This has been a season with a lot of low points. One of the lowest came on December 19th. Sam Mitchell was still the coach of the Raptors. They would roll into Oklahoma City for the start of a 6 game road trip that would extend through the Christmas Holidays. Raptors needed to get their road trip off to a good start after blowing a game to the Celtics and coming off a lose to the Mavs. We all know what happened. The Thunder who at the time had just 2 wins would defeat the Raptors. It was a loss that many felt was based on a total lack of effort on behalf of the Raptors. Sam Mitchell would no survive that road trip as another awful lose to Denver later in that same road trip would mark the end of his coaching run in Toronto.
Future Prospects For Raptors
Press the fast forward button and the Thunder although still struggling have what most experts would agree a solid young core and perhaps a bright future. Kevin Durant I had said should have been the number 1 pick in his draft year. I was total at the time that was crazy as Greg Oden was the choice of many. But look at it now. Durant is looking on the verge of being a break out star. Some even thought he deserved a trip to the All Star Game this year. I am not one of those who thought that. But it is clear that the Sonics now the Thunder can thank Portland for Kevin Durant. Westbrook is another talented kid. You add in a former Big East player of the year in Jeff Green it is an impressive young core. The point is Thunder fan have a lot of reasons to be optimistic when they look to the future. It makes you think what exactly do Raptor Fans have to look forward too? Andrea Bargnani has developed a bit that is something. However I would be much more excited about the prospects of a Durant or a Westbrook. You have a Superstar in Chris Bosh that many feel is on his way out the door in Chris Bosh. The Raptors just don't have a lot of young talent that people are excited about. I was very excited about Nathan Jawai and still am to a point. However his first season in the NBA has been not what anyone would have expected. If Jawai is going to develop into something or not is a real question mark. Roko Ukic has talent and shown signs of perhaps being something when all is said and done. But again still you can not be sold on him to any great degree. I am not thinking anyone would lay money Roko or Nathan becoming great NBA players. They are both second round picks and you rarely see a second rounder turn into any kind of star.
Draft Is Full Of Questions...Raptors Need An Answer
That is why in the upcoming draft which is full of question marks. Blake Griffin the number one pick projected by most is even not a lock to be a star. The Raptors need to find that young star in this draft. Some may question if there will be that guy in this draft class at all. A couple names that people have been high on fizzled in the NCAA Tournament. James Harden was a train wreck for ASU. While Gerald Henderson who I liked a lot, he was a non-factor as Duke was taken out by Villanova. Obama had it nailed. But the issue is who can you believe in when it comes to this draft? I believe in Haseem Thabeet. he is 7 foot 3 and is a great shoot blocker and rebounder. His offense has a long way to go. However what does this Raptor team need most? Defense and rebounding would be at the top of the list. However with UConn on a run in the tournament. In addition to the fact that they could face NCAA actions based on recruiting violations. Thabeet seems a lock to enter the draft and to be selected at the very least in the top 5. That would mean the Raptors would need some ping pong ball help to get him. You are probably saying the Raptors don't need a big. They need a wing man. Well at this point the Raptors need a lot of things. So no matter where they pick it should not matter, they need to take the best player on the board regardless of position. Besides if Bosh is truly to go, Bargnani could slide into the 4 spot and you have a young Thabeet as you center at a legit 7 foot 3. I truly hope Bosh remains mind you. However Bosh or no Bosh the Raptors need to get this draft right in a year where the potential to be wrong is very high.
Final Thoughts
So with that said bring on the Thunder. They may have a bright future ahead of them. The Raptors future on the other hand is very much a question mark. That is the real story beyond if the Raptors can extract revenge for an awful lose that was pretty much their own fault. Win or lose it really doesn't matter. It would be a 3 game winning streak and that has only happened 2 other times that I can recall this season. However people have moved beyond the game to game, wins and loses and are now thinking about the big picture. That big picture is a scary uncompleted mess at the moment. Can Colangelo turn it into fine art by the time he is done this off-season? That will be a question that is answered over the coming months.
