Friday November 21 2008 - 11:00pm Eastern
In baseball, you’ve heard about “the house that Ruth built”.
Well, the ACC is “the house that Vince built”.
He came back to Toronto and did it again on Friday night - pulling out the heroics yet again - leading his team to a 129-127 overtime win over the Raptors.
Carter finished with 39 points on 17 of 28 from the field. He had 9 rebounds and 6 assists as well.
Carter hit a monster 3-ball at the end of regulation to tie the game with :00.5 seconds to go.
And then VC did it again in overtime, dunking-home the win with about :01.5 left.
For the second time in three games, Chris Bosh went for 40+ points … and for the second time in 3 games … the Raptors lost. Bosh finished with a career-high-tying 42 points.
Andrea Bargnani had a career-high 29 points (and 10 rebounds as well), and Jose Calderon tallied 26 points, 15 assists, and 5 rebounds.
But it was all for not, as Carter broke the hearts of Raptors’ fans yet again.
I’ll have more later.
What a killer.
The full post-game “Rap” is available right here:
E. Smith
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Eric I was just watching the halftime show of the Thunder-Hornets game and Jalen Rose was on it and he stated boldly (I’m paraphrasing), Nate Robinson wont be wearing #4 when Chris Bosh comes to town in 2010.
What are your takes when a former player such as Jalen makes statements like that?
- BehzadHoly crap, I’ve never seen so much Sam Mitchell bashing on the post game show. It seems whenever the Raptors win, all is well in Raptorland and whenever the Raps lose, it’s all Sam Mitchell fault. Do you think it’s just fans reacting? What are your thoughts?
- andrewJalen Rose is an idiot! He knows nothing about basketball..he lives in a fantasy world where everything espn.com says is true
- Avi from MississaugaRaptors Defense
I feel there is no layering. Against Boston or Detroit you beat one guy you meet someone nastier. In Toronto you get a lay up.
Offense
The great teams constantly try to create higher quality shots with motion or passing into and out of the key. The great teams are always working for better shots. Sam’s mantra has always been if your shot is open take it.
I think most games are won or lost by a few plays. Someone plays backstop on defense. Someone gets easy baskets on offense.
Forget the three spot. No team is great everywhere. The Raptors have great talent. It has to hit the floor early and consistantly. Is it Sam or is it the team?
- milesThis game was a statement call from Vince Carter to both the Toronto Raptors and the fans I still own you and this place. It was a heartbreaking loss in a game they should have won in regulation regardless you cannot completely blame the coach for this he is not the game, the players are in the game. Whatever way you look at it, just disappointing
- Chriseric
thanks for your passion for the nba and the raptors. i am a die-hard raptor fan and at 39, probably one of the oldest. like my younger fellow fans, i was very disappointed with last night’s nets game. also, i partly agree with some of the fan’s re: sam mitchell’s blame. i agree with jonesy and your criticism of sam not getting someone to foul when they were up three with a few seconds left. all the other mistakes are on the players, but i think that was sam’s one tactical error. recently on espn/truehoop, there was an analysis that basically stated that coaches don’t make a huge difference. what do you think? one last question/comment: there is a basketball adage that if you lose by a ton, it’s the players’ fault, but if you lose a close one, it’s the coach’s. does anyone know who first said this? eric, do you agree with this adage?
- henryagain, thanks.
Looks like the Raps are now fighting for 8th in the playoff race…they now need 2 big acquisitions rather than Doug Smith’s 1.5…luxury tax or lottery pick, that’s their season now.
- Richard SpackmanWhat was BC thinking when he signed JO? He could not stay healthy for even a dozen games. His knees will never be healthy and I am expecting him to be out for atleast 6 weeks. What a shame!
- Beburg aka The 88mph manYou’ve gotta be kidding me Beburg
It was a fluke play - on a flagrant foul - with his knee bending/twisting in a way that a knee shouldn’t bend/twist.
It’s not like he got hurt via wear and tear. His leg got inverted on a dirty foul.
I could have happened to anyone. Anyone.
- E. SmithRichard - Let’s not jump off the ship quite yet. There are still *70* games remaining in the season.
We still can’t sit here and say the Raps are barely competing for 8th … 5th … 10th … whatever.
Had they won last night, that would have been 3 in the last four; 7-5; and with a chance to at least take 2 of the next 3 … Toronto could have hit the West coast trip with a 9-6 record.
But now that loss - that ugly loss - puts them in a tough spot on Sunday … facing the prospect of going under .500 … playing the Champs (Boston).
It was an ugly loss and things don’t look great in Raptorland right now, but I think we have to be a little bit realistic about the fact that it’s not even December yet.
- E. SmithChris - you’re right. Everyone shares in the blame. You can’t lay it all on the players and you can’t lay it all on Sam.
The ACC is still VC’s house
- E. SmithMiles: It’s both.
That’s the simple answer, but it’s the truth.
If it was just Sam or just the players … this team wouldn’t be 6-6, they’d be worse. They wouldn’t be building double-digit leads in half of their games … and blowing them all of the time (eventually winning or losing).
Everyone shares a piece of the pie for their inconsistency and their inability to put an opponent away.
- E. SmithAndrew - yours applies to what I just wrote to Miles
- E. SmithAvi - Behzad -
To sit here and say I know exactly what Jalen Rose knows or what he was thinking, would be a lie
But I’ll say that I think Jalen is playing up a lot of ‘hype’. That’s probably what his bosses want: stir the pot.
NOBODY knows where Bosh is or isn’t going in two years. Nobody. Not even Bosh.
Hypothetically, purely HYPOTHETICALLY … if Toronto won the championship this year or next (not likely - but again - HYPOTHETICALLY) or went to the Eastern Conference championship … or … pulled off some crazy trade that stacked the line up … do you think Chris Bosh is just going to get up and leave? I don’t
I said it once, I’ll continue to say it 1000 times … Bosh will stay or go based on how the roster stands at the end of next season and how close (or not) the Raptors are to “contending” and being in a position to win a championship. That’s that. Jalen, me, Bosh himself … couldn’t tell you otherwise.
- E. SmithHenry - I honestly don’t know “who” said that but I will try to track it down
Do I agree? Well, in general, I’d say that players can still lose you close games as well.
Take, for instance, the final play in OT. I’m not pointing the finger, but AP left Carter. He switched. He was between VC and the hoop. But when AP left Carter, Jose was forced to pick up Vince. But Jose was in front of Vince - not behind him. Vince had a CLEAR path to the hoop; thus, the easy dunk on the alley oop.
On that same play, Sam had Andrea cover the passer - Bobby Simmons. If you get a chance to see the play again, Bargs was draped allll over Simmons. He guarded the pass well — Simmons made an INCREDBILE pass.
So all of the intangibles on that play … was it the coach or the players?
That said, the game shouldn’t have been in OT. I would have fouled with 3.2 seconds to go and not given VC or anyone else a chance to get off a 3. So, is that one on Sam?
See what I mean … tough call … even in close games … one play seems like you’d put it more on the players … one play seems like you’d put it more on the coach.
- E. SmithListen you can like sam or dislike sam. But lets face it, he made some mistakes last night. As eric said, he should of followed. And take a look at the plays the nets get out of timeouts and compare them to the raps. Even parkers game tying three was not a good shot. A fading three from the corner. Lets face it, he isn’t a bad coach, but he isn’t a great one. I just don’t think he is getting all he can from his players. The Carter three should never of happend. I am assuming no oneal for boston tomorrow. This is trouble. Looks like this team will go below 500. I would say that is a slight under achievement. Who faults is that? Its time for a change
- Jeff CarterOn a different note. Forget about 2010. If this team doesn’t do something this year and next. Bosh will be gone. I think brian knows this. If this team doesn’t go on a run before christmas. Expect changes.
- Jeff CarterSam Mitchell clearly got outcoached by Lawrence Frank. He had the chance to foul before regulation ends and he chose to play straight up and then VC made the trey to tie it up. VC was tearing it up all night with Parker on him and Mitchell still stuck with that match-up. Why not try something different, like put Moon on him or Graham, just to switch it up. Then in overtime, when Frank drew his big out of the paint for their last possession so that he could get Bosh away from the paint, to set up for VC’s easy dunk. If Bosh was in the paint, VC would not have been able to make that play. Was Mitchell expecting their big to get the ball in that situation? 35 feet away from the basket? As Chuck would say “Are you kidding me?”
