The Lowest of Low Blows

"You acting like a little bitch right now."

- O-Dog (in Menace II Society)

It was the knee to the nether regions felt around the suddenly frigid city of Toronto Friday night. Paul Pierce, on Chris Bosh. Where it hurts. Leaving Pierce standing atop Bosh, flexing and glaring over, for all intents and purposes, the franchise. Yet another proud moment in the history of Bryan Colangelo's Toronto Raptors.

In typical Raptors fashion, it was Jay Triano, our lovable Canadian head coach, who had - and pardon the pun - the balls to say anything about it.

The silence from Hedo Turkoglu, Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack spoke volumes. Here are three guys who are signed to multi-year deals with the Raptors, and who know Bosh is headed for free agency. And not one of them could find it in his pretty little heart to step up for their best player; for the guy who night in and night out gives Toronto a chance to win. It was just the message Bosh was looking for from his teammates as he contemplates his future: "Stick around, drop 20/10 a game, and we most definitely don't have your back."

And if Andrea Bargnani was on the floor, he probably wouldn't have done a damn thing, either.

Does Brian Burke have any extra truculence laying around? Fuck.

After the clobbering of Bosh's crotch, the post-CB4 era in Toronto may arrive sooner than expected. Followed shortly by the post-Colangelo era.

Only Reggie Evans and the ghost of Charles Oakley can save us now.

On Chris Bosh ...

From AltRaps over at uber Toronto Raptors blog Raptors Republic:

[Chris Bosh] finishes the season averaging 20/10, in the company of only two other players in the league, yet the idiots in the peanut gallery want to dump his ass for whatever we can get and make out that he doesn't play with heart. Idiots. 21pts and 19boards against a team that was playing for something. Just smile, Chris...big up yaself.

After perusing the stats, there's only one player in the NBA, other than Toronto's CB4, who definitively averages 20/10: Dwight Howard (20.6/13.8). You might know him as Superman.

Two other guys who just about pull it off: The Big Fundamental himself, Tim Duncan (19.3/10.7). And the pride of the People's Republic of China, Yao Ming (19.7/9.9).

I know what you're thinking. And I agree. Tim Duncan does have the best nickname. Ever.

Anyway, that's some pretty impressive company for Bosh to be in, no?

The season's over. It's decision making time for Bryan Colangelo. He's under the bright spotlights now. Does he get Bosh's autograph on a long-term contract before his deal expires in 2010? Does he bring back Anthony Parker? Shawn Marion? Joey Graham? Pops Mensah-Bonsu? The legendary Jake Voskuhl? What about head coach Jay Triano? Oh, the questions.

If it were up to me, I'd re-sign Marion. The Raptors desperately need his eight rebounds per game. He can't create his own offence, but that's what Jose Calderon is for. You know how I feel about Pops. I'd re-sign AP, too, only because I'm an emotional suck, and only to come off the bench. Joey Graham, good luck and Godspeed. Voskhul's a no brainer; bring him back. What a cheerleader. And I've no idea what to do with Triano. I'll trust Colangelo on that one. 

And you're damned right I'd re-sign Christopher Wesson Bosh to an extension. Or at least try to. If he refuses, then the trade route must be explored. We wouldn't get fair value, no way, but Vince Carter taught me a couple of valuable lessons: one, he's a douchebag; two, this franchise cannot afford to make a trade like his again.

Look, I'm not a fan of Bosh's online habits either, but he brings it on the court, and that's why option number one must be to lock him up. At the end of the day, 20/10 speaks for itself.

What would you do?

Same Shit, Different Coach

It was great to see the Toronto Raptors respond to the firing of their head coach Sam Mitchell. Instead of getting hammered by 39 points like they did on Tuesday night, the Raptors lost to Utah by only 27. That, my friends, is what I like to call progress.

Jay Triano, welcome to hell.

I wonder if Bryan Colangelo still thinks this is the most talented Raptors squad he's ever put together. He can't possibly believe that anymore. I mean, I've convinced myself of some crazy shit over the years, but let's forget contending. It's looking more and more like this Raptors team is going to have to fight for its life just to qualify for the playoffs.

Much like Tuesday's debacle, last night was no contest. The Jazz shot 52% from the field and dominated the boards, outrebounding the Raptors 52-38.

I caught the game on radio. If I had a nickel for every time I heard "Calderon gets beat," I'm pretty sure I'd have enough coin for a pint or two of Cameron's over at The Bow and Arrow.

It was another pathetic defensive performance by the Raps on a night when I figured they would come out with, at the very least, some intensity, heart and desire. You know, all that intangible bullshit. But, nope, the Raptors couldn't be bothered. Utah scored 66 of their points in the paint, for Christ's sake.

Jazz forward Paul Millsap, in 33 minutes on the floor, had as many offensive rebounds as the entire Raptors team: three. And your guess as to who this Millsap fellow is is probably as good as mine.

After yesterday's performance, I guess we can all rest assured knowing that what ails the 2008/2009 Toronto Raptors was clearly Sam Mitchell manning the sidelines.

Imagine The Iguodala

A part of me understands that the NBA draft is a crapshoot. There's a certain element of luck involved. Sometimes a guy just doesn't work out. I get that. 

Another part of me wants to absolutely pummel former Raptors GM Rob Babcock for drafting Rafael Araujo over Andre Iguodala back in 2004.

Araujo. Over Iguodala. Oh, the humanity. All these years later, after I've bitched about it and bitched about it some more, I'm still bitching. It still smarts.

Iguodala was in town last night, along with his Philadelphia 76ers teammates, to remind us once more of what could have been. The 76ers were 2-5 coming into the game, and winless on the road, but they left the ACC victorious, of course.

The ghosts of Araujo, that useless lug, were in the air. Iguodala put on a clinic. He didn't have his best shooting game, going 5-for-13 from the floor, but finished with 18 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. Andre Iguodala is one athletic mother sucker.

He is, to a mother fucking tee, what the Raptors lack: a presence on the wing, who can play either the two or three, that can take the ball to the rack. And defend. It kills me, absolutely kills me, to know that we could have had him. 

I don't think any of Anthony Parker, Jason Kapono, and Jamario Moon are starters in the NBA. Not that there's anything wrong with that. All three would be more effective in a defined role off the bench. AP was 4-16 from the floor last night, Kapono was invisible in 30 minutes of action, and if Moon settles for another jump shot, I will kill him myself.

I think Bryan Colangelo knows that the honeymoon is over, and that he's got to fix the team's glaring weakness at the wing. We're not getting points, or defence, from the position. I just don't know what the hell BC can do about it. 

To add to mine and the Raptors' woes, it looks like Jose Calderon might be in civilian garbs on Sunday after he tweaked his hamstring yesterday. I was impressed by Will Soloman during last Sunday's snoozefest in Charlotte, but any injury to Jose has to be considered the Raptors' worst nightmare. It's typical, I guess. 

Seriously, though. It's one thing to err on a draft pick. It happens (see: Adams, Russ and Cereda, Luca). It's another to draft Rafael "Hoffa" Araujo over Andre Iguodala.

Fuck you, Rob Babcock.

I Used To Like Kevin Garnett

My good friend, and loyal Sports And The City reader, Karan said it best: "Anything is possible...except some class in Beantown."

