Game 39 Hawks at Raptors (Throwback Night!)

It's a battle for the East. Though the Wizards are sitting in the second spot a tight race still exists between the East's top 4 teams with the Raptors at 3rd and the Hawks sitting at number one. (Chicago has the 4th slot). Atlanta are looking for some redemption against Toronto and the Raptors are looking for a return to form with DeRozan back in the starting 5.

• At 31-8 the rolling Hawks have the best record in the East and are tied with the Golden State Warriors for most wins in the league. Quite a far shake from the 7-6 team the Raptors beat back in November
• Recently the Hawks have rested a few players in games against Boston and Philadelphia. Expect none of that business tonight as these two teams will be going head to head at full strength
• It is Grievis Vasquez's birthday as a fun note! The best gift he could receive today will be a notch in the win column. No doubt

Song Of the Day

"Anger As Beauty" - Hawksley Workman

Hawksley Workman is a Canadian singer/songwriter/producer who got his start writing love poems in character for the Toronto Star before becoming a well known artist across the country. "Anger as Beauty" is off of my favourite record of his, 2003's Lover/Fighter. It was recorded near his home town in the Muskoka region of Northern Ontario, not far from where I grew up. Tonight anger will be beauty for both Raptors fans and Hawks fans. Anger is a passionate emotion and can generate the type of energy a team needs to overcome it's foe. Let's hope it's a good one for both sides!

Purple jersays!!!

Game 38 76ers at Raptors (post game)

The domination of the Atlantic division continues with Toronto's 100-84 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Tonight's game also saw the return of DeMar DeRozan who nailed 20 points!

• Although it was a losing effort and a rebuilding season for the 76ers, last year's rookie of the year Michael Carter Williams dropped 29 points for the team and that's good enough for a career high. The 76ers would be foolish to let this kid go.
• DeMar DeRozan had an impressive return with 20 points in about 29 minutes. A good way to ease him back in to the lineup before an intense game on Friday against the Hawks.
• Kyle Lowry had a double/double with 18 pts and 12 rebounds. Though with DeMar back in the lineup it will be great to see him sharing the load of the team's productivity with Kyle. One of the top back courts in the NBA is back.

Song of the Day

Elton John - "Philadelphia Freedom"

Freedom might not be the first the word on many 76er fans when it comes to the terms of this season for them, but it is right around the corner for Philadelphia fans. However, who knows how far off the truth will be...what good is freedom without truth?

Raptuhs win Matty D!!!

Game 37 Pistons at Raptors

Back at the beginning of the season tonight's game might not have been that would've been circled on too many calendars, however given the circumstances of the last meeting between the Pistons and the Raptors and Detroit's recent turn of fortune, it's going to be a game that many eyes will be on tonight.

• Detroit recently waived power forward Josh Smith. Not traded, waived. He would go on to be picked up by Houston, but since then the Pistons have been on a tear and have won 5 straight on the road.
• Who can forget the devastating dunk laid down upon Andre Drummond by James Johnson during the last match-up between these 2 teams?
• Though his services would be greatly endorsed, DeMar DeRozan will not return tonight. #3 James Johnson will get the starting spot again.

Song Of The Day

Glueleg - "Pistons"

Ten Raptortracks style points if you remember Glueleg, a band from Toronto whose career peaked in 1997 with the release of Clodhopper. 3 of the 11 tracks off the album got significant airplay on Much Music and they even performed at that summer's Edgefest. Man, alot of nostalgia in that last sentence, some simpler, better times back then. "Pistons" was Clodhopper's kick off track and it was a rocker. Check out "Dragonfly" and "Mrs. Petrie" as well.

Cock that joint back and bang on 'em!!

Game 36 Celtics at Raptors

Hoping to snap their four game losing slide the Toronto Raptors play host to the Boston Celtics who are currently in the middle of a complete tear down. Let's look at some points...

• Boston recently traded away the last remaining player from their 2008 Championship year Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks. They were not finished making moves there however.
• Brandan Wright would be moved to the Phoenix Suns and Jeff Green was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies today, leaving quite the young core in Boston. Jared Sullinger, Brandon Bass, Marcus Smart and Canadian boy Kelly Olynyk look to be Boston's future as the team loads up on draft picks.
• Expect a shake up in tonight's starting line-up for the Raptors as Dwane Casey looks for new ways to get a spark out of his team and climb out of this losing streak. The longest since the Rudy Gay trade of last year.

