Game 2 into the “I don’t trust my teammates, we need to be tougher, and the fan’s suck era”, the Raptors are slowly building momentum in the end of days. I must say, I appreciate Bosh’s YouTube designs, he definitely has personality, and is really trying to connect with fans, which is something his peers haven’t as readily embraced.

It says a lot about a guy who would put himself out there like he has over the last year or so, although I must say putting Google AdWords on his site is pretty damn ghetto, you’re a big star man, get some real sponsorships going…I’ll hook you up with the deals, and I wont even take a piece!

His latest video got me to thinking, cause it really pissed me off when he made the “funeral” comment last game. I understood where he was coming from, but I don’t think he appreciated the fans perspective. Jack Armstrong broke it down in the pre-game, it’s a 50-50 thing. They have to give the fans something to cheer for, and the fans have to cheer…a symbiotic relationship.

I’m glad he made the video though, I think he understood he didn’t communicate with us clearly enough. He manned up and made amends without saying sorry…Chuck Norris style. He needs that quality heading into the playoffs. Time to be an animal. Just like how he fouled Jefferson hard, not to hurt, but to send a message, and didn’t apologize. I like that shit…old school eastern conference badass styles.

Anyways, the game…there was a game…

The Nets make me nervous, doesn’t matter how good or bad they are, they match up well, and punish the Raptors at the 2/3 spot. Tonight started on that same note. VC looked prime to repeat his performance from last week; Devin Harris was penetrating, dishing dimes and scoring at will; Krstic was hitting ridiculous turn around jumpers. This all translated into a 30-18 1st quarter lead. I wont lie, I thought “here we go again.”

The old Raptors would have wilted, only to make their run a little to late…but these guys, they came out of the 1st intermission on a mission. Penetration by VC and Harris was taken away for the most part, they grabbed some boards, they collapsed on defense and rotated like they weren’t strangers to playing D, they moved the ball around and got good shots, Delfino actually hit his shots…thing of beauty.

Essentially the rest of the game was the same. The Raptors buckled down, and won the game. I’m just happy the Nets are officially eliminated from the playoffs. This doesn’t make up for last years playoff’s, but it’s a start, a small one…but I’ll take it.

IBM Winning Strategies:

1. Perimeter Defense
2. Shoot it
3. Passion

3 for 3. Uhm…yea…I don’t have very much to say, just glad to see the Raptors actually take advantage of the schedule, and win a game that was a foregone conclusion; only wish they started a bit earlier. Now down to business:

1st Quarter (Stats):

• Raptors lose the tip.
• Krstic turns and shoots over Bosh in the low block, tough shot-good D.
• Parker curls to the top of the key, gets the pass and hits the open jumper.
• VC takes Parker to the rack, and lays it up off the glass.
• Carter takes the hand-off on the cut, and lays it up over Bosh.
• Ford penetrates and kicks to Bosh for the open jumper at the top of the key.
• Bosh shoots another three…bricks it…I hate that shot, he is taking too many in the playoff stretch.
• Jefferson gets baseline and kicks to Krstic for the open jumper.
• Bosh gets in the paint, and draws the foul, hits both from the line.
• Jefferson penetrates and kicks to VC, who shakes off Parker with a pump fake, and hits the J.
• Ford takes the hand-off from from Rasho, and lays it up on the baseline.
• VC blocks Parker on the 2-on-1 break.
• Rasho tips in Bosh’s missed hook.
• Ford out-hustles Krstic for an offensive board.
• Krstic hits a turn-around jumper over Rasho.
• Rasho gets his running hook blocked.
• Chuck: “the Nets have come to play tonight.”
• VC sticks a trey from the elbow extended.
• Harris penetrates on TJ, pulls up, and hits the J.
• Bosh takes it to Diop, and draws the foul, he hits both from the line.
• The Nets swing it around the perimeter to Nochbar, who knocks down the trey.
• Bosh jab steps and hits the jumper. +1 as Bargnani gets the foul (he misses the FT).
• Harris penetrates and finishes a contested layup over Bosh.
• Harris gets the ball to Nochbar, and he lays it up, 24-14 Nets.
• Bosh draws the foul in the pain, hits 1 of 2 from line.
• Harris rips through the Raptor defense and lays it up.
• Delfino hits Bargnani with a behind-the-back pass, and Bargnani hits it.
• Harris penetrates and dishes to a slashing Jeferson who hits the pull-up J.
• Swift fakes the shot, gets Rasho off his feet, puts it on the floor and puts down a two-hander.
• Calderon penetrates and draws the foul, hits both from the line.
• 30-18 Net lead at the end of the 1st.

