The Raptors - Suns matchup has become somewhat of a David vs. Goliath battle. The Suns have simply dominated the Raptors and look for their 11th straight win against the Raps tonight. The Suns, after a disappointing '08-09 campaign, have started their season on fire, posting up an 8-2 record. The Raptors now sit at 5-4 after an impressive 22 point comeback vs. the Clippers.
Tipoff tonight is at 8 pm on TSN 2.
W2W4:
-Kid Canada looks as impressive as ever this season, putting up 17 ppg and nearly 12 apg. The Raps need to get to him early and limit what he can do on the ball. This is obviously easier said than done.
- Tonight Chris Bosh will face off against Amar'e Stoudemire, a strong, physical big man who can also shoot the jumper. This will be the marquee match up for the night. If Chris can play solid defense against Amare, the game will be a lot easier to win.
- Amazingly, Chris Bosh is still 100% from three point land. Look for his gamely three pointer.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Raps Draw Late-Night Matchup with Clip
Tonight at 10:30 PM EST the Raptors will be facing off against the Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon-less Clippers in what's one of the closest games the Raps have had to a must-win game this season. The Raps are 4-4, having gone 1-2 on the first leg of their 7/8 games on the road. They pulled out a hard-fought win at home against the Bulls and now look to make some noise as they finish up on the West Coast. The Clips currently stand at 3-6.
NBA.com preview
W2W4:
- Can the Raps perform on D? With some credit going to the Bulls for not being able to put a beach ball in the ocean, the Raps held the Bulls to 25 percent shooting in the second half and causing them to miss 13 straight field goals at one point. Remember that this is a Dinos team that surrendered 131 points to another team missing its two top players in the Spurs. The Raps need to capitalize on this shorthanded Clips team.
- Jose Calderon. After a lot of harsh criticism stemming from his mediocre play in the first few games, Jose has stepped up. His last four games look like this:
vs. CHI: 18 points, 6 assists, 1 turnover
@ SAS: 13 points, 9 assists, 2 turnovers
@ DAL: 13 points, 7 assists, 2 turnovers
vs. NOH: 16 points, 8 assists, 0 turnovers
Pretty solid numbers. If Jose can keep shaking off the rust, he'll keep this Raptors offense running at full speed.
- Chris Bosh utterly owning the NBA. Check out his rankings in all these categories.
Bosh is first in the NBA in the following:
Three-point field goal percentage
Free throws made (and FTM per 48 minutes)
Free throws attempted (and FTA per 48 minutes)
Bosh is in the top-5 in the NBA in the following:
Points per game (and per 48 minutes)
Total Points
Rebounds per game
Defensive rebounds per game
Efficiency ranking (and efficiency per 48 minutes)
Total efficiency
Bosh is in the top-20 in the NBA in the following:
Field goals made (and per 48 minutes)
Field goal attemps (and per 48 minutes) (note he's 9th in field goals made, but 15th in field goals attempted, and 10th in FGM per 48 and 18th in FGA per 48)
Offensive rebounds per game
Total offensive rebounds
Total defensive rebounds
Total rebounds
Defensive rebounds per 48 minutes
Rebounds per 48 minutes
So... he's pretty good, I guess.
Oh yeah, he's also on the league's longest streak of 20 or more points, dating back to last season.
NBA.com preview
W2W4:
- Can the Raps perform on D? With some credit going to the Bulls for not being able to put a beach ball in the ocean, the Raps held the Bulls to 25 percent shooting in the second half and causing them to miss 13 straight field goals at one point. Remember that this is a Dinos team that surrendered 131 points to another team missing its two top players in the Spurs. The Raps need to capitalize on this shorthanded Clips team.
- Jose Calderon. After a lot of harsh criticism stemming from his mediocre play in the first few games, Jose has stepped up. His last four games look like this:
vs. CHI: 18 points, 6 assists, 1 turnover
@ SAS: 13 points, 9 assists, 2 turnovers
@ DAL: 13 points, 7 assists, 2 turnovers
vs. NOH: 16 points, 8 assists, 0 turnovers
Pretty solid numbers. If Jose can keep shaking off the rust, he'll keep this Raptors offense running at full speed.
- Chris Bosh utterly owning the NBA. Check out his rankings in all these categories.
