What a great game to watch: Keep it close for 3 quarters, then blow them out in the 4th. I had the Raptors losing this game. Much like the Nets, the Bucks are solid at the two spot. It was a non-issue…Mitchell made some adjustments after the Net’s game, most importantly, was denying Redd the ball. Redd was never allowed to get rolling, and the rest is history.

1st Quarter:
They got Bosh the ball often and in great scoring position. For any player who wants to be on this team, this is the way to go: Get Bosh the ball, plain and simple. See Raptors Run: The Raptors set the tempo, and kept it popping. Just to keep things interesting, the moved the ball around incredibly. Really seemed like this team could be a solid playoff team that would give teams fits in the playoffs. Seemed that way until the Bucks called a timeout at the 8:30 mark. It is starting to concern me that during the game, coaching adjustments are non-existant. Mitchell and crew seem to need time away from the court to confer and strategize-something that will need to be addressed. Anyways, the Raptors came out of the timeout flat, letting the Bucks back into the game. Villenueva looked great. Ford missed two layups that caused me to pull some hair out. Two things that should never happen: 1. miss a free throw; 2. miss a layuup, even if it is in traffic.

2nd Quarter:
Calderon and the Zoo-Crew started the second with a bang. He hits a jumper, then strips Bogut of the ball at the other end. Seems this summers gold medal run did wonders for him. The Raptors get out to 33-23, when low and behold, the Bucks call a timeout at the 8:14 mark, leading to a 8-2 Bucks run. I will keep stressing this: we need better defensive AND offensive sets out of timeouts. X’s and O’s people…google it if you have to, just do something about it. So to stop the Bucks run, the Raptors called a timeout at the 5:24 mark. I love it when Mitchell shows growth, and makes a timeout call. Most coaches can’t use the timeout properly. I am of the thought that you call a timeout anytime the game starts to get out of hand. Thats what they are for, just call it dammit. They are also for laying a proper strategy, so when you come out of the time out, you will get a basket…unfortunately, the Raptors came out flat (surprise surprise). An observation if I may: Ford all too often penetrates deep into the paint, leaves his feet, then looks for the pass. This could be a point of concern. He did it a couple times, and as we all know, you should never leave your feet, then look to pass. I didn’t realize this until it was brought up, the Raptors took their 3rd and 4th free throw attempt at the 2;13 mark of the second. Part of the problem of being an up-tempo, shooting team is reduced free throw attempts. You need to have the freebies in order to survive. Bosh was averaging like 9 a game last year, and hit like 8 of them. That is 8 free points. I am interested to see what this years incarnation does. Villenuava was hammering the Raptors this quarter. His defense is suspect, and Bosh never took advantage of that. He was never made to work on defense (very hard anyways). A good way to control a threat like Villenueava is to make him work on both ends of the floor, this was not done well in the 2nd or 3rd quarter. Another good use of the timeout came with 22:4 seconds left in the 2nd, when Mitchell called a timeout. Ford penetrated and dished out to Mopete who hit an open three pointer to tie the game up going into half.

3rd Quarter:
This is how you come out after half-time…strong and focused. In the first minute and a half, Bosh had an incredible sequence, he hit a basket, forced a steal, and hit another shot. Ford threw another bad pass, really gets frustrating when a point guard keeps going to the wrong well. The Raptors started the 3rd with an 8-0 run. Bosh earned a charge on Redd, all due to the defensive pressure that Parker put on Redd. Bogut really stepped it up here. He undressed Garbajosa on three straight possessions. No adjustments were made, but it didn’t matter. For some unknown reason, the Bucks stopped getting him the ball…idiots. The Raptors didn’t go to the line at all during the 3rd quarter, not one attempt.

4th Quarter:
The Raptors ran away with the game with great penetration and shooting by Calderon. Deep penetrations, then kick out for open baskets and ball rotation led to easy scores. If Calderon can continue this play, we will be SOLID at point for years to come. A play of note: at 8:56, the Bucks called a timeout, to calm a Raptors run. The first play out, Redd hit an easy bucket. I can’t stress this enough, but Mitchell needs to prepare the team better for these situations. This was the third infraction in the last two games that this played itself out. Calderon hit some big threes, and the Raptors ran away with the game. Joey Graham was ineffective in the garbage time he got at the end of the 4th. He has the size, strength, quickness, and game to play in this league, he just needs to be play with some confidence. He looks very nervous and timid, passing on open shots, then forcing the issue. He needs to find some Zen or something.

Game Notes:

• The Raptors need some better production, and writing. How on earth do you properly compare the contributions by Ford and Villenueva? They play different positions.
• I can’t take Leo anymore. Team Swirsky and Armstrong up, please!
• Speaking of Swirsky, he isn’t bigging up Graham without merit this season. Seems like he isn’t towing the company line like he used to, hopefully.
• TJ Ford needs to realize his teammates can’t catch some of those passes he launches at them. You can’t call them good passes if the recipient doesn’t catch them because they come in too hot.
• The coaching staff need to invest into a consultant to help them in time-out situations:
  • Firstly, they don’t keep their energy up
  • Secondly, they don’t defend well out of time outs.
• Garbajosa has built the foundation of his new house with the bricks he has put up.
• Anthony Parker is smooth. He nailed the Bucks with dagger after dagger. Damn good pick up.
• We want the Pape, give us the Pape!

Technorati Tags: Chris Bosh, Charlie Villanueva, Milwaukee Bucks, Sam Mitchell, TJ Ford, Jose Calderon, Andrew Bogut, Morris Peterson, Anthony Parker, Michael Redd, Jorge Garbajosa, Chuck Swirsky, Jack Armstrong, Joey Graham, Pape Sow