This isn’t the way it was supposed to go down.
Heading into the ball game … with hopes of getting the season sweep over the Pacers … Toronto got shocked on their home floor … losing 122-111.
Indy was undermanned as well … playing without Danny Granger … after the swingman was suspended by the NBA for an incident against the Bulls on Wednesday night. And the Pacers were still going at it without Jermaine O’Neal and Jamaal Tinsley too.
But a huge night from Mike Dunleavy - blistering the Raps for a career-high 36 points - and some timely scoring from Kareem Rush and Troy Murphy helped slam the door and Toronto’s hopes of an 8-4 February.
The Raptors allowed the Pacers to shoot 50+ per cent for about three and a half quarters … and though they cut a 16-point lead down to one late in the 3RD quarter … that was the closest Toronto could get … as Indy ripped the game open again heading into the 4TH.
With the loss, T.O. drops to 32-25 on the season … and the setback against the 23-36 Pacers may sting that much more given that both Cleveland and Washington both won (Orlando didn’t play).
But the greatest concern for the Raptors isn’t the 122-111 loss. Toronto lost All Star forward Chris Bosh with 2:23 to play in the 1ST quarter. Bosh apparently tweaked his right knee and called to the bench … asking to be taken out of the game.
Playing without CB4 was clearly a huge setback for the Raps … and the team may have to deal with his absence for at least one more game … if not longer. While his teammates were losing to Indy, Bosh had an MRI on his injured right knee. The image showed no structural damage … just some swelling. But team officials said they’re going to evaluate things for the next couple of days and reassess Bosh early next week. It sounds like Sunday’s game in Charlotte is a no-go for Toronto’s leading scorer and rebounder.
E. Smith
Sam must have hurt his head when Bosh hurt his knee.
NBA would overrule the illegal breaking and entering.
The only reason I could see Sam Mitchell using five smalls for a large portion of the game and four smalls for most of the game was so he could have the Pacers charged with breaking and entering. It was a stupid idea for Sam to begin with. The defense was so wide open in the key the NBA would have ruled there was no breaking and entering because the Rapters never had any space controlled in the center to break and enter into. They would say “Sam, you had a welcome mat down in your paint!!!”
I did not think even TJ could force so many bad shots in such a short period of time but then I remembered that is typical when TJs main ego Piggy takes over.
Andrea has to stop being used for threes. 3 for 10 and out of position when he shoots. Andrea played well but some day when someone show Sam how well Andrea moves and hit Sam over the head with sledge hammer to wake him up and tells him Andrea can drive and shoot inside. Hit Sam in the head again with the sledge hammer and say Andrea cannot rebound or pass from the three. We have four good three point shooters. Then slams Sam again with the sledgehammer and say play Andrea as a center or a power forward. Sam would probably wake up and say “Mom, I will I am sorry”.
Anyone who watched that game saw what Andrea could be and what Sam makes him. They saw when TJ is a pig the only winner is the other team. Sam’s four small men won once in two years. Five small men look like a bad “B” movie. The title of the B movie “Sam
- Miles HershbergBosh has got to go. We can move up in the draft and maby get a big or a slasher for bosh. Only then will we see Andrea reach his potential. The two point system (tj/jose) may have benifits but the log jam of two superstars at PF will hurt team in the long run. One will walk if not traded.
- lt1 small blockEric - I would love to know?
When Sam put in the 5 smalls and the Pacers totally took over our paint do you think it was a good idea?
Do you think it was smart when Sam had Ford and Parker playing the 5 on defense?
When Sam played four smalls and Andrea do you think it was smart to still let Andrea shoot threes and leave no big men near the paint?
I will not insult you by asking you if you noticed how much more athletic Andrea is this year than last year. Sam obviously has not noticed. Last night you saw how beautiful Andrea drives. You know what a great passer Andrea is. Since we have Kapono, Parker, Calderon and Delfino who can all shoot threes don’t you think it is dumb not to develop Andrea as a power forward or a center rather than making him our fourth or fifth three point shooter?
Why don’t you find out why Moon shoots more 3s than makes dunk attempts?
Are you not getting bored and frustrated with Ford already? Brilliant passer but how many times do we have to watch him try to take over a game shooting and have the opponents thank him for it?
- Miles HershbergOooohhh….It’s hard to be a fan and watch Sam juggle the team around a WEAK SF position. Hopefully the worst is behind us with the injuries. I’m counting on BC to strengthen our SF with a good Rebounder/Defensive player next season.
- PapiJulioEl Mago has got the FIRE in his belly. Once defence and how to give a hard foul is learned he WILL blossom into a STAR!