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Jason Kapono wins 3-point Shootout

By InsideHoops.com

It’s 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend, Saturday night, and we’re up to the NBA Three-Point Shootout. Jason Kapono won it last year.

Richard Hamilton is up first. He hit 2 shots on the first rack, 4 on the second, 3 on the third, 3 on the fourth, and 4 on the last — but two of his last-rack shots were discounted by the refs because Rip stepped on the line. Hamilton actually shot well but did not hit a single money-ball except on the very last rack, but that shot was one of the shots discounted by the refs. Rip’s final score wound up being 14.

Daniel Gibson went second, and started from the nontraditional left side. He struggled early, but then picked things up. Gibson hit 1 shot on the first rack, 4 shots (including a money-ball) on the second rack, 3 shots (including a money-ball) on the third rack, 3 shots on the fourth rack, and 3 shots (including a money-ball) on the last rack, getting 17.

Steve Nash went third, also starting from the left side, and was awful from start to finish, getting a pathetic 9 points. They should have let InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner shoot.

Dirk Nowitzki was next, continuing the new tradition of starting from the left side. He shot a very long, slow, high-arc release which wasn’t very fitting for this competition. After a slow start he picked it up, and on the five racks he hit 1, 5, 3, 3 and 3 shots, with money-balls on the second and fourth racks. Dirk finished with 17.

Next is Peja Stojakovic, starting from the right side. He hit just one shot in the first rack and his first money-ball attempt hit the side of the backboard. His struggles continued until he got to the top of the key, which he rocked. And then stepped up on the last rack. In the five shooting areas Peja hit 1, 2, 3, 3 and 4 shots, with money-balls on the third and fourth racks. He got 15 points.

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Last up is defending three-point champion Jason Kapono, who starts from the left side. He is shooting very quickly and did well all-around, though missing the money-balls, but rocked in the end when he needed it. From the five racks he hit 2, 4, 3, 4 and 5 shots, with money-balls on the second and fifth racks. Kapono finished with an awesome 20 points.

Reaching the second and final round is Kapono, Dirk and Gibson.

Starting first is Gibson, shooting very quickly, picking up steam halfway through and again at the end. The money-ball saved him. In the five racks he hit 2, 2, 3, 2 and 4 shots with money-balls on the first, third, fourth and fifth racks, finishing with 17.

Nowitzki is up second, high arc and all, and did decently but struggled with money-balls. In the five racks he hit 1, 4, 2, 3 and 3 shots, with just one money-ball, the very last shot. He got 14 points.

Kapono must beat 17 to win it. And unleashed one of the best performances ever, hitting every single money-ball, and on the five racks making 3, 5, 4, 4 and 4 shots, finishing with an awesome 24 points.

As always, this was a fun competition.

Kapono repeats as the three-point shootout champion.

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Raptors local TV ratings soaring

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday that their local television ratings for the 2007-08 season have increased by an average of 22% over this same time last year.

Rogers Sportsnet has enjoyed a 46% lift in audiences in its first seven of 12 Raptors televised games, averaging 157,000 viewers per game. The Score is averaging 122,000 viewers per game, a 20% increase in audience size from November to January of last season. The channel has aired 19 of its 30 Raptors games so far this season. TSN’s average of 158,000 viewers per game represents a 6% increase, with 9 Raptors games remaining on its schedule.

The largest ratings gain was recognized by Raptors NBA TV which saw a 197% increase in ratings for its Raptors broadcasts. The basketball-themed sports network also added 700,000 new households to its subscription base from last year.

“The Raptors’ success on the court is starting to translate into success off the court in virtually all areas of our business, and certainly the significant growth in television audience reflects the ever-increasing interest in the team,” said Tom Anselmi, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment executive vice-president and chief operating officer.  “Our broadcast partners have done a great job of showcasing the tremendous excitement of Raptors basketball. We’re confident these numbers will continue to grow even more.”

Kidd not in starting lineup tonight

The New Jersey Nets are in Toronto tonight to face the Raptors and Marcus Williams is starting at point guard. No Jason Kidd.

This isn’t surprising, with reports that Kidd is soon to be traded to the Dallas Mavericks, but it’s still significant seeing things start to materialize.

And the Nets started slowly, down 9-2 early and then down 21-11 with 4:19 left in the first quarter.

Balanced Raptors smoke T-Wolves

After winning their previous four at the Target Center, Minnesota dropped it’s third straight, losing to the Toronto Raptors Sunday night, 105-82.   Andrea Bargnani led a balanced attack for Toronto, scoring 16 points and hauling in six rebounds.   Four other Raptors were in double figures and both Jose Calderon and T.J. Ford each had 10+ assists.

Sunday evening’s contest started on the right foot for both teams, each team connecting on over 50% of their shots in the opening stanza.  Toronto nudged ahead after one, 29-25.   Guard Marko Jaric had a strong quarter for the Wolves, tallying nine points on 4-4 shooting.  The tight play continued into the second with both teams continuing their superb shooting.  Toronto pulled ahead 39-27 thanks to a 10-2 run to start the quarter.  The Wolves answered, using a 15-4 run to tie the game at 45 before Toronto’s Jose Calderon connected on back-to-back three-pointers to pull Toronto head by four, 51-47 at half.  Things would turn south for the Wolves in a hurry, starting with a 12-4 Toronto run to start the third to pull the Raptors ahead 63-51 just four minutes into the quarter.

