Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 at 9:00 am  |  134 responses

Post Up: Bobcats Burn Raps

While the Spurs get Thunderstruck.

by Holly MacKenzie

For all of those Raptor fans thinking they were about to witness a strong finish to the season, HA. Feels like April Fools rather than St Patricks day after seeing the 26-point loss to the Bobcats last night to follow the 23-point win against the Pacers. The Raptors were dreadful last night. Not much else to say besides that.

The most painful part was watching Sean May score on us twice in the fourth. Sean. May. Yikes.

Very interesting piece from Doug Smith on Coach Iavaroni coming to Toronto for a little visit. Thoughts on this?

I’d just like to point out, once again, that the Raptors were 8-9 when they let Sam Mitchell go. I still miss his morning shootaround stories.

Surprising sight of the night: Seeing Kenyon and Melo up off of the bench for most of the fourth quarter, cheering their teammates on, on the defensive end in their big win over the Nets.

With the loss, the Nets took a step back in their race for eighth in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Bobcats inched a step closer, thanks to the Raptors.

Bounce back of the night: The Blazers taking down the Grizzlies after getting pummeled by Joe Johnson and the Hawks on Sunday.

I can’t remember whether or not I wrote about this in yesterday’s Post Up, but Devin Harris went down hard in the Nets loss to the Clippers Sunday night and was on the sidelines, with his arm in a sling last night in the Nets loss to the Nuggets. He will undergo an MRI sometime today to see what the deal is with his shoulder. Way to add insult to injury for NJ. Losing to the Clips after losing your All-Star. Ouch.

While Ron Artest was killing the Rockets in the first half of the game last night, he was able to turn things around at the break and scored all 18 of his points in the second half as the Rockets took down the Hornets. I thought New Orleans had this one under control and it’s yet another game the Rockets showed up for. I’ve been liveblogging this team quite a bit for The Score and they surprise me more often than not with their ability to hang with some of the best teams in the league despite being shorthanded.

Does anyone else have a hard time wrapping their head around the reality that is Tracy McGrady’s current situation? How can he be this broken down? He looked awful in that Adidas/March/Brotherhood commercial that came out last week.

How are your brackets looking, people? I have not started mine yet, but will be trying to make some important decisions tonight regarding who I’m rolling with. By now, you know who my pick to win it all is.

I’m really excited for Thursday. For as long as I’ve remembered, I’ve taken the opening day of Madness off from school (now work, I guess… Eeek), and settled in for a wonderful day of basketball. This year will be no different.

Sad to hear the news of Sean Williams getting arrested in Denver after allegedly throwing a computer monitor in a cell phone store after getting into an argument with a store clerk. Just getting called up from the NBDL recently, I can’t imagine what he was thinking. I’m sure the Nets can’t, either. Disappointing to hear, for sure.

Charlotte 112 Toronto 86

One night after defeating the Indiana Pacers soundly at home, the Raptors went on the road, donned their green uniforms again to face the Bobcats. This time there was no luck of the irish or anything else as Larry Brown’s rapidly improving Bobcats blew out the Raps, 112-86. Charlotte led 57-43 at the half and the Raptors couldn’t catch up in the second, falling behind by as many as 27 as they managed only 14 points in the final quarter. While they gave up 49% shooting to the Bobcats, the Raptors connected on only 38% of their own shots. Charlotte had 32 assists to only 12 turnovers while Toronto had more miscues (23), than assists (17). Gerald Wallace had 25 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks for the Bobcats while DJ Augustin had 15 points and 6 assists off of the bench, Raymond Felton added 14 points and 8 assists and Boris Diaw added 13. The Raptors were led by Chris Bosh‘s 18 points and 14 rebounds as Andrea Bargnani scored 13 and Shawn Marion added 12.

