Tonight at 7:00 PM we feature the first rematch of the young season, with our Raptors set to take on an underachieving Philadelphia team that stands at 2-5. The game is available on the radio, as always, on the Fan590, and The Score on TV, and you can listen live with League Pass. Elton Brand has been fairly effective but has been unable to lead this team, and Andre Iguodala, after averaging nearly 20 points per game last season, is going for under 12 while shooting below 40% from the floor. In the season opener, the Raptors defeated the Sixers in Philly despite getting killed on the boards. The 76ers are also currently on a three-game losing streak which the Raps will look to extend. You can check out NBA.com's game preview.
What to watch for:
- The Sixers are one of the best rebounding teams in the league both in terms of differential and total rebounds - despite allowing almost 40 rebounds per game to their opponents. They play a fairly fast pace and are shooting quite poorly, but Samuel Dalembert, Elton Brand, Reggie Evans and Andre Iguodala are all threats to crash the boards. Bosh and JO will need to work the glass hard to win.
- Jose Calderon needs to get back to his scoring ways to be as effective as possible. He usually shoots a high percentage while allowing easier penetration and distribution, and the Raps count on him to take some of the pressure off the inside with his scoring.
- Anthony Parker has been quiet the last few games. Despite his tough defensive assignments, his outside steadiness and scoring has been missing, and the Raptors would love to get it back.
- Hopefully the Raptors are not distracted by swirling trade rumours, and Andrea Bargnani can stay focused on providing scoring - and recently, defense too - off the bench.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Raptors Interested in Wallace, Harrington?
The Raptors have reportedly been talking with the Bobcats and the Warriors about acquiring a perimeter player. Specifically, the Raptors have been looking at Gerald Wallace and Al Harrington. You can check out RealGM's Wiretap article here.
This season, Gerald Wallace is averaging 15 points per game, almost 9 rebounds per game and 2 assists. His three point percentage is a solid .455. Maybe most importantly, Gerald is averaging upwards of 2 steals per game, and can bring the Raptors an athletic small forward who is not afraid to attack the bucket.
Al Harrington has publically stated that he wants out of Golden State. Slightly less attractive and effective than Gerald, Al is averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds. His career has also been riddled with personal and attitude problems. However, Al is a 6'10 big man who can shoot the three ball.
It is a mystery what BC has up his french cuffs. However, if Joey Graham is able to produce like he did against the Celtics, why be so quick to rush for a trade? Especially considering we may have to give up Andrea...
This season, Gerald Wallace is averaging 15 points per game, almost 9 rebounds per game and 2 assists. His three point percentage is a solid .455. Maybe most importantly, Gerald is averaging upwards of 2 steals per game, and can bring the Raptors an athletic small forward who is not afraid to attack the bucket.
Al Harrington has publically stated that he wants out of Golden State. Slightly less attractive and effective than Gerald, Al is averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds. His career has also been riddled with personal and attitude problems. However, Al is a 6'10 big man who can shoot the three ball.
It is a mystery what BC has up his french cuffs. However, if Joey Graham is able to produce like he did against the Celtics, why be so quick to rush for a trade? Especially considering we may have to give up Andrea...
Raptors Drop One in Boston - 94-87 Celtics
For the first three quarters last night it looked like the Raps could pull off a huge confidence booster in Boston. We were playing solid, efficient offense and stingy defense. But when the Celts made their run in the fourth we couldn't stop the bleeding and some threes by Jesus Shuttlesworth and Paul Pierce broke the game open. Jermaine O'Neal busted out of his slump with a big game, but unfortunately the good guys couldn't pick up the W. Our record currently stands at 4-3.
Raptors Post Up
Player of the Game:
Jermaine O'Neal all the way last night. It looked like JO's intensity would carry us through, although that wasn't meant to be. He finished with 23 points (on 8-17 FG and 7-9 FT), 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Hopefully for him and Raptors fans this means he will finally break out of his offensive slump.
Notables:
Jason Kapono - 14 points (6-10 FG, 2-3 3FG), 6 assists, 4 rebounds. A surprisingly well-rounded game from Jason, and he stepped up when no one else could play backup to Jermaine's main event.
Jose Calderon - 7 points (2-9 FG, 1-4 3FG, 2-2 FT), 10 assists, one steal, one block. Played distributor as always but did not shoot well at all. He needs to be more consistent shooting the rock to allow him to penetrate more easily, but it's impossible to pin the blame on him.
Chris Bosh - 9 points, 7 rebounds. Looked sluggish after Sunday's dominance in Charlotte. While he didn't have a particularly bad game, this team counts on him to dominate the post alongside Jermaine O'Neal, and needs both to play well. One or the other just won't cut it against the best team in the NBA.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
Boston was plus-11 in free throws, shooting 88.9% (24-27) to the Raptors 72.2% (13-18).
