On what injuries have occurred, how the teams are playing, etc

So much can change in a month or two. Look at the change in the Dinos. A month ago, they were lottery bound and looked hopeless. A month later, they have a solid grasp on 5th or 6th place and if Atlanta or Orlando keep struggling, they could even move up further.

i read on espn Houston want bosh really badly and are going to make a big push for him offering a combination of Aaron brooks Landry ariza and luis scola

i dont kno about everbody else but i didnt forget that orlando send us packing last time TO was in the playoffz and we would get a chance to stick it or vince carter the story line for that kind of playoffs would me sick and there would be a real rivalry there

What is the rule on “continuation?” I think Bosh took at least two more steps after the whistle and then threw up the shot; I don’t know if that’s a valid call or not. I get the feelings the refs often like making the “And1” call, complete with emphatic arm gestures so if it’s borderline…they’ll give it (kinda like how I like making “called strike 3” calls when I was umpiring baseball).

But way too early to be discussing playoffs.

Like the fact that we pulled out another tight win. Regardless of competition a road win is always sweet. Threw this 9-1 stretch this team has pulled out a few in the last seconds which will only help them grow.
Am far from sold on our “Fab Five” finishing out. In the two games since Jose is back, our crunch time line-up has squandered leads. And no, am not blaming Jose.
The continuation call was the right one. We have all seen much worse called.
Lets not get started with Bosh trades. Team is on the best roll in years. Teams that are 9-1 in last 10 don’t discuss trading their star.
Bosh likes the city. Likes the coach(do you think BC asked him . Has got to respect his GM. We can throw him a streetcar full of money. And we got Bargs signed, Jack signed, Turkoglu and Calderon both signed for what might be their prime years.. DeRozan is ours for a while and lets push to resign either Johnson or Weems.
Throw Bosh in the mix and that’s a still young core with two canny veterans (who get unjustly roasted in cyberspace). Fact is Toronto might be the most attractive situation for Bosh.

to re evaluate some of the (harsh) commentary made on B.C. on this team composition? Maybe the team IS actually good and some of the starting woes were indeed due to a (very) difficult schedule on a almost brad new team.

What I like of the raps situation is that one can see where the team could (realistically) get better just as a matter of internal growth, in the next seasons but also in this one. I can see Belinelli and Andrea producing more (now) and I can see Amir, Weems and Demar producing more in the near future.

MY hat goes off to BC also for seeing how a CB + AB combo could work and for putting together a nut cases free team that can be good now and better in the future.

THis team has a realistic opportunity of getting to 50 W this year while the better part should come by next season (Do you remember Franchise one of your post on this very topic at the beginning of the season?) and BC, is possibly running for another recognition prize from the league and maybe a healthy (deserved) extension.

An early season loss to a team like Memphis, and coming back from a 20 point deficit against the Clippers, considering how well those teams are playing does give some perspective on how tough that early stretch was. Giving up 120 points to opponents in blow-outs is still inexcusable, but the team is really getting to a point where I expect them to be competitive in most games from hereon in barring injury. Also, I know how people like to dismiss that stretch of easy games that led to a 5 game winning streak, but they were important because they let the team figure out a process of success that they have been able to apply against higher caliber opponents. From a match up perspective, Philly’s physicality and athleticism make them sort of a poor-man’s Atlanta against the Raps (why I suggested they’d lose in a previous post) so a comeback is definitely an encouraging indicator of improvement

That maybe was one of the best games I have seen Bargani play. I’ve been tough on him this season (usually deserved). However, last night we saw glimpses of something special with he and Bosh. Bargs was tough in the paint, scoring, rebounding, blocking and (gasp) providing solid help defense. This last achievment has been the final piece to the puzzle for me. As evidenced over the past week against legit back-to-the-basket oponents such as Howard and Duncan, Bargs can hold his own as far as 1-on-1 D. The help/team defense has always been a challenge for him. But last night he was showing well on screens, clogging the paint, challenging and blocking shots and just being an overall presence. Godd on him. Renato’s head must have exploded if he was watching : )

What a site for sore eyes to see Bargs continue to play with a bit of an edge. After the goaltending no-call and his Technical, Bargs attacks the basket with a big dunk. Maybe Reggie has been giving him some tips.
23 pts, 6 reb and 3 blocks, good to start seeing some consistency.

i think were a reggie evans return and one good premiter defender short of being a solid 50 win team and even a championship team if bargs can play like this consistently colangelo should look to good a solid permeter defender if these 3 things can have i see the raps securing 4th place and winning a play off series

And I think they’ve infected the super-fans here who run raptorsHQ . . .

I remember back in the “old” days, I used to come here for some balanced opinion and calm, collected (and excellently written) Raptors articles. Now, even the writers of this blog seem to freak out in happy/sad ways every time we go on a winning/losing streak. Crazy. (I am like this too, and have been known to break all kinds of stuff in the wake of a loss or even a bad rotation on D.) Yes, admit it everyone: we’re crazy. This city has had such a bunch of losers these last 16 years that we’re willing to take anything we can get.

The bottom line . . . I am an idiot, because, well . . . er . . . I’m starting to believe in these guys . . . goddamn it, I’m setting myself up for another disappointment. I LOVE Reggie Evans, even though he hasn’t played . . . did you see Andrea chest-bump Bosh at the end of the game when he made the 3-point play!!!!!! AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!! I think I like Andrea now too . . .

until the next loss . . . then, trade them all.

What is it that makes Raptors fans so crazy? I’m sure the disaster that is the Leafs has a large responsibility for the warped psyche of the Toronto sports fan. Everyone’s drunk and dizzy after a 8-1 stretch, yet how many of you sobered instantly upon seeing this poll today? BOS, ORL, ATL have OWNED the Raps this season, and the Cavs are probably next. Do any of us imagine we could beat any of them when it’s playoff time???

Here’s a shot at an objective, long term perspective of what we have on our hands:
- we probably agree this is not the crappy, soul-less team we saw earlier this year, that suffered from growing pains and a brutal schedule
- nor is this a contender
- BC has basically laid the foundation for the next 5 years, and the only major question is Bosh…
- meanwhile, the road to the finals will go through LBJ, Howard, Wade, assuming they all stay in the East

Even if we assume the best case scenario (Bosh stays and continues to improve like he has this season), we still have the 4th best player in the East. We are not getting to the finals on talent alone – team synergy will be the key. This means trust, communication, intuition, commitment, smart basketball. Looking at the East, not many teams have that today. Orlando had it last year, now they’re learning to play with the weight of expectations. Boston had it, but Sheed has brought them down so far. Atlanta has it, but will they keep it together next year? Anyone else?

The problem is that team synergy grows from stability and consistency, and that requires patience. Which is exactly where the fans are deficient. The fact is though, this team is not going anywhere any faster by trading Bosh, Jose, Triano or Colangelo. But if they can grow together, they have a chance to play beautiful basketball and do us proud. I’d much rather cheer for a team that has come through the hard times, than a team like Boston that went from worst to first overnight, or whatever LeBron and the Russian are cooking up for the Jerski Nyets.

PS does anyone think LeBron will ever fulfill his potential if he continues to manipulate organizations like he has in Cleveland? Who will be his Phil Jackson?

There is still a lot to be concerned about with this team going forward. Forget about whether or no the Raps will finish in the top 4 as they will need to finish in the top 2 to realistically avoid playing a good team and I do not see one of Cleveland, Boston, Atlanta or Orlando dropping significantly let alone 2 of them. That means even if TO got the 4th spot they would still face one of those teams. Baring a trade to fix some of the issues with the team, I am not sure they can beat any of those teams in a 7 game series.
As for whether Toronto should trade Bosh or Calderon, I think it is a moot point. BC cannot trade Bosh or Calderon without admitting he is incompetent (unless one of them demanded a trade and forced his hand) so he will not make a move until the offseason. Get ready for 40 cents on the dollar in a sign and trade folks because that is what is coming. I know Bosh is saying all the right things but what else is he suppose to say, “I would rather play with another superstar and in a warmer city”? Yall are setting yourselves up for another TMac situation as Bosh has no choice right now but to toe the line as he doesn’t want to look petulant right before he hits pay dirt in free agency. Love it or hate it, that is they way the NBA works.

There are two types of players in this league: me-first and team-first. Bosh has given all indications that he is the latter. Compare him to Carter or McGrady who have shown a me-first approach their entire careers.

What players/coaches know and fans mostly ignore, is that this is a team sport, and team cohesion is far more important than individual talent. And team includes the entire organization, not just the guys in uniform. It’s what players like Nash, Dirk, Garnett, Duncan have known all along, like Jordan, Kobe, maybe Vince? who learned it as they got older, and like Iverson or McGrady who never got it.

Why would Bosh leave behind a situation that seems to be finally stabilizing, to join a team like Chicago, Miami, New York, Jersey, Clippers, Warriors or any other chronically dysfunctional organization? It’s not like he needs to increase the level of difficulty. He needs to get to the finals.