw Chicago winning 102-98. Hopefully the Raptors will see this as a must win game.
Raps Visit Detroit
Tonight we have our Raptors visiting the Detroit Pistons, tipoff at 7:30 PM - available on TSN2 (blargh!) as well as www.channelsurfing.net and on the radio with the Fan590. The Pistons have beaten our guys ten straight times at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and the Raps have dropped six in a row and 12 of their last 20. Maybe the pressure of a hostile arena can inspire the Dinos to steal a win on the road.
NBA.com preview
W2W4:
- The Pistons have started guards Richard Hamilton, Allen Iverson and sensational sophomore Rodney Stuckey recently, but head coach Michael Curry says he will only start two of the three, bringing the third off the bench. Stuckey's play has been outstanding, but his size (just 205 pounds at listed 6-5) leaves the Pistons vulnerable on defense to big guards.
- Sorry Raptors fans, but Jose Calderon will miss yet another game with a sore hamstring. It is unclear whether Anthony Parker will continue to start at point guard or if Will Solomon or Roko Ukic will get the nod.
- Jermaine O'Neal, however, will play again after missing Monday's game against Atlanta. Jermaine's been mentioned in trade rumours as of late, primarily heading to Miami for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, but hopefully he can ignore them and play to his potential.
NBA.com preview
W2W4:
- The Pistons have started guards Richard Hamilton, Allen Iverson and sensational sophomore Rodney Stuckey recently, but head coach Michael Curry says he will only start two of the three, bringing the third off the bench. Stuckey's play has been outstanding, but his size (just 205 pounds at listed 6-5) leaves the Pistons vulnerable on defense to big guards.
- Sorry Raptors fans, but Jose Calderon will miss yet another game with a sore hamstring. It is unclear whether Anthony Parker will continue to start at point guard or if Will Solomon or Roko Ukic will get the nod.
- Jermaine O'Neal, however, will play again after missing Monday's game against Atlanta. Jermaine's been mentioned in trade rumours as of late, primarily heading to Miami for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, but hopefully he can ignore them and play to his potential.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Is Ukic the Next Calderon?
We often hear parallels and comparisons between Toronto's two international point guards, Jose Calderon, a 4 year vet of the league, and Roko Ukic, a rookie. Today we're going to evaluate Roko Ukic's rookie stats thus far, and compare them to Jose's rookie stats to see if "Hot Cocoa" Roko is a "Jose-in-Training".
Of course, Calderon and Ukic did not receive identical playing time in their first year; so we averaged their stats out in the unit of stat per 20 minutes - solid playing time for a backup guard.
Raw Statistics:
Ukic: 4.7 points per game, 2.1 assists per game, 1.0 rebounds per game, 1.1 turnovers per game, 0.4 steals per game, 40.7 shooting percentage, 13:05 minutes per game
Calderon: 5.5 points per game, 4.5 assists per game, 2.2 rebounds per game, 1.6 turnovers per game, 0.7 steals per game, 42.3 shooting percentage, 23:11 minutes per game.
Points:
Ukic: 0.36 P/min = 7.2 points per 20 minutes
Calderon: 0.24 P/min = 4.8 points per 20 minutes
Advantage: Ukic
Assists:
Ukic: 0.16 ast/min = 3.2 assists per 20 minutes
Calderon: 0.2 ast/min = 4.0 assists per 20 minutes
Advantage: Calderon
Rebounds:
Ukic: 0.08 reb/min = 1.6 rebounds per 20 minutes
Calderon: 0.1 reb/min = 2.0 rebounds per 20 minutes
Advantage: Calderon
Turnovers:
Ukic: 0.084 TO/min = 1.68 turnovers per 20 minutes
Calderon: 0.069 TO/min = 1.38 turnovers per 20 minutes
Advantage: Calderon
Steals:
Ukic: 0.036 stl/min = 0.72 steals per 20 minutes
Calderon: 0.0302 stl/min = 0.6 steals per 20 minutes
Advantage: Ukic
Field Goal Percentage:
Ukic: .406 FG%
Calderon: .423 FG%
Advantage: Calderon
Verdict:
While there are very close numbers being put up in assists, steals, and rebounds, it appears Jose was a more polished player in his rookie year. He shot the ball better than Ukic has while committing fewer turnovers. Ukic, however, does carry a substantial edge in scoring - he may be a little trigger-happy at times, but it's undeniable that he has the ability to score and create. After all, when you are a 6'5" point guard, why not drive and look to score or dish? While Calderon had the advantage in most categories, the margins were quite small.
There are definite similarities when looking at Roko and Jose's numbers. Jose had his breakout year last season, averaging over 11 points and 8 assists. Roko may need more time to develop his game (especially his long-range shot), but Raptor fans may very well be lucky enough to be watching a Jose-in-Training.
Of course, Calderon and Ukic did not receive identical playing time in their first year; so we averaged their stats out in the unit of stat per 20 minutes - solid playing time for a backup guard.
Raw Statistics:
Ukic: 4.7 points per game, 2.1 assists per game, 1.0 rebounds per game, 1.1 turnovers per game, 0.4 steals per game, 40.7 shooting percentage, 13:05 minutes per game
Calderon: 5.5 points per game, 4.5 assists per game, 2.2 rebounds per game, 1.6 turnovers per game, 0.7 steals per game, 42.3 shooting percentage, 23:11 minutes per game.
Points:
Ukic: 0.36 P/min = 7.2 points per 20 minutes
Calderon: 0.24 P/min = 4.8 points per 20 minutes
Advantage: Ukic
Assists:
Ukic: 0.16 ast/min = 3.2 assists per 20 minutes
Calderon: 0.2 ast/min = 4.0 assists per 20 minutes
Advantage: Calderon
Rebounds:
Ukic: 0.08 reb/min = 1.6 rebounds per 20 minutes
Calderon: 0.1 reb/min = 2.0 rebounds per 20 minutes
Advantage: Calderon
Turnovers:
Ukic: 0.084 TO/min = 1.68 turnovers per 20 minutes
Calderon: 0.069 TO/min = 1.38 turnovers per 20 minutes
Advantage: Calderon
Steals:
Ukic: 0.036 stl/min = 0.72 steals per 20 minutes
Calderon: 0.0302 stl/min = 0.6 steals per 20 minutes
Advantage: Ukic
Field Goal Percentage:
Ukic: .406 FG%
Calderon: .423 FG%
Advantage: Calderon
Verdict:
While there are very close numbers being put up in assists, steals, and rebounds, it appears Jose was a more polished player in his rookie year. He shot the ball better than Ukic has while committing fewer turnovers. Ukic, however, does carry a substantial edge in scoring - he may be a little trigger-happy at times, but it's undeniable that he has the ability to score and create. After all, when you are a 6'5" point guard, why not drive and look to score or dish? While Calderon had the advantage in most categories, the margins were quite small.
There are definite similarities when looking at Roko and Jose's numbers. Jose had his breakout year last season, averaging over 11 points and 8 assists. Roko may need more time to develop his game (especially his long-range shot), but Raptor fans may very well be lucky enough to be watching a Jose-in-Training.
Raptors MLK Day an Unhappy One
Non-Canadians had a lot to celebrate today; Martin Luther King, and the Raptors losing their sixth straight. Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, and Josh Smith today combined for 73 of the Hawks 87 points, the only other Hawks to score were Flip Murray (12) and Mo Evans (2). On the Raptors' side, Jermaine O'Neal and Jose Calderon were both no goes again, however J-Killa (worst nickname ever, Matt Devil-in) made his return with 9 points.
Player of the game:
Chris Bosh - 22 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists. *Sigh*, is Yi Jianlian really above Chris in all star voting?
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani - 20 points, 10 rebounds. It is looking like Andrea is gaining confidence and looking more and more consistent each game. This was Andrea's 12th straight game reaching double figs in points. Also important to note were his 10 rebounds and only 3 fouls.
Anthony Parker - 12 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists. AP flirted with a triple double today as he started at the point guard spot for the second straight game. He did manage a Will Solomon-esque 4 turnovers however.
Stat of the game:
Today the Raptors did not take advantage of every possession. They went an astonishingly horrid 2-18 from three point land, and the point guards combined for 9 turnovers. For the Raptors to be successful, the point guards must be efficient with the ball and players should be aggressive, not settling for the three ball.
Coach Jay Triano is looking forward, "There are a lot of games to play," Raptors head coach Jay Triano said. "We've still got 50 cents on the dollar, so we need to cash that and see if we can get on a roll". Whatever that quotation was supposed to mean, we are sure it was somehow optimistic...
Player of the game:
Chris Bosh - 22 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists. *Sigh*, is Yi Jianlian really above Chris in all star voting?
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani - 20 points, 10 rebounds. It is looking like Andrea is gaining confidence and looking more and more consistent each game. This was Andrea's 12th straight game reaching double figs in points. Also important to note were his 10 rebounds and only 3 fouls.
Anthony Parker - 12 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists. AP flirted with a triple double today as he started at the point guard spot for the second straight game. He did manage a Will Solomon-esque 4 turnovers however.
Stat of the game:
Today the Raptors did not take advantage of every possession. They went an astonishingly horrid 2-18 from three point land, and the point guards combined for 9 turnovers. For the Raptors to be successful, the point guards must be efficient with the ball and players should be aggressive, not settling for the three ball.
Coach Jay Triano is looking forward, "There are a lot of games to play," Raptors head coach Jay Triano said. "We've still got 50 cents on the dollar, so we need to cash that and see if we can get on a roll". Whatever that quotation was supposed to mean, we are sure it was somehow optimistic...
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Raptors Need a Win at Home
Today's matinee features the Raptors at home hosting the Phoenix Suns amidst blockbuster trade rumours that have Jermaine O'Neal heading to Miami for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Marion was a key cog in the Phoenix team that won 62, 54, and 61 games from 2004-07, and would mean that the Raps would start a very talented starting five: Jose Calderon at the 1, either Jason Kapono or Anthony Parker at the 2, Marion at the 3, and Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani down low. This rumour obviously means that the Raps' front office thinks Bargnani's recent spectacular play is here to stay. Back to the game...
