The Goods On The Game, Vol. 26, a Thunderous night

Hey, anyone here? Roll call, please? Usual suspects? No suspects at all?
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All I can say is I'm glad the curling match (game? contest? ends?) didn't go into overtime or whatever they call it. Would have hated to have to wait for this one. Have used this line in the past (about Raptor-Clipper game back in the dark days, if I recall correctly) but this is a classic game between a Movable Force and a Resistable Object.
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Seriously, the gentleman sitting beside me just yelled: "Geez, O'Neal can't shoot." After he missed ONE SHOT. This might be a fun night.
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Bosh missing an easy layup on his first touch certainly doesn't bode well, does it? Nobody booed, I bet.
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I've said it before, I'll say it again: Jason Kapono probably has the highest basketball IQ on the team. He just knows how to play.
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That outlet pass just went from under the Raptor basket to Kapono at midcourt. That's not something we see too often.
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Jeff Green is quite under-appreciated, I think. He may not be Durant, but he's not far off.
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Okay, they've got no life. This might be a long night. As a 1-for-7 start will attest.
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Imagine that, Raptors giving up easy looks in transition. That hasn't happened before, has it?
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The dude beside me is beside himself. "They can't shoot. They've lost this one."
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Jeff Green on Bosh only works if they put Bosh in the post. That doesn't seem to be happening.
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Anybody turn it off yet?
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Thunder 18, Raptors 7 with about six minutes.
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Wonder how many Thunder fans are sitting around saying, "oh, my, we've got a double-digit lead, wonder how we'll blow it tonight?"
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Oklahoma City's like a home game for Joey. Wonder how he'll play.
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Do I have the wings or the nachos? The decisions a guy has to make!
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Joe Smith just got an offensive rebound surrounded by four Toronto players. That's brutal.
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How many of you are missing the little scoreboard bug in the corner of the screen? I am.
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The best thing would be that Green's got two fouls, which means Bosh has done his job at least a little bit at least.
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Hey, the scoreboard bug thing's back. Way to go.
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Toronto's taking an awful lot of shots early in the shot clock.
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Roko Ukic against Earl Watson. This should be interesting.
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That's a huge five minutes for the Raptors to get back in the game a bit. They could have been buried.
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That was a pretty impressive Durant dunk to end the quarter.
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Oklahoma City 26, Toronto 17 after one.
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You think Damien Wilkins has some good bloodlines. Father was Gerald, uncle was Dominique. That's not bad.
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I covered a game in Oklahoma City once when the Hornets were there and I can tell you the staff in the arena might be the nicest people in the league.
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A Bargnani three!!!! Call Springfield
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Okay, he follows it with the ugliest line-drive 15-footer I've seen in weeks.
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The O'Neal block on Durant was somewhat emphatic, no? If he'd missed, he would have hit him right in the head. And I guarantee you JO knew that, too.
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Bargnani misses a foul shot. How many people booed at home?
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It's an over-statement, obviously, but Joe Smith has probably made a million shots like the 18-footer he just made.
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I can feel the angst building. I'm almost afraid to look at the e-mails to see what they're saying about Bargnani now.
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Just checked. None. I'm stunned.
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I truly believe that Oklahoma City is 2-24 on merit.
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Thunder 34, Raptors 30 with 6:10 'til halftime.
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The nachos are good. The game? Not so much.
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Stumpy checks in from a Leaves road trip in Pittsburgh to find out how the lads are doing. He's not as impressed with the team either
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Okay, they have to insist that the only time Bosh can take a three is at the end of a quarter or the shotclock. Seriously. He's slumping, why force it?
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Here's Hump. You check out From Deep today? Hump and Moon are like Rowan and Martin or something.
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I don't know about you but when I watch those commercials for whatever shoe company it is, I would always take a team led by Tim Duncan over one led by Tracy McGrady.
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I'm sure the team keeps the stat, and I'm certain they've never tell me, but the Raptors get beaten to about 90 or 95 per cent of loose balls. It's just hustle.
