Morning Coffee: December 18th Edition

Raptors guards, Jonas Valanciunas need to undergo couples therapy | National Post Moreover, it seems as if multiple times per game, Valanciunas ends up rolling to the rim with his arms up, practically crying for the pass. Usually, the Raptors ignore him. Good plays, good moves, good weekend | Toronto Star Dwane made a very…

Raptors guards, Jonas Valanciunas need to undergo couples therapy | National Post

Moreover, it seems as if multiple times per game, Valanciunas ends up rolling to the rim with his arms up, practically crying for the pass. Usually, the Raptors ignore him.

Good plays, good moves, good weekend | Toronto Star

Dwane made a very interesting point in a pre-game chat about what’s made the HOTH a bit better of late. “You can hear good defence.”

David Aldridge Provides Encouraging Bargnani Trade Speculation | RaptorBlog

Aldridge writes that the Raptors might not be ready to pull the trigger on a trade for Pau Gasol involving Bargnani and Jose Calderon just yet, but adds that in regard to Bargnani, “league sources are convinced the Raptors will eventually move him somewhere,” while also quoting a General Manager who says “Bryan is going to move him, no doubt.”

RaptorBlog Radio: Winning Streak? | RaptorBlog

Raptors on the rebound after win streak | Toronto Sun

That’s not to say bodies won’t still be moved or positions lost. That’s the nature of professional sports. It’s going to happen. But for now some calm has been restored and the Raptors, with two consecutive wins for the first time all season, are more concerned with the next opponent than the last.

Raptors’ Valanciunas getting his playing time cut back | Toronto Sun

“I talked to Jonas before about his minutes going back a bit,” Casey said. “He has done nothing wrong. It’s just the fact that Amir and Eddie have played really well together and individually.”

Armstrong: Five thoughts on Raptors’ win streak and more – Jack Armstrong | TSN

Amazing isn’t it? Two of your most talented offensive players, Andrea Bargnani and Kyle Lowry are injured and the team is playing better. They are playing harder defensively, have each other’s back and are sharing the ball the best I’ve seen this season.

Cracking up | The Good Point

It wasn’t long ago when Toronto was called, in some corners, a playoff-capable team. And then the season started. Things have not been well in Toronto, a city where expectations aren’t ever especially high for the Raptors.

Toronto at Cleveland | CBSSports

Cleveland was short-handed when it last faced the Raptors, playing without Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao when it visited Canada on April 6. But the Cavaliers avoided a four-game sweep in the season series with an 84-80 victory, snapping the Raptors’ longest winning streak of last season.

Peak announces partnership with NBA’s Toronto Raptors | China Daily

This partnership marks the first time a professional Canadian sports team has ever been sponsored by a Chinese company. Xu said they’re hoping to introduce and establish their brand in Canada with the help of the Toronto Raptors.

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