Toronto Raptors Blogs

It's the All-Star break and time to asses where the season is at.  There are roughly 30 games left and the trading deadline is looming.  Here is a look at the playoffs if they were today.

Continue reading "NBA Playoffs Eastern conference"

This just in : Zach Randolph is a beast.  Everyone who has said he would be a cancer and wouldn't play hard and is the same thug he was in Portland isn't looking very smart right now.  Randolph can single-handedly dominate the post for the Grizzlies this season.  He proved as much last night against the Toronto Raptors as the Grizz earned their first win of the season 115-107 on Friday.  Randolph led the Grizzlies with 30 points and seven rebounds.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 115, Raptors 107"

I have always enjoyed the Toronto Raptors. There is something about them that catches my eye.  They always have a knack for finding talent.  They just have a hard time keeping it.  This year they managed to bring one in: Hedo Turkoglu.

Continue reading "Toronto Raptors preseason"

The NBA Draft's Five Best Second Overall Picks Since 1984

The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to pick former Oklahoma Sooners star Blake Griffin Thursday with the first overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Continue reading "The NBA Draft's Five Best Second ..."

The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to pick former Oklahoma Sooners star Blake Griffin Thursday with the first overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Continue reading "The 5 Best Second Overall Selections ..."

The Raptors had a horrible season finishing third from the bottom in the East.  Anthony Parker, Shawn Marion, and Jake Voskhul are all free agents.  That is 2 starters and a top bench player.  That leaves a shaky starting lineup:

Continue reading "Toronto Raptors and the draft."

There have been many rumors surrounding the Phoenix Suns since they missed the playoffs this season. Some of these rumored trades would actually help the team, but some of the options are only opportunities to cut payroll for the oncoming season and further destroy the team. Some of the biggest names involved in these rumors for the team have been Amare Stoudemire, Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa, and Jason Richardson.

Continue reading "Catching up with the Phoenix Suns ..."

One day after the NBA Trade Deadline passed, many Knicks played like they had a world of pressure taken off their shoulders.  With much speculation swirling around whether or not the Knicks would deal away enigmatic guard Nate Robinson and workhorse David Lee, both were able to breath easier last night knowing that they'd be playing in New York for the remainder of the season.

Continue reading "Relieved Post-Deadline Knicks Beat ..."

Today, the Toronto Raptors traded Jermaine O'Neal, Jamario Moon, and a lottery-protected first round pick to the Miami Heat in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.  On the surface this looks like a great trade for the Heat, but it can also cause potential problems for the Knicks as they do battle with the Raptors twice next week and will continue to battle them down the stretch in the Chase For The Eighth Seed.

Continue reading "Marion Trade May Put Heat On The Knicks"

Always an interesting time of the NBA season, when all of us fans sit and wonder which NBA superstars are on the move. This year, there are some really big names that are on the trading block. Lets look at a few of them, hey they just might end up on your favorite team.

Continue reading "The NBA Trade Deadline is right around ..."

The Grizzlies caught a break with the absence of Toronto's Chris Bosh on Saturday, and they took advantage of it by beating the Raptors 78-70.  The Grizzlies were shorthanded themselves, playing without three of their regulars.  Rudy Gay was a late scratch because of a sore hip, a sprained ankle sidelined Kyle Lowry, and Darrell Arthur missed his second straight game due to a family illness.  With those three out the win became even sweeter.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 78, Raptors 70"

With his team's season rapidly falling apart, Bryan Colangelo has some difficult decisions ahead.

He is less than three years removed from his triumphant first season as Raptors' GM, handpicked by ownership to bring a new era of success to Toronto as he had done in Phoenix.

Continue reading "Time for the Unthinkable?"

Change has been a big theme around this Toronto Raptors season.

T.J. Ford, Carlos Delfino and Juan Dixon left town. Jermaine O'Neal and his All-Star resume arrived to save the day.  Sam Mitchell was let go after a rough start.

Continue reading "Change Is Good, Smart Changes Better"

We're about 35 games into the NBA season right now -- nearly to the midway point -- and the New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee Bucks are holding on to the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. I doubt that's the way it will end, however, because the list of teams that are on the outside looking in is quite an interesting one: Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, and Indiana Pacers (to name the true contenders).

