Hip Hoop Junkies & Hoop Heads North present RAPS TALK Ep. 22 (01.28.2012) with Scott Carefoot of The Score.com's RaptorBlog

Episode 22 of RAPS TALK (01.28.12) - I don't know where these winning ways came from.....but the Raps won three of their last four games last week.   To help recap the Raptors first quarter of the season, we have another great guest on this week's podcast, Scott Carefoot, of theScore.com's RaptorBlog and contributor to The Basketball Jones.

We talk to Scott about his thoughts on Andrea Bargnani, "Tank" Nation,  DeMar DeRozan, his award for Most Incompetent GM in basketball and whether he thinks U-E's idea of an NBA All-Star "Bump" competition would be a great addition to the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities.

Be sure to check out Scott on theScore.com's RaptorBlog and catch some of his writing on The Basketball Jones blog.  He most recently put up a piece on the TBJ blog about Dwight Howard and how he can't do anything right lately, check it out here.

And finally, definitely follow Scott on Twitter: @scottcarefoot

Make sure you subscribe to the RAPS TALK podcast on iTunes.

Click here for the MP3 (right click "Save As...")

Subscribe to RAPS TALK, our audio podcast on iTunes
If you don't have iTunes, you can subscribe here
Check out our Facebook Page
Follow @hiphoopjunkies on Twitter

POUND THE ROCK STARS OF THE NIGHT - RAPTORS 94, NETS 73

POUND THE ROCK STARS - On a nightly basis, no matter how good or bad the Raps play, no matter if they blow out a team or if they get blown out and no matter if they win or lose, these are the Raptors with the best 'Pound the Rock' status for the night.

FINAL SCORE: RAPS 94, NETS 73     SEASON RECORD: 7W-14L

POUND THE ROCK STAR #1: DEMAR DEROZAN

LINE:  27 pts (8-12), 11-16 FT 4 rebs, 1 stl, 1 blk

Whoa, who was this tonight?  DeMar DeRozan came out of his shell tonight with his 27 point performance against the New Jersey Nets.  8-12 shooting and a career high 16 free throw attempts?  You can't ask for much more than that.  Welcome back, DeMar.  Hopefully we'll see more of these performances on a consistent basis.

POUND THE ROCK STARS OF THE NIGHT - NUGGETS 96, RAPTORS 81

posted by U-E Sampang

POUND THE ROCK STARS - On a nightly basis, no matter how good or bad the Raps play, no matter if they blow out a team or if they get blown out and no matter if they win or lose, these are the Raptors with the best 'Pound the Rock' stats for the night.

FINAL SCORE: NUGGETS 96, RAPS 81 SEASON RECORD: 6W-14L

POUND THE ROCK STAR #1: LEANDRO BARBOSA
LINE: 19 pts (7-13), 3 ast, 2 stl
Other than Bargnani, Leandro has been the most consistent Raptor all season, once again providing points off the bench, pushing the pace and shooting a good percentage.

POUND THE ROCK STARS OF THE NIGHT - RAPTORS 111, JAZZ 106 (2 OT)

POUND THE ROCK STARS - On a nightly basis, no matter how good or bad the Raps play, no matter if they blow out a team or if they get blown out and no matter if they win or lose, these are the Raptors with the best 'Pound the Rock' stats for the night.

FINAL SCORE: RAPS 111, JAZZ 106 (2 OT) SEASON RECORD: 6W-13L

POUND THE ROCK STAR #1: LINAS KLEIZA
LINE: 25 pts (8-16, 4-9 3pt, 5-5 ft), 5 rebs, 1 stl
Kleiza provided a huge spark off the bench and took over as the Raps' main offensive option after Bargnani left the game in the first OT.

POUND THE ROCK STARS OF THE NIGHT - RAPTORS 99, SUNS 96

posted by U-E Sampang


POUND THE ROCK STARS - On a nightly basis, no matter how good or bad the Raps play, no matter if they blow out a team or if they get blown out and no matter if they win or lose, these are the Raptors with the best 'Pound the Rock' status for the night.


FINAL SCORE: RAPS 99, SUNS 96          SEASON RECORD: 5W-13L

POUND THE ROCK STAR #1: ANDREA BARGNANI
LINE: 36 pts (10-21, 4-6 3pt, 12-12 ft), 6 rebs, 2 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk

Bargnani's return energized both the Raptors' offense and defense. He hit 4-5 3's in the third quarter, where the Raptors seized control of the game.

