Toronto Raptors Blog – Page 49 – NBA Blog

Raptors sign Justin Dentmon to 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have signed guard Justin Dentmon to a 10-day contract. He is the 49th “Call-Up” of the 2011-12 NBA D-League season.

Dentmon has averaged 22.8 points, 5.5 assists and 37.2 minutes in 40 games, all starts, with the NBA D-League’s Austin (Texas) Toros. He ranks fourth in the league in scoring, seventh in assists and fourth in minutes. He is shooting .429 from three-point range (5th in NBADL) and .870 from the charity stripe (11th).

In two NBA D-League campaigns, Dentmon has appeared in 90 games, with 75 starts, averaging 20.7 points, 4.7 assists and 36.0 minutes. He spent the 2010-11 season with the Texas Legends, where he contributed 19.1 points and 4.0 assists in 50 outings. In two playoff contests with the Legends, he averaged 10.0 points and 4.0 assists.

A D-League All-Star, Dentmon has scored in double figures in 39 of 40 games, including 30 games with 20 or more and six games with 30 or more points.

Dentmon signed a 10-day contract with San Antonio on March 24. He appeared in two games with the Spurs, totaling four points, one assist and one steal in 19 minutes.

The 6-foot, 185 pounder was undrafted in 2009 out of the University of Washington, where he was a first-team All-Pac-10 performer as a senior. He spent the 2009-10 season playing in Israel, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

The roster stands at 15 players heading into tonight’s game vs. Cleveland (TSN / Sportsnet 590 The FAN).

Raptors re-sign Alan Anderson, Ben Uzoh to second 10-day contracts

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have re-signed guard-forward Alan Anderson and guard Ben Uzoh to second 10-day contracts. The Raptors signed Anderson to his original 10-day March 26 and Uzoh on March 27.

Anderson, 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, has appeared in six games with Toronto, starting one contest. He has averaged 5.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 16.0 minutes. He totaled 13 points (5-7 FG, 3-4 3FG) and four rebounds in Wednesday’s win at Philadelphia. It was his first starting assignment since April 17, 2006 as a member of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Anderson came to the Raptors from the NBA D-League’s Canton Charge, where he averaged 21.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in eight appearances.

Uzoh, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, joined the Raptors from the NBA D-League’s Rio Grande (Texas) Valley Vipers. He averaged 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 30.8 minutes in 20 appearances.

Raptors beat fading 76ers by 21

Best team in the Atlantic Division was a nice title for three months.

The Philadelphia 76ers wanted more.

A winning record for the first time in seven seasons. A top-four seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. All of those goals are slipping out of reach for the Sixers.

Andrea Bargnani scored 24 points and DeMar DeRozan had 18 to lead the Toronto Raptors to their third straight win, 99-78 over the Sixers on Wednesday night.

Back in January, the Sixers thumped Toronto 97-62 en route to a sizzling 20-9 start. Those days are over for the fading franchise. Elton Brand and Jrue Holiday had 20 points in Philadelphia’s eighth loss in the last 12 games. The Sixers (29-25) lost their grip on first place in the Atlantic—and end the season with a stretch of nine road games over the final 11 that could jeopardize a playoff spot…

The Raptors got hot in the fourth, shooting 50 percent, while the Sixers missed 17 of 20 shots. Led by Ed Davis’ 14 rebounds, the Raptors outrebounded the Sixers 46-29.

— Reported by Dan Gelston of the Associated Press

Jamario Moon named D-League Player of Month for March

Los Angeles D-Fenders forward Jamario Moon was today named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in March. The honor is the first of Moon’s career and the second for a D-Fender this season, with Brandon Costner earning the award for games played in November and December.

Moon (6-8, 215, Meredian Community College), led Los Angeles to an 8-1 record in March, helping the team to clinch the top spot in the Western Conference. During the month, he averaged 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 36.6 minutes. He was the team’s high scorer and rebounder twice last month, scoring in double figures in eight of nine games, including an NBA D-League season-high 26 points to go with 10 rebounds in a 117-89 win over the Reno Bighorns on March 28. For the month, he shot 52 percent from the floor, 37 percent from three-point range and 82 percent from the line.

Thirteen additional players earned honorable mention accolades. They include: Austin’s Eric Dawson, Bakersfield’s Renaldo Major, Canton’s Luke Harangody, on assignment from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dakota’s Stefhon Hannah, Erie’s Kyle Goldcamp, Fort Wayne’s Vernon Macklin, on assignment from the Detroit Pistons, Idaho’s Marcus Banks, Iowa’s Mike Efevberha, Maine’s Morris Almond, Springfield’s JamesOn Curry, Sioux Falls’ Trey Gilder, Texas’ Dan Gadzuric, and Tulsa’s Jerome Dyson.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey repulsed by the idea of tanking

[Toronto Raptors coach Dwane] Casey is a competitor first and foremost and even the mention of the term seems make him cringe.

“I despise even talking about it,” Casey said. “It’s against my nature and it’s just against everything I stand for. I understand the fans want that and hear that but my job is to develop this program and you don’t develop a program by tanking games. My job is to develop learning how to win and we have a big enough job doing that.”

At one point Casey started to apologize to the fans for his feelings but quickly took that back.

“No, I don’t apologize, but I know what the fans are saying but it goes against everything I stand for,” Casey said.

— Reported by Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun

Raptors sign Ben Uzoh to 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have signed guard Ben Uzoh (ooh-ZOE) to a 10-day contract. He is the 43rd Call-Up of the 2011-12 NBA D-League season.

