<div align="center"> <font color=""Indigo""><font size=""6"">The Return</font></font> <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="7">.......</font></font> <font color="Green">The X-Factor:</font> Jose Calderon Jose was the reason the Raptors rallied back from a 9-point defecit to grab a 3 poits lead in the span of 6 minutes. After D'ing up Gilbert Arenas, he got the best point guard in the NBA waiting for him. Not only will his offence capabilities will be counted on in this game, but he'll have to run and gun with Kidd and contain the UofCal graduate. Jose needs to step it up. Big. <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="7">.......</font></font> <font color="Red">Say What?! (Prediction)</font> Vince has murdered us in his first return to TO. And now with RJ back, the threat is doubled. However, look for the Raps to rebound from the poor shooting performance they put on Wednesday and grab a victory (I know, a homer pick). Raps win 95-91. <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="7">.......</font></font> </div>
I think the Raptors will take this one, with around the same score as you predicted but only if Bosh scores more and rebounds like he did last game.
This has been one of the ugliest halves I've ever seen from the Raptors. Everyone just throwing shots up. Jalen must think this is a one-on-one game against Vince or something. I don't know what's he's thinking. James isn't impressing me much either. I thought we traded for him to get someone that makes better decisions. Update: Raps lost, but at least Calderon got the Raps back in it. I'm really, really impressed with what I've seen from him so far. I don't think it will be very long before he's our starter.
Calderon had a great night. I couldn't see the game, but Richard Jefferson had a monster of a night with 35 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists with 5/8 3-point shooting and 12-14 FT. Bosh had a decent outing, I noticed he had 5 assists that was interesting. Jalen was only 3-11 with an assist Mike James was 5-14 with 3 assists Our 3 bench guys played well. Charlie V, a solid 9 points (4-9 FG), 6 rebs, and 2 blocked shots Mo Pete was not himself, with a monster game of 20 points(7-13), and 8 rebounds. Calderon had the best game of all, truly impressive for his second game with: 20 points on 8 shot attempts!!!(6-8 FG), 4 rebounds, 7 assists, a steal, and 1 TO
calderon should start soon as he can really carry the team too bad he's put on the game only when we are behind. cv31 is worth the pick and i like his aggressiveness. on a side note, that's one funny raptors entrace video where bonner is dancing hehehe
Interesting game... really it was all lost in the 1st half, we just had such horrible shot selection that we didn't stand a chance. Mike James did a bad job running the offense and Calderon did an amazing job. Nothing had any rhythm when James was in the game. Guys were standing around and it ended up being an iso for someone every time while everyone else stood still. When Calderon was in everyone moved around a lot more and there was always at least decent flow. Bosh played better at times but not as well as he has in the past. I think a lot of that has to do with what teams are trying to do now defending him. Every time he faces up the defensive player will either force Bosh to his right on his bad hand or if he goes left there is usually another guy waiting with help defense. The funny part about this game was we had a lot of bad shots in the first half which kept us out of it.. and those shots came from our vets as opposed to the rookies. James and Rose took some really bad shots in the first half. Hoffa took a 3 pointer at one point and was promptly shown the bench by Mitchell right after
Bosh and James need to pick themselves up and make shots that they can normally make. James is doing a good job of creating for his teammates with his slashes to the basket, but the problem is he's taking more shots than he's passing. That's the reason why Calderon has been able to stand out and why he should play more minutes than James, if not start. Our second unit is looking pretty good as of now, with Villanueva, Peterson and Calderon all playing 1st string calibre. Let's ride this second unit to a win.
Mikes James and Rose on the court at the same time is a recipe for crappy basketball... when those two are playing, there's almost zero ball movement and lots of ill-advised jumpers. Calderon was very impressive tonight. Case and point: he somehow got MoPete to produce 2 consecutive good games..... I really hope he gets the starting job very soon b/c watching James run the point was quite painful. And wat's up w/ Bosh? I hope he's just a little rusty right now after a long off-season cuz he's beginning to worry me......
err Carter takes another one! BTW i didnt get a chance to watch the game--how were the fans reaction to vc?
They still boo'd him but not as bad as last time. I have to say, i am really impressed with Jose Calderon. He impressed me the first game but even moreso after tonight. But the game tonight was just not a good one at all, especially our first half, we didnt look to move the ball around and we pretty much jacked up shots. We're gonna have tough game against the Pistons, and we'll have to see how we respond in our first b2b.
What an incredible 2nd unit. Mo Pete, Charlie V and Jose Calderon were the only reason the game was as close as it was. What is up with Jalen Rose. He is a key part of our team IF he plays within the team concept. For someone who has been around the league for so long, I am surprise he would go off like that. Well done to Mitchell for saying enough is enough and sitting his a$$ down for the second half. Chris Bosh is just feeling the pressure of being 'the man' I think. Anyone notice that he is bobbling the ball a lot. Is it because people are not passing the rock to him in the right spot? Is Chris rushing to much, trying to move before he receives the ball?? He will calm down. I wouldn't worry about the losses. We aren't going to win a championship this year and it is all about gelling the team ande developing our young players. If you take that approach, the last two games were very successful. Our rookies and been the best players on the floor. Congrats to Babcock on finding Calderon, he could be a premiere point guard in this league once he works out the bugs in his shot.
