Our condolences go to Sam Mitchell and his family. I wont be kicking and screaming about the game tonight. There was no way the Raptors were going to sweep the season series with the Spurs. Mitchell’s absence was definitely felt. The Raptors shot more jumpers than they usually do. Moon didn’t even dribble the ball in the direction of the basket. I’m sure Smitch will give him an earful when he’s back in action.

Same goes for Bosh. Three times he had either Stoudamire or Vaughn covering him, and he forces a jumper at the top of the key, clanking each one off various parts of the rim. The only attacking forces were Delfino and Calderon. Delfino missed too many shots and jumpers to be effective. Calderon hit too many, if that makes any sense.

On a night where Calderon scored a career high 27, lighting it up from all over the court, the Raptors offense laboured. This had everything to do with the Spurs eliminating passing lanes, and forcing Calderon to score. Worked like a charm. Seriously, what did you expect? A repeat of the first time the Raptors won? Offensively, the Raptors were marginally better this game, mustering 5 more points and shooting a bit better from the field.

In that game, Bosh was also neutralized and Calderon was made the scorer, except this time around, the Spurs shot about 50% from the field (compared to 32% in the previous game). This tells me that the Raptors were lucky to walk out of the Alomo with a win. The Spurs couldn’t buy a basket. Tonight, not so much. The Spurs were lead by an incredible performance by Ginobili, who could do no wrong from anywhere on the court. Talk about efficiency: in 39 minutes, he scores 34 points, grabs 15 rebounds, dishes 6 dimes and steals the ball twice.

My only complaint on the night was allowing Ginobili to grab 15 rebounds. I mean come on. Moon/Delfino/Parker forgot about him. I mean, it was easy, it wasn’t like he was all over the place. In one sequence, he shot the ball from about 27 feet, and ran down his own rebound. Tough to watch, but these are the facts people. New Jersey is up next, and I can’t wait to be at that game! Here’s my recap:

1st Quarter:

• I missed the first two minutes, turn on the TV and see Bosh trying to split the double team by putting his elbow through Oberto, the Spurs extend their lead to 7-0, Raptors timeout.
• Raptors run a good play out of the timeout, but Duncan makes a great block.
• Ginobli pump fakes Parker into the first row and hits a running one legged bank shot over Bosh.
• Moon hesitates and nails a long jumper from the corner to stop the bleeding. I don’t know what pisses me off more: the fact he stepped on the line, or that he took another jumper.
• The Spurs pass the ball around the perimeter 9 times, with Oberto nailing a baseline jumper.
• Bosh is gimpy…great.
• Parker hits a tough turn around jumper over Bowen.
• Ginobili is a one man wrecking crew - this time he penetrates and kicks out to Bowen for an open three.
• Calderon throws a garbage alleyoop pass to Bosh which doesn’t even get to the rim.
• Delfino comes in and forces a turnover in transition.
• Chuck: “Does it swell?” Fag boy.
• Bargnani takes it to the rack baseline with a dunk over Duncan and Horry + 1
• Spurs move the ball around the perimeter so nicely until a hole opens up, this time it’s Duncan taking it to the rack.
• Seriously, Chuck, we get it…Toronto is a great city, everyone loves it.
• Calderon dribbles around Stoudamire and hits a layup, then forces Damon to travel.
• Bargnani can’t capitalize, missing the three from the elbow extended.
• Andrea, trailing the play, hits a trey in transition.
• Delfino is playing great defense on Finley, he’s not going for any of his fakes, right up in his grill.
• Bosh has Stoudamire on his hip, but elects to shoot a jumper. He misses.
• Calderon rolls off the screen and nails the jumper, then almost steals the ball. Great 1st quarter.
• Delfino misses another shot at the top of the key, then fouls Oberto under the basket (he misses both).

2nd Quarter:

• Man, I can’t listen to the TSN guys, they are so boring.
• Bargnani starts the 2nd air-balling in the post.
• Spurs start the 2nd quarter playing like NBA champions.
• This game is over, I am calling it here at the 9:28 mark of the 2nd.
• Delfino is knocking his compatriots around hard.
• Every time the Raptors double, the Spurs get a great open look - fortunately Finley misses this one.
• Delfino finishes a ridiculous layup in traffic. Timeout Spurs.
• Bosh has Vauhgn on his hip, instead of shooting over him, he commits a charge.
• Ford drops a sweet back door pass to a cutting Bargnani, who gets fouled on the layup attempt - he hits 1 of 2.
• Raptors suck at double teaming. They get burned every single time they do it.
• Bargnani finally uses the pump-fake properly, getting Elson off his feet and drawing the foul. He hits both.
• Duncan executes a great play in the post, faking Rasho, stepping under and laying it up. One of my favourite plays in ball.
• Calderon answers with a trey.
• Manu casually strokes a trey of his own.
• Bosh draws his first foul at the 4:21 mark, on a drive to the rim. Every time he falls, it seems like hes crumpling like a house of cards.
• Bosh takes another jumper at the top of the key. He misses.
• Ginobili is on fire, he strokes a serious trey in Parker’s eye.
• The Spurs are carving the Raptors up like Shawarma.
• Calderon nails another jumper inside the arc.
• Manu is a one man wrecking crew.
• Moon hits a three to cut the lead to 15.

3rd Quarter:

• Spurs score way to easily to start the 4th. Bargnani forgets to cover Duncan under the basket.
• Moon hits another trey. At least they are falling, I still don’t like it.
• Bosh grabs an offensive rebound off of Parkers missed three He kicks out to an open Bargnani who nails the trey. Timeout Spurs.
• Moon misses from behind the arc. As Achilles asked in Iliad “Is there no one else?”
• Ginobili sticks another trey.
• Bosh misses another jumper from the perimeter.
• Calderon should be the only one allowed to shoot tonight.
• Bosh, yet again, has Vaughn on his hip, and decides to shoot a turn around jumper. He misses.
• Parker curls off a couple high screens, catches the inbounds pass and nails a jumper.
• Bosh finally decides to drive at the 5:04 mark, drawing a foul in the paint. He hits both.
• Duncan scores in the post, but Bargnani played pretty damn good defense.
• Calderon hits two straight layups in the paint.
• Bosh get’s animated in the huddle, but he is playing pretty shitty himself.
• Calderon finishes another layup in traffic.
• Calderon hits a step back jumper in the key over Horry.
• Moon fucking misses another jumper behind the arc.

4th Quarter:

• Uhm…why is Dixon playing and not TJ?
• Bosh penetrates and drops a dime to Rasho who hits a short hook.
• Delfino drives to the rim and finishes.
• Dixon penetrates and kicks to Kapono for an open jumper, Raptors cut the lead to 4. Spurs timeout.
• Duncan kicks out to an open Finley. Spurs back up 6. This is why they are champions, it is called clutch.
• Dixon turns the ball over, and Ginobili hits a three in transition.
• Finley hits a running jumper in the paint.
• Ginobili hits another jumper, off the inbounds pass.
• Delfino goes back the other way, taking it to the rack.
• Raptors need to make a couple stops defensively, trading baskets wont get them anywhere.
• Rasho forces Duncan to shoot an air ball from the right block, then hits a jumper on the baseline.
• Vaughn hits a trey from the corner off of Horry’s penetration. Yes, Horry actually penetrated and opened up room for Vaughn to shoot.
• Bosh takes it to the rack, putting down a two-hander.
• Calderon takes it baseline, finishing the reverse.
• Manu hits yet another jumper from the corner, with a hand in his face.
• Calderon nails a trey with Vaughn up in his grill.
• Ginobili drops a dime to an open Duncan.
• Delfino nails a trey from the elbow extended.
• Delfino threads the needle to a slashing Rasho. 87-84 Raptors.
• Ginobili draws a foul, making Delfino bite on the pump fake. He hits both.
• Bosh misses a wide open jumper from the top of the key off of Delfino’s penetration.
• Raptors force Ginobili and Duncan to take bad shots in the same possession.
• Colangelo looks pissed off, he always looks pissed off during games.
• Parker puts back a layup off of Delfinos missed trey.
• Duncan answers, nailing an open jumper.
• Bosh hits a forced turn around jumper over Oberto. I’ll take it.
• Bosh misses the jumper off the pick and roll. Bosh should know better.
• Raptors force the Spurs to burn their last timeout on the inbounds play.
• Ginobili misses the trey, but runs down his own rebound and gets fouled.
• Finley gets fouled on the inbound, and hits both from the line. 93-88 Spurs, game over.

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