Game 61: Hornets at Raptors!

Another win over an Eastern Conference rival and another Sunday game against the Charlotte Hornets. Life in a Northern town as a b-ball fan. Charlotte makes their final regular season appearance in Toronto.

• OG Anunoby will remain out for the foreseeable future with a rolled ankle. No use rushing him back when there are plenty of goombas in Toronto's bench mob ready to step up and get meaningful minutes
• The only questionable member of Charlotte's team is Cody Zeller who might sit due to a sore left knee.
• CJ Miles had a fantastic game against Washington on Friday night. He helped Toronto pull away from a tight game with the Wizards hitting 6 3s including one as he was fading out of bounds! That actually killed me while I watched on my couch...thankfully my wife knows CPR and brought me back.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Sting - "Fields Of Gold"

I'm slowly running out of songs about "Hornets" and "Charlotte", so Sting is going to have to sub in for few rounds until more songs are written with my blog in mind. I don't think I need to explain this one do I?

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Hornet IPA

Australian beer company Black Hops Brewing brings us this dry, angry and bitter IPA.  Pours deep golden with a thin white head, fruity & hoppy aromas with a bit of earthiness.

Raptors 1st in East 44-17! Hornets 10th in East 28-35!

Game 56: Heat at Raptors!

Raptors are back home after a quick 'Hey, how are ya?' in Charlotte. Here we find the Miami Heat on this cold night. It's a back-to-back and the last home stand for the Raptors before the All Star Break!

• I guess the biggest news here is that Dwyane Wade is back in a Miami Heat uniform. Things just didn't work out the way he wanted in Cleveland and the opportunity appeared for him to go home. He took it.
• Goran Dragic has been named an All-Star for the Eastern Conference. Though he only got there because of all the injuries to the initial All Stars it is still well deserved after the season he's been having
• Last time these two teams met the Raptors lost in a heartbreak finish due to bench inexperience in crunch-time moments. With the momentum of a 5 game win streak in their wake, hopefully that won't happen this time.
• With the win over Charlotte on Sunday and Boston's loss to Cleveland the Raptors are decidely in 1st place! Going into the All-Star Break on the top of the East would be a nice statement to the rest of the NBA.
• And congrats to Coach Casey for his 300th win with Toronto on Sunday. Well deserved and earned!

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine - "Conga"

I might have done this one before....ah well. It's the Heat! It's cold in the city, but with a hot game, a hot song and hot women, you'll forget all about it!

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Burnside Sweet Heat Beer

Though the Burnside Brewing Co. is from Portland, OR. They are the makers of Sweet Heat Beer! It's known as a fruit/spice beer infused with apricots! Not sure it's my cup of tea...but neither are the Miami Heat!

Raptors 1st in the East 39-16! Heat 8th in the East 30-26!

Game 32: Raptors at Mavericks!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a cold beer! Hope everyone had a safe and joyous Holiday season.  The Raptors hit the road for their first encounter with the Dallas Mavericks tonight!

• The Raptors are officially first in the East! Due to the Celtics and Cavaliers losing their Christmas Day match ups. 
• I guess CJ Miles got an infection due to his dental procedures. Yuck. Meaning he's a game time decision 
• Mavericks will be without Nerlens Noel, Seth Curry and Josh McRoberts. They still have the legendary Dirk though

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Poco - "Dallas"

Typically the songs I pick when the Raptors play the Mavericks are all Country. I'm on my new tablet so I can't preview the song, but I don't think this one is country. 

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Baileys and coffee

Baileys creamy. It's still the holiday season so why not curl up next to the fire watching this game with a warm cup of coffee and baileys?

Raptors 1st in East 23 - 8! Mavericks 15th in West 9 - 25!