This is becoming common ground for the Raptors …
Lose to the Lakers … bounce back with a blowout of the Heat.
Lose to the Clippers … bounce back with a blowout of the Timberwolves.
Lose to the Spurs … bounce back with a blowout of the Nets.
So … the Raps are back where they’ve been so many times already this season … 5 games above .500 … looking to string a bunch of wins together at SOME point soon.
Perhaps that win streak will come after the All Star break … when Toronto faces Orlando first (on Feb. 23) … then some of the “lesser lights” … with two games against the Knicks; two against Indy; and another against Minnesota.
If there is a “streak” coming … it started on Wednesday night with Toronto’s blowout of the Nets.
The Raps jumped on New Jersey early … and they never looked back. In fact, the Nets never held a lead in the ball game. Toronto was up 13 (30-17) after the 1ST quarter … and they rode that momentum to a 21-point first-half lead (62-41 at the break).
Jersey was undermanned though. They were going at it without All Star guard Jason Kidd … who was traded (or was he?) earlier in the day to the Dallas Mavericks. The paperwork had not gone through to the NBA head office by the time the Raps-Nets tipped-off … but Kidd was still held out of the line up.
In a bizarre twist, news leaked out after the game that Mavs’ swingman Devean George (part of the trade) blocked this transaction — a clause in his contract allowed him to do so — and now the deal is in limbo.
The Nets could have used Kidd!
They looked lost most of the night … as Toronto built-up their lead to as many as 30 points in the 3RD quarter … and they cruised to a 109-91 win.
Chris Bosh led the way for T.O. with 27 points and 9 rebounds; while Jose Calderon was magnificent again … tallying 22 points and 12 assists in 41:00 minutes. Calderon had to carry the load at the point with TJ Ford sidelined with a right wrist injury.
The Raps head into the All Star break at 28-23.
E. Smith
ericsmithfan590@yahoo.com
* NOTE: The proposed Dallas-New Jersey deal (that is now in limbo) was supposed to go down like this:
Kidd and Malik Allen to the Mavs … in exchange for Maurice Ager, Jerry Stackhouse, Devin Harris, Devean George, and DeSagana Diop as well as picks and cash.
If TJ gives up trying to be a great shooter which he is not and he commits himself to being a brilliant passer which he can be, he can lead the Raptors second line up into the paint for high quality shots.
Only four men in the history of the NBA have averaged 50% from the field 40% from the 3 and 90% from the foul line. Jose is above that so it is a crime for him not to shoot more. What I loved in tonights game he set up many more plays in the paint than he normally does.
It was baloney when they always talked about the Raptors two point guards. They had two good point guard but nothing more.
Now Jose is ALL WORLD!!!!
- Miles HershbergColangelo felt TJ could be one of the two or three best passers in the league and TJ has shown when he wants to he is.
NOW THAT WOULD BE THE DYNAMIC DUO!!!!!
Kapono catching a shooting is the only way to go.
- Miles HershbergHe is the only one I would ask not to drive.
Just shoot!!!!!