RAPTORS: JOSE LEADS WAY, NETS LOSE JEFFERSON

Starting with Jose Calderon's 19-point, 11-assist night in an 105-84 declawing of the Charlotte Bobcats and ending with Vince Carter being front and centre in a category-5 collapse by the New Jersey Nets out in Sacramento, it was a good night to be young and a Toronto Raptors fan.

Who knew we would have reason to start scoreboard-watching in late January? Most of us probably did but didn't want to say anything about it, in case it didn't happen. Until then, let's not brag until the Raps are above .500.

New Jersey's epic against the Kings -- who scored 12 of the last 14 points to win 88-87 -- was like watching a car flip over for 25 minutes with someone you really dislike at the wheel. Saying the Nets blew a 20-point lead only begins to tell it. This was New Jersey's first game since it lost Richard Jefferson for a good long while due to arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle, and when the Kings started to come back in the fourth quarter, it was almost like the rest of the Nets realized almost everything was on Vince. Translation: Shit outta luck.

Like Neil Acharya wrote of the Nets back in pre-season, "If they lose Jefferson for any length of time they could be in major trouble." Without his sidekick, Vince spit the bit and practically triggered the collapse with a pair of missed free throws down the stretch (in fairness, Jason Kidd clanked a pair moments later, and none of the nondescript Nets were capable of doing anything to choke off the collapse).

In the final two minutes, when the Kings didn't have to worry about keeping a hand in Jefferson's face on defence, Vince turned the ball over twice, making it possible for Mike Bibby (who scored Sactown's last 15 points) to hit a second-chance jumper with 10.3 ticks left for the win.

It was almost comical. Bibby didn't even have a basket in the first 3 1/2 quarters, so it was almost like, "Hey, these guys don't look like they're interested in putting us away, so I might as well see if I can pull it out by myself."

Meantime, the Raptors are still below .500 but are 18-15 since Andrea Bargnani began playing significant minutes. Bargnani putting up 14 points last night and Adam Morrison getting only three doesn't prove a whole lot, but Il Mago is starting to have these spurts when he takes over. Last night, he had a good take that resulted in an three-point play, then followed that up in short order with a pair of three-pointers.

Morrison, whom some people thought the Raptors should draft No. 1 last June, has a lot more experience with being offensive Option 1 and 1-A for his team, yet he's floating out on the wing most of the time, although that should be pinned on his coaches and teammates. Morrison is guy you root for no matter what thanks to the backstory -- managing diabetes, the fascination with Che Guevara, and great hair -- but as a player, he's the skinnier Donyell Marshall. He can heat up fast and will go off for 30 points every so often, but his defence or ability to fit into a team concept leaves a lot to be questioned. He might be a great role player for a winning team later on, but right now he has the look of someone who's going to play on 30-win teams all his career.

Meantime, the Raptors are winning with Bargnani and play six of the next eight games at home. The Nets have lost their glue guy, have four straight on the road against Western Conference teams and are relying on Vin Weasel to carry the load. Not bad.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.