Game 49: Timberwolves at Raptors

The homestand continues as does the Black & Gold jerseys. Raptors looking for a little payback after week's loss as Minnesota comes to town

• Fred Van Vleet recently became a father. Congrats! But he will go tonight it appears. CJ Miles on the other hand is a late scratch due to some knee soreness
• Maybe in CJ's absence Norman Powell can get some minutes and make the most of them. Get some confidence back in front of the home crowd
• It's all hands on deck for the Timberwolves as no players are listed as OUT. They did play and lose in Atlanta last night so hopefully we can catch them on a back to back just like they caught us
• Also a big congrats to Dwane Casey and his coaching staff who will be heading to LA to Coach Team LeBron at the All Star Game next weekend

Tonight's Raptor Track!

The Mountain Goats - "Minnesota"

I'm not sure if the Timberwolves will be donning their flourescent green jerseys tonight or not, so just gonna pick a song with Minnesota as the title. It's The Mountain Goats from Claremont, California.and a cut from their 4th album Full Force Galesburg.

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Timber Beast

From the Lazy Magnolia Brewery out of Kiln, MS. It's Timber Beast beer! Crisp & Bold caramel flavour with grapefruit and citrusy pine aroma.

Raptors 2nd in East 33-15! Timberwolves 4th in West 32-21!

Game 48: Lakers at Raptors! OVO Night!

Shake off that bad loss and miracle shot by Ricky Rubio Friday night and come out strong tonight as a young and upcoming Lakers team comes to visit Toronto. Still in the Black & Gold today!

• Jonas Valanciunas had himself a career night on Friday scoring 28 points and coming up with 14 rebounds!  JV for MIP? Who says no?
• The Lakers will be without Lonzo Ball who is dealing with an MCL Sprain, which means the Canadian Tyler Ennis will likely get the start at PG
• As I said above the Raptors need to shake off that bad loss on Friday night, but they also need to drain open shots. The ball movement of this year has been great and thats the main reason for it.
• It's still OVO theme night at the ACC. Let's get back to a 500 record in those unis boys!

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Sam Sparro - "Black and Gold"

Enh, why not?

Tonight's Gameday Drink!

Black Gold Beer

Brought to us by the Central Waters Brewing Co. It's a heavier beer, an American Double / Imperial Stout. Though looks like it only a one time brew as it was a limited edition release.

Raptors 2nd in East 32-15! Lakers 11th in West 19-29!

Game 47: Jazz at Raptors! OVO Night!!

This one has been circled on the calendar all year! It's the unveiling of the Raptors' City Jerseys, which were inspired by Drake and OVO. The ACC floor will transformed to match the black and gold jerseys as the Utah Jazz make their only stop here in The North.

• All Star line ups have been announced and both DeMar and Kyle were picked by team Curry and will likely play against their Coach Dwane Casey as he'll be coaching team LeBron, if the Raptors can stay the course that is
• Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell has been selected to represent Team USA in the Rising Stars challenge during All Star weekend. Well deserved, Mitchell is high on the Rookie of the Year radar and will likely have a long and successful career
• The Jazz will be without a few key players tonight. Namely Dante Exum, Thabo Sefolosha and Rodney Hood

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Rotary Connection - "I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun"

Rotary Connection were a Funk/Psychadelic Soul group coming out of Chicago in the late 60's. They were also the backing band on Muddy Waters' album Electric Mud. The song "I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun" has been sampled and remixed several times.

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Goldschlager

Even though this one of the grossest shits, Goldschlager is straight ballin' to drink tonight. It's got chips of gold in it and it will get you some drunk. We The North!

Raptors 2nd in East 32-14! Jazz 10th in West 20-28!

Game 46: Raptors at Hawks!

Alright we're back! After a little, mini-break the Raptors are wheels down in Atlanta to take on the bottom of the East dwelling Hawks. But this is still the NBA and anyone can win at any time.

• Congratulations to Kyle Lowry who has been named as an Eastern All Star reserve! This will mark his 4th All-Star appearance, all have come as a member of the Toronto Raptors!
• Neither team has any injured or sidelined players to speak of, so there aren't any excuses for a full 48 minute effort from either team
• Congrats to Atlanta's John Collins for being picked for the Rising Stars Challenge at All Star weekend, representing team USA.
• Look for the Atlanta Hawks to be a team making some moves come trade deadline. They might decide to do a deal with a contending team for future picks and to ensure a higher pick in this year's draft

Tonight's Raptor Track!

John Mayer - "Why Georgia?"

John Mayer saw his height of popularity in the early 2000's with songs like "Your Body Is A Wonderland", "Bigger Than My Body" and 'Why Georgia". He still plays and writes music and has been doing a stage show with Dave Chappelle as of late which has gotten some rave reviews

Tonight's Game Day Drink

Goldhawk Pale Ale

With a colour scheme like that one might think this is Drake's beer brand. Alas no, Goldhawk Pale Ale is brought to us by a New Zealand brewery and has rave reviews online not for it's taste, but for it's bottle design

Raptors 2nd in East 31-14! Hawks 14th in East 14-32!

