<div align="center"> vs. <font color="purple">Toronto Raptors (39-32)</font> vs. <font color="blue">Washington Wizards(38-32)</font> Date: March 30th, 2007 Time: 7:00 P.M. Eastern TV: CSN and RTV Place: Verizon Center</div> [div=50%]<div align="center"><font color="blue"><font size="3">Wizards Starting Lineup</font></font> <font size="1">(G. Arenas, D. Stevenson, C. Butler, A. Jamison, B. Haywood)</font></div> <font color="blue">2006-07 Wizards Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Gilbert Arenas - 28.8 PPG Leading Rebounder: Antawn Jamison - 8.1 RPG Leading Assist Man: Gilbert Arenas - 6.0 APG Points Per Game: 105.4 Field Goal Percentage: 45.3% 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 34.7% Rebounds Per Game: 41.2 Assists Per Game: 20.0 <font size="3">Backcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/gilbert_arenas.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Gilbert Arenas</font> PPG: 28.8, RPG: 4.7, APG: 6.0 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/deshawn_stevenson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Deshawn Stevenson </font> PPG: 10.7, RPG: 2.6 APG: 2.5 <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/caron_butler.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Caron Butler</font> PPG: 19.1, RPG: 7.5, APG: 3.7 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antawn_jamison.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Antawn Jamison</font> PPG: 19.7, RPG: 8.1, APG: 2.0 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brendan_haywood.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Brendan Haywood</font> PPG: 7.0, RPG: 6.6, APG:0.6 [/div]<font size="3"><div align="center"><font color="purple">Raptors Starting Lineups</font></div></font> <div align="center"> <font size="1">(T. Ford, J. Dixon, A. Parker, C. Bosh, R. Nesterovic)</font></div> <font color="purple">2006-07 Raptors Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Chris Bosh - 22.4 PPG Leading Rebounder: Chris Bosh - 10.5 RPG Leading Assist Man: TJ Ford - 8.0 APG Points Per Game: 98.9 Field Goal Percentage: 46.4% 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 36.3% Rebounds Per Game: 39.3 Assists Per Game: 21.9 <font size="3">Backcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/tj_ford.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">TJ Ford</font> PPG: 14.4, RPG: 3.3, APG: 8.0 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/juan_dixon.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Juann Dixon</font> PPG: 11.6 RPG: 3.5, APG: 2.1 <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/anthony_parker.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Anthony Parker</font> PPG: 11.6, RPG: 3.9, APG: 2.0 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/chris_bosh.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Chris Bosh</font> PPG: 22.4, RPG: 10.5, APG: 2.4 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/rasho_nesterovic.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Rasho Nesterovic</font> PPG: 6.1, RPG: 4.4, APG: 1.0 <div align="center"><font size="3"><u>Keys To The Game</u></font><ul></div>[*]<font color="purple">3 Point Shooting</font> ? The Raptors are missing one of their 3 point shooters Garbajosa for the year, but they are still one of the top 10 teams in shooting the 3. The Wizards have had trouble defending the 3 all season long, and we've seen cases where games have been lost because of it. The Raptors need to make sure their offense doesn't get shut down and shoot all night against this team.[*]<font color="purple">Feed Bosh</font> ? The Raptors haven't had a time where he let them down, kind of like the night when these two teams met the second time this season. He shot 15-19 for 34 points and grabbed 8 rebounds leading them to victory over the Wizards. With the way Haywood has been struggling, it won't be a suprise of Eddie Jordan replaces him with Etan Thomas or Darius Songalia. [*]<font color="purple">Take Care Of The Ball</font> ? The Raptors are second in the league in the league in turning the ball over with the Wizards 4th in stealing the ball. The Raptors being away from home need to keep their composure and play their game not making any careless passes, leading to turnovers and easy points on the other end. [*]<font color="blue">Good Offensive Production </font> ? Everyone should have their mindset on making crisp passes, open shots, good screening and high level of concentration that can allow themselves to score 129 points against the Raptors in their last meeting.[*]<font color="blue">Interior Defense</font> ? Our backcourt needs to make sure they limit Ford and Dixon from penetration to the paint, and our frontcourt needs to make sure to keep Bosh away from the ball. We've always had a hard time keeping up with a fast-paced offense, so look for players scrambling around to the open man. [*]<font color="blue">Momentum</font> - The game on Wednesday against the Sixers consisted of mainly runs made by both teams to keep themselves close to the last shot of the game. The Wizards need to make sure they don't let the Raptors get on runs. They can do so by cutting off passing lanes, creating turnovers and simply get points off turnovers.[/list]
Wow, theme of this game is TJ Ford Dribbling around in circles and taking too many shots. Oh and in the "He's the COY" category. Who the hell puts a player on the court who has been sitting for the whole game with 5 seconds left on the clock? Give me a break.
