Bad Break For Raptors In Boston.

I was busy working for The Score last night so I am watching the game the morning after. As you can tell by the title I am well aware of what happens in this one. If you are not and missed the game as well it will become obvious by the time were done. Celtics looking for revenge and they will do it with Rajon Rondo who was a game time decision. He will play was the decision.

1st Quarter

First possession of the game for Raps is a turnover and first for Boston is a K.G basket. He would score another before DeRozan would get Raps on the board. But a bad mistake by Demar on D leaves Ray Allen open for a 3 an early 7-2 Celtics lead. Ray Allen was not done as he starts 3-3 from 3 point range and is torching the Raptors as he has done in the past. Boston had a huge early lead 19-5 over the Raptors. Alley to a very big opp that is Shaq and Rondo hooked hum up for the easy 2. Boston was still up big 22-9. Rondo was tearing apart the Raptors with easy lob passes for his big guys. Calderon with a confident jump cuts lead to 10 briefly. When Rondo hit the bench for a breather his Celtics were up a dozen with the score 28-16. Once the dust settled it was 31-20 Celtics after 1.

2nd Quarter.

Given the events of Sunday and fact Rondo is playing and wasn't Sunday are the 2 driving forces behind this lead. Bayless learns fast...pass it to Bargs and he hits for the east 2 on the jumper, Erden from Turkey has worker out better then the Raptors Turkey venture in Hedo. Bayless a drive and score and with the and 1 and cut lead to single digits at 40-31 Celtics. A Kleiza would get Raps within a touchdown and that would cause Doc Rivers to call for a time out. Raps kept coming a nice hook-up for Bargnani from Bayless. Then a drive and Bayless missed lay-up but Amir cleans up on the glass and makes lead just 3. Fact make that 1 as Bayless made a pair at the line. Celtics finally get it together and get a basket. Pierce follows up the K.G slam and lead was back to 5. Rondo was making it look all to easy as he was lob passing the Raptors to death. The Celtics ball movement in this game was spectacular. Jay Triano need to find answer to Rondo he called for a time out with Raptors down 6. Out of time Demar DeRozan comes to life with a jumper. On defensive end a steal and drop off for Jose for the 3 that he makes. Raps briefly closed to with in 3. Celtics were getting Kevin Garnett easy looks and he was making them. Bargnani nails a jumper and Reggie takes one on the numbers and will shoot 1. Missed it though and the lead was 4. Weems got blocked by K.G earlier and forced a missed lay-up had been a rough night for Sonny. K.G draws a foul at end of the half. K.G would make both and have a 6 point lead after 24.

3rd Quarter.

Calderon hits a basket and Shaq answers with score and 1 that he actually made. Turnover and another Celtics score. 1:40 in the Celtics lead was 11 with the score 65-54. K.G was having his own personal slam dunk contest. Both teams had a bad case of the sloppies at the moment. Teams had 7 turnovers between them so far in Quarter and Celtics had a 12 point advantage. Reggie Evans limping off with what at the time it was thought to be a sprained foot. We would learn post game it was a foot fracture. More bad news ask a basket the Raptors were credited for was taken away after video review on Shot Clock Violation. Raptor all the sudden were down 16 and with out Reggie Evans with score 74-58. Peja came off the pine to nail a 3 but Raptors were still in a deep 15 point hole. Raptors were shooting 2-17 in 3rd and Boston had a 21 point lead and Jay Triano finally decided to call a time out. Back to his old time out habits. You are not Phil Jackson and the Raptors are sure not the Lakers. Sorry was talking to television and Jay Triano. When the music stopped after 3 it was 86-67.

4th Quarter

Honestly the Raptors were not coming back in this one they would cut the lead to 10 but you never got the feeling they could win. Despite all the 3 point shooting of Peja and a little Barbosa on the side. Raptors were trying 3 ball their way back into this one. While it was an impressive display the chances were not high the Celtics were going to blow a 19 point lead. Ultimately they would not losing that basketball game 110-101. The loss itself was not a big deal. If you were honest with yourself prior to this game you knew the Raptors chances were slim. However the loss of Reggie Evans is a huge one for this team. He was a leader in the locker room and leader on the floor on the glass. This could be very ugly with no Reggie on the boards. Another game against Boston and another foot injury the irony is painful. Technically the last time was in Hartford not Boston But still a tough night for Reggie that will lead to tougher nights ahead for the Raptors.

