Its_asdf's Raptors Dynasty - Discontinued

out for 2 weeks after a head first - neck injury, heller's one lucky rookie il give him the ROY award for toughness

22-21 20-23
*Click on the logos for boxscores

Suns Spoil Bosh's Return (108-103 Phoenix)

January 30, 2010

Chris Bosh's return could not have been any more dramatic. The 6'10 leading scorer of the NBA played his first game after missing a month with a torn achilles tendon, but he gave Raptor fans another scare after injuring his right leg in the middle of the second quarter.

To make matters worse, Raptors' point guard Jose Caldeorn also sustained an injury shortly afterwards and was out for the game because of his wrist. Bosh would shrug off the injury later in the game and would return in the fourth to score 20 points in only 17 minutes.

Despite missing Bosh, Calderon and Terrell (suspension), the Raptors hung their hat on their defense as role players Martell Webster and Javaris Crittenton stepped up their play. The Raptors had never been down by as many as 8 points in the game, and Webster and Crittenton played a big role in locking down Phoenix's second unit. Webster had a season high 25 points and 6 rebounds while Crittenton scored 10 while stealing the ball 3 times. "Was it a tough loss to swallow with all of our players going down like that? Yeah I would say so," Raptors coach Jay Triano said. "I think we learned a lot about the grit of this team though. When two of our biggest guys went down we never panicked and our back-ups showed up ready to play."

The Raptors even led by 2 at point in the fourth quarter, but unfortunately the Raptors were simply too tired to keep up the run and gun pace without their main starters, as they shot only 40% in the final period.




Phoenix's frontcourt wasn't afraid to knock around the recently injured Bosh

Notes:
-The Suns needed a high-scoring game like this one after their recent 98-61 loss against the Lakers, their worst offensive showing this season.
-Calderon and Nash are duking it out in the assists per game category, as Calderon current holds a 0.3 advantage over Nash. Calderon averages 7.5 assists in comparison to Nash's 7.2.
-Phoenix has finally fallen off as an offensive juggernaut in the West as they rank 19th in the NBA in scoring this season.

Player of the Game:

Steve Nash
Pts - 28
Rebs - 5
Asts - 5
FG - 12/20
Stls - 2

Bosh and Calderon Banged Up, But OK
Both Raptors' Injuries Listed as Day to Day




Mike Ulmer - raptors.com
February 1, 2010




For all those who cringed when they saw Chris Bosh clutching his foot and Caldeorn icing his wrist on the sidelines during the Suns game need not to worry; the two Raptor stars will not be missing out on any action in this crucial February stretch.

The Raptors are currently one game away from taking the eighth spot in the Eastern Standings and will be needing all the bodies they can get. Bosh was diagnosed with a sore toe while Jose Calderon's tweaked wrist was only swollen. "We can definitely breathe a sigh of relief but we're still not out of the woods yet," warned Assistant coach Alex English. "They won't be 100% for 5 or 6 days and we can't run them as hard as we're used to."

Luckily enough, the power forward and point guard positions are an area of depth for the Raptors. Channing Frye and Javaris Crittenton have proven themselves to be able to shoulder the load with Bosh and Calderon out. Crittenton and Frye each had 10 and 12 points respectively as they played surprisingly effective basketball against the Phoenix Suns. "I've been playing with energy every night, even if I got 2 minutes or 20, so I'll be ready for whatever role they put me in," Crittenton explained. "Frye's been good too. Ever since we traded for him he's always been playing at a high level with Bosh out of the lineup."

Monthly Report - January

Rookie Rankings

1. Chuck Terrell (Toronto) - 17.1 ppg 5.5 rpg 3.2 apg 1.26 spg 0.6 bpg 44% FG 33% 3PT 85% FT
Much like Kevin Durant in the 2007 draft, Terrell is slowly emerging as the sure-fire no. 1 rookie this draft. Although Priest has been a consistent inside force for Memphis, Askins has not made strides throughout the season as Terrell did. Terrell's three point shot is looking better and better, and soon enough he could actually pose to be a legitimate scorer from that range.

