Raps Win Fanapalooza

The Raptors beat Philly yesterday, or something.

Yawn.

Hey look at this!

Craptors Drop 4 Straight: 100-98 Wizards

Not only did Raptor fans have to witness Caron Butler breaking Shawn Marion's ankles and then follow that up with the winning shot, they didn't even get a free slice of pizza!

So, rather than depress you by telling you the tao of how the Craps lost to the second worst team in the league, I will instead show you pictures of mirror images found in nature.

We Have (Another) Blowout: 130-101 Pacers

Remember last week when the Craptors won six games in a row, and there was talk about the playoffa? Well tonight the Craps reminded us why we went on a non-violent blogging strike. The only thing more embarassing than the Raptor defense tonight was giving up a double double to JOSH MCROBERTS!?!?!?! Captain Suck recorded career highs in points (12) and rebounds (11), outscoring Shawn Marion and Jose Calderon's combined point total. Did I mention that Josh McRoberts is a 2 ppg and 2 rpg player? Could have been Raptor Danny Granger Joey 2.0 put up 29 points tonight.
NBA.com Recap

Player of the game:
Gotta give it up for Patrick O'Bryant tonight (yes, seriously). As opposed to last nights game where he looked tired, disoriented, and Michael Bradley-esque, POB pulled it together tonight, starting in place of Andrea Bargnani. POB finished going 8-11 from the field, good for 16 points, grabbed 7 boards, and used every one of his fouls. The kicker: Patty led the Craps tonight with a stunning +3 performance.

Notables:
Chris Bosh - 'Nother day at the office for CB, 21 and 9. His infatuation with the three ball continues however, he has now attempted 7 threes in his past 10 games, he's 0-7 beeteedubz.
Joey Graham - 14 points, 4 boards, 8-9 from free throw. Joey showed up his twin brother good. Steven only had 8 points and 3 boards.

Full box score

Stat of the game:
The Craptor defense was just comical tonight. The Pacers had their highest point total and margin of victory of the season (Toronto makes the record books again!). They also shot 62 percent from the field in the first half, and 72 percent in the second quarter. At half, the score was an astounding 74-48, the Pacers highest scoring half of the season. The Pacers scored their 100th point with 3:33 left in the third quarter and led 115-74 at the end of the period. The Pacers shot 68 percent in the third quarter. I would attach a lesson for the Craps, but who has the energy anymore?

Hawks Swoop in for 4th Quarter "W" - 118-110 Atlanta

The Raptors were very much in the game for the first three and a half quarters, but Atlanta got hothotter from behind the arc and the Raps couldn't stop the bleeding as Atlanta pulled away. The win improved Atlanta's chances of nabbing home-court advantage in the first round as the 4th seed in the East.

NBA.com Recap

Player of the Game:
Jose Calderon led the Raps the whole game, doing his best to inspire the troops to rally back for a victory. He finished with a double-double: 16 points (6-11 FG, 3-5 3FG, 1-1 FT) and 13 assists, and played stellar defense, putting up 2 steals and 2 blocks. He also finished with just 2 turnovers, despite playing 35 minutes.

Notables:
Chris Bosh - 21 points (10-12 FG, 1-1 FT), 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks. CB4 finished with his 8th consecutive double-double and shot extremely well all night, but one might wonder why he didn't take some more shots, hot as he was.
Shawn Marion - 18 points (5-10 FG, 8-8 FT), 6 rebounds. Again provided a nice complement to Bosh and Andrea Bargnani (15 points) down low. Slashed well, but he's usually better than that on the boards.
Quincy Douby - 9 points (4-5 FG, 1-1 FT), 2 assists, 2 rebounds. The lithe combo guard out of Rutgers led Raptor reserves in points tonight, and gave the Raps a great spark off the bench.

Full box score

Stat of the Game:
For the first time in eight games, the Raptors did not win the battle of the boards. They gave up 11 offensive rebounds, and every Hawk starter recorded at least one offensive board. The Hawks are very athletic and love to hit the glass, but that means that perimeter players need to box out even harder.

Raps Perform Magic Trick - 99-95 Raptors

In a stunning spoiler, the Raptors have pulled off a fifth straight win, this one over a team that is actually good. Led by spectacular showings by Chris Bosh, Shawn Marion and Jose Calderon, the Raps withstood the Magic's four-man attack of Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson Rafer Alston, who combined for 83% (79 points) of the Magic's overall scoring. The game had 21 lead changes.

NBA.com Recap

Player of the Game:
Shawn Marion grabbed his first PH PotG nod with a nicely rounded box score of 17 points (8-13 FG, sickening 1-4 FT), 15 rebounds, 6 assists and one steal. He's been getting high-percentage shots, been active on the glass and is a very effective point-forward, and he's adapted well to the Raptors' system.

