Game 55: Raptors at Hawks!

Big Moves! Big Changes!

• Well it's been an eventful trade deadline on Toronto's part. The biggest deal involved the Raptors trading Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright and CJ Miles to Memphis for Marc Gasol.
• Greg Monroe and Malachi Richardson were also shipped out to Brooklyn and Philly respectively to clear some space
• In some lighter news Danny Green has been named to the 3 point contest at the All Star Game.
• Hawks were quiet at the deadline. Miles Plumlee is still out indefinitely due to a knee but the rest of the team is relatively healthy

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Weezer - "My Name Is Jonas"

On the day that was set to be JV's return to the lineup we stand here today to find that the Lethal Lithuanian has been shipped of to Memphis. He's been part of the scenery since 2011, and one of my favourite Raptors, ever. So Jonas, thank you. Delon and CJ you will also be missed. But JV this one is for you. You will not be forgotten

Tonight's Game Day Drink

Brandy De Jerez

I don't want to understate the arrival of Marc Gasol, the Spanish Bull. He's ours now. A Toronto Raptor. He's being brought in to take us further in the post season than we've ever been. So tonight let's enjoy a Spanish brandy that is produced in the "Sherry Triangle" in Spain.

Raptors 2nd in East 39-16! Hawks 12th in East 18-35!

Game 62: Hawks at Raptors!

Raptors take care of business on Sunday night and remain home to welcome the Atlanta Hawks to town. Just because they're at the bottom of the East can't take any opponent lightly, must take care of business.

• Raptors announced yesterday that they would be signing PF Nigel Hayes to a 10-day contract. Hayes played for the New York Knicks G-League affiliate team and has been performing well for them. Likely to get some burn tonight
• The Hawks recently dumped a few salaries by waiving Marco Bellinelli and Ersyan Ilyasova. Both players then signed with the 76ers.
• Still no Anunoby tonight. Rolled his ankle last week against Detroit. Likely a reason for the Hayes signing, but no need to rush him back

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Superchunk - "Hello Hawk"

Superchunk are a legendary indie rock band from North Carolina. They've had an extensive career spanning nearly 30 years. "Hello Hawk" is of their 1999 album Come Pick Me Up

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

White Hawk IPA

7% Beer from a brewery in California!?! Now we're talking! Mendocino Brewing Company has a few Hawk themed ales it seems. This one's recipe is based on the original brew that was sent to India for the British troops to drink

Raptors 1st in the East 45-17! Hawks 15th in East 20-44!

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 34: Hawks at Raptors!

Well, those last 2 games were not good. Hopefully returning back to their homecourt will get the Raptors back on track. Hawks come to the ACC for some Friday night NBA action!

• Some strange news coming out of the Raptors camp today as Serge Ibaka has been suspended for tonight's game due to an incident that occured after the loss to the Thunder on Wednesday night. 
• Things haven't been great for Atlanta this year, but one shining star has been point guard Dennis Schroder. He's a crafty player who's tough to contain.
• Dwayne Dedmon and Mike Muscala are both out for the Hawks and as I mentioned earlier only Serge Ibaka is out for the Raptors

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Daniel Lanois - "Where The Hawkwind Kills"

One of my favourite and most prolific Canadian Singer/Songwriters is Daniel Lanois. He's also a famed producer working on some legendary albums from U2, Bob Dylan and Peter Gabriel. This one is off his 1989 album Acadie.

Tonight's Gameday Drink

Eaglehawk Chardonnay

Going a little classy tonight for the game day drink! Eaglehawk Chardonnay is an South Eastern Australian wine of Wolf Blass winery.

Raptors 2nd in East 23-10! Hawks 15th in East 9-25!

Game 65: Raptors at Hawks!

Back to the East coast to due battle with a possible playoff first round match up! Raptors are in Atlanta to take on the Hawks!

• Sadly for DeMarre Carroll he will be unlikely for tonight's game and won't get a chance to show up his old team in his old city. Still out with an ankle injury
• Jonas Valanciunas had a huge game on Wednesday night scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 boards against DeMarcus Cousins and the Pelicans. He'll have another big match-up test tonight in Dwight Howard
• Not many other injuries to report on this one, just Kyle Lowry for us and Mike Dunleavy for the Hawks
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT! Perhaps one of the greatest all time fan-favourite Raptors Jose Calderon recently signed with the Atlanta Hawks. He started this season in LA with the Lakers but was waived so the Lakers could tank their season with a clean conscience .

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Colin James - "Atlanta Moan"

This isn't much of a hype track, but Atlanta never seems to get too hype during games. Sorry, but thats just the way it is. So tonight we have Canadian blues guitarist Colin James and "Atlanta Moan"

Raptors 4th in East 38-26! Hawks 5th in East 35-29!

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!