DEEP THOUGHTS FROM GAME TWO

...First, I must throw props to you Magic fans. Sunday, empty seats dotted the upper bowl end zones. Tuesday night, your fannies were in those seats. You were loud and made me proud. I held off in dissing Orlando sports fans because I wanted to see how you reacted. You were rabid. You were electric. You had much to do with that Magic win in game two!

...Dwight Howard is a beast! Superman becomes the first player since Kevin Garnett four years ago to notch consecutive 20-20 games in the NBA Playoffs. He had 29 points and 20 rebounds in game two. ESPN, TNT, you guys finally gonna take notice now?

..."If I didn't get hit, then I don't know what anybody's saying". That's a quote after the game from Bosh, who claimed he was roughed up by Dwight on a driving play with :23 to go and the raptors down one. Dwight would make a key block on Bosh. Then, on the final play, Bosh decided to pull up from 16 feet and miss over Dwight's big paw. Please, Chris, don't start moanin' about disrespect. WEIGHT ROOM!

...Toronto's soft. Heck, we had seven dunks against these guys in the first quarter (35-18). Coach Sam Mitchell finally gave up trying to make his Raptors into his ole 1994 Indiana Pacers. Mitchell went to a small lineup early, and in turn, forced Stan's hand in putting Dwight on Chris Bosh. I would be shocked if we see Rasho Nesterovic ever again. Even though we lead 2-0, Toronto's got to feel as if it has created a little bit of mojo with that small lineup.

...Before this series began, many of us know-it-all media types gave the point guard edge to Toronto. Read the numbers and weep Raptor fans: TJ Ford...2-17 FG, 11 points, 11 assists. Jameer Nelson...13-23 FG, 42 points, 13 assists. Ford's been outmatched by Jameer so far. I'd be shocked if we didn't see Jose Calderon start for the Raptors in game three.

...Both clubs can ill afford to have their two all star big men off the floor. Dwight played 44 minutes in game one....41 minutes in game two. Chris Bosh got 38 minutes in game one and 45 minutes Tuesday. If either Bosh or Dwight comes off the floor, their respective teams hold their breath 'til their big fellas come back into the game.

...We've outscored Toronto 78-41 in the first two quarters of games one and two. Problem is, the Raptors have pounded us in the second quarters 63-41.

...Former mob informant Bob Delaney would have needed a military escort, full body armor and a Sherman Tank to escape City Beautiful if Chris Bosh's buzzer beating shot goes in. Bob Delaney is one of the better NBA officials, but he has a bad habit for making theatrical calls at crucial moments of a game. Thus was the case Tuesday night when he whistled Keyon Dooling for a ridiculous offensive foul on an inbounds play with nine ticks to play. CYO refs don't even make that call!

...I realize this is easier said than done, but can we please put a GPS on Jason Kapono? Why do we leave him even for a split second? Kapono is shooting 67% from the field in the first two games. He's nailed eight of his 12 three pointers. Kapono has 38 points off the bench.