Game 45: Raptors at Timberwolves!

Yeah that's right. The Raptors beat the Spurs. Deal. Toronto hits the road for another game against the Western Conference tonight as they meet the Minnesota Timberwolves for the first time this year.

• As I mentioned above this is the first time the Raptors are seeing the TWolves this year. The new look Timberwolves I should say as Minnesota had a bit of an overhaul this past Summer. They added some big names like Jimmy Butler, Jeff Teague and Taj Gibson.
• Much like Toronto, Minnesota is in a rare situation where they are expected to make waves in the post-season while at the same time developing their youth. Players like Karl Anthony Towns, Namenja Bjelica and Canadian phenom Andrew Wiggins are rising stars in their own right
• Likely the only player out is Fred Van Vleet for Toronto. This is going to be a tough one for the Raptors especially on a back to back after a game with the Spurs

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Kittie - "Wolves"

Kittie are a heavy metal group from London, Ontario. Originally known for having all female members, they have had a man join the group from time to time. "Wolves" is from their dark-themed, sophomore album Oracle released in 2001.

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Minnesota Gold Lager

Minnesota is a state known for it's many craft breweries and distilleries. Minnesota Gold Lager comes from the Third Street Brewhouse in Cold Spring, MN.

Raptors 2nd in East 31-13! Timber Wolves 4th in West 29-18!

Game 44: Spurs at Raptors!

Still at home and back on the winning side of things! It doesn't get any easier though as the San Antonio Spurs make their only visit to Toronto on their yearly Rodeo tour!

• Rudy Gay, Manu Ginobli and Kawhi Leonard are all sitting this one out for the Spurs. Those are some big names, but as DeMar DeRozan mentioned earlier today The Spurs can beat you with any player at anytime
• Raptors are only down Fred Van Vleet tonight. He sat the game against Detroit due to an injured sustained in Monday's game
• Last time Toronto played the Spurs Kyle Anderson and Davis Bertrans gave the Raptors fits. A solid 48 minute performance is needed for a victory tonight
• Also big congrats to DeMar DeRozan for being named to his 4th All-Star Game! And his 2nd time as a starter! Thanks for having us Deebo!!

Tonight's Raptor Track!

King Kyle Lee - "All Spurs Everything"

Looks like this was a hype track made for their playoff run in 2013. The Spurs are basically on a permanent Championship Run so this is just as suitable today as it was then

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Grindstone Amber Ale

No really Spur tie-in this week, just a beer I happen to enjoy. I guess both teams are known to play a grind it out style, so let's go with that! Brought to us by Broadhead brewery in Ottawa, ON. It's Grindstone Amber Ale!

Raptors 2nd in East 30-13! Spurs 3rd in West 30-16!

Game 43: Pistons at Raptors!

Raptors need to get back on the winning track tonight, and will look to do so against the visiting Detroit Pistons. There's always an odd energy about the game when these two teams get up to tangle

• Kyle Lowry made his return Monday in an afternoon game with the 76ers. He's missed the 3 games before that with a bruised tailbone. Though he didn't have the best game he showed heart going after loose rebounds. He did let rookie Ben Simmons get under his skin though, which is what those 76ers are good at.
• Fred Van Vleet went down awkwardly during that game though and is listed as day to day. No word yet if he'll play tonight
• The Pistons will be without Reggie Jackson and John Leuer. Stanley Johnson and Avery Bradley are listed as day to day and missed today's practice. 

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Bob Seger - "Detroit Made"

Kind of a new one from Bob Seger. Not sure if it will end up being one of his classics like "Night Moves" or "Mainstreet", but it's got that Motor City rustic feel.

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Piston Broke

Brought to us the Box Steam Brewery in Trowbridge, England. The Piston Broke is a golden ale with good bitterness and roastedness. Overall a good toffee beer

Raptors 2nd in East 29-11! Pistons 8th in East 22-20!

Game 41: Warriors at Raptors!