Peep this from Monday night:

It's one thing to talk trash. Bring the heat, KG. Jose Calderon can handle it. It's another to clap in his face, and point and wave a finger at him like a pompous (m)asshole.  

Good on Jose for getting right back into KG's grill after the fact, because that was some bullshit.

It's obvious that the city of Boston has had an impact on Garnett. In just over a year he's gone from being a loveable loser, to a champion, and now, much like his New England brethren, to a douchebag.

Way to keep it classy, KG. 

Anything less in Boston would have been uncivilized.

Chris Bosh needs a new hobby...

Chris Bosh took the Toronto Raptors' playoff defeat really hard. It's killing him that his season is over. As the video below will show you, he's really having a hard time figuring out what to do with all of his free time.



His first movie, the plea to get himself voted into the All-Star game, was all good and fun. Now Bosh's movie-making fetish is just getting weird. Anybody else get the feeling that Bosh is just trying too damn hard? Dude needs a new hobby. Perhaps Bosh should spend a little less time in front of the camera and, like Chris Black said, a little more time in the weight room. And maybe Andrea Bargnani can join him. God knows he could use the reps...

And just in case Bryan Colangelo didn't have enough on his plate this summer, Jose Calderon has come out and said he wants to be a starter. Not surprising considering the way Jose played this past season. He's a starter in this league, no doubt. The months ahead will be mighty interesting...

And Mike D'Antoni is leaving the Phoenix Suns to coach the New York Knicks? The New York fucking Knicks!? To quote the one and only Jerry Seinfeld when he found out the girl he was seeing had dated Newman: "Why?????"

Uh, It's Over, Umm, Bitches...

So much for wanting to play the Orlando Magic. Just like that, the Toronto Raptors are done, eliminated in five games by Superman and his three-point shooting cronies. It was an ugly game to cap off an ugly series and one ugly season.

I don't mean to be rude, but where the fuck was Chris Bosh last night? He finished with only 16 points on 7-of-19 shooting, nine rebounds, and three assists. Most discouraging of all, he only went to the free throw line four times all game. Four times! That's it. His first trip to the charity stripe came with about seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Bosh's strength is getting to the line and hitting his free throws, and he was the opposite of aggressive last night. He put up some serious bricks. It was a disappointing effort by the franchise player in the biggest game of the season. Bosh had to set the tone and lead the charge and, well, he didn't.

I'm not throwing Bosh under the bus but he didn't play his best game last night. He knows it, I know it and you know it. His young playoff career has gotten off to a rocky start. In the five games against Orlando CB4 had two strong games - games two and four - and the Raptors lost them both.

It's clear Bosh needs help and it's clear he's not getting it from Andrea Bargnani, who is the definition of regression. Bargnani represents the Raptors 07/08 season in so many ways: so inconsistent, some flashes of brilliance, a ton of potential, and so God damn frustrating.

Andrea was such a tool last night. He picked up two fouls only 20 seconds into the game and, as usual, was a non-factor. He finished with four points on two-of-four shooting from the floor (his first three-point attempt didn't even hit rim!). In a touch under 16 minutes he grabbed one rebound, and I remember it clearly. It came in the second half, no one was around him and, had he not caught the basketball, it would have hit him straight in the face.

Bargnani shot 35% (11-for-37) from the floor in the series and didn't register double-digits in points in any of the five games. He pulled down a whopping seven rebounds in the five games, proving that he is in fact physically allergic to rebounding. How is it possible that the seven-foot tall Italian cannot rebound? I don't get it. It blows the mind.

This summer is a huge, HUGE, one for Andrea and the Raptors. It's clear he's lost all confidence in his shot and, well, that's pretty much all he's about. Without his shot, he's completely useless because God knows he can't defend. Bargnani's got to get in the weight room all summer and come to training camp in September with a sense of purpose. He's got to be hungry. He's got to rebound. He's got to defend. It just looks like he doesn't give a shit out there. He needs to be fighting for a job next season because I'm beginning to think he is the second coming of Shawn Bradley (Lord help us).

I think Jason Kapono was the most consistent Raptor in the series. That's pretty sad, considering he found himself on the bench for much of the second half of the regular season.

All that being said, the Raptors did play hard last night. They played hard all series. They just couldn't get the job done. At one point in last night's fourth quarter they were down 84-82. In the end, however, the Raptors were done in by their weak defense and inability to rebound. The Magic crushed Toronto on the glass yesterday 55-to-37. Dwight Howard pulled down 10 offensive rebounds, one more than all the Raptors combined.

As bad as the Raptors played in the series, the Magic definitely deserve some credit. They are a good team and they beat up on Toronto. Howard is a monster and he dominated Toronto like no one has before. He finished with three - three! - 20 points/20 rebounds games. That is completely and utterly ridiculous. In five games, Superman totalled 91 rebounds. And as much heat as the Magic took for giving Rashard Lewis that huge contract, I think it's looking like a good deal so far. Lewis had a great series and is one of many Orlando threats. Everybody on that God damn team can shoot the ball.

The Raptors are heading into another long off-season. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Not after Toronto finished with 47 wins last year and captured their first Atlantic Division title. They were supposed to continue their evolution but instead took several steps backward, finishing .500 on the season and getting spanked by the Magic. Toronto was consistently inconsistent all year and never really posed a threat to a superior Orlando squad.

Questions abound as the season officially ends: has T.J. Ford played his last game in Raptors red? I think most people will agree that this team is better with Jose Calderon driving the bus, but can Bryan Colangelo find a taker for Ford's contract? And who becomes the back-up point guard if Ford leaves? Will Carlos Delfino, a free agent, return? I sure hope so. What to do with Andrea Bargnani? This guy is just killing the Raptors right now. And what about Sam Mitchell - is his job safe? The Raptors had two God-awful first quarters in the series and were never able to come up with an answer to the hot-shooting Magic.

It will be a most-interesting off-season indeed but, damn, I'm just really not looking forward to reading Dave Feschuk's column today in The Toronto Star.

It's A Series, Bitches!

Yes, Raptors! We're back in it, baby. Back on our floor in front of a raucous crowd, the home team did not disappoint. Toronto now trails Orlando 2-1 and this series is far from over.

I wasn’t able to watch the game, save for the final seven minutes at a downtown establishment with my good friend Hoegarden. And, trust me, I enjoyed those seven minutes.

As I was perusing the box score after the game, it was clear why the Raptors were victorious: point guard production.

I was all over T.J. Ford after game two but, boy, did he ever come back with a strong game. He and Jose Calderon (Jose, JoseJoseJose!) dominated Jameer Nelson and Carlos Arroyo.

Here’s the line from the dynamic point guard duo:

39 points off 13-of-19 shooting from the floor, 12 rebounds, 16 assists, two steals, and only four turnovers.

That, my friends, is domination. If the Raptors can get production out of Forderon such as they received last night, this series is ours.

I was wrong, as usual, about the changes in the starting lineup. Ford was still in there and instead of Rasho was Moon.

I’ll give Mitchell some props. Ford could have easily come out of the lineup, and Moon had no business being inserted, but both moves paid off.

Ford, who couldn’t hit a shot in the first two games, was confident from the get-go. Say what you want about him, but the little engine never stops believing in himself. He hit his shots last night, as did Moon, and the Raptors won because of it. So after roasting him on Tuesday night, I offer him huge props today. I’m not the only one, either, as Doug Smith informs us that Ford received a standing ovation at a restaurant where he went to grab a post-game meal. Well deserved.

