Raptors Rewind- All Starless Edition

So set the line up. Bosh is out and Calderon is in and Joey G gets the start at the small forward spot. this may sound strange coming from me but well deserved. I just don't want Joey back next season but I am not blind. He is much better than Moon but I don't think or expect Moon or Graham to be back next season.So that being said we have no Chris Paul as well. That will give the Raptors a chance. Antonio Daniels is no where close to Chris Paul in any way shape or form So let's get it started from the Big Easy where Raptors won last season on New Year's Eve.

1st Quarter.

Both teams started very slowly. It was 4-4 after over 3 minutes played. This was painful to watch and that is not taking a shot on the fact this game was on TSN 2. Joey Graham a silly turnover but Good Joey would try to kill Bad Joey with a quick recovery and a steal. He would get fouled and sent to the line. Split a pair from the line and J.O would score to tie the game at 7. This is called the All Starless edition but David West is and he scored and Antonio Daniels would get a steal and score to give the Hornets an 11-7 lead. Bargnani would drive and draw the foul. Bargnani can only manage to split a pair. Peja the other way makes a 3 pointer. Andrea Bargnani makes a jumper in response. But David West was able to reply for the bugs. They had a 16-10 lead on their home floor. Posey had a wide open look for 3 more but he would miss it. He would get a second chance and post up every ones new favourite Raptor except me Joey G and score. Peja would score again. The main weapon for the Raptors had been J.O. He scored again and I think that was 8 for him. But David West had another answer for the Hornets. The Hornets with no Paul, no problem up 23-16. Kapono had checked in and missed not much new there. Parker shot blocked, Raps keep it, and Bargnani turns it over on a travel. A Joey buzzer beater does not fall and Raptors look awful down 26-16.

2nd Quarter.

Hornets start the quarter with a travel. A foul on J.O that caused some discussion between Jake Voskhul and Bosh. However foul it was and Hornets made a pair at the line. Kapono a rare 3 pointer but James Posey answer with a 3 of his own. A turnover for the Raps. But Hornets get called for a travel and give it back. But no dice and Posey had a long 2 pointer and 10 so far in the game. Hornets lead was more than that though it was 33-19. Calderon missed a 3 pointer and had been not that impactful in his return to the line up so far. He would get fouled next time down the floor and head to the line makes both and had just 2 assists so far. I call out Calderon and he suddenly comes alive as he get the ball and pushes it for the lay up in transition. Raptors had cut the lead to 8. Calderon would make a jumper and cut it to 6. I am starting to think the Raptors just need me to get on players in Dino Nation Blog and good things will happen. Joey Graham is the best example of it working. Calderon heading to the line looking for more to stick it to the Dino Blogger. Calderon second foul shooting streak of season ends early as he went 1 of 2. But still Calderon had lead the Raptors back to cut the lead to just 5.

Jamario Moon another guy that has not been in my good books. He showed a little of the Moon I use to love with the jam on the break set up by Jose. Raptors were on a 9-3 run after Parker would score and Calderon would score off of a steal. Raptors showing some signs of life now trailing 38-34. AP would cut the lead to just 1 with a 3 ball. The Raptors were playing the zone on defense and were doing well in that set up. Calderon would make a jumper and Raptors had a lead at 39-38. Hornets looked lost they had 8 turnovers and Bargnani made them pay. Raptors had a 23-5 run going that had rocketed them back to a 3 point lead. Bargnani would follow up with another big shot making a 3 pointer. Calderon would score and he had 13 points in the quarter. He was the big reason the Raptors had a 48-42.