Bosh is first in the NBA in the following:
Three-point field goal percentage
Free throws made (and FTM per 48 minutes)
Free throws attempted (and FTA per 48 minutes)
Bosh is in the top-5 in the NBA in the following:
Points per game (and per 48 minutes)
Total Points
Rebounds per game
Defensive rebounds per game
Efficiency ranking (and efficiency per 48 minutes)
Total efficiency
Bosh is in the top-20 in the NBA in the following:
Field goals made (and per 48 minutes)
Field goal attemps (and per 48 minutes) (note he's 9th in field goals made, but 15th in field goals attempted, and 10th in FGM per 48 and 18th in FGA per 48)
Offensive rebounds per game
Total offensive rebounds
Total defensive rebounds
Total rebounds
Defensive rebounds per 48 minutes
Rebounds per 48 minutes
So... he's pretty good, I guess.
Oh yeah, he's also on the league's longest streak of 20 or more points, dating back to last season.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Quincy Douby Released
A personal favourite of mine, Quincy Douby, was released today by the Raptors. The 6-3 guard hadn't appeared in any regular season games but averaged three points and almost two assists in 6 preseason games. For his career, he has averaged 4.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 10.7 minutes in 143 games. With Marcus Banks (and his mammoth contract) and Antoine Wright on board, Douby's skills were somewhat redundant. The move leaves the Raptors with 14 players under contract and has sparked speculation the Dinos will make an attempt to sign the recently released Larry Johnson, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Raps Step Up D in Chi-Town: 99-89 Raps
Facing a tough and somewhat enigmatic Bulls team, the Raptors looked like they were ready to give up on this one in the first half. They controlled much of the first half, but the Bulls made a run late to go up before halftime. Whatever Jay Triano said in the locker room worked, because the Dinos were tenacious on D in the second half, allowing Chicago to shoot just 10-40 from the field and make only three field goals in the fourth quarter. Helped along by another monstrous Chris Bosh performance and an electrifying one-handed slam from DeMar DeRozan, the Raps head back out for another 3-game road trip on a winning note.
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Giving to CB4 every game is getting boring. Let's give DMDR his first PotG in the pros. He ignited the Raps in the third quarter with his athleticism and hustle and finished with career highs in points (9), rebounds (9) and blocks (2). Hopefully DeMar can build on this performance, because his main job is to do the little things like he did last night.
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani had a solid game all-around with 16 points, 6 boards and 2 steals. He did have some foul trouble (finished with 5) but when 16 and 6 is an off-night for Il Mago, it seems like he's shed his "first-overall bust" tag.
Hedo Turkoglu continued his remarkable consistency, posting a very solid line of 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Hedo has been a consummate veteran this whole season and is willing to do anything to win ballgames. Hopefully he can inspire the rest of the team to do more of the winning part.
Jose Calderon was busting down defenses all game long and finished with 18 points and 6 assists to a single turnover. When Jose is penetrating as well as he did last night, the Raptor offense is very efficient.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raps got to the line only two more times than Chicago, led by Bosh who continued to post double-digits in FTA in every game this season. However, the Raps were outstanding at the free-throw line, making 22 of 23 attempts for a 95.7 percentage compared to Chicago's 17-21 for 81%. In close games, free throws loom large, and the Dinos made the most of them.
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Giving to CB4 every game is getting boring. Let's give DMDR his first PotG in the pros. He ignited the Raps in the third quarter with his athleticism and hustle and finished with career highs in points (9), rebounds (9) and blocks (2). Hopefully DeMar can build on this performance, because his main job is to do the little things like he did last night.
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani had a solid game all-around with 16 points, 6 boards and 2 steals. He did have some foul trouble (finished with 5) but when 16 and 6 is an off-night for Il Mago, it seems like he's shed his "first-overall bust" tag.
Hedo Turkoglu continued his remarkable consistency, posting a very solid line of 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Hedo has been a consummate veteran this whole season and is willing to do anything to win ballgames. Hopefully he can inspire the rest of the team to do more of the winning part.
