Game Thread! (Philadelphia @ Toronto)

<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#BA9753"><span style="font-family:Impact">Philadelphia</span> </span></span><span style="color:#BA9753">(2-4)</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">(4-3)</span> </div>
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When: Wednesday November 12th, 2008 @ 7:00PM EST
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
TV/Radio: The SCORE, FAN 590 </div>

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<span style="font-family:Impact"><u>THOUGHTS ON THE GAME</u></span></div></span>

Seven games into the season and the Raptors have firmly established themselves in that grey area between contending and mediocre. That's reflected in our results, as we've beaten and played well against teams that we look stronger than on paper and should beat, yet consistently fallen short against those teams that seem to make up the top echelon of the Eastern Conference. They have the chance to further solidify that position by beating a talented Philadelphia squad that has underachieved to start the season. The Raptors have demonstrated that they have what it takes to beat this team, so it'll be an encouraging sign if they come out and repeat that performance. While me may not be capable of beating the true contending teams yet, being able to consistently defeat the teams that will make up spots 4-8 in the standings is still something to hang your hat on.

This game will be the third of five division matchups in the month of November. Nobody really keeps their eyes on the standings this early in the season, and for good reason. But there's no denying that these results will be tremendously influential come March and April, when teams start jockeying for playoff positioning. The Raptors performed above expectations by beating the Sixers on their homecourt and taking care of business at home will ensure that at the very least, Philadelphia cannot have a tiebreaker over them. Hopefully the players and coaching staff have that in the back of their mind.


<span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>STARTING LINEUPS</u></span></div></span>

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<span style="color:#BA9753">Andre Miller - Andre Iguodala - Thaddeus Young - Elton Brand - Samuel Dalembert</span>




<span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon - Anthony Parker - Jamario Moon - Chris Bosh - Jermaine O'Neal</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>

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<span style="color:#BA9753">Samuel Dalembert</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d">Jermaine O'Neal</span></div>

Dalembert certainly isn't the biggest threat on this team. But offense isn't a focal point in this matchup. Jermaine O'Neal needs to replicate the strong interior defense he showed in the season opener and make a concerted effort to limit Dalembert's rebounding. As talented as Andre Iguodala is, Anthony Parker has shown that he can prevent him from taking over a game if he has solid post defense to back him up. On the other end of the court, JO has to STOP TURNING THE BALL OVER FOR FUCK'S SAKE!


<div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>LEO RAUTINS' INSIGHTFUL THOUGHT OF THE DAY</u></span></span></div>

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Uncle Chutney's Old-Fashioned Boner ConCOCKtion


A collection of lingerie models working every single pose in the Kama Sutra​

 

Awesomeness By Chutney, He is 1-1, I'm 3-2

 

They better win this game. I have a bet with a cute girl that is the Raptors win, she'd buy me a sub...lets go Raps!

 

I'm down for keeping track of this through the season and seeing who comes out on top.

 

Well it looks like I'm not getting any work done for the rest of the day.

Those are hott!

 

So Cut, after every loss, we will rotate? sound good? or does someone else want in?

 

I'm hoping that Calderon injury was just a pulled muscle or something. Didn't look like anything serious could've happened, but I'm anxious regardless.

I need to find a clip of that Bargnani reverse dunk on Evans. He totally embarrassed him.

Raps are making a run right now, with Bosh on the bench.

 

Jose's back in! (huge sigh of relief)

 

BARGNANI! dude is playing really well right now. First the good D on Brand and the put back just now.

 

Andrea's definitely feeling it. He's got 11 points so far and 2 blocks.

 

Bargnani is locking down Brand. I love it!