Raptors Coverage: Jan 17, @ New Orleans

Game 41 - @ New Orleans (L 85-81 / +- 13-28 / streak L4) Monday January 17, 2011

Watched the whole game

This was a big one for me, not just because the Raptors could desperately use the morale-booster that a tough road victory would provide, before clashing with San Antonio, Orlando and Miami consecutively following this game. It was also a big game for me because my girlfriend is inexplicably a Hornets (specifically Chris Paul) fan, and deliberately anti-Raptor in any way. She mocks me.

In this game the Raptors fall short and kind of let me down on both accounts, but they put up a valiant effort with the roster given and ultimately lose a tilt that could have swung either way in the final minute. Without Barbosa, Kleiza, and Bayless, and no-shows Peja Stojakovic, Reggie Evans and Sonny Weems, the Raptors were significantly short-handed once again. But enough excuses, the Raptors played a pretty good team game lead with 23 points from 'potential' Most Improved Player of the Year award DeMar DeRozan, but were buried by sporratic efforts by José Calderon and Andrea Bargnani. Calderon finished with a tasty 13 assists, yet was held off the scoresheet entirely (0 pts) by Chris Paul (6 pts, 11 ast) and former Raptor teammate / PG rival Jarret Jack (17 pts, 3 ast). Bargnani (4-17 for 11 points) was beat on defense and on the boards by the dominating efforts of a true bigman, Emeka Okafor, who finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Several Raptors weaknesses are exposed, but the game could also be blamed on the aweful officiating at the end of the game. To their credit, the officials they tried to be fair and review some calls, but I felt cheated as though the calls were biased Anti-Raptor (and even my Hornets Fan/ Girlfriend agreed). I try not to make excuses, the Hornets earned this win, but the Raptors put in a tough effort and unfortunately lose footing on the first step towards a long losing streak. The future looks bleak, but the optimism is always building. Someday.

 Martin Luther "Bernard" King Jr.

January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968