Raptors News

[angel_luv]

ive always been a bosh fan(went to my high school) and ive liked tj ford since he went to texas. good job toronto. tied for first with New Jersey in the division too. their red jerseys are awesome.


Raps are number one!

[dave]

angel_luv, i'm assuming you missed my comment while you were replying to dallaskd

if not.... look closer

http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/nikkireyes.html

3rd paragraph

[Pero]

angel_luv, i'm assuming you missed my comment while you were replying to dallaskd

if not.... look closer

http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/nikkireyes.html

3rd paragraph


"Couple of highlights so far:
Me blowing
Mark in a tight baby jersey. (like totally skin tight!)"

Hmmm, huh? What`s this got to do with anything? (of course I`m not AngelLuv hahah)

[angel_luv]

So how about those Raptors? :)

[ploto]

"Couple of highlights so far:
Me blowing
Mark in a tight baby jersey. (like totally skin tight!)"

:wtf I think she meant bowling!!! The Raptors just had their charity bowling tournament.

[dave]

"Couple of highlights so far:
Me blowing
Mark in a tight baby jersey. (like totally skin tight!)"

Hmmm, huh? What`s this got to do with anything? (of course I`m not AngelLuv hahah)

Couple of highlights so far:
Me blowing
Mark in a tight baby jersey. (like totally skin tight!)

What in the world am I talking about?!...you'll just have to watch NBA XL to find out.

i'm definitely watching

[ploto]

Raptors, beasts of the East

I know that people have not been particularly fond of Mitchell in the past, but I give him big credit for 2 things.
1. Young players have developed well under him
2. He was integral in the decisons to trade for Ford and Rasho through his own personal interactions with them, either as a coach or a teammate


When practice breaks up in Raptorland this season, the sights and sounds are becoming familiar. You'll probably see Dave Hopla, the shooting coach, making a few (hundred) free throws without missing. You usually see Andrea Bargnani, who is religious about post-practice stretching, tangling his giraffe-ish legs into a pretzel.

And over on the opposite sideline you often see Bryan Colangelo, the president and general manager, engaged in an animated conversation with Sam Mitchell, the coach.

"I believe they talk every day, evaluate what's going on, the positives, the negatives, how can we get better. And believe me, all the guys are watching. They all notice it," said Darrick Martin, the 12-year veteran guard who is one of Mitchell's closest confidants. "Bryan and Sam have a great working relationship. ... As a player, you like to see how their relationship works. They're the captains of the ship."

When the season began, of course, no one could be sure how long Mitchell would stay above water. Colangelo, after all, didn't hire him. And he didn't exactly seem to admire him. But things have changed considerably in three unexpectedly successful months. Yesterday Mitchell was named the Eastern Conference's coach of the month for January. That the Raptors dispatched the Wizards twice while winning 10 of 15 games – and in doing so, beat the team that currently stands atop the frighteningly feeble Eastern Conference – speaks to the club's current location: on the brink of what could quickly become an unexpected breakthrough of a season.

Thanks to his own maturation as a coach and the speedy maturation of his young team, Mitchell is tracking a remarkable improvement curve. If it continues, it'll be difficult for Colangelo to justify any course of action other than giving Mitchell, whose current deal expires at season's end, a contract extension.

How do you fire the coach, after all, when the franchise's three cornerstone players are coming along so nicely? T.J. Ford, 23, has been hampered by injury of late but has been occasionally, tantalizingly outstanding. Chris Bosh, 22, is headed to his second consecutive all-star game and was yesterday named the Eastern Conference's player of the month for January. And Bargnani, the 21-year-old who rounded out the Raptors' sweep of the conference's monthly awards by being named the East's rookie of the month, has progressed at a rate even Colangelo says he didn't anticipate.

How do you fire the coach when the player Mitchell has called his "pride and joy" – second-year point guard Jose Calderon – has improved more than anyone on the roster? Indeed, that Mitchell has displayed an enviable rapport with many of his charges hasn't hurt his cause or team chemistry.

How do you fire the coach, in short, when he has been handed one of the greenest rosters in the league – complete as it is with nine new players – and has improved its record every month?

There are ways, of course, to fire a coach. You could point out that Mitchell has clearly been out-duelled at times; that if the Raptors had won a handful of the games in which they've been close down the stretch – if better in-game management had saved the day – they'd be wildly overachieving.

So an extension isn't coming just yet. And the argument that it needs to come, and pronto, doesn't hold much water. If lame-duck coaching is as destructive to credibility as some claim, Toronto's relatively harmonious locker room is an aberration. Yesterday, though Colangelo offered stock praise for Mitchell and Bosh and Bargnani, he exercised his usual refusal to discuss Mitchell's contractual situation.

Perhaps the GM doesn't want anyone relaxing just yet. Clearly Colangelo is reserving judgment a little longer, and wisely.

Bringing the team through the regular season's home stretch, shepherding the youngsters through a likely playoff run, will be Mitchell's biggest test yet. And if he and the team perform well, much of the leverage in negotiations will be his.

But there's at least three months' work ahead. To put it in the vernacular of politics – another game Mitchell avidly observes – the re-election campaign is off to a great beginning. Still, the electorate will be unforgiving should the coach and his team, on the cusp of heady and unexpected success, end up with something less.

LINK (http://www.thestar.com/columnists/article/177517)

[ploto]

i'm definitely watching
As will all the rest of the men!!

[ploto]

Not to jinx his night- but Rasho already with 2 dunks-- the second on the alley oop slam!!!!! The bench went wild. :)

[ploto]

Toronto 103 Hawks 91

Rasho 6/10 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

TJ with 10 assists in 17 minutes off the bench.

Mo Pete with a great game off the bench, as well.

Raptors over .500 :elephant

[angel_luv]

Not to jinx his night- but Rasho already with 2 dunks-- the second on the alley oop slam!!!!! The bench went wild. :)


I wonder if it will make the highlight reel. Hope so!

I am so excited for the guys. I was rooting for them tonight while I worked. :)

[ploto]

Doug Smith really likes Rasho a lot.


Doug Smith
Sports Reporter
ATLANTA – When Morris Peterson’s almost breaking the backboard banking in a three-pointer from three feet behind the arc and Rasho Nesterovic is throwing down dunks, you could say things are going to go well for the Raptors.

Toss in another sublime effort from the two-headed point guard of T.J. Calderon and Jose Ford and an average night from all-star Chris Bosh and there is no way the Raptors could lose in Atlanta on Friday night.

A 103-91 victory over the Hawks was fashioned with some of the most balanced offence, which has put Toronto at 24-23 on the season, still ensconced in first place in the Atlantic Division.

Six Toronto players were in double figures, the ball movement was exceptional and except for a 12-minute lapse bridging the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth, Toronto was in complete control and has now reached unimaginable heights given the franchise’s recent history.

The Raptors are over the .500 mark. The win is also their fifth in the last six games, seventh in the last 10 and 11th in the last 15, as good a run as a Raptor team has had in years.

Bosh finished with 24 points and Peterson had 21 for the Raptors, who also got 14 from Jose Calderon, 12 including two dunks from Nesterovic and a dozen from Anthony Parker. Andrea Bargnani managed to toss in 11 to round out the offence.

The game was not without its moments where the Raptors looked less than dominating. They let a 19-point lead early in the third quarter dwindle to seven early in the fourth because they allowed Atlanta’s Joe Johnson to go off for 17 points in the third and finished with 28 on the game.

The Raptors allowed the Hawks to get too many open looks – Atlanta shot better than 45 per cent from the field – and if the Toronto offence hadn't been operating at such efficiency, it could have been costly.

Peterson’s night included five three-pointers and the Raptors got to the free throw line 27 times as they beat the Hawks inside and out.

The point-guard duo of Ford and Calderon was once again exceptional, and once again in reversed roles.

Calderon got his second straight start with Ford in uniform as coach Sam Mitchell wants to bring his injured regular starter back slowly. Ford missed four games with a sore right ankle – residual pain from an injury he suffered in December – and is not ready to return to his regular workload. He’s only had two practices to get back up to game speed.

“We have to limit his minutes, see how he feels,” Mitchell said early Friday.

Ford’s taken to this backup role like a duck to water. In his first 8.5 minutes, he piled up seven assists, including a lob pass that Nesterovic took and deposited for his second dunk of the first half.

Calderon, meanwhile, had eight points and five assists in the first half alone, helping Toronto take a 63-46 lead at the intermission. The 63 points were two off the team’s most productive half of the season and Toronto shot a solid 55 per cent and made six of its nine three-pointers in the first two quarters.

Even though his team is achieving unprecedented success in his three years as head coach, Mitchell said before the game that he’s not concerned about history or this team’s place in it.

“We haven’t accomplished anything,” he said Friday morning. “We’ve put ourselves in position to accomplish something but we haven’t done anything yet. We do have a chance to do something and at the end of the day, that’s all you want, a chance.

“Now, it’s what we’re going to do with the chance.”

The daily glance at the standings, both of the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference, may be fun for fans but the coach doesn’t get up early every day to check the papers.

“I don’t even talk about that stuff with these guys,” he said. “They understand where we are, they know where we are in the standings, these guys are not dumb. They know, but they also know the struggles.”

While there are a handful of new players who don’t know how bad things have been, a couple of key players have all kinds of context.

“Chris and Mo and Darrick, guys who’ve been here the longest, Joey, they know what we’ve been through,” said Mitchell. “They know the uphill battle, they know some of the losses we’ve been through. “The fact we’re here with the chance to do something special this year is a testament to them.”

LINK (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/177845)

[dave]

Chris Bosh made his first two field-goal attempts after hitting his last 15 shots from the floor in his previous game (Wednesday vs. Washington). Bosh's streak of 17 field goals was the longest for any NBA player since Alonzo Mourning made 19 in a row for Miami over a two-game span in February 2000

[angel_luv]

Chris Bosh made his first two field-goal attempts after hitting his last 15 shots from the floor in his previous game (Wednesday vs. Washington). Bosh's streak of 17 field goals was the longest for any NBA player since Alonzo Mourning made 19 in a row for Miami over a two-game span in February 2000


That is awesome! :)

[ploto]

"There were some crazy things that happened tonight," Peterson said. "Rasho caught a lob. I got a dunk tonight. We were hitting three-pointers off the backboard, we were scoring on no-look shots. I think it was our night tonight and we just took advantage of it."

The 21 from Peterson was his highest output since his 23 in a 120-115 win over Golden State in mid-December.

The alley-oop by Nesterovic had the Raptors bench up and on its feet with cries of "Who knew?" clearly audible.

Chris Bosh, who finished the night with a team high 24 points, suggested the Nesterovic shocker might be worthy of its own T-shirt.

" I hope you all taped that because it will never happen again," Bosh said. "Get the game film."

Nesterovic admitted he couldn't remember the last time he converted such a play.

"You just react. You don't think," he said. "It caught everyone by surprise, even me."

LINK (http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Basketball/NBA/Toronto/2007/02/03/3515603-sun.html)

[angel_luv]

That is so cute. :lol

But for the record, I knew. :)

[ploto]

Big win for the Raptors against the Red Hot Clippers! 122-110.

