Game Five - Raptors at Hawks

Tonight's matchup is Toronto at Atlanta, 7:30 PM tipoff. NBA.com is being weird, so we can't find the TV channel (although it will still be on the Fan590) or NBA.com's preview (you can see ESPN.com's preview), but you can still listen live with NBA League Pass. Tonight should be a very entertaining game.

What to watch for:
- A match-up between two great young forwards: the always-improving Josh Smith and our very own Chris Bosh.
- Mike Bibby, the Hawks' point guard, is playing well, but his work will be cut out for him trying to contain red-hot Jose Calderon.
- On the flip side, Anthony Parker will need to bring his "A" defensive game against the very talented Joe Johnson. JJ is not known as a particularly skilled defensive player, so if AP can make him work on the other end, it will help the Raptors greatly.
- Al Horford is already known as a "Turok" (Raptor-killer) in his young career. It will be up to Jermaine O'Neal to stay out of foul trouble and keep him off the boards, or he'll be giving Sam Mitchell fits all game.

Celebration Time!

Well, we at Prehistoric Hoops have now officially been around for over one whole month!

Some random thoughts:
- We like Matt Devlin. Now he's no Chuck Swirsky, but kudos to the Raps for getting a well-respected voice who knows how to announce. One of the things we liked best about Chuck is how he called games on TV like a radio announcer; he would actually describe the play instead of getting really bored and drawing on the screen. It's also nice to see that the Raps didn't try to replace Chuck, realizing he's one of a kind, and Devlin's passion and excitement level is much higher than we expected. He seems in sync with Leo and Jack as well which is an added bonus.
- Speaking of Chuck Swirsky, it was just brought to my attention that former "Banger Brother" Robert Archibald (from the Mengke Bateer era) currently plays in the Euroleague for Unicaja Malaga, averaging 7.3 points in almost 20 minutes. If you're wondering, Lonny Baxter is averaging 10 points per game for Panionios BC of Greece.
- Chris Bosh will make an All-NBA Team this year: book it. Ditto for Jose and the Eastern Conference All-Star team. If Rodney Stuckey ends up playing the 1 for Detroit instead of AI (with Iverson at off-guard) - and hey, maybe even if he doesn't - Jose has a real shot at claiming the title of the East's best point man.
- Jermaine O'Neal needs to get in shape. While he's jumping and running just fine, his continued foul trouble tells me he's playing defense with his hands, not his feet. It would be nice to shed his recently acquired nickname of "The Drain" while he's at it.
- We're surprised mainly with two teams this season. The first is Portland, who are underacheiving largely due to the poor play of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge - both are shooting under 42%. The play of Rudy Fernandez has been a nice bright spot for them, though. The other team is the LA Clippers. With the arrivals of Baron Davis and Marcus Camby (for whom the Clips effectively traded two basketballs, a rubber band and a moustache comb), this team was set for big things. But they have stuggled mightily on offense. No one besides DeAndre Jordan (who is 1-1 in 1 game) is shooting over 46% from the floor, with Baron Davis shooting 35%, Marcus Camby shooting 38% and Cuttino Mobley shooting 39%. Not good. At least Al Thornton is averaging 16.8 points on 46% shooting.
- The NBDL draft is tomorrow. [insert too-easy joke here]
- We hope you're enjoying Prehistoric Hoops, and keep reading!

First Loss: Detroit 100 Toronto 93

On a night where the Raptors could have made a statement win over an Eastern Conference power, the Raptors underperformed and did their best impression of defense played by ballers on the AND1 mixtape tour. Allowing Tayshaun Prince to go off for 27 points on 10-13 shooting is certainly no easy feat, no disrespect to Tayshaun.
NBA.com Recap

Player of the game:
Jose Calderon - 24 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 9-9 free throws in 36 minutes. Making big shots when the Raptors needed them and yet again playing a heroic game. Come on Sam, why is he only playing 36 a game?