Houston 95 New Orleans 84

Ron Artest had a horrendous shooting night. He went 7-23 from the floor including 0-9 from beyond the arc, but woke up in the second half to score 18 after the break and somehow, the Rockets managed to get a big win against Chris Paul and the Hornets even though they were without Yao Ming. While the game was close in the first half and the Hornets went ahead by as many as 11 early in the third, Houston was able to ring off a 16-2 run that gave them a three-point lead which they were able to sustain as they headed into the fourth up, 67-64. In the final period, the Hornets made their push and went ahead by two, but the Rockets used an 8-0 run get back on top and the Hornets were unable to get stops down the stretch. Luis Scola had 14 points and 12 boards for the Rockets as Aaron Brooks scored 14 and Carl Landry and Von Wafer each added 12 off of the bench. Paul finished with 29 points, 11 assists and 6 steals for the Hornets as David West had 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in the loss.

Oklahoma City 78 San Antonio 76

I didn’t see this game on my league pass (seriously, am I not getting certain games or am I just blind?), but from the looks of the boxscore, I wasn’t missing much. The Spurs had two quarters where they managed only 13 points. 13. That’s just gross. They had has many turnovers as they did assists (15). They shot just 58% at the free throw line and they somehow managed to lose despite each of their starters having a + while each of the Thunder’s starters had a -. I think I dodged a bullet missing that one. Kevin Durant had 25 points for the Thunder, Thabo Sefolosha had 12 points and Jeff Green added 10. The Spurs were led by Tony Parker’s 28 points while Tim Duncan had 14 points and 12 boards and Matt Bonner added 10.

Portland 103 Memphis 92

One night after a surprising victory against the Pistons, the Grizzlies didn’t have enough left over to take down the Blazers. While Memphis had won on Sunday afternoon, the Blazers were coming off of a blowout loss to the Hawks and were ready to right the ship. While the Grizzlies never led in the game, they were able to hang around until the start of the fourth and then their offense died as they were helpless against the Blazers who slowly extended to an 18-point lead, enough to sustain until the final buzzer sounded. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22 points, Brandon Roy had 20 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds, Travis Outlaw scored 18 off of the bench and Joel Pryzbilla added 13 points and 13 rebounds. The Grizz were led by OJ Mayo’s 21 points and 6 assists as Hakim Warrick added 15 off of the bench, Mike Conley scored 20 and Rudy Gay added 17 to go with 12 boards.

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  • Jukai Posted: Mar.17 at 9:03 am
    As I told Ryne, the most shocking about the Sean Williams news is that it isn’t shocking at all.

  • Jukai Posted: Mar.17 at 9:03 am
    *shocking thing

  • Jukai Posted: Mar.17 at 9:05 am
    Also, OKC vs SA was on NBA TV, and they don’t put NBATV games on league pass. Sorry Holly!

  • Izzo Posted: Mar.17 at 9:12 am
    On St.Patrick’s day,instead of green,the Celtics should change it up and wear purple and gold.

  • Jukai Posted: Mar.17 at 9:16 am
    Izzo, how does one become as spectacular as yourself?

  • TADOne Posted: Mar.17 at 9:19 am
    Just finished my tourney pool. Not sure if I picked enough upsets…we shall see. The Raptors are really bad right now. How long can Chris Bosh hold out on trade demands?

  • Jukai Posted: Mar.17 at 9:22 am
    TADOne: I felt the same way. I eventually wound up having Pitt not make the Final Four simply because I felt that there was no way all Final Fours would make it (I really looked at who could knock off UNC, but I couldn’t think of anyone that could, at least from the way I did my bracket).
    I really don’t get why the Raptors ARE that bad. What the hell is up with them?

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 9:22 am
    Raptors are 2-8 since the trade……GOD BLESS SHAWN MARION!

  • Darksaber Posted: Mar.17 at 9:24 am
    Thaboooooooo!

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 9:25 am
    Heat are 8-6.

  • Izzo Posted: Mar.17 at 9:28 am
    Jukai:Same way you get to Carnegie Hall,then make a left.
    Has Shawn Marion complained about Toronto yet or is this the situation in which he’s most happy?

  • Co Co Posted: Mar.17 at 9:28 am
    In fairness to Shawn Marion, the Raptors sucked before he got there also.

