Raptors Fall By One in Game 7

The Toronto Raptors came extremely close to claiming their second first round series win on Sunday Night, but unfortunately they came up 1 point short on Sunday afternoon.  From the second quarter on, the Brooklyn Nets seemed to be in complete control of the game, but with three minutes left in the game the Raptors made their run.   Led their leader Kyle Lowry, the Raptors quickly made up a double digit deficit late in the fourth quarter.  It became a free throw contest late, in which Deron Williams missed a free throw to keep the game a one possession contest.  But at that point, down three a player who had been basically invisible all series stepped up for his squad when they needed him the most.  Terrence Ross drove on Joe Johnson and hit a tough layup to bring the game to one point, and then stole the Brooklyn inbound to give the Raptors possession with 6 seconds left.  Dwayne Casey turned to the Bulldog of Bay Street on an isolation play to give the Raptors the win, but Paul Pierce soared in and blocked Lowry’s last second floater to give the Nets the thrilling 104-103 victory.

This was a heart-breaking end to what was a very successful season for the Raptors.  Kyle Lowry once again led the way for his squad with 28 points and 6 assists, while Demar Derozan played an all-around game with 18 points and 6 assists.  Amir Johnson battle the suspicious officiating all game, but still managed to have 20 and 10 in only 20 minutes of action.  These three players carried the Raptors on a game where other key players such as Jonas Valanciunas weren’t producing.

Joe Johnson was the main contributor for the Nets, as once again no one on the Raptors was able to guard him.  He finished with 28 points, but his impact on the game was even more than his stats show.  He forced double teams on almost every possession, and forced many Raptors into foul trouble.  Kevin Garnett woke up for his first double-double of the series, while fellow former Celtic Paul Pierce had foul issues and was largely ineffective.  The Nets now move on  the second round, to visit the might Miami Heat on Tuesday Night.  Miami will be sitting on almost a week and a half off as they disposed of Charlotte easily in four games.

Masai Ujiri and the Raptors’ management now move into an offseason filled with pressure to resign some of the important parts of this year’s squad.  He has already taken the first step in doing so, by signing Coach Dwayne Casey to a three year extension on Monday.  Kyle Lowry will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Amir Johnson will be a restricted free agent.  John Salmons and Tyler Hansbrough both have one million dollar buyouts to clear up cap space if the General Manager chooses to do so.  It promises to be an interesting offseason for the Raptors, but it surely won’t live up to the outstanding season that the ultimate underdog story put together this year.

Raptors Hold on Late in Thriller

In what was the craziest playoff game in Raptors franchise history, Kyle Lowry and the rest of the squad managed to hold on to a dwindling lead late in the game.  Lowry went off for 36 points including clutch shots to help the Raptors regain their once comfortable lead.  Through the quarters this game was no contest, as the Raptors total domination earned them a 22 point lead going into the fourth quarter.  The Nets couldn’t stop the Raptors on defence, nor could they execute on offence where the deafening Air Canada Centre crowd truly acted as the sixth man.   In the fourth quarter, that all changed quickly.  The Nets somehow managed to come back from a 26 point deficit to tie the game at 101 with only three minutes left.  No Raptors defender could slow Joe Johnson whatsoever, who tallied a total of 26 points in the second half alone.  At this point, the ACC was silenced, the Toronto sports fans were already drawing comparisons to the Leafs game seven collapse against the Bruins.   But the Bulldog of Bay Street wasn’t going to let that happen in a pivotal game 5; Kyle Lowry stepped up late with a clutch three to help the Raptors regain their lead, after a Casey timeout.  Two minutes later Kyle Lowry hit yet another floater to sink the dagger in what was a nerve-racking game for Raptors fans across Canada.

Jonas Valanciunas struggled with foul trouble early in the first half, but he came up large in the second half.  Fellow sophomore Terrence Ross finally broke out of his slump as he was able to hit his first two threes of his playoff career.  Jason Kidd leaned on athletic forwards Mason Plumlee and Andrey Blatche in game five, and as a result Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce played a total of 35 minutes.  Neither of these power forwards where able to guard Amir Johnson who had his second straight strong performance.

