Toronto Raptors Ready to Kick Butt: Hornets Wishing They Were Saints

by Louis “King of Roncesvalles” Pisano… Toronto starts a three game western conference road swing down in New Orleans tonight where the Hornets are1-1 at home and 2-3 overall to begin the season unlike the cities NFL team which remains unbeaten.

Toronto beat the Detroit Pistons on their home court at the ACC in their last game Wednesday which I had the pleasure of attending on my birthday November 4^th to give them their second win of the season, the first being their home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers and they sit at 2-2 though 0-2 on the road which was a sore spot for the team last year where they were 15-26 and look too obviously improve on those numbers.

A couple players that stood out in that game aside from Bargnani, Bosh, and Tukoglu, were Amir Johnson, Antoine Wright and Jarrett Jack off the bench.

Amir Johnson only had six points but was energetic, drove the hoop, and had five rebounds while going 4-4 at the free throw line.

Antoine Wright had 12 points and was tough on the ball with five rebounds while adding an assist and was 4-6 at the line.

Jarrett Jack had nine points, six assists, and was 2-2 at the line.

If these guys can continue to provide scoring off the bench which amassed 35 points in the game just about one third of the Raptors scoring in the 110-99 win this team can continue to be successful.

Toronto dropped both games against the Hornets last year 99-91 at home and 101-92 in New Orleans, Chris Bosh was injured when the team traveled down to play the Hornets and I expect this new-look Raptors team to be a lot more competitive in this game.

Starting matchups:

Jose Calderone and Chris Paul

Calderone will have a tough time guarding CP3 and should just try and limit his scoring ability and should hope for some help collapsing down low if Paul decides to drive and will have to try and take care of the ball when he has it because we all know the ability of CP3 to force turnovers and steals.

DeMar DeRozen/Marco Belinelli (who I would start) and Morris Peterson

Mo Pete who the Raptors know very well and was a fan favourite while playing in Toronto is a veteran who can hit the outside shot and moves the ball well and who DeRozen may have trouble guarding but if Jay Triano switches it up and starts Belinelli who I believe would match up better against Mo Pete, it would leave DeRozen to go up against either Devin Brown or Marcus Thornton which I think would be a favourable matchup for the Raptors and would take some of the pressure of starting of the rookie DeRozen.

Hedo Turkoglu and Julian Wright/Peja Stojakovic

Turkoglu’s mobility, ball handling and shooting skills and a two inch height difference should give him the advantage over Wright and Stojakovic who has a similar skill set to Turkoglu yet doesn’t handle the ball as well nor has the foot speed of Turkoglu.

Chris Bosh and David West

This match up favours Toronto and CB4 against a guy that isn’t that physical and only outweighs Bosh by only ten pounds. Bosh should be able to put some good numbers up in the paint and shouldn’t have too many problems defending in the paint against West because of the lack of scoring from their centre Okafor but he may see some double teams when he has it down low which can open up Bargnani for the outside shot.

Andrea Bargnani and Emeka Okafor

Okafor is not a good perimeter defender and as we have seen with Bargnani a big part of his game is taking the opposing centre outside of the paint and hitting the three. Okafor is great down low and may have to help West defend against Bosh which again leaves more space for Bargnani and if he takes Okafor out of the paint again CB4 should be able to score at will down in the paint and get to the line often.

Depending on the Jay Triano’s approach to this game and with the added scoring off the bench there is no reason in my mind why the Raptors can’t get their first road win of the season down in New Orleans tonight against this Hornets team that has come out a little soft so far in this young season.

Bargnani Looks Solid Again

by Brad Norton… The other night, the Pistons got pist-on (pissed on) by the Raptors. Which gives the Raptors their second win and means they are now 48 wins away from my prediction. Andrea Bargnani and Hedo Turkoglu, together known as the $100 million dollar boys, continued to look solid.

Jarrett Jack and Antoine Wright got things going on the defensive and the offensive end. Jarrett’s behind-the-head pass to Bargnani for the flush was a thing of beauty. As well as Wright hitting some shots from behind the arc.

Only to fall back on defence, as well. Wright and Jack provided the spark that led to two electrifying Bargnani blocks. Belinelli continues to be a fire starter off the bench, as well.

For, an intriguing game recap check out this one from James Bisson. I don’t know, but that one seemed to catch my eye in the Hamilton Spectator this morning. The Raptors with a .500 record find themselves just skimming the surface of a number of good opponents.

In a tough month, that maybe gives them a break when they head to L.A. to face the Clippers. But, that’s still a game that can easily be lost if the right mentality is not kept. The Raptors find themselves in back-to-back games, which start tonight in New Orleans, followed by Saturday in Dallas, and then they are in San Antonio on Monday.

If anyone has trouble sleeping on a plane, well then you aren’t getting sleep at all. I don’t mean to make excuses, but man, they barely get anytime to get some R&R and you know those are three teams that are going to bring it.

We’ll see what the Raptors have left in the tank starting tonight in New Orleans. Be sure to watch the game. It’s on at 8:00 P.M. on TSN.

Being a Canadiens Fan in Leaf Country Isn’t Always Easy

by Joshua Murray… Regardless of records or standings we are constantly the fodder of jokes and ridicule about our team. Memories of the last time the Leafs won the head to head match-up, and even verbal abuse are thrown in our direction any time that the opportunity presents itself to waiting fans of the Maple Leafs.

Most Pathetic Team To EVER Win The World Series

by Jeremy Visser… Alright, the Yankees won the World Series. I’m over it. Just as long as it never, ever happens again. New York jumped on “big-gamer” Pedro Martinez early and often tonight, scoring four times in the first three innings en route to an 7-3 win, earning them their 27th title and first since 2000.

Little Andrew Pettitte didn’t have his finest line, giving up three runs on four hits and five walks in five-and-two-thirds, but it was plenty enough to grab the win behind Hideki Matsui’s three-hit, six-RBI night. For all the ragging I give Little Andy, I’ll give him this: He’s one of the best big-game pitchers of this generation (even if he is roided out). Pettitte’s win tonight gave him the clincher in all three series winners for New York this postseason.

Matsui hit a two-run homer in the second, a two-run single in the third and a drove in another pair on a double in the sixth. For the series, the vet was 8-for-13 with three homers and eight RBIs–  enough to wrestle the MVP from Pettitte, who won two of his four playoff starts in the series. Meanwhile, Derek Jeter had three hits to finish at .407, while A-Rod had a hit, two walks, three snot rockets and scored twice.

So, there you have it — the New York Yankees, your 2009 champs. They brought it this year, and as much as it makes my blood boil to admit it, the best team won. Mind you, if Charlie Manuel knew how to manage a team and Brad Lidge had an ounce of confidence (or was inactive, for that matter) it may have been a different result. Or maybe not. The Yankees were good.

And such ends another year of baseball. Is it winter meetings time yet?

That’s what I’m saying, guy…