<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto Raptors</span> </span></span><span style="color:#c8362d">(15-14)</span> vs. <span style="color:#031821"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">San Antonio Spurs</span></span></span> <span style="color:#031821">(20-7)</span> </div> <div align="center"> When: Friday December 28th, 2007 @ 8:30PM EST Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX TV/Radio: Rogers Sportsnet, FAN 590 </div> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:Impact"><u>GAME PREVIEW</u></span></div></span> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The San Antonio Spurs have done their best at getting by despite several injuries. A stretch of games against struggling teams has helped. The Spurs look to continue taking advantage of a soft stretch in the schedule on Friday night when they look to extend their dominance over the Toronto Raptors. Toronto (15-14) is the first team among San Antonio's last four opponents with a winning record after matchups against Chicago , the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis. The Spurs are 2-1 against those teams, and will try to hand the Raptors their fourth loss in a row. San Antonio also has win six straight at home over the Raptors by an average of just over 10 points. The Spurs (20-7) are coming off a 94-79 win over the Bulls on Wednesday behind a game-high 28 points from Tony Parker. Tim Duncan was held to just eight points -- more than 10 points below his season average -- but also had 11 rebounds and six assists. .......... The Spurs were without Manu Ginobili, due to a sprained left index finger suffered Saturday in a win over the Clippers. He's San Antonio's second-leading scorer with 19.2 points per games, but his status for this game is unknown. Brent Barry, the Spurs' second-leading 3-point shooter at 45.3 percent (39-of-86), will miss the next two weeks with a torn right calf muscle suffered Wednesday. "Manu and Brent are huge offensive weapons off the bench," said Matt Bonner, who scored 12 points against the Bulls. "So I wouldn't say it adds pressure on us but it definitely makes things easier if other guys off the bench can come in and provide a lift on offense." Toronto fell to 1-3 on its season-high seven-game road trip after falling 122-103 to Phoenix on Saturday. Chris Bosh finished a career-high 42 points, going 22-of-24 from the free throw line. He also had 13 rebounds. "The free-throw line is my friend," Bosh said, "so I just always try to be aggressive, always try to attack the basket and get those easy points." Bosh, who's averaging 20.4 points this season, has managed just 13.5 in four career games in San Antonio. The Raptors haven't won in San Antonio since Jan. 17, 2001.</div> <div align="center">Source: Yahoo!Sports</div> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>STARTING LINEUPS</u></span></div></span> <div align="center"> <span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon - Anthony Parker - Jamario Moon - Chris Bosh - Andrea Bargnani</span> <span style="color:#031821">Tony Parker - Michael Finley - Bruce Bowen - Tim Duncan - Fabricio Oberto</span></div> <span style="font-family:Impact"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><u>KEY MATCHUP</u></div></span></span> <div align="center"> <span style="color:#c8362d">Andrea Bargnani</span> vs. <span style="color:#031821">Fabricio Oberto</span></div> The San Antonio Spurs always seem to manhandle the Raptors and they provide a formidable matchup at every position, except the center position. Indeed, ever since David Robinson's retirement, the 5-spot have been one of the Spurs' more underwhelming positions. When his game is on, Andrea Bargnani poses a considerable mismatch for Oberto and has the potential to force San Antonio to adjust their defense. Of course, that hasn't been a given this season and it will be interesting to see how Andrea plays against a favourable matchup. <div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>PREDICTION</u></span></span></div> <div align="center"><span style="color:#031821">San Antonio 97</span> - <span style="color:#c8362d">Toronto 91</div></span>
<div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>Something to look at while you wait for the game....</u></span></span></div> <div align="center"></div>
Tila, I saw her show on MTV. She is a bi-sexual. She had 16 girls and 16 guys, but in the end she chose some guy named Bobby. This will be a very hard game to win, but if we can get Bosh, Moon AND Bargnani going we should take this one. We really need Bosh to take it at Duncan and we need Parker and Kapono to guard Manu well.
I'm praying that Manu doesn't play, because I don't see us stopping him at all. I'm also anxious about Jose guarding Tony Parker. If Bargnani doesn't show much early on, I can see him getting a quick hook for Rasho (who'll probably be put on Duncan).
Yeah, this one is going to be tough as always. I'll be surprised if we win this thing. With Brent Barry out and hopefully Manu.. that will definitely make things easier.
wow, Raptors with a 3 point lead heading into the second quarter. The way we are playing right now, we should be down big.
Not the prettiest quarter of basketball I've ever seen, but I'll take it. Slow and steady, but hopefully the Raps can win the race.
lol did anyone listen to the crowd chant "RAPTORS SUCK". And Bowen just pisses me off, he flops to the ground and gives the refs attitude. SUCK IT UP.
Kapono/Bargnani/Calderon/Humphries was a big factor in the win. Good move by Sam to rest the starters for tomorrows game against Houston.
i'm glad the team made use of the off time they had and came into this game prepared - something that has been missing on this west coast trip. bring on Yao!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (hustler @ Dec 28 2007, 11:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>lol did anyone listen to the crowd chant "RAPTORS SUCK". And Bowen just pisses me off, he flops to the ground and gives the refs attitude. SUCK IT UP.</div> Really? I thought they were chanting "Referees Suck"