These two teams will meet again on Friday night, when the Nets will be put in a win or go home scenario.  If the Raptors pull out the win, then they could be looking at a second round matchup against the Heat at 8pm on Sunday night.  A possible game 7 would likely tip off Sunday afternoon at 1pm.  In the history of the NBA playoffs teams that have been faced with a 3-2 deficit have only won 9% of their series’, but if there is any team that can pull it off, it is the experienced Nets.   The Raptors will have to maintain their focus throughout the rest of the series, as the Nets will never give up with game five being a prime example.

Raptors Come up Big in Gritty Victory

 

                In what was one of the ugliest and grittiest games in franchise history, the Raptors came out victorious against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night by a score of 87-79.   This tied the series up at 2-2 and gave the home court advantage back to the Raptors in what now is a best of three series.   Kyle Lowry and Demar Derozan led the way for the Raptors, with 22 and 24 points respectively.  The Raptors were hobbled all night, as Kyle Lowry was basically playing on one knee, while Amir Johnson, Demar Derozan, Patrick Patterson, and John Salmons were banged up in one way or another.  For the Nets, Paul Pierce was a big factor in the game as he tallied 22 points including a huge third quarter, in which Brooklyn outscored Toronto 23-16. 

                Somehow the Raptors managed to pull out a win despite the fact that they had their worst quarter of the season in the third period at Barclays Centre.  In the first half, Demar Derozan gave the Raptors a lead to bank on in the first half by tallying 20 of his 24 points.  But in the third quarter, all hell broke loose.   The Raptors managed to go an astonishing 1/16 in the third quarter yet they headed into the final frame tied at 67.  In the fourth, Kyle Lowry stepped up for the Raps, with a picturesque floater over Kevin Garnett to seal the deal late in the fourth quarter.  This may be the biggest win in franchise history for the Raptors as it snaps one of the longest road playoff losing streaks in the NBA at 13 games.

                Toronto will regain their home court advantage on Wednesday night when they face off with a Nets in a significant game 5 at the ACC.  The Northern Uprising will once again be put on a big stage, as the winner of this game will most likely go on to win the series.  Brooklyn must lean on their abundance of playoff experience in order to execute in what will definitely be a hostile environment.  As for the Raptors, they just need to feed off their home crowd to prove once and for all that they are the real deal.

Raps Obtain First Playoff Win in 6 Years

                The Raptors came out victorious 100-95 in a must win game two against the savvy Brooklyn Nets on an exciting night at the Air Canada Centre.  Demar Derozan bounced back from a tough game one, to score 30 points including clutch shots throughout the fourth quarter.  Big man Jonas Valanciunas stepped up once again, as he tallied 15 points and 14 rebounds against a Nets squad that is second last in the league in rebounding.  The battle of the boards was a big part of the game, as the Raps demolished the Nets on the glass by a 52-30 margin.  Deron Williams and Joe Johnson put in good performances for Brooklyn – 15 and 18 points respectively, but their efforts weren’t enough on a night where Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were basically invisible.  Down the stretch, Demar Derozan stepped up to erase a five point deficit with five minutes remaining in the game.  ‘The Truth’ uncharacteristically missed an open three that could have gave the Nets the lead with 30 seconds left.  When it was all said and done, the Raptors ousted the Nets by a five point margin, but the game could have gone either way, had each side capitalized on their various opportunities.

                In many ways game two was very similar to the first matchup between these two Atlantic division rivals.  The Raptors once again struggled with turnovers, as they tallied over 20 throughout the entire game.  Brooklyn was unable to capitalize on these mistakes, just as the Raptors didn’t pounce on any of their second chance opportunities that they gained as a result of their superior rebounding.  The Nets and Raptors finished even in second chance points, which was a big reason why the game was as close as it was.   Unfortunately for Brooklyn, the Raptors’ sloppiness on offensive didn’t cost them the win on a night where they still managed to hit the century mark.  Both coaches will once again have to adjust their tactics for their next meeting later this week.

