For Toronto Raptors fans, May 20, 2001 is a date that is very forgettable. Vince Carter's missed jump shot to win game 7 of the Eastern Conference senifinals against the 76ers kept Toronto from advancing to their first Conference Finals. It was also the beginning of a long playoff series victory drought that has now gone four straight series datign back to that classic showdown against Philadelphia.
The 2009-10 edition of the Toronto Raptors is indeed quite an enigma, in that their inconsistencies keep fans wondering which team will show up, not even on a game by game basis, but rather on a half by half basis, as was evidenced in Toronto's rough loss to Indiana last week.
This past week Toronto managed to sweep 2-0 with wins over the Knicks and, surprisingly enough, the Dallas Mavericks. Friday's performance against New York was again a play half the game attitude for the Raptors as they led 67-43 at halftime before allowing New York to close the gap in the second half. Most people were pleased with the Raptors' showing, but the fact that the Knciks closed up a 24 point halftime deficit to eight by games end worries me. However, watching superb offesnive efforts from Andrea Bargnani (on Italian Heritage Night, no less), Jose Calderon off the bench, the usual from Chris Bosh, this team has the pieces to make a run.
This was even more apparent on Sunday, when Toronto hosted a tough Dallas Maverick team and essentially throttled them, winning 110-88. There was no second half lay-off, no point of the game where Toronto really let up. The Raps forced 10 Dallas turnovers defensively and held the Mave to just 45% shooting, with no real consistent scoring coming from the visitors out side of Dirk Nowitski.
The build of this Raptors team is a look of a team that could surprise in the postseason. Toronto enters Tuesday night in a virtual tie with Charlotte and Miami for 5th in the East, with Toronto having played two more games. The Raptors, at the season's halfway point, are 21-20, and above .500 is always a playoff guarentee in the weak East.
With Bargnani beginning to transform into the #1 pick everyone envisioned, Hedo Turkoglu starting to gel with his teammates, the improvement of Demar DeRozen, and the return of Jose Calderon, the pieces are there, and the talent is present, can the consistency and fire be there for Toronto when they need it the most?
Thumbs Up This Week
1. Andrea Bargnani- Incredible play in both the New York and Dallas, he is beginning to show more consistent play and is complementing Chris Bosh as a dominant force on the floor.
2. Jose Calderon- He's still coming off the bench, but scored 21 and 15 while only playing half of both games this week, pretty impressive return for the Raptors point guy.
3. Chris Bosh- He's an automatic spot on here, simply because he's Chris Bosh. Two double-doubles this week and a great locker room and presence on the floor.
Thumbs Down This Week
1. Jarrett Jack- OK, he wasn't terrible this week, but Jack is clearly being trumped by Calderon at this stage and the starting job is slowly slipping from him ala T.J. Ford from three years ago.
2. Dallas Mavericks- Ditto to what I wrote about the San Antonio Spurs, very poor effort in the Sunday matinee against the Raptors. I don't know what it is with good Southwest Division teams bombing while visiting Canada, but the Mavs laid a rela goose egg this week.
3. Jay Triano- It's not that he did a bad job this week, but I would like to see Triano insert Calderon back in the starting lineup in favor of Jarrett Jack. Just saying.
On the Medical Bench
Reggie Evans- is on the active roster but is still out, still not timetable on his return.
Marco Bellinelli- Marco has missed the last couple nights with the flu and will be a game-time decision in Clevleand tonight.
My Raptors Pick This Week
I still have those same doubts about the Raptors' consistency, even after their masterful perforemance on Sunday. They will have a truly tough test tonight in Cleveland against LeBron and company. A loss is in store tonight for the streaky Raptors. A trip to Milwaukee on Wednesday SHOULD be a win for the Raptors. However, I have a feeling the Bucks have an upset in store, another Toronto loss. Don't worry, the Bucks will be in Toronto on Friday and the Raptors get their revenge in a win. Finally, a home meeting with the top knotch Lakers on Sunday will result in another Toronto loss. Am I a pessimist? No, this is just a team not ready to compete with the top two teams in the NBA, both of which they meet this week.
Last Week- 1-1
Season- 14-9
Tues. at Cleveland LOSS
Wed. at Milwaukee LOSS
Fri. vs Milwaukee WIN
Sun. vs LA Lakers LOSS
Around the NBA
Atlantic- I will be posting a blog later this week on the tragedy in Haiti, but for now, I will offer prayers to all over there, and give major props to Sixers center Samuel Dalembert. The Haitian native played a fantastic game last week on the day following the earthquake with people in his family missing at the time. Very impressive and heartfelt performance, Sam, you get major, amjor props.
Central- Another year, another slam dunk contest upon us, another no-show for LeBron James. James, after saying he would participate in the slam dunk contest, changed hsi mind and declined yet again. This competition was great during the days of Michael Jordan and without the game's most prolific star, it is lacking. Thumbs down to James.
Southeast- Here's a Vince Carter update for all you Raptor haters; Carter continues to stink it up in Orlando fighting a bad shoulder and shooting consistently below 50% when he does play. I have just this one thing to say; good riddence.
Southwest- OK, here's my Dallas Mavericks rant. I see that last night, Dallas recovered nicely from their blowout loss to Toronto with a win over Boston (thanks for the help guys!) However, I do not understand how a team ranked so highly in the tough Western Conference can play so poorly. Sure, I think Toronto is better than people think, but Dallas was simply anemic on Sunday, as evidenced by a much better performance against the Celtics the next night. Still, I give MAJOR thumbs down to Dallas for failing to show up Sunday, that was not championship team material and they must step up their game if they want to compete with the likes of the Lakers. They lost major points in my book on Sunday.
Northwest- I should change Northwest to the Portland injury report, as the Trailblazers are missing yet another body as leading scorer Brandon Roy has missed the last two games of Portland's Southeast road trip with a sore hamstring. Yet Portland continues to chug along, imagine if they were completly healthy?
Pacific- Speaking of chugging along, I glanced at the West Conference standings today and just realized the Lakers are five game up on Dallas. They have a huge lead and far and above the best team in the solid West. However, L.A. has been seeing the threat of Kobe Bryant leaving via free agency as reported by Marc Spears on yahoo today. Why he owuld leave, I don't know, the Lakers have a core squad that can beat anyone in the league and a definite dynasty brewing. It's going to be hard to beat L.A., who come to visit the Raptors on Tuesday.
What to Watch This Week
Tuesday- Toronto at Cleveland 7:00 FS Ohio
Wednesday- Utah at San Antonio 9:00 ESPN
Thursday- LA Lakers at Cleveland 8:00 TNT
Friday- Portland at Boston 7:30 CSN New England
Saturday- Oklahoma City at Cleveland 7:30 FS Ohio
Sunday- LA Lakers at Toronto 6:00 KCAL 9 Los Angeles
Monday- Cleveland at Miami 7:30 NBA TV
Tuesday- Charlotte at Phoenix 9:00 FS Carolina
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