3 In the Key – Toronto Raptors Game Day Preview vs. Hawks

I agree whole heartedly that nothing should be made of this whole Horfort thing. Everyone understands the kid didn't mean to hurt anyone. Show some class and just enjoy the game. Acting trivial and small minded might just be enough to rally Atlanta

You see, Franchise, that's the way to do it; Matt predicts an 8 point for his Hawks even though:

1. Bosh has dominated J-Smoove at the PF slot over the years and is certainly on an overall roll now.

2. The Raps are playing at home, after a light-practice-day-off, in front of a packed partisan crowd that plans on rattling Horford (he'll be like Playoff Wince at the free throw line if he ever gets there).

3. The Hawks have absolutely no answer for Jose (Anthony Johnson? Oo-kay).

Thus, there is one thing conceding a loss to a motivated Pistons team on their home court, but another to do the same for the Blazers' game. Here's hoping your Canadian deferential nature doesn't cloud your judgement on future picks.

Positive karma, gang, the Raps are on their way up: TJ will be back in a couple weeks and Andrea has no way to go back up. Who knows, Garbo may even be back for the playoff run.

I had a dream last night that Horford drove into the paint, went up for a dunk and . . .

Andrea came from the other side of the lane and creamed him.

No injuries or anything, just a good hard foul (maybe even a flagrant.) I can't think of a better way for Bargs to get back into the good books of Raptors fans everywhere. A standing ovation for sure.

LOL LOL that is a good one I hope Andrea will really do that. Thats gonna cause banana's and probably a rivarly

yes.. I had the same dream, but Adrea bounced off Horford, with him barley realizing what happened. Next play, he decides to jump on his back, and Horford just runs around with Andrea on his back.

Must have been the $3.99 for 5 taco deal. *bleh*

Horford probably receives some boos tonight... but probably doesn't deserve it. Toronto fans are kind of like crazy ex girlfriends that can't let a grudge go (in a good way). I mean we still boo Damon Stoudamire... Damon freaken Stoudamire!! I'm pretty sure 60% to 75% of the fans in the arena don't know why... but they boo anyways! :)

To be honest, I like the booing by Toronto fans, adds a little drama to games. I know, I know, it’s not mature or classy, but hey its entertaining and this is sports not a multi-lateral diplomatic summit on geo-political strategy. Hell, we even boo our own players and teams! Seriously, Toronto fans have to be the quickest to boo in North America. We even booed Bargnani last game and he was the golden child less than 6 months ago!! "The NBA… where unnecessary booing happens!"

I am in complete agreement with MAS. On every point.

Boo Al Horford. He probably doesn't deserve it, but who cares?

I just think it's time to get something for Bargnagni before he's actually labelled a bust, right now he's still a prospect if the Raptors could get a deal to bring back a guy like Charlie Villanueva (who could hit the jumper, the three, get his man off the dribble, rebound and block shots. CV31 could do in his first season what he hope Bargnagni will be able to do eventually (plus Charlie is much more athletic). If they can't get him they should go for Channing Frye. Basically a young guy that can help now and will be able to imrove on his game.

Craziest booing fan base has to be philly. They boo their own superbowl teams.

Raptors have the edge over Knicks and Bulls fan bases, even though they boo more, they have a legitimate gripe.

I'll be booing Horford from 3000 miles away. Cause why the hell not?

And if I ever see Zo on the street, I'm going to boo his kidney. That's just how I role.

Come on, even Bosh invited the booing on Horford.

I'm not going to aim for him with my slingshot from the Sprite Zone, ok? (Sprite sucks)

I've said it too much but yeah :tonight he will fully comprehend the lesson he has learned this rookie season.

Not just seeing a dude laid up in hospital; but 90% of the 17,000 will be screaming in bloodlust for your skin.

RT, don't spill any sushi on your lap at tonight's game, ok? (the McCain Sushi in your mama'a microwave).

....if you microwaved sushi which YOU probably do. (just kidding RT)

By the way Damon Stoudemire shall never pass these parts without being booed....count me in the 25% MAS that knows why I'm booing that red out punk......

I'll boo Donovan Bailey too, guy hit on my ex-girlfriend, he's a dog man! How do you compete with Donovan freakin Bailey? I didn't. I said ex, right?

LA's Only,

"And if I ever see Zo on the street, I'm going to boo his kidney."
LOL! Classic.

I'm boing the doctor Vince Carter paid to make up the condition "jumper's Knee"! I'm booing Kenny Anderson and Steve Francis'pouting bottom lip! (I know Stevie "franchise" did his pouting towards Vancouver, but that's close enough for me, I'm still booing him). Let's face it everyone, Toronto fans are uber-haters! So be proud, stand up tall, stick your chest out and boo.

Great win. And I wholeheartedly agree with Sherman Hamilton's insightful commentary when he said "wins count".

