Raptors-Scheduling a Rough Road for Raps

By Louis “King of Roncesvalles” Pisano

Talk about a tough way to start the season—eight of the first 12 games for the Raptors are on the road against some of the Western conference powerhouses.

Was a scheduler for the NBA just trying to screw the only Canadian team in the NBA off the bat, perhaps put them in a hole to start the season, break their confidence right away?

As a huge Raptors fan, I kind of feel that way, though after ten games, six of which have been on the road, the Raps are sitting at .500 and hold a record of 5-5 overall though are 2-4 on the road beating New Orleans and the Clippers and almost sneaking out a win in Phoenix last night.

The Raps have two more tough games on the road against Denver Tuesday and Utah Wednesday, both great home court teams, before coming home briefly for a three game home stand. Then off on the road again for three more games against some easier opponents, somewhat.

If it wasn’t for Hedo Turkoglu, the Raptors wouldn’t have even been in the game last night against Phoenix.

Late in the fourth quarter he was only a few inches away from another three ball that might have changed the complexion of the game as it came down to a one point win for the Suns. He did miss the last second shot that would have most likely given the Raps the game but came up just short.

I’d like to think with the defensive effort the Raptors came up with last night (limiting the highest scoring team in the NBA to 101 points) that their hard work at that end of the court is beginning to pay some dividends. Thus proving not only to the fans and other teams that they can play defence, but reassuring themselves that they can.

Confidence is a massive part of any athlete’s production and this team seems to be gaining some swagger.

I am hopeful that they can split the next two games or perhaps even win both, though that may be quite a tall task against two tough teams as previously mentioned, though I believe that this team is capable of greatness and seemingly has the right mix to win any night against anyone.

The starting lineup can matchup with any team in the NBA, as proven by beating a star studded line up in their home opener against Cleveland and can limit the highest team in the NBA, again against Phoenix as I mentioned.

Now Jay Triano has to keep them focused when they play the bottom dwellers and the mediocre teams, which will hopefully separate them and move them into the talks of upper echelon teams in the NBA.

I see no reason why they shouldn’t be talked about in the same conversation with the Celtics, Magic, and Cavs as it goes for the beasts of the east.

The next beast of the east is the ravenous Raptors who will make noise if they already haven’t in the Eastern conference, and will make the playoffs, and will give whoever they play once there, a damn good run for their money!

GO Raps GO!