3rd Quarter

So let's review one lousy quarter of basketball and one out of this world quarter of basketball. Which Raptor team shows up in the 3rd. I have no idea. This team has been the most erratic group of Raptors I can remember. Raptors were shooting 55% and Hornets were making many mistakes. Good start as Bargnani scores in the paint and his fouled for the and 1. He would miss it but O'Neal would get a score and Raptors up 10 with score 52-42 for the men in black tonight. Hornets would get a score but J.O would answer and he had 12 points. Hornets were a team that was having trouble with injuries not just Paul add Chandler and Mo Peterson to that list. However Paul is the guy that makes it all happen. Remember the old Suns teams with out Steve Nash. This Hornets team looks a lot like that. Crowds boo in other arenas as well as Hornets were getting booed for a bad effort. Calderon would make a jumper. Peja would get the crowd back on the Hornets side with a 3 pointer. Daniels would score and Raptors lead that was once 10 was now trimmed to 6 points with score 59-53.

J.O gets to the line and makes a pair to push the Raptors lead to 8. On the other end he would give a point back with a defensive 3 second call that Peja would turn into a point at the line. Butler had a monster jam. Lead was 5 and Bargnani called for a charge lead to a Daniels bucket. Hornets were charging. Raptors lead was now just 61-58. A shot clock violation and the Hornets had a chance to pull to just down 1 or tie with a 3 pointer. But Daniels would miss and J.O would have a chance to score and miss as well. Jamario Moon made a good choice taking a jumper for a change. However Peja would answer with a 3 ball. But Moon scored for another 2 points Raptors were up 4 with score 65-61. Jake Voskhul with a rare attempt that he missed badly. Peja makes the Raptors pay at the other end with a 3 ball. Peja was 3-3 from behind the arc in the quarter. Parker would score a 2 point effort and that would extend the lead to 3. Hornets had a shot clock violation and Raptors had a chance to extend lead again but did not. James Posey would get called for a foul banging on the glass sending Jamario Moon to the line. Moon made both and he had 10 and Raptors had a 69-64 lead. So the Raptors have held off a Hornet charge in the quarter and took a lead into the 4th quarter.

4th Quarter

Peja opens the 4th with a basket and Parker missed the Raptors first effort of the quarter. A.P would hook up J.O for the basket plus the foul with AP running the show at the point. JO made the and one and Raptors lead was 6. Peja on fire with his 6th long bomb of night that cut lead to 3, Butler with another 3 ball and it was all tied at 72. Jake Voskhul with a rare basket to give the Raptors the lead back. Parker would make his way to the line. He would make both and Raptors lead 76-72.

Jake Voskhul fouled James Posey and he could only split a pair at the line. J.O with a strong move and a dunk and Raptor lead was stretched to 5 points. David West to the line for the Hornets and made both. Joey Graham got a key offensive board on a night where he had not been so good. But that was and it lead to a J.O score plus a foul. Raptor lead was back to a half dozen with the score 81-75. J.O was rolling without Bosh on the floor he makes a jumper and he had 24 as the Raptors lead increased to 8 points. A much needed runner in the lane for Brown for the Hornets. Bargnani had to fire up a shot to avoid shot clock violation but it would not fall. Butler would come back and make a 3 pointer and the Hornets were back to just 3 down. James Posey would even the score at 83 with yet another 3 pointer. Make it 3 straight long balls and Hornets had an 11-0 run and the lead with score 86-83. Hornets were 5-8 behind the arc in the 4th so far. A turnover on a travel by Andrea Bargnani in the paint. 4 straight three pointers the latest by James Posey. This was a joke. Peja makes it 5 straight possessions with a 3 pointer. Hornets lead 92-83 . Bargnani with a basket from distance. Posey missed a 3 ball as the clock rolled past 2 minutes to play. Raptors can't take advantage as they get called for a travel. Raptors had 17 turnovers after it was the Hornets making turnovers in the first half. Parker gets a basket only to have Brown answer with you know what is coming by now...a 3 ball. Hornets have a 10 point advantage and this thing was done. Kapono makes a 3 pointer but this game was finished. Hornets walk away with a 101-92 victory. The Hornets had 37 points in the 4th powered by the 3 point shot.

As I am required to do by law your boxscore of this basketball game. Well not really but it would not be right to leave it out.

