Ping Pong Ball Playoffs Start Today

This is the time of year when lots of questions are asked. Like can I honestly endure seeing that Andrea Bargnani Primo Pasta ad anymore? I mean honestly can I? What also is up in the air is how many ping pong balls the Raptors will have. After that the all important question on who will go to the lottery and represent the Raptors? But before we answer all of those "important" questions, there is the matter of having 3 games left to play. All 3 games could have an impact on the playoffs or lottery standings. Detroit currently is a game behind the Raptors in the reverse lottery standings. If you are the type to root for ping pong balls nothing but a Raptor loss will do today. If the Raptors were to lose it would virtually clinch finishing in front of Detroit in terms of lottery balls.

The scariest thing for Tank Nation is the Raptors win today, Monday and Thursday. There are still a number of teams bunched together and the ping pong ball race might be more exciting than the Playoff Race at this point. After all who cares if the Jazz, Suns or Rockets get in only to lose to the Spurs or OKC. Does it really matter if it is the Bucks, Kincks or the Sixers facing the Bulls at the end of the day? Charlotte long ago wrapped up the most ping pong balls and will have the best shot at Anthony Davis with 25% chance of landing the expected number one pick. Bobcat fans will not be thrilled to learn that position has only grabbed the number one spot four times since 1985. Which is one of the many reasons why I question all of this tank nation business to begin with. Washington has almost locked up the number 2 position in the ping pong ball standings.

After that it gets interesting. My favourite to win the NBA Lottery, the no longer league owned, and soon to no longer be Hornets. My favourite mascot next to the Raptor is going to be no more. Hugo the Hornet will be missed. Still he was had lots to cheer about lately as Hornets have won 7 of their last 10 games and put the 3rd worst record up for grabs. They are tied with the soon to be Vancouver Kings? They know how to tank, going 1-9 in the last 10 down the stretch. What they don't know how to do in Sacramento is how to build a stadium or win basketball games. Cleveland is next on the list of losers with the 5th worst record. The Cavs are back to the mess they were before they won the lottery and drafted Lebron James who showed Cleveland what winning was like, but never could end the curse that lives in the city of Cleveland and he moved on the South Beach. They won last year ironically with the pick they acquired from the Clippers and not based on their worst record in the league. They look to do the unthinkable double like the Orlando Magic were able to pull off. The Nets sit in the 6th position as they look to say good bye to New Jersey and likely Deron Williams this off-season and hello to Brooklyn with no real stars to speak of. The Raptors check in next tied with the Golden State Warriors just a half game behind the Nets, with the big TANKAPOLOOZA game on Thursday on the horizon. The Pistons round out the list of teams in this mess all with in 3 games of each other. Any win for them is a death blow at this point.

So that makes today's game with the Raptors and Pistons significant, but also likely painful to watch. All of that said it might look highly entertaining in comparison to what lies ahead with the Nets and Raptors on Thursday. If you took a nap till Friday and just woke up to see where the Raptors did end up finishing that might not be a bad plan. Seeing as that is likely not a realistic option for me, I will watch and be confused on what exactly I should be rooting for in these last three games. I honestly don't know at this point. So, I will watch and see what happens. Next year at this time if the Raptors are in this same awkward position it will have been a disaster of a season. Expectations for the coming off-season and next season in my view have already become too high. The Raptors have done a horrible job in managing expectations. The reason they have, is because if they didn't, who would want to watch this team next season and people might actually be talking about how bad this season has been even though it is an improvement over last season. The Raptors are heading in the right direction, but the speed they will be expected to go in that direction may not match the reality. Bryan Colangelo has an entire off-season to change my mind. He likely is not going to waste anytime either. When the Raptors and Nets game is done, I expect Bryan Colangelo will be on his cellphone or blackberry with in 5 minutes looking to make some moves. The trick will be finding some partners that are in as big a hurry as he is to get to work on building his roster for next season. One thing that likely will not be on the table is the Raptors draft pick even if they do the unthinkable and actually win the last 3 games of the season.

Raptors Terrible Third Quarter Costs Them A Win.

So if the fact the Raptors went to overtime was not enough, they also were not able to fly to Memphis till today. Getting to the arena just after 4:45 pm for a 7pm tip. Still more drama as the arena was evacuated for a fire alarm at 5:30pm. So to say this is a bizarre set of circumstances heading into this game would be an understatement. No Jose Calderon in this one as the Raptors look to Tuesday as a possible return date for him. Andrea Bargnani might be used sparingly today as well given the added minutes and issues in getting to Charlotte. The Raptors under much more friendlier circumstances dropped a contest earlier in the season to the Bobcats. So will see what happens today.

Aaron Gray gets the scoring started after the Raptors open the game with a stop on defense. Raptors had a couple chances to add to that but both DeRozan and James Johnson could not make it happen. Bayless looked to be keeping things rolling after last night, he nailed a big 3 and opened up a 9-4 advantage. Gerald Henderson shows why people have been waiting for him to explode into a superstar with a great dunk. In much less athletic fashion Aaron Gray replies and it was 13-8 Raptors. After Charlotte rattled off 4 points another Bayless three pointer made it a 16-12 contest. It wouldn't be Bayless without some head shaking moments, with a clean lane for a lay up he decided to kick the ball out and it would end up out of bound Charlotte basketball. Bobcats would take advantage and get this game tied at 16 with under 5 to play in the 3rd. Bayless was on fire from behind the arc though as he cashed in a Kleiza pass for his 3rd three in as many tries. He would press is luck an attempt a 4th in transition and that was not a good idea. Raptors offense was humming shooting 60% and Linas Kleiza would add to that with a nice mid range jumper that goes swish. Raptors were up 23-18 and looking good early. DeRozan had a chance to add to it and missed a pair of free throws at the line. DeRozan would make up for that with his own highlight reel dunk. Raptors had built a 9 point lead and needed a stop to head to end of the first with that lead. Which they would get. A Kleiza buzz heave would not fall so make it 29-20 after one.

Bobcats shot 27.8% in the first, part of that is them and the fact they stink but give Raptor credit for some good defense as well. Kemba Walker was taking abuse from Leo Rautin for his green and yellow kicks but more importantly he was struggling on the floor. Raptors were not messing around building a 35-20 lead and given the situation they might need that big lead later. However the way the Bobcats were playing they might not. D.J White would try to fire up his troops and crowd that would be luck if it was 5,000 with a big jam. Hard to believe this city once led the NBA in attendance back in the days when Hornets were buzzing in hive. Kleiza hit a step back 3 pointer after the Bobcats showed some signs of life. Linas was lighting it up he had 11 and Raptors were up 42-28 midway through the 2nd quarter. Raptors weathered to little Bobcat uprising pretty well and still led 49-37 with just over 3 to play. I might have spoke to soon some sloppy turnovers and Bobcats were back to single digits down 51-43. Bayless again passed on scoring and left an ugly drop off that works as Aaron Gray finished it off. Raptors lead 53-43 at the halftime break.

Bismack with the big smacking slam to get things rolling in the 2nd half. Then Cory Maggette on his 12th NBA team (Exaggeration for effect) with a big three and the Raptors lead was cut in half like that. Bayless with a crazy floater over Biyombo you can mambo if you want too. Bargnani would mambo he would just dunk on the Bobcats rookie. Gerald Henderson with a silky smooth jumper made it just a 5 point lead again at 57-52. Bismack Biyombo would draw the Cats even closer with a bucket. D.J Augustin would complete the comeback with a 3 and the Bobcats led for first time all night 59-57. A Kleiza airball on the baseline jumper was not going to help. Jaamal Magloire was an all-star 8 years ago in this city. Today he was playing because Aaron Gray was in foul trouble and actually had a dunk. While the parade for that was rolling through the Bobcats kept rolling and now had a 9 point advantage up 70-61. Things were not getting any better for the Raptors as they were making to many mistakes and the Bobcats lead was growing. Raptors would face an 81-67 scoreline to overcome heading to the 4th quarter.

