Who Will Answer The Call?

Just to conclude about Chris Bosh he did have an MRI and there was no structural damage. Good News but it does not change anything as relates to his status for this road trip. He is out and the Toronto Raptors are in search of a temporary hero to save the day. Above you see three of the most likely candidates to take on the role. But all of them may not exactly be up to the challenge. Jose has been playing some of his worst basketball of what has been a break out season.  Ford is still trying to get himself back to 100%. Bargnani has been very inconsistent and you never know what your going to get from game to game. But the lose of Bosh will allow Bargnani to shift to the 4 spot a more natural position for him. This could help him. Rasho Nesterovic will be in at the 5 and should do well defensively which was really lacking in the last game to say the least.

One of the things that I admire about Sam Mitchell is he refuses to ever admit defeat in the face of injuries. He will not allow his team to do it as well. Last season what many point to was a west coast trip that had no Chris Bosh in the Line-up as the turning point for the Raptor season. T.J Ford would step up and take the role of leader making last second shot to beat the Clippers. Few nights later, Rookie Andrea Bargnani would hit a game winning 3 pointer to beat the Blazers. Sam Mitchell hopes for the same type of efforts that the team showed then. 

Also do not discount the fact that Bosh will be on this trip even if he won't be in a jersey. He is the clear leader of this club on and off the floor and he no doubt will voice that leadership if only as a spectator. There is nobody on the Raptor Roster or in the Organization that does not understand the importance of Tuesday's Match-Up with the Magic. But not so important as to risk Bosh's longterm health. Chris referenced the struggles of the Wizards Caron Butler coming back from a different injury to soon perhaps and having a set back. Even though Sam Mitchell will not admit it the truth be told the Raptors are pretty much a playoff lock at this point. Things in the east are not like the West. Where a 3 game losing streak could put you on the brink of your playoff life. That being said Raptor still need to get wins if the hope to battle with Cleveland and Orlando for the 3rd seed they had last year in the playoffs.

When you look deeper on the bench for help. How bout the newest Raptor Primoz Brezec. Today especially as he plays his former team in the Bobcats were he spent the majority of his NBA career and certainly the most productive part of it. He could be a help today as he will be looking to back up some harsh words he had about Bobcat Head Coach Sam Vincent.

If things had worked out differently that could be Sam Mitchell. You may recall that Sam prior to taking the job in Toronto was going to be an assistant in Charlotte after leaving the Bucks. The Idea was that Sam was to be the Head Coach in waiting in Charlotte. But when he took the Raptor job the future was now. When he looks at the struggling Bobcats today I think you can say he is happy with his choice of Toronto.

With the calender changing to March yesterday I decided to cram for my NCAA Pool Brackets this year. It was depressing to learn Patrick Ewing has a kid playing at Georgetown. I remember when dad played there and lead the Hoyas to a National Title. Losing the next year to the upstart Wildcats of Villinova. I did know about Ewing's kid but it just makes me feel old to know that guys I watched as a kid now have kids old enough to make it in the NBA soon. Also got a chance to check out Roy Hibert. The big man would look nice in a Raptor Uniform but I would think he will be long gone by time the Raptors pick. T.J Ford and all Texas alumni can not be happy by the Longhorns getting beat by Bobby Knight's Son and Texas Tech. They had lost by 40 the night before. March Madness you got a love it. Hope nobody minds if we add a sprinkle of NCAA into the blog throughout the month. I will try to give you some insight on guys that might make a good fit in Raptor red while we do.

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So the big question will be how do the Raptors respond to this latest blow. You know when you think about it the Raptors have really not exactly avoided the injury bug in this rise back to playoff contender. Imagine if they we're able to do that. The could have been the 50 win team many hoped they would be. We will have your Recap in the good old Raptor Rewind Later Tonight. Till than say a little prayer for Chris Bosh's Knees. We need both healthy and soon.