Hornets/Raptors Boxscore

So Raptors losers of 5 straight limp off to Memphis to take on a team that is pretty brutal in the Grizzlies. That being said why do I not feel confident they can snap this losing streak. Maybe it is just experience at this point. But hey get excited the wonderful folks at TSN have moved this game over to the main network so everyone can see just has bad things have become for the Raptors. Gee WIZ THANK YOU TSN. WAS A HOCKEY GAME CANCELLED THAT I AM NOT AWARE OF? I am growing more bitter and sarcastic as the season marches on. I am not sure if that is good or bad. Well that is a Rap for this game and does anyone out there think it is not a wrap for the season? If you do leave a comment and tell me why I would love to hear it. I have no idea why anyone would think that.

Raptor Rewind- CP3 VS CB4 Sunday Showdown

Lots of stuff to get out of the way before we get started on injury front. First on the list is that Tyson Chandler is a scratch for today's game. Meanwhile the Raptors will have both Anthony Parker and Kris Humphries in the active roster. But the starting line-up that has been able to get two straight wins will remain with both Jason Kapono and Jamario Moon remaining in the starting line-up. Some were speculating about a trade and if it involved Parker or Humphries. But this would but an end to that for now. Still with December 15th tomorrow stay tuned for news. Doug Smith in the Toronto Star suggested the Raptors will sign Jake Voskuhl and that could mean one of two things. It could mean a trade is coming or announcement about Nathan Jawai not being able to play for the rest of the year. It is one or the other because I can not imagine the Raptors are going into the luxury tax to sign Jake Voskuhl. But enough of the trade speculation there is a game to be played. A very tough one at that as the Hornets have won 7 of their last 10 after a slow start. But they do come in off a loss to the Celtics. Seems we say that about a lot of teams when they come to visit the Raptors. Mainly because Boston is hardly losing a game and the NBA schedule maker seems to make a Boston and Toronto pairing for a lot of teams road trips. So with all of that news it is time to play some basketball.

1st Quarter

Raptors win the tip but missed a jumper. But the Hornets quickly got it inside for a score and the first points of the afternoon. Chris Bosh after a couple failed trips for the Raptors, he would drive and get fouled and head to the line and make both. Jamario Moon would hit a 3-ball off a pass from Bosh out of a double team. A Raptor turnover lead to a 3-1 break and jam for David West. Jose Calderon would answer that with a 3-ball for him and an early 8-4 lead for Raptors. David West and Jermaine O'Neal would exchange baskets for their respective teams. Chris Bosh would trip and fall getting tied up with Hilton Armstrong. But after a moment was back on his feet and fine.

Jermaine O'Neal would get fouled and head to the line for 2 shots that he would make. Raptors continue to lead 12-6 almost half way through the quarter. Butler would get a 3 pointer for the Hornets and Jose Calderon would respond with a 2 point shot for the Raptors. A concern for the Raptors as Jose Calderon would pick up his second foul and head to the bench. Chris Paul would make the free throws and Roko Ukic who has been showing sign of improvement was in. Chris Bosh showed some hustle saving a ball from going out of bounds that would lead to a Jason Kapono 3 pointer that has become a more common sight under Jay Triano. The Raptors had a 17-11 lead. Kapono would add to his total with a two point shot this time. Andrea Bargnani would get in on the scoring with his first basket. Stojakovic would find a nice look at 3 points for him that he would make. The Hornets had pushed back to get it down to just a 21-18 Raptor lead. Andrea Bargnani with an awkward but effective drive for 2 points. James Poesy would find an open 3 point look that he would take and make and the Hornets trailed just 23-22. Jermaine O'Neal would split a pair of free throws and Raptors would take a slim 24-22 lead into the second quarter.

