Tip-In, Toronto Raptors Post-Game: A Little R-E-V-E-N-G-E

It was great to see Forderon back in action. Almost forgot how effective the 2 pg's could be when they are both on.

And where has this aggressive version of Bargs been all year? I think that was the first time ever I'd seen him battle so hard for an offensive rebound. Is it possible that this team could finally "get it" with 3 or 4 games left?

About Bosh, although I may not agree with him, his heart is in the right place. He's trying to be a leader. He's putting himself out there knowing he's going to get ripped by many. But he's doing what he thinks his right, and he's doing it with the intention of helping the team be the best it can be.

This guy wants to be a franchise player. He's calling himself out, he's calling his teammates out, and yeah, he's calling the fans out. But his intentions are good. He's out there diving for loose balls (what a pleasure watching him save the ball to Delfino for the 3 pointer), and you can tell he WANTS and that he's pumped for the playoffs.

He's trying to be a leader and he's trying to will this team out of its funk. And he's asking for the support of the fans. I don't think you can fault a guy for doing everything he can to lead this team forward.

"Let’s say they also end up playing Orlando, or even Cleveland, and get out of the first round. Then how do you judge this season? Do you still make some of the sweeping changes you were originally contemplating when mired in the near end of season slump?"
Great point - Fat Lady hasn't sung yet. If we win the first round this season would have to be considered a success. Make BC stand pat? Who knows what the Legomaster thinking?

Wow Franchise!

I expected it from Ol' Sky Is Fallin' Feschuk, but not from you!

So Bosh asked us for more noise? SO WHAT? I was there and it was like a funeral against the Bucks.

So our best player wants more noise?!? And that's a problem?!?

Man it was a great game last night, Bosh is a class act and a great player!!!

We love Bosh! We love the Raptors! And there will be plenty of noise to come!

Cheer up man! 8-)

Good job Franchise,
I have to admit,that I have a love/hate relationship with T.J.Ford....
At times last night I wanted to smack him,but a minute later he would slice through the key and actually pass,expect for the time he got stuffed .
I like the fact that he brings some balls to the table,call it swager,call it want you want,but there was a reason V.C. was in his grill.
My personal 2 turning points of the game:
1st:When Bosh parked Jefferson ass on the floor.
2nd:Believe it not? when Bargs was smilling at VC.
To all those who are saying ya big deal we just beat two under 500 teams that aren't making the playoffs....we kicked New Jerseys ass last night (eliminating them) so sometimes when props are due...
Ya,Gangster Beeker !!!! ,I almost choked on my beer.
Hoping that we have the Forderon duo back !!!! if its Orlando they will have a tough time matching up against us ...go Raps
Its funny Franchise,because I felt the same hoping, listening that the cheering wasn't forced....I still agree with Jack,give us something to cheer about ....Good game guys.

Jack with the girls boy I wished that was ME!!!!!!lol lucky buggar

One more thing about Jack He must be on someone's hot list lol

One more thing, that hard foul by Bosh on Jefferson brought to my feet. I've been waiting for that for two years. Bosh is bringing it.

I think Bosh?s heart is in the right place....I mean, I don't know how we can find a way to criticize CB4 after what we have been through. Has Vince ever dove for a loose ball? .......I mean ever? Oh and I think RJ would look really good on this team.

Hey Franchise, I don't think anyone else noticed your passing comment about Jefferson in TO next year yet. It is weird you would say that, because I could not stop thinking about that possibility from the time Chuck made those comments about him wanting out of NJ. I think it would be a decent fit, and a real possibility. NJ will be going into full-blown re-building mode and will want expiring contracts. BC likely already has his eyes firmly fixed on this scenario as a solution to our wing-man issues. Oh, and with regards to Bargs. Did you notice his little head fake and take it strong on Krystic to draw a foul? Why is it that with almost 2 years of NBA experience, that is among the very few times I have thought, "Wow, nice post move Bargs"??? Sam? You got anything on that one Sam? Really, anything? Bring in a freakin' big man coach if you want him to be capable post-up centre for $%^# sake!!!