Next game: Wednesday, November 12th, 7:00 PM vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Raptors Post Up
Player of the Game:
Jermaine O'Neal all the way last night. It looked like JO's intensity would carry us through, although that wasn't meant to be. He finished with 23 points (on 8-17 FG and 7-9 FT), 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Hopefully for him and Raptors fans this means he will finally break out of his offensive slump.
Notables:
Jason Kapono - 14 points (6-10 FG, 2-3 3FG), 6 assists, 4 rebounds. A surprisingly well-rounded game from Jason, and he stepped up when no one else could play backup to Jermaine's main event.
Jose Calderon - 7 points (2-9 FG, 1-4 3FG, 2-2 FT), 10 assists, one steal, one block. Played distributor as always but did not shoot well at all. He needs to be more consistent shooting the rock to allow him to penetrate more easily, but it's impossible to pin the blame on him.
Chris Bosh - 9 points, 7 rebounds. Looked sluggish after Sunday's dominance in Charlotte. While he didn't have a particularly bad game, this team counts on him to dominate the post alongside Jermaine O'Neal, and needs both to play well. One or the other just won't cut it against the best team in the NBA.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
Boston was plus-11 in free throws, shooting 88.9% (24-27) to the Raptors 72.2% (13-18).
Next game: Wednesday, November 12th, 7:00 PM vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Monday, November 10, 2008
Raps Visit the Champs
Oh boy... big game tonight. Raptors at Celtics, 7:00 PM tipoff. It's available on the Fan as always and on Raptors NBA TV. You can also listen live with League Pass. The Raptors are in the second game of a back-to-back, on the road, playing the best team in the league. It would be very very nice to see the guys rise to the challenge. Last night Chris Bosh was a superstar. Jose and Will Solomon combined for 15 points, 13 assists and one turnover. Jermaine played great defence and was active on the boards, and Bargnani was huge off the bench. That said... it takes a whole lot more to beat the reigning NBA champions than the Bobcats.
NBA.com preview
What to watch for:
- A match up of quite possibly the two best forwards in the East - Bosh and Kevin Garnett. While it unfortunately doesn't look like CB's defence will ever be quite like Defensive Player of the Year KG's, it's improving rapidly and his intensity is getting up there as well. This is a critical match up.
- Perimeter play. Boston has one of the best swingman combos in the league in Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon will have to give maximum effort to keep these guys from dropping bombs all over the court.
- This year the Raps have a definite advantage in two positions: point guard and centre. Jose is having a monster year already (16.2 points, 9.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds, just 1.7 turnovers) and Jermaine... well his scoring has been lacking. His defence has been nothing short of sensational (when he's not in foul trouble) - he's averaging nearly two blocks a game. If Jose keeps Rajon Rondo working on the other end (as quick as Rondo is, he can't contain Calderon) and JO stops out of his funk, these two guys will give the Raptors a chance to win.
NBA.com preview
What to watch for:
- A match up of quite possibly the two best forwards in the East - Bosh and Kevin Garnett. While it unfortunately doesn't look like CB's defence will ever be quite like Defensive Player of the Year KG's, it's improving rapidly and his intensity is getting up there as well. This is a critical match up.
- Perimeter play. Boston has one of the best swingman combos in the league in Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon will have to give maximum effort to keep these guys from dropping bombs all over the court.
- This year the Raps have a definite advantage in two positions: point guard and centre. Jose is having a monster year already (16.2 points, 9.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds, just 1.7 turnovers) and Jermaine... well his scoring has been lacking. His defence has been nothing short of sensational (when he's not in foul trouble) - he's averaging nearly two blocks a game. If Jose keeps Rajon Rondo working on the other end (as quick as Rondo is, he can't contain Calderon) and JO stops out of his funk, these two guys will give the Raptors a chance to win.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Raptors Come Back - 89-79 Raptors
For the first two and half quarters of this one, it looked like the Raptors had lost all their confidence, hustle - and ability to shoot. But Chris Bosh played like a superstar, giving us energy, scoring, rebounding and defense down the stretch to lead a 19-0 run late in the game which gave the Raps an unsurmountable lead. Andrea Bargnani also played well, and Will Solomon gave some nice backup minutes for Jose.
Check out the Raptors recap
Player of the Game:
Chris Bosh was the man today. He took it upon himself to not allow our team to drop to 3-3, and it turns out against a team like the Bobcats (though they knocked off New Orleans the other day) his talent and determination was enough. CB4 had 30 points (on scorching 12-17 FG and 6-7 FT), 15 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. He - like the rest of the team - looked a little rusty early, and he ended up with 5 turnovers and 3 fouls. But you can't take anything away from him - he was dominant.
