This game sees the 7-10 Toronto Raptors take on the 10-7 Cleveland Cavaliers at The Quicken Loans Arena <div align="center"><font color="#C8362D"> <u>Toronto Raptors</u> C Rasho Nesterovic PF Chris Bosh SF Jorge Garbajosa SG Anthony Parker PG TJ Ford </font> @ <font color="#B94056">C Zydrunas Ilgauskas PF Drew Gooden SF LeBron James SG Shannon Brown PG Eric Snow <u>Cleveland Cavaliers</u></font></div> <u>Key Matchup</u> – PF – Chris Bosh v Drew Gooden v This matchup sees one of the rising stars of these League take on Drew Gooden, whose consistency is beginning to justify his lucrative new contract. Some players have a down year after signing a new contract, but Gooden is averaging more points and rebounds in less minutes than last season. He, currently, is averaging 11.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. Chris Bosh, on the other hand, continues to improve as he is averaging 21.1 points and 12.2 rebounds so far this season, in addition to shooting 41% from downtown. It should be an interesting matchup in which Bosh should have a statistical advantage but, if Gooden can contain him to a sub-20-10 game, the Cavaliers will have the upper hand. [div=50%] <font color="#B94056"><u>Cavaliers’ Keys to Victory</u> <ul> [*]Stop Chris Bosh. He is a prominent player in this League and can score in excess of 30 points in any given night. It is essential to stop him in order to have the upper hand in the game. [*]Get LeBron James into a quick rhythm. He, like Bosh, is capable of taking over a game, though he can score 40 points on any given night. If he does this, it should be lights out for the Raptors. [*]Lock down on defense. They are currently the fifth best team in the League in terms of points given up per game. They give up just 93 points per contest, whereas the Raptors give up 101. [/list] </font> [/div] <font color="#C8362D"><u>Raptors’ Keys to Victory</u> <ul> [*]Play through Chris Bosh. Bosh is a player who can, and will, take over a ball game given the opportunity. To stand a chance of winning, the Raptors must ensure that he gets this chance. [*]Contain LeBron James. LeBron is a player who cannot be stopped, merely contained and that is precisely what the Raptors must do. If given the chance (or in some cases even if he isn’t), he will take over a game and win it for the Cavs. The Raptors must stop him from doing so. [*]Send the Cavaliers to the charity stripe. It has been well documented that the Cavaliers have been extraordinarily poor from the free throw line this season. It is a must to get them lots of shots as they still won’t score too many points. [/list] </font> <u>Prediction</u> Since LeBron James and Chris Bosh entered the League in 2003, the two teams have met 12 times. The Cavaliers have won 7 of these contests, averaging 97.4 points compared to the Raptors’ 93.2. In these games, LeBron James, alone, averages 25.7 points 7.1 rebounds and 7.0 assists. I think that the Cavaliers stand a strong chance of winning the game, in fact, they probably should win it. That will not deter Bosh and his Raptors, though, as they go face to face with LeBron and his Cavaliers. <font color="#C8362D">90</font>- <font color="#B94056">96</font>
What do you think it should be? That's partly what these threads should do - promote discussion and debate - so please do mention what you think and why.
<div class="quote_poster">chingy0007 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What do you think it should be? That's partly what these threads should do - promote discussion and debate - so please do mention what you think and why.</div> I think the Raptors will win it 120-99, and Bosh with 28 rebounds.
Well you say it as if the Cavs are THAT much better but they lost to the Raptors last time they met this season.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Does anybody know Bosh's eye situation? If he' out, this game is a gimme for the Cavs.</div> I dunno I kinda want Bosh to take a game out to have an even longer time to rest his knee and eye, plus resulting to more playing time for bargnani, i wanna see more from him. A loss wont be that bad, its the atlantic
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Does anybody know Bosh's eye situation? If he' out, this game is a gimme for the Cavs.</div> Negative, Graham will defenitely step it up, I sense of him having another big game tonight.
<div class="quote_poster">AirJordan Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well you say it as if the Cavs are THAT much better but they lost to the Raptors last time they met this season.</div> I didn't really mean to; I was trying to do it quickly cos of other stuff I had to do. I thought it better to show a strong opinion than an iffy one. Don't worry, I'm not ranting or anything. I'll try to explain more in the future, but I probably won't be able to until February. Turns out I was pretty accurate with my final points prediction: I thought 96-90 and it was 95-91.
