The Raptors can do all the soul-searching they want and talk until they are blue in the face about being more consistent and more aggressive and more intense.
But the thing that might help them the most as they try to snap a gory seven-game losing streak is a veteran point guard who usually speaks louder with his actions than his words. Jose Calderon, who has missed 11 of Toronto's last 12 games - eight of those 11 being defeats - with a hamstring injury could well be back in his usual starting spot in the lineup here tonight, bringing a measure of normalcy to the Raptor rotation that's been lacking for weeks.
Calderon went full out at practice here yesterday and barring an unexpected setback will play tonight.
And if he plays, he'll start.
Coach Jay Triano is striving to get things back to an even keel for the Raptors, who have looked disjointed and out of sorts at times in every game of their recent losing streak.
Having Calderon, fourth in the NBA in assists per game at 8.2, playing his usual spot and Anthony Parker back at his normal shooting guard position and Joey Graham out of the starting lineup, will be a welcome change.
"I'm really excited, just him coming back, period," Chris Bosh said yesterday. "I tell 'Amigo' every day that I miss him. It's going to be real good to have him back.
"I know he will help us out; I don't have to hope or wish anything. We can hit the ground running and get back to where we were."
Calderon said he had a little discomfort yesterday morning after a hard workout in Detroit on Tuesday but didn't think it would be a problem today. Still, he'll go through the morning shootaround and is still listed as just "probable" by team officials.
"It's just knowing what you're going to get out of him pretty much," Bosh said of Calderon's presence. "You know he's going to run the team, you know you're going to get one of the league leaders in assists and he's a controlled, calm guy.
"You're going to get productivity but you're going to get a little bit of leadership too."
Meanwhile, Miami Heat president Pat Riley told reporters yesterday that Internet reports stating the Heat and Raptors had exchanged medical records for Jermaine O'Neal and Shawn Marion are not an indication of any movement on the trade discussions.
"It doesn't make any difference. I could have made the same request to five other teams also," Riley said. "That's just the normal process."
Riley, speaking to reporters at the announcement of Alonzo Mourning's retirement, said he's keeping Marion abreast of any talks.
"I've had long conversations with Shawn and with Dan (Fegan, Marion's agent)," Riley said. "It's not a very comfortable time for anybody. I value Shawn Marion immensely. He is a tremendous player and I'm sorry that this is going on right now.
"Shawn Marion, right now, he's our second-best player on the team and I value him as that."