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani - 18 points (6-10 from the field including 3-5 from three, 3-4 from the line), 5 rebounds, 3 blocks. Another excellent, rounded game from Bargnani. Maybe even more importantly, Il Mago only had one turnover and one foul. Also had some key defensive plays down the stretch and hit some huge shots. Getting production like this every game would be a lifesaver.
Jose Calderon - 13 points (6-10 FG, 1-4 3FG), 7 assists, 0 turnovers. A solid if unspectacular game from Jose. Was backed-up effectively by Will Solomon (2 points, 6 assists, 1 turnover) and as a result "only" played 35 minutes.
Jermaine O'Neal - 5 points (0-5 FG(!), 5-6 FT), 9 rebounds, two assists, one block. For some reason, his scoring is just not there. But there's no doubting that Bosh is loving the move over to power forward, looking at his stats. It's definitely nice to see that JO is active on the boards and on defense despite his scoring. Before the start of the season, we were worried what would happen if JO didn't get his touches, and if his attitude would rub off on the rest of the team. Thus far, he's been a veteran leader and hopefully just wants to win. Only played 20 minutes tonight because the Bobcats were going with a small line-up and because Bargnani was playing so well.
Jamario Moon - 10 points (5-8 FG, 0-2 3FG), 9 rebounds, 3 assists, one block. A return to last year's Super Jamario - hustle, chipping in some points here and there, great rebounding and defense. He needs to be active to be effective, and tonight he was both of those things.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raptors shot 49.3% (35-71) from the field to Charlotte's 37% (30-81). But tonight, for the first time this season, the Raptors outrebounded their opponents, 44-36. Yeah, it's almost completely because the Bobcats couldn't land a shot in the ocean with a beach ball, but baby steps, people.
Next game: Tomorrow (Monday) at Boston Celtics, 7:30 PM tipoff
Check out the Raptors recap
Player of the Game:
Chris Bosh was the man today. He took it upon himself to not allow our team to drop to 3-3, and it turns out against a team like the Bobcats (though they knocked off New Orleans the other day) his talent and determination was enough. CB4 had 30 points (on scorching 12-17 FG and 6-7 FT), 15 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. He - like the rest of the team - looked a little rusty early, and he ended up with 5 turnovers and 3 fouls. But you can't take anything away from him - he was dominant.
Notables:
Andrea Bargnani - 18 points (6-10 from the field including 3-5 from three, 3-4 from the line), 5 rebounds, 3 blocks. Another excellent, rounded game from Bargnani. Maybe even more importantly, Il Mago only had one turnover and one foul. Also had some key defensive plays down the stretch and hit some huge shots. Getting production like this every game would be a lifesaver.
Jose Calderon - 13 points (6-10 FG, 1-4 3FG), 7 assists, 0 turnovers. A solid if unspectacular game from Jose. Was backed-up effectively by Will Solomon (2 points, 6 assists, 1 turnover) and as a result "only" played 35 minutes.
Jermaine O'Neal - 5 points (0-5 FG(!), 5-6 FT), 9 rebounds, two assists, one block. For some reason, his scoring is just not there. But there's no doubting that Bosh is loving the move over to power forward, looking at his stats. It's definitely nice to see that JO is active on the boards and on defense despite his scoring. Before the start of the season, we were worried what would happen if JO didn't get his touches, and if his attitude would rub off on the rest of the team. Thus far, he's been a veteran leader and hopefully just wants to win. Only played 20 minutes tonight because the Bobcats were going with a small line-up and because Bargnani was playing so well.
Jamario Moon - 10 points (5-8 FG, 0-2 3FG), 9 rebounds, 3 assists, one block. A return to last year's Super Jamario - hustle, chipping in some points here and there, great rebounding and defense. He needs to be active to be effective, and tonight he was both of those things.
Full box score
Stat of the Game:
The Raptors shot 49.3% (35-71) from the field to Charlotte's 37% (30-81). But tonight, for the first time this season, the Raptors outrebounded their opponents, 44-36. Yeah, it's almost completely because the Bobcats couldn't land a shot in the ocean with a beach ball, but baby steps, people.
Next game: Tomorrow (Monday) at Boston Celtics, 7:30 PM tipoff
Raptors Go To Charlotte
At 1:00 today, the Raptors will play the Bobcats. The game is available to watch on CBC. The Bobcats are 1 game into a 6 game homestand. Last game they defeated the New Orleans Hornets 92-89. On the Raptors side, they have dropped 2 straight games and look to bounce back from a blowout in Atlanta.
What to watch for:
- Larry Brown became coach of the Bobcats in the offseason. This is the Raptors first look at Brown's Bobcats.
- Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace, Matt Carroll, Adam Morrison, and Jared Dudley can all put the ball in the basket. Look for the Bobcats to spread the floor with their ability to penetrate and shoot.