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I miss Horns Up.
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Someone has to throw something or punch something or turn something over in disgust at halftime, don't they?
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Thunder 46, Raptors 36 at haltime.
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A JO shoulder issue? That's new. And I might have gone to Hump.
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Gord Herbert's a really good guy and a smart basketball mind. As a halftime interview, he's no Jim Todd.
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How in the world Moon just took a contested jumper with about 18 seconds left on the shot clock is beyond my comprehension.
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So the dude who was sitting next to me? Just left, got stuck in the snow leaving the parking lot, got out to push himself (yeah, I know!), shut the door, door locks, car running. Doesn't apparently have CAA and there's much consternation. That's a guy having a bad day.
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Right now, and it might change, this is one of those games that no matter that they're hanging around, at no time is anyone seriously thinking the Raptors can win.
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No, I don't think BC has a trade done for O'Neal and that's why he's not playing. But I swear someone will suggest that.
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Thunder 54, Raptors 48 with 6:30 left in the third.
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You think the Spurs, home and waiting, are drooling at the prospects of tomorrow's game? I do.
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Nick Collison's pretty serviceable as a backup big, no?
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Offensive flow? Like sludge.
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How do you think Bryan's feeling?
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That Durant offensive rebound over Moon was absolutely despicable on Toronto's part. All Moon had to do was turn and push Durant away. He was nonchalant and simply beaten to the ball. Effort. That's all. Never mind coaching or psychologists or whatever. That's simply effort and intelligence.
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That said, down six? Shocking. But they're in it. In spite of themselves.
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Joey takes more tough shots than almost anyone else on the team, it seems. Makes his share of jump hooks and line drives like the one he just made.
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Hump hasn't attempted a field goal yet. On the flip side, he hasn't got a rebound yet, either.
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Wow. Damien Wilkins just beat three Raptors to a loose ball. I know it's a broken record but still ...
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Thunder 68, Raptors 59 after three.
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It's hard to even make fun of things when they're playing like this. I can't even come up with a good Oklahoma City dustbowl line.
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That was a tough offensive foul call on Graham just now in a four-point game. He deserved better.
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Hey GM, you see the Galen Weston ads?
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I'm trying to guess what celebrities might be at the game. I cannot for the life of me come up with one.
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If they steal this one, they have to leave town with a police escort.
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Jamario's a four now? Guess you've got to try something. And the Thunder is small.
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This is a wild over-statement but these might be the most important seven minutes of the season for these guys. Down 3 against an inferior oppoent, playing like crap with three straight losses.
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That's the first time I've seen Bosh fake a jumper and drive in maybe five games.
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The dude got his car out, by the way.
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A Moon three!!!!??? Down one. With 10 seconds at least left on the shot clock? Come on.
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Thunder 73, Raptors 72 with about 5 1-2 to go.
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I will note that, right now, Toronto has 14 offensive rebounds. You want a little bit of good news, right?
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Okay, I killed him the first half but Bargnani hasn't been bad in the second. Maybe he is a starter.
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I have no idea how they can rotate and leave Kevin Durant. That's just bad recognition.
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Game's got some juice now, doesn't it?
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It's far more pleasurable for a grunt not having to write a game story at the buzzer on nights like this.
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There was nothing wrong with that three-pointer Bargnani took down three with two minutes to go. He has to shoot that shot.
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You think Jay's not already thinking about what play he draws up for the final possession? I bet he is.
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Nick Collison's play stealing that rebound from Bosh was the dagger.
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There's a dozen or so Raptor fans on the other side of the room who are killing these guys.
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This is the low point of a season full of 'em, no?
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You think in Oklahoma City they're saying, "big deal, we only beat the Raptors?"
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Thunder 91, Raptors 83 and it's over
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Comments

