Paul Jones

Paul Jones is the voice of the Raptors on the FAN 590 and writes regularly for Sportsnet.ca.

Raptors forward Chris Bosh.

It's a phrase that is uttered constantly around the NBA, "injuries are a part of the game" but the timing of this one for the Raptors could not have been worse. Toronto's best player, Chris Bosh, was hit by an inadvertent elbow from Cleveland's Antawn Jamison and suffered a maxilla and nasal fracture to the right side of his face.

You knew the injury was bad when Bosh did not get up from the ground. Say what you want, but in his own way, Bosh the competitor goes out and gives his best and will try to play through injuries at times. Remember a couple of seasons ago when he told the coaching staff he was OK only to have them sit him down later when he was not 100 percent? Exiting with towels to his face leaving blood on the court that had to be scrubbed clean was evidence that this was a substantial injury.

The Raptors are in a fight for the final playoff spot trying to hold off Chicago and they will have to go part of the way, if not all of it, without the man around which their offense revolves. Bosh did not travel back to Toronto with the team last night after the 113-101 loss to the Cavaliers as he remained in Cleveland overnight for further observation.

So when does he play again? Your guess is as good as mine and there are only five games left in the season for both Toronto and Chicago as they fight for the eighth seed. There are already whispers about putting a mask on and playing but he needs to be cleared by doctors, be fitted for some sort of protective gear and then be able to withstand the pain and pressure exerted by a mask before hitting the court again to be one of the most productive players in the NBA. There are a lot variables involved and during the interim, the rest of the team has to rally, play together and have others step forward and be more productive.

The game, well lets just say that the Cavs who really had nothing to play for as they have already clinched both the Eastern conference's best record and home court through to the NBA finals, very well. Prior to the game, that Cleveland head coach Mike Brown said he was treating like a "high-level practice", there was talk that LeBron James may not play but in the end, James played close to 36 minutes, not that far off his season average of 39.

The Cavs showed why they are the NBA's top team putting up a season high 113 points on 56 percent from the floor with James leading the way. 'King' James had 19 points and 13 assists while former Raptor Anthony Parker put up season highs in points (18), rebounds (8) and assists (6).

Interesting that the Cleveland's next opponent is Chicago and so the question come will come up again Thursday, how much, if at all will James play and what happens to the Cavs regular playing rotation? In speaking with some of the Cavs coaches it sounds like James will play minutes similar to what he did against Toronto, but may rest the next night at home against Indiana. Raptor fans hope that James is just as productive Thursday night.

And while we're on the subject of the Cavs coaches, Michael Malone, assistant coach with Canada's senior men's team and son of Raptors first head coach Brendan Malone who is currently an assistant in Orlando, was joking about Mike Brown being ejected on Sunday in Cleveland. He knew Mike was going to "get run out". I guess that's what happens when you work with someone long enough and know they're thinking. Malone said that when Brown ran out on the court on Sunday afternoon he knew he was going to have to "drive the bus" the rest of the way. Yep, Brown was ejected and with Malone at the helm, the Cavs erased a 21 point lead before falling short and losing the game.

To say Brown trusts his assistant coaches is an understatement as witnessed again by the way he conducts his timeouts. During the breaks, he allows one to talk defense, one to talk offense before giving his thoughts. That speaks to a secure individual who is confident in himself and can delegate without always micro-managing. It has always been said that players need to hear it from a different voice but how many head coaches allow it to happen to the same degree as Brown? I would guess not that many.

So speaking of the Bulls and Raptors, who is a better match-up for Cleveland? Both teams present challenges. Toronto can score and that is always a worry and Chicago has Derrick Rose and you saw what he did last year in the first round as the Bulls took the Boston Celtics to seven games in a thrilling series.

The players don't care and from a personal standpoint some of the former Raptors have said they would love to play Toronto just to come back to visit the city. But when it's all said and done, LeBron James and the Cavaliers have championship aspirations and it really doesn't matter.

We're at the point of the season where advance scouts are like CIA agents protecting the president. You see them so often that their presence becomes common place. In fact, one Cavalier advance scout has been following the Raptors since at least March 27th. I chatted with one scout last night and asked him who would be a better match up for Cleveland. His thoughts were with Chicago getting healthier and being tested by last year's experience with Boston, they would probably more mentally prepared to handle a series with the Cavaliers than the Raptors would be at this point.