- Jason Kapono may replace Jamario Moon in the starting lineup today. Kapono had 14 points on Friday, while Moon has had some struggles in the season's beginning. Sophmore slump?
- The Raptors have been outrebounded in every game thus far, and keeping Emeka Okafor off the glass will be no easy feat. Hopefully Sam Mitchell will have ran some rebounding drills in Saturday's practice.
The Raptors, who started the season at a powerful 3-0, have now fallen to 3-2. This game could make the statement that, either the Raptors can bounce back and are a contender, or they are simply a .500 ball club. Hopefully it will not be the latter.
What to watch for:
- Larry Brown became coach of the Bobcats in the offseason. This is the Raptors first look at Brown's Bobcats.
- Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace, Matt Carroll, Adam Morrison, and Jared Dudley can all put the ball in the basket. Look for the Bobcats to spread the floor with their ability to penetrate and shoot.
- Jason Kapono may replace Jamario Moon in the starting lineup today. Kapono had 14 points on Friday, while Moon has had some struggles in the season's beginning. Sophmore slump?
- The Raptors have been outrebounded in every game thus far, and keeping Emeka Okafor off the glass will be no easy feat. Hopefully Sam Mitchell will have ran some rebounding drills in Saturday's practice.
The Raptors, who started the season at a powerful 3-0, have now fallen to 3-2. This game could make the statement that, either the Raptors can bounce back and are a contender, or they are simply a .500 ball club. Hopefully it will not be the latter.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Raps Get Blown Out: 110 - 92
The Raptors promising 3-0 start has quickly diminished to a 3-2 record as the Atlanta Hawks remain unbeaten. Despite Josh Smith getting injured in the first quarter and not returning, the Hawks dominated play throughout the game and received little defensive resistance from the Raptors. At the forefront of the Hawks charge were Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson. Bibby, a classic Raptor killer, provided 19 points and 12 assists, while Johnson added 17 points. 7 rebounds and 6 assists. The words of Sam Mitchell say it all: "There was just nothing we could do to stop them. We just couldn’t guard them tonight. Almost everybody was off. It happens.”
NBA.com Recap
Player of the game:
Chris Bosh - 26 points, 8 rebounds in 38 minutes. Bosh also got to the line 12 times, which is a great number. However Bosh had an uncharacteristic 0 assists.
Notables:
Jermaine O'Neal - 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocked shots in 30 minutes. Hopefully his early season jitters are gone and we will see this type of production more this season from Jermaine. Also, his three blocks were a nice aspect of the night. A step in the right direction, however Jermaine did not grab any offensive boards.
Jason Kapono - 14 ponts, 3 rebounds, 3 assists in 30 minutes. Jason showed that he was not afraid to shoot tonight, taking 15 shots. And with his ability, why not take 15 shots a game? It is nice to see some bench scoring that is not Andrea Bargnani.
Jose Calderon - 6 points, 12 assists, 4 rebounds in 36 minutes. A very uncharacteristic 2-10 shooting night for Jose. No doubt he will bounce back though.
Full box score
Stat of the game:
The Raptors were simply outworked tonight. Yet again the worst rebounding team in the league did not dissapoint last night, as they were minus 9 on the boards. Furthermore, the speedy Hawks were able to get out and run, leading to 18 fast break points. The Raptors only had 3.
The Raptors will look to rebound (yes, that is a pun) Sunday in Charlotte against the 2-3 Bobcats.
NBA.com Recap
Player of the game:
Chris Bosh - 26 points, 8 rebounds in 38 minutes. Bosh also got to the line 12 times, which is a great number. However Bosh had an uncharacteristic 0 assists.
Notables:
Jermaine O'Neal - 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocked shots in 30 minutes. Hopefully his early season jitters are gone and we will see this type of production more this season from Jermaine. Also, his three blocks were a nice aspect of the night. A step in the right direction, however Jermaine did not grab any offensive boards.
Jason Kapono - 14 ponts, 3 rebounds, 3 assists in 30 minutes. Jason showed that he was not afraid to shoot tonight, taking 15 shots. And with his ability, why not take 15 shots a game? It is nice to see some bench scoring that is not Andrea Bargnani.
Jose Calderon - 6 points, 12 assists, 4 rebounds in 36 minutes. A very uncharacteristic 2-10 shooting night for Jose. No doubt he will bounce back though.
Full box score
Stat of the game:
The Raptors were simply outworked tonight. Yet again the worst rebounding team in the league did not dissapoint last night, as they were minus 9 on the boards. Furthermore, the speedy Hawks were able to get out and run, leading to 18 fast break points. The Raptors only had 3.
The Raptors will look to rebound (yes, that is a pun) Sunday in Charlotte against the 2-3 Bobcats.
Friday, November 7, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
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!
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!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
