By special Rick Report correspondent D-Flex.

We're supposed to love close basketball games, right? The strategy, the intensity, the incessant fouling. How many times have you heard a hockey fan say, "What's the point of watching a whole basketball game? You only have to watch the last two minutes." Well, after labouring through 16 offensively challenged Raptors games this season, I want more blowouts.

No, check that. I only want blowouts.

While three games isn't really enough time to adequately size-up this edition of the Raptors, I seriously began to enjoy watching the boys hold a lead for most of the previous two contests. I began to believe they might be able to do it on a consistent basis. The Raps were leading by 15+ points over Boston before the Garbage Men came in and helped the Brown Irishmen get to within 10. Not only was this comfortable, it was entertaining. No one mimics a sloth better than Mengke.

After that performance, I was expecting the new look Raptors to better the Hawks by at least 15; after all, this is Atlanta we're talking about. A relaxing and easy night filled to the brim with Vintastic dunks and Donyellian treys. Unfortunately the Hawks made it interesting, or did Toronto?

After a record setting 17 from behind the three-stripe on Wednesday, the Raptors came up empty from three-point land until 8:52 of the fourth quarter. The offence generated only 13 points in the second, impressive for the mid-November cast, sub par for the current troupe. The Raptors got lazy and possibly a little cocky after an impressive 28 points in the first quarter. They underestimated their opponent and paid for it until the final seconds of the game. Atlanta kept it close and with Carter Brunsoned due to foul trouble, Toronto could only tread water until his return.

But hey, maybe I'm being too tough on these guys. I'm loving Jalen's game. Not only is he distributing the ball better than FedEx distributes packages, he's obviously a positive influence on the court, bench, and one would guess in the locker room too. I'm convinced the negative press about Rose's demeanor was brought to us by the same wonderful folks who brought us WMD in Iraq. And Donyell? I was ready to start calling him "The Franchise" after almost out scoring Carter for a third straight game. (plus, his name is really fun to say). Even Baxter has been a pleasant surprise, generally doing what is assigned to him.

With all of that said, boys... send your man D-Flex an early Christmas gift. A few 20+ point blowouts in the month of December please. If you won't do it for me, do it for the kids.

No... wait... do it for Brunson.