Now we out here! Now heads be turning, now eyes be open! After disemboweling the Cavaliers the Raptors turn their attention to the visiting Golden State Warriors

• Warriors played in Milwaukee last night and pulled away from a close game to end up winning by over 10. Steph Curry missed that game and the last several games due to a sore ankle. Looks like tonight could be the night he returns
• Kyle Lowry is likely going to miss this one though. Delon Wright and Fred Van Vleet both stepped up very well, with the latter getting a career high 22 points.
• Serge Ibaka will return tonight for Toronto after serving a one game suspension versus the Cavaliers after getting in a scuffle with James Johnson on Tuesday night. Omri Casspi is the other Warrior who might potentially miss this one due to injury, but don't be surprised if Steve Kerr sits any of his guys on a second game of a back to back for rest

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Papa Roach - "Warriors"

Papa Roach were part of the first wave of the Nu-Metal explosion of the late 90's early 2000's. Typically involving angry, young men, playing heavy metal music with loose hip-hop or techno influences. Other bands of this ilk were Disturbed, Linkin Park, Coal Chamber and Static-X. "Warriors" is off their 2015 album F.E.A.R

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Weekend Warrior Pale Ale

Coming to us form the Karbach Brewing Co., Weekend Warrior Pale Ale's Soft caramel malt flavors are met by bright, citrusy hop bitterness and aromatics to provide balance to this pale ale. Pairs nice with Jerk Chicken

Raptors 2nd in East 29-11! Warriors 1st in West 34-9!

Game 40: Cavaliers at Raptors!

It took for 40 games for the King to work up the courage to show his face in Toronto. And he's brought a ragtag bunch of misfits with him! Cleveland makes their only regular season stop in Toronto tonight!

• Serge Ibaka will not be playing tonight after getting into an altercation with James Johnson on Tuesday night. Nothing major, a few stiff elbows, but it got him a one game suspension. Serving tonight
• Kyle Lowry will also sit again due to his bruised tailbone. Hopefully he'll be rested for Saturday's game against the Warriors
• Cavs look a little different since the last time we saw them. No more Kyrie Irving as he was traded to Boston for Isaiah Thomas (who won't play tonight)& Jae Crowder. Derrick Rose will also be out and Iman Shumpert. The Cavs also picked up Dwyane Wade in the off-season (gee I wonder how) and Raptors Legend Jose Calderon. Look for him at the point for most of the game for Cleveland as Rose and Thomas are both sitting

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Against Me! - "Cavalier Eternal"

I think I may have used this one for this matchup before, but it's so effing good I feel justified in using it again!

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Red Wine

Any kind will do. The Cavaliers' colour scheme is typically described as Wine & Gold. So there ya go. Pesonally i'm going with a 2016 South Australian Shiraz. Other favourites of mine are Sandbanks' Red Dune and Dave Matthews' Dreaming Tree Crush

Raptors 2nd in East 28-11! Cavaliers 3rd in East 26-14!

Game 39: Heat at Raptors!

After a tough overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets the Raptors return home. The competition is warming up however as the Miami Heat are already waiting for them. Let's look at tonight's game and rummage through the wreckage of last night's razor thin win

• The big news is Kyle Lowry's injury. Late in the overtime quarter he was bulldoggin' after an offensive rebound when he got slammed from the front and undercut from beneath. He hit the ground hard and needed to be carried off the court. Today's assessment is luckily only a bruised tailbone. He's listed as day to day. Likely out tonight
• Thankfully Toronto's back up point guards Delon Wright and Fred Van Vleet have been ballin' exceptionally well. They'll need to keep that momentum up in Lowry's abscence
• Miami will be without Justise Winslow and Dion Waiters. This is a game that the Raptors need to get up for. The Heat are in fifth even without those 2 and players like Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside and Raptors Alum James Johnson have been playing incredibly well.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

The Prodigy - "The Heat (The Energy)"

England's The Prodigy have been around for years, but really only saw one stretch of North American success. It was the techno craze of 1997 where groups like The Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, Orbital, Fatboy Slim and other acts which relied heavily on synth, turntables, samples and mixing found audiences in smokey dance halls and late night rooftop parties. The Prodigy's The Fat Of The Land made them one of the more popular techno groups of the time, giving us hits like "Firestarter", "Breathe" and "Smack My Bitch Up". "The Heat" was from their previous album Music For The Jilted Generation which was a critical success all over the world, but only hit #198 in the US.

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Miami Iced Tea

A Long Island Iced Tea is basically mixing Rum, Vodka, Tequila, Gin and Triple Sec with Coke and Lemon Juice. To make a Miami Iced Tea just replace the Triple Sec with Blue Curacao. WARNING. This will get you drunk...

Raptors 2nd in East 28-10! Heat 5th in East 22-17!

Game 38: Raptors at Nets!

With the weekend off and then weather warming up, The Raptors are in Brooklyn to take on an old Atlantic Division foe, The Nets.

• Last game saw the Raptors dominate the Milwaukee Bucks. DeRozan had another fantastic night and has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the week. Valanciunas outscored and out rebounded the Bucks all on his own in the third quarter. That's what I like to see
• Raptors will have to wait to see their old teammate DeMarre Caroll in action as he's out tonight as he went down hard against Boston.
• Last time these two teams met Nik Stauskas went off in his Nets debut and lit up the Raptors from 3. Here's hoping for a better defensive effort from Toronto on that front

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Steely Dan - "Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)"

I've never heard this Steely Dan song, but i've yet to hear that I don't like so i'm excited. Fun fact, former SNL cast member Chevy Chase was the original drummer for the group that would eventually become Steely Dan. It was in a jazz ensemble known as the Don Fagen Jazz Trio

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Brooklyn Lager

This American Amber Lager is the flagship beer of the Brooklyn Brewery founded in the 1800's. It's a Viennese-style, brewed with a British technique that's great all year round!

