Ex2k

This game came down to REBOUNDING... if there was a 2-3 rebounding differential on the offensive end the Raptors win..

Imagine this... Joey, KP, didn't have great games, JO had a "Average" game, and Bosh had the game he did have...

we woulda been blown out.

macs

Leadership:
-Unless you're in the lockerroom, you can't comment.

Intensity:
-Really? Come on.

Defense:
Every guy has a weakness, and that doesn't mean he's not a franchise player.

Clutch in big games:
-A great supporting cast makes it eaiser to be a clutch player.

Playoff rounds:
-One guy can win a playoff round, but that's if his supporting cast is good. And, I challenge you to tell me that the raps had good supporting players in the last couple of playoff rounds. Smitch was outcoached and that's why the team didn't get out of the first round.

moremilk

the first round is not a knock on Bosh - but leadership is visible on the court as well. A leader doesn't pout when things don't go well (like Bosh did in Boston), a leader challenges other players, but most of all, a leader should lead by example. Bosh doesn't even have the authority to question his teammates after the past 3 games, since he's more to blame than most of them to begin with.

macs

Remember when Carter had the ball in his hands and missed the game winning bucket against Philly. I'm sure there are plenty of other times that Carter didn't make the last bucket of the game... and if I remember, he didn't show up in Toronto for two-three years... please don't get me started. I can't afford to pay the therapist.

dogbert

His heart and drive are debatable. Have you ever seen him play a playoff game or play a good defensive team with a stopper like KG/Rasheed?

dogbert

You have a terrible memory my friend. Vince Carter carried us that entire series, making big shot after big shot facing off agaisnt AI. Vince has a history of making the big shot.

Tell me the last time Chris has done anything like this:

rapsfan087

wow, guys, new (interim) coach, second game, what do you want? a new dinasty from the day one?

macs

What's your point? He still lost the series and chose to go to his graduation instead of staying back and thinking about his team.

Dino Blogger

Much better effort but a very tough loss. It is going to be a hard road to get to when Santa comes to town for the Raptors. But I am grateful the team at least showed up for this one

dogbert

The Toronto Raptors have only won one playoff series in their franchise history. It was solely because of Vince Carter.

And who cares if he went to his graduation? He still played a great game 7 for the team that day.

Toebee

Bosh played well. He came out of the came for the bandage to his head, his jersey. With the team trying to get a rhythm and he is coming in and out. He was out of sink with the team for periods of time.

They played with hope. I know they are moving in a positive direction. Hopefully with Hump coming back maybe we can compete on the boards.

Tough loss but I ain't mad at them. And I don't even like Triano but Kudos to hime and the staff. You can't win them all but you should this team should be competing with every team... they did today.

dogbert

Bosh was -14 for a reason, he didn't play well.

Toebee

Nice reference to the best rapper on the planet!
HAHAHAHA

Toebee

Welcome Dogbert!

Well you are right. I should have said his play didn't soley make us lose. I think that the people beating up on him is more out of frustration from the last 3 games. We are wounded know and instead of the team laying down and taking it, they played well but still lost. I see a lot more positive in this game then negative. All though when you look back a loss is a loss whether it is by 1 or 30.

10gizzle

Damn...

I woke up after a long ass night and tune in to see we're only down 3 going into the 4th quarter...not bad.

Obviously we would've wanted to take this game but realistically, they have the 2nd best record in the west. Sometimes it's good to just take a breath, relax and try to see what we learned from this game that will help us in the next. I'm not one of these primadonnas that think the season is over after every turnover the team gets. We've been through MUCH rougher waters with this team, much more grueling and disappointing stretches...I like what I saw from certain players and to me that's something to look forward to.

It's nice to see Joey starting to get really aggressive whenever he gets PT. He's really earning his minutes, big dunks and hard drives will help our team alot. I think JO getting into 100% health is going to be a huge treat for Raptor fans who think this guy is a "bust"...I don't know about you guys but every time I think about the fact that we got him from Rasho and TJ, I shed a tear of joy.

Let's get it together people, this isn't Oklahoma City or Minnesota, we've hit a shitty stretch and no one can doubt that. We're still 3 games under 500 with the 2nd half of our season being WAY easier than our first...I think the stat was that the raps have had the 2nd hardest sched so far facing an average of teams with game winning % of 58.

Things will look up people. Take it a game at a time.

Let's just cut Will, sign a steady backup PG [Earl Boykins anyone?], let Graham get more and more confident and see what this team can really do.

Slick94

We lost this game because we couldnt get stops and rebound the basketball in clutch situations. Plain and simple. When you shoot 50% from the field, have more assists and far less turnovers, you should usually win.

dogbert

Right, it is definitely better than losing by 30. Atleast they competed with a top team in the West. However the fact that Bosh continues to play like this... very discouraging.

Dr. J. Naismith

Jay's Post Game is now available guys.

Link: http://raptorsforum.com/b/2008/12/07...ers-post-game/

Toebee

Co-sign that. We still have the same problems that have plagued us from last yeat

Unfortunatly we have King James next. Not good for a confidence builder but compete, compete, compete.

Frustration can re-light a flame or it can burn it out. Today was more of a re-light then a burn out... I hope

strung_out

I'm just happy that it didn't turn out to be another blow out.
They made the Blazers fight for this win and I'm fine with that.