Bobcats were now shooting above 50% after being below 30% after one. Bayless was frustrated but was at least one guy on the floor not ready to give up. But you forgive me if I have as the Raptors looked tired and lethargic and were turning the ball over faster than bar selling green beers. But this was the Bobcats and they can turn it over better than anyone and were proving it. Still they had a 10 point lead and it was really going to take some effort for them to blow this one. Like I said Bayless was not giving up as he hits a three and this was a Peyton Manning touchdown from being tied. Sorry think NFL Network cut in on the re-cap their. Bobcats got the lead back to 11 and this game was looking like it was going to be win lucky win number seven for the Bobcats and two of those coming at the hands of the Raptors. The first on was inexcusable this one today had some legit excuses. Still it doesn't make the fact the Raptors were on the way to 0-2 vs Bobcats feel any better. This was all but done except for the final score.

Some how, some way the Raptors after being down as many as 14 found their way back to down just 5 with 45 seconds left. Bobcats are bad granted but how this happened is a bit of a mystery. Bobcats would make a couple free throws and make it is 7 point lead. But a silly foul after a DeRozan missed three allowed Amir Johnson to get it to 5 point game with clock stopped. Raptors got a steal jacked a couple threes and missed both. That should just about do it or not..Raptors kept possession and Bayless nailed a three with 11.7 seconds left. Bayless was forced to foul out and had 29 points and seat for the final 9.9 seconds left in this one with Raptors down just 105-103. D.J Augustin made both free throws so now this was over right? It was as DeRozan missed a 3 badly and that would do it as Charlotte got the ball and whipped it down court. Make the final 107-103 Bobcats.

Tired Raps Look For Revenge In Charlotte

Maybe the Raptors are not tired, but it is a safe assumption after a long night in Memphis, where in one of the strangest basketball games I have ever witnessed the Raptors came away with a 114-110 OT win. They return to the Eastern Time zone and face the Charlotte Bobcats. One of the teams that I have personally guaranteed will finish below the Raptors. The Raptors have just 22 games left and are 9 wins ahead of the Raptors. The Raptors are just 5 wins shy of are pre-season prediction of 20 wins sitting at 15-29. The Bobcats are 6-36 and yes one of those 6 wins came at the hands of the Raptors back home in Toronto. That was without Andrea Bargnani though and after last night you wonder how much the Raptors will have him today. In addition how effective he can be. They will likely be without Jose Calderon as well. If Jerryd Bayless can play like he did last night that will be less of an issue. The Bobcats will return to the ACC for one more visit after today on April 3rd. Raptors have not won consecutive games since the last time Andrea Bargnani returned and he exited near the end of the 2nd win that was the wild OT win in Utah after a win over the Suns.

So let's just cut to the keys to the games.

1. Suck It Up Butter Cup- This is one of those games where it is unrealistic to expect the Raptors to be at 100%. What you would expect is for them to play solid defense and try and grind out a win. Add in the fact you had an embarrassing loss to that mix and that can provide you some motivation when your gas tank is reading E.

2. Bayless Balance- We need to see a balanced effort from Jerryd Bayless with the assists to go along with scoring. Near the end of last season we go to see a glimpse of what he could be. Again last night we saw some of that. It all gets mixed in with some crazy what were you thinking moments. But at the end of it all no one wants to win more than this guy. I firmly believe that.

3. Some X Factors Please- In a game where you expended so much to win you need someone unexpected to step up and provide a big performance. Maybe a big game from Ed Davis? One of those nice games that Amir Johnson can provide on occasion. An Aaron Gray double double? Something like what the Raptors got from Gary Forbes last night. Someone needs to step up.

So that is all we have for you today. Game goes at 7pm and seeing as my March Madness bracket is a mess I will be watching. Even if it wasn't I would be. You know your hardcore when your watching Raptors vs Bobcats. No more Bobkittens I learned from the last time....LOL.

Bobkittens Invade ACC

I am pulling double duty today with covering the game and hosting the MGDDNBVIP Contest winners. So I thought instead of your normal preview, I would ask the guys from the Round Ball Review to handle it. See how they made out?



There was actually a valid point mixed in with all that comedy. The Raptors have indeed been playing better against good teams. It would be easy to over look the Bobcats and think this has an easy win written all over it. Raptors have made it "Fan Night" as well. On Fan Night it is usually against a bad team as some way to draw some interest. Having Naughty By Nature in to perform at halftime is all part of that. It is without saying it, a game on the schedule that both has little interest, and looks like an easy win. To prove my point when Vanilla Ice started this strange tradition of novelty Rap performers at halftime; Do you remember who the Raptors played? The Answer is the New Jersey Nets. I honestly can't remember who was here for Rob Base but I will bet it wasn't anyone good.

While they suggest in the video we cancel the season if the Raptors lose might be a tad extreme. It is worth noting the Bobcats are 1-15 on the road and only have 3 wins on the season. They are on a huge losing streak of 16 in a row. The Raptors need to make it 17 and move along to the next one. If they don't it will wipe away to an extent all the good basketball they have played of late.

Also, be honest how many of you could have named 5 Bobcats? I also wonder what those people that had the draft Kemba Walker sign in their condo window think today? Maybe they will be out at this game to see the guy they wanted the Raptors to draft? Honestly they were not alone though. He has been hot of late with 21 points in his last two games. But as the old expression goes, someone has to score on a bad team. Kemba on the season is averaging 13.1 ppg and is shooting just 36.8% from the field while averaging just 3.6 assists. That doesn't exactly sound like the successor to Jose Calderon does it?

#MGDDNBVIP Contest # 2

Ok for contest number two we are going in a different direction. To explain here is J.B and Joey G from the Round Ball Review:



So you have till the end of the Raptors vs Knicks Game on Tuesday. Leave you entries in the comments or tweet them to us @Dinonationblog . Will announce the winner on Twitter and in our Re-cap of Raptors vs Knicks.

Playing Out The String Begins In Charlotte.

The Raptors begin the post All-Star Schedule tonight in Charlotte with the Bulls waiting for them in Toronto for a game tomorrow night. Demar DeRozan promises to go nuts in this final stretch of the season after getting jobbed in the Dunk Contest for a 2nd year. That is really what season is about for the Raptors now. How there younger players approach and play the rest of the games on the schedule. There is no playoffs in this team's future and a uncertain future with no CBA in place after this season. Bryan Colangelo is making noise about trading one of his first round picks. I think that would be a mistake at this point. But it is not like I have agreed with the J.O Deal, The Hedo signing and a lot of other things. Let's also hope he is talking about the Miami pick and not their own pick. Trade deadline is 3 days away and the Melodrama has ended. There is not likely much Raptor drama despite all the talk from B.C at least that is what I am thinking. Reggie Evans one the Raptors more interesting expiring contracts is almost set to return. If he makes it past Thursday it will be nice to see him back. Reggie has in a recent interview expressed that he could be interesting in staying with the Raptors if it was possible. Oh yeah and there is a game tonight the Bobcats and Raptors with Charles Oakley as an assistant for the Bobcats. Charlotte has had a massive overhaul since the Raptors last saw them. Brand new coaching staff and an attitude to go with it.