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 9:30 am
    Oh yeah, he’s complaining: “I’m pissed off; I want to win,” Marion said after the Raptors fell to 2-8 since the trade. “I don’t want to go out there and lose every night. I didn’t come here for this. I didn’t expect this. We have a talented team, man. We have to pull together and help each other. We have to decide now if we’re going to fold it up or look in the mirror, make a stride, and get on with it.”

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 9:31 am
    Balding jerkoff.

  • Darksaber Posted: Mar.17 at 9:34 am
    Westbrook, Green, Thabo, Nenad and KD are a long, athletic unit. Very tough to dismiss (or beat). One glue guy, two scorers, a shooting center and a great transition scorer. Hope they get a chance to develop as a group.

  • James the balla Posted: Mar.17 at 9:36 am
    When I told everyone on this damn site. That the RAPS, were still garbage. Bosh wasn’t a superstar. They would probly win 37 games and maybe get 8th seed in the playoffs. Everyone talked sh1t!! Well raps still blow and will always chuck rocks. Until they stop using Chris Bosh as “god”. Chris Bosh is less then DIrk, and DIrk should never be top dog on any team. Chris Bosy needs another superstar. So that he can fall into the star position.

  • James the balla Posted: Mar.17 at 9:38 am
    First time I was right lol. Well to ya’ll anyways.

  • Fred34 Posted: Mar.17 at 9:38 am
    Eboy, I seriously can’t figure out if this display of passion means you miss marion or not – what’s the verdict?

  • Jukai Posted: Mar.17 at 9:41 am
    Eboy sleeps with a Marion plush doll and calls it his precious.

  • James the balla Posted: Mar.17 at 9:42 am
    HAs anyone noticed that all the pick and rolls in the NBA are lately at the top of the key, are ALL moving picks. It is slowly not being called EVER. Dirk being terrible with it. But there are a couple guys that keep setting picks over and over again and nothing is being called. Pop’s almost killed Felton last night, but that was a solid pick he just didn’t see it, and Rad didn’t call it.

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 9:45 am
    Uhm…..Fred…..I couldn’t be happier he’s sucking in Toronto. Seriously.

  • James the balla Posted: Mar.17 at 9:46 am
    @Eboy, why do you want him to suck?

  • Z Posted: Mar.17 at 9:49 am
    In all fairness, T.O. HAD to trade JO as soon as they realized that Bargs was not a 3 but a big. (duh!) Perhaps they could have gotten more than Marion for Jo and Moon but I ain’t mad really. I like that frontcourt for them if Marion goes back to his double digit rebounding ways next season. Yeah, that’s a big IF. What Toronto needs is someone that can create his own O from the wings. Joey Graham’s crossover is at least PG-13.

  • Ritchie Posted: Mar.17 at 9:49 am
    BOBCATS,BOBCATS,BOBCATS!!!

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 9:49 am
    James……’Cause he’s a self centered asshole and a horrible teamate that justs wants minutes and a system that accentuates his skillset.

  • Fred34 Posted: Mar.17 at 9:50 am
    I haven’t seen many MIA games since the trade, who’s making a bigger impact between JO and Jamario? JO have anything left in the tank?

  • Z Posted: Mar.17 at 9:51 am
    Sean’s behavior allegedly became aggressive when he found he was unable to purchase an iPhone due to lack of identification. He told an employee, “Your policy may be I need an ID, but my policy is I get what I want when I want”. After destroying an AT&T monitor, he was arrested by the Lone Tree Police Department.

  • Joel O's Posted: Mar.17 at 9:53 am
    Hmm somehow my comments aren’t getting through. Possibly due to vulgarity aimed at my whiny small forward.

  • Joel O's Posted: Mar.17 at 9:53 am
    The Raptors (Fossils?) sucking isn’t Chris Bosh’s fault, nor is it Marion’s. Would a more assertive Bosh help? Yeah, and in fact he’s improved in that regard this season. Would Marion not being a biatch help? Sure, but he was born one. Blaming Bosh for the Raptors suckage is myopic. Look a bit further at the past few seasons where the Raptors were successful – they were literally 10 deep. Garbajosa (essentially the Spanish Rick Fox in a good way) & Delfino, two flexible, and more importantly, tough as nails guys left. The Raps’ vaunted 2-headed point guard combo was sadly unsustainable, and broke up. We’re left with a team with only 3 or 4 shot-makers, period, topped up with a one-dimensional shooter, a whiny Maid Marion and scrubby role players.

