Christmas is Over and so is the Losing Streak

Tim Duncan’s whining was ignored, Gregg Popovich (why the two ‘g’s?) was ejected and the Raptors handed the defending champion Spurs just there second home loss this season when they (in the words of Yahoo! Sports) “hammered” San Antonio 83-73.

STATS!:

• The Spurs shot 31.9% from the field.



• Brent Barry (calf) and Manu Ginobli (finger) did not play.



• Kris Humphries had 14 points and 11 boards in 25.5 minutes.



• Jason Kapono scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter.

I've been noticing some positives in Bargnani's game lately, too - last night he moved well with the ball and played sick defence on Duncan when asked to. Il Mago managed three blocks and, seriously, even boxed out a few times. I also noticed that a single one of Andrea's legs is as wide as my torso.

Raps-Rockets tonight at 8:30 p.m. EST! McGrady won't play, so I'm guessing jeans, diamond earring and a blazer over a t-shirt.

Merry Chirstmas!!

Got the flu...Bad

It's been a rough few days for me and the Raptors. I got the flu, and they lost two in a row to the Blazers (somewhat forgiveable considering Portland's win streak hit 10 last night against the Nugs) and the Sonics (immitigable).

I didn't see the Sonics game, but the score, 123-115, is enough to tell me how the Raps' defence performed.

I did, however, watch the fourth quarter of the Blazers game. But basketball is a fast-paced game, and I could only watch portions without feeling dizzy and wanting to vomit.

The big attraction, aside from the game itself, was Bargnani vs. Roy, and it was clear who won that showcase. I'll defer to the Globe's Matthew Sekeres for some interesting dino-dribble on that one.

Back to bed. Ugh.

On the Value of our Captain and the Health of his Little Friend

There was a notion floating around, curiously, that the Raptors didn’t necessarily need Chris Bosh to win regular season games. Their bench is deep, ran the argument, and they have a young stud named Andrea Bargnani waiting for an opportunity to carry the team.

Until Sunday, with Bosh sidelined by a groin injury, the Raptors were 10-10. Not bad. Then CB4 returns, and what happens? The Raptors win four in a row (versus Houston, Atlanta, Dallas and Indiana), in which Bosh looks like a rabid all-star on crank, averaging 20 ppg, 11 rpg and 1.5 bpg. Alternatively, Bargnani played in three of the four wins and is averaging 3.3 points, 1.0 rebound and 30% from the field in 12 minutes a game. Granted, Il Mago is coming back from a hyper-extended knee, but he’s looked clumsy, indecisive and vacant in those three games.

Bargnani’s career has been one of constant development and regression. Just when you think he’s comfortable, he’s injured. When you think he’s improving, he shits the bed. I still like his talent, but I’m increasingly souring on his game. Write these words on tracing paper, take them to a tattoo artist and ask to have them inked on your sternum: This year is an audition for Ill Mago. If he tanks it, or simply doesn’t impress Colangelo further, he will be dealt. His value is high in the eyes of the Association, but concerns about having two power forwards as the future of this franchise are legitimate. BC’s never hesitated to trade young players, and I can see it happening again. To be honest, I wouldn’t be disappointed. In the meantime, I desperately (seriously) want Il Mago to succeed.

A few more nuggets about the four-game win streak:

- the Raps are allowing 84.25 points per game over the streak.
- Kris Humphries is averaging 13.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 59% FG, in 27 mpg.
- I’ve never seen Toronto as a streaky team, win-wise, but checking last year’s schedule, the Raps did string together six wins in a row in early April ’07.

We’re continually reminded of the hellish December for the Raptors, but after Boston tomorrow, the Raps have games against the Clippers, Blazers and Sonics before facing Phoenix. Wins!

The word on Terrance Jerod Ford: After reading the Globe’s Michael Grange write this intense précis of TJ’s injury and injury history my brain and fingers conceded. There’s nothing else to add except that TJ plans to sit for a week before even approaching rehab. The post tends toward the apocalyptic at times, but it is ultra-informative. Respect to the best hoops writer in Canada.

Negative Reinforcement

After hearing Stephon Marbury blame Zeke and then Zeke blame Marbury and then Zeke bench Randolph and then Randolph pout and then Zeke, Marbury and Randolph blame the fans(!) one can’t help but wonder: 1) How, with any minute particle of integrity, can the New York Knicks continue to employ Isiah Thomas? 2) When will someone offer a legitimate psychiatric assessment of Starbury’s mental infirmity? 3) When will anyone take responsibility for the apeshit situation in New York?

In reference to point number three, it won’t be Jamal Crawford who, just a few days ago, offered a mannered critique of his team’s effort. The comments reminded me of similar ones made this year by Richard Jefferson of the Nets and Andre Iguodala of the Sixers. In the spirit of free inquiry I’ve decided to investigate the effects of these players’ words on their, and their teams’, performances.

Jamal Crawford – comments: “A lot of it is just effort. When you compete you always give yourself a chance to win. Some nights we compete harder than others. We got to get better than that. It's something we shouldn't be talking about."

The game after: Dec. 10, 99-89 loss to Dallas. Crawford scored 19 points (not so bad) on 6-22 shooting (bad).

Richard Jefferson – comments: “It's a joke. The fact that we even have nine wins right now is amazing to me the way we've been playing. It seems we've been down double digits so many games. I don't know what to say."

The game after: Dec. 9, 104-89 loss to Washington. Jefferson scores nine points on 4-12 shooting with five turnovers.

Andre Iguodala – comments: “We've got to do something, anything — maybe make a move,” Iguodala said. “I don't know. This is getting out of hand. We've got to do something to turn things around. We're not doing a good job as players. Everybody in the organization needs to step up.”

The game after: Nov. 23, 83-78 loss to Detroit. Iguodala scores 17 points on 4-17 shooting with four turnovers.

Somewhat related, Vince Carter was booed for going 5-17 in a loss to the Clippers.

Controversy Over

Seeing as they were both in the Philips Arena Tuesday night, Anthony Johnson is not Darrick Martin in dark make-up. But both mens' necks look like a pack of hot dogs.

The Parity of Warren G's "Regulate" and Sunday's Raptors Win

Nate Dogg and Warren G: 93 – Brothas Shootin’ Dice: 80

If today’s Raptors game was a rap song, it would probably be “Regulate” by Warren G and Nate Dogg – with G representing the Raptors team and Dogg representing Chris Bosh. The Raptors lost two in a row coming into the game and they get down early to the Rockets, which, for our purposes, is analogous to Warren G wanting to play a dice game with strangers on a street corner and then getting jacked for his “rings and rolex.” But Nate Dogg shows up just in time, and “pulls out (his) strap and lays them bustas down.” Similarly, Bosh returns from a groin injury that sidelined him for six games and contributes 21 points, 10 boards and four blocks (one of which was a late-game, fast-break pin on Tracy McGrady). Unfortunately for the Raptors, the game didn’t end up with them taking hos back to the Eastside Motel, but it did end with a win, putting Toronto fourth in the tenuous Eastern Conference.

But other factors contributed to the win, like:

• Yao Ming and McGrady average a combined 47.7 ppg this year. The Raptors limited them to 38 combined on Sunday.
• The Raptors out-rebounded the Rockets 48-35 (18-8 on the offensive glass).
• Kris Humphries, who, lately, had been playing like Rafael Araujo with advanced osteoporosis, managed 16 points and nine boards in 23 minutes.
  

MoPete Watch: Poor Morris didn’t play in Sunday’s game against Seattle. He’s day-to-day with a strained back.