Showing posts with label Greg Oden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greg Oden. Show all posts
3/27/09
12/27/08
Raptors Rewind- You Never Promised Me A Rose Garden Edition
1st Quarter
Well the first six minutes of this game was making me look pretty smart. I had said prior to this one it would be a battle between the young bigs of Oden and Aldridge and the more experienced Bosh and O'Neal. Well 26 of the first 28 points of the game were scored by those 4 players. Brandon Roy would break a 14-14 tie with a basket and he would follow up with another basket to follow that up and the Blazers had a 4 point advantage. The is after the Raptors had come back from being down 12-6. Bosh got to the line and made a pair and Andrea Bargnani who checked in for O'Neal made his first jumper. We were tied again at 18. But the Blazer again would push back in front. scoring 4 straight until Jose Calderon would respond with a jump shot. Jose would get another basket via his jump shot and all even at 22 again.
Anthony Parker would hit a big 3-ball after Portland had scored to take the lead. Andrea Bargnani would score on a second chance for the Raptors thanks to J.O rebounding his own miss. Channing Frye would score at the buzzer but the Raptors battled back for 6 points down to have a 28-26 after the first quarter of play.
2nd Quarter
Rudy Fernandez would score the 3-ball for the Blazers and they were back in front. But Andrea Bargnani had his groove on with another 3-ball. Will Solomon would get another 3 pointer for the Raptors and they had a 34-31 lead. Andrea Bargnani would score a 2-ball this time and Raptors had their largest lead of the night of five points with the score 36-31. Raptors would build the lead up to 7. But the Blazers would respond with an Outlaw 3-ball cutting the lead down to 4. Will Solomon was doing a good job leading the Raptor offense and they would build the lead back to 6 points with the score 40-34.
Greg Oden was back on the floor had he had his first basket since in flurry early on. But the Raptors would answer that with a 3-ball. Brandon Roy had a bucket that would be answered with a Jamario Moon jam. Raptors lead the game 45-39 with 4:10 to go in the half. Blazers and Raps exchange two point buckets and the lead remained at 7 points. Chris Bosh showed Greg Oden a little something with a nice move and a jam and a foul. It would give Bosh 3 points and the Raptors a 50-40 lead. Oden would get sent to the line and make a pair. Brandon Roy would follow up with a jumper for 2 for Portland. But Parker had a 3-ball and Bosh would score again and he now had 15 thus far tonight. Most important to him his Raptors had a 55-44 lead. Oden would make a pair from the line but Jay Triano would draw up a play that would get Bosh a score. But Travis Outlaw would get a miracle toss from half court to cut the Raptor lead to 8 at the half leading 57-49.
3rd Quarter
Raptors shot 52% form the field and they were 6-8 from 3 point range. But it was Lamarcus Aldridge that would open the scoring. But Chris Bosh responded with a basket from him to start the half he had 19 points to this point. Greg Oden was having a nice night with a number of powerful slams and he had 16 for his side including his latest monster dunk. Jermaine O'Neal would respond with a bucket for bucket. The Blazers would drain a long range bomb to pull with in 5 points and Lamarcus Aldridge would make that a 3 point Raptor lead with the score 61-58. Bosh would drive and looked to be fouled but no call came. The lead remained at just 3 points for the Raptors. Bosh was forced into a fad away jumper from a long way out which he would miss but Jamario Moon was there to jam in the rebound. Steve Blake would come down to the other end and knock down a 3-ball with ease. Blake would get another look to take the lead but that would catch iron. J.O would miss his first attempt but the Raptors would get a second chance with a rebound and J.O would drive to the basket on his second chance to score and not miss. Raptor lead 65-61 with a time out on the floor.
