Game 3: Nuggets at Raptors!

We never get to play on Christmas Day, but at least The Raptors always get the Halloween game! That's gotta count for something right? They'll be plenty of costumes in the crowd as the Denver Nuggets make their only visit to the ACC tonight

• Raptors lost a close battle against defending champs The Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. DeMar played exceptionally well again with 32 points and a huge jam. 
• The Nuggets always seem to give us trouble and this year should be no different. A great front court of Jokic and Gallanari. Returning players like Nuric, Faried and Chandler. And of course the young Canadian Jamal Murray in the mix, makes this team playoff contenders for sure
• Pascal Siakam, the Raptors 2nd pick rookie, has been starting in the absence of Jared Sullinger, keep the bench unit intact with Patrick Patterson. He will need to have another big game tonight

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Redman - "Watch Yo Nuggetz"

Can't remember if i've done this one or not....ah well. Repeating songs is scary business and it's Halloween. So here's "Watch Yo Nuggetz" by Redman. Remember him?

Both Raptors and Nuggets are 1-1!

Game 1: Pistons at Raptors! OPENING NIGHT!!!!

ALTHOUGH THAT WAS THE SHORTEST OFF-SEASON IN RAPTORS HISTORY IT FELT SO LONG!!!!!!

The Toronto Raptors kick off their 2016-2017 Season with a home game against the Detroit Pistons!

• Some injury news for the Raptors to start the year off. What else is new? Jared Sullinger had foot surgery and will be out for a few months. Bebe is also out with a sprained ankle. Patrick Patterson will start tonight.
• The Pistons have a solid team this year and look like they have a bright future. Stan Van Gundy is a guy who knows Basketball and can only do good not only as coach of the team but also acting GM
• There is a lot of expectation for Toronto (not from me) to do again this year what they did last year. I think last year's learning experience was more beneficial than any of us could know, maybe losing a few more games will help the team be hungrier going into the playoffs. We'll just have to see

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Joe Budden - "Fire" feat. Busta Rymes

This song has nothing to with Detroit....I think....let me check. Nope he's from New York..though it appears Buddens has had a beef with sh'boy Drizzy. Ah well, this song is too hype to not include it as my opening night fire song. "Fire"!

OPENING NIGHT!!!!!

Preseason Game 7: Raptors at Wizards!

We're back on TV! The Raptors roll into unfriendly territory as they visit Washington to do preseason heat with the Wizards

• What do you think is The Wizards the best team name for the sports franchises of Washington? You have the unoriginal Nationals of the MLB. The Capitals of the NHL, which is quite vague and nondescript. And I'm not even gonna mention the racist NFL franchise team name. Wizards wins
• There is some speculation that Jared Sullinger could miss the home opener with his nagging foot injury that will keep him out of his 6th straight game
• Who did the Wizards add/subtract this year? No major names. One familiar one to Raptors fans as Ian Mahinmi who JV did battle with in the first round of the playoffs last year when he played with Indiana. Jason Smith is new from the Magic. They lost Alan Anderson to the Clippers and Nene has moved on to the Houston Rockets .

Tonight's Raptor Track!

The Magnetic Fields - "Washington, DC"

What do we got here? This refreshing little track is from an indie band from Boston, MA. They have written a little ditty to tribute Washington, but as the lyrics quickly describe, the joy the city brings the city is simply because the city is where the object of her affection calls home! Coolness!

Last preseason game bitches!!

Preseason Game 6: Raptors at Pistons! (Post Game)

One more Preseason game to go before the kick off of the Raptors NBA 2016-17 season starts next Wednesday! Tonight the Raptors faced the same team they'll see on opening night, the Detroit Pistons. Let's take a look!

• Jared Sullinger still did not play for Toronto. Guess Casey does not want to risk sending him out while his foot is naggin' him and keep him in prime shape for the regular season, Pascal Siakam got the start and scored 7 points.
• Detroit's team looks very similar to the way it did at the end of last year. Piston fans are hoping a full season with Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris will increase their post season chances.
• Demar and Kyle are eager for the season to start as both scored 20+ points tonight. The only other Raptor in double digits was Corey Joseph with 10
• Raptors won 103-92

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Crashpalace - "Perfect"

Though the Raptors weren't perfect tonight, the Pistons do play at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Such a cool name for an arena. During the regular season it doubles as Toronto's 2nd home as many Raptor fans make the trek down to Detroit for games. Not sure what happened to Crashpalace, one of those early 2000 hard rock groups that were here and gone in a snap

Well i tried to find a link, but failed. Just as there was no TV for the game tonight, there will be no Youtube video...you're welcome to go hunting for it though!

6 Days!!

Preseason Game 5: San Lorenzo de Almagro at Raptors!

