<div align="center"> @ <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Toronto Raptors</font></font> (7-11) VS <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Chicago Bulls</font></font> (9-9) Venue: United Center, Chicago Date: Friday December 8, 2006 Time: 8:30 PM EST Coverage: NBALP, RTV</div> [DIV=50%] <div align="center"><font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Projected Starters</font></font> Chris Duhon - Kirk Hinrich - Luol Deng - Andres Nocioni - Ben Wallace <font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Reserves</font></font> Ben Gordon - PJ Brown - Adrian Griffin - Thabo Sefolosha - Tyrus Thomas <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Coach</font></font> Scott Skiles</div> [/DIV] <div align="center"><font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Projected Starters</font></font> TJ Ford - Anthony Parker - Jorge Garbajosa - Chris Bosh - Rasho Nesterovic <font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Reserves</font></font> Morris Peterson - Jose Calderon - Fred Jones - Joey Graham - Andrea Bargnani <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Coach</font></font> Sam Mitchell Analysis: The Raptors have Morris Peterson back in the lineup and hes looking to come back and contribute of the bench. As usual the Raptors bench will have to step it up and help the starting lineup against the surging Bulls. The Bulls are on a 6 game winning streak after starting the season with a 6 game losing streak. Chicago has scored 100+ points 11 times this season and are 8-3 when scoring over 100. The Raptors have to step their game up on D, to stop the Bulls' offence from getting hot early and through-out the game. Toronto has shown great success when they outrebound their opponents, but have also shown negative results when they get out rebounded. They will also have to step it up, getting boards as the Bulls have been averaging around 46 RPG, to the Raptors' 36 RPG in the last few games. This squad will have to look to build an early lead in the game and keep the Bulls from getting hot. The Raptors have shown that they can get leads on stronger teams, but often lose them due to bad defense near the end of the game. So the Raptors need to work on building a lead and keeping it down the stretch of the game. X-Factor Ford has the tough task of being matched up against Hinrich tonight and containing him will be a key component to the Raptors success. He has been averaging solid numbers as of late and has shown that he can be a leader on the court along with Bosh. Tonight, he will need to go out, run the offense and get aggressive. He has also proved that he can be a very quick option on offense if the Raptors need a basket. Look for him to have a great game today as the Raptors will need him to. </div>
Nice preview Iggy. I personally think every member of the Raps should be wearing a headband tonight, including the coaches.
It's not televised here in Calgary and I don't have RaptorsTV, so do any of you have an update on the game?
raps lose by 3. -bosh was dominated throughout the game and seemed visibly upset, yet he was far more a whiner than producer (a theme for the season?) -garbosa looked awful tonight, it seemed like he was a turnover waiting to happen -rasho had 10 points in the first quarter and they never went back to him
whats with mo pete trying to jump into ben to draw a fould on the 3? he had the shot and he shouldve taken it. I guess he wanted the 4 point play for the win. Bulls look bad but win anyway
<div class="quote_poster">deception Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">raps lose by 3. -bosh was dominated throughout the game and seemed visibly upset, yet he was far more a whiner than producer (a theme for the season?) -garbosa looked awful tonight, it seemed like he was a turnover waiting to happen -rasho had 10 points in the first quarter and they never went back to him</div> Bosh was great he was basically doubles and tripple teamed whenever he touched the ball. Ford was basically making duhon stumble every 7 seconds.
That was a pretty bad play Sam drew up at the end. Mo Pete didn't get open at all and had to launch a shot from 30 feet away with four hands in his face. Just another motif for the Raptors this season, bad coaching down the stretch. I can't even bear to watch the team play in close games anymore when we're down. We just get killed, everytime.
