<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#0B355E"><span style="font-family:Impact">New Jersey</span> </span></span><span style="color:#0B355E">(32-46)</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">(39-39)</span> </div> <div align="center"> When: Friday April 11th, 2008 @ 7:00PM EST Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON 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'>Vince Carter has struggled in his last three trips to Toronto. Now his former team has the opportunity to officially knock him and the New Jersey Nets out of the playoff race. Carter and the Nets hope to keep their faint playoff hopes alive Friday when they visit the Toronto Raptors. The Nets (32-46) are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings, four games behind eighth-place Atlanta, which holds the final playoff spot, and two games behind ninth-place Indiana. With four games remaining for all three teams, a loss by New Jersey or a win by Atlanta on Friday against the New York Knicks would knock the Nets out of contention. New Jersey, which has not missed the playoffs since 2001, hasn’t made things easy on itself. The Nets have lost five of their last six games, including a 104-83 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday. They shot only 33.3 percent and scored just nine points in the fourth quarter. Carter had 19 points and six assists to lead New Jersey, the first time in 12 games he failed to score at least 20 points. “It’s tough when you’re not hitting shots, not making layups and calls we felt we should have gotten, we weren’t getting,” he said. “It was a triple-threat negative.” Carter looks to bounce back Friday against the team he spent the first six years of his career with before requesting a trade during the 2004-05 season. After averaging 33.7 points in his first three visits to Toronto—all wins— he’s scored a total of 44 points his last three games at Air Canada Centre—all losses. Carter’s return to Toronto (39-39) should help incite the home crowd, which Chris Bosh called out following the Raptors’ last game. Toronto, which has clinched a playoff spot, snapped a three-game losing streak Wednesday with a 111-93 win over Milwaukee. Rasho Nesterovic had 22 points and 14 rebounds while Bosh added 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Bosh said he was disappointed that the home crowd was so quiet. “Could you hear yourself talk?” Bosh asked reporters. “We’re getting ready for the playoffs. I’m just saying I’m excited. I don’t know if anybody else is excited, but I’m excited. I’m not waiting for next week. I’m trying to do it right now and that’s the mentality we need to take, the whole organization, the whole building.” The Raptors are 23-16 at home, and will wrap up their home schedule Monday against lowly Miami. Bosh said the Raptors need the crowd to help create a tougher atmosphere. “When you go to places like Dallas, Utah, Detroit and Cleveland it’s loud,” Bosh said. “It really gives them an advantage.” Toronto is one game behind Philadelphia for the No. 6 seed with four remaining. Bosh had 27 points and nine rebounds in a 109-91 victory Feb. 13, the Raptors’ second in three games versus New Jersey 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:#0B355E">Devin Harris - Vince Carter - Richard Jefferson - Josh Boone - Sean Williams</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:#0B355E">Richard Jefferson</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d">Jamario Moon</span></div> It's become kind of ridiculous how well Jefferson plays against us. He's not the most dangerous offensive player the Raptors have faced and they've managed to limit much more productive swingmen that him in the past. But he always seems to penetrate and drive to the basket at will against Toronto. Really, he was the catalyst for New Jersey's win against us last week. Jamario Moon needs to do a better job of steering Jefferson towards help or the baseline. Its hard when he's also got his shot falling, but Moon can be smarter in his defensive positioning. <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">The Nets seem almost resigned to the lottery at this point and I figure they'll make their fans happy by losing.</div>
<div align="center"><span style="font-family:Impact"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><u>Something to look at while you wait for the game....</u></span></span></div> <div align="center"></div>
Here's the Nets game thread, if you want to talk to self-pitying New Jersey fans (I kid, I kid...). I'm hoping we build off Wednesday's win.
lol you know what the funny thing is. when we want to win, we lose, and vice versa. and can GUARANTEE a Nets win. who wants to bet 100 'points'
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Angelo1405 @ Apr 11 2008, 04:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>lol you know what the funny thing is. when we want to win, we lose, and vice versa. and can GUARANTEE a Nets win. who wants to bet 100 'points'</div> im in raps win i got 100 raps lose you get 100?
I want in too. Except I have like 60,000 plus points in my bank. So if the Raptors lose, I'll give whichever Nets fan takes my bet, 10,000 points. And If I win, I get 200.
Wow, horrible game by the Raptors so far. Down 30-17 after the 1st quarter. We really need to step up and get Moon and Parker making some shots. I say we come out Calderon starting and running some plays for our shooters if Bosh gets double teamed.
Gotta love the Nets for making the crowd come alive. This was an encouraging game. Indiana beat Philly!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Apr 11 2008, 07:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, horrible game by the Raptors so far. Down 30-17 after the 1st quarter. We really need to step up and get Moon and Parker making some shots. I say we come out Calderon starting and running some plays for our shooters if Bosh gets double teamed.</div> sry master shake, gotta give the points to the kentucky guy. at least your team is in the playoffs
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Angelo1405 @ Apr 11 2008, 10:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Apr 11 2008, 07:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, horrible game by the Raptors so far. Down 30-17 after the 1st quarter. We really need to step up and get Moon and Parker making some shots. I say we come out Calderon starting and running some plays for our shooters if Bosh gets double teamed.</div> sry master shake, gotta give the points to the kentucky guy. at least your team is in the playoffs </div> who's the kentucky guy?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Apr 11 2008, 10:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Angelo1405 @ Apr 11 2008, 10:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Apr 11 2008, 07:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, horrible game by the Raptors so far. Down 30-17 after the 1st quarter. We really need to step up and get Moon and Parker making some shots. I say we come out Calderon starting and running some plays for our shooters if Bosh gets double teamed.</div> sry master shake, gotta give the points to the kentucky guy. at least your team is in the playoffs </div> who's the kentucky guy? </div> He meant Kansas lol.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Apr 11 2008, 10:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Apr 11 2008, 10:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Angelo1405 @ Apr 11 2008, 10:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Apr 11 2008, 07:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, horrible game by the Raptors so far. Down 30-17 after the 1st quarter. We really need to step up and get Moon and Parker making some shots. I say we come out Calderon starting and running some plays for our shooters if Bosh gets double teamed.</div> sry master shake, gotta give the points to the kentucky guy. at least your team is in the playoffs </div> who's the kentucky guy? </div> He meant Kansas lol. </div> I'm not mad, I'm confused, cause i hate UK, but it's was probably just a miss type, its cool
ohhhhhh sry i dont watch college b-ball. tournament is to confusing !! but i do know a winner won.....
