Game 76: Raptors at Knicks!

Big Apple; Small Stakes

• Raptors hit the road again after a win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. The Knicks have already been eliminated from Playoff Contention this year, but their focus is all about the off season and the many free agents who might be willing to listen
• OG Anunoby took a blow to the head on Tuesday and left the game without returning. He passed concussion protocol but is being held out of tonight's line-up as a precaution along with Kawhi Leonard. Raptors have signed Jodie Meeks for the remainder of the season. He'll likely get some burn tonight
• For the Knicks they have a list of questionable players. Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr,  and Alonzo Trier. Only player listed as out is Noah Vonleh.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Jideena - "Knickers"

This song is about pants.....yes??

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Whiskey & Coke

With only 6 games left in the regular season, it's time to get serious. For me to warm up to a nice play off blast, I need to start with a few of these sweet babies. Cheers y'all!

Raptors 2nd in East 52-23! Knicks 15th in East 14-60!

Game 74: Hornets at Raptors!

Home Stretch

• After a tough loss the Raptors host the Charlotte Hornets who are scrapping and fighting and doing everything they can to get into a playoff position down the stretch
• Kyle Lowry is listed as questionable with an ankle injury that he suffered last week during the home game against the Knicks. Kawhi will be playing
• Charlotte is likely going to be without Michael Kidd-Gilchrist due to a concussion and Cody Zeller who is recovering from a knee injury. Former Raptor and fan favourite Bismack Biyombo likely to get the start.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

King Buzzo - "Useless King Of The Punks"

Roger Osborne, also known as Buzz Osborne, also known as King Buzzo is the guitar player, vocalist and main songwriter for the legendary grunge group known as The Melvins. He's also collaborated with Venomous Concept and the Fantomas. This track is from his solo album This Machine Kills Artists.

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Coors Light

Raptors haven't fared too well lately on Sunday games, so let's get back to basics. Sit courtside and have a Coors, the official beer of the Toronto Raptors. Can't you just imagine all the lads sitting around, joshing with each other and the coaches holding a Coors...not drinking of course. Just holding.

Raptors 2nd in East 51-22! Hornets 10th in East 33-39!

Game 73: Thunder at Raptors!

Welcome Home!

• Second night of a home & home for the Thunder and Raptors and it just so happens to be a Welcome To Toronto night in the 6ix. Meaning the Raps will don their White and Gold attire
• Raptors won in overtime in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, so expect the Thunder to come with a fire inside. Paul George didn't play exceptionally well in game 1 so he's fixing to have a big night
• Kyle Lowry will sit again due to his sore ankle. Fred Van Vleet gets the start. For the Thunder on Andre Roberson is sidelined with a knee injury

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Coheed & Cambria - "Welcome Home"

An epic track for an epic night & game. 

Tonight's Game Day Drink

Ridgeway Warm Welcome

A Brown ale with real attitude...apparently! Coming from North Heath, England it's a hearty beer at 6.0%ABV , but still maybe a little tame for English standards! Enjoy tonight as a wee bit of snow has fallen...

Raptors 2nd in East 51-21! Thunder 5th in West 42-30!

Game 72: Raptors at Thunder!

Home and Home!

• Raptors head back out West for their first match against the Oklahoma City Thunder of the 2018-19 season! Thunder are always a pesky adversary, Raptors will need to be at their peak!
• Kyle Lowry injured his ankle in the win against the Knicks on Monday night, so he's unlikely to go tonight. Serge Ibaka returns from suspension and Fred Van Vleet had played the last 2 games without missing a beat seemingly. Great to have Fred back
• The Thunder are a tough team who only got tougher this year. Paul George re-signed in the off season, Jerami Grant has improved this year and they picked up Markieff Morris after he was waived by the Wizards. Of course can't forget about #0 Russell Westbrook, who is always a dominant force, he returns from suspension as well tonight. Should be a good one!

