Game 30: Raptors at Trail Blazers!

After a quick rest home for the Holidays the Raptors are hitting the road again to continue the West coast swing! Tonight they get their first look at the Portland Trail Blazers.

• Blazers All-Star point guard Damian Lillard is unlikely to ply tonight as he is nursing an ankle sprain. Also likely to miss tonight's game are Evan Turner, Al-Farouq Aminu and Festus Ezeli
• CJ McCollum, Lillard's running mate is going to have to carry the majority of the load on the defensive and offensive end. But there is a reason why Portland is ranked the number 30 defense in the league
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: The only former Raptor who currently suits up for Portland is Ed Davis who was drafted by Toronto in 2010 at number 13. He played a few great years with the Raptors until he was shipped off to Memphis as part of the original Rudy Gay deal. He would also play for the Lakers before finding a nice home in Portland

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Clutch - "Oregon"

Clutch are an American rock band with a huge cult following with very little mainstream success.

They have been gaining more steam in recent years with an online buzz giving them a wider audience. "Oregon" is from an album of rarities called Slow Hole To China.

Raptors 2nd in East 21-8! Trail Blazers 9th in West 13-19!

Game 29: Raptors at Jazz!!

Happy Holidays!! It's becoming an annual tradition that the Raptors go on a lengthy roadtrip around Christmas as their home the ACC is hosting the World Juniors Of Hockey this time of year. Raptors' first stop is Utah to take on the Jazz.

• The Jazz are a different team from the one that the Raptors saw last year, and they beat us once last year. The Jazz have added a few significant pieces in Joe Johnson, former Spur Boris Diaw and point guard George Hill who the Raptors remember from the Indiana series last year
• It seems Utah are dealing with some injuries as the aforementioned Hill is out tonight. Also on the sides will be Dante Exum and Alex Burks. Rodney Hood will be a game time decision with gastric distress....err gross.
• There's talk of Jared Sullinger being seen without his walking boot lately, but that shouldn't be news to get too excited over. He's still estimated to be out for about a month, then fitting him into the current rotation will be a tough task for Coach Casey.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Emarosa - "Utah"

A hardcore band from Kentucky, Emarosa got their start in 2007 and after a few line-up and style changes began leaning more on the rock side of the genre. Their debut EP This Is Your Way Out was one of their only hardcore offerings and it's where you'll find tonight's Raptor Track "Utah"

Raptors 2nd in the East 20-8! Jazz 6th in the West 18-12!

Game 28: Nets at Raptors!

The back and forth between home and away games continues as The Raptors host the Brooklyn Nets in an Atlantic division showdown and Toronto's last home game of 2016!

• Cory Joseph sat out Sunday's game against the Magic with flu like symptoms which meant Fred Van Vleet got some meaningful minutes and played well! Looks like Joseph is available for tonight's game
• Brooklyn is still in a struggling mode and adding and subtracting new pieces year to year including a new coach. Kenny Atkinson has Jeremy Lin, Randy Foye and Trevor Booker are new comers and playing well for the Nets, while Brook Lopez is still a dominant force in the middle, though he may be resting tonight.
• Though Lin has been dealing with some injury issues it appears he will be back in the starting lineup tonight. Lin has always been a problem for the Raptors to contain. The defense will need to be on point tonight
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT! A couple familiar faces come to town tonight in Canadian boy Anthony Bennett is getting a second life with the Nets. Bennett played sparingly for Toronto last year and was eventually waived to make room for Jason Thompson. Greivis Vasquez played 3 games with the Nets this year before being cut in November and everyone's favourite one-year rental Luis Scola also now makes Brooklyn his home. Scola was brought in to Toronto to fill a back-up role and provide some veteran leadership, though he soared and eventually took the starting 4 position from 2Pat. Don't need to tell Raptor fans that Scola can shoot the 3

Tonight's Raptor Track!

The Main Drag - "Dove Nets"

When you say Dove Nets a certain way it can kinda sound like we're saying "Da Nets" like "The Nets" but slangy. Dove Nets.

Raptors 2nd in East 19-8! Nets 14th in East 7-19!

Game 27: Raptors at Magic! (Post Game)

After a tough loss to Atlanta on Friday night the Raptors rolled into Orlando in hopes of getting back on the winning side. And win they did...