The Basics: Toronto 15-41 (Last Road Win 1/05/11 @Cavs) Charlotte 24-32 ( 15-12 at Home)

When Last We Saw Them: Bosh was back and the Raptors put up a great fight led by Andrea Bargnani with 38 points and no defence to speak of. The Crowd was fired up but fizzled while the Raptors had to with in 4 points with less than 4 to play before finally getting sun burned by the Heat.

Key Match-Ups: Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace are the key guys for the Raptors to shutdown in this one. Jackson has potential to go off both in losing his temper or scoring a ton. While Wallace has been a thorn in the Raptors side for years and is the exact opposite of what Raptors have been. He is a freak athlete and has always got the better of the Raptors when he has been healthy and in the line-up. Raptors need to take advantage of Augustin and Brown with Bargnani and Calderon. The X-Factor is a motivated Demar DeRozan that seem less than impressed he got jobbed again in the Dunk Contest. He tweeted that he is going Ham on the rest of this season. I am not up on my slang but it seemed to imply he is going to as the Rock says BRING IT!!! For the rest of the year. That is good because we need to see that happen.

Other Things of Note: Bobcats are 15-13 under Paul Silas who prior to Charlotte last coached Lebron James and the Cavs in 04-05 before taking over in Charlotte. Bobcats have a 2-0 lead in the season series vs the Raptors. Had a great chat with Chuck Swirsky yesterday and many of you have already checked that out. But in case you have not based on the feedback I have got you probably should. Chicago who the Raptors play tomorrow do not play tonight and will be sitting back waiting for the Raptors which will make for a tough back to back for Toronto prior to the trade deadline. If people expect the Raptors to do a lot at deadline I think you will be sadly disappointed. I don't see this team doing anything. Will see If I am right on Thursday or before that but pretty sure I am.

Where Is It On ?: Sportsnet Uno (This was Sportsnet's chance to prove they care about B-Ball after TSN FAILED to show MVP of All-Star Game but let's face it Trade Deadline Wars are coming and no one at TSN or Sportsnet is paying attention to basketball)

"Behind Enemy Lines"

Due to NBA All-Star Weekend, the Raptors are off for a few days and only play two games before next Friday. DeMar DeRozan will be working hard, though. He is in the Rookie Challenge playing for the Sophomore side on Friday and representing the Raptors on Saturday in the Slam Dunk Contest. He has the most support and talent around him and has a really good shot at challenging the Blake Griffin Show. Moving onto this week for the Raptors, they host Charlotte at home on Tuesday and visit the Bulls on Wednesday. Let's dive in.


Toronto Raptors @ Charlotte Bobcats - Tuesday, February 22nd

• The Raptors and Bobcats have played twice this season. Charlotte won both times: November 10th - 101-96; December 14th -97-91.
• During their last meeting, Toronto lead the first quarter by nine points (29-20) and Charlotte picked up the lead in the second - sustaining it through to the end.
• This game saw the Raptors' starters outscore Bobcats' starters 64-62. Jerryd Bayless had 17 points on the night - tops for the Raptors and Nazr Mohammed put up 18 for Charlotte.
• The key to this game seemed to be the energy off the Charlotte bench. They combined for 35 points from 4 of their players, while the Raptors' bench put up 27 from 3 of five players.
• Bobcats Inactive List: Matt Carroll, Desagana Diop and Tyrus Thomas.
• Bobcats Head Coach Paul Silas signed a 1-year contract extension Wednesday and is no longer just the interim coach. Under his leadership, the Bobcats are now within one game off the Pacers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
• Raptors need to watch: Gerald Henderson. In their last game against the Bulls, the Bobcats' bench put up 43 points, almost half of which were Henderson's (22).

Chicago Bulls @ Toronto Raptors - Wednesday, February 23rd

• The Raptors and Bulls played twice this season. Chicago took both contests: 110-93 on December 15 and 111-91 on January 4rth.
• During their last meeting, Chicago lead at the half by 18 points (59-41). Toronto rallied in the third but the effort wasn't enough.
• This is where it gets interesting. Toronto's starters that night outscored Chicago's by 10 (69-59). However, Chicago's bench was far superior and put up 52 points to Toronto's 22.
• As of Thursday, Chicago sits at 37-16 on the season and third in the Eastern Conference.
• Bulls Inactive List: Joakim Noah.
• Raptors need to watch: The obvious? Luol Deng and Derrick Rose. Deng had 24 points versus Toronto during their last meeting and versus the Bobcats Tuesday. 2011 All-Star Derrick Rose put up a double double (18points, 13 assists) against the Bobcats Tuesday. The not-so-obvious? Keith Bogans and Kyle Korver. Both were successful from three point range three times Tuesday. Do not leave these guys alone.

Thanks once again for joining me this week. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Keep them coming by following me on Twitter (@ddegraauw) and on Facebook (Danielle de Graauw). Have a great All-Star Weekend and see you on Tuesday for more NBA news (including All-Star Weekend) in "NBAz in 7 Dayz".

"Behind Enemy Lines"

Raptors + Denver Nuggets + Friday = HUGE. For two reasons. One: the Toronto Raptors will be playing a team fighting for their coach and his legacy of a thousand career wins. Two: James and myself will be meeting with some very lucky fans of the DNB in box seats at the Air Canada Centre. For the DNB and for me personally at the very least, it will be the most exciting game of the year. Fans of the blog will know my allegiance lies with the purple and gold and to the Raptors every other night the Lakers aren't playing. However, knowing what Denver has gone through as a club in the last year and how they have supported Head Coach George Karl through his battle with cancer makes me throw my support behind them too. I want the Raptors to snap their 3 game loosing funk but I wouldn't mind seeing George Karl get win number one thousand since I will actually be in attendance for the game. Just being honest - as I always am with you. Besides this Friday against Denver, the Raptors will be up against Detroit, Charlotte and Chicago. Nibble on this.


Friday, December 10 - Denver Nuggets at Toronto Raptors

• This will be the first time these two teams have met this season.
• Denver starter Carmelo Anthony is day to day with an inflamed right knee. He was a late scratch against Boston so there is a chance he will play Friday night.
• Denver Head Coach George Karl is one game away from 1,000 wins as an NBA coach. Only 6 other NBA coaches have accomplished this.
• Denver's hot: Gary Forbes earned a start in place of Carmelo Anthony. Ty Lawson is leading Denver in an average of 24 points off the bench in absence of Anthony.
• Who's not: Chauncey Billups is shooting a career low 35.8% from the field through 21 games for Denver.
• Key for Raptors: whether or not Carmelo Anthony is in the line-up and if they play solid defense.

Saturday, December 11 - Toronto Raptors at Detroit Pistons

• This will be the first time these two teams will meet this season.
• Ben Gordon, Rodney Stuckey and Richard Hamilton combined for 48 points in their last game against the Hornets (19, 16 and 13 respectively).
• Detroit Injuries: Terrico White out with a broken foot. Jonas Jerebko still out with a partially ruptured achilles tendon on his right leg and will miss the next 5 months.
• Raptors need to watch Ben Wallace. He grabbed his 10, 000th rebound November 30th, 2010 and is the third active player to record this stat with 2,000+ blocks in his career.
• Key for Raptors: Realistically, the Pistons are no better than the Raptors despite the above. Play confident and force Gordon, Stuckey and Hamilton to take shots out of their comfort zone.