Rasho in early foul trouble :( Clippers had a field day of offensive rebounds in the first half, then. But Rasho did a great job on Brand in the third quarter.

16 minutes; 2/3; 3 rebounds; 1 block; 1 assist.

For the past 10 games- Rasho is shooting 60% FG. :)

I give a lot of credit to the Raptors who withstood every Clippers run. Every time it got down to single digits, someone on the Raptors hit a big 3- whether Parker, Garbajosa, Peterson, even Ford one time. Raptors 12/20 from the three-point line and 30 assists! The ball movement was a thing of beauty.

[ploto]

http://www.nba.com/media/raptors/bargnaniclips4_350.jpg

[resistanze]

2nd Hottest team in the NBA (along w/ Suns), 8-2 in last 10 :lol

Too bad February is a tough month, hopefully they hover around .500 in Feb. games.

[angel_luv]

Congrats Raptors! I prayed for them in church today. :)



Big win for the Raptors against the Red Hot Clippers! 122-110.

Rasho in early foul trouble :( Clippers had a field day of offensive rebounds in the first half, then. But Rasho did a great job on Brand in the third quarter.

16 minutes; 2/3; 3 rebounds; 1 block; 1 assist.

For the past 10 games- Rasho is shooting 60% FG. :)

:fro


The ball movement was a thing of beauty.
:tu

[angel_luv]

Guess who just got her February 26th game ticket in the mail?

:elephant :elephant

[ploto]

Leadership Comes In Many Forms

Great Article. :)


Paul Jones has been covering the Raptors since day one. You can catch Jonesy's calling Raptors play-by-play every game on the FAN590 as well as Raptors NBA TV’s Double Dribble with Eric Smith. Paul will bring you the inside scoop all season long on raptors.com

(TORONTO) -- Every successful team has a guy like Rasho Nesterovic. He’s a veteran of NBA wars, has playoff experience including a championship ring as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. He does his job without fanfare and is generally considered low maintenance because he doesn’t need any plays run for him. As long as the team wins, he’s happy. It doesn’t matter if he plays five minutes or 35 minutes.

“He’s an anchor for our defence,” said assistant coach Jay Triano. "He’s played a lot of basketball over his international and NBA career with some very good teams. He knows how to communicate, he knows positioning not only for himself but he directs other players on the floor as well.”

“He’s one of the reasons we’re better defensively,” continued Triano. “Rasho takes away easy layups for the opposition and when we play zone and just takes up space.”

But there is an added bonus with Nesterovic. Not only does he do his job professionally, he is the team’s resident comic. His facial expressions and one-liners are delivered with impeccable timing as he always manages to help keep things loose at the right time.

“I don’t know what it is that he says that’s funny,” laughed Triano. “I think it’s just how he says it in his language and you have to listen carefully because so much of it is in the delivery as it is with most people that are funny.”

Nesterovic was in rare form following the Raptors win on the road in Atlanta. The game featured Rasho on the business end of an alley-oop jam that brought the bench to its feet as nobody saw the spectacular finish coming. As he fixed himself a plate of food on the charter flight following the game his self deprecating humour literally had people laughing in the aisle.

In his own inimitable way with his distinctive Slovenian accent he remarked “I think so, I’m going to call the NBA to be in the slam dunk contest.”

When the chuckles subsided from those around the buffet trolley, he added a statement that sparked another round of laughter. “If they don’t call back I think so it would be a real shame,” he smiled.

As Nesterovic’s dunk continued to be a major topic of discussion before the flight left the ground, he looked at one of the members of the traveling media and said, “You were surprised by my dunk, yes?”

Following the head nodding response, Nesterovic added, “Me too I’m surprised by it.”

“Him and Slokar are like the Blues Brothers. They’re a riot,” chuckled assistant coach Jim Todd. “One of the biggest things about Rasho besides the serious part of him doing a great job on defence and helping the young guys is he keeps everybody light in that locker room and during the games.”

“In crucial situations, there’s a little levity to what he’s doing. He knows enough to be serious since he’s been around enough good teams and won championships but he just keeps everybody light and I think that has helped our team overall.”

Nesterovic likes the way the young team is progressing and knows there is still work to be done, unlike the conference finalists in Minnesota and the championship team in San Antonio.

“That team in San Antonio was set up (for a championship),” said Nesterovic. “They were playing together for four or five years. This (Toronto) team needs more time to play together.”

Being the locker room comic comes naturally to Nesterovic as he always tries to keep things in perspective.

“I try to have fun playing the game,” said the former first round draft pick. “You give your best performances if you’re having fun. That’s what I try to do.”

When asked to answer three questions during a pregame interview, Nesterovic walked away at the conclusion of the session sarcastically clearing his throat and rubbing his neck saying, “That was more than three questions and now I can’t talk for defence.”

Nesterovic can play both ends of the floor and is capable of contributing on the offensive end as well. He can make the face up jump shot from 12-15 feet whether it is near the top of the key or on the baseline. In keeping with his amiable personality and the line drive trajectory on his jumper we have dubbed it the “Slovenian Slingshot”.

Maurizio Gherardini has known Nesterovic for somewhere in the neighbourhood of 12 -14 years.

“I think his value comes in his overall knowledge of the game,” said Gherardini. “He understands everything about the game and can read it very clearly. He’s a true team player and that’s why teammates love him.”

“Stories cannot be told,” laughed Gherardini waving his index finger, when asked to relay his funniest Nesterovic story. “He’s a very funny guy with a high quality sense of humour. He picks up jokes and makes jokes very easily and is just a quality person who is poised very mature and just knows his way around.”

All kidding aside Nesterovic is a bright man that speaks four languages and Raptor fans hope the laugh will be on those people that, like Rasho’s dunk in Atlanta, never saw this team’s progress moving forward this quickly.
LINK (http://www.nba.com/raptors/raptorcom/jones_020507.html)

[Rip-Hamilton32]

this thread should be called raptors/rasho news

[ploto]

Nesterovic pumps up teammates


Hulking centre thinks team has a chance to be among best in Eastern Conference


Rasho Nesterovic has always been where the Toronto Raptors are hoping to go.

The seven-footer from Slovenia has played in the postseason in all eight years of his National Basketball Association career. In 2004-05, he earned a championship ring as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.

Nesterovic thinks his new team is selling itself short if their goal simply is to make the playoffs.

"No one knows what is realistic," said the veteran centre who was acquired in a trade to Toronto in June. "[But] if we keep playing like we are, and stay healthy, I don't see a reason why we won't be one of the best teams in the East."

If the season ended today, the Raptors, 25-23 and 12-4 since Jan. 5, would be the Atlantic Division winners and enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed.

They would play the No. 5 Cleveland Cavaliers, but wouldn't have home advantage, as the NBA's playoff system guarantees divisional winners a top-four seed, while home court still goes to the four teams with a better record.

"When we came into the season, [Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell] wanted us to think about the top four seeds in the Eastern Conference," said all-star forward Chris Bosh, who is averaging 26.8 points a night over the Raptors' past 10 games. The Raptors are 8-2 in that stretch, the best record in the East.

"That's been our mind frame and it's a reachable goal, it's an attainable goal now. If we just continue to play unselfishly, at the end of the season, we want to not only be in the Atlantic race, we want to be in the Eastern race as well."

The next logical goal is to attempt to finish with one of the four best records in the East, thereby assuring the Raptors home court in the opening round. As it stands now, Toronto would need to catch 27-21 Cleveland, which is two games up on the Raptors, but a pedestrian 4-6 in its past 10 starts.

Still, there's a sense that the Raptors aren't exactly sure what their true potential is going forward.

"I don't know, man," Mitchell said. "You look at some teams, and you can see the obvious. You look at our team and people don't quite see it. They don't quite get it. You look at the names [on the back of the jersey], the names don't scare you.

"But individuals don't win games. They can win a game here or there, but teams win consistently. We're a good team. I don't think we have great talent, but we have good team talent."

It's showing in their success offensively. In their past three games, all comfortable wins, the Raptors are shooting a remarkable 55.9 per cent, while counting 2.54 assists for every turnover.

But for Nesterovic, it is the Raptors' performance at the other end of the floor that is the cause for optimism. The Raptors are 14-3 when they hold teams to less than 45-per-cent shooting and 20-2 when they shoot a higher percentage than their opponents.

"We play hard defence," Nesterovic said. "There are some nights we might not shoot good, but on defence, we're going to give it everything we have. If someone wants to beat us, they're going to have to give their best. It starts with that."

Gaudy as their record is lately, the Raptors missed chances to make an impression in home losses to the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz, arguably the three best teams in the NBA right now.

Having buffed their record on the weakest part of their schedule, the Raptors get a test this week, as they host the Orlando Magic tomorrow and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, two teams with playoff goals similar to their own.

The Raptors can count themselves lucky in that they play the Magic and Lakers on the second night of back-to-back games for the visiting teams (Orlando will play in Milwaukee tonight, while the Lakers will be in Detroit on Thursday).

"Your record is what it is," Mitchell said. "When we were 2-8, I didn't think we were a 2-8 basketball team. And now that we're 25-23, our guys know where we are in the standings.

"They know what's at stake, because you can tell [by] how they're playing."

LINK (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070206.RAPTORS06/TPStory/Sports)

[BgT]

this thread should be called raptors/rasho news
And you are one of the most regular posters in this thread... :rolleyes

[angel_luv]

What an awesome article.

hehe- Sho and Slokar the Blues brothers. :fro




But there is an added bonus with Nesterovic. Not only does he do his job professionally, he is the team’s resident comic. His facial expressions and one-liners are delivered with impeccable timing as he always manages to help keep things loose at the right time.

I knew it!


In his own inimitable way with his distinctive Slovenian accent he remarked “I think so, I’m going to call the NBA to be in the slam dunk contest.”

When the chuckles subsided from those around the buffet trolley, he added a statement that sparked another round of laughter. “If they don’t call back I think so it would be a real shame,” he smiled.


:lol Okay that was the best laugh I have had in awhile.



Second article.
Hulking Center... make that Hunk Center. :) Otherwise, fantastic article.


Nesterovic thinks his new team is selling itself short if their goal simply is to make the playoffs.

"No one knows what is realistic," said the veteran centre who was acquired in a trade to Toronto in June. "[But] if we keep playing like we are, and stay healthy, I don't see a reason why we won't be one of the best teams in the East."

I believe. :)



"I don't know, man," Mitchell said. "You look at some teams, and you can see the obvious. You look at our team and people don't quite see it. They don't quite get it. You look at the names [on the back of the jersey], the names don't scare you.

Fear the Sho!

"Your record is what it is," Mitchell said. "When we were 2-8, I didn't think we were a 2-8 basketball team. And now that we're 25-23, our guys know where we are in the standings.

"They know what's at stake, because you can tell [by] how they're playing."

