The last Player of the Game title for the season went to Orlando’s Blake Griffin who averaged 28.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.9 blocks in a fantastic display of all around skill. His Magic went 10-5 in March.
Making it a clean sweep, Matt Bailey from the Los Angeles Lakers has won the March Rookie of the Month crown. His averages were stellar during the month, putting up 19.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks a game as the Lakers went 9-6 during that stretch.
We have 11 games to go in the regular season and a half game lead for first place and I’m hoping it stays on our side.
Kevin King makes sure that the streak continues with a dazzling display in our 106-91 win over Detroit. King had 39 points while keeping opposing SF Joe Taylor to only 5 points. Kenneth Thornton showed how good of a player he is with 6 points, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks as Dwight Howard was troubled with fouls. JJ Hickson lived up to his monstrous contract at least for one night with 20 points.
Toronto Raptors 63-9
Mike Miller fouls out in 9 minutes trying to defend Kevin King as we rout the Heat 118-105. King and Lebron James went blow for blow the whole game with King amassing 34 points while James countered with 35 points of his own. Dwight Howard was the different with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 6 blocks as the Miami has not corrected their big man woes.
Toronto Raptors 64-9
The Knicks have lost two games to start the month taking our lead out to 2.5 games with nine to go.
Kenny Costa earns his first ever Player of the Game title in our 114-90 win over Cleveland by collecting 22 points and 6 assists. What a devastating display of our depth with Trent Bailey helping his backcourt bud out with 23 points in 23 minutes. Carmelo Anthony has 22 points on 23 shots while Sam Dye puts in 22 points of his own.
Toronto Raptors 65-9
We won 105-81 over Detroit but it came with a cost as both Reggie Williams and Kenneth Thornton pick up injuries that will keep them from their best for at least a week. Kevin King continues his torrid play with 35 points while Dwight Howard has 17 points and 17 rebounds. No one on the Pistons play well as they shoot 34% from the field.
Toronto Raptors 66-9
It was always going to be a struggle backing it up the next night, especially going up against the very good 76ers but we eke out a 114-111 win behind Dwight Howard’s 27 points and Kevin King’s 20 points. What is so remarkable about King’s performance is that he went 2/15 from the field and 16/21 from the line. Kenny Costa doubles up again showing great signs for the future. Chris Paul shoots badly but comes close to a triple double with 8 points, 14 assists and 7 rebounds and Wesley Johnson had 27 points and 8 turnovers.
Toronto Raptors 67-9
Charlotte has a massive eight players in double figures as we never led in their 118-88 beatdown. Povilas Tailos was named Player of the Game with 21 points and 8 assists while we were tired and sore which showed from the start.
Toronto Raptors 67-10
The Knicks pounded the Heat to come within two games but the next night Milwaukee upsets them to take our lead out to 2.5 games with five games to go.
We always seem to lose to Chicago, this time going down 116-101 as Derrick Rose took Kenny Costa to school with 30 points and 10 assists. D&M paced us with 38 points and 24 rebounds but I think it’s time to throw in the towel and rest our starters.
Toronto Raptors 67-11
Rudy T starts the starters again which is a blessing as we blow out Indiana early 100-79 and our bench could have a go while resting the starters. Kevin King had 25 points and 8 turnovers while DeMar DeRozan pitched in with 14 points in 16 minutes off the bench.
Toronto Raptors 68-11
You can’t write a better storyline than this: we have a two game lead over New York with three games to go. So what does the schedule serve up? An away game in New York to decide the Eastern Conference minor champions. We go down by 12 points at three quarter time but race back into the game but end up coming short 115-111. Varlam Bebutov has become an elite PG and showed it tonight with 30 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds to pace the team. Danilo Gallinari had 25 points but shot 17 three pointers. Mario Chalmers (who I picked up after Eric Maynor was a jerk on the team) had 11 points in 19 minutes but we really missed Rajon Rondo out there.
Toronto Raptors 68-12
We beat the Nets 122-101 as we were supposed to do as DeMar DeRozan had 17 points off the bench and Kenny Costa had 15 points and 11 assists but with one game to go we need to win it to have home court advantage. Sorry bench players you won’t get a go while the starters rest because I want that HCA.