                The series now switches over to Brooklyn, where the Raptors will be looking for at least a split to regain their home court advantage.  The Nets’ faithful will be rocking when their team returns to the Barclay’s Centre on Friday night for game three of a fascinating series between two Eastern Conference rivals.

Experienced Nets Oust Young Raps 94-87

                In their first playoff game in six years, the Raptors fell to the Brooklyn Nets by a score of 94-87.  The game was tight right until the end, but the Nets seemed as though they were in control the entire game.  Deron Williams silenced the raucous Raptor’s crowd by dropping 18 points during the first half.   Dwayne Casey and the Raptors made the adjustments on defence, but Paul Pierce stepped up late in the fourth quarter after nailing 3 daggers in the final two minutes.   Kyle Lowry’s 22 points weren’t enough for Toronto who struggled with turnovers throughout the game.  Toronto finished the game with seventeen turnovers, and their lack of efficiency on offense eventually led to their demise on a night where they couldn’t get a stop on the defensive end.  The Raptors big man Jonas Valanciunas had a career game with 17 points and 18 rebounds `

Brooklyn’s lack of three point shooting, was one of the main factors in keeping the game close, as many players were left with wide open threes that just didn’t fall.    Ball movement was the key for the Nets, who just plain out-executed the Raptors on the offensive end.  In the playoffs, set plays become a larger part of the game, and the Nets excelled in this category.   As a result, they were able to execute and get open shots in high pressure situations.

It will be up to Dwayne Casey to make adjustments for game two, which comes in on Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre.  The Raptors must come out with more composure on both ends of the court in Game 2, if they want to head to Brooklyn with a tied series. 

Welcome Back to the Playoffs, Toronto

                For the first time in 5 years, the Raptors will be playing into late April.  After a 410 game absence, the scrappy Raptors squad, will finally have their place in the madness they call the NBA Playoffs.  This year, the Dino’s are led by first time all-star Demar Derozen, and the biggest All-Star snub in the Eastern Conference in Kyle Lowry.  They will be a huge part in determining how far this team goes.  There are many reasons for optimism, and other reasons to be concerned about this squad. 

Reasons For Concern:

The Injury Bug:            

                Staying healthy will be one of the main keys for post season success for a squad that has avoided the injury bug until about two weeks ago.  The Raptors have had the fewest missed games in the entire Eastern Conference so far this season, yet the injuries seem to be piling up at the very worst time of the year.  Many of the Raptors key players must recover in time for April 19^th, if this team has any chance for a deep playoff run in a seemingly shallow Eastern Conference.  Point guard Kyle Lowry is nursing a kneecap contusion that has kept him out of the last 3 games.  Meanwhile, Amir Johnson is hobbled by soreness in both of his ankles which he has sprained on multiple occasions this year.  Coach Dwayne Casey will be sure to monitor these injuries heading into the postseason as he needs both of these key contributors to be at or near to 100% when the playoffs roll around.

Jonas’s Mistake:

Jonas Valunciunas was arrested for DUI on Monday morning.  This will most likely not cause troubles for the 21 year old Lithuanian in terms of missing important games down the stretch, as his lawyer will most likely appear on his behalf, on the court date that is set for April 22^nd, and the mandatory 2 game suspension that comes with an infraction of this magnitude will not be enforced until the start of the next season at the earliest.  With that in mind, this cannot be good for the Raptor’s chemistry, as the Valunciunas has made a big mistake that couldn’t have come at a worse time of the season.  The Raptors don’t need another distraction to worry about as they approach their much-anticipated first round matchup in late April.  Of course, it’s one strike against Jonas’s name, but he should be given a second chance by the fan base, organization, and his teammates, as without mistakes no one can learn to better themselves.

Trouble Protecting the Paint:

                The Raptors are eighth in defensive efficiency according to Hollinger’s Team Statistics, but there have been many occasions this year in which they have had trouble stopping the opposing big.  Power forwards and centres such as Al Jefferson, and Marcin Gortat have given the Raptors fits throughout the season to date.  If the Raps manage to hold on to the third seed, they will have to play one of these big men in the first round, as Charlotte and Washington are neck and neck for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.  The only thing for certain is that these playoffs will bring the Basketball fire back to T.O.

