Tuesday January 26 2010 – 3:23pm Eastern – Toronto, ON

If you’re a basketball fan and you’ve been searching for a place to spend (throw away?) your hard-earned money for the past 15 years, you may be in luck by as early as this spring.

The Toronto Raptors – along with the NBA – and the province of Ontario are close to coming together on a deal that would finally allow wagering on NBA games to be a part of the Pro Line Lottery.

“It’s not done yet but it will probably be done for next season; maybe this year’s playoffs,” said Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment COO and VP, Tom Anselmi.

The details are a bit sketchy right now but this seems to be as close to a “done deal” as it’s going to get … until it’s actually truly DONE.  And when the formal announcement is made, Anselmi said that Pro Line (i.e. – The Ontario Lottery Corporation) will ensure that some of the of the profits from wagers on NBA games will be put directly back into the basketball community via development and programs, etc.

If – or should I say WHEN – the deal is finalized it will be the first time in the Raptors’ existence that people in Ontario will have a chance to wager on NBA games.  The league banned the province to drop their games from Pro Line when the Raps came into the league. 

Vegas North?  Ok, maybe not … but it’s a start! 

E. Smith

Sunday January 24 2010 – 8:47pm Eastern – Toronto, ON

Lakers @ Raptors

Final Score:
106-105, Raptors (Toronto now 23-22)

“Smith and Jones” Player of the Game:
CHRIS BOSH
18 points
13 rebounds
2 assists
2 steals
9/17 FG
“Alice Fazoolis” Player of the Game:
JARRETT JACK
18 points
4 assists
0 turnovers
8/14 FG
Shout-out to the Lakers:
KOBE BRYANT
27 points
16 rebounds
9 assists
2 rebounds
11/24 FG
6/6 FT

Stats that stood out:
- Points in the Paint: 56-38, LA
- 2nd Chance Points: 19-8, LA
- Fast Break Points: 22-18, LA
- Toronto ’improves’ to 4-16 when trailing going into the 4TH QRT
- LA is now 27-1 when carrying the lead into the 4TH quarter
- LA is now 33-2 when holding a lead at ANY point in the 4th QRT
- Bryant’s 16 rebounds were a career-high
- Andrea Bargnani had a team-high 22 points (14 of which came in the 2nd half)
- Bryant missed a buzzer-beating 3-ball (hit 2 rims and popped out) that would have given LA the win.

Thumbs Up:
- Beating the champs — the number one team in the league … what more do you want?!  That was a monster win for the Raptors; another one of ‘many’ against top teams since the calendar flipped to 2010.

Thumbs Down:
- More than half of LA’s points came in the paint.  Yes, the Lakers are long (Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, etc) but Toronto has got to do a better job of boxing-out and putting bodies on rebounders.

Smith Says:
- “WHAT.  A.  GAME.”

Jones Says:
- “The Raptors did something NO other team has done all season – take a 4th quarter lead away from the Lakers.”

Keep the 3-ball Streak Alive (905 games and counting):
- The Raptors were 7 of 18 from 3PT range

Next game:
- Heat @ Raptors – Wednesday January 27 2010 – 7:00pm Eastern
- Tune in just after 7:00pm for the “Pizza Pizza” starting line ups

* Missed our post-game show?  You can catch it right here:

[audio:http://qml.quiettouch.com/files/radio/fan590/hotaudio/rapspostgame-fan-20100124.mp3]

Saturday January 23 2010 – 12:00am Eastern – Toronto, ON

Bucks @ Raptors – Friday January 22 2010

Final Score:
101-96, Raptors (Toronto now 22-22)

“Smith and Jones” Player of the Game:
JARRETT JACK
27 points
3 rebounds
2 assists
2 steals
7/9 FG
11/12 FT

“Alice Fazoolis” Player of the Game:
MARCO BELINELLI
16 points
5 rebounds
2 assists
4/9 FG
7/9 FT

Shout-out to the Bucks:
LUKE RIDNOUR
27 points
4 assists
2 rebounds
9/13 FG
6/6 FT

Stats that stood out:
- Points in the Paint: 42-34, Toronto
- 2nd Chance Points: 15-11, Toronto
- Fast Break Points: 27-5, Toronto
- The Bucks ‘drop’ to 12-3 when Bogut scores 17 or more points (22 last night - but only 5 in the 2nd half)
- Milwaukee ‘drop’ to 16-5 when carrying a lead into the 4TH QRT
- Toronto ’improves’ to 3-16 when trailing going into the 4TH QRT
- The Raptors are now 15-0 when holding their opponent under 100 points
- Jack’s 27 points were a season-high
- Ridnour had 18 of his 27 points in the 4th quarter!

Thumbs Up:
- Toronto out-scores the Bucks 20-9 in the final 5:01 (including an 13-2 at one point) to turn the game around get a well-earned come-from-behind victory on a night where Andrea Bargnani (lower back) didn’t play, Chris Bosh wasn’t at the top of his game, and Hedo Turkoglu shot just 2 for 10 (6 points) from the floor.

Thumbs Down:
- Falling down by 15 points to the Bucks in the first half; playing with little energy and hustle.  The Raps can’t continue to dig themselves into deep holes that they’re forced to try and climb out of.

Smith Says:
- “Aggression in crunch-time got this win for Toronto.  It took the Raptors most of the game to finally get to the hoop consistently but they did it in the 4th – especially in the final 8+ minutes.  In fact, if you include trips to the free throw line, Toronto scored on 15 of their final 18 possessions of the game.”

Jones Says:
- n/a

Keep the 3-ball Streak Alive (904 games and counting):
- The Raptors were 6 of 20 from 3PT range

Next game:
- Lakers @ Raptors – Sunday January 24 2010 – 6:00pm Eastern
- Tune in at 5:30pm for the pre-game show and just after 6:00pm for the “Pizza Pizza” starting line ups

* Missed our post-game show?  You can catch it right here:

[audio:http://qml.quiettouch.com/files/radio/fan590/hotaudio/rap-fan-20100123.mp3]

Friday January 22 2010 – 12:50pm Eastern – Toronto, ON

I’ve got a busy day ahead of me … hosting “The Game Plan” from 2pm-4pm … then calling the action of the Bucks and Raptors – alongside Paul Jones – at 7pm … then hosting “The Rap” until 11pm tonight.  But I love these days; talkin’ ball.

Tonight’s tilt is an important one for Toronto as they hope to bounce back from Wednesday’s frustrating loss in Milwaukee.  The Raps will hope to get back to the .500 mark as they gear up for Kobe and the Lakers on Sunday. 

NUMBER CRUNCHING

Here are a few key stats to keep an eye on tonight:

                                Jan 17 vs Dallas             Last 2 Games

OPP. FG %                    45.0                             49.4
OPP. 3PT FG %            33.3                              37.8
Blocks/game                    6                                3.0
REB Differential               +4                               -9.0

                             Milwaukee HOME          Milwaukee ROAD      

Record                         12-7                              5-16
PPG                             103.0                            93.5
FG%                             43.9                             41.7
3PT FG%                      39.7                             33.1

In addition to those numbers, Brandon Jennings is averaging 19.7 PPG at home and 16.4 PPG on the road.

Jennings has seen his numbers dip quite a bit over the course of this rookie season for him as well:

                                     PPG                             FG%

November                     22.1                              42.0
December                    16.7                              37.6
January                        13.4                              29.3

He has 16 points on Wednesday in Milwaukee’s win over Toronto.

Of course the star of that game – in spite of the loss – was Raptors’ forward Chris Bosh.  CB4 had a career-high 44 points … continuing to bolster his monster numbers for January:

                                   JAN                              OCT – DEC  

Minutes                        38.3                              34.8
Points                          25.8                              23.8
FG%                            55.1                              51.7    
Rebounds                    10.7                              11.2

For what it’s worth, if Bosh were to go for 40+ against tonight against Milwaukee, it would be the first time a Raptor has done so since Vince Carter achieved that feat back in December of 2001:

Dec. 9 vs PHX – 42 points for Carter
Dec. 7 vs DEN – 42 points for Carter (in overtime)

ALL STAR

Bosh was not name – as a starter – to the 2010 NBA All Star game on Thursday night but when the RESERVES are announced next week you can bet that his name will be on that list. 

Starting for the East will be:  Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Dwight Howard.

The 30 head coaches in the NBA will select the reserves (7 total) and they’ll likely be looking at crop of players that includes the likes of:  Bosh, Josh Smith, Rajon Rondo, David Lee, Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson, Derrick Rose, Antawn Jamison, Paul Pierce, and Andre Igoudala.

———-

Alright folks, I’m out of here.  Gotta get into the station for “The Game Plan”. 

Don’t forget to tune in to the Bucks and Raptors are 7pm tonight as well … and keep it tuned to the FAN 590 after the game for the post-game show – “The Rap” – which will run ’til 11pm.

Have a good one

E. Smith

* Big shout-out to my man Jumpin’ Johnny Rusin as well

Thursday January 21 2009 – 7:38pm Eastern – Toronto, ON 

This just came down less than 15 minutes ago.

The starters are set for the 2010 NBA All Star game.

Based on fan votes, starting for the West will be:

G – Steve Nash
G – Kobe Bryant
F – Carmelo Anthony
F – Tim Duncan
C – Amare Stoudemire

As for the starters in the East …

G – Allen Iverson
G – Dwyane Wade
F – Kevin Garnett
F – LeBron James
C – Dwight Howard

James was the leading vote-getter with more than 2.5 million ballots coming in.

The RESERVES – as voted by the 30 head coaches in the league – will be announced next Thurdsay, January 28.  Raptor fans can be assured that Chris Bosh will be on that list for the East.

E. Smith

Wednesday January 20 2010 – 9:47pm Central – Milwaukee, WI

Raptors @ Bucks

Final Score:
113-107, Bucks (Toronto now 21-22)

“Smith and Jones” Player of the Game:
CARLOS DELFINO
22 points
7 rebounds
4 assists
7/15 FG (including 4/8 3PT FG)
4/4 FT

“Alice Fazoolis” Player of the Game:
* Unfortunately, we weren’t joined by a member of the Bucks … but if we had our choice it would have been:
ANDREW BOGUT
27 points
12 rebounds
3 blocks
11/14 FG

Shout-out to the Raptors:
CHRIS BOSH
44 points
12 rebounds
4 assists
15/26 FG
14/15 FT

Stats that stood out:
- Points in the Paint: 52-30, Bucks
- 2nd Chance Points: 22-13, Bucks
- Fast Break Points: 6-6
- Bogut fouled out of the game with 4:11 to go and the Bucks up by 5
- The Bucks are now 12-2 when Bogut scores 17 or more points
- Milwaukee is now 16-4 when carrying a lead into the 4TH QRT
- Toronto now 2-16 when trailing going into the 4TH QRT
- The Bucks had *18* offensive rebounds in this game

Thumbs Up:
- Chris Bosh.  He did it all.  A career-high 44 points.  He was an absolute beast but, unfortuately, it means little-to-nothing in the end.

Thumbs Down:
- Offensive rebounding.  Milwaukee hammered Toronto on the offensive glass getting second look after second look (again, to hammer-home the point:  18 offensive rebounds and 22 second chance points for the Bucks)

Smith Says:
- “Getting beat is one thing.  Getting out-worked and out-hustled is another.  This was a frustrating loss.”

Jones Says:
- n/a

Keep the 3-ball Streak Alive (903 games and counting):
- The Raptors were 5 of 16 from 3PT range

Next game:
- Bucks @ Raptors – Friday January 22 2010 – 7:00pm Eastern
- Tune in just after 7:00pm for the “Pizza Pizza” starting line ups

* Missed our post-game show?  You can catch it right here:

[audio:http://qml.quiettouch.com/files/radio/fan590/hotaudio/TheRap-es-20100120.mp3]

Wednesday January 20 2009 – 2:30pm Central – Milwaukee, WI

Sorry we’re a little late with the VLOG today folks … we couldn’t find a worthy recording area.  Thus, we ended up in the mall!

Watch as we look back to last night’s tough loss in Cleveland and look ahead to tonight’s tilt against the Bucks.

Toronto needs this one tonight; trying to move back above .500 after dropping yesterday’s game to the Cavs.  And these same two teams – T.O. and Milwaukee – will go at it again on Friday at the ACC.

Have a good one folks … and don’t forget to tune in to the pre-game show at 730pm tonight.  We’ll have 1 on 1 interviews with Hedo Turkoglu, Jack Armstrong, and more.

E. Smith

Wednesday January 20 2010 – 10:25am Central – Milwaukee, WI

Put this in the:  “You have got to be kidding me / How sick are you?” file …

A gentleman (and I cannot stress how LOOSELY I use that word) is trying to set up a basketball league in U.S. that will feature white players ONLY.

“Only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league,” the press release reads.

For more on this sickening story, check out the original article from yesterday’s edition of the Augusta Chronicle:

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2010/01/19/nba_563760.shtml

A new professional basketball league boasting rosters made up exclusively of white Americans has its eyes set on Augusta, but the team isn’t receiving a warm welcome.

The All-American Basketball Alliance announced in a news release Sunday evening that it intends to start its inaugural season in June and hopes Augusta will be one of 12 cities with a team.

“Only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league,” the statement said.

Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver, who has publicly expressed his support for minor league teams in the past, said he would not do the same for this team.

“As a sports enthusiast, I have always supported bringing more sporting activities to Augusta,” he said. “However, in this instance I could not support in good conscience bringing in a team that did not fit with the spirit of inclusiveness that I, along with many others, have worked so hard to foster in our city.”

Clint Bryant, athletic director at Augusta State University, laughed when he heard the news.

“It’s so absurd, it’s funny, but it gives you an idea of the sickness of our society” he said. “It shows you what lengths people will go to just to be mean-spirited. I think at any basketball level, no matter if it’s all black, all white, all Hispanic, all Asian or anyone else, the players should just be a basketball team.”

Don “Moose” Lewis, the commissioner of the AABA, said the reasoning behind the league’s roster restrictions is not racism.

“There’s nothing hatred about what we’re doing,” he said. “I don’t hate anyone of color. But people of white, American-born citizens are in the minority now. Here’s a league for white players to play fundamental basketball, which they like.”

Lewis said he wants to emphasize fundamental basketball instead of “street-ball” played by “people of color.” He pointed out recent incidents in the NBA, including Gilbert Arenas’ indefinite suspension after bringing guns into the Washington Wizards locker room, as examples of fans’ dissatisfaction with the way current professional sports are run.

“Would you want to go to the game and worry about a player flipping you off or attacking you in the stands or grabbing their crotch?” he said. “That’s the culture today, and in a free country we should have the right to move ourselves in a better direction.”

The Atlanta-based league, which will operate as a single-entity owning all of its teams, is looking for local contacts to pay $10,000 to become a “licensee” in one of 12 cities throughout the Southeast. Lewis said he has already received threats from people opposed to the roster restrictions and several cities have told him to stay out of town. Lewis said he has yet to hear from any one in Augusta.

“We need a local person ingrained into the community to make this successful,” he said.

Lewis said he expects to eventually find support in every town with a team.

“People will come out and support a product they can identify with. I’m the spoken minority right now, but if people will give us a chance, it’ll work… The white game of basketball, which is essentially a fundamental game, works.”

Lewis said he wasn’t sure where the team will play.

Augusta has had problems with minor league basketball teams in the past, but the issues never centered around race. The Augusta Drive lasted less than a month before folding in 1995, citing financial reasons. The Augusta Groove made it through a full, 20-game schedule in 2009, but accusations from players and local businesses that the team wasn’t paying its bills surrounded the team during the second half of the season. The team later shut down in the off-season.

Wednesday January 20 2009 – 9:23am Central – Milwaukee, WI

I’ll be vlogging with Jonesy later on today but I thought I’d pass this along (I’m awake due to a blowtorch, jackhammer, and nail gun being used outside my window as “roof repairs” are going on here at the hotel (BRUTAL)) …

The NBA has just released its list of the “Most Popular Jerseys” – based on sales at the NBA Store in New York City combined with online sales at NBAStore.com (since the start of the 2009-10 season).  And you may be surprised by some of the folks on this list:

1. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
2. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Dwight Howard- Orlando Magic
4. Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls
5. Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
6. Kevin Garnett – Boston Celtics
7. Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
8. Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
9. Shaquille O’Neal – Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Pau Gasol – Los Angeles Lakers
11. Carmelo Anthony – Denver Nuggets
12. Steve Nash – Phoenix Suns
13. David Lee – New York Knicks
14. Allen Iverson – Philadelphia 76ers
15. Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder

I did not expect to see Rose that high on the list and I didn’t think Shaq would be a Top 10 guy anymore as well.  Plus, I’m going to assume that David Lee’s sales stem from the store simply being in New York … and not a sign of some sort of global popularity!

The league also released the Top 10 TEAMS (based on overall sales in team merchandise) and here’s that list:

1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Boston Celtics
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
4. New York Knicks
5. Chicago Bulls
6. Orlando Magic
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Miami Heat
9. San Antonio Spurs
10. Phoenix Suns

Have a good one folks.

E. Smith

Tuesday January 19 2010 – 9:57pm Eastern – Cleveland, OH

Raptors @ Cavaliers

Final Score:
108-100, Cavs (Toronto now 21-21)

“Smith and Jones” Player of the Game:
MO WILLIAMS
22 points
10 assists
3 rebounds
7/15 FG (including 4/8 3PT FG)
4/4 FT
“Alice Fazoolis” Player of the Game:
* Unfortunately, we weren’t joined by a member of the Cavs … but if we had our choice it would have been:
LEBRON JAMES
28 points
11 assists
9 rebounds
3 steals
3 blocks
8/18 FG

Shout-out to the Raptors:
CHRIS BOSH
21 points
10 rebounds
3 assists
9/16 FG

Stats that stood out:
- Points in the Paint: 50-32, Cavs
- 2nd Chance Points: 8-7, Cavs
- Fast Break Points: 25-16, Cavs
- During this game, Shaquille O’Neal became only the 5TH player in NBA history to reach 28,000 career points
- Bosh was just 2/6 FG in the 2nd half
- The struggles continue for Hedo Turkoglu:  1/6 FG … 3 points … 3 rebounds … 3 assists
- Jose Calderon, who has been solid since his return from the hip injury, was just 2 for 9 FG off the bench (6 points)

Thumbs Up:
-Toronto keeping it close … down 104-100 with 2:44 to go.  That’s what you want — in the game … on the road … in crunch time.  But, unfortunately … keep reading:

Thumbs Down:
- Toronto gets skunked in the final 2:44 minutes of the game … missing on some WIDE OPEN looks (16-footer for Calderon, 25-footer for Calderon, 19-footer for Bosh).  Couldn’t take advantage of a Cavs team that had 0 FG through the final 3:06

Smith Says:
- “The Raptors had their chances down the stretch but they simply couldn’t come through.  It was a frustrating end to an otherwise decent effort – on the road – by Toronto.  Gotta get this one back in Milwaukee tomorrow.”

Jones Says:
- n/a

Keep the 3-ball Streak Alive (902 games and counting):
- The Raptors were 7 of 19 from 3PT range

Next game:
- Raptors @ Bucks – Wednesday January 20 2010 – 8:00pm Eastern
- Tune in at 7:30pm Eastern for the pre-game show and just after 8:00pm for the “Pizza Pizza” starting line ups