For whatever reason … Chris Bosh always seems to play well against the Orlando Magic … and the trend continued on Wednesday night.
Bosh led Toronto to a 127-110 blowout over Stan Van Gundy’s crew … tallying 40 points in the process!
Bosh was damn-near perfect in the game, going 14 of 16 from the field and 11 of 11 at the free throw line … en route to his 4TH 40-or-more performance of the season. He added 5 rebounds and 5 assists as well.
Led by CB4, Toronto got off to a great start in the 1ST quarter … leading Orlando 31-24, shooting 57% from the field. Bosh has 12 of the Raptors 31, pulling Dwight Howard away from the hoop time and time again.
And the momentum continued in the 2ND quarter for T.O.
In fact, the Raps got BETTER - in terms of their efficiency - shooting a blistering 61.4% at the break … leading by 14 … 64-50. Bosh had a ‘game’ in a ‘half’ … with 24 points at the recess.
When the 3RD stanza began … the question was … could Toronto keep it going … or would they finally relent to Superman (Howard) and the Magic.
But the letdown didn’t happen.
With Jose Calderon running the offense as well as he has at any point this season, the Raptors just kept clicking. They could do no wrong. T.O. was firing at 62.9% heading into the 4TH; Bosh had 35 points, and Calderon had already tallied a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists.
Toronto’s defense was decent as well. While it may not have been the “let Howard get what he wants and let’s stop everyone else” mentality … it sure seemed like it at times. The Raps held Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis to 12 and 9 points respectively through three … and they combined for only 6 of 21 from the field. Howard may have had 28 points and 8 rebounds, but a combined 21 points from Turkoglu and Lewis - two guys that average 19 and 18 respectively - wasn’t getting it done for Orlando.
The Magic trailed 102-82 going into the 4TH (they were down by as many as 21) … and while they did make a nice run to start the final quarter … they weren’t able to get closer than 10 … and Toronto slammed the door shut on any potential comeback … pushing back all the way to their 127-110 win.
The Raps finished the game shooting 58.8% from the field. Calderon had 19 points and 13 assists. Jamario Moon had the double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds … and Carlos Delfino was terrific off the bench with 23 points and 5 assists.
While the ‘numbers’ might not say so (37 points and 15 rebounds) … Toronto did a GREAT job on Dwight Howard … and really took this game right at the Magic, the East’s 3RD seed.
Toronto FINALLY gets six games over .500 for the first time this season … and they get set for their next game on Friday in New York. No word yet if TJ Ford (abdominal strain) will be good-to-go for that Knick game or not.
E. Smith
Sam was brilliant
They switched to Delfino being the point guard even with Jose on because the 6′10″ forward could not cover him.
Bosh was magic..get it magic
Calderon was amazing 80% from the Field 100% from the 3 100% from the foul- he has to shoot more-13 assists one turnover, he is really finding himself as a starter
Delfino was amazing shooting, point guard, going to net, assist
Moon is trying to get to the net, he would be over a 50% shooter if he did and the team would be much better for it. 12 rebounds?
Andrea- we have so many shooters I wish they would play him from the top of the key in. he missed dunks. I think if is narrowed his game he would expand his ability. We do not need him to shoot long jumpers.
Sam coached and hell of a game but whenever they should 60% Sam is brilliant. We beat everyone at 60% shooting. The trouble is with no inside game other than Bosh when we shoot poorly anyone can beat us.
- Miles@hcap.causing Delfino as a point even with Jose in because of the mismatch on him was brilliant by Sam
We can beat anyone when we shoot 60% but when we shoot poorly we can lose to anyone. Jose is getting more aggressive looking for an inside game and he was brilliant. I wish Jose would shoot more. Bosh was amazing. Jose is our second all star now.
We have to get an inside game not just Bosh. Andrea has to forget about the 3s and narrow his game to mid length jumpers, driving and passing.
Moon is starting to drive and so in Delfino.
I know we will not make a dumb trade to improve our team now when our real team is still a year or two or three out.
- Miles HershbergSam was Brilliant with the Small line up
I hate the small line up because it highlights our weakness in rebounding but when they chose to put a 6′10″ forward on Defino it set up a great ending.
I always bitch about Sam but that was brilliant.
- Miles HershbergWHAT IS CALDERON WORTH?
LOOK AT KIDDS NUMBERS FOR TONIGHT?
DALLAS HAD A HARD ON FOR HIM?
LOOK AT NASH?
CALDERON MAY BE THE KING?
CALDERON MAY BE THE BEST SHOOTER IN THE LEAGUE. KOLBY AND GUYS LIKE HIM MAY MAKE THE OFF BALANCE SHOT BUT IF YOU WANT A SOLID 20 TO 30 POINTS WITH THE PRECISION OF A NEURO SURGEON CALDERON IS THE MAN.
CALDERON IS TAKING HIGHER RISK PASSES TO GET INTO DUNK POSITION AND HIS TURNOVERS ARE STILL TINY.
CALDERON IS EVOLVING TO SOMETHING INCREDIBLY SPECIAL.
CALDERON DOES NOT SHOOT ENOUGH.
NOBODY SHOULD BE
8 FOR 10 2 FOR 2 FROM THE THREE AND 1 FOR 1 FROM THE FOUL LINE.
HE DOES NOT TEST HIS ABILITIES.
IF ANDREA NARROWS HIS GAME AND PLAYS IN CLOSER, CALDERON SHOOTS MORE, DELFINO AND MOON DRIVE I WILL BET THE RAPTORS AGAINST ANYONE EVEN IF I AM BEING SLIGHTLY GENEROUS.
- Miles Hershberg