Playoff Round 2: Game 7: 76ers at Raptors!

Game 7!!!

• All of Toronto and most of Canada will be on the edge of their seat for this one! Another game 7 between the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers! Some demons need to be exorcised tonight for sure
• Gonna need a full team effort on defense and rebounding for the Toronto to slow down the Butlers and Simmons of the Philly.
• No update on how Embiid is feeling or any other injury news for that matter. Just go out there and play. We know OG Anunoby is still out due to his surgery

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Papa Roach - "Do or Die"

Pretty straight forward reason for this one to be here

But I also need some pump up songs!! Toronto!! Canada!! Ottawa! Vancouver!! Montreal!! Calgary!! Pond Inlet!!! GET LOUD TONIGHT!!!!!

Baroness - "Shock Me"

Metallica - "Spit Out The Bone"

Spit out 76 bones tonight Raptors!! Let's Gooooooooooo!!!

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Coors Light

The official beer of the Toronto Raptors! Keep it simple, keep it clean!

Wait, there's a Coors Light Orange now?? Better not, that sounds kinda cursed

Series tied! 3-3!

Playoff Round 2: Game 6: Raptors at 76ers!

Deep Breath...

• Raptors have a shot at ending it TONIGHT! With a win in Philly the Raptors would advance to the Eastern Conference Finals to face the Milwaukee Bucks. The 76ers aren't just going to lay down and die though. Need a professional approach
• Serge Ibaka got knocked in the head by Kawhi Leonard and came back with an ugly bump and 3 stitches. Played a great game though and will go tonight
• No word on how Embiid is feeling. Philly fans need a big performance from him tonight for their team to have a fighting chance

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Mobius Band - "Philadelphia"

Coming from their 2005 album The Loving Sounds of Static, "Philadelphia" is a song by the Brooklyn based electro-pop trio Mobius Band. Enjoy!

Tonight's Game Day Drink

Spirytus Gdanski 76%

Released earlier this year, this Vodka is a 76% alcohol volume delight, brought to us from Poland

Raptors lead series 3-2!

Playoff Round 2: Game 5: 76ers at Raptors!

Best of 3

• Raptors return home, where the second round playoff series with the Sixers has become a best of three. Since Toronto won on Sunday the series is now tied 2-2
• Joel Embiid, who will likely play tonight, has been reportedly dealing with an upper respiratory infection. It appears he will be a game time decision
• Pascal Siakam who was dealing with a swollen calf on Sunday will play. OG Anunoby is still out after having an emergency appendectimy.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Elton John - "Philadelphia Freedom"

I meant to pick this one a few games ago, better late than never i guess

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Smithwick's

It may or may not have been cheap night for Irish beer at the local watering hole. I may or may not have a few Smithwicks tonight.

Series tied 2-2!

Playoff Round 2: Game 4: Raptors at 76ers! (POSTGAME)

Exhale...

• There will be a game 6. Raptors defeated the 76ers 101-96 in game 4 at the Wells Fargo arena in Philadelphia. That brings the series to a tie once again at two apiece.
• Kawhi Leonard had another monster game with 39 points, including a go ahead 3 late in the 4th to essentially seal the game. Pascal had a quiet night, but was unsure if he would play due to a swollen calf
• Joel Embiid was also questionable due to illness, but he did play and was rendered rather quiet compared to his game 3 domination. 

Tonight's Raptor Track!

City & Colour - "Comin Home"

Game 5 is Tuesday back in the comfort of the Scotiabank Arena. Raptors fans, get loud and get there early to show your colours for the team!

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Champagne

Hey, a win is a win! So pop the cork and take a little swig of the bubbly! Enjoy what's left of this beautiful weekend!

Series tied 2-2!

Playoff Round 2: Game 3: Raptors at 76ers!

Philadelphia Freedom!

• Philadelphia tied the series at 1 game a piece on Monday after coach Brett Brown made some great adjustments dealing with the Raptors' offence and a sluggish performance from said offence. Let's see if Toronto can bounce back tonight like they did against Orlando after a loss
• Greg Monroe left game 2 with a sore ankle and did not return. A welcome sight to Toronto fans as he was torching the Raptors' defence, yes that Greg Monroe. Joel Embiid was dealing with stomach issues. Both are likely to play this game
• Kyle Lowry is a Philly kid first and foremost. He gets +1/+1 when playing here. With a little help form his supporting cast I think the Raptors shouldn't have much of a problem tonight. But the playoffs are a different animal and the 76ers fans are rabid! Should be a blast!