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Sutton Foster - "Oklahoma"

This one is from the Stage production Oklahoma!  It always gets suggested whenever the Raptors play the Thunder, so fine, here I am giving in. Thought i'd do a more modern and female take on the song however

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Homegrown American Lager

Best thing I could find with Home in it's title for this home and home that Raptors and Thunder are a part of. I'll try and find another one for Friday night's game in Toronto

Raptors 2nd in East 50-21! Thunder 5th in West 42-28!

Game 70: Raptors at Pistons!

Third Time's A Charm

• Raptors visit the Pistons for the last time in the regular season today at 4pm. They're hoping for a better showing than the last time these 2 teams squared off
• There's a chance that Fred Van Vleet will go today, he's been upgraded to questionable with his thumb strain. Lowry will likely sit after tweaking his ankle in the Cleveland game. Serge will serve game 2 of his 3 game suspension
• Pistons have Reggie Jackson listed as Probable, but he missed a few games due to injury. He'll likely go tonight

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Detroit Cobras - "Green Light"

Yes, it is St. Patrick's Day in Detroit. No word yet if either team will don Green jerseys. The Raptors haven't done so since the 2011 season and the Piston's just had "Pi Day" inspired jerseys for their game on 3/14. Either way, expect a sea of green in the stands and a sea of Raptors fans, as is the norm when Toronto comes to the Little Caesars arena

Tonight's Game Day Drink

Guinness

How could I pick anything else on this wonderful and sunny St. Patrick's Day?

Raptors 2nd in East 49-20! Pistons 6th in East 35-33!

Game 69: Lakers at Raptors!

The Once & Former King?

• Raptors looking to bounce back after an ugly loss to Cleveland on Monday. The last time Raptors lost to Cleveland was during the 2018 playoffs, which is also the last time that LeBron James was in town. The circumstances are much different tonight
• Raptors will need to win without Serge Ibaka who is suspended for 3 games after going after Marquese Chriss and throwing a few punches. Chriss got 1 game. Raptors sign PF Eric Moreland to a 10-day contract to fill the void. Fred Van Vleet remains out, though he has started practicing with the team again
• The Lakers' season hasn't gone they way they hoped. Struggling for a playoff spot and dealing with many injury issues. Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram are both out for the remainder of the season

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Magic Johnson"

Magic was a phenomenal player, no doubt. As a GM though, he hasn't got the greatest track record and this disappointing season must have him a little worried about his job security. Anthony Kiedis and the Chilis still believe in ya though! Here's a track from 1989's Mother's Milk when things were much happier in lala land.

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Spring Laker

This chilled-out, bro-ish drank was invented in Spring Lake, NJ. It's One part Vodka, 2 parts Red Bull and a splash of pineapple juice!

Raptors 2nd in East 48-20! Lakers 11th in West 31-36!

Game 68: Raptors at Cavaliers!

The East Moves Through Cleveland

• Raptors took care of business last night in Miami and look for another W on this, the second night of a back to back in Cleveland to take on the suffering Cavaliers
• Kawhi Leonard should be playing tonight after sitting out last night's game.  Cleveland is seeing a slew of injuries from players like Tristan Thompson, John Henson, and Larry Nance Jr. Also the enigmatic JR Smith has still yet to play for Cleveland this season
• Patrick McCaw got the start in last night's game for Leonard and performed well. After nearly 6 months on the free-agent market McCaw initially signed with the Cavaliers, after being waived 3 games later, the Raptors were quick to snatch him up

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Drake - "Back To Back"

I could really pick a Drake song for every game I guess due to his affiliation with the Raptors. "Back To Back" is apparently a diss track aimed at Meek Mill, who is from Philadelphia. 

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon

Well the Cavaliers jerseys are considered "Wine and Gold" I guess

Raptors 2nd in East 48-19! Cavaliers 14th in East 16-50!

Game 67: Raptors at Heat!

Heat On A Snowy Day!

• Raptors play the Heat for the third and final time this season. Likely the last time they'll face Dwyane Wade, we'll see who gets the #3 jersey tonight.
• Kawhi Leonard sits tonight for load management and Fred Van Vleet is still out with a broken thumb. Serge Ibaka gets the start again tonight at C
• With Dion Waiters coming back from a lengthly injury, the Heat are pretty much at full strength and they're looking to make a push towards the playoffs. Should be a good game.