Notables:
Chris Bosh - 26 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist in 45 minutes. Chris played, as usual, like the All-Star that he is. He was just about the only Raptor to get on the offensive glass tonight, snatching 4 offensive boards. With those four offensive rebounds he actually tied Antonio Davis for the all-time franchise record.
Andrea Bargnani - 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist in 21 minutes. A red hot 4-5 from the floor and 2-2 from three point range makes us wonder: "why isn't Andrea shooting more?"

Stat of the game:
The Raptors rank last in the league in rebounding and tonight took no exception. The Raptors, yet again, were outrebounded 43 to 38. Sam Mitchell said they worked on their rebounding a bit in practice yesterday, however maybe it's time to pay a little more attention to the paint. In addition, the Raptors' role players were nowhere to be seen tonight. Bosh, Calderon, and Bargnani were the only three Raptors to put up over 10 points, and frankly they were the only ones with games worth mentioning.

The Raptors first loss comes to a Detroit team without their finals MVP Chauncey Billups, big man Antonio McDyess, or newly acquired Allen Iverson. Even with these players missing the Pistons controlled the game, as they always do against a Toronto team that can never seem to play them well.

Iverson Will Not Play Tonight

The Raptors first look at Allen Iverson in a Pistons jersey will have to wait until later in the season due to league complications. Iverson and Cheikh Samb, the players being sent to Detroit from Denver, passed their physicals, however Chauncey Billups is still awaiting a physical which will happen on Thursday. Until then, the NBA can not sign off on the deal.

What does that translate to tonight?
In a battle of unbeaten teams in the east, this may give Toronto the edge. The Pistons are now without Billups and McDyess, two significant role players on the team. These two being gone added with Iverson and Samb not being able to play, this could translate into a win for a Raptors team looking to get off to an impressive 4 - 0 start.

Game Four - Raptors vs. Pistons

Up next we have the Detroit Pistons, fresh off a trade that completely shifted a balance of talent in the league. Gone are top-tier floor general and former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups and the always steady Antonio McDyess (and backup Cheikh Samb) and now dressing in the blue and red is future first-ballot Hall of Famer Allen Iverson. The Answer will make his Detroit debut, and he or Rodney Stuckey will start at the 1-spot. Tip-off is at 7:00 PM and the game is available, as always, on the Fan590 as well as The Score, and you can listen live here with NBA League Pass. You can also check out Mike Ulmer's game preview.

What to watch for:
- Um... Allen Iverson?
- Both teams have 3-0 records, and both will be playing rough to keep their record unblemished.
- The Raptors will need to try to control the inside this game if they want to win. While Rasheed Wallace is a nice player and Jason Maxiell is solid at his specialities, they can't match up with Bosh's quickness or O'Neal's size. It's key for the Raptors to try to outrebound the Pistons and get dirty on the boards if they want to come out on top.
- Jose Calderon will need to return to his efficient ways to beat Detroit. Assuming he (and not Anthony Parker) will be guarding Allen Iverson, it's very important for him to take care of the rock as well as making AI work on the defensive end, or he could go off for a huge game (as he's always dangerous to do).

Bosh Named Player of the Week

This week Chris Bosh was named the season's first Eastern Conference Player of the Week in leading the Raptors to a 3-0 start. He's won it four times before, and this week he posted averages of 26 points, 10 rebounds and 3.7 assists. It's crucial for Bosh to keep up his play and leadership as he's the engine that keeps us going. But for now, we can celebrate some recognition!

Chris Paul was named the Western Conference Player of the Week.

Read the press release

Pistons and Nuggets Complete Blockbuster

Today the Denver Nuggets sent (former?) superstar guard Allen Iverson to the Detroit Pistons for former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, forward/centre Antonio McDyess, and backup centre Cheikh Samb. Billups and McDyess were teammates in Denver from 1998 to 2000, with Billups going to Minnesota and McDyess staying with the Nuggets for two more seasons.

