Just for those who have found the Dino Nation Blog over the Summer here is a little explanation as to what the Raptor Rewind is. It is the Dino Nation Blog’s recap of every Raptor Game(Hopeful with in about an hour of games being finished). I do a complete re-cap as I watch the game. In addition I will 95% of the time have a podcast with my thoughts on the game and what is to come. It is my way to give you a unique take on the Toronto Raptors from the Dino Nation Bloggers prospective. My laptop is just in front of a T.V rather than being at the A.C.C. But who knows maybe someday. I now invite everyone back to the second season of the Raptors Rewind.
So the Cleveland Cavs and Toronto Raptors are two teams that have a lot of expectations for the 08/09 season. It is going to be interesting to see what happens for both in the season. But on this night it will not be looking so hot. After all this is the first game for both teams and the Raptors will only have 12 players healthy and as such the minutes for starters are likely going to be very limited. But the eyes of the Raptors fans( Oh wait make that the ears ) on Andrea Bargnani and Roko Ukic the pre-season for both should be very important for them more than anyone else on this roster. Cleveland meanwhile thinks they have found their point guard in Mo Williams. He will need to build a chemistry with Lebron James and that if both play will start tonight. So here we go Raptor fans basketball is back. Almost like the real thing but not really.
The Cavs started the game scoring the first four points until Antony Parker got the Raptors on the board followed by a Bosh score were tied a 4-4 our you excited yet? Parker would get a basket plus a foul to give Raptors their first lead 7-4. Raptors started the game with what most feel will be there starting line-up on opening night of Calderon, Parker, Moon, Bosh and O’Neal. Anothny Parker was having a good start as he had an early 7 points and Raptors had a 13-11 lead a little over 4 minutes into the first. Andrea Bargnani came into the game about mid way through the first quarter of play. He came in for O’Neal who was scoreless with a couple of rebounds in about six minutes of floor time. Mo Williams would score on a drive to re-take the lead for the Cavs 16-15. Hassan Adams, Solmon, Kapono and Humphries checked into the ball game. Normally you wouldn’t mention this stuff but being pre-season I felt I should make note of it. Lebron James makes pass to Anderson Varejao who completed an old school 3 point play to give the Cavs a 20-15 lead. The next offensive chance for Raptors ended on an Andrea Bargnani charging call his first of the game. Sam Mitchell would call a time out with the Cavs taking advantage of Raptor reserves taking a 24-17 lead late in the first quarter of play. Cleveland was shooting 50% (10-20) from the field to start while Raptors were 8 of 18 (44.4%) so far. Bargnani gets on the board scoring from 20 feet for the Raptors. But the Cavs quickly came back to score going up 28-19. But Andrea would come back and drive and draw a blocking foul in which Bargnani would split a pair at the line. The Cavs would end up with a 28-20 lead after one quarter of play.
By the way Cleveland has an arena football team(I did not know that) and tickets are aviliable now. But let’s get back to basketball shall we? Solomon remains in at the point he starts the second hitting his first 2 points in a Raptor jersey on a jumper. Kris Humphries was doing his usual bull in a china shop best as he got a basket followed up by a foul in which he had a couple at least at this point. Raptors had cut the Cavs lead in half to 30-26 with just over 10 minutes left in the half. Samson had checked in and the replacement late addition to the Raptors had a bucket to cut the lead down to just 1 at 31-30. Andrea Bargnani was seeing a lot of time and he had 5 point and a couple fouls to this point. He had two chances to score until Hassan Adams would clean up the mess. But lets look at the positive Andrea got a rebound out of it. Jermaine O’Neal returned to line-up and scored as Raptors were still down one. Cleveland would push the lead out to 5 points at 40-35. Will Solomon would get nailed for a charge and the turnover he had another earlier on a double dribble. Chris Bosh and Anthony Parker would replace Bargnani and Hassan Adams upon their return J.O would get his second bucket on the night. Cleveland would respond with a Daniel Gibson 3-ball. Cavs had a 45-39 lead with 2:18 to go in the half. Chris Bosh made a couple free throws to give him 6 points on the night to this point in limited minutes. O’Neal matched Bosh with 6 points but it was the Cavs who would have the lead by 8 with the score 51-43.
