Raptor News Globe and Mail <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">full story By*ROBERT MacLEOD From Monday's Globe and Mail With Carter scoring 20 of his game-high 30 points in the second half, and rookie Chris Bosh gobbling up every rebound in sight, the Raptors pounded out a 108-98 victory over Seattle before 17,779 fans.</div> Toronto Star <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">full story O'Neill stays in Vince's face Something Wilkens never would've done By: DAVE FESCHUK In a bang-bang instant late in yesterday's second quarter, Vince Carter missed an easy tip-in and an easier lay-in. And as the Air Canada Centre groaned, the Raptors all-star paused for an airborne lament, leaping into the stratosphere in frustration. As he hung there, his face contorted in a why-me wince, the Seattle SuperSonics were speedily relocating to the court's other end. And Kevin O'Neill, Carter's excitable coach, was frantically waving his arms in the direction of the fast-breaking bad guys, using language bodily and bawdy in an attempt to coax Carter to retreat and defend. Carter, though, could not recover. The man Carter was supposed to be checking, Rashard Lewis, hit a wide-open three-pointer. And as O'Neill slapped the scorer's table to coincide with the deflating swish, he actually bared his teeth, snarling down the sideline in disgust. ... Down by as much as 14 points in the early going, O'Neill called four timeouts in rather quick succession. And by the time he called the fourth one, the margin had shrunk to two. Clearly perturbed by his team's over-reliance on the jump shot, O'Neill kept hollering for more aggressiveness: "Drive `em, V!" he yelled at Carter, again and again. "Keep drivin'!" And come the second half, Carter was unleashing an arsenal that was more diverse and far more dangerous. In a remarkable turnaround that anchored the Raptors' 108-98 comeback win, Carter still shot a bunch of jump shots in the game's final 24 minutes. But he also drove and dished, scoring 20 points, adding five assists. ... "Contrary to what I ever heard, I think (Carter) is very tough," said O'Neill. "I'm just judging him on what he's done playing for me since I've been here. ... Somebody asked me the other day, `Do you think he's soft?' I think he's tough." Perhaps that's because, for the first time in three long years, a coach is yelling red-faced from the sideline, incessantly reminding Carter what no one had told him for a long while ? that excellence is expected, toughness is assumed, and, above all, the jump shot isn't the only shot.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">fullstory Run 'n' gun Raptors Carter leads way as Rose, Bosh hit double-doubles Turn up intensity down stretch for fourth win in a row By: DOUG SMITH SPORTS REPORTER The first timeout didn't work and neither did the second. The third might have gotten their attention a little, but when the Raptors were called to the sideline for the fourth time in the first 16 minutes of yesterday's game, only then did all of Kevin O'Neill's urgings, rantings, ravings and demands hit home. And from then on, the transformed Raptors, the up-tempo, shoot 'em up bunch of runners and gunners who have taken over from the stodgy team that started the season, were back. Knowing his team has shown an innate ability to win close games down the stretch, coach O'Neill wasn't about to let the Seattle SuperSonics get out of sight before halftime and his faith was rewarded ? again ? as the Raptors pulled out a 108-98 victory before a non-sellout gathering of 17,779 at the Air Canada Centre. "You can't let a game get away from you early," said O'Neill, whose team has now won four straight and six of its last seven. "If I had to use all (the timeouts), I was going to use all of them." That wasn't necessary, because whatever O'Neill told his players, and it's folly to even try to pry that kind of information out of him, worked wonders as the Raps scored 90 points in the final three quarters and made all the requisite plays down the stretch to win. In what has become a habit for the newly constituted team, a combination of shared offence, good fourth quarter defensive execution and a healthy dose of unselfish Vince Carter play carried the day.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">full story Bosh thrives away from spotlight Ties rookie record with 16 rebounds against Seattle Drafted by Raptors after highly-touted players were gone By: JENNIFER QUINN SPORTS REPORTER Vince Carter winced. Oh yeah, he remembered it, all right, remembered his first NBA season as a year of suffering, of being judged by anyone who held a microphone or watched a highlight package, of trying out nightly for the world. So when he looked across the locker room at Chris Bosh, Carter was glad the Raptors rookie wasn't going through the same thing, the exquisite torture that's now being visited upon the likes of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. "It was hell. It was hell. Believe me," Carter said of his first pro season, which ended with him being named Rookie of the Year. "The way people criticize and come at you, it can weigh you down." Bosh doesn't seem weighed down by much this season.</div> Toronto Sun <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">full story Rise 'n shine Raptors roll on after slow start By FRANK ZICARELLI -- Toronto Sun Once they rebounded from their self-induced coma, the Raptors simply took over against a SuperSonics team that mirrors the look of these new-look Raptors. With Vince Carter stepping up offensively, Jalen Rose continuing to draw both double teams and record assists, and rookie Chris Bosh coming of age, the Raptors overcame a horrendous first half to prevail 108-98 yesterday at the ACC.</div>