 

 

 

Reasons for Optimism

Road Success

Throughout this season, the Raptors have been a very good road team, posting a record of 22-18 away from the ACC.   This record is good for first in the Eastern Conference.  The Raptors will be hoping that their ability to execute in tough conditions will help them in the playoffs when they have to go into hostile environments and perform.  After the first round of the playoffs, the Raptors will most likely be without home court advantage, so they will have to at least get one win on the road if they have any chance of pulling off an upset versus an Eastern Conference power.

Jonas Valunciunas Development

                The Raptor’s lanky sophomore seems to have found his stride at just the right time in the season for the Raptors.  Despite all of the controversy surrounding his DUI arrest, the seven foot center has been dominating the paint as of late.  Jones is averaging 17 points per game over his last eleven games, which is a significant increase over the 12 points a game he collected over the entire season.  He is also beginning to come into his own on the glass, as he exploded for a career high 21 rebounds against the Knicks on Friday night.  Valuncinuas will be a big part of the Raptors playoff run, as he will have to come up against the likes of Marcin Gortat or big Al in the first round.       

The Emergence of Demar Derozen as a Star

                Over the course of the Raptors’ Playoff push in March and now in the month of April, Demar Derozen has developed into an NBA star.  With the absence of talented point guard, Kyle Lowry with a knee injury, Demar has stepped up his game in both the scoring and passing department.   He will be a large part of any of the success that the Raptors experience in the playoffs this year, as they will need him to be the star that every successful playoff team has.  Demar surely has the potential, as he earned his first ever all-star appearance this year, and has done nothing but improve over the course of the regular season.

Final Verdict:

                The Raptors seem to be that team that is flying under the radar of all of the US media outlets.  This team has great chemistry, and really knows how to move the ball around on offense.  Although they have struggled to defend on the final games before the Playoffs, the Raps should be able to rebound to their defensive form of the middle of the regular season.  It will all be about matchups for this team.  If the Raps face an opponent such as Charlotte, who they have had trouble with throughout the last few years, then they could be looking at a surprise upset.  Yet, if they get matchups that favour their style of play (ex. Washington, Indiana), then Toronto could be one of the surprise teams that makes a deep run in the 2014 Playoffs.

 

Final Four Preview

                So far in the 2014 Dance, sixty four teams have fallen in upsets, comebacks, and incredible finishes, only the Final Four remain.  Wisconsin, Florida, Kentucky and UCONN have all managed to survive the first month of madness.  Now comes April where the real powers fight it out for to be recognized as the 2014 NCAA Tournament Champions.  Two perennial powers in the Florida Gators and the Connecticut Huskies will face off to earn a right to the Championship game.  Later on Saturday night, Wisconsin will take on the surprising Kentucky Wildcats who are finally living up to their preseason #1 ranking.  Here’s a couple game previews to get you all set for the Final Four in Arlington.

Florida Gators (36-2) vs. Connecticut Huskies (30-8) 6:09 pm Saturday April 5^th 2014

Key Players

UCONN

Shabazz Napier: 18.1 ppg, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists. 

There is no doubt that without Shabazz Napier, the Huskies would be nowhere near where they are right now.  He is the sparkplug for their whole offence, and is already garnering comparisons to Kemba Walker, who made an amazing tournament run before leaving for the NBA.  As a senior, Napier has nothing to lose and will surely lay it all out on the line.

Ryan Boatright: 12 ppg, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists.

Seen by many to by the Heir of Shabazz Napier when he departs for the NBA, Ryan Boatright will be looking to provide that he can contribute in a big way now.  In order, to win this game, UCONN will need some secondary scoring besides Napier, and Boatright surely has the talent to put in a big game.

Florida

Patric Young: 10.8 ppg, 6.2 rebounds, 1.1 blocks per game

Connecticut is a relatively small team who rely on guards Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright for the majority of their offense.  Young will play a key role in protecting the paint on defence.  He will also have an opportunity to dominate down low against a smaller UCONN squad.