• It was a slow start for Raptors allowing Orlando to score over 30 points in the first quarter alone. Toronto looked slow and complacent like it was still Friday night, until a flagrant foul from Jodie Meeks on Kyle Lowry woke something inside them. Don't poke the bear.
• It was the first time the Raptors faced their old team mate in Bizmack Biyombo and though he only played a lone year in Toronto his energy and attitude were a big reason for the playoff success last season
• Since the poking of the bear incident the Raptors out scored the Magic something like 73-36 points for a final score of 109-79 for their 19th W of the season
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: Along with Bizmack Biyombo the Magic have another former Raptor in DJ Augustin. Augustin signed with Toronto in 2013 but only played sparingly. After the Rudy Gay trade brought us Greivis Vasquez he was waived and has played for many teams since.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Go Mason Go - "Don't Poke The Bear"

Indeed...

Raptors Now 2nd in East 19-8! Magic 12th in East 12-16!

Raptors next game is Tuesday against Brooklyn!!

Game 25: Raptors at 76ers!

Keep those wins coming! The Raptors absolutely trounced the Bucks on Monday winning by 22 points. Let's see how they match up against the Sixers!

• Tonight should be our first look at Philly rookie sensation Joel Embiid. He's been sidelined for a few years with injuries and is on a minutes restriction this year, so he didn't make the trip when the Sixers came to Toronto. Should be a good match up with JV
• Nerlens Noel who missed the beginning of this season is back to the DL after spraining an ankle like 5 minutes into his first game back. Poor Sixers can't catch a break
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: Though Canadian Nik Stauskas was a huge Raptor fan growing up, the only former TO player in Philly right now is Jerryd Bayless. Bayless spent a few years in Toronto after being trading from New Orleans with Peja Stojakovic for Jarrett Jack and a few other players. He was never fully healthy though and gave up most of his starts to Jose Calderon. He declined to resign with the Raptors after Toronto traded for Kyle Lowry. Bayless is injured and will not play tonight

Tonight's Raptor Track!

G-Love & The Special Sauce - "I 76"

G. Love & The Special Sauce are a funk, hip-hop, alternative band straight outta Philly. On their 1997 album Yeah, It's That Easy they pay tribute to the city and their favourite basketball team the Philadelphia 76ers with the track "I-76". They name drop a ton of former players including current Toronto assistant coach and 905 head coach Jerry Stackhouse.

Raptors 2nd in East 17-7! 76ers 15th in East 6-18!

Game 24: Bucks at Raptors!

Raptors make another stop in at home to take on the visiting Milwaukee Bucks for the second time this season. Let's see how it stacks up

• Raptors should have a full squad tonight. Norman Powell started against Boston on Friday as DeMarre Carroll didn't make the trip. Powell had one of his best games of the season as a result
• The Bucks are going to be without Khris Middelton as they have for most of the year as he recovers from a ruptured hamstring
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: The only former Raptor on the Bucks is Milwaukee native Steve Novak. He was the lone player that actually played for Toronto who was involved in the Bargnani trade with New York back in 2013. Marcus Camby and Quintin Richardson were either waived or moved elsewhere. Novak played one year with the Raptors before being traded to Utah.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Tyler Flowers - "The Deer Song"

I guess I coulda picked a Christmas song since we're close to that time of year. Something about a reindeer or what not, but instead i'm going with this back road country track about good ol' boys huntin' deer. Yeehaw!

Raptors 2nd in East 16-7! Bucks 9th in East 11-11!

Game 23: Raptors at Celtics!

The homestand is over and the Raptors went 5-1! Not too shabby! They hit the road tonight and the first stop is Boston to take on the Celtics.

• Playing the Celtics these days isn't the walk in the park that it's been over the past few years. Though they didn't land KD, Boston did attract another big name free agent over the off season in Al Horford. Though he was hurt earlier in the season, he's been back and ripping it up as of late
• Someone who is hurt for the C's is Isaiah Thomas their all-star point guard. He'll be sidelined tonight with a groin injury
• It's the first time Jared Sullinger will visit his former team and city since signing in Toronto. Though he won't play, he'll still be there
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: Amir Johnson....*sniff*...he'll always be a Raptor in my heart. You can see his face still adorning the background of my blog.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

The Dream Syndicate - "Boston"

Never heard this song before so it's an exciting experience for me as well! I think i've heard the band name before, but don't know much about them. Here we go!!

Raptors 2nd in East 15-7! Celtics 3rd in the East 13-9!

Game 22: Timberwolves at Huskies!

We're nationally televised tonight folks as Minnesota rolls in to town! The Raptors are also re-donning their ol' Huskies uniforms for another throwback night!