Jose Calderon was busting down defenses all game long and finished with 18 points and 6 assists to a single turnover. When Jose is penetrating as well as he did last night, the Raptor offense is very efficient.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raps got to the line only two more times than Chicago, led by Bosh who continued to post double-digits in FTA in every game this season. However, the Raps were outstanding at the free-throw line, making 22 of 23 attempts for a 95.7 percentage compared to Chicago's 17-21 for 81%. In close games, free throws loom large, and the Dinos made the most of them.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Raps Can't Catch Shorthanded Spurs: 131-124 Spurs
Who could have thought that the Spurs without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker could have put up 131 points?
Enter Raptor defense.
The Raps once again scored enough points to turn heads, but played schoolyard defense. This is already becoming a trend in the early season.
The Raps allowed BatManu to go off for 36, while RJ added 24, and former Rap Matt Bonner added 18.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the Game
CeeBee Four continues his reign of terror. Last night he put up 32 on 8-16 shooting, hit his gamely three pointer (he is still 100% from beyond the arc), and grabbed 10 boards. There are little words I can say right now to describe Chris; one of them is "fantabulous" (sorry).
Notables
After a shaky start, Jose Calderon looks like he's coming into his old form. Jose put up 13 on 5-7 shooting and added 9 assists.
Hedo Turkoglu had his first 20 point game as a Raptor! On behalf of the Raptor community, PH would like to wish you tebrikler!
Speaking of Europeans, Marco Belinelli put up 12 points last night on 4-5 shooting. The kicker? He was 4-4 from downtown.
Box Score
Stat of the Game
The Raptors shot better percentages from field goal, three point land, and from free throw, than the Spurs. So why did we lose?
The Raptors couldn't keep the Spurs off the offensive boards and away from the free throw line. The Spurs grabbed 15 offensive boards, which allowed them to put up an extra 11 shots. They also got to shoot 44 (yes, forty-four) free throws.
Enter Raptor defense.
The Raps once again scored enough points to turn heads, but played schoolyard defense. This is already becoming a trend in the early season.
The Raps allowed BatManu to go off for 36, while RJ added 24, and former Rap Matt Bonner added 18.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the Game
CeeBee Four continues his reign of terror. Last night he put up 32 on 8-16 shooting, hit his gamely three pointer (he is still 100% from beyond the arc), and grabbed 10 boards. There are little words I can say right now to describe Chris; one of them is "fantabulous" (sorry).
Notables
After a shaky start, Jose Calderon looks like he's coming into his old form. Jose put up 13 on 5-7 shooting and added 9 assists.
Hedo Turkoglu had his first 20 point game as a Raptor! On behalf of the Raptor community, PH would like to wish you tebrikler!
Speaking of Europeans, Marco Belinelli put up 12 points last night on 4-5 shooting. The kicker? He was 4-4 from downtown.
Box Score
Stat of the Game
The Raptors shot better percentages from field goal, three point land, and from free throw, than the Spurs. So why did we lose?
The Raptors couldn't keep the Spurs off the offensive boards and away from the free throw line. The Spurs grabbed 15 offensive boards, which allowed them to put up an extra 11 shots. They also got to shoot 44 (yes, forty-four) free throws.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Mavs Firepower Too Much to Handle: 129 - 101 Mavs
The Dallas Mavericks welcomed back Josh Howard in impressive fashion last night, as they cruised past our Dinos. The Mavs used sheer offensive dominance led by the Turok, Dirk Nowitzki, who had 29 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the Game
Chris Bosh continues his dominance on the court and of our PotG award. Last night Christopher put up 26 points, 12 boards, and once again hit a three pointer to keep his 3 point percentage at 100%. Maybe someone should put a hand up when he's shooting.
Notables
Andrea Bargnani had another successful night, putting up 22 points and 5 boards. Drea was also -22 on the floor, so I guess he cancels out?
Jose Calderon followed up his strong performance in New Orleans with another solid game, putting up 13 points, 7 assists, and 4 boards.
Full Box
Stat of the Game
When the opposing team scores 129 points against you, its time to talk defense (or lack thereof). The Raptors did their best impression of a revolving door last night. The key was more open than the 407 and apparently the Dinos hands were tied behind their backs when the Mavs shot jumpers.
The Raps let them shoot 62% from the field and 50% from three point land. The Mavs even shot 3 more shots than the Raps.