- Joe N.Eric,
I’ve bit my tongue re Smitch forever, but its apparent to me now that (assuming Jermaine is ok) this team is better than its coach. I like Sam, and this he’ll be a top tier coach one day, but I’m through with the growing pains. They need a defensive focus. Jeff Van Gundy is out there.
BC:
Fire smitch.
Hire Van Gundy.
Do it now.
-Jeff
- JeffWhat is Sam Mitchell thinking?? Foul, Foul, Foul. Why give the other team the chance to tie the game! This isn’t the first time he has gone with this ridiculous strategy. I think it’s time that B.C. shake up the coaching situation, it sucks!
- M.V.Not again …!!!! I noticed when the Nets would call a time out everyone was listening to their coach, no one spoke, when Sam called a time out …. every one seemed to talk , NO one listend…. time for a coaching change, and how do you lose when you’re up 18 !!! and Calderon shouldn’t give any “it’s over” sign til it IS OVER !!!!!
- daudaWell I notice some things with the Raptors. They don’t have that much toughness on the offence end and defense wise as well. But the big problem this season…is the bench. The are not motivated enough to play cuz I always see them sitting on the bench warming that up while other teams bench squad are on there feet and then ends up tip-toe over the Raptors. Another thing is just this jump shot garbage that causes turnovers. And the biggest problem is taking advantage of situations going their way but doesn’t complete it. In other words…. the Raptors ain’t got that “RUTHLESS AGGRESSION” in them except for Bosh, Humphries, O’Neal & Calderon.
Mitchell I think I’ve seen enough. If the Raptors wanna see playoffs then get a coach that will awaking their sleeping powers. One of those coaches would be Butch Carter.
I rather not see anymore guys that we’ve never seen before meaning guys like Will Solomon with his ballet passing. Throw the goof OUT!!! It’s about time that Bryan Colangelo make those moves by finding guys who has that “RUTHLESS AGGRESSION” in them. Get a better shooting guard the Anthony Parker who makes his sister Candace Parker looks like a legend compared to her brother. And get some players with better 9ppg+.
All I have to say is something has to give right now or just miss the playoffs.
But now as far as Vince Carter goes…more you boo him is the more powerful he gets from you. And last night he showed that with the “FATALITY” alley-oop. I still like Vince no lie. He did help us to the playoffs and the 2nd round in 2001.
If you wanna blame someone people don’t blame Vince, blame Sam Mitchell, that clown Rob Babcock and the imbicle that ain’t helping the Raptors organization.. Richard Peddie!!! GET RID OF THEM!! CHA!!
- Stevenit’s not just a regular game -it’s war (CARTER vs. The Raptor fans)
once again it just showed how out of touch these millionaire U.S. players, on our beloved Raptors, are to the Canadian fans who come to every game to support them
you hear about how players say they feed off us fans - well what happened guys? - didn’t you guys hear the fans booing every time VC touched the ball?; did you choose to ignore our passion and share our need to beat the stuffing out of this same team that kicked your sorry butts during recent playoff years?; maybe you guys just don’t care? whatever it is, the passion and desire wasn’t there. You guys folded up just like a cheap suitcase…well, guess what honey - you OWE us now…if you’re gonna play like a bunch of pansies for teams like Jersey, then you’d better deliver us something to feel proud of and to cheer about like an NBA championship which is very unlikely at this time…so I’ll ask again if you pretty boys -that’s right CB4 - Jay Leno doesn’t need you ’til the playoffs start - if you jerks can’t get into a game like this for US the fans, if not for yourself, then why are you playing this kid’s game?…you know you ain’t going anywhere this year - hopefully you can get a sniff at the 2nd round of playoffs, but please don’t kid yourself your 2nd round playoff game was on Friday and YOU LOST FOR US BIG TIME again!! - thanks for nothin’ Mitchell for delivering the message -but then again maybe you ain’t got a clue yourself - I’m pissed !…still…
we don’t have much history raptorland but how’s this for history - we HATE Carter and T-Mac and stop listening to the media or yourselves that this hate is over especially when you hear the fans booing - so start to show some passion and finally get that killing spirit otherwise
- Tony B