Toronto Raptors Blog – Page 79 – NBA Blog

Cool stats worth knowing

Phoenix’s Shaquille O’Neal needs 20 points to tie John Havlicek for 10th on the all-time scoring list (26,395). O’Neal is averaging 14.8 points over six games. He scored a season-high 29 points Saturday at Milwaukee. The Suns host Memphis tonight and Houston Wednesday.

O’Neal’s teammate, Amare Stoudemire, has attempted 15 or more free throws in a franchise-record tying three-straight games (Connie Hawkins: January, 1970; Stoudemire: April, 2004). The last player to attempt 15 or more free throws in three straight games was Dwight Howard in December, 2007.

Toronto’s Chris Bosh is the second player in team history to pass the 7,000-point mark in career scoring. He has 7,011 points, second behind Vince Carter, who scored 9,420 points between 1998-2004.

Miami’s Mario Chalmers — one of only two rookies starting at point guard (Chicago’s Derrick Rose) — leads rookies in assists (5.7 apg) and steals (2.8 spg). Rose is second in assists (5.1 apg) and tied for fourth in steals (1.1 spg).

Milwaukee guard and former NBA Development League player Ramon Sessions is averaging 17.2 points, 6.2 assists and 3.6 rebounds.

Atlanta, which remained undefeated (5-0) with an 89-85 triumph over host Oklahoma City yesterday, is off to its best start since the 1997-98 season 11-0.

–NBA News

Nov 9: Raptors 89, Bobcats 79

The AP reports: Chris Bosh had 30 points and 15 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors pulled away late for an 89-79 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday. Andrea Bargnani scored 18 points for the Raptors, including a key 3-pointer with less than six minutes to go that put them ahead to stay.
Jose Calderon added 13 points and Jamario Moon had 10 for Toronto, which snapped a two-game losing streak after opening the season with three straight wins.
Bobcats rookie D.J. Augustin scored 11 of his 14 points in the second quarter in helping Charlotte take a 45-40 lead at the break. Jason Richardson and Raymond Felton had 12 points each, and Jared Dudley 10.

Nov 7: Hawks 110, Raptors 92

The AP reports: Mike Bibby scored all of his 19 points in the first half, making four 3-pointers during an 18-4 run that broke open the game, and the unbeaten Hawks routed the Toronto Raptors 110-92 on Friday night. Bibby added 12 assists for Atlanta (4-0). The Hawks are off to their best start since 1997, when they won their first 11 games… Chris Bosh led Toronto (3-2) with 26 points. Jose Calderon, the Raptors’ second-leading scorer, had only six points on 2-of-10 shooting, but finished with 12 assists… Flip Murray added 16 points for Atlanta. Maurice Evans scored 15 and Marvin Williams 14. The points were season highs for Bibby, Murray, Evans and Williams.

Jermaine O’Neal offensive struggles

The Toronto Sun (Mike Ganter) reports on Raptors center Jermaine O’Neal: “I’m just not making the shots,” said O’Neal. “When I look at the (tape) I’m doing everything I’m supposed to be doing as far as getting the position I want. I’m catching it deep. I’m clearing the space when I turn to the basket but I’m just not making the shot.” In four games so far this season, O’Neal has had a 3-for-10 shooting night — that was Wednesday — and a 2-for-10 night last Friday against Golden State. For the year, he’s shooting just shy of 38% from the field, well below his career average of just a tick under 46%. O’Neal said he’s trying to make sure he doesn’t let this funk become a mental one. “The things I’m going through now were things I was hoping I would go through in the pre-season,” he said. “But it takes time. I’m always going to be a little more frustrated by a situation like last night when we lose the game and where we’re down one with chances to win and I take a couple of shots and I wasn’t able to make them.”