W2W4:
- Steve Nash of course. He's always a threat to take over a game scoring, distributing and running, and the Raptors' transition defense will need to be near-perfect to avoid being run out of the building.
- Andrea Bargnani has been showcasing his incredible talent in 2009. Since December 31, he's been averaging 21.1 points and has only recorded one game with fewer than 5 rebounds. He's raised his season averages to 12.8 points and 4.9 rebounds. He's been playing like a first overall pick, and it's fun to watch.
- The Raps will be without O'Neal, Calderon and Kapono today and will need solid play from backups Roko Ukic and Will Solomon to have any chance against Steve Nash's Suns.
W2W4:
- Steve Nash of course. He's always a threat to take over a game scoring, distributing and running, and the Raptors' transition defense will need to be near-perfect to avoid being run out of the building.
- Andrea Bargnani has been showcasing his incredible talent in 2009. Since December 31, he's been averaging 21.1 points and has only recorded one game with fewer than 5 rebounds. He's raised his season averages to 12.8 points and 4.9 rebounds. He's been playing like a first overall pick, and it's fun to watch.
- The Raps will be without O'Neal, Calderon and Kapono today and will need solid play from backups Roko Ukic and Will Solomon to have any chance against Steve Nash's Suns.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Raps Hope To Bounce Back vs. Bulls
7 o clock tonight, the Raptors host the Chicago Bulls. The game is on TSN 2, but can be actually seen on channelsurfing.net, and as always on the Fan 590. The Raptors hope to get back in the win column after a tough home and home against the Celtics, where they lost both games, hence losing the season series to Boston 4-0.
W2W4:
- The Bulls sit 4th in the Central Division with a 16-22 record, very similar to the Raptors current position (16-23, 3rd in Atlantic). Also similarly to the Raptors, the Bulls have lost their last 2. At least someone is walking out of tonight's game with their losing skid snapped. Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich, 2 role players for the Bulls, have recently rejoined their team after a period of being injured.
- This is the Raptors first look at Derrick Rose, the number 1 pick overall in the 2008 draft. He is off to a great start in his first NBA season, averaging 16.7 points and 6 assists per game. Look for him to take advantage of weak Raptor defense at the point guard spot.
- The Raptors have had one of the toughest schedules in the Association thus far. They need to win games against sub .500 teams for them to be successful.
- Tonight will be Jermaine O'Neal's 9th straight missed game if he does not play. At some point, Raptor fans will have to truly question the true value Jermaine can bring the club. I'm sure this is on Jermaine's mind as well, upon hearing the latest around the rumor mill: Jermaine for Shawn Marion.
W2W4:
- The Bulls sit 4th in the Central Division with a 16-22 record, very similar to the Raptors current position (16-23, 3rd in Atlantic). Also similarly to the Raptors, the Bulls have lost their last 2. At least someone is walking out of tonight's game with their losing skid snapped. Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich, 2 role players for the Bulls, have recently rejoined their team after a period of being injured.
- This is the Raptors first look at Derrick Rose, the number 1 pick overall in the 2008 draft. He is off to a great start in his first NBA season, averaging 16.7 points and 6 assists per game. Look for him to take advantage of weak Raptor defense at the point guard spot.
- The Raptors have had one of the toughest schedules in the Association thus far. They need to win games against sub .500 teams for them to be successful.
- Tonight will be Jermaine O'Neal's 9th straight missed game if he does not play. At some point, Raptor fans will have to truly question the true value Jermaine can bring the club. I'm sure this is on Jermaine's mind as well, upon hearing the latest around the rumor mill: Jermaine for Shawn Marion.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Raps Hope To Use Momentum Against Boston
12:30 on CBC, channelsurfing.net, or the Fan 590, the Raptors will host the Boston Celtics. The season series against the Celts currently stands in favour of Boston, 2-0. This is the first game in a home and home with the Celtics, and these two games will be the last time the Raptors see the reigning NBA champs in the regular season.
W2W4:
- The Celtics are struggling? That's right! The hottest starting team in the NBA has hit a rough patch in the new year, losing 4 straight. In these 4 losses, they have been held under 90 points 3 times. The Raptors need to play defense and have solid interior toughness.
- The Raptors are winning? That's right! The slow starting Raptors are now 4-1 in the new year, and they are doing it all without Jermaine and Jose. In their wins, the Raptors have used a quick start in the first quarter to build a solid lead. Look for that vs. the Celtics and for the Raptors to use the early game time to their advantage.
- Coming into this game, Andrea Bargnani is red hot, and has provided a huge offensive filling while Jermaine and Jose rest. He is averaging just under 21 points per outing in the new year, while shooting just under 67% from 3.
- Raptor fans keep twiddling their thumbs, waiting for Jose Calderon and Jermaine O'Neal to return. Will this be the game?
W2W4:
- The Celtics are struggling? That's right! The hottest starting team in the NBA has hit a rough patch in the new year, losing 4 straight. In these 4 losses, they have been held under 90 points 3 times. The Raptors need to play defense and have solid interior toughness.
