Photo Gallery | Box Score Highlights Quotes | Notebook Anthony Parker Points: 27 3-Pointers: 6-10 Steals:2 " It is a team that we could see in the playoffs so we just wanted to set the tone and show people that we are very serious." - Bosh The Raptors hit 9 shots from behind the arc. Team RB ST BLK TOT TOR 41 9 5 55 CHI 44 8 5 57

April 8, 2007

-- Mike Ulmer
raptors.com

TORONTO -- They are the Atlantic Division champs and they are a handful.

Without Morris Peterson, expelled from Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bulls for a flagrant foul, without the recovering Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors laid a Taco Bell Grande pummeling on the Chicago Bulls, 103-89 at Air Canada Centre.

And here is why the sun shines a little more brightly in the land of the dinosaur.

The Raptors dispatched a long-standing nemesis in the Bulls, winners of their last seven trips to Air Canada Centre with the impunity a horse flashes to rid itself of a fly.

The Raps ran their record to 44-33, 28-10 at home and thanks to a surprising Charlotte win over Miami, now own a two-game hold on third place in the East. Three plays six and six looks to be Washington without Gilbert Arenas which is like, well, Washington without Gilbert Arenas.

The Bulls, meanwhile, look like early choices to be available in the second round should the Raps advance through the first round.

It fell to the immensely-likable Anthony Parker, owner of a career high 27-point night, to strike the right balance between delight and casual interest of outside affairs in the Raptors dressing room

“One of our goals is to try to get the third seed and the home court advantage in the playoffs,” he reminded. “We’re not going to concern ourselves with what goes on but those things (the Charlotte upset) don’t hurt. We have to stay focused on what we have to do with a tough game going back-to-back against Minnesota (Monday).”

“The message that you are trying to send, for us, is that we’re a good basketball team and if we play the way we’re capable of playing, we can beat anybody,” said Raptors coach Sam Mitchell.

At least one member of his fraternity is listening.

“They have enthusiasm and you can tell they enjoy playing together and have good chemistry,” said Bulls coach Scott Skiles who could do nothing to stem a 57-39 thrashing of his team in the second half. “That’s maybe 95 per cent of the NBA right now, play hard and have energy and they do.”

The Raptors danced with the Bulls until each team stood at 67. Then Parker hit for three. Graham drained a pair and the third quarter ended with a 34-foot running jumper from Juan Dixon that pushed the lead to ten at the buzzer. You get the idea.

The Raptors put Graham on Luol Deng and a whole lot of team defence limited Deng, averaging 19 points a game, to a modest 13 on five for 13 shooting.

“I just wanted to minimize his touches, make him shoot tough shots,” said Graham. “I figured if I did that my job was done. I thought I did a good job of doing that.

Meanwhile Graham was enjoying a 19 point, and nine rebound night.

“This is just one of many to come” he said. “This is the perfect time for me to step up going into the playoffs. What better time to do it than right now.”

Bosh managed a quiet 22 points and 11 more rebounds. Dixon enjoyed another stellar evening with 17 points.

The Raptors have five more games to play. No one is lining up to face them. A glance at last night’s third quarter tells you why.