Superman Lives
This is who the Raptor fan base wanted and now they have him. There was a song that suggested you don’t tug on Superman’s cape. But Raptor fans spit into wind and say bring on the Magic. Last season Raptor wanted Vince Carter and they got him and that did not work out so well. But this time it may work out better for the men in the red and white. Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard have a friendship that started back in Bosh’s one year as Georgia Tech and continued on through both playing with the U.S National Team. When the two have met on an NBA floor Bosh has always got the better of Howard. Last season marked the playoff debut for Bosh and Howard. But while Superman was getting swept away the Raptors were able to battle to a sixth game with New Jersey and came one play away from a game 7.
I think when you look closer at the two teams the Raptors learned a lot more last year from their playoff chance then the Magic did. Toronto did lose the season series to Orlando 2-1 but that was without Bosh for one of those games and I believe without T.J Ford as well. Those are two big players for Toronto and it makes a huge impact on what they are able to do. But everyone is ready to go for Toronto and thanks to the events of last night they can start to prepare for the Magic and rest players on Wednesday at Chicago where the Raptors close their regular season. It is a nice luxury for the Raptors to have. It also helps them be ready for the first two road contests in which if they are to win this series they must win one of the two games in Orlando.
If Toronto can do that they can follow the formula that was done against them last season by New Jersey. The one major concern for me heading into this series is the Raptors defending the perimeter. Magic have weapons from the outside and can punish Toronto from beyond the arc. Rashard Lewis was paid a huge sum of money to come to Orlando and it was given to him to produce at this time of the season. The Southeast Division Title is nice and all but Magic can ask the Raptors what an Atlantic Division Title did for them.
If you are the Magic your concern is your point guards. Jose Calderon and T.J Ford both are a level above Jameer Nelson. Nelson was passed over by many NBA teams when he came out of St. Joe’s and the reason is his lack of size. Many teams have taken to the idea of posting up on T.J Ford and Jose Calderon well that is not happening with Nelson. Carlos Arroyo is not going to be able to as well. If the Raptors are going to win this series they must win this position battle if they are going to win this series.
When all is said and done if these two teams play the type of games they have played in the regular season in this series it will be exciting to watch. But entertainment value aside the Raptors and the Fans want a series win and they will take it however they can get it. Raptors may win this series because of Rasho Nesterovic he has done an excellent job on Howard in the past and Rasho has been playing some of the best basketball he has ever played. He has seriously become a major part of what the Raptors are doing. It is no longer a joke to suggest that and in this series he is even more key then he may have been in a different match-up.
Now I have a promotion for the people at MLSE. After last season the need my help. We all recall the GO RED promotion last year that ended up in Richard Jefferson mocking Toronto. So here we go. We all recall the Green Jerseys from St Patrick’s day. Well bust them out in fact everyone where green. Superman and Kryptonite is green it would be a huge hit. Raptors likely would not be able to wear the green jerseys but the fans could all bust out the green. It would be fun and the Orlando Magic have no green uniform that I am aware of. So GO GREEN not RED. I doubt this would catch on but it makes a lot more sense then the Go Red concept in last year’s playoffs. But whatever colour you decide to wear just make noise. Chris Bosh wants it and this team needs everyone’s support. After all not to many people have ever killed Superman!!!
Much more as we get closer to the series but that was my first thoughts on this series and I am very excited to see how it all turns out as I am sure all of you are.
One last thing the Lost Blogs from Sunday have been Found:
The old blog text site is running again but because I heard no reason as to why the site was down I will only be putting links to here on that site so you are in the right place!!!
Tags: Bosh, Calderon, Ford, Georgia Tech, Howard, Magic, NBA, Nelson, Nesterovic, Playoff Series, Superman