Travis Outlaw would score on a fading jumper in the land out of the time out. Lamarcus Aldridge would tie the score on the next trip up the floor for the Blazers. The lead that late in the first half had grown to 11 was all gone. 65 all and a brand new ball game. Aldridge would get to the line and make a pair to give the Blazers the lead. They would score again to extend the lead to 4 points. Chris Bosh would drive and draw the foul and almost made it an and one bit it would fall out. So he would head to the line for a pair that he would make. Andrea Bargnani had a chance to put the Raptors back in front but he would miss the 3-ball. Will Solomon would make a bad pass that would go out of bounds and the Raptors missed another chance to pull even. Raptors would trail 69-67 after 3 quarters of play.
4th Quarter
Raptors shooting % sunk down to 43% after the 3rd quarter. But they were still in the basketball game. Took over a minute and half for someone to score. But Chris Bosh would bust open the score sheet with a basket to tie it at 69. But after that the Blazers would run off 4 straight. But Andrea Bargnani would answer that with a 3-ball which Brandon Roy would answer with a 3 pointer of his own and it was 76-72. Lamarcus Aldridge was being good all night long.He scored again and Roy followed that up with a basket and another. Raptor were now looking an eight point deficit square in the face.
Jerrmaine O'Neal had the ball swiped away by Roy and wanted a foul. Instead it would be another Aldridge score and an 84-74 lead for the Blazers. Moon would respond with a score only to have Brandon Roy answer with a 3 pointer. He would get another basket and Jay Triano like his team was frustrated with the non-calls as well and get a technical foul. But in reality he was likely as frustrated his team had no answers for Aldridge and Roy. Raptors who once lead by 11 now trailed by 13 points with the score 89-76. Roy would continue to dazzle with another score. J.O would come back with a jam plus a foul and pull the Raptors back to down 10 points at 91-81 with just under 4 minutes to play. There was time left to make a comeback but it would not be easy. Bosh would get to the line with 3:08 left on the clock for a pair. He would make both and the lead was 8 points for the Blazers. Bosh had 27 points on the night for the Raptors. Brandon Roy would take a tumble at hands of Jamario Moon and head to the line and calm as can be make a pair. Bosh quickly answered with 2 for the Raptors. Steve Blake would score with a one handed runner. J.O would respond but the Raptors needed stops. But they were not coming as the Blazers got a dunk to push the lead back to 10 points at 97-87. This game was done for the most part. Raptors once again played well but not good enough. They could not find that complete 48 minutes it would take to beat a quality opponent. Raptors would fumble and bumble their way down the final minute or so. The Blazers would dribble out a season sweep of the Raptors with a 102-89 win over Toronto.
Blazers/Raps Boxscore
I am a bit under the weather so if there is some editing that is lacking it will get done tomorrow morning. I also had to reboot the computer right before the start hence the bit of strange start to this Raptor Rewind with no set-up and Raptor Rewind Logo. But I was able to stay healthy enough to keep hitting keys. So I will be happy for that. Got an interview to put together tomorrow as well. It will get done but may be a little slower then I would like. But it is for a good cause getting Raptors on TSN 2 for everyone so I will get it done. I may just have to stop to blow my nose or but some ice on my head. But enough complaining from me. Raptors have a tough loss tonight and once again can't close the deal on a good team. Nothing new to report there.
Well the first six minutes of this game was making me look pretty smart. I had said prior to this one it would be a battle between the young bigs of Oden and Aldridge and the more experienced Bosh and O'Neal. Well 26 of the first 28 points of the game were scored by those 4 players. Brandon Roy would break a 14-14 tie with a basket and he would follow up with another basket to follow that up and the Blazers had a 4 point advantage. The is after the Raptors had come back from being down 12-6. Bosh got to the line and made a pair and Andrea Bargnani who checked in for O'Neal made his first jumper. We were tied again at 18. But the Blazer again would push back in front. scoring 4 straight until Jose Calderon would respond with a jump shot. Jose would get another basket via his jump shot and all even at 22 again.
Anthony Parker would hit a big 3-ball after Portland had scored to take the lead. Andrea Bargnani would score on a second chance for the Raptors thanks to J.O rebounding his own miss. Channing Frye would score at the buzzer but the Raptors battled back for 6 points down to have a 28-26 after the first quarter of play.