2. Priest Askins (Memphis) - 13 ppg 9.9 rpg 2.6 apg 0.98 spg 1.63 bpg 44% FG 29% 3PT 67% FT
As stated above, Askins' production fluctuates slightly from month to month, but overall he has hovered around 13 and 10 with a block and half thus far through the season. His field goal percentage is up, but people can't help but wonder how high his percentages would skyrocket if he would stop taking those blasted pull up threes.

3. Dante Oliver (New Jersey) - 9.1 ppg 7.6 rpg 2.7 apg 1.14 spg 1.36 bpg 49% FG 34$ 3PT 66% FT
A new addition to the rookie rankings, Oliver has picked the splinters off his butt and is now a full-blown starter for New Jersey. Coach Lawrence Frank has finally had it with Yi Jianlian's erratic play and is opting for a more agressive approach from his front-line. The 6'9 power forward gives just that, and as a result he quickly has become the most efficient rookie from the field. Although he's only had significant playing time for one month, Oliver can be a darkhorse ROY candidate if he continues to impress.

4. Haji Lo (Indiana) - 9.1 ppg 1.9 rpg 3.0 apg 0.31 spg .17 bpg 48% FG 38% 3PT 96% FT
Another late bloomer who's super efficient play has vaulted him into the top 7. The Korean speed demon has drawn a ton of comparisons to Allen Iverson with his insane coast-to-coast athleticism. Although undersized at 6 feet, Lo pairs up with Ford in the backcourt to give opposing backcourts nightmares on the open court. The Pacers' depth has improved much more now as they move Dunleavy to the 6th man role.

5. Kenan Royal (Minnesota) - 8.4 ppg 2 rpg 3.2 apg 0.84 spg 0.12 bpg 44% FG 28% 3PT 81% FT
After complaining about his lack of playing time, Kenan Royal got his wish for more minutes as he was traded from a playoff-calibre team in Wahshington to one of the league's doormats in Minnesota. The change of scenery might have done the trick, as Royal's steady point guard presence is exactly what Al Jefferson and the rebuilding Timberwolves needed.

6. Fredrik Ratchuk (Sacramento) - 11.5 ppg 3 rpg 3.7 apg 1.07 spg 0.12 bpg 44% FG 32% 3PT 81% FT
Injuries, injuries, injuries. Ratchuck's 5'11 body just can't catch a break. While statisically Ratchuk is much more superior than many of the rookies, Fred just keeps slowly declining as more and more injuries begin to pile up on top of him. Hopefully the second half of the season is played with a clean bill of health, because when Ratchuk's at his best he's right up there with Terrell and Askins.

7. Adam Otter (Minnesota) - 9.1 ppg 2.5 rpg 2.2 apg 0.84 spg 0.32 bpg 42% FG 27% 3PT 77% FT
Adam Otter is proof that statistics can be decieving. The 6'6 guard on paper doesn't look like much, but he in fact has played fantastic basketball in January. Much of his poor play can be attributed to his first two months of the season after being forced to ride the bench behind the likes of Randy Foye and Mike Miller, who are now gone to make room for Otter's growth.

Didn't make the cut: Antoine Heller, Dean Friedman and Simba Vaught

League Leaders

Points Per Game
1. C. Bosh (Tor) - 21.9
2. B. Gordon (Chi) - 20
3. P. Stojakovic (NOH) - 19.7
4. E. Brand (Phi) - 19.6
5. G. Arenas (Was)/K. Durant (OKC) - 19.3
6. M. Redd (Mil) - 19
7. M. Ginobili (SAS) - 18.9
8. L. James (Cle) - 18.8
9. C. Butler (Was) - 18.7
10.K. Garnett (Bos) - 18.6

Rebounds Per Game
1. D. Howard (Orl) - 12.2
2. E. Okafor (NOH) - 11.2
3. J. Foster (Ind) - 11.1
4. E. Brand (Phi) - 10.5
5. A. Horford (Atl) - 10.3
6. A. Stoudemire (Pho) - 10.2
7. T. Chandler (Cha) - 10.1
8. N. Collison (OKC)/K. Garnett (Bos)/T. Duncan (SAS) - 10
9. C. Boozer (Uta)/P. Askins (Mem)/A. Biedrins (GSW) - 9.9
10. M. Yao (Hou)/Nene (Den)/C. Bosh (Tor) - 9.7

