Tip-In: Total Domination

I didn't get to watch the game but I checked the boxscores. I looked 25 to 21 for the Raps. Nice start. By the time I put the kid to bed, checked my e-mails, did some work from home I checked the score again, 101 to 61 for the Raptors!? WTF? Bring on Boston!

You're right Franchise. The first quarter the Nets came out with the same plan they used last year in the playoffs, and the Raps seemed to slip into that same funk. But as soon as the new guys and bench players got involved, the Raptors started playing their game. The exception being Bargnani who doesn't seem to care who is out there. He's an assasin. Hilarious quote, btw.

Colangelo looks like even more of a genius now. Instead of countering NJ's lane clogging by getting more defense and rebounding help, he went and got MORE shooters. This team's offense looks unstoppable. Who do you try and take away? Half the team was in double figures. All 12 guys scored.

I know it's just one game, but its hard not to be excited.

Wow, what a clobbering, the Raps sure do look good so far. Sunday will be a real test.

As for Garbo, I wouldn't worry too much, It's going to take a while for his confidence in his ankle to return. For now the Raptors look like they can afford to be patient with him.

Wow, what a game!! Absolute pleasure to watch. Who said NJ is a better team that Raps? Oh, wait, I did :). Well, what can I say? Raps played masterfully the last 3 quarters. Of course this is only one game, and its hard to believe they can do this to NJ next three times they meet, but tonight, the Raptors were unstopable.

Here are my quick thoughts:

Bargnani - He makes me giddy. I literally laugh to myself whenever he does something spectacular in the game. He's going to be sooo sooo good. He already is, in fact!!

Parker - I wish he'd shoot less and drive to the basket more. He's got a ton of skill and I hate to see him settle for outside shots.

T.J. - I'm not a T.J. fan, but I'm seeing improvement in his game from last year. He doesn't force as many shots, and he makes smarter decisions with the ball. Keep it up.

Bosh - Nice to see that he can have fun and feel good about himself, even when he's not doing majority of scoring

Delfino - Love him!! His energy is fantastic, and he never stops moving. He's going to be HUGE this season.

etc. etc...

my concerns:

I'm getting tired of seeing bench players outplay the starters...Yeah starters did have more points tonight, but lets face it, the bench won the game. Fine, but what I really want to see is Bosh, Ford, Parker, Bargs and Kapono start of well and set the tone for the bench... The bench's job should be to maintain level of play or slightly elevate it, but not to keep outplaying the starters (I'm thinking to a lot of games from last year too) Anybody else notice this too?? But its only second game, so I should be patient...

Lastly, are Raptors a jump shooting team? It seems to me we are. We don't have a genuine back to the basket guy or a slasher(Delphino?). Even Bosh, Rasho and Humpries prefer a jump shot over going inside. So what happens on those nights the shot is not falling??

Anyways, here's to more games like the one tonight!!!

I completely agree with you assessment of Garbo. That was the only downside of the game for me. I really hope it was just the whole, "its garbage time" mentality that led to his play being as poor as it was. I think we will need his experience at points during the season, and need him to be ready to bring it from the bench. Did anyone else notice how chummy Parker and Kapono seem to be? I love it, get the new guys into the swing of things, and feeling as though they are part of the team. Oh yeah, the girlfriend and I are going to the Bosotn game. Needless to say, I am pumped.

Statement made to Jersey - they will remain behind us for rest of the year.
Good point about our defense, it we can maintain this level of intensity(how many strips have we had in these two games?)with our offensive weapons we'll be tough to outscore.
Boston beat a good team yesterday. Think they might be better than I anticipated. Sundays game should be a thrill.
Good observation on CB4, benjo, I think he might have to accept that Bargnani gonna outscore him on most nights. If he can accept that,and have no reason to think he won't, this team goes to next level.

I'm not sure if the raps shut down the nets transition game or if the nets were just not executing it, but it was a pleasure to see NJ stuck in the half court all night. I remember a few interceptions of those trademark nj long outlets, especially the one bosh scored from 3/4 court off -amazing. Then raps executed an absolutley beautiful long outlet to parker for the layup, beating nj at their own game.

Kidd was way slow. I don't know if anyone noticed but they showed an extended clip of him getting on the bike after a shift and he was moving like an 80-year-old.

I thought garbo looked kinda alright. He got beat by a smaller guy, but then was flying down the lane for a layup. He missed, but that's encouraging. I have a feeling we're going to see him 100% healthy and being quite 'useful' sometime down the stretch. No sense risking him when cb4 is healthy.

Can't wait for sunday, hopefully will be seeing a repeat performance in person.

I didn't see the game, but hopefully all those prognosticators who have either Boston or New Jersey walking away with this division are eating their laptops right now. Depth DOES count, and neither the Celtics nor the Nets have it. It's also encouraging to hear that Delfino is so capable defensively - it makes MoPete's departure easier to justify.

Having just dissed the Celtics, I should say that Sunday's matchup will be interesting. Their big three are impressive, but what happens if any one of them goes down with an injury? With Pierce and Allen, it's a distinct possibility. And, contrary to Dr. Jack Ramsay's assertion that the Celts will get enough support from their bench - sorry, but Kendrick Perkins, Brian Scalabrine, and whatever other shmucks they run out there don't inspire confidence.

By the way, I just had a chance to check out the ESPN season preview (a little late, but I've been really busy for the last couple of months). Who put rocks in Bill Simmon's head? Toronto to finish out of the playoffs at 39-43? How are they going to be that much worse if Bargnani has a breakout season?

This team is amazingly deep, it was delightful watching the second unit absolutely kill the Nets in the second quarter with Calderon leading the way along with Delfino and Dixon, they put on a basketball clinic. Everybody is talking about the Celtics, but until they prove otherwise the Raptors are still my clear cut favourite for winning the Atlantic. Sunday's game should be really fun!

Very solid win for the Raptors, big test on sunday vs the celtics.

Few observations:

New Jersey looks really bad when JKidd isn't playing at a high level

As usual, VC can be taken out of a game with a little contact and if a couple call don't go his way

What would the margin of victory have been in Richard Jefferson didn't have a great game? 40? 50?

The raptors will go a long way, if they keep contesting layups and clogging up the lane like they did vs Jersey

Looks like once the baby gets his bottle (aka big contract) he goes back to his old Wince ways!

Great victory for the Raps, Sunday's game is going to be awesome!

RapsFanDotCom says:
November 3rd, 2007
Looks like once the baby gets his bottle (aka big contract) he goes back to his old Wince ways! this is the best comment man you are so right but you know what eventually NJ will find out who the real Carter is. Anyways I love the way the Raptors beat up on the Nets, they bunched, kick, scratch, bit they just put NJ out of the misery. I Love it

so the bulls lost to the nets and sixers....nets and sixers lost to the raptors.... i hope this is an early indication that the raps will have a winning record vs the bulls (after going 0-16 a few years back)

the font on the scoreboard looked better vs the one from "the score" last wednesday but could still be better.... at least they don't show that gigantic mcdonald's "M" for a converted three point attempt that they did for the pre-season games