Hey Everyone, Ive decided to make some game threads here and there to stirr some discussion. Enjoy!__________________________________________<div align="center"><span style="color:#000000">Welcome to <span style="color:#3333FF">BBW's</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">NBA</span> Raptors GameDay! <span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">@</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Toronto Raptors (7-10)</span> @ <span style="color:#663300">Cleveland Cavaliers (10-7)</span><span style="color:#333399">Arena:</span> Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio<span style="color:#333399">Time:</span> 7:00 PM EST</span><u><span style="color:#FF0000">Toronto Raptors Starting Lineup</span></u> <span style="color:#FF0000">PG-</span> <span style="color:#000000">TJ Ford</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SG-</span> <span style="color:#000000">Anthony Parker</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SF-</span> <span style="color:#000000">Jorge Barbajosa</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PF-</span> <span style="color:#000000">Chris Bosh</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C-</span> <span style="color:#000000">Rasho Nesterovic</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Note: Sam Mitchell is Rearranging lineups, this is the most recent.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#FF0000">v</span><span style="color:#663300">s</span>.</span><u><span style="color:#663300">Cleveland Starting Lineup</span></u> <span style="color:#663300">PG-</span> <span style="color:#000000">Eric Snow</span> <span style="color:#663300">SG-</span> <span style="color:#000000">Shannon Brown</span> <span style="color:#663300">SF-</span> <span style="color:#000000">Lebron James</span> <span style="color:#663300">PF-</span> <span style="color:#000000">Drew Gooden</span> <span style="color:#663300">C-</span> <span style="color:#000000">Zydrunas Ilgauskas</span> <u><span style="color:#000000">Injury Report</span></u>(TOR) Pape Sow- Neck- Likely to miss entire season(TOR) Morris Peterson- Left Elbow Tendon Ripped (Game Time Decision)(CLE) Larry Hughes- Ankle- (Doubtful For Today Against TO)<u><span style="color:#000000">Matchups</span></u><u><span style="color:#006600">Z meets G?</span></u> <span style="color:#000000"> Jorge vs. Big Z. Ok, Lets begin, ever since watching Big Z show off his post move and his hook in the playoffs, he has been a threat to any team. In this case, I think Garbajosa once again will have to show his European veteran skills. On the other hand, "the Great Garbo", as raptors announcer Chuck Swirsky call him, will be able to stretch the D, as Z is not a great perimeter defender. One good quality about Z is that he is aggressive in a silent way, meaning he will post you up, but won't attack you hard, just lean in little by little, and catch you on the weakside. Garbo has to use his defensive IQ to defend him today.</span><u><span style="color:#006600">Time to Rest</span></u> <span style="color:#000000">Ok Ford has been battling it out with the best PG's in the NBA lately, and I think today Ford can rest a bit. Today Ford faces a PG with similar speed, but a higher Basketball IQ. However Ford is the better playmaker, and passer, and can take Snow off the dribble. Athletically, Ford is better, and will outplay him, however Snow can use his smart to his advantage. Look for these two to be chasing each other up and down the country.</span><u><span style="color:#006600">Starting off the Bench</span></u> <span style="color:#000000">Ok were dealing with two forwards here. Two big power fowards who have big bodies and dont use them to their advantage very much. As of late, Kris Humphries has been hustling alot, and making those garbage plays. As usual, Marshall can stretch the D pretty far as he has a lot of range on his 3, and can sink the mid range jumper. Both players play differant styles of the game, but any team would take eithier style as long as they produce.</span><u><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#3333FF">RF1's X-Factor</span></span></u><span style="color:#663300"><span style="color:#CC0000"><u>Toronto</u><u>Anthony Parker</u>Ok, I keep choosing this guy as a X factor. But its about time he gets some scoring. I think if Parker gets into his comfort zone, he is easily able to sink that mid range jumper. However he rarely gets to the line, and like most Euro players need to be more aggressive. If theres one thing that Parker needs to work on, its driving to the bucket.</span><u>Cleveland</u><u>Drew Gooden</u>One thing I like about Gooden's game is his play around the basket. He can really grab some offensive rebounds and get some putbacks. However, I think he needs to be more aggressive on the defensive side, if he took a few charges here and