Whoosh! Dajmo boys! :clap :)

[Rip-Hamilton32]

And you are one of the most regular posters in this thread... :rolleyes

just because i don't post doesn't mean i don't read

[BgT]

just because i don't post doesn't mean i don't read
But you do post. And after you reply again, you will have even more posts in this very very stupid thread, right? :spin

[Rip-Hamilton32]

But you do post. And after you reply again, you will have even more posts in this very very stupid thread, right? :spin

lol i don't remember callin this thread stupid but ok, besides i like reading the news but i could careless about rasho hes just another below average center

[velik_m]

Raptors Analysis By European Coach Raul Jimenez (http://hoopsaddict.com/blog/?p=1629)

Analysis of raptors offensive game with lots of videos.

[BgT]

I expected about 100× longer article. If that's what Raptors offense is, they are done. :lol

http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Basketball/2007/02/07/3549147-sun.html


"Maybe if a guy is a little upset, I'll wait until the next day (to bring it up). I'm not the mean ogre that you guys (in the media) think. I'm more like that with you guys because this here (media scrums) is not my comfort zone, doing this part of my job. But dealing with these guys I learned because at the end of the day it's managing people. I think I've gotten better."

[ploto]

Big test for Raptors tonight


Doug Smith
Sports reporter

A huge problem awaits the Raptors tonight, huge as in 6-foot-11, 265 pounds of huge.

That's how big Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard is – a big, tough, interior presence who has the capability of making life miserable for the Raptors at the Air Canada Centre.

Raptors coach Sam Mitchell knows how tough Howard can be and, most importantly, so does Rasho Nesterovic, who'll have the primary duty of trying to guard the 21-year-old all-star.

"You can't give him any easy looks or dunks," Nesterovic said this morning. "You have to box him out because he's a great offensive rebounder.

"He's less effective if he's one or two steps outside the paint than if he catches it deep in the paint. He's so athletic, it's hard to guard him if he catches it deep."

The decision Mitchell has to wrestle with is how much help to give Nesterovic whenever Howard catches the ball in the low post. Does the coach immediately send a second defender to hopefully keep Nesterovic out of foul trouble and have him available for the fourth quarter? Or does he hope the officials allow some contract so Nesterovic can play.

"You would like to go into the fourth quarter where we can try to play him more straight up and not have to trap and rotate and leave guys who can shoot the basketball open," Mitchell said Wednesday.

"So what do you do? You either try to trap him early so your one big guy doesn't get in foul trouble or you let him play him and then if he gets in foul trouble, you don't have that luxury to try to play him straight up late in the game."

The Raptors did have some success against Howard earlier this season in a 91-84 victory in Orlando. Nesterovic, who was allowed to use his 7-foot bulk to push Howard away from the basket, had one of his best games of the season with 10-rebounds and five-blocked shots.

"He's probably the closest in the league to Shaq and Yao Ming," Nesterovic said of Howard. "If you give him easy looks in the paint, it's 90 per cent score or a foul."

Meanwhile, there is still no official word on whether point guard T.J. Ford will continue to come off the bench or whether his sore ankle is good enough to allow him to return to his starting role.

Ford took part in the team's shootaround this morning and his role will be determined after tonight's warm-ups.

LINK (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/179147)

[angel_luv]

Dajmo Raptors! :cheer

[angel_luv]

Raptors win again. :)

I know that it was close for the first three quarters ( seemed like Howard was pretty much having his way) but from the live box score, looks like the Raps played an impressive fourth quarter.
Right?

[dave]

the magic are dumb
howard was like 13-14

dunno why they didn't go to him more

rasho had a 6-6-6 game
6points, 6boards, 6 fouls

[angel_luv]

the magic are dumb
howard was like 13-14

dunno why they didn't go to him more

rasho had a 6-6-6 game
6points, 6boards, 6 fouls

:oops

[angel_luv]

Sho had an assist and a blocked shot too. :)

[ploto]

Howard was a beast but Rasho played him well in the fourth quarter.

Bosh was incredible! After a slow start, he scores a career high 41 points.

Just as incredible-- Both PG's with a DOUBLE DOUBLE!! 10 points and 11 assists for Jose and 10 points and 11 assists for TJ!!

http://www.nba.com/media/raptors/ORL_rasho_hook_howard_350.jpg

http://www.nba.com/media/raptors/ORL_andrea_dnk_350_outlaw.jpg

[angel_luv]

Thanks for the recap and pics Ploto. :)

[mikejones99]

Rasho got 31 minutes, if they keep playing him this much they might be in the east finals. :donkey look out Detroit

[ploto]

Next up... the Lakers. Good test for the Raptors.

[ploto]

It's just a blog, but still a nice write up on the Raptors. Here's the part about Rasho:


Colangelo has been in Toronto for almost a year now, after coming over late last February to assess the club for the final few months of a dismal season. In that short time he’s built one of, if not the best, PG combo’s in the league. He brought in a Euro League MVP shooting guard (H&M Anthony Parker) who’s quietly making a solid return to the NBA, and the team is loving the fact that they are receiving vital contribution from two BIG rookies in the likes of Jorge Garbajosa and Andrea Bargnani. Now all of those players mentioned were those who you would have thought would be able to contribute something to the team entering the year. Someone you may not have targeted as being that big of an addition was the signing of Serbian centre Rasho Nesterovic.

He’s been an ample body in the middle of the paint, forcing opponents to alter shots and playing a pivotal role guarding the opposing teams centre. What most don’t know is that his true value lies off the court. Nesterovic comes from a background infused with productive play overseas in Europe – where he was named MVP for players under 22 in 1996 – an eight year NBA career where he has been paired in the front court with the likes of Garnett and Duncan, and even more important, the ability to fluently speak Italian; Bargnani’s first language. Rasho is somewhat of a mentor and coach to all the new players from Europe and has made the transition of the leagues first overall draft choice much more seamless. Nesterovic however isn’t the only player/coach on the Raptors that Colangelo has surrounded all the youngsters with. Derrick Martin, although portly in his demeanor, has been just as integral to the Raptors success as anyone else. He is able to tutor and lead from a level position with both Ford and Calderon. When either of the young PGs needs advice or guidance, they go straight to Martin who has a decade long pro career that includes stops in the CBA and even a stint on the Harlem Globetrotters. Thankfully the former NBA Executive of the Year has the insight that not only do you need talent to win games, you also need the right people surrounding the talent, and in Nesterovic and Martin, we see two perfect examples...

LINK (http://sportsni.blogspot.com/index.html)

[angel_luv]

Good read. I liked it. :)

[ploto]

Angel- I have been meaning to tell you that Rasho has committed to playing for the National Team this summer- even though a number of the other guys probably aren't. I don't have a link, but maybe someone else has seen it actually mentioned in print somewhere. :D

[angel_luv]

Angel- I have been meaning to tell you that Rasho has committed to playing for the National Team this summer- even though a number of the other guys probably aren't. I don't have a link, but maybe someone else has seen it actually mentioned in print somewhere. :D

Oh yea! I am so excited. Slovenia needs to make the Olympics because I have an invite to Beijing for 2008. :)

Thanks for telling me. :)

[RaptorsFan]

Here's something you guys will appreciate.

Go to youtube, search for a video called "Toronto Raptors intro y varios" and wait for the player introductions and listen for the nice touch that the Raptors PA announcer has recently added to the intros.

[angel_luv]

The only thing missing in the intro is more extensive Sho coverage. :)

The Spanish was a nice touch but when the announcer learns to speak Slovene is when I will be really impressed. :)

[Pistons < Spurs]

How do you Raptor fans think you'll do against Detroit on Saturday? I've only seen a couple of Toronto games this year, and I'm curious to see them against my boys. I'm amazed at their win % this year. I honestly saw them as a lower tier in a poor Eastern Conference.

[BgT]

How do you Raptor fans think you'll do against Detroit on Saturday? I've only seen a couple of Toronto games this year, and I'm curious to see them against my boys. I'm amazed at their win % this year. I honestly saw them as a lower tier in a poor Eastern Conference.
Raptors goal is to win "must-win's". The rest is not a priority. Because they play very relaxed against favorized teams, they can be very dangerous, check their results vs. best teams in the league.
However, as the time goes by, there are more and more must-wins. Last game vs. Orlando was a clear must-win, for instance. The game on 13th December vs. the same opponent was more like "we hope to lose with -15 or less". Also current goal is home court advantage, not only PO spot. Things change...

I expect a close game with Detroit having an edge.

[RaptorsFan]

The only thing missing in the intro is more extensive Sho coverage. :)

The Spanish was a nice touch but when the announcer learns to speak Slovene is when I will be really impressed. :)
I thought the announcer was saying "number 12" in Slovene for Rasho? :wtf

[BgT]

I thought the announcer was saying "number 12" in Slovene for Rasho? :wtf
I've heard him once saying that in Slovenian, yes.

[angel_luv]

I've heard him once saying that in Slovenian, yes.


Did he? It is very possible I missed it. Let me see again. :)

[angel_luv]

hehe- ok I am totally impressed now.

I all the languages this time. The first time I was too distracted at the sight of Sho. :)

[angel_luv]

Real Raptors to beat the Fakers tonight. :)

Dajmo Sho! :)

[lefty]

Real Raptors to beat the Fakers tonight. :)

Dajmo Sho! :)

Game starting soon :hungry:

[angel_luv]

I am excited. I am doing double cheer duty for Raptors and Spurs... but I am ready.
:cheer :D :cheer

[lefty]

Expect Kobe and his teammates playing well after being destroyed by Detroit

[lefty]

:sleep

[lefty]

Andrea > Dirk

[angel_luv]

I told you the Fakers would lose to the Real Raptors!

Go boys! :elephant

[angel_luv]

Poor Raps had Bavetta and Palmer as refs tonight and Violet is # 12 :(

[lefty]

Poor Raps had Bavetta and Palmer as refs tonight and Violet is # 12 :(


:lol

That game was close ; Raps almost blew a 12 pts lead ; very entertaining money time,

Chants of MVP for Chris,

Andrea > Dirk,

Kobe looked tired tonight ; but he was dangerous in the last 2 minutes as usual.

[resistanze]

Andrea was mainly responsible for 8 points in that 11-0 run by the Lakers. Coach Mitchell left him too long in crunch time. Anyways, it was an exciting game to watch. If the Raps win 47+ games, Bosh for MVP! :lol

[dallaskd]

:lol

That game was close ; Raps almost blew a 12 pts lead ; very entertaining money time,

Chants of MVP for Chris,

Andrea > Dirk,

Kobe looked tired tonight ; but he was dangerous in the last 2 minutes as usual.

i thought you were leaving for 2 months(or so)

[lefty]

i thought you were leaving for 2 months(or so)
u're a bit late

[lefty]

Andrea was mainly responsible for 8 points in that 11-0 run by the Lakers. Coach Mitchell left him too long in crunch time. Anyways, it was an exciting game to watch. If the Raps win 47+ games, Bosh for MVP! :lol

Why not ? it would be great

[angel_luv]

:lol

That game was close ; Raps almost blew a 12 pts lead ; very entertaining money time,

Chants of MVP for Chris,

Andrea > Dirk,

Kobe looked tired tonight ; but he was dangerous in the last 2 minutes as usual.


