Holly Mackenzie from here at The Score tweets via @stackmack that Marco Belinelli will not go today with the flu and Patrick O'Bryant will dress in his place.
There is no prize for that but congrats on being first in line.
The buzz on the net is about a tweet from Steve Simmons that Jose Calderon is on the trading block for the Raps. Which is not a shock if Bryan Colangelo plans on making a major splash Jose is likely the player that would be moved.
However given how Demar DeRozan played in NYC I would personally hold off and see what you have in him with a month before the deadline there is no hurry to make a move.
Demar, Jose and Andrea Bargnani all looked good in NYC as the Raptors got back to .500 at 20-20 and this game today marks the official half way mark of the Raptors season.
Dallas comes in to face the Raps with likely little interest back home in this battle with the Raps as some other team in Dallas is playing at the same time you might have heard of them they are Chris Bosh and the Dino Blogger's favorite football team the Dallas Cowboys.
LOL well CBC does games on Sunday afternoon usually with bigger match-ups and Mavs I guess qualify.
What do you folks think of Andrea of late? are you impressed for the record I am.
Also this his the Return of the Matrix today who was a Raptor for a short time and has struggled with injuries this season. He was part of that complex deal that brought Hedo Turkoglu to town.
Hedo has struggled of late and is not exactly looking like he is worth that 53 million the Raptors gave him...on the other hand Andrea 5 for 50 Million is looking like a steal.
Mavs if you didn't know have the best road record in the Western conference at 13-6 and are 26-13 overall as they head into this one.
another match-up vs a "Elite" team how will the Raptors respond? almost time to find out but if you think you have an educated guess happy to hear it.
He has really improved and those comparison to Dirk don't seem so dumb anymore.
He has been a force on the glass and I NEVER thought I would be saying that.
Jose Calderon has done better in his reserve role than he did early in year as a starter it should be interesting if he continues to perform in that role.
Guy to worry about for the Raptors beyond the obvious is Jason Terry he can kill them beyond the arc if he gets open looks.
Mavs are just 1 of 7 teams with a winning record on the Road in the NBA.
It will be interesting if they match-up today. It likely makes sense as he might be a better match-up than Bosh.
And how bout a little love for the Raps Rookie Demar DeRozan he made me look good in our last Raptors live blog. I said he would be the Raps X-Factor and he went off with his best game as pro in my view.
We are almost set to go....Starting Line-ups time at the ACC.
The usual starting 5 for the Raps no changes....and if you arrived late no Marco Belinelli out with the flu.
Mavs have Kidd, Howard, Dampier, Marion and Disco Dirk!!!
Mavs in the Alt Blues today and Raps in white home uniforms.
Raps are 12-6 at the ACC this season.
Bargs doesn't rock ugly headbands though....PLUS 1 Andrea.
No headband for Dirk today...thank God.
Here we go TIP TIME IN T-DOT!!!!
Mavs win the tap and were off and running
foul on Hedo Turkoglu....Non Shooting.
Dirk Jumper and he was open and nails it.
Jack all the way to the hoop and were even at 2 early.
Kidd the jumper does not fall CB4 gets the board.
Bosh missed the reverse lay-up we remain tied at 2.
Howard a quick miss in transition.
Andrea the slam and Raps on top 4-2.