"You Gotta Knock Them Out"- Raps-Bulls 4

BULLS 94, RAPTORS 92

"It's like beating the Champ; you gotta knock them out"- Jack Armstrong

Guys, I've got to tell you, I'm all-in on the Raptors needing to "establish a defensive identity". It's a really good deal. You know why? Apparently, being known as a tough defensive team means you get to hack your opponents constantly, and somehow avoid being called on any of them. If tackling is your thing, you're in luck, because when a 'tough defensive team' tackles one of the opposition players, it's a simple loose-ball foul. If the player who was tackled has the audacity to be upset by this occurring, they'll be hit with a tech.

Seriously people, what is going on here? NO, the Raptors did not lose the game because of the officiating. But, in my opinion, they did totally ruin the game. Watching games where a team simply cannot get one whistle to go their way is just unbearable. And the way Jack Armstrong constantly justified the officiating due to Chicago's reputation drove me up the wall. Officiating due to reputation is such a ridiculous concept. Look at the way the entire Chicago team carried on when Taj Gibson was called for a foul when he hit Demar DeRozan across the face on a lay-up attempt; this is clearly a team that is entirely used to having calls go consistently go their way. Credit is due to Chicago, then, for establishing this reputation. What a fantastic deal to have with the referees. As an opposition supporter, however, it is completely frustrating. Please, by all means tell me that I'm wrong.

Check the above quote from Jack Armstrong on the TSN broadcast. What sport are we playing here? You don't get an advantage from referees depending on circumstances, and the fact that I'm probably viewed as naive for writing this truly annoys me.

Now that this whinge is out of the way, I'll say this; the Raptors were awful, and not themselves against the Bulls. In a game that was a direct battle for the 3rd seed, the Raptors dug themselves an early hole, and were never able to climb out of the hole and take the lead. The Bulls, whose big men absolutely destroyed their Raptor counter-parts, looked like the playoff-toughened team they are, withstanding run after run from the Raptors. Joakim Noah, while only scoring 8 points, had a significant influence on the Bulls' victory with his incredible passing. Noah's ability to find the open man garnered him 13 assists, and was probably the difference between the two sides. The fact that on a back-to-back, the Raptors again fought hard to keep the game close, and even had a couple of plays to win the game late, speaks to the ever-growing character of this team.

Do not panic though, Raptor fans. Not only do we have the easiest remaining schedule of any team in the league, this is exactly the sort of game the team needs to play to learn about playoff intensity, and to build that 'winning culture'. Look at the way Tyler Hansbrough excelled tonight, with 8 points and 7 rebounds in just 24 minutes; Tyler is a product of the Indiana Pacers system that has developed into a title contender, and that has competed in tough, scrappy playoff series' such as the 7-game epic against the Heat last season. Toronto players who have not yet had the opportunity to play playoff ball need to get a feel of what it is like. While the Raptors move to 29-25, and just 0.5 games above the 4th placed Bulls, the Raptors remain in the box-seat to win the Atlantic Division as well as the number 3 seed.

Check those eyes..

In funnier news, Kyle Lowry gave us another hilarious reaction to a referee's call tonight. After being hit with his fifth personal foul, Kyle just sprinted away and chilled on the bench. Clearly fearful of picking up a second technical, he sat back and let every other Raptors player and coach argue on his behalf.  It was fantastic. Kyle continues to prove himself as one of the best NBA players at reacting to bad calls. If you throw in his sprint to the locker room in the Sacramento game, we're halfway to a Mount Rushmore of Kyle Lowry reactions. If you've got any nominations, by all means.


PLAYER VOTES

3 votes- DEMAR DEROZAN (32pts, 11/25FGs, 5rebs). The performance of a leader, and of an all-star. I fear what this game would have looked like without DeRozan. Made his own offense, made play after play. One criticism, however; Demar needs to get smarter in clutch situations. Demar's got to use your mobility when isolated on a big like Carlos Boozer, although it's much harder to criticize the final play where Jimmy Butler's defense was exceptional.

2 votes- TYLER HANSBROUGH (8pts, 4/7FGs, 7rebs). Loved what Tyler gave us tonight. That's his kind of game; a 'street-fight', a scrap. Tyler scrapped better than anyone out there.

1 vote- KYLE LOWRY (16pts, 4/13FGs, 7asts, 5rebs). I feel like Lowry's contribution was slightly more than Amir Johnson's, but this wasn't a great game from Kyle by any means.

NEXT- FEBRUARY 21 vs CLEVELAND. Cleveland, Orlando, Cleveland, Washington reads as a lovely run to move well above .500, and potentially clear at the number 3 seed.

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