2nd Quarter

Despite just 2 points from Chris Bosh and an 0-5 start for him the Raptors had a lead. Antonio Daniels recently picked up in a trade for ex-raptor Mike Jame was on the floor and he missed a 3-ball on his first attempt. But the Hornets would get on the board with the first 5 points of the quarter and a 27-24 lead for the Hornets. Jermaine O'Neal would break the run with a basket for him. J.O was looking to score again but had his shot blocked and he looked like he felt he was fouled. But no call and the Hornets kept rolling with another basket. O'Neal would get an easy jam of a nice dish from Anthony Parker who was playing his first game ever as a reserve for the Raptors. Chris Bosh was able to make a shot and Raptors were back all even at 30 with the Hornets.

Jose Calderon would break the tie with a 3 pointer. Chris Bosh would find a miss match and run over an undersized Hornet for a jam. Raptors were all of the sudden hot as Calderon would score again the Raptors stormed to an 11-0 run and had a 37-30 lead. All of this with Chris Paul on the bench unable to do anything to stop it. The Hornets would call time to address what was going on and likely get Paul back in the game.

Jose Calderon looked a little gimpy after he scored but remained in the game after the time out. James Poesy would end the 11-0 run with a 3 pointer for the Hornets. After that the Hornets would get 1-2 from the line which would be answered by an AP 3 pointer. That would be followed with another Raptor basket. The Raptors had got back on track and after a couple free throws by CB4 it was 44-36. James Posey was having a good game and he hit yet another 3 pointer for him. Another two for the Hornets and another Posey 3-ball and the Hornets had an 8-0 run to tie the score at 44. This was an entertaining game for people with no real interest in the outcome. Jay Triano would not be among those and he would call a time out and try to address the leaks that were leading to James Posey getting some open looks.

Chris Paul would find the ball after a Moon block and hit a nice jumper and the Hornets on a 10-0 run were back in front by just two points. Chris Paul would drive and kick to Peja Stojakovic who would drain another 3 pointer. The Hornets had stayed in this game thanks to the 3-ball. They had built their largest lead of the day of five points with a 49-44 lead. James Posey would disagree with a call and get technical foul and that foul shot was made by Jose Calderon to break the run for the Hornets. Chris Bosh would head to the line on the disputed foul call and make 1-2. David West would have a basket on the inside and the Hornets lead was back at 5 points. Raptors had gone ice cold to close the quarter going 0-8 from the field. One last chance to make it closer at the half. But a Parker turn and fire from very long range would not fall. Hornets took a 51-46 lead into the locker room at the half.

3rd Quarter

Chris Bosh was only 2 for 10 and had just 9 points. The Raptors had about 18 minutes of good defense but that last 6 minutes is why they enter this half behind by 5 points. James Posey had 15 to lead the Hornets and Jose Calderon lead the Raptors with 13 first half points. Hornets were shooting 51% and the Raptors just 38%. Both teams would fail to score on their first attempts to score of the second half. Jermaino O'Neal would open up the score sheet for second half with a mid range corner jumper. Chris Paul would have an answer for that. Hilton Armstrong who was replacing Tyson Chandler would get a score on a drive to the paint. David West had a basket as well and Hornets had a 57-48 lead.

Chris Bosh would make a shot and try to change the flow of the game. But Butler would score in response. But Jose Calderon would answer that with a 3 pointer. Raps would get a second straight score and pulled back to down just four points with the score 59-55. David West was quietly having a good game and he had another basket for his totals. Chris Bosh would answer with a basket for him. Jose Calderon would follow that with another 3-ball. James Posey answer with yet another 3-ball for him. The Hornets get another score on a rare Posey miss from 3 point range after that and it was 68-62.

Bosh out of a time out would get the ball and draw a foul on David West and head to the line. Bosh would make both and he was 7-8 from the line on the day. Raptors were picking up the effort on defense but needed to cash in on offense for it to pay off. But a Bosh miss on a fading jumper was not going to get it done. Bosh was not having a good shooting day. Perhaps sensing that the next time he got the ball he would drive again and head to line once again thanks to David West that had 3 fouls now. Chris Paul after the Bosh made free throws would turn on the jets and get to the line himself. He too would make his free throws and the Hornets lead 72-66. Chris Bosh answered his team U.S.A team mate with a jumper for a score. Joey Graham would follow that with his first basket of the day and the Raptors had climbed back to down just two with score 72-70.