- The Raptors are winning? That's right! The slow starting Raptors are now 4-1 in the new year, and they are doing it all without Jermaine and Jose. In their wins, the Raptors have used a quick start in the first quarter to build a solid lead. Look for that vs. the Celtics and for the Raptors to use the early game time to their advantage.
- Coming into this game, Andrea Bargnani is red hot, and has provided a huge offensive filling while Jermaine and Jose rest. He is averaging just under 21 points per outing in the new year, while shooting just under 67% from 3.
- Raptor fans keep twiddling their thumbs, waiting for Jose Calderon and Jermaine O'Neal to return. Will this be the game?
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Bigs Take Down Grizzlies - 103-82 Raptors
Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani combined for a very impressive 53 points and 18 rebounds as the big-man duo of Marc Gasol and Darrell Arthur was simply no match for the talented, powerful combo down low. Our Raps now stand at 16-21 and have won four of their last five games - not coincidentally, Bargnani is averaging 21.1 points over his last six contests; the best scoring run of his career.
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Chris Bosh had his first dominant game of the new year as he just abused Memphis, doing pretty much whatever he wanted both on offense and defense. He shot a blistering 11-13 from the field to go with 10-12 from the line and added 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. While the assessment that Bosh tends to have his best games against mediocre teams seems to have more and more merit, if it means the Raps win the games they're supposed to, it's good for more than a few W's.
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani - 21 points (8-14 FG, 3-4 3FG, 2-4 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 blocks. Bargnani has been consistent and dominant on offense over the last stretch - there's no way around it. If he can keep it up, when Jose Calderon returns (and Jermaine O'Neal, if he can keep it up off the bench) this team will make some noise.
Will Solomon - 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-2 FT), 9 assists, 3 steals. Jose who? King Solomon's wisdom led him to another excellent game starting at the point, and he again showed good shot selection and great distribution, finishing one dime away from his second career double-double.
Jason Kapono - 11 points (5-10 FG, 1-3 3FG), 6 assists, 2 rebounds. Played solid third/fourth fiddle, shooting a nice percentage and distributing the ball well from the wings. When Bosh and Bargnani are rolling, it's important for him and Anthony Parker (3 points, 5 assists) to space the defense from the perimeter.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
Again there was a huge discrepancy between the Raptors' and their opponent's shooting percentages. The Raptors were on fire for much of the game, putting up 55.6% (40-72) from the field, 40% (4-10) from three and 79.2% (19-24) from the free-throw line. The Grizzlies, however, were stifled all night long by solid Raptor defense (particularly in the second half, in which they were outscored 56-38), finishing shooting just 42.5% (31-73) on field goals, 30% (3-10) from three-point distance and 68% (17-25) from the line. The Raptors also held slight advantages in almost every statistical category as well - 13-15 in turnovers, 38-33 in rebounds, 26-15 in assists, and 6-4 in blocks.
Next Game: Sunday, January 11th, 12:30 PM vs. Boston Celtics
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Chris Bosh had his first dominant game of the new year as he just abused Memphis, doing pretty much whatever he wanted both on offense and defense. He shot a blistering 11-13 from the field to go with 10-12 from the line and added 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. While the assessment that Bosh tends to have his best games against mediocre teams seems to have more and more merit, if it means the Raps win the games they're supposed to, it's good for more than a few W's.
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani - 21 points (8-14 FG, 3-4 3FG, 2-4 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 blocks. Bargnani has been consistent and dominant on offense over the last stretch - there's no way around it. If he can keep it up, when Jose Calderon returns (and Jermaine O'Neal, if he can keep it up off the bench) this team will make some noise.
Will Solomon - 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-2 FT), 9 assists, 3 steals. Jose who? King Solomon's wisdom led him to another excellent game starting at the point, and he again showed good shot selection and great distribution, finishing one dime away from his second career double-double.
Jason Kapono - 11 points (5-10 FG, 1-3 3FG), 6 assists, 2 rebounds. Played solid third/fourth fiddle, shooting a nice percentage and distributing the ball well from the wings. When Bosh and Bargnani are rolling, it's important for him and Anthony Parker (3 points, 5 assists) to space the defense from the perimeter.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
Again there was a huge discrepancy between the Raptors' and their opponent's shooting percentages. The Raptors were on fire for much of the game, putting up 55.6% (40-72) from the field, 40% (4-10) from three and 79.2% (19-24) from the free-throw line. The Grizzlies, however, were stifled all night long by solid Raptor defense (particularly in the second half, in which they were outscored 56-38), finishing shooting just 42.5% (31-73) on field goals, 30% (3-10) from three-point distance and 68% (17-25) from the line. The Raptors also held slight advantages in almost every statistical category as well - 13-15 in turnovers, 38-33 in rebounds, 26-15 in assists, and 6-4 in blocks.
