By RB.com grinch Old Man Bueale.

I pretty much had this report written before the third quarter even started. I probably could have written it before the game had even tipped-off. Ignoring for a minute some relatively minor problems like the Raptors streaky shooting, undersized personnel, lack of interior defense, unreasonably short bench, inability to get to the free-throw line and horrible matchup problems, there were just too many other intangibles for the Raptors to overcome:

#1: The Raptors have gone 3-9 against the Hornets over the past three years. And some of those games have been really ugly. I'm thinking back to an absolute classic 100-64 loss back in 2000 that this game can't even touch for sheer embarrassment. That kind of record just doesn't inspire confidence in the troops that they can come out and compete. I mean, you might as well just throw in the towel instead of actually trying!

#2: This was one of just two visits for Jamaal Magloire to Toronto. No self respecting NBA team would ever consider ruining a homecoming game for another player. You just have to give the hometown boy a little extra space to operate, and keep those 147 family members in the crowd happy! And from the other 19,653 fans you take their beer money and run.

#3: The team was emotionally ragged after saying goodbye to an NBA Champion. Yes, that's right, Mengke Bateer heard the emergency sirens in Orlando and has ventured south to rescue their season and carry them all the way to a championship series. I am not using any Bill Walton hyperbole at all when I suggest that Mengke could be well on his way to becoming the Robert Horry of the next decade.

The only mistake the Hornets really made all game was turning the last few minutes of the second quarter into a little laugh session. If I were Tim Floyd, that is the one thing that I would have been all over my players for, as part of preparing for the next meeting between these teams. Nothing motivates ballers more than feeling disrespected. No, not even winning. Or high quality grass. Or honeys. It's actually kind of pathetic. But my point is, don't expect the same humiliation next time.