  • James the balla Posted: Mar.17 at 9:54 am
    @Eboy, how did you say a$$hole with out it being monitored and not go through lol. And I do agree, but he is good. I think next season, if they get a half descent rookie in the draft … will be a low seed playoff team. Bosh needs to get healthy because he looks terrible right now. But they need to throw some money out and get a REALLY solid player in the league. And an actual back up PG. Marion, is good, but not as good as he thinks he is. And Z, I agree. Joey only does good when the other team is turning the ball over. He is a hustle player, but not anymore then that. Strong D, but not good D.

  • James the balla Posted: Mar.17 at 9:56 am
    @Joel, mine does that everyonce and a while. But, at the start the raptors were 4-0 and Bosh was avg over 26 points … he has gone down significantly almost every game since about 15 games into the season!

  • Z Posted: Mar.17 at 9:57 am
    The beatwriters in T.O. are saying that the Raps are planning to shut down Pops in a couple of games and wink-wink a 2 year deal with him. Apparently, teams are noticing his outrageous reb/min ratio.

  • Joel O's Posted: Mar.17 at 9:57 am
    And for the record, Shawn Marion will never be happy on a team. Spoiled in the basketball version of the Elysian fields in Phoenix, he whined his way out. He never fit in in Miami, nor do I really see him with the Raps for more than another few seasons. Would you want him on a title-contending team? No. I’d take Ron Artest over him any day, because Ron at least knows what his strengths are and is serious in what he does. Shawn Marion seems to treat the praise he gets for being good at certain things (EVERYTHING but scoring) as an insult that he can’t score, as if he has to prove to the world that he has to score and so needs to take lots of shots.

  • TADOne Posted: Mar.17 at 10:01 am
    I must say Happy St. Patrick’s Day to the only true Irish dude I know, Izzo.

  • Joel O's Posted: Mar.17 at 10:01 am
    @James: That was before the Raptors unraveled, fired Smitch (while we were hanging around .500… not a bad place to be today isn’t it?) and unraveled even further.

  • Z Posted: Mar.17 at 10:02 am
    I’d take Ron Artest over him any day, because Ron at least knows what his strengths are…. 0-9 from deep, lol.

  • James the balla Posted: Mar.17 at 10:05 am
    Firing him was good and bad. Triano was put in a crappy situation. So he won’t be back. Or if he is back, be dropped once Raps get off to a bad start next year. He was a knob. Sam knew it had to come. He was fake real. Thought because he got mad at the reporters and such, that everyone thought he was an outspoken coach. He was just a fake person wrapped in an idiot. But he can coach … somewhat. He had no plays. And most of his play were the same thing. But they were winning … last year. You knew he wasn’t going to stay around long though. I wonder if he will be back in the league anytime soon?

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 10:08 am
    Do the real Irish even celebrate this day? Izzo?

  • Z Posted: Mar.17 at 10:10 am
    He was just a fake person wrapped in an idiot. But he can coach … somewhat. He had no plays. And most of his play were the same thing. What?!

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Mar.17 at 10:12 am
    The +/- from the Spurs/Tuff Kats game yesterday was wild—all the Spurs starters were +, and all the Kats starters were -; and vice-versa for the reserves. Bruce Bowen played just under four minutes, only got on the books with a foul, and was a -11.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 10:14 am
    OKC will make the playoffs next season.

  • Darksaber Posted: Mar.17 at 10:16 am
    just saw Tiger on Sportscenter weighing in on the MVP talk and he echoed what a many here think. Two man race, Wade is doing more with less but mvp seems to go hand in hand with team record etc. Knows his Nba politricks, that one.

  • Boing Dynasty Posted: Mar.17 at 10:18 am
    The Raptors passed up on Brandon Roy, AI2, Rudy Gay, and Danny Granger in various drafts. This is why they suck.