The score continued to go in the wrong direction for the Wolves; Toronto bumping their lead to as many as 18 points, eventually taking a 77-61 lead into the final quarter.  Toronto continued their hot-shooting into the fourth, leading by as many as 26 before eventually defeating the Wolves by a final of 105-82.  Toronto shot 50.6% from the field for the game and dished out 31 assists on their 41 made baskets.

Pacing the Wolves efforts was once again Big Al Jefferson.  Big Al finished with a game-high 18 points and nine rebounds.  Marko Jaric was the lone Wolf to join Big Al in double figures, scoring 11 points, only two coming after his nine-point first quarter.  Sebastian Telfair led the Wolves with eight assists.  The Wolves will look to end their three-game losing streak tomorrow night when they head to New Jersey to close out their season-series with the Nets.  Tip off is set for 6:30 PM.

Wizards-Raptors team connections

Wizards captain Antawn Jamison was drafted 4th overall by Toronto in 1998, but his draft rights were immediately traded to Golden State for the draft rights to #5 pick Vince Carter.

Raptors guard Juan Dixon was drafted by Washington 17th overall in 2002 and played three seasons with the Wizards.

Wizards assistant Dave Hopla was a basketball development consultant for the Toronto Raptors last season.

Wizards guard Roger Mason Jr. formerly played for the Raptors.

Raptors three-pointer notes

The Raptors Raptors are doing big things from three-point range this season. Here are some highlights:

Toronto became the first team in NBA history to make a three-point field goal in 700 consecutive games November 6, 2007 at Milwaukee.

Jason Kapono drained a three-pointer at the 10:29 mark of the first quarter to extend the streak.

Toronto set the NBA record for most consecutive games with at least one three-point field goal March 12, 2006 against the Indiana Pacers. Morris Peterson connected on his first three-point attempt with 1:41 remaining in the first quarter. Peterson’s make gave them 595 consecutive games with at least one three-pointer.

The last time the Raptors did not record a triple was Feb. 24, 1999 at Indiana (0-6).

The Miami Heat had their NBA record of 594 games with a three-pointer end Nov. 10, 2001 vs. Sacramento.

There have been 24 games during the streak in which the Raptors netted just one triple, including Nov. 30 vs. Memphis when Morris Peterson hit the lone three-pointer.

Toronto attempted a franchise-high 35 three-point field goals Apr. 7, 2006 at New Orleans/Oklahoma City (34, Mar. 13 vs. Philadelphia).

Guard Darrick Martin kept the streak alive vs. Dallas on Nov. 29, 2006 by hitting a three-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining in the game.

Andrea Bargnani hit a third-quarter shot for the game’s only successful three-point field goal vs. Boston on Dec. 1, 2006.

Anthony Johnson suspended for foul on Jose Calderon

Atlanta Hawks guard Anthony Johnson has been suspended for one game without pay, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. Johnson was assessed a Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two and ejected for flagrantly fouling Jose Calderon of the Toronto Raptors by striking him in the head with a forearm.

The incident occurred with 41.3 remaining in the second period of Atlanta’s 89-78 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday, Jan. 18 at Air Canada Centre. Johnson will serve the suspension when the Hawks host the Portland Trail Blazers at Phillips Arena on Jan. 21.

A Brief Look Inside the Raptors Season

To some teams, 18-17 is respectable. There are at least 19, 763 fans in New York who would be delirious if the Knicks were that good. To Michael Grange, who covers the Raptors for the Toronto Globe and Mail, 18-17 is fine considering the hand the team has been dealt. Chris Bosh was hurt before the season began, then strained his right groin against Memphis on Nov. 28. He’s just rounding into form.

Additionally, T.J. Ford developed a left arm ‘stinger’ on Nov. 20, and Jorge Garbajosa underwent surgery on his left ankle on Dec. 11. Each of them sat out against the Knicks on January 11.

Grange also said, that despite the Raptors’ influx of foreign-born players [five countries outside the US are represented], there doesn’t seem to a lack of communication on the court. In fact, several players do speak Italian, and have used their bilingualism to confuse opponents.

Six Raptors notes

The Raptors are looking for their first home win since December 12 when they defeated the Dallas Mavericks 92-76. Toronto has lost three straight games on their home court, the longest streak in nearly two years.

Canadian National Team member Samuel Dalembert makes a visit to Canada when the Philadelphia 76ers roll into town. Dalembert became a Canadian citizen over the summer and competed for Canada at the FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas.

Former Raptor Fred Jones will face his old team Friday when Toronto visits New York. Jones was traded by Toronto to Portland last February for Juan Dixon. Portland sent Jones to New York during the off-season as part of the Zach Randolph trade.

Juan Dixon will face his former team when the Portland Trail Blazers visit Air Canada Centre this Sunday. Dixon appeared in 76 games for the Trail Blazers and averaged 12.3 points before being dealt at the trade deadline.

Portland guard Brandon Roy will make his first appearance in Toronto during a Sunday matinee. Roy was named the 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year, but missed the Trail Blazers lone game in Toronto last season due to a heel injury.

When Toronto travels to New York on Friday, it will mark the second time in franchise history the team has started the January road schedule at .500. The Raptors are currently 9-9 away from Air Canada Centre. The last time the team started a new calendar year .500 on the road was in 2001-02 when the team was 9-9.