Toronto Raptors 8/9 Season Thread - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

octothorp · 10-31-2008, 08:49 PM

GREAT game tonight gutting out the win in OT, love the fact that when JO struggles, as he did tonight, Bargnani steps up huge. Perimeter defense was pretty weak, a lot of uncontested long shots, but the interior guys had a lot of blocks. And Bosh with 30+ points, just dominating. Calderon is continuing his insane assist-to-turnover ratio from last year.
Just two games against middle-of-the-pack teams, but still, these were both games that occasionally slip away from this team.

octothorp · 11-01-2008, 10:08 PM

Make it 3-0. Very unusual game for the Raps. No surprise that they got outrebounded again, but Milwaukee also had most assists, more steals, and fewer turnovers. But the Raptors once again had great 3-point shooting and free throws shooting, and had very good interior defense. You just could feel the shift when JO had his first big block on Villenueva, it really caused the Bucks to shy away from the interior.

Machiavelli · 11-01-2008, 10:09 PM

They're playing like a team. It's really fun to watch.

JohnnyFlame · 11-04-2008, 10:23 AM

Lots of intensity so far and much improved defense. Offense still a work in progress. Plus an early season indicator coming up with the game against the Pistons and the newly acquired AI.

pria(kin)16 · 11-06-2008, 10:05 AM

Tough loss last night, but DETROIT BASKETBALL is nothing to mess with. Bosh has looked like he is on another level this year, playing 42 minutes a night, I hope they dont run him down.

Gozer · 11-06-2008, 01:09 PM

Detroit has our number.

I wasn't even disappointed.

Bosh is a legitimate MVP candidate.

CaramonLS · 11-09-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

Lots of intensity so far and much improved defense. Offense still a work in progress. Plus an early season indicator coming up with the game against the Pistons and the newly acquired AI.

Holy smokes. I tuned into the game half way in progress vs. the Bobcats today...

The Raps just destroyed Charlotte in the 4th Quarter - absolutely unreal defense from this team like we've never seen before. And Bosh was the entire catalyst in this whole thing too.

Bosh looks like he has taken it to a new level this season.

Great comeback win.

Machiavelli · 11-09-2008, 03:25 PM

The first half of the game was like watching the Flames against the Blue Jackets yesterday.....so BORING.

Neither team was making jumpshots, the Raps refused to drive to the basket, lots of silly turnovers.

But then Bosh took the team on his back and willed them to win. He's having a superstar start to the season.

JohnnyFlame · 11-11-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Holy smokes. I tuned into the game half way in progress vs. the Bobcats today...

The Raps just destroyed Charlotte in the 4th Quarter - absolutely unreal defense from this team like we've never seen before. And Bosh was the entire catalyst in this whole thing too.

Bosh looks like he has taken it to a new level this season.

Great comeback win.

Only problem is that so far it's been Bosh and ? Calderon on offense usually but his atrocious defense almost nullifies it. Bargnani much better on defense but his offense is still inconsistent.

They need JO to shoot less and AB to shoot more and some defense from their perimeter players from any of them.

Gozer · 11-12-2008, 12:12 PM

You guys know a good place in town to watch Raps games?

I went to Schanks on monday for the RaptorsTV game, and we had to watch it on one of the screens above the bar - we couldn't even make out who was who.

JohnnyFlame · 11-18-2008, 12:44 PM

Raps continue to go with the three bigs due to the absence of Calderon. That and the subpar play of Moon, Parker and Kapono. They play Orlando next and it's a big challenge. Howard will give O'Neal fits, Lewis and Hedo, Nelson all killed them in last year's playoff.

Tough matchup and another progress report on how they are moving along here in the early season.

malcolmk14 · 11-19-2008, 04:18 PM

I see it being the same story as last year with the Raptors. A ton of talent, but no chance to beat Cleveland, Boston, Detroit, or Orlando in a seven-game series. Their best bet would be to somehow draw Miami, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Chicago, Philadelphia, or one of the other mediocre Eastern Conference teams in the first round and build some momentum from there. However, with Boston in their division, that's not going to happen.

octothorp · 11-21-2008, 08:00 PM

Ah hell, O'neal gets taken down by a flagrant foul, and is lying on the court holding his knee.

bluejays · 11-22-2008, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octothorp

Ah hell, O'neal gets taken down by a flagrant foul, and is lying on the court holding his knee.

It looked terrible for a few mins, especially on the replays when it looked like his knee gave weigh, but early reports are it's a sprain. If he's out for a few weeks, who cares. This team is clearly missing the athletic scorer that can take over the game in clutch time. If O'Neal is out for a month (just guessing), it forces Colangelo to find that scorer they sorely need. I missed the last few mins and overtime, but to blow a 17 point lead is inexcusible.

JohnnyFlame · 11-24-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fleury

It looked terrible for a few mins, especially on the replays when it looked like his knee gave weigh, but early reports are it's a sprain. If he's out for a few weeks, who cares. This team is clearly missing the athletic scorer that can take over the game in clutch time. If O'Neal is out for a month (just guessing), it forces Colangelo to find that scorer they sorely need. I missed the last few mins and overtime, but to blow a 17 point lead is inexcusible.

The scorer they need? They need a defender on the perimeter far, far more than they need another scorer. Bosh is scoring, so is Calderon and AB. Three scoring options is plenty(look at Boston). But the defense is just awful.

killer_carlson · 11-24-2008, 11:03 PM

Their #2 spot is the biggest problem on this team. They have no NBA quality defence there and don't have enough on offense there to justify the defensive mistakes.

They need to package something up and shore that position (I'm thinking a draft pick) or else Bosh will pull a Carter and walk on the team.

I love the idea of starting all three bigs, especially with a point guard who isn't turning the ball over and making them run up and down a lot unnecessarily, but that 2 spot is just brutal.

Gozer · 11-25-2008, 12:06 PM

2?

We don't have a 3.

browna · 11-26-2008, 07:19 AM

O'Neal credits the knee brace for saving his season.

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=2572...headlines_main

Saw it as I was flicking through the stations of Friday, and having a knee injury similar to that myself, hard to watch the whole knee buckle and give...but the brace did what it's intented to do and limited the stress and strain on the major ligaments.

howard_the_duck · 11-26-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Their #2 spot is the biggest problem on this team. They have no NBA quality defence there and don't have enough on offense there to justify the defensive mistakes.

They need to package something up and shore that position (I'm thinking a draft pick) or else Bosh will pull a Carter and walk on the team.

I love the idea of starting all three bigs, especially with a point guard who isn't turning the ball over and making them run up and down a lot unnecessarily, but that 2 spot is just brutal.

See I'm fine with Anthony Parker. He's a decent defender....and I don't see that as the position of weakness. It's the 3. A guy like Gerald Wallace who could run, create his own shot, and guard.....that's the kind of player the Raps sorely need.

Hustle · 12-10-2008, 05:38 PM

Just thought I'd bump this with the Raptors current funk. Man, they look out of sorts right now. I wonder what Colangelo is going to do about the head coaching position.

The biggest question in my mind right now regards to Bosh. 2010 is looming and you'd have to think he's starting to get frustrated with this squad.

On an unrelated note, pretty big deal in the NBA today (not confirmed yet.. but being speculated). Phoenix sends Boris Diaw and Raja Bell to Charlotte for Jason Richardson.