Raps @ Cleveland - 7 pm - Raptors Lose (Marz 9-10), TSN Options

[forsakenMarz]

Despite Cleveland's "bad start" to the season, they've only lost 3 home games. Raptors are going to have to come out firing on all cylinders to even have a chance at this one. Maybe LeBron will be injured?

[Mr. Coffee]

Marz boldly putting a thread winning streak on the line with an away game in Cleveland!

Over the last 13 games, we've only lost three times, twice to Boston and that inexcusable choke against Indiana. Obviously Cleveland falls in the better than almost anyone category and a loss on their home court is nothing to be ashamed of. I'll be looking to see how the Raps respond when Cleveland invariably comes out with some energy. If we get down and continue to fight - that's all I'm asking for.

[forsakenMarz]

Is no one watching? This is turning out to be one of the most intense games of the season. Despite the shit calls the refs are giving the Raps are only down by two at the half.

DeRozan got quiet once they put LeBron on him instead of Parker (thanks to Hedo's foul trouble)... we need to exploit Parker with Belinelli or something.

[Mr. Coffee]

Turkoglu is a serious liability. The turnovers, ill advised shots, and lazy defense are really killing the team right now.

[PBI]

Game went exactly how most predicted, Raptors stay within striking distance for about 42-43 minutes then the threes stop falling and Cleveland responds with a lay up drill.

[Mr. Coffee]

I'm amazed how close we've stayed with Bosh disappearing in the 2nd half and Turkoglu M.I.A.

Its frustrating though because anytime we've needed a basket, we've missed an open look. There have been opportunities. Oh well... cant win 'em all

[PBI]

Any idea why Jack stayed on the bench in the 4th? Has Triano already fallen back in love with Calderon?

[forsakenMarz]

Any idea why Jack stayed on the bench in the 4th? Has Triano already fallen back in love with Calderon?

Probably so Jack can handle the bulk of the minutes tomorrow night when his defense is more needed against Jennings.

Anyway, the Raptors did exactly what I had hoped they would: Compete and not get blown out by the Cavs. Still though, it's frustrating watching all those opportunities clang off the rim. This loss is on Bosh/Calderon/Turk not being able to execute down the stretch imo. A bunch of missed shots and turnovers when we could've swung the game our way.

[Dellwell]

Yes a good game but the Raps couldn't hit WIDE OPEN shots down the stretch. If there ever was a "moral victory" in losing this may be it. Was also wondering about J.Jack on the bench in the 4th as Jose was not hitting his shot. Jack may have pulled something? Maybe he got hurt when he tried to drive on Shaq & took a fat sweaty hit from him...

Once the game got into the later part of the 3rd, the tempo slowed & the Raps seemed to get out of rhythm & have trouble going against the set defense of the Cavs. When the game is tight the Raps would be better off running the ball up the court rather then walking it up...

DD in the 1st half was fantastic going to the rim, getting out on the break and attacking the basket. Even trying to take it to Shaq on 1 drive. And Shaq laid DD out pretty good! You could just see that coming...

Was also impressed with A.Wright & Marco tonight, both played very well off the bench. Then there is Turk, ya he was in foul trouble in the 1st half but there is still an entire 2nd half... I wasn't for the pick-up of Turk this summer but he can defiantly play much better then he has shown. 15pts 5assists & 5rebounds would be nice…

RAPTOR TRADE RUMOR OF THE NIGHT: Jose to Sacramento for Kevin Martin. Think I’d like this trade…

[CV31]

Why is everyone so happy about just competing with the Cavs? This was a game for the taking. The blame should lay mostly at Trianos feet. He coached a poor game tonight. Why oh why was Jack not in the game at the end? I was screaming at the TV for the last 4 and half minutes of the 4th quarter. Bosh was crap. Seems to be going back to old jump shooting CB. I guess it was to much for him to take all the pounding he was taking early on in the season. He got abused by shaq in the first half dont really know why it took so long to get him off him but youll have to ask Triano. He always seems to try and let guys work things out on the court. Which is fine sometimes but when your down by 4 or 6 points to the best team in the East. You gotta go for the win and I think he blew it. God damn power went off her at halftime and i waited up till they replayed the game on RaptorsTV to watch it. lol

[efram the retard...]

Tough to win games when your out-rebounded by 11.

[Smothered in Hug...]

Until deep into the 4th no one wanted to win that game and that's when we straight up failed to execute. The bench had one of their best games of the year overall I think it was positive but like CV31 said we don't need to hang with the best we need to beat them.

We did a terrible job of getting Bosh the ball in the 4th and all those jumpers were a product of that and the defense they played on Bosh was pretty damn tight.

[efram the retard...]

We did a terrible job of getting Bosh the ball in the 4th and all those jumpers were a product of that and the defense they played on Bosh was pretty damn tight.

Bosh got the ball, he just did dick all with it. On multiple occaisons he couldn't make up his mind whether he wanted to back down his man or settle for a jump shot. In my opnion, the raptors should have increased their presence in the paint earlier and more often. They got shaq in foul trouble early and for some reason stopped doing what was working.

I also noticed that his play went down hill after Shaq layed into him with a pic in the open court early in the 2nd.

[Smothered in Hug...]

Bosh got the ball, he just did dick all with it. On multiple occaisons he couldn't make up his mind whether he wanted to back down his man or settle for a jump shot. In my opnion, the raptors should have increased their presence in the paint earlier and more often. They got shaq in foul trouble early and for some reason stopped doing what was working.

I also noticed that his play went down hill after Shaq layed into him with a pic in the open court early in the 2nd.

We tend to get intimidated easily which is a trend I wish we'd buck

[forsakenMarz]

It had nothing to do with intimidation. We didn't excecute down the stretch because we weren't able to hit the broad side of a barn. The players on the floor simply could not buy a bucket and that's why we didn't get the win.

[nathan]

Raps do get intimidated. (see our games vs. Boston). and it's really frustrating to see.

Entertaining game. Wouldn't be so disappointed if I hadn't felt like we had a small chance to win, but .. well .. the Raptors.

LBJ seems to be really showing off at times at our expense. Nice that CB4 responded with a wicked crossover dribble off his foot. ;-)

PVR, as often happens when recording from the Rogers Guide, ended before the last bit of the game. With the score 106-100 it wasn't too hard to project the outcome ...