Song Of The Day

"Youth" - Daughter

Youth is the key word around Celtics-land these days. Opting to send out the majority of their veterans to other teams in exchange for future draft picks. Daughter is a folky band out of England who landed a rather impressive hit on this side of the pond in 2013 with "Youth" off their debut album If You Leave. This song has been featured in TV shows and commercials getting the band worldwide recognition and acclaim.

Let's get ittttt

Game 35 Hornets at Raptors

After a 4 day break since their last game and a grueling six game Western road trip (were they went 2-4) the Raptors return home to face conference rivals Hornets of Charlotte

• This will be the first time we've seen Charlotte since they dropped the Bobcats moniker. Way back when in 1988 Charlotte had a franchise named the Hornets but they moved to New Orleans in 2002. So when Charlotte was rewarded with an expansion team in 2004 they had to pick a new name. Since New Orleans changed names to The Pelicans a few years back, the Hornets name was back up for grabs and Charlotte reclaimed it. Bringing back to life one of the most exciting and colourful teams of the 80's and 90's.
• The Hornets will be without their Allstar center Al Jefferson (who normally torches us) and Lance Stephenson, who was one of their biggest pick ups of the off season.
• DeMar DeRozan decided he is better off giving himself another week to heal before making his return. Smart move. No need to rush back and risk re-injury.

Song of the day

Kittie - "Charlotte"

Kittie are a metal band from London, Ontario. Their major label debut Spit was released in 2000 and received glowing reviews from metalheads all over the world, even gaining the notice of then bass player for Metallica Jason Newsted.  They'd endure several lineup changes through their existence and still perform to this day. After 6 albums, their latest being in 2011, are currently working on a documentary. "Charlotte" comes off their first album. Here is the video.

Back home! Defend our territory!!

Game 34 Raptors at Suns

The final game of the 6 game road swing lands the Raptors in Phoenix tonight to take a shot at a season sweep against the Suns.

• Last time the Suns and Raptors squared off the Raptors came away with a 104-100 victory with big games from Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Lowry
• Though DeMar DeRozan is slated this week, he won't be playing in Phoenix tonight.
• The Suns boast some impressive point guards in Eric Bledsoe, Isaiah Thomas, Goran Dragic and even Canadian born Tyler Ennis. Though Ennis has seen extensive time in the D-League and will likely not play tonight against his home town team.

Song of the day

"Long Distance Call" - Phoenix

Phoenix are an alt-rock, electro band from France and if any Toronto players are calling home, it will definitely be a "Long Distance Call". Yes. They've been around for nearly 20 years with their first album being released in 2000. Their big break was in 2009 with Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix and their songs "1901" and "Listzomania". This song comes off their 2006 album It's Never Been Like That.

Get the last one on the road boys!!!!

Game 33 Raptors at Warriors

The fellowship from Toronto continue their trek across the Western United States as the Raptors are in Oakland to face the Golden State Warriors the top team in the West.

• Not getting any easier for Kyle Lowry who's had to guard such talented PGs as Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard and now Steph Curry.
• Warriors' center Andrew Bogut has missed the last 10 games with a knee injury and will miss tonight's game along with Festus Ezeli who has a sore ankle. Raptors' guard DeMar DeRozan has begun practicing with the team, but still expecting another week or so before returning to the court for games.
• Warriors and Raptors are known to play well against each other with teams splitting the seasons for a few years now. The Raptors need to contain Steph Curry and Klay Thompson and play hard inside for a shot at winning this and holding on to the #1 spot in the East

SONG OF THE DAY

"Brown Eyed Warrior" - LAL

LAL were a Toronto-based group consisting of various musicians representing many different cultures. Uganda, Barbados, Bangladesh and India are some of the countries the members call home, which is fitting for a culturally diverse city like Toronto. I say the 'were' a group because I can't find any music from them beyond 2007 and this is the only song of theirs in my personal collection. "Brown-Eyed Warrior".

10:30 start in Eastern Time!!