Toronto missed 7 free throws but shot 46% from the field and the Raptors had 6 steals in first half of ball for 08/09. Anthony Parker lead the Raptors with his 7 points that came early on. With that info provided it is time for the second half. The starting five for the Raptors would return for the start of the second half. Anthony Parker would again start off well hitting a 3-ball and adding another basket to get to 12 on the night. Jermaine O’Neal would add to his totals and then Bosh would hit a 3 pointer of his own and The Raptors pulled back to 3 points off the lead with score 57-54 with 8:24 on the clock. O’Neal went to the line to pull the Raptor back to just 1 point down. The teams would started trading baskets. Calderon would score and then a Jamario Moon 3-ball to tie and another score and Raptors were back in the lead. The starters had done well in their time on the floor to this point as a unit. The Raptors were now leading 65-61 thanks to a couple free throws from AP. Raptors were hanging on to the lead but Cavs were pushing hard to take it back. Jason Kapono who had checked in nailed another 3-ball to put the lead back to 4 points once more. Bargnani would hit a 20 footer and Raptors had their largest lead of the night of 8 with the score 72-64. Cavs would run off 7 staright points to cut the lead to just one before Andrea Bragnani would finally respond for Toronto. The Raptors would hang on to the lead and extend it to 5 points 78-73 after three.
Raptors would look to get a win on the road to start the pre-season on a winning note. Andrea Bargnani was helping the cause early nailing a 3-ball early in the 4th to give him 12 on the night so far. Raptors would extend the lead to 9 points on a Will Solomon score to make the score 84-75. A shot block for Andrea Bargnani would help keep the lead at 9. Andrea was having a decent night after a bit of a slow beginning for him. He was getting a lot of floor time and I would imagine when we check the boxscore after this one he will lead Raptors in minutes. Raptors would extend the lead to 11 thanks to Will Solomon that would be enough to see Roko Ukic enter the game who the Cleveland announcer had said was not in uniform for this game. I guess he was mis-informed. Solomon would remain on the floor with Ukic giving the Raptors two point guards on the floor. Solomon is considered a combo guard so this may be a way for Sam Mitchell to guard against the inexperience of Roko early on. Raptors lead 93-83 with 5:25 left to play in this one. Will Solomon had quietly put together a 16 point night so far a nice debut. Most important though it was looking like it would be in a win for the Raptors. They lead 99-83 with just 2:53 left on the clock and no Lebron James in sight for this one after all it is the pre-season. After trailing by as many as 9 point the Raptors responded with a great second half that saw many people contributing to the cause. It would make for a nice flight back to Toronto as the Raptors would be on the floor at the ACC vs the Knicks this time tomorrow. Raptors would have gave the fans pizza if this was a home game and if they do that in the pre-season. Point is Raptors had over 100 points which is impressive considering this is just the basics at this point. This one was over and for old time sake get out the salami and cheese this game is over. The Raptors would get the win 104-84.
A great start for the Toronto Raptors. Yes it was only pre-season but a good overall team win. A lot of good performances to build on for tomorrow night at the ACC. I must give a sorry as I did not make it to the chat room prior to this game had some computer issues but I will be there tomorrow prior to the Knicks and Raps and your welcome to join me.
Boxscore (There was an issue with this hopefully it gets corrected)
Podcast of Dino Blogger It is the first time in awhile that I share my thoughts on a Raptor Game and it felt good to be back in the saddle so to speak.
That is all till tomorrow, Bring on the Knicks!!!
Tags: Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, Roko Ukic, Jermaine O'Neal, Raptors @ Cavs Oct 7 2008, Will Solmon