Casey Prather: 13.8 ppg, 4.9 rebounds, 1 steal per game

Prather may just be the X Factor that decides the outcome of this national semi-final.  Coming into April, he was the Gators leading scorer at nearly 14 points a game.  The explosive forward could have a field day against the Huskies without any shot blocking presence on the defensive end.

Prediction:

                The Huskies come into this game after a couple hard fought wins against St Joes in the round of 64, and the Villanova Wildcats just two days later.  Fortunately, for Connecticut, fatigue won’t be a factor as they have over a week off before they take the court on Saturday night.  As past years have shown, it is the hotter team not necessarily the more talented team that has success in the last four.  With that in mind, I believe that the seven seeded Huskies can move on to the Championship game in a very close matchup

Final Score: Connecticut 76 – Florida 68

Kentucky Wildcats (28-10) vs Wisconsin Badgers (30-7) 8:49pm Saturday April 3^rd 2014

Key Players:

Kentucky:           

Julius Randle: 15.1 ppg, 10.7 rebounds per game

Randle was named the most outstanding player in the Midwest region of the NCAA tournament due to his standout performances against Michigan (16 & 11) and Louisville (15 & 12).  His play on the boards will be a key to whether or not Kentucky can continue to live up to expectations.  He also must limit his turnovers (over 2 per game), against a very efficient Wisconsin team that will take advantage of any Wildcat mistakes.

Aaron Harrison 14.1 ppg, 2.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists per game

Although his game winner against the Michigan may be what most fans remember him for, Aaron Harrison still has a lot left to give the Wildcats in this matchup.  Aaron and his identical twin brother Andrew have guided the Wildcat attack to date; they are the true definition of a two headed monster.   Aaron has the ability to get hot from anywhere on the court, his explosiveness will be difficult for the Badgers to defend on Saturday night.

Wisconsin:

Ben Brust: 12.8 ppg, 6.1 rebounds, 39 3P%                  

Brust, the senior sharpshooting guard, has been on a key part of the Badger offence all year. Wisconsin relies on Brust to provide a veteran presence, and a three point shooting threat.  The Badgers love to shoot the three ball, so they’ll need Brust to be on his game to keep up with the talented Wildcats.

Frank Kaminsky: 14.1 ppg, 1.7 blocks per game, 37% 3P%

The Badger’s lanky seven footer has been the breakout star of the 2014 NCAA tournament.  He had two 19 point performances to lead the Badgers over the scrappy Ducks and underrated Baylor Bears, and a 28 point outburst in the Elite Eight.   Kaminsky will no longer be flying under the radar, as he has caught the attention of opposing scouts and NBA GMs.  His three point shooting and shot blocking presence will be a large factor in the success of the Badgers in this semi-final.

Prediction:

John Calipari has been there and done that.  Unfortunately the majority of the Wildcats key players are freshman in their very first final four experience.   Wisconsin is a team that is led by upperclassmen with the ability to execute under high pressure situations, while Kentucky can be plagued by turnovers at times.  I believe that in front of a packed AT&T Stadium, the Badgers will take advantage of the inexperienced Wildcat’s mistakes and take home the victory

Final Score: Wisconsin Badgers 69 – Kentucky Wildcats 62

Sweet Sixteen Preview

After one week of March Madness, 99% of the brackets in North America have been trashed.  Many schools with high expectations such as Duke, Syracuse, Villanova, and Kansas have fallen in the first round.  Heck, even undefeated Wichita State, fell to the seemingly underachieving Kentucky Wildcats.  At the end of the madness that was the first two rounds, only 3 one seeds were left, 2 two seeds, and the lone 3 seed was Iowa State.  As for the Cinderella stories, Tennessee, Stanford and Dayton lead the way, with talented 8 seed Kentucky, and 7 seed UConn right behind them.  These surprising schools have made interesting Sweet Sixteen match-ups.  The Sweet Sixteen will sort out the contenders from the pretenders in this year’s dance.  Here are some match-ups to watch this upcoming weekend in the NCAA tournament.

