Raptors Hope To Net A Rare Road Win.

Thanks to Anas for holding it down for DNB while I was off watching the team both Jack and Bosh played for move on in NCAA Tournament. Maybe Paul Hewitt (Coach of Georgia Tech) should coach Raptors. Maybe he can get this team to play some defense. I admit have only seen highlights of what went on at the ACC last night. However it was an even worse script then what I had envisioned. I fully expected the Thunder to win this game. Despite the win over Atlanta, the Raptors did not play well and many of the issues that were part of their 5 game losing streak were still evident. In fact let's be blunt this team has been a tragic embarrassment since the All Star Break. So what a better time to bring on the NBA embarrassment that is the New Jersey Nets. They are on pace to set an NBA record for the worse season EVER!!! The Raptors need to keep them on that pace if not all bets are off at what happens next. Raptors have beat the Nets all 3 times they have hooked up. Including one on the Road at the I-Zod Center for a rare road victory.

Amazingly as bad as the Raptors have played they remain in the playoff and the teams around them with exception of the Bucks have all struggled. Bobcats, Heat and Bulls are all terrible as well. Raptors are just a full game behind Miami and still sit 2 and half games ahead of the Bulls who have lost 10 straight. In all likelihood the Raptors will make the post season. However scrapping in as the 7th or 8th seed has not that goal. Raptors had much higher aspirations for this season. As Chris Bosh's frustration with this team grows so does the feeling he may not remain. Many feel that the success or lack of success in the post season will be a big factor in what Bosh will do. Chris has not exactly laid out a criteria for what he is looking for to make his decision. However winning is always part of the equation for CB4.

4 of these next 6 games will say a lot about just where this team is heading. What should be easy wins over the Nets tonight and Minnesota on Monday. Then two what barring something unforeseen losses to Denver and Utah. After that the most important road trip of this Raptors Season. Remember about 2 months ago I mentioned a back to back late in March that would mean a lot? March 28th at Miami and next night at Charlotte. These games have taken on the massive important nature that I felt they would back in January. If the Raptors do not win at least 3 of these 4 games vs Nets, T-Wolves, Heat and Bobcats then all bets are off and Raptors will be hard pressed to be anything better than an 8 seed.

That would mean a match-up with Cavs in the first round. Which everyone seems as doom. Well I don't as much as others. I mean sure I picked the Cavs to win the NBA Title this year. I also see them as the best team in the East. However that does not make them the worst match-up. Hawks and Magic for me are tougher match-ups for Toronto. Boston would not be except for the fact that Celtics seem to be in the Raptors heads and have been for awhile. But bottom line is if Raptors don't defend better they would have a hard time advancing in March Madness let alone the NBA playoffs.

Raptors really need 2 wins on this short road trip badly. In fact I would say anything short of 2-0 is a major failure. If the Raptors were to some how lose to the Nets I can only imagine the mood of this fan base which is already ugly. Worse yet can you imagine the mood of Bosh if that happens? I can't say I would blame him. His frustration is evident and when the leader of the team in frustrated you have to imagine the entire locker is to various degrees. The T-Wolves on Monday may actually play worse defense than the Raptors as the got torched for 158 by the Suns not that long ago. A 2 game winning streak in this battle of the least in the East would be huge or to quote George Costanza "Gold Jerry Gold". But it is another Costanza line that comes to mind at the moment. "Serenity NOW!!!" that is how frustrated I am, as I am sure you all are. Raptors should be happy to know their fans cared enough to boo this team off the floor. Why do I say that? Simple you only boo if you care and have passion. Raptors are in serious danger of what comes next happening. What is that? Apathy and it is not pretty. If Bosh were to go and this team stinks as much as it could with out him...Apathy will be here. That is not good for anyone including me.

Raptors Royally Flushed

The Raptors came in off a solid but losing effort to the L.A Lakers. One of the questions I asked Paul Jones yesterday in the Starting 5 was how do the Raptors carry over that effort? Well early on in this game the Raptors answered the bell. Raptors started on a 7-2 run to open this game. The Kings would push back and make it a close affair in the 1st Quarter. Tyreke Evans made a move early on that showed you why many think he will be rookie of the year. It was a close hard fought first quarter that saw the Raptors lead 25-24.

The second quarter the Raptors were a bit better on defense in the quarter holding the Kings to just 16 points. The Raptors had a 45-40 lead heading into the half. This game had become even more important with both the Heat and Bobcats winning earlier in the night. The Raptors should have had all the motivation in the world to come out and continue to tighten the screws on the Kings and get a win on the second night of a back to back. In fact the mood on Twitter of the Raptors fan base was pretty good. Heck I even posted a video of The Rock singing a song where he rips on the city of Sacramento. Happy times.

Then something happened. I joked it was like what happened in the movie Space Jam where players lost their talent. The Raptors looked like they totally forget how to play the game. The Kings started on a 10-0 or was it 12-0 run. When the 3rd quarter was done so were the Raptors. Amazingly enough the Raptors gave up more points in this quarter than the entire first half. It was 43 points in all and the Raptors were dead in the water. Needless to say the mood of the fans on Twitter had changed. Many fans were left confused and searching for people to blame. There was lots of blame to go around. A lot of folks were focused on Jay Triano. As I joked on radio in Montreal after the game whatever Jay Triano said at halftime he should never say that again. The Raptors have had their share of terrible 3rd quarters this season but this was by far the worst.

I will spare everyone from talking about the 4th quarter. The only thing I will mention is that Tyreke Evans got his first career triple double with 19 points 10 rebounds and 10 assists. There was a fun moment early in the game where a group of Sacramento fan were screaming asking Bosh if he was coming to Sacramento in 2010. Bosh actually answered them by saying "Hell No". If the Raptors do not turn this thing around that could be the same answer Bryan Colangelo could get when he tries to re-sign Bosh. If the Raptors some how end up the team on the outside looking in for the playoffs it seems almost impossible to imagine that Bosh will return next season.

I have made it no secret that if that happens I think the Raptors outlook is bleak at best. The Raptors do not play again till Saturday. Jay Triano has some serious work to do. If this epic collapse were to continue you have to think Chris Bosh may not be the only one leaving. Triano may be told to leave and lose his job. It would be hard at the end of this season for someone to stand up and defend that he would deserve to be back if this team were to miss the playoffs.

I has always been convinced the Raptors would make the playoffs it was just a case of where they would fit in. However they sit in a 3 way tie for 6th or 8th depending on choose to look at it. The schedule looking ahead does not show many positive signs. If you are tired and grumpy this morning you are not alone. Nothing seems to sting more than a west coast loss. You stay up late and go to bed feeling upset it is not fun. Raptors have never had much success in Sacramento still only with 2 wins all-time there after last night. Oh, silly me I almost forgot the score. The Kings crowned the Raptors 113-90.