Thursday, October 30, 2008

1 Down, 81 to Go...



So the first six minutes of the season really couldn't have gone much worse: zero team rebounds, a half dozen bad shots for JO, and CB4 hitting the ground about 4 times while looking for calls that were not going to come. After that... things really couldn't have gone any better.

A whole pile of positives from the first game:
  • Bosh put up a first/second team All NBA stat line: 42 mins, 27 pts (9-16 fgs, 9-10 fts), 11 reb, 4 Assts.
  • After starting terribly, JO hit some open jump shots, played pretty solid D, blocked 1 but altered a bunch of shots, and freed up Bosh to do what he does best. So far, the trade has worked out!
  • Jason Kapono - after being really professional about not getting enough minutes last year - SHOT the F--Kin' LIGHTS OUT. Shortening Sam Mitchell's bench because he was too stupid to do it himself, check.
  • Roko Ukic, despite an unimpressive stat line, managed the game as well as could be expected and then some. This may have something to do with the fact that he is 24, and not 18 or 19 (I'm not sure how it is that I went all summer telling people he was 18 and no one called me on this all summer/fall). He had an outstanding second quarter and he looked extremely poised when he had to come back in the 4th.

  • Bargnani... somebody might have to help me out with a silver lining there... I guess he only missed 4 shots... ?
All in all, things are looking up for the Raps this year, and, I think I'd be willing to bet on a franchise season (which, sadly, may be losing in 6 or 7 games in the second round of the playoffs).

1 comment:

Allan said...

I think Ukic becomes better then Calderon is. Both players entered at their age 24 season but Ukic is more skilled and could develop into a scary player. (I love him already)

Ukic was the reason Calderon went to the NBA anyway so we should also thank him for that.