It was another close loss for the Raptors Sunday against the Phoenix Suns. While some may choose to see this as an excuse, it is a fact that Toronto is played without three of its top players in Jermaine O'Neal, Jose Calderon and Jason Kapono. All three players made the trip to Atlanta for Monday afternoon's tilt against the Hawks but it remains to be seen which, if any, of the three will suit up and see action.
The bottom line in the NBA can be a cruel one and as Toronto heads into an important stretch of the season that could be make or break, they need to find a way to register wins. The Raptors sit 10 games below the .500 mark and having lost five straight for the third time this season, wins are a necessity.
While the Phoenix Suns are not necessarily putting fear into opponents right now, it could be a different story come playoff time. Yes they are fighting to hang on to a playoff spot but there is not one team that wants to draw the Suns as a first-round opponent. The question is, while they are built for late April, May and June, can they do enough to hang on to one of the top eight positions to gain a berth in the second season.
Phoenix travels to Boston to take on the Celtics on the back to back and could Boston head coach Doc Rivers be trying to shift some of the attention away from his Celtics?
Doc feels the best team in the NBA right now is the Orlando Magic.
With all the talk about Cleveland and Boston, maybe Rivers is trying to shift the focus on the Magic who just might be flying under the radar. But maybe it's not a tactical ploy and the good Doctor is just speaking the truth. After all, it is Orlando that has the most road wins in the league. The Magic may be getting a key piece back in Mickael Pietrus. In his last visit to Toronto, he said "see you in February man, without this," as he motioned to the cast on his right hand. Just what eastern conference opponents do not want to hear. Pietrus is getting healthy and getting ready to get back into the line up.
Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States and there is more of a connection to basketball than just afternoon games and players' refelctions. George Raveling, if you are not old enough to remember the former head coach at Washinton State, Iowa and USC, then look him up. I have met Raveling and aside from remembering he did a thesis on rebounding, he is also the guy who worked security on August 28, 1963, the day Dr. Martin Luthger King, Jr. delivered a stirring piece of oratory known as the "I have a dream" speech. Not only did Raveling work security but he asked Dr. King for the copy of the speech after it was completed and still has a written copy of the speech. Strangely enough, Raveling says that according to his copy of the speech, the idea of "I have a dream" was something that was an ad lib during the address.
NBA teams are well aware that Tuesday's inauguration is an historic event and some players, like Boston's Ray Allen, are planning on attending the event. In Orlando, the Magic have changed their practice plans so Dwight Howard can attend the proceedings. ESPN basketball analysts, Avery Johnson and Jalen Rose will also be in Washington D.C. Tiger Woods will be there and so will Alonzo Mourning. "Zo" will make the trip back to his old stomping grounds -- he played at Georgetown -- with a bus load of kids from the Overtown district of Miami. How's that for a field trip?