Uzoh, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, joins the Raptors from the NBA D-League’s Rio Grande (Texas) Valley Vipers. He averaged 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 30.8 minutes in 20 appearances.

This is Uzoh’s second stint in the NBA this season. He was signed to a 10-day contract by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 10, where he played in two games recording four points with four rebounds in 13 minutes.

Uzoh spent the 2010-11 season with the New Jersey Nets, signing with the club as a free agent July 1, 2010. He saw action in 42 outings with the Nets, averaging 3.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 10.4 minutes. He also appeared in four games last season with the NBADL’s Springfield (N.Y.) Armor.

Uzoh started 140 of 141 career games at the University of Tulsa. He averaged 15.3 points and 4.7 rebounds as a senior en route to first-team All-Conference USA honours. He posted career bests of 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 39 games during his sophomore campaign.

The roster now stands at 14 players heading into Wednesday’s game vs. Denver (TSN2/Sportsnet 590 The FAN).

Raptors sign Alan Anderson to 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have signed guard Alan Anderson to a 10-day contract. He is the 42nd Call-Up of the 2011-12 NBA D-League season.

Anderson averaged 21.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in eight appearances with the NBA D-League’s Canton Charge. He ranks 11th in the league in scoring, while shooting .550 (60-for-109) from the field and .800 (40-for-50) at the charity stripe.

In three NBA D-League campaigns, Anderson has appeared in 44 games, with 24 starts, averaging 18.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 31.5 minutes. He spent the 2010-11 season with the New Mexico Thunderbirds (before the team relocated to Canton) and appeared in 26 games for the Tulsa 66ers in 2006-07.

Anderson was a four-year starter at Michigan State, where he helped the Spartans reach the 2005 Final Four. He signed with Charlotte as an undrafted free agent in 2005 and appeared in 53 games over two seasons with the Bobcats. Anderson averaged 5.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 15.1 minutes in the NBA before heading overseas with stops in Italy (Bologna), Russia (BC Triumph Lyubertsy), Croatia (KK Cibona), Israel (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Spain (Regal Barcelona) and China (Shandong Lions).

The roster now stands at 13 players heading into tonight’s game vs. Orlando (TSN/Sportsnet’s 590 The FAN).

DeRozan scores 30, Raptors end Knicks’ streak

Raptors coach Dwane Casey came up with just the thing to slow down the surging New York Knicks: a zone.

DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points before leaving with a sore left ankle, Andrea Bargnani had 21 and the Raptors routed the Knicks 96-79 Friday night, snapping New York’s five-game winning streak.

“The zone knocked us on our heels,” Knicks center Tyson Chandler said. “We had trouble finding ways to score against it and that really was the outcome because we never got a rhythm or momentum.” …

New York shot just 32 for 85 (38 percent) and no Knicks player made more than six field goals…

Gary Forbes scored 19 points, one shy of his career-high, and Jose Calderon had 10 assists as Toronto snapped a three-game skid. Forbes said the Raptors “played with a chip on our shoulder.” …

Amare Stoudemire scored 17 points, Steve Novak had 15 and Carmelo Anthony 12 for the Knicks, who came in having won six of seven against the Raptors, including three straight in Toronto.

Jeremy Lin made a game-winning 3-pointer on New York’s last visit to Toronto, a 90-87 victory on Feb. 14, but was held in check this time, finishing with six points.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Chris Bosh talks to himself during games

Chris Bosh was talking Sunday night and nobody was answering. That’s the way his teammates like it.

You see, the Miami forward speaks to himself during games. And one of the apparent problems during his recent slump was he hadn’t been chattering enough.

“Somebody said I wasn’t talking to myself when we played in Chicago,” Bosh said, referring to Wednesday’s loss and his disastrous 3-of-15 shooting.

So it was Chatty Chris on display in Sunday’s 91-81 win over Orlando at AmericanAirlines Arena. He listened to what he was saying, scoring 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting.

“I have conversations all day in a non-crazy way,” Bosh said.

As it turns out, this talking to oneself isn’t confined to Bosh. Dwyane Wade also admits doing it, and he also heeded his words Sunday, scoring a game-high 31 points. He had 18 in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter, after Bosh had ruled the first half with 18.

— Reported by Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida

Raptors trade Leandro Barbosa to Pacers

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have traded guard Leandro Barbosa to the Indiana Pacers for a 2012 second-round draft pick and cash considerations.

“It’s great to have Leandro join our team,” said President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “He gives us added depth and scoring off the bench and will help us as we make our run to the playoffs.”

“This is another move being made with the future in mind,” said Raptors President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo. “It’s difficult to let a player like Leandro go, but this trade further underscores our plan of maximizing salary cap flexibility, acquiring assets and developing our young players.

“Leandro has unique and special ability as a basketball player, but he’s an even better person away from the game. I’m happy for him to get the opportunity to join a playoff team as he heads into free agency.”

Barbosa averaged 12.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 23.4 minutes in 100 outings with the Raptors. He led the bench in scoring in 60 of those 100 appearances. In 42 games this season, Barbosa averaged 12.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 22.4 minutes.

The nine-year NBA veteran was acquired by Toronto, along with centre Dwayne Jones, on July 14, 2010 in exchange for forward Hedo Turkoglu.

The roster now stands at 14 players heading into Friday’s game at Memphis (Sportsnet ONE/Sportsnet’s 590 The FAN).

Read NBA fan opinion and share your views in this basketball forum topic.