<div align="center"> @ <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Toronto Raptors</font></font> (4-9) VS <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets</font></font> (8-6) Venue: Ford Center, Oklahoma City, OK Date: Tuesday November 28, 2006 Time: 8:00 PM EST Coverage: RaptorsTV</div> [DIV=50%] <div align="center"><font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Projected Starters</font></font> Chris Paul - Bobby Jackson - Desmond Mason - Tyson Chandler - Marc Jackson I reserve the right to be off on this line up...NOK is injured so im not sure who scott is starting, but I think thats right <font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Reserves</font></font> Rasual Butler - Jannero Pargo - Linton Johnson - Hilton Armstrong <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Coach</font></font> Byron Scott</div> [/DIV] <div align="center"><font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Projected Starters</font></font> TJ Ford - Fred Jones - Anthony Parker - Jorge Garbajosa - Chris Bosh <font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Reserves</font></font> Jose Calderon - Joey Graham - PJ Tucker - Andrea Bargnani <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Coach</font></font> Sam Mitchell Analysis: Raptors come off a strong showing at home against the Pacer's, and are looking for their first road victory of the season. The stage couldnt be anymore set for a road win, as the Raps head into Oklahoma City to face a Hornets team that has been hit with the Injury bug. David West is likely to miss his 8th straight game with an injured forearm, and Peja will also likely miss tonights game nursing a back strain. Chris Paul will have to carry the load offensively, but is in a little over his head against a Raptor team that has been putting up strong offensive showings of late, and will look to take advantage of the injured Hornets X-Factor Jorge will most likely be given the job of keeping Tyson Chandler off the boards. Players like Chandler have hurt the Raps all season. If Jorge can keep him in check and limit his rebounding opportunities, the Raptors should win the battle of the boards. If the Raptors can get a rebounds consistantly, they will be able to ignite their transition game and get some easy baskets Hooray for big breasted blonde bimbo bobbi billiard! </div>
Wow ... Chandler is eating us ... Given that we're so weak inside i think Rasho really deserves some burn. We don't get brutalized so badly when he's on the floor
midway through the second, Bargnani and Joey graham are ballin. What a difference it makes when your second unit can come in and maintain/extend the lead.
Bargs and Graham are kicking ass! I'm excited at Barg's potential. He's getting a lot more confidence.
1/2 the foul calls on Bargnani were terrible !! Nice to see the 2nd unit is playing well because the first unit is playing like crap. Not sure if it was Chuck or Leo that said it but TJ has got to stop trying to go 1 on 1 with Chris Paul ... what the hell is he thinking? Offense once again is running better under Calderon than under Ford. Joey did some good stuff and bad as well... overall still a huge improvement. Rasho and Bargs had a nice impact as the 2nd unit, they altered a lot of shots. If Sam Mitchell had any balls he'd call out CB4 on his crappy defense.
<div class="quote_poster">a13x Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If Sam Mitchell had any balls he'd call out CB4 on his crappy defense.</div> While he is at it, he should tell him to work on his free throws.
Wow take fred jones out and start bargnani, he's been playing very well. Shooting 6-9 has 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal in 22 minutes. Fred Jones has been playing like crap. Bosh also stepped it up and has 19 points 14 rebounds 3 assists and only 1 TO Anthony Parker also played good 19 points 5 rebounds and 3 steals No one played over 40 mins This is our first road win in 9 months? very impressive win tho P.S WE GOT A PJ TUCKRE AND D MARTIN SIGHTING
I thought Rasho was really effective in his minutes tonight. I am critical of him just cause he makes a lot of money and will continue to do so for the next couple years. But he certainly gave us some quality minutes tonight. good defensive effort but with the hornet's missing Peja & David West the 77 points we gave up should be taken with a grain of salt. I am excited for tom nights game against dallas we will probably lose but im interested to see how guys like Calderon, Bargnani, tj ford, Joey Graham play against arguably the best team in basketball right now.