We're back at the ACC as the Raptors host an international guest for preseason action. It's an Argentine team San Lorenzo de Almagro rolling into Toronto to take on the Raptors

• Terrence Ross sat out last night's game due to a sore knee, Jared Sullinger sat out with the ongoing foot issue and DeMar DeRozan sat out to get some rest. No word on who, if anyone is sitting out of this one yet.
• Sadly I don't know much about the team from Argentina, but should be a fun game to watch.
• Even with all those scratched from yesterday's line up the Raptors were still able to defeat the Cavaliers. Although some guy named LeBron didn't play for them
• I don't expect many Toronto fans to be tuned into this game as it is game 1 of the ALDS which sees the Blue Jays take on Cleveland. Go Jays Go.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Tokyo Police Club - "Argentina (Parts I, II & III)"

Taken from Tokyo Police Club's 2014 album Forcefield, "Argentina" was a bit of a shift from the group's usual sound. Kind of like Green Day's "Jesus Of Suburbia" it was a longer song with several parts and timing changes. Very cool and very beautiful song for a band from Toronto, named after Tokyo and singing about Argentina

Let's go Blue Jays! And Raptors...though it's only preseason...

Preseason Game 4: Raptors at Cavaliers!

Blah blah blah LeBron. Blah blah blah Cleveland. Ok I guess you can tell i'm sick of hearing about this team, but the Raptors face them today in the Preseason so I guess I have to talk about them

• Yes it's a rematch from last year's Eastern Conference Finals that saw the Cavaliers defeat the Raptors in 6 games. Cleveland then went on to win the NBA finals against the Golden State Warriors. Impressive
• An interesting thing is happening Friday when the Toronto Blue Jays take on Cleveland in ALDS action. Basically the same thing as the Eastern Conference Finals. It's only the 7th time in history that the same cities teams have played each other in those kinds of finals in the same year!
• Who did Cleveland add and subtract? Let's see Matthew Dellavadova signed in Milwaukee. Timofey Mozgov signed in LA with the Lakers. And JR Smith is currently teamless(?). A few additions to the Cavs are Mike Dunleavy, Birdman Chris Andersen and Cory Jefferson.

Today's Raptor Track!

Wire - "Champs"

Wire were a British punk band that got it's start in 1976. Though they never sold a mega-ton of records their influence in the world of punk rock and beyond is remarkable. Bands like The Cure, REM, Sonic Youth,  Manic Street Preachers, Bloc Party, Blur, Elastica and Franz Ferdinand have all cited Wire as inspiration. Their most notable album came in 1977 and is called Pink Flag. "Champs" is a song from that record.

See ya in the finals again Cleveland

Preseason Game 3: Raptors at Clippers!

Raptors head out to the Western states for the first time this season in a preseason bout with the LA Clippers

• Paul Pierce aka "The Truth" has announced that after this season he will be retiring. As a Raptors fan who has been burned by him multiple times I don't think i'm alone in saying "Thank fuck and good riddance you dreadful old geezer" just kidding. He's had a wonderful career and it will be odd without him around, though I don't expect a Kobe-esque farewell tour in each city he plays in this year
• Last game saw DeMarre Carroll and Jared Sullinger sit out. Carroll for rest and Sully for a foot injury, nothing serious, but it's preseason so c'mon. Bruno got the start.
• Not too many new faces on the Clippers this year, but some are Marresse Speights, former Raptor Alan Anderson and Delon Wright's brother Dorell.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Mobb Deep - "Matic Clips"

Here is a song that has the word Clips in it. 'cuz Clippers. Sorry...it's late...i is tired

WE THE NORTH

Preseason Game 2: Nuggets at Raptors!

Woo the Raptors beat Kevin Durant and the Warriors! Yes, it's only preseason, but a woo is still in order eh JV?

Tonight the cross Canada series continues as the Nuggets fly into Calgary, Alberta to face the Toronto Raptors.

• Tonight we get our first glimpse of the #7 overall pick Jamal Murray from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. I'm sure The Nuggets couldn't believe their luck when he fell to them in the 2016 Draft
• Raptors fans got a good look at some of the new blood on the team with Jared Sullinger, Pascal Siakam and Fred Vanvleet all having great showings on Saturday night
• The Nuggets are a young team looking to make a name for themselves. Last year's draft pick Emmanuel Mudiay continues to impress, as well as players like Jusuf Nurkic, Nikole Jokic and Kenneth Faried.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Elliott Brood - "Oh, Alberta"

Not a person's name but a 3-piece country/blues/rock group from Toronto, ON. They got their start way back in 2002, but have yet to earn themselves a larger than cult following. I'm sure they're just fine with that. 

Make it loud Calgary!!

Preseason Game 1: Warriors at Raptors!

Weeeheeellllll look at thisssssss!! The NBA is back baby and we kick it off with the Golden State Warriors rolling into Vancouver, BC to do Preseason battle with the Toronto Raptors!!

• We haven't seen the Raptors since they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games. The Cavs would then go on to beat The Warriors for the NBA Championship
• Raptors have some new faces. Jared Sullinger has signed for 1 year, he last played for the Boston Celtics. And we have a few new draft picks in Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam
• Lowry and DeRozan had a big summer playing in the Rio Olympics for team USA and winning gold. Jonas Valanciunas played for Lithuania but failed to earn a medal.
• The biggest news of the Off-Season was Kevin Durant signing with the Warriors. No one is really sure how this will turn out, but we'll get to see our first glimpse tonight

Today's Raptor Track!

Jeff Buckley - "Vancouver"

This one might not get us super pumped for the kick off of the season, but it's a sweet tune nonetheless. Jeff Buckley is always good for a sweet melody. I'm just glad the season is back and I look forward to another great season full of ups and downs for the Toronto Raptors

WE THE NORTH