Today's Raptor Track!

Canned Heat - "Let's Work Together"

Raptors still need to tighten up a few things, namely getting the new guys on the same page. THey need to work together, so to speak

Today's Game Day Drink!

Hot Toddy

All you need for this simple cocktail is hot water, honey, lemon and whiskey! Perfect drink for this snowy day!

Raptors 2nd in East 47-19! Heat 8th in East 31-34!

Game 66: Raptors at Pelicans!

Come At Us Brow!

• After a few tough losses against Detroit and Houston, the Raptors head back out on the road to New Orleans and take on the pesky Pelicans
• It's no secret at this point that Anthony Davis wants out of New Orleans. The trade deadline has come and gone however and he remains a Pelican. Though the whole fiasco cost GM Dell Demps his job, it's likely that Davis will be dealt over the Summer.
• Jrue Holiday, who is have a great year and absolutely torched the Raptors last time, is listed as out due to an abdominal strain. Also out for the Pels is E'Twaun Moore with Jahill Okafor listed as questionable. Only Fred Van Vleet is out for the Raptors

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Muddy Waters - "Louisiana Blues"

A legendary Bluesman gives us tonight's Raptors Track. Muddy Waters, real name McKinley Morganfield is often cited as the "Father Of Chicago Blues". After countless Grammys, Blues Foundation Awards and an induction into the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame he passed away in 1983 at the age of 70.

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Pink Lady

It is International Women's Day, so let's celebrate the ladies with a Pink Lady!  Which consists of Gin, an egg white and 4 dashes of Grenadine!

Raptors 2nd in East! 46-19! Pelicans 12th in West 30-37!

Game 64: Raptors at Pistons!

Home Away From Home!

• Raptors pulled off an exciting win on Friday night with Kawhi Leonard making the game winning shot putting Toronto over the Blazers 119-117. Kawhi Leonard sits tonight for load management
• A game in Detroit always comes off like a home game for Toronto due to all the Canadian fans making the trip to watch the game. Former Raptor Coach Dwane Casey makes his home there as coach for the Pistons.
• Marc Gasol and Jeremy Lin get the start for the Raptors tonight. Pistons have added a few pieces. They got Thon Maker from the Bucks before the trade deadline.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Royce da 5'9" - "Chips On Pistons"

Hailing from Detroit there is no more fitting song for a game featuring the Pistons than this. Y'know if the playoffs started today, this would be your first round match up

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

The Detroit Dwarf Beer

Copper/amber in colour. Strong at 6.8%! Oof! Perfect drink to go nuts at Little Caesars Arena if you're a Raptors fan!

Raptors 1st in East 46-17! Pistons 8th in East 30-34!

Game 63: Trailblazers at Raptors!

March Madness!

• Last game of a 4 game homestead before heading down to Detroit on Sunday! The Month of February was kind to the Raptors, going 8-1, with their sole loss coming against the Orlando Magic, which of course yours truly was in attendance for!
• Raptors have added Jodie Meeks on a 10-day contract to try him out before the end of the season, he played well in the limited minutes he's been getting against Orlando and Boston.
• Fred Van Vleet is still out with a broken thumb. Evan Turner is out for Portland with a knee injury and Enes Kanter, a Turk, has some immigration issues that will keep him from entering Canada. Other than that Portland has a full squad who are looking great since the All Star Break

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Bon Jovi - "Blaze Of Glory"

The days of hair metal and rollin' down the road songs by dusty, American soft rock bands were a simpler time. If you're too young to have lived through those brief moments of history then please allow Jon Bon Jovi and the boys to enlighten you with "Blaze Of Glory"

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Marquee Game Night Choice

Tonight's game has been added to ESPN's national broadcast in favour of the Boston/Washington game, so that's a reason to celebrate. Also this week saw the Raptors host their annual Season Ticket Holder's Social night out on the town which saw the likes of Kawhi, OG and Marc Gasol bartending. So take your pick tonight and enjoy it!

Raptors 2nd in East 45-17! Trail Blazers 4th in West 38-23!