The Toronto Raptors’ playoff hopes took a major blow, figuratively and literally, when Chris Bosh took a hard hit to the face last night in their 113-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Bosh was hit by an inadvertent elbow from the Cavs’ Antawn Jamison early in the first quarter, and did not return.  It turned out that Bosh fractured the left side of his face and his nasal, so it looks like Bosh might be out for the rest of the year.  This does not bode well for the Raptors, who still have to play the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, and the Chicago Bulls.  With their loss last night, it gave the Bulls a prime opportunity to gain a game and tie the Raptors for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.  Fortunately, the Bulls lost to the Milwaukee Bucks at home, so the Raptors are still one game up on the Bulls.  They play the Bulls this Sunday in Chicago, and it could end up being the deciding factor on who makes the playoffs.

The Raptors will be without T.J. Ford indefinately due to an injured back. Ford has played in 17 games so far this season and he’s averaging 25.8 minutes, 14.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The Raptors are fortunate to have a backup like Jose Calderon who has really been outstanding so far this season. Calderon has played in 37 games this season and he’s averaging 30.5 minutes, 11.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. Calderon also is an outstanding shooter as he’s hit 51% of his shots from the floor and 90.6% from the free throw line this season. It will be interesting in the off-season to see if the Raptors keep T.J. Ford or trade him as he’s been very injury prone.

The Raptors have lost forward Jorge Garbajosa indefinately after an MRI showed something unusual in his left leg which he broke last season. Garbajosa has played in 7 games (0 starts) this season for the Raptors and he has averaged 3.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

Jorge Garbajosa will miss the remainder of the season after he had surgery last Tuesday to repair horrific injuries to his left leg and ankle.  He played in 67 games in his rookie season and he averaged 28.5 minutes, 8.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  He will be missed in the playoffs because of his all-out effort and hustle which rubbed off on the rest of the players on the court for the Raptors.  He was quite a find as an undrafted free agent which is a testament to the fine scouting department of the Raptors organization.

Rookie F/C Andrea Bargnani will miss the remainder of the regular season after undergoing an emergency appendectomy on March 21st.  He should be able to return for the playoffs as long as he has no setbacks in his recovery.  Bargnani played in 64 games this season and he averaged 25.0 minutes, 11.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists.  He hit 37.6% from three point range and 82.8% from the free throw line and that shooting will be missed some by the Raptors.  Bargnani had a solid rookie season as he reminds me of Dirk Nowitzki when he first came into the NBA.  If he turns into that kind of player, the Raptors will be a legit championship contender soon.