I saw that- I was checking in on the live score board and saw LA catch up. I had wondered what was going wrong.

I am glad the guys fixed it. What a fun game- Raps win and the lakers lose. :)

[lefty]

I saw that- I was checking in on the live score board and saw LA catch up. I had wondered what was going wrong.

I am glad the guys fixed it. What a fun game- Raps win and the lakers lose. :)

Spurs lost too :cry :cry :cry :cry

[ploto]

Props to Anthony Parker. How no other team brought him into the NBA amazes me. He is about as good of a defender as Bruce Bowen- and with a great offensive game, as well.

Not much minutes for Rasho tonight- pretty much rendering Bynum ineffective and onto the bench. Worked great because they got to save Rasho for tomorrow night- it will be his job to stop Webber. After an amazing 2 weeks shooting-wise, Rasho was off tonight- kind of rushing his shots- but he is a smart guy and knows how to get the ball to the hot guy-- 3 assists for Rasho all on passes to Parker. :)

Really a fun game to watch- as long as the Raptors won in the end. Too many turnovers in the fourth quarter, but some very fine defense as the Lakers were held scoreless the final 2 minutes.

[angel_luv]

Spurs lost too :cry :cry :cry :cry


Shhhh! I was trying to forget about that. :(

[angel_luv]

Props to Anthony Parker. How no other team brought him into the NBA amazes me. He is about as good of a defender as Bruce Bowen- and with a great offensive game, as well.

Not much minutes for Rasho tonight- pretty much rendering Bynum ineffective and onto the bench. Worked great because they got to save Rasho for tomorrow night- it will be his job to stop Webber. After an amazing 2 weeks shooting-wise, Rasho was off tonight- kind of rushing his shots- but he is a smart guy and knows how to get the ball to the hot guy-- 3 assists for Rasho all on passes to Parker. :)

Really a fun game to watch- as long as the Raptors won in the end. Too many turnovers in the fourth quarter, but some very fine defense as the Lakers were held scoreless the final 2 minutes.

:tu :)

[dave]

i heard kobe thinks that bosh is a legit MVP candidate... if so....WOW

never thought he'd be the type of person to compliment someone else to that degree

[velik_m]

This was a pathetic day for slovenians in NBA:
Beno - dnp
Sasha and Boki 0 pts
Rasho 1 pt
Brezec 2 pts

:oops

at least the Raptors won.

[BgT]

"The Raptors had their best ever in-season week for ticket sales this week."

The next game should be interesting. Too bad Raptors are playing it back-to-back. But 14-4 in last 18 games should guarantee good game anyway.

[angel_luv]

I never thought I would be quoting Kobe Bryant. :lol
http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/quotes_020907.html

Thoughts on the Raptors since the last time you guys played them…
Oh yeah, they’re a very solid team, very solid. They play well together and they move the ball. They’re much better defensively. I think (Sam) Mitchell’s doing an incredible job with the team and they’ve been playing extremely, extremely well.


Thoughts on Chris Bosh’s chances of being MVP…Everybody’s going to be up there for MVP. I think he’s a legitimate candidate just because of what he’s been able to do with this team, with this franchise and how he’s performed. He made some big shots down the stretch late tonight. I love everything about him, I love his game, I love his work ethic. He definitely has my approval.

[Pistons < Spurs]

....and the streak ends!!!

Great game actually. Raps started out great, and it took quite an effort for my boys to get back in the game. Sheed absolutely terrorized Bosh tonight.

You guys have some good shooters, and very good overall team speed. The biggest weakness I saw was defense. Inside D is lacking as Bosh and Bargani lack the size. Ford and Parker didn't have the strength to stop Billups or Rip backing them down.

Give this core group of players more time playing together, and they're gonna be pretty darn good.

Future is looking bright for Toronto.

[angel_luv]

Boosh! I was rooting for the Raps at work wondering what the score was. :(

[ploto]

Raptors came out strong and caught the Pistons unaware. They even withstood a second quarter push and went into halftime with a 6 point lead. The wear and tear of the back-to-back showed as the Raptors wore down in the second half. If Detroit truly is the best team in the East, then this game bodes well for the Raptors. Ironically, the T pissed Rasheed off and he went on a one-man tear.

I am interetsed to see what happens, though. In the first half Anthony Parker got hit in the face with an elbow. It was unintentional, but the claim has been that ANY contact of an elbow above the neck mandates an automatic suspension regardless of intent. We'll see if the NBA really means that-- I don't actually think they do, but they set the precedent with Kobe.

[Rip-Hamilton32]

that elbow by rip on parker was soft and does not deserve a suspension

[Slo spurs fan]

that elbow by rip on parker was soft and does not deserve a suspension
:sleep homer

[Pistons < Spurs]

Raptors came out strong and caught the Pistons unaware.


I don't know if I quite agree with that. We simply missed jumpers. Open shots that you expcet them to make, weren't falling.

I've seen the Pistons get caught off guard many a time in the opening quarter, but last night was not an example of that.

And Sheed and Rip were on the bench 3/4's of the way through the first due to fouls. That surely didn't help our offensive game.

[Rip-Hamilton32]

:sleep homer

did you not see that little bitch flop?

[ploto]

For as good of a team as Detroit is, the Raptors had 16 points less than halfway through the first quarter. That is what I meant by caught them unaware.

[ploto]

Here it is in print:



Italian basketball fans will be over La Luna to learn that Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani plans to play for his national team at this summer's Olympic qualifying tournament in Spain.

Bargnani said on Saturday night, prior to Toronto's game in Auburn Hills against the Detroit Pistons he would play as long as he was healthy...

Jose Calderon and Jorge Garbajosa, despite already leading Spain to an Olympic berth by winning the world championships last summer, both plan to play in the EuroBasket, as do Slovenians Rasho Nesterovic and Uros Slokar.

All-star Chris Bosh also is expected to play for Team USA in Vegas.

LINK (http://torontosun.com/Sports/Basketball/2007/02/12/3596239-sun.html)

[angel_luv]

Yea :) some good much needed good news. Thank you, Ploto. :)

[angel_luv]

Even better news... Sho will be here in two weeks!:) :) :) Finally!

:elephant :elephant

[velik_m]

Italian basketball fans will be over La Luna to learn that Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani plans to play for his national team at this summer's Olympic qualifying tournament in Spain.

Bargnani said on Saturday night, prior to Toronto's game in Auburn Hills against the Detroit Pistons he would play as long as he was healthy...

Jose Calderon and Jorge Garbajosa, despite already leading Spain to an Olympic berth by winning the world championships last summer, both plan to play in the EuroBasket, as do Slovenians Rasho Nesterovic and Uros Slokar.

All-star Chris Bosh also is expected to play for Team USA in Vegas.


It's European championship, not olympic qualifying tournament. (although the best teams will qualify for the olympics). There will be additional qualifying tournament for european and some other teams next year.
Of course Garbajosa and Calderon will play - it's in Spain - how often do they get the chance to play in front of home crowd?, for Euro title no less...

Our national team looks in poor shape though. Half the team is injured or won't play. Oh well. :(

[angel_luv]

Have faith Velik.

I can't wait for the Raps to win tonight and give me bragging rights over my smack talking boss!

Dajmo Raptors! :cheer

[RaptorsFan]

Time to break the curse of Jalen Rose tonight.

[T-Pain]

how come the raptors are wearing their home whites in chicago and the bulls are wearing their away reds?????

[lefty]

wow Andrea! 22 pts, 17 at halftime

Andrea >>>>>>>>>>>>>. Dirk

[resistanze]

pathetic last 2 mins by Raps. if you can't get the ball to your franchise player in crunch time you don't deserve to win.

let's see if they can stop them.

[resistanze]

Nope, disgraceful :lol

[resistanze]

Raptors win D-Wade style!

[angel_luv]

Oh yea!!!!!!!!! :fro

:elephant elephant

[StylisticS]

Nice win for the Raptors. 28-23? Stepping it up now.

[angel_luv]

Sho was 4 of 5 tonight with an assist! :)

I am so excited about the win. I prayed. :)

[ploto]

Raptors tried to blow it, but a win is a win, especially in Chicago who before tonight was 14-1 at home against the East and 20-5 at home all together.

The best moment of the night-- Rasho with a baseline spin move around Ben Wallace to get the easy lay-up. Ben was so pissed that Rasho made him look bad. :lol

Because of the blizzard, the Raptors are staying in Chicago over night and flying back to Toronto tomorrow with a game tomorrow night against the Nets.

As for the jerseys, the Bulls wanted to wear red at home for Valentine's Day!

[angel_luv]

[QUOTE=ploto]Raptors tried to blow it, but a win is a win, especially in Chicago who before tonight was 14-1 at home against the East and 20-5 at home all together.


Because of the blizzard, the Raptors are staying in Chicago over night and flying back to Toronto tomorrow with a game tomorrow night against the Nets.

As for the jerseys, the Bulls wanted to wear red at home for Valentine's Day!




Good to hear the boys are being cautious because of the weather.

Bulls dressing up for Valentines day... how precious. :lol
I shouldn't tease... the Raptors might do the same tomorrow. :)

I know tonigh wasn't a great kind of win, but I am proud of the guys for hanging on.
Tomorrow is an important game. I want to see the Raptors win big and show the Nets who is boss. :)





The best moment of the night-- Rasho with a baseline spin move around Ben Wallace to get the easy lay-up. Ben was so pissed that Rasho made him look bad. :lol


That's awesome! I can't wait to remind my boss about that. Thank you, Sho! :)

[angel_luv]

Let's win and win big. Dajmo Raps! :cheer

[resistanze]

Good, expected win by the Raps, despite some poor D. Nachbar absolutely torched he Raps. It didn't help that they left him open for 3s half the time.

[angel_luv]

Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :elephant :elephant

[angel_luv]

Wow- Nachbar was on fire!

[velik_m]

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w11/yipa_bucket/snapshot20070215124612.jpg

great game by boki.

[angel_luv]

:lol Today was the first time I have seen my boss the Bulls fan since the Raptors beat them.
He is still sulking about it. :lol Too fun!

[angel_luv]

great game by boki.


I'm curious... how did Nachbar get the nickname Boki?

[velik_m]

Bostjan?

Bo-ki.

[angel_luv]

Bostjan?

Bo-ki.


Ah! That makes sense. hvala. :)

I didn't know if it was simply an abbreviation of his name or if there was a story behind the nick.

[lefty]

Andrea >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Dirk

Some rumors on TSN : Carter signing with Raps next summer?

Honestly, I don't think so ; he has been amazing since joining the Nets, but he would fuck up the chemistry in Toronto ; plus , did u read Carter's lips when the crowd was chanting MVP? (Bosh) :"MVP? come on"

[angel_luv]

I agree with you about Carter and team chemistry.