Raptors 2nd in East 27-10! Nets 12th in East 15-24!

FUCK BROOKLYN!

Game 37: Raptors at Bucks!

Thirty Seven!!?! It's a rematch of Monday's Marquee game where DeRozan dropped 52 points on the Milwaukee Bucks. Only this time, it's the Raptors who are in enemy territory and you can bet the Milwaukee fans won't be giving them a warm welcome on this cold night

• Didn't we just leave this party? You can bet Milwaukee is going to be coming breathing fire after DeRozan carved their names in stone Monday Night. Everybody is going to need to step up to hold off their onslaught
• Delon Wright played a great game against Chicago on Wednesday. Scoring a career high 25 points and getting his first double-double as well. Let's see if he can keep that momentum going
• No lineup changes to speak of since Monday. Though Norman Powell didn't play the last time these two teams matched up. Hopefully he'll get some meaningful minutes tonight

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Static-X - "Wisconsin Death Trip"

This is the title track off Static-X's debut album released way back in 1999. The album takes it's title from a book about Wisconsin in the late 1800's early 1900's. Detailing the hardships people went through in that part of the US during that time.

Today's Game Day Drink!

Buck's Fizz

Mix 2 parts Champagne and one part Orange juice and baby, you've got some Buck's Fizz. it was named after a club in London that started serving the drink in the 1920's

Raptors 2nd in East 26-10! Bucks 5th in East 20-16!

Game 36: Raptors at Bulls!

Well that was a nice little home stretch. Hope you enjoyed it, because tonight we're back on the road as the Raptors are in the always unfriendly Madhouse on Maddison to take on the Chicago Bulls

• DeMar DeRozan had himself a phenomenal game on New Year's Day against the Bucks. Scoring 52 points, a career high and franchise record. He also shot the ball extremely well from 3. Let's see if some of the other boys can step up tonight and give DeMar some rest
• Namely Norman Powell who didn't play against Milwaukee last game. Not sure if it was for some scheduled rest or just because the matchups didn't work in his favour, but it would be nice to see Norman have a good start to 2018 to make up for lackluster first half of this season
• The Bulls have been raging lately. Don't let their record fool you. They may be low in the standings but they've defeated some formidable teams. Also Nikola Mirotic is likely to play tonight who the Raptors have yet to see this season. He has been finding his shot lately and playing extremely well
• Kudos to Dwane Casey who was named the Eastern Conference Coach Of The Month for December! Well deserved

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Billy Joel - "52nd Street"

In honour of DeRozan's  52 points I thought I'd play a little William Joel tickling the ivories. Sure the song is a reference to a famous jazz hub in New York City, not Chicago, but how often is one of our players going to set a franchise record? Unless someone goes for 53 tonight...

Today's Game Day Drink!

Jagerbombs!

Though i'm not a huge fan, and they really aren't that popular anymore. Tonight i'm shining the spotlight on a shot that was all the rage not 10 years ago. Originally people would drop a shot of Jagermeister in a glass of beer then chug the whole thing. Beer would be eventually replaced by Red Bull, an energy drink in an effort to counter the tiring effects of mixing too much alcohol.

Raptors 2nd in East 25-10! Bulls 13th in East 13-24!

Game 35: Bucks at Raptors!

Happy New Year to everyone!! The Raptors continue their home stand as we get a visit from the Milwaukee Bucks! These 2 teams haven't seen each other since the Raptors eliminated the Bucks in Game 6 of the first round of the 2017 playoffs! You best believe the energy will be alive tonight!

• The Bucks were the winners of the Eric Bledsoe sweepstakes earlier this year. Bledsoe was traded from the Suns after vocally admitting that he wanted out of Milwaukee.
• Serge Ibaka will return to the lineup tonight after serving his one game suspension for an altercation with a Raptors staff member after last week's game against the Thunder. All is forgiven. Water under bridges now.
• Bucks are for the most part healthy and likely hungry for revenge though they will still be without Jabari Parker and Mirza Teletovic.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Neil Young - "Cough Up The Bucks"

I get the feeling i've done this song before....ah frig it. Neil Young is a Canadian Icon and he's still with us, so let's all take time to appreciate it the living legend Mr. Young and get pumped for today's game

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Old Milwaukee

Couldn't have it any other way. Used to be my go to Friday night tall boy. Old Milwaukee beer!

Raptors 2nd in East 24-10! Bucks 6th in East  19-15!