| Raptors Continue To Gel With Victory Over Hawks Authored by Barak Falkovitz - February 3, 2007 - 7:49 pm
| Current Featured Columns | | Merry Christmas, Raptors Fans The Raptors might not be playing good basketball right now, but there are plenty of things for Toronto fans to be thankful for this holiday season.
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After Friday’s impressive 103-91 win over the Atlanta Hawks, fans have a legitimate reason for rejoice. The Raptors moved one game above .500 (24-23), and now hold a two game lead over New Jersey for top seed in the Atlantic division. They played a great team effort, and it’s becoming a nightly occurrence. Six Raptors scored in double figures, led by the 24 points from Chris Bosh. Coming off his first ever Player of the Month Award, Bosh showed he isn’t just going to coast.
With the Raptors up 19 points -- the type of lead that would have most teams playing to the scoreboard -- Bosh dove on the floor for a loose ball. He has been playing like a man possessed. The whiff of a division crown could do that to a person.
Both teams had won four of their last five games going into last night. Toronto, who had also swept the NBA’s monthly awards (Coach - Mitchell, Rookie - Bargnani, in addition to Bosh), took control right from the start on their way to a win that was almost never in doubt.
They were up ten after the first quarter, thanks to an overall outstanding effort, and the continued success of Jose Calderon. However, in his second game back from injury, TJ Ford came off the bench once again and did an admirable job doing so. In only 9 first half minutes, Ford racked up an eye-popping 7 assists, and finished the game with 10.
With Ford’s return, Toronto’s point guard tandem is back in effect. Calderon and Ford combined for 18 points and 15 assists, compared to only 4 points and 3 assists from Atlanta’s point guards, Tyronn Lue and Speedy Claxton.
Starting with the points guards, the Raptors’ chemistry has been growing tighter as the season progresses. “We’re learning how to win, and we’re playing with confidence,” said Sam Mitchell. “And even when we don’t play great, we’ve got guys who are making plays at the right time.”
“These guys just keep trying to get better,” added the coach. “Watching this team, and how they pull for one another, I’m just proud of them. Win or lose, we give ourselves a chance.”
In one of his better games as a Raptor, Rasho Nesterovic scored 12 points on 5/7 from the floor, and grabbed 5 rebounds. Notoriously known for being a seldom dunker, Nesterovic threw it down twice, including one off of an alley-oop pass from TJ Ford.
“Everybody was surprised,” joked Nesterovic. “Probably everybody in the arena. Even me.” Nesterovic’s alley-oop catch even had Chris Bosh in a joking mood. “Rasho catch a lob? I hope y’all tape that, because that will never happen again. Get the game film.”
Joe Johnson led Atlanta with 28 points, including a third quarter explosion of 17 points. However, the Raptors still carried a 12 point lead going into the fourth quarter.
Behind Johnson’s outstanding start to the second half, the Hawks were able to cut the lead to as little as seven, before being put away in the fourth. “We had a pretty nice third quarter,” said Johnson. “But in the fourth, guys were pretty much doing their own thing, and that’s not what got us back in the game.”
“Even though we’re over .500, we are first place in our division, we’re still trying to get to the top of the East,” said Bosh after the win. “That was one of our goals coming into the season.” A place at the top of the Eastern Conference isn’t actually too far-fetched. The Raptors are currently only 4 games behind the Conference leading Washington Wizards, a team that Toronto has beaten twice this season. |