2nd Quarter (Stats):

• Bargnani jacks a trey quick, no one there to grab the board.
• A put-back dunk from Swift on Jefferson’s missed jumper.
• Bargnani hits a layup on the drive over Swift.
• Swift hits a turn-around jumper over Rasho.
• Calderon swings to Delfino for a trey.
• Calderon draws the double, and kicks to Rasho for the jumper.
• Jefferson draws the foul taking it to the rack, hits both from the line.
• BC looks pissed, as always.
• VC hits a step back fade over Delfino, sweet shot.
• Calderon sticks a J inside the arc.
• Calderon penetrates and kicks out to Delfino for an open trey.
• Williams nails a deep jumper.
• Calderon answers with a jumper in transition.
• Calderon hits another jumper running around Bosh’s screen.
• Kapono draws a charge on VC.
• Delfino grabs an offensive rebound, then hits a deep trey.
• Bosh puts down a wide-open dunk off the give-and-go with Calderon.
• Nochbar pulls up on the drive, and hits the J.
• Delfino steals the ball from Jefferson.
• Jefferson draws the foul on the drive, hits both from the line.
• VC lays in the ball off the missed layup on the break, Raptors timeout.
• Bosh sticks a deep jumper.
• Jefferson penetrates and kicks to an open Krstic who nails the open jumper.
• Bosh runs down the offensive board, then Delfino takes the swing pass and sticks the trey.
• Delfino penetrates and lays it up in traffic.
• Parker blocks Harris as he takes it coast-to-coast.
• 48-46 Nets lead at the half.

3rd Quarter (Stats):

• Parker catches the Nets sleeping in transition: penetrates, draws the foul, and hits both from the line.
• VC blows by Parker and almost crowns Bosh (lays it in instead).
• Chuck: “I’d like to see VC get a hard foul.” LOL
• Parker uses Rasho’s screen to create some space and sticks the jumper.
• Bosh forces Krstic to travel in the post.
• Ford takes it to the rack to give the Raps the lead.
• VC takes it into the paint, and goes glass.
• Ford penetrates and kicks to Bosh for the open jumper.
• Ford goes under the screen, giving Harris the open shot - he sticks it.
• TJ goes baseline and hits the fade-away-j.
• Moon blocks Jefferson.
• TJ lobs a pass to Rasho for the layup in transition.
• VC turns the ball over in the paint with the Raptors collapsing.
• VC lobs a pass to Jefferson for a reverse layup.
• TJ gets doubled in the corner, and nails a jumper from the corner.
• Harris nails a tough trey with Ford up on him.
• Rasho hits a turn around hook from Bosh’s high screen pass.
• Jefferson draws the foul and hits both from the line.
• Parker creates space and nails a jumper from the corner.
• Ford hits Moon with a sick lead pass on the break, Moon draws the foul and hits both from the line.
• VC draws the foul going to the rack, hits both from the line.
• Diop blocks Rasho to center court, but Moon gets the swing pass and nails the trey.
• Ford gets fouled on the drive, hits both.
• Ford pulls up at the foul line and gives the Raptors a 10 point lead, Nets timeout.
• Harris penetrates, pulls up, and nails a jumper.
• Rasho finds an open Bosh in the paint for a two hander.
• Ford penetrates, hits the layup +1.
• Parker lobs an alley-oop to Ford, who misses the dunk, almost!!!!
• Bosh grabs the defensive board, then draws the foul, hits both from the line.
• Bosh hits Jefferson with a hard foul, probably the last time we will see that RJ hits both from the line)
• Bargnani grabs the offensive board, and draws the foul, hits both from the line.
• 83-67 Raptors lead at the end of the 3rd.

4th Quarter (Stats):

• Swift swats Delfino on the baseline.
• Bargnani steals the ball under the rim, and draws the foul, hits both from the line.
• VC finds a slashing Jefferson for the layup.
• Bargnani hits an ugly layup over Swift.
• Bosh hits a turn around hook and draws the foul on Swift, misses the FT.
• Jefferson gets the friendly roll on the pull-up.
• Bargnani penetrates and draws the foul, hits both.
• Calderon loses Harris who nails the open J.
• Calderon makes up for it by finding an open Delfino in the corner for a trey.
• Delfino almost crowns Diop on the break, gets fouled, and hits both from the line.
• Bargnani takes it to the rack and gets fouled, hits both from the line.
• Parker nails a serious shot over Diop in the corner.
• Calderon goes baseline, and kicks to Delfino for a trey in the corner.
• 25 point Raptor lead, this game is over a.k.a I am done taking notes, peace y’all.

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