The 2008 Toronto Raptors:

So, here we are ¼ of the way into the season and I think its safe to say that I speak for everyone in Raptors Nation from the suits at MLSE to the bloggers at Raptors Republic- that the season to date has been a HUGE disappointment. At while Id like to be optimistic, at this point the facts suggest that as this team stands now, at the quarter mark of the season, this team is headed for a lot more losses than victories AND not only is my prediction of a 50 win season in serious jeopardy (it would require the Raptors to 42 and 21 from this point until the end of the season and win at a clip of .750) but the Raptors making the playoffs this season is NOW in serious jeopardy. Continue Reading

Rather than spend my weekly column discussing how the Raps looked impressive in wins against Charlotte and Atlanta (and not too bad for 3 quarters against the 14-1 league best Lakers without JO), or how Sam Mitchell not only reads my column but also does in fact own and use a clipboard (he pulled it out at every time out on Friday), or how Joey Graham and Andrea Bargnani together are looking like the answer to Raps problems on the wings, or how really, as I mentioned last week in my column there is no reason to panic (again, what matters more is whether or not this team is .500 come January)… Continue Reading

The Toronto Raptors (7-7) ended their current 4 game home-stand Friday night as they welcomed the Atlanta Hawks (9-5), who have already beaten the Raps once this season. The Hawks are playing without josh Smith and the Raps are without Jermaine O’Neal for the second straight game with an ankle injury. Continue Reading

The Raptors came into Friday’s game against the Hawks needing a win to close out a 4 game home stand at 2 – 2 after losing to the Celtics and the Nets. A victory over the Bobcats on Wednesday gave them a better frame of mind against a team that had beaten them once this season. With Jermaine O’Neal on the bench, the Raptors needed to find a way to contain the Hawks on the boards and control the perimeter after being torched by Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson. The Hawks were looking to return to the form that had gotten them off to a 6 – 0 start before losing to the Celtics. Since that loss they were 3 – 5 bringing a 9 – 5 record to Toronto and looking to turn the momentum early in the season. Continue Reading

After a few days of getting a lesson in shooting from the Boston Celtics, the Toronto Raptors (6-7) welcomed the lowly Charlotte Bobcats (4-9) to the ACC in what on paper looks like a rout for the Raps. Yet, with their lack of defense lately, and that Charlotte beat Philly a few days earlier, this game might have be closer than it looked on paper. With many rumblings about the future of Sam Mitchell, the team needed, for their own confidence as well as their coach’s, they need to get an easy win when it comes along. Continue Reading

Each and every Monday we check in on the past weeks games and look forward to the next 7 days in Raptors land.

Seven days ago, the Raptors were 3-0 after impressive road wins against Philadelphia and Milwaukee and a gritty OT win against Golden State.  Feeling the love of the new season, The Dr. boldly predicted that Toronto would end its atrocious display of poor basketball against the motorcity boys, followed by rolling over the wannabe’s from Atlanta before crushing Charlotte on the road.  Then, within 24 hours of my post, Detroit trading Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess to Denver for Allen Iverson who would not be in uniform in time for the game at Toronto.- a 3-0 record, 3 days off, at home, against a Pistons team missing 2 STARTERS!!! my prediction of a 6-0 Raptors team heading into Boston tonight seemed not only possible but REALLY possible… and then it happened… Continue Reading

They don’t call it Hotlanta for nothing. Atlanta came into action fresh off a victory over the New Orleans Hornets, where they held Chris Paul to no points in the fourth quarter, and brought that swagger with them against Toronto. The intensity displayed by the Hawks was too much for the Raptors, who fall to 3-2 on the season. On this night, the Hawks, now 4-0, were sizzling, shooting the lights out against a hapless Raptors squad who were never really in this game. This was not the way the Raps wanted to start their current road trip, where they play 5 of their next 7. Continue Reading

Raps This Week

Steve Gennaro aka phdsteve

Every Monday we take a look at the last 7 days in Raptorsland action and look ahead at the upcoming schedule to forecast what to expect.

First off, lets give credit where credit is due…the Raps are 3-0! Now, there has already been a lot of talk around the internet about how these are games that they are supposed to win- or how they were ugly wins- or how they were lucky- or how JO has not performed up to par…etc. etc. etc. Continue Reading

So the schedule is out, and at first glance it looks like we will know what this team is made of Come November 1st in Milwaukee. IMHO, the Raptors should go 9-5, which will go a long way to setting a tone for the rest of the season, and maybe get them 50 wins. As we all know, the last couple seasons, the Raptors haven’t been so quick out of the gate, and that has cost them. Continue Reading

I know, its still early to preview the East, since many free agents still remain unsigned and there is still talk of some teams looking to make some major moves (ie/ McGrady to Detroit etc).  However, with the start of summer league action underway, all of the major unrestricted free agents signed, and the Raps all capped-out, its time to look forward to the fall - to get a sense of where this team fits (as it is constructed right now). Continue Reading