The Raptors have lost 26-year old small forward Linas Kleiza for the remainder of the season as he underwent microfracture surgery yesterday. Kleiza played in 39 games (23 starts) for the Raptors this year and he averaged 26.5 minutes, 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. The Raptors are going to turn to 24-year old Sonny Weems at small forward the rest of the way. He has played in 31 games (21 starts) for the Raptors so far this year and he is averaging 27.0 minutes, 10.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. The Raptors think that Weems will at least do a good job offensively.

29-year old point guard Jose Calderon is off to a good start for the Toronto Raptors since he has been inserted back into the starting lineup after the trade of Jarrett Jack to the Hornets. In his first six starts of the season, Calderon is averaging 30.8 minutes, 10.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. The Raptors are 4-2 under Calderon as the starting point guard. He has played in 19 games (6 starts) overall this year for the Raptors and he is averaging 24.6 minutes, 8.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Calderon is shooting 41.2% from three point range as he is a weapon offensively whether passing the ball or shooting it.

The Raptors will be without starting power forward Reggie Evans indefinitely as he broke his right foot last night. Evans has played in 15 games (all starts) for the Raptors so far this year and he is averaging 27.3 minutes, 4.0 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Evans is only shooting 36% from the floor this year but he still helps the offense with his rebounding. The Raptors need Amir Johnson to step up while Evans is out of action. The Raptors have Johnson a nice new contract so they need him to start earning the money. Johnson has played in 16 games (1 start) for the Raptors so far this year and he is averaging 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. Johnson is shooting 57.1% from the floor and 88.9% from the free throw line so the offense will likely be improved with him on the floor instead of Evans. Peja Stojakovic could also see more P.T. due to Evans’ injury. Stojakovic has played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Raptors since the deal with the Hornets and he is averaging 11.0 minutes, 10.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

UPDATE: (12/2/2010) - Reggie Evans is going to miss the next 8 weeks.

With Jarrett Jack off to the Hornets, Jose Calderon will get his starting job back. Calderon has played in 14 games (1 start) for the Raptors so far this year and he is averaging 22.5 minutes, 7.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. He does need to pick up his shooting as he is only hitting 38.8% from the floor, 36% from three point range and 84% from the free throw line so far this year. I expect as his minutes go up that his shooting % will continue to rise. I think Calderon is really going to play well now.

31-year old small forward Hedo Turkoglu wants traded. He needs to quit being a little bitch and play. He got busted at a bar drinking instead of playing while he was “sick” as the Raptors for fighting for the playoffs. Turkoglu has even reached out to the Kings as he would accept a trade there if they would want him. Turkoglu was a huge bust for the Raptors in his first year in Toronto as he played in 74 games (69 starts) in which he averaged 30.7 minutes, 11.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 40.9% shooting from the floor. Turkoglu has now played in 752 games (443 starts) in his 10 years in the NBA and he has averaged 28.2 minutes, 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. With Chris Bosh likely leaving town Turkoglu has a chance to step up and redeem himself in 2010-11 by staying with the Raptors and playing well but he’s looking for the easy way out.