Tuesday, December 14 - Toronto Raptors at Charlotte Bobcats

• This will be the second time these 2 teams have met this season. The last game was a 101-96 win for Charlotte on November 10th.
• During this game, Gerard Wallace, Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw all played close to or over 40 minutes and put up double digit points for Charlotte. Andrea Bargnani was in for 38 minutes and had 25 points on the night for the Raptors.
• Gerald Wallace recorded his 17th game with double figure scoring and 8th game with 20+ points for the Bobcats. Stephen Jackson and Tyrus Thomas are also on a roll with double figure games. Stephen Jackson has averaged 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5.7 assists since his one game suspension on December 3rd.
• Key for Raptors: need to be quicker to the basket than Charlotte and find a way to get Wallace, Jackson and Thomas out of their scoring rhythm.

Wednesday, December 15 - Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors

• This will be the first time these two teams have met this season.
• The Chicago Bulls have no players out with injuries at the present time.
• For Chicago: Joakim Noah ranks 2nd in NBA for rebounds per game. Derrick Rose is tied for 4th in NBA scoring, is second in the Eastern Conference.
• To date, the Chicago Bulls are 12-8 and have won their last 3 games. They will challenge the Lakers, Timberwolves and Pacers before taking on the Raptors next Wednesday.
• Key for the Raptors: play solid team basketball. No one player, not even Bargnani, will win this game for them. Be solid and consistent to shut down the ranks and record holders.

Thanks for joining me today. I am looking forward to meeting some dedicated fans of the DNB at Friday's game. See you all on Tuesday for another edition of NBAz in 7 Dayz. Have a great weekend.

"Jiggly Bits"

Silly Bandz. They are all the rage right now with anyone under the age of ten. I am not sure what is the draw to them - crazy shapes on your wrist out of rubber bands? Hmmm. So imagine my surprise when the Charlotte Bobcats are advertising "Bobcat Bandz" as a game promotion and I suddenly look for my wallet. Wonder what the shapes would be? Michael Jordan with his tongue hanging out or maybe Stephen Jackson going off the deep end. This is what he did, apparently, according to game officials working the Bobcat-Pistons game on November 5th. Bobcat Stephen Jackson has been fined $50,000 for what is being called verbal abuse of game officials according to Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. But the incident happened following the Bobcats' 97-90 loss to the Pistons Friday night. Hence the announcement coming down from top NBA brass. Really? If the incident happened the way officials said it did, why wouldn't Stephen Jackson just walk off the court and blow off steam in the locker room? This is making me more and more uncomfortable with the crackdown on NBA players. I agree some need an attitude adjustment, but is this going to be a "Mommy, he hurt my feelings" kind of a thing, to stand up to the big bad basketball-playing millionaire? Let's take a look at the game in question. Stephen Jackson led the way with 28 points for the Bobcats, including 10 points in the third quarter when Charlotte cut the lead to 59-56. Despite Jackson's efforts, the Charlotte Bobcats were having issues with turnovers - making 22, in fact. Plus, it didn't help that Detroit made 26 of 27 free throws while Charlotte made 7 of 11. So I can see where the frustration may have arose for Stephen Jackson. But I hope everyone falls into line soon because I really don't want to see David Stern issuing a strong 'use your nice words' or a 'time out'. Now lets move on to the love-hate relationship with LeBron James and Allen Iverson feeling appreciated again.

Back in the Saddle

So finally, Allen Iverson signs with Besiktas, that Turkish Club you have been hearing about, to a 2-year, 4-million dollar contract. Picture this: fans show up at Ataturk Airport to see Allen Iverson wearing a Besiktas jersey and a Philadelphia Phillies hat. This is where the confusion for Turkish basketball fans may begin. Sure, never forget your roots but when you are trying to show your new team your heart is in it, you don't wear your heart on your head the first day on the job. This is what kills me about the whole situation. Allen Iverson signing with Besiktas is the Turkish League's biggest signing, yet many see this as his chance to re-group and prove his NBA worthiness. Even Allen Iverson himself is calling his move to Turkey a chance to get back on track with his basketball career - still believing he can play in the NBA and is hoping this stint in Turkey will land him back home NEXT YEAR! Why on earth would Besiktas sign him when he really doesn't want to be there? Answer? Both sides are desperate. In his first television interview about arriving in Turkey, he is already looking at his departure, "Before I leave, I will be speaking a lot of Turkish". Is Besiktas managment hoping the light and music show they have planned for Iverson, as a sort of pre-match celebration, is going to make him change his mind? What will his new teammates think of this sideshow? Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess.

The Same Old Song and Dance

You are driving along on the highway and see a car crash up ahead. You complain about all the rubber-neckers slowing down to take a look, yet as you inch closer, you want to see it for yourself. This is how I like to describe all those so-called basketball fans who love to hate LeBron James. Sure, comment on how he left Cleveland or his record so far in Miami but the booing - wait, let me qualify that - VICIOUS booing is really getting old. Do you know what I think is funny? Nobody is looking away from the Heat - not the casual naysayer or the rabid fan. People are showing up to games, tuning in and giving their playoff predictions. Over the weekend, I was doing some online Christmas shopping for Raptors tickets (shhh) and just for fun I clicked on Wednesday, April 13th when Toronto will be hosting Miami. Professionally, I have been court side for many a college game but never for an NBA game. So out of curiosity, I click to see how much one court side seat is going for to witness how Chris Bosh survives in his old stomping grounds. ALMOST $3,000 - are you kidding me? For one ticket? By the time I would buy two, I could fly down to Miami the next time the Raptors are in town and get the same seats for less. (In case you are wondering, I also checked out the Lakers' arrival in Toronto, too: $1,000 a ticket). This love to hate thing going on with LeBron James is responsible for ticket prices being jacked and opposing teams around the league promoting Miami games to cash in on the hate train heading for LeBronville. I know some of the biggest criticisms were directed at David Stern for defending LeBron's right to choose where he wants to play. But that's his job. An NBA Commissioner can't say whether a player's move to another club is good or bad - they need to remain neutral and defend a player's right to choose. Now, the casual or non-fan is intrigued by all this mess and comes back to the game with full force to see what all the fuss is about. This is the only silver lining I see to all those making Miami public enemy number one. But if there are some fans coming back to the game, they won't be able to sustain their curiosity because they can't afford a ticket. So, to all the Miami haters out there: for the love of all things holy -including this great game of basketball, please stop your whining - we can't afford it. Thank-you.

"Behind Enemy Lines"

We apologize about last week and a lack of post in the DNB's new Thursday feature "Behind Enemy Lines". We have tweaked a few things and will be ready to go this Thursday. I hope you can join me. See you then.

Raptors On Court Good, Off Court Not So Much

Only was able to see bits and pieces of this one. But in what I was able to see DeRozan and Weems were continuing there high wire act in Vegas. The 2 young guns are doing an excellent job of taking the ball to the hoop. DeRozan did take a shot in this one but was not going to let it stop him. He was the game's high scorer with 23 points. As for the Raptor rookies it was not as good for Ed Davis today. After an impressive debut he faded into the background today with just 4 points and 4 boards. Raps 2nd round pick Solomon Alabi was a bit better in this on with 10 points and 6 boards in just 18 minutes of action. Also Dorsey again was doing work on the glass and scoring a bit to with 13 points matching Weems total and a dozen rebounds. So the summer version of the Raptors are 2-0 with a 100-91 win over the Rockets. Which is good news.



While off the court, the Raptors deal that had people including me ready to pat Bryan Colangelo on the back. Forget about it!!! It is now but a memory as Michael Jordan on his own or with the encouragement of his coach Larry Brown called off the trade with the Raptors. They quickly went and moved one of the pieces of the deal Tyson Chandler to Dallas. Mark Cuban is the big winner of the 3 way trade between the Suns, Raptors and Bobcats. Who saw that coming? He gets a major upgrade at center with Chandler for Dampier. It also makes you wonder if Cuban is considering bringing in Shaq as the Diesel did not exactly get along with his former center. Story for another day though.

