In a game in which defence was non-existent, the Raptors' firepower - mostly consisting of Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon - was too much, overcoming the Bulls backcourt of Ben Gordon and Derrick Rose, who combined for 60 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals. The Bulls made some scary runs and had two excellent chances to win the game in regulation, including a missed layup by Rose, but the Raptors took over in the extra frame to win their fourth straight game for the first time since December of 2007.
NBA.com recap
Player of the Game:
Jose keyed the Raptors' offense brilliantly. He tied a Raps franchise record with 19 assists, poured in an efficient 22 points on 8-11 field goals, 2-3 threes, and (surprise!) a perfect 4-4 from the line, and also contributed 3 steals. Jose was the consummate playmaker and led the Raptors to victory the only way he knows how.
Notables:
Chris Bosh - 31 points (10-21 FG, 0-1 3FG, 11-11 FT), 15 rebounds, 2 assists. CB was dominant down low, pounding the ball into the lane and drawing foul after foul. He also returned to the CB we know and love on the glass, picking up 4 offensive boards.
Andrea Bargnani - 28 points (10-20 FG, 3-6 3FG, 5-6 FT), 6 rebounds, 2 assists. Bargs seems to be taking lessons from Chris, as he's become more adept at getting to the line, where he converts an excellent 83% of his attempts. Il Mago's season numbers are up to 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.
Pops Mensah-Bonsu - 13 points (5-8 FG, 3-5 FT), 4 rebounds, 1 block. Matt Devlin calls him "Big Daddy," but Raptors fans should herald the arrival of "Possum's Phone Ban" - the Raps' energizer. He had two thunderous dunks that helped give the Raptors some crucial momentum - one off an offensive rebound and one after a block, running the floor and throwing it down as the trailer for an and-1. This man is here to stay.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
Every Raptor recorded at least one rebound, helping the Raps outrebound the Bulls 42-32, including 13-9 on the offensive end.
One last note: It's great to be back, Raptors fans (whoever is left, that is...).
Showing posts with label Bulls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bulls. Show all posts
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Raptors Host the Bulls
Today at the horrendously awkward time of 3:30, our beloved Raptors will play the Chicago Bulls.
For view: CBC and channelsurfing.net
For listen: Fan 590
The Bulls, or Los Bulls as they are referred to this season, sit second in the Central Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 36-38 record. Los Bulls are going for their fifth straight win, however they are just 12-26 on the road, a far from impressive record.
The Raptors have won three games in a row (to the Clippers, the Bucks, and the Thunder. The streak sounds a lot more impressive if the teams aren't mentioned)! In doing so they have tied their longest streak of the year. Despite this sudden surge, the Raps still own a 27-45 record, second only to Washington for the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
What To Watch For
- Los Bulls present a balanced scoring game with speed and toughness. They can score from the inside with Tyrus Thomas, and the newly added Brad Miller (I refuse to recognize Joakim Noah as a skilled basketball player), or they can step out and threaten from beyond the three point line with Ben Gordon and John Salmons and penetrate with Derrick Rose. Any team that can bring both Gordon and Kirk Hinrich off the bench means business.
- On their current win streak, the Raptors are averaging 109.0 points while allowing just 92.7 points. For all of the non math people out there, that works to a differential of 16.3 points per game. Hopefully they will come out with a non-Raptoresque intensity level.
- Quincy Douby is now the latest addition to the Raptors! The D-League call up joins other Raptor D-Leaguers Nathan Jawai, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, and Patty O'Bryant. The Raptors are now 27% D-League, and just 9 of the original 15 Raps from the beginning of 2009 remain on the team. Who will be the next to go?
For view: CBC and channelsurfing.net
For listen: Fan 590
The Bulls, or Los Bulls as they are referred to this season, sit second in the Central Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 36-38 record. Los Bulls are going for their fifth straight win, however they are just 12-26 on the road, a far from impressive record.
The Raptors have won three games in a row (to the Clippers, the Bucks, and the Thunder. The streak sounds a lot more impressive if the teams aren't mentioned)! In doing so they have tied their longest streak of the year. Despite this sudden surge, the Raps still own a 27-45 record, second only to Washington for the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
What To Watch For
- Los Bulls present a balanced scoring game with speed and toughness. They can score from the inside with Tyrus Thomas, and the newly added Brad Miller (I refuse to recognize Joakim Noah as a skilled basketball player), or they can step out and threaten from beyond the three point line with Ben Gordon and John Salmons and penetrate with Derrick Rose. Any team that can bring both Gordon and Kirk Hinrich off the bench means business.
- On their current win streak, the Raptors are averaging 109.0 points while allowing just 92.7 points. For all of the non math people out there, that works to a differential of 16.3 points per game. Hopefully they will come out with a non-Raptoresque intensity level.
- Quincy Douby is now the latest addition to the Raptors! The D-League call up joins other Raptor D-Leaguers Nathan Jawai, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, and Patty O'Bryant. The Raptors are now 27% D-League, and just 9 of the original 15 Raps from the beginning of 2009 remain on the team. Who will be the next to go?
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 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.
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