<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto Raptors</span> </span></span><span style="color:#c8362d">(22-19)</span> vs. <span style="color:#00A35F"><span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Boston Celtics</span></span></span> <span style="color:#00A35F">(33-6)</span> </div> <div align="center"> When: Wednesday January 23rd, 2007 @ 7:30PM EST Where: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA 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 Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors have held the top two spots in the Atlantic Division for most of the season. It just hasn't been much of a race. The first-place Celtics look to extend their latest winning streak to four on Wednesday when they host the Raptors, also hoping to complete a season sweep of Toronto for the first time in a decade. The Raptors (22-19) sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, in playoff position for the second straight season. But they're 12 games behind Boston in easily the NBA's most lopsided division race. That gap appeared to be narrowing when the Celtics lost three of four earlier this month, but the Celtics (33-6) have steadied themselves offensively and put together another three-game winning streak. They had averaged just 82.5 points over the four games from Jan. 9-14, but they've scored at least 100 in each of the last three, including Monday's 109-93 win at New York. .................................................... Toronto has struggled to make shots against the Celtics this season, shooting just 39.3 percent from the field in three losses. Boston's opponents are shooting a league-low 41.6 percent this season, and the Celtics have not allowed 100 points in any of their last 22 games. The Raptors last failed to beat Boston in a season when they lost all three meetings in 1997-98. Toronto is coming off a 99-95 loss at Philadelphia on Saturday, when a fourth-quarter comeback attempt came up short. It was the Raptors' second straight road loss, although they've won five of seven overall. They outscored the 76ers 39-23 in the final quarter, but couldn't overcome a dismal third-quarter performance.</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:#00A35F">Rajon Rondo - Ray Allen - Paul Pierce - Kevin Garnett - Kendrick Perkins</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">Jose Calderon</span> vs. <span style="color:#00A35F">Rajon Rondo</span></div> One of the biggest reasons why Toronto was so close to upsetting the Celtics in their first matchup is because TJ Ford won the point guard matchup and forced Rondo into foul trouble. This Boston squad relies heavily on their point guard play, as evidenced by their mini-slump during Rondo's absence. Calderon needs to put the pressure on Rajon and take it to rim a bit more often tonight. His elbow jumpshots certainly are effective, but the Raptors can't simply expect an even result in this battle. They need Rondo in foul trouble. <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:#c8362d">Toronto: awesome</span> - <span style="color:#00A35F">Boston: lame</div></span>
<div align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">Something to look at while you wait for the game....</span></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"><span style="color:#000080">LET'S GO GNATS!</span></div>
love the prediction, the bench needs to be huge for toronto, if it is, they have a very good shot to win this game
I know Raptors can beat the Celtics but intimidation plays a huge factor as we always shy away from attacking the Celtics in the paint and settle for too many perimeter shots, plus we give the Celtics too much respect...we need to start banging them and playing hard defense.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MosDefinitely @ Jan 23 2008, 06:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I know Raptors can beat the Celtics but intimidation plays a huge factor as we always shy away from attacking the Celtics in the paint and settle for too many perimeter shots, plus we give the Celtics too much respect...we need to start banging them and playing hard defense.</div> Celts play tough, and Perkins and KG play tough D downlow, that will scare the Rap's big men from playing downlow. Hasn't Bargnani been playing soft as even without Boston's intimidating big men?
Bargnani has been very disappointing to the Raptors fans this season, I simply can't explain what is wrong with him because this is a totally different player then we saw last season. I would really like Sam to experiment with playing Bargs at the 3 spot, this way he doesn't have to worry about rebounding as much and can relax on the perimeter all he wants and play his type of game. People always tell me that he will get exposed at the SF position defensively but hes getting exposed at the C spot every game so what difference does it make??
Chutney, I don't like your Giants bias up in my Raptor forum lol. Good prediction though. I agree with your key match-up too. Calderon needs to take it to Rondo (no homo) early and often. Calderon, if he's making his shots, will be keeping us in the game, and possibly leading.
I think Bosh should just attack KG regardless of finishing at the rim or not, get KG into foul trouble or force him into playing defense. I would just order a countless attack on KG on offense to get him out of the game or at least a little fatigued. Moon on Pierce has been a horrible match-up for the Raptors as the previous games indicate, now I would play Moon on Pierce at first but if Pierce continues to have his way with Moon I would consider playing Delfino a couple more minutes. Finally I hope that Raptors dont double so hard in the paint on like no-name players...I dont know how this is suppose to help the Raptors but whenever one of our guards is getting posted up by another guard we always double for no reason and leave the perimeter shooter open. Now if the player who is posting up on our guard is like KG, Perkins, Pierce...etc yeah that makes sense but whenever we double like House in the paint it just boggles my mind! Im using the Celtics as an example but we do it to virtually every team...anyways hopefully the Raptors can keep the game close and pull off a victory tonight.
Bargnani is playing well but the turnovers are killing us!!! I wish Calderon could play all 48 minutes without getting tired. The worst part is that Boston is growing their lead with their bench players on the court.
We're playing well, but these turnovers are definitely killing us. Pretty uncharacteristic of us as well. We protect the wall pretty well.
When will this team learn to box out? OK, we got last possession. Please Smitch, draw something up that makes sense.