• The Timberwolves are a young team, but they've been turning heads as of late. Zach Lavine, Karl Anthony-Towns and Canada's own Andrew Wiggins are all having big games for the Wolves
• The Raptors six game win streak is over as they lost to the Cavs on Monday, but another is potentially in sight as Toronto's schedule is on the lighter side coming up, albeit on the road.
• DeMarre Carroll will play for Toronto, usually will sit on one game of a back to back and the Raptors play in Boston tomorrow night. Nikola Pekovic is out for the Timberwolves
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: John Lucas III is a 2nd or 3rd string PG for the Wolves. He played for the Raptors back in the 2012-2013 season. He once went 5/5 from 3 during his Raptor tenure. yep

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Metallica - "Of Wolf & Man"

Ah so good. This song is actually about werewolves I think, but basketball players are men and one team is called the TimberWOLVES. So this game is of wolf and man as well! And Metallica is the best band in the world!

Raptors 2nd in East 14-7! Timberwolves 13th in West 6-15!

Game at 7pm (ET)

Game 21: Cavaliers at Raptors!

SIX IN A ROW BAYBAY!!!

It's the third meeting between the Cavaliers and Raptors and both teams are in two very different places from when they met previously. Let's take a look at what's going down

• Cavaliers and Raptors are tied for first place. This is a rematch and possibly a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals. It should be a good one
• Cavs are on a 3 game losing streak, losing to the Clippers and Bulls after they lost to the Bucks back on the 29th. Both teams are going to be coming out hard tonight
• JR Smith and Mike Dunleavy JR are questionable for tonight's game. Smith dealing with a sore knee and MDJ is returning from a concussion

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Drowning Pool - "Step Up"

Just wanted a tune to get us amped up! Both teams are going to be saying that they need to step up tonight, just hoping that the Raptors step up a little more

Raptors tied for 1st in East 14-6! Cavaliers tied for 1st in East 13-5!

Game 20: Hawks at Raptors!

5 wins in a row for the Toronto Raptors!! Longest streak of our season! We're only 20 games in but let's see if we can make it 6 as the Atlanta Hawks come to town!

• DeMarre Carroll sat last night against the Lakers. He's on a restriction where he doesn't play both games of back to backs. I'm sure he chose to sit against LA so he can have a shot against his former team
• Atlanta landed one of the biggest free agents of last summer in Dwight Howard. Howard is an Atlanta native and wanted a shot to not only be back in the Eastern Conference but play for his hometown Hawks
• No Paul Millsap for Atlanta tonight as he didn't make the roadtrip with the team. Thabo Sefalosha has been starting in his stead
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: Kris Humphries now plays for Atlanta. He's bounced around alot since leaving Toronto all those years ago, playing for the Nets, Celtics, Wizards, Mavericks and Suns

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Hawkwind - "Silver Machine"

Long before Lemmy was the whiskey-swillin', broad-bashing, chain-smokin' lead singer of Motorhead, one of planet Earth's loudest bands, he was in an acid band called Hawkwind. They liked drugs, trippy-dippy drugs. Lemmy was kicked out for doing the "wrong kinds of drugs" as he put it and in retaliation shagged all his old bandmate's old ladies. 

Raptors 2nd in East 13-6! Hawks 9th in East 10-10!

Game 19: Lakers at Raptors!

Another win during the six game home stand! Raptors beat Memphis 120-105 on Wednesday night! It's Friday night in TO and the lake show is in town!

• The Lakers have an impressive young team coached by an impressive young coach in Luke Walton. Plenty of talent to keep an eye on tonight: Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance Jr and Jordan Clarkson
• D'Angelo Russell and Jose Calderon are on the injured list for LA. Usual 2 for the Raptors (Sullinger and Wright)
• Raptors got Hawks tomorrow and Cavaliers on Monday, so a win tonight would be nice before they head into that tough 2 game stretch.
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: One time Toronto Six Man Of The Year Lou Williams now makes his home with the LA Lakers and still finds himself in a comfy bench role and as mentioned earlier Jose Calderon, long time Raptor mainstay and fan favourite, also dons the purple and gold, though tonight he will be sitting on the bench

Tonight's Raptor Track!

The Tragically Hip - "Lake Fever"

Don't think they were talking Showtime when Gord and the boys recorded this one for their 2000 album Music @ Work.  But a great song nonetheless. With their young core I can see why many LA fans have caught the Laker Fever, they'll be a good time for years to come.

Raptors 2nd in East 12-6! Lakers 9th in West 10-10!