2nd Quarter
Rudy Fernandez would score the 3-ball for the Blazers and they were back in front. But Andrea Bargnani had his groove on with another 3-ball. Will Solomon would get another 3 pointer for the Raptors and they had a 34-31 lead. Andrea Bargnani would score a 2-ball this time and Raptors had their largest lead of the night of five points with the score 36-31. Raptors would build the lead up to 7. But the Blazers would respond with an Outlaw 3-ball cutting the lead down to 4. Will Solomon was doing a good job leading the Raptor offense and they would build the lead back to 6 points with the score 40-34.
Greg Oden was back on the floor had he had his first basket since in flurry early on. But the Raptors would answer that with a 3-ball. Brandon Roy had a bucket that would be answered with a Jamario Moon jam. Raptors lead the game 45-39 with 4:10 to go in the half. Blazers and Raps exchange two point buckets and the lead remained at 7 points. Chris Bosh showed Greg Oden a little something with a nice move and a jam and a foul. It would give Bosh 3 points and the Raptors a 50-40 lead. Oden would get sent to the line and make a pair. Brandon Roy would follow up with a jumper for 2 for Portland. But Parker had a 3-ball and Bosh would score again and he now had 15 thus far tonight. Most important to him his Raptors had a 55-44 lead. Oden would make a pair from the line but Jay Triano would draw up a play that would get Bosh a score. But Travis Outlaw would get a miracle toss from half court to cut the Raptor lead to 8 at the half leading 57-49.
3rd Quarter
Raptors shot 52% form the field and they were 6-8 from 3 point range. But it was Lamarcus Aldridge that would open the scoring. But Chris Bosh responded with a basket from him to start the half he had 19 points to this point. Greg Oden was having a nice night with a number of powerful slams and he had 16 for his side including his latest monster dunk. Jermaine O'Neal would respond with a bucket for bucket. The Blazers would drain a long range bomb to pull with in 5 points and Lamarcus Aldridge would make that a 3 point Raptor lead with the score 61-58. Bosh would drive and looked to be fouled but no call came. The lead remained at just 3 points for the Raptors. Bosh was forced into a fad away jumper from a long way out which he would miss but Jamario Moon was there to jam in the rebound. Steve Blake would come down to the other end and knock down a 3-ball with ease. Blake would get another look to take the lead but that would catch iron. J.O would miss his first attempt but the Raptors would get a second chance with a rebound and J.O would drive to the basket on his second chance to score and not miss. Raptor lead 65-61 with a time out on the floor.
Travis Outlaw would score on a fading jumper in the land out of the time out. Lamarcus Aldridge would tie the score on the next trip up the floor for the Blazers. The lead that late in the first half had grown to 11 was all gone. 65 all and a brand new ball game. Aldridge would get to the line and make a pair to give the Blazers the lead. They would score again to extend the lead to 4 points. Chris Bosh would drive and draw the foul and almost made it an and one bit it would fall out. So he would head to the line for a pair that he would make. Andrea Bargnani had a chance to put the Raptors back in front but he would miss the 3-ball. Will Solomon would make a bad pass that would go out of bounds and the Raptors missed another chance to pull even. Raptors would trail 69-67 after 3 quarters of play.
4th Quarter
Raptors shooting % sunk down to 43% after the 3rd quarter. But they were still in the basketball game. Took over a minute and half for someone to score. But Chris Bosh would bust open the score sheet with a basket to tie it at 69. But after that the Blazers would run off 4 straight. But Andrea Bargnani would answer that with a 3-ball which Brandon Roy would answer with a 3 pointer of his own and it was 76-72. Lamarcus Aldridge was being good all night long.He scored again and Roy followed that up with a basket and another. Raptor were now looking an eight point deficit square in the face.