But hey, the Raps held the Mavs to only 62% (13-21) from the free throw line. Raptors, keep doing whatever you're, uh, doing to keep the opponent from making their free throws.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the Game
Chris Bosh continues his dominance on the court and of our PotG award. Last night Christopher put up 26 points, 12 boards, and once again hit a three pointer to keep his 3 point percentage at 100%. Maybe someone should put a hand up when he's shooting.
Notables
Andrea Bargnani had another successful night, putting up 22 points and 5 boards. Drea was also -22 on the floor, so I guess he cancels out?
Jose Calderon followed up his strong performance in New Orleans with another solid game, putting up 13 points, 7 assists, and 4 boards.
Full Box
Stat of the Game
When the opposing team scores 129 points against you, its time to talk defense (or lack thereof). The Raptors did their best impression of a revolving door last night. The key was more open than the 407 and apparently the Dinos hands were tied behind their backs when the Mavs shot jumpers.
The Raps let them shoot 62% from the field and 50% from three point land. The Mavs even shot 3 more shots than the Raps.
But hey, the Raps held the Mavs to only 62% (13-21) from the free throw line. Raptors, keep doing whatever you're, uh, doing to keep the opponent from making their free throws.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Raps Look for 3rd Straight in Dallas
The Raptors roll into Dallas (tipoff at 8:30PM EST) on the back half of two games in two nights, and hope to both extend their win streak to three games and to give Chris Bosh, playing at an MVP level thus far, his first win in Dallas in his career.
W2W4:
- Big man matchups. The four starting PFs/Cs in this game will have a huge impact on how the game turns out. Dirk Nowitzki has always been a Turok (averaging 24 points and 7 boards against the Raps), and the player whose ceiling was always "The Next Dirk," Andrea Bargnani, will hope to continue to take a huge step forward in his fourth season. If Il Mago continues to develop, he could turn out to be even better than the one-time MVP. As well, CB4 should give Erick Dampier fits with his improved play and newfound beastly-ness in the post. Look for Bosh to have a huge game (really going out on a limb there, eh?).
- New Mavs and new Raps. The two teams were involved in a mammoth four-team deal this offseason that brought Hedo Turkoglu, Antoine Wright and Devean George (flipped to Golden State for Marco Belinelli) to Toronto, with Shawn Marion and Kris Humphries donning the Mavs blue. Turk has been a steady influence in the Raps' frontcourt thus far, being incredibly consistent on both offense and defense, while 'Toine and Marco have been instrumental in making the Raps' second unit one of their potent weapons. The Matrix has been his usual stat-filling self, putting up 14 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals per game, while Hump has given them some energy off the bench with 6 points and 4 boards per game to go along with his trademark questionable shot selection (44% from the field).
- Jose Calderon. After some criticism incited by his slow start to the season, the object of many a man-crush delivered a classic Jose game, with tremendous efficiency against the Hornets: 16 points (on 6-11 from the field, 2-4 from three, and perfect 2-2 from the line), 8 assists to just one turnover and 4 rebounds. If Jose continues to be the floor general we know he can be, the Raps will be very tough to beat.
W2W4:
- Big man matchups. The four starting PFs/Cs in this game will have a huge impact on how the game turns out. Dirk Nowitzki has always been a Turok (averaging 24 points and 7 boards against the Raps), and the player whose ceiling was always "The Next Dirk," Andrea Bargnani, will hope to continue to take a huge step forward in his fourth season. If Il Mago continues to develop, he could turn out to be even better than the one-time MVP. As well, CB4 should give Erick Dampier fits with his improved play and newfound beastly-ness in the post. Look for Bosh to have a huge game (really going out on a limb there, eh?).
- New Mavs and new Raps. The two teams were involved in a mammoth four-team deal this offseason that brought Hedo Turkoglu, Antoine Wright and Devean George (flipped to Golden State for Marco Belinelli) to Toronto, with Shawn Marion and Kris Humphries donning the Mavs blue. Turk has been a steady influence in the Raps' frontcourt thus far, being incredibly consistent on both offense and defense, while 'Toine and Marco have been instrumental in making the Raps' second unit one of their potent weapons. The Matrix has been his usual stat-filling self, putting up 14 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals per game, while Hump has given them some energy off the bench with 6 points and 4 boards per game to go along with his trademark questionable shot selection (44% from the field).