#8 Kentucky vs. #4 Louisville 9:45 ET, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, March 28^th, 2014

The Wildcats come into this matchup after a stunning upset of formerly undefeated number 1 seed Wichita State.  Kentucky came into the season with high expectations, and it seems that they are finally getting close to fulfilling their potential.  The Kentucky big men Julius Randle and Montezrl Harrell must dominate the glass in order for the Wildcats to have a fair shot at advancing.  Also, Kentucky must limit their turnovers, which has plagued them at times during the SEC season.  As for Louisville, they made it to the sweet sixteen after defeating Manhattan and Saint Louis in two hard fought grind it out games.  They are looking to make their third straight Final Four appearance.  In order for the Cardinals to advance to the Elite Eight, Russ Smith must break out of his early round slump.  Also, Louisville must handle the boards against talented big man Julius Randle.

Prediction:  Louisville 79 – Kentucky 67

#10 Stanford vs. #11 Dayton 7:15 ET, FedEx Forum, Memphis, March 27^th, 2014

One Cinderella story will come to an end on Thursday night in Memphis, while the other will get that much closer to a Final Four birth.  The Cardinal came off back to back upsets over #7 seed New Mexico, and the Andrew Wiggins led Kansas Jayhawks.  Stanford boasts the size to bully other teams in the paint, but their style of play often doesn’t involve their bigs.  When playing against a much smaller Dayton side, the Cardinal must be much more assertive with their size.  As for the Flyers, they have ruined most brackets in the very first game of the NCAA tournament.  Dayton beat the Ohio State, in a game that went right down to the wire.  Two days later against 3 seed Syracuse the Flyers showed that they are a legitimate threat, by beating the Tyler Ennis led Orange.  If the Flyers get hot from deep than they are capable of beating any team in the nation.  Stanford’s perimeter defense will most likely be the deciding factor in the outcome of this game.  I believe that the Dayton Flyers can continue their title run against a tough Stanford team on Thursday night.

Prediction: Dayton 65 – Stanford 61

March Madness 2014 Preview

                Yes, it’s that time of year again, that time at the start of spring when you pick up your pen to fill out the 68 team bracket that is the NCAA tournament.  For years we have been spoiled by huge upsets, Cinderella stories, and clutch moments, this year promises to be no different.  Many perennial powers once again enter the tournament as favorites such Duke, Syracuse and Kansas, the defending champs Louisville are back, hoping to once again make a deep run into the Final Four.  Florida enters the tourney as the number 1 overall seed, but undefeated Wichita State are at their heels, as a number one seed in the Midwest.  Of course, there are several other sleeper teams that could make a surprising run in the tournament.  As usual VCU is flying under the radar, even with their deep runs in the last few tournaments.  Also, Tom Izzo and the Spartans are looking for another NCAA championship to bring back to Michigan, after a regular season that was filled with injuries.  There is as much parity in today’s game as ever before, the NCAA tournament has become as unpredictable as my hair after a good night’s sleep!  Here is my list of teams that could surprise, and some others that may not live up to their fans’ lofty expectations

2014 Sleeper Teams

New Mexico Lobos:

         The Lobo’s came out of the Mountain West with an impressive 15 – 3 record in a conference that boasts another tournament bound team in four seed San Diego State.  The Lobo’s ended the season on a tear, going 20 – 3 to close out the year and finish with a outstanding 27-6 record.  The Lobo’s top scorer is Cameron Bairstow at 20. 3 points a game, which is good for first in the conference.   In order to go deep in the tournament the Lobo’s must first beat #10 seed Stanford, and then upset a Kansas squad without star Joel Embid.  I believe that the dynamic trio of Bairstow, Alex Kirk, and Kendell Williams will help them achieve the feat, to give them a shot at making it to the Elite Eight.

Michigan State:

       The Spartans have been decimated by injuries throughout the regular season, but they seem to be getting healthy at just the right time.  The Spartans, who have always been known for their lockdown defense, now boast an electric offence with the likes of Keith Appling, and Gary Harris.   The big man in the middle manning the paint is Adrien Payne who brings it on the offensive and defensive end every night.  The Spartans won the Big Ten, by defeating Michigan on Sunday by 14 points.  The Spartans have the talent, coaching, and defensive mentality to go all the way, and as a four seed they are very intimidating to some of the higher seeds in the dance.

