Since I just wrote a game preview for the last Grizz game, I’m not going to do a lick of research for this post. Because as my good friends know, impeccable memory (along with laser vision and elephantitis of the genitals) is one of my finer qualities.
We beat them on their court, which, following Raptor Logic™, means we should lose on our court. But I’m just not feeling an L tonight. We’re better than this team (this year anyway). And while the Raps have rested since Sunday, the Grizz are heading into the second of a back-to-back, coming out of Jersey last night with a win. They’re a run-and-gun team, so if we can take advantage of their liftless legs and ride our home crowd, we should be able to jump on them early. Tougher for us is to actually protect the lead. Unarmed soldiers in Kabul are safer than a Raptor lead.
I’m going to the game, excited not just because it’s Spanish Night at the ACC, not just because it’s Calderon and Garbajosa Bobblehead Night, but because on his blog Nov.20th, “voice of the Raptors” Chuck Swirsky promised to wear a toupee tonight.
Getting a ton of feedback on Spanish night at the ACC Wednesday when the Raps with Jorge and Jose host Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro. Leo suggested I break out a toupee to add to the Mediterranean look that night. Fans thus far apparently like the idea… Where do you find a cheap hair piece?
Now I have no idea why our cheerleader with the Lilliputian lungs would say something like this, but it’s not any more arbitrary than his now (in)famous “Salami and Cheese” saying. It’s got the ladies screaming.
(For you out of towners, Chuck declares it’s time to ‘break out the salami and cheese, Mama!’ when he feels the Raptors have secured the win.)
But because I fear the little guy will lose his gumption, I present you with what Chuck would look like coiffed, crowned, and, ultimately, cool, thanks to (someone else’s) Photoshop skills.
You’ll never guess who’s hair that is. C’mon, guess*.
Anyway, on to the game.
Been havin’ a good old back and forth with our friends at Grizzlies blog 3 Shades of Blue. He’s not making any predictions for tonight…oh wait, yes he is. Interesting post, but what stands out most to me is that they think the Grizz have a better bench than the Raptors. Even with Jose in the starting lineup, I still think we have the goods over Stromile ‘Never Getting Better’ Swift, Hakim Warrick, Tarence Kinsey, and Kyle Lowry.
Over in Graceland, they’re optimistic about what’s on the horizon for the Grizz, but are looking for a – get this – Big Country Reeves type. (yes, he actually said this. Not sure he meant it, but he said it.) Type? He’s a type? Maybe the type of guy who looks like he owns more guns than clean underwear, but that’s about it.
Last week, we touched on some of the similarities between the Raptors and the Grizzlies. A couple more: .
Raps-Grizz similarity #35:
Grizz: Have Casey Jacobsen, the three-point specialist who doesn’t take any threes.
Raptors: Have Jason Kapono, the three-point specialist who doesn’t take any threes.
Raptors/Grizz Similarity #82:
Grizz: Have a man named Gay.
Raptors: Have a man named Andrea.
Sobering Thought: No matter how good or how many rings he wins, he’ll always share a moniker with her.
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I expect:
– Jose to have another big game, getting up against his good pals Navarro (who’s hot on his own, 11 boards last night) and Pau-Pau the Wonder Panda.
– Jamario blocks Rudy Gay hard enough to turn him Rudy Straight. (Getting old? Never!)
– Kapono and Jacobsen to combine for 3-7 behind the arc.
– Bosh to continue his play of late. Defense is on Memphis’ holiday wish list, especially on the interior, where Darko’s one-dimensional play is sorely missed. (For the record, if Jersey had ANY inside presence, they would have won last night’s game.)
– Jamario and Delfino to thrive in this up-and-down track meet.
– Calderon to win the stat battle with Navarro.
– A high scoring affair. Hoping for pizza. It won’t be the Phx-GS game from Monday night, but truthfully, nothing will ever be.
That’s it for now. A victory tonight and the next few games (Cleveland, Washington, Charlotte) are totally winnable. Let’s string a couple together. Van, los Raptors, Van!
*Okay fine…Those fine folicles belong to none other than Patrick Dempsey.