  • TADOne Posted: Mar.17 at 10:18 am
    They have an MVP in golf?

  • James the balla Posted: Mar.17 at 10:18 am
    Tiger is the man. @Z, that was towards Sam Mitchell. He can coach, kind of. I think he was really fake, and an idiot. He seemed like he loved the camera to much.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 10:19 am
    I’m trying to channel Popp’s nonchalance, and not worry about every regular season game, but our offense has really been terrible of recent. Tim looks a little slow and his shot hasn’t been falling. Tony’s still getting his but, Bonner has disappeared and Mason is slumping as well.

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 10:20 am
    Tiger has that same public persona that Michael has……..don’t cause waves…just answer obviously…..it’s how they’ve been programmed.

  • Darksaber Posted: Mar.17 at 10:22 am
    ciolk: they might need a better bench to achieve that. Those lanky stars of theirs are somewhat injury prone and can get owned by capable, powerful frontcourts (C’s, Rockettes etc)

  • Darksaber Posted: Mar.17 at 10:25 am
    Mike didn’t cause waves, E? Juanita might disagree.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 10:26 am
    Honestly, I’m not sweating the Rockets. Maybe I’m underestimating them, but I like Kurt and (eventually)Gooden’s ability to match up with their frontcourt bruisers. But, I’m definitely worried about the Spurs losing the two seed and having to deal with the Lakers before the WCF.

  • Izzo Posted: Mar.17 at 10:26 am
    Eboy:To answer your earlier question,kinda.Tiger and MJ absolutely aren’t the same either.

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 10:29 am
    Izzo, they really are……I meant in their press personas. Should have clarified that. Not their off the court personalities.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 10:31 am
    Am I the only one who thinks Tiger is not going to be the same for a while? His short game looks pretty bad, and he made a lot of poeple forget how damn near impossible it is to consistently dominate in golf. I’m not saying he won’t ever get back to winning multiple majors per year, but I don’t see it happening right away.

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 10:32 am
    If “right away” means a month….I’d agree…..if you are refering to a six month time frame….I’d say he’d be back to doing what he does by then.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 10:33 am
    Tiger is pretty close to MJ when it comes to killer instinct though, those are two of the most clutch atheletes ever. But I think Tiger is a much nicer guy in general.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 10:34 am
    I think he’ll be “back” more like next year… I don’t see him winning the Masters this season. I think its Lefty’s to lose.

  • Izzo Posted: Mar.17 at 10:34 am
    Didn’t MJ publicly complain about his numbers going down when Phil Jackson was given the job,blaming the triangle.That may have been mild,but Tiger has come nowhere close to that-he’s never needed to.

  • Darksaber Posted: Mar.17 at 10:35 am
    don’t know all that much about his sport but isn’t Tiger just trying to play himself back into shape after his knee surgery?

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 10:35 am
    I’m not sure thats a fair comparison Izzo. Golf and hoops are VERY different.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 10:37 am
    I mean, who else could Tiger ever conceiveably blame but himself? Tiger has fired a few caddies. Team sports have a totally different dynamic though.

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 10:37 am
    Izzo…..what’s Tiger coing to complain about, the wind….or it was too sunny?

  • Izzo Posted: Mar.17 at 10:38 am
    That’s what I’m saying,the only comparison that could be put is that they are both very good at what they do.

  • Izzo Posted: Mar.17 at 10:39 am
    Phil Mickelson being a d*uchebag?I don’t know.Other golfers find a way to complain about something and get in little feuds with each other.Tiger never has.

  • Darksaber Posted: Mar.17 at 10:41 am
    MJ didn’t buy into Phil’s whole philosophy after he’d had carte blanche under Collins for so long. Only after seeing Scottie, Horace and BJ evolve and the wins started accumulating, did he conform somewhat. He still went away from the triangle more often than not. Hey, if i were a one man wrecking crew on the court, i’d take liberties too.

  • TADOne Posted: Mar.17 at 10:42 am
    Golf talk?

  • Izzo Posted: Mar.17 at 10:45 am
    TAD:And people were complaining about NCAA talk….

