<div align="center"> <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Boston Celtics</font></font> (12-29) @ <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Toronto Raptors</font></font> (21-22) Venue: Air Canada Center Date: Friday January 26th, 2007 Time: 7:00 PM EST Coverage: TSN</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A five-game homestand has given the Toronto Raptors a chance to get back to the .500 mark for the first time in more than two months. A matchup against the struggling Boston Celtics on Friday may provide Toronto with a golden opportunity to accomplish the feat. The Raptors (21-22) were 7-14 on Dec. 11, but have since bounced back, winning four of their last five games and eight of 11 since Jan. 5. The hot stretch has moved Toronto within a game of reaching .500 for the first time since Nov. 8, when the team was 2-2. </div> <div align="center">Link</div> [DIV=50%] <div align="center"><font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Projected Starters</font></font> Jose Calderon - Anthony Parker - Jorge Garbajosa - Chris Bosh - Rasho Nesterovic <font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Reserves</font></font> Darrick Martin - Fred Jones - Joey Graham - Morris Peterson - Kris Humphries - Pape Sow <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Coach</font></font> Sam Mitchell <font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Injuries</font></font></div> TJ Ford - Sore Right Ankle (Day-to-Day) Andrea Bargnani - Flu-like Symptoms (Day-to-Day) [/DIV] <div align="center"><font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Projected Starters</font></font> Delonte West - Gerald Green - Ryan Gomes - Al Jefferson - Kendrick Perkins <font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Reserves</font></font> Rajon Rondo - Sebastian Telfair - Allan Ray - Leon Powe - Michael Olowokandi <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Coach</font></font> Doc Rivers <font size=""3""><font face=""Arial"">Injuries</font></font></div> Wally Szczerbiak - Swollen Ankles (Day-to-Day) Brian Scalabrine - Bruised Right Knee (Day-to-Day) Paul Pierce - Left Foot Stress Reaction (2-3 weeks) Tony Allen - Torn Knee Ligaments (Out for Season) Theo Ratliff - Back Surgery (Out for Season) <div align="center"><font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Keys to the Game</font></font></div> Hit 'em Where It Hurts The Celtics frontcourt is virtually depleted right now. On top of injuries to Theo Ratliff and the inconsistency of Michael Olowokandi, Al Jefferson tweaked his ankle against the Hawks, Wednesday night. As the Raptors realized in the 4th quarter of the game against New Orleans/Oklahoma City, if a team is shaky downlow, Chris Bosh needs to recieve the majority of the touches. In this case, Kendrick Perkins would be similar to Tyson Chandler as the team's best post defender and shotblocker. The Raps need to be aggressive against him, try to get him in foul trouble, and hopefully force Boston to use their short bench. Watch the Hot Hand Despite devestating injuries to their top 2 scorers, the Celtics still have a rotation of 3 point guards who have at some point burned the Raptors. Sebastian Telfair has been demoted recently, but Toronto needs to realize that any one of these scoring point guards can go off against us. Jose Calderon will need to bring his notoriously pesky defense and try to stop them before they get out of hand. <div align="center"><font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">X-Factor</font></font> </div> <div align="center">Morris Peterson</div> With the possibility of Andrea Bargnani missing another game, we'll need someone to step up from the bench. We all saw how heavily dependant we were on our starters (Bosh and Calderon in particular) without Ford and Bargnani. And, despite a plethora of reserves who still deserve minutes, the Raptors will need Peterson to stretch the defense and put some points up on the board, off the bench. <div align="center"><font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Prediction</font></font> Raptors win 96-85 <font face=""Arial""><font size=""3"">Something to look at while you wait for the game</font></font> </div>
Damn, that's what my game thread lacked from the other day. I'll remember next time fellas to add a chicky-poo to the next game day thread that I do.
Great job with the thread. Hopefully we come out with something to prove, we can't make a 4th q comeback like we did last game. I don't know about you guys but when i look through the raptors photos the second i see Darrick Martin i'm thinking "WTF?? It looks like some old guy snuck into the team photo-op. He looks way too happy, ahah.
<div class="quote_poster">Dr. J. Naismith Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Damn, that's what my game thread lacked from the other day. I'll remember next time fellas to add a chicky-poo to the next game day thread that I do.</div> Hehe, he said chicky-poo. Great win by the Raps tonight. Very much like the New Orleans game; AP was just on fire from three. Calderon, another good game. Would it really be fair to send him back to the bench once Ford returns? I don't want to seem like I'm hopping on the bandwagon here but it seems the Raptors just receive a jolt when Calderon's on the court, not to mention his finishing on layups.
Did anyone catch what Colangelo said during the halftime interview? I saw him on the TV, but it was a bit too noisy and I couldn't hear what he was saying.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Did anyone catch what Colangelo said during the halftime interview? I saw him on the TV, but it was a bit too noisy and I couldn't hear what he was saying.</div> Meh, nothing really new or important. Just about how he expects the Raptors to be in the playoffs every year (including this year given their current record). He also talked about Bargnani's progress and the comparisons to Dirk and how he believes the maturity of Bargnani set them apart from their rookie seasons.