2014 Possible Disappointments

Kansas Jayhawks:

       Kansas enters the 2014 tournament led by superstar freshman Andrew Wiggins, who has not disappointed in his much anticipated first year of college ball.  Unfortunately, they will be without Joel Embid, the smooth big man, who will sit out most if not all of the tournament with a back injury.   This is a big blow to a Kansas team who had relied on Embid, to provide a consistent shot blocking presence in the paint.  Since the Embid injury, Kansas is only 2-3, including a subpar performance in the Big 12 tournament.  Andrew Wiggins can only carry this team so far, if another player doesn’t step up, Kansas could be looking at an early round exit in this year’s dance.

Villanova Wildcats:

        Villanova posted an excellent 28-4 record, but after an early exit in the Big East tournament, there are questions being raised about this team’s ability to perform against high level competition.  Overall, the Wildcats schedule has been quite weak, and when they have faced ranked opponents. Villanova has not had too much success.  They have lost by sixteen to a ranked Syracuse, and have lost twice to perhaps the best competition in the big east in the Creighton Blue Jays.  The Wildcat’s signature win came against Andrew Wiggins and company on November 30^th, when they stunned the Jayhawks by 4 points.   If the three ball is falling than Villanova are almost impossible to beat, but if caught on an off night, the Wildcats could be suspect to an early round exit in this year’s tournament.

The Transformation of the Raptors

For the first time in 5 years, the Raptors are in playoff contention, and not just the hanging around the 8 spot type of contention, they are a legitimate force to be reckoned with in the East.  The Raptors are currently tied for third in the Eastern Conference with a record of 33-26, and with only 23 games remaining, they are virtually a lock for the post season.

What makes it all the more impressive is that the Raptors seemed to be dead in the water after 18 games with Rudy Gay.  The ball movement in the offence was lacking, if present at all, and the Raptors were slowly spiralling into the lottery once again, but then on December 8^th, the whole landscape of the franchise changed.

With one swift move, Massai Ujiri, the Raptors first year GM, managed to dump Rudy Gay and his large salary to the Kings, while getting some solid role players back in the trade.  This was originally thought to be a trade to begin the ‘Tanking’ era in Toronto, but in reality it turned out the exact opposite.  Since the trade of Rudy Gay, the Raptors are 27-14, and along the way, they have beaten perennial powers like Indiana, OKC and the Mavericks.

In the absence of Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry and Demar Derozan have
both played at all-star levels, with Derozen receiving the honour of a trip to New Orleans last month.  Demar is evolving from a secondary piece to a star right before our eyes, his whole game has evolved from creating opportunities for his teammates to stepping up in the clutch.  Meanwhile, sophomore Terrence Ross has stepped right into Rudy Gay’s shoes, as he has had quite a few dynamic performances, namely the 51 point game vs the Los Angeles Clippers.  He has also been the Raptors best perimeter defender over the past couple months, as he has shut down some of the league’s brightest stars, such as Paul George, and Kyrie Irving.  Role players like Grieves Vasquez and Patrick Patterson, have been important parts of the Raptors rotation since coming over from Sacramento.

It is hard to find something to complain about with this team, they have come together as a unit, and are even outperforming their fan base’s lofty expectations.  Experts thought that this team would struggle to win, even in the lowly Eastern Conference, but the Raptors are proving everyone wrong.   Even without their former ‘closer’ Rudy Gay, the Raptors have been the best fourth quarter team in the league, with a +18.3 point differential per 100 possessions.  Their offence is excelling even in high pressure situations, because of their players willingness to give up a good shot for a great shot.  The Raps loyal fan base that had stuck with the team through the down years is now enjoying the joy of a winning team.  Toronto has always been known as a hockey town, but this Raptors team has the potential to change all of that.   The passion for basketball has always been present in this city, this Raptors time may just be the spark that will ignite the fire.