Hip Hoop Junkies & Hoop Heads North present RAPS TALK Ep. 21 (01.21.2012) with Editor-At-Large for SLAM Magazine, Lang Whitaker

Episode 21 of RAPS TALK (01.21.12) - It's been another brutal week for your Toronto Raptors but the RAPS TALK podcast has just the thing to bring bring up your mood.  On Episode 21 of the RAPS TALK podcast, we are pleased to have one of the original hoop heads, the editor-at-large for SLAM Magazine, author, writer and NBA TV personality, Lang Whitaker.

This week, we talk with Lang about his life as a freelance writer, his thoughts on this NBA hoops season, his Atlanta Hawks and how the Toronto Raptors can follow the Hawks' rebuilding formula.

You can find Lang everywhere.  First you can find him at his own page langwhitaker.com, and then.....he's anywhere from SLAM to GQ.com to NBA TV to the Hang Time podcast with friend of the RAPS TALK podcast, Sekou Smith.  This dude is a busy man.

Definitely follow Lang on Twitter, @LangWhitaker.  And...make sure you subscribe to the RAPS TALK podcast on iTunes.

Click here for the MP3 (right click "Save As...")

Subscribe to RAPS TALK, our audio podcast on iTunes
If you don't have iTunes, you can subscribe here
Check out our Facebook Page
Follow @hiphoopjunkies on Twitter

POUND THE ROCK STARS OF THE NIGHT - CLIPPERS 103, RAPS 91

POUND THE ROCK STARS - On a nightly basis, no matter how good or bad the Raps play, no matter if they blow out a team or if they get blown out and no matter if they win or lose, these are the Raptors with the best 'Pound the Rock' status for the night.

FINAL SCORE: CLIPPERS 103, RAPS 91     SEASON RECORD: 4W-13L

POUND THE ROCK STAR #1: LINAS KLEIZA

LINE:  16  pts (5-10), 4 rebs, 3 ast, 1 stl

Kleiza put in a solid performance off the Raptors' bench with 16 points on Sunday afternoon.  For a team that shot just 35.8% in another disappointing loss, Kleiza's performance was one of the few bright spots for the Raps on Sunday.  In a furry of Lob City  highlights of Griffin/DeAndre Jordan alley oop dunks, Kleiza made the Raptors' highlight reel with a slam over the Clippers' Randy Foye.

"Canada's Got Game" Commercial Spot

If you haven't peeped the new Canada Basketball commercial that's hit NBA TV Canada, check it out below.  The future of Canadian Basketball is looking bright!


Canada's Got Game from Jay Irving on Vimeo.

'Like' us on Facebook!

Subscribe to RAPS TALK, our audio podcast on iTunes
If you don't have iTunes, you can subscribe here
Follow @hiphoopjunkies on Twitter

POUND THE ROCK STARS OF THE NIGHT - BLAZERS 94, RAPS 84

POUND THE ROCK STARS - On a nightly basis, no matter how good or bad the Raps play, no matter if they blow out a team or if they get blown out and no matter if they win or lose, these are the Raptors with the best 'Pound the Rock' status for the night.

FINAL SCORE: BLAZERS 94, RAPS 84         SEASON RECORD: 4W-12L

POUND THE ROCK STAR #1: JAMES JOHNSON

LINE:  23 pts (10-17), 6 rebs, 2 ast, 2 stl, 4blk, 30 minutes 

I watched NBA TV this morning and Sam Mitchell was doing the highlight reel for the Raps-Blazers game.  And once they broke down the stats, Mitchell said "James Johnson, who?  He should not be your leading scorer."  and I think Smitch was right.  But hey, it's good to see James Johnson put up a career night on the offensive end, which wasn't apparent for the first part of the season.

POUND THE ROCK STARS OF THE NIGHT - CELTICS 96, RAPS 73

POUND THE ROCK STARS - On a nightly basis, no matter how good or bad the Raps play, no matter if they blow out a team or if they get blown out and no matter if they win or lose, these are the Raptors with the best 'Pound the Rock' status for the night.

FINAL SCORE: CELTICS 96, RAPS 73         SEASON RECORD: 4W-11L

POUND THE ROCK STAR #1: GARY FORBES

LINE:  18 pts (5-6), 18 minutes 

18 points in 18 minutes.  Gary Forbes' season-high 18 pts might have been the lone bright spot for the Raps on Wednesday night.  As a whole, it was an ugly game for the Raps, as Toronto just looked flat, shooting just 37% on the night.  Both benches got some extra run on Wednesday, and Gary Forbes made the most of it, with a season-high eighteen minutes as well.

