A brief Q&A with Hoops Head North before the festivities.

Just like any other blog on the internet, we at The Puns... read other blogs, and are excited to find out that other bloggers are reading ours. So naturally, we jumped at the opportunity to do a little Q&A exchange with Hoops Head North, a great Raptors blog. While our answers to their questions are already online(located here), we were happy when they agreed to answer a few of our questions regarding their team and about tonight's matchup between the Magic and Raptors.

1.What happened to Toronto? [Jackie Moon & Paul Ego]

You tell me. Everyone and their grandmother projected this team to be a 40-50W team that would put up a fight in the second round of this year’s playoffs. Bryan Colangelo had hyped this team up to be the best Raptors roster on paper. But this season has become far from that, as it has turned into one big season of disappointment, disarray and confusion. You have the Jermaine O’Neal trade that didn’t work out, you have the coaching change, you have the inconsistent guard play and then you have a team of talented players playing without confidence.

Firstly, the Jermaine O’Neal trade was a dud. Bryan Colangelo has been widely criticized on how that trade panned out, and in an effort to correct his mistakes, Colangelo traded for Shawn Marion but it happened just a little too late. Either way, although Marion hasn’t been as good as expected, he did help fill a void of a good defensive swing man who could score. Guys like Jason Kapono, Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker and Joey Graham have been so inconsistent this season and the inconsistency of the swingmen had caused a lot of issues before Marion's arrival. There was a lot of tinkering with the lineup and the Raps struggled to find the right mix. And it was a domino effect, as the Raps struggled to find the combo that worked (along with injuries), the losses piled up, and as the losses piled up, the Raptors just lost their confidence and it snowballed. The Raps became famous for blowing leads, they would go on streaks, win 2 games but then drop 7 and could never get any momentum going…….until now. Just 70 games too late.

2. Next summer. Bosh is set to leave, he tells them, I want to go to Orlando, but I don't want to leave you guys with nothing in return. Make a sign and trade happen. What does Toronto ask for? Or at the trade deadline.

I’m horrible at these trade scenarios, let’s say Rashard Lewis? Oh......and the Polish Hammer, gotta have the Polish Hammer or no trade. I still wouldn't be a fan of this though as I'd want a franchise player in Toronto. But if we had to, I'd say Rashard and the Polish Hammer. The Polish Hammer would be a hit in Toronto. I don't even really know who the Polish Hammer is but he's got one cool-*** nickname. I'll throw in Patrick O'Bryant as well.

3. Who is your coach next season...My guess is Marc Iavaroni. [Maxwell Effort]

Iavaroni has definitely hanging around the Raptors lately as a “consultant” but I believe you’ll see him on the bench either as the head coach or one of the assistants next season. The rumblings around the Raps nation is that Jay Triano may still be the coach next year with stronger assistant coaches. I like Triano (especially because he's Canadian) but I've got mixed feelings about having him as head coach next season.

4. What do Raptors fans think when they see Dwight Howard coming up on the schedule? [Jareth Cutestory]

For me, I get scared. Big men like Shaq, Yao, Dwight Howard can do serious damage on the Raps. I will never forget that game against the Suns, it was like King Kong going up against a bunch of curly straws. It really exposed how thin we were upfront, Shaq dropped 45 points on the Raps and the Suns scored 90 points in the paint. But I think the Raps know how to play the Magic this time around, they know the Magic like to shoot the ball so the key is stopping Dwight Howard from getting those offensive boards. We've got a little more size now too, we've added Patrick O'Bryant but we've also got an impressive former D-Leaguer in Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who likes to crash the boards, and has been compared to the likings of a Junkyard Dog or Charles Oakley type of player.

5. Is Rashard overpaid? or has he been the guy that put us over the top by learning a new position and being a nightmare on offense against traditional 4's? [El Fantasma]

Rashard Lewis's game is similar to Andrea Bargnani in the sense he’s not one of your traditional big men. He can shoot the three and stretch the defense but can also take it to the hole. Overpaid? Probably. But the Magic are one of the best teams in the L, and Rashard Lewis is a big part of the reason why.

Prediction: Who ya got tonight?

Something's just clicked for the Raptors lately. They're too far from the playoffs and they're too far from that top lottery pick, I say they screw their season even more and beat the Magic. It'll be close, I say like a five point game but they'll win.

Best of thanks to Hoops Head North for giving us their time and answers. We're looking forward to tonight's game, just as we're sure that they are as well.

Credit: ESPN.com for the photo

Magic Bullets - Magic @ Toronto

The Magic travel up to Toronto to play the Raptors in another Sunday morning game. Let's start the bullets.

11:55 AM

• Yes, I know, 'Magic Bullets' is a pun. Hypocryte? Yeah, probably.
• Just before the Magic game on Sun Sports is the Billy Donovan show. Memories.
• Here is ESPN's preview. Their simulation gives the Magic a 75% chance of winning this afternoon.

12:00 PM

• Went and saw Slumdog Millionaire last night. VERY good film.
• Dwight had 39 last time these two teams faced each other. Toronto still won the game. SVG is right, it all starts at the defensive end of the court.
  
• Now there is no doubt that Michael Phelps is a jackass.

12:20 PM

• A lot of respect for Raptor fans. They support their team.
  
• Steele let us know that Toronto is 11-20 since firing Sam Mitchel.
• Dwight throws down two monstrous dunks.
  
• Isn't there a football game on tonight?

