Game 49: Pelicans at Raptors!

It's official the Raptors have lost 2nd place to the Celtics. To get it back they're going to need some big games, and get some big W's. Like tonight when we get our first glimpse of the New Orleans Pelicans

• This is the first time in a while where the Raptors play the Pelicans and Anthony Davis is actually healthy. Jonas and Bebe will definitely have their hands full guarding the big All-Star. At least this means that Alexis Ajinca might not have a big game against us.
• Easy come easy go. DeRozan came back for a game against the Magic but struggled. So it appears he'll be sitting for 2 more games. Hope he gets healthy soon and this ankle injury doesn't linger
• Pelicans will be without Tyreke Evans, former rookie of the year, looks like he'll be sitting for a night of rest instead and Quincy Pondexter is also out for New Orleans

Tonight's Raptor Track!

The Maccabees - "Pelican"

Formed in London, UK in 2004 The Maccabees have 4 studio albums to date. They went with one of my ace tips for picking a band name. Open the Bible to a random page and pick a word from that. If you're a metal band you can also use the Monstrous Manual from Dungeons & Dragons if you want. The song "Pelican" comes from their 3rd album Given To The Wild.

Raptors 3rd in the East 29-19! Pelicans 11th in West 19-29!

Game 48: Magic at Raptors!

Alright! Everything is ok again. Raptors won Friday night against Milwaukee ending a 5(!) game losing streak. Tonight it's the return of Bizmack Biyombo as the Orlando Magic come to to town

• Jared Sullinger did not play Friday night, likely due to his conditioning not being where it needed to be to go up against a face paced Milwaukee team. The Raptors gave him a game with the 905 D-League team to get some reps in. He had a nice game, scoring 18 points.
• DeMar DeRozan will likely be back after missing a few games with a sore ankle. Norman Powell has been great in his stead.
• Bizmack Biyombo makes his first return to Toronto after signing with Orlando in the off season on a 4 year deal. His Magic comes to town with Evan Fornier questionable for today's game
• Raptors will be wearing their Chinese New Year jersey tonight as NBA celebrates the Lunar New Year.
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: Besides Father Biyombo, DJ Augustin also plays for Orlando. He had a cup of coffee in Toronto before being waived around the time Rudy Gay was traded to Sacramento. Or he was waived to make room for Nando De Colo, can't remember.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Alice In Chains - "Rooster"

It is the year of the Rooster, so in honour of that here's some vintage Alice In Chains. The song is inspired by Alice's songwriter and guitar player Jerry Cantrell's father who spent time in Vietnam. His nickname in the war was Rooster.

Raptors 2nd in East 29-18! Magic 12th in East 18-30!

Game 46: Raptors at Grizzlies!

:(:(:(:(

When was the last time I talked about the Raptors winning? Let's leave that 4 game losing streak behind us and get a W tonight! Raptors in Memphis to take on the Grizz.

• DeRozan will be sitting tonight as he is still dealing with a sprained ankle. Patrick Patterson did come back last night and definitely made an impression bringing energy and shooting the 3. All in all the Raps only lost to the Spurs by 2
• Everyone is good to go for Memphis. Except Brandan Wright and Troy Daniels. Memphis are a big defensive team. Jonas and Bebe (Or the VN Towers as I call them) need to be on their A game
• After this the Raps get a bit of a break and head home for a 3 game home stint, Need to get this one though. No more BS

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Chuck Berry - "Memphis" (featuring John Lennon)

The great Chuck Berry makes his first appearance on Raptortracks! Another fun video for this song is the one where he's performing with John Lennon and Yoko Ono on the Michael Douglas show. Halfway through the song, Yoko feels she's not getting her creativity out and just starts worbbling into the mic. The look on Chuck's face.....haha oh man...so good. Ah hell, i'll just link it here.

Raptors (still) 2nd in East 28-17! Grizzlies 7th in West 26-20!

Game 45: Spurs at Raptors!

:(

• Bad news for Raptors fans tonight as DeMar DeRozan is expected to miss tonight and tomorrow's game against Memphis with a sore ankle. He came down on Valanciunas' foot after a jump shot in Sunday's loss to Phoenix
• Good news for Raptors fans tonight as Patrick Patterson is expected to be in the line-up. He's been dealing with a sore knee and the Raptors are 5-8 without their energetic 4. Also rumoured to be back tonight is Delon Wright, who's missed the entire season so far after having shoulder surgery
• Despite the fact that Tony Parker will be getting some rest tonight and sitting out, and that Pau Gasol and Johnathan Simmons are also out tonight, the Spurs are still the Spurs and can never be taken lightly
• No former Raptors play for San Antonio but fellow Canadian Joel Anthony has been signed to a 10-day contract. Likely to fill the Gasol void

Tonight's Raptor Track!