Wow, I just visited raptors.com because I don't have RTV and I saw that we're going to OT? Any update on the game ANYONE?
The Wizards player was trying to run out the clock by throwing the ball into the air with 3 seconds left. Well he didn't throw it high enough, Peterson caught it, and then drained the three to send this game into overtime. Probably the coolest play I've seen all year and Peterson did a great job catching the ball and then getting it off in time. Great awareness and just a phenominal play. I've never seen anything like that and I doubt I'll see something like it again.
^^ WOW, I can't wait to see the highlights of this game. Looking at the play-by-play on NBA.com it looks like Bosh is having a exceptional night. He hit like 3 baskets in a row for the Raptors and has like 37 points and 12 boards.
<div class="quote_poster">a13x Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wow, theme of this game is TJ Ford Dribbling around in circles and taking too many shots. Oh and in the "He's the COY" category. Who the hell puts a player on the court who has been sitting for the whole game with 5 seconds left on the clock? Give me a break.</div> Apparently the guy who sat on the bench the whole game helped us win the game lol.
Yes, rather ironic .. but it still was a dumb coaching move to put a guy who was on the bench for the whole game in at such a time.
Man, what a phenomenal game. Mo Pete's shot was unbelieveable and Bosh had a monster performance in the OT to win the game for us. Probably the most exciting game all year. a13x, I thought it was ironic that Mo Pete who sat most of the game made the tying shot, doesn't say anything on Mitchell's part but kudos to Mo.
GUYS PLZ STOP BASHIN TJ FORD... IT MAKES ME FEEL SICK READING THOSE POSTS.. HE CARRIED US THROUGH 4TH QUARTER.. YEAH HE MISSED SOME SHOTS BUT COME ON.. EVERYONE MISSES SHOTS ABOUT CALDERON... I THINK HE KIND OF GET SCARED PRETTY BAD WHENEVER HE SEES DOUBLE TEAM COMING TO HIM. I AM UNCOMFORTABLE SEEING CALDERON HANDLING THE BALL IN THE CRUNCH TIME. ANYWAY..... GAME OF THE CENTURY!!!
<div class="quote_poster">a13x Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yes, rather ironic .. but it still was a dumb coaching move to put a guy who was on the bench for the whole game in at such a time.</div> I agree with you, I guess Mitchell is the G.O.A.T <div class="quote_poster">ohmybosh Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">GUYS PLZ STOP BASHIN TJ FORD... IT MAKES ME FEEL SICK READING THOSE POSTS.. HE CARRIED US THROUGH 4TH QUARTER.. YEAH HE MISSED SOME SHOTS BUT COME ON.. EVERYONE MISSES SHOTS ABOUT CALDERON... I THINK HE KIND OF GET SCARED PRETTY BAD WHENEVER HE SEES DOUBLE TEAM COMING TO HIM. I AM UNCOMFORTABLE SEEING CALDERON HANDLING THE BALL IN THE CRUNCH TIME. ANYWAY..... GAME OF THE CENTURY!!!</div> What's up with the caps? The bolded text is the quote of the century.
