Raptors Split The Road Trip

To say I was able to play close attention to the Raptors game tonight would be stretching the truth. I was at Real Sports and hanging out with some great folks at the Raptors Tweet-Up with Akil, Kat and some Raptor fans. They were taping stuff for Raptorspace, so I guess you will see me on there tomorrow at 6pm (NBA TV CANADA) or at one of the several times it re-airs. I am the only one at these things that doesn't tweet. Mainly because I don't own a Blackberry or IPhone. It reminds me of when I was a kid and would get invited to a Birthday Party at a pizza place and bring a peanut butter sandwich. Why? Well I had a thing as a kid that I didn't like anything mixed together and Pizza is by nature that. Truth is the first time I ate Pizza was like when I was 13. I know strange isn't it? Kinda like this Raptors recent 4-game road trip.

It started with an unexpected win in Orlando. Then an acceptable showing vs Miami. A terrible effort vs Washington and that left you wondering what to expect tonight? Andrea Bargnani was coming in off a terrible 12 point and 2 rebound effort vs the Wizards. About the only Raptor that came to play was Sonny Weems.

Fast forward to this evening and it was Bargnani with a big night and another career night for Sonny "Money" Weems. This road trip has been a solid one for Sonny with the big shot vs Orlando and it has been good for him personally for this whole trip for the most part.

By the way Kat is doing one of those interactive fan events at Real Sports Apparel @2:30 on November 20th with both Sonny and Demar. I suggested they should let Sonny and Demar go at it against each other at something. That likely won't happen but you will have a chance to ask them questions and get an autograph. Sonny and Demar are both great guys and I have been lucky to talk with both several times. I like both of them and having the two of them at the same time should be entertaining. Kat will have her hands full with those two.

Anyway back to this evening. Weems had another career high 25 points as he remains in the starting line-up. I said from the start of this year that DeRozan and Weems needed to be on the floor at the same time and glad Jay Triano finally agrees. They are just to dynamic together not to be on the same time. That being said was a very quiet night for Demar with only 4 points with 5 assists and I will bet a few of those were to Sonny.

But the star of the show on this night was Andrea Bargnani with 30 points and 7 rebounds in what probably, most would agree, was his best night so far this season? Also a great night off the bench for Jose with 12 points and 8 assists. These two have taken their lumps in the Dino Nation Blog and elsewhere but on this night both were very good and deserve props.

Was a close game pretty much all the way through until the 4th. The Raptors would pull away in the late going on route to winning the final quarter 25-15 and the game itself 94-86. There might not be a lot of style points for the win, but the Raptors margin for error is not that big and they must win games vs the teams at our below their level. Philly clearly qualifies. It should be noted that Andre Iguodala was not in the line-up and he normally kills the Raptors. Something about us picking so kid from Brazil that use to play in the NBA instead of him. So that should at least be noted for next time around. But the Raptors faced a similar scenario yesterday with John Wall out and failed to capitalize on it.

Sixers only shot 36% and Raptors 44% so while you could say the Raptors D was better, it might be more accurate to say Philly's offence, is well offensive. Still they never ask how you win games just if you won them. Bargnani having a big night was needed, for this team, and for himself most likely. In season though I am never going to complain about a Raptor win. While some seem set to talk about the draft already and Raptors in effect tanking. I am not a fan of that and there is just no guarantee that having the worst record in league gets you anything. You could end up with 4th pick if your luck is very bad. But at the end of the day, you want to have a culture that is about winning. It is needed for young players to develop. Play hard and good or bad, the record will take care of itself.

Had a great time watching the game at Real Sports. First time being there for a Raptor game. It is a minding blowing place and if you haven't made your way there it is worth checking out. While some may question MLSE in terms of the on court/ice/field with their sports franchises. This Sports Bar does not have a record with wins and losses but if it did would be close to undefeated. I am just grateful there is not one here because I would likely go there way to much.

Will be interesting to see what Raptors we get vs the Rockets after this road trip, it is any one's guess. But you can now say that the Raptors are out of both the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division basements. Which, if for nothing else, is good for moral. Not just the team and organization, but the fans too. Losing just will never be fun. Why do you think finding a Clipper fan in L.A is so tough. Lakers win, Clippers lose, and everyone loves a winner and on this night the Raptors were that...a winner.

DNB @ Fan Jam

Today is the start of a new season for the Toronto Raptors. I was down at Fan Jam and talked with a lot of fans and asked them basic questions. 1. What are you most excited about for this Raptor Season and 2. What are you most fearful about for this Raptor season. There is also some stuff with Akil Augustine from NBA TV Canada and Kat and Candice from your Dance Pac on the actual event from Sunday. Like I have been saying on Twitter it was a fun event and had a great time talking with Raptor fans. This worked out well and I can see us try something like this more then a few more times throughout the season. So have a listen to all the folks we talked with at Fan Jam.



Tonight is as mentioned is the start of another NBA season for the Toronto Raptors. It also is the start for me doing basketball for another season on The Score.com and Score Mobile. I will be there probably about 20 minutes before the tip and you can join me with this link. Or hit up the Score.com or Score Mobile. I love live blogging all the sports I do for The Score but there is nothing more fun for me then Raptor games. That is in part, because of all the great Raps fans that make the halftime and during the game fly by with all of their comments. I am going be at the ACC Friday on a secret mission for DNB Fans so I won't be covering it, but more info on that as it becomes available. For now a new season is here and ready to get it rolling. Thanks also one more time to Myck Kabongo for helping out with our NBA preview. He is a nice young man and I look forward to cheering him on down at Texas next season with his fellow Canadians Thompson and Joseph who start their freshman seasons at Texas this year.

So the time for talking from me and for you is over. It is time to see what happens when the lights come on for the Toronto Raptors this season.

Starting 5- Goes Behind The Scenes With Raptorspace

On Friday we talked with Kat the Captain of your Raptors Dance Pak. We talked about her taking on the role of hosting Raptorspace on Raptors T.V. The man that produces that show and tries to make Kat look good is Akil Augustine, you also have likely seen him on camera doing work with Sherman Hamilton on Raptors T.V as well. He puts together the Raptorspace show that airs on Thursday @6:30 on Raptors T.V. We get into a whole discussion about how the show came to be, where it is at and where it is going. We also discuss the differences between Leafs Nation which the Dino Blogger is not a member and the Raptors Nation or as we like to say here the Dino Nation. It is an interesting interview that gives you some insight into what MLSE and Raptors T.V is trying to accomplish with this project. Hope you will enjoy it.

Akil Augustine from Raps-TV

DNB PRODUCTION

Raptorspace.com is where all of the fan content comes from. I got stuff on the show so If I can do it maybe you can too? The one thing that came from this interview that I liked most of all is the idea of growing basketball across this country. I have always thought it was important and something the Raptors and MLSE should do more of. It is nice to know that the people working there have that goal as well. In the end be it MLSE or the average basketball fan it is in everyone's best interest to grow the sport and the Raptors brand. If done successfully it can hopefully lead to more people in the media awaking to the fact that basketball fans in fact "do exist" in this country from coast to coast. It can hopefully impact and have changes to how things are covered and allow for more basketball coverage in this country. Does a show like Raptorspace accomplish that goal on it's own? No but it is something that at least helps take us in that direction. We did invent this sport after all, and I feel it is everyone's job that loves it to help promote it. From me to you and all the way to folks at MLSE and all points in between.