Jose Calderon imitating my grandfather with no biceps and black socks

That guy can shoot. That is what they say about unknown Toronto Raptor Jose Calderon. He can pass too.

Jose Calderon is averaging over 13 points and 8 assists for the Raptors. Why doesn’t anybody know about this guy?

Now he has a shot at the consecutive free throw record.

Even after missing six consecutive games with a hamstring injury, Toronto Raptors guard Jose Calderon hasn’t cooled off from the foul line.

Since returning to the lineup Friday, he has made seven free throws in a row, extending his streak to 86. That’s 11 shy of tying Michael Williams’ NBA record set in 1993.

“It’s just concentration,” Calderon says. “Of course, it gets tougher now because people are starting to talk about the streak. I just try not to think about it.”

source

And to think, Jose Calderon is only in his third NBA season!
Photo source Newscom

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While perusing the USA Today over my mid afternoon, really my morning, but your mid afternoon coffee, some surprising stats popped up.

Scoring Average: While no surprise that LeBron James leads with 30 and Kobe Bryant is second with 28.4, there are some surprises. Did you know that Denver has the next two with Iverson and Carmelo don’t smell my breath Anthony? Did you know Al Jefferson is averaging a pretty heady 23 points a game for Minnesota? He is the forgotten man in the Kevin Garnett trade. Kevin Garnett is not on the list.

Kevin Garnett not in the NBA stats for scoring average and Al Jefferson is

Image details: Boston Celtics v Chicago Bulls served by picapp.com

Field Goal Percentage: Beidrins of Golden State is the leader at .623. Who? That is what came out of my mouth too. He is the Center for the Golden State Warriors and averages 10 points and almost 10 rebounds per game. This is Andris Beidrins 4th year and he really upped his stats.

Three Point field goal percentage: This one took me really by surprise. Toronto has the leader and two others on a list of the top ten. The leader is Kapono. Oh, not that deadly “Who?” again? It is Jason Kopono from UCLA. Oh, that Kapono. Like we know a whole bunch of Kapono’s.

Toronto also checks in with Jose Calderon and Parker. Not Tony Parker, but Anthony Parker. Which is kind of like Tony Parker, isn’t it? But not the one from the San Antonio Spurs with the cute girlfriend. Not that Anthony Parker may not have a cute girlfriend, but…arrrgghh. The Toronto Parker, leave it at that.

Better end this now, it is getting too confusing.

NBA Basketball special comment Don’t you love the NBA stats?

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Carlos Delfino goes 5 – 5 from 3 point land

You know the other day the Orlando Magic had a great confidence builder against my Detroit Pistons. It can only help them improve as a team.

Now the Toronto Raptors have done the same thing by beating the Boston Celtics.

The Raptors could not miss. They were nailing shots from all over the place.

Coach Doc Rivers of the Celtics was stunned.

Final Score Toronto 114 Boston 112

He could not believe it.

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers looked at the boxscore and shook his head at the shooting percentages Toronto had just compiled.

“Fifty-eight percent (from the floor); 71 percent from the 3; 100 percent from the foul line. At least the foul line wasn’t guarded,” Rivers said after the Raptors made 15 of 21 3-pointers to beat Boston 114-112 on Wednesday night.

“Half the guys in our league couldn’t shoot 15-for-21 if they were in a gym by themselves,” he said. “It was almost like we didn’t believe they would shoot another one.” source

Here is a quick game rundown.

Just who scored for whom?

Jose Calderon converted a go-ahead, three-point play with 10.5 seconds left and finished with 24 points and 13 assists. Chris Bosh and Anthony Parker scored 23 points apiece and Andrea Bargnani had 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Raptors.

Kevin Garnett scored 26 for Boston, which had won three in a row and hadn’t lost to an Atlantic Division rival in 10 tries this season. Paul Pierce had 19 points and nine assists, and Ray Allen also scored 19 for Boston, which still holds an 11-game lead over second-place Toronto in the division.

Do not dismiss the importance of this game in the growth process of the Raptors. Sure they are still way behind in second place, but now know a win against the Celtics is possible.

So how did they pull it off?

“It was really important to beat them — so we could see if we could,” Calderon said. “We knew how to play them after already playing them three times.”

Carlos Delfino was 5-for-5 from 3-point range. Calderon was 4-of-6, but the key basket was a traditional three-point play after he took the inbounds pass and circled around the lane to drive for a layup over Pierce.

“We knew they wouldn’t leave Chris,” Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. “So I changed the play I drew up, and Jose was able to turn the corner.”

Calderon drew the foul and sank the free throw, giving the Celtics the ball with 10.5 seconds left. source

Before you say, “Hey, they shot the lights out and that won’t happen again”, stop and consider that it just may be easier to win without shooting the lights out next time.

Toronto withstood the Celtics best game and came out on top. They feel they can do it again and that is what counts!

NBA Basketball Fan Question Do you ever consider the confidence your favorite team is showing?

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Rip and Sheed get serious

The Pistons won their 11th game in a row. Only Portland with 13 wins in a row this season has a longer streak. Portland lost Monday to Utah to end their streak.

Saturday in a marquee matchup the Pistons face the Celtics in the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Richard Hamilton scored 22 points, Rasheed Wallace added 20 and the Detroit Pistons extended their winning streak to 11 games with a 101-85 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

Chauncey Billups had 18 points for Detroit, which has not lost since an 80-77 defeat in Houston on Dec. 12 and owns the longest current run in the NBA.

The Pistons’ streak is their longest since winning 11 straight in January 2006. source

The Celtics will be looking for a little revenge after losing to the Pistons recently. The Pistons tagged Boston with their first home loss of the year.

Toronto

The Toronto team was overmatched by the Pistons, but Chris Bosh had a great game.

Chris Bosh had 23 points and 16 rebounds for Toronto, which has lost five of seven.

Chris has a shot at being a 20/10 guy this year. Right now he is averaging 20.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. 20/10 is an exclusive crowd.

Jose Calderon is close to averaging a double double an even more exclusive crowd. Jose had 15 points and 9 assists. He is averaging 11.2 points and 8.1 assists on the year.

Rip Hamilton

While Rip was in a slump early in the year and fighting minor injuries, lately he has been nye unstoppable.

Hamilton has averaged 21.6 points during the streak and has led the Pistons in scoring in the past seven games.

Should be a fantastic game with Boston on Saturday!

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will Garnett, Allen, and Pierce get their revenge?

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