Jerrmaine O'Neal had the ball swiped away by Roy and wanted a foul. Instead it would be another Aldridge score and an 84-74 lead for the Blazers. Moon would respond with a score only to have Brandon Roy answer with a 3 pointer. He would get another basket and Jay Triano like his team was frustrated with the non-calls as well and get a technical foul. But in reality he was likely as frustrated his team had no answers for Aldridge and Roy. Raptors who once lead by 11 now trailed by 13 points with the score 89-76. Roy would continue to dazzle with another score. J.O would come back with a jam plus a foul and pull the Raptors back to down 10 points at 91-81 with just under 4 minutes to play. There was time left to make a comeback but it would not be easy. Bosh would get to the line with 3:08 left on the clock for a pair. He would make both and the lead was 8 points for the Blazers. Bosh had 27 points on the night for the Raptors. Brandon Roy would take a tumble at hands of Jamario Moon and head to the line and calm as can be make a pair. Bosh quickly answered with 2 for the Raptors. Steve Blake would score with a one handed runner. J.O would respond but the Raptors needed stops. But they were not coming as the Blazers got a dunk to push the lead back to 10 points at 97-87. This game was done for the most part. Raptors once again played well but not good enough. They could not find that complete 48 minutes it would take to beat a quality opponent. Raptors would fumble and bumble their way down the final minute or so. The Blazers would dribble out a season sweep of the Raptors with a 102-89 win over Toronto.
Blazers/Raps Boxscore
I am a bit under the weather so if there is some editing that is lacking it will get done tomorrow morning. I also had to reboot the computer right before the start hence the bit of strange start to this Raptor Rewind with no set-up and Raptor Rewind Logo. But I was able to stay healthy enough to keep hitting keys. So I will be happy for that. Got an interview to put together tomorrow as well. It will get done but may be a little slower then I would like. But it is for a good cause getting Raptors on TSN 2 for everyone so I will get it done. I may just have to stop to blow my nose or but some ice on my head. But enough complaining from me. Raptors have a tough loss tonight and once again can't close the deal on a good team. Nothing new to report there.
12/7/08
Raptor Rewind- Homecourt Defense Edition
The Raptors are back at the ACC where they actually are on a 2 game winning streak. But a lot has changed since the win over the Atlanta Hawks. Sam Mitchell will not be at the ACC in his usual seat on the bench for the Raptors. Jay Triano will be looking to improve a lot of things for the Raptors including there home record which is only 4-4. The Blazers are also only .500 on the Road this year. But the difference is the Blazers are 7-0 at home. They look to rebound after getting taken a part by the Celtics. That is something the Raptors can relate to as far as that goes. But the task for the Raptors will be tough as the Blazers are a young and talented club with an embarrassment of riches. Brandon Roy could have been a Raptor but instead he was a Blazer and if you feel bad about that, think how T-Wolves fans must feel as they traded both him and O.J Mayo to other teams on draft day of each. I will say as well that no one expected Andrea Bargnani to be the best player right away. Colangelo expected that it would take time for him to grow. Some may think that Sam Mitchell did not to a good job in that process and that could be one of the reasons he is now gone. So it is now the task of Jay Triano to get most out of Bargnani and the rest of the Raptors. That task continues today.
1st Quarter
So off we go in Toronto on a Sunday afternoon. Raptors missed on first chance after winning the opening tip. Blazers would score on their first trip. Raptors after getting it tied showed a lot of effort of a steal and the ended up cashing in on a J.O dunk for a early 4-2 lead. Anthony Parker was able to hit a jumper and the Raptors had an early 6-3 advantage and looked to have some more spirit and jump. Calderon scored on a drive and Raptors had an early 8-3 lead. Chris Bosh had a rare 3 pointer and Raptors were play defense as well and had an early 11-3 lead.
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Parker scores with a three ball and the Raptors were looking very good early up 14-3. This was a very different looking Raptor team and a Joey Graham dunk that made the score 20-8 for the Raptors this is what fans wanted. Effort and defense was the difference. This was the Raptor team that fans wanted to see. Basically if not for the 3-ball the Blazers would be in much worse shape and they trailed 27-18. The Raptors looked like a whole new team up 31-20 after the first quarter at the ACC.