Time To Unleash The Beast- The Return Of Reggie

I am so happy today for Reggie Evans. When I traveled to Ottawa this year for training camp the first person I interviewed was Reggie. I was really upset when he went down in the pre-season vs Boston. I was so looking forward to the toughness and rebounding he would bring to the game. I don't think Reggie or anyone could have imagined that injury would end up keeping him out for so long.

The misfortune of Reggie has been the fortune for Amir Johnson. Johnson has filled the minutes that likely would have fallen mostly to Reggie. In conversations with Reggie I know he was happy for all the success Amir has had with that chance. As great as Amir has been there is something a little more in what you get from Reggie Evans in terms of rebounding and toughness. In terms of offense both guys are a bit challenged at times. But make no mistake about it Reggie will be a positive impact regardless of how many minutes he plays.

This has been the first time in Reggie's career he has had a major injury. In a interview here in the Dino Nation Blog he gave great credit to the Raptors training staff for keeping him positive. He also gave a lot of love to all of the fans that have been supportive towards him. When he is on Twitter on @ReggieEvans30 he can be seen talking with fans and giving away tickets to games. The Raptor fan base back in the pre-season loved Reggie and in both Ottawa and in London chants of REGGIE REGGIE were quick to start. This was the very first move of many that Bryan Colangelo made this past off-season. Now Bryan and all of us to see what Bryan had in mind for making this team tougher and giving the team a presence on the glass.

Some will say that I am not being objective when it comes to Reggie. I mean folks in the media seem to go out of their way to make sure they appear objective in covering things. I understand all of that but we are also human beings the same as anyone else. So, be it your reporting for a main stream media outlet, writing a blog, or just a fan of the team if you do not feel happy for Reggie you are heartless. Sometimes in sports the idea that these folks playing in the jerseys are people gets lost. So, I am not ashamed to say that I happy and thrilled to see Reggie back.

I am willing to wait a week or two to just be happy for a fellow human being (Who is a great person) and share in the excitement and joy in them working back to the point they can play, the sport they love and I love. Tonight the Raptors will take on the Sixers but for me it is all about #30 getting the chance to suit up and play.

Go Reggie Go......Unleash THE BEAST!!!

Reggie Working Hard To Comeback

When things started for the Raptors back in September on of the new Raptors that quickly was embraced by the fans is Reggie Evans. In the first pre-season game in London Ontario the crowd broke out into a Reggie chat almost right away. No one could have expected that Reggie would not make it to the regular season. He would injury his foot in a pre-season game vs Boston and it has been a long frustrating time since. That being said Reggie gives a lot of credit to the the Raptors training staff and says if he was somewhere else he might be going crazy by now. He also says even though he is asked about it often he appreciates that fans are anxious to have him back. We also talk a little football as Iowa where Reggie went to school take on Georgia Tech in a bowl game. He offers some thoughts on that and how his Georgia Tech Alum team mates even know Iowa will win. Never did get a reply from Jarrett Jack or Chris Bosh to defend their school. Have a listen to Reggie in the Starting 5.

Reggie Evans In Starting 5

DNB Staring 5

#9 Georgia Tech take on #10 Iowa in the Orange Bowl on January 5th. That is the night before the Raptors will take on Orlando for the final time this regular season. A few interested observers in the Raptors looker room for that one. Reggie just had another MRI on his foot and is doing all that he can to get back in the line-up. If you want to pass on a word of encouragement to Reggie hit him up on Twitter @ReggieEvans30 as he said it helps him keep working hard. I think everyone looks forward to him working hard on the floor sooner rather than later. He is the first one up on the bench encouraging his team. You have to love his passion and feel for what he has gone through. Hopefully 2010 will be the Year of Reggie in Raptorland. You will not meet a more kind guy off the floor. When he gets back on it is still not known but as Reggie is doing more things it is a positive sign he is heading in right direction. He continues to work hard behind closed doors to make it happen ASAP. Happy New Year to Reggie and to all of you that check out the Dino Nation Blog on a regular basis. May you all have a safe and health 2010. If you are out having fun tonight please stay safe and don't drink and drive.Want everyone to make it into 2010 in one piece.