Same goes for Moon. Five-for-nine from the floor and 10 boards. Beauty.

It was definitely a team effort as six Raptors ended up in double figures. Toronto racked up 31 assists, compared to only 15 by Orlando, and won the battle of the boards 42-34. When the Raptors share the ball and hit the shots they should be hitting, they win. Last night was textbook Raptors basketball.

A big, big win and now we look forward to Saturday. This series is going back to Orlando tied up. And Dave Perkins is right: the Leafs suck, the Jays are doing their best Leafs impersonation, and the Raptors are all we’ve got. Let’s enjoy ‘em.

I'm Off Disney World, Huge

I'm beginning to hate Orlando. And I've never even been there. The city has not been kind to my Toronto Raptors or Toronto Blue Jays in recent days. I thought Disney World was where dreams come true?

I don't know about you, but I'm still having nightmares from the first quarter of game one between the Raptors and Orlando Magic. You know, when Orlando scored 43 points on 80 percent - 80 freaking percent - shooting from the floor, including nine of 11 from deep. I'm still waking up in a cold sweat after seeing Maurice Evans, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson drain three-ball after three-ball after three-ball in my sleep. What a frightening 12 minutes of basketball.

You could take that first quarter and label it "How Not To Play Defense". Make it an instructional video, or something.

Toronto, unbelievably, got off to another porous start on Tuesday night, allowing 35 first quarter points. It's an improvement on 43, but unacceptable nonetheless. While many are quick to blame Sam Mitchell for the team's apparent lack of preparation, I can't do that. He's not on the floor.

Thankfully, the Raps did wake up in the second quarter and dropped 39 on the Magic. It was a see-saw battle the rest of the way but, most unfortunately, the dream of splitting the first two games on the road in Disney World ended when Chris Bosh's jump shot with 1.9 seconds left on the clock hit rim. 104-103 final, Orlando.

I'll give the dinosaurs some credit. They did make a game of it. But this is the playoffs, and moral victories count for nothing in the second season.

What did you think of the final play? Would you have drawn it up the same? It was another Jose Calderon/CB4 special and, just like last year in game six of the playoffs against the Nets with the season on the line, it didn't work. No disrespect towards Bosh. Dude was unconscious on Tuesday. But he's the obvious play. Why not look for Jason Kapono, who was dynamite off the bench in each of the first two games? If the Raptors were going to give it to Bosh, and they did, I'd much rather him drive and try to draw a foul instead of settle for the jump shot. Alas, you live and learn.

Speaking of learning, SMitch has made it clear that there will be changes in the starting lineup tonight for game three. And by changes I'm sure he means Calderon will start at point guard and T.J. Ford will come off the bench. At least that's what I'm assuming. I am, of course, usually wrong, but in my humble opinion Calderon can no longer be allowed to play Mr. Nice Guy. He's the better point guard, he's playing better than Ford right now, and the Raps are a better team when he's on the floor running the offense. So he should start, n'est-ce pas?

Here's the line on Ford after two games: he's two (2!) of 17 from the floor for a whopping 11.8 field goal percentage, seven of seven from the stripe, and he's totalled seven rebounds, 12 assists and 4 turnovers. I'm not saying that Ford is the reason we're down two-nothing in this series, because Jose was just as bad in game one, but Ford and Moon were abysmal in game two. Ford was one for eight from the floor on Tuesday and his turnovers in the first quarter (three of them, I think) and his lazy coverage of Jameer Nelson really hurt the Raptors. Until he finds his game and his confidence, Jose's got to carry the load.

As for Moon, well, he should just be banned from shooting the jump shot. He was one for seven Tuesday night and Orlando has simply stopped guarding him. They're letting him have the long jumper because, well, they know he can't make it. And they're right. Jamario simply has to be more aggressive and take the ball to the rim. He's too athletic and has too much hops to be chucking. I know it's important for him to have confidence in his jumper, but we need him to be rebounding and drawing fouls, not chilling on the perimeter and tossing up bricks.

I'm not going to say much about the heartbreak kid Andrea Bargnani. I thought he was pretty brutal in game one and so-so in game two. One thing, though. He played a touch over 18 minutes on Tuesday night and picked up one rebound. One rebound.

Huge shoutouts to Kapono and Carlos Delfino. Kapono, the forgotten man, came back with a vengeance in Orlando, shooting 67% from the floor, and 67% from beyond the arc. The sweet-shooting JKap has playoff experience and boy did it ever show. The Raptors are going to need him to come up just as big if they want to get back in this damn thing. Same goes for Delfino. He played almost thirty minutes Tuesday night and picked up 16 points, six boards and three dimes. Most importantly, he was aggressive. He didn't settle for the jump shot (I'm looking at you, Jamario).

And, umm, that Dwight Howard guy, umm, yeah, he's good. Twenty-twenty two games in a row? Ridiculous. He's a freak. Superman is a most fitting nickname.

Oh yeah, if you're looking for anything and everything Raptors-related, check out my man Chris Black at T.Jose Caldeford. Dude's been featured on Michael Grange's blog, From Deep, at The Globe and Mail and he is, needless to say, on point.

The Raptors cannot under any, ANY, circumstances come out flat tonight in the first quarter at the The Hangar. The fans are going to be rocking the red, Washington Capitals style, and a big opening 12 minutes is vital if the Raptors want to get back in this series. Come on Raptors. Orlando took care of business on their home court, we must do the same.

As for the Blue Jays and their series with Tampa Bay at Disney World (literally), Toronto lost on Tuesday and again last night. Give the series victory to Tampa Bay. The Jays are clearly struggling. When they lose a series to Tampa Bay, that pretty much goes without saying.

If there's one team I can't handle the Jays losing to, it's the Rays. They are the definition of pathetic. And, well, last place. Since their birth in 1998 the Rays have finished last in the American League East every year except for 2004, when they finished fourth with 70 wins (yes, the Jays finished last that year with 67 wins...*shudder*).

Everyone knows what ails the Jays. They can't hit with runners in scoring position. They were zero for eight tonight and are eight for their last 69. Yikes. Until that changes, the losses will continue to pile up. It is still early but the Red Sox, those fucking Boston Red Sox, are already beginning to heat up. The Jays need not take a page out of the Raptors book and dig themselves a hole too deep to get out of.

I listened to last night's post-game show with Mike Wilner, and J.P. Ricciardi made his first appearance on the program. It was riveting stuff, as always. I love the fact that J.P. makes himself available and takes questions from the fans once a week.

J.P., like me, like you, and most Jays fans, is frustrated. He knows the team isn't hitting and, in a classy move, is holding himself accountable. He said the calls for John Gibbons' head aren't warranted because Gibbons isn't out there hacking at the plate. Ricciardi said if the Jays don't hit, it's his fault, because he put this team together. And he's right.

He also touched on the Frank Thomas situation. To me, the situation stinks because it seems like it's only about dollars. The Jays didn't want to pay Frank $10 million next year so they let him walk. Of course, it isn't as simple as that. Ricciardi touched on the fact that Thomas was not in the dugout and didn't come out to high-five his teammates on Saturday, the day he was benched. J.P. said Thomas' actions showed his state of mind and that the Jays, with a sulking Thomas, were a team of 24, rather than 25. It's a mighty good point. I wonder if T.J. Ford and Frank Thomas hang out?