The Legendary Shack Shakers - "Old Spur Line"

I can't comment on the content of this...I didn't listen all the way through to this boozy, swingin' obviously Southern inspired track, so I hope there's nothing inappropriate. Maybe i'm too quick to judge here................just listened to the song. Definitely judged too quick! CRANK THIS!!!!

Game 44: Suns at Raptors!

Not sure when the last time I actually did a post when the Raptors and Suns square off! So this is a treat for me! Raps are back home and need a W against the pesky Phoenix squad!

• Boston lost last night as did Cleveland, so a Toronto victory today would be just what the doctor ordered to gain some ground in the race for the #1 spot.
• No word on whether Patrick Patterson or Bebe will be available tonight. Patterson has only played 2 games in January since injuring his knee the last time these two squads met. And Bebe got pegged in the eye in Brooklyn and has been dealing with blurred vision. Phoenix might be without Jared Dudley, but other than that their squad is healthy
• Though Phoenix are at the bottom of the Western conference they cannot be taken lightly. They always give Toronto a tough time and have a tall squad with guys like Chandler, Len, Chriss and Bender, it will be tough for the Raptors to match their height. Expect Siakam to get the start.
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: The Brazilian Blur himself is back and i'm sure he'll get a warm welcome from the Toronto fans. Barbosa made his way to Toronto when Phoenix first traded him away for the troubled Hedo Turkoglu back in 2010. Barbosa played a few years with Toronto and won us over with his hustle and his infectious smile. We eventually traded him to Indiana for a draft pick that im not sure we used yet. Barbosa would bounce around from Indiana to Boston, back to Phoenix, before landing in Golden State where he helped his team win the Championship back in 2015.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Brand New - "Not The Sun"

Tons of great Sun tracks I could picked I guess. This one is a deep track from Brand New's awesome album The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. Check it out

Terry Jacks - "Seasons In The Sun"

Because i've missed a few Phoenix games i'll add another!! 

Toronto 2nd in East 28-15! Phoenix 15th in West 14-29!

Game 43: Raptors at Hornets!

It's Friday night and the Raptors look to close out a road trip with a victory. They take on the struggling Charlotte Hornets tonight in North Carolina.

• First off, congrats are in order to DeMar DeRozan for getting voted in to the All-Star game in New Orleans as a starter. First time in his career and well deserved. Fully expect Kyle Lowry to join him there on the reserves list
• Another player you can look for on that reserves list is Charlotte's Kemba Walker. He's been playing well despite his team's struggles
• DeMarre Carroll took a leg to the back of the head in Wednesday's game and didn't return. It appears his neck is still sore, but he may try to give it a go.
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: Tyler Hansbrough is playing infront of the Carolina fans once again. After spending multiple years as a Tarheel at UNC he was drafted by Indiana into the NBA. Later signing with Toronto for 2 years and then finally signing on with the Hornets. Though he doesn't get much playing time with Roy Hibbert and Cody Zeller on the roster, im sure he's happy to be back in the state he's from.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Horn - "Things In Themselves"

Just discovered that this band existed this week. A guy I know's uncle was the keyboard player. Though they didn't get much recognition, the fact they have an album uploaded to Youtube is cool enough. From Toronto, a self described jazz band with shades of Frank Zappa.

Raptors 2nd in East 28-14! Hornets 7th in East 21-21!

Game 42: Raptors at 76ers!

Keep those Atlantic division adversaries coming! The Raptors are 9-0 against teams in their division this season and will get another taste tonight as they slide into Philly to take on the rebuilding Sixers.

• Big news for Raptors fans tonight as Jared Sullinger will dress and is likely to make his debut tonight! Not sure how many minutes he'll see, I guess it depends on how well his conditioning is. But joyous news nonetheless!
• Philadelphia has tasted some success lately. A young team with nothing to lose is on the up and up winning 4 of their last 5 games and with their young pieces looking good (Embiid, Noel, Okafor, Saric) Sixers fans have alot to look forward to
• Lucas Nogueira took a hand to the face last night and had blurred vision while back in the locker room. He is out tonight. Lowry will likely play as he was rested last night. No word on whether tonight is DeRozan' turn to rest or not

Tonight's Raptor Track!

The Alarm - "The Spirit Of 76"

The Alarm were a rock group from Wales who rose to fame in the 80's. They released 7 albums before disbanding in 1991. This song has a Springsteen-esque tinge to it. Kinda cool.

Raptors 2nd in East 28-13! Sixers 13th in East 13-26!

Game 41: Raptors at Nets!

