The State of the Raptors 2/5/08

On my way to work yesterday I checked which bobbleheads were still available at Centresports. Sadly, they're down to Garbos and Swirsks. I imagine there are millions of Swirsky dolls and Fred Jones figurines sitting in the ACC basement which Chuck arranged to mirror the Terracotta Army of Qin. I've got Bosh, Swirsk and the Raptor set up at work, right next to my Dominique Wilkins Starting Lineup figure. If anyone's got an extra Calderon sitting around I'd love to negotiate something.

But in relevant news, T.J. Ford is back, and looking good, albeit against the Heat (how bad is that team? So bad Ricky Davis actually wants to STAY there). Ford's bullet pass in the fourth proved just how easy it is to fool Kris Humphries (nice recovery, Hump), and six seconds after I said "You can tell he's still afraid to go to the rack," Ford actually dunked, hard, off a broken play. Well, butter my ass!

Still, there will be several collective covered eyes and flinches every time Ford goes to the cup, takes a charge or even receives a pat on the dumper. Are there League regulations against playing in a carapace of bubble wrap? Something to consider.

Bargnani's back too, only he wasn't injured for 24 games, he just forgot how to play. He's scored, 22, 28 and 19 in his last three games with a 56 FG% (24-43) and 60 3PT% (9-15). The 11 boards over those three games gives weight to the theory that he's not a competent mult-tasker, but after weeks of nothing, thanks for something, Il Mago.

Jamario Moon and Joey Graham collaborated on a dunk-contest teaser. This may not have been the best move for Joey, considering that an embarrassing number of RealGM posters believed that Graham's boner was "for reals." I pity those who were fooled, but honour them as the hard working men and women that, someday, will keep Canada running.

Finally, the Rapors' game against the Clippers on Friday will be the franchise's 1,000th game (their all-time record is 414-585). And let me say a quick word about the Clips' Cory Maggette, whose name has been linked to the Raptors for years. I OWN him in my fantasy league and he just missed four games in a row with the flu. My friend, the M-ster - himself, a potent mix of heart and testicles - had an appendectomy in high school and was back representing the Newtonbrook Northmen the next week. The school's mascot has since been renamed "the Vikings" for reasons of sexual inclusiveness.