<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#BA9753"><span style="font-family:Impact">Philadelphia 76ers</span> </span></span><span style="color:#BA9753">(14-21)</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto Raptors</span></span></span> <span style="color:#c8362d">(17-17)</span> </div> <div align="center"> When: Wednesday January 9th, 2007 @ 7:00PM EST Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON TV/Radio: The SCORE, 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 Toronto Raptors were one of the best home teams in the NBA in 2006-07. That hasn't been the case this season. Coming off another disappointing home loss, the Raptors look to avoid dropping their season high fourth in a row at the Air Canada Centre when they face the lowly Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. Toronto (17-17) blew a 20-point lead and lost 93-90 to Cleveland on Sunday. It was the Raptors' third straight home loss and dropped them to 8-8 there. "You are going to win some you shouldn't win and you're going to lose some you think you should win," said Toronto coach Sam Mitchell, whose previous home losses during its skid came against Eastern Conference powers Boston and Detroit. The Raptors, who tied for the second-best home record in the East last season when they finished 30-11, lost consecutive games at Air Canada Centre just once in 2006-07 and haven't lost four straight there since a five-game slide from Mar. 29-Apr. 9, 2006. Sunday's loss, though, might be one that could be tough to forget for the Raptors, who have lost six of their last eight overall. "It's frustrating but it's the small things we could have done," said forward Chris Bosh, who scored 23 points for the second straight game. Toronto shot 49.3 percent, but was outrebounded 52-33 and allowed LeBron James to score 24 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter. The Raptors were outscored 36-20 in the final period. The loss overshadowed 16 points and 11 assists from Jose Calderon, and 16 points from Jamario Moon for the Raptors, who are averaging 84.0 points during their home skid, well below the 96.3 points they average in Toronto. The Raptors, though, still have a good chance to end their home drought as they try to improve to 3-0 versus Philadelphia (14-21) this season.</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:#BA9753">Andre Miller - Willie Green - Andre Iguodala - Reggie Evans - Samuel Dalembert</span> <span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon - Anthony Parker - Jamario Moon - Chris Bosh - Andrea Bargnani</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:#BA9753">Andre Iguodala</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d">Jamario Moon</span></div> This matchup is about more than just shutting down Philadelphia's leading scorer. Having seen Jose Calderon exposed defensively for the last few games, Sam Mitchell must be justifiably worried about matching him up against the bigger and stronger, Andre Miller. The thinking goes that he'll have Anthony Parker guard Miller to prevent him from posting up Jose all night long. Of course, putting the Raptors' best perimeter defender on Miller means that Toronto needs Jamario Moon to hold his own against Iguodala. After a string of forgettable performances, Jamario needs to get back on track and there's no better way than to focus on doing what got him into the starting lineup in the first place (aggressive, pesky defense on the opposition's athletic swingmen). <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">As up and down as this season's been so far, I can't see Toronto dropping 3 home games in a row. Especially against Philadelphia.</div> <span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><span style="color:#c8362d">Toronto 96</span> - <span style="color:#BA9753">Philadelphia 88</span></div></span>
<div align="center">Something to look at while you wait for the game...</div> <div align="center"></div>
Raptors have to win this game in my opinion, no excuses about injuries and what not the Raptors are still a deeper team then the Sixers and are furthur along in their rebuilding process. You never know however, we may lose to Seattle one day and then beat the Mavs and Spurs the next so its just one of those things. Still im predicting a double digit victory for the Raptors with Bargnani being our leading scorer.
they will either dominate, come out pissed off about last game or itll be an ugly loss i cant see a middle ground
Should be a win and it will be win. There is no way after the Cleveland lose Sam Mitchell went easy on the guys. Raptors are going to come out strong, hard (no homo) and fast. We need to jump on the 76ers early and not let up no matter what. I want to see a huge win and players coming hard (no homo) all 48 minutes.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jan 9 2008, 05:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div align="center">Something to look at while you wait for the game...</div> <div align="center"></div></div> LOL...Nice!!!
ahahaha, yeah if we just contain Igoudala and find him in transition for defensive purposes we should be fine. I hope Bosh doesnt get scared of Dalembert and starts to drive more instead of jumpshots because his shots have not been money for the most part of the season. Also I hope we get Bargnani, Kapono, and Delfino involved early because once they get going its hard to stop us.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MosDefinitely @ Jan 9 2008, 06:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Chuck just pulled out the Salami and Cheese half an hour before tip-off </div> That'd lead to obscenity charges in any other city.
That lineup on the floor in the last couple of minutes was really disgusting, Calderon, Parker, Moon, Graham, Humphries. We are shooting the ball really well but like all good things I dont expect to keep a high FG percentage so we should drive a little bit more, and take care of the ball as we have 6 TO after the first quarter.