This deal makes very little sense to me. Detroit's success - playoff runs the last five years - was based entirely on their rock-solid team play. NBADraft.net's Robert McChesney's Gold Medal Superstar Theory lists the Pistons an incredible anomaly when they won the NBA Finals in 2004. However, this theory overlooks the fact that despite their lack of a defined "superstar" the Pistons were one of the most balanced teams ever assembled, and every player who received significant minutes was able to take over a game, if necessary, in his own way. Why is this relevant? The trade completed today brings a player, albeit a very talented one, who may or may not know the meaning of the word "team." He famously (and comically) defended his right to skip practice while with the Philadelphia 76ers. His 27.7 career scoring average is very deceiving, as he averages almost 23 field goal attempts per game, shooting below 43% on those attempts. He also averages 3.7 turnovers a game, which somewhat tarnishes his 6.3 assists.

All that being said, the Pistons aren't getting any younger, aren't getting any more talented, and their championship window is slamming shut. While I don't think this trade will work out at all, as I think Iverson will hog the ball as he has his entire career, it was certainly necessary to shake this roster up for one last run at the title. Unfortunately for the Pistons, that title won't come until they rebuild.

Grade for Pistons: C

On the Nuggets side, they definitely came out on top. Iverson and Carmelo Anthony was an experiment gone awry, with no legitimate point guard to control the distribution of wealth. Billups adds a proven point guard with the added ability to take scoring pressure off Anthony. It gives the Nuggets a solid three-man rotation down low with McDyess, Kenyon Martin (at least until he gets injured) and Nene. Cheikh Samb can also replace the nigh-useless Steven Hunter as a safety net.

While this trade makes a lot of sense, I don't think it will actually pay off more than a first round exit that takes a game or two longer. The Western powers are too even, with four legitimate contenders to make it through to the Finals: the Lakers, the Hornets, the Jazz and the ageless Spurs, and five if you're sold on Houston. This gives the Nuggets good odds to make the sixth seed, and one of those teams gets unlucky with injuries, a fifth place finish isn't out of the question. Unfortunately, the only team Denver has a chance to beat in a seven-game series is Houston - they'll lose in five or six to anyone else - and they won't be that lucky. The bottom line, however, is the Nuggets' front-office is showing their fan base they're committed to winning, even if that means 50 regular-season W's and a first-round exit. And they'll sell a Billups jersey or two.

Grade for Nuggets: A

Raptors Win Another Thriller - 91-87 Raps

On the second night of a back-to-back, playing against a very energetic Bucks squad in their home opener, the Raptors actually led for much of the third and fourth. But the Bucks made their run, and it looked like our Raps were out of gas. After Anthony Parker missed a three that could have iced the game and put us up by four, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (remember him?) made a hook shot in the lane to regain the lead. In their zone, Jose got the ball back and calmly knocked down a tres with about 21 seconds left to put us up two. Michael Redd then missed a jumper that would have tied the game, Moon grabbed the board, was immediately fouled and made his freebies. Redd followed with a layup to bring the Bucks back to within reach, but the Raptors called a timeout and got the ball in to Calderon, whose two free throws were the dagger.

Read the Raptors' recap

Player of the Game:
No doubt last night, it was Jose. Dropped a career-high 25 points and dished out 9 assists. Shot 8-15 from the floor, 3-4 on threes and 6-6 from the line. He actually committed six turnovers (when was the last time that happened?) but that's certainly an anomaly, and we can chalk it up to fatigue.

Notables:
Chris Bosh - 20 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists on a night when he looked tired and was hounded all night by Bucks defenders. It's a credit to his improvement as a passer that on such a tough night he is still extremely effective, and his passing has opened up his own scoring - it makes it much tougher for other teams to double up on him when they know he can dish it to Jose, Parker or JK for a three.
Jamario Moon - 15 points, 2 rebounds. Missed some ill-advised shots, but he made them when it counted, scoring 5 points in the last two minutes of the game on a three and two free throws. It would be nice to see him a little more active on the boards.
Anthony Parker - 11 points, 4 steals, 3 assists. Solid as always, played great defence alternating between Richard Jefferson (who had 9 points) and Michael Redd (who had 19).
Jermaine O'Neal - unfortunately is in the "Notables" section largely for bad reasons. Actually had a pretty decent game stat-wise, posting 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks, but fouled out with 5:24 left to play and had 4 turnovers. While he hasn't played badly despite his fouls, he needs to work on taking care of the ball (and granted, tonight everyone was off their game) and staying on the floor, as his defence has been sensational.

