We are no longer the worst defensive team in the NBA just based on points, that Hawks game obviously made our numbers appear just a little worse than they really were…right now we are 4th worst, GS is giving up the most points per game

We are actually only giving up .7 more points per game than we are scoring, so it seems the ship is being righted

Swirsky’s soldier, the horse never said anything, but the info came via ESPN Insider on multiple occasions, if you want email me and I will send you a link: raptorcity@raptorsdigest.com

In fact, during the 5 game win steak, we’ve been scoring 108 ppg, and have been giving up only 102. The +6 ppg puts us 7th in the league over that stretch.

With the Celtics struggling, the Raptors have a chance to capitalize. It’s not fair to say they’re necessarily as low as the 7th seed. The teams immediately behind us are Chicago and Charlotte, both 1.5 GB. In this stretch, Chicago will be playing Atlanta, Miami, and Orlando.

Charlotte also has the Lakers and Hornets within that stretch, two teams with better records.

The struggling Celtics are going to be battling again with the Magic and Heat before the All-Star break.

All of this puts Toronto, with our advantageous schedule, in a good position to capitalize and gain ground on the Celtics.

The possibility of winning a division title is NOT out of the question.

If this team is on the cusp of catching the Celtics, I would argue it makes no sense to rock the boat. Wright I suppose is the most likely candidate to be traded, but let’s be honest, Sonny Weems is no Wright. Wright has been integral in shutting down a lot of the better guards on the other teams during this win streak. Sonny can seem lost sometimes, and has growing pains. Wright is a veteran…

This team likely would be better off not making any moves because if you give up Wright, you want another perimeter player that can play some D, but that’s what Wright does… It would be lateral movement, which can potentially screw up the chemistry that we’ve seen thus far.

1)”we are still the worst defensive team in the NBA”

is that still teh case since the December meeting? Where do the Raps stand in the last month or two defensively. The Raps D was horrid early on… but it definetely hasn’t looked like the worst since then

2)”Jose Calderon, who is being dangled in a potential Kevin Martin swap”

please sight the source… and not some speculation from a random blog or ‘journalist’. Something from the horse’s mouth if you don’t mind.

Regardless of this ‘non-fact’ you threw out there… trading Calderon in and of its self is likely a poor decision. However, as with anyone in the league, if the deal is right you do it. That said, Kevin Martin is not even close to being the right deal.

3)”we are primed for another 1st round exit

while its likely a reasonable assumption… its by no means a guarantee. The Raps (Charlotte and Chicago aswell) have looked better and better as the season goes on. Orlando and Boston (and to some degree Atlanta) have not. Making a deal in haste would be a very poor judgement call to make at this point.