Assists Per Game
1. C. Paul (NOH) - 8
2. J. Calderon (Tor) - 7.4
3. J. Kidd (Dal) - 7.3
4. G. Arenas (Was)/S. Nash (Pho) - 7.2
5. B. Davis (LAC)/T. Parker (SAS) - 7
6. C. Duhon (NYK) - 6.9
7. D. Williams (Uta) - 6.7
8. A. Iverson (Det) - 6.6
9. A. Miller (Phi) - 6.4
10. D. Harris (NJN)/M. Bibby (Atl) - 6.3

Steals Per Game
1. A. Iverson (Det) - 2.7
2. K. Bryant (LAL) - 1.95
3.C. Butler (Was) - 1.93
4. G. Arenas (Was) - 1.91
5. M. Ginobili (SAS)/D. Wade (Mia)/L. James (Cle) - 1.77
6. T. Parker (SAS) - 1.75
7. T. McGrady (Hou) - 1.74
8. R. Jefferson (SAS) - 1.72
9. S. Marion (Por) - 1.71
10. C. Billups (Den)/J. Calderon (Tor)/D. Friedman (Cha) - 1.65

Blocks Per Game
1. D. Howard (Orl) - 2.41
2. J. Smith (Atl) - 2.23
3. T. Thomas (Chi) - 2.02
4. G. Oden (Por) - 2
5. K. Garnett (Bos)/A. Stoudemire (Pho) - 1.98
6. A. Jefferson (Min) - 1.97
7. P. Gasol (LAL) - 1.95
8. R. Wallace (Det)/E. Okafor (NOH) - 1.93
9. J. O'Neal (Mia) - 1.91
10. A. Bynum (LAL) - 1.87

Minutes Per Game
1. B. Davis (LAC) - 38.8
2. J. Green (OKC) - 38.7
3. M. Yao (Hou)/B. Gordon (Chi) - 38.3
4. M. Bibby (Atl) - 38.2
5. C. Butler (Was)/M. Okur (Uta) - 38.1
6. D. Howard (Orl)/C. Villanueva (Mil) - 38
7. L. Aldridge (Por)/R. Artest (LAL)/C. Anthony (Den) - 37.8
8. E. Okafor (NOH)/V. Carter (Orl)/S. Hawes (Sac) - 37.7
9. C. Maggette (GSW) - 37.6
10. G. Arenas (Was) - 37.4

Field Goals Made
1. K. Garnett (Bos) - 364
2. E. Brand (Phi) - 356
3. C. Anthony (Den) - 335
4. K. Durant (OKC) - 332
5. J. O'Neal (Mia) - 331
6. B. Gordon (Chi) - 325
7. A. Stoudemire (Pho) - 323
8. P. Stojakovic (NOH) - 321
9. L. James (Cle) - 319
10. P. Gasol (LAL)/D. West (NOH) - 313

3 Point Field Goals Made
1. P. Stojakovic (NOH) - 126
2. C. Duhon (NYK) - 104
3. G. Arenas (Was) - 99
4. R. Allen (Bos) - 95
5. B. Gordon (Chi) - 94
6. B. Davis (LAC)/K. Korver (Uta) - 93
7. J. Terry (Dal) - 88
8. R. Lewis (Orl) - 85
9. R. Butler (NOH) - 79
10. K. Durant (OKC)/D. Williams (Uta) - 78

Free Throws Made
1. P. Pierce (Bos) - 165
2. K. Martin (Sac)/M. Redd (Mil) - 160
3. D. Harris (NJN) - 157
4. P. Stojakovic (NOH) - 156
5. C. Billups (Den) - 153
6. R. Allen (Bos)/R. Gomes (Min) - 148
7. M. Ginobili (SAS) - 147
8. K. Durant (OKC)/L. James (Cle)/B. Roy (Por) - 146
9. D. Nowitzki (Dal) - 145
10. C. Terrell (Tor) - 144

MVP Candidates


Players/Rookies of the Month
Eastern Conference Player of the Month
Western Conference Player of the Month
Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month
Western Conference Rookie of the Month

