Couchside Report: Wizards at Raptors
We’re couchside for the first time in a long time, enjoying the Raptors hosting the Wiz. All I can say to start: I miss Rod Black’s mustache.
Early on, Songaila is killing it. He just threw the ball in from the right block, about 10 feet out. He is out-fetal-ing Rasho.
Calderon just waltzed baseline, through the key, up to the free throw line, and then tossed up an ill-advised jumper.
The Swirk is overly excited tonight. He’s practically screaming when the Raps get a 5-on-4.
What would it cost for Toronto to pick up one of these young Wizards? Dominic Mcguire maybe? He killed us on the boards the last time I watched.
Dang, Brendan Haywood just sent Calderon’s try into the press row.
Whatever “it” is, Calderon seems to be going for it. He’s the only guy shooting out there.
Haywood looks like he should be a really good player in the NBA. He’s not, but he fits the mold of a classic big man.
Bargnani looks good out there. He has eight points early on.
Rod Black just reported that Bargnani has braces. He also said, “Good thing he was wearing a mouth guard, or else he’d have needed false teeth,” or something to that effect. Then Swirsky says the strangest thing: “And he’d have had a concussion.” How do mouth guards prevent concussions? I thought that’s what helmets were for.
Toronto’s down 24-14.
Deshawn Stevenson: [insert "Knocked Up" beard joke here]
Apparently Roger Mason turned down a three-year deal from the Spurs in the offseason, and instead signed with Washington for one-year. Just goes to show that some kids, no matter how long they stay in school, aren’t getting any smarter.
Bargnani has shown no evidence of a conscience yet. He’ll get some numbers tonight, I suspect. He should get knocked on his butt more often.
Carlos Delfino just hit a shot from very deep. Breaks a long 0-for-streak from three.
Brezec should have an endorsement deal for athletic gear. Otherwise, all that stuff he’s wearing must be costly.
Raps and Wiz go turnover-for-turnover. Then Washington does it again, leading to another uncontested dunk for Toronto.
OOOOOh boy. Bargnani stumbled, almost fell on his face while dribbling, reversed it very high off the glass, and used just enough english to spin it in. Nice.
Delfino is busting out of his streak HUGE. Big three! Big steal for a breakaway dunk!
Raps are down two, 37-35.
Roger Mason actually looks like Ben Gordon all the time, but tonight he’s playing like him, too.
This is a fun game. Guys are making shots all over. No Bosh, no Caron, no problem.
Bargnani hits another triple! He’s hit four, with 18 points. Deshawn Stevenson just responded with a triple of his own.
I REALLY, REALLY hate those Rogers commercials with annoying 20-somethings and their cell phones.
Moon needs to stop shooting altogether. Drive and attack. Stop taking shots from people who can make them.
At half, it’s 53-45 for Washington, but neither team has been missing, so it’s a matter of who’s going to run cold first.
Roger Mason interview at half? Good grief. Was Carrot Top unavailable?
Aaaand we’re back.
There’s an ugly sequence: Jamison travelled, no call, and tossed it to Haywood, who travelled and got caught.
Toronto just can’t catch up to Washington. The Wiz are still leading, 62-53.
Calderon with a steal and breakaway layup. This must be some kind of record for breakaway layups.
So T.J. Ford lost his job due to injury, right? How often does that happen in pro sports? I’m thinking Drew Bledsoe-Tom Brady like eight years ago, but can’t think of anything else. Did Tommy Maddox in Pittsburgh lose his job to Big Ben Rothleisburger because of an injury?
Bargnani hits a three, and the Raps are within two points.
Calderon …and the foul! Dude has been knocked around tonight. Raptors take their first lead, 63-62. They will either relinquish it right now, or they won’t look back and run away with it. OOOoooh and Jamario just took the lid off the rim with a dunk. Looks like it might be the latter. Raptors on a 14-2 run.
Phil Helmuth is dishing on which NBA players are good at poker. He names Kobe first, then adds Marion, Duncan, Tony Parker, and a few others.
Looks like Toronto has decided to never let go of this lead. They’re up 72-66, with a minute left in the 3rd quarter.
It’s 74-68 at the end of three quarters.
I’m expecting a great final quarter. Here we go…
Nick Young just went coast-to-coast, capping off a 6-0 run in the 4th.
Calderon out, TJ Ford in. And guess what? Toronto is suddenly down 82-76.
Teams are trading jabs, nobody opening themselves up for a knockout punch.
Jamario Moon hits a three. You hate to see him take that shot. You love to see him make it. Toronto down three, 84-81.
Calderon with a three! We’re tied at 84.
