Official Toronto Raptors Thread.

[Cable]

Yikes. Seeing the replay of Jose, I think it's pretty serious. Sow was praying and Garbo was crying. Everyone looked pretty scared. It looks like he either twisted his neck or his back after Pietrus hit his neck and knocked him down.

[hipn]

I think it's a lower back injury. If it's the neck, like he pulled it or something, it's gonna hurt. I pulled something in my neck once and my head was like slanted to one side once, not completely, but a little, and whenever I tried to turn my head or movei t, it would kill.

[Abctest123]

Some good news: Calderon's injury is minor, hes OK : LINK

He didn't fly with the rest of the team to Phoenix. I'm guessing they won't have him available until their finished the road trip.

[Matt]

Raptors winning w/o Bosh...surprise indeed.....someone get Bargnani a razor

[cyanide]

Raptors winning w/o Bosh...surprise indeed.....someone get Bargnani a razor

Hehe, he actually shaved playing against Golden State.

The wins are pretty much team effort from everyone. Everyone's playing as a team and filling their roles, and surprisingly, playing hard on defense.

[Its_asdf]

Just trade Chris Bosh for Allen Iverson.

Bargs for MVP and ROY.

I think the team has finally realized that they can't just stand around and watch Bosh get doubled every time he touches the ball and they actually have to run some offensive sets and play some freaking defence instead of relying on Bosh to bail them out all the time.

I'm really liking how everyone has stepped it up a notch since Bosh's injury, especially Ford. He had 10+ assists and only one turnover which is mind-boggling since he could never have a 10+ assist game without having like 8 turnovers.

The team will probably revert back it their old ways after Bosh returns.

[cyanide]

I agree, it is kind of weird to see Ford have either shoot-first or pass-first games. He's spectacular when he plays in the pass-first mentality and the Raptors usually win. There's probably only a couple games that I remember that his shoot-first mentality actually did more good than bad. If he realizes that his role as a pass-first point guard is what helps the team generate wins, then I'm hoping he'll stick to it and not get caught up with his scoring or lack thereof.

[Matt]

i watched Toronto @ Orlando and i gotta say that Bargs can play. Although how good will he turn out is anyones guess. I think he'll go the Gasol way....impressive numbers but not a franchise player (which is fine with Bosh their). His D needs plenty of work and he doesn't look like he'll be an imposing rebounder. He sure has range though....he was popping those 3's with Milicic in his face.

[cyanide]

I really don't think Bosh is a franchise player either; however having Bargnani, Ford, and Bosh in the same lineup does create a lot of good. I'm worried that they might end up like the Grizzlies; having a lineup of really good players, but no superstar to carry them even further.

[Its_asdf]

That superstar to carry a team is a load of rubbish to me. I have to admit that I was a Bosh pessimist (still am to a certain degree, I think he's going to be a top PF in the NBA but nothing overly great), however I still think that you don't need a true superstar to win championships.

Just look at the Detriot Pistons during their championship run. I don't think they had a single player that team's could focus their defence on, but instead relied on balanced scoring.

It is proven throughout history that you DO need an imposing big man in the middle though, so hopefully Bosh is able to develop into that kind of player.

[cyanide]

I agree with you to a certain degree that having a superstar to carry a team is not necessary, but in history, it's very, very hard to have a team without a superstar to win the championship. That's why I loved it when the Pistons won the championship, using defense and teamwork, but for decades before that, it's hard to find a team that didn't have a superstar that won it all.

[[C][B]#4]

Raptors steal a game against the Clippers. TJ with the game winner!!

[Abctest123]

LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v_ZpZJxJ1Y

A clip 4 minute clip of the final posession of yesterday's game against the Clippers. Sam Mitchell, Jack Armstrong, and Chuck Swirsky's reactions are hilarious. If you only saw Sam Mithchell's reaction, you woulda thought the Raptors just won Game 7 in the finals or something.

[Its_asdf]

Sam Mitchell should just be his own character in Street Fighter. That guy throws some mean punches.

[Cable]

Yeah, it was all over the highlights. You'd think that it was their first win all season or something like that.

[YaoMing11]

4th seed
playoffs playoffs playoffs!!!

[Jugs]

So the Raptors are actually good now? Wow, never saw THAT coming.

[looser]

Go Raps!

Did somebody saw the behind the back bounce alle-oop pass from bargnani to bosh in the raptors-hawks game?

Man

that was fantastic!

[cyanide]

Go Raps!

Did somebody saw the behind the back bounce alle-oop pass from bargnani to bosh in the raptors-hawks game?

Man

that was fantastic!

No kidding. I finally got it in my sig, but it'd be one of the top 10 plays of the year if Bosh did get it in!

Here's the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7dey9BTPOA

[ThaLiveKing]

4th seed
playoffs playoffs playoffs!!!

Raps are playing well. . .I can say I'm shocked. I guess I'm not used to them winning LOL!!! Congrats. .


If Raps make the playoffs, who you think will be the best matchup?

Detroit
Indiana
Washington
Cleveland

I'm saying Washington, cause they play at the Raptors pace

[Raps13]

Out of those 4, I think the Raps can compete with all 4 of them. If I had to chose who I would like to face: 1) Washington 2) Indiana 3) Detroit 4) Cleveland. The team in the East that is scary, as dumb as it sounds, is Miami, they are the defending Champs and if they can put it together health wise, they could be a force

[Cable]

I don't think the Raps have much chance of making it to the second round, if they do make the playoffs. I do see them having the best chance to win the Atlantic, but it is the Atlantic. I agree that they should face Washington, but I'm afraid of what Arenas is capable of in the clutch. Still, Washington's a better chance than Detroit or Cleveland, and a bit better than Indiana.

[Gedas]

Well, firstly they have to make the playoffs, even though Im pretty sure they can. A. Parker has really fitted nicely to the Raptors offense, even though I expected a little more out of him. Andrea also doesnt seem to be a bust, couple of years and him with Bosh will be incredible down low combo.

[ThaLiveKing]

I don't think the Raps have much chance of making it to the second round, if they do make the playoffs. I do see them having the best chance to win the Atlantic, but it is the Atlantic. I agree that they should face Washington, but I'm afraid of what Arenas is capable of in the clutch. Still, Washington's a better chance than Detroit or Cleveland, and a bit better than Indiana.

If they play Washington, they can make it to the second round!! I hope they win tonight, cause they have to, cause of the season series, it's a must win tonight

[Abctest123]

Wow, from what I heard, the Raptors had a 16-point lead at the half against the Mavs. Caught the final quarter and a half, that final play the Mavs had should NOT have happened. They screwed up a switch and left Josh Howard WIDE OPEN right under the net. Another chance to beat a Western powerhouse and the Raptors just come up short, AGAIN.