Full box score

Stat of the Game:
The Raptors again shot very well from behind the arc, going 50% (8-16) and from the line, going for 88.5% (23-26). It's important, especially on the road, to make open shots and free throws, and last night our boys did what they needed to do.

Next game: Wednesday, November 5th vs. Detroit Pistons

Game Three - Raptors at Milwaukee

Tonight the Raptors fly in to play the second of their back to back games. The game is at 8:30, available for view on TSN and for listen on the Fan590.
Hey, the Raptors are unbeaten! Watch them try to begin the season 3-0!

What to watch for:
- Richard Jefferson in a Bucks jersey. He has not been effective with the Bucks yet, however, maybe if his team were to actually get him the ball, he could produce a lot more this season.
- Andrea was brilliant off of the bench last night, providing 19 big points (and no, not all of them were jump shots). Hopefully he will be able to dominate against Andrew Bogut tonight.
- Chris Bosh is doing what he does best, dominating every aspect of the game. He is red hot and is a pleasure to watch. His numbers only seem to be better with the addition of Jermaine, and his move to power forward.
- Even with the addition of JO the Raptors have been out-rebounded in their first two games. Is it time to make an adjustment, or should Sam wait until we lose?
- Fatigue may be a factor today for the Raptors, especially with the back-to-back, as they needed to go to overtime last night, resulting in every starter and Bargnani playing 31 minutes or more, with Calderon, Bosh and Parker all playing over 40.

Raps Pull It Out in Overtime - 112-108 Raptors

Tonight was a huge confidence booster for the Raptors. After a neck-and-neck game for much of the first four quarters, we found ourselves playing catchup in crunch time. When JO, who did not play well offensively, picked up his fifth foul and sat on the pine, Andrea Bargnani was called upon to play crucial minutes. Bargnani, who was already playing very aggressively, carried the Raps through the fourth and in overtime. He certainly played the best we've seen in a long time. In overtime, the Raptors scored the first eight points and played lockdown defense on the Warriors.

Read NBA.com's preview

Player of the Game:
Can't help but give it up for Il Mago tonight. After a poor offensive showing in the season opener (0 points on 0-4 shooting) despite decent defensive play (5 rebounds, 2 blocks) both Smitch and Andrea himself were unhappy with his play. But he stepped up big time last night, posting 19 points on blistering 8-10 (1-2 from three) from the field and 2-2 from the line. He also posted 5 boards, 3 blocks including two monster blocks on Al Harrington in OT, and perhaps most importantly, only committed one foul and had two turnovers in 31 minutes. He played like a number one pick, and that's all we can ask.

Notables:
Chris Bosh - probably had the best game overall, but Bargnani stepped up enough that he deserved the Player of the Game. Had 31 points (12-24FG, 7-10FT), 9 rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block in 42 minutes. Did have three turnovers, but when you have the ball in your hands as much as CB4, it's acceptable. The scariest part of his game: he started off very slowly, shooting 2-5 from the line and looking extremely uneasy against Harrington. And he still dropped 31.
Jose Calderon - absolutely dazzling play from Numero Ocho. In 43 minutes: 16 points (4-10 from the field, 0-1 from three, 8-8 from the line). 13 assists. 5 rebounds. And one turnover. Jose Calderon is an All-Star.
Anthony Parker - 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals in 41 minutes. Big game from AP, especially on defense. While it's not reasonable to expect production like this every night, he's definitely still capable of making big plays and scoring when he needs to.
Jermaine O'Neal - in a foul-plagued game, only 5 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. It's nice to see that he's active and using his body on defense even in foul trouble, and when Andrea plays like that backing him up, he can definitely be a force all the time in our end.

Stat of the Game:
The Raptors were plus-13 in free throw shooting (26-30 to 13-19). This certainly helps counteract Golden State's 11 threes, plus-10 in rebounding, plus-14 in points in the paint and plus-16 in field goal attempts.

Next game: Tonight, November 1st, at Milwaukee Bucks