During the broadcast it was confirmed the Raptors have signed Jake Voskhul. It was said it will not effect the cap and no trade as part of that. Which could suggest that Nathan Jawai may be done for the year. It would seem the only logical conclusion. But Voskhul will be available as soon as tomorrow against the Nets. Meanwhile the Hornets would close the 3rd quarter on a run to take a 80-72 lead into the 4th quarter. The Raptors had trouble closing quarters and that has been a major difference in this game and could be a deciding one.

4th Quarter

Both teams would start the quarter cold as the Raptors had to missed shots and a turnover. But the Hornets also had failed to score. We were over 2 minutes into the fourth and still no one had scored. Jason Kapono 3- ball would not fall and the scoreless battle would continue. Butler would break the scoreless drought with a big 3 pointer on off a short shot clock. Jermaine O'Neal would get a 2 in response. Hornets would answer with a two pointer of their own. Bosh would then head back to the line and had a rare miss going just 1-2 and the score was 85-75 Hornets. Bosh was right back at it after a failed Hornet trip. He would score and get fouled and make the extra point pulling the Raptors to down 7 points. Peja would get a two point response for the Hornets. But Jose Calderon would get a 3 pointer for the Raptors. Both teams had got back to scoring but the Raptors were not in a position to trade buckets as they trailed 89-81 at the mid point of the 4th quarter.

Chris Paul would swipe away the ball for his first steal of the day. That was significant as he had a streak going that was the second longest in league history. He trails former Raptor Alvin Robertson who holds the record for most consecutive games with a steal. But the steal would not turn into points and the Raptors would actually score and cut the lead down to just 6 points. But a missed 3 pointer and a turnover cost the Raptors two more chances to cut into the Hornet lead. Butler off a Chris Paul pass would hit a very big 3 pointer for the Hornets to make the lead 9 points. J.O would score a two in response but time was running out and the Raptors may regret not getting closer when they had the chance.

Jason Kapono had two chances to make a 3 pointer and missed both. Jamario Moon would hustle to get the offensive board on the second miss and make a pair from the line. Raptors trailed 92-87. But the Hornet showed poise and came down and scored to make the lead 7 once again. Chris Bosh would get fouled but could not score and would have to settle for just two free throws. Bosh would make both but the Raptors were down 5 with just 1:24 to play. Butler would get another key 3 pointer off a Paul find and that was about it for the Raptors chances. Hornets had a 97-89 lead and there was not enough time for Raptors to forge a comeback. J.O was at the line with 56 seconds left and he made both. The raptors tried to get a stop but instead fouled David West and he would go to the line with just 31 seconds left and this was over. It would be a 99-91 win for the New Orleans Hornets.

Raptors were competitive but not good enough to beat a top level team in the Hornets. The Raptors will have a new player in the fold and given the date tomorrow who knows what else might happen. The one thing that is for sure is that Vince Carter will be back in Toronto and he will not get a response like Morris Peterson who did not see the floor today for the Hornets. Bosh had 25 points and Calderon 22. But David West had 29 points and James Posey had 20 along with a 12 points and 12 assist effort from Chris Paul. The rest of the boxscore goodies can be found below.

Hornets/Raptors Boxscore

Details on how all of this roster stuff is going to shake out to include Jake Voskhul when they come to light. So check back later tonight to see if there is more on that. If not I am sure it will be clear by tomorrow. It will be an interesting 24 hours in Raptorland or it at least could be depending on who Bryan Colangelo is talking to on his cell phone. Tomorrow marks the opening of NBA rosters so that everyone is available to be moved if their team desires to do so.