Game-Day Preview - Raptors vs. Celtics

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST in Media Watch

We’ll start this edition of "Game-Day" with a big shout to Chris Bosh.

As most Raptor fans now know, last night CB4 was named as a starter for the Eastern Conference in next month’s All-Star game. This marks his second straight appearance and slowly it seems that Bosh is moving out of the long shadows cast by his 2003 draft-mates’ Lebron, D Wade and Carmello Anthony...especially considering the way his team is playing.

With a win tonight over the Celtics, the Raptors could finally reach that elusive .500 mark and look to put some serious distance between themselves and the rest of the division. Last night the New Jersey Nets suffered their third consecutive one-point loss and it seems that fate has given Toronto every reason to capitalize on this stretch of games against weaker opponents.

And speaking of which, doesn’t it seem like Toronto has played Boston about 15 times now? Well, thank goodness for the Atlantic Division then. Not only does the inferiority of the division mean that Toronto has a chance to hang close to the top regardless of their record, but also, they play these same lackluster clubs more often than any other of the NBA’s squads. That’s why to get a strangle-hold on a playoff spot, the Raps need to continue winning these types of contests...even if it means pulling them out at the last second, like Wednesday night’s victory.

Therefore this game comes with the same cautionary tale as the last bunch of pre-game posts...finish this game early!

Al Jefferson, who has been the Celtics most consistent player in the past few weeks may not even be playing tonight so Toronto has no reason not to come out of this with an easy win as once again, the Raptors are playing essentially a Division I College squad. Check the injuries:

-Wally Szczerbiak
-Paul Pierce
-Tony Allen
-and now possibly Jefferson

Talk about losing your key players.

But as Raptor fans it’s tough to feel sorry as we’ve had to endure our share of M.E.’s reports these past few years and even currently as both TJ Ford and Andrea Bargnani are still listed as day-to-day for tonight’s event.

The Celtics have lost their last nine games and Toronto has won both contests against the C’s so far this season. Once again Boston will be looking to use their quick guards to penetrate and open up shots for the likes of Gerald Green and Allan Ray and Toronto needs to do a better job defending these situations than the last time they played this D League squad.

And that’s a great segue way to show the following clip.

In what has to be one of the most bizarre and hilarious basketball-related clips ever, the mascot of the NBDL’s Austin Toros has been suspended for two games for this incident Wednesday afternoon against the Colorado 14ers.

The interesting thing is that the game featured a current Raptors’ homecoming (PJ Tucker) and a former Raptor (Loren Woods.) Tucker made two of six attempts for four points and also three rebounds and two assists. So far for Colorado, Tucker is averaging nine points and three rebounds in 23.6 minutes of action. He had a season high 16 points and five rebounds January 19 against the Anaheim Arsenal. Tucker is progressing along nicely and his team, which features the likes of Rick Rickert, Louis Amundson, Von Wafer and Pooh Jeter, is currently in second place in the NBDL’s Western Conference.

And Loren Woods?

He’s averaging a stellar 11.4 points and 10.12 rebounds a game, in addition to blocking on average two shots per contest. In fact it wouldn’t surprise me to see ol’ Loren back in the league for depth on a team’s bench at some point this season.

Some great discussions yesterday on the site about the Raptors looking to find that one missing piece, most notably a swing-man who can create his own shot - I for one would love to see Maggette here in Toronto but I understand the concern if he’s not a starter as he has in the past been an issue for the Clips. However the Los Angeles papers this morning are stating that Maggette isn’t going anywhere for the rest of the season. While it sounds like they were in talks with the Nets at one point about Kidd and Carter, that now seems to be dead and New Jersey may have to "use what they got" ala Motion to make the playoffs.

Finally, something I totally forgot to discuss in yesterday’s "Tip-In."

How does everyone feel about the Raps’ new intro? And where did it come from?

I don’t recall the team ever switching intros mid-season unless a major trade went down and I’m wondering if this wasn’t more of a marketing change than anything else. I liked the old introductory montage although I’m wondering just how many of your "average" basketball fans knew Rage’s "Renegades of Funk."

U2? Well...I don’t think it’s any worse...more "poppy" for sure...but I still think the Raptors missed the mark again.

Watching Chris Bosh and co. come out and try to chest bump in time to the Edge’s guitar blasts was a bit awkward to say the least and I’m still more partial to a good defining instrumental prior to a heavy percussion segment while the players go through their pre-game motions.

How about the horn riff sample for Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth’s "T.R.O.Y.?" Something like that could become an ACC staple for years to come and when you heard that horn, you’d know it was time for Raptors’ ball.

FRANCHISE

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Comments

New intro? Did they just introduce that on Wednesday because I fell asleep on the couch and missed the entire first half. Ah well, I'm sure its better than Crazy In Love

by Blaxx on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Wow, good call on the T.R.O.Y., Great tune! But I'd go with "My Favourite Mutany" by The Coup, now that's a GREAT song and always gets people fired up.

Another couple candidates might be "Dynomite" by Rhymefest (very angry! Possibly too much cussin') or for popular appeal and good message, Kanye's "Touch the Sky". It has the same kind of good upbeat feel as TROY and catchy too.

by Casey on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Celts suck, but they can score in bunches, so the raps better not let it be close in the end. But what better situation to get over the .500 hump? Even if we come out tight, should be an easy W.

by axl on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Wife and I were sitting courtside on Wednesday...(just had to throw that in because the seats were money - Raps offensive end near mid court and Bobby Jackson almost fell on my lap)....and that intro was weak compared to 'Renegades'.