- Jose Calderon. After some criticism incited by his slow start to the season, the object of many a man-crush delivered a classic Jose game, with tremendous efficiency against the Hornets: 16 points (on 6-11 from the field, 2-4 from three, and perfect 2-2 from the line), 8 assists to just one turnover and 4 rebounds. If Jose continues to be the floor general we know he can be, the Raps will be very tough to beat.
Raps Beat Up Hornets: 107-90
It has become a well known fact that the New Orleans Hornets are experiencing some problems. Since their storybook season two years ago, the team has seen a decline in their performance and the frustration of their star player.
So what did this mean for the Raptors last night? This was an opportunity for the Dinos to show that they can beat a respectable Western Conference team and push past .500. The Raps played hard throughout the game, outhustling, outrebounding, and outshooting the Hornets, en route to earning a big win and even giving POB and Sonny Weems s0me court time.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the Game
We don't want to become predictable, but Chris Bosh had yet another dazzling performance. Toronto's All Star was a perfect 9-9 from the field, putting up 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. Just in case you were wondering, Chris is now averaging 29 points per game.
Notables
Jose Calderon - A lot has been said about Jose early on in the season due to his disappointing numbers. Last night Jose went a long way in silencing his critics. He put up 16 points on 6-11 shooting and added 8 assists on top of that.
Andrea Bargnani - One of the quieter nights we've seen from Bargs so far. The good news, however, is that a quiet night from Drea now means 14 points and 9 rebounds, and not what it used to mean.
Hedo Turkoglu - Hedo once again showed why he's called the Turkish MJ, not only scoring but distributing and rebounding as well. He had a nice game of 16 points, 4 boards, and 4 assists, however we are still yet to see him break out.
Complete Box Score
Key Stat
In the past, the Raptors have been criticized for their sloppy third quarter play. They would come out of half time in a lull of sorts, looking lethargic and not ready to play at NBA pace.
Tonight however was the opposite. The Raptors and Hornets played evenly through the first two quarters. Then the Raps came out in the third quarter with renewed intensity, outscoring the Hornets 34-14 in the third quarter and clinching the game.
I don't know who to credit this to. It could be that Jay Triano came up with a Tony D'Amato-esque speech, or maybe the players just ate some Wheaties. Either way, it was absolutely beautiful to watch the Raptors come out with passion after halftime.
So what did this mean for the Raptors last night? This was an opportunity for the Dinos to show that they can beat a respectable Western Conference team and push past .500. The Raps played hard throughout the game, outhustling, outrebounding, and outshooting the Hornets, en route to earning a big win and even giving POB and Sonny Weems s0me court time.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the Game
We don't want to become predictable, but Chris Bosh had yet another dazzling performance. Toronto's All Star was a perfect 9-9 from the field, putting up 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. Just in case you were wondering, Chris is now averaging 29 points per game.
Notables
Jose Calderon - A lot has been said about Jose early on in the season due to his disappointing numbers. Last night Jose went a long way in silencing his critics. He put up 16 points on 6-11 shooting and added 8 assists on top of that.
Andrea Bargnani - One of the quieter nights we've seen from Bargs so far. The good news, however, is that a quiet night from Drea now means 14 points and 9 rebounds, and not what it used to mean.
Hedo Turkoglu - Hedo once again showed why he's called the Turkish MJ, not only scoring but distributing and rebounding as well. He had a nice game of 16 points, 4 boards, and 4 assists, however we are still yet to see him break out.
Complete Box Score
Key Stat
In the past, the Raptors have been criticized for their sloppy third quarter play. They would come out of half time in a lull of sorts, looking lethargic and not ready to play at NBA pace.
Tonight however was the opposite. The Raptors and Hornets played evenly through the first two quarters. Then the Raps came out in the third quarter with renewed intensity, outscoring the Hornets 34-14 in the third quarter and clinching the game.
I don't know who to credit this to. It could be that Jay Triano came up with a Tony D'Amato-esque speech, or maybe the players just ate some Wheaties. Either way, it was absolutely beautiful to watch the Raptors come out with passion after halftime.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Big Easy for Big Tough Game
Tonight at 8PM the Raps roll into New Orleans to take on the red-hot Chris Paul and the Hornets. The Hornets are 2-3 this year and the Raps look for their second straight win and to start their road trip (7 of the 8 next games are played away from the ACC) on the right foot.
