Raptors play a depleted team... again! I know people were talking about how tough our schedule was, but a lot of the teams we've been facing have been missing some key players and we haven't been able to get better than .500. This is a team we should beat, much like Memphis, so here's hoping we show some defensive intensity.

Baron Davis is semi-revitalized, so we should see more dribble penetration on Jose/Jack than a handicapped Rose was able to muster last game. If we can keep Kaman and Camby off the glass like we did to Noah/Deng/Miller, we should be okay.

We are so going to lose. No effort, because its a game we should win easily (bad team with injuries). And they are not on back-to-back. We are screwed.

Can the Raps be any worse? No defense and this time also no offense. And we are plaiyng Clippers.

What are the chances the Raptors lose a game by less than double digits on this road trip?

What are the chances this goes exactly like last year and we go on a huge losing trip on this western road trip, fire the coach and end up trading Hedo somewhere along the line?

Zero.

You'd dont think we are going to fire Triano or trade Hedo?

Hell no, Colangelo is going to ride or die with this team/coaching staff. He just committed a $130 million to Turkoglu, Bargnani and Jack.

Yeah I know. And it would be really stupid to blow this thing up so quickly again. No matter how bad they look right now, you got to wait and see how it plays out.

Thank you Amir Johnson (and Chris Bosh) for keeping this game close.

Missed the third due to internet connection going down. What happened?

They won't lose by double digits at least.

Aint that great. Not losing to Clippers by double digits

They really need to take care of this one. But they dont really look too hot right now.

They should let Bellinelle defend Baron and keep Jose on Telfair.

Despite the well publicized defensive woes, the Raptors have held their opponents to 11 and 15 points in the past two 4th quarters, which is an encouraging sign.

Great win for the Raps, even if the final score doesn't tell the whole story (or any of the story really).

I like that we're playing Jack less now and Belinelli's getting some burn. Jack's minutes have gone from some insane 30 some-odd performances, and are now dipping down to 16-21 minute performances. Thank god. Too bad DeRozan didn't continue his "hot streak" from the Bulls game

That has more to do with Calderon finally starting to play well again more than it does with Jack playing poorly, he's going to be a really big part of this team as the season goes on and I'd gladly take him over Roko Ukic or whoever the hell the Raptors originally planned on being their back-up PG.

Anyways, incredible win tonight, great performances by Johnson and Belinelli outside of the usual suspects.

Would be even more encouraging to see one game where they played consistent defense. We seem to start with no energy on D. Then start having some with the bench and continue with it while starters come back.

Well nice to see a win after that come back.

I wouldnt mind resting Turk for a few games. He looks injured and I'd rather let him heal and see if the bench can bring some suprise element to the tough games we are facing.

Down by 20 to the Clippers in the 1st half... Only good thing about that is that you're down 20 to the Clippers... Wow they are bad. I still would have loved to see the look on Blake Griffin's face when the Clippers got the 1st pick in the lottery! Poor bastard...

Good that the Raps got this game as the next 5 are not going to be easy...

Do we play the Hornets again on this trip (at work/too lazy to look it up)? If so that is a winnable game for us as they will be without Paul for a few games at least.

Next 3 games are phoenix, denver, and utah (in that order). No easy rides this time.

Agreed, though if we were to somehow find the defensive effort and execution we had in the Cleveland game for all three of the remaining road games, the Utah game should be winnable and we should be able to stay close in the other two (and maybe steal one if we're lucky.

That's a big if, though, considering we only but in five to six solid defensive quarters in our last two games...

if we end up facing denver on a night when their swag is phenomenal, it could get ugly. i can just imagine kenyon martin having one of our guys in tears, standing over him and screaming. has there ever been a team with more tattoos? with their defeat of the lakers last night, seems like their swag is high.

Like it was mentioned before the Utah game is winnable but Denver is going to be tough, we need some swagger of our own and I think DeRozan can be that guy.

Denver has more tattoos then most prison blocks, two of their current roster members are on my all tattoo team: http://www.raptorblog.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2468

i've also got jr smith and carmelo on my fantasy team, so the ideal result is a high scoring shootout ending in a raps victory.

i think derozan could develop into a swag guy for us, let's hope he keeps developing and playing smart.

You're all lanky team should include Hilton Armstrong. That guy has a neck only National Geographic could love

SNAP! Good one.

I have not worried about Demar making bone headed plays, I feel he has a really good handle on the game as I have seen so far.