<div class="quote_poster">AirJordan Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wow take fred jones out and start bargnani, he's been playing very well. Shooting 6-9 has 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal in 22 minutes. Fred Jones has been playing like crap. P.S WE GOT A PJ TUCKRE AND D MARTIN SIGHTING</div> I dunno .. he's looking good but i'd think if we move anyone right now it's Fred Jones for Graham. I'd say TJ Ford for Calderon but that's not going to happen considering the money we threw at Ford.
I actually like Calderon coming off the bench though, give us that extra spark. I think Bargnani deserves to start or even Graham. Funny how were getting these last couple of wins without the help from Mo Pete.
<div class="quote_poster">spyware Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I actually like Calderon coming off the bench though, give us that extra spark. I think Bargnani deserves to start or even Graham. Funny how were getting these last couple of wins without the help from Mo Pete.</div> Lol when were you a Drogba fan?
I was surprised when Sam mitchell tooke Mo Pete out of starting line up. However watching games without Mo Pete playin.. I think tt really was Mo Pete that was causing problems.....
lets get mo petes profit up and trade him we really dont need him if hes not shooting well. btw drogba is sick but chelsea is gay
-The stats might not be there, but Calderon is one of the best 6th men in the league. -Peterson's absence has nothing to do with our recent success. Our bench is finally stepping up, but if he was healthy, he'd be perfect in our starting lineup. -I was vocal about Bosh's defensive problems early in the season and it doesn't seem to be going away. Chris has all the physical tools to be a great post defender. But, he's being outplayed on that end by players like Garbajosa, who lack his athleticism but make up for it with positioning, anticipation, and toughness. -Was glad to see Mitchell make the switch to a zone defense. I thought it was such an obvious move, but didn't trust him enough to make it.
observations -anybody else think norma has a crush on leo? and that leo is totally uncomfortable with it? As for the GAME... -bargnani is becoming a real terror on both ends; the one handed pass to bosh in the paint was the highlight of the game for me and of course parker's one handed put back -fred jones looks like he doesn't belong on this team, he might be the expendable part, not mo pete. fyi freddy didn't score until the closing minutes and i think he was the only raptor with that dubious distinction who had significant minutes As for the Hornets -chris paul needs to work on his shot, both tj and jose were giving him like 5 good feet which negated his penetration a little bit in the second half -i'm almost certain there going to be in the lottery, they didn't impress me at all -nobody stepped up in peja's and david west's absence, although butler showed flashes Interesting Tidbit -Leo revealed bargnani did exceptionally well in his psychological testing, which apparently surprised gm's. kinda jives with colangelo story about not deciding until those result were in
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">-The stats might not be there, but Calderon is one of the best 6th men in the league. </div> yeah i forgot to mention this but it looks like caledron is an early candidate for sixth man of the year. the question that should be asked now is can we afford him and will he be o.k. with backing up tj? fyi- he's a free agent this summer; this might shock some people but i would give him 3 years for 6 million a year.
I wouldn't let Calderon go, unless of course we can sign a better player, and yea deception id give him that much too, as long as he continues his play. He's good enough to be our starter. I think were being to harsh on Jones now, he had a bad game and will step it up. If he doesn't put MoPete back in the line up. Have Jones come off the bench, I'm sure Mo plays better as a starter and Jones better coming off the bench. Also, Does anyone know when Mo Pete is coming back?
<div class="quote_poster">deception Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">yeah i forgot to mention this but it looks like caledron is an early candidate for sixth man of the year. the question that should be asked now is can we afford him and will he be o.k. with backing up tj? fyi- he's a free agent this summer; this might shock some people but i would give him 3 years for 6 million a year.</div> Definately .. i'd have no problem giving Calderon that type of money. That would realistically put him around the MLE would it not ?
At this point, re-signing Calderon's got to be one of the main priorities for the upcoming offseason. I definitely wouldn't mind paying him that much. His presence justifies TJ Ford's contract to a certain extent. Anthony Parker is very aggressive on the offensive glass. It's surprising coming from a guard, but the dude's always been able to jump in traffic and get a board above the big men. Tonight he got like 3 buckets doing that. And I agree with you, deception. Bargnani's touch pass to Bosh was amazing. I had to wait for the replay to make sense of what I had seen.