2nd Quarter
A rare event the Raptor bench was actually outscoring the Blazers. amazing what a new coach can do. Raptors continued with the effort from the bench and had built a 36-20 lead. Chris Bosh returned to the game and tried his best to look like a point guard and was able to get the ball in the basket. Raptors were effective with Will Solomon running the show getting Jose some much needed rest that he has rarely seen this year. Raptors still were looking good with a 40-27 lead in the second quarter.
Bosh drives strong to the hoop and gets fouled. He seems more like the old Chris after the struggles out west. Jamario Moon had a big monster jam the Raptors were getting effort from everyone. But the Raptors defense was slipping a bit but still had a 46-36 lead. Jamario Moon got another basket and both he and Joey Graham had brought their game today. Raptors lead was back up to 12 with a 48-36 lead.
The Blazers would start to emerge, maybe it was the early start time but they looked better down the stretch of this half. The Raptors improved defense was leaking fast and furious and the Blazers had fought all the way back to down just 2 points with the score 50-48. That would be the score at the half.
3rd Quarter
Bosh gets to the line and makes two free throws to start for Raptors. Blazers answered with a score. A failed Raptor trip and a Blake 3-pointer in the corner and the Blazers had first lead since 2-0 with the score 53-52. Another 3-ball by Aldridge and the Blazers start the quarter on an 10-2 run and now lead 58-52. A Jose Calderon 3 pointer would bust up the Blazer 12-2 run. But the Blazers were back on track and continued to score. They would build the lead to 66-57 the largest of the day for them to this point.
The Blazers would continue to maintain that advantage and once again the Raptors could not mange a complete 48 minutes of effort and execution. Parker got a 3-ball and J.O a big bucket while Chris Bosh had to go back to locker room and change having blood on his shorts and jersey from a cut on his forehead. Bosh still MIA and Jose Calderon gets a 3 pointer and the Raptors had climbed back to just down 2 with the score 71-69.
We had a close game again and the teams exchanged buckets. A second straight basket for the fresh clothed Bosh had the Raptors tied at 73. But the Blazers would hit a 3-ball to reclaim the lead. Joey Graham had a big dunk and that gave him 10 points. But Raptors still were down 3 points with the score 78-75. Raptors had a final chance to cut into the lead and they would not get it down and trailed by that 78-75 score.
4th Quarter
The Raptors were in the game despite blowing a rather large lead. But the perimeter defense was leaking and key 3 pointer by the Blazers gave them a 83-78 lead early on. The Blazers would continue to push and the Raptors fell in love with the 3-ball the result was an 88-78 lead for the men from Portland. Raptors finally decide to go inside to J.O and get reward with a basket and one from J.O. Jermaine would get it inside again and this time kick it out to Jose for a 3-ball. That is how it is suppose to work inside out. The Raptors were once again back in the game and down just 88-86.
A Jason Kapono 3-ball from the corner and the Raptors had stormed back to take the lead 89-88. Greg Oden would score on the inside and it was back and forth. J.O was having a tremendous game perhaps his best as a Raptor. He scored to take the lead back and he would draw a charge on the other end of the floor. That would turn into a Jose Calderon bucket on the drive. Another basket from Jason Kapono and the Raptor lead was 5 and the crowd at the ACC was alive.
Raptors had 2:35 left and a 95-92 lead and everyone was desperate for a win and you could just feel it. A key possession out of the time out and Raptors went inside and than out but missed a 3 point shot. But J.O would draw an offensive foul on Greg Oden. But the second chance would not be taken advantage of as Raptors turned it over. Raptors would get a block from Bosh but Oden would get the ball and head to the line after that. A key board off an Oden miss on his second foul shot. The Blazers would get another key offensive board. The lead was just 2 points and Blazers called a time out.