[Zach]

Get out the salami and cheese Douggie, this season is over!

[Andrew H]

I'm watching this game on League Pass and the Oklahoma City TV guys just said the Raptors "must respect the Thunder because there is no one in red on the offensive glass". By my estimation, the Raptors "respect" 29 teams in the NBA.

[kathyt]

Oh boy, can't believe how many fast break points OKC has so far.

[WSG]

Re: Roll Call - Here

[Rob]

Doug,
this team lost its soul... they are playing without a purpose,,, this season might be over ... its brutal to watch ...

[Mohammed J]

I guess I'll have to read the game blog today, Doug. Can't seem to find a live feed for this one (knowing Chinese would help).

Extra comment: I haven't lost faith in the Raptors yet. I still believe there is plenty of time to turn it around and get a decent playoff seed. It all starts with Bosh and O' Neal, and Calderon needs to bring his fire every night.

Parker just needs time to become Mr. Consistency again and him and The Good Graham can bring some energy off the bench.

And Ukic needs to never take a three pointer again in his life.

[Andrew Noble]

Could we get Mitchell's offense back? 28% shooting isn't gonna win any ball games.

[Eddie]

here's the game http://www.justin.tv/burgers4everyone

[OJ]

Raps game at http://www.justin.tv/burgers4everyone

[Brian]

http://thestar.blogs.com/raptors/2008/12/the-goods-on-the-game-vol-26-a-thunderous-night.html#comments

[ahhhhh]

FIRE SMITCH!!!

[O.J.]

Hey everyone...You can watch Raps game online at:

http://www.justin.tv/burgers4everyone

Enjoy, or not!

[saud]

the game is on http://www.atdhe.net/

[InMontreal]

Not the greatest quality, but this is all I've found online

[Brian]

Wow, 28.9% shooting from the field, 36 points at the half, the lowest that the Thunder have allowed an opponent all year, and CB4 is 1-8 and took a ridiculous three pointer at the top of the key, which even the Oklahoma broadcast crew ridiculed.

I think we have reached bottom.

[Kevin Allison]

Hey Doug,

Watching this game, the team looks listless and lifeless. They seem to be getting outworked on almost every play. This seems to be a common theme recently. I'm not trying to be fatalistic, and I don;t want to over react, but it's disheartening to see.

I'm at a loss as to how this team can be THIS bad. There's no way in the world this should be happening. There's enough talent on this team to be at least a .500 team. Maybe they all have mono, and have for weeks? :)

Kevin

[Andrew R]

Doug,

I gotta say that for the first time in loooong time, maybe ever, I'm quitting. This is unconscionable. Of course everyone remembers that game in Denver last year when TJ lost it. Well the Raps are looking like that night in and night out. Maybe not for entire games, but for long spells, especially tonight. I'm bailing for tonight. I just can't watch.

[kathyt]

OMG, thank you halftime. Listening to the game is just as brutal as watching.

Can Bargnani get any worse?

[Jesse Neary]

Doug,

As Shea Hillenbrand would say, "the ship is sinking..."

The mailbag is gonna be fun this weekend. Even if we win tonight, it's going to be a tough stretch. WE ARE IN TROUBLE. I'd love to be optimistic but even if we have good players on the team, its going to be hard to get out of this whole, especially on the road during the holidays. The only thing I want for christmas is an athletic wing and a energetic big man off the bench. Hope santa will deliver..

[lulu]

I guess the pick and roll has become a forbidden play? would it be that back for the raptors to let bosh and calderon do the play that has brought the most success to the team?

[Kevin Allison]

Hey Doug,

Where you watching from? Maybe a plug for the local establishment?

Blogger's note: Did earlier. Coopers Pub. Fine local not far from my house, it was the Little League hangout all summer.

[Mike Kovacs]

Doug is it time to end the experiment of starting kapono over AP? Apart from the first 2 games Kapono still isn't scoring and AP is doing worse.

[Dagomar Degroot]

"I don't know about you but when I watch those commercials for whatever shoe company it is, I would always take a team led by Tim Duncan over one led by Tracy McGrady."

Thank you, I've been thinking this every time I see the commercial.

[al]

JO out for the night?
shoulder injury?

Blogger's note: So I hear, trying to get more info from down there.

[pooks]

Doug, I heard JO is done for the night. Something about his shoulder. What happened?? I missed it.

Blogger's note: I wish I knew for sure. He did grab at it early in the first after finishing a three-point play.