I said one thing before the game:
“We have to defend Roger Mason!”
Sam said one thing during the game:
“Horns up!”
Raps fans said one thing after the game:
“I’m getting a little tired of this.”
**************
There’s such a positive spin on everything coming out of the franchise these days, everyone north of Front St. can smell the horseshit. Their reaction to this season should surprise no one, just like no one should be surprised with our eventual first round exit. That’s right, I came out and said it a) because I don’t believe we can beat Orlando, Cleveland, or Washington in a 7-game series and b) to avoid crushing emails from various non-Raptor blogs who’s teams I’ve lampooned over the season.
Because with or without Bosh, there’s really, nothing more we can expect from this team this season (with this coach!). They’ll hover anywhere between +5 and – 3 of .500 for the season due because of some major issues, one of them being consistent team synergy which is going to take a year or two to notice. The Eastern Conference championship isn’t coming this season. And so long as we continue to get better, I’ll be okay with that.
Quickly, to the game:
I didn’t write a pre-game post for this game because I’m tired of trying to find something interesting about this group. Yeah, Deshawn’s an ass. Jamison is Mr. Consistent. Gilbert and Caron aren’t playing. Etan Thomas still hasn’t poisoned Brendan Haywood’s Gatorade. What else? Umm…Eddie Jordan’s shoes didn’t match his tie…I hear Darius Songalia enjoys black licorice…Nick Young and Dominic McGuire were caught making out in the equipment room…
What is it with these guys? Roger Mason Jr. saves all other 78 games of effort for his 4 against the Raptors. Andre Blatche seems to grow two feet every time he plays us. Jamison goes into ‘destroy’ mode. Even Pecherov scored a three billion. The Wiz LOVE playing against us, make no mistake about it.
I wonder what happened to Roger Mason while in Toronto that has made him so very, very, angry? Whatever it is, on behalf of the City of Toronto (which we call the GTA, wow!) I apologize. Please go back to thinking of us as ‘just another game’ and return to supreme suckiness*.
* Named Cruelest Insult, 1989.
Attention “TJ-Ford-Can-Do-No-Wrong” Fans: Does tonight settle it? What more evidence do you need? Did you happen to notice the home crowd BOOING TJ after his selfish 4th quarter start? Without Jose, the Raptors would have been blown the fuck out. Arsenalist said it right, Calderon “went out there and created a little chaos”. The Spanish Fly was buzzing around the court getting most of his three steals, twenty points, and nine assists in the third quarter. He came out as aggressive as we’ve ever seen, completely dictating the pace and momentum of the game for about 7 minutes.
Now TJ… starting the fourth quarter with (Jose’s) six point lead, he went one-on-five for two consecutive possessions leading to two wild drives to the net (both missed), then had a TO on the next play. Bam. Washington is back in the lead. Gutshot, just like that. Sam instantly sat him, to which Ford was visibly upset, as he should be: we had this game…and then we didn’t. Every time they cut to the bench after a big play, Brezec and Joey were up waving their towel, while TJ could barely muster the energy for a golf clap. All this while Jose is on the court blowing past mismatches and robbing the passing lanes.
Jose Calderon is irreplaceable. TJ Ford is a good point guard and a valuable asset that should be shopped to bring in a athletic, defensive 2/3/4 who can rebound.
I am not blaming the loss on TJ, far from it. Once Jamison got it going, you had to know it was lights out. He eats us alive around the bucket and demands so much attention that they get the best of out Haywood and Blatche at the rim. Without Bosh we’re at a heavy disadvantage in this department, despite the more than noble attempts from Rasho. He, Jose, and Parker have been playing great basketball during this speed bump in the season.
This next game against Seattle has to be considered a ‘must-win’. After getting embarrassed on their home court, we need to show some pride and exact some revenge.
Don’t fret about the white flag, faithful. Did you really think we were going all the way this season (with this coach)?
(with this coach?)