Ricciardi also spoke about the big-headed one, Barry Bonds. While he said the Jays have thought about it, it isn't something that is likely to happen. And not because Ricciardi doesn't want it to happen. It sounded like he does. I hate Bonds, but I'm a hypocrite and would take him on my team right this very moment. Why? Because he'd make the Jays a better team, and that's all that matters to me. Ricciardi sees what all Jays fans do out there, that Bonds would help this team immensely. He's not stupid. He just can't make the move because Ted Rogers won't sign off on it. That's the bottom line. Don't blame J.P. Ricciardi for Bonds not becoming a Blue Jay. Blame Ted Rogers. He's not willing to make it happen. If he was, Bonds would be a Blue Jay tomorrow. Think about it, you know, every time you pay Ted Rogers that God damn system access fee.

Before I forget, there have been a number of baseball blog additions to the blogroll. I urge you to check them out: The Mockingbird, where Jon Hale satisfies all your pitch f/x needs; The Tao of Stieb, because more people need to know that Dave Stieb pitched a remarkable 103 career complete games; Miked Up, because Mike Wilner is a whole lot of awesome; Fire Joe Morgan, because they write some of the funniest stuff on the web; and Major League Bastian, because he actually gets paid to cover the Jays. And don't forget the always reliable, and thullied, Drunk Jays Fans, who have officially sold out and who will be taking over the world in the days to come. Oh yeah, and the grumpy dude, Jeff Blair.

You know, Tuesday night was pretty awful on a number of fronts, now that I think about it. Every team, and person, I was cheering for lost. My Raps dropped a heart breaker; The Capitals went down in game seven, in overtime no less, to those damn Philly Flyers; San Jose pummeled Calgary in their game seven (what the hell has happened to Miikka Kiprusoff? Pulled twice in the series? Oh my.); the Jays lost; and my main man Barack Obama lost the Pennsylvania primary. Brutal.

Ahh, I told myself I'd make this post short. I swore I would. Once again, I have failed. Miserably. If you've made it this far, cheers. Your dedication is nothing short of exemplary.

Anyway, I hate the Rays. And the Magic. Fuck Disney World.

I Heart Jose

Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon is good people. With his team mired in a horrible slump - losers of 11 of their last 14 heading into last night -and at a critical point in their season, numero ocho went to the coaching staff and suggested he move back to the bench and let T.J. Ford assume the starting point guard responsibilities.

A classy and selfless move by a classy and selfless guy. I already had a ton of respect for Jose, and now I have even more. Dude is all about the team, and it's hard not to appreciate what he did. Here's what Jose had to say about it:

"I said five or six games ago, whatever we need to do, I have no problem coming from the bench. I have no problem putting the team first. And now after two tough losses I thought we could do it and see if things change a little. We talked Monday and again Tuesday morning and they agreed, with 12 games let's see if you can change things around.

"I have an ego, but my team is first. I work for the Raptors and I play for the Raptors, I don't play for Jose Calderon. What I want is to be in the playoffs, I want to have a chance to play in the second round, so I don't try to be 20 points a game or something like that. I think this is a good idea to change everything so this is something I have to do.”

Classy, eh? I told you so. Says a lot about Jose. He's not like other pro athletes out there. He's cut from a different cloth. Let's not forget that he's in a contract year. Sure, it's pretty much a formality that the Raptors will re-sign him in the summer (they can match any deal he gets), he's still in a contract year. For Jose winning is, clearly, the number one priority.

And I'm not surprised he threw in "I don't try to be 20 points a game or something like that," as a minor shot at T.J. At least that's what it looks like to me. I was telling a buddy of mine at work that whenever I watch a game in which Ford puts up 20 or more points, the Raptors lose. I think Jose has recognized the same.

The move, initiated by Jose on his own volition, also says a lot about T.J. Ford, and I'm kind of peeved with him right now. He basically sulked his way back into the starting point guard slot. His erratic play, and clear displeasure, at being second fiddle to Jose was clearly disrupting the team. Everyone knows that if Ford starts, he's on the floor with Bosh and has to share the ball, instead of chucking the rock on every possession. Since he's come back from injury Ford hasn't exactly displayed the best attitude, and never did embrace the backup role. Pretty douche bag-gy if you ask me.

It's becoming more and more clear to me that the two point guard system is not going to work here in Toronto. It can't work anywhere. Both guys are starting point guards and they know it. They both want to be starters, and I can't really blame either one for that. That's always been the goal for both of them. They're too competitive, and while I was assured yesterday that Jose is down with the team concept, it's clear that Ford isn't. He's simply not mature enough. If the Raptors have to choose which point guard to keep this summer, I think it's obvious it should be Jose. His game resembles that of Steve Nash and that's exactly who you want your point guard to be resemble.

Bottom line: Calderon is a rudey.

With the suddenly back-to-.500 Raptors desperate to turn around their fortunes, the Calderon and Ford swap wasn't the only change in the lineup last night against the Detroit Pistons, the Association's second-best team. Out of the starting lineup came Andrea Bargnani, with my main man Rasho Nesterovic taking his place. Bargnani continues to disappoint, and break my heart in the process. If you didn't get a chance to read The Globe and Mail's Michael Grange's column about the not-so-super sophomore - Whither Bargnani? - I urge you to check it out.

I guess change is good sometimes. The lineup moves paid off and the Raptors knocked off the Pistons 89-82, thanks to a huge third quarter that saw Toronto outscore Detroit 28-16. After a sluggish first half the Raps picked up the slack in the third and fourth quarters, and ended up shooting 49% from the floor. The Pistons shot only 41%. They were playing their third game in four nights but, well, that's their problem. We've got plenty of our own.

For one night, at least, the Raptors got the superb point guard play that defined their season early on this year. Caldeford (or Forderon, whichever you prefer), the two-headed point guard monster, combined for 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting, 13 assists, eight rebounds and only two turnovers. That's the kind of point guard play that will win the Raptors more games than not.

Got to shout out Rasho, of course. He was dope again last night. More than 46 minutes on the floor, 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting, nine rebounds and four blocks. He was instrumental in helping the Raptors outscore the Pistons in the paint 34-22. That is significant because the Raptors, and especially Bargnani, are pretty much allergic to the freakin' paint.

The Dinos remain in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game out of fifth place (and a date with Lebron). Up next are the New York Knicks on Friday and Western Conference leading New Orleans Hornets on Sunday. I kid you not, the Hornets are the best team in the West. And that's one mighty fine conference. If I'd have told you that New Orleans would be in first place near the end of March, you would have bitch-slapped me and called me Wanda.

With only 11 games left in the regular season, the Dinos have got to get on a roll heading into the playoffs. Thanks to Jose Calderon, the team got a huge boost last night. The world needs more pro athletes the likes of the selfless Spaniard. He's a special dude, that Jose, and what he did last night kind of makes you just feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Thanks Jose. Respect is there

Deep Thoughts Vol. 4

Damon Stoudamire didn't become a Toronto Raptor for the second time in his career this week. Instead, the Raptors got even better news on Monday. T.J. Ford came back. Welcome back, Little Engine. You've been missed.