11 days until Sho is here!!!!!! Whoosh! :)

[Rip-Hamilton32]

vince wanted to return because he thought he owed the fans for what he did but now i think he changed his mind lol

[angel_luv]

Nine more days!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :elephant :elephant

[angel_luv]

Since this likely doesn't warrent a whole thread, I will put it in my favorite one:

The rodeo ends tonight and I actually have two whole days off in a row!!!! :elephant


So psyched! That is all. :)

[angel_luv]

One week till Sho and the Raptors are here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :elephant

[ploto]

Olympic dreams


Steve Nash won't play for Canada anymore because he said he is getting too old and too tired.

Rasho Nesterovic is not much younger than Nash -- the 7-footer turns 31 on May 30 -- and also is experiencing fatigue from the long NBA season, but the Raptors centre re-iterated yesterday he would represent his country, Slovenia, at the 2008 Olympic qualifying tournament this summer in Spain.

Unlike Nash, who took last summer off, Nesterovic played for his country at the 2006 world championships in Japan, before flying back to North America for NBA training camp, so he had very little time to recover from last season's NBA schedule.

OLYMPIC BERTH

Nesterovic, who first represented Slovenia at the European under-22 championships, said he won't walk away from his national federation with an Olympic spot on the line -- which is something Nash has decided to do.

"I just want to try the last time to get to the Olympics," Nesterovic said, after practice yesterday at the Air Canada Centre. "If we make it, I will play at the Olympics. If we don't make it, that's it for me."

LINK (http://torontosun.com/Sports/Basketball/2007/02/20/3647513-sun.html)

[ploto]

Raptors headed for Europe for 2007 training camp as part of Europe Live Tour

With a roster stocked with players from overseas, it's no surprise Toronto's NBA franchise garnered the nickname 'Euro Raptors' this season.

Now the Toronto Raptors are truly taking their game global.

The Raptors will hold their training camp for the 2007-08 season in Europe, with stops in Italy and Spain as part of the NBA's Europe Live Tour.

"As far as the experience, we're over there for training camp, it's a new place, it's something out of the ordinary, it's a tremendous team-building experience," said Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo.

The Raptors will hold camp in Treviso, Italy on Oct. 1-5, and will play exhibition games in Rome against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 6 and Italian league team Lottomatica the day after.

Toronto then travels to Madrid, Spain, and will play Spanish squad Real Madrid on Oct. 11.

LINK (http://www.cbc.ca/cp/sports/070217/s021743A.html)

[angel_luv]

Nesterovic, who first represented Slovenia at the European under-22 championships, said he won't walk away from his national federation with an Olympic spot on the line -- which is something Nash has decided to do.

"I just want to try the last time to get to the Olympics," Nesterovic said, after practice yesterday at the Air Canada Centre. "If we make it, I will play at the Olympics. If we don't make it, that's it for me."


When you make it, I will go to the Olympics. :) 2008 Baby! :)

[angel_luv]

Six more days!!!!!!! :elephant

[ploto]

Bryan Colangelo is certainly going to be doing his job this week, taking and making calls ahead of the 3 p.m. Thursday NBA trade deadline and I believe there is just one thing he should be looking for:

Insurance. Big man insurance.

They've got two fine point guards, more swingmen than you can shake a stick at, a couple of solid bigs, but if something were to happen to Rasho Nesterovic, they're screwed.

This is meant as no disrespect to the shot-happy Kris Humphries or the athletic, yet skill-challenged Pape Sow, but neither of them would be able to fill the role — and the minutes — that Nesterovic does right now, should the starting centre be hit with some injury.

Do you deal a Joey Graham or a Fred Jones, or even a Sow or a Humphries for some end-of-the-bench legitimate big man who can rebound and take up space?

Maybe.

As you all well know, I'm dead set against a Morris Peterson trade and I can't see teams lining up to get either Sow or Humphries so if there's a deal to be made, Graham or Jones would be the guys to go.
LINK (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/183658)

[angel_luv]

Raptors play Cavaliers tonight- here's to a big win! :toast Dajmo Raptors!

Also... Five more days! :elephant :elephant :)

[angel_luv]

http://www.nba.com/raptors/raptorcom/wick_021907.html


February 19, 2006

(TORONTO) -- For those of us involved in this sport, the NBA All Star break is all about family. Either you’re celebrating with the NBA family, or you’re taking time with yours. Either way it’s time to bond, or to celebrate bonds. It’s precisely that “familial feeling” that has me thinking that the Raptors will have still more to celebrate as this season moves forward.



E-mail photo | Buy photos


Mitchell and the Raptors have the same goal and look to achieve it in the second half. (NBAE/Getty Images)
It is clear that this edition of the Raptors has a kinship, a bond that grew either in spite of, or was accelerated because of, the many challenges that they faced early in the season. To a man now, they speak of the “family” that has formed through a tough schedule, a steep learning curve and key injuries. It is precisely what head coach Sam Mitchell encouraged when he told his charges that in order to succeed, they would have to care about the guys sitting next to them more than they cared about themselves.

“Chemistry is about putting the team’s goals ahead of your own goals, that’s what leads to chemistry. It’s not a complicated thing.” Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy

But it’s not an exact science. What is complicated is the selection and addition of the right elements, in the right measure and in this case, at the right price.

Enter Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo, who had just engineered the league’s most explosive combination of mind and matter. During his tenure in Phoenix, the Suns blew up – in the best of ways.

“You have to have the right blend of talent and high character and I’ve gone on record” says Colangelo, “with the belief that an abundance of character can help offset a deficiency in talent.”

After a tentative, difficult start – the Raptors offence has proven to be very efficient, even through a variety of injuries. The defence has been more suspect – but to Colangelo’s point – they have found ways to overcome their deficiencies. They have shown a propensity to dig in, dig out and rebound (literally and figuratively) when they need to. With each timely shot, pass, steal, rebound, deflection or charge drawn – the team has learned to rely on its ability – collectively and individually – to pull through. The injuries, fortunately none too serious, proved to be happy accidents, providing opportunities for players to earn the confidence of each other and the coaching staff.

“It forced me as a coach to extend myself,” said head coach Sam Mitchell. “I had to rely more on Andrea (Bargnani), I had to rely on Garbo (Jorge Garbajosa); to rely on Joey (Graham). It forced me to step outside my comfort zone and trust…and they rewarded me by playing well.”

That the team’s bond of mutual trust and respect was forged under fire, makes it all the more authentic.

The greatest tests however, still lay ahead. You have to have talent to win, but talent without a collective will is like a horse without a rider. It’s a long way to the finish line, but right now, the Raptors don’t look like such a long shot.

[angel_luv]

Fun Blog about the all star game:
http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/smith_021607.html
My favorite quote: " The evening started with Wayne Newton shuffling around the stage - flanked by at least a dozen Vegas showgirls. The strangest thing was that I was staring at Newton more than the scantily-glad dancers. I couldn't pry my eyes off of how shiny Newton's face was. It was sparkling more than the freshly-waxed floor. Plastic surgery at its finest. Don't light a candle near Wayne. " :lol

[angel_luv]

Ah...how cool! :)

http://auctions.nba.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=80042361&prmenbr=51136034&aunbr=80389071

Item for bid:The Actual Toronto Raptors Locker Room Carpet signed by the 2006-07 Raptors Team

They are also auctioning off an autographed Sho jersey. :)

[ploto]

Bulls dressing up for Valentines day... how precious. :lol
I shouldn't tease... the Raptors might do the same tomorrow. :)

I forgot to tell you that they did. :lol

[angel_luv]

I forgot to tell you that they did. :lol


hehe :)

[lefty]

They are also auctioning off an autographed Sho jersey.

Who is buying it???? :lol :lol :lol :lol

[angel_luv]

The bid is already at $125 dollars.

[lefty]

The bid is already at $125 dollars.
What????
That's what I paid to get a good seat at the Air Canada Centre (Raptors-Heat) :dizzy
Glad I made the good choice :smokin

[angel_luv]

What????
That's what I paid to get a good seat at the Air Canada Centre (Raptors-Heat) :dizzy
Glad I made the good choice :smokin


I love jerseys but in every either or situation, I too would take the game ticket. :)

[lefty]

I love jerseys but in every either or situation, I too would take the game ticket. :)
:clap :clap

[angel_luv]

Boosh. :(

I was so sure the Raptors were going to somehow get that win.

Next game! :)

[lefty]

Boosh

Um...It's Bosh :p:

Yeah close game ; surprised Raps lost, but when u think about it, Cavs have been hot lately

[angel_luv]

Um...It's Bosh :p:

Yeah close game ; surprised Raps lost, but when u think about it, Cavs have been hot lately


No, it's Boosh. :lol

Whoosh= happy
Boosh= anti whoosh for when I am sad.

[ploto]

Raptors could not get a call late in this game, plus they executed poorly on offense down the stretch.

Rasho got a nice bloody nose in the third quarter, too. He did do a great job defensively on Gooden when he was in the game.

[dave]

wow... nobody on the raptors knows how to box out
and tj is a retard when it comes to late game decisions

[angel_luv]

Rasho got a nice bloody nose in the third quarter, too. He did do a great job defensively on Gooden when he was in the game.


Oh my poor baby! Ouch. :( He's all right now, yes?

[lefty]

just watched the highlights...wow Varejao :dizzy :dizzy

And Andrea still >>>> Dirk

[ploto]

The Portland Trail Blazers and Raptors have agreed in principle on a trade sending Juan Dixon to Toronto for Fred Jones in a swap of backup guards, ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reported.

Dixon, 28, in his fifth NBA season, is averaging 8.9 points per game for the Blazers. Jones, also in his fifth year, is averaging 7.6 points

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2775131

Saves the Raptors a little money and that extra year of Jones' contract. After such a good start, it just never worked out for Freddie in Toronto.

Good luck. :)

[angel_luv]

Colangelo has put together a great team. I trust his judgment on this one. Best of luck to both guys. :)

[lefty]

very good move ; they have 2 talented PG and they have added an excellent combo guard (Dix) ; Colangelo is good :worthy: :worthy:

[ploto]

People seemed to feel that Jones was really BC's only mistake, and he already traded him away. Fortunately for Fred, he is going back close to home.

[angel_luv]

3 more days. :elephant :elephant

[angel_luv]

Raps play Pacers today... winning time. :)

[resistanze]

Wow after entering the 4th with a 27 point lead, they let the Pacers start the 4th on a 16-0 run.

[angel_luv]

Whoosh! Fear the Sho! :elephant :elephant

[angel_luv]

Sho- 14 points ( 6 of 10 field; 2-2 free throw line ) 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 0, turnovers, 3 blocked shots!!!!!!

He's the man!!!!!!

[ploto]

Sho- 14 points ( 6 of 10 field; 2-2 free throw line ) 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 0, turnovers, 3 blocked shots!!!!!!

He's the man!!!!!!
Did you listen to the game tonight? Rasho did the post game interview on the radio.

Slokar ALMOST got in. He was at the table with a little over a minute to go, but there was never a stoppage. It was so cute- he made a signal with his fingers, like-- I got this close to getting into the game.

[angel_luv]

Did you listen to the game tonight? Rasho did the post game interview on the radio.



No!!!!!!!!! I was getting my hair done so I would look pretty when he is here.

