Built Ford Tough

God dammit Harris, stop choking. He misses 2 free throws which would've put the Nets up 100-92, but instead he misses both and gets abused by Rose on defense which cut the lead to 4. Then Yi goes 1-2 and the Bulls get a layup to cut it to 3. Then a turnover which led to a Bulls layup to cut it to 1. And now the Bulls are up 1 after a Noah tip in. The Nets managed to blow a 6 point lead in about 30 seconds. It really sucks to have to put your faith in this team.

Bit of an update on Bosh. It isn't much, but I figured I'd post it anyways. http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/65881/20100409/bosh_still_coping_with_injury/

And down goes Wright! Wright landed on Smith's foot after taking a 3 pointer and he is now being carried off of the floor by Belinelli and O'Bryant (most air time he has received all season long). He wasn't able to put any weight on it at all. Looks like he may be done for the year potentially. He was literally carried to the locker room by Belinelli and POB. On the scoreboard watch, Nets are up 63-61 over the Bulls.

After the first quarter the Hawks had 14 points and were shooting 19%. After the second quarter the hawks have 59 points and are shooting 40%. Now I didn't expect Toronto to hold Atlanta to 14 point quarters all game long, but giving up 45 points is absolutely inexcusable. How do you expect to even be competitive in a game when you are giving up 45 point quarters? Chris Bosh or no Chris Bosh, this is an absolute joke. Chicago is currently up 47-42 over the Nets, and considering it is the Nets, it looks like Toronto is going to be sitting in 9th place within the next 2 hours or so.

From what I have heard so far: Amir Johnson will start tonight at PF. Hedo Turkoglu is in Atlanta and wants to play, but as of right now I don't know if a decision has been made. No word on Jarrett Jack missing the game, so I assume he should be good to go. Chris Bosh flew back to Toronto today.

I'm watching a repeat of todays editition of "Raptors Today" and they mentioned that Jarrett Jack has a sprained ankle and they aren't sure whether or not he will play against Atlanta tomorrow. I didn't hear if he injured it during the game against the Celtics or during practice, but he has a sprained ankle and is day-to-day. So for those of you keeping track, the Raptors injury tally is now as followed: Chris Bosh - Fractured maxilla and nose - Out rest of season Hedo Turkoglu - Fractured nose - Day-to-day (knowing Turk, he will be out for the year but still be partying up in downtown Toronto) Jarrett Jack - Sprained ankle - Day-to-day Antoine Wright - Sore ankle/knee - Day-to-day (not expected to miss any time though)

The pick is lottery protected until 2015, but even then, there are definitely valid reasons for wanting to pay the debt right away, or hoping that you have an asset to use during the draft in order to possibly entice Bosh to stay with the team. It depends on your stance on whether or not Bosh will stay with the team. If you think that Bosh will stay then it could be best to just pay the debt off right away so that you don't have any restrictions, other than the bad contracts of Turkoglu, Calderon and Bargnani, heading forward. It could also be best if you keep your pick this year in hopes of packaging it, along with other assets, for a bonafide wing to give Bosh the legit 2nd option that he has never had. Personally, I just want to get the debt paid right away and have it over and done with. I can see why somebody would want to be able to keep the pick though. Well, it's not like there is anything better to talk about right now.

Part of me still wants the Raptors to make the playoffs just so that they pay off their pick debt right away. I'm not really too impressed with this draft outside of the top 8 or so, and the Raptors aren't going to be getting a pick any higher than 12th by the looks of things. Part of me still think that it would be better off just giving the Heat the Raptors pick this season and get it over and done with. I coulndn't imagine how terrible it would be if the Raptors lost Bosh this summer and missed out on the playoffs for the next 5 years which resulted in the Heat getting a pick in the top 8 at least.

You made a thread titled "Why Cleveland will win the championship...", posted a magazine cover from years ago and then laughed about it. Can you blame people for jumping to conclusions when typically the only Cav related posts you make on here have an ulterior motive behind them? Your reputation doesn't do you any favours here, unforutunately for you.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/basketball/turkoglu-day-to-day-with-facial-fracture/article1527747/ So does this mean that Calderon will get a fractured nose tomorrow night against Atlanta? Wait, who am I kidding, that would require Calderon to stick his nose into a battle for a loose ball or something and we all know that will never happen.

