The Champs Are Here!!!

So your the Raptors, you have lost 3 of your first 4 games, and you face the 2 time defending Champs. Not exactly great timing for the Toronto Raptors. But that is what they face in L.A, then off to Portland tomorrow who lost to OKC in overtime. Which was a great game if you happened to catch it. But as the saying goes you take them one at a time

The Basics: Lakers 5-0 (They are 3-0 at Staples) Raptors 1-3 ( 0-2 vs the West )

When We Last Saw Them: Do we really need to do this? In case you some how missed it the Raptors got man handled by the Jazz. It was pretty ugly throughout. Deron Williams was so good it caused Jay Triano to drop an F-Bomb like K.G. Aside from a rally in the 3rd quarter the Raptors showed few signs of life. Sonny Weems was one of them and Andrea Bargnani had 9 rebounds and 26 points in a game the Raptors fell behind 41-22 after the first quarter.

The Key Match Ups: I will give you 80 + 1 reasons for who it is? Kobe Bryant and whoever is guarding him. Which I expect will be a number of people before the night is done. First to try his luck will likely be Demar DeRozan who is making his return to L.A. Not exactly a fun way to make a homecoming trying to stop 24 in gold and purple all night. The other match up of note with be Gasol and Bargnani. Andrea tends to do well when matched up with fellow Euros, but Gasol is one of, if not the best. Other guys to keep an eye on will be Lamar Odom who is off to a great start. Also Steve Blake could be that guy that sticks a number of big 3 pointers if not accounted for.

Other Things of Note: This is a really late start at 10:30 pm (Toronto Time) and shifts over to TSN 2 from Sportsnet 1. Which begs the question that my mother asks, will the Raptors ever be on a channel that I can get? Not till November 13th when Chris Bosh will suit up against the Raptors for the first time in his NBA career. Lakers have won 8 straight games vs the Raptors at home. The Raptors did manage to defeat L.A at the A.C.C last season and Bargnani had 22 in that win. Kobe Bryant is averaging 25 points a game and Gasol 23.2 points a game. Lakers also rank first in the league in points with a shade over 113 PPG and lead the league in 3PT % shooting it at 46.8% on the young season. Two ugly signs for a Raptor D that was taken to task vs the Jazz.

Overtime Extra Point: The Raptors chances as the old expression goes are slim and none and slim left town. It might be important for the Raptors to accept their fate sooner rather then later with facing the Blazers on a back to back. How Jay Triano manages minutes in this game might be the most important thing once a victory is out of the equation.