Lay off Mitchell. He doesn't play the game.

Bosh has earned the right to speak his mind(he's also earned millions of $)

Love the idea of RJ on this team. He always plays hard, plays smart, clutch scorer, good to great defender, doesn't need the ball to be effective.

Would even give up TJ for him.

Bosh is just showing some personality and engaging with fans directly, obviously a new era of athlete communication.
If all he ever did was talk in soundbites, we'd say he was too boring or didn't care.

I see where you're coming from....last night's game seemed forced from the fans, but CB was smiling and having fun; (even when the VC sucks chants persisted with 10 seconds left.), but I think the situation cemented for me why Bosh CAN be a championship team leader...he cares a lot about winning.

Simply my opinion, I wouldn't give up on Delfino. But we can't have 6 SF next year , so something will need to be given up.

Last night was good revenge booing on Carter, I guess. I personally probably wouldn't boo him anymore....it was a touch embarrassing watching it on TV...but hey that's what ya get for pissing off Raptor fans, rabid bastards.

This website will be my only window into how well the raptors did in the playoffs as I will be out of the country so keep it up please Franchise.

There is one more reason why raptors perfer play orlando beside points guards. Orlando is thin in the big man position beside howard. If we play Cleaveland, it would be a nightmare to have Joe Smith, Ben Wallace, and SIdeshow Bob take turns guarding bosh. And detroit has Resheed. If bosh can drop 30 against orlando like he always do, the raptors might have a chance

A couple of comments:

1. Jefferson would be a good fit for Toronto and NJ would probably accept Nesterovic's expiring contract and maybe Moon and Graham for Jefferson. But, I'm not sure that Colangelo makes that trade since Jefferson is making about 13 million - which is way too much. He's a player worth about 8-10 million.

2. Franchise, as for your point about whether a 1st round playoff win would change our perspective on this team. Perhaps it would have some impact but 1 playoff round win does not change the fundamental flaws on this team which include the SF position, perimeter defense, PG issue, and the need for a rugged centre who can rebound the ball.

Based on BC's comments on the Fan 590 yesterday, I believe he has a vision plan for this summer and the coming year and the team's weaknesses have been exposed this year. A playoff win may slightly alter his plan but I still expect he will still address the team's weaknesses this summer and make some significant changes.

In my opinion, a few wins won't cover up for some of the team's glaring weaknesses. I expect we'll see the following changes this summer or before next years trading deadline:

1. TJ traded;
2. A trade for a SF;
3. Nesterovic and perhaps Kapono traded.

It would have to be a hell of a deal to trade Rasho.

1) He has played arguably the best ball of his life last half of this season
2)his expiring deal can come handy next year.

TJ's health status males the takers few. Giving up on TJ is much too premature.

"And let’s take this one step further. Say Delfino plays much like this the rest of the year, and so do the Raptors. Let’s say they also end up playing Orlando, or even Cleveland, and get out of the first round. Then how do you judge this season?"

A hot finish would not, in my opinion, change anything. Remember last january when the Raptors were the hottest team in the league? That didn't prevent a stumble this year, or in the playoffs. Judging a team by their best and ignoring their worst is misguided

Couple of points:

I admit Forderone looked good last night. However once again its 1 game....we have to look at the big picture...I think fans (not on these boards as much) get too hyped after a win and too down after a loss.

Cleveland has shown in the past they can contain Bosh especially with Anderson. They have also shown that we cannot stop Big Z.

Our biggest weakness which is guarding opposing wings would be our downfall. We're going up against the second best wing player in the league.

Remember last year....Bosh got a nice warm welcome into playoff basketball as did our pgs. This year we can be the team to introduce the Magic and specifically Dwight Howard into playoff basketball.

I wonder how much Orlando is regretting commiting max money to Rashard...Hedo is doing everything Rashard does at a better level and for about half the money. They really needed a powerforward....bad decision

I think the raps have a very good chance of getting the 6th seed.

We should go 2-1.

Beat the Heat, Bulls and lose to Pistons

The 76ers have games against Washington, Cleveland and the Bobcats.