Well then the Cavs should've just rested Jamison and this whole situation would've been avoided. It is looking like the Cavs are going to be playing Chicago in the first and possibly Atlanta in the 2nd, both of which could've been avoided if they would've just rested their starters last night.

Boston is going to be very lucky to get by Miami in the first round if they continue to play like they have been over the last 5 or 6 games. This team aged a year or two quicker than I thought they would. Garnett's injury really hurt this team and looks like it ruined any possible chance at the Celtics winning another NBA Championship with this core. They are lucky that Rondo has developed into the player that he is because he is the reason why they are closing in on 50 wins. Update on Turkoglu is that he is being taken to the hospital for further evaluation. And Amir Johnson just had Big Baby fall/roll on his foot/ankle and limped off the floor. I think he is back in the locker room getting attention right now. Stupid Big Baby, he can't do anything right. You are supposed to injure Calderon, not Johnson. Make your fat [expletive] fall on Jose's knee! As I was typing this, Johnson just came back to the bench and looks like he is fine.

With that headbutt Tony Allen just gave to Turkolgu, if he can somehow take out Calderon's knees he would be my new favourite player. Well, he is the best Raptors starter know that Chris Bosh is out. That counts for something, doesn't it? Holy [expletive], did I really just say that Sonny Weems is the Raptors best starter?

DeRozan + Calderon + Bargnani + Lotto pick + Expirings for Paul + Okafor I can dream, can't I?

I was watching TSN and they said that the doctor who performed Bosh's surgery has to wait 7-10 days before being able to re-examine the injury and it was reported that Bosh will likely miss the rest of the season. 11/12th pick, here come the Raptors. I'll try and post a link to an article or something as soon as I can.

I was just watching a Boston-Toronto game from back in 06-07 and I couldn't help but remember how awesome of a commentator Swirsky was. I know that was a complete homer at times, but you could tell that he genuinely cared about this team and loved it. The passion that he brought to the games was absolutely second to none. I admit that I didn't particularly care too much for Swirsky when he was with the team, but after watching that game and comparing him to Matt Devlin, I can't help but wish that he never left the team. Anybody else miss this guy? http://dinonationblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/chuck-in-red.jpg On a different, somewhat unrelated note, when watching that game I couldn't help but remember how much I loved that 06-07 Raptor team as well (2nd only to the 2001 Raptors). Yeah, they only won the Atlantic Division because of how weak the East was that season, and yeah, they weren't particularly talented, but I can only wish that the Raptors had players like Anthony Parker, TJ Ford (that version, not the selfish version he became after Horford nearly decapitated him), a starting caliber Rasho Nesterovic and, last but not least, Jorge Garbajosa. Could you imagine how much better this team would be right now if we replaced players like Jose Calderon, Hedo Turkoglu and Antoine Wright with players like Ford, Garbajosa and Parker, players who actually played with heart?

Bosh is out for this game, obviously, and there is no timetable for his return as of right now. Antoine Wright is a game time decision with a sprained ankle. Raptors are going to be lucky to be in this game before the start of the 2nd half. Unlike last night against the Cavs, the Celtics still have something to play for so don't expect them to approach this game in the same nonchalant manner that the Cavs took in last nights game. This game will be so painful to watch that there is a good possibility I will watch the Maple Leaf game instead, which is pathetic when you consider they are the 2nd worst team in the NHL and have absolutely nothing to play for, while the Raptors are holding onto the 8th seed by the skin of their teeth.