Season Standings

Eastern Conference

1. Miami 31-12
2. Boston 33-13
3. Detroit 28-17
4. Cleveland 25-17
5. Orlando 24-20
6. Washington 24-20
7. Chicago 23-21
8. Milwaukee 22-21
9. Toronto 22-21
10. Atlanta 21-22
11. Philadelphia 18-25
12. New York 18-28
13. New Jersey 17-26
14. Charlotte 13-29
15. Indiana 11-27

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers 31-12
2. San Antonio 28-16
3. Denver 26-20
4. New Orleans 29-18
5. Dallas 26-17
6. Houston 24-18
7. Sacramento 25-23
8. Oklahoma City 22-24
9. Utah 21-24
10. Phoenix 20-23
11. Los Angeles Clippers 17-27
12. Portland 17-28
13. Memphis 16-28
14. Golden State 14-29
15. Minnesota 13-31

Woot page 6! I think that's a milestone for me.... Thanks for the continued support guys!

Andrew - Thanks for finding the typo, it's nice to know that you're actually reading the articles.

Clutch - Terrell may play a "soft" game (mid range jumpers galore), but he certainly talks a tough one that's for sure.

MikeMan™ - I wouldn't say he's a cancer but he's definitely one of the more outspoken Raptors on the team. At least that's how I tried to portray him.

thierryhenry50 - Yeah Live's engine is pretty poopy.

Martti. - Well your prediction was certainly off.... Carney went like 1-9. He's been slumping pretty hard since Heller stole his starting spot.

Sit - Yeah having 34432 guards really pays off when one goes down! Thanks for the congrats by the way.

XpLosibo - Yeah thank god he didn't pull a T.J. Ford.... Heller's really become one of my favs on the team.

Why is Milwaukee ahead of you ? Inside Conference wins ? More home wins ? . . . What ?
and damn! what's happening to my rookie Ratchuk ? how low is his hardiness stat ?

wow nice! this is from Live 05 right?

Miami's on fire, I love it.

Chuck Terrell is on fire too!!! ^^"

damn that Suns lineup is funky; 84-year old Hill at PF? glad Nash had a nice game

Webster looks like he's trying hard to be the go to guy for the Raps

Breaking Down the Raptors
Handing Out Grades for the Raptors So Far


February 1, 2010
Doug Smith
SPORTS REPORTER

Click Here to view the Stats of the '09-'10 Raptors

With the halfway mark upon us, the Raptors are currently sitting at 22-21 and would be looking from the outside in if the playoffs were to start today. After a few rough spots here and there - Namely Bosh's injury and the Marion drama off the court, the Raptors seemed to have finally found their core group of players and look primed for a solid run at the playoffs. Without further ado, let's take a gander at how the Raptors individually have fared in the first half of the 09-10 season.


Centers

Andrea Bargnani - B+
Raptor fans must be brimming with an "I told you so" attitude towards any of the critics who thought Il Mago's second half of last season was a fluke. The nimble 7 footer has grown comfortable as the Raptors' man in the middle, averaging a career high 8.8 rebounds to go with 17.5 points a night. Bargs has relapsed into sophomore year Bargnani (chucker who shies away from contact) every now and then, but for the most part I would say that Bargnani has performed up to, if not higher than the expectations he set for himself coming into this season.

Channing Frye - A-
Although technically a power forward, Frye is more than adept at handling the center position for the Raptors' high-tempo system. Everyone knew that Frye would be loggin big minutes when Bosh was injured, but no one expected some of the big games that would come out of the Arizona product. Overall Frye's been a stable inside presence that will once in a while blow up for games like these.

Patrick O'Bryant - C-

Pat has done exactly what he did last season, and that was tease the coaching staff with his talent. Although he played well for a few games in the absence of Reggie Evans, O'Bryant continues to show a lack of polish on both ends of the court and is still a player that relies on his instincts. Still, given the Raptors' injuries woes at the front court this year, it wouldn't be surprising to see Colangelo hold on to O'Bryant for some extra needed depth.

Power Forwards

Chris Bosh - B
It's a contract year for Bosh and CB4 has shown that he can dominate some games when he's healthy, despite not having strayed too far from his 20-10 realm. It also doesn't look too great when the team you're supposed "franchise player" of manages to play better basketball without you in the lineup. Bosh has been hurt for a good portion of the season thus far, so it's difficult to guage how effective the Raptors can really be with their starting five after the Marion trade.

