<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#E86E32"><span style="font-family:Impact">New York</span> </span></span><span style="color:#E86E32">(16-38)</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto</span></span></span> <span style="color:#c8362d">(29-23)</span> </div> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Game 1</span></span> When: Friday February 22nd, 2007 @ 7:30PM EST Where: The Gahhhden, New York City, NY TV/Radio: RaptorsTV, FAN 590 </div> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Game 2</span></span> When: Sunday February 24th, 2007 @ 7:00PM EST Where: The Hangar, Toronto, ON TV/Radio: TSN, 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 woeful New York Knicks are returning to Madison Square Garden, where "Fire Isiah!"? chants have become a common occurrence. Coach Isiah Thomas and his team likely are in for more of the same Friday when they open a home-and-home set against Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors. The Knicks (16-38), who own the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, endured sing-song chants calling for Thomas' firing on the road Wednesday, when they were embarrassed in a 124-84 loss at Philadelphia. They committed 16 of their 25 turnovers in the first half and trailed by as many as 46 points in the third quarter, one night after setting a team record with 23 overtime points in a 113-100 win at Washington. "We've had our good moments and we've had our share of bad moments,"? Thomas said. "We've got to keep working. All we can do is keep working."? Thomas also claimed the players have been distracted by Thursday's NBA trade deadline and said "my guy's minds were elsewhere."? New York, though, made no deals Thursday and has dropped 10 of its last 12 overall. The Knicks are 10-17 at home, losing nine of the last 12 games, including a 99-90 defeat to Toronto (29-23) on Jan. 11. Bosh, the team-leader with 22.9 points and 9.1 rebounds, powered that win for the Raptors, their ninth in the last 11 matchups with the Knicks, totaling 40 points and 11 rebounds. The All-Star forward-center equaled that scoring output Wednesday, going 14-for-16 from the field and making all 11 of his free throws to spur an impressive 127-110 win over Southeast Division-leading Orlando, keeping Toronto percentage points ahead of Cleveland for fourth in the East. Bosh has been outstanding in his last six games at New York, averaging 28.7 points.</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:#E86E32">Nate Robinson (3Yrs/$6.1M) - Jamal Crawford (4Yrs/$36M) - Quentin Richardson (3Yrs/$26.2M) - Zach Randolph & Eddy Curry (4Yrs/$101.7M)</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:#E86E32">Jamal Crawford</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d">Anthony Parker</span></div> Obviously, the Knicks strength is their rebounding and post play. But the Raps easily come out on top in that matchup, because none of the Knicks' bigs can stop either Chris Bosh or Andrea Bargnani. Therefore, the Raptors really just have to make sure that the Knicks' guards don't come out shooting the ball well. Any NBA team can shoot itself to an upset and the Raptors have to be wary of the streaky scoring ability of Jamal Crawford. On the other end, Anthony has to just not have one of his uncharacteristically bad shooting nights (he's had his fair share this season) and the Raps' offense should continue to roll <div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>PREDICTION</u></span></span></div> Toronto does have the tendency to play down to its competition, but I was impressed by the way they came out of the All-Star break against Orlando. Their play and their post-game quotes seem to suggest that this team recognizes the need to take advantage of these easy teams and solidify its spot in the Eastern Conference standings. I predict the Raps win out and take both games.
<div align="center"><u><span style="font-family:Impact"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">Something to look at while you wait for the games....</div></u></span></span> <div align="center"></div>
Home-and-homes are the best. I hope we can pick up both of these games. Zach and Eddy were utterly useless against us last time, hopefully that is the case again. As long as we can keep Crawford from going-off we should be fine.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigWilly @ Feb 22 2008, 06:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>aren't we playing on Sunday at home?</div> Wow. I just checked it and you're absolutely right. I changed the preview accordingly. Don't know how I overlooked that one.
This game and the next one should be a lock... Raps just need to take it easy the next two games and not try anything too crazy. Basically coast into these two victories. I'd like to see them crush teams like this and make it look real easy
Yea, TJ seems out of it. I thought the Raps would clamp down on their lead when he was in, but they basically gave it away. Now the Knicks have momentum after closing out the half. Where's that "step on their throats" mentality I heard so much about? Toronto needs to come out with some fire.
Bargs is playing like crap again. Damn, I was worried about how he'd come out after the break. btw, is there some sort of unwritten rule that Raptors fans are also MMA fans? lol, It seems like everyone on this forum has an MMA avatar.
TJ is just terrible out there. Him and Calderon out at the same time isn't working either, its only bringing Jose down. Honestly, I'd just use Delf as the backup tonight. Ford needs to get back to game speed.
5 points! If we could only just some shots. We're playing great D, but we're having trouble executing on offense.
Muthafkcin Crawford. Jamario has so much to learn, I don't know why he isn't driving. I don't care if he hits 50 3 pointers.