W2W4:
- That Paul kid. CP3 has been phenomenal this year, averaging 30 points per game thus far and is shooting a ridiculous 80% (12-15) from the three-point line. The Raps' three primary PG defenders - Jose Calderon, Jarrett Jack and Antoine Wright have said their game plan is to turn Paul into a jump shooter and the Hornets' primary scorer. Hopefully the other Dinos can take Paul's teammates out of the game.
- Big men. The Raptors retaliate against the Hornets with their "Killer B's" (oh my, I'm so sorry) - Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani. Combined, they're averaging almost 52 points, 20 rebounds (5 offensive), 2 blocks, shooting over 50% from the field and over 75% from three. They're putting themselves into consideration for the best big-man combo in the NBA and if Bargs keeps up his rebounding from the game against Detroit (12 boards), David West and Emeka Okafor will be in for a long night.
- Hedo Turkoglu. He's been quiet this year, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been effective. He's in fact 3rd on the Raptors in all three of the primary statistics, averaging 15.3 points (on solid 49% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point land), along with 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while playing tough D (averaging 1.25 blocks and .75 steals per game). He's really adjusted quickly to Jay Triano's system, and he's helped the Raps average the third-most points (108.5) in the Association.
W2W4:
- That Paul kid. CP3 has been phenomenal this year, averaging 30 points per game thus far and is shooting a ridiculous 80% (12-15) from the three-point line. The Raps' three primary PG defenders - Jose Calderon, Jarrett Jack and Antoine Wright have said their game plan is to turn Paul into a jump shooter and the Hornets' primary scorer. Hopefully the other Dinos can take Paul's teammates out of the game.
- Big men. The Raptors retaliate against the Hornets with their "Killer B's" (oh my, I'm so sorry) - Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani. Combined, they're averaging almost 52 points, 20 rebounds (5 offensive), 2 blocks, shooting over 50% from the field and over 75% from three. They're putting themselves into consideration for the best big-man combo in the NBA and if Bargs keeps up his rebounding from the game against Detroit (12 boards), David West and Emeka Okafor will be in for a long night.
- Hedo Turkoglu. He's been quiet this year, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been effective. He's in fact 3rd on the Raptors in all three of the primary statistics, averaging 15.3 points (on solid 49% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point land), along with 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while playing tough D (averaging 1.25 blocks and .75 steals per game). He's really adjusted quickly to Jay Triano's system, and he's helped the Raps average the third-most points (108.5) in the Association.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Raps Take on New-Look Pistons
Tonight we have a matchup of the Raps against the new-look Pistons, with their two new free-agents, Ben Gordon and Charlie Villaneuva.
W2W4:
- The two new guys. Both carry a score-first mentality and can put up points in a hurry, but are not known as defensive intimidators. Charlie V makes his first visit in Detroit uniform, three years after he made a name for himself as a rookie with the Raptors. Gordon is a "hate-him or love-him" kind of player - he's often adored by casual fans who love his abiloity to score from anywhere and no-conscience attitude on offense. Others despise his sometimes poor shot selection and defensive deficiencies. All that said, when he hits a hot streak he's very tough to stop and thus far this season he's averaging 24 points. Jose Calderon, Antoine Wright and Jarrett Jack will have their work cut out for them trying to shut down his penetration.
- The Raptors at home. During their game against the Magic, the Raptors' lackluster play earned them more than a few boos from the crowd. Hopefully the Raps can come out strong and get the crowd into it.
- Chris Bosh. He's been unbelievable thus far this year. After the game against the Magic he was 3rd in the NBA in scoring and 2nd (behind some guy named Dwight Howard) in rebounding. If he can keep this up for a full year - but don't forget he slowed down after a hot start last year - he could be headed for an all-NBA year.
W2W4:
- The two new guys. Both carry a score-first mentality and can put up points in a hurry, but are not known as defensive intimidators. Charlie V makes his first visit in Detroit uniform, three years after he made a name for himself as a rookie with the Raptors. Gordon is a "hate-him or love-him" kind of player - he's often adored by casual fans who love his abiloity to score from anywhere and no-conscience attitude on offense. Others despise his sometimes poor shot selection and defensive deficiencies. All that said, when he hits a hot streak he's very tough to stop and thus far this season he's averaging 24 points. Jose Calderon, Antoine Wright and Jarrett Jack will have their work cut out for them trying to shut down his penetration.