Reggie Evans - B-
Evans was brought in for one reason only, and that's to rebound. Can't say that anyone's too impressed with what he's brought to the table, but with such a defined role on the team expectations shouldn't be all too high.

Small Forwards

Chuck Terrell - A
After a horrific outing on opening day, many were quick to dismiss Terrell as another bust. Boy, were they wrong. As the months went by, Terrell has just gotten better and better in almost every facet of the game. It's safe to say that the Raptors' MVP thus far into the season would be Terrell, because it's obvious that Chuck's play sets the standard for the Raptors' play; when he's down and not hitting his shots, the team folds under the pressure - When he's motivated and ready to exert his will on to the game his teammates play with that extra bounce in their step. If Bosh stays healthy and the chemistry between these two players continue to develop, the Raptors might have their strongest one-two punch in the history of the franchise.

Martell Webster - C+
Webster was brought in to fill in a much needed gap in the Raptors offense - The three point shot. While the Raptors have become a better perimeter team, not much of it can be attributed to Webster. Webster for the most part has done his job well and has even become a surprisingly effective defensive role player, but there are games where he misses a jumper here and there and quickly loses confidence. Webster's consistency and ability to hit shots off screens could be an X-factor on whether or not the Raptors can make it to the playoffs. Being inserted into the starting lineup in place of the injured Antoine Heller is sure to help speed up his development.

Shooting Guards

Antoine Heller - C+
Although it was only for 8 games, the Santa Clara guard showed that he can be a quality young player down the road. Heller's unique blend of skill, speed and size completely caught opposing defenders off guard. It's a shame to see him go down with something as serious as a neck injury, but let's hope that a speedy recovery allows everyone to get a better view of this kid's talent.

Rodney Carney - D+
Coming in as the Raptors' starting two guard, Carney was looking pretty good despite being a starter only because the Raptors were lacking in the 2 guard department. Carney's inconsistency from the outside and his knack for gambling too much on defense has forced Triano to go with the more steady and in control Martell Webster with Heller out of the lineup. Carney's still got time to prove that he's a capable player in the rotation, but his lack of passion on the court can be troubling at times. When Carney's hot, he can be one of the better guards for the Raptors, but for the most part Carney's potential remains untapped.

Quincy Douby - N/A
Douby has only found PT during garbage time, and with the Raptors being so deep at the guards chances are he won't be seeing anything else other than that barring any major injury to another guard.

Point Guards

Jose Calderon - B+
Calderon looked like he needed some time in the beginning of the season to shake off his heel injury from last season as he struggled with his shot for the first month or so. Other than that, Jose's been looking like the Jose of old, showing great tenacity on both ends of the court (ranking 10th in steals and 2nd in assists). The Spainyard has proved his naysayers wrong by being a crucial floor general of an up-tempo system; an aspect of the game that most people thought he couldn't pull off even without the injury. Let's just hope the wrist injury doesn't hamper Calderon's playmaking too much for the stretch run of the regular season.

Javaris Crittenton - C-
With Calderon playing heavy minutes night in and night out in addition to Heller's ability to slide over to the point, Crittenton's role has diminished as the season has worn on. It's not really Javaris' fault though; he simply has two supremely talented guards situated ahead of him. When Crittenton does play, the team certainly does receive a much needed energy boost as he plays at a consistent high speed gear. The problem is, Crittenton can try to do too much in his limited playing time, forcing shots or making mistakes with the ball that most rookies would commit. Javaris would definitely need more playing time in order to feel more comrfortable, but that simply isn't a luxury that the Raptors can afford at this point.

Roko Ukic - D+
After an up and down rookie year, Ukic does not look any more comfortable playing the point than he did last year. At this point in time, the offense looks a lot more stable in the hands of Calderon/Heller/Crittenton than Ukic.

Marcus Banks - N/A
Was activated for a brief period of time only to be found on the inactive list again. I doubt we'll be seeing much of him any time soon.

Last edited by Its_asdf on Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

MikeMan™ - I'm not too sure how tie breakers work in the NBA but I'm assuming it's because the Bucks beat me in the only game that I've faced them in. Unfortunately, Ratchuk's hardiness rating is only about 56, so he does get injured a lot even though he's got a lot of talent.

