The timeout came and so did the chorus of boos just minutes after a leather-lunged fan let loose a "you guys suck" that resonated throughout the high-priced seats at the Air Canada Centre.

It was four minutes into the third quarter last night, the Raptors were dragging their butts and having them kicked all over the court and the dark days everyone had expected at some point this season had arrived much earlier than anyone wanted.

On a night when they broke down in every manner imaginable, when they didn't shoot, rebound, defend or compete, the Raptors were manhandled 102-92 by the New Jersey Nets. The fact they lost might not be shocking, but the way they capitulated in the first half showed many dangerous signs.

"It was disappointing the way we started the game," a subdued and dejected coach Sam Mitchell said in the night's greatest understatement.