- As the Toronto Raptors learned last week against the New Jersey Nets, there are no guaranteed wins for this team. Facing a Washington Wizards squad that had tuned out its coach and scored above 90 just twice this season, the Raptors dropped a 93-78 decision to the team formerly known as the Bullets and failed once again to climb to the .500 mark.
- The Wizards got to the rim at will in the first half, scoring 38 of their 46 points in the paint. They scored 54 points in the paint overall.
- Twenty-two turnovers leading to 19 Wizards points also didn't help the cause.
- Andrea Bargnani continued to lead the way on offence with 22 points on an efficient 9-for-16 from the field, as he builds a case to play in his first All-Star game. But if this team is going to enjoy any type of sustained success, Il Mago needs to bring it on both ends of the floor every game and not allow opposing teams to form a layup line to the bucket.
- Of course, as soon as the Raptors switched to a zone defence in the 3rd quarter and tried to pack it in, Chris Singleton hit a triple. It was that kind of night.
- Want to know how bad it got for the Raptors? The corpse of Rashard Lewis – the same Lewis who refused to play the other night after arguing with Sam "Big Balls Dance" Cassell – led the Wizards in scoring with 15 points.
- The Raptors shot an anemic 40% from the field and 4-20 from beyond the arc. And those numbers actually improved significantly in garbage time!
- Rasual Butler continues to be one of the worst starters in the NBA. Why this guy plays let alone starts remains the biggest mystery of the season. Unfortunately, James Johnson and Gary Forbes aren’t doing much to warrant a change in the starting lineup.
- The Raptors finish up their only back-to-back-to-back set tomorrow night in Toronto against the Sacramento Kings… the same Kings who got blown out 112-85 in Philadelphia tonight.