Movin on up

After the blowout win vs. the Wizards last night the Raps have moved to 4th on ESPN's Hollinger powere rankings! Now, these rankings are updated daily and based on some sort of mathematical formula I believe and I check them every day. Never have I seen the raps as high as 4th! Pretty exciting.


In other news, Damon Stoudamire seems to have been picked up by the Spurs. I cursed when I first heard the news, but truth be told, its much better that all efforts are placed into finding a rebounder. Plus we've got a top-tier point guard on IR who apparently is going to start practicing with the team again.


Last night was another example of what this team is capable of when they shoot a high percentage. Barney had 19, he even flashed a smile or two. Maybe the team doc got him some pills. Has anyone else noticed how Bosh and Calerdon seem like the best of buds these days. Last night Bosh sat on the bench, Delphino to his right and Jose to his left, all three having a hearty laugh. It looked like Carlos told Bosher a joke and Chris in turn whispered it to Jose and it was apparently quite funny. I love it, I think it’s great for the team and the chemistry and all that. But, i do find it a bit weird. I've heard Jose talk and converse many a time, and while his english seems good enough for basic communication I would venture to say that some times its a bit of a struggle to talk to him. Especially since he's such a high energy guy, he seems to be yapping in somebody’s ear, and sometimes feel like most players, coaches and even the refs are merely humoring him. That being said its completely ridiculous for me to hypothesize on such things from a far, or even through the television lens, but what I am trying to say is I just hope that this Bosh-Calderon friendship is genuine, (which should translate to the floor) and not something manufactured.

Trade Talk

It feels like this we're at an integral point in this season for this Raptors Club. I feel like if I were to find out that Colangelo was not working overtime trying to fill one or more of the holes in this team, that I would be extremely dissapointed. The good thing is that these holes are glaring, and its easy to see exactlly what this team needs. That being a second string point guard and a big athletic rebounder. Rebounding has become a chronic problem, one that will become even more glaring down the stretch and into the playoffs. The point guard spot is more manageable, but at the end of the day it means that the second stringers, a testement to this teams depth, don't benifit from playing with a point guard who can create. This problem is not as apparent when the team is shooting well, beacuse as a jump-shooting team, as it was in Boston, when they hit shots, especially from three, they can and will beat anybody. But, when they are not, and they are forced to create other scoring opurtunities it doesn't allways work out as Calderon cannot allways be on the floor.

It would be great to get Damo back. He'd provide a veteren presence, and it would be a great homecoming type story. Contrary to what you'd hear in the local press, Damon landing in TO is actually bit of a long shot. But it's starting to sound like Boston is wary about messing with thier chemistry leaving the Spurs and Suns contending with TO for the point guard. Supposedlly, Toronto is at least a consideration, and if he were picked up by TO it would likely be because neither western contender made an offer.

That all being said, if any move is to be made it should be to address the rebounding. You hear about it after every game the raps were outrebounded by some ridiculus margin. I think its safe to say that most players on this team are playing close to thier capacity, Bosh is scoring 25-30 a night, Parker is shooting a ridiculus percentage, Calerdon couldn't be asked to run the point any better, Jamario adds explosivness on defense and shot blocking, the bench: Delfino, Hump and even Kapono are playing theier roles exceptionally. If they could only get a few more opurtunities a game, by way of rebounding, we could and would desrcibe this team as solid and maybe even formidbale.

My big three beats your big three

I love how the raps have a "big three" now (Bosh, Jose and Parker). I also love when the Raps shoot like 150% from 3 to beat the beat team in the league at home. This, my friends was the statement game that I've been looking for all year. This was a game that will finally have the rest of the league take notice, at least for a day or so.

Jamario Moon was a head on a stick on Pardon the Interruption yesterday. Tony Kornheiser lambasted "Moon" because he didn't believe he was worth wasting his breath taking about him and his berth in the slam dunk contest.

