Built Ford Tough

Nobody can top Alvin Williams, though. http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs110.snc3/15751_1136214779523_1651950041_30406760_8319028_n.jpg

Don't forget about Barbosa: http://bezelphotos.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/mbanks_bday-70.jpg EDIT: None of them hold a candle to Triano, though: http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2648/159/55/120801341/n120801341_40751145_4246333.jpg What. A. Pimp.

http://www.fan590.com/media.jsp?content=20101123_145934_2852 For those of you don't want to listen, I'll recap a bit. Bayless - Knew a trade was coming - Called playing in a sports city like Toronto the "opportunity of a lifetime" and always wanted to play with a youthful group like this one - Said he is excited to learn from Jose about how to become a point guard. Wants to learn how to run a team and has no problems coming off the bench - Said that he is excited to play with DeMar as they've known each other since he was 14 (through AAU ball and what not) - Very excited to play on a team with athletes like Toronto. Wants to get out and run, run, run Peja Stojakovic - Unsure of what role they want him to fill, but open to anything - Aware that he may not be in Toronto for long - Excited about the fresh start in Toronto. Likes the city and has always enjoyed coming to Toronto in the past - Will talk to Colangelo in the future about whether this is a good fit or not - Sounded frustrated about how things in New Orleans ended (my own interpertation) It sounds like Bayless is really excited to be in Toronto (and not just the usual, professionally correct enthusiasm either). He seems to really want to develop his game as a point guard and not a scoring combo guard. Sounds super excited to play in a faster paced system and it sounds like Colangelo/Triano emphasized pushing the ball to him. Stojakovic, on the other hand, sounded like he doesn't expect to be in Toronto for very long. I don't know if it is just his personality or what, but he doesn't really seem all that excited (might be just because he is a laid back person) and seems to realize that he probably won't have much of a role with the team and is a short term solution. Anyways, slow day for Raptor news so I thought I'd pass this along.

You mean the series that he put up 38/8/8? Yeah, the Magic defense sure did kill him. Even against Boston, he has career averages of 31/6/6 on 47%. Sure, some of those numbers may be a bit inflated due to him beating up on them when they were horrible in the middle of the decade, but he has definitely had a lot of success against the Celtics in his career, at least individually. Don't let his play in the playoffs last season, when he had clearly mailed it in, try to tell you otherwise.

In case anybody was wondering (and if it wasn't already completely obvious) the Heat waived Stackhouse in order to create space on their roster for Dampier. Not that it should be a surprise considering Stackhouse isn't even an NBA caliber player anymore, but I figured I'd mention it anyways.

Not to mention giving Bullock more minutes so that the team actually has some spacing on offense. Teams are just packing the paint on defense right now because the only outside threat that they have on the floor is Barnes, and he has been struggling with his jumper so far. Drew can't shoot (can't do anything really) and Strickland isn't a threat from deep either. With Henson and Zeller being pretty small bigs, it makes it even easier for teams to just pack the paint. Bullock will at least give them one shooter who they have to be aware of defensively. I'd even consider starting him over Strickland because that way you would have at least one capable shooter on the floor at all times (Bullock with the starting unit, McDonald with the 2nd unit). It is clear that they need to make some changes, though.

It didn't work because it wasn't given the chance to. They were fine up until the lockout and then once the lockout happened, their attendance dropped to around 13,000 a night and within two or three seasons they were in Memphis. Prior to the lockout they were drawing around 16,000-18,000 a night and that was with the team being awful. The Grizzlies ownership was absolutely awful too. Put a good owner in there, one who was willing to spend money and a capable GM/coachng staff and it would've made a huge difference. Just look at all the huge blunders that team made in their short existence (Bryant Reeves, anyone?). Also, you can't overlook just how much more popular basketball is in Canada and how much better of a sports town Vancouver has become since then. Times have certainly changed in the 10 years that the Grizzlies have been gone from Vancouver. Not that I think they will get a team or anything like that, but I do full heartidly believe that Vancouver could easily support an NBA team.

For those interested, Kentucky is playing Oklahoma right now. With the Raptors playing a lot better as of late and not looking like a surefire top 3 pick is in their future, a guy like Brandon Knight or Terrence Jones may be the kind of players that they have their eyes on with their pick, assuming it is in the 6-10 range. Duke and Baylor also play later today at 7:30 and 8 respectively (Eastern Time).

Stein's Twitter: Meh. I don't think it will make that big of a difference, but with Haslem being out for so long, they clearly needed to get another big on that roster. I still stand by what I said about him being lazy, unmotivated and just wanting a paycheck. For Miami's sake, hopefully I'm wrong, but I don't think it is unrealistic to make those assumptions based on what has happened with him over the past few months.

http://www.nba.com/raptors/davis_dleague_112210 I think everybody knew it was coming, but it is official now. I like the move. It is basically the same thing as sending a pitcher down to throw a few innings after spending time on the DL or sending a hockey player down after missing time to get his conditioning back up. Let him get his legs under him while not having his confidence destroyed by playing against NBA competition while still out of shape. I would expect that he plays in the two games this week and then makes his debut with the Raptors sometime next week.

Season 3 has a lot more action, but the storylines are completey ridiculous and there are plot holes after plot holes. I liked season 3 better because I absolutely loathed season 4, but neither one is anything special. Season 3 was basically the beginning of the end of this series and season 4 was the nail in the coffin. That is how I look at it.