No one man should have all that pasta... TBJ's Andrea Bargnani All-Star Video

Courtesy of The Basketball Jones aka the Kings of NBA viral videos... Skeets and Tas have put together another amazing piece of work.  They want Mr. Primo Pasta himself, Andrea Bargnani, is this year's All-Star game.  In a spoof of Kanye's "Power", this pasta-filled viral video is a work of art. 

If this video doesn't win your All-Star vote, I don't know what will.

'Like' us on Facebook!


Subscribe to RAPS TALK, our audio podcast on iTunes
If you don't have iTunes, you can subscribe here
Follow @hiphoopjunkies on Twitter

POUND THE ROCK STARS OF THE NIGHT - HAWKS 93, RAPTORS 84

POUND THE ROCK STARS - On a nightly basis, no matter how good or bad the Raps play, no matter if they blow out a team or if they get blown out and no matter if they win or lose, these are the Raptors with the best 'Pound the Rock' status for the night.

FINAL SCORE: HAWKS 93, RAPS 84         SEASON RECORD: 4W-10L

POUND THE ROCK STAR #1: AMIR JOHNSON

LINE:  13 Pts (5-9), 10 Rebs, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Block

For 25 minutes of work, that's a pretty nice line. 13 pts and 10 rebounds but five fouls.  As long as Amir can avoid foul trouble, we can expect even better lines from the Raps' forward.  Johnson and Ed Davis were the only two Raps who pulled down double digit boards.  Amir has a ton of upside, he just has to avoid the foul trouble to prove it.

POUND THE ROCK STARS OF THE NIGHT - BULLS 77, RAPTORS 64

POUND THE ROCK STARS - On a nightly basis, no matter how good or bad the Raps play, no matter if they blowout a team or if they get blown out and no matter if they win or lose, these are the Raptors with the best 'Pound the Rock' status each night.

FINAL SCORE: BULLS 77, RAPS 64         SEASON RECORD: 4W-9L

POUND THE ROCK STAR #1: JAMES JOHNSON

LINE:  12 Pts (6-11), 7-11 FT, 4 Rebs, 2 Blocks

Players show up when they get a chance to face off against their former team.  James Johnson did that on Saturday night, putting up his first double digit scoring performance of the season.  In just 18 minutes, Johnson put up 12 points against his former Bulls as the Raps couldn't pull out the win.  The Raps scored just 12 points in the fourth, as the Bulls cruised to the 77-64 win.

POUND THE ROCK STARS OF THE NIGHT - PACERS 95, RAPTORS 90

POUND THE ROCK STARS - On a nightly basis, no matter how good or bad the Raps play, no matter if they blowout a team or if they get blown out and no matter if they win or lose, these are the Raptors with the best 'Pound the Rock' status each night.

FINAL SCORE: PACERS 95, RAPS 90         SEASON RECORD: 4W-8L

 

POUND THE ROCK STAR #1: DEMAR DEROZAN

LINE:  23 Pts (8-15), 7-11 FT, 2 Rebs, 1 Steals

DeMar came out the gates knocking down shots.  He scored 14 points of his 23 points in the first eight minutes of the game, hitting 5/6 from the floor and 4/6 from the free throw line.  With DeMar's hot performance in the first, the Raps were able to jump out with a 12-pt first quarter lead.  DeRozan played a season-high 40 minutes on the night and hit a clutch layup with just 1:07 to play to tie the game up at 88. 

POUND THE ROCK STARS - KINGS 98, RAPS 91

Sure, this is a shortened season for the Toronto Raptors but it may be a long and painful one as well.  And for this season, I'm going to stay away from your typical game recap. I will now introduce to you the  POUND THE ROCK STARS of the night.

On a nightly basis, no matter how good or bad the Raps play, no matter if they blowout a team or if they blow a fourth quarter lead and no matter if they win or lose, I'm going to highlight the Raptors with the best 'Pound the Rock' status each night.

So here we go with our first edition of the nightly Pound The Rock Stars.


FINAL SCORE: KINGS 98, RAPS 91         SEASON RECORD: 4W-7L

POUND THE ROCK STAR #1: JOSE CALDERON

LINE:  13 Pts (5-12), 6 Rebs, 10 Assists, 2 Steals

What happened in the NBL Canada last night? Halifax Bounces Back 1/10/12

posted by Romy Aquino
Breaking down what happened in the National Basketball League of Canada last night.