So after Reggie Evans and Jose Calderon were told that they are gone, suddenly they are not. Awkward, and not good at all. Especially in the case of Calderon. If the Raptors had other offers it is safe to say they will be looking at them. Seems Charlotte, if you care to believe them or not, were not happy about a 10% trade kicker in Jose's contract. This was one of the reasons they gave for killing the trade. But now you have a less than thrilled point guard, who has had the only organization he has played for say they didn't want him . While Jack is clearly more in tune with this Raptors young core and is at summer league watching the guys play. It is a pretty awful mess for Bryan Colangelo, and unlike the Bosh saga that played out, a very unforeseen one. Also, not his fault it should be pointed out.

So you are thinking fine but what about Hedo? No he still is gone it would appear. I find it ironic that Suns are not the ones with buyers regret. But everything still seems a go for that trade despite no official announcement yet. Leandro Barbosa will still be a Raptor. While Diaw remains a Bobcat for the moment and Chandler is off to Dallas. In theory the Raps could still move Calderon for Diaw but I think if their were other options for Calderon those will be explored long before Bryan Colangelo makes a call to Charlotte. You have to imagine that Colangelo is hot at Charlotte and with just cause to be.

He may have even have been to angry to hear his former star on the radio give his version of his departure to Miami. I don't think Colangelo would care even if he wasn't busy or angry. I really have to find out what B.C does to deal with his anger and frustration. He handles it far better than me as my Twitter followers can vouch for. However, I handle it a million times better than Dan Gilbert. Who was fined that amount by David Stern. In the first smart thing Gilbert has done since James bolted he told Cavs fans that were willing to donate to pay his fine, thanks but no thanks. He encouraged them to give the money they had planned to donate to the Cavs Charity foundation or some other worthy cause.

Some off-season this is. I think I am working harder now than I would be in the season. I need a vacation to someplace nice....maybe South Beach....I hear it is great. Perhaps not!!!!

Out Of Their Hands

Given the total dejection that was clearly evident in the Raptors Locker room last night, it is going to be tough to bounce back and win tonight in Detroit. Knowing that you can win out and still that may not be enough. About the only thing Raptors have going for them in terms of the Bulls Schedule is that Boston as we sit now can jump up to 3rd in Eastern Conference standings. That is important for them as it would give them 2 things. Perhaps an easier match-up vs the Bucks who are injured and without Andrew Bogut. Although, give them credit they are current in 5th with the same record as Miami. However second and more importantly they would avoid King James and the Cavs in round 2.

In terms of the Charlotte game the outlook is not as positive as the Bobcats are pretty much locked in at 7th and will face a tough series with Southeast Division rivals Orlando. So it is safe to assume the Bobcats will rest most if not all of their significant players. In effect having the Bulls play a team that would more resemble a Charlotte Summer League team rather than the actual Bobcats roster. So basically what I am getting as is the Raptors must win tonight and vs the Knicks. Pray for a Boston win on Tuesday, and an Atlanta loss tonight so that game will still have meaning for Boston.

In other words, the Raptors need a ton of things to fall their way to have a shot at the post season. Even if not mathematically eliminated by a loss to Detroit tonight. They most certainly will be logically eliminated. In fact some may feel that they are already that and I would be hard pressed to argue that point.

Detroit is actually playing decent of late as well. Add in the fact Charlie V always seems to get up for games against the Raptors. Putting a final nail in the Raps coffin is something that I would think would motivate him. When motivated he can be very good. The Pistons come in off a loss to Charlotte by 4 but prior to that had wins over Atlanta and Miami (Both Playoff Teams) and Philadelphia. The flip side of that is the Raptors have lost 5 straight and Chris Bosh along the way, as well as Antonie Wright who I saw on crutches last night at the ACC so safe to say he isn't playing. The Raptors are a terrible 3-7 with no Bosh on the year and historically are terrible without him as well as they are in Detroit. Raptors are 7-21 all time in Detroit but did win there earlier in the year. They also have won 3 straight vs the Pistons overall. The 2 teams hooked up in a Christmas Holidays back to back that saw Toronto smack the Pistons 94-64 and beat the same Pistons 4 days later 102-95 in the only 2 meetings of the year. But Chris Bosh played in both of those games, while the Pistons in that 30 point blow-out were missing many key players.

If you are a fan of keeping hope alive you hope against hope that the Raptors can win tonight. If you are tired of the pain and just want it to end you hope they don't. I think there are a lot of folks in that camp at the moment. But regardless of where you stand or sit there is at the very least 2 games left to play and this is one of them. Raps have to get a win and that seems like a broken record at this point.

But if you want a smile...even though I don't have one in this picture. Here is a picture of myself and Kid Raptor from last night at the ACC that I posted on Twitter earlier.






Be you a grown up like me or just a kid....it never is fun to watch your team lose. Like I told kids I coached when I was younger that are a bit older than Kid Raptor. When is the last time you saw a team go out and say "YEAH!!! We Lost". It was a good way to get the kids to buy into the concept of teamwork and roles. The task for Jay Triano with grown men has been a far more challenging one. However that simple fact remains that losing no matter how old you happen to be is NEVER FUN.

This Is Your Season Toronto Raptors

Pretty much the title of this says it all. I said about 2 months ago when looking at the standings at the time that this would be an important point in the schedule for the Raptors. Back then I did not realize just how right I would be. The Bulls beat the Nets last night who have just 9 wins on the season. So heading into the most important 2 games of the season the Raptors only sit a game and half in the playoffs. They will play the Bulls on April 11th and depending on what happens between now and then that could be the game that will decide the Raptors playoff fate. But if they would like to avoid that do or die situation they need to win these next 2 games on the road. While the Raptors face the Heat the Bulls will be playing the pathetic Pistons at the same time. A Raptor loss in Miami and Bulls win over the Pistons and Raptors are just a half game in front of the Bulls. Raptors if the do not look in their rear view at the charging Bulls will see Miami 3 games in front. That is who they play tonight. tomorrow they move on up the highway to Charlotte to take on the Bobcats. Who sit 2 and half games in front of the Raptors in 7th in the East.

Raptors with a win over Miami would take the season series. They won both contest vs the Heat at the ACC. That is the good news. Here is the bad news in the Raptors only trip to south beach they got smashed and lost to the Heat by 20 with Heat taking it 115-95. Some more bad news the Raps all time in Miami are only 8-19. Add in the fact the Heat have recently been playing some good basketball with a win over one the leagues hottest clubs in the Bucks. Heat are riding a 4 game win streak and if they are looking forward and not backwards they see the Bucks just a game in front of them for 5th place. The Bobcats are also streaking winners of 3 in a row themselves.

Raptors come in off a heart breaking loss to the Nuggets in which they let a 9 point lead slip away in the 4th quarter as a Carmelo Anthony last second shot would complete the comeback. The Raptors can not afford to get caught feeling sorry for themselves. While people continue to start saying that Bosh is a goner, the one thing that almost everyone would agree on is if Raptors miss the playoffs it is almost a guarantee. If Bosh is going to stay it will take him being a big part of this close to the season. Even the odd comparison to Vince Carter I have seen out there of late. I find that to be sad. I refuse to believe that Bosh is anything like Vince. Yes he clearly frustrated with the effort of the team around him. But he is not giving plays to the other team, he is not smiling after losses and saying oh well I am out of here in a month. He wants to win and has not given up on this season. At least that is what I feel.

