Tip-In, Toronto Raptors’ Post-Game: 70 Down, 12 to Go

it's the clippers and Develin has the balls to point out that the raps are 7 1/2 games behind the bulls and play them at the end of the home stand!!! What a joke of an announcer

agreed. the beating on the clips isnt something to brag about, but still good to see.
and was it not a sold out game? or damn near it?

and i love how chris at half time said their still chasing the playoffs. i know its near impossible, but makes me feel better inside.

the raps couldn't have lost this game if they tried... and with bargs sitting, they may have been trying

nice to seem some fringe players see the floor, would've liked to see jawaii in action

Davl, heard that too but not sure what else hes supposed to say. Mlse is paying him not just to gcall games but to try and keep fans interested too. Im sure off camera hes pretty grumpy about the way this season has gone. Not really trying to defend him saying that i guess but i understand part of why the playoff comment wuz made. Also found it interesting that he talked about bosh as if he was playing his final games in a rappies uniform.

fromlongrange

I know He is company man my problem is I just don't like Him (My problem)

On the Jawai topic, apparently he's in town for another round of tests. Let's hope his heart is doing ok as he was putting up about 12 points and 7 boards in the D League. Nothing too crazy but having seen him on NBA TV a little while back, he at least doens't look completely lost out there. He's got a soft touch too so hopefully he can come back from the testing with a clean bill of health and work hard this off-season to catch up.

Shouldn't the title have been: "Raptors out-tanked by the Clippers"?

I am not sure there is anything worth it playing for. Not for evaluating Marion not for testing a Bargs-Bosh duo on the block. The only thing to play for is out of respect of the season ticket holders, but I a confident you could make (whisper) with them the argument that by tanking you have a better chance to improve.

man I really don't know what I want the raptors to do anymore I'm so torn between trading or rebuilding...I mean I can't watch anymore seasons like this and I want there to be a drastic overhaul with hopes of a high eastern conf. seed next yr. which is risky but I also want some of the people on the current roster kept all I know is I can't see another rebuilding season I just can't take it...let alone another dismal, dissapointing one.....

I support your scepticism. Earlier in the year we all said that the Raps needed an athletic three and we'd be ok. Well, we have one and nothing has changed. As for the future, Coloangelo has traded away too many draft picks; this years' pickings are thin; and apparently we don't have as much cap space as I would have thought. We all continue to hope that BC can turn this around for us BUT who created this mess in the first place!? I continue to despair.

I'm going to take credit for this win. This was the first game I got to watch live and in person this year. I was mildly pumped to watch potential ROY Eric Gordon play. But what a stinker. That may have been the worst effort I've ever seen from any opponent ever, and that's saying something since I was a season ticket holder for a long time.

Wasn't that performance from Cole Aldrige simply awesome? I think some of you Rap fans need to become more of a basketball fan first. I'm mildly biased as I like the college game a little more. I'm all set heading into the sweet 16 with 14 of my picks still alive. Go Pitt and Kansas!

Franchise:

I think it's safe to say that a key component of what seems to be called the need for'identity' around here is what you write about:

A 'Second Unit', A mencaing 'Second Brigade' or 'A Bench full of Rottweillers' - take your pick.

I like the line-up you highlighted:

PG-Roko
SG-Graham
SF-Marion
PF-Mensah-Bonsu

If we can sign Pachulia and either resign Marion cheaply/draft a DeRozan/Terrance Williams type, this would give us quite a menacing second unit.

I like it! I guess we would still need to sort out our starting SG and SF set up - but if Parker sticks around for cheap, then it gives us options.

