NBA

Phil Jackson could change the Raptors as Team President

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: April 30, 2013

Could the Zen Master move north of the border? Al Dannity says a move to the Raptors would present a unique opportunity to Phil Jackson. To understand why Toronto would appeal to Phil Jackson, you have to understand what makes the man. Take a city with a large population, an underachieving team, and an iffy...

NBA

Rudy Gay and DeMar DeRozan Carry Raptors Past Nets!

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: April 15, 2013

The Nets will have to settle for the fourth seed in the East as a big double-double from Rudy Gay and 36 points from DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors to victory on Sunday. Al Dannity gives his take. This was what we’ve been waiting to see. That it came in a nothing game at the...

NBA

Rest for Raptors Valanciunas and Ross against Bulls?

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: April 12, 2013

Al Dannity says there’s no point risking Jonas Valanciunas or Terrence Ross tonight. The Toronto Raptors would be better served giving Quincy Acy a closer look instead. Regulars on this site will know that I have a giant man-crush on Jonas Valanciunas. What’s not to like about a Lithuanian big-man who can bang hard and...

NBA

Valanciunas Proves Valuable In Raptors' Injury-Plagued Season

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: April 10, 2013

It looked like a relatively minor incident, but it still sent shock waves through the Toronto Raptors organization and its fans. Centre Jonas Valanciunas bumped with teammate Rudy Gay after a tipoff during Tuesday night’s 101-98 win over the Bulls in Chicago. He came away from the collision holding his neck and appearing dazed. A...

NBA

Rudy Gay Won't Tap Out on Toronto Raptors' Season

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: March 26, 2013

Forgive Rudy Gay, he’s only been a member of the Toronto Raptors for a short time. Otherwise, he’d know that now is about the time of year that you fold up your tent and start planning for next year. The writing has been on the wall for some time. The Raptors are going to miss...

NBA

Bargnani's Season Done, and So Might His Time As A Raptor

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: March 13, 2013

The cursed season of Andrea Bargnani is now officially over. The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday their starting power forward has been shut down because of a new injury in his blighted right elbow. Picked first overall by the Raptors in 2006, Bargnani has spent his entire pro career north of the border, but that too...

NBA

Telfair to the Raptors Screams of Meh

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: February 21, 2013

It’s trade deadline day in the NBA and any potential move in a period lacking star power is going to get a heap of attention. Al Dannity can’t get his head around Toronto potentially moving for Sebastian Telfair. Some moves scream bust, others scream bargain. Most fall somewhere in-between, Sebastian Telfair to Toronto may just...

NBA

Even when he’s Off, Rudy Gay is On for the Raptors

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: February 14, 2013

Al Dannity looks back at a night where Rudy Gay had a hot start, got into foul trouble, and then re-appeared just into time to save Toronto. Again. And that’s before we get to last night’s win in New York. I’m a stats guy, it’s rather important when working for a sportsbook to be one....

NBA

Farewell to Jose Calderon, the under-appreciated Raptor

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: January 31, 2013

A crying Jose Calderon left his team-mates last night. Al Dannity was almost in tears with him. He’s been around you know. European leagues, international tournaments for every age group bringing him everywhere, and then the NBA. Jose Calderon may hail from Spain but he’s been a citizen of the world. For the last eight...

NBA

Golden State of Mind: Andrew Bogut Back for Warriors

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: January 29, 2013

Bogut Returns From Ankle Injury Stop me if you heard this one before, but Andrew Bogut returned from a major injury Monday night against the Toronto Raptors and looked like he barely missed a beat. Yes, the 7-foot Aussie has an injury list longer than Lindsay Lohan’s rap sheet at this point in his eight-year...

NBA

Toronto Raptors Are At a Crossroads with Calderon

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: November 22, 2012

To trade or not to trade: that is the question with Raptors point guard Jose Calderon. When Toronto acquired Kyle Lowry from the Houston Rockets, it was assumed Calderon would end up elsewhere. It’s a good thing that hasn’t happened yet, because an ankle injury to Lowry has allowed Calderon to shine at the point-guard...

NBA

Triple-Overtime Heartbreaker Magnifies Raptors’ Poor Start

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: November 13, 2012

It all looked much brighter in training camp… new faces, new hope, maybe a new lease on life as the only pro team currently playing at the Air Canada Centre. Almost as quickly, that fire of optimism appears to be flickering for the Toronto Raptors. On Monday night, they played what may be seen later...

NBA

DeMar DeRozan Must Prove Himself to Stay a Raptor

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: October 31, 2012

While much of the focus on the Toronto Raptors has been on the youngsters and the new faces, a decision has to be made on one veteran critical to the team. Rumours have swirled around guard/forward DeMar DeRozan on a four-year contract extension said to be worth in the neighbourhood of $34 million. The two...

NBA

Raptors Enter Season with New Hope

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: October 29, 2012

It’s been four long years since the Toronto Raptors qualified for the NBA postseason. They say this year will be different and there are some things to be optimistic about, but Raps supporters have been down this road before. They’ll want to see major changes on the court after the club saw a major facelift...

NBA

Jonas Valanciunas Finally Makes His Debut For Raptors

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: October 10, 2012

So far the Toronto Raptors are perfect: 1-0 after defeating Real Madrid’s basketball team (yes, they have one) 102-95 at the Air Canada Centre on Monday. Now the spotlight shifts to the Palace of Auburn Hills on Wednesday as Raptors rookie centre Jonas Valanciunas is scheduled to take his first shifts in the NBA against...

NBA

Raptors Open Camp With New Faces and High Hopes

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: October 5, 2012

Halifax is the site of training camp for the Toronto Raptors and according to forward Jamaal Magloire, point guard Kyle Lowry has already “made himself known.” Despite the presence of veteran Jose Calderon, Lowry is the undisputed leader on this team: he has to be if the Raptors hope to do anything in the Atlantic...

NBA

Raptors Kleiza and Valanciunas Fall to France at Olympics

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: August 2, 2012

Toronto Raptors duo Linas Kleiza and Jonas Valanciunas couldn’t prevent France from beating Lithuania 82-74 in London this morning. Al Dannity looks back on a sluggish display by the Toronto pair and an impressive performance from Tony Parker of the Spurs. Limited minutes and limited impact Linas Kleiza top scored for Lithuania in Thursday’s defeat...

NBA

Raptors Kleiza and Valanciunas Help Lithuania Top Nigeria 72-53

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: July 31, 2012

Toronto Raptors duo Linas Kleiza and Jonas Valanciunas played big roles as Lithuania bounced back from Sunday’s defeat to Argentina to beat Nigeria at the Olympics. Al Dannity gives his assessment on the Raptors pair and what this result means for Lithuania’s medal hopes. Raptors Roll Linas Kleiza and Jonas Valanciunas of the Toronto Raptors...

NBA

Raptors Kleiza, Valanciunas Fall as Argentina Beats Lithuania

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: July 29, 2012

Argentina faced criticism in the runup to the 2012 Olympics after playing below their established standards in a series of exhibitions — but they came through when it counted. Luis Scola and Manu Ginobili looked anything but old and slow as the two NBA stars helped launch the quest of their native country — ranked...

NBA

OK, Raptors, Landry Fields Is All Yours — Now What?

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: July 15, 2012

When the Toronto Raptors announced they had given a three-year, $19-million offer sheet to New York Knicks swingman Landry Fields, there was a lot of consternation in Raptors Nation. Much of the speculation at the time centered on the idea that Raps general manager Bryan Colangelo made the offer to paint the Knicks into a...