Watching Ford check into the game Monday night in Miami was something I won't soon forget. He had a huge smile on his face and Jose Calderon gave him a hug, a tap on the head, and some words of encouragement. Calderon seemed genuinely happy and excited about Ford's return, and that is exactly why I dig Jose. He's the ultimate teammate. He's not thinking that the Raptors number one point guard is back in the lineup; he's thinking that his friend T.J. Ford is back in the lineup.

The Raptors were buoyed by Ford's return. They made sure T.J. would get some minutes by absolutely thrashing the Miami Heat 33-12 in the first quarter. The game was over after 12 minutes. It was the perfect scenario for Ford to return to. Ford looked good in almost 17 minutes on the floor. After the brutal fall he took that night in Atlanta almost two months ago, it was great to just see him back doing what he loves and is pretty damn good at. The Dinos are a much, much better team with both Ford and Calderon in the lineup.

Speaking of Jose Calderon, it's a shame he didn't make the all-star team. He certainly deserved to. In Ford's absence, he logged a ton of minutes and his game didn't suffer. It actually got better. Jose's an all-star in my heart and surely in the hearts of many in Toronto.

The Raptors, however, will be well represented at the Association's all-star weekend in a couple of weeks. Chris Bosh made the team as a reserve, and is well-deserving of the honour. After a slow start, CB4 turned it up a notch the last month and a half. His youtube video helped, too. If you haven't seen it, it means you a) don't read Doug Smith's blog (which you should) and b) you live under a rock.

Jason Kapono will be defending his three-point shooting competition title - that'll be the only "defending" he'll be doing all year (zinger!) - and Jamario Moon will be taking part in the dunk competition. I am seriously stoked about Moon being in the dunk-off. It should be a doozy. Dude's got some hops.

Tonight the Raptors take on the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, and it is regular season game number 1,000 in franchise history. That means I'm old. And that time flies. I still remember that first game against the New Jersey Nets on November 3, 1995, at the freakin' SkyDome. If you're trying to wax nostalgic, Alvin Robertson hit a three-ball to open the game. It was the beginning of something special, but the best times are still to come. Here's to a thousand more...

So, how about those Toronto Maple Leafs? They bounced back from their worst beating of the season, a forgetful 8-0 whitewash courtesy of the Florida Panthers, and came out of Montreal with a 4-2 road win. Go figure.

The Leafs actually came up with a pretty solid effort last night. Inconsistency, and the inability to play 60 minutes, has really done a number on this team. But last night's affair was entertaining hockey, and a Toronto/Montreal game at its finest. It was fast-paced, chippy, emotional and intense - the type of game the Leafs have failed to play on too many nights this year. Although the Leafs do stink and need to lose more games in order to set themselves up for a shot at the number one draft pick, there still is a palpable sense of satisfaction that comes with beating teams like the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens.

I've got to admit, though, that the Habs are a pretty sweet team. They're only three points out of first place in the Eastern Conference. They've got great goaltending (Carey Price is only 20 freakin' years old!) and every player on that team, to a man, can skate like the wind. They are fast. Tomas Plekanec is turning into one hell of an offensive player and Alex Kovalev is playing with a sense of purpose. When Kovalev is in the mood, and he's definitely in the mood this season, he's one of the best in the business. Not too many guys can dangle in the opposition's zone the way he can. He is tremendous.

Bryan McCabe made his return to the Leafs lineup and the team played solid defense. I still stand behind McCabe and his $5.75 million-a-year contract. The Leafs record without #24 in the lineup speaks for itself. They were only able to win seven of the 22 games he most recently missed.

In the where-have-you-been department, Darcy Tucker, with two, and Kyle Wellwood tallied markers for the Buds last night. For Tucker, it was his first two goal game all season, and for Wellwood his first goal in 17 games. Both Darcy and Kyle have been huge disappointments this season, but it was good to see them contribute last night. Imagine where the Leafs would have been had these guys shown up all year?

Shout outs to Vesa Toskala, who was great in goal last night, as usual. He's the real deal. And I love him.

And before I bid adieu to the Leafs, how about that Mats Sundin fellow? He came to the defence of his young rookie winger Robbie Earl after Mike Komisarek took him out with a hit. Komisarek followed the hit with a couple of cheap shoves to Earl's head and back while he was on the ice - that's how Komisarek rolls. Sundin got right up in Komisarek's face and the two of them tussled. Sundin, it seems, must do everything. But that's why he wears the "C" on his shoulder. He is a beauty. And Komisarek is a douche. If there's one guy on the Habs I want to kick square in the groin, it's Komisarek.

Back to basketball for a second; Shaq traded to Phoenix? Wtf? I definitely did not see this one coming. I don't think anyone did. First of all, the trade says a lot about Shawn Marion, who would rather go to the absolutely pathetic Miami Heat than play for a title with Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. Clearly, his motivation isn't what it should be. In my books, that makes Marion a douche.

It's understandable to write this deal off as a bad one for the Suns. Many already have. Adrian Wojnarowski really doesn't like it. The reasons are rather obvious. Shaq is breaking down physically at 36 years old, and he doesn't exactly fit in to the run-and-gun Phoenix offence. I don't, however, think Shaq can be written off completely though. He is a winner, and he wants to win again, and he gives the Suns the big man down the middle that they've lacked. Shaq's presence means Amare can play power forward, which will definitely suit him more. If Shaq can somehow get healthy, and embrace a defense-and-rebound-first type of role, I think he can help Phoenix, and hopefully get Nash a ring...

Guess what? Spring training starts next week! I know, it's hard to believe. Like I said, time flies, and the boys of summer are getting set to get the party started down in Florida. J.P. Ricciardi took care of his final piece of business on Tuesday, getting Alex Rios' autograph on a one-year contract worth just over $4.8 million. Rios is a certifiable rudey and one of the keys to success for the '08 Blue Jays.

It's turned out to be a pretty busy winter for J.P. and the boys. There are a number of new faces joining the squad: Scott Rolen, David Eckstein, Marco Scutaro, and Rod Barajas. Check this out for quick hits on spring training.

I haven't written about the trading of super douche Troy Glaus for Scott Rolen, and that's partly because I've been getting my Blue Jays fix over at Drunk Jays Fans. If you like the Blue Jays, booze, and profanity - not necessarily in that order - I urge you to check out the blog, subscribe to it, bookmark it; do whatever you've got to do, just read it. You'll thank me. Those thullards over at DJF are a comedic and foul-mouthed bunch, but they know their baseball.

A more-detailed Blue Jays post, and some serious Troy Glaus bashing, are to come in the near future...

Still with baseball, the Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee saga continues to play out on Capitol Hill. Clemens and his entourage continue to deny, deny, deny (read: lie, lie, lie) while McNamee is now saying he's got evidence - old syringes with Clemens' DNA - that Clemens did in fact take the juice. I find it fascinating that the U.S. government has nothing better to do than get to the bottom of this, but am looking forward to how Clemens, another super douche if there ever was one, is going to explain this one...

Calderon Being Shown Some Love

Thrust into the starting role after point guard T.J. Ford went down to injury, Jose Calderon has been everything and more for the Toronto Raptors since. Calderon has been phenomenal this season, and the NBA is starting to take notice of numero ocho.