Continue reading "Eastern Conference Playoff Race Will Get Dicey"

The Grizzlies signed Darius Miles to another 10-day contract on Friday after the league assured its teams that it would disregard any attempt by Portland owner Larry Miller to prevent them from doing so.  Miller warned fellow owners via email that he would sue any team who signed Miles, believing that a team would sign him for the sole purpose of burdening Portland with his salary.  Miller wanted to protect his team's ability to pursue free agents next offseason, when high profile players such as LeBron James will be available.  In reality, the Blazers still would have had plenty of cap room even after taking on Miles' contract, so Miller's demand was unreasonable.  Several league owners responded angrily to Miller's email, taking it as a personal threat.

Continue reading "Grizzlies re-sign Miles, fall to Raptors"

The Grizzlies waived Darius Miles on Tuesday to avoid paying the rest of his salary for this season.  He didn't get much of a chance to play in the brief time he was with the team, mostly based on the clause that said if he played more than 10 total games this season, the Portland Trailblazers would have to claim his $18 million salary and would end up paying a luxury tax.  Miles is expected to clear waivers today, which would make him available to all 30 teams.  The Grizzlies could then re-sign him if they wanted.  The Trailblazers, however, have threatened to sue any team who signed Miles to a contract.  They claim that any team that signs him would be doing it for the sole purpose of putting his salary on the Blazers' payroll.  It seems to me that the Blazers are being very immature and really won't have a case if a team does sign him and it ends up in court.

Continue reading "Grizzlies head north in need of a win"

So. In what could be a season-defining game against a weakened Bucks, TO deferred to the shooting wisdom of King Solomon and were gunned down 13-0 in the final two minutes of the game. Was Triano thinking: no way Ukic can keep replicating those top draw fourth quarter performances? No way Bargs is going to go 6 of 7 from the arc? No way Bosh is going to keep having the hot hand for his 15th shot? QED, let's take a pot at the king.

Continue reading "Vicissitudes"

Good evening ladies and gentleman. I am tonights entertainment (sorry couldn't help referencing Dark Knight.) This is my inaugral blog about our lone Canadian team, the Toronto Raptors.

This will be a live blog. Check back for updates.

Continue reading "The Pilot"

Chris Bosh has been the cornerstone of the Raptors since Vince Carter painfully dismissed himself in 2004 and got traded to the NETS. He's a constant competitor and the ultimate professional when it comes to dealing with the media, the fans and teammates. He's always taken the high road after painful losses, instead of blaming teammates he's always saying how much the team as a whole have to play better both defensively and offensively.

Continue reading "CHRIS BOSH : TOP 3 IN THE NBA BUT ..."

It was a tough weekend for Raps fans, to be sure. In fact, it was tough to decide which was the worst deal of the three - 1. Jermaine O'Neal getting hauled down by Sean Williams and spraining his precious, newly rehabilitated knee (and not getting a free throw out of it, even though a single make would have prevented no. 2.: Wince single-handedly tying and winning a closely fought game amidst a hailstorm of boos. Not only did he do exactly that, but he did so in such a fashion that made us pause and dream in awe of exactly how good the Raps would be right now if we were to re-swap Joey Graham back for him at our pathetic 3-spot. The same way you look at your ex in her new dress and you know things would never have worked out but still, the possibility kills you. And we've almost just about healed those wounds. Anyway, as if those 2 weren't enough, the Celtics game brought us no.3.: Bosh looking so frustrated that had Raps fans panicking about 2010 in a whole new way. And it wasn't really anything anyone could have done anything about, the Raps were just entirely outclassed in that game. I'm a Raptors fan through and through but I will readily admit that teams above .500 are a challenge for us to handle right now, not until Bargnani is at least at a 15ppg clip, Calderon and O'Neal are back to all-star form and Parker/Kapono put in their 5 3ptfgs a game. I'm not asking too much, am I?

Continue reading "Chin up, Raptors fans"

As I angrily screamed at the T.V. (Raptors vs Nets) Friday night I realized something.  Since Vince Carter left the Raptors they have yet to find a closer.  I love Bosh and what he brings, but he is not a closer.  The Raptors need 'that guy' who can bring the ball up and create his own shot or create a teamates shot in the final minutes.  Too many times have I wacthed the Raptors let Calderon throw it to Bosh in the high post and the rest just watch.  The Celtics have Pierce, the Lakers Kobe, Cavs Lebron, the Pistons now have Iverson.  Even Vince still showed he is a closer Friday night.  The best teams have that guy who you know is going to get the ball in the closing minutes and make something happen.  The Raptors look good this year.  They will never be great until they find that closer. 