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Metallica - "For Whom The Bell Tolls"

Philadelphia likes to ring a replica of the Liberty Bell before games. Hence the inspiration for tonight's song. I have a feeling the bell will toll for the home team tonight

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Philadelphia Beer

It's a basic name from a similarly basic-named brewing company, The General Investment Company. It's a boring 5%, without a memorable after taste. It won't fill you up so you're left wanting more...

Series tied 1-1!

Playoff Round 2: Game 1: 76ers at Raptors!

Round 2 Babies!

• Raptors took of business and defeated the Orlando Magic in 5 games. Tonight their 2nd round opponent comes to town, the Philadelphia 76ers, who in turn defeated the Brooklyn Nets in 5 games
• The Eastern Conference Playoffs are out to be a bloodbath. The Sixers are a tough team with some big time talent. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and TJ McConnell are all stars from within the organization and they brought in Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and JJ Redick this year for added intensity
• OG Anunoby is still recovering from his appendectomy, but his return should be some time during this series and Canadian Chris Boucher is out with a sore back. Raptor killer Mike Scott is out for the 76ers with a heel injury

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Clutch - "Spirit Of '76"

Clutch is a cult-rock/metal group from Maryland with 12 studio albums to their name. "Spirit of '76" is off their latest album Book Of Bad Decisions released in 2018.

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Whiskey & Coke

For round 2 you obviously need 2 shots of rye and 2 cubes of ice!

Let's do it boys!

Series tied 0-0!

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 5: Timberwolves at Raptors!

Circus Comes To Town!

• Every year there is a team who's media circus and off court issues are ten times more covered than what their product is on the court. This year it's the Minnesota Timberwolves. After Jimmy Butler reportedly asked to be traded a few of his team mates made some snarky comments through tweets. Then during a practice, Butler assembled a team of those at the end of the bench and embarrassed the rest of the starters in a game all the while taunting and shouting at team owner Glen Taylor. Butler remains a Timberwolf, for now
• Canadian and former #1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins is questionable to play tonight, he will likely be a game time decision
• Delon Wright is likely to return to the line up for the Raptors. Just another tough point guard who can make his presence felt on the defensive end as well.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Awolnation - "Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf)"

Plenty of wolf songs to pick from when Minnesota comes to town, especially around Halloween.

Awolnation are a band from LA, fronted by Aaron Bruno. They've gone 6x Platinum and have been nominated for countless awards

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Wag The Wolf

Beau's is a local craft brewery here in Ottawa, Ontario and Wag The Wolf is one of their wheat beers that has been hopped with organic New Zealand varieties to provide abundant aromas of citrus and tropical fruits

Raptors 1st in East 4-0! Timberwolves 9th in the West 2-2!

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 56: Raptors at Bulls!

YO GIMME SOME RAPTOR NEWS!!!

• Plenty to talk about to today, but first and foremost a monster trade going down between The Raptors and The Magic sending Terrence Ross and a 2017 first round pick to Orlando for Serge Ibaka. T-Ross will be missed, but Ibaka brings a legit presence to the 4 position that has been exposed all season long for the Raptors.
• Alot of uncertainty in the Bulls lineup to day, who the Raptors are playing. Feel like I didn't mention that. Dwyane Wade is questionable with a wrist injury, Jimmy Butler is questionable with a heel injury and Nikola Mirotic is questionable with a back injury. Can't count the Bulls out though, they've delivered us 10 straight ass whoopin's in the past meetings. Patrick Patterson is probably out for the Raptors and don't expect Serge Ibaka to suit up just yet.
• It's Valentine's day, a day that has not been loving to Raptors fans. Who remembers that last game on Feb 14th when Jeremy Lin hit the buzzer beater at the peak of Linsanity. Also both the Bulls and Raptors have been dealing with internal issues, topple that with the trade buzz and there should be a very interesting energy at the ol' Madhouse tonight

Tonight's Raptor Track(s)!

Bullet For My Valentine - "All These Things I Hate"

I don't hate the Bulls, yes they also beat our ass, but they're not on my list of hated teams. I've got a connection and love for the city of Chicago. It's the only city other than Toronto i've seen a regular season NBA game in, plus the team's championship history is one to be admired. Just wanted to play a band with the word Valentine in it for today. Great song, by a great heavy band

Aimee Mann - "31 Today"

Didn't feel right to post a song that didn't in some way honour Terrence Ross. Sure he might not have developed into the player we needed, but he gave alot to Toronto and was a fun player to watch. Wish him luck

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!