Alright,
Raptors won, but there’ll be time to comment on that later

Who to boo…

I boo Mike James for forgetting how to pass
I boo Fred Jones for forgetting how to shoot

I boo T-Mac for leaving town too soon.
I boo Rafer for not leaving soon enough.

Great win. Beat a good team. Anyone about to criticize how the Raps handled the elbow on Jose, I 'll just say there was no need for them to do anything, the refs handled it perfectly. The commish will deal with it tomorrow, and I agree with the Swirsk, two game suspension.
About the whole Bargnani criticism - I remember reading before last season a poll on ESPN asking who would be ROY and I think Bargnani came in 7th or 8th, another question asked who would be the best in 5 years and Bargnani was voted # 1. Lasy season he came in # 2 in ROY year voting and this season he has been asked to alter the game. Give the kid some time. Anyone calling him a bust is a fool and anyone thinking we're trading him are mistaken. Do me a favour and start your on blog.

I agree Tinman. It will be interesting to see what these posters are going to be saying about Bargs when he finally finds his groove. A player just doesn't forget how to play basketball. Remembering him in the playoffs and even early on this season gives me hope that he will be back soon. What's great is that we have been finding our groove as a team without him.

Let him learn this new position in his own time...just my thoughts.

I'm not going to boo him, nor am I going to badmouth him in any way, but in all honesty, at this point I've just about lost all my faith in Andrea putting it together. :( I just don't think it's gonna happen.

I sure hope I'm wrong.

First overall picks should not be regressing this much, no matter if they are switching positions.

He looked asleep tonight. I still say that they should play him 30min. no matter what, but after tonight's game I have to agree that they will lose a bunch if they let him do it. Even the other bust on the team (Mr.Graham) gave more energy.

At least they won . . . but I have to agree, if anyone would take this guy right now or after the season I would do it in a heart beat.

i know this didnt matter in the end...but did anyone catch that play where joe johnson shot it way after the shot clock went off and they still counted it?...the ref was right on the baseline too, and he shot it about half a second after the buzzer went off, brutal no call

earlier in the game, they were quick to blow the whistle on the raps for 24 seconds before the buzzer even sounded.

Not like it mattered in the end, but its the little things like that, that piss me off about the reffing these days...must calls that should be easy to make.

Stats by month for Bargs' career:

2006-07
Nov: 7.4ppg, 2.5rpg
Dec: 12.0ppg, 4.9rpg
Jan: 11.1ppg, 3.6rpg
Feb: 14.3ppg, 3.9rpg
Mar/Apr: 14.7ppg, 5.1rpg

2007-08
Oct/Nov: 12.4ppg, 4.7rpg
Dec: 5.3ppg, 2.1rpg
Jan: 6.9ppg, 3.0rpg

I don't know what all this means. Franchise? Anything? Who knows, I just like stats.

Good question as to what that means Bargs Stats - hopefully that he plays better as the months go on this spring. Of course to do that, he'd have to at least be on the court and have some sort of impact - unlike tonight.

Recap will be up in the AM - BIG WIN that showed lots of guts...

You know what....last year regardless of how bad Bargs was I wanted him on the court for 30+ minutes because we were rebuilding.

This year i don't think its as much about rebuilding as it is about winning. We can rebuilding behind close doors in practice....let bargs develop there. I want to win games when they matter and so we play Rasho.

On a side note if Bargs does develop into what we saw last year Brian did the most incredible job....he was able to win and rebuild at the same time. Poor Isiah can't seem to do either one....

Lastly unfair to judge a draft two years in....remember jermaine o'neil sat on the bench for three years and so did Biedren.

And thus far I don't think Colo has made a bad decision for the raps.....its not like we have isiah or mchale where we have to question every move made...we are in good hands.....

Thus far we are one game away from the halfpoint from the season. Its been a massive success (minus andrea). We are well over .500 even without garbo and argubly our third best player...some would even say second in TJ who has missed six weeks. Had we been healthy I think we could have kept up with Orlando....had bargs improved upon his performance in March/April we might have been with Orlando or even ahead.....

And as long as we don't have any more major injuries things should keep getting better for the raps as andrea can't play any worse...and tj will eventually return

I know you guys mentioned this around the last Hawks game. But how incredible would Josh Smith be in a Raptors uniform? Hell, he could even play the five for us. Imagine a front court of moon, smith and bosh. How many blocks a game would that be? Wouldn't that be the most athletic font-court in the L?

I know it will be next to impossible cause he's gonna want max money as a FA... Not sure abou tthe #s but couldn't a package of TJ this year or one of a resigned Jose next year get it done?

Actually according to the trade machine a straight up trade of calderon for smith works.

Wow that would be tough, given TJ's situation, and it would require a guarantee of him resigning... but that is tempting.

TJ is untradeable - no team will take a chance on him at least for a few years until he establishes his health. Here's hoping he fully recovers. There is also no chance that BC allows Jose to leave. Also sounds like Jose wants to stay. As I've stated before - we will be debating the TJ/Jose situation for years to come. And I feel fine........