<div align="center"> <font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""4"">Toronto Raptors</font></font> (44-33) @ <font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""4"">Minnesota Timberwolves</font></font> (32-44) Venue: Target Center Date: Monday April 9th, 2007 Time: 8:00 PM EST Coverage: RaptorsTV </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">With the Atlantic Division title already in hand, the Toronto Raptors are building up plenty of momentum for a run in the playoffs. The Raptors try for their fourth straight victory Monday when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Toronto (44-33) franchise wrapped up the first division title in its 12-year history Friday with a win in Philadelphia and followed it up with a 103-89 victory over Chicago on Sunday. The Raptors, who had already clinched their first postseason berth since 2002 last month, have won eight of 10 to move within 1 1/2 games of the Bulls for second place in the Eastern Conference. Toronto is an Eastern Conference-best 31-15 since the New Year. "We've got confidence, and we're going into home stretch here. The idea is to try to play the best basketball this time of year," said Anthony Parker, who scored a career-high 27 points against the Bulls.</div> <div align="center">Link <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Projected Starters</font></font> TJ Ford - Anthony Parker - Joey Graham - Chris Bosh - Rasho Nesterovic <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Reserves</font></font> Jose Calderon - Darrick Martin - Juan Dixon - Morris Peterson - Luke Jackson - Uros Slokar - Pape Sow - Kris Humphries <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Coach</font></font> Sam Mitchell <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Injuries</font></font> Andrea Bargnani (appendectomy); Jorge Garbajosa (left ankle) <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Projected Starters</font></font> Mike James - Marko Jaric - Ricky Davis - Kevin Garnett - Mark Blount <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Reserves</font></font> Troy Hudson - Randy Foye - Rashad McCants - Bracey Wright - Trenton Hassell - Justin Reed - Craig Smith - Mark Madsen <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Coach</font></font> Randy Wittman <font face=""Verdana""><font size=""3"">Injuries</font></font> Eddie Griffin (flu) <div align="center"> <font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""4""> Prediction</font></font> Raptors win 100-88.</div> <font size=""4""><font face=""Tahoma"">Something to look at while you wait for the game</font></font> </div>
Curse you RaptorsTV. Nah, Mike James was crap last time against us. He even got his ankles broken by TJ. I have a feeling Joey Graham's gonna do really well.
<div class="quote_poster">Iggy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Curse you RaptorsTV. Nah, Mike James was crap last time against us. He even got his ankles broken by TJ. I have a feeling Joey Graham's gonna do really well.</div> Dude, there were like 25 games on Raptors TV this year, not to mention the next 3. You should invest, its only like 3 bucks a month. And its not MLSE fault, these games wouldn't be televised anyway, so they might as well make a channel, put them on there, and charge 3 bucks a month. Too bad the other programming sucks. They should have more games and maybe some classic raptors games....
Man, this isn't exactly the most intense game. The Raps could run away with it at any point, but they're playing as lackadaisical as the Timberwolves right now.
Looks like the 3rd quarter will be key again. Hopefully we can turn up the intensity like we have in the last couple of games.
For people who didn't have RaptorsTV, you didn't miss a great game or anything. You kind of got the feeling that it was only a matter of time until Toronto turned up the intensity and built a significant lead. They didn't play that great, but I guess it can be forgiven a little since they were coming off a game last night. They really started shooting well in the 4th though. Nice win.
This raps team has risen to the occasion. Played a decent game against T-wolves, and still managed to win it.... impressive. Hats off to this team, played 6 games in 9 days, and won 5 - lost 1 impressive once again. Hopefully sam will resting his main guys next week, get them nuff rest before playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">boshbosh Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Hopefully sam will resting his main guys next week, get them nuff rest before playoffs.</div> Not a time for rest. We need to secure at least a 3rd seed.
<div class="quote_poster">Eclipse Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Not a time for rest. We need to secure at least a 3rd seed.</div> Don't look now, but we're only 1 game behind Chicago for 2nd seed. Which would put us in position to either play the Nets or the Magic. IMO, I'd rather play a Gilbert/Caron-less Wizards than play the Nets or Wizards, but then again I wouldn't mind playing Orlando.
<div class="quote_poster">Iggy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Don't look now, but we're only 1 game behind Chicago for 2nd seed. Which would put us in position to either play the Nets or the Magic. IMO, I'd rather play a Gilbert/Caron-less Wizards than play the Nets or Wizards, but then again I wouldn't mind playing Orlando.</div> Not to mention having home court for the second round of the playoffs (if we make it past the first).
TJ Ford's dunk was awesome, he got way up there. usually he only dunks in transition but it was sweet to see him throw it down in the halfcourt - - the lane cleared and no one was there to contest. He is a sick athlete. 4 games left: Apr 13th home vs. Det, April 15th home vs. NYK, April 17th @ Detroit, April 18th home vs. Philly Are we secure in 3rd place or will the heat catch us? could we possibly finish second in the conference? Where will Washington finish... 6th? ... or will New Jersey overtake them?? EDIT: If we go (3-1) over our final 4 games the raptors will set a new record for regular season wins 48. (2-2) will tie the old mark 2000/2001 team 47 wins.
I think we'll go 3-1 for the rest of the season. I really think we can beat Detroit at home, especially if Bargs comes back. I'm pretty sure we'll beat the Knicks and Sixers, the only one I see us losing is at Detroit which is the second of a back to back. Which leaves us with a possible record of 48-34. Is that enough to overtake Chicago? Maybe not, maybe so. The Bulls next 4 games are all against below .500 teams; Charlotte, New York, Washington and New Jersey. If they lose 2 or more, we can overtake them for 2nd. EDIT: However, a possible factor is Detroit possibly resting their guys for the games as they might clinch home court adv. by then. If they keep guys like Rasheed and others on the bench to rest them for playoffs, we might actually have a chance at 2nd.
Well, it looks as if we are losing both tiebreakers against Chicago (they have better conference record) and Cleveland (better head-to-head), so it's really going to be difficult to get the second seed.