Raptors take off for a quick roadtrip and a few more games against Atlantic Division rivals tonight. First stop is Brooklyn to take one the once F*ckable Nets.

• Patrick Patterson did travel with the team and as per usual he is a game time decision. We shouldn't need him tonight, so maybe it's a good night for 2Pat to get some rest. 
• Last time these 2 teams met, on Friday, it was the 3 ball that kept the Nets in it for 3 quarters. Raptors have to figure out a way to get guys like Hamilton, Dunwiddie, Bogdanovic and Harris off the 3 point line.
• Jeremy Lin is the only scratch for The Brooklyn Nets tonight. Still unsure of his time table for return
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: Last time they played I had no idea Quincy Acy was a member of the Brooklyn Nets! Acy was drafted in 2012 along with Terrence Ross and spent his rookie year being hazed along side Ross and Valanciunas. He developed into a nice post player/rim protector to come off the bench before he was included in that legendary Rudy Gay trade in his second year and has bounced around the league ever since. He's played with Sacramento, New York, Sacramento again and now, it appears, Brooklyn. Fun Fact we share a birthday! Q!

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Bishop Allen - "Butterfly Nets"

No i'm not calling Brooklyn's NBA team the Butterfly Nets. They are professional athletes and can compete with anyone night in and night out. Bishop Allen are an indie rock group from New York, New York. They might best be known from the movie Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist. They had a performance scene in it.

Raptors 2nd in East 27-13! Nets 15th in East 8-32!

Game 40: Knicks at Raptors! (Afternoon Game)

Raptors still in the thick of the Atlantic Division as another rival comes to town, the quixotic New York Knicks. Afternoon game too!

• They say Afternoon games are tough for teams visiting Toronto, but it could throw anybody off so the Raptors need to come in focused.
• I don't know what it is with New York, one of the league's biggest markets and oldest franchises, but they always have some kind of malarky surrounding the team. The most recent hoopla is Derrick Rose no showing a game to take an unapproved trip back to Chicago. He was fined almost $200,000 for that. Not what the Knicks need as they are trying to keep their heads above water in the playoff hunt.
• Patrick Patterson is questionable for The Raptors tonight as he is still dealing with a knee injury and the unicorn himself Kristaps Porzingis will be on the sideline for the Knicks. Knicks will likely start a smaller lineup, we'll see what Toronto does

Today's Raptor Track!

Jidenna - "Knickers"

No, no it's fine. No he's saying "Knickers"....yes....like the pants. Well them team is called...hmm? Well I didn't write it or name the team...."KNICKERS" with a K....just....nevermind

Raptors 2nd in East 26-13! Knicks 10th in East 18-22!

Game 39: Nets at Raptors!

Raptors sticking around at home for another division game. This time it's against the suffering Brooklyn Nets.

• Nets recently waived former Raptor and #1 overall pick Anthony Bennett. Tough go for the young kid from Toronto. Quite possibly his last chance on an NBA team. He reportedly signed with a team in Turkey. Good luck Tony.
• It's tough to be a Nets fan these days. Usually when your team is bottom of the league, the fans take solace in the fact that it usually equals a high draft pick. The dread intensifies sadly when it turns out those draft picks were traded away years ago by your front office for one of the worst "win-now" trades in recent NBA history. None of the assets gained from the Pearce-KG-Terry trade with Boston still reside in Brooklyn. Combine that with losing D-Will and Joe Johnson and there is little hope for Nets fans. Brook Lopez is alright though.
• Raptors fans can rejoice a little as Delon Wright and Jared Sullinger have both been cleared to practice. Delon had shoulder surgery in the Summer and Sully had foot surgery during the preseason.
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: When this season started the Nets had 3 former Raptors. Bennett, Greivis Vasquez and Luis Scola. The ever reliable Scola is the only one who still stands.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Woodkid - "Brooklin"

Woodkid is the stage name of Yoann Lemoine a French graphic designer and video director who has released a few records of his own. He's directed videos for Lana Del Ray, Taylor Swift, Mystery Jets and Katy Perry. "Brooklin" comes off his only album Golden Age released in 2013.

Raptors 2nd in East 25-13! Nets 15th in East 8-30!