Ugh. Keeping Parker around on the cheap or otherwise is a waste of time. I realise he can provide some solid back up PG play but I think using his money on an actual backup PG would be more productive (assuming Ukic doesn't step up and if he does I would rather roll the money into another player rather than waste any money a guy whose returns are going to continue to diminish). Parker is 32ish and he simply is no longer a starter on a good team. I am not being mean but I am tired of people bringing up the names of ex-Raptors (and as far as I am concerned Parker is an ex-raptor) like Delfino and Rasho as potential solutions to this teams problems. They are not. We need new blood on this team. Blood that can infuse the team with the toughness and athleticism that it currently lacks. This goes for Marion as well, as I would be pissed if BC resigned him to anything more than 1-2 mil per season and I don't think he would take it (it is not that I think he sux but he is not a young guy and he has shown over the last year his skill set is diminishing). The whole point of trading for Marion is that his contract is EXPIRING, not that he was going to add an element to our team that would put us over the top. This is a chance for BC to clear the slate from the trading of Charlie V for Ford for Oneal. Even if he chooses to sign nobody with the money I think that would be a step in the right direction. Let it go people, learn from history and do not ask to repeat it.

found in the Italian press:

Bargnani had half of an idea of playing with the national team this summer (July and September) but his personal trainer wants him to focus on personal training instead

Good update Renato, yeah...um Bargs, please concentrate on a post-game and adding strength. Unless we draft DeJuan Blair, you're going to still be banging in the paint with the big boys.

Marion has been disappointing overall, however I've found him more useful when he's out there with guys who consistently push the ball. That's why that Roko second unit has caught my attention.

That being said, Marion's not doing much now that I don't think Terrance Williams couldn't do...and for a lot less money.

It's weird but the only players I'm really keen on hanging onto are Graham, Pops and Roko (who is under contract.) That’s a nice little cheap second unit that actually provides a boost. And what sucks is that Kapono would actually be a nice fit there too as a long-range assassin…if he wasn’t making starter money and if he was actually hitting some shots. Yesterday I might as well have been out there chucking them up.

Final note, the triple double by Cole yesterday opened my eyes. He won’t be on tomorrow’s stock watch but that’s more because a) I’m not sure he’s going to declare and b) he’s not exactly a top option in my books for the Dinos right now…however, he’s no traditional 7-foot college stiff. He’s much more mobile, more in the Joel Przybilla mould, and another dominant season at Kansas (or even some more huge tourney performances) could see his stock skyrocket.

Franchise: What's wrong with having Kapono on a second unit? He's never going to start.

At best Kapono is like a 'scorpion sting' Go-Bot that only works when attached to the 'Scorpion Body' set of Go-Bots.
(Note to Purchaser: 'Scorpion Body' Go-Bots needs to be purchased seperately)

McGateway:
OK! I'll try not to mention signing AP, or Marion again. Except to say AP is a glue guy - and we have alot of rubber. I just like the dude.

Regarding prospects:
For some reason the thought of having Budinger play SG with Bosh and Bargs seems weirdly weird.

Three slim,super-tall dudes who can put the ball on the ground could only be surpassed by four. Bring back CV31 at SF and draft budinger!

Voila we have a new 'identity'. I think it is really really really weird...

When you look at this horrid season by the Raptors, it's not too hard to trash any and all of the players for underperforming at some time or other. Bargs, Bosh, Calderon - they've all been dumped on and mostly deservedly so but the one guy that consistently has sucked all year is Kopono. He might make too much money, he might be slow on D, he might not drive to the basket, I can forgive that, but damn it all, he's supposed to be able to shoot. He's supposed to be our Kyle Korver. People can praise him all they want for his quick release but man, that if it doesn't go in the basket it's just another wish and he's been wishing all year. He's not supposed to be a high volume shooter, he has too many deficiencies to play heavy minutes but he is supposed to be a dead-eye Dick. BC should make him the first guy on his dispose list.

Was at the game, few things to say.

Calderon dunking in person is coolest thing I have seen in a while. Place went nuts.

Kapono really is that bad. Most of his shots were not even close, you could tell from the release they didn't stand a chance. Managed to get a bit of a boo going for him.

Baron Davis does literally nothin on the floor when he isn't feeling into a game. He was jogging back and forth between the three point lines for 80% of the time he played.

O'Bryant is temporarily one of my favorite Raps for pushing to get us pizza.

The timing of the game allowed a whole bunch of bracket-heads to crowd around a TV with the Pitt game on at half-time. Got to watch the end of that game as a break to watching the Raps destroy the Clips. Godd basketball day all around.