Darn it! :lol

Is it archived anywhere? What did he say?

[lefty]

Why don't u marry him? :lol :married:

Oh, and Andrea>>>>>>>>>>>..Dirk

[angel_luv]

Why don't u marry him? :lol :married:

Oh, and Andrea>>>>>>>>>>>..Dirk


:)

[ploto]

It wasn't just the net-shredding marksmanship that got Toronto through, though. For the first three quarters, Toronto's defence was smart, pesky, and effective. It was anchored by centre Rasho Nesterovic, who showed off his worth, bodying Indiana all-star Jermaine O'Neal in the post, not allowing a first-half basket in one-on-one post play, and hassling O'Neal into 4-of-12 shooting before intermission.

With Nesterovic negating Indiana's top scorer, the rest of the Raptors stayed home, fishing for steals and controlling the defensive boards. There was hustle, too — Jorge Garbajosa stole one pass in the first quarter and after saving it, went spilling over the first row and straight to the floor — but it all started in the post.

Chris Bosh led Toronto with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks, but it was a really a team concerto — seven Raptors scored at least eight points, Toronto shot 56.2 per cent from the field, and hit 13 of their 20 three-pointers. And Nesterovic was simply excellent, with 14 points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots to O'Neal's 17, eight and one.

LINK (http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/story.html?id=709042c3-20ab-480a-8383-2f5ab038198e&k=22877)


Rasho Nesterovic scored 14 points but made his most important contribution on the defensive end, single-handedly stifling Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal and allowing his Raptor teammates to focus on Indiana's outside shooters. Nesterovic and Bosh each finished with three blocks.

"Basically Rasho was on his own and he did a great job," said Anthony Parker, who scored 12. "It makes it a lot easier for us because we can lock in on (Danny) Granger and (Mike) Dunleavy and not let them get going."

O'Neal finished with 17 points and eight rebounds after making just one of seven first-quarter shots.
LINK (http://www.680news.com/news/sports/article.jsp?content=s022398A)

[angel_luv]

That's awesome. Thanks Ploto. :)

[ploto]

http://www.nba.com/media/raptors/pacers_022307_3.jpg

http://www.nba.com/media/raptors/pacers_022307_11.jpg

[angel_luv]

:clap :D

hvala lepa!!

[lefty]

Rasho and Co will be pounded soon in SA :devil

[T-Pain]

hey are we spurs fans raptors fans too?

[ploto]

More love for the big guy:


But after a game in which the Raptors never trailed and turned into a blowout when they outscored Indiana 69-47 over the second and third quarters, the argument could be made the night turned on the defensive contributions of one player.

Rasho Nesterovic is nearly incapable of any variation of popping his own jersey or blowing his own horn.

"Ah, I'm too old for that," said the veteran National Basketball Association centre, who was acquired in a trade last summer from the San Antonio Spurs.

But Nesterovic was able to guard Pacers' all-star Jermaine O'Neal alone in the post, holding him to only 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field. That Nesterovic pitched in a season-high 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks helped, too.

Most important, when the Pacers tried to feed O'Neal down low to establish the tone in the first quarter, the Pacers' centre would whirl only to see Nesterovic staring back at him, backing down not an inch, forcing him to give the ball up or settle for a jump shot.

Nesterovic's teammates appreciated not having to leave their own men to help, setting off the kind of defensive scramble that often leaves either open outside shooters or open lanes to the offensive boards, or both.

"They're a much better three-point-shooting team [since their January trade with Golden State], which makes it harder to trap on Jermaine O'Neal," said Anthony Parker, who had 12 points, making him one of nine Raptors who scored at least six. "Basically, Rasho was alone, which makes it a lot easier for us. We can lock in on [their shooters] and not let them get going."

LINK (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070224.RAPTORSFINAL24/TPStory/Sports)


Nesterovic, proving once again he's going to be a vital part of this team in the slow-down, hand-to-hand combat games that mark the post-season, had 14 points to O'Neal's 17, had as many rebounds (eight) as the Indiana all-star and by being able to play him one-on-one, allowed Toronto to concentrate on the outside shooters.

That defensive concentration held the Pacers to only 39 per cent from the floor and they missed 14 of 21 three-point attempts.

"We executed and we did what we were talking about before the game – came out aggressive and focused and just played our game," said Nesterovic, who is never going to take individual credit for anything when he can slough it off on his teammates.

"We played good team D with a lot of help. Even though it looks like it was one-on-one, someone was always there to help."

Mitchell wasn't as reserved.

"Rasho guarding Jermaine and us not having to double as much was huge," the coach said. "They have a good three-point shooting team and it kept us from having to give up those threes."

LINK (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/185349)

[angel_luv]

:)

Two more days!

[angel_luv]

Another win for the Raptors! :D

[lefty]

Toronto Sun : "Is there something btwn you and Angel Luv?"
Rasho : "No"
Charlotte Times : "So why is San Antonio your next stop?"
Rasho : " To play a basketball game"
SA Express News : " Yeah right"
Rasho : " What ? u don't think I can play basketball?"
Reporters : ...
Rasho : "Damn ! ok! I love her! "
Reporters : :lol

http://www.novine.ca/arhiva/2006/1059/slike/-%201059%20-%20NBA%20NESTEROVIC%202006.jpg

[dirk4mvp]

In other news, Andrea has been named player of the century along with Rasho winning the dunk contest.

[lefty]

It's ok ; he is just a Mavs fan after all

[dirk4mvp]

Andrea or Rasho?

[lefty]

Andrea or Rasho?

You

[dirk4mvp]

Ah

[angel_luv]

Toronto Sun : "Is there something btwn you and Angel Luv?"
Rasho : "No"
Charlotte Times : "So why is San Antonio your next stop?"
Rasho : " To play a basketball game"
SA Express News : " Yeah right"
Rasho : " What ? u don't think I can play basketball?"
Reporters : ...
Rasho : "Damn ! ok! I love her! "
Reporters : :lol

http://www.novine.ca/arhiva/2006/1059/slike/-%201059%20-%20NBA%20NESTEROVIC%202006.jpg


:lol :)

[angel_luv]

One more day!!!!!!!!

[JMarkJohns]

At this point, its not unreasonable to believe that Bryan Colangelo is the run away winner for Executive of the Year. Name another GM that's had as big an impact. Is there one? Dumars is a solid runner up for not overpaying for Ben Wallace, making a solid couple signings in Mohammed and Wilkens and then being very fortunate that Webber fell into his lap. Whomever Houston's GM is has done a good job as well.

[dave]

raptors are 1 game out for 2nd place in the east now

[angel_luv]

raptors are 1 game out for 2nd place in the east now


:clap

And I am less than twenty fours hours away from seeing Sho and all of them. :elephant

[angel_luv]

It's today, it's today. it's today!!!!

:elephant :elephant

:D

[Sir Raptor Revol]

Lets go Raptors!

[mikejones99]

canadiens should try and get the country some free speech, then next year they can get to the ecf.

[lefty]

I hope Jorge and Parker are gonna be ok

Still, Spurs won :devil :devil :devil :devil

So, Angel, dinner with Rasho?

[angel_luv]

I had a blast at the game tonight. This is the short version of the story.

My seat was in section 12 row 8. As it worked out I was sitting directly behind ( just up a few rows) from Sho and Slokar.

Since I had a charter level ticket I was able to go into the arena at 5.
I went to the Raptor's railing. I was the only person there for nearly thirty minutes.
It was so fun to see all the different Raptors players walk out and see me. They all looked so shocked that they actually had a fan in San Antonio waiting for them.
All the guys and coaches were nice; all said hi.
I was able to visit with Sho and Slokar before and after the game. I took a picture with Sho. :)
I told Slokar about the forum and the Slovenian faithful on here. He told me to tell you all hi.
Slokar is super nice.

Anyone who watched the game knows how great Sho did. I was pleased
(and relieved) that he got such a nice cheer when he was introduced.
The people in my section were really nice- all Spurs fans but all rooting for Rasho.
It was weird not actively cheering for the Spurs. They played a great game. I was proud of them.

The game itself is sort of a blur. It all went too fast for me. I was hoping for triple over time just so Rasho would be here longer.

I have pictures, mostly of Rasho. I tried to get some shots of Slokar and Sho together... tomorrow when I upload them I'll see how they turned out.
I took some pics of the Spurs but since it was from the opposite end of the court, I am not sure how they turned out.

[angel_luv]

Game reports:

Spurs.com : http://www.nba.com/spurs/gameday/070226.html

Raptors.com : http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/postup_022607.html

[angel_luv]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA022707.05D.BKNspurs.notebook.17cf41b.html
Spurs notebook: Nesterovic likes his new home

Web Posted: 02/27/2007 12:16 AM CST

Mike Monroe
Express-News

Former Spurs center Rasho Nesterovic, who scored a season-high 16 points against his old team Monday at the AT&T Center, has found a happy home with the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors arrived in San Antonio early Sunday morning after beating Charlotte on Saturday night. After several of his teammates told Nesterovic how tired they were, he phoned coach Sam Mitchell to suggest practice be scratched.





"He's been a good addition for us — just his experience and his leadership," said Mitchell, who played with Nesterovic with Minnesota from 1998-2002. "Rasho called me at 2:30 in the morning and said, 'Coach, we need a day off.'

"I played with Rasho, and that's something Rasho generally wouldn't do in the past. But Rasho and I know each other well, and he can say stuff to me. He knows that. It's something you need."

Nesterovic, a 30-year-old from Slovenia who's in his eighth full NBA season, was pleased with his performance in his first game here since the Spurs traded him last summer to Toronto for Matt Bonner and Eric Williams.

He was not pleased with the way the Spurs controlled the game.

"They've been together so long they exactly know each other and how they play," said Nesterovic, who played with the Spurs for three seasons. "They're one of the best teams in the NBA, so if you want to beat them you have to be at your best, and we didn't do that."


Titles help: Told that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had called off Monday's shootaround, the second such cancellation in as many games, Mitchell laughed.

"Pop knows his team," Mitchell said. "I'm still looking for the guy who invented shootaround anyway."

Mitchell doesn't feel secure enough to cancel game-day morning practices.

"You can call them off when you've got three (championship) banners up there," Mitchell said, pointing to the AT&T Center ceiling. "When you've got those banners up there, it's amazing what you can do."

Ely remains on bench: Popovich said he would like to give Melvin Ely some playing time in the coming weeks. He just doesn't know if it's possible.

Ely spent his sixth consecutive game on the inactive list since the Spurs acquired him from Charlotte for Williams and a 2009 second-round pick.

"I'd like to find a way in the next five or 10 games — or maybe even earlier — to get Melvin on the court to see if there's something there we can use this late in the year," Popovich said.

"The hard part is we want to position ourselves as well as we can for the playoffs also. ... . I don't want to put someone in the game like Melvin if he doesn't know the plays or he's not feeling comfortable and I lessen our chances of winning that particular game and affect our long-range goals.

"That's what makes it a dicey situation on how to get him the minutes."