The Blazers were able to get a nice jumper from Brandon Roy from right at the foul line. It was all tied at 95. Chris Bosh would answer Roy on the other end with a fading mid-range jumper. Time out Blazers as they were down 2 with about 27 ticks left on the clock. Blazers would miss a couple times but got the key offensive rebound and it would end with a Blake 3 pointer to take the lead by 1 with 8.7 seconds. Bosh would get a chance to win it on a drive to the hoop but he would miss it and that was the ball game.
The play called looked like it broke down but your best player had the ball and took the final shot that is all you can ask for. But that would do little to make Raptors feel better who now have lost 4 straight. the Blazer got key offensive rebounds down the stretch and that was the difference between a W and a L on this day. A tough loss for sure and It was Jermaine O'Neal's best game as a Raptor by far. But it did not result in a win. O'Neal had 24 points and 8 rebounds with 6 blocked shots. But the Raptors were a few key rebounds a way from a victory. A much better effort but the result is the same. A loss by 39 counts the same as a loss by 1. For the complete boxscore check it out below
Portland/Toronto Boxscore
Tough December Marches On
The Portland Trailblazers are coming into Toronto after getting taken care of by the Boston Celtics 93-78. That made them 7-7 on the road this season. But they have not lost a game at home this season. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games and have an overall 14-7 record. The Raptors left for the west coast hoping to be able to steal a win out of the 3 game trip. They come home with no wins and no Sam Mitchell. I think it is one of the worst road trips in the history of this franchise. The early Sunday start time of 1pm is not playing in the Raptors favour as well coming off that west coast swing. Jay Triano has had little time to work with this basketball team. I think by the performance against Utah it was evident. The Raptors under Triano are going to look different eventually but it is going to take time. However with the Raptors on a 3-game losing streak and facing a very tough schedule that is not exactly the message fans want to hear.
Nicolas Batum who was someone the Raptors had brought in to work out. He was thought to have heart issues ironically and it caused a lot of teams to pass on him. But those concerns have not stopped Batum as he was having a nice start to his rookie season with the Blazers who acquired him in a draft night trade. But he has cooled off as of late with just 3 points in his last 3 games. But prior to that Batum had been tearing it up.
But the Blazer rookie that is the center of attention is Greg Oden. He has not exactly tore up the league as many had said he would. An injury in his very first game after a year out prior to that. It has not been exactly the dream season for Greg Oden. I thought him winning the ROY was going to be a lock. O.J Mayo, Derrick Rose and a number of others disagree and have shown their stuff. Even on his own team Rudy Fernandez has been better than him. The Blazers are a young and hungry talented team that will be looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Boston.
For the Raptors Kris Humphries is listed as day to day with some knee soreness. The Raptors will be in a tough battle to get a win this afternoon at the ACC. They need to be much better on defense and need to start shooting like the team with great shooter that they are billed to be. Raptor Rewind will have the answers but you can also check in on the live blog over at the score. Scott Carefoot of RaptorBlog will be at the controls. So here is a link to that live blog
Nicolas Batum who was someone the Raptors had brought in to work out. He was thought to have heart issues ironically and it caused a lot of teams to pass on him. But those concerns have not stopped Batum as he was having a nice start to his rookie season with the Blazers who acquired him in a draft night trade. But he has cooled off as of late with just 3 points in his last 3 games. But prior to that Batum had been tearing it up.
But the Blazer rookie that is the center of attention is Greg Oden. He has not exactly tore up the league as many had said he would. An injury in his very first game after a year out prior to that. It has not been exactly the dream season for Greg Oden. I thought him winning the ROY was going to be a lock. O.J Mayo, Derrick Rose and a number of others disagree and have shown their stuff. Even on his own team Rudy Fernandez has been better than him. The Blazers are a young and hungry talented team that will be looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Boston.
For the Raptors Kris Humphries is listed as day to day with some knee soreness. The Raptors will be in a tough battle to get a win this afternoon at the ACC. They need to be much better on defense and need to start shooting like the team with great shooter that they are billed to be. Raptor Rewind will have the answers but you can also check in on the live blog over at the score. Scott Carefoot of RaptorBlog will be at the controls. So here is a link to that live blog
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