Next Game: Sunday, January 11th, 12:30 PM vs. Boston Celtics
Thursday, January 8, 2009
"The Magician" Outpowers Wizards - 99-93
Andrea Bargnani turned in his fifth straight impressive offensive showing with 25 points on near-perfect 8-9 from the field including 4-5 from three and 5-5 from the line. Chris Bosh and Anthony Parker were also very effective. The Wizards were led by former (for a few seconds) Raptor Antawn Jamison who finished with 32 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals despite fouling out after playing 37 minutes. The Raptors improved to 15-21, despite finishing the game with an Ostertagean total of 20 turnovers.
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Bargs was more than solid again last night, shooting a remarkable percentage in his 25-point effort while adding 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Overall a very nice night from Bargnani, playing through trade rumours that have him heading to Dallas.
Notables:
Chris Bosh - 18 points (5-16 FG, 0-2 3FG, 8-9 FT), 8 rebounds, 6 assists. Bosh had another off-shooting night but was masterful in distributing the rock, something he's done often this season. It's very nice to see him affect the game postively even when he can't score at will.
Anthony Parker - 15 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3FG, 1-2 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks. Parker has been crashing the boards recently and it's turning up huge results. Besides his scoring which is also way up, AP is averaging over 5 boards in his last four games.
Will Solomon - 14 points (7-11 FG, 0-1 3FG), 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 turnovers. Will's been playing nicely as Jose Calderon's (hamstring) fill-in starter. He's put up solid numbers, and despite 5 fouls (refs in Europe are much more lenient on guard physicality) he has kept the ball in control, which is all one can ask from him.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raptors didn't really play that well. Of course, we know a W's a W, but the only thing that really saved them was shooting. The Raps owned a +7 advantage at the free throw line (17-20 for 85% compared to 10-18 for 55.6%) and shot an impressive 54.4% (37-68) from the field compared to Washington's 46.4% (39-84). Toronto's hot shooting helped overshadow a brutal twenty turnovers (Washington had 12), and Jamison's abysmal 3-8 shooting from the line certainly helped matters as well.
Next Game: Friday, January 7th, 7:00 PM vs. Memphis Grizzles
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Bargs was more than solid again last night, shooting a remarkable percentage in his 25-point effort while adding 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Overall a very nice night from Bargnani, playing through trade rumours that have him heading to Dallas.
Notables:
Chris Bosh - 18 points (5-16 FG, 0-2 3FG, 8-9 FT), 8 rebounds, 6 assists. Bosh had another off-shooting night but was masterful in distributing the rock, something he's done often this season. It's very nice to see him affect the game postively even when he can't score at will.
Anthony Parker - 15 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3FG, 1-2 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks. Parker has been crashing the boards recently and it's turning up huge results. Besides his scoring which is also way up, AP is averaging over 5 boards in his last four games.
Will Solomon - 14 points (7-11 FG, 0-1 3FG), 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 turnovers. Will's been playing nicely as Jose Calderon's (hamstring) fill-in starter. He's put up solid numbers, and despite 5 fouls (refs in Europe are much more lenient on guard physicality) he has kept the ball in control, which is all one can ask from him.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raptors didn't really play that well. Of course, we know a W's a W, but the only thing that really saved them was shooting. The Raps owned a +7 advantage at the free throw line (17-20 for 85% compared to 10-18 for 55.6%) and shot an impressive 54.4% (37-68) from the field compared to Washington's 46.4% (39-84). Toronto's hot shooting helped overshadow a brutal twenty turnovers (Washington had 12), and Jamison's abysmal 3-8 shooting from the line certainly helped matters as well.
Next Game: Friday, January 7th, 7:00 PM vs. Memphis Grizzles
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Raptors Getting Lobbed a Softball
Tonight at 7, the Raptors will visit DC to play the 7-21 Wizards. The game is on TSN 2 (BOOOOOO), but us regular folk can catch it on channelsurfing.net or the Fan 590. The Raptors simply need to take advantage of the games where they play weaker opponents, something they have been unable to do thus far.
W2W4:
- Jose Calderon, Jermaine O'Neal, and Jamario Moon will all miss tonight's game. Jamario flew back to Alabama to be with his wife, she is due to give birth.
- Hassan Adams is a Raptor no more. He was dealt today for a future second round pick. You will be missed Hassan.
- Andrea Bargnani is averaging 21.0 points since entering the starting lineup. We will need productivity like that tonight.
- Could-be Raptor Antawn Jamison is averaging 21.7 points and 9 boards per contest against the Raps. Expect the same tonight, as he and Caron Butler carry the offense for the stumbling Wizards.
W2W4:
- Jose Calderon, Jermaine O'Neal, and Jamario Moon will all miss tonight's game. Jamario flew back to Alabama to be with his wife, she is due to give birth.
- Hassan Adams is a Raptor no more. He was dealt today for a future second round pick. You will be missed Hassan.
- Andrea Bargnani is averaging 21.0 points since entering the starting lineup. We will need productivity like that tonight.
- Could-be Raptor Antawn Jamison is averaging 21.7 points and 9 boards per contest against the Raps. Expect the same tonight, as he and Caron Butler carry the offense for the stumbling Wizards.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Raps Go Buck Hunting
Tonight the Milwaukee Bucks will host the Toronto Raptors. The game is at 8:00 on Raptors NBA TV, but can also be seen on channelsurfing.net and heard on the Fan 590.