Dee24 - Yep, Live 2005 with Andrew's rosters.

thierryhenry50 - Ugh, I despise that team. They were the LAST team I would want being first in the Eastern Conference.

Clutch - For some reason I .dbf editted Kosi Rayner (a rookie, obviously) into the poewr forward spot but he didn't play in that game... Weird how it ended up like that. I wouldn't grow to expect Webster to be dropping that many every night considering he's playing somewhat out of position as the 2 guard. We all know that Terrell loves to get his 20 shots a night so it'll also be difficult for Webster to get his with Mr. T back in the lineup.

Javaris Crittenton - C-
With Calderon playing heavy minutes night in and night out in addition to Heller's ability to slide over to the point, Crittenton's role has diminished as the season has worn on. It's not really Javaris' fault though; he simply has two supremely talented guards situated ahead of him. When Crittenton does play, the team certainly does receive a much needed energy boost as he plays at a consistent high speed gear. The problem is, Crittenton can try to do too much in his limited playing time, forcing shots or making mistakes with the ball that most rookies would commit. Javaris would definitely need more playing time in order to feel more comrfortable, but that simply isn't a luxury that the Raptors can afford at this point.

This thing touched me. ( it's like me ! )
Got any plans for Carney if he continues to suck!? you got Banks and Ukic there for a 3-1 trade

Perhaps Chuck and Bosh will both be playing in the All-Star game.

I'd give Heller a B. He played really nice from the starting line-up.

great job by bosh, calderon & terrell for leading their respective categories ..I think u have too many disposable point guards, and a thin froncourt, that's why the team's struggling a bit. I'll grade the team overall also, it's a B-

Close call with Bosh on his return, the same thing happened to me with Gordon in 06; first game back in the lineup he sustained an injury, though fortunately that one didn't extend beyond the game. Good luck making a bit of a midseason run with Bosh back in the lineup, I'm looking forward to your All-Star coverage. Oh, and I'd probably also give Heller a higher grade, perhaps a B or B minus.

Good job on getting Channing Frye to be tougher for the C position. But I think you still need a true C. Maybe package Banks and Ukic for that.

nice mid-season evals for some reason i didn't realize your Raps were a .500 team; might be time trim some fat and bring in a booster player

23-21 11-28
*Click on the logos for boxscores

Raps Bounce Back From Mini-Slump (108-90 Raptors)

February 1, 2010

Toronto managed to shake off a small two game losing streak by rocketing off to an amazing start against one of the worst teams in the league. The Raptors tied their season-high record of 37 points in a single quarter in the first, take a double-digit lead almost immediately after Andrea Bargnani won the opening tip.

The Pacers played uninspired basketball as they weren't able to capitalize on the advantage of having Raptor stars Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon hindered by toe and wrist injuries, who had only 15points and 39 minutes shared between the two. "We just got complacent at times," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said in the Pacers' locker room after the game. "We knew that they were banged up but we didn't attack them as hard as we should've."

Toronto welcomed back rookie phenom Chuck Terrell with opening arms as he scorched the Pacers and was only one assist shy of a 25 point, 14 rebound triple-double. Martell Webster also made up for Bosh and Calderon's ineffectiveness tonight by dropping 21 points. Most of the praise towards Webster came at the other end of the ball tonight, as he held Mike Dunleavy to a 3 of 12 shooting performance. "We got off to such a good start in the beginning we didn't really need to worry about scoring points in the second half," Andrea Bargnani said, referring to the Raptors disparity of having 64 points in the first half and only 44 points in the second. "They tried to slow the pace of the game down to stop our offense but we just beat them at their own game by playing good defense."


Who said Martell Webster was only a jumpshooter? 'The Definition' had the play of the night with a vicious power dunk.

Notes:
-Bosh tore his achilles tendon earlier on this season against the Pacers.
-The Pacers were also the first team that Terrell played against as a starter.
-This marks the second straight 20 point game by Martell Webster.

