Game 74 Rockets at Raptors

Game 74 is here with April looming just around the corner. The atmospheric Houston Rockets are in town and the last opponent the Raptors will face before the Post-season that owns a winning record. Let's see how they'll stack up

• Dwight Howard has returned for the Rockets, though he won't be playing tonight as he hasn't been cleared for second games of back-to-backs. Which the Rockets are as they played in Washington last night.
• The Rockets will also be without Patrick Beverly who is out for the season due to having surgery for a wrist injury. Add him to the list along with Donatas Montiejunas, Terrence Jones and Dwight Howard. Can't sleep on the Rockets as James Harden is still healthy and has all the momentum of Japanese bullet train
• No word still on Kyle Lowry. Expect him only to return when he is 100% which might not be until game 1 of the play offs.
• Interesting note: the Rockets and Raptors haven't won on each other's home court since the 06-07 season, when both teams did it

"Song Of The Day"

Love & Rockets - "So Alive"

Getting their name from a comic series of the same name, Love & Rockets were a new-wave rock band out of England. Most of the members of the band met while they were a part of goth-punk group Bauhaus and decided that Love & Rockets would be more pop-oriented and more accessible to mainstream listeners. While their first single "Ball Of Confusion" got them noticed it was a song off their 1989 self-titled album that became their biggest hit. "So Alive" would hit #1 for 5 weeks on the US charts. 

No Superman flying tonight...

Game 73 Lakers at Raptors

It's Friday night! It's in the ACC! It's Raptor time! The suffering LA Lakers come to town and Toronto will be looking for a little early season payback for a game that slipped away down in Los Angeles

• The Lakers have already been eliminated from Playoff Contention with a current record of 19-51. Just not going to cut it in the extremely competitive Western Conference. With a record of 42-30 the Raptors have clinch a Playoff spot for the second season in a row
• No Kobe Bryant for the Lakers and it was big news last week when Canadian Export Steve Nash announced his retirement from the game of Basketball. The Lakers still have Jeremy Lin and Jordan Clarkson who scored 20 points against the T-Wolves earlier this week and 30 against the Thunder.
• Kyle Lowry will sit this game out again with back spasms. Vasquez will get the start and we'll need him to play like he did against Chicago for the remainder of the season or at least until Lowry gets back

Song Of The Day

Flatbush Zombies - "Laker Paper"

The Flatbush Zombies (AKA The Glorious Dead) are a hip-hop trio from the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. Officially getting their start in 2010 the Flatbush Zombies have collaborated with some of Hip-Hop's hottest acts like ASAP Rocky, RZA, Action Bronson, Juicy J and Joey BadA$$. "Laker Paper" was released in 2012 and I might be wrong but I get the vibe that the song is about smoking dope.

T-Dot Friday night!!!

Game 72 Bulls at Raptors

Early start for another rowdy round of Bulls and Raptors basketball!  Last time these two teams met the Bulls punked Toronto and got everything they wanted. Raptors need to man up and make their presence felt if they have any hopes for a W

• As mentioned above it's an early start on the broadcast tonight. 7pm instead of 7:30pm. Not entirely sure why.
• After leaving last night's game against Detroit, Kyle Lowry has no timetable to return for his ailing back injury. Today is his birthday as well! So along with well wishes for a speedy recovery....happy birthday K-Loe.
• Jimmy Butler returns to the Bulls' starting lineup after missing 11 games with an elbow injury. He actually returned on Monday in the game against the Charlotte Hornets. He is ALWAYS trouble for this Raptors squad, they'll need to find some way to slow him down.
• Raptor Playoff watch: A win tonight for Toronto and a loss for Boston and Charlotte would clench a playoff spot for the Raptors.

Song Of The Day

Graham Nash - "Chicago"

A former member of the Hollies and one quarter of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Graham Nash had a modest solo career back in the 70's and 80's. His first solo album in 1972 is called Songs For Beginners and has a song on it called "Chicago". Thought it to be a fitting song for tonight's game. Check it out.

Grab 'dem Bulls by 'dem horns!!

Game 71 Raptors at Pistons

Last 12 games of the season and the sprint towards the playoffs is in full stride! No screwing around with jockeying for best match-up situations! Get as many wins as you can going into the post season with confidence and momentum. First up: Detroit!

• The Pistons are still without their young point guard Brandon Jennings after suffering a season ending knee injury before the All-Star Break. They acquired guard Reggie Jackson from OKC at the trade deadline and he's been given the keys in Jennings' absence
• Greg Monroe will also be out for tonight's game with a knee injury. It will be his fifth straight missed game, in which his team has gone 3-1 without him. Including a win over Chicago.
• Good news for Toronto as Kyle Lowry returns to the starting line up tonight. He's missed the last 2 games with a back contusion (bruise)
• Also a point of interest, if the Raptors manage a victory tonight they would clench a Playoff spot in the East

Song Of The Day

Robert Plant - "Worse Than Detroit"

After the end of Led Zeppelin Robert Plant embarked on a solo journey of sorts. Yes he joined forces with his ol' guitarist buddy Jimmy Page for a while under the monicker Page & Plant, but as a solo artist he released an impressive if not quiet collection of albums. The first of those was released in 1982 and it was called Pictures At Eleven. It featured Phil Collins of Genesis on the majority of drum tracks and received positive reviews from critics and unsure Zeppelin fans. First track on the second side? A song called "Worse Than Detroit".