Our Raptors have won their last two, quite impressively I might add. Tonight Toronto goes for their first 3 game win streak since their 3-0 record at the beginning of the season.
As for the Bucks, they sit at 16-19, 3rd in the Central Division. They present a very winnable game. This is first time the Raptors have played a sub-.500 team in 5 games.
W2W4 (What to Watch for):
- Andrea Bargnani is back to playing like he knows what a basketball is. In his last 3 contests he's averaging 21 points and just under 6 rebounds. He's stepped up in Jermaine O'Neal's absence.
- Will Jermaine O'Neal and Jose Calderon play? If Jose plays, tonight will show the match up of Luke Ridnour vs. Jose. Luke is currently ahead of Jose in all star voting, a reason for this is not yet available.
- Last game against the Raps, newly acquired Richard Jefferson had a quiet 9 points. However, now he is adjusted to his teammates and the Scott Skiles system. Expect him to be near, if not, above his average of 17 points per game against the Raptors.
Our Raptors have won their last two, quite impressively I might add. Tonight Toronto goes for their first 3 game win streak since their 3-0 record at the beginning of the season.
As for the Bucks, they sit at 16-19, 3rd in the Central Division. They present a very winnable game. This is first time the Raptors have played a sub-.500 team in 5 games.
W2W4 (What to Watch for):
- Andrea Bargnani is back to playing like he knows what a basketball is. In his last 3 contests he's averaging 21 points and just under 6 rebounds. He's stepped up in Jermaine O'Neal's absence.
- Will Jermaine O'Neal and Jose Calderon play? If Jose plays, tonight will show the match up of Luke Ridnour vs. Jose. Luke is currently ahead of Jose in all star voting, a reason for this is not yet available.
- Last game against the Raps, newly acquired Richard Jefferson had a quiet 9 points. However, now he is adjusted to his teammates and the Scott Skiles system. Expect him to be near, if not, above his average of 17 points per game against the Raptors.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Raptors Remain Undefeated in the New Year - 108-102 Toronto
The Raptors couldn't silence Superman today, who put up 39 and 8, but in the end the Raps came out with a victory to stay undefeated in 2009. The injury-riddled Raptors (missing Jermaine O'Neal and Jose Calderon) played great team defense and kept the offense flowing for all four quarters, controlling the pace and the flow of the game as they tied up the season series 1-1.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the Game:
Anthony Parker - 26 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists. A red hot 13-16 from the floor, Anthony hit some key shots late in the clock and late in the game. Another typical do-it-all game, doing the intangibles and the little things that he's been known to do. Tonight Parker was just 1 point off of his career high, who would have thought this on a night where he didn't even attempt a three ball?
Notables:
Chris Bosh - 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists. Perhaps most importantly, Chris went 13-14 from the free throw line. Some of these free throws came late in the fourth when the Raptors needed a cushion.
Andrea Bargnani - 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists. Redefining streaky, it appears that Andrea is out of his cold streak.
Roko Ukic - 12 points, 7 assists, 2 rebounds. Roko for sure opened some eyes today, as he played the entire fourth quarter and set up some key buckets.
Full Box Score
Stat of the Game:
Late in the fourth quarter, it came down to who could make their foul shots. Both teams shot 24 foul shots tonight; the Raptors hit 23 of their 24, the Magic hit just 17. They can thank Dwight Howard for those misses as he shot 11-18 and missed many free throws when the Magic were trying to mount their comeback. After the game, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy commented on this, saying “That’s about what he shoots, but it’s not good enough. Sixty percent at the free throw line makes it tough. We’ve got a tremendous advantage down there. They couldn’t guard him at all, but they get to the fourth quarter and they just foul and it’s one for two every time. Then you’re coming to the other end and it’s two for two. That’s a big difference.” Howard must be used to this by now, as his only reaction was “I’m going to miss free throws". Maybe its time to hit the gym, Dwight.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the Game:
Anthony Parker - 26 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists. A red hot 13-16 from the floor, Anthony hit some key shots late in the clock and late in the game. Another typical do-it-all game, doing the intangibles and the little things that he's been known to do. Tonight Parker was just 1 point off of his career high, who would have thought this on a night where he didn't even attempt a three ball?
Notables:
Chris Bosh - 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists. Perhaps most importantly, Chris went 13-14 from the free throw line. Some of these free throws came late in the fourth when the Raptors needed a cushion.
Andrea Bargnani - 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists. Redefining streaky, it appears that Andrea is out of his cold streak.
Roko Ukic - 12 points, 7 assists, 2 rebounds. Roko for sure opened some eyes today, as he played the entire fourth quarter and set up some key buckets.
