Well, here’s a shocker ladies and gentlemen. On Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre, the Utah Jazz blew out the Toronto Raptors by a score of 113-87. Imagine, even though it may be difficult to do, the Raptors didn’t offer up much resistance on defense. What a shocking revelation that is ! Unfortunately, not only is it not shocking, in fact, discussion of the Raptors being soft physically and mentally, has become an ongoing theme for journalists like myself, and others who don’t hesitate to write or speak the truth, regarding the pathetic performances this team has provided against several of the Western Conference teams, who feature skill as well as physical and mental toughness. Toronto was absolutely humiliated on their recent western road trip, other than in one game against the Lakers,where the home team was victorious, courtesy of a buzzer beater by Raptor killer, Kobe Bryant. In spite of the win, Bryant acknowledged after the match, that the game was close because the Lakers played poorly. Toronto couldn’t cope with weaker teams like Golden State and Sacramento on that road swing.
If being on the road was Toronto’s excuse for their Swiss cheese like defense, it was completely nullified by the disappearing act the Raptors executed in their recent home games against Oklahoma, and now, the Jazz. They surely must have the reputation throughout the league, as the softest team on the circuit. The only teams that they play “tough” with, are other teams similar to them in the Eastern Conference, or on occasion, a Western Conference team that takes the night off. For example, when the Denver Nuggets ( have lost 3 in a row, 17-19 on the road ) visit the Air Canada Centre on Friday, Kenyon Martin ( 11.8 ppg,9.6 reb.pg. ) may not play,as he has missed 11 straight games with left knee tendinitis. His absence,would give the Raptors a little more room to operate in, on both offense and defense. They can focus their energy, on trying to limit the amount of damage that Carmelo Anthony ( avg. 30.5 ppg the last 12 games ) might inflict on them. Even Toronto, is capable of taking advantage of a wounded opponent once in a while, especially after they’ve been booed off the floor at the Air Canada Centre, in recent outings.
What is even more pathetic, is that the Raptors are presently a playoff team, in the ultra easy Eastern Conference of the NBA. Remember that you read it here first, that if Toronto manages to achieve a win over Denver, some genius somewhere will start telling everybody how good the Raptors really are, and that one decent game against a good opponent, means that all is well. That is similar to what we heard and read after the recent game against L.A., at least until Kobe Bryant spoke the truth about a poor Los Angeles effort, as the real reason for the game with Toronto at the Staples Center being a nail biter. Obviously, the Raptors win over the Lakers at the Air Canada Centre earlier in the season,( Raptors won 106-105 on Jan.24 ) was probably indicative of Los Angeles not exactly being at their best on that day, ( Kobe Bryant referred to the Lakers going through a “malaise” after that game. ) and even then, Bryant just missed on a last second shot, that would have won the game for the Lakers, had it dropped into the bucket.Having said that, any team, including Toronto, can and do, play a solid game once in a while, but once in a while doesn’t cut in professional sports. Being tough, isn’t something you can demonstrate occasionally. You either are, or you are not. Toughness exists between the ears and under the chest, not in ones biceps and pectorals.