Just how far can the Raptors go?

Thundersticks, thundersticks, thundersticks ho! That is the battle cry you may here coming from my living room over the next few weeks (hopefully months). The playoffs are almost here and it is time to take the noise makers off the shelf and into the game. This weekend the NBA Playoffs begin and this year there is an added excitement because my beloved Raps are not only involved but a possible contender to make some cash.

The opponent is not yet decided but what we do know is the first two games will be at the loud and crazy ACC. It could be the dead in the water Wizards or the Vince Carter led Nets. Both have obvious perks for who the Raps should play but it does not really matter, either team should not have a prayer against Toronto.

Washington is a wounded bird that is missing two wings. Hard to fly wouldn’t you say? With no Butler or Agent Zero, poor Antawn Jamison will be under seige and there is no way he can carry the load by himself. Who else is going to step up? Brendan Haywood? No way man! The Raptors depth will roll over the Wizards easily maybe losing one game back in D.C.

Here is the only down side to getting the Wizards and beating them in the first round. Every ESPN card carrying moron will say that Toronto only won becase the Wiz were hurt. The get no respect train will keep on rolling down the tracks to Union Station and the basketball meca known as the U.S.A. still won’t know how good Toronto is.

As for drawing the New Jersey Nets. Just the thought of it is mouth watering to me. So many story lines, so little time to go over them. Cleary the biggest in that A-hole cry baby Vince Carter is on the Nets and he would be making his return to Toronto. Do you think he looks around the locker room and wishes he was in the other one still? Damn right he does. I bet his cell phone bill is huge with all the calls to his mom and shrink to talk about what could of been.

The environment will be electric and down right nasty. You think the booing and the hatred was over the top before? Now that the Raps are the kings and Vince is the joker in of the court, the ACC fans will be relentlessly brutal. MEC will be coming out with a new folding chair called the Vincent Lamar Carter chair after this series. He will fold under the pressure and prove for the last time he is not the big game player we all wanted him to be. Mrs. Carter, stock up on those grits cause ol’ Vince is going to need some comfort food once we get ahold of him again.

The Raptors will of course rest a lot of their title hopes on the ever growing shoulders of Chris Bosh. CB4 I think is ready for a coming out party and maybe just maybe he won’t be treated like the kid picked last when they talk about that great draft class. Yah LeBron is King and D-Wade is a winner but Carmelo? What has he done other than sucker punch a guy and run away like a girl. Bosh will go down at the very least as the third best pick in that draft when it is all said and done.

After Bosh the key to the playoff run will be the two-headed monster at point guard. Ford-a-ron or T.J. Spanish or whatever you want to call them have been carving up teams all year with their different but effective styles. T.J. can be amazing one night and look like a hyper active kid the next. He has ice water in his veins while Calderon has mexican jumping beans in his heart. Whoever is playing Toronto they will have to deal with a quality point guard for 48 minutes every night.

Next up you have the glue guys, the dudes who just bring it in a lunch pail. The leader of the pack is one of the most underated players in the NBA. I am talkin about Anthony “don’t call me Tony” Parker. The guy that was shunned out of the NBA and since has been going all Kobe-like on the Euro leagues. Still 80 games into the season teams leave him open in the corner. He will hit that all day people, watch a god damn highlight reel and you may know that. Who knew that in the age of Youtube and Tivo that NBA coaches still don’t know that AP is money. With Garbo the great down and out Parker is the guy, the guy behind the guy who is trying to score but can’t because Parker just stopped him cold.

Now I have given the smiling Giant known as Rasho a hard time this year and I cringe when he gets the ball but you know what, he does the job. He is a solid worker that every company needs to grow. He shows up, says nothing, does his work and goes home. Perfect! His defense and rebounding will be key if Toronto is going to make any dino-noise this year. I bet some centers are not even sure he is there until he is ramming the ball back down their throat and cracking one of those Rasho smirks. Oh Rasho, you are good in my books even if your hook shot looks a little girly.

Rounding out the starting lineup will most likely be Juan “Get me outta Portand” Dixon. Since he has hit the great white north, his game has returned to the days of being a Terp and going all the way to the National Championship. How the hell did BC know to pick up this guy?? I hear Fred Jones has gotten a blockbuster card and a gym membership since getting to Portland but his luggage/game got lost somewhere.

Now for the bench, the guys that make or break the game. I can’t believe how different a year can make. Last year Toronto’s bench consisted of a bunch of stiffs who most likely could not be extras in a movie about a bunch of stiffs. Now it is stocked with talent and depth that Sam Mitchell has learned to use like a fine piece of electronics. That reminds me I need to go to future shop this week.

You have the Rookie of the Year in my mind, Andreas Bargnani gunning threes like the mob guns down their own. You have Humphries throwing his body around and adding the grit that Leaf fans probably wish their team had. Have I mentioned the Leafs suck? LEAFS SUCK, okay that felt good. Kris is starting to really give a lift on the boards and the crowd loves his energy and most likely his sharp hair cut.

Then you got the missing link, the guy who can dominate the game or the guy who can dominate sitting on the bench. Of course I mean jumping Joey G! I have been a fan of Graham since his days as a Cowboy and I am glad Toronto picked him. He is superhero strong and hell he can fly a plane, thats pretty cool. But for the love of God Golden Graham can we get some consistancy?? If that were to happen I think we could upgrade to the No. 2 spot in the East. One game he looks ready to put MoPete on a bus out of town and the next day he looks like he will end up being an extra in Fantastic Four part Four. Bring it Joey and we are going to the second round for sure.

Closing out you have Luke Jackson, the guy that just got a new contract and I have no idea how teams let him go so easy. Danny Ainge could not spot a ball player if they sat on his face. Jackson brings the glue and should help ease the loss of Garbo when the fouls start to pile up on the starters. He has the smarts and the cool name helps.

Finally let us not forget the vet, the guy who played for the Raps the last time they made the playoffs. MoPete, MP3, man of crazy shots, whoever he is or whatever you call him, Toronto will need him to go far. He has had an off year trying to fit in somewhere on this new and improved Raptors machine. To be honest he looks lost sometimes and not interested to be there. But it is time for the big boys to come out and play and I just know Mo will step up to the plate and deliver. A clutch three here, drawing a charge there, MoPete will contribute, you can’t take that to the bank.

So that is the gang that is going to lead Toronto into a new era of sports. Forget the Leafs, they will always suck and break the hearts of Leafs Nation every year. The Jays? Call me when the 15 month season is over and they make the postseason. For RIGHT NOW, the Raptors are where its at and if you don’t want to at least get on the band wagon then don’t tell me I did not warn you when they become the coolest thing in town.

For all the charter members of the fan club, for all the fans that have suffered for years, for all the fans that bleed purple (red) this is our time. This is our time to get crazy and will this team to go as far as it possibly can. The ACC will be hoppin like never before (especially if baby V is there) but even if you are like me and will be in Halifax watching it on T.V. it is still okay to smack those thundersticks together and act like a dino-fool.

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