Italian Block Party... leave the guns at home please

"Having Antoine in your back pocket to pull out there when you need is like carrying an unloaded handgun. If things aren't going right you take it out, wave it around a bit and your enemies usually yield. That's what happened tonight. Too bad for the Wizards they took that too literally."

Nothing sweeter than victory and the Raptors tasted it again tonight. This game was a tale of two halves. First part of the game for the Wizards was pretty much all Josh Howard.  It was a Andrea vs Howard gun show in the first quarter. Howard abused the slower stepping Hedo and rattled off a string of points and trips to the line quick. Bargs ran iso-low post or high post pushing his man, (big or small) close enough for him to use his turn-hook or fader, aka "double barrel blast". The gameplan early on for the Raps was running screen and roll with Bargs to start the game. He posts up and gets himself points or shots from the line.  I understand they shouldn't go down with the same play every time but I am not sure why they went away from this play so quickly since it was working. Bargs also added a sweet block on McGee, a foreshadowing of what was to come. He was also active on the glass and stood his ground on his man during post ups. 

The start of the second half saw the Raptors go cold and forget the definition of boxing out as the Wizards made a buffet line to the basket with all you can eat offensive rebounds. It was a blood bath with bodies hitting the floor, Wizard's D turned it up a notch, Reggie mauled Blatch for a bloodied nose, and Sonny got a bloody cut lip. Yes, blood was spilled as there was one shot of Blatche's pool of blood on the court. I told you Reggie is in actuality a beast.

They tried iso with Hedo way too much and once again stopped going to Bargnani who was a major reason for their first half success. They seem to do that a lot and go away from what works. They seemed to completely forget he was on the floor. At the same time, Andray Blatche changed the game for his team and was on fire. He kept posting up, then stepped back for a jumper or fader over Bargs. Luckily the Raps countered with a very aggressive Jarret Jack who at one point ended up in the third row. He looked like he was gonna cannonball that rich kid just trying to have a good time.

Shit you might have noticed:

• Jack was very aggressive especially in the fourth quarter where he took the game and put it on his shoulders. He ran  early on drive and kick or drive and dump off underneath. He directed the team well and slash towards the basket for many free throws and lay ins. In the absence of CB4, this is a perfect example of stepping up.

• In the first half Bargs had that assertiveness back. Or were his teammates looking for him more? A bit of both I think since the obvious strategy was to get him the ball early and get it to him often. Unfortunately his team forgot he was the floor in the 2nd. What's Italian for "gimme the frick'n ball!!" He scored 16 points in the first half and got zero looks in the third. Not discouraged, Bargnani stepped up defensively with several key blocks. His key blocks helped fuel the Raps down the stretch. Forza Il Mago!

• Hedo had is mask on, had his mask off but Hedo provided enough offense to make himself look useful. He also provided a key post up deuce and a offensive board at the end of the game. 2 good games in a row for him, good job. We need 18 a game from him though me thinks, as that's roughly the per game average he showed at the end of the season with the Magic. I don't think it's too much to ask for and I know he's capable of it. Only time will tell.

• Antoine Wright helped neutralize Howard a bit when Hedo took a foul too many in the first. He was also locked in from the arch. On another team he could be starting but the team is right, they have to get the young rookie some playing time. Having Antoine in your back pocket to pull out there when you need is like carrying an unloaded handgun. If things aren't going right you take it out, wave it around a bit and your enemies usually yield. That's what happened tonight. Too bad for the Wizards they took that too literally.

• Colangelo answered a fan's question, stating that he thinks the Raptors have one of the deepest teams in the league.It was easy for him to make a formula for building this team. Basically he did the opposite of what he did the season before where he got Jermaine and plugged in the lineup with pieces of garbage like Will Soloman and Roko Ukic.

• I found it hilarious one point in the fourth where the whistle was blown on a Hedo out of bounds, Bargs hits a three after like 5 or 6 seconds of the blown whistle and the crowd was still dumb enough to think it counted.I thought NBA basketball had been in this city long enough for the fans in general to know the rules. Actually it's kind of embarrassing.

It's haircut/grooming day down at the ACC apparently. Hedo looks like he shortened his hair back to the faux-hawk he usually has and is sporting his so-called Zorro styled mask. Jose looks like he got a trim too  however, I would suggest some Rogane. I shouldn't make fun of Jose, male pattern baldness is no joke.

I could barely recognize Mike Miller who got himself a men's haircut. If i didn't already know Fabricio Oberto had a long hairdo, I woulda thought he stole Mike Miller's hair and made himself wig. Mike was all over the court though, sneaking in and grabbing the types of offensive boards that had fans tearing their hair out at the roots. That being any type of offensive rebounds that the Raps seems to give up more often than not.

Funny moment: Towards the end they showed a shot of Jarrett Jack trying to explain some plays to Hedo. Hedo looked like he was art student freshman sitting in on a fourth year physics course. However, Hedo scored immediately afterward. I guess looks can be deceiving.


-Does anyone know why Mike Miller wears a one-sleeved shirt under his jersey a la tarzan or andre the giant?


-Gotta love how the ref reversed his called when the Wizards complained. Made me wonder what he was gonna do next, get the team some coffees? Shine their shoes? I guess he had to be scared. I mean they are packing heat. 

-Non-Obvious guys I wouldn't mind the Raptors having:
Earl Boykins who seemed to be giving Jose issues on both ends. He's quick, deceptive, and has is usually locked in on his jumpers.

that is all