Not only has the Spaniard put up great numbers on the floor, he's also been a big hit in the world of fantasy basketball - another reason why he's being shown some love. I'm more of a fantasy hockey guy myself, but I know how serious people take their fantasy games. For owners of teams who picked up Calderon off the waiver wire, he's been nothing short of a God-send. Rotowire's got a blurb on Calderon over at Yahoo! Sports and they're mentioning our good old Jose in the same breath as Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and, yes, Steve Nash.

Since taking over the starting point guard job for the injured Ford, Calderon has been averaging 13.4 points and 9.7 assists per game. Much has also been made about Calderon's incredible assist-to-turnover ratio: 5.54. He leads the league, by far. His nearest competition is Brevin Knight of the Clippers who sports a ratio of 4.28. Calderon simply gets all his teammates involved, and doesn't turn the rock over. He's racked up 371 assists this season, while only committing 67 turnovers. Money.

The man can shoot as well. Calderon's shot has improved by leaps and bounds since he came into the league back in 2005. In his rookie year, Calderon shot 42% from the field, only 16% from deep, and 85% from the free throw line. He didn't have much confidence in those days, and I never, ever, thought he would blossom into the Jose Calderon we are blessed with today.

His numbers this season are off the charts. A 51% shooting percentage from the field, 43% from beyond the arc, and 92% from the line. As the good folks at Rotowire were so sweet to point out, the only other cat to shoot 40/50/90 is - you guessed it - two-time MVP Steve Nash. Calderon is in some heavy company, and he deserves to be.

I figured a part of Jose's success was attributed to the fact that he was a starting point guard playing in a backup role against other team's second units, on a deep Raptors team. But Calderon has proved his worth as a starter, going up against the league's top point guards, and leading the Raptors to victory. He's the real deal and, astonishingly, only 26 years old.

T.J. Ford may not come back this season. This we know. If he does, he'll come back and play behind Calderon, as he's done before when he's been out of the lineup for an extended period of time. It's tough to argue with Calderon's success, and Ford is a team-player. He knows it's the right decision. If Ford doesn't return this year, the Raptors need to address their backup point guard situation. Darrick Martin, the quasi-coach, and Juan Dixon, are not getting the job done, and Jose is logging a ton of minutes.

Doug Smith at The Star writes in his blog that Mighty Mouse, Damon Stoudamire, is working on a buyout of his contract down in Memphis. Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Stoudamire will be waived by the Grizz on Monday and if he's not claimed in 48 hours he will be released and become a free agent. His potential destinations? Boston or Toronto. It would be tough to turn down the Celtics, especially with the season they are having, but I'd definitely be open to having Stoudamire return to Toronto, especially if Ford isn't coming back. Damon didn't leave Toronto on good terms but we're a welcoming folk, and we'd accept him back in Toronto with open arms, especially if it means Darrick Martin doesn't see any more floor time.

The best-case scenario would be the return of Ford, but who knows when he'll be ready to resume practicing with the team? Certainly I don't. Mighty Mouse, round two, is definitely an intriguing proposition.

The Raptors are on a roll, having won four out of their last five, and seven out of 10. They are starting to solidify themselves as a legitimate playoff team in the pathetic Eastern Conference, and are in a dog-fight with the Washington Wizards for the coveted fourth playoff spot, and home-court advantage. Jose Calderon deserves a boat-load of credit for the Raptors success. So, thank you Jose. You are appreciated.

I leave you, fellow Raptors fans, with some news I'm sure you'll enjoy as much as I did. Adrian Wojnarowski, a hoops columnist at Yahoo! Sports whom I frequently peruse, has picked his winners for some first-half awards, now that the NBA season has reached its halfway point. Vince Carter, that loathsome little turd who now plys his trade (read: complete indifference) over in New Jersey, was named the Least Valuable Player. Little things like that just make my day.

"Half-man, half-hearted," indeed. Even though it was one of the most one-sided trades ever, the Toronto Raptors won when they traded Vince Carter by simply getting rid of him. Addition by subtraction, my dear Watson.

Stupid question of the day: I wonder if the Nets are regretting that four-year, $62 million dollar dear they gave Carter last summer...?

Fantastic Finishes

The Toronto Raptors wanted to beat the Boston Celtics last night. They needed to beat the Celtics last night. Thanks to a huge come-from-behind fourth quarter, and some "Onions baby, onions!" courtesy of Jose Calderon, beat the Celtics the Raptors finally did.

As much as Sam Mitchell tried to downplay the importance of last night's tilt, he knew it was a big game. Look at that picture, it's all the proof you need. That's a picture of a coach who wanted it bad and who is as intense as they come. That's why I love Sam.

Why'd the Raps need this win, you ask? Because it was their fourth and final meeting with the dominant Celtics. After losing a heart breaker in overtime the first time out against Boston, the Celts turned it up a notch and spanked the Raptors in their next two meetings. Boston, whom I predicted, like Doug Smith, to struggle to make the playoffs, are good. Alright, they are very good. Alright, they are freakin' fantastic and have the division title all but locked up. I figured there wasn't going to be much sharing of the rock in Beantown and, along with that, some bruised egos. But that hasn't turned out to be the case. I was wrong. Really, really wrong. The Celts are off the charts, and are even getting production beyond the Big Three, from jobbers like Eddie House and Rajon Rondo.

I've clearly lost my train of thought. The Raptors needed the win over Boston to prove to themselves that they could play with the best of the best. They measured up last night, especially in the final stanza.

For the Celtics it was only their seventh loss of the season, and only their fourth defeat on their home court. It was also their first loss to a divisional opponent. If the Raps hadn't beaten the Celts last night, I think Boston would have swept the entire division. God knows Toronto is the only other decent team in the putrid Atlantic Division.

I'll be honest, I didn't watch most of the ball game. I was scared the Raps were in for more poundage, and I didn't need to see that again. I chose, instead, to watch the Leafs game. Yes, that does, officially, make me an idiot. But I did catch most of the fourth quarter, when I tuned in and saw that it was actually a ball game, and not a massacre.

Toronto went into the fourth trailing by seven, but they didn't quit. It also helped that they were on fire from beyond the arc all night, hitting 15 three-balls in the contest, including three in the final 15 minutes. Carlos Delfino deserves some props for his performance last night. He was money from deep (Grange picked a beauty of a name for his blog), going 5-for-5.

The catalysts of the comeback were, of course, Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon. CB4 dropped 10 in the final frame but it was Calderon who provided the heroics late. He hit two free throws with 30 seconds left to give the Raps a one-point lead, 111-110, which they squandered. With 14 ticks left on the clock, Calderon drove to the hoop off a Bosh screen for a layup. Bucket. And the foul! That's when Chuck Swirsky dropped the onions. It was a huge three-point-play. The Celtics had last shot, and even got off two attempts because the Raptors can't rebound for their lives, but it wasn't to be. It was the Raptors night.

In the holy crap department, Andrea Bargnani was spotted yesterday actually contributing while on the court. The dude's been missing of late, but he finally had a game. He was due. Part of the reason I haven't written about the Raptors in a while is because of Bargnani's struggles. His regression troubles me deeply. My expectations were, as I have come to realize, way too high for him this year.

Last night, however, he dropped 20 on 50% shooting and racked up seven assists. Most astonishing of all, he grabbed seven rebounds! For Andrea, that's about three games worth. We all know Sucky Soph is struggling mightily (last year he was "Big Rook," so this year he is "Sucky Soph"), but it was great to see the Bargnani of old chip in last night. He's still hella young, and we have to be patient with him. The fans in this city are way too quick to turn on young players (see: Nik Antropov) and while Brandon Roy definitely seems like the better player right now - and he is - Bargnani still has crazy upside.