  • Darksaber Posted: Mar.17 at 10:49 am
    izzo beat me to it. Sorry TAD, on with college ball talk. Hehe

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 10:49 am
    Dark…..that was more true of the first threepeat…..by the second….they all played their roles incredibly well and Michael’s big scoring games were much fewer than they needed to be….and only on rare occasions would he put his proverbial foot down when he needed to. I can recall games against the Sixers (after Stack ran his mouth) and the Knicks (after Van Gundy ran his) when Mike just turned it up to set an example.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Mar.17 at 10:50 am
    MJ would have never lost anything to a guy who looked like Phil Mickelson. What a schlub. Does he have a bro sponsor yet, because he needs one.

  • B. Long Posted: Mar.17 at 10:53 am
    I was going to comment but then I realized you guys were comparing Golfers to Basketball players. If people are doing that here then what nonsense are they up to at foxsports.com?

  • TADOne Posted: Mar.17 at 10:54 am
    I think Spencer Hawes needs a “bro sponser”.

  • Fred34 Posted: Mar.17 at 10:56 am
    “schlub” – great word. Represent yo !@#^&

  • Darksaber Posted: Mar.17 at 10:57 am
    E. That’s what i meant, by the second 3peat, BJ was playing for charlotte then ending his playing days. I remember that sixers game, he just decided he’d had enough and proceeded to kick sixerbutt. He pulled one of my favorite moves (one Wade does a lot this season), the drive towards baseline-spin fake-rotate back-fadeaway leaves any defender flatfooted.

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 10:59 am
    Yeah….I remember it well.

  • B. Long Posted: Mar.17 at 11:02 am
    Here, let’s get everyone back on track. I see Terrence Williams possibly becoming a poor man’s D-Wade. He’s a great leader, the ball handling, he’s athletic as hell, and he also has an ever improving jumper. He just does everthing. Not to mention the Big East pedigree. Now everyone tell me how totally moronic that sounds. 1,2,3, GO!

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 11:04 am
    I thought there was a poor man’s D-Wade playing in Detroit named Rodney.

  • TADOne Posted: Mar.17 at 11:09 am
    Apparently, Rodney deleted that email a few weeks ago. Please re-send it. Thanks.

  • Eboy Posted: Mar.17 at 11:12 am
    Well…..he was kind of touted that way in a few articles in the media, TAD. I know you never bought in to those comparisons…but I think some people had it set in stone.

  • Bryan Posted: Mar.17 at 11:18 am
    Terrence Williams from Louisville? He’s very good and everyone is too busy talking about Earl Clark and Samuels to ever bring him up.

  • Izzo Posted: Mar.17 at 11:21 am
    Terrence Williams is a really good player,nothing like DWade though.

  • nate james Posted: Mar.17 at 11:26 am
    T wills isnt wade. and rodney is about t wills

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 11:26 am
    Who are you watching/listening to Bryan? NOBODY talks about Samardo… Its all TWill and Earl Clark (deservedly so). But since were back on NCAA talk: Does anyone here think Gonzaga has a shot against UNC? I know Cub and walsh are Gonzaga fans, and I’m just not sure Lawson will be right. That and I can’t stand UNC so I’m trying to rationalize the losing as early as possible…

  • Z Posted: Mar.17 at 11:26 am
    Why is nobody talking about Vasquez, the combo from UM? I haven’t seen him play at all but his numbers are rock solid and he’s got good size. Could he play the point in the L?

  • Izzo Posted: Mar.17 at 11:28 am
    ciolk:Yes,yes I do.My bracket is proof of this.

  • Izzo Posted: Mar.17 at 11:29 am
    Z:Lots of people are talking about him.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 11:30 am
    So far I’ve got Louisville and Memphis coming out of the West; UNC and and Pitt coming out of the East.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 11:33 am
    Vazquez has been crazy inconsistent this season. Against UNC he looked like a top talent in the nation. But overall he’s basically stunk up the joint in as many games as he’s looked like a good pro. Still, I’m taking Maryland in the first round minor upset over Cal.