And because a team like the Celtics probably didn't take this game very seriously. Not to take anything away from the Raptors because they played a great basketball game, but the Celtics are known to coast through the regular season and to take nights off. They have no troubles getting motivated for a game against a team like Miami or the Lakers, but I can't imagine they care too much about a game where they are facing the Raptors. Can't take anything away from the Raptors performance, though. They outplayed the Celtics and came up with the big plays down the stretch. The Raptors deserved this win. I don't expect another win against Boston all season, but they played better today. EDIT: This game was worth winning simply for being able to see the reaction from the RealGM Celtics board. They should be put on suicide watch and I think Dick Bavetta, who they blame for the loss, should be put in witness protection.

Definitely did not expect this win, but I'll take it. A short handed win over the Celtics? Give me that any day of the year. Don't know why the Celtics decided to give the ball to Pierce instead of Allen. Allen is notorious for hitting heart breaking shots against the Raptors and had his shot going down the stretch in the 4th. Pierce didn't seem to do much all game long. Great win for the Raptors. It was nice to see them not fold down the stretch after the Celtics put on that run to take the lead. Earlier in the year they would've definitely completely fell apart.

Wow, what a sequence. Those were some ridiculously quick hands by Barbosa. Amir Johnson gives the Raptors the lead. Now Ray Allen will hit a game winner and crush the Raptors hopes, like he always does.

Chucky Weems has decided to make an appearance tonight. Worst game from him that I've seen in a while. He is playing like he did at the start of the year. Is it a coincidence that he suddenly reverts back to Chucky Weems the same game that Barbosa returned to the lineup?

That is the Raptors I've known to come and love. Blowing a 9 point lead in about 2 minutes.

As much as I hate on the guy for his lack of rebounding and awareness on defense, Bargnani sure is amazing to watch when he is on his game offensively. With his size and length, there is absolutely no way in hell that somebody like Davis can stop that turnaround in the post. Then when you have a legit 7 footer taking two hard dribbles to his left, stepping back and draining a fadeaway jumper from 20 feet, well, how the hell do you stop something like that? 29 points for Bargnani. I love to see him play this well offensively (best offensive game from him that I've seen all year). He might just carry the Raptors to a win tonight, and even though I am a strong advocate of losing close games, I'll take a win over the Celtics any day. I have to give credit to Triano for Bargnani's game, though. He saw that Bargnani was struggling and forcing things to start the 3rd quarter and quickly pulled him out for a couple of minutes. Since he did that, I don't think Bargnani has missed a shot.

Did anybody see that ridiculous flop by Delonte West? He was on the ground before Amir even made contact with him. Speaking of Johnson, what is going on with his free throw shooting? He is shooting something like 93% from the line for the season and I thik has only missed 2 or 3 this season. He got off to a really slow start this year, but I've been very impressed with what I've seen from him lately. He has played great ball.

This is where Evans being a complete liability on the offensive end hurts the Raptors. As much as I love the rebounding and hustle that he brings to the table, his complete lack of production offensively is a huge issue when playing against a team who is as good defensively as the Raptors. With how good the Celtics help defense is, it feels like you are playing against an extra defender even when you have 5 capable offensive players on the floor. Add in a complete non-factor and it feels like they have 7 or 8 guys out there defensively. PS: How awesome was Amir Johnson throwing an elbow at Garnett's throat, and Garnett getting called for the foul? Garnett lookd like he was going to murder somebody, especially when Johnson threw a little smirk his way.

That is [expletive]ing retarded. The refs screw up, Jose reacts, he gets a technical foul and then the refs turn around and change the call because they realize that they screwed up? This league is becoming an absolute joke.

Yeah, exactly. Lakers vs. Celtics. Kind of a much bigger deal than the Raptors vs. Celtics, don't you think? CBC did cover Raptor games last season, but they don't anymore. Sportsnet got the rights from CBC and The Score to cover Raptor games this season so the only two networks covering the Raptors this year are TSN and Sportsnet. Raptors don't have an answer for the Celtics defense right now. Their offense has been ugly to start this half. Luckily for them, they have played solid defense to start the half.

Why on earth would a Raptor game be on national TV? They were never on it with Bosh on the roster and they sure as hell won't be when 90% of casual fans could name one, maybe two players on this roster. Also, CBC doesn't cover Raptor games anymore. Robinson isn't really lighting the Raptors up, either. He got off to a fantastic start, but he has only scored about 2 points since about 2-3 minutes left in the first quarter. And I loved Bargnani's half time interview. Just comes otu and bluntly states that the celtics are a "much better team than us" and says that it is obvious.

Season 2 of Heroes? It was alright. If you erase all expectations of it rivaling the first season (and skip all of the Maya and Alejandro scenes ), it isn't bad. I liked Hiro's storyline and it had potential, but the writers strike really killed all momentum that the show had. I didn't mind the 2nd season. It wasn't nearly as good as the 1st, but it wasn't "what the [expletive] is going on" awful like the 3rd and 4th seasons.

Bargnani is making Garnett his [expletive] right now. Hitting threes over him, driving on him, forcing a travel defensively and, best of all, talking some smack to him after every possession. I love it. Wow, Reggie Evans with a nasty move for the And 1. I didn't think Reggie had the foot work to pull something like that off. I'm shocked at what I just saw.

Raptors offense looks surprisingly good with Barbosa running the point. He has never been a point guard, I think that is obvious, but the ball movement has been impressive so far here in the 2nd. I love how Barbosa is pushing the ball at every opportunity. I think the Raptors have run more in the first 3:30 secnds of this half than they have in every game that I've watched this season. This really benefits Sonny Weems as he is phenomenal in transition. By far the best Raptor in the open floor.