<div align="center"> - <font color="Navy"><font color="Navy"> Toronto Raptors (1-9) @ Phoenix Suns (4-5) TV: Toronto (The Score), Phoenix (FSN Arizona) Radio: Toronto (Fan590), Phoenix (WDFN-AM 1130) Venue: American Airlines Arena Date: Tuesday, November 22nd, 2005 TipOff time: 9:10 PM Eastern</font></font> <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="7">.......</font></font> <font color="Red">Starting LineUps</font> <font color="Black">The Raptors: </font> <font size="1">Mike James-Jalen Rose-Morris Peterson-Chris Bosh-Rafael Araujo</font> <font color="Black">6th Man:</font> <font size="1">Charlie Villanueva</font> <font color="Black">Coach:</font> <font size="1">Sam Mitchell</font> Team Leaders: <font face="Comic Sans MS">Scoring: C.Bosh - 20.2 Rebounds: C.Bosh - 11.4 Assists: J.Calderon - 6.3 FG%: M.Jame - 50.0% FT%: M.Bonner - 83.3% 3PT%: M.Bonner - 46.2% Blk: L.Woods - 1.0 Steals: M.Bonner - 1.3 </font> <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="6">.......</font></font> <font color="Black">The Suns:</font> <font size="1">Steve Nash-Jim Jackson-Boris Diaw-Shawn Marion-Kurt Thomas</font> <font color="Black">6th Man:</font> <font size="1">James Jones</font> <font color="Black">Coach:</font> <font size="1">Mike D'Antoni</font> Team Leaders: <font face="Comic Sans MS">Scoring: S.Marion - 18.7 Rebounds: S.Marion - 12.6 Assists: S.Nash - 11.2 FG%: B.Grant - 64.7% FT%: S.Nash - 100.0% 3PT%: J.Jones - 46.7% Blk: S.Marion - 1.9 Steals: S.Marion - 1.9</font> <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="7">.......</font></font> <div align="left"><font color="Red">Keys To The Game:</font> <font face=""Comic Sans MS"">-Don't Be Fooled:</font> Most people assume with Amare out, JJ and Q being shipped out of town and Barbosa getting injured, Phoenix won't be running and gunning as much. While that's a complete falacy, the Suns are still a great fast breaking team led by last year's MVP Steve Nash, and if we don't stress on transition defence and have our heads up all the time, this game could be a blow out really quick. <font face=""Comic Sans MS"">- Interior Offence:</font> Phoenix are not exactly your typical big team in the interior. With Amare out, they have a front court roation of Thomas, Marion and Brian Grant, which presents a very good opportunity for us to get the ball inside and run our offence through the post. With Charlie and Chris on the floor at the same time, I look for the ball to go inside almost 75% of the time. With their outside/inside game, CV and CB could do damage against Phoenix's thin front court. <font face=""Comic Sans MS"">- Rebounding:</font> Considering that the Suns got outrebounded in only nine of their first nine games of the season, we may actually outrebound a team on the road. With Chris and Charlie doing a tremendous job on the glass in the last few games, I expect tonight to be no different. Offensive rebounds will be a huge key for a win in this game. </div> <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="6">.......</font></font> <font color="Red">Game Matchup:</font> vs Steve Nash vs Mike James Contrary to popular beliefe, this matchup could very well be in the Raptors advantage. Mike James has been on a tear lately (contract year) averaging 18.1 points per game this season and developing into one of the team's best players and leaders. Nash on the other hand, is playing tremendously as usual, however, he is still the same pylon on defence as he was, well, throughout his career, being considered by many the worst defensive MVP of all time. Offensively, James has to go hard on Steve. He has attack him at every opportunity and settle for jumpers. Defensively, Steve isn't the most athletic player in the league but he does most of his damage of pick n' rolls and in the fast break. Mike has to keep his head up all the time and put pressure on the reigining MVP. As I stated earlier, this matchup could be ours. <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="7">.......</font></font> <font color="Green">The X-Factor:</font> Morris Peterson Same old Mo. Except this year, he isn't just being inconsistent, he was awfull in the last 3 games. Considering this is the first game of a western road trip, you may not expect things to change anytime soon, but the fact is, the Raps need Mo's defence and scoring in order to pull of few wins on this trip. He had a great start to the season coming off the bench but his perfromances took a huge decline as he vented off about coming off the bench, then getting his way when Sam inserted him into the starting line up a day after his demands. Mo must be agressive and not out of control for us to stand a chance, and that applies on both ends of the floor. With the task of guarding Shawn Marion is coming, today would be a perfect day for Mo to turn it around. <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="7">.......</font></font> <font color="Red">Say What?! (Prediction)</font> We win this one. A surprising victory by the Raps. 101-97. <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="7">.......</font></font> </div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PlaTsanity:</div><div class="quote_post">nice preview but i think Bonner is starting instead of hoffa and i predict Raps by 5</div> I'm quite sure Hoffa is starting.
Man, I wish I could be as optimistic as you. According to your previews we should have a 5-1 record (3 games with no prediction).
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">Man, I wish I could be as optimistic as you. According to your previews we should have a 5-1 record (3 games with no prediction).</div> Yeah I know. Well, I expected them to end the losing streak in both of the Philly games, and predicted a win in the first two games of the season as well, as we always start the season great at home. Anyways, Marion is murdering us right now.