Pippen deal unlikely: Don't expect the Spurs to sign Scottie Pippen — or anyone else for that matter.

While Pippen said he would consider signing with the Spurs if he makes good on his claim to come out of retirement — and Spurs officials maintained they would do their "due diligence" in considering him — Popovich said the team doesn't plan to make any changes to its roster.

"We're set," Popovich said.

[Slo spurs fan]

I am glad you had great evening and thanks for report V. I can´t wait for your pictures.

[angel_luv]

When I get home tonight I will resize them ( they are huge) and post them. :)

[angel_luv]

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto13.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto12.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto11.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto10.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto9.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto8.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto7.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto6.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto5.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto4.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto3.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto2.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s28/Sweet20_12/Toronto1.jpg

[angel_luv]

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61143
Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich

On the game - “We had a really good defensive half in the first half. That fueled our offensive play along with our team defense in the first half. That got us the win tonight.”
On Tim Duncan’s play - “He started last summer. He worked hard, came in early and got in shape. He feels strong and he’s performing well consistently night in and night out. Plus the guys are getting used to each other. We’re turning a corner.”

On the defensive effort on Chris Bosh - “Francisco Elson was mainly responsible. He did a great job. He stayed in front of him and kept him off the free throw line. The team defense also aided (the effort), but the main emphasis fell on Francisco. He did a really fine job.”

On Tony Parker - “He’s 24. He’s not getting played over the limit minutes wise. We’re watching that. It’s more prevention wise. If he needs the rest, we’ll give it to him. He and Manu are the same way all the time. They’re fearless and not afraid of contact or getting banged up. We just hope they stay healthy.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tim Duncan

On the game - “Yeah we really jumped on them early on and I thought we did an excellent job defensively. We didn’t let Chris (Bosh) get rolling; we pressured their shooters so we ran them off the line. They hit some shots later in the game that kind of got them back within striking distance, but all in all I thought we just did an excellent job defensively.”
It appears that you are getting a little more aggressive over the past few weeks - “Are you counting the six points I had last game or just this game? It’s the flow of the game. If people decide to let me play one on one or if they decide to double team, depending on what the defense gives is what I’m trying to say.”

Were you surprised they didn’t double-team you more? - “It’s Rasho (Nesterovic). Rasho’s awesome. I got lucky that’s all it was. He was wearing someone else out. He wasn’t wearing me out. We calculated and he scored two points on me and 14 on other people, not that I keep track, but that’s what I heard (laughing).”

On the decision to go back in midway through the fourth quarter - “It was just Pop (Gregg Popovich) putting us back in there. Just recognizing that the game wasn’t over and that they’re a very capable team. Those guys have been playing really good basketball over the last 10 or 15 games. So we came in here respecting them and I thought we did a good job of jumping on them and staying on them.”

On starting to win at home - “Yeah absolutely. That is an absolute something we came out after the break because we’ve lost way too many here at home. We’ve lost some really bad ones here and we just want to reestablish the fact that we need to be a good home team and this needs to be somewhere where people come in here and know they are going to lose games.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bruce Bowen

On being able to establish the home court - “Well the first half of the season or I should say early on we didn’t do so well at home. There were a lot of times we had let downs in games where we might be up 10 or 12 points and the next thing you know in the beginning of the third quarter we’re down or beginning of the fourth quarter we’re down. It’s really hard to give away leads and then rely on your defense to bring you back into games and sometimes you come up short. We did that a lot in the first half of the season.”
On the defense the past few games - “I think guys just paying attention to detail. I think we understand that if you’re going to win on the road it’s very important that your defense is solid and what better place to start then at home because we haven’t played this well at home. So we’re trying to make adjustments as far as the mindset, being physical, paying attention to detail so we can have an opportunity come playoff time.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raptors Head Coach Sam Mitchell

On the game - “We just got beat. They beat us in every facet of the game of basketball. We competed through the fourth but in the end we just got it handed to us. We lost to a good team on their home floor. Hubie Brown once said that there are going to be 2 or 3 games every year were you might as well just not have shown up and hopefully this is one of those for us.”
“It disappointing because we just didn’t execute some of the things that we talked about all week. I though Rasho played well and we need to keep him playing at that level, so there are some positives we can take out of this.”

“This can happen when you are playing great veteran players. The Spurs have a lot of guys like Horry and Berry. You don’t stay in this league for 12 or 13 years for no good reason. You guys write about veteran players like they are washed up or dead sometimes and I keep trying to tell you that experience and pride takes over and can overtake exuberance and youth. They understand what they are up against as veteran players in this league.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rasho Nesterovic

On the game - “They are one of the best defensive teams in the league and so you have to beat them as a team. They have three all-stars and they really know who to execute a game plan. And it’s well know that turn it on after every all-star break. They really pick up their game.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

T.J. Ford

On the game - “We just couldn’t stop them and that put a lot of pressure on our offense. It’s like we were a split second late all-night. They are one of the best teams in the league and they really showcased that tonight and at times our inexperience showed.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Bosh

On the game - “From a team standpoint we just had a failure to execute in the 2nd quarter and didn’t play our brand of basketball. On the other hand, they played well. When they play well and we don’t, this is likely to happen. Now I just didn’t make shots. I missed some wide-open shots and a hook shot right in the middle. In the end I put a lot on myself because it’s up to me to make those shots.”
On Tim Duncan - “He looked fresh to me. He had a great 1st half. He doesn’t play a big up and down game but he will kill you with his post-up game. He’s real unselfish and he’s good at finding that open guy. But you are going to bring the double when he touches the ball or he’s going to score on you. You don’t know headed in if he’s going to have the kind of night where he’s going to drop 30 or just 12 but either way he is going to impose his will on a game.”
( End)

[angel_luv]

Raps back to work against the Rockets tonight. I am so mad the game is not on FSN... they are probably showing poker or something equally lame.

I have nothing against Poker- just hate that it is on the sports channel instead of games I want to see.

[mikejones99]

This should be the Angel and Raptor thread. Good quotes.

[resistanze]

Damn Raps really giving it to Houston. Shot like 70% in the first half, struggled in the third, then killed them in the 4th.

Kris Humphries with 16 point on 7-7 shooting? :lol

[dave]

raptors 3rd in the east now

[angel_luv]

raptors 3rd in the east now


And movin up! :elephant

I just got home from work a little while ago. I really wanted to drive up to Houston for this game.

Sho- 8 points ( 4 of 6) from the field; 4 rebounds; an assist and a blocked shot.

It is great that Uros is getting to play, even though it is only for a few minutes.
The other game was my first time to ever see him play in person.

[angel_luv]

I saw this picture at work when I was checking the score. :)

http://i5.tinypic.com/4d68ro7.jpg

[angel_luv]

http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Basketball/2007/02/28/3676318-sun.html

Anthony Parker hobbled off the practice floor yesterday in a boot cast on his way for a checkup.

The Raptors guard rolled over on his ankle in Monday's game against San Antonio when he came down on top of Spurs forward Bruce Bowen's foot.

Initial X-rays in San Antonio proved negative but he was on his way to have further diagnostic testing done yesterday in Houston.

Parker wasn't sure how serious the injury was yesterday as he stopped on his way to the appointment to talk with the Toronto media.

"I don't know, we're going to wait and see," Parker said. "It's still within the first 24 hours. We're just going to keep an open mind and treat it but I don't have any specific time frame right now. I've rolled it a couple of times this year already and this is a little bit more severe than those other times, but we'll just have to see."



Considering he wasn't putting his full weight on the ankle yesterday, although he was walking on it, there's little chance he will play in tonight's game against the Rockets.

Head coach Sam Mitchell had still not made up his mind as to who would take Parker's place in the starting five.

"It will either be Mo (Peterson) or Juan (Dixon) and the only reason I'm even considering Juan is our bench has been pretty good the way it is," Mitchell said. "Right now Andrea (Bargnani) and Mo and those guys play well together. But then I like Mo being a couple of inches taller (than Dixon) defending (Tracy) McGrady. But I really just haven't decided."

Peterson has not been at 100% the past couple of days. He has been unable to keep food down.

The nausea came on Sunday and while he played through it on Monday night, Peterson was still munching on crackers and sipping Gatorade yesterday. He hadn't had a full meal since Saturday night.

Forward Jorge Garbajosa, who twisted his knee in the same game, was back at practice yesterday and will play tonight.

FOND MEMORIES OF RASHO

At least one Raptor left San Antonio with his pride intact.

Centre Rasho Nesterovic played three seasons with the Spurs before being dealt to Toronto last June.

Nesterovic scored a season-high 16 points and pulled down nine boards in a 107-91 loss to his old club.

Tim Duncan, who was defending Nesterovic most of the night, unsuccessfully tried to pass the blame elsewhere.

"We calculated it and he scored two on me and 14 on other people," Duncan was quoted as saying. "Not that I keep track, I don't actually look at stats, but that's what I heard."

Bowen was having none of that.

"Tim was out there on an island the whole night and Rasho gave it to him like he did at practice every day here," Bowen said.

[angel_luv]

I put this in here since Barry talks about the Raps. :)

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-070227

Spurs Getting Their Act Together
by Jon Barry
ESPN.com

Answering a few questions after Monday's game in which the San Antonio Spurs dispatched the Toronto Raptors, 107-91 …
What's the latest inside word from Brent Barry, the Spurs guard?

I talked to my brother right after the All-Star break. He told me that he couldn't put his finger on the reason why, but he thinks the team will take off.

What signs do you see of this?

I think the two road wins they earned at the end of the first half, right before the All-Star break, beating Detroit and New Jersey, were crucial. A good sign of a revival for a team that had its struggles in the first half.

The thrashing of the Raptors gave them a season-high six wins in a row. Are we seeing a revving-up process?

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had said earlier in the year about how important it is to be playing your best ball in April. That's all well and good, but if you're not the 1 or 2 seed in the West, the row you have to hoe is difficult.

At their current No. 3 seed, you're looking at a first-round matchup most likely with the Lakers, or maybe the Rockets or Jazz. Then you have to go through Dallas and Phoenix in the next two rounds.

It's hard to believe a team could beat them both. But you can't count out a team that has three players like Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan.

The centers in the Spurs' lineup have been revamped compared to last year's team. The Wrath of Rasho (Nesterovic, the exiled Spurs center who scored a season-high 18 points for the Raps) was felt early on. How are the new middlemen working out for the Spurs?
They decided to go with Fabricio Oberto and Francisco Elson over Nesterovic and Nazr Mohammed. Earlier this year, when I had asked Popovich about losing Rasho, he made a point of saying that they chose to do it.

So, the numbers from the new centers are basically the same, but the interior D is not. Elson is not a Nesterovic or Mohammad in terms of size. I always liked the Spurs' approach of using ball pressure to funnel guys into two 7-footers like David Robinson and Duncan.

A total of 10 international players saw time in this game, including Spain's World Champion members Jorge Garbajosa and Jose Calderon. The latter had a hard time with France's Parker (27 points). Good call by the NBA to broadcast this one on its international channel?

Oh yeah. I thought I was watching an Olympic game.