Also in the holy crap department, why are the Raptors allergic to rebounding? They were clobbered again on the boards last night, and only their hot shooting was able to save their collective behinds. It's not the 39-29 advantage the Celtics had on the boards that is frightening; it's the 16-4 advantage Boston had on the offensive glass that blows my mind. 16-4! Sixteen offensive rebounds is about 13 too many. Ray Allen had as many offensive rebounds as the entire Raptors team. Sure, Toronto's shots were falling, but the last play of the game said it all. Eddie House's three-ball attempt to win the game hit rim, but Allen picked up the rebound and chucked up another attempt, this time to tie the game. Thankfully, he missed, and Chuck was able to bring out the salami and cheese, but Allen should never have gotten that opportunity in the first place. Rebounding is definitely this team's achilles heel and until they sort it out, and I'm not sure how they're going to go about doing that, how serious can they be taken?

The Raps rebounding woes didn't burn them last night and it was a scintillating fourth quarter. My man Calderon is also deserving of some serious high-fivery. Doug Smith at The Star is dead-on about the Spaniard; where the hell would the Raptors be without him? Numero ocho has to make the All-Star team. It would be a travesty if he didn't. He's a rudey. Start praying that Toronto is able to get this guy's autograph on a long-term contract.

While Ray Allen's game-winning attempt was on its way to the basket, and I was yelling "No!" like a school girl, the Maple Leafs were up to some late game theatrics of their own, courtesy of their captain. Who else?

Mats Sundin made sure Cliff Fletcher's return to the Toronto Maple Leafs kicked off with a bang, and the Leafs beat the Washington Capitals 3-2, thanks to Sundin's goal with 30 seconds left to play.

It was the 544th goal of Sundin's illustrious career, tying him on the all-time list with the great Maurice "Rocket" Richard. Any time you're mentioned in the same sentence as the Rocket, you know you've done pretty damn well for yourself. This is also the 17th straight season where Mats has scored 20 goals or more. Captain consistency. Like Helen Seinfeld used to say about her son Jerry - "How could anyone not like him?" The more people talk about Sundin possibly being traded, and the more he tells the media he doesn't want to leave, the less I can picture him in another uniform. He's a Maple Leaf. For better or worse (usually worse).

Speaking of Cliff Fletcher, that's one hell of a tan he got down in Mexico last week. Must have been nice. His face at the presser on Tuesday was as red as a, well, I don't know. But, damn, it was really red. While the attitude around the Leafs was more calm than usual last night - the calm after the storm, I guess - it's good Fletcher got some sun and the vacation out of the way. Because it's all business from here on out, with the 19 month contract he has signed. It looks as if he really is going to be just the interim general manager, as the Leafs will be hiring a new president and general manager in a few months, and Fletch will then become a consultant. So, Richard Peddie may finally be getting out of the way. When that happens, when the Leafs do hire a new president and general manager sometime over the summer, it really will be Christmas in July.

The speculation has already begun over who it will be, but none of that matters right now. It's all about Fletcher, The Silver Fox, and what he can do to try and fix this team. After last night's win Toronto is only five points out of the blessed eighth playoff spot, so cue up that number one draft pick baby, because the Leafs are going to be buying at the trade deadline!

At least Fletcher knows what to expect in his second go round with the Buds. And he can't possibly age much worse than he already has. I think he's 72, but he looks like he's pushing 85. The man's got pictures of himself on the internet from 1970! At least we know he's never, ever, used any "Just For Men" products. But I digress. I got faith in the Fletch. His reputation is great, he knows how to get things done in this business, and he's got a Stanley Cup ring around his finger. That says it all.

And kudos to John Ferguson Jr. Not only did he not throw any low blows the organization's way at his press conference, he thanked the Leafs for the opportunity. JFJ's a bigger man than I am. He's reportedly already received a few job offers already, and that's not really surprising. Even though the results weren't there, I think he leaves the Leafs in better hands than when he got his job back in 2003. The Leafs have some top notch prospects coming along the pipe (Justin Pogge and Nikolai Kulemin) and the fruits of JFJ's labour won't be known until at least five years down the road. But his retooling of the scouting department and the fact that the Toronto Marlies are one of the best teams in the AHL have to count for something. Peace out, JFJ. Stay classy.

The Leafs are 4-1 in their last five games, largely due to Vesa Toskala's stellar play. Their only loss came Sunday in New Jersey, when Toskala got the night off. Andrew Raycroft was, as usual, his Raycrapian self. Toskala was once again brilliant last night, and can probably take the Leafs to the playoffs on his back if he gets hot. He's that good. With a win tonight in Washington, it might be time to dust off the blueprints to the parade route...again.

Welcome back to hell, Fletch.

Raptor Reflections

No Chris Bosh, no Andrea Bargnani and no T.J. Ford for the Toronto Raptors last night. Didn’t matter much, as the Raptors cruised to a 21-point win. Thank goodness the Charlotte Bobcats are one pathetic excuse for a basketball team.

It’s a good thing the Raptors have one of the deepest lineups in the league. Seven guys finished in double-figures in scoring last night, with Kris Humphries leading the way with 17 points in only 21 minutes on the floor. Yep, you read that correctly, the Hump was on fire last night. So was Joey Graham. He got his first start of the year last night and he chipped in with 13 points on five-of-six shooting. Good Joey was definitely in the house and he threw down a couple of sick, wicked and nasty jams to boot.

It also helped, just a wee bit, that the Bobcats shot a putrid 33% from the field. Yikes. Jason Richardson was especially inept, draining only three of his 17 field goal attempts. He was chucking like George Costanza last night.

The deep Raptors bench is coming in handy, as the team is being ravaged by injury once again. What a surprise. I’m almost used to it now. No team can hide from the injury plague that has enveloped this great city’s professional sports franchises. The Raps have been hit hard again, and fast. Only Anthony Parker, Jason Kapono, Carlos Delfino and Jose Calderon have played in all 18 of the team’s games.

Bryan Colangelo, the architect, knew depth would be the Raptors strength. That’s why he signed Maceo Baston, Kapono, the athletic freak of nature known as Jamario Moon, and acquired Carlos Delfino. After last night’s win, which pushed the Raptors record to 10-8 on the season (good for second in the Atlantic division and fourth in the Eastern Conference), the Raptors have six guys averaging more than 10 points a game on the season - Bosh, Ford, Bargnani, Parker, Kapono and Delfino. Jose Calderon is right on the cusp, averaging 9.9 points a game. Me, I round up, so make that seven guys averaging more than 10 points a game.

How about this Jamario Moon fellow? Ain’t he something? The 27-year-old rookie from Alabama has apparently played in every basketball league that exists in North America, and is finally getting his shot in the NBA thanks to the Raptors.

And his nickname sure is a beauty – Super Jamario. Best nickname in town, by far. Like Super Mario when he got a feather in the video game, Super Jamario can fly. He’s got ridiculous hops and is an animal on the boards. He’s exactly what a weak-rebounding team like the Raptors needed.

