Raptors Close The Show On The Nets.

Good news prior to this one. Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon both game time decisions would in fact suit up and start. That was good news for a Raptor team that struggled badly without both against a very good Chicago team. The Nets although improved from last year which was not hard to do. They still are a brutal road team and this one was of course at the ACC. Also not only were Andrea and Jose back but Linas Klezia was back in the starting line-up. Sonny Weems did not play due to a sore lower back.

Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani both went of to acknowledge their former coach. They are the only 2 players that remain from when Mitchell coached here. That really shows you the amount of change this franchise has been through. Game started out with the Nets and Raptors trading hoops, then some sloppy turnovers by the Raptors, but the Nets were not taking advantage of them as much as they could have up 8-4. Raptors would go on a run from there with Jose dropping a couple dimes as part of a 6-0 mini-run to take the lead 10-8. Ed Davis checked in as Amir had 2 early fouls giving Davis some early minutes. Devin Harris with the blow by and Ed Davis was not there on the help and easy lay-up and Nets were now on top 15-12. Former Raptor Kris Humphries helped out his old club going just 2-4 from line as he was fouled on back to back possessions. Raptors were in a bit of a nip and tuck battle with the Nets early on. Nets would take a 23-21 lead to the 2nd quarter.

Nets came out and scored first 4 points of the second to get a 6 point lead. Both teams were finding it a challenge to score, not because either team was playing great defence necessarily. As Sam Mitchell might say, they were missing a lot of shots. But New Jersey was getting to the line and had got the advantage back to 5 with score 35-30. A crazy sequence of volleyball like action would eventually lead to a easy Andrea Bargnani lay-up that actually took at lot of effort to get to that point. Jose Calderon would later hook up Amir for an easy 2 but Nets were still out in front. Nets after that bucket would get a small burst and up the lead up to 7. Harris missed a chip shot and Raps would find a wide open Barbosa for the uncontested lay-up in transition. Raptors were labouring to score with just 38 points with 2 minutes to play in the half and the Nets lead had grown to 8. A total blown coverage allows Demar DeRozan a clear runway to the basket and he is more than happy to take flight for the throw down. In end of it Raptors were down a half dozen at the break 48-42.

Raps came out with some pep in their step and scored the first 5 points of the half. Klezia would make it back to back 3's to tie the game at 50. An early and bad foul on Amir Johnson would send Outlaw to the line for 3 and that was 3rd foul on Amir. Outlaw made all 3 at the line and Jersey was on a 7-0 run and led 57-50. Raps were speeding up the pace and got to within 3 until Kris Humphries cut down the lane and Kaboom...Nets led 61-56. However, Hump would commit a turnover and then fouled Demar DeRozan. Raps were left down 2. Bargnani with a rare poster making slam would tie the game at 61 and get a huge pop from the crowd. Bargnani had 10 in the quarter and was looking really good at this point in the 3rd. But the Nets, on what was a 2nd night of a back to back for them, were scrappy and build back a 4 point lead 67-63. Amir Johnson's foul troubles continued and that got Joey Dorsey some PT as Amir would sit with 4 fouls. Raps were just struggling and a DeRozan attempt from 3 was not going change that. That miss would lead to a easy lay-up for THE MACHINE that is Vujacic. Nets were taking to many shots at Raptors were inviting them to take long range jumpers by playing zone and Nets were happy to accommodate them. It led to the Raptors tying the game at 69. Devin Harris a fade away jumper would nose the Nets in front 71-69 after 3.

Bargnani was looking healthy and get this the drive and score which Andrea can do, but also taking one on other end on the numbers. Bargs would score again and give Raps first lead since the 1st Quarter. It would be short lived as Farmar made 1st three pointer of night for the Nets who had been 0-8 prior to that. Farmar would hit another 3 and then a slam on a steal and Raps called the time out with score 79-73. A rebound for Kleiza out of time out gave him a double double with 14 points and 10 boards at the time. But more importantly the rebound would lead to an Andrea 3. It was part of a 7-0 run out of time out that left Raps up 1...80-79. Harris would give Nets lead back briefly but a Klezia 3 would change that and a steal led to a Barbosa bucket, Raptors on the strength of a 12-2 run had 85-81 lead. Andrea Bargnani was laying the smack down on Kris Humphries a guy that Andrea knows he can beat from old days? Whatever it was Andre has ZERO fear of Hump and was taking it to him. Raptors now had an 8 point edge with 4 and change to play. Raps looked like the team that had the energy and it was showing. Amir Johnson fouls out with 3:34 to play a tough night for him in foul trouble the whole night long.

