Raptors Weekly Report: What's The Point???

I want to forget this past week ever happened.

Chris Bosh back from injury? Check

0-4 West road trip? Check

Playoff chances still in tact? Check

Incredibly, the Raptors are still 8th in the East, one game ahead of Chicago only because the Bulls themselves have lost seven straight. So, despite the incredible slide, the Raptors remain in the final spot to essentially be the Cavaliers first round whipping boy.

The question is whether the Raptors can hang onto that spot and should they bother?

This is the low point of the season for this team without question. Aftera pretty tough loss against the Lakers, the Raptors imploded their next three games. And when I say imploded, I mean they embarrassed themselves against teams like the Kings and Warriors who seasons are clearly over, but play hard because they have nothing to lose. Except for the Laker game, every game on the losing streak has had a double digit deficit.

And now, Chris Bosh criticized his team's play this week, which wasn't taken well by the players and Coach Triano. I side with Boish on this, it's like watching a high school team with a All-American and then a bunch of skinny kids who walked on to the team. Bosh has no support and he has the right to say this. However, judging by the backlash from his statement I smell trouble in Toronto and it could end messily for the Raptors.

So my question is, even if the Raptors plug together the occasional win late and scrape into the playoffs, what's the point if your not going to show up? If the Raptors are going to play like they did the past week in the playoffs, there's no reason to turn on the TV. It's going to be ugly.


Thumbs Up This Week
1. Chris Bosh- He did the right thing in his critical comments and scored 20+ points in three of four games. Was this losing streak his fault? Not in the least bit.

2. Tyreke Evans- Rookie of the Year anyone? In the Kings thrashing of the Raptors, this man had a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists. This guy is going to be something special for Sacramento.

3. Kobe Bryant- For a little while, it looked like the Raptors could beat the Lakers, but then of course Kobe came along and would eventually sink a game-winner. Typical Lakers, typical Kobe.


Thumbs  Down This Week
1. Lack of Effort- Not good if this is tops on this list back-to-back weeks. I'm sick of the lack of effort, sick of the lack of heart, and sick of underachieveing teams.

2. Hedo Turkaglu- Decent game in Portland aside, Turkaglu was downright terrible this week, shooting less than 33% in all the other games. You have to be kidding me with that stat.

3. Antoine Wright- You want a different type of streak? Wright has gone four straight games without a field goal, and three straight games without a point. That's right, Wright has played 51 straight minutes without making a field goal. So much for the starting shooting guard idea.


My Raptors Picks This Week
The schedule gets more brutal this week, if that's even possible, and may put a stamp on the Raptors season if the West Coast funk continues on. Two tough home games against Atlanta and Oklahoma City could extend this losing streak. I'll put down losses there. Fortunatly, they're followed by road games at New Jersey and Minnesota. Those games could show how bad the Raptors are, but the little confidence remaining in me will put down wins in both games. After all, they ARE the two worst teams in the NBA.

Last Week 2-2
Season 27-20

Wed. vs Atlanta LOSS
Fri. vs Oklahoma City LOSS
Sat. at New Jersey WIN
Mon. at Minnesota WIN


It's Happy Time!!!
Happy 29th Birthday Kyle Korver! It's actually tomorrow, but Korver, the former 76er sharpshooter now in Utah turns 29 years old. He's always the type of player I've wanted in Toronto and the type of player Jason Kapono never turned into. In any case, best wishes to Korver.

Happy 19th Anniversary Bill Fitch- Fitch earned his 800th career coaching win as he led the NEts to a win over the then Washington Bullets. Fitch became just the fourth coach at the time to reach 800 wins. Good trivia knowledge the next time you play ESPN Jeopardy.

Happy Trails Tayshaun Prince- You already had back problems this season, and took a knee to the back last night in a blowout loss to the Celtics. Nothing's official yet, but I don't think Prince will be back for a little while.


Around the NBA
Atlantic- So, Chris Bosh openly criticized his team's play on Saturday before the Portland game and Triano agrees with his statement. Good for Bosh, only because at least someone on this team wants to win basketball games. Unfortuantly, basketball IS a team sport.

Central- Shaq has reutrned to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but no word on when he will begin playing again. O'Neal is returning from thumb surgery and should be back for the playoffs. Not that it matters, Cleveland has won without him and should just ease him back into the lineup.

Southeast- So, as the Gilbert Arenas saga prepares to conclude with his sentancing next week, he told Esquire magazine that he deserves to be punished. In other news, Arenas also changed his number to 6, presumebly for whenever he returns to the NBA. At least Arenas is TRYING to turn things around, lets' hope he follows through.

Southwest- So, the Dallas Mavericks long win streak ended aruptly last week as they got destroyed, by the Knicks no less. It couldn't have continued forever, and Dallas proved they can be a force in a very tough West that is dominated by the Lakers. If the Mavs get hot again in the playoffs, there's no reason they can't be Finals-bound.

Northwest- Tanking. It's something that is common in the NBA more than other leagues. The Raptors will see two "tanking" teams this week, one of those being the Timberwolves. Personally, I think it's a disgrace that teams don't come out 100%, as I have noted in the Raptors games this week, but if it gives Toronto easy wins, I'll take them.

Pacific- As I noted earlier, Tyreke Evans was very impressive last week in the Sacramento game. He's a superb ball handler that will take the open shots if he's there and also plays tight defense. He won me over for rookie of the year selection when I do my awards post in a few weeks as well. Very impressive.


What To Watch This Week
Tuesday- San Antonio at Miami 7:30 SUN Sports
Wednesday- San Antonio at Orlando 8:00 ESPN
Thursday- Orlando at Miami 7:00 TNT
Friday- Utah at Phoenix 10:00 FS Utah
Saturday- Boston at Dallas 9:00 CSN New England
Sunday- Portland at Phoenix 10:30 ESPN
Monday- Boston at Utah 9:00 CSN New England