When you look at Moon’s statistics, it’s pretty amazing what he’s done for the Raptors this year, considering he was a long-shot to even make the team. He’s averaging more than 31 minutes a game, second on the team to CB4, and 7.5 rebounds a game, second, again, only to the leader of the pack, CB4. He’s shooting 44% from the floor and leads the team in blocks per game (1.6).

Chuck Swirsky has now taken to saying “he just got Mooned!” whenever Moon rejects an opponents shot, and it’s usually followed by the crowd howling “Moooooooon.” It’s fantastic! The crowds at the ACC have taken to this guy, and he’s already got a loyal following. Super Jamario, indeed.

My question is: where the hell did this guy come from? He was in training camp on a tryout and the Raps cut Luke Jackson so they could sign Moon to a contract worth $487,000. Pennies! What a bargain. Once again, one has to credit Colangelo and his staff. Every NBA team had a chance to sign Moon, but he ended up in Toronto. Colangelo for President. If he can turn around the Toronto Raptors, he can turn around America.

I’ve heard rumblings that Super Jamario might enter the slam-dunk contest during all-star weekend. The contest has gotten pretty weak in recent years but I’m all for Moon entering it, and winning it. He can fly, for real.

Moon’s good fortune is, in all honesty, due to Jorge Garbajosa’s misfortune. His leg (or is it his ankle?) isn’t healed, he’s having surgery again, and he’s done for the year. Brutal.

The whole Garbo debate has been discussed at length in the Toronto media and I don’t want to say much about it, partly because it reminds me of him crashing to the ground in Boston, with his foot pointing in a direction it, umm, ain’t supposed to be pointing in. It still makes me cringe. All I’ve got to say is that Garbo is in this situation because of Garbo. If it’s true that the Raptors medical staff recommended a second surgery over the summer which he chose to ignore (in Garbo’s defense, his Spanish doctor said he didn’t need the second surgery), well then this whole mess is his own fault.

It’s tough to berate a guy for wanting to play for his country, and clearly playing for Spain in September meant a lot to Garbo. But Spain had already qualified for next year’s Olympics. The EuroBasket tournament in September meant absolutely nothing to Spain. It was a meaningless tournament and Garbo should have been looking out for, first of all, his own health, and second of all, the Toronto Raptors, the team that employs him. I’m not upset at Garbo’s decision – I can’t be mad at him for wanting to play for his country – but I think he should have been smarter about it. There was no need to go and play, especially when a second surgery was being recommended. Garbo saw, like the rest of us did, that the Raptors missed his presence on the floor after he went down, especially in the playoffs. And he knew, better than anyone else, what a horrific injury his was. Why not continue to rehab, get ready for the season and then focus on the Olympics next summer? I just don’t get it.

Garbo’s going under the knife any day now. Turns out he’s got to have that second surgery, anyways. Your guess as to when he’ll be back is as good as mine. By the time he is fully healthy, it will have been a long time since he’ll have played meaningful and competitive basketball in the NBA. It’s an unfortunate turn of events for Garbo and the Raptors. The relationship between the team and Garbo has definitely soured due to the whole mess, and it seems like years ago that Garbo arrived in Toronto and quickly endeared himself to the fans and management as a hard-working, blue-collar baller. The whole thing just stinks, but Garbo’s pain is Jamario Moon’s gain, and who knows where Garbo will find himself on the Raptors depth chart when he is ready to return. All I know is that Super Jamario is making Garbo-gate a lot easier to swallow.

I thought I said I didn’t want to say much about Garbo-gate? Jeez. On to happier thoughts, such as Carlos Delfino, the Silent Assassin. How good is this guy, eh? I’ve been so incredibly impressed by Delfino after the Raptors’ first 18 games. He brings it every night, especially on the defensive end of the floor. He’s already become the Raptors best one-on-one defender and he can rebound. He’s got a knack for the ball, and his 5.1 rebounds a game are third-best on the team.

Hard to believe that it only cost the Raptors a second-round draft pick to bring Delfino over from the Detroit Pistons. Another steal by Colangelo. Chalk it up! Doug Smith got it right when he said that the Delfino trade is right up there with Haffa for Humphries. It’s gold, Jerry, gold!

In all seriousness, I think it’s time Bryan Colangelo is nominated for the Nobel Prize. His work on the Toronto Raptors has been nothing short of spectacular.

Delfino, who is quickly becoming one of my favourite Raptors, will be a free-agent at season’s end, but the Raptors have the right to match any contract offer he receives. With the way Delfino’s been playing, I’m confident he’ll be in a Raptors uniform for a long, long time. In Colangelo I trust.

I’m sure the Raptors are not overly pleased with their 10-8 record. They’ve beaten a lot of marginal basketball teams (see: Philadelphia (twice) and Charlotte), but considering the injury problems they’ve had to deal with, a 10-8 record suits me just fine. Bosh, Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Graham and Bargnani have all missed time on the floor already this young season. The team will hopefully get healthy as soon as possible and they’re going to need all hands on deck, especially Bosh, because the rest of December is going to be tough. The December schedule is Western Conference heavy – we all know the West is best – and includes a seven-game road trip that starts on the 18^th, is broken-up by the Christmas break, and ends on the 31^st. Needless to say, it should be an interesting month.

Before I bid you adieu, I’ve got to show some love to Jose Calderon. He’s been about as close to flawless as one can be ever since Ford went down with another “stinger.” It’s no secret that Calderon could be a starting point guard on a number of NBA teams. He can play. He’s a pass-first point guard, but he’s also developed confidence in his shot and in his ability to drive the lane. His 7.9 to 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio is incredible and tops in the league, by a country mile.

Since Ford went down, Calderon has started the Raptors last seven games. In those seven games he’s compiled a whopping 75 assists and, brace yourself, only 10 turnovers. In a three-game stretch at the end of last month (November 24, 25 and 28 against Cleveland, Chicago, and Memphis respectively) Calderon dished out 37 dimes, scored 39 points, while committing only ONE turnover. Flawless.

It’s been a pleasure to have watched Calderon develop into a frighteningly good point guard over the last two and a half years. During his rookie year, I wasn’t too fond of the Spaniard. He had zero confidence and I didn’t think he’d be sticking around in Toronto, or the NBA, too long. Now, he is one half of the best back-court in the NBA. Sometimes I love being so foolishly wrong.

A lot of people in this (already ridiculously freezing cold) city think Calderon should start, even when Ford is healthy. Me, I don’t really care, as long as they are both playing. Mitchell employs the two of them in a system that works, and instead of griping over who should start, I’m more comfortable simply embracing “Forderon” because it’s a beautiful thing.

Calderon is also heading into free-agency, and some team out there is going to make him a very, very rich man. Remember, he’s only 26 years old. He’s only going to get better. I’m not sure what Colangelo has planned for Calderon. I’m not sure what Calderon has planned for himself. He’s always been the consummate team player, saying that as long as the team wins, he is happy with what ever role he’s given. But I’m sure he’s always dreamt of being a starting point guard in the NBA, and he certainly has the talent to do so. For now, I’m going to enjoy Calderon in a Raptors uniform, while hoping that he stays in Toronto for years to come, so Forderon can live long and prosper.

What ever happens to Calderon, whether he is traded or walks away as a free agent, I’ll deal with it. I know there’s a master plan and that the organization is in good hands. Calderon’s situation goes back to my mantra when it comes to the Toronto Raptors:

In Colangelo I trust.