Actions are bigger than words. So it will take Chris Bosh having a huge effort down the stretch of this season. He wasn't the guy sitting out a game with a stomach ache ether by the way that was the guy making 53 million dollars. If anyone has acted like Vince Carter it isn't Chris Bosh it is Hedo Turkoglu. Might just be time that he stepped up and showed why the hell we are paying him that big wad of cash. Andrea Bargnani did have a good bounce back the other night but he to must keep the ball rolling in the right direction.

Jay Triano's shuffling of the line-up for my money is an act of desperation. This love affair some folks have with Antoine Wright puzzles me. He has talked a good game but played very few. Thankfully at least in the short term Triano's decision has not seemed to impact on Demar DeRozan. DeRozan is part of the the team's future...Wright isn't. Sonny Weems getting a chance to start is nice Sonny has played his way up the Raptors food chain and passed a lot of folks along the way. He has earned everything he has got. He talks as well but more in terms of having fun and loving life. Not acting like a team leader that he isn't. As for Jay's first change to the line-up out of that same desperation. It would appear that Jose Calderon is still who we thought he was. Which is a terrible defender that despite is offensive skill can not be a starter in this league without making his team a mess on the defensive end. Jarrett Jack should still be the starter and if he had worked a bit harder on the defensive end of the floor he would be. If the Raptors fail to make the playoffs is it really not time to say this is on Jay. I mean his record as a head coach is not exactly glowing and this team's failure to defend is on him. Yes the players need to execute the system but he needs to be accountable if they don't.

Raptors have a lot more than a playoff spot to play for. There at least SHOULD be people's jobs and futures on the line here. Raptor fans have reached a level of frustration that personally I can not remember in 15 years of being a fan of this team. The mood is flat out ugly. It will ether get uglier or turn around real fast with wins over the Heat and Bobcats. But can the Raptors do it? They can if they play with the effort and fight they showed for most of the night vs Denver. Basically the room for error and second chances is done.

The Playoffs for the Toronto Raptors start today.

"Jiggly Bits" - Danielle de Graauw

It is definitely madness in the world of basketball right now. Whether you are talking NCAA hoops or impending free agency and play offs in the NBA, the month of March boggles the mind. We're going to talk about all of this including Michael Jordan getting the official nod to be the big boss man in Charlotte, recapping last night's Raptors game and the raging debate over NBA ball versus NCAA madness. I'll wait here while you go get a snack since we might be here a while.

Raptors now tied for seventh in the East

I am glad the Raptors won last night but I am not too excited about it. I think it just bought them a little more time to tinker with what has been going wrong lately. They walked away with a 106-100 score over the Timberwolves but it was the 13 straight loss for Minnesota. So really, in the grand scheme of things, it was not a huge deal. Chris Bosh had 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Andrea Bargnani racked up 19 points and 7 rebounds. Not bad but even Jay Triano was pressed for positives after last night's game saying the Raptors are not playing great basketball but they are starting to share the ball better. This sounded more to me like a description of playtime in Junior Kindergarten. I know Jay's job is to be positive since Raptors wins and losses make or break his job but its crunch time now and these guys are getting paid mega bucks to get past the crunch. If they don't, I am not so sure Chris Bosh will be willing to stay and defend this team anymore.

Free Angency Free-for-All

Picture this: Chris Bosh, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Amare Stoudemire are sipping Pina Colodas by the pool. It's the summer and they have every reason to kick back and relax because as free agents, they have no worries on the employment front. Every team in the NBA are trying to get on the guest list and only the select few will get the chance to clink glasses with these guys. Amare Stoudemire must be feeling good since he seems to be back to 100% after season-ending eye surgery to repair an injury over a year ago. When you are off that long, the pressure is on to step it up a little more than your teammates since you don't want to be seen as damaged goods. But he isn't and he's in top shape which means he has the upper hand. Also, he's hinted at opting out of the final season of his Suns contract to become a free agent. Nothing has been made official yet but when you throw out a public tease like that, it only means one thing: he's fishing to see who wants a piece of the Amare action, so-to-speak.

This is a crazy month, too since this is the time when NBA franchises are asking season ticket holders to sign on for another season. How can some clubs honestly do this when they don't know if their stars will be back in the line-up next season? If you are a Raptors season ticket holder, would you willingly plop down a couple thousand for the chance to sorta-kinda-maybe enjoy the CB4 show? I don't think so. This is why it would be catastrophically bad if Chris Bosh left the Raptors. The fans, players and front office staff would become really disconnected and in order for a franchise to succeed, even when the team isn't doing well, you need a committed fan base because they are they ones buying tickets, they are the ones buying merchandise and much to the surprise of some club presidents, the fans are running the show. No fans means no revenue and no money to keep the franchise competitive and sustainable. Every franchise needs fans like my brother-in-law. He's a 'Box-J-Boy' and you'll see him at every Ti-cat game, rain or shine. Mind you this is football but the revenue game is the same. I just hope the Raptors have a few "Joes" in the stands if Chris Bosh decides to leave. It would be the glue holding this team together.

MJ stopping to smell the roses

I am really and truly impressed by Michael Jordan. If any of you watched the same press conference I did a few days ago, you might feel the same way. As you know, I am a little leary when it comes to players moving beyond their athletic prowess on the court, but I am really thinking about sharing my NBA allegiance this year (shhh...don't tell Kobe). This is the kind of excitement MJ is cooking up in Charlotte. So he gets his 275 million dollar purchase of the bobcats officially approved and he's really proving himself to be on top of his game now as an owner. We all know he knows how to market himself and play the money game, but now he is presenting himself as approachable and passionate about the game and is trying to make you forget that he was once one of the greatest NBA players of all time. Sorry, but I don't think anyone can forget that. This is where I think he is setting himself apart from other owners. He has said publicly the free agency hype as of late is just that - hype. He wants to give the town of Charlotte and the Bobcats time to gel and figure things out. Remember, the 2009-2010 Bobcats haven't been together for over a year yet. They have made 7 trades involving 21 players since the start of last season and I don't think anyone is expecting much post-season action. Would Chris Bosh move to Charlotte? Who knows, not even MJ has set up shop there yet due to family commitments in Chicago currently. The Bobcats could sure use a marque player but not all NBA Championship winning teams have a star player on their roster. Look at Detroit. The true NBA fan knows there is no clear cut ingredient to win a championship. However, with MJ baking the proverbial pie, everyone will want a slice.

NCAA vs. NBA - Two very different playgrounds

O.K. - I didn't think I would have bring my boxing gloves to work but now it is a must. With all the madness in March, debate is swirling over NBA ball versus the NCAA. Arguments on both sides attack style of play saying NCAA players waste the shot clock and NBA players are not consistent. There are no grey areas out there and most are taking a side. From the outside looking in, there are two very different games being played here. Sometimes people get too caught up in the process and rules of the game and don't look at the true story - the athletes themselves. NBA players and NCAA players have completely separate motivations when on the court. It's do or die when trying to make it to the Final Four in the NCAA and with this comes a certain pressure and attitude toward the game. Especially, when you consider some of those kids will never play basketball at that level ever again. On the other hand, the NBA may not have that kind of pressure; however, playing for your job, family and livelihood brings another set of considerations. I know many of us will never know what it is like to make millions and have the media documenting our every move, but when you take time to see the forest through the trees, basketball is all about the people involved in the game. Take the time between now and April 4th to make the same analogies and you will see what I mean.

