Missing Out

It is hard to be an NBA fan in Toronto. The best game of the month, if not the season, was on last night and all we get are highlights. The brain trust over at TSN thinks that showing a meaningless game between the Flames and Avalanche is better then watching two of the best players and teams in the NBA, idiots. Based on highlights and stat analysis, the Suns/Mavericks double overtime thriller was a fantastic game.

The Raptors out played the Knicks last night to move to 7 games over .500 and take a 6 game lead in the Atlantic. They played a tremendous third quarter where they shot over 70% from the field. I don’t know what Sam Mitchell is saying to them at halftime but it has been effective all season. The Raptors continually have great third quarters and Mitchell and the rest of the coaching staff deserve come credit.

T.J. Ford has been playing the best basketball of his career and is doing everything the Raptors hoped when they traded for him. He is driving the lane and when the defense collapses he is finding the open man. He scores when he has to but isn’t trying to dominate games. He has developed a much better feel for his role on the team. When Bosh was injured T.J. had to increase his scoring and struggled to find his place once Bosh came back. His timing couldn’t be better as the Raptors lost Calderon last night to an ankle injury.

I owe an apology to Anthony Parker. He has proven that he is a very important part of the team on both ends of the floor. He has proven himself as a solid defender and his 3 point percentage continues to increase.

The Rockets are coming to town on Friday and they will be looking for some revenge. Yao Ming has been playing excellent basketball since his return and will be hard for the Raptors to stop. The Raptors need to shoot really well and keep T-Mac from getting too hot. I think the Rockets are going to win this game 90-85.