<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#006BB7"><span style="font-family:Impact">Detroit</span> </span></span><span style="color:#006BB7">(50-20)</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">(35-35)</span> </div> <div align="center"> When: Wednesday March 26th, 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'>After beating one of the best teams in the West without their leading scorer, the Detroit Pistons hope to have Richard Hamilton back in the lineup when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday in a possible preview of a first-round playoff series. Detroit (50-20) played four of its last six games against teams in the tough Western Conference, but it is coming off a 110-105 overtime win at home over the Phoenix Suns on Monday following back-to-back road losses against Cleveland and Washington. The Pistons, who have already clinched a playoff spot and are close to clinching the Central Division, are five games behind East-leading Boston with 12 games remaining. The Raptors are in seventh place in the East?€”one-half game behind Philadelphia?€”and could open the playoffs against the Pistons. Although Detroit knows it will likely finish with the No. 2 seed, that doesn?€™t mean it is just playing out the string. The Pistons felt Monday?€™s game was big because they avoided their second three-game losing streak of the season. ?€œA lot of people have been saying that we don?€™t have any big games left because we can?€™t move up or down (in the division),?€? said Chauncey Billups, who had 32 points and six assists against the Suns. ?€œI thought this was a big game because we have struggled the last two games mightily.?€? Billups scored Detroit?€™s first six points in overtime and converted a three-point play with 1:01 remaining that gave the Pistons the lead for good. They have reached 50 victories for the seventh straight season. Detroit won despite being without Hamilton, who was sidelined by a sore hip. ?€œHe says he king of twisted it when he was guarding (Washington?€™s) Caron Butler,?€? coach Flip Saunders said. ?€œI guess on the flight home ?€? it kind of stiffened up.?€? Hamilton, who is averaging 17.7 points, is listed as probable for Wednesday. He is averaging 30.5 points in two games against the Raptors (35-35) this season. Toronto is trying to avoid falling below .500 for the first time since November. The slumping Raptors have dropped back-to-back games and seven of their last eight, including a 109-100 loss at home to Denver on Sunday. The Raptors shot 50.0 percent from the field and had seven players score in double figures, led by 17 points apiece from Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon. They led by 17 points in the first quarter, but Denver rallied and used a late 8-0 run to put the game away. ?€œThe thing that bothers me is at the end of games we?€™re just too hesitant,?€? Bosh said. ?€œWe hesitate too much and we think about it too much. I know it gets harder down the stretch but we should step our game up instead of taking steps back.?€? The Raptors have lost both games against Detroit this season by an average of 15 points, and have dropped 10 of the last 12 meetings.</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:#006BB7">Chauncey Billups - Rip Hamilton - Tayshaun Prince - Antonio McDyess - Rasheed Wallace</span> <span style="color:#c8362d">TJ Ford - Anthony Parker - Jamario Moon - Chris Bosh - Rasho Nesterovic</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:#006BB7">Chauncey Billups</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d">TJ Ford</span></div> Jose sacrificed what he earned for the better of this team and now its up to TJ to live up to his end of the bargain. He's been handed the spot despite playing selfishly off the bench and sulking around, instead of supporting his teammates. Therefore, its only fair for everyone to expect him to "turn that frown upside down," buckle up, and run this offense properly. He can't hold on to the ball too long and let the offense become stagnant and he needs to get this team playing efficiently and consistently. He'll have a heckuva task too, because Chauney typically rips us apart. On defense, Ford will need to gamble less and just try to contest shots. <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">We matchup badly against the Pistons, so I don't expect a win. Especially with such a recent line-up change.</div>
<u><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><div align="center">Something to look at while you wait for the game</u></span></span></div> <div align="center"></div>
Agreed, Raps haven't matched up well against Detroit in the past, but the line-up changes are gonna be fun to watch!! Chutney >> Props 4 the Pic! Let's go T.O.!
Urge to overreact fading..... That was a nice win. And it might've been the first time I've seen playing Calderon and Ford at the same time work.
Wow raptors pull out an impressive victory over the pistons! I really like the adjusted lineup but it looked like Bargnani's role on the team has virtually disappeared.
Very nice win. The Pistons didn't have to much time to set up in their half-court and the Raptor made them commit tons of turnovers. We played very good inside defense and held the the guards in check. IT was also a pleasure to see TJ Ford passing first, then shooting second. Makes the team better and we beat teams like the Pistons.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Mar 26 2008, 10:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Sam Mitchell is the best coach ever! We have the best team ever! Our PG's are the best! /nets fourm</div> sorry for the spam but that very funny
sweet win, ford and calderon have played togetherduring the road trip (dun remember which game though), but im happy for the raps, hopefully they build on this, and WAT A WIN BY SIXERS:| (im telling you theres gonna b a major upset in the playoffs if Sixers play like this)
We needed this one for sure. Hopefully we can build off of it. Also, Rasho's hook getting blocked was hilarious.
Nice win by the Raptors! I thought Delfino's missed dunk was hilarious. And... Here's a rare (random =P ) image of Mr. Big Shot when he was with the Raptors.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (speeds @ Mar 27 2008, 06:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>^ Kind of has a Sean Combs thing going on there.</div> lol agreed.
