Game 37: Raptors at Magic!

Sink Florida! Sink.

• Raptors snuck away with another win in Miami on Boxing Day as they outlasted the Heat 106-104. Danny Green made another big late game shot. We all remember what happened last time the Raptors were in Orlando...see above
• Kyle Lowry rests tonight as Norm Powell has been excused for personal reasons, so expect CJ Miles to see some play time tonight
• Magic are at pretty much full strength, just Timofey Mozgov is out, but he hasn't played all year. It's gonna be another tough grind as Evan Fournier basically had his way with Toronto last time

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Yo La Tengo - "Let's Save Tony Orlando's House"

Yo La Tengo are an alternative rock band that saw their popularity soar in the 90's. From Hoboken, New Jersey they have 15 albums to their name and show no sign of slowing down. This song is from their 2000 album ..And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out. This will be my last post for about 3 weeks, but by my calculation i'll only miss 10 games. So enjoy this one! And I'll see you on the 19th when the Raptors play the Grizzlies!

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Florida Cocktail

Mix gin, triple sec and cherry brandy with some lemon juice and you got this refreshing favourite of the Sunshine State

Raptors 1st in East 26-10! Magic 10th in East 14-19!

Game 36: Raptors at Heat!

Boxing Day Bout!

• Raptors had yet another Christmas Day off as they were left out of the much touted Dec 25th games within the NBA. While it did mean they got to spend time with their families, they most likely had to do it in Miami as they face the Heat on their own court on Boxing Day
• At first it seemed like Toronto would have a full squad, except JV, at practice, but today it seems Lowry and Green might both be questionable. Leonard and Ibaka should be good to go
• Goran Dragic has been out for the Heat for sometime with a knee injury and will likely remain that way for the forseeable future and Dwyane Wade's farewell tour rolls on as the future Hall of Famer plans to hang it up after this season

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Jan Hammer - "Theme From Miami Vice"

I could be wrong but I believe The Heat are wearing their bright neon Vice Night alternatives for tonight's game. So I thought some Don Johnson style 80's tunes are in order

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Miami Vice Cocktail

Rum, Pina Colada Mix, Daquiri Mix and whole lotta ice is all you basically need for this Cocktail inspired by the show that inspired the Heat's jersey's tonight

Raptors 1st in East 25-10! Heat 7th in East 16-16!

Game 35: Raptors at 76ers!

Suffering Squad

• A solid win at home during the Raptors' last game at the Scotiabank Arena before Christmas last night brings us to a game in Philadelphia against Conference rivals the 76ers
• Raptors are down basically all their starters. As Lowry, Ibaka, Valanciunas, Green are likely out tonight and Kawhi is resting on a second night of a back to back
• Just Wilson Chandler and the enigmatic Markelle Fultz are out tonight for the 76ers. Embiid, Redick, Simmons and Jimmy Butler all likely to go

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Jethro Tull - "Ring Out, Solstice Bells"

I looked up Christmas songs released in 1976 and this was the most interesting one. Merry Christmas from all of us here at Raptortracks! Go Raptors and remember, Wu-tang is for the children

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

76 Beers

Just have 76 beers, drinks, shots, glasses of wine whatever. With friends and family. It's what it's all about this time of year! Cheers!

Raptors 1st in East 25-9! 76ers 4th in East 21-12!

Game 34: Cavaliers at Raptors!

White & Gold

• Raptors seemingly stole a win on Wednesday after a no-call on a foul from OG on Bogdan Bogdanovic. A win is a win though and especially since the Raptors are down some key members
• Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas remain out and will not likely return until after Christmas. Serge Ibaka is still out with knee soreness as is Danny Green
• The Cavaliers aren't immune to the injury bug either. Tristan Thompson, Jeff Green, Kevin Love and JR Smith not in action tonight
• It's also another OVO night as the Raptors don their White and Gold jerseys

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Corb Lund - "I Wanna Be The Cavalry"

Corb Lund is a Canadian country and western singer from Alberta Canada. Nine albums to his name and 3 certified gold. He's also been known to dabble in hard rock as well

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Spiked Eggnog

This being the last home game before Christmas, I think it's fitting to have a nice Christmas staple.

Happy Holidays everyone! Be safe and warm!

Raptors 1st in East 24-9! Cavaliers 13th in East 8-24!

Game 33: Pacers at Raptors!

Back Home!

