<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto Raptors</span> </span></span><span style="color:#c8362d">(15-11)</span> vs. <span style="color:#FF0000"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Portland Trail Blazers</span></span></span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(13-12)</span> </div> <div align="center"> When: Wednesday December 19th, 2007 @ 10:30PM EST Where: Rose Garden, Portland, OR TV/Radio: The SCORE, FAN 590 </div> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>During a pair of road losses to two Western Conference powers that dropped them seven games below .500 earlier this month, the Portland Trail Blazers saw what an elite team looks like. In the past two weeks, they've shown they can become one -- quickly. The Trail Blazers looks for their ninth consecutive victory for the first time in more than five years on Wednesday when they host the Toronto Raptors. Portland (13-12) had lost nine of 10 games after falling at San Antonio on Dec. 2. But the Blazers haven't been beaten since, and they've suddenly gone from one of the conference's bottom feeders to a team soaring toward the top of the Northwest Division, averaging 105.0 points and winning by 7.5 points per game during their winning streak. "When you've won seven in a row you start to believe you can win every game," said Blazers guard Brandon Roy, who had 24 points and made key baskets in the fourth quarter of Monday's 88-76 victory over New Orleans. ........ Portland hopes to get a boost against the Raptors with the return of LaMarcus Aldridge. The second-year forward missed the team's past five games due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot, but coach Nate McMillan says he'll return on Wednesday. In the 20 games he's played, he's averaged 18.7 points -- more than double from his rookie season -- and 7.7 rebounds. Toronto (15-11) comes into Portland having won five of its last six. Unlike Portland, which has primarily been winning with offense during its hot streak, the Raptors have been thriving due to their defense. The Raptors yield just 94.6 points per game, but have allowed only 84.0 ppg in their last six. Toronto played well again defensively on Tuesday, limiting the Los Angeles Clippers to 39 percent shooting in an 80-77 road victory despite shooting 37.5 percent. Chris Bosh had a game-high 24 points, and added nine rebounds to become the Raptors' franchise leader with 2,847. "We feel pretty fortunate. But our defense kept us in it," Bosh said. "That's why you have to play good defense every night, because you're not going to shoot the ball that well every night." Toronto's success has coincided with the return of Bosh to its lineup. The All-Star center missed five games with a strained groin, but has averaged 20.2 points and 11.0 rebounds in the six games since his return. Bosh missed both games against Portland last season because of a bruised left knee. The road teams won both games last season, with Toronto needing overtime to beat the Trail Blazers 101-100 in Portland on Dec. 22.</div> <div align="center">Source: Yahoo!Sports</div> A real basic game preview for today, because I'm still getting used to the new forum options. And on that note, if any of you guys have any problems, question, comments, feedback, etc. about the new layout and everything, feel free to post 'em in this thread. I'll try to answer them for you.
<div align="center"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Something to look at while you wait for the game....</span></div> <div align="center"></div>
This is a hell of a game. The Raps are really lighting it up on offense and doing their best on defense, but Portland's matched them for the most part.
Tie game right now, kind of sad. I like the spread of offense, but I would like to see more points from Delfino and Moon. Hopefully we can pull this one out.
Fuck. I really got to question Mitchell's decision to hold out on subbing in his starters for so long. Portland went on their 10-0 run and then he expected Bosh and Calderon to suddenly turn it around. I realize we're on a long West Coast road trip, but you can't take a lead for granted like that. Especially against a team that was shooting the ball as well as Portland was tonight. I really hate losing games like this. It should've been ours and it really would've given us a measure of respect around the league.
Wow, can't believe we just lost to Portland. I mean, they are a pro team, but we should be better then that. I have to agree with Chutney on Sam Mitchell's decisions to wait as long as he did. We should be 2-0 right now. Even that barley win against the Clippers was kind of stupid. Right now, I just don't see a lot of energy around our locker room. Last year everything was great and players were happy. Now, I think that things are as great ash they should be, and I'm sensing some change. We really need Ford back and we need Bargnani to start gaining his confidence back. Start him or something, don't let him sit on the bench. I hope next game, we can just turn this whole mess around and at least go 2 games over .500 on this road trip. If we aren't 5-2, then I'll be disappointed.
Man, I agree with you Chutney I have no clue what Mitchell was thinking keeping our bench on for half of the fourth quarter as they basically lost the game for us or at least the lead. It was a great game to watch up until the 4th as everything went into a complete hault on offense as we couldnt get anything going. Calderon, Parker, Kapono and Bosh were playing great for us, I would give Humphries props which he deserves but I hate when have him in an Iso situation because thats not his game and he always looks awkward trying to create something by himself but besides that he has been playing out of his mind for us. I dont think Moon can do anything to make me like him, I just think we Raptor fans overrate him and I would really like him off the starting roster as he is probably the worst shooter on the team and I dont care for his blocks because he just gets beat on defense and makes alot of mistakes. I need to blow of some steam from this game, we will pick up a win on Friday against the Sonics before finishing off the year 0-4 against PHX, SA, NO, HOU.
Im just watching highlights and kicking myself but im calming down because after all its only a sport. I think we need to insert Bargnani into the starting lineup, we should play him at C or maybe even SF to replace Moon because whenever he plays with the second unit this guy gets no looks. Yeah he is having a rough season so far but playing off the bench is horrible for him as no one passes the ball to him when he has pretty good position down low. I really think Calderon can get him going, gets Bargs a couple open looks get his confidence going and maybe he can turn his season around because im not buying into Bargnani is a bust because he was so great last season I dont know what happened this year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MosDefinitely @ Dec 20 2007, 01:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Im just watching highlights and kicking myself but im calming down because after all its only a sport. I think we need to insert Bargnani into the starting lineup, we should play him at C or maybe even SF to replace Moon because whenever he plays with the second unit this guy gets no looks. Yeah he is having a rough season so far but playing off the bench is horrible for him as no one passes the ball to him when he has pretty good position down low. I really think Calderon can get him going, gets Bargs a couple open looks get his confidence going and maybe he can turn his season around because im not buying into Bargnani is a bust because he was so great last season I dont know what happened this year.</div>Bargnani's a bust. Should trade him for Kwame Brown or Vladimir Radmonovic.
Bargnani showed last season what he was capable of. Right now he has hit the sophomore slump but I expect him to start turning things around on this road trip.