Continue reading "Raptors still in need of a closer"

So here I am writing my first Toronto Raptors post. I thought I would thus begin by writing about what it is to be a sports fan. In times like ours where our modern cushy lifestyles does not afford us the luxury of hurling our bodies into bloodthirsty battles for life and death, how do men satiate that unquenchable urge to prove their manhood through war and conquest? I believe this was why sports was created. Sports has provided us a welcome outlet to fuel this genetic bloodlust. We have traded in our swords for jerseys, but we still stand strong under flags and banners that unite us. Men obviously suffer more from this primal desire to fight for a cause. A higher calling, so to speak, so above and beyond us that we don't question what we do in the name for it, ever.

Continue reading "My love-hate relationship with the Raptors"

I recently got talked into playing fantasy basketball this season.  We had our draft the other night and I was able to draft both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics. 

Continue reading "Celtics Look The Same in '08 as in ..."

A big thanks to everyone who participated in the "Inbound Link Contest".  We have a winner!  A big congratulations go out to Marija.  Thank you for all your hard work on this.  While we had a lot of people participate, Marija was able to win with only 4 links!  So it wouldn't have taken a lot to win this contest!  We'll be having another contest soon so stay tuned.

Continue reading "Inbound link contest winner announced!"

   WHEW!!!! The U.S. is beating the Greeks like they owe them not only rent money, but gas, electric, and a car note too!!!!

     I personally did not believe the Dream Team would just blow them away like that. This is the best they've looked defensively. They've stepped out on and switched on their screens. They've found a happy medium where they pressure ballhandlers but not over exert themselves to give up easy scores.

Continue reading "U.S. serving up Revenge Pie in First Half"

To try and motivate our bloggers to get inbound links we're going to have a contest to see which blogger can get the most inbound links to their blog. The contest begins now and ends July 31st, 2008. To be entered in to the contest all you have to do is go out and get as many websites to link to your blog as you can and at the end of the month send us an email listing all those links. All links must be active from August 1st through August 7th when we'll be judging the entries - a winner will be announced on August 7th. All entry emails must be received by Midnight on July 31st, 2008. You can email them to sportsfan@nbabasketballonline.com

Continue reading "Inbound link contest - Win $100!"

Welcome to the NBA DRAFT 2008!

We have many young prospects out here, really young...frankly giving a new meaning to the saying Diaper Dandy!!!

 The winners of this draft comes through the laws of relativity. You see folks, this is not 2003, the draft that spawned the new wave of superstardom with Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. No, this is more like the Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry baby draft that is different only by the NBA's latest plan to change the landscape with their "19 Year Old" rule. So be it. While I'm not sold on many players in this draft- Derrick Rose included, my winners follow the common theme- getting the most from the position from which you stand. So without further adieu... 

Continue reading "The NBA Draft- Winners... Losers still to come!"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/04/nba_call_ups_the_power_of_davi.

Continue reading "NBA Call Ups: The Power Of David Stern"

The Lakers' rapturous Kobe-powered 121-101 win over the Raptors was no doubt fueled by the trade made for Pau Gasol -- aptly-named. With rock-steady veteran AND current season avgs. of 19 pts. and 9 rebounds, he is precisely the pow and gas the Lakers need to fill the void left by the injured absence of the newly-emergent Andrew Bynum.

Continue reading "TRIUMPH OVER TORONTO TRUMPED BY PAU GASOL TRADE"

http://lebasketbawl.blogspot.com/2008/01/60-of-nba-players-broke-after-5

Continue reading "60% of NBA Players Broke After 5 Years..."

I know it's more traditional to do this kind of report after the first twenty games. I, however, am a very non-traditional fellow. So here is your twenty-six game report.

Let's start with what we know about the Dallas Mavericks: nothing. Okay, we know a couple of things. However, if you take everything we know and shine a light on it, what you end up looking at is, well, nothing. At least nothing of any significance. But let’s try anyway.

Continue reading "Dallas Mavericks Early Season Report"

The win last night was phenomenal. Down by 11 at the half and then by 17 at one point in the third, things were looking pretty bleak for the Raptors. After their big win at home over Dallas on Thursday, I was starting to wonder if all their energy had been spent on the Mavs.

Continue reading "Jason Kapono Makes A Statement in ..."