Detroit Rock City...roll 'em out

Game 70 Knicks at Raptors (Afternoon Game)

No more Mr. Nice Raptors!! The New York Knicks come to town for their last Toronto visit of the season and the Raptors will be looking for revenge after how the last New York game went down.

• Former Raptor #1 Draft Pick Andrea Bargnani makes his return to town. He's been out for most of this season and now that he's back he's become the Knick's number one option. Much like he was touted as when he played for us and if you're wondering if it's going any better for the Knicks i'll save you the suspense. It's not. Sure his numbers aren't the worst, but Carmelo Anthony is out for the season, Amar'e Stoudamire was waived and signed in Dallas, so Bargnani is what the Knicks fans have for now.
• Tim Hardaway Jr. is listed as day-to-day after leaving a game last week with a wrist injury.
• If Bargnani is going to get mercilessly booed tonight expect a warm reception for other former Raptor fan favourites Quincy Acy and Jose Calderon.
• Kyle Lowry is still a game time decision after leaving Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves. He missed Friday's loss to The Bulls. He might skip this one in favour of being ready for tougher opponents, but i'm sure we all remember what happened during the last Knicks game when we didn't have Lowry.

Song Of The Day

Alicia Keys - "Empire State Of Mind (Pt. 2) Broken Down"

I've got some kind of love-jones for a female vocalist who can also play the piano. Just something about it, classic and velvety smooth. Alicia Keys is one of recent history's most talented female artists. "Empire State Of Mind Pt.2" is Alicia's solo take on the first part of a song that was featured originally on Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3. I prefer Keys' version though, definitely captures that New York feel, where you can feel completely alone and isolated in the world's biggest and busiest city.

Boooooooooooooooooo.....just getting warm

Game 69 Raptors at Bulls

It's a battle in the East as third seed Raptors are in Chicago to do battle against the fourth seed Bulls. Bulls have the Raptors' number this year so far winning both previous games. Let's look at the factors and hope TO can even the field a little.

• Kyle Lowry left Wednesday's game with a back contusion, fancy word for a bruise. He made the trip to Chicago but will be a game time decision. The Raptors didn't do tell well when Lowry missed 3 games earlier due to rest.
• The Bulls suffered more heartache earlier this season as Derrick Rose went out with a knee injury. The bodies didn't stop hitting the floor though as Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson are both not available for Chicago. Butler has an elbow injury and Gibson a sprained ankle.
• A little fun fact for Chicago fans: Today is Benny The Bull's birthday! Perhaps the best mascot in league Benny The Bull made his first appearance on this day back in 1969. Sorry to spoil your party Benny!

Song Of The Day

The Alan Parsons Project - "Sirius"

The Alan Parsons Project was a progressive rock band from Britain who played a unique brand of rock, pop, electro music and spanned from 1975 to 1990. Almost every album by the Project included atleast one instrumental track, the track on their 1982 album Eye In The Sky was called "Sirius". For some unknown reason the dynasty era Chicago Bulls used "Sirius" as their entrance theme. It became synonymous with Michael Jordan and championship basketball. The Bulls continue to use the song as their entrance and other teams, namely collegiate basketball teams have began using it aswell in hopes that it is some sort of Championship lucky charm.

Happy Birthday Benny!

Game 68 Timberwolves at Raptors

Back in the winning column!! Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief. With the Timberwolves coming into town tonight, the Raptors have now faced off against every team in the league. Some interesting circumstances surrounding this one. Let's have a look shall we?

• Expect the hype levels to be through the roof with Toronto's very own Andrew Wiggins making his hometown NBA debut tonight. Wiggins was drafted #1 overall in the 2014 NBA draft by the Cavaliers and traded to Minnesota along with fellow Canadian Anthony Bennett.
• Minnesota coach Flip Saunders  is expected to miss tonight's game for personal reasons leaving assisstant coach Sam Mitchell to head the team. Mitchell is an ex-head coach of the Raptors and Raptors' head coach Dwane Casey is ex-coach of the Timberwolves! KG who is back on the Wolves squad once played under Casey as well. With all the Canadians on Minnesota who else thinks the two teams should just switch jerseys for one night?
• Terrence Ross, who left monday's game after taking an elbow to the back, is available for the Raptors tonight. Not sure if his minutes will be monitored or not.

Song Of The Day

Big Wreck - "Wolves"

With all the Canadian content with tonight's game it would be wrong to not pick a Canadian group. Big Wreck's front man, Ian Thornley was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and though the rest of the group came out of Boston, Big Wreck have always embraced their Canadian roots. After an 11 year hiatus Big Wreck released a new album in 2012 Albatross and reminded everyone just how much ass they used to kick. No sign of another break is in sight as their latest album Ghosts was released just this passed year.

All eyes on Maple Jordan!!