• Raptors return home after a tough 4 game road swing which saw Toronto go 2-2! It doesn't get any easier though as their opponent is the surging Indiana Pacers
• Big news for the Raptors tonight as Norman Powell returns to the line up after missing a slew of games due to a shoulder injury. Pascal Siakam and Fred Van Vleet also return. Lowry, Ibaka and Valanciunas remain out
• Kawhi has kind of a tie to the Pacers as they were the team to draft him back in 2011, but they quickly traded him to San Antonio for George Hill feeling he was the better fit next to a blossoming young star in Paul George.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Converge - "Glacial Pace"

Somewhere between the chaotic worlds of hardcore punk and metal core lay Converge, a band from Salem, MA.  With 9 albums to their name, their first being released in 1994, Converge have amassed a rabid fanbase from all over the world. "Glacial Pace" is from their 2012 album All We Love We Leave Behind

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Pace Car Racer

From Bear Republic Brewing Co. comes Pace Car Racer a hoppy session IPA that features pine and citrus aromas to empty your glass at a speedy pace

Raptors 1st in East 23-9! Pacers 3rd in East 20-11!

Game 32: Raptors at Nuggets!

Mile High Game

• Raptors fought back in a tough loss against Portland on Friday night, but it wasn't enough. Today they roll into one of the toughest arenas in the NBA, not only because of the altitude one encounters when playing in Denver, or the rabid Nugget fan base. It's just that this season, the Nuggets are really, really good
• Kyle Lowry sat out Friday's game with a thigh contusion and Fred Van Vleet got the start. NO word on whether he's good to go tonight, but Kawhi Leonard should be good. JV remains out after having thumb surgery
• Last time these two teams met the Nuggets were relatively healthy. Tonight they'll be with Paul Millsap and Gary Harris, both join Wil Barton on the injury list

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Kanye West - "Gold Digger"

I know it doesn't directly invlove Nuggets, Denver or Colorado, but their team name is all about the gold rush. What kind of gentlemen from pioneer days were most likely to discover gold nuggets? Boom

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Bailey's Chocolate Luxe Gold Edition

It's near Christmas time and the weather has a bit of a chill to it. No better time to have some Bailey's in your coffee than now!

Raptors 1st in the East 23-8! Nuggets 1st in the West 19-9!

Game 31: Raptors at Trail Blazers!

Walking Wounded...

• Raptors shocked the Golden State Warriors and basically the whole NBA by dominating them in a 113-93 win on Wednesday night. Kawhi Leonard did not play
• He's listed as questionable tonight aswell as Kyle Lowry who is suffering from a thigh bruise. Jonas Valanciunas took a hard swipe from Draymond Green on Wednesday night. He's out for approximately 4 weeks with a dislocated thumb
• Raptors also call up Canadian Centre Chris Boucher from the 905 in JV's absence. Maurice Harkless returns to the Trail Blazers tonight so they come at the Raptors at full strength

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - "Oregon Girl"

Also known as SSLYBY, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin are an indie pop group from Springfield, Missouri. Their name has made them semi-stars in Russia and played a concert in Moscow just 3 months after Yeltsin's death

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Ink & Roses IPA

This one comes from the Portland Brewing Company located where else but Portland, OR. Since the Trail Blazers play at the Rose Garden, I felt it fitting to include this IPA named Ink & Roses.

Raptors 1st in East 23-7! Trail Blazers 9th in West 15-13!

Game 30: Raptors at Warriors!

Back in the Saddle Again!

• Raptors started off their 4 game Western swing with a decisive win against the LA Clippers, handing the surprising Los Angeles team their biggest point defecit loss of the season 123-99
• The last time these two teams saw each other it was a shoot out between Kevin Durant who scored 51 points and Kawhi Leonard who got 36. Steph Curry and Draymond Green are back for the Warriors tonight with Igoudala and Cousins still on the mend. 
• Kawhi sat out last night's game at the Staples Center, he's still listed as questionable due to a sore hip, but it seems likely he'll go. Delon Wright took an elbow above his eye last night that required stitches, but he won't miss any time

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Lil Wyte - "Bay Area"

Don't know a thing about this guy. This is my first time hearing it too! Here we go!

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Warrior Beer

Brought to us by England's Elgoods Brewery Warrior is a truly traditional English style bitter ale. A blend of the finest pale ale, amber and crystal malt

Raptors 1st in the East 22-7! Warriors 2nd in West 19-9!

Game 29: Raptors at Clippers!

LaLa Land!

• Raptors embark on a 4 game West coast trip that sees them playing the Warriors, Blazers and Nuggets, but not before a stop in Los Angeles to match up against the Clippers.
• After the Clippers lost Chris Paul to Houston and Blake Griffin to Detroit, DeAndre Jordan signed with Dallas in the off season. The Blake Griffin trade saw Tobias Harris and Boban Marjonovic (former Spur and teammate of Kawhi and Danny). Harris has been playing exceptionally well for LA and Lou Williams (former Raptor) is having another 6th man of the year calibre season too
• Kawhi Leonard is listed as questionable tonight with a bruised hip. Conspiracy theorists will suggest that he is being kept from playing at Staples Centre as not to get too keen on playing there, thus potentially signing in LA in the offseason. It's likely a precautionary thing as this is the first game of a back to back and he hasn't played in both nights of one yet

Tonight's Raptor Track!

X - "Los Angeles"

One of the most legendary and influential punk bands to come out of LA in the 1970's and 80's. They were also featured heavily in the first part of the documentary called The Decline Of The Western Civilization which highlights the LA punk and rock scene of the early 80s

Tonight's Game Day Drink! 

Original Clippers

Apparently you need to be a brave soul with a strong constitution to stomach this 15% Malt Beer. Think Colt 45 with a hint of nailpolish

Raptors 1st in East 21-7! Clippers 4th in the West 17-9!

Game 28: Bucks at Raptors!

Freaskish Claws!

• After splitting 2 games with some Atlantic Division rivals the Raptors face another tough Eastern Conference tonight as the Milwaukee Bucks come to town. This is the first meeting between Giannis Antentokoumpo and Kawhi Leonard since the latter came to the East.
• The Bucks recently made a trade to acquire George Hill from the Cavaliers, sending John Henson and Matthew Dellavadova to Cleveland. Unsure whether Hill will go tonight
• Powell is still the only Raptor out tonight with a shoulder injury. Kyle Lowry has been dealing with a sore back and it might be part of the cause to his shooting woes lately

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Sick Of It All - "Pass The Buck"

Getting their start in Queen's, New York Sick Of It All are a legendary punk band who have toured the world and been affiliated with acts like NOFX, Sepultura, The Bouncing Souls and Agnostic Front

Tonight's Gameday Drink!

Buck-A-Beer

Without getting too politcal, Ontario's PC party recently dropped the "Buck-A-Beer" challenge reducing the minimum allowed price for a beer to a $1. Only 3 breweries signed up for the initiative however and the hubbub surrounding the challenge has since died down

Raptors 1st in the East 21-6! Bucks 2nd in the East 16-8!

Game 25: Nuggets at Raptors!

Battle Of The Ones!

• Another top team in the West comes to town to try and take out the #1 seeded Toronto Raptors. Denver is a definite contender in the West and that is not a stretch. Toronto sees another tough match up as the season goes on
• Kyle Lowry missed Saturday's game with a sore back, but will be returning to the line up tonight. Norman Powell has been recovering and is about 7-10 days away and Kawhi Leonard has been named the Eastern Conference player of the week. The second Raptor to be named such this season, the first being Pascal Siakam
• The Nuggets have many weapons at their disposal and have used them to dispatch many top teams this season. Big Man sensation Nikola Jokic is always dominant, Paul Millsap signed in the offseason to add some veteran scoring and presence and Canadian Jamal Murray has been turning heads and shooting lights out. Isaiah Thomas is sidelined due to a hip injury, Denver picked him up for the vet minimum over the Summer

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Yello - "Goldrush"

Yello is a Swiss electro-duo who found their fame in their 80s. Known mostly for their song that goes "Ohhh Yeahhh" they have had a career that includes 13 studio albums to their name. Who knew

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Nugget Nectar

Coming from Troeg's Independant Brewing Co. , Nugget Nectar is a 7.5% Amber Ale that is dry-hopped with pine, resin and mango

Raptors 1st in the East 20-4! Nuggets 1st in the West 15-7!

Game 24: Raptors at Cavaliers!

once and former kings

• After a monumental statement win against the Golden State Warriors that saw Kevin Durant put up 51 points and Kawhi Leonard 37, the Raptors head to Cleveland for a match up against the Cavaliers
• The Cavaliers' season hasn't been going quite the way they hoped and currently find themselves in last place in the Eastern Conference. They recently traded Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Alec Burks and 2 second round draft picks
• Injuries are a growing problem for the Cavs as well. Kevin Love is out with a toe injury, George Hill and Sam Dekker are also expected to miss the game and JR Smith is out with an "Injury" but more than likely won't play with Cleveland again this season after making it rather clear that he wants a trade.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Bowling For Soup - "Ohio"

Although this song is called "Ohio" it basically name drops a bunch of people from Texas. Oh those Bowling For Soup early 2000 pop-punk hijinxers!

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Bud Light

Bud Light recently had a promotion that saw them lock a bunch of beer fridges around Cleveland until the Cleveland Browns win a game. That event came and went, so have a Bud Light Cleveland! Try not to think too much about the state of the your sports teams....do y'all cheer for the Blue Jackets there?

Raptors 1st in the East 19-4! Cavaliers 15th in East 4-17!