Raptors Rapid Recap - Toronto 106 - LA Lakers 105

by RaptorsHQ - Franchise on Jan 24, 2010 8:50 PM EST in Game Day Comment 24 comments

-Topping last Sunday's win over the Dallas Mavericks, the Toronto Raptors edged Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers 106 to 105 in their biggest and most exciting win of the season.

-Bigger than beating the Mavericks you say? Perhaps Toronto's defence was superior in that one, but tonight, Toronto had to fight tooth and nail to get the victory, whereas against the Mavs, the Raps got up big in the second half and never looked back.

-The biggest reason for the Toronto win? A complete offensive attack from all angles, perhaps the best display so far this season. The Raps had five players in double figures with Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani leading the way (18 and 22 points respectively), but also got a nice boost from Jarrett Jack again (18) and got a huge lift from Marco Belinelli off the bench. Belinelli had 15 and TO got contributions down the line; from Amir Johnson to Jose Calderon. Even Rasho Nesterovic and Antoine Wright were effective in limited minutes.

-And our buddy Hedo? Well, his 1 of 6 performance from the field didn't exactly put him on the way to being in my good books, but he did make all six of his free-throws, including two monumental ones with less than two seconds left and the Raptors down by two.

-After Hedo's two makes, the Lakers ran a play for Bryant outside the arc and despite some great D by Antoine Wright, Bryant actually got the shot off and it simply rimmed out as Raptors' nation collectively exhaled.

-Kobe was an assist shy of a triple double with an incredible 27 points, 16 rebounds and 9 assists. He got some good help from Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, but despite a good showing from Jordan Farmar off the bench, offensive struggles from Ron Artest and Lamar Odom didn't do the Lake Show any favours.

-It's hard to put into words how big this win might be, but safe to say with this win, and a slew of games at home coming up against the likes of the Knicks and Heat, Toronto really has a chance to cement their playoff status. We'll get into this some more tomorrow morning but for now, it feels pretty damn good to be a Raptors fan...

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Lakers fan

Here out of principle, so I don’t hear that I only go to the opposing team’s site when the Lakers win.

Clutch FTs by Hedo. Whoever tipped that last pass by Gasol to Farmar made a key play, as that left only 3 seconds on the shot clock so that the Lakers’ last two shots were both taken under severe time constraints.

Nice win!

"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson

by Gils_Keloids on Jan 24, 2010 8:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That was Beli I think.

by Simon M on Jan 24, 2010 9:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Raptors Fan

Nice to see there are some real sports fans out there in LA. Losing happens, it should be taken personally an hurt, but it does not mean you get to be ungracious.

Here’s hoping my team can build on this big win.

And good luck to you guys chasing a championship.

by defensive rap on Jan 25, 2010 1:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Toronto Mafia

Bargnani and Belinelli sealing the win tonight. Great game by the Raps.

Unbelievable! :D

by Frag on Jan 24, 2010 9:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I suggested, a while ago to call them:

The Sopranos….

by renato on Jan 24, 2010 9:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How about Triple-B?

Standing for Big Bad Boys?

by Frag on Jan 24, 2010 9:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Beli is not that big

maybe we can incorporate him in the “killer Bees”?

by renato on Jan 25, 2010 5:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think we should give Devlin anymore ammo. He comes up with a silly nickname for every player on this team. I am convinced he has a bunch of Ken doll’s dressed in raptor’s jerseys at home. Can you imagine Devlin calling them the BIg Bad Boys with some wierd, perverse connotation? It’s sad that after a massive win I am still complaining about a commentator.

by PNUTZ on Jan 25, 2010 9:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That bargnani extension looking like a steal now. Does Bargs bust ever come by anymore?

by bosshogg2323 on Jan 24, 2010 9:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

he changed his name i think

by raptor king on Jan 24, 2010 9:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It looked like a steal also when it was signed

and it could turn out to be one of the reasons why the Raps will, one day, be able to contend, not just because they retained Andrea, but because they have done so in a way that left them the flexibility to add other pieces.

Now a question (I will repost it also tomorrow in the game review thread). Bosh is the better player, but do you think the Raps would be better or worse with Baynum in place of Bosh? Mind you the money difference (and hence the flexibility it would create) and the fact he would not likely come back alone, especially if the S&T happens at the end of the season.

by renato on Jan 25, 2010 5:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I never put it down on paper, but I really don’t like Bynum much as a player. His attitude, his carelessness (like missing flights) and his injuries are all red flags to me.

Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Jan 25, 2010 7:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Where's Ron-Ron?

was he drinking at halftime?

Also – who could have predicted that Hedo would be gettings kudos after a 1-for-6 game???

Lakers are looking a bit tired/disinterested. Yet again, they just figure that Kobe will bail them out if it gets close. That strategy makes for some good highlights, but also puts you at risk for games like this one.

Sasha Vujacic looks like Jason Schwartzman.

by B.C. on Jan 24, 2010 10:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The bad guy on "24" looks EXACTLY like Jason Schwartzman

by Aaron Craig on Jan 24, 2010 11:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

haha - true

with a wig and some spray tan

by B.C. on Jan 25, 2010 5:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hedo's second game winner as a Raptor

What was the first one — the turnaround fadeaway baseline jumper? Was it Portland?

by Aaron Craig on Jan 24, 2010 11:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It was Wizards, OT, Dec. 4

by Aaron Craig on Jan 24, 2010 11:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Time to get on a roll

We have talked about this upcomig stretch for a while. This will determine where we stand in the East.
Starting in off with a somewhat unexpected victory over the Lakers. Kobe just missed another game winner.

by Tinmann on Jan 24, 2010 11:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What's ridiculous

Is how close that shot came to going in. Hard to stop a guy who can fling a shot from half court while running away and still almost get it.

I've been looking at the sky

by Back In Black on Jan 25, 2010 12:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But that is why Kobe is currently the best player in the NBA (and will be until Lebron wins the big game)

I thought for sure it was going in. Another inch and it would have. Full credit to Antoine Wright for being in Kobe’s grill and making it as tough a shot as he could (without fouling as well)

by siggian on Jan 25, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Off topic a bit but I was reading the interview with the Bucks blogger from earlier in the weak and started to wonder if Milwaukee would consider trading Bogut to Minny for Big Al. On the surface this may not make much sense but Bogut might actually fit better with KLove and Jefferson would give Milwaukee an upgrade at the 4/5. Just a thought.

by McGateway on Jan 25, 2010 6:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

i dono about that...

boguts games a lot like loves.. hes better @ post but hes a solid passer also, kinda like al cept without the “athleticism” (al jeffersons been pretty slow to recover from his ACL surgery) if minn does take the trade it might be because Kahn is looking to completely make over the wolves in his image and it gives them a little more guarantee that al jefferson isnt gonna go down with another serious injury

by claws on Jan 25, 2010 7:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If I'm the Bucks I don't do that

Bogut’s about the same age and still improving. He’s a good centre, especially when he’s playing motivated. I’d be worried about Jefferson’s durability over the long term.

by siggian on Jan 25, 2010 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How can you read this team?

The Raps have won against some of the top teams this season and yet it would be no surprise if they turn right around and lose to some of the low level teams in the next couple of weeks. There is lots of credit to go around for this game but lately, the contributions of Jack, Johnson and Belineli have been huge.
Until this year, I was not a big fan of Bosh but he just seems to have a new attitude and approach – much better at passing out of the double teams- much more determined on the boards. With his contract ending my question is " What does a max contract actually mean in dollars and years?

by RT... on Jan 25, 2010 7:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs