Feb 22, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Raptors forward Rudy Gay (22) waits to take his next free throw as point guard Kyle Lowry (3) tries to quiet the crowd in the closing minutes against the New York Knicks at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Knicks 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Why? Offense. Oh, the offense. The Toronto Raptors are my League Pass crush. My lover on the side, my best kept secret. Where do I start with the appeal in this team? From point, is the beautifully unpredictable Kyle Lowry. Every possession is wrought with tension as the result could be anything from him hitting a fading three ball from far beyond the arc to…well, him missing that ill-advised fading three. Coming off the bench behind Lowry is John Lucas III, who is by far one of my favourite back-ups in the league. He drives at the rim like he has a death wish (or perhaps is still bitter after the LeBron dunk), and shoots the three pretty well too. He’s streaky, and I’m sure he causes Raptor fans to tear their hair out at times, but as a neutral onlooker, it’s a ball watching Lucas play.

Toronto’s guard rotation includes DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross and Alan Anderson. DeRozan is the biggest name player of the trio, a past Dunk Contest participant and high-volume scorer. Although his potency as a slasher is his primary means of scoring and adding to the highlight reel, DeRozan has began to develop a more versatile offensive game that is making him more and more fun to watch. Terrence Ross burst onto the scene winning this year’s Dunk Contest as a rookie, topping Utah’s Jeremy Evans in the final. Ross’ minutes are still limited as his overall game develops, but expect the University of Washington product to add many more putbacks, windmills and dagger threes to his already impressive highlights package.

The latest Raptor on the block, Rudy Gay, brings his silky and powerful scoring touch with him from Memphis. The key difference between the two however, is Toronto’s frantic pace. It allows more streaking drives, more clutch floaters and a lot more mayhem and fun from Gay. He may not be the kind of player who can lead a franchise to a championship, but he’s an impressive, entertaining player without a doubt.

The Raptors front court doesn’t boast the same level of entertainment as the back court, though Amir Johnson always plays like he’s in a street fight and Jonas Valanciunas has heart for days. While Bargnani, perennial whipping boy, makes for some painful viewing, the lunging blocks and thunderous dunks that Johnson brings off the bench makes up for it. Valanaciunas is a quality work-in-progress, making enough hustle plays to make you grin while still making all those rookie errors that allows things like this to happen.

Toronto’s style of play isn’t always pretty. They have a lot of guys on the roster who take a lot of bad shots, Lowry and Anderson specifically. They’re hardly a flawless team, as their record indicates, and I don’t write this with the intention of painting them as an elite team full of superstars. But in a sense, that makes them endearing to watch. They’re a young squad with a lot of energy in spite of their dismal record – something you can credit to the ever-excitable coach Dwane Casey.

Whenever you’re scanning the list of games for the day, always keep an eye for who Toronto’s playing. Against the elite teams, I’d steer clear. Blowouts are never fun, and a good defense can make Toronto look very bad, very quickly. However, when they clash with fellow lottery teams such as the Cavaliers, Timberwolves and Hornets? Mark it as essential viewing. It’s the best team Toronto’s put out since Vince Carter left (sorry, Chris Bosh), and they’re only getting better.

Dec 5, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Toronto Raptors center Andrea Bargnani (7) looks to the basket against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Since Bargnani’s role has has now been deemed ”changed,” it’s looking more and more likely that he’s going to stay with the Toronto Raptors past the deadline and potentially through next season. With the Raps apparently wiping the Carlos Boozer-for-Bargnani deal off the table from last week, this was ultimately was a sign of their lack of urgency to deal him at all.

I understand that Bryan Colangelo’s position is to avoid just throwing away Bargnani for the sake of it, but what exactly will Bargnani’s “new” role? Will he make it back into the starting lineup and replace the ever-popular Amir Johnson, who’s been playing great? Will he be the Raptors new 6th man weapon? Do they try him at center again and shove Jonas Valanciunas back to the bench? It’s unclear as to what this changed role will be. About the only thing that is clear with the Raptors recent moves is that he will no longer be the No. 1 option (Gay), and not likely the No. 2 either (DeRozan/Lowry).

The pressure off Bargnani might be a good thing. I was definitely in the “Trade Bargnani” camp over the past few weeks, but if the expectation of him is now one with less pressure and to give the team (and possibly the bench) more versatility, then I can get behind that plan. Especially in the midst of a winning streak and playoff push in the weaker Eastern Conference.

Anything’s possible.

Article via Sam Amick, USA Today Sports can be found here.

Stay with us at SavingtheSkyhook.com as we continue to report more on the highly anticipated NBA trading deadline. We will be getting news out as soon as we hear about it.

For Toronto, it would give them another ball handler who can push the tempo with the new pieces they’ve acquired during the offseason and more recently with the Rudy Gay trade. Telfair isn’t quite the streaky shooter that Lucas is, but he can be a steady hand if needed.

Currently Telfair is averaging about 17 minutes per game in backing up Goran Dragic in Phoenix and the move would ultimately mean that they’re ready to start giving some minutes to UNC rookie Kendall Marshall. The Suns are already a mess this year, so it’s hard to know exactly what they would look for in a trade other than a draft pick. Linas Kleiza perhaps? With Kleiza’s tremendous ability to stay off the court this season, Raptors fans certainly hope so.

Sources: Knicks showing strong interest in Phx’s Jermaine O’Neal…Phx also talking w/Toronto about moving Sebastian Telfair

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 20, 2013

Stay with us at SavingtheSkyhook.com as we continue to report more on the highly anticipated NBA trading deadline. We will be getting news out as soon as we hear about it.

The young swingman drove the lane hard, before dunking all over the Denver Nugget’s Timofey Mozgov.

Check out the video below:

December 21, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Charlotte Bobcats shooting guard Gerald Henderson (9) reacts after an injury during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena. The Warriors defeated the Bobcats 115-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Regardless of sport, the Clippers remain the hottest team in the entire world right now… even fat Lamar Odom can’t screw this one up. Meanwhile the Spurs, Rockets, Blazers and Raptors are pushing for the title of December’s hottest team.

Several big names are still unimpressively hovering around (or even below) .500. Yes, we’re looking at you Nuggets, Lakers, Nets and Celtics.

And finally, the Wizards are happily unseated by the Bobcats for the wine cellar throne. It comes with the 18 straight loss territory.

Welcome back to The Skyhook’s NBA Power Rankings, where any given week, things can change faster than a James Harden trade.

Previous weeks:
Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 7 | Week 8

Week 9 – December 31, 2012

Biggest jump: Bucks (+4) | Biggest drop: Magic (-3)

1. Los Angeles Clippers | 25-6 (W17) | Last week: 1

Like Will Ferrell’s character in Old School, the Clips are (still) going streaking, to the tune of 17 straight wins. Other than a couple of minor close calls, they’ve been blowing teams away (average margin of 15.2 points per game during the streak).

2. Oklahoma City Thunder | 23-6 (W2) | Last week: 2

How do the Thunder respond to getting beat down in Miami? With a grind-it-out win against the Mavs and then an absolute beat down against their old buddy James Harden in Houston. Serge Ibaka still playing insane basketball in the OKC shadows.

3. San Antonio Spurs | 24-8 (W5) | Last week: 3

Popovich alert: Spurs have 3 games in the next 4 days. What will he do, what will he do? Meanwhile, the “old” guys keep killing teams. It’s too bad this team is so deep that Kawhi Leonard can rarely get over 30 minutes… so fun to watch.

4. Memphis Grizzlies | 19-8 (W1) | Last week: 6

Still 19-8, the Grizzles now look like an average team (remember, they started 12-2). They lose at home to an underachieving Sixers team, then hold the Nuggets to 72 points. Go figure. Seems like they need to acquire a new toy near deadline time.

5. New York Knicks | 21-9 (L1) | Last week: 4

A bit of a letdown week for the Knickerbockers as they lose a big game to the Lakers on Christmas Day, then James Johnson buries them at the buzzer on Friday night. Hope everyone’s ready for the return of STAT, it’s around the corner now.

6. Miami Heat | 20-8 (L2) | Last week: 5

I want to rank the Heat higher for their win over the Thunder, but Pistons loss (and their defense in the Bucks loss) offsets that. Though, it might be a perfect example of how much Wade really does mean to this team.

7. Golden State Warriors | 21-10 (W3) | Last week: 7

Warrior love continues to grow. First, they go into one of the hardest places to play in the league in Utah and impress, then they absolutely handle the Celtics by 18 at home. Whatever seed they grab, this will be a dangerous team come playoff time.

8. Atlanta Hawks | 19-9 (W4) | Last week: 8

In an all-Central division week, the Hawks go 3-0 with a very nice win against a hot Pacers team. Looks like Larry Drew is doing some tinkering with the lineup by inserting Lou Williams in as a starter. Fortunately, Lou has totally responded.

9. Chicago Bulls | 16-12 (W1) | Last week: 9

Nothing like a timely matchup with the Wizards to forget about getting pounded by the Hawks (17) and the Rockets (23). Boy has Taj Gibson taken a step backward this season. 6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game? Starting to look like a bogus contract extension.

10. Indiana Pacers | 17-13 (L1) | Last week: 10

Burning question for a hot Pacers squad: Could David West (17.5 pts, 8.0 rebs) sneak into the All-Star Game? It’s too bad the Boxing Day showdown with the Bulls got postponed, that could have been a statement game. I guess they will get the chance.

11. Los Angeles Lakers | 15-15 (W1) | Last week: 12

One could get picky, but the Lakers are 6-1 in their last 7 games and have battled back to .500. The inner city showdown with the Clippers on Friday should be a slugfest, especially if the “streak” is still alive. FYI – Kobe Bryant is 4th in the league in Minutes.

12. Milwaukee Bucks | 16-13 (L1) | Last week: 16

The wins over the Heat and Nets get them a bump up, but how do you explain losses to the Cavs and Pistons? The Bucks are keeping their rivals close, as they’ve played 21 of their 29 games against their own conference, going 14-7.

13. Denver Nuggets | 17-15 (L1) | Last week: 11

The Nugs survived Kobe’s 40 points on Wednesday and then used a terrific 39-point Gallinari night on Friday to take down the Mavs. But the inconsistency still remains. We can only rank the Nugs this high on “potential” for only so long.

14. Brooklyn Nets | 16-14 (W2) | Last week: 14

So on queue, the Brooklyn mess results in Avery Johnson getting canned and drawing more (mostly negative) unnecessary attention to the franchise. Who will be the next coach? Is Phil coming? Is D-Will a coach killer?

15. Minnesota Timberwolves | 14-13 (W1) | Last week: 13

Pretty uneventful 2-game week for the Wolves, who split a pair against the Rockets (tough loss) and Suns (close win). They’ll have a very important all-division week coming up as they visit Utah and Denver and host an improved Portland team.

16. Houston Rockets | 16-14 (L2) | Last week: 15

The Rockets had been hot (5 straight wins) before running into the Spurs/Thunder wall of death. January gets even more difficult as they play 17 games, 12 of which are on the road. Yikes!

17. Portland Trail Blazers | 15-14 (W1) | Last week: 19

The Blazers have found some winning ways of late, finishing with a 9-4 month of December. As one of my personal favorite teams to watch, I’d like to see J.J. Hickson (12.7 pts, 11.0 rebs, .568 FG%) get some mention for Most Improved.

18. Boston Celtics | 14-16 (L3) | Last week: 18

If there’s a team needs to make a deadline deal, it’s the C’s. What in the blue hell happened last week? We know East teams going West is challenging, but they didn’t even SHOW UP in the losses to the Clippers (by 29), Warriors (by 18) and Kings (22).

19. Utah Jazz | 15-17 (L3) | Last week: 17

Not too much shame in the Utah Jekyll and Hydes losing to the Juggernaut Clippers and Warriors last week. I recommend you read further into the “Will they or won’t they trade Paul Millsap?” debate by checking out Skyhook newcomer Reece Hooker’s article here.

20. Philadelphia 76ers | 14-17 (L2) | Last week: 20

Things have gone almost as bad as expected on Philly’s 8-game road trip (1-3 so far). The worse news? They’re only half way and have the Lakers, Thunder and Spurs left. Yuck. Hey, at least Spencer Hawes got a damn haircut.

21. Toronto Raptors | 11-20 (W2) | Last week: 24

After a putrid 4-19 start, the Raps are suddenly winners of 7 out of 8 games. To capture the significance of their run, they now sit only 3.5 games out of a playoff spot in the East. Unfortunately for Andrea Bargnani (and his trade value), he’s been on the sideline for all the fun.

22. Dallas Mavericks | 12-19 (L6) | Last week: 22

The only silver lining hidden in their 6-game slide is that they’ve just played the toughest 6-game stretch (MIA, @MEM, @SAN, @OKC, DEN, SAN) that will be seen in the entire league this season. Cuban’s trigger finger might be getting itchy.

23. Phoenix Suns | 11-20 (L5) | Last week: 23

The Suns will be as excited to see 2013 arrive as anyone after they finished December with a 4-11 record (which looked like this: L5, W4, L6). With a squad full of average Joe’s, this team is in dire need of a superstar. Nash is sorely missed.

24. Orlando Magic | 12-18 (L5) | Last week: 21

More significant Magic moment of the season so far: Beating the Lakers by 10 in Los Angeles or losing to the Raptors at home by 35? After dropping 5 straight, the next crack the Magic might have at a win comes January 14th at Washington.

25. Sacramento Kings | 11-19 (W2) | Last week: 25

Solid week for the Kings as they’re probably still on a high from beating the Knicks at the buzzer and then ambush the Celtics behind DeMarcus Cousins triple double. And throw in ALL the irony of it being against the Celtics, a potential landing spot for Boogie.

26. Detroit Pistons | 11-22 (W2) | Last week: 26

A really nice win against the Heat (*cough*without*Wade*), as they withstood 35 from LeBron. As little as he’s talked about, Jason Maxiell provides some of the nastier highlights in the league. Go YouTube some of his blocks and dunks. Do it.

27. Cleveland Cavaliers | 7-25 (L2) | Last week: 27

Tristan Thompson is trying hard, but he’s no Varejao. They need him back to even compete and move past a 3-13 December. Cavs are likely looking forward to another high lottery pick come June. Two alarming Cavs stats: Alonzo Gee playing 33.6 minutes per game and Dion Waiters shooting .363% for the year.

28. New Orleans Hornets | 7-23 (W1) | Last week: 29

Lots happening in NOLA this past week. The return of Eric Gordon (who dropped 24 in his season debut) and them winning an NBA basketball game without scoring a single fast break point were among the highlights. Also, this Hornets article by Skyhook newcomer J.P. Pelosi.

29. Washington Wizards | 4-24 (L1) | Last week: 30

And they shall be set FREE! The Wiz climb out of the Rankings basement with a big home win over a (depleted) Magic team. NOT having an 18-game losing streak certainly has its perks. So in 17 games, Nene is rocking a very unnoticed +20 PER rating.

30. Charlotte Bobcats | 7-23 (L18) | Last week: 28

Well, it’s not like we can say the B-Cats aren’t recently familiar with this dreaded losing streak territory. Am I the only one that giggles when I think about this team going from 7-5 to 7-23 in what seems like the blink of an eye? I didn’t think so. Just look at poor Gerald Henderson up there.

Nov 25, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) prepares to drive against Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (3) during the game at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Spurs (11-3) 111 @ Raptors (3-11) 106 – 2OT

• Leading scorers: SAN – Tony Parker 32, TOR – DeMar DeRozan 29.
• Coming off a 33-point game, Tony Parker dropped another 32 (on 14-27 shooting) on the Raps, including 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
• Tim Duncan played 41 minutes and put in 26 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
• On the other side, Andrea Bargnani put up the worst shooting performance in the NBA this season, going 2 for 19 (0-7 3PT) in 36 minutes.
• Though he took 28 shots (making 11 of them), DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points.
• Ed Davis had a breakout game with 15 points (7-11 FG) and 14 rebounds.

Pistons (3-11) 100 @ Knicks (9-3) 121

• Leading scorers: DET – Brandon Knight 21, NYK – Carmelo Anthony 29.
• The Knicks dialed in the long range shooting again in this game, going 17-33 (51.5%) from behind the arc.
• J.R. Smith put up a solid game off the bench with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
• Raymond Felton posted a double double with 14 points and 10 assists.
• Brandon Knight led the Pistons with 21 points (8-13 FG) and 5 assists.
• Charlie Villanueva finally showed up for the Pistons with 17 points on 7-15 shooting.

Trail Blazers (6-7) 85 @ Nets (8-4) 98

• Leading scorers: POR – Wesley Matthews 20, BKN – Joe Johnson 21.
• The Nets beat up the Blazers on the boards, outrebounding them 48-34.
• Reggie Evans was the main contributor on the glass with 14 rebounds in 23 minutes.
• Deron Williams (15 pts, 12 asts) and Kris Humphries (14 pts, 10 rebs) both posted double doubles.
• J.J. Hickson had an efficient scoring game (19 points on 8-11 shooting), but finished with a -23 rating.

Suns (6-8) 101 @ 76ers (8-6) 104

• Leading scorers: PHX – Michael Beasley 21, PHI – Jrue Holiday 33.
• Jrue Holiday had a ridiculous game with 33 points (13-21 shooting) and 13 assists in the victory.
• Evan Turner posted 16 points and 9 rebounds.
• Michael Beasley scored 21 points (8-13 FG) for the Suns, but did little else, with only 1 rebound and 1 assist.

Celtics (8-6) 116 @ Magic (5-8) 110 – OT

• Leading scorers: BOS – Kevin Garnett 24, ORL – J.J. Redick 21.
• Rajon Rondo was only 1 rebound shy of a triple double, finishing with 15 points, 16 assists and 9 rebounds.
• Kevin Garnett upped his game to contibute 24 points and 10 rebounds.
• Josh McRoberts grabbed 13 boards and had 3 blocks off the Magic bench.

Hornets (3-9) 84 @ Nuggets (8-6) 102

• Leading scorers: NOH – Brian Roberts 17, DEN – Andre Iguodala 23.
• Iggy led Denver again with 23 points on 8 of 13 shooting.
• The Nuggets starters had a combined rating of +127 for the game.
• Robin Lopez put up 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks.
• Austin Rivers went back to the bench but played 33 minutes, but went 2-10 from the field for 5 points (also had 6 rebounds and 6 assists).

Nov 12, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson (25) is pressured by Toronto Raptors forward Linas Kleiza (11) and center Jonas Valanciunas (17) at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Jazz (4-4) 140 @ Raptors (1-6) 133 - 3OT

• Leading scorers: UTA – Paul Millsap 34, TOR – DeMar DeRozan 37.
• With 3 overtimes, this box score was stuffed with numbers, including 4 players with marginal double doubles: Al Jefferson (24 pts, 17 rebs) Mo Williams (17 pts, 14 asts), Jose Calderon (20 pts, 17 asts) and Amir Johnnson (11 pts, 14 rebs).
• DeMar DeRozan tied a career high with 37 points on 16-33 shooting in an insane 60 minutes played.
• 7 players played over 40 minutes in this game: DeRozan 60, Calderon 50, Mo Williams 50, Jefferson 49, Bargnani 49, Favors 45, Millsap 44.
• Derrick Favors and Randy Foye scored 35 of the 36 Jazz bench points.
• The Jazz shot 14-26 (53.8%) from behind the arc.
• Linas Kleiza played 30 minutes off the bench and put up 20 points and 7 rebounds.
• DeRozan finished with 37 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.

Bucks (4-2) 105 @ 76ers (4-3) 96

• Leading scorers: MIL – Brandon Jennings 33, PHI – Jrue Holiday 25.
• In a battle of young point guards, Brandon Jennings (33 pts (12-21 FG), 5 rebs, 8 asts 4 stls, 2 blks) got the best of Jrue Holiday (25 pts, 6 asts).
• Mike Dunleavy Jr. contributed 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists off the bench.
• Jason Richardson returned from an ankle injury to score 20 points in 36 minutes.

Thunder (6-2) 92 @ Pistons (0-8) 90

• Leading scorers: OKC – Russell Westbrook 33, DET – Rodney Stuckey 19.
• Durant and Westbrook combined for 58 points, but shot only 19-47 (40%) from the floor. Maybe that’s why they only beat the Pistons by 2?
• Durant (4) and Serge Ibaka (6) combined for 10 blocked shots.
• Greg Monroe had 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals and is now averaging 1.9 steals on the season.
• Rodney Stuckey finally put up a decent shooting line: 19 points on 7-13 shooting.

Celtics (4-3) 101 @ Bulls (4-3) 95

• Leading scorers: BOS – Rajon Rondo 20, CHI - Luol Deng 26.
• Rondo with his regular near-triple double with 20 points, 10 assists,  8 rebounds (and only 5 steals).
• The Celtics were only 3-16 from behind the arc.
• Luol Deng and Joakim Noah combined for 43 points and 12 rebounds.
• The Bulls bench only gave them 18 points for the game.

Heat (6-2) 113 @ Rockets (3-4) 110

• Leading scorers: MIA - LeBron James 38, HOU – Chandler Parsons 25.
• LeBron with an absolute monster game in Houston. 38 points (14-26 FG), 10 rebounds and 6 assists.
• Chris Bosh continued his efficient scoring run. 24 points on 10-14 shooting.
• Udonis Haslem made an appearance with 10 points and 7 rebounds off the bench in only 15 minutes.
• Omer Asik added some scoring to his game with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
• Chandler Parsons put up 25 points in 40 minutes.
• The Rockets attempted 34 3-point attempts (making 12 of them).

Timberwolves (5-2) 90 @ Mavericks (4-4) 82

• Leading scorers: MIN – Nikola Pekovic 20, DAL – Darren Collison 21.
• AK47 is carrying this team right now. In 44 minutes in this game, 16 points 11 rebounds and 2 blocks.
• Luke Ridnour had a solid game with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
• Alexey Shved was also strong with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks off the bench.
• The Wolves outrebounded the Mavs 49-35.
• Darren Collison led the Mavs with 21 points and 5 assists.
• The Mavs only had 8 turnovers for the entire game, but still lost.

Nuggets (4-4) 100 @ Suns (4-4) 110

• Leading scorers: DEN – Andre Iguodala 17, PHX – Goran Dragic 21.
• The Suns snapped the Nuggets 4-game win streak by putting together a 110-point performance with only 6 turnovers and 7 players scoring in double figures.
• Markieff Morris might have had the best all-around game with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in 25 minutes.
• Kenneth Faried with another double double (14 pts, 11 rebs) and Andre Iguodala (17 pts, 9 rebs, 5 asts, 3 blks) led the way for Denver.

Hawks (3-3) 95 @ Trail Blazers (2-5) 87

• Leading scorers: ATL – Josh Smith 19, POR – Nicolas Batum, J.J. Hickson 19.
• The Hawks get another impressive road win behind double doubles from Al Horford (15 pts, 10 rebs) and Josh Smith (19 pts, 11 rebs).
• J.J. Hickson pounded the glass for the Blazers, finishing with 18 rebounds to go along with his 19 points.
• Think the benches had anything to do with this game? The Hawks bench outscored the Blazer bench 26-6 for the game.

Nov 3, 2012; New York, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) wins the opening tip off against the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Celtics (1-2) 89 @ Wizards (0-2) 86

• Leading scorers: BOS – Paul Pierce 27, WAS – Jordan Crawford 21.
• Pierce with a bounce back game with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists.
• A more obvious question to ask might be: How many games will Rondo not have a double double? Another 12 points, 12 assists in this one.
• The young bigs playing well for the Wiz: Trevor Booker with 19 points, 10 rebounds while Kevin Seraphin had 19 points and 7 rebounds off the bench.

Kings (0-3) 98 @ Pacers (2-1) 106 – 2OT

• Leading scorers: SAC - Marcus Thornton 26, IND - David West, George Hill 18.
• Double overtime games mean lots of numbers, including rebounds, which 3 Pacers had at least 10 (West 18, George 17, Hibbert 10).
• Paul George had another monster game with 16 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 blocks in a game high 48 mintes.
• DeMarcus Cousins had big numbers (21 pts, 13 rebs), but shot only 9-27 (33%).
• The Kings managed to get up 102 field goal attemps in the game, making only 37 of them (36.3%).

Raptors (0-2) 100 @ Nets (1-0) 107

• Leading scorers: TOR – Kyle Lowry 28, BKN – Brook Lopez 27.
• Kyle Lowry continues to impress Raptor fans with 28 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals.
• In the game after receiving a contract extension, DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points on 8-13 shooting.
• The Brooklyn backcourt is the big attraction, but Brook Lopez stole the show with his 27 points (11-15 FT).
• Williams and Johnson did have 33 points and 13 assists.

Nuggets (0-3) 116 @ Heat (2-1) 119

• Leading scorers: DEN – Andre Iguodala, Kenneth Faried 22, MIA – Chris Bosh 40.
• Chris Bosh went off last night with 40 points (15-22 FG) and 7 rebounds.
• Perhaps the only reason to feel concern for the Heat? Their size. Denver outscored them in the paint 72-40 and outrebounded them 47-32.
• Regular LeBron: 20 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists.
• Ray Allen had 23 points (6-10 3PT) off the bench in 29 minutes.
• The ”Manimal” Kenneth Faried broke out with 22 points (11-15 FG) and 12 rebounds.
• 7 of the 8 Denver players that played in the game scored in double figures.

Hornets (2-1) 89 @ Bulls (2-1) 82

• Leading scorers: NOH – Greivis Vasquez 18, CHI – Luol Deng 19.
• With no Anthony Davis, the Hornets were led by Vasquez’s 18 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists.
• The Hornets only compiled 13 assists total in the game.
• Joakim Noah had another double double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
• Boozer, Hamilton and Hinrich combined to shoot a terrible 4-26 from the floor.

Trail Blazers (2-1) 95 @ Rockets (2-1) 85 – OT

• Leading scorers: POR – LaMarcus Aldridge 27, HOU – James Harden 24.
• Well, the James Harden show didn’t stop, but it was slowed down. He posted 24 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
• Chandler Parsons played a crazy 47 minutes and put up 9 points and 12 rebounds.
• Blazers starters filled the stat sheets: Aldridge (27 pts, 11 rebs, 6 asts), Batum (17 pts, 9 rebs, 6 stls) and Lillard (20 pts, 6 rebs, 9 asts).

Cavaliers (1-2) 102 @ Bucks (2-0) 105

• Leading scorers: CLE – Kyrie Irving 27, MIL – Mike Dunleavy 29.
• Brandon Jennings tied his career high with 13 assists again and had 13 points, one of them being this ridiculous game winner.
• Mike Dunleavy went off: In 35 minutes off the bench he put up 29 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.
• Larry Sanders continues to show big improvement with his 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks.
• 32 assists for the Bucks in this game.
• Varejao with another big game with 20 points and 17 rebounds.
• 0 blocked shots in the game for the Cavs.

Bobcats (1-1) 99 @ Mavericks (2-1) 126

• Leading scorers: CHA – Ramon Sessions 22, DAL – O.J. Mayo 30.
• The Mavs scored 126 points on a blazing 61.3% (49-80 FG) shooting, including 16-25 (64%) from behind the arc.
• O.J. Mayo dropped 30 points (10-17 FG) and 6 rebounds and had a +27 rating.
• Chris Kaman didn’t start, but in 20 minutes off the bench, scored 16 points (8-9 FG).
• Bryon Mullens with a double double (16 pts, 10 rebs), but another 8 threes attempted.
• Ramon Sessions with a solid game off the bench: 22 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists.

Jazz (1-2) 100 @ Spurs (3-0) 110

• Leading scorers: UTA – Mo Williams 29, SAN – Tony Parker 24.
• Parker (24 pts, 10 asts) and Duncan (19 pts, 11 rebs, 3 blks) with more solid production.
• Mo Williams had a terrific game with 29 points and 9 assists.
• What’s up with Ty Corbin slowing Enes Kanter’s minutes? After a great preseason, Kanter only logged 11 minutes, scoring 0 points and grabbed 2 rebounds.
• Paul Millsap had 17 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks in 31 minutes.

Warriors (2-1) 114 @ Clippers (2-1) 110

• Leading scorers: GSW –  Stephen Curry, Carl Landry 23, LAC – Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford 27.
• Carl Landry has been great off the Warriors bench so far. 23 points and 10 rebounds in this one.
• Jamal Crawford strikes again! 27 points off the bench.
• Chris Paul scored 27 and was a ridiculous 19-20 from the free throw line.
• The Clippers took 52 total free throw attempts in this game (Paul 20, Griffin 16).

October 31, 2012; Toronto, ON, CANADA; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) hangs off the basket after dunking against the Indiana Pacers at the Air Canada Centre. Indiana defeated Toronto 90-88. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-US PRESSWIRE

Home openers are all fun and games… until that point when your team has blown a late 8-point lead and visiting team’s point guard hits a floater in the lane with 2 seconds left to put them up a couple of points. Then it’s infuriating.

I was there at the Air Canada Centre earlier tonight to witness a crowd was completely alive, as the excitement of another fresh Raptors slate began. There were collective cheers and eventually signs as the Raptors do what they’ve typically done in the past, disappoint.

Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of moments last night to be extremely excited about as  Raptors fan and I still have them projected to make the playoffs in the East. However, the Pacers are just a little farther ahead. Here some game and team observations:

• The Pacers won the game, but I have to start with the Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas factors. These additions are literally going to change this franchse. Lowry finished with an impressive team-high 21 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals. He controlled the game for the Raps with his quickness, active on the ball defense and his shooting (6-11 FG, 2-3 3PT, 7-7 FT). He penatrated the lanes, dished and finished with explosiveness. I think there was even room for him to be more aggressive… this is his team now.
• The fans are already in love with Jonas Valanciunas. Even though he had very solid numbers (12 pts, 10 rebs in 23 minutes), perhaps his biggest accomplishment was staying out of foul trouble early, which will be his achillies heel all season. His hustle and solid on the ball defense in the post clearly impressed the crowd. Don’t forget, he’s 20 and will get better each game.
• The Pacers showed why they are the better team and simply had more composure down the stretch and were led by their three best players in Paul George, David West, Roy Hibbert. Indiana weathered a Raptors storm (a 10-point lead) and when tied at 88, George Hill managed to get in the lane and hit a floater with only a couple of seconds left. The Pacers then applied solid defense on the inbound, forcing Andrea Bargnani to take a tough shot.
• David West absolutely dominated in the second half and scored 14 of his game-high 25 points in the 4th quarter. He was making jump shots away from the basket (something West is extremely good at), no matter who was D’ing up on him. Several times, the Raptors left him open around the basket, which he made them pay (12-19 FG).
• Paul George got off early and finished the game with a double double, including 15 rebounds. The Raptors had no answer from him early on. Paul George is going to be a special player in the league and it’s easy to see why so many people have him near the top of their Most Improved Player rankings.
• Toronto also had no matchup for Roy Hibbert. Valanciunas played the most minutes against him, but Hibbert’s length was too much as he got easy buckets in the paint in the first half. His defense (5 blocks) in the second half was key in keeping the game close when the Raptors were gaining momentum. He silenced a rowdy crowd several times.
• Jose Calderon and Alan Anderson got crunch time minutes for the Raps. Calderon had a really nice game with 15 off the bench and made some key threes in the second half, but missed an ill-advised jumper late in the game. Anderson actually got 19 minutes overall.
• To the crowd’s frustration, the refs actually missed some very obvious calls against the Raptors in the game. Several times on Lowry and DeRozan, there was a lot of contact when driving to the basket where there was no call.
• Before the game, DeMar DeRozan addressed the crowd to thank them for the support. He also received a 4-year extension from the team ($38 million), what must have been moments before the game.

Oct 21, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) during the first half of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

With less than a week to go before the real Christmas (obviously I’m talking about the NBA season), it’s time for that special opportunity to dangle your pride on a string. That’s right, it’s bold prediction time! See what I did there?

In a few days, The Skyhook will release our more “standard” predictions. You know, the standings, the playoffs, the awards… all the good stuff. And the Weekly Power Rankings will launch shortly thereafter. For now, in the spirit of being radical, here are 10 bold predictions for the upcoming season, along with some “rationale” (which you can determine how loosely that word applies on your own).

So. Here. We. Go.

The Chicago Bulls will miss the playoffs (the Toronto Raptors will make it).

Yes, you read that lineup correctly. Unfortunately for you Windy City natives, that means that there will be no running of the Chicago Bulls in my projected postseason. Seven of the teams on this list are really anything but bold predictions, in fact they are quite common among the “experts.” The bold element comes with not only saying the Bulls aren’t going to make it, but that the Toronto Raptors will make it into the playoffs.

Obviously with the Bulls, I’m assuming Derrick Rose doesn’t make it back before even the All-Star break. I just think this team downgraded the entire roster this offseason, it’s a radically different team. That luxurious point guard depth they had last year with C.J. Watson and John Lucas III? That’s gone. I’m sorry, but Kirk Hinrich and Nate Robinson do not make up for that. They lost two above-average defensive players in Omer Asik (having a great preseason in Houston) and Ronnie Brewer. Their best pure shooter, Kyle Korver was also shipped to Atlanta. Instead, they brought in Marco Belinelli, Nazr Mohammed and Vlad Radmanovic. Throw in the injury risks to Luol Deng/Richard Hamilton and the added responsibility on Carlos Boozer to be a major scoring option at this point in his career and I really don’t like this team.

On the other hand, the Raptors seem to be going in a different direction. Without a true superstar like Rose in the equation, they’ve collected enough talent through a series of moves and draft picks to be at least “interesting.” Kyle Lowry a game-changing, quick, tough point guard playing with a chip on his shoulder is a big deal in Toronto and as a hard-nosed on the ball defender, he fits perfect into what Dwayne Casey is trying to do with this team defensively. Jonas Valanciunas, the anti-Bargnani, is only similar in size and European decent. He loves to bang inside, hustle and play defense, which the Raps need. New additions Landry Fields and lottery pick Terrence Ross should also serve as upgrade from what the Raps were sending out last year. Another small step forward for DeRozan and a hopeful (at least I am) minor breakout from Ed Davis would put this team in the East playoffs, which is what I think is what will happen.

October 25, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE

DeMarcus Cousins will make his first All-Star team. So will Kyrie Irving. So will Greg Monroe.

“Boogie” Cousins WILL be an All-Star this year. The NBA’s recent announcement to remove the “Center” position from All-Star balloting helps his case even more. But aside from position technicalities, Cousins will prove to an even greater extent this season that he’s one of the best power forwards in the West, and in the entire league. He averaged a double double with 18.1 points per game and 11.0 rebounds a game (good for 4th in the league). Apart from the slightest dip in rebounding (11.3 to 10.6), all of Cousins’ numbers were improved post-All-Star break, meaning he improved over the season. I’m expecting him to be at a 20 and 12 this year, making his All-Star selection a no-brainer, despite him playing on a bad Kings team. This will be the true beginning of the Western Conference big man youth movement with guys like Duncan and even Dirk on the way out. It’s time for Boogie, whether you like him or not.

Kyrie Irving makes the leap this year. He turns into a 20 point, 8 assist, 2 steal per game guy that carries his team on most nights. Just check his 4th quarter stats and highlights from last year, this kid just has it. It wouldn’t surprise me if he took it further than that and warranted many Most Improved Player votes. Expect him to represent the Cavs at the All-Star Game in Houston.

I think Greg Monroe, given the simple fact that he’s the number one big man option in Detroit now, will make the All-Star team this year. While his numbers won’t be eye-popping, I think the coaches will appreciate what he will do with limited resources around him. If he goes 18 and 9 with close to 2 blocks, that gets the job done.

The league MVP voting will finish in this order: 3. LeBron James 2. Kevin Durant 1. Rajon Rondo.

Yes, Rajon Rondo will win the MVP of the league this year. He’s simply ready for that kind of year. Could LeBron or Durant win the award? Yes, of course, they will both be incredible again this season. In fact, it’s more likely that one of them win. But picking Rondo to straight up win the MVP is highlighting the “bold” part.

This Celtics team is no longer a “big three” team, this is Rondo’s team now. Coming off an absolutely bad ass performance in last year’s playoffs only proved what we all thought… that he is completely fearless. The fact that he’s a nightly triple-double waiting to explode also helps his case.

I like this Celtics team even better than last season, which means the wins will help Rondo stack up to LBJ/Durant. At this point, the Jason Terry and Courtney Lee combination is an upgrade over the gimpy Ray Allen, the successful return of Jeff Green will be another dimension to the offense, and I do like the potential Bass/Sullinger combination in the frontcourt. This all means assists upon assists for Rondo. I think he will have a Nash MVP-esque season, easily lead the league in assists, but instead of sparkling shooting percentages, he will play more meaningful minutes, increase his scoring (he’s been working on his shooting again) and attribute more on the defensive end and rebounding. To go a step further, I’ll put Rondo down for 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 12.1 assists per game and 1 MVP award.

The new Flopping rules will actually not be a flop.

Of course there are a million opinions floating around about the new Flopping rules and how effective they can truly be. Personally, I think the new Flopping rules and penalties will be good for the league. I was happy to see the extent to which players can be punished for being so ridiculous (I’m looking at you Reggie Evans). Watching these guys flop around from minimal, meaningless contact is the one part of the game that truly frustrates me.

I think the opportunity for the league to dip into the players pockets will ultimately be a threat to the players and will have them being subconsciously conscious of contact (I know, that doesn’t really make sense, but it does). Players don’t want to lose lumps of paychecks for something so stupid. While it seems outrageous to them, even the most serial offenders will eventually back down on the issue relatively quick.

I also think it will go the other way as well. I think once the season is in full swing, refs will become a little more lenient on the calls, if only to avoid the scrutiny and attention the media will bring to it. I would be surprised if we get to the point of a suspension (6th flopping violation = 1 game suspension), but we will definitely see some fines handed out. All in all, the “threat” of flopping punishment will slightly raise the awareness of an issue that really does make the game less enjoyable to watch.

Oct 19, 2012; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Joe Johnson (7) and point guard Deron Williams (8) on the court against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Barclays Center. 76ers won 106-96. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

The new “Battle of New York” inner city rivalry will end in a tie, but not really.

Ah yes, the next great inner city rivalry is upon us.

Now, by “tie” I mean exactly that… but exclusive to the regular season. They will have the exact same record of 46-36. When it then comes to playoff seeding, the Nets will have the advantage and will get the 4th seed in the East. The kicker, is that if the Nets are 4 and the Knicks are 5, they will play each other in the first round of the playoffs, which the Nets will have home court and win. People will always talk about the atmosphere at The Garden for the Knicks, but I think this will be a pretty hyped up Brooklyn fan base, especially in the first year and especially if the team is winning. That will be enough to win a playoff series again them.

In terms of the rosters, there are enough storylines, unpredictability and polarizing players to create a case for either team to outperform the other. The bottom line is the New York the state, wins. I’m sticking with a tie.

The race for the NBA scoring title will come down to a battle between two Kevins. Correction: Durant wins the scoring title again.

Update: The next day after I posted this, Kevin Martin was dealt TO the Thunder as part of the James Harden deal, making his run at the scoring title completely impossible. So much for my favorite reach.

Now THIS is bold. But think about it, isn’t Kevin Martin in the perfect situation to pull this off? 1. He’s in Houston where he’s the definite number one scoring option (sorry, but Jeremy Lin is NOT the number one option). 2. He’s in a contract year and 3. Historically, he’s always been a very efficient (and wildly under the radar) pure scorer. So in what should be the peak of his career, barring injury, and having to carry the Rockets on any given night (which could end up being most nights), why couldn’t he be upwards of 28-30 points per game? I think he does it. I think Kevin DURANT wins the scoring title yet again with a 29.4 average, while Kevin MARTIN finishes second at 28.9 per game.

Alvin Gentry (Suns) and Scott Skiles (Bucks) will be the first coaches fired, while George Karl (Nuggets) will win Coach of the Year.

The Suns, while expectations aren’t exactly high, will be bad. Don’t get me wrong, I like some of their players, but it’s such a uneven collection of players. Ultimately, Gentry will take the fall and they will make a change mid-season.

It’s a very similar situation for Scott Skiles in Milwaukee, as the clock seems to be running out. With the average coaching tenure being as low as it’s ever been, Skiles could be in trouble. He’s been with the Bucks since 2008 and hasn’t really accomplished anything of note. The East didn’t get any easier this offseason and unfortunately, the Bucks didn’t get any better. I expect Skiles to be let go close to the All-Star break when the Bucks are sitting 10-12 games under .500.

George Karl, on the flip side, is just one of those guys. He’s a guy that players, the fans and the league in general loves. Now, he’s got an extremely talented and versatile roster that’s been brilliantly put together. This team will win a lot of games this season. Their current Win total Over/Under is sitting at 50.5, which they should easily surpass. They led the league in offense last season and could easily do so again this year. They addition of Andre Iguodala and the development of Kenneth Faried should give them a little stronger backbone on defense. Toss in all the other unmentioned, talented weapons (Lawson, Gallinari, McGee, Brewer, Chandler, Miller) and the Nuggets suddenly have a trendy “outside contender” label cast upon them with a pretty flexible roster. Worst case the Nuggets win 50 games and aim for home court in the playoffs and best case, they chase 60 wins and Karl is almost a lock to win Coach of the Year. But I think mid-50′s will be good enough for him to get the nod over Spoelstra and Brooks.

All five Atlantic Division teams will make the playoffs and will be the league’s new “toughest division.”

Once considered the laughing stock of the league, the Atlantic Division (Celtics, Knicks, Nets, Sixers, Raptors) would appear to be the best division in the league right now. Operating under the “toughest division” logic, especially in terms of parity among it’s teams, I think only the Northwest Division (Blazers, Jazz, Nuggets, Thunder, T-Wolves) compares. Every other division has it’s 1-2 teams that are going to be stinkers, but in the Atlantic, it’s not that difficult to fathom that all five teams could finish over .500 for the season.

A re-tooled Celtics team, an Andrew Bynum-led Sixers squad and the star studded New York teams (barring catastrophe, which is always in play) should all finish above .500 and in the East, that means playoffs. Of course the Raptors may be the one argument against that theory. Personally I have them no worse than 41-41 and nabbing that 8th seed.

Oct 23, 2012; Raleigh, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats head coach Mike Dunlap talks to Charlotte Bobcats small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) on the sidelines against the Miami Heat in the first half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-US PRESSWIRE

The Bobcats will NOT finish in last place.

It doesn’t get much worse than 7-59. Well technically, 6-60 is worse, but you get the idea.

I think the unfavorable distinction of NBA bottom-feeder this season will go to the Orlando Magic. Although the Bobcats are far from rebuilt, I do like what they did in the offseason. They didn’t whiff on their #2 overall pick by taking Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and they added some veterans like Ben Gordon, Ramon Sessions and Brendan Haywood for depth. It might sound crazy, but I think Charlotte can get to the 20-win mark. With MKG and Kemba Walker runnin’ and gunnin’, Byron Mullins jacking threes from the center position and Bismack Biyombo blocking shots, this team could be very entertaining to watch.

For the Magic, this is going to be a rough ride. With a roster decimated after #Dwightmare, there’s no clear structure and is ultimately just a collection of guys that few people know anything about. I love Aaron Afflalo, Andrew Nicholson and even Big Baby Davis, but c’mon, the Hedo Turkoglu’s of the world aren’t fooling anybody.

In a head to head matchup on a neutral court, I would expect the Bobcats to win the game, so of course I’m going to favor them over the Magic in the standings as well. Keep in mind, these two teams play in the same division together as well, so whether it takes the Bobcats beating up the Magic four times to finish with the better record, then so be it. Bottom line: Bobcats > Magic.

Team Jordan FTW!

October 10, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani (7) shoots the ball over Detroit Pistons forward Jason Maxiell (54) at The Palace. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Always involved in daily NBA discussions, my buddy Andy decided to toss some random questions at me (interview-style) about the upcoming prognosis of the Toronto Raptors season. Here’s how it went down:

“With the season starting shortly and preseason action well underway, I wanted to throw a few questions your way.  I wasn’t sure how many would be a good number, so I went with my average score on a par 5.”

Who do you see having the biggest impact on the Raptors front court this season? This question is not narrowed to new comers.

I really want to say Jonas Valanciunas (who desperately needs a nickname beyond “Jonas”) because of his potential and his commitment to being an inside presence, but I have to say Ed Davis. It’s make or break for him this year. When we talk about true impact, Davis will either progress to the point where he makes the Raptors front court formidable and is a valuable rotation guy (especially with defense/rebounding) or he continues to do what he did the last two years, which is be insignificant. In this third season, the last of his rookie contract, this is it for Davis. He has a team option next year that the Raps may very well decide not to pick up if he doesn’t take another step forward this season. Andrea Bargnani should get back to being the team’s primary option on offense, Amir Johnson and Aaron Gray are exactly what we think they are, bench players who rely on hustle and size to outmuscle and defend opponents. While Davis’ offensive skills will always be of the inconsistent variety, with some improved free throw shooting and even more aggressive rebounding, he has the opportunity to push the Raptors front court to be one of the more solid ones in the Eastern Conference. I’m a believer in Ed Davis… for now.

Is John Lucas the next Jerryd Bayless, or is there something to be excited about here?

I can’t help it, I am excited about the point guard depth. Probably not as excited as LeBron when he dunked over Lucas’ head last season, but I’m anxious. One thing I love about Lucas is that he knows he’s a point guard, unlike Bayless, who seemingly loved the combo guard label. Bayless showed some real flashes, but his streaky shooting, poor shot selection and copious amount of turnovers drove fans crazy. Lucas, although smaller than Bayless, is a better shooter and distributor of the basketball. Put it this way, if Jose Calderon was traded tomorrow, I’d be fine with Lucas as the sole backup. I could not say that with confidence about Bayless.

What’s the most exciting part of Jonas’ game that you didn’t know prior to preseason?

Definitely his size and ability to bang down low, particularly his commitment to rolling hard off pick and rolls. I knew he was big, but until I saw him in person, I didn’t realize he was that big… and technically at 20 years old, the kid is still growing! I love that he realizes that with his size, he’s an actual post player. The Raptors already have a 7-footer who’d rather play the perimeter than rebound down low. Jonas is the anti-Bargnani. He plays the pick and roll, unlike Bargnani, who plays more of a pick and pop game. Jonas wants to bang, hustle, rebound and dunk… again, the opposite of Bargnani.

How many wins will it take for you to consider this season a success? That’s right I’m asking for a number – you ain’t no coach or GM – it’s a reasonable question.

41 wins. If they finish .500 at 41-41, that’s a successful season for two reasons. First, it’s an improvement from last year’s 23-43. Since they aren’t a team that considers their season “Championship or failure,” improvement means success. Second, I think 41-41 gets them into the playoffs in the East, barely. I have them projected for the 8^th seed right now and if this squad makes it into the playoffs only to get destroyed by the Heat in the first round, that has to be considered a success.

Is Andrea Bargnani the biggest scoring threat for the raptors this season?

Yes. I think Kyle Lowry will up his scoring and be a legitimate, consistent scoring threat, but Bargnani will still be the #1 option in Toronto. His versatility alone makes him the biggest matchup problem and best option. Because of Lowry’s penetrating and playmaking ability, theoretically, Bargnani should get even better looks this year, whether it be open jump shots or inside dumps (when he’s there). He was a 20+ point per game guy last year (and arguably headed toward a potential first All-Star game) before his injury and I think he gets right back to that this season. Lowry has already voiced how excited he is to be playing pick and roll with Bargs and Jonas, so he’s already looking his way, though they haven’t played a game yet.

How many minutes per game will Magloire average?

Easy. He will average 8.7 minutes per game and play in 31 games.

Will Jose Calderon be traded before the deadline? If he is, isn’t that a good sign?

Yes he will, for a variety of reasons. With Jose on the final year of his deal and being owed $10 million this season, whether he’s traded this season or exits after next season via free agency, the Raptors are still getting rid of that huge salary. There’s really two perspectives. First, from the team’s perspective, they will be paying their backup point guard $10 million dollars! John Lucas, who was signed this offseason is certainly capable of handling the backup duties. By trading Jose at the deadline, they’ll get something in return for him, whether it be a trade exception or even another expiring deal, but one with a player who will contribute more to the team outside of the point guard position. On the other hand, from Jose’s point of view, is he going to be miserable playing the backup role after years starting? I say yes. There were rumblings all offseason about a possible trade demand by Jose, then things quickly quieted down as the season got closer. I think those rumors will strike up again and Jose will want to be dealt out of town, and likely to a contending team with point guard needs. I think he’s already on the list of “players most likely to be traded at the deadline.”

If you could have any Raptors first round draft pick back and in their prime right now, who would it be and why? Vince, Tracy, and Bosh are off limits here.  Hoffa is fair game.

Rafael Araujo, without hesitation. The guy was an absolute stud coming out of… I’m sorry, I can’t even continue with this joke any further. Hoffa was their worst pick ever. I’ll go with a real pick, give me Jonathan Bender.

October 8, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Utah Jazz guard Mo Williams (5) passes the ball back to forward Paul Millsap (24) against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz 83-80. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Real Madrid (N/A) 95 @ Raptors (1-0) 102

• The Raptors second unit were the true stars of this game, especially in the second half. Linas Kleiza, Amir Johnson, Terrence Ross and John Lucas were a combined +67 while the starters (Bargnani, Gray, DeRozan, Fields, Calderon) finished a combined -34, all of them being in the minus.
• Jose Calderon had a typical Calderon-esque assist-to-turnover gem with 8 assists and only 1 turnover.
• Raptor rookie Quincy Acy’s line: 0 minutes, -3 (what the box score doesn’t tell you is that he entered the game with 18 seconds left. Trust me, I was there).
• Real Madrid’s Nikola Mirotic had a nice ball game and stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks before fouling out.

Siena (N/A) 85 @ Cavaliers (1-0) 92

• Cavaliers rookies Tyler Zeller and Dion Waiters’ preseason debut went like this: 6-14 FG, 18 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists.
• Cavaliers outscored Siena 46-24 with points in the paint.
• Siena’s backcourt (featuring former NBA player Bobby Brown and Matt Janning) put this line up: 13-32 FG, 10-21 3PT, 43 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists.

Jazz (0-1) 80 @ Warriors (2-0) 83

• Looks like sophomore Enes Kanter is pushing to be “freed” from his bench role. In only 24 minutes, he posted a double double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks.
• Starters Al Jefferson, Gordon Hayward and the re-acquired Mo Williams combined to shoot 6-27 (22%) from the field for only 18 points.
• David Lee logged a somewhat surprising 36 minutes and had an excellent game for the Warriors, posting 19 points (9-14 FG), 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.

July 19, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry watches the game between the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors at the Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

To this day, my buddy Andy still gripes about the moment when the ESPN story broke about Kyle Lowry being traded to the Raptors, and I completely agree with him. The story itself featured less than a paragraph about Lowry and the potential impact he could have on the Raptor franchise, but rather focused more on the Rockets continued implosion and based on loose memory, mentioned the possibility of Dwight Howard and Jeremy Lin at some point further down. Trust me, as a Canadian basketball fan/enthusiast/writer, I pay attention to this stuff and so do the other fans.

So rather than be bitter about the lack of press that the trade for Lowry received south of the border, I think it’s important to capture the buzz being felt around Lowry’s arrival in Toronto and what it means to the always-loyal Raptors fan base.

I’m confident that many Raptor fans, once left seething at Brian Colangelo for the failure to land Steve Nash this offseason, are well beyond that drama now and ready to move on with their “Plan B” at point guard. Steve Nash is an eventual Hall of Famer and still an elite point guard, but to consider Lowry a “Plan B” is entirely wrong. Beyond his patriotic connection, would Nash have been an upgrade over Lowry anyway? Toronto will never know.

A young, very skilled guy that actually wants the keys to a continuously rebuilding Raptors franchise trying desperately to win basketball games and gain some slight relevancy in the league? Yes, please!

Beyond just basketball, Kyle Lowry represents a fresh start for the Raptors in 2012-13. With one year left and through layers of trade rumors, this will be the end of the Jose Calderon era as a starting point guard in Toronto. Even in his best season (2008-09), Calderon was at best an efficient player, garnering praise for his high percentage shooting and assist-to-turnover ratio. Raptors fans are ready for a change, a change of scenery. While Calderon will still be loved by fans, does anyone really think he’ll make it past the trade deadline? Nobody should expect Lowry to bring the efficient shooting (only .409% last season), but he will provide a new slashing excitement and quick, dynamic point guard play that hasn’t been experienced in T-Dot since perhaps the Damon Stoudamire days.

Another element to the Lowry repertoire is toughness. Raptor fans have had love affairs with their “tough, hustle guys” in the past. To name a few, Charles Oakley, Jerome Williams, Reggie Evans, Amir Johnson were all fan favorites because of their willingness to sacrifice their bodies to chase down loose balls and extend plays. At a time when Jose Calderon looks scared to death to drive to the rim anymore, Lowry brings that penetrating toughness as his actual strength. He certainly doesn’t mind the physical contact and often being labelled as an above-average defender at his position, he’s just as physical on that side of the ball. Lord knows, the Raps could use some additional defense at the 1-spot. It practically inevitable that this will become Lowry’s team and he will quickly establish himself as a fan favorite in Toronto.

As the Raptors open up the preseason tonight at the Air Canada Centre against Real Madrid (Lowry is questionable with a sore leg for tonight), a new hopeful, different kind of buzz will be in the air. One led by new and improved dynamic point guard play. This combination of slashing, scoring, toughness and solid defense is one that the Raptors have never experience from their floor general. Lowry is hope, potential and excitement… Raptors fans know this.

April 15, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Boston Celtics forward Brandon Bass (30) drives to the basket and scores as he is defended by Charlotte Bobcats center Byron Mullens (22) during the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

• BRANDON BASS, PF, Boston Celtics
  Last season: 31.7 MPG, 12.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 14.21 PER
  The Celtics certainly have a new look to them this season. The biggest changed occurred at the 2-guard spot with Ray Allen taking his shooting stroke to South Beach and the C’s bringing in Jason Terry and Courtney Lee to replace him (though Avery Bradley will eventually be the starter). However, the key guy in the Celtics equation isn’t a new addition of one of Rondo, Pierce or Garnett. It’s Brandon Bass, and particularly his growth in an increased front court role this season. The guy averaged almost 32 minutes per game last season, but beyond Pierce and Garnett, the Celtics had a lot of trouble scoring (26th overall) and rebounding (30th) up front. With the return of Jeff Green from heart surgery, the drafting of two very young forwards (Sullinger and Melo) and the career question mark this is Chris Wilcox, the Celtics depth at forward for at least this upcoming season is unknown. This is where even more weight shifts to the shoulders of Bass, who showed flashes of ability last season.
• 

  Apr 8, 2011; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez (11) drives to the basket against New York Knicks power forward Shelden Williams (13) at the Prudential Center. New York Knicks won116-93.Mandatory Credit: Jim O

  BROOK LOPEZ, C, Brooklyn Nets
  Last season: 27.2 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 21.96 PER (5 games)
  As the “backup plan” to Dwight Howard, Brook Lopez cashed in with a HUGE contract this offseason, despite only playing in 5 games last year. With the Nets being truly thin at the center position, Lopez will need to be THE guy, meaning he has to stay on the floor for the whole season. Even though the Nets have some very high profile names on their roster (and of course added Joe Johnson), it’s Lopez that should feel the pressure to be an interior force, particularly defensively, in the middle. The Nets hope that the alarming 3.6 rebounds per game from their 7-footer in 5 games last year will be closer to triple that amount for this season.

• 

  April 15, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Raymond Felton (5) controls the ball against Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (22) during the first quarter at Power Balance Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

  RAYMOND FELTON, PG, New York Knicks
  Last season: 31.8 MPG, 11.4 PPG, 6.5 APG, 13.46 PER
  After the Knickerbockers missed out on Steve Nash this offseason, they brought over Jason Kidd to handle mentorship duties. Kidd will provide endless leadership, but the real impact to the point guard position and to the team, will be the question of whether or not Ray Felton can have a bounce back season. Yes, Melo, Amar’e and Chandler are the stars, but the Knicks need Felton to really RUN this team for the important game stretches. After a terrible year in Portland and once again hearing the punchlines about his weight, he should have plenty of motivation to push this team to a playoff run. The Knicks may know right away how deep the commitment is when Felton and his frame show up for training camp.

• 

  May 12, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Evan Turner (12) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett (back) during the first half of game one in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

  EVAN TURNER, SF, Philadelphia 76ers
  Last season: 26.4 MPG, 9.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 12.69 PER
  It’s obvious that the Sixers will live or die based on the degree of dominance displayed by Andrew Bynum. But aren’t we at a point of make-or-break with Evan Turner? A former #2 overall pick and once considered the best player in college basketball in his draft year, Turner’s Pippen-like point forward versatility has not translated to the NBA. With Thaddeus Young, Dorell Wright, Jason Richardson and Nick Young requiring a significant amount of minutes at the SF and SG spots, they will push for Turner’s playing time, especially if he starts slow. He needs to build upon Doug Collins’ increased trust factor in the playoffs where he played 34.5 minutes per game. That 12.69 PER has to come up.

• 

  Mar 29, 2011; Newark, NJ, USA; Houston Rockets point guard Kyle Lowry (7) drives to the basket against New Jersey Nets point guard Jordan Farmar (2) and power forward Kris Humphries (43) at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

  KYLE LOWRY, PG, Toronto Raptors
  Last season: 32.1 MPG, 14.3 PPG, 6.6 APG, 18.89 PER
  One could easily argue that Jonas Valanciunas will be just as big an X-Factor as Lowry. As of now, he’s the only “true” center on the Raptors roster. But without seeing a single minute of NBA action, it’s hard to set realistic expectations. Lowry however, acquired via trade and coming off a fantastic year in Houston, was given the keys to the entire offense in Toronto, while pushing Jose Calderon to the bench. Whether he averages close to 20 points or 8-9 assists per contest, production out of point guard position is something the Raptors sorely lacked. Combine that with his unquestioned toughness and he has a chance to be THE guy that leads the Raptors back to a playoff birth.

Apr 13, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Kyle Lowry (7) takes a shot against the Phoenix Suns in the third quarter at the Toyota Center. The Suns defeated the Rockets 112-105. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

“Interesting” is an interesting word. Human nature tends to point us in the direction of using that word when we encounter the unknown and with sports, it’s often the easiest way to deflect a bold prediction.

As basketball fans, even the casual ones, we know that the Los Angeles Lakers will be insanely good this season. We know that the Charlotte Bobcats will be putrid once again. What we don’t know is the Toronto Raptors, who, with yet another offseason makeover, figure to be somewhere in between. Does that mean a playoff birth or another lottery appearance? It’s all in how the word “interesting” is interpreted.

We could start with those that feel like the Raptors aren’t quite there yet. Some knocks against the Raptors playoff hopes next season:

• Their clearly unsuccessful track record. Last year they finished 11th in the Eastern Conference and haven’t been in the playoffs since the 2007-08 season.
• The more challenging Atlantic Division. With the Celtics, the improved Sixers and Nets, and the unpredictable Knicks providing stiffer inter-division competition for the Raps, this means a much tougher path to a playoff seed.
• Lack of offensive firepower. Although their defense was significantly better last season, they still lack the offensive weaponry to hang with the teams in their division and definitely not with the league’s upper echelon.
• The absence of a “true” superstar. Facts are facts; Andrea Bargnani was an overall #1 pick. But you would be hard-pressed to find a person that considers him a true, reliable superstar. He’s never made an All-Star Game and when he finally looked the part last season, he got hurt and missed a ton of time. If you’re not at work, you can’t produce. While the Raps desperately hope that Kyle Lowry is the team’s next star, it’s laughable to look outside of him to find that next potential star.

However, there are those that comprise an optimistic minority that see the Raptors as a playoff team in 2012-13. They (and I include myself in this group) see the “interesting” side of the coin as a team with very legitimate competitive opportunities next season. Some of the reasons why:

• The re-shaping of the Eastern Conference. With some position swapping sure to take place in the East, the Raptors will find themselves right in the middle tier of teams competing for one the bottom playoff spots. The Bobcats, Magic, Wizards, Pistons and Cavaliers have very solid potential to have a worse record than the Raps, leaving them to deal with a short list of teams fighting for playoff positioning. Stealing games (especially the home ones) within their division will be key.
• The point guard upgrade(s). There is a consensus that the Raptors improved their squad over the summer. They upgraded their below-average point guard position with Kyle Lowry bumping Jose Calderon out of the starting spot and even bringing in the suprising John Lucas III. The toughness factor was definitely addressed by adding these guys.
• The “Landry Fields” defensive factor. I know, I know, they drastically overpaid him as a ploy to lure Steve Nash, which of course did not work. So while Fields rakes in the cash, the Raptors did improve their perimeter defense by bringing him in, and likely into the starting lineup. The team already made a leap (9th overall in points allowed) last year under Casey’s watch, so adding another solid wing defender certainly won’t hurt.
• Their two lottery picks. Technically the Raps will be featuring not one, but two, Top-8 lottery picks in the rotation this season. Jonas Valanciunas (#5 in 2011), who many claimed would have been the second pick after Anthony Davis had he come out this year instead, will be coming over from Lithuania to play the true center position, something the Raptors have lacked for a while now. This year’s pick, Terrence Ross (#8 in 2012) should get minutes right away, providing some much needed outside shooting and his own brand of tough defense.
• Bargnani is back! Finally, they should have a healthy Andrea Bargnani back for the whole season. Although he’s never made an All-Star Game as a #1 overall pick, he was making his best case last season before his injury sidelined him for a total of 35 games. As the number one option, it can’t hurt the team to have 19.5 points (his 2011-12 average) back in the lineup every night.

Regardless of how you place “interesting” as an adjective to describe the 2012-13 Raptors, they will be a fun team to watch. Lowry, Valanciunas, Fields and Ross will provide some highlight reel material along with some hard-nosed defense, if you’re into that sort of thing, which we are. Even if they end up slightly short of the playoffs this year, a realistic reason for optimism does exist.

Stefanski has been the general manager in Philadelphia since 2007 and has been responsible for a number of important moves for the franchise, including signing Elton Brand, hiring Doug Collins and drafting Evan Turner with the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

It has long been rumored that Stefanski was a possibility for the Raptors GM job; throughout the summer Bryan Colangelo has been interviewing possible candidates, including Jeff Bower of the New Orleans Hornets and Dennis Lindsey of the San Antonio Spurs. (more…)

• Jonas Valanciunas has a buyout in place; however that agreement will not allow him to come over until after next season. This should scare away some teams that are looking to make an impact right away with their picks; such teams would include Toronto at 5, Detroit at 8 and Charlotte at 9. If he slips passed Cleveland at 4 Valanciunas could be in for a slide
• Despite reports of the contrary, Cleveland has not guaranteed Irving that he will be their pick at number one. Although it remains likely that this will be the case, picking Williams would severely shakeup the top of the Draft board. (more…)

The NBA is a business, it moves fast, s*** happens and things change. Here in my segment, ‘Blurbs on Ball’, I’ll touch on weekly stories that are quality news, but I’d rather not write a full post on. No slouching here, just quick, thoughtful opinions.

(more…) ]]> http://savingtheskyhook.com/2011/06/04/blurbs-on-ball-june-4-11/feed/ 0 http://savingtheskyhook.com/2011/05/17/early-reaction-nba-draft-lottery/ http://savingtheskyhook.com/2011/05/17/early-reaction-nba-draft-lottery/#comments Wed, 18 May 2011 02:02:20 +0000 http://savingtheskyhook.com/?p=1938 After some drama (and by ‘drama’ I mean that I found myself shouting at the television when they announced that the Utah Jazz had a top three pick but then cut to commercial: “Seriously?!? Who do you think you are? Dancing with the Stars?!? You’re not Dancing with the Stars! TELL ME THE DRAFT ORDER!!) [...]

Early Reaction: NBA Draft Lottery - Saving the Skyhook - Saving the Skyhook - A General NBA Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

For today’s report, I’ve highlighted a few important news items in the world of the D-League and included a list of all the D-League Call Ups and Assignments so far this season. Enjoy!

(more…)