By RB.com Minister of Disinformation B-Huge.

It was throwback night for the Toronto Raptors tonight. It was a game that recalled the distant memories when the Raps could win in the west, one that brought back the days of winning games with defence, and one that reminded us that there was a time when the Raptors could win on Sundays. It's been almost 13 months since the Raptors won at Memphis (and that shouldn't really count as Memphis is only 3 minutes west of Chicago) and it's been since November when a key defensive play determined the outcome of the game. I really can't remember the last time they looked good on a Sunday afternoon.

It was Vince Carter that provided the key hustle play with 25 seconds left and the Raps up by 2 points. Carter stood his ground and let Quentin Richardson plow into him for an offensive foul. Alvin Williams iced the game with 3 free throws, thus proving that he may look like a man but he's really a machine: The Alvinator!

The Raptors' Big Three (really, why haven't sportswriters come up with a catchy nickname for Carter, Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall?) all had solid games this afternoon. Carter also had a big fourth quarter on offense with 9 of his 22 points coming in the final frame. Rose had 23 points on 10 for 17 shooting. Marshall had 19 points and 9 rebounds. The bonus contributions came from Michael Curry and Alvin Williams. Curry played some solid defence on Clipper star Elton Brand and Williams had 14 points and 8 rebounds. Williams has slyly dragged his season field goal percentage up to 41.5%, a huge improvement since earlier in the season.

On the downside, rookie Chris Bosh has now failed to score more than 7 points in 4 of the last 7 games after scoring in double-figures for 13 games in a row. Perhaps opposing teams are ready for him now or maybe he's starting to "hit the wall." Of course there is also that mystical Sports Illustrated jinx to worry about. Well, Bosh wasn't on the magazine's cover but it's as close as this team is ever going to get unless SI does some exposé on what it takes to hover around .500. I can picture the cover now: "Mediocrity! Breaking even is the fad that's sweeping the East."