Replay
TURNING POINT
Chris Bosh scored on a driving layup, after a spin move, to put the Raptors ahead 79-66, their biggest lead of the game up to that point, with less than a minute left in the third quarter.
Ford gets green light from clinic
The Raptors point guard has been cleared to begin workouts with conditioning guru, and former NBAer, John Lucas in Houston to get back into playing shape.
After undergoing another MRI on his neck and back at that world-renowned facility, the Raptors medical staff announced last night that the chances for a full recovery for Ford are "highly favourable," although there is no timetable for his return to action.
Calderon cooking
The Spanish national team star finished the game with 17 points, nine assists and six rebounds -- just missing his fourth double-double in the last five games -- and played more than 40 minutes for the fourth game in a row.
"This is tough," Calderon said of his recent minutes. "But, like I said, everybody has to be ready to play. We take care of ourselves in the training room and on the court, and everybody is doing a good job in that situation. That's why I'm doing okay."
"I look at it that we won the basketball game," said Mitchell, irritated that many of the post-game questions centred on his club's lack of rebounding. "Obviously, we're concerned about our rebounding. It's two games in a row we've been pounded on the offensive glass. But we were able to overcome it.
"Is there anybody here who saw anything good, other than we won the basketball game? Because if I get one more question about the one thing that we didn't do well ... or is just ya'll's nature to just be negative?"
Without Garbo, Raps just vanilla
This is not about statistical analysis of a team that has seemingly flattened out, but about the human qualities. The passion he brought to every game. The intelligence he brought to the court. The expectation that came with him contesting more shots than his teammates would, or diving for balls they would not skin their knees for.
Garbajosa wasn't the best player or the fastest or even the most important. Only symbolically, what he brought seems to have gone missing.
The Star
Raptors hold off Philly comeback
While much has been made of the lack of production from Toronto's backups lately - and average of about seven points a game total over the last three - starting point guard Jose Calderon doesn't want to differentiate between two units.
"It's not bench or starters, it's team," Calderon said yesterday morning, before lighting up the Sixers for 17 points while dishing out nine assists. "It's the Raptors, we are the same team. And everybody has to play good to win games. We don't have to talk about two teams, it is the same one."
Raptors offence finds a spark
"Coach has put some new sets in and we're getting a lot more motion," said Parker. "A lot of people are touching the ball and getting some action. I don't think we're working as hard for baskets as we were earlier in the year."
"Now, with more motion, coach is really trying to emphasize getting to the basket, to create offence that way, drive and kick and sometimes the defence breaks down and you get layups. I think that's kind of why our percentages have gone up since (Houston)."
Scouting legend pays Raps a visit
When Marty Blake was the general manager of the St. Louis Hawks in the 1960s, the NBA was in its infancy and his job required ingenuity. He wasn't simply the club's brain trust. He was everything from the chief scout to the bookkeeper, from the season-ticket hawker to the sideshow booker.
Ford heads home for rehab on ailing neck
Team officials said last night it's looking "highly favourable for a full recovery and a return to basketball" for the 6-0 point guard.
But they couldn't say when Ford might rejoin the team.
In Houston, he'll work under the guidance of former NBA head coach John Lucas, who helped Ford rehabilitate from neck and back surgery in 2004, an operation that fused two of Ford's vertebrae.
The Globe
Raptors show a finishing touch
We made a concerted effort to come out and do a better job in the third quarter," said Chris Bosh, who picked up two early fouls that limited him to 7 minutes 25 seconds in the first half. "We were trading baskets for the longest time with them and good teams just don't do that. We want to be a good team, so we just have to play with a little more energy and go get some stops."
Ford close to resuming workouts
"His prognosis is highly favourable for a full recovery and return to basketball," said Raptors official Jim Labumbard.
The Post
Raptors cruise back over .500
In addition to their game against the Knicks, the Raptors are in the midst of one of the easier portions of their schedule. Aside from a game in Detroit, the Raptors should be favoured in the rest of their five games in the next 10 days.
However, if they are hoping to mount a run, it is likely they are going to have improve on their rebounding.
TSN
Report: Ukic to join Raptors next season
Under NBA rules, Toronto can pay no more than $500,000 (US) towards a buy-out; the remainder would have to be paid by Ukic himself.
Philly.com
If it's not a funk, then what?
A funk, then, would have to be something worse than the losing streak that has extended to five games, something more than six losses in eight games, something more telling than falling to 0-13 when allowing at least 100 points.
In the end, the Raptors crushed them with the energetic quarterbacking of Jose Calderon (17 points, nine assists, two turnovers in 40:50), some deft inside work by Chris Bosh (21 points) and frenetic rookie Jamario Moon (eight points, nine rebounds) and the perimeter sniping of onetime Sixer Anthony Parker (22 points, including four three-pointers) and Carlos Delfino (12 points).
Sixers - Canada visit an honor for Dalembert
We bring up all of this because Dalembert found himself last night in the unusual position of a visiting player being honored in a pregame ceremony. Before the Sixers faced the Toronto Raptors in the Air Canada Centre, Dalembert was on the court with Rautins and Canada basketball executive director/CEO Wayne Parrish.
"Did they leave anything out?" Raptors coach Sam Mitchell chided. "Can they fly his mom and dad in or something? All I can say is, we're supposed to be the home team. We're supposed to make the visiting team as uncomfortable as possible."
Bleacher Report
Trade Deadline Looms - No Trades from Raptors?
They may make some minor trade(s) to fet a backup point guard if they determine that T.J. Ford won't be able to play this year; they may also clear some room for a draft choice in the upcoming draft.
But I believe Bryan Colangelo is gearing up to make this team the championship material two years hence, when they will rid themselves of large contracts (such as Rasho Nesterovic's) and will have had the advantage of two drafts