The Raptors, though carried early by Rasho, didn't have a great night. Still, they came in with the best record (18-7) in the East in 2007. Good things ahead for the Atlantic Division leaders?

They got a test against one of the better teams from the West. They're not ready for that big Western stage, but they're in the East, and they're going to be in the playoffs and will get some good experience. I give credit to coach Sam Mitchell for recognizing this team couldn't go with a wild, take-100-shots approach it started this year with. It didn't work, they recognized it, changed their approach and have been better for it.

Could the Raps take a playoff series as, say, the No. 4 seed?

They could. To me, Detroit is distancing itself from the rest of the field. But a 7 beating a 2 wouldn't surprise me. Washington could beat any of the East teams. And what if Dwyane Wade came back and the Heat had the eight spot to face Detroit in the first round? The East is up for grabs.

ESPN analyst Jon Barry retired last year after 14 years in the NBA.

[angel_luv]

http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Basketball/2007/03/02/3685697-sun.html

Fri, March 2, 2007

Family first for RaptorBargnani scheduled to fly home, will miss two games
By STEVE BUFFERY, SUN MEDIA




Sadly, Raptors rookie Andrea Bargnani will not enjoy his NBA Eastern Conference rookie-of-the-month award very much.

The Toronto forward, who won the award for the second consecutive month (January and February) was scheduled to fly home to Italy last night because of an illness in the family.

The Rome native missed yesterday's practice at the Air Canada Centre after the club flew to Toronto overnight from Houston and will miss tonight's game at the Air Canada Centre against the Milwaukee Bucks and tomorrow's contest in Cleveland against the Cavaliers. He is slated to return on Sunday and should be in uniform for Toronto's matchup in Washington on Tuesday against the Wizards.

Raptors management declined to discuss specifics of the illness, wanting to respect Bargnani's privacy, but sources said that it is serious, but is neither his mother nor father who is ill.

Bargnani is coming off one of his best game's of the season, in Toronto's 106-90 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, scoring 20 points in 33 minutes off the bench. He is averaging 11.1 points this season and is a contender, along with teammate Jorge Garbajosa, for NBA rookie-of-the-year honours. His minutes will likely be taken up by Kris Humphries, who scored 16 points off the bench on Wednesday.



Still, the Raptors will miss the big rookie's presence. Shooting guard Anthony Parker will miss his second consecutive game tonight because of a sprained right ankle.

"He has been playing great," said all-star forward Chris Bosh, of Bargnani. "Against (Houston) he was fantastic from the three and the two. I think he's really starting to get comfortable, he's starting to find what he can do well. He has being unselfish. Everybody's being unselfish, but Andrea is really helping us out and I think he's starting to prove why he's the No.1 pick (in 2006).

"I think (him and I) can really start to build on something great here," Bosh added.

ROOKIE OF THE MONTH

Bargnani is the third Raptors player to win the award twice, joining Vince Carter (March and April, 1999) and Damon Stoudamire (November 1995, January 1996). In February, he helped the Raptors to a 9-3 record, posting averages of 14.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 28.7 minutes in 12 games. He shot 51% (62-for-122) from the field, 48% (29-for-60) from three-point range and 83% (19-for-23) from the line during the month and led the team's bench in scoring seven times.

Garbajosa won the award for December. This is the first time Toronto has claimed three rookie-of-the-month awards in a season.

The Raptors, now 31-26 on the season, and fourth overall in the Eastern Conference, have not lost two games in a row since Jan. 3 against the Phoenix Suns.

"That really's important because teams take you seriously," Bosh said. "They know when they come in here, or when we go into their house, that they're going to have a tough game on their hands.

"When we move the basketball we're a tough team to beat and we just have to keep doing that," he added. "And once we keep doing that, the sky's the limit for this team."

[angel_luv]

Raps back home. Play against the Bucks tonight. :)

[Rip-Hamilton32]

i don't think anyone expected the raps to make the playoffs never mind 3rd place, but they don't have the playoff experience to go very deep IMO

[angel_luv]

i don't think anyone expected the raps to make the playoffs never mind 3rd place, but they don't have the playoff experience to go very deep IMO


I did. :)

The play offs are rough no question.
However the Raptors are doing well and will benefit from having the rest of regular season to fine tune skills and further gel as a group.

It would be a mistake for any team to take them completely take them for granted.

It will be fun to watch this team make its run. Dajmo Raptors. :)

[angel_luv]

Two Questions:

First, where did all the rest of you Raptors fan posters disappear to?
Secondly, for those who saw the game, what happened tonight- were the Bucks hot or were we sloppy?

[lefty]

Two Questions:

First, where did all the rest of you Raptors fan posters disappear to?
Secondly, for those who saw the game, what happened tonight- were the Bucks hot or were we sloppy?
I'm here! :convertib

[angel_luv]

:)

[velik_m]

Slokar is getting some playing time :tu

[Rip-Hamilton32]

Two Questions:

First, where did all the rest of you Raptors fan posters disappear to?
Secondly, for those who saw the game, what happened tonight- were the Bucks hot or were we sloppy?

raps took 31 threes last night, and bosh didn't get enough touches the game was close in the first half but the bucks pulled away by shooting a few 3s and never looked back, raps just shot poorly and bucks shoot pretty good

[angel_luv]

Thanks. :) Welcome back guys. :)
I read Coach Mitchell's post game statements... his summary and yours are pretty much the same.

Ugh- how annoying to lose to the Bucks. :(

Oh well... next! :)

[RaptorsFan]

Bosh had touches, the Bucks just played great D, doubling him immediately and forcing him to pass out or stripped the ball away from him. But the team really fell in love with the 3 in the 4th too, it was just pathetic to watch them brick 3 after 3 after 3. This was probably the most disheartening game of the season from a Raptors perspective.

[Rip-Hamilton32]

Bosh had touches, the Bucks just played great D, doubling him immediately and forcing him to pass out or stripped the ball away from him. But the team really fell in love with the 3 in the 4th too, it was just pathetic to watch them brick 3 after 3 after 3. This was probably the most disheartening game of the season from a Raptors perspective.

i think bosh only took 8 shots

[Rip-Hamilton32]

raptors getting blown out by cavs right now

[angel_luv]

I just came home from work and checked. :(

Come on guys!!!!!!!!!

[angel_luv]

Whoosh! Raptors on the front page! :clap

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba;_ylt=AkR37r0X_Kz6kCFJMwbygvA5nYcB


The Raptors are headed for the Atlantic title. How far can they go in the East? Yahoo! Sports' experts predict Toronto's playoff run.


It's a video. :)

[angel_luv]

Raptors are in Washington tonight.

Agent Zero is going to stand for zero points and assists- or at least as close to it as possible :lol

Dajmo Raptors! :D

[Bruno]

Raptors will lose tonight, book it. :p:

[angel_luv]

I will do no such thing. If memory serves, Raptors beat the Wizards last meeting.

[angel_luv]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/story/2007/01/31/nba-wizards-raptors.html?ref=rss

[angel_luv]

Come on, Raptors!!!!

[Bruno]

Sorry angel. :depressed

[RaptorsFan]

Another embarassing performance on the defensive end and on the glass. Bosh with a pathetic 0 defensive rebound performance in 33 minutes and the Wiz grabbed 17 O. Rebounds on us. Things better get sorted out soon.

[angel_luv]

Thanks Bruno. :)

Stinks to have 109 points and still lose.

No more losing!

[angel_luv]

Raptors and Grizzlies tonight- time to get back to our winning ways. :)

[angel_luv]

1 Quarter down- 3 more to dominate :fro :)

[lefty]

Go Raps!!!! stop the struggling!!

[angel_luv]

It was a slow start ( not sure what caused it) but way to finish out the first half. :)

[angel_luv]

A win- that's more like it! :) Good job guys!

[lefty]

:smokin

[angel_luv]

Raps about to play the Sonics.

Dajmo Raptors! :)

[angel_luv]

Raps scoreboard says they're still a bit sleepy. Hopefully our guys all have some coffee during halftime and dominate the rest of the game.

[velik_m]

7 down after 3 qtrs. Rasho is having a decent game.

[angel_luv]

He is.
I wish this game was televized. I can't get a feel from the box score about what is going on.

[velik_m]

Looks like it's going down to the wire.

[themvp]

Wow what a great game!

[angel_luv]

Come on Raptors!!!!!!!!

[velik_m]

20 sec left down by 2

[angel_luv]

Do not let the Stupid Sonics win... come on guys!

[velik_m]

Bargnani sure likes to shoot those 3 pointers.

[angel_luv]

Oh my goodness! What a game!

[angel_luv]

This is the longest 9 seconds remaining ever. :lol
Finish the time out already!

[themvp]

Overtime!

[resistanze]

Rebounding haunts them again. We go to overtime!

[angel_luv]

Overtime.

Not the worst ending to the fourth but not what I had in mind.

All right, here is where we finish them off. :)

[angel_luv]

Collison out. :)

[angel_luv]

Ugh I need league pass.

[angel_luv]

Bosh fouled someone??? Why???

[lefty]

Bargnaniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[angel_luv]

Wow- too close.
Congrats Raps! :)

[angel_luv]

Wow--- Sho had six assists!

[angel_luv]

:fro
http://i16.tinypic.com/43hu6b8.jpg

[angel_luv]

http://i18.tinypic.com/2vl4keq.jpg

[angel_luv]

http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/quotes_031107.html

[angel_luv]

Another win! :elephant

[RaptorsFan]

Andrew Bogut is such a bitch. He better get suspended for that completely uncalled for shove from behind he gave Bosh with 49 seconds left. According to Milwaukee fans he flipped off and swore at a fan as he was going to the locker room after he got tossed, so he should get a hefty fine at the least. Bosh called him out during his post-game interview on the radio, saying that Bogut had been playing dirty all game and that when Bosh told him to "just play ball", Bogut was having none of it.

[velik_m]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070313/capt.wimg10603130153.raptors_bucks_basketball_wimg 106.jpg

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/85/fullj.getty-71797149cp007_toronto_rapto_9_27_14_pm.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070313/capt.wimg10303130117.raptors_bucks_basketball_wimg 103.jpg

Bosh also says - about the foul - "I guess if he's watching my back the whole game, he's got to do something" - in reference to him beating Bogut all game.

What else can you expect from a Croatian?

On a side note, i see Rasho is still doing the blowfish imitation. :blah

Bargs with 1/7 from 3 :/

Brezec and Nachbar had good games too. All Slovenians win and Mavericks streak ends - it was a good day. :clap

[angel_luv]

Brezec and Nachbar had good games too. All Slovenians win and Mavericks streak ends - it was a good day. :clap


Indeed. :tu


hvala for pics. :)

[angel_luv]

Raps play the knicks in a little over an hour. May the win streak continue! :)

[ata]

Nice win! :clap

TJ Ford with 18 pts and 18 ass! :wow :wow :wow :clap

[angel_luv]

That's awesome.

We win again! :)

[sandeepgm]

raptors are 23-9 at home or something like that. quite impressive. T.J. ford has been playing real well...