"Jiggy Bits" By Danielle de Graauw

I am kind of an academic when it comes to professional or amateur sports. I like looking at stats and analyzing and predicting based on fact. I like looking at the history of a team and the game because I truly believe you need to know where you came from to know where you are going. Let's face it, there are a ton of people out there who will give you their opinion, flapping their lips about something - NBA-related or not- and you can usually tell if they are full of it. This is why I was a little apprehensive to take on this gig because some of the blogs out there are just that - people flapping their lips - just insert ego and the internet. My career up until this point has been the who, what, when, where, why and how of sport and for the past little while, I was told to throw those rules out the window. What a fantastic feeling to have people read your "inside voice" in words and truly embrace what you are doing. I know some of you have told me I AM full of it but at least you are reading and I have kept you coming back. Comments - whether positive or ridiculous - are proof nonetheless that people are paying attention to what you are doing. So thank-you to both. Now let's get down to business.

The Other Elephants in the Room

I know James mentioned Chris Bosh as the elephant in Dino Nation discussions early this week, however, I think another large land mammal needs to be invited to that party: Lebron James. Think about it. Lebron will be 25 years old in 2 years and will also become an unrestricted free agent. When he signed on for an extra three years in 2006, there was an opt -out option in his contract which he could choose to use after this season. Then every team in the NBA would be all over him like syrup on a pancake - love it. Like maybe the Chicago Bulls? Lebron did file the paperwork recently to change his number 23 to 6 (his number with the USA Olympic Basketball team) "out of respect to" Michael Jordan. Or maybe this was a move knowing MJ is the big boss man now in Charlotte and wants to reside in North Carolina working under one of the greats. Even Arsenio Hall would say 'hmmmm'. I am just trying to get you to think outside the box, remember? Man, I can feel my inbox filling as we speak.

Now think back to the draft class of 2003. Remember who was also invited to that party? Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. They both signed similar contract extensions. Sure, for the most part we think these guys will stay put. But is your heart or your head doing the thinking. As fan neither is bad, but in the business world of the NBA, you need to be thinking with the latter. Dwayne, Chris and Lebron are hot commodities and if there is even a hint that teams with money want them, there's a very good chance they are at least listening.


A breathe of Fresh Air in Charlotte

Just when you think we would never see him in the spotlight again, there goes Michael Jordan buying the Bobcats and making us all feel giddy again. So his first item of business since getting the team from previous owner Robert Johnson, was to play a little game of H.O.R.S.E. with guard Gerald Henderson. Showing up to the shoot around, talking trash and losing those two games of H.O.R.S.E. proves the old adage: "Attitude reflects leadership, captain". Anyone who has seen the movie Remember the Titans understands how important this is and how the atmosphere of a club really reflects what's going on at the top of the pyramid. This may be a sign of a more hands-on approach for Michael to be seen as just one of the boys and not just a "suit" that makes decisions. But to be sure he keeps his focus, here's my 'New Boss Top 5 List' (in case he calls on my services):

#1 - Rename the Bobcats. Open the contest lines now. With the new excitement brought on by Michael's take over, this club needs a make-over. And he knows a thing or two about marketing. Right around the time Toronto fans were asked to name their club, Jurassic Park was in theatres. I wonder whats on tap in Charlotte?

#2 - Have lunch with Bobcats Head Coach Larry Brown. Continuity is so important. But even Larry knows that with new ownership comes evaluation and sometimes, movement. I don't think he is on his way out since Larry and Michael have at least one thing in common besides their love for basketball. Family. Both of them have extended support in the area and Larry also signed on with the Bobcats knowing Michael's growing involvement at head office. That has to count for something.

#3 - Get used to being the boss. Showing up to a shoot around and talking trash with Gerald Henderson was great and actually opens the lines of communication by just being around. But players and public alike still see him as MJ the great and not Michael the boss. I have so much respect for super star players giving back to a sport they love. However, taking on a new challenge like this, opens the door to taint that image. It's a risk, yes but I think Michael is up to the task.

#4 - Fans will expect more. Charlotte Hornets fans were devastated when the team moved to New Orleans in 2002. When you have someone like owner George Shinn setting ultimatums back then what do you expect? So he alienates fans and the team is out of Charlotte. Now you a a situation where basketball fans in Charlotte learn to distrust who manages their professional clubs - especially ones with an uncertain furture. Insert Michael Jordan and a weight seems to lift and fans are getting excited again. Positive but guarded, fans will want to see the proof before the pudding.

#5 - Talk to the media. I was a little disappointed he refused to talk to the media at that shoot around. I suppose he wanted to have time for the steak to marinate so-to-speak and get away from the "Does this mean you are coming out of retirement" type of questions but they are always going to be there. He has every right to choose when and where he talks but the average fan can't really walk up to the guy and exchange 'wasuups' at the grocery store. So it is our job to tell the story and bring the game to life. It is a little hard to do that without the main character.

James (The Dino Blogger not Lebron) was on The Team 990 in Montreal talking about this and other things NBA on the weekend have a listen.

Battle is On For DNB & The Raptors

The Battle has begun for the Dino Blogger in the Pro vs Joes contest on Whotheman.com. I am debating in favour of Jarrett Jack remaining as the starting point guard. I know this will shock no one. But he has been good you have to admit. So please if you can go check it out and vote for me that would be great. Help me make it all the way to finals. You may have to register on the site to vote but please take the time to do so and support myself and the Dino Nation Blog in the process. That also lead to a nice transition to today's game where Jack takes on his former team in the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers and Raptors have split a pair of games this season. I was in the house covering the game when the Raptors won 123-112 in November. Danny Granger had 36 points in that loss. Jack was on fire and was perfect from the field coming of the bench at the time scoring 18 and Calderon was good as well with 21 as the stater. CB4 had an awful shooting night going 5-19 from the field and had 16 points and 12 boards. But the Raptors walked away with the win despite that.

Earlier this month the Raptors would travel to Indy and not be so lucky. Bosh was better with 27 points but the team around him was not. The Pacers meanwhile has a full team effort and had 6 players in double digits on the score sheet and it was enough to hold off the Raptors 105-101. Granger in that game lead the Pacers with 23. This hopefully will serve as a reminder to not take the Pacers lightly as Toronto will face them in the next 2 games starting with an early evening tilt with Pacers at the ACC tonight and travel to Indy for the re-match on Tuesday.

It has been a tough season overall for the Pacers. T.J Ford has fallen out of favour and can't get minutes behind Watson and rookie Guard from UConn A.J Price. Who in that game earlier this month Price had 16 and was one of those 6 players in double digits. In Addition Danny Granger has not looked like the franchise guy that Indy was hoping he was on the path to becoming. The one positive in Indy is Roy Hibbert who came to them via the J.O deal with the Raps. Hibbert the former Hoyas standout is doing the school's legacy of big men in the NBA proud and has really started to crank it up in his second season in the NBA

The Raptors have been lights out at home of late but have failed to answer the bell for the opening quarter in the past couple. Indy can shoot the 3 ball and Raptors will need to have solid perimeter defense if they hope not to have a mis-step on their home floor. No word on if Demar suits up today and Andrea Bargnani has been has some issues as well. However even if the Raptors were short handed today there would be no acceptable excuse to dropping another game to the Pacers.

In fact when you look towards the sked heading into the All-Star Break Raps have many of those "winnable" games in front of them. However if they do not start coming out and falling behind the odds eventually are going to catch up with them. No one loves a good rally more than the Dino Blogger but for my personal sanity and that of the Raptors fans like you that I care about, I think we can agree we can do with out the drama.

Raptor if they can do what you would expect and beat the Pacers twice that would put them 5 games over .500 and facing the 4-41 Nets on Wednesday. Raptors can really start to make some distance from .500 and the back in the East. Miami lost last night and the Bobcats were winners. Oh and coming from around the outside and passing the Heat is Chuck Swirsky and the Chicago Bulls. Raptors enter today just 1/2 game in front of Charlotte and a full game in front of Miami and Chicago.