HALIFAX RAINMEN 101, MONCTON MIRACLES 91

Halifax Top Performers
Joey Haywood - 23 pts (9-14), 3 stl
Lawrence Wright -16 pts, 6 reb, 2 stl

Moncton Top Performers
Akeem Wright - 20 pts, 9 reb, 3 blk, 2 stl
Boubacar Coly -15 pts (5-7), 11 reb, 3 blk


Well, the Rainmen are back on track.  After having their nine-game win streak snapped against the London Lightning last Saturday, Halifax got back to their winning ways on Tuesday night with a 10-pt win over the Moncton Miracles. Led by Joey Haywood's 23 points, the Rainmen had a strong first half outscoring Moncton 45-35 and held off the Miracles in the second half to lock down the win.  Turnovers were an issue for both teams, as Halifax turned the ball over 25 times to Moncton's 27 turnovers.  The Miracles shot the ball poorly from three-point land, shooting just 9.5% (2-21).

BIG BUCKETS - Stephen McDowell NBL Canada's Player of the Week

posted by Romy Aquino


Summerside's Stephen McDowell has been chosen for this week's NBL Canada Player of the Week.  The 5'11" guard who is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana lit it up last week, dropping 28 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Moncton Miracles and then a 29-pt/7 rebound performance against the league leading, London Lightning.  McDowell just joined the Storm's roster on December 21st and with just a handful of game under his belt, he has made an immediate impact to the PEI squad.

Hip Hoop Junkies & Hoop Heads North present RAPS TALK Ep. 19 (01.08.2012) with guest, Audley Stephenson

Episode 19 of RAPS TALK (01.08.12) - We're ba-aaaak.  Season 2 of the RAPS TALK podcast is back for another season!  It's been a long wait but after an extended lockout, the NBA has finally returned, the Raptors are back in action and Sean, U-E and I are returning for another season of the RAPS TALK podcast.

Our first guest for this season is Audley Stephenson of The Breakdown Show.  We talk to Audley about the NBA, your Toronto Raptors, the National Basketball League of Canada and Audley and Dave's Book, Basketball Talk, The Way it Should Be!  Audley's partner in crime, Dave Mendonca, was unfortunately missing in action but we'll get him on the podcast next time.

Check out Audley and Dave at TheBreakDownShow.com and follow Audley on Twitter, @TheAudman


Purchase the book Basketball Talk, The Way it Should Be! (with proceeds going to some great causes like Epilepsy Halton Peel Hamilton and the ErinoakKids Foundation.) at TheBreakdownBook.com

And...make sure you subscribe to the RAPS TALK podcast on iTunes.

Click here for the MP3 (right click "Save As...")

HIPHOOPJUNKIES.COM's NBL Canada MVP Rankings for January 7th

posted by Romy Aquino

Here are the HipHoopJunkies.com NBL Canada MVP Rankings for January 7th:

MVP RANKINGS

1.  Gabe Freeman, London Lightning
17 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 1 stl/g
The London forward has had an impressive first half of the season for the #1 team in the league, averaging a double double on the season with 17 ppg and 12.4 rpg.  Freeman leads the league in rebounding and has shown consistency with 13 double doubles on the season.

What happened in the NBL Canada last night? Moncton and Oshawa Swap Forwards 1/4/12

posted by Romy Aquino
Breaking down what happened in the National Basketball League of Canada last night.

TRADE

Oshawa Receives
F  Andrew Francis

Moncton Receives
F  Akeem Wright

What happened in the NBL Canada last night? The Miracles Win the Battle of New Brunswick 1/3/12

posted by Romy Aquino

Breaking down what happened in the National Basketball League of Canada last night.

MONCTON MIRACLES 102, SAINT JOHN MILL RATS 87

Saint John Top Performers
Greg Plummer -  13 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl
Antoine Tisby - 21 pts, 8 reb, 3 blk

Moncton Top Performers
Trayvon Lathan - 32 pts, 13 reb, 3 ast, 2 blk
Sylvania Watkins - 18 pts (6-13), 11 reb, 4 blk, 2 stl

The Future. Some Valančiūnas Euro Highlights

Courtesy of Jay Satur's blog on Raptors.com, the future Raptors rook, Jonas Valančiūnas was in action yesterday and put together a nice stat line against Spartak in the VTB United League.  The big man put up 14 pts, 11 boards, 4 blocks and a steal in the win. The kid's going to fill in a huge void at the five spot next season. 


Check out the sweet alley-oop dunk at the 57 second mark.  

Like' us on Facebook!

Subscribe to RAPS TALK, our audio podcast on iTunes
If you don't have iTunes, you can subscribe here
Follow @hiphoopjunkies on Twitter