Raptors lost because of CB4 they kept giving him the ball late and he never made a shot in 5 attempts to end the game...
Well our season high winning streak is officially over..... Even though we were toe to toe w/ Phoenix for pretty much the whole game up until the end of the fourth, it was still a pretty ugly game..... other than Bosh, no one else on the raps stepped up. It didn't help that Marion was unstoppable either....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iguodala:</div><div class="quote_post">Raptors lost because of CB4 they kept giving him the ball late and he never made a shot in 5 attempts to end the game...</div> i concur. oh to be a raptor fan when your franchise player forgets how to play in the crucial moments of games.
But we could have stopped Marion, he wasn't unstoppable. So many of his points came off the lob and the Raps not providing any help defense... I mean come on, box him out, play him tight and give good help defense. It really isn't that hard of a concept but they still can't get it.
Before this game all I was thinking was who will guard Marion. Phoenix really isn't that good this year, they look more like a jacking team now as opposed to a run and gun team. It's a lot different when you can't just pass inside to Amare and get an easy basket, even with Marion having that capability. We really should've won that game if we could execute properly....and Bosh, he still has the problem with creating down the stretch against tough defense, the fall down and turn over the ball is annoying.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">i concur. oh to be a raptor fan when your franchise player forgets how to play in the crucial moments of games.</div> Where are all the Villy/Calderon lovers? CB4 riders? Jalen/Mopete haters? They could have won this game, Phoenix wasnt playing that well and they let them take the lead for good. Oh well..bring on Sam and the Clips! 1-11!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Fabfive:</div><div class="quote_post"> Where are all the Villy/Calderon lovers? CB4 riders? Jalen/Mopete haters? They could have won this game, Phoenix wasnt playing that well and they let them take the lead for good. Oh well..bring on Sam and the Clips! 1-11!</div> Again, it does not matter who we have as a coach, we're going to lose. You have no idea what you are talking about, please stop insulting the staff, who are doing their best to make this team a playoff contender. I can't wait 3 years down the road when we manage to become playoff contenders, I'm going to have a jolly time laughing at all the haters.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting rafy:</div><div class="quote_post"> Again, it does not matter who we have as a coach, we're going to lose. You have no idea what you are talking about, please stop insulting the staff, who are doing their best to make this team a playoff contender. I can't wait 3 years down the road when we manage to become playoff contenders, I'm going to have a jolly time laughing at all the haters.</div> In three years time, you wont have "fans" you wont have a "franchise" player that wants to play for a basement dwelling team. Do you think Bosh is gonna want to stick around and lose for another couple of years?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Fabfive:</div><div class="quote_post">In three years time, you wont have "fans" you wont have a "franchise" player that wants to play for a basement dwelling team. Do you think Bosh is gonna want to stick around and lose for another couple of years?</div> If we continue to lose in 3 years time, which I doubt, it won't even matter because we will have Charlie, Graham, Roko, and probably someone like Rudy Gay, and then something like Oden. Which is the worst case scenario, which still gets us in the playoffs. The true fans, like myself, will still go and see the team play. And when they start winning, you're going to get the casual fans back, who shouldn't even be called fans. Chicago is an excellent example.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting rafy:</div><div class="quote_post">If we continue to lose in 3 years time, which I doubt, it won't even matter because we will have Charlie, Graham, Roko, and probably someone like Rudy Gay, and then something like Oden. Which is the worst case scenario, which still gets us in the playoffs. The true fans, like myself, will still go and see the team play. And when they start winning, you're going to get the casual fans back, who shouldn't even be called fans. Chicago is an excellent example.</div> If you really think the Raps have a shot in getting Rudy Gay, they sure are going in the right direction. Might as well not show up for the rest of the season. At least theyre guaranteed to have a decent shot at a top pick. Maybe Babs will make another "surprise" pick this time around.
man raps are rebuilding..what dont you get abt that we have a LOT of talent i'm sure that we'll be crazy in a few years look @ us..we got bosh..cv31..jose(next ginnoboli IMO) and graham (who seems like a really good defender) plus--if we get Rudy gay--i think we should be fine and as for CB4 returning--i think he will re-sign with the raps he knows we are a young team and young teams tend not to make the playoffs--as they are obviously rebuilding and getting a new coach would not do anything we just need to be patient and im sure next or in two years--we'll be much better
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Fabfive:</div><div class="quote_post">If you really think the Raps have a shot in getting Rudy Gay, they sure are going in the right direction. Might as well not show up for the rest of the season. At least theyre guaranteed to have a decent shot at a top pick. Maybe Babs will make another "surprise" pick this time around. </div> You're point? We are rebuilding, it's what we do. And all I can say for the most recent draft, Babs did a superb job on it, he deserves a pat on the back now. I've completely shattered your stance on absoloutely everything, I suggest you let it be, stop hating, and "get over yourself". Pla also forget Roko, and Sow, and Hoff who still has potential. Chicago is a spitting image of what we will be, and I suspect we'll be better than them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting rafy:</div><div class="quote_post"> I've completely shattered your stance on absoloutely everything, I suggest you let it be, stop hating, and "get over yourself". </div> Dude get off your high horse. Im not hating, Im stating the obvious. Babcock and Mitchell suck at their jobs. OH NOES! I said it again!