Nov 5: Pistons 100, Raptors 93

The AP reports: Tayshaun Prince more than made up for Allen Iverson’s absence, making sure the Detroit Pistons remained unbeaten. Prince scored 16 of his 27 points in the second quarter, and Richard Hamilton had 22 to help the Pistons beat the Toronto Raptors 100-93 on Wednesday night. Iverson was unavailable for Detroit because Chauncey Billups, one of three players traded to Denver in exchange for Iverson, hadn’t completed his physical with the Nuggets. Iverson didn’t sit on the team bench. Rodney Stuckey added 14 points, and Rasheed Wallace had 11 points and 12 rebounds for Detroit (4-0)… Chris Bosh had 26 points and 13 rebounds, and Jose Calderon had 24 points for Toronto (3-1) in its unsuccessful bid for its first 4-0 start.

Nov 1: Raptors 91, Bucks 87

The AP reports: Jose Calderon scored a career-high 25 points, including a huge 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, and the Toronto Raptors won their third straight with a 91-87 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night… Calderon was 8-of-15 from the floor, including 3-of-4 on 3-pointers and made all six free throws. He also added nine assists… Chris Bosh had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Jamario Moon added 15 points, and O’Neal and Anthony Parker each had 11 as the Raptors spoiled new Bucks coach Scott Skiles’ home debut and gave Toronto a 3-0 start for the first time since 2004-05. Michael Redd had 19 points but missed a shot from the corner in the closing seconds that could have tied the game. Andrew Bogut had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Ramon Sessions added 12 points in his first game of the season.

Oct 31: Raptors 112, Warriors 108 OT

The AP reports: After coming up short for the second time in as many games, Al Harrington said the Golden State Warriors should have been working harder during the preseason. Chris Bosh scored 31 points, Anthony Parker had 23 and the Toronto Raptors beat Golden State 112-108 in overtime on Friday night. Andrea Bargnani had 19 points off the bench for Toronto (2-0), while Jose Calderon had 16 points and 13 assists. Jamario Moon added 11 for the Raptors. Harrington led Golden State (0-2) with 26 points, adding 11 rebounds, while Stephen Jackson finished with 19 points. Andris Biedrins had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Warriors… Jermaine O’Neal shot 2-for-10 and finished with five points and six rebounds, but made three blocks.

Oct 29: Raptors 95, Sixers 84

The AP reports: Chris Bosh had 27 points and 11 rebounds to help the Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 95-84 on Wednesday night in the opener for both teams. Jermaine O’Neal added 17 and Jason Kapono had 15 for the Raptors, who finished 41-41 last season… Lou Williams scored 16 points, Andre Iguodala added 15, Elton Brand had 14 points and 13 rebounds in his Sixers debut and Samuel Dalembert pulled down 17 rebounds. Andre Miller had 13 points… Toronto outscored the Sixers 33-24 in the second quarter to take a 51-45 lead at halftime.

Sixers home opener time change

The Philadelphia 76ers today officially moved the start time of their home opener against the Toronto Raptors at the Wachovia Center on Wednesday, October 29 to 6:00 p.m. ET (from the scheduled 7:00 p.m. ET time) in anticipation of a World Series game being played at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex on Wednesday, October 29.

“We moved the start time of our home opener to 6:00 p.m. to allow our fans an opportunity to attend our game and to be able to see the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series,” said Lara Price, Senior Vice President of Business Operations.

The AT&T Pavilion at the Wachovia Center will remain open after the Sixers game late into the evening for fans to watch the baseball game with half-price domestic beer specials and delicious food, including Chickie’s & Pete’s world famous Crab Fries and chicken tenders. After the Sixers game, access to the AT&T Pavilion will be free and open to the public.

NBA opening night rosters

The NBA’s opening day rosters are official, and now posted on InsideHoops.com.

This evening was the deadline for NBA teams to trim their rosters down to 15 players or less.

The 2008-09 regular season starts Tuesday, October 28. InsideHoops is your online basketball home. We’re pumping out more content this season than ever.

Enjoy the season!