Raptors shooting got a little chilly and Nets had pulled back to make this a 4 point game with under 3 to play. Brook Lopez was at the line and made 1 of 2 and the lead was down to 3. on the other end Demar would get himself to the line and he would also split a pair leaving us at 90-86. On defence double D looked to draw a charge but no luck and Lopez was back at the line and made both this time. A 2 point ballgame as Raps lead 90-88. Bargnani took advantage of a switch and nailed jumper over Harris. Hump a bucket on the other end and a huge rebound and it was the Nets ball again down just 2. Outlaw an airball and Sasha a miss...Bargnani the big board with under a minute to play. Time out Raptors need a basket and they get an major way from Demar DeRozan with the HUGE THROW DOWN!!! Lopez would score, another time out and Barbosa the 3 off the kick out from Bargs and TURN OUT THE LIGHTS PARTY IS OVER. Raptors were going to take a win home on a Friday night at ACC.

It was not the Young Onez so much at the International ones on this night. Bargnani (32 points 9 Rebounds) , Calderon (15 points and 14 Assists) and Klezia (18 Points and 12 Rebounds) were all outstanding. Bargnani the most of that group. He was a true game time decision as even when Jay Triano talked to media pre-game he still could not confirm if Bargnani would play. Jose did an excellent job running the offence and was not a liability on D on many occasions that I can recall. While Klezia gets the surprise start and makes the most off it. At times it wasn't pretty but the Raptors will take the win and not worry about the style points. They closed the show with a bang and that is what counts. Make the final Raptors 98 Nets 92. That makes it 6 straight vs the Nets overall and Raptors our .500 at home with 7 up and 7 down.

Raptors Visit The Magic Kingdom

Vince Carter has a beard. It is comical, what isn't is the Raptors of late. Also no laughing matter is the lengthy injured list. The Raptors last practice had only 10 healthy bodies on the court. Barbosa was left back in Toronto and is out for this entire road trip at least. Jack sat out practice as he is still dealing with a sore knee. Andersen still has the flu listed as questionable. Linas Kleiza is also at less than 100%. He is listed as doubtful and Triano has said if no Kleiza that will mean Sonny Weems starts. Reggie Evans has a sore hip as well. Ed Davis is still not ready, coming back from knee surgery prior to training camp. It is a banged up group of Raptors facing two of the best teams in the East on a back to back.

The Basics: Orlando 5-2 ( 2nd in the East ) Toronto 1-7 (0-4 on the Road)

When Last We Saw Them: The Raptors coughed up a hair ball and the basketball and lost to the Bobcats. Raptors had a 5 point lead heading into the 4th quarter only to have that flipped and lose to the Bobcats by 5. Raptors had 17 turnovers in the 101-96 loss but none more costly then the one late in the game by Andrea Bargnani.

Key Match-ups: Jay Triano promises we will see a lot of Joey Dorsey matching up with Dwight Howard. It is always a key match-up when you face the Magic. Dwight is starting to expand his offensive game a little bit and has a few new tricks in the tool box. Demar DeRozan had an awful night vs the Bobcats. He had a good night vs one of his idols in Kobe Bryant earlier in the year. Well he also is a Vince Carter fan and will match-up with him. Air Canada vs Heir Canada and it should be fun to see if Demar can answer the challenge. Vince is a contract year and off the a decent start for the Magic. It isn't a match up but against the Magic if you do not defend the 3 point line your dead dead dead.

Other Things of Note: The Magic have a new arena (Amway Center) this season and this is the Raptors first visit. They have a 10-16 record all time visiting Mickey and the Magic. Stan Van Gundy will be into his team after they blew a huge lead to the Jazz and lost. On his staff is the first ever Raptors head coach Brendan Malone. Magic are the worst team in league from the free throw line early in this NBA season shooting just 65.5% at the line as a team.