Notables:
Chris Bosh - 24 points (10-20 FG, 4-4 FT), 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 5 turnovers. Tough to resist giving Bosh the PotG nod, but 5 turnovers is even uglier than 25% free throw shooting. The two bigs brilliantly anchored the frontcourt with Andrea Bargnani's foul trouble.
Jose Calderon - 21 points (8-13 FG, 2-3 3FG, 3-3 FT), 8 assists, 3 rebounds. Brutally efficient. What else is there to say?
Andrea Bargnani - 16 points (7-12 FG, 0-2 3FG, 2-2 FT), 2 rebounds, 6 fouls in 25 minutes. Was scoring like he usually does, but was very hampered by foul trouble, having to deal with Superman and the Turkish Il Mago, Turkoglu. At least this isn't happening every day like last season, am I right?

Full box score

Stat of the Game:
The Raptors, helped along by Orlando's dismal (40.8%, 31-76) shooting, managed to outrebound the Magic by fourteen, and held Howard to just nine rebounds - though four of those were offensive, the team was boxed-out respectably by the Raptors, and the Magic recorded nine offensive boards to the Raps' ten.

Side Note:
Just to let you all in on a little secret, the +/- statistic in basketball is by far the stupidest stat ever. Jake Voskuhl, namesake of the act of "recording a Voskuhl", posted a horrific line of 0 points on 0-2 shooting (1 block against), 3 fouls and 2 rebounds in 6:37, yet he was +7. Someone please explain to me how he actually helped the Raptors. I will give you a chocolate bar nothing.

Four Straight! - 134-129 Raptors, OT

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...).

Raps Hang Tough, Lose Thriller - 115-107 Lakers

The Raps carried a two-point lead into the fourth. The Lakers' first lead of the second half came halfway through the final quarter, and the Raps were able to pull within two with 42.7 seconds left. Unfortunately, a storm named Kobe Bryant came runbling in and the Raptors couldn't weather it, wasting fantastic efforts from Joey Graham and Jermaine O'Neal. Jose Calderon sat again with a sore hamstring. The Raps have dropped three straight and playoff hopes are fading rapidly.

NBA.com recap

Player of the Game:
Who saw this coming? JO looked like it was early 2003 again and posted an astounding line of 22 points, 9 rebounds and 9 blocks. He shot 9-17 from the field and 4-4 from the line. If trade talks are indeed in full swing, it looks like his stock has risen quite a bit tonight.

Notables:
Joey Graham - career-high 24 points (11-19 FG, 1-1 3FG, 1-2 FT), 4 rebounds. Joey was on fire tonight and took it upon himself to put pressure on the Laker perimeter D. He again showed flashes of brilliance and why he's definitely going to get some interest as a free agent.
Anthony Parker - 18 points (6-13 FG, 3-6 3FG, 3-3 FT), 9 assists, 5 rebounds. Playing point guard, Parker again shone through in Jose's absence. Point guard controversy, anyone? (Hint: that was a joke.)
Chris Bosh - Unfortunately, this is mostly a bad Notables mention. He did manage 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists while on the court, but he left in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Call it hindsight, but this man looks very, very tired.

Full box score

Stat of the Game:
In a game with a miniscule 14 total turnovers, the Lakers' pressure was a high point, finishing with six steals to the Raptors zero. The Raptors committed 9 turnovers in all, with the Lakers taking marvelous care of the ball with just 5.

Next Game: Friday, February 6th, 8:00 PM at New Orleans Hornets

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

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

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.

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...

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

"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

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.

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

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

Blazers Take Season Series: 102-89 Trailblazers

The Trailblazers didn't need a game-winning Steve Blake shot, as they handled the Raptors to get back in the win column. This loss snaps the Raptors 2 game win streak and the Trailblazers take the season series 2-0. This was due in large part to Brandon Roy, who went 14-19 from the field for 32 points and 9 assists. He dismantled the Raptors in the fourth quarter scoring 14 of his 32 in the frame. Jay Triano had this to say: "We tried different guys, we tried double-teaming him, and he threw it out, we ran and we blitzed him. We had two different guys on him any time there was a screen”. Struggling Portland rookie Greg Oden added 16 and 10 for his team.
The Raptors Trailblazers matchup provides Raptor fans with a glimpse of what could have been. In the 2006 NBA draft the Raptors selected Andrea Bargnani with their 1st overall pick, while Roy went 6th. Roy had 32 and 9 against the Raptors, while Andrea had 13 and 2 rebounds. Roy is a one time all star who is averaging 23 points, 4.5 rebounds per game, and 5.3 assists per game. Andrea may have potential to become a dominant NBA player, but he is currently a streaky pseudo-role player for the Raptors who averages just under 10 points a game (9.9).
NBA.com Recap

Player of the game:
Chris Bosh - 29 points, 9 rebounds. Mr. Consistent. He was a perfect 11-11 from the free throw line.

