Tip In: Slapped Back To Reality

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Jan 9, 2006 8:18 AM EST

Never have I not wanted to write something on this team....until now. It's like someone kicked you in the gut, and then stomped on your back as you went down. It's like running into the ex-girlfriend only to find out she's a supermodel, won the lottery, or is engaged. It's like finding out your favorite team just drafted Kwame Brown (sorry Washington fans) or that you just traded for him (I never apologize to LA Laker fans). You just BURN inside.

The three of us here at RapsHQ got together Sunday, sat at the RapsHQ table in the Harbourside and talked ball over a few cups of coffee and a couple of killer burgers. As the game started we were pumped. The Raps were hot to go, feeling the momentum, and there was no greater challenge then a streaking NJ Nets squad. Confidence was at an all-time high when RJ tweaked his back....a victory looked like a strong possibility. You could tell when the game started that the Raps came to play....all the way down to Hoffa. One could even argue that the boys were too excited but they were playing well, although rebounding was a concern.

Suddenly.....things go out of control. Not sure if I want to talk about it. Not sure I want to discuss the "slap heard across Toronto," the Mo Pete ejection, the Vince Carter threes, or the teams inability to close out. I could focus on the solid D played by our franchise player, his desire to win, his desire to carry the team. I could focus on Mike James giving us another ride with all the twists and turns including an argument over whether him going 1 on 5 near the end of the game, was the right thing to do. The reality is however, neither we, nor the team should give this game another thought. It's over, it is done. Don't take the positives, don't take the negatives. Just focus on the game tomorrow and don't let a guy named Carter ruin the recent winning ways. Focus on Chicago. Focus on Luol Deng, Scott Skiles and Harry Potter. Just get over it and move on, because if the team dwells on this the repurcussions could be long and painful. Don't give VC that satisfaction. Let the loss burn, and turn that burn into team intensity. The Raps have to remember it's still them (as a team) against the rest of the L, and no-one, in particular an up and down Bulls team is going to show mercy.

Let's look forward, not back. Looking back makes me sick. Who is going to step up tonight? Who is going to say, "Let's just play, we've won 4 of the last 5, let's make it 5 of the last 6". The fact remains that no-one should drop their heads. These losses happen. Just don't let it happen again.

It hurts, it burns. Turn the rage into intensity, fight, let it be the cause of a chip on your shoulder, but Raps, I'm begging you, don't let this loss take the fight out of you. Don't dwell. The best thing is I think NOW is when we realize what sort of player CB4 is. You know he wants that game back, but you know he will fight on. Mitchell has kept him in blowout losses and made him endure the rough times so he can step up at times like these. Lead us Chris. LEAD.

HOWLAND

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I haven't felt that way since vince missed the shot after his graduation!

by utes on Jan 9, 2006 9:33 AM EST reply actions

Not trying to be an ass here, but isn't the above post a little much for a regular season game featuring a team with a record of 11-23? Maybe it's just because I did not see the game.

by Poppa Vlazo on Jan 9, 2006 11:54 AM EST reply actions

It was the worst loss....if my opinion since Game 7. Any Rap fan who watched was horrified by yesterday's events.

by HOWLAND on Jan 9, 2006 11:59 AM EST reply actions

That ending was the absolute worst! It was like being kicked in the nads. But watching that game reminded me how freakishly talented VC is, if he played with heart every night, he'd easily be the best two guard in the league.

by Chris on Jan 9, 2006 12:25 PM EST reply actions

I was just reading the games recap on Sportsline

Included in the game notes...

None of the players Toronto acquired from New Jersey in the Carter trade played for the Raptors.

I thought it was funny.

by brutal_snax on Jan 9, 2006 12:42 PM EST reply actions

I save up all year to buy my family raps tickets for one game as a christmas present, and this year that game was yesterdays. It was absolutely insane in that arena and it was by far the best game i've ever been at.

That being said, I was standing and cheering as vince took...and hit...his shot. It was about 3 or for minutes before I sat down. I just stood there, dumbfounded and shocked.

I hope they take this to heart. I hope that the 5 technicals and the ejection make them angry. I want to see them tear into the bulls like a wolf into bambi. Get out there, get angry, and absolutely beat them down.

by raptorman on Jan 9, 2006 1:14 PM EST reply actions

What losers. Anyone can point to Carter's good play, but how the hell do you lose when you're up 6 with one minute left????????????? How is he open . . . Calderon guarding him on the last play, where is everyone else.

Pathetic, they'll lose big tonight with the hangover. The Raptors are the worst pro sports franchise and they proved it again last night. 11-23 and heading back to earth.

JALEN ROSE IS FREAKIN' USELESS!!! Every time he tocuhes the ball I cringe, I guess he had to play the 2nd half with Peterson out . . .

Blech.

by Aaron on Jan 9, 2006 3:05 PM EST reply actions

Well this team played well just need to celebrate at the end of the game not with one min to go, remember this is a lottery team in reality,theyll mature no one expects this team to be a playoff contender. Im glad the effort is there Jalen will be dealt hopefully with value in return,yes we should of won the game, the guys will mature, we havent seen this vc ,this one tried, he hit the winning shot the one we havent seen since year 2 in toronto this on also jumps. The raps will chalk this up to a learning experience theyll be hungry,look out bulls and the much hated knicks both very winnable games and dont celebrate to the buzzer sounds. Keep the faith and well have a better record than last year we fear no one.

by FANTASY GM on Jan 9, 2006 8:00 PM EST reply actions

the game againest the Nets sure kept me on standing on edge. The close game was fast and held its intensity. It kept my eyes wide open and even shocked me to see all the fans who dislike Vince Carter. Of course seeing Mo Pete being ejected from the game was hard to take because Vince Carter as shown in the instant replays, started the ruccus with the little friendly slap on the face. Mo Pete only responded to his call and gently nudged him back on his chin. When the refs called the foul it was surely unfair and upsetted the fans and coaches even more. Carter new it was a bad call, but never steped in to help a friend. Carter wanted to win, and to win he took out the only guy on the Raptors who could guard him. I guess the win shouldn't of counted for anything cause with out the challenge, there is no close game.

by Alison Lemon on Jan 10, 2006 7:48 PM EST reply actions