Player of the Game:

Chuck Terrell
Pts - 25
Rebs - 14
Asts - 9
FG - 9/15
3PT - 4/6

23-22 25-19
*Click on the logos for boxscores

Scola Fills Yao's Shoes for Rockets W (108-101 Rockets)

February 3, 2010

After vaulting themselves off to a good start a few days ago against the Indiana Pacers, the Toronto Raptors allowed the Houston Rockets to do just that to their own team. Toronto shot an absymal 37% in the first half of the game, allowing the Rockets to easily claim a 61-40 lead by halftime. "We shot ourselves in the foot, no doubt," game-high scorer Chuck Terrell said after his second 20-10 effort. "Our defense is what is going to win us games, but we're not going to win anything if we play only 24 minutes."

The Raptors came back to life and were agressive as ever in the third quarter, going on a furious 22-8 rally heading into the fourth. Martell Webster and Chuck Terrell each scored 10 points apiece during the 36 point outburst, but it still wasn't enough to overcome the Rockets' frontline in the fourth quarter. Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon once again saw limited minutes throughout the game after both players faced discomfort with their toe and wrist respectively. Both players barely touched the court in the fourth, limiting the Raptors offensive options severely.

An injured Chris Bosh struggled to keep up with either of the Rockets' bigmen, allowing Luis Scola and Carl Landry for a combined 33 points and 21 rebounds. All five starters for the Rockets finished with double figures.




T-Mac had a quiet game, uncharacteristically taking only 8 shot attempts.

Notes:
-The Raptors will look to extract some payback when they play the Rockets next week on thursday.
-All-Star center Yao Ming is currently on the inactive list after his foot has unsurprisingly been acting up on him once again. The 7 foot Chinaman sustained the injury on December 27th and will be out for 7 weeks.
-Tracy McGrady currently sits 14th in the NBA in assists per game with 5.7.

Player of the Game:

Luis Scola
Pts - 19
Rebs - 12
Asts - 1
FG - 9/17
Stls - 2




Raptor of the Week


Martell Webster

Yeah we know Chuck put up two ridiculous double-doubles that were close to being triple doubles, but Terrell's suspension has given us a justification to put up a new face for the Raptor of the Week. Martell Webster was brought into the starting 5 as a makeshift replacement for injured rook Antoine Heller, and so far the coaches have put a lot of faith in him by giving him with 39.7 minutes per game over the past 3 games. Webster has rewarded their trust by providing a nice all around effort and a 20 point average. Not smply just a chucker when he's on the floor, Webster has been getting it done with lethal shooting percentages as both of his field goal and three point percentages were well above 50%.

PPG - 21.7
RPG - 3.3
APG - 3
FG% - 55%
3PT% - 58%
*Note: These are only averages for the week. This week includes last month's game vs. Phoenix.

MikeMan™ - It'll be difficult to pull off a 3 for 1 trade considering a lot of the AI controlled teams have a full roster. As of now I'm toying with a lot of different trade scenarios involving a lot of different player combinations... So stay tuned for that.

Sit - I doubt Terrell will make the all-star game, he's only been averaging 17 a game since he played pretty up and down in November and a bit of January.

It would be pretty sick if he were to make it though.

Martti. and Andrew - Yeah I was thinking of giving him a B-, but in the end he only played around 6-8 games as a starter and was pretty mediocre when he was still in Portland and the first few games when he came off the bench. What can I say, I've got tough love for my rooks.

john26 - I think my big man rotation is pretty solid, but I do agree that I'll look into acquiring a more veteran post presence, preferably one that is expiring.

XpLosibo - I agree 100% with your assessment on my frontcourt/backcourt, they've always been ailing problems for the Raptors pretty much since their inaugural season. B- is a pretty fair grade considering how crappily the team played initially with Marion as a starter.

Clutch - Yep, the trade deadline's coming up and you know how much Colangelo likes to deal... This team is definitely not done in terms of roster revisions.

Shame you missed out on a triple double with Terrell, but a monster game all the same. Was there a bit of a scramble towards the end to try and get him there? I know I've been there before, particularly when I got a quadruple double with KG back in my NBA Live 2004 Dynasty. A bit of force-feeding to get the assists there.

Webster is also playing really good man.

Haven't been around for a week or so.. Nice to see Bosh back and I'm glad that youre finally over .500!

Damn, Terell so close to a triple-double. Although I agree with not putting him as Raptor Of The Week. Webster is playing very nice since he was bumped into the starting line-up.