Toronto Raptors 69-12
And luckily we stomp the Pacers 95-69 behind Dwight Howard’s fantastic game with 25 points, 21 rebounds and 6 blocks and the bench play more than they should which eases me a little. The Pacers shot 28% from the field as we are the best team in the league and lock up home court advantage for the entire playoffs.
Toronto Raptors 70-12
Eastern Conference:
1st – Toronto Raptors – 70-12 (.854)
2nd – New York Knicks – 69-13 (.841)
3rd – Chicago Bulls – 62-20 (.756)
4th – Philadelphia 76ers – 55-27 (.671)
5th – Washington Wizards – 55-27 (.671)
6th – Miami Heat – 53-29 (.646)
7th – New Jersey Nets – 50-32 (.610)
8th – Orlando Magic – 42-40 (.512)
Last – Detroit Pistons – 19-63 (.232)
Wow, seven teams with 50 wins.
Western Conference:
1st – Oklahoma City Thunder – 57-25 (.695)
2nd – Portland Trailblazers – 45-37 (.549)
3rd – Los Angeles Clippers – 44-38 (.537)
4th – Golden State Warriors – 43-39 (.524)
5th – Los Angeles Lakers – 42-40 (.512)
6th – Utah Jazz – 42-40 (.512)
7th – Houston Rockets – 40-42 (.488)
8th – Minnesota Timberwolves – 39-43 (.476)
Last – Nevada Neon – 22-60 (.268)
Wow, only one team with 50 wins. Number seven New Jersey would be a second seed.
Toronto Top Points – Kevin King (22.1), Dwight Howard (18.5), Tim Mozgov (16.7), Trent Bailey (13.6)
Toronto Top Rebounds – Dwight Howard (12.0), Tim Mozgov (10.2), Kenneth Thornton (5.8), Kevin King (4.8)
Toronto Top Assists – Rajon Rondo (10.3), Kevin King (3.9), Trent Bailey (3.5), Kenny Costa (3.5)
League Top Points – Lebron James MIA (25.6), Kevin Durant OKC (24.3), Carmelo Anthony CLE (23.4), Derrick Rose CHI (23.3)
League Top Rebounds – Dwight Howard TOR (12.0), Amar’e Stoudemire NYK (11.8), Andrew Bogut LAC (11.4), Marc Gasol MEM (11.2)
League Top Assists – Chris Paul PHI (10.9), Rajon Rondo TOR (10.3), Deron Williams UTA (10.2), Russell Westbrook OKC (9.2)
League Top Blocks – Justin Cabrera PHI (4.4), Andrew Bogut LAC (4.0), Travis Randolph DEN (3.8), Derrick Favors NJN (3.7)
League Top Steals – Monta Ellis GSW (1.9), Gerald Wallace CHA (1.8), Chris Paul PHI (1.8), Brian Iacona NOH (1.7)
League Top FG% - Greg Oden POR (.579), Dwight Howard TOR (.568), Anthony Morrow MIN (.555), Nikola Pekovic UTA (.554)
League Top 3P% - Trent Bailey TOR (.480), Anthony Morrow MIN (.477), Mo Williams DEN (.442), Mike Miller MIA (.440)
League Top FT% - Luke Babbitt POR (.950), Paul George POR (.935), Mo Williams DEN (.913), Dirk Nowitzki DAL (.897)
League Top Turnovers – OJ Mayo MEM (4.7), Vlasi Kazapov LAC (4.1), Boleslav Silajdic NEV (4.1), Tyreke Evans SAC (3.9)
Rookie Top Points – Kyle Craig NOH (17.4), Matt Bailey LAL (16.1), Matt Davis CLE (14.9), Joshua Potter DEN (9.8)
Rookie Top Rebounds – Matt Bailey LAL (9.4), Derrick Chambless BOS (8.5), Joshua Potter DEN (5.6), MAXIME Videnov CLE (5.4)
Rookie Top Assists – Brian Iacona NOH (5.9), Matt Davis CLE (3.0), Jason Roe ORL (2.8), Jeremy Dumic DAL (2.7)
Up next – Playoffs! Rajon Rondo is healthy in less than a week to battle for back to back championships.