Game 38: Celtics at Raptors! (Post Game)

AYE! There's a win against the Celtics and the Raptors stay on top of the Atlantic division!! Let's take a look at what went down

• Jonas Valanciunas beasted against Al Horford and had 18 points with 21 rebounds. A career best! JV definitely needed a game like this. Hopefully he maintains it
• Speaking of beasting, Demar Derozan had 41 points. After a couple of no-calls against him, he lipped off and got t'ed up from the refs. Then he promptly took control of the game. SEND THIS MAN TO NEW ORLEANS
• The Celtics were without Avery Bradley who is sidelined with a hip injury. Tyler Zeller also missed this game due to illness. Raptors were again with Jared Sullinger and Pascal Siakam did not play tonight either
• Raptors donned their Huskies jerseys for the third time this year. And for the third time in those unis they came out victorious
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: Amir.....that is all. Keep doing what you're doing.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Husky Rescue - "Shadown Run"

Shadow Run was the name of a sweet SNES video game from the 90's. It was inspired by a post-apocalyptic role playing game! Good memories. Don't know anything about this band. But the song is Huskies jersey inspired!

Raptors 2nd in East 25-13! Celtics 3rd in East 23-15!

Game 37: Rockets at Raptors!

Tough overtime loss for Toronto last night. Still cannot shake the Bull bugaboo off their back. They home today to face the Houston Rockets

• It has been reported that Patrick Patterson should be suiting up for the Raptors today. While he won't fix everything thats been ailing us, his energy and 3 point shooting has been sorely missed
• Rockets big man Clint Capela is out of their lineup so Montrezl Harrell and Nene will be playing the centre roll for Houston
• Raptors won the first meeting between these two teams, forcing Houston to turn the ball over 24 times and had 6 players in double figure scoring

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Smashing Pumpkins - "Rocket"

Simple. Vintage. Classic. Fantastic

Raptors 2nd in East 24-12! Rockets 3rd in West 29-9!

Game 36: Raptors at Bulls!

We're at home. We're on the road. We're at home. We're on the road. The Raptors need a break from all this travel, but can't complain. Such is life in the NBA. Raptors are in Chicago for a showdown with the Bulls tonight

• Raptors have had their problems with Chicago in recent years, being swept by them in 2 consecutive seasons. Though the Bulls lost Pau Gasol which should be a happy sight for Jonas Valanciunas.
• Still no word on Patrick Patterson, though he did travel with the team. Jared Sullinger has been practicing more as well. The 4 spot for Toronto remains up in the air.
• The enigma that is Rajon Rondo is having another tempermental year in Chicago. Most recently being benched for entire games by Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. Michael Carter-Williams and Isaiah Canaan have been running the point.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Da-Brat - "Chi-Town"

Remember Da Brat? She's back! In Raptors Track form

Raptors 2nd in East 24-11! Bulls 8th in East 18-18!

Game 35: Jazz at Raptors!

Thank EFF that road trip is gone and behind us. Sure the Raptors split it even at 3 wins and 3 losses, it's just that were some brutal and lethargic play out of most of the players. Hopefully some home cookin' is just what the doctor ordered as the Utah Jazz are in Toronto

• Dwane Casey was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December! It's well deserved as he Raptors went 10-4 and showed some grit and grind down the stretch
• Patrick Patterson remains sidelined with a knee injury. He's been sorely missed as he brings communication on defense, energy on the boards and another 3 point threat for the Raptors. Jakob Poeltl continues to get playing time in his absence.
• Only George Hill so far is listed out for The Jazz as he is going day-to-day with a concussion. Dante Exum, who didn't play in these 2 teams first meeting, will likely get the start

Tonight's Raptor Track!

A Tribe Called Quest - "Jazz (We've got) Buggin' Out"

I'm pretty sure thats what this song is titled. Ah well, it's a classic from Q-Tip and the boys in A Tribe Called Quest. They recently reunited on Saturday Night Live when Dave Chappelle was hosting, but it was only Q-Tip & Ali Shaheed Muhammad as Phife Dawg passed away due to diabetes last March. They dedicated the performance to his memory

Raptors 2nd in East 23-11! Jazz 5th in the West 22-14!

Game 34: Raptors at Spurs!

It's the final game of Toronto's big West coast trip with a game against the San Antonio Spurs. Let's see if the Raptors can close the journey out with a win.

• Patrick Patterson missed Sunday's game with a strained knee. While he's listed as day-to-day it's unlikely he'll see any more action on this road trip. Jakob Poeltl saw some burn in Toronto's win against the Lakers
• Tim Duncan has retired from the NBA playing all 19 Seasons in San Antonio. one of the game's best all-time big men he is a tough nearly impossible player to replace. The Spurs already got LaMarcus Aldridge a year earlier in preparation and this Summer past they signed Pau Gasol
• The Spurs' Jonathan Simmons has emerged as a great energy player off the bench for San Antonio. Nearly every game he's had a highlight real dunk, block or steal. Keep an eye on this one. He's destined for great things especially after going through the Spurs' system

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Michael Franks - "Antonio's Song"

Back the FUCK up Antonio!!!!!

Raptors 2nd in East 23-10! Spurs 2nd in West 27-7!