12:30 PM

• The Magic are still sitting #2 in Hollingers Power Rankings.
• Halfway through the 1st Orlando is up 14-10. Dwight and Jameer each have 6.
  
• Here is the Orlando Sentinel's preview of the game.
• Jameer checks out. 10 pts, 4-4 FG.

12:45 PM

• Magic up 6 after 1.
  
• Toronto is a very good FT shooting team. In fact, they are best in the league.
  
• Game tied. Orlando calls timeout.
• NBA League Pass costs 99 bucks for the rest of the season? Seems pricey.

1:00 PM

• Solomon fires an airball and the boo's are pretty loud.
• Pietrus takes it hard to the basket and get fouled. I'm afraid he is going to get hurt every time.
  
• How was that not a foul on Dwight on the followup dunk?
  
• Calderon is a solid basketball player, but man, he's ugly.
• Dwight just passed Tracy McGrady for all time FT's made for the Magic. Congrats D12.
• Tract McGrady and Shaq each played 295 games for the Magic.
• Beautiful and-1 for Dwight. He misses the FT.

1:15 PM

• 25% of Canada's population lives in Toronto.
• Chris Bosh missed a FT. It will be the only one he misses today.
  
• Nice win in OT yesterday for UCF. They move to 5-2 in C-USA.
• Matty is rambling.
• Pietrus is struggling this afternoon. He shouldn't be a player that settles for jump shots.
• Insert Polish Hammer. He gets dunked on.
  
• Dwight has 18 at halftime. Magic are up 53-47.

1:45 PM

• Magic are 30-3 this year when leading at halftime.
  
• Magic up 16. Toronto calls timeout.
  
• Am I the only one getting tired of the Tobacco Free Florida adds?
• For those in Orlando, it's a beautiful day. Go do something outside... After this game is over of course.
  
• Magic had a 21 point lead just a few minutes ago. Toronto has made a run.

2:03 PM

• The boo's are back.
  
• Magic outscore the Raptors 32-18 in the 3rd.
  
• Piss poor possession to start the 4th.
• Little known fact about Raptors: They were feathered and only 3 feet tall.
• Pietrus goes down hard again. Magic fans collectively hold their breath.
  
• The Cavs and Pistons play at 2:30 over on ABC.
• Joey Graham and his brother Stephen played college ball at UCF before transferring to Oklahoma State.
  
• Blue Man Group commercial. Ahh, I can't wait for the Arrested Development movie. "Michael, I'm afraid I just blue myself."
• Turk has not had a good game.

2:25 PM

• Anyone else hear that guy yelling "Hoooowwwaaarrrdddd" during Dwight's FT's? Hats off to him.
• Canadian Bacon was a good movie.
• Quote of the day by David Steele: "They list him at 280. I'd put him at a happy meal shy of 320."
• No JJ or Bogans today...
• Final score: Orlando 113, Toronto 90. Dwight has 29 points, 14 rebounds. Pietrus puts up 22.
• Jameer had 18 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds. Impressive.
  
• Here is the box score.
• Dallas comes to town tomorrow night.
  

Big Train. Out.

The Week Ahead

With a winless week behind them, the 33-10 Orlando Magic look to regain their swagger against the Pacers, Cavs, and Raptors this week.

Tuesday:

First is a Tuesday evening home matchup against the Central Division's worst team. Orlando is 2-0 against the Pacers so far this season with wins of 100-98 in overtime on the road and 110-96 at home. Look for Dwight to have a big game after putting up 24 points and 17 rebounds in the first matchup and 32 and 21 in the second. Lookout for Indy's Danny Granger, he's good.

Prediction:

Orlando - 107
Indiana - 96

Dwight Howard - 28 pts., 16 rbs., 4 blks., 0 techs
Jeremy Richardson - 0 minutes

Danny Granger - 32 pts., 0 help from other teammates

Thursday:

The Cleveland Lebron's come to town for a TNT matchup. Cleveland goes into the week with the best record in the NBA (34-8) and will play Sacramento on Tuesday night before flying down to Orlando for Thursday's game. In other words, they will be 35-8 going into the Orlando game.

Prediction:

Cleveland - 97
Orlando - 92

Rashard Lewis - 26 pts., 6 rbs., 3 ast.
JJ Redick - 5 missed FT's.

Lebron James - 30 pts., 8 rbs., 8 ast., 7 friendly superstar calls.

TNT announcers and studio talking heads - 364 uses of Lebron, King James, or James. 4 incorrect statements about Orlando (example: "They haven't even made it out of the first round of the playoffs!").

Tiger Woods shows up, Orlando moves to 0-2 in Woods attended games.

3 Magic related puns the next morning.

Sunday:

In another early Sunday game in Toronto, the Magic will try to make up for their loss up north earlier this month. In the previous matchup Dwight had 39 points, Rashard had 20 points and 9 assists, while Hedo shot a sizzling 4-12 from the field. For some reason Toronto's Anthony Parker played like his sister, Candice Parker, scoring 26 points.

Prediction:

Orlando - 112
Toronto - 103

Dwight Howard - 29 pts., 15 rbs., 5 blks.
Hedo - 20 pts., much better than 4-12 shooting.
Jeremy Richardson - Once again, 0 minutes.

Anthony Parker remembers he's Anthony Parker and scores 12 pts.
Chris Bosh - 35 pts., 17-18 FT's.

Raptor superfan Nav Bhatia goes home unhappy.


Also, on Wednesday the World Economic Forum beigns it's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland... So we have that going for us, which is nice.