Raps win!!!! Wow. This game was pretty much over, but thanks to a boneheaded play by Ruffin, and an amazing play by Mo Pete we came up with the W in OT.
TJ Ford didn't even record an assist until the third quarter!! not to mention that as soon as Calderon came into the game in OT bosh put up 6 quick points. We practically forgot about Bosh for part of the 2nd half there. I'm not saying trade TJ or i dont' think he has potential but his game tonight left lots to be desired.
<div class="quote_poster">a13x Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">TJ Ford didn't even record an assist until the third quarter!! not to mention that as soon as Calderon came into the game in OT bosh put up 6 quick points. We practically forgot about Bosh for part of the 2nd half there. I'm not saying trade TJ or i dont' think he has potential but his game tonight left lots to be desired.</div> Well I don't know, the times he drove right off the bat, he saw the opening and took it. I'd rather him take the chance if he sees it than have the team hoist up a bad shot with 2 seconds left on the shot clock. Even though Stevenson played some good defense on Ford due to his height, I like the way Ford kept attacking the rim. He didn't get scared of getting his shot blocked or missing the layup again. In hindsight, he should have passed the ball at times but you can say that about everyone else in the NBA.
<div class="quote_poster">a13x Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">TJ Ford didn't even record an assist until the third quarter!!</div> ? Are you sure you were watching the game? He had 6 assists in the first quarter and then didn't have another one the rest of the game. I didn't like how TJ played today. It's getting pretty frustrating watching him run this team. I hate how whenever he makes one jumpshot he automatically thinks he's on fire and takes another jumpshot on the next possession. He gets tunnel vision and doesn't even look for other guys in that situation. You can tell he's already made up his mind. I don't mind if he takes shots under control but more often than not, they're off balanced, bad shots.
WOW, Ruffin made one of the most bone headed plays I've ever seen. Why someone wouldn't HOLD the ball in a situation like that baffles me. Yes, I realize players do just heave it up at the buzzer, but if you're going to heave it, heave it straight at the other net instead of UP in the air when there's other players around. That was so ridiculous; it was actually quite an improbable buzzer beater. Play of the year by my account. Can't wait to read Gil's blog about this one.
<div class="quote_poster">Eclipse Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">? Are you sure you were watching the game? He had 6 assists in the first quarter and then didn't have another one the rest of the game.</div> My mistake ... I remember hearing it but i got it backwards.
<div class="quote_poster">Karma Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> Why someone wouldn't HOLD the ball in a situation like that baffles me.</div> He would've gotten fouled, being like the worst free throw shooter on the team. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes, I realize players do just heave it up at the buzzer, but if you're going to heave it, heave it straight at the other net instead of UP in the air when there's other players around.</div> Have you seen that specifically happen? Have you seen someone try to throw it directly at the other basket?
Wow, we really had no business winning that game. Bosh was shooting real well, but I wasn't truly impressed with his offensive game until overtime (bustin' out the Sky Hook!). TJ Ford didn't play particularly well, and I noticed the same thing as Eclipse: he felt obligated to come down and shoot a jumper if he had hit a few in a row. But worse than all that was our coaching. The last 3 offensive possessions of the game (all drawn up out of a timeout) were point guard penetration. So friggin' predictable. And I was wtf'ing the entire game, because Mo-Pete was nailed to the bench somehow. And then when he saves the game and brings it into overtime, you send him back to the bench? Gotta thank Michael Ruffin for making one of the dumbest plays I've ever seen. Still, our overtime was awesome. We came out with the momentum, and Bosh was a beast. I especially loved the play where he backed down Jamison and put him on his back. And another bright spot was the play of Joey Graham. His rebounding was real helpful and, even though I don't think he deserved that much time, he was a big factor. Best statline ever:
