The Goods On The Game, Vol. 34, it's a Magical day

Hey, everybody. All home? All here? All coming by later? All wondering what's going on over here?

Well, we can dutifully report there will be no Jose Calderon and no Jermaine O'Neal for the Raptors against the Magic; the hamstring and knee, respectively, will keep them on the sidelines.

And in Calderon's case, it might be longer than just today.

Jay Triano just told us: "There's a chance he might not make the trip," referring to Jose and the journey to Milwaukee and Washington that start Monday night.

Will Solomon will start in Jose's place and Andrea Bargnani remains the starting centre instead of O'Neal.

And for all you thinking back, yes, the last time Toronto played Orlando (a 103-90 loss in Florida in November), Jose was out with a strained hamstring. So it's not as if Solomon has no history with Jameer Nelson.

Anyway, that's it for the pre-game stuff, we'll be back in the usual place for the first quarter.

See ya.
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And we're under way
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I'm not sure how much we're gonna see Hump today but when you do, you might not recognize him. Yes, the locks are shorn again. I'm telling you, he's like Sampson and probably needs to grow it out again.
(Where else can you find this stuff out?)
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This is a pretty bad sign First Magic miss is rebounded by Dwight Howard for an easy put-back.
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Howard's a 57 per cent free throw shooter. Look for him to spend some time at the line today.
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It's Howard 6, Bargnani 5 after 90 seconds.
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This is a huge break. Howard picks up his second foul trying to block a Solomon layup. Howard's out with 9:25 left in the first and you can imagine the glee on the Raptors bench. Considering Howard had nine points in less than three minutes, glee is understandable.
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Stan Van Gundy looks aggreived every single time a call goes against his team.
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AP's got a lot of life in him today, it seems.
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Orlando 15, Toronto 14 with six minutes left
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Will Solomon is already 3-for-3 with 7 points. That's really good. And really unexpected.
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Now Jake Voskuhl's got a brace on his leg. I wonder if it's as much fashion with these guys as anything.
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Roko with 3:42 left, that's a bit earlier than Jay usually subs point guards but this is an unusual circumstance. Oh, and Roko's sporting the new haircut. This must be a trend.
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How many of you just saw Chris Bosh catch a pass in transition about 25 feet from the basket and were sure he was going to fire up a three? It crossed a mind or two on press row.
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Don't look now but Toronto has a double-digit lead. Think it holds up? Neither do I.
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AP's 4-for-4 at hte moment. No idea what's gotten into him, either.
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Okay, this is ridiculous. Not only are they holding Orlando to under 38 per cent shooting, the Raptors have made 14 of their first 20 shots. No way they keep up that pace.
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Raptors 34, Magic 22 after one.
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That Howard fellow is back in the game and that can't mean anything good for the Raptors. At least no one's fouled out trying to defend him.
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Jake's guarding Howard and I feel a foul-fest coming on.
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Dwight Howard sets some bone-jarring screens. He just held up Bargnani like he was a flea.
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Okay, so I look over my right shoulder to see what's going on and there are Jones and Smith chatting into their cell phones. Since I'm pretty sure they should be working, I look at them quizzically and it seems they are talking to the listeners 'cause their regular phone lines are dead.
Let's see, they've got an $8 million scoreboard that often doesn't have scores on it and no phone lines that work. This is quite the building we've got here.
How do they sound, by the way?
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Jose who? Solomon's 3-for-3 with seven points and Ukic is 3-for-5. I'm calling Jose Wally Pipp soon as I see him.
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Remember when JJ Redick was in the Orlando rotation? He's not even in the picture any more.
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The Raptors just got nine very good minutes out of Roko and Jake. Nothing spectacular but solid production.
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You notice that Anthony Johnson has no neck?
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I guarantee not many of you thought that 18 minutes into the game that Andrea Bargnani would have fewer fouls than Dwight Howard.
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Raptors 46, Magic 35 with six minutes 'til half.
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Wouldn't it be an absolute hoot if it was a one-point game with like six seconds left and Eric and Jonesy's cell phone batteries both ran out?
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This is a big five minutes for these guys. If they finish the half well, they might hang on. And it would be entirely out of character.
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Whoever Howard's guarding has to go right at him if at all possible. There's no way he's going to pick up a third foul.
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Jameer Nelson is finally picking up Solomon hard at halfcourt. I would have thought we would have seen that earlier.
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A wag just said out loud: "It could be tied at haltime." Toronto was up nine with about three minutes left when the words were spoken.
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Okay, this just about sums it up to this point: The Raptors have 24 points in the paint and the Magic has 16. Makes no sense to me, either.
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Howard's getting the final 2:40 off to protect his foul situation now that the Magic are right back in the game.
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It's like this game's being played in a mausoleum. Raps up four with 2 minutes to go and all we're hearing is relative polite applause.
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Toronto is out-rebounding the Magic 19-10 at the moment. You wanna talk inexpicable? That's inexplicable.
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They survived the final few minutes.
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Toronto 56, Orlando 49 at the half.
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There probably aren't too many times I'll write this but Toronto's starting backcourt (AP and Solomon) out-scored Orlando's (Nelson and Bogans) 21-13 in the first half.
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Know what I wish? I wish the people who sat in the expensive seats had to be back into their chairs by the start of the second half or else they have to give them to people in the 300 level for the rest of the game. That'd be sweet, no?
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The third foul on Howard wasn't enough to get him out of the game because I'm sure Stan Van Gundy is worried at the moment that this one might get out of hand.
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AP's having one of those really good AP days we haven't seen in a very long time.
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The phone lines for Paul and Eric are back. All's right in the world.
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How much TV time did I get tracking down that loose ball? And if Moon had made that jumper, I'd have as many assists as Will Solomon, my man M. Grange ((TM) points out.
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AP's now had two dunks today. That's a single-game season high, I believe.
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Bargnani just hit a three right in Howard's face and Dwight ran back down the court looking at the bench like, "what should I do?'
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Toronto 71, Magic 61 with six minutes left.
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Well, I take back that JJ Redick nowhere to be seen crack. There he is on the court.
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This is a heckuva good game. I know it'll be crushing if they lose after being so far ahead but still, it's been a cracker, as they say.
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AP has 18 points, the last time he had 20 or more was Game 2 against Golden State.
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Okay, that was textbook Magic basketball right there and there was nothing Toronto could do. Off a Raptor miss, they pushed the ball, Howard got a great deep seal on Bargnani, entry pass, kick out to Lewis for a wide-open three he nailed. And all of a sudden it's a two-point game.
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I guarantee you Toronto did not come out of a timeout with a play designed to get Jake Voskuhl a 17-footer jumper. But somehow, that's what they got.
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Joey Graham guarding JJ Redick might be the most athletically lop-sided matchup possible in this game.
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How quiet is it in here? There are fans in the front row next to the Raptor bench who are looking around at Jonesy 'cause they can hear his play-by-play.
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The Raptor offence has gone in the toilet for the last two minutes. And, not surprising, so has their lead.
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Orlando 78, Toronto 77 after three.
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Jason Kapono has played 13 minutes and has yet to attempt a shot. Somehow, that has to change.
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There's a dude sitting across from us wearing an Eau Claire H.S. throwback jersey. That's the coolest one I've seen in this gym this year, I think.
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How mad's Jay: He just screamed "Run a play!" after yet another ugly, freelanced Raptor possession.
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If Toronto's going to win, it's going to be with offence because the Magic are doing a fine job scoring on their own. And if the offence doesn't get going soon, this one might get out of hand.
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There were audible groans when Moon just hoisted a three. There were wild cheers when he made it.
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Chris Bosh is sitting at the table right in front of me yelling defensive assignments as the play is going on.
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That was a long time coming, Howard doesn't get his fourth until 7:14 left in the quarter.
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Raptors 93, Magic 92 with six minutes left.
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This is exactly the kind of game a crowd can influence.
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JJ Redick's killing them. To which I say: JJ Redick? Come on!
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Andrea now has five fouls with 5:29 left and Jay's rolling the dice by leaving him in the game.
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Imagine how good Dwight Howard would be if he had any kind of all-around offensive skills. He'd be scary great. Now he's just really, really good.
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Orlando's hit 15 three-pointers and Toronto three. There's your difference at the moment.
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Magic 101, Raptors 99 with three minutes left.
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Someone behind me, with Bosh at the line, started a feeble M-V-P chant. We remember how that worked out at the start of the season, right?
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This is the second game in row that Roko's played the entire fourth quarter, that's some confidence in the kid. And it can only help as the season progresses.
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Bosh just got his fourth wrestling Howard on the block. The way they've been going at it down there today, it strikes me as a cheap call.
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Now the crowd is really into it.
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Roko Ukic has stones, man. He just hit a big runner to put 'em up three with 38.1 left. For a rookie, the kid has no fear about going into the lane.
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Credit where credit's due. Fans standing and cheering like I haven't heard this season.
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Moon just played as good defence on Turkoglu on a three-pointer as he can. I will point out that if Turkoglu had pump-faked he may be shooting three free throws or completing a four-point play but he didn't.
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A JJ Redic two with Orlando down six and 11 seconds left? Odd, that.
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Biggest win of the year? No question.
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Toronto 108, Orlando 102






 

Comments

[Kevin Allison]

Hey Doug,

Regarding Bosh's comments the other day... is it significant he didn't refer to Colangelo by name... simply as "the GM"? It seems impersonal to me... am I reading into it too much?

Thanks,

Blogger's note: You're reading too much into it.

[WSG]

Sitting here, watching (pre-game), listening to the good audio of what it pretty much sounds like in the ACC lately, it reminds me of one thing I REALLY thought, too many times, as patron last game ... and that was, the bad-corporate manufactured in-between stuff, is sooooo lame.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

You probably aren't aware of this because you are at the ACC, but...

THE RAPTORS GAME IS ACTUALLY ON TV! IN TORONTO--WHERE THE RAPTORS PLAY!!!

AG, Toronto

Blogger's note: That can't last. At least not until Wednesday, when they're back on TSN2

[Simon S-G]

Voshkul has been a very good addition to this team. Even if he doesn't do that much on the court (and he has given the team some decent minutes) he plays hard, gives the hard foul, and seems to be a very positive addition to the bench with his positive attitude. I think regardless of his level of play the clubhouse presence and the way he leaves it all on the floor are exactly what this team needed.

[Kevin Allison]

Thanks Doug...

This is why I asked the question. :)
K.

Blogger's note: Glad to help

[Kendal]

Good energy and movement on offense. Chris is aggressive and dare I say Will is giving us some good burn early on. Some good signs early on let's hope it carries through.
The hubby - imloulo

[pooks]

Who IS this team on the floor?!? :)

Don't hate me for being cynical with the rest of you, but I'm lovin' it. Go Raptors!

[eni]

who are these guys today Doug? them the Raptors? can't believe my eyes

[Kendal]

The row right behind us just won a nights stay at a local hotel! Boo! I think Van Gundy is going to pop a vessel today.

Blogger's note: It's probably some Dew Drop Inn, don't worry.

[Dana, Hopewell Cape, NB]

Hey Doug, these guys look like the same team that shined the Rockets, and they are making some shots!!!

[Kendal]

Dwight might be nicknamed superman but superman can't spin and finish at the rim like Dwight. BEAST! The hubby

[ian]

hey kendal, i'm in the row in front of you!

[Matthieu]

Hi there,

I am trying to find a way to follow the game live (radio or TV over the Internet) from Switzerland and was suprized to see that FAN590 wasn't broadcasting the game live. Is it due to NBA restrictions? Is there any alternative channel I could use?

Thanks and enjoy the game,
Matthieu
PS: I am not asking this question because I don't enjoy your excellent comments Doug ;)

[drew]

how about this brutal crowd they are just terrible not even a single chant i can honestly say i heard. jeez...

doug, i think they are going to have to start making the crowd cheer like some of the other buildings around the league. i mean up 16 they crowd was not what it should have been

[Casey]

Doug, you asked how they sound? Bad. I turned it off for some SL&B. (That's Sharon, Lois and Bram for those without kids). Time for the kids to go for a nap so I can catch the second half... Hope they're still in it by then.

[WSG]

One thing for sure, after being there the other night and now sitting here and watching it on tv ... I'd way rather be ... there.

The current ticket-holders haven't caught on to (yet) that it doesn't take a WHOLE lot of vocal carrying on and clapping (for the team!) for others and everybody else to catch on. That's when the crowd rocks.

[ALIALAI]

http://www.justin.tv/chevythecoolest

[WSG]

... cuz the team's rockin way more than the crowd

[Matthieu]

Thank you for the Tuvalu link! Awesome. Can all raptors games be watched on that channel?

[Tim W.]

When it rains it pours. I counted this game on 5 different channels.

[Kendal]

Ian - I think we are in the same row and you are three seats beside me. Your the only other person using a PDA throughtout the game.

[ian]

i'm a boo-er when the team is mailing it in, but i'm cheering like crazy today. i'm upper deck and you can hear me yell on the floor right now. this crowd is brutal.

[ro]

Why does Jamario have to jump at every single pump fake? Why? That Lewis three would not have happened without people having to scramble to help Jamario.

[pooks]

Doug, you gotta tell us in your video summary how this game ranks in the season so far. I mean the energy, the backdoor cuts, quick passes...I wonder how the injuries factor in on this. The bench really stepped up.

[Matthieu]

What a feel-good victory and this without two major starters!
Very happy for them