Notables:
Jermaine O'Neal - 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists. Followed up his best game as a Raptor with another solid performance. As Jermaine humbly said, "My success that I've had over the last couple of weeks has been based off my teammates. It's good to get numbers, but it's better to win and get everybody else involved."
Jason Kapono - Jason is in the "Notables" column for the wrong reasons. 0 points tonight, going 0-5, 0-2 from beyond the ark.
Will Solomon - Another one who is in the "Notables" for the wrong reason. 2 turnovers in 9 minutes. Somebody get this guy some glue.
Full box score

Stat of the game:
The Raptors shot just 12 free throws the entire game, 11 of them coming from Chris Bosh's hands. This, combined with their ice cold 12-of-34 from the field in the second half sunk the Raptors. Low free throw attempts numbers indicate that the Raptors aren't being aggressive enough and may be relying on their shooting ability too much.

Offensive Burst Powers Raps - 107-101 Raptors

Jermaine O'Neal was unstoppable on offense and had one of the most effective offensive games the Raptors have had in a long time allowed them to come back and take the lead for good with about 5 minutes left. It was the first Raptors win in Sacramento in over a decade as the Dinos had lost ten consecutive games at Arco Arena dating back to their last win on March 13, 1997.

NBA.com recap

Player of the Game:
Jermaine O'Neal had one of the most efficient games by a Raptor this season. He had a season-high 36 points on amazing 15-19 from the field and 6-8 from the line, adding 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and 2 blocks. JO carried this team.

Notables:
Jose Calderon - 16 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, one turnover. A very nice game establishing the offense and had one very pretty play in which he snuck behind the defense for a rebound and putback.
Chris Bosh - 13 points, 7 rebounds. finished the game with 5 fouls and as a result only played 27 minutes, luckily JO picked up the slack this game.
Jason Kapono - 10 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds. Jason hit a couple big shots and moved the ball well. Hopefully he'll keep shooting to allow JO and Bosh to operate.

Full box score

Stat of the Game:
The Raptors shot incredibly well this game, hitting 55.1% (38-69) of their field goals, 36.4% (4-11 ) of their threes and 75% (27-36) of their free throws. Their efficiency helped overshadow the 16 turnovers and the Kings' 40% (8-20) shooting from behind the arc.

Spurs Kick Raps While We're Down - 107-97 Spurs

Well, Tony Parker played pretty well. 24 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds - not bad. He led the Spurs to a franchise-record-tying 16 three-balls in destroying any semblance of Raptor perimeter defense. Well... the Raps' record ia 10-17. Hope of a turnaround to this season is becoming dimmer every day. Well, here goes the player awards...

NBA.com Recap

Player of the Game:
Jermaine O'Neal put up pretty stats. 24 points on 12-20 from the field, 10 rebounds. But hey, it seems these days it wouldn't be telling the whole truth to ignore that JO didn't get to the line once in 36 minutes and had 5 of his 8 missed field goals blocked. Sigh...

Notables:
Chris Bosh - 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists. Bosh's numbers are solid - he's too talented to have bad games, but teams are learning to key in on him, and his numbers are plumetting. He must be getting very frustrated by now.
Jose Calderon - 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists. Even the most efficient point guard in the league is having difficulties conjuring up offense in the anemic Raps system. It's a sad state of affairs.

Full box score

Stat of the Game:
Plain and simple: Perimeter defense. The Spurs jacked up 35 three-pointers, making an astounding 16 of them, for a 45.7% clip. The Raptors responded with 4-12 for 33.3%. Jason, Anthony, Jose, Jamario, Joey - put a hand in the face and move your feet. Please?

Raptors Lose to the Thunder! 91-83 Thunder

Orange and blue streamers fell from the rafters tonight. Why? BECAUSE THIS WAS THE THUNDER'S FIRST HOME WIN IN OVER A MONTH. Of course, this had to come against our beloved struggling Raptors. Our team is now in a bona fide basketball recession, losing 4 straight and 9 of their past 11. They now sit unchallenged as the worst in the Atlantic Division at 10-16.
Hey, at least it can't get much worse than that, right? Wrong: Jermaine O'Neal left the game at half time with a sore left shoulder.

Player of the game:
Chris Bosh - 22 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists. 1 of 2 Raptors in double digits tonight. Chris grabbed 8 offensive boards and tried his best to put the Raptors on his back.

Notables:
Andrea Bargnani - 16 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist. The only other Raptor in double figures. Not much else positive to say about his game tonight... He made a three? He had an offensive board?
Joey Graham - 9 points, 9 rebounds. +6 on the floor. He kept bringing the energy that we are all becoming accustomed to.

Stat of the game:
The Oklahoma City Thunder give up 103.3 points per game. Tonight the Raptors scored 83. The Raptors were held to 36% from the floor and 2-17 from three point range. Simply put, the Thunder do not know how to play defense. People keep saying that the Raptor offense is fine, they just need to fix their defense. However, the Raptors have only made it to 100+ points in 2 of their last 13 games. Maybe getting back on the winning end of games involves more than just defense.