<div align="center">VS Toronto Raptors (7-0) Chricago BUlls (5-2) Venue: United Center Date: Friday October 27th, 2006 TipOff time: 8:30 PM Eastern</div> The Raps look to become only the 4th team since 1997 to go undefeated in the pre-season with a win over the Bulls in Chicago tonight. They already set a franchise record with their 7th pre-season victory over the Celtics in Boston on wednesday...and hope to ride the momentum going into tonights game. Chris Bosh should make his return to the starting line-up, along with TJ Ford who is also expected to return to his starting duties at the point. [DIV=50%] <div align="center"><font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <font size="1">TJ Ford - Anthony Parker - Morris Peterson - Chris Bosh - Rasho Nesterovic</font> <font size="3">Key Reserves</font> <font size="1">Fred Jones, Jose Claderon, Jorge Garbajosa, Andrea Bargnani, Joey Graham</font> <font size="3">Coach</font> <font size="1">Sam Mitchell</font></div> [/DIV] <div align="center"><font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <font size="1">Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Andres Nocioni, Luol Deng, Ben Wallace</font> <font size="3">Key Reserves</font> <font size="1">Chris Duhon, PJ Brown, Tyrus Thomas, Adrian Griffin</font> <font size="3">Coach</font> <font size="1">Scott Skiles</font> 8-0, are you kiddin me?? <font size=""6""><font color=""Red"">LUCY PINDER FTW!!!1</font></font></div>
I think TJ Ford is still out for this game. This'll probably be the most interesting game yet. We've had weak preseason competition so far, and I'd like to see how we stack up against another deep team that could be a contender this season.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I think TJ Ford is still out for this game. This'll probably be the most interesting game yet. We've had weak preseason competition so far, and I'd like to see how we stack up against another deep team that could be a contender this season.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">and the expected start of point guard T.J. Ford ? is a blessing because it will give him a chance to see his starting unit intact for one game.</div> Story
Actually I heared on the Fan that TJ is out for this game. On a side note, I'm gonna dress up like Luol Deng on Halloween.
That's funny. I'm dressing up as Delonte West. I heard the same thing on the Fan as well. We'll see in 20 mins. I guess.
<div class="quote_poster">Fever Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Actually I heared on the Fan that TJ is out for this game. On a side note, I'm gonna dress up like Luol Deng on Halloween.</div> ^^ why must you always come in here and undermine me! on a side note, i just read your sig for the first time and seriously LOL'd!!
Ok – 3 quarters done …. interesting game for the most part… -Not sure what composes a "running game" now a days but the raptors don't seem to be 100% on that concept yet. I think Mitchell forgot to tell the team that when you run someone has to inbound the ball quickly. Garbajosa is practically the only guy on the team who understands that. - You can definitely see how Bosh's shot looks different from last year. -Bosh and Rasho had good games for the most part. I liked how they were able to alter the shots of the other team whenever they got to the paint. -Anthony Parker had a good run for a while playing some consistent minutes. -Humphries has the basketball iq of a brick, trying to iso Ben Wallace 1 on 1. -AB with a terrible game… you can see his talent, but he's just got to catch onto a few more things if he's going to be effective. Edit: Derek Martin is completely useless. Not sure what exactly this guy is supposed to add but from everything I've seen from him in the pre-season he should be nowhere near our roster. This is the guy that is supposed to be providing leadership? I swear I've seen him jack up more ill advised shots and slow ball movement more than anyone else on the team. I know Mitchell loves providing employment to his friends from his player days, but this crap has got to end.
-fred jones injured his hand late in the game -btw- i thought the raps looked spent by the time the fourth quarter came along, so long to being the best conditioned team in the league
Bargnani's foul problem is starting to worry me a bit. It's been a problem all pre-season. He had like 3 fouls in 5 minutes and finished with 5 in 15 minutes. I think it was a mistake to play Bosh. This is his last long stretch of days to rest before the season starts. He isn't going to get a break like this (or what he would have gotten if he didn't play today) for a while.
<div class="quote_poster">P.A.P. Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Bargnani's foul problem is starting to worry me a bit. It's been a problem all pre-season. He had like 3 fouls in 5 minutes and finished with 5 in 15 minutes. I think it was a mistake to play Bosh. This is his last long stretch of days to rest before the season starts. He isn't going to get a break like this (or what he would have gotten if he didn't play today) for a while.</div> i think bargnani will be contemplating his foul prone ways on the bench cause i believe humpries will get his minutes. bosh needs to play to get himself into game shape, simple as that.
<div class="quote_poster">deception Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">i think bargnani will be contemplating his foul prone ways on the bench cause i believe humpries will get his minutes. bosh needs to play to get himself into game shape, simple as that.</div> With an injury problem that will likely bother Bosh for a good portion of the season, he needs the rest in order not to become like Duncan from last year (and the year before?) who had the same injury.
<div class="quote_poster">P.A.P. Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">With an injury problem that will likely bother Bosh for a good portion of the season, he needs the rest in order not to become like Duncan from last year (and the year before?) who had the same injury.</div> they did win 63 games with duncan in the lineup, right? plus, apparently the injury he has won't heal unless u get an extended rest like say a summer and the raps don't have that time. bosh needs to play for team chemistry, his personal conditioning and getting used to play with discomfort.
I think Sam Mitchell forgot to differentiate between a quick offensive possession and a wasted one. I can understand making a few passes and taking the open 3 with a lot of shot clock still left. But spot up 3's taken by the first person down the court is never good, even in a fast-paced offense. Fred Jones took a few of those, and you could tell that he was forcing them up because of all the pressure he's been getting from Sam to shoot more. Also, when your offense goes for a 5 min. span of either clanking 3's (which lead to Chicago fast breaks) or committing offensive fouls, then you expect an adjustment from the coaching staff. Never saw it. I understand the concern about Bargnani, but how effectively has he been used? On offense he's placed strictly around the 3 pt. line. There's no use of his dribble-drive. There's also no attempt to set him up in the post. Same applies to Garbajosa. And pretty much everybody not named Rasho or Kris Humphries. Joey Graham is more of a worry/disappointment for me. He still charges. And he committed two soft fouls that led to 3 pt. plays. If only we could give Graham's body to PJ Tucker. And I agree with that last dude. Darrick Martin should not be playing more than 5 mins. a game. Can't shoot. Can't run. Can't defend. Can't find the open man. The offense is horrible when he runs it.
<div class="quote_poster">ohmybosh Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I think MIKE JAMES would have been perfect fit for the system that SAM MITCHELL is trying to run.</div> I disagree totally...the last thing we need is a point guard who pushes the ball up only to jack up a 3 for himself. ford will look to pass and get the ball to the right person. the raptors needed a TRUE point guard. Thats not mike james its like saying that starbury would be a better fit in the phx system then nash is. to quarterback a fast break offense, you want a true point guard, not a shooting guard playing at the pg spot. to top it all off, james didnt want to come back to toronto. mentioning his name is redundant because our managment didnt want him back, and he wasnt interested in resigning. we might as well be talking about nash, or chris paul being our pg...because either of them have as much as an opportunity of being there as james does