In Case You Missed It: Chris Bosh and his Heat lost again and he was the focus of the Raptor Twitterverse. All based on in his latest apparent slag of Toronto. Under protest I decided to weigh in on Bosh and twitter circus. If you are like me and Boshed out you still might want to check it out and just scroll to the end.

Raptors White Out or Black Out

Team White WINS, TEAM WHITE WINS!!! I have to say yesterday, I was really missing the fact that I am not able to be at training camp this year. But what can you do. Vancouver is just not in the Dino Nation Blog's budget. Jay Satur from Raptors.com was there and filed a report on the particulars. I don't think you can take much of anything from an inter squad game but they are fun. They have a half Harlem Globetrotters and have semi serious feel to them. The most important thing of all these pre-season games and events is that everyone remains healthy. Just look back to last season and Reggie Evans injury in a pre-season game for proof of that. Evans never really got back on track and missed half the season.

So TSN in an attempt to obviously make me look bad, is in fact broadcasting the Suns and Raptors on Wednesday, on the main TSN as well. That being said it is still a shame that a lot of people have been shut out by the evolution of Sportsnet 1 and TSN 2 from Raptor games. I personally see it as a bad move for the Raptors. When you are a good team you can afford these type of things. When you are a team that is not expected to do well you need all the exposure you can get. Whatever TSN or Rogers cares to say the fact is Raptor fans and Jays fans have become casualties of their stupid pointless completive nature with each other. I spent some time at TSN, so it is not like I say this without any personal knowledge. Since my time there the childish competition between the two networks has only increased. What also has increased is there NHL coverage which buries basketball further and further into the background. They can say all they like they do this to provide more coverage of events but it is more about making money and to them that means more hockey. If MLSE was serious and wanted to put an end to this they could do it. Just the threat of a couple Leaf games being moved to Leafs TV would get them whatever they wanted in terms of Raptor scheduling. Eventually this like TSN2 will sort out for majority of people but while some will forget this in time...I won't.

Linas Kleiza will not be confused with Hedo Turkoglu on Wednesday. He is playing hard and led all scorers in that inter-squad scrimmage. Last year Hedo in that game in Ottawa had a seat next to Chris Bosh in street clothes watching. While I have not been as high on Kleiza as most, when it comes to effort and energy he will never have an issue with that.

The only other thing I want to point out for this Monday is about Demar DeRozan. He is really looking the part as the future face of the franchise isn't he? I remember interviewing him last season and he was really nice but his answers were short and he was not as polished. This year he seems to have more to say and says it with the confidence you gain from a year of guys like me asking him questions all the time. The big question is can the on court swag match the off court swag. That will be one of the big things I will be watching this pre-season.

Going to try to catch up with Matt Devlin in Vancouver sometime between now and Wednesday and get his impressions of what has been going on in Vancouver. Looking forward to that.

Matt Barnes Heads North.

Not sure if Toronto was option 1, but they end up being the landing spot for Matt Barnes. It was said that he was close to signing with Cavs, only to 24 hours later he set to sign with Raptors. Depending on who you believe Barnes is getting 4.5 to 5 million dollars for just 2 years. Barnes is a guy liked by many for his tough no non-sense approach and hard nosed style of play. But is that worth this much? It is also, when you include the Raptors signing of Linas Klezia, pretty much places the Raptors at the tax threshold. Still excited?

It also makes a Jose Calderon trade a little more complicated to pull off with little wiggle room. While the Raptors do have trade exceptions to use that does not make them exempt from the tax man. Also Matt Barnes is not a center last I checked and the Raptors are really without a true center. If Bargnani is to move to the 4 spot as many expect the Raptors need to find a center or two.

It is not that I am against over spending for players. I am just not a fan of doing it on role players. Which as excited as you may be about Matt Barnes, that is what he is. He like Tyson Chandler did bid farewell to his fans on Twitter. The good news is Micheal Jordan can't screw this one up.

What I find more interesting, seeing as I don't see Barnes as the difference between this team and it's ultimate fate, is when his deal ends. That would be 2012. The same year that Barbosa has his deal expire and it was also the same year that Diaw and his deal would have expired. So what is so special about 2012? Well for one a new CBA will be firmly in place. It will also be a pretty excellent free agent class with all due respect to the 2010 class. Don't believe me? Have a look.