Big plays on Toronto’s end- Calderon takes a charge, and comes back with a layup on the other end. Tied at 86 now.
Nesterovic! Hard to believe Rasho just made a huge play. Offensive board, put-back, and the foul. 89-86 Toronto.
Turnover Calderon, Jamieson gets a layup.
Delfino splits the D and blows the gimme.
Roger Mason with a big three! Washington up two, 91-89.
Bargnani misses his second straight three after hitting 5-6 tonight. The law of averages…
Two minutes to go, Raptors down two.
Rasho taking a break. Hmmm, not a great move, methinks.
Bad shot Delfino. Nobody inside, missing Rasho’s offensive boarding.
Jamison takes the layup for Washington, 93-89.
Bargnani gets fouled making a move. Two freebies, and he makes both. Toronto down two, 1:08 left.
ROGER MASON. THREE. 96-91 Washington.
Bargnani misses a three, Moon offensive boards, and Anthony Parker gets it all back with a three. It’s 96-94 Washinton.
No matter how much Gatorade tries to make me think that somehow they have some kind of special scientific edge over other sports drinks, I’m pretty sure they haven’t changed anything but flavouring since the early 90s. “Better than water” isn’t a very good tagline, though.
Washington ball. Up two. Inbounding…turnover to Toronto. Credit Jamario Moon on the deflection. He’s fouled. Makes two free throws. We’re all tied up at 96! Fourty seconds to go.
Please, no overtime.
Jamison inside…hook no, tip yes for DeShawn Stevenson. Fear the beard!
Wiz 98-Raps 96 with under 20 seconds to go.
Parker comes off a screen, fakes a shot, and tosses it to a surprised Bargnani. He bumbles the ball, gets fouled. Makes two. Tied.
Washington ball. Nick Young for the win for threeee…..no good.
OVERTIME! Crap.
Personal timeout for a phone call from the girlfriend. Back to the action, Toronto are up 104-102.
We’re down to two minutes left in OT.
Antawn Jamison just travelled, yet no call and a score.
Bargnani blew a layup. Badly. Tied at 104.
Blatche with two free throws. Makes one, then another. Washington up two, timeout.
One of the secrets of broadcasting appears to be restating things often.
Toronto ran a nice play for Calderon to drop off to Delfino, but the ball is smacked away. On the inbound, Bargnani makes a play for a layup. Tied at 106.
Jamison earns two free throws for a cut right down the middle, taking the feed from Blatche on the right block. He makes them both, and Washington are up again, 108-106.
Anthony Parker misses a jumper. Jamison is fouled. He takes and makes two free throws. 30 seconds remaining.
Washington up 4. Calderon jacks a three. No. Moon for three. No. Dominic Aguirre grabs the board, tosses it blindly to Calderon, who tries a layup and gets it SENT BACK by Blatche, and Bargnani gets a bit trigger shy, hands off to Calderon, who unpromptly shoots a three at the buzzer…while being down four. Needless to say, it didn’t go in.
Washington wins it, 110-106 in Toronto. G’nite!
Comments
By Gagan on March 7th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
The Raptors, like every other Toronto sports team, are such a tease.
By Connor on March 8th, 2008 at 9:51 am
It seemed like Calderon was forcing things early on, which led to him getting yanked out of the game by Mitchell in the first quarter, but he calmed down and in the third quarter he played some inspired ball. He had some steals, scored a ton and helped get his teammates some open looks. I couldn’t help but think he came out forcing things a bit due to trying to prove Agent Zero wrong but once he calmed down he got back to his normal self.
By Johnn19 on March 8th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Tough to win in the NBA when only shooting 39% for a team.
The Wiz bench completely outplayed TJ and the Raptors bench, 44-24 &15-5rbs.
Can’t happen if Rap’s are to win, especially without Bosh.
With all the losses mounting Rap’s still 1 game @ 33-28 ahead of last year 32-29. With the 5 game trip looming TJ and the bench have to step up or its going to be a long 2 weeks, and 6th/7th place.
By Gagan on March 8th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Speaking of 6th place, I’d love it if Orlando stays at 3rd and Toronto moves down to 6th. I really believe it wouldn’t happen but I can hope.
A more realistic scenario is LeBronland –I mean Cleveland, moving to 3rd and Orlando having home court against the Raptors.
Too much to think about too early though, right? lol
By Anthony RapFan on March 8th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Dudes, the bench failed because TJ failed them. He started the 4th quarter selfishly and it make Stephon Marbury proud. If he plays anymore like this, trade him to the Knicks with those Knuckleheads.