Here is the latest update on Bosh's condition. Bosh had surgery to repair a displaced nasal fracture earlier today in Cleveland. He will remain in hospital there until tomorrow morning at the earliest. There is still no time table for his return to the lineup. http://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/article/791800--surgery-sidelines-raptors-star-chris-bosh?bn=1 And, for those of you who aren't away of what exactly Bosh's injury is, here is a picture of what bones Bosh fractured: http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/86/fb/cebe25654762a4c5781cab4d86b7.jpeg

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/65806/20100407/bosh_suffers_facial_fracture/ Also, another quote: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/basketball/raptors-lose-bosh-in-loss-to-cavs/article1525492/ Looks like Chris Bosh may have played his last game of the season. I haven't read about any sort of timetable for his recovery, but from what I have heard/read, it is sounding more and more likely that Bosh cold very well miss the rest of the season. How awful would it be if this picture is the last memory that Raptor fans have of Chris Bosh in a Raptors uniform? http://nbcsportsmedia2.msnbc.com/j/apmegasports/201004061933704173384-pf.widec.jpg

Green hit a runner off glass in the lane to give the Thunder a 139-138 lead with 5 seconds left. Deron Williams hit a fadeaway jumper to give the Jazz a 140-139 lead with 1.1 seconds left. Durant took a 3 and was hit on the arm which resulted in an airball and a Thunder loss. It definitely should've been a foul and Durant should've been shooting 3 free throws with no time on the clock. Pretty terrible finish to an otherwise absolutely amazing game. Deron played one of the best games that I have ever seen from him.

How many players have dropped season/career highs on the Raptors this season? Off of the top of my head: JJ Redick career high in points Anthony Parker season high in points and rebounds Mo Williams season high in assists Cavs team high in assists Steph Curry averages more points, assists and rebounds (I think rebounds) against Toronto than any other team. Who else? Oh yeah, check out how well Turkoglu, Calderon and Bargnani played without Bosh on the floor. Combined 10-32 shooting and a -53. If Bosh leaves in free agency, this is going to be a very hard team to watch next season.

Cleveland had 15 assists on 15 made field goals during that 3rd quarter. They were absolutely picking the Raptors apart with their passing. It was definitely very enjoyable to watch. Cleveland is basically toying with the Raptors right now though. Every single time the Raptors get the lead down to the 5-7 point range, Cleveland goes on a mini run of their own and increases it back up to 11-13 points. They don't even look like they are even trying out there, yet they have still been up by around 10 points for the majority of the game. Jack and Johnson are the only reason why the Raptors are even remotely in this game though. I couldn't imagine how painful this game would be to watch if these two weren't playing. I really wish that the Raptors didn't let go of Anthony Parker. The saddest thing of all is that Parker would be the Raptors best wing player and he would cost a third of the price that Turkoglu is being paid. I just love the way that he plays the game. It is looking very likely that the Raptors and Bulls will be tied for the 8th seed after tonight, and that the Bobcats will be up 3 games over the Raptors.

It is hard to speculate without knowing the severity of the injury, but if it is just your typical broken nose then I can see him missing the game against the Celtics tomorrow, but playing out the rest of the season with a mask. If Bosh is cleared to play, he will. No doubt about that. Antoine Wright limped back to the locker room during the 2nd quarter with what looked to be a knee/ankle injury well. So the Raptors injury tally looks like this: Bosh - broken nose/oribtal bone (presumed) Wright - strained knee/ankle sprain (presumed) Turkoglu - missing heart Bargnani - missing balls At least Jack is stepping up and putting the team on his back without Bosh. I love the way that he elevates his game when the team needs him the most. It is too bad that he has to share minutes with a clearly inferior player in Jose Calderon. EDIT: Just read that Wright was back on the bench before the half was over.

Yeah, for sure. On another message board people were trying to say it was just a cut and he would go to the back and get stiched up, but once I saw the blood pouring down, dripping all over the floor and seeing the white towel turn almost completely red when he moved it away from his face, I knew something was broken. The only question was whether or not it was a broken nose or a broken orbital bone. I didn't think that they would hold onto the 8th even with Bosh in the lineup, but if Bosh misses any sort of time the Raptors have almost no chance to hold onto the 8th seed with Chicago getting healthy.

Raptors announcers just said that Boston is heading to Cleveland Clinic (or something like that) for a CAT scan. They figure it is either a broken nose or orbital bone, although that is speculation on their part (a fair speculation in my opinion). Looks like the Raptors are going to be without Bosh for the rest of the game, and possibly tomorrows game. In other words, it is looking very likely that the Raptors season may be over, assuming Bosh misses time.