I mean come on U2? They should be reserved for Hockey or Football.

They should rotate current hot tracks like Money Maker or something - it is better than 'Crazy in Love' though.

Got two more comments:
1. Wednesday - crazy comeback, yet the US media devotes time to Shaq's return. If the Raps were the Knicks they'd be getting over the top love right now - how do you guys feall about the lack of attention this team is getting right now? Is it because they're in the Atlantic or Canadian bias?
2. You guys should do a 'Mailbag' session where you take e-mails from actual readers and answer them a la The Sports Guy...do it....do it...

by Kokestar on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Ok, what true baller warms up to U2? NO ONE! Wow they did mess that one up....The song is Ok but not my choice. I think something else could have been used. Anyway. I predict a 12+ pt win tonight.

Hey did anyone catch Off the Record last night with Coach, 2 other guys and Nicky Davis from CBC talking about AI and how he would have put the Raps over the top?? I gotta defend Coach Sam on this one. He is very happy and content with who he has in his stable right now and beleives they can go a whole lot further with these guys over a the next 3 compared with AI and a 1 year go. Nick you are soooo out of bounds with your opinion that AI would make us sooo much better. I disagree and think that AI is a good fit for Denver, but wouldn't make the Raps immediately better. I think he would be a distraction more than anything.

Gotta go...

I'm Out!

by fresh1 on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

What is with the names of the NBDL teams? the 14ers?? 66ers?? Skyforce? RimRockers? Did the owners let their kids pick names?

I get the feeling Calderon will have a tough game tonight versus the Celtics guards. Here's hoping Bargnani is in the lineup and that Rasho shows up to work.

This club needs to break the 500 club. Indiana tomorrow night will be a tough matchup and Washington next week means this game must be won.

by utes on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

as an aside - ESPN.com just released some mid-season questions for their experts -

#8 Fact or fiction -- the Toronto Raptors will hold on to their lead and win the Atlantic.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=roundup-midseason

Interesting answers all around.

by utes on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Kokestar - We did a mailbag last year and would do so again for sure, great idea.

The U2 choice came in either Monday or Wednesday...didn't see the very tip for Monday's game so not sure if Wednesday was the premiere of the song or not. Love some of the other choices Casey. Dynomite (or any Just Blaze track for that matter ha ha) would be a great jump-off. I'd also accept "Grindin" with glee...

Fresh1 - Gonna have to hunt down the Off the Record episode online, neither of us saw it yesterday. I think AI would have been a good fit here but the fact that they were actually discussing this topic is idiotic. The HQ looked at some scenarios to acquire AI and just to make the salaries work, Toronto would have had to send half their team so it wouldn't have worked numbers-wise. Not to mention that I doubt Philly would have wanted to a) trade him within the division let alone the Conference and b) would have wanted anything the Raptors would have offered.

PS - Man, that annoys me when some of these "experts" get on Off The Record and start spouting off.

by Franchise on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Now I know why the Raps sucked for the 1st 40 minutes! They couldn't shake that lowsy U2 song out of their head!

BRING BACK RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE...or at least something more motivating than U2...gosh darnit!

Hopefully the Raps can take charge of tonight's game quickly...my heart can take many more of these down to the wire games.

by GregV on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Nice to see some Raps games in HD for a change...Thank You TSN

by GregV on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Franchise, you're tellin me. I know Nicky really well and i generally know him as a good judge when it comes to basketball talent, but c'mon I was getting soooo mad at the TV cuz he's sittin there arguing with one of the other guys and COACH is RIGHT there! Like I felt Nick was insulting Sam and BC over what they have achieved so far, and that by adding 1 player (who is a classic "me" oriented player to boot) would help them sooo much that they could win the East. He must have been out of his friggin mind! I mean COACH is sitting 6 ft away??!! I have to hand it to Sam cuz he just stoically answered that AI would not be a good fit in the system they have established and that it did not make sense. I mean it would be like trading to get Vince (I drop like I'm shot) Carter.....ridiculous!

I asked Landsberg to get me on the show last summer at my boy Donovan Bailey's celebrity roast...yeah thanks Mike...i'm still waiting. Hey Franchise, I often wonder what some of those guys are doin on that show.....

I'm out!

by fresh1 on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Seeing all the Nike and Adidas basketball commercials, I'm wondering why Bosh isn't getting any love from a shoe endorsement. He's not on Adidas, Nike, Reebok or Converse websites...so what shoe does he actually wear?

I was surprised to see that Rafael Arujo was signed with Nike...If I were them, I wouldn't advertise that! Nike just left a bitter taste in my mouth.

by GregV on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

I wonder if they've ever asked the players what song they would like to come out to...I mean U2??? good band, some awesome songs - so the wrong crowd.

I'm going to make a point to get to the game early tonight to hear how this sounds and feels live...I'll be the guy in the corner wincing.

by papa on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

CB4 and the Raps get no love down south because they are a Canadian team. B-ball is an American game ( no disrespect to Naismith) and the American press, TV hosts, and shoes companies ain't interested in a Canadian team. Let CB4 win another All Star appearance and some playoff series then they'll be talking to him.

by Todd on Jan 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

If Bosh isn't getting any recognition, how they hell did he get voted onto as a starter to the All-Star game? Because all 80,000 Canadian TV viewers are voting on-line?

And yeah, there was no interest in VC when he was here.

Come-on Canuckleheads, stop feeling like the fat chick friend!

by Ustation on Jan 27, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions