The Raptors finally beat a shitty team. I got nervous when Chuck said “they couldn’t possibly lose this lead.” I really don’t know why people rant and rave over Riley, his genius, his detailed approach, bla bla bla. If you can’t win a championship with Shaq, Wade backed up by Haslem, Mourning, Payton, Williams and Walker, then you shouldn’t be allowed to coach, period. He does nothing with a less talented team. The Heat team isn’t that bad. I mean, they aren’t good, but they are better than 11 wins. At the end of the day, you have Wade and Marion, shouldn’t be last in the East…that’s all I’m saying.

Ok, the Raptors…they beat the worst team in the league, please forgive me if I’m not over ecstatic. Don’t get me wrong, I take this win, but if the lost…bad things I would have wrote padua. Not surprisingly, they shot 55% from the field, dropped 27 dimes and committed only 7 turnovers. My points of interest:

Shut down Wade/Marion: For me, this was the key to the game. Parker and Moon did a masterful job of shutting them down. They took the ball out of their hands and forced the supporting cast to make shots, and they didn’t.

Bench Play: With the starters utterly useless, it was up tot he Miami bench to step up, and they answered the call. They outscored Toronto’s bench 55-45.

Calderon: Is back. He weathered a few bag games, and whatever it was that ailed him, was a non-factor tonight. Hopefully tonight was the start of another streak of great solid play.

Moon: I have been really hard on Moon the last few weeks, rightfully so I might add. I really thought he was going to have his hands full with Marion, but to his credit, not only did he shut Marion down (aside from Marion grabbing 14 boards, but you wont stop the guy), but he had one of his best 3 games of the season, check his line: 14pts, 9rebs, 4stls, 3blks. Solid night, I will overlook the bad jumpers you take if you put up that kind of effort man.

Parker: Easily my favourite Raptor. He has come out the last few games and set an early tone with his shooting. Fortunately, the Raptors took advantage today, and continued the pounding on the Heat.

Substitutions: Much better today than the last 4 games. No small ball..thank G*d. Primoz even saw the court in the 2nd. Joey could have used more time, but whatever, I will take it.

Soft Squad: Bargnani gets elbowed, body checked in mid-air, smashes his head on the floor, and…no Raptor does anything about it. Again. Pretty much ruined my night. The Raptors need Ron Artest ASAP. I just want some sort of defensive posturing. Yell at the guy, push him, walk past him and dip your shoulder into him, trash talk him on the court…anything. Not only did not answer the call, Humphries and Delfino were smiling and cracking jokes on the bench. Pussies…

Check the wrap-up:

1st Quarter:

• Moon is going to have his hands full with Marion tonight.
• Wade opens things up by taking it to the rack rather easily and drawing a foul, he hits 1 of 2.
• Bargnani opens things up by bricking his first two jumpers.
• Wade steps inside the arc and pops.
• Jason Williams drives and lays it up…easily.
• Parker curls off a low screen and nails a jumper in Wades eye.
• Moon tips the entry pass away from Marion, leads to a Bargnani trey on the other end.
• Rasho grabs Bargnani’s missed layup, and puts it back.
• Bargnani is very aggressive on the offensive end, making things happen.
• Bargnani nails a trey off Calderon’s penetration.
• Parker nails an open trey in the corner off of Bargnani’s penetration.
• Bargnani takes the pass from Calderon, and takes it to the rack.
• Calderon lobs an alley-oop to Moon.
• Bargnani busts a cross-over, puts it behinds his back, steps back, and pops a J.
• Moon puts down a weak dunk on the fast break.
• Moon comes over and gives Parker good help defense on Wade.
• Calderon drives the lane, fakes the pass to Barg’s and lays it up.
• Moon blocks Marion on the layup attempt.
• Moon bricks another jumper from the corner.
• Calderon strolls in and lays it up.
• Parker curls off a low screen and drops a sick pass to Rasho for an open dunk.
• Parker penetrates and drops another sweet pass to Delfino for a layup.
• Banks nails an open trey in the corner.
• Ford forces Baron to travel.

2nd Quarter:

• TJ starts the quarter turning the ball over.
• Brezec hits a turn around jumper on the baseline, is nice.
• Moon hesitates and bricks another jumper.
• Moon tips the ball out of Marion’s hand on the dunk attempt.
• TJ steals the ball from Wade, and lays it up.
• Ricky Davis nails an OPEN trey.
• Wade pulls up in transition for a three, Raptors need a timeout.
• TJ sticks a J off the screen and roll with Moon.
• Riley gets T’d up, TJ hits the free-throw.
• TJ nails another jumper…not liking all these shots he’s taking.
• Moon swats the ball out of Johnsons hands on the dunk attempt.
• Ricky Davis is taking the game over for the Heat.
• Delfino penetrates and drops it off to Primo for the layup + 1.
• Banks hits another trey off of Davis’s penetration.
• Wow, the Miami Heat dancers are next level hot…wow! Chuck is even feeling them.
• Delfino penetrates and finishes in traffic.
• Calderon steals the ball from Johson.
• Delfino drops a nice pass to Rasho for a layup under the basket.
• Calderon hits a three in transition off of Parkers penetration, Heat timeout.
• Calderon drives in and pulls up for a jumper.
• Raptors are settling for one too many jumpers/treys.
• Delfino hesitates and misses an open trey from the corner.
• Delfino steals the ball, and ends up as a Nesterovic jumper from the line.

3rd Quarter:

• Moon catches a pass outside the arc, takes a dribble in and sticks it.
• Moon then strips the ball from Marion.
• Moon bricks a shot with the shot clock expiring, but hustles back down the court and almost steals the ball from Marion.
• Bargnani pump fakes and drives to the basket, gets mugged and smashes his head against the floor. Once again, no one steps up to defend him…pussies.
• He makes both free-throws and heads to the change room - Humphries checks in.
• Wade gets to the rim with a sick spin move and draws the foul, he hits 1 of 2.
• Rasho catches the ball on the baseline, and sticks the J.
• Rasho hits another shot from the exact same spot.
• Parker hits a fade-away jumper.
• Parker comes off Rasho’s screen and sticks a jumper, Raptors up 20, Heat timeout.
• Moon blocks Marion again.
• Moon hits a reverse layup under the basket.
• Rasho tips in Humphries forced missed short-jumper.
• Parker nails a trey off of Calderon’s pass.
• Chuck may have jinxed Raptors.
• Rasho hits another shot from another assist by Calderon.
• Parker drops a pass to Moon in the paint who hits the layup + 1 (he misses the free throw).
• Moon catches the pass on the pick-and-roll with TJ and hits the 8 foot jumper.

4th Quarter:

• Heat open the quarter with a turnover.
• Kapono pump fakes, leans and hits the one-hander. on the baseline.
• TJ nails a sick tear drop floater.
• TJ penetrates and dishes to a slashing Delfino on the baseline for the dunk.
• Yea…I’m done taking notes…this game is over.

Technorati Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, Carlos Delfino, Dwayne Wade, Earl Barron, Jamario Moon, Jason Kapono, Jason Williams, Jose Calderon, Kris Humphries, Marcus Banks, Miami Heat, Primoz Brezec, Rasho Nesterovic, Ricky Davis, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, TJ Ford