If the raps go 2-1 then the 76ers have to win all 3 games and I just can't see that happening since the Cavs and Wiz are still trying to adjust their playoff positions and will play hard.

Orlando was the matchup we wanted all along.....looks like we'll get what we asked for

The Bosh Foul on RJ, TJ talkin trash to VC, AB with an O Rebound, and Driving to the Bucket. Almost 80 games in, and now we're seeing some URGENCY? This game brought a smile to my face, for the first time in awhile.

Interesting point re: the Raps making it out of the first round. I think that it would just show that this is a team that's going through its growing pains and that they learned something over the season.

That said - I think the Nets just weren't in to the game at all last night, so making statements of 2nd round victories are a bit premature. Further - Bosh, Deflino and Forderon were on fire - but all I'm hearing is Bargs this, Bargs that.

His points and boards came when the game was pretty much out of reach for the nets. 14 and 6 boards is meh...the fact that Raptor fans go nuts b/c of a stat line like this troubles me (Tom Chambers Franchise?! we talking about the real oe or the Tom Chambers on Bulls vs Lakers for Sega!). His points came on fouls committed by lazy Nets who wanted the game to end and were just hacking away at anyone in the paint.

Also - dude is so sullen. After that messed up stuffed by the backboard play when he got bailed out by a VC foul, Bosh came up to give him some love and Bargs didn't even look his way. I sense some issues there between the two.

Anyways - happy for the win and fingers crossed for some more...

i was at the NJ game, and did not hear about the comments before hand. The crowd was loud but not more than an average Carter game.

Bfett,

People are talking about Bargs because he was driving to the basket with reckless abandon. As a Raps fan, how were you not thrilled to see that? Was that not what BC and Co. were hoping that he would do more of this year? He is very quick (but still sloppy)for a 7 footer and earned those fouls. You can rip him when he plays like crap, but how about showing him some love when he actually shows us glimpses of his potential.

Regarding that play with Bosh, AB was already turning around (smiling from embarrassment) when Bosh approached. I think Bargs was more concerned with how foolish he looked as opposed to focusing on teammates patting his ass. The shot was a close up so I'm not sure how you missed that one...just my thoughts!

Re: Jefferson, I'd agree he isn't worth 13 million. However, when you look at the type of high-profile SF the Raptors need, there aren't that many in the league.

I would rather BC spend the money necessary to make the right choice, even if he has to overpay... although I'd draw the line before you get into the abominations that are AK47 and Rashard Lewis's contracts relative to performance.

If a blockbuster deal goes through, then chances are good Rasho is part of the package going the other way. Factors I look at include the size of his expiring deal and his age (not young enough to contribute when the team is at its peak in a few years).

I was at the game last night, and it felt like a "normal" game vs. the Nets to me, the cheering didn't feel forced, I didn't sense anything odd in the stadium.

I agree that the constant booing of Vince is getting kind of old... but it is fun, and it does focus the fans on the game, so I have mixed feelings about it overall.

I have a quick question: if we were to fire Mitchell and other team hired him who would pay his salary?

MattK, raptorville - thanks for the updates yesterday on the crowd...good to hear that it didn't feel forced. Guess Bosh won't have reason to complain - fanopolooza tomorrow night for the last home game should keep it pretty live.

So what about today's game? Bosh terrific, TJ, Jose and Rasho solid...and that was about it. No legit second scoring option and pounded on the glass. The only way Toronto has a chance if they have to play Detroit is if the Pistons get lazy. They did that in the third quarter at times and kept settling for jump shots and 3's.

But over a full series, it's not going to happen. Plus the Piston's bench is probably their best in years. Just look at Stuckey for instance. He comes off the BENCH for them and Toronto doesn't have a single guy on their entire roster who can create off the dribble like he can. The team's weaknesses were on display once again today and we gotta hope that they grab that sixth spot.

Especially Bargs. It's so funny now but I hate seeing him on the perimeter, I have no confidence in his 3-point shooting anymore. However down low it's been another story lately. Maybe in a strange way that's a good thing.