Game Thread! (Toronto @ Charlotte)

<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto</span> </span></span><span style="color:#c8362d">(3-2)</span> vs. <span style="color:#F15A30"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Charlotte</span></span></span> <span style="color:#F15A30">(2-3)</span> </div>
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When: Sunday November 9th, 2008 @ 1:00PM EST
Where: Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC
TV/Radio: CBC, FAN 590 </div>

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<span style="font-family:Impact"><u>THOUGHTS ON THE GAME</u></span></div></span>

Well Friday's game was the kind that turns people off basketball. It was an ugly, sloppy, uninspiring effort from Toronto, as they let the Hawks guards and swingmen run all over them. You could really see the frustration on our star bigs as they sat on the bench and realized that they really could not do anything to lead this team to a win, with their guards playing such poor perimeter defense. What momentum and optimism the team created from that 3-0 start was officially crushed after the Atlanta game. A loss is understandable, but blowouts like that make you question whether you're seeing an anomaly or a sign of what's to come.

This is our first CBC televised game of the year. I personally love these ones. Sunday afternoon games are always enjoyable, especially when you get CBC's excellent production values (none of that choppy shit that was going on Friday night). The bigger stage seems perfect for a matchup between Jermaine O'Neal and Gerald Wallace. No, the two won't be going up against each other. But if you remember this summer, Colangelo was said to have considered dealing TJ Ford for either of those two, but eventually settled with JO. O'Neal up to now has struggled, although he did look much improved against the Hawks. Having a strong game against the subpar Bobcats frontcourt could help convince Raptors fans that he was the right player to trade for.


<span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>STARTING LINEUPS</u></span></div></span>

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<span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon - Anthony Parker - Jamario Moon - Chris Bosh - Jermaine O'Neal</span>




<span style="color:#F15A30">Raymond Felton - Jason Richardson - Gerald Wallace - Jared Dudley - Emeka Okafor</span></div>


<span style="font-family:Impact"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><u>KEY MATCHUP</u></div></span></span>

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<span style="color:#c8362d">Anthony Parker</span> vs. <span style="color:#F15A30">Jason Richardson</span></div>

In the last game thread, I highlighted a matchup to make a broader point about how the Raptors had to address their weak rebounding. I'm doing the exact same thing this time, but putting the spotlight on our shaky perimeter defense. We all saw it Friday night. Atlanta spaced the floor, swung the ball, and did their best to get their guards in one-on-one situations. No matter how well our bigs played defensively and offensively, we stood no chance with our guards playing so poorly. We all expect Anthony Parker to bounce back (hopefully tonight against a very capable J-Rich), but the play of Jose Calderon and Jamario Moon is a toss-up at this point. They'll really have to improve their positioning and awareness if the team wants to continue aspiring to be a legit Eastern contender.


<div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>LEO RAUTINS' INSIGHTFUL THOUGHT OF THE DAY</u></span></span></div>

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Substitute Girl of the Game

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I figured there wasn't much time for Bas to put up a girl before tomorrow afternoon's game, so I'd just be careful. Although I'm worried about the fact that the first girl I posted led to an embarrassing blowout loss.

Not sure if I'll be at a computer for this game. I've got stuff to do in the morning, and might have to swing by a bar right after to catch most of it. I'm hoping the Raps' bigs really lead the way. Charlotte is a team that can beat us if we don't come to play, but its also a team that we should sweet this season. I'm hoping the guards and swingmen take Friday night's embarrassment personally and show up.

 

Oh well, game time!

 

I see beaver

 

At the half....I must say this is some of the worst officiating I've seen in a while. I would love to make a reel of all the terrible calls and just play it to the officail post game....what could they possibly say? Do they even care? 4 terrible calls in a row for the raps really took the wind out of their sails....

p.s.

I love beaver....

 

60-50 with five minutes to go in the third?

what's happening? I just got home from the mall and we're getting our asses kicked by the Bobcats?

 

AP lays it in from Bosh, 62-55.

 

1-9 from three is pretty bad and only four people have even tried. Kap is not one of them.

 

Raps looking sharp late in the third/ early in the fourth. Cut the lead down to two points. 67-65.

 

Wallace fouls Bosh, he'll shoot to with a chance to tie.

Nope, one for two.

 

Soloman with a great drive and dish to Andre, the Raps go up one 70-69.

 

Bosh gets his sixth TO.

 

Cool stat 2420 points away from taking the all time scoring title away from wince.

 

Big bucket by Bargnani, Raps up three.

 

make that five and the cats all a TO.

Bosh and Bargs have both looked great so far this quarter.

 

And this is the first chance I've seen Soloman play significant minutes so far this season and i'm impressed.

 

Bosh has been a beast!

27 and 15!

 

What a big swat by Moon, and the save afterwards. He needs to play like he played this second half more often. Bosh is playing like a mad man, its awesome. Bargnani is playing well also. When the Raps play like this its real fun to watch.