- The Raptors at home. During their game against the Magic, the Raptors' lackluster play earned them more than a few boos from the crowd. Hopefully the Raps can come out strong and get the crowd into it.
- Chris Bosh. He's been unbelievable thus far this year. After the game against the Magic he was 3rd in the NBA in scoring and 2nd (behind some guy named Dwight Howard) in rebounding. If he can keep this up for a full year - but don't forget he slowed down after a hot start last year - he could be headed for an all-NBA year.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Raps Imitate D in a Pickup Game - 125-116 Magic
Well, it's clear that this Raptors team can score. We know that already. But besides the first game, the defense has been nothing short of abysmal. The Dinos gave up 36 first-quarter points and really only made a game out of it again in the fourth. They got monstrous performances from Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani, and Hedo Turkoglu and Jose Calderon were solid, but the Magic starters were dominant offensively. Besides Matt Barnes (who did post a line of 12 points, 9 boards, 6 steals, 4 assists, 2 blocks) every Orlando starter posted at least 20 points, led by Jameer Nelson's 30 points. They also let JJ Redick and Ryan Anderson combine for 47 points - never, ever a good recipe for success.
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Surprise, surprise, it's CB4 again. He put up another monster line of 35 points and 16 rebounds. He's doing all he can on offense. But both he and his supporting cast need to step up big time on the other side of the ball.
Notables:
Bargs - 26 points, 4 rebounds. His 2nd big scoring night of the season (admittedly, his "off night" yielded 12 points on good percentages) but with Reggie Evans not around to throw some 'bows in practice, he's been strugglingly defensively.
Hedayet - 19 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks. Another nice, well-rounded game. Repeat previous statements about defense.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raptors were outscored by 21 from behind the three-point arc, and also by 10 at the free-throw line.
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Surprise, surprise, it's CB4 again. He put up another monster line of 35 points and 16 rebounds. He's doing all he can on offense. But both he and his supporting cast need to step up big time on the other side of the ball.
Notables:
Bargs - 26 points, 4 rebounds. His 2nd big scoring night of the season (admittedly, his "off night" yielded 12 points on good percentages) but with Reggie Evans not around to throw some 'bows in practice, he's been strugglingly defensively.
Hedayet - 19 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks. Another nice, well-rounded game. Repeat previous statements about defense.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raptors were outscored by 21 from behind the three-point arc, and also by 10 at the free-throw line.
Orlando Comes to Toronto
Booing Vince Carter may have to wait for another time; for today's game his status is doubtful after a sprained ankle. The rest of the Magic, however, will take their perfect 2-0 record into Toronto this afternoon for a 1 o clock game. Catch it on CBC, Fan 590, or check ATDHE.net. The Raps are hoping to bounce back after a disappointing performance in Memphis.
W2W4
- If the first two games have shown us anything, its that defense and hard work are crucial to success. Against the Cavs and against the Grizz, the Raptors were two different teams. Lets hope they get fired up today and come out scoring early.
- The Raps must capitalize on the shorthanded Magic. The Eastern Conference champs are missing b0th VC and Rashard Lewis (suspended for using steroids). This will be the easiest Magic team the Dinos will face.
- The Raptors have to control the defensive boards. Against Memphis, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph combined for 10 offensive boards. Dwight will be crashing the glass hard, so the Raps must respond with tough box outs.
- Speaking of the big man, Toronto will have to try to slow down Howard, who averaged 32.7 points and shot 64.8 percent in his last three games against the Raptors.
W2W4
- If the first two games have shown us anything, its that defense and hard work are crucial to success. Against the Cavs and against the Grizz, the Raptors were two different teams. Lets hope they get fired up today and come out scoring early.
- The Raps must capitalize on the shorthanded Magic. The Eastern Conference champs are missing b0th VC and Rashard Lewis (suspended for using steroids). This will be the easiest Magic team the Dinos will face.
- The Raptors have to control the defensive boards. Against Memphis, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph combined for 10 offensive boards. Dwight will be crashing the glass hard, so the Raps must respond with tough box outs.
- Speaking of the big man, Toronto will have to try to slow down Howard, who averaged 32.7 points and shot 64.8 percent in his last three games against the Raptors.
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