I don't know what to say about this ... it was an ugly game for both teams. -I thought TJ played pretty well for the most part at least ... positive there. -With Bosh hurting and AB gone winning was a tall order but we didn't exactly make things easy on our selves. Deception already mentioned this but i'll throw it out there again ... 10 points by Rasho in the 1st and we never went back to him. I was actually going to complement that coaching staff but after we completely forgot about his effectiveness 12 minutes later i think i'll pass. -Did we really need CB4 playing 34 minutes today? .. i know that's not a lot for him but the guy is hurt, give him some rest... he'll be more effective next game. -Bosh is still failing to recognize the double team and pass out of it ... the other teams are adjusting massively because 1) bosh is unwilling or unable to pass the ball quickly 2) the other players on the floor aren't adjusting so we can capitalize. -Nocioni ... wow, i've never watched this guy play and not been impressed. I think he's one of the most underrated players going right now. -I think we've gotten to that same old point in the season again. Teams know Mitchell's playbook is one page long so at this point people know how he's trying to use the players on our team. You can see they are taking away our tendencies a lot now. Garbo used to be able to pump fake the 3 and easily step in for the mid-range but the 2nd guy was always there tonight with a hand in his face if he missed the 3 pt shot. We can not get a new coach fast enough ... I'm tired of seeing our amateurish offensive sets and continued disorganization. After watching that final set for the raptors i wanted to break my tv, even though we had no business being in the game anyways. <div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">That was a pretty bad play Sam drew up at the end. Mo Pete didn't get open at all and had to launch a shot from 30 feet away with four hands in his face. Just another motif for the Raptors this season, bad coaching down the stretch. I can't even bear to watch the team play in close games anymore when we're down. We just get killed, everytime.</div> bingo. Actually one more thing about this ... scott skiles brought his team out of a timeout and ran a seamless play to get an open jumper for his player ... it was like our defense wasn't even there. We take a timeout and end up shooting a contested 26 foot three pointer. ugggh!!!!
We lost by 3... Was this Rasho's best game of the season? 12 pts (6-9 FG), 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1 TO.
btw- the highlight of the game for me was the halftime show where they aired a nba cares thing for reading at an indigo store, featuring chris bosh. bosh choose "the odyssey" as the book they designed the entire campaign around- thats hilarious cause he admitted to reading only "parts" of the book. btw, uros saw some action over kris humpries in the second and third quarters.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">That was a pretty bad play Sam drew up at the end. Mo Pete didn't get open at all and had to launch a shot from 30 feet away with four hands in his face. Just another motif for the Raptors this season, bad coaching down the stretch. I can't even bear to watch the team play in close games anymore when we're down. We just get killed, everytime.</div> Im not sure who to blame the play on, i mean it looked like a nicely drawn up play ( a double screen for the shooter with the screener rolling out to the ball) except the execution was horrible mo pete left too early and therefore the screener couldn't set a good pick on mo's man without it being a moving screen. The second screener set too straight of a pick and didn't afford mo-pete a chance to curl off the screen so to trap the defender. Whether the execution of the play is sam's fault ( eg. not enough practice on the play) or the players just got anxious and screwed up the timing of the play Im not sure. - but there was nothing wrong with the mechanics of the play, it was the timing.
I fell asleep around half time, but it sounds like I wouldn't have wanted to watch the end anyways. I was surprised we were that close, to tell you the truth. With Bosh hobbled and Bargnani out, we had no offensive production from the forward spot. Which brings me to my next point: - Did anyone ever expect there'd be a day when Rasho was a better offensive option than Bosh?
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> - Did anyone ever expect there'd be a day when Rasho was a better offensive option than Bosh?</div> I honestly thought Rasho was gonna have carrer high game.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> - Did anyone ever expect there'd be a day when Rasho was a better offensive option than Bosh?</div> it wasn't as much rasho as it was chicago's lack of size. chicago fronted on every possession and the raptors were completely befuddled by it, particularly garbs.
Yea, I noticed that. But, I thought they had it figured out in the first quarter where they had like 3 or 4 overhead passes that resulted in easy layups. By the way you guys talk, it seems like they completely forgot about it. Also, it was a welcome sight to see Rasho moving without the ball for his baskets.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yea, I noticed that. But, I thought they had it figured out in the first quarter where they had like 3 or 4 overhead passes that resulted in easy layups. By the way you guys talk, it seems like they completely forgot about it. Also, it was a welcome sight to see Rasho moving without the ball for his baskets.</div> I thought it really underscored how much teams focus on Bosh and what a raptors frontcourt can do with someone who is capible of scoring down low. Rasho does seem pretty efficient but i'd stop way short of calling him a dominant force. Colangelo shopping list: 1) 2nd scoring threat 2) shooter 3) solid rebounder / front court presence.
<div class="quote_poster">a13x Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I thought it really underscored how much teams focus on Bosh and what a raptors frontcourt can do with someone who is capible of scoring down low. Rasho does seem pretty efficient but i'd stop way short of calling him a dominant force. Colangelo shopping list: 1) 2nd scoring threat 2) shooter 3) solid rebounder / front court presence.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I agree, although 1 and 2 should preferably be the same player.</div> how realistic are those potential players? i personally would trade for mike miller tonight but i don't think there is anybody else who is attainable and matches our needs.
I thought of them as long-term goals. I don't think there's a quick-fix, because our roster is by no means a finished product.