When you consider the CBA may have much tougher rules and bite to it. The Raptor is would appear are positioning to be a big player in this class. The list of name includes a lot of interesting names for sure. Including Steve Nash. Who knows if he will still be defying age at that time. But seems B.C has a plan to make the Raptors a huge player in 2012. Matt Barnes may end up being a fan favourite and help the Raptors be a better team in the short term. However the real story is not about today it is about tomorrow. Raptors still have a lot to do in the short term to convince me they are a playoff team.

Now we do know Barnes is coming but is he coming alone? There are rumours floating around that this may be more complex. I know you are having Charlotte De Ja Vu. So am I, but at least Otis Smith is not M.J. But here is what is being said. The Raptors would trade Calderon, the Miami 1st from the Bosh deal and in return take back Barnes and Gortat. There is that missing center I mentioned. The Raptors would use the TPE to make this all work out. May only have to be the smaller one they got in the Hedo Trade. Not a math wiz but think that is right. Welcome aboard the Merry-Go-Round again. The dust is suppose to settle tomorrow. Better deal but is it real? No way to tell at moment and there is also the issue Raps have yet to officially announce this signing and also the Klezia signing for that matter. What does that play in all of this? No idea.

One Thing Solved For Raptors

Still a few days left on the clock, but Denver will not match on Linas Kleiza. Why? The news today that Al Harrington has signed a 34 million dollar deal. Which means the Nuggets in a sense tap out and Klezia is gone. So the Raptors deal of somewhere between 18.8 and 20 million dollars for 4 years is a green light. So start the parade we got Klezia!!! I was never that excited about this signing to start with. Klezia was playing in Europe last season not the NBA. I guess if you want to be hopefully than you can look at Carlos Delfino, and his performance with the Bucks after a year out of the league in Russia. That being said, as good as he was, the Raptors did not miss him with acquiring Weems and Johnson.

It is really nice to see that Weems and DeRozan are turning heads in Las Vegas. Summer League is often a snooze for most, except for the hardest of hardcore fans. But watching Weems and DeRozan has been fun as they both clearly seem energized to fill the void left by Chris Bosh leaving. It makes it worth fighting to watch the games if you can. It does not make it worth paying to watch them though. But if you can't see them live they eventually will pop up on Raptors T.V. There are also other methods that during the TSN 2 mess Raptors fans became aware of. The Summer League Raps will be back at today playing the Knicks at 6pm. If there is a team that does Summer League right, it is the New York Knicks. Every year they send their whole crew down to broadcast the games. Walt Frazier busting out words that I have to rush to the dictionary to find the meaning of. The Knicks treat summer league like it is 5 more games on the schedule. Hopefully at some point other teams will follow their lead including the Raptors. As for on the floor the Knicks are 1-1 getting set to face the Raptors a perfect 2-0.

What is the future of Jose Calderon now? It will be very strange to see him back after all of this. The lack of professionalism shown by the Bobcats in letting this trade that never was, get to the point of players being told is pretty bad. The deal the Bobcats took instead has many experts scratching their head and Mark Cuban all smiles. I will look at the bright side in that Reggie Evans is still around as well. I like Reggie personally and think he is a good guy. Will he remain now? That seems unlikely to given his expiring contract and the fact he pretty much had been traded once already. Raptors had once traded Alvin Williams to the Celtics and he failed a medical and returned to the Raptors. Williams held no ill will obviously and now is an assistant coach with the club. Will the Raptors and Jose Calderon be able to do the same? If I was Bryan Colangelo I wouldn't bank on it. Also it really seems like Jack is more in tune with the young core of this team. He deserves this chance to start a season as the number 1 guy for a team. For my money Jarrett Jack showed more leadership in his 1 year than Calderon in his Raptor career.

Here is hoping for a quiet day in Raptorland. It seems to have been one thing after another and my fingers are getting tired. However, if stuff happens never fear I am here. I may not be Mighty Mouse and save the day, but I give it my 100% each day. That is all we can do until they actually invent a 110%.