<div align="center"></div>Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors are eager to change the culture of losing that has surrounded the franchise in recent years. A victory against one of the league's powers would go a long way toward reaching that goal.Bosh and the Raptors look to build on an impressive first win of the season when they host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.After a listless performance in a season-opening 102-92 loss at New Jersey on Wednesday, the Raptors rebounded with a strong showing in a 109-92 victory over Milwaukee in their home opener on Friday.Bosh dominated in the win, scoring 26 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the field with 15 rebounds, two blocks and two steals. The All-Star forward, limited to 14 points on 3-of-13 shooting against the Nets, made five of his first six shots and nearly had a double-double at halftime.After blocking Ruben Patterson's shot late in the fourth quarter, the usually laid-back Bosh showed his emotions by pumping his fist and getting in his teammates' faces.``It was because of the last game and I'm tired of losing,'' Bosh said. ``I don't want to go back to the way things were the year before and previous years.''Although it was only their first win of the season, the Raptors know they won't have a repeat of 2005-06, when they started 0-9 before struggling to a disappointing 27-55 finish. Bosh is ready for better things this season after enduring a 93-153 record in his first three years in Toronto.``It's way different now. The attitude is different. We expect to be a good team. We expect to win,'' said Bosh, who signed a four-year extension in July.An active offseason left the Raptors with nine new players and a roster that includes a league-high six international players.One of those new players is top overall draft pick Andrea Bargnani, who has six points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes in his first two NBA games.``He is fine. He is a rookie. He is going to have good nights, he is going to have sub-par nights,'' Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. ``It's just part of the process of being a rookie in the NBA. All rookies go through it.''While Bargnani hasn't had much of an impact yet, fellow newcomer Anthony Parker has been very impressive thus far. Parker, who played for Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv the past five years, has 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in his first two NBA games since appearing in 16 contests for Orlando in 1999-2000.The Spurs played well in their season-opening victory at Dallas on Thursday, but weren't nearly as sharp in an 88-81 loss to visiting Cleveland on Friday.San Antonio trailed by as many as 13 in the second half before Tim Duncan and Tony Parker combined for all 25 of the team's fourth-quarter points to make it close down the stretch. The outcome may have been different if not for the Spurs' dismal 18-for-34 performance from the free-throw line.``I wish I had a nickel for every time somebody asked me if free throws are a concern,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ''(They have) always been an Achilles' heel.''Duncan finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Parker added 21, five boards and five assists.``I've shot a million free throws over the summer,'' said Duncan, who went 9-for-19 from the line Friday. ``But it's nothing like actually getting in a game, banging around and then having to calm yourself down.''Few teams have as difficult an early season schedule as San Antonio, which opened on the road against the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks, faced LeBron James and the Cavaliers the next night at home, and now visits Toronto on Sunday afternoon and New York on Monday.``It's kind of tough,'' guard Manu Ginobili said. ``You're a little rusty and your legs are not the same as January or February.''The Spurs have won seven of the last eight overall meetings with the Raptors and are 7-3 all-time in Toronto. Parker had 32 points and 13 assists in San Antonio's 125-118 overtime victory at the Air Canada Centre on Feb. 8.-----------------------Again, I didnt make this game thread. I dont like reports before the game because you basically write the same things for ever game, and I think it is pointless. To be honest, I dont even know what the hell "The X Factor" means. Credit to Chilly from Raptorschat for making this.My insight: Spurs will take this by 15. Tim Duncan will have his way in the paint against us, and I fear Tony Parker might get 30 going against TJ Ford and Jose Calderon. He'll be able to create off the dribble at will against these two terrible defenders. Our only chance of winning is to havbe a monster offensive game, but that is a long shot too. The Spurs might be the best defensive team in the League. Tim Duncan might be able to keep Bosh under 20, and Bruce Bowen and Manu should tame down Anthony Parker, Mo, and Fred Jones to a minimal effect.
Spurs win.We were actually up by like 15 in the 2nd, but Duncan turned it on, and he was dominate in the post. Tony Parker beat TJ on every posession it seemed. Too easy. Brent Barry was 5/5 from 3 pt. range. He killed us there. We didnt defend him well enough.Chris Bosh had a monster rebounding game (getting like 18), but his offense wasnt great. He struggled in the beginning, and whenever he seemed to get it going, he lost it again). Mo Pete played well finally. He was good attacking + shooting the ball. Andrea Bargnani scored some inside points, and played well. Jorge Garbajosa had a much better game. He actually did something defensively, and he made his shots on offense. Joey hustled, and got his first points of the season.We did better than I thought, so I am not upset at all. We play the Sixers and the Hawks next. We have to win atleast one of those games. Hopefully we go 2-0 and get our record boosted to 3-2.
The game was blacked out in SA for some stupid reason so I couldnt watch the game. Im glad to see that the Spurs came out with the win. It was definitely needed after playing terrible AT HOME agaisnt Cleveland.
I saw the first quarter, the raptors played with so much intensity, and held the spurs to only 17 points, I was sruprised by the end of the 1st. I thought we could carry it out all game.
Parker and Berry killed us, every time Parker had the ball in the 4th I was shaking my head because we couldnt stop him! We started taking some stupid shots down the stretch but I liked the way some of our bench players played, more noteably Andrea Bargnani and Jorge Garbajosa had good games, Bargnani missed a couple fade aways from the baseline but I think hes still trying to get into his confort zone.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Nov 6 2006, 07:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yep. I gave them credit and everything.</div>And I thought you were good at this cb4