Real good to see Bargnani (have you heard this nickname "Barney"?) have a good game. He still picked up too relatively early fouls, but played through them. I guess he a Garadini went out for dinner, talked at length in Italian about his depression, and looks as if it did him good. Its amazing what knocking a couple of shots down will do for you. He also looked significantly less awkward when making moves to the hoop. I don't know if he bowled anyone over last night.

Talking Basketball

Funniest moment of the season so far: Late in the second quarter Jose and Hawks guard Anthony Johnson had some words during a couple of free throws. Watching the replay, you could clearly see Johnson talking smack, while Jose argued his case with his usual Spanish vigour. The exchange prompted Johson to deliver an elblow to Jose's head on the rush, which resulted in an immediate flagrant two and Johnsons ejection. Afterwards when asked by reporters what Johson had said, Jose responded, in his usual naiveish manner: "we we're just talking basketboul".

From my seat in the icebox, unfortunatelyy I didn't pick this up and ejection and play stoppage was really confusing. Great game though, Bosh, Parker and Jose are all firing on all cylinders. I can only hope that Bosh will be so assertive against Garnett and the Celitcs on Tuesday.

Another funny story from yesterday: At one point we heard a loud smashin sound behind our icebox stools. We turned around to see the Raptor viciouslly smashing one of those plastic things that hold the list of specials on one of the tables. I don't know what he aimed to achieve from this random act of aggression, but I will say that the Raptor is totally freaking cool. Did you notice the extra big inflatable Raptor the other day? Normally they have a small and a big inflatable Raptor. This new one is like the big one with longer legs and appendages. Good times.

Its been a while, and again, a lot has happened, I'll start with the devastating events of the first weekend of the year...

On the walk home after the loss to the Cavs two Sunday's ago I was discussing with a buddy how even with the most impressive quarter of basketball yet this season (1st), even though LeBron went through a sequence of two bricks and a missed dunk, and even though the Raps held a double digit lead, stretching to as much as 20, for much of the first half, that there's always the feeling that a player like LeBron can and will go off in the late stages of the game leaving you, as we were, with our tails dragging between our legs after another disappointing performance by the Raps. This is a superstars league, and at this point, with all due respect the Toronto Raptors don't have a bonified "star". Outside the obvious need for a large athletic rebounder and a possible back-up point point guard in TJ's absence, this is our most glaring deficiency.

Now, again, with all due respect, our superstar could already be on the team. Chris Bosh is the face of the team, but your star has to instill confidence and be trusted with the ball with 7 seconds to win the game... Bosh just isn't that guy. He has played statistically very well of late, but when have you seen Sam give him the Ball with time running out and the game on the line...? And even if he did, would you trust him to make the shot?

Bargnani's getting a lot of negative press these days, and rightly so. For a number one pick to be taking such a significant step backwards is newsworthy, but is it really fair? The kids really far from home, came up through a much different system than that of say, LaMarcus Aldridge, and is trying to learn a new position. If the Raps were able to grab a (veteran) big man that could mentor Bargnani on how to be more physical and grab rebounds I think it would do him a lot of good. The kid is often compared to Dirk, and the folks in Dallas will tell you that Dirk went thru almost the exact same type of thing, fresh from euro league, playing an unorthodox style, and struggled for years... and look how good that turned out!

Jose has been astounding. ESPN.com's John Hollinger says hes the third best point in the East. Quite obviously Kidd, Chauncey and Wade will get voted onto the team, but one can hope, and I believe this will happen, that Jose will get the Chance to play in New Orleans with Bosh.

Jamario's headed for the dunk contest. In related news I ran into Jamario in a local restaurant. I told him to keep up the good work and shook his hand. Truth be told, at first he had the "oh boy here come some dufus fan to bother me" look on his face, but I kept it short and sweet and I can guarantee you that, as a rookie, and a guy who's struggled to get where he is, he relishes such moments. I'm glad I could deliver said moment.

Anyhow, I am optimistic going forward, despite still not being able to beat the better teams, like Detroit. I mean who have the Raps beat this year that really counts? The Mavs, the Rockets, the Spurs... They've had two shots at the Celitcs and two at the Pistons, of the four games there's only been one decent performance, and that was more like a decent 4th quarter. If they plan to "make it to the second round" as seems to be the goal, they're going to have to hang with elite (playoff) teams. Until that happens I will continue to grumble.

That being said, I think that if we we're to get TJ back right now, things would be looking pretty promising. Next test is Boston at the Garden.

Easier than Cow Tippin

If you haven't checked out Boshers plea for all-star votes yet, you probablly should.

Also check this blog entry for a great example of just what I was talking about in my last entry. In many ways Chris is still a very, very young man.

The Agony and the Ecstasy and the Agony

Its been a while since last I wrote, and a lot has happened. Most notably TJ's terrifying injury in Atlanta. I had known that TJ had a history of spinal injury but I had no idea the extent of that history or the spinal stenosis he apparently is living with. You can read all about it, and TJ's extensive medical history on Michael Grange's blog for the Globe, "From Deep" (dec 12th, and frank conversation he had with TJ in the days following, dec 13th). I will quickly say that by no means did I think that Horford had any malicious intention, and considering the extent to which he followed up with TJ, we can assume he was very, very sorry that it had happened. The more important discussion however is ultimately that of TJ's career. This spinal stenosis makes him considerably more vulnerable to serious injury and eventually he's going to have to make the decision as to whether its worth the risk to continue to play. All I've heard lately is that he's been consulting with various medical experts and with their help hopefully TJ will be able to weigh the pros vs the cons intelligently and make the relevant decision. If he does decide to walk away from the game I will be very upset, but not in the least angry.

I will say this: Jose has played remarkably well in the wake of all this, continuing to lead the league in assists to turnover ratio. But, he is starting to look less comfortable in the starting role, and seems to have lost his step a bit. That being said, the team around him has been struggling in general (AP, Bargnani, Delfino have all taken more three pointers that freethrows), which will be reflected in the point guards play. But if TJ is out indefinitely we may need Brian to start waving his magic wand and brew something up for the stretch.

As for the ecstasy, the win at home over the Mavs was huge, even though I was reduced to text message updates while I was at the work Christmas party. The Raptors have always flirted with beating good teams, but very infrequently actually finishing them off (for example when the Raps played the Mavs earlier this season). And after an exciting win over the Pacers the following Friday I had thought that we were primed to see a Raptor coming out party against the league darling Celtics.

Was I ever wrong. The Agony returned (and lingered throughout most of the western swing) as the Raptors looked uninspired and listless with a rather pathetic performance in a rather convincing beat down. And after dropping three in a row to Portland, Seattle and Phoenix, things were looking really quite bad at the Christmas break.

Then somehow they come out and beat the Spurs, a game which I had pretty much written off, even declaring at the family Christmas dinner table that "it wasn't going to be pretty". The Raptors have proven this year to be if anything, incredibly inconsistent, which is frustrating as a fan who knows what they are capable of. For whatever reason some days they just don't all show up, and as much as I hate to say it, this is typified by the centrepiece Chris Bosh. Judging by his body language at he Celtics game, Garnett must have jumped him pre-game and beat him up as he sulked around the court. It's as if he doesn't believe in himself. He hesitates every single time he gets the ball. Either pop it or explode to the hoop Chris, your outside shot and your quickness are your strengths and if you choose to take a couple of seconds to think about how you're a second tier player every time you touch the ball that's likely all you'll ever be!

It's not all Boshers fault. Its the coaches responsibility to get the players to use their skills at the right time and in collaboration with the rest of the team. If Sam can't inspire Chris to be all he can be then somethings got to give.

Another potential statement game on Friday against the Pistons, I'll be there, will you?