Full Box Score
Stat of the Game:
Late in the fourth quarter, it came down to who could make their foul shots. Both teams shot 24 foul shots tonight; the Raptors hit 23 of their 24, the Magic hit just 17. They can thank Dwight Howard for those misses as he shot 11-18 and missed many free throws when the Magic were trying to mount their comeback. After the game, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy commented on this, saying “That’s about what he shoots, but it’s not good enough. Sixty percent at the free throw line makes it tough. We’ve got a tremendous advantage down there. They couldn’t guard him at all, but they get to the fourth quarter and they just foul and it’s one for two every time. Then you’re coming to the other end and it’s two for two. That’s a big difference.” Howard must be used to this by now, as his only reaction was “I’m going to miss free throws". Maybe its time to hit the gym, Dwight.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Houston, We Have a W - 94-73 Raptors
The Raps finally got their big win at home yesterday, blowing out the Rockets with inpenetrable defense and some balanced scoring. They held Tracy McGrady (15 ppg) to 4 points on 2-9 shooting in 28 minutes. In a very "I'm related to Vince Carter"-moment after the game he whined, "It's kind of hard to get in a groove when you are touching the ball once every five minutes." All 12 Raptors who dressed got at least 5 minutes of playing time and every one of them managed at least one field goal - a nice confidence booster, especially for the scrubs. Jason Kapono (quad contusion) played 21 minutes, while Jose Calderon (hamstring) left the game after playing just 12 minutes. It's crucial for him to return if the Raptors hope to go on a winning streak. Jermaine O'Neal (knee) says he's day-to-day and may play Sunday against the Magic.
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
In a game which yielded very balanced numbers across the board, Anthony Parker played the most solid, effective game last night. AP scored 8 points (3-8 FG, 0-2 3FG, 2-2 FT) while leading the team in rebounding with 8, and adding 3 steals and one assist. A very balanced night from Anthony, doing the little things that has seen him return to the starting lineup.
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani - 19 points (8-12 FG, 2-4 3FG, 1-2 FT), 6 rebounds, one block. Il Mago had his second straight very effective offensive game and played impressive defense on Yao Ming (14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 turnovers). Perhaps (we're praying) he's found a way to produe every night.
Chris Bosh - 19 points (8-18 FG, 3-6 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 assists. Scored well and shot passably, but it would be nice to see him get to the glass more often - and go back to being an automatic free throw shooter (he's missed 6 free throws in his last two games).
Will Solomon - 8 points (4-6 FG), 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 turnovers (!). Backing up Jose in extended minutes last night, Will was fantastic. He distributed, played competent defense and basically performed like a solid backup point guard. He finally lived up to the trust Triano has in him with a great game.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
Easy. The Raptors shot very well, going for 48.2% (40-83) shooting overall including 44.4% (4-9) from The Land Beyond. It must have been Shaquille O'Neal Appreciation Night in Toronto because the Raptors - the league's finest free throw-shooting team shot an abysmal 58.8% (10-17) from the line. Impressively, the Raptors also held Houston to ice-cold 34.1% (28-82) shooting from the field and 25.9% (7-27) from three point country. A decisive victory for the boys in red.
Next Game: Sunday, January 4th, 12:30 PM vs. Orlando Magic
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
In a game which yielded very balanced numbers across the board, Anthony Parker played the most solid, effective game last night. AP scored 8 points (3-8 FG, 0-2 3FG, 2-2 FT) while leading the team in rebounding with 8, and adding 3 steals and one assist. A very balanced night from Anthony, doing the little things that has seen him return to the starting lineup.
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani - 19 points (8-12 FG, 2-4 3FG, 1-2 FT), 6 rebounds, one block. Il Mago had his second straight very effective offensive game and played impressive defense on Yao Ming (14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 turnovers). Perhaps (we're praying) he's found a way to produe every night.
Chris Bosh - 19 points (8-18 FG, 3-6 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 assists. Scored well and shot passably, but it would be nice to see him get to the glass more often - and go back to being an automatic free throw shooter (he's missed 6 free throws in his last two games).
Will Solomon - 8 points (4-6 FG), 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 turnovers (!). Backing up Jose in extended minutes last night, Will was fantastic. He distributed, played competent defense and basically performed like a solid backup point guard. He finally lived up to the trust Triano has in him with a great game.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
Easy. The Raptors shot very well, going for 48.2% (40-83) shooting overall including 44.4% (4-9) from The Land Beyond. It must have been Shaquille O'Neal Appreciation Night in Toronto because the Raptors - the league's finest free throw-shooting team shot an abysmal 58.8% (10-17) from the line. Impressively, the Raptors also held Houston to ice-cold 34.1% (28-82) shooting from the field and 25.9% (7-27) from three point country. A decisive victory for the boys in red.
Next Game: Sunday, January 4th, 12:30 PM vs. Orlando Magic
Friday, January 2, 2009
T-Mac and the Rockets Hit Toronto
The Raptors hope to start off the new year with a win against the Houston Rockets. The game is at 7:00, and is on TSN 2, but regular people can watch it on channelsurfing.net or listen on the Fan 590.
What to Watch For:
- Yao and McGrady are not friendly faces for Toronto fans. Together, they average 48 points per game against the Raptors. Hopefully one of the new years resolutions of the Raptors was to start playing some defense.
- The Rockets are in one of the toughest divisions in the league, the Southwest. They sit third in their division at 20-12. They know the importance of every win and will come out with intensity. Hopefully the Raptors will match theirs.