  • Bryan Posted: Mar.17 at 11:38 am
    I just think the williams kid is getting slept on with all the hype about clark.

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 11:43 am
    both of my teams won on the same day. A+

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 11:44 am
    and May lit yall up! 2 minutes he went 2/3 from the floor and 1/2 from the line. BEAST. The whole crowd exploded every time he scored. I was happy.

  • Jukai Posted: Mar.17 at 11:45 am
    I’m honestly thinking of having Duke in my Final Four… ugh…

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 11:45 am
    DJ can shoot better than anyone expected.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 11:49 am
    No sh!t, BET. Even as a UT student while DJ was there I seriously underestimated the kid’s pro potential. I thought he overdribbled at times and was a streaky shooter, and that his lack of size would hurt him as a pro. But that was just our complete lack of a coherent offense. DJ is a great kid too, he kept up a 4.0 GPA at UT while playing ball, which is incredible.

  • TADOne Posted: Mar.17 at 11:51 am
    Vazquez is THE Maryland team. He is much better than any of his teammates. He also played with Durant in highschool. Imagine that team…

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 11:52 am
    No sh!t? Sh!t is no? I am lost…

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 11:53 am
    Is Vazquez gonna be a top 3 pick?

  • Holly MacKenzie Posted: Mar.17 at 11:53 am
    BETCATS, the Bobcats are in town this Friday. I’m looking forward to talking to Raja, one of my favorites offcourt. I was not happy when May scored. It pained me! haha

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 11:56 am
    Holly, expect simmular results Friday.

  • TADOne Posted: Mar.17 at 11:56 am
    I wouldn’t go that far, BET. I’m not even sure he is going to come out this year. I think he did say he would put his name in the draft to see where he may be drafted.

  • scott Posted: Mar.17 at 12:31 pm
    Vazquez top 3 pick no.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 12:50 pm
    Vazquez will prob be mid-late first round…

  • ciolkstar Posted: Mar.17 at 12:52 pm
    No sh!t = “that’s true”

  • MeloMan13 Posted: Mar.17 at 1:02 pm
    Raptors need to trade their Euro players. 2 or 3 on a team is good, but when the majority of ur players are Euro u have problems

  • Jukai Posted: Mar.17 at 1:06 pm
    Melo: Wanna tell that to the Spurs?

  • Jukai Posted: Mar.17 at 1:06 pm
    excuse me, I pulled the cardinal sin: a lot of those players are Argentinian. Excuse me.

  • Z Posted: Mar.17 at 1:18 pm
    Yeah but they played professional ball in Europe so they’re essentially Euros in basketball terms. Kinda like how Kleiza is not a Euro baller to me even though he plays for Lithuania.

  • Jukai Posted: Mar.17 at 1:27 pm
    Z: Or how Kaman isn’t a Euroballer even though he plays for Germany?

  • Lz - Cphfinest3 Posted: Mar.17 at 1:43 pm
    Clap clap Holly. With a good pick in ´next years draft, the Thunder will be 8th in the West next year. Ohh and Golf is not a sport, it’s a game, a fun game, but still just a game, so stop comparing BBall and Golf, please.

  • Z Posted: Mar.17 at 2:14 pm
    Kaman playing for Germany is a lil messed up. I mean, thats his right and all but still. They basically rented a 7-footer with no connection to the country or the culture and who doesn’t speak a lick of German.

  • Z Posted: Mar.17 at 2:15 pm
    Did he even set foot in Germany or he flew straight to Beijing?

  • Allenp Posted: Mar.17 at 2:39 pm
    Hello

  • Z Posted: Mar.17 at 2:49 pm
    Hi, Allenp.

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 3:11 pm
    neigh how

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 3:18 pm
    all is quiet on the western front

  • Allenp Posted: Mar.17 at 3:26 pm
    Nothing on this comment from Rasheed?
    From a Q and A beginning with one of his A’s… I’m not the type of guy who rolls out here and spends mad money on this and that. I spend it on my kids or my wife or something like that but just save that cheese, that’s my whole thing. If you put a suitcase in a locker room with $25-million [compared with the $56-million or so salary cap] would players take it or would they leave it and go get a job? What would they do? They would probably rely on that suitcase. I guess it depends on the up-bringing. Myself, personally, I have no problem going out there and getting a 9-to-5. If I have to do that to support my family, that’s what I’m going to do: get my black ass up, and get that 9-to-5.