So the margin for error for the Raptors is slim at the moment. Lose a couple you are suppose to win and you could be in 8th from 5th in the blink of an eye...Just ask the Heat.

The Heat Is On

The Toronto Raptors are red hot on their home floor at the A.C.C. Which is good considering the Miami Heat come calling to Toronto tomorrow. The Raptors, Bobcats and Heat are in a virtual dead heat for 5th place in the Eastern Conference. So to say the game on Wednesday means a little more than just another 1 out of 82 would be a slight understatement. Raptors beat the Heat 120-113 at the ACC in November. Heat would get revenge about month later winning 115-95 in South Beach.

Two more to go this season and if the Raptors or Heat can sweep the final 2 games that could be very meaningful come April. The Raptors travel to face the Heat in Miami on March the 28th. That will be followed by a game in Charlotte on the 29th where the Bobcats early in the season destroyed the Raptors. The winner of that game will win the season series. So store that one away in the back of your brain. That may be the most important back to back of the Raptors season in late March. It could mean the difference between a 5th seed and a 7th seed in the post season if these 3 teams continue to remain close in the standings.

However first thing is first and the Heat on Wednesday. Miami is only 5-5 in their last 10 games and bring in a 10-10 road record with them to Toronto. When you consider only teams as of right now in the NBA have a winning record on the road (L.A Lakers, OKC, Dallas, Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta) Raptors hold victories over 3 of the 7 on the list at the ACC and have yet to face the Thunder so in reality they have a win over half of the teams that they could possibly beat of the best road teams in the NBA. What does that mean in terms of the Heat? Not much and Toronto already have an A.C.C win over them as mentioned above. However it does make you stop and think that at least at home the Raptors are a very good basketball team to face regardless of the opposition they face. They did also beat Orlando but that was actually a Road win as the Raptors played them twice at the A.C.C early in the year.

One thing that has changed for the Heat since those first 2 match-ups is the addition of Rafer Alston who was traded to the Nets in the Vince Carter deal and was unhappy in New Jersey ( Really who wouldn't be? ) and was bought out and signed with the Heat. If that brings up bad Vince Carter trade memories I apologize. However what goes around comes around I guess as the Nets sent the Raptors Mourning only to have to buy him out and he like Alston bolted for Miami. Alston like with the Raptors this will be his second tour of duty in South Florida. Rafer briefly played for Toronto be for returning as a free agent after a good season playing with the Heat at the time. When Rafer can keep his head screwed on straight he can be a better than average NBA point guard and is a huge upgrade from what Miami had at the position which was next to nothing with a steal young at time immature Mario Chalmers. A trait that hanging around Rafer Alston is not likely to return. I think my favourite Rafer blow up is when he basically retired in a post game scrum after a Raptors loss. He said something to effect he was dishonouring his family name on his back by the way he was playing and he should just quit. Rafer's retirement was shorter than a Brett Favre or Wrestling Retirement as he was back within a day. Moody but talented might be the best way to describe him. Some Raptor fans may say that sounds like T.J Ford and there might be a small thread of truth to that. But Rafer takes it to a whole new level. But he is happy now as he still has that "Thank God I Am Not On The Nets Glow" and is on a team heading to the Playoffs it would appear.

Raptors have managed successfully to keep harmony at their point guard spot and full marks to both Jose and Jarrett for making that the case. Jack is cementing himself as the starting point guard for this team. If you are surprised you obviously were not believing or paying attention when I told you this would in fact happen. I admit the Calderon injury sped up the process but this happening was inevitable and the writing was on the wall if you only cared to read it. Chris Bosh never was at the Press Conference when Jose Calderon re-signed with the Raptors. He was I assume home Texas or elsewhere. This is not to say that he should have been there. I am not saying that. However when Jarrett Jack was signed as a free agent he was here and made it clear to the Toronto and Canada by Hi-Jacking Jack's Interview on Raps-T.V. Reading between the lines if the day came that Chris Bosh ever felt Jack was the best point guard on this team the case would be closed. Not to say that Bosh would demand that his College roommate be named the starter. He wouldn't have to the fact of Bosh's impending Free Agency would do all the talking for him. Jose Calderon would just make the process a lot easier by getting injured before we every got to that messy point in time. Take it as you see fit you can say this is pure speculation and you would not be wrong. However I prefer to see it as basic common sense and understanding human nature.

Short of Jack being injured himself (Which is HIGHLY unlikely as he played all 82 games last season and has an excellent track record over his career in terms of games played) or the Raptors go on a major skid (also unlikely when you look at their upcoming schedule )Jack is here to stay as the starter. Given the way he rallied this team the last 2 games honestly why would you want it any other way?

The Raptors 15 year celebration makes you reflect at times throughout this season. Like with all this talk of point guards the Raptors have had their fair share of both talented and temperamental point guards over the years. Here is a short list off the top of my head.

Damon Stoudamire, Alvin Williams, Chancey Billups, Mark Jackson, Chris Childs, T.J Ford, Rafer Alston, Carlos Arroyo, Milt Palacio, Muggsy Bogues, Roko Ukic, Will Solomon, Mike James(Best Singer of this group)

That is quite the eclectic group for sure. Toronto has had a love hate relationship with many of these guys and for Jarrett Jack....Love is in the air....You can feel it all around.

That is at least until the Raptors lose a game fans feel they should have won. Then the Jose/Jack debate will rage on. However if you didn't believe me prior to the season maybe you will now...Jarrett Jack is and will be the starting point guard CASE CLOSED. If Jose is the stand up team guy that we have all seen and believe is he will accept his old role and do his best in it which has been the case so far.

Special Note For You The Loyal Readers Of The Dino Nation Blog

Welcome to Danielle and I have spoken with Anas if all goes according to plan he will begin his Dino Blog experience next week at some point. I am happy to welcome them aboard and hope you will enjoy their contributions going forward. If you worried at all that I would be doing less as a result think it is safe to say you have seen that will now be the case. I just felt the blog needed some new life to it and wanted to focus on making that happen. Getting into videos or V-Log and bringing in a couple people I feel I can count on to do good work were both good ideas and I hope you will agree. It will take a little time to get use to it all but I feel that at the end of it the Dino Nation Blog will become a much more Multimedia oriented site and an overall better site as a result that you will want to come to everyday and tell others about. The early signs are that I was correct as more folks have been checking out the blog as a result. I hope that trend continues and with the Raptors winning and my hard work along with my new team members here at the DNB I am confident that it will.

I will close by saying that I am always tremendously grateful for the support of you the loyal readers of the Dino Nation Blog. I work as hard as I do not only for myself and to achieve my personal goals but to do my best to represent all of you people that have become part of this world I have created that is the Dino Nation Blog. It is through your support and kind words over the last 2+ years that I remain motivated and hardworking to bring you the best I can possibly do to inform you, entertain you and hopefully make you feel a part of my work and in some small way my life. The amount of things I have had the great fortune to do truly amazes me and humbles me when I stop to think about. Know that any decision that I make in terms of this blog is always made with you the people that support it in mind.

So it never can be said to often....Thank you for reading, listening and watching The Dino Nation Blog and I appreciate so much the continued support of so many. I am not sure if you will ever truly understand how much it means to me. Never meant for that to be so long but I felt that need to show you folks some love today.

Update- 3:50 pm

Demar DeRozan was injured today at practice as he turned an ankle. The Score's Holly Mackenzie was @ practice and filed her notes from practice on The Score's NBA Blog- Nothing Easy. Holly is always on top of things and does great work for The Score.