- No word yet on whether Jermaine O'Neal and Jason Kapono will play or not.
- The Rockets are in a rut of their own. They have been held to 92.2 points per game and 39.8 percent shooting over its last five contests.
What to Watch For:
- Yao and McGrady are not friendly faces for Toronto fans. Together, they average 48 points per game against the Raptors. Hopefully one of the new years resolutions of the Raptors was to start playing some defense.
- The Rockets are in one of the toughest divisions in the league, the Southwest. They sit third in their division at 20-12. They know the importance of every win and will come out with intensity. Hopefully the Raptors will match theirs.
- No word yet on whether Jermaine O'Neal and Jason Kapono will play or not.
- The Rockets are in a rut of their own. They have been held to 92.2 points per game and 39.8 percent shooting over its last five contests.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Raptors' New Year Unhappy - 114-107 Nuggets
The Raptors had no problems scoring last night on New Year's Eve (Happy New Year everybody!) but they had problems galore on the defensive end. Five Raptors scored in double figures, led by Andrea Bargnani's 26 points, but the Nuggets finished with an amazing seven players in double figures - only Anthony Carter (0 in 11 minutes) and Dahntay Jones (4 in 16 minutes) didn't have effective scoring nights, as everyone else found some way to score even in their limited playing time.
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Andrea Bargnani finally broke out of his slump yesterday, starting out very slowly on offense but finishing with very impressive numbers of 26 points (9-19 FG, 3-6 3FG, 5-5 FT), 6 rebounds, 5 blocks and 2 steals. While Bargnani won't put up those stats on a regular basis (especially on teams that at least attempt to play defense, unlike the Nuggets) it should serve as a confidence booster for him.
Notables:
Chris Bosh - 24 points (7-18 FG, 0-3 3FG, 10-13 FT), 11 rebounds. Bosh was hounded all night by guards and forwards alike, and while he didn't shoot very well, he still managed to get to the line and find ways to be effective, particularly on the boards: he had 4 offensive rebounds.
Jose Calderon - 18 points (6-9 FG, 4-4 3FG, 2-2 FT), 11 assists, 5 rebounds. Jose continued his spectacular distribution and shooting, but one thing stands out. Last night he had 5 turnovers, and against Golden State he had four. Now everyone is allowed a slump, but Jose - and yes, he did have 27 assists to go with those 9 turnovers - is one of the most consistent guards in the league, and he needs to help carry this team.
Anthony Parker - 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-4 3FG), 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals. Parker was a starter again (finally) and played passable defense on the Nuggets perimeter players (J.R. Smith and Dahntay Jones combined for just 14 points on 7-17 shooting). He also had a nice game getting active on the boards and helping to distibute. Parker needs to contribute to give this team hope.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
This game was actually remarkably close in every statistical category (check the box). However, the Raptors' swiss cheese defense again allowed Denver penetration and scoring almost at will. The Nuggets shot 51.2% (42-82) from the floor and 44.4% (8-18) from the arc, to the Raptors' 46.9% (38-81) from the field and 41.7% (10-24) from three. Defense, fellas. And all that even with Jason Kapono out there as a pylon.
Next Game: Friday, January 2nd, 7:00 PM vs. Houston Rockets
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Andrea Bargnani finally broke out of his slump yesterday, starting out very slowly on offense but finishing with very impressive numbers of 26 points (9-19 FG, 3-6 3FG, 5-5 FT), 6 rebounds, 5 blocks and 2 steals. While Bargnani won't put up those stats on a regular basis (especially on teams that at least attempt to play defense, unlike the Nuggets) it should serve as a confidence booster for him.
Notables:
Chris Bosh - 24 points (7-18 FG, 0-3 3FG, 10-13 FT), 11 rebounds. Bosh was hounded all night by guards and forwards alike, and while he didn't shoot very well, he still managed to get to the line and find ways to be effective, particularly on the boards: he had 4 offensive rebounds.
Jose Calderon - 18 points (6-9 FG, 4-4 3FG, 2-2 FT), 11 assists, 5 rebounds. Jose continued his spectacular distribution and shooting, but one thing stands out. Last night he had 5 turnovers, and against Golden State he had four. Now everyone is allowed a slump, but Jose - and yes, he did have 27 assists to go with those 9 turnovers - is one of the most consistent guards in the league, and he needs to help carry this team.
Anthony Parker - 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-4 3FG), 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals. Parker was a starter again (finally) and played passable defense on the Nuggets perimeter players (J.R. Smith and Dahntay Jones combined for just 14 points on 7-17 shooting). He also had a nice game getting active on the boards and helping to distibute. Parker needs to contribute to give this team hope.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
This game was actually remarkably close in every statistical category (check the box). However, the Raptors' swiss cheese defense again allowed Denver penetration and scoring almost at will. The Nuggets shot 51.2% (42-82) from the floor and 44.4% (8-18) from the arc, to the Raptors' 46.9% (38-81) from the field and 41.7% (10-24) from three. Defense, fellas. And all that even with Jason Kapono out there as a pylon.
Next Game: Friday, January 2nd, 7:00 PM vs. Houston Rockets
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