  • Allenp Posted: Mar.17 at 3:27 pm
    The thing about the suitcase is the question, sorry about that.

  • Moose Posted: Mar.17 at 3:31 pm
    Allenp, I just wanted to tell you that your blog is great.

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 3:34 pm
    That is a interesting comment

  • Allenp Posted: Mar.17 at 3:49 pm
    Thanks Moose

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 4:00 pm
    Off the topic: I think yesterday, Gerald Wallace proved who is better between him and Shawn Marion

  • Anton Posted: Mar.17 at 4:10 pm
    The r-r-r-repost:
    Spurs look so done. I know their season starts during the playoffs, but the evidence is there. Cite health as an issue if you please, but then again, Manu isn’t much healthier at this point. Also, their team is aging a little more than they would have liked. They still lost to L.A. earlier the previous week, Bruce Bowen is a shell of his former self, and the team does seem to be a little on the low side in general. Tony Parker is the youngest of the stars, but I’m sure Tim is still a threat at 32. Aside from that, George Hill is a nice prospect but still a little young. Guys like Matt Bonner can’t really compete against a lot of athleticism. Finley is even a little older than he’d like probably.
    They can still get it done if they execute flawlessly but their stock to come out on top is very low.

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 4:29 pm
    Anton: R r r r r r u serious???? The Spurs might win it all this year, they are my choice of ‘title favorites’ in the west.

  • Anton Posted: Mar.17 at 5:18 pm
    I’m a pessimist so I’m thinking the r@pist team does. Would loooove the Spurs to come out though.

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 5:21 pm
    the Spurs will be more out than John Amechi by the end of this. Trust me, they will win the west.

  • Anton Posted: Mar.17 at 5:28 pm
    Talk is cheap, let’s bet on it BET. If Spurs make it out, I’ll praise the Bobcats for the entire playoff series. If they don’t, you write a 500 world essay on why I’m awesome.

  • BETCATS Posted: Mar.17 at 5:36 pm
    i will take this challenge.

  • Anton Posted: Mar.17 at 5:51 pm
    it’s on till the break of dawn

  • L33tSauce Posted: Mar.17 at 7:40 pm
    Toronto, never wear green again.

  • Linkage for Mar 16 9am to Mar 17 7pm - Raptors Republic Posted: Mar.17 at 8:00 pm
    [...] SLAM ONLINE | » Post Up: Bobcats Burn Raps [...]

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Mar.17 at 10:15 pm
    Houston Rockets = Champs. :D

  • Dacre Posted: Mar.17 at 10:19 pm
    HERE COMES A 500 WORLD ESSAY.

  • Darksaber Posted: Mar.17 at 11:39 pm
    Z: Kaman spent time training with Dirk and Co. in germany and mallorca (spanish island that is basically german since it’s overrun with them) before the olympics. And i was utterly for his addition to the team, last second nationality change be damned (hey russia did it with JR Holden years ago, and check out all the subsaharan africans running for Quatar etc. In athletics & soccer). Germany has always performed well in tournaments since Dirk joined the team, and he was the undisputed leader who always put them on his back. But they stunk up the joint in ’08 apart from heightened expectations, i think team chemistry on the court was lessened by the Kaman addition. Plus their glue guy (Ademola Okulaja) had to miss the olympics due to a tumour on in his spinal area. He and Dirk were the heart & soul of thatvteam the last 6 years.

  • Ned Mahony Posted: Mar.18 at 5:54 am
    Don’t know if you’ll read this, but Izzo stole that ‘same way you get to Carnegie Hall, then make a left’ from Demetri Martin.

  • The AltRaps Blog » Blog Archive » Toronto Raptors Linkage for March 16th through March 27th Posted: Mar.28 at 1:08 am
    [...] SLAM ONLINE | » Post Up: Bobcats Burn Raps – [...]

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