Calderon did great. The sad thing is that I missed the 2nd half which is when he actually produced. Now, I'll try not to over hype one game, because people always do this and set themselves up for dissapointment. If Calderon can continue like this though, he can be a good piece for the team. Bosh did horrible IMO, he needs to get out of this posting up thing, he sucks at posting up, he just get's stuck all the time while posting up, it's so useless.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post"> Bosh did horrible IMO, he needs to get out of this posting up thing, he sucks at posting up, he just get's stuck all the time while posting up, it's so useless.</div> He needs to go back to facing up and use his quickness to get the basket. The Raptors also need to do a better job at getting him the ball when he's in the post and dishing it out after the double team. I like the play though where he finish with his right hand. It was not a set play for him but it looked nice.
Calderon was impressive as usual, and Charlie put up good numbers. I was surprised to see the play of Mike James and Jalen though, I thought they were our team leaders but I guess not. Mo was great too, just too bad the raptors couldnt come out with a win.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Buckets:</div><div class="quote_post">Calderon was impressive as usual, and Charlie put up good numbers. I was surprised to see the play of Mike James and Jalen though, I thought they were our team leaders but I guess not. Mo was great too, just too bad the raptors couldnt come out with a win.</div> I'm not too sure about Mike James, but he doesn't seem like a leader by example. Jalen Rose isn't really a leader, but he's vocal and tries to get the team to play better. He's only a leader by example though when he scores, since he can't do much else.
I don't think that Bosh is horrible at posting up. He is doing everything really well. He is getting himself closer to the basketball for a good shot. He is just not converting the shot. He is not converting any shots proficiently right now posting up or facing up. He is doing a great job getting deeper with his back to the basket. As far as his face up game, He is having trouble fubbling the ball. His dribble doesn't seem to be there yet as well the help defender is coming after him the moment he puts the ball on the floor. Bosh needs to find the open and work on his passing out of the double team for him to get his move back. If he can't find the open man and hurt you with a pass, then they will always send a double team at him the moment he puts it on the floor because it will result in a turnover or a bad shot and possession of the ball. I think what will work really well is Bosh in the low blocks, with Graham at the elbow and Charlie V on the wing or at the point. Graham (could) O Reb with the best of them because of his strength and leaping ability. CV31 can stretch the D with his ability to hit the 3 and put it on the floor and CB4 will get his rythmn back and will start to convert those low post shot will more accuracy. All in all, regardless of the standings, I really like the look of this team. I think the future is extremely bright. The biggest problem I see right now with the Raps is not going with their strength. They are amongst the youngest team in the NBA right now. They have sooooo many rookies and 2nd and 3rd year players. Raps need to show more hunger, and much more energy. No team in the NBA should be able to match our energy since no team has the youth combined with atheletic ability in the NBA. No excuse for the lack of effort that was shown last night in the first half.
Watching last nights game was frustrating to say the least. I don't know how long Sam Mitchell can survive with a starting lineup that includes me-first offensive players in Mike James and Jalen Rose. Again I'll come up with my thoughts that I had in the course of the game: - Mike James really needs to come off the bench. This guy is way too unstable to be a starting point guard. I can see him being a very good bench player though. - With the above statement being made, Calderone really needs to start on this team. Getting everyone involved is something you want to do at the start of games and it annoys me to no end seeing Mike James and Jalen Rose chucking up shots early in the shot clock. - Jalen Rose.....Sure he's the one offensive weapon on the Raptors but that does not make up for his lack of team skills and defensive intensity. Watching Jalen play is like listening to nails being scratched against a chalk board. It's already known that he's staying here until his contract goes up but we gotta regulate either him of Mike James to the bench. I can't take anymore of the 1 on 5 bs. - Bosh has the moves but he needs the confidence to finish. Thats about it. His post ups are not effective at all. He should go to big man camp. He's still the most talented player on our team but he needs to get it together. - Charlie Villanueva is smoooth. - Mo Pete is playing a lot better this year. His shot seems to be pretty consistent now. Shot selection has gotten better. Lets see if a guy known for inconsistency can keep up this pace. - Joey Graham will be a good player defensively and offensively. Right now is not his time. - Opponents has figured out Matt Bonner's game. Took them long enough. Thats about it I guess. It will be a long season but I'll still keep watching. Hope is better than hopelessness i guess.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting P.A.P.:</div><div class="quote_post"> He needs to go back to facing up and use his quickness to get the basket. The Raptors also need to do a better job at getting him the ball when he's in the post and dishing it out after the double team. I like the play though where he finish with his right hand. It was not a set play for him but it looked nice.</div> I agree completely ... every one in the league is on to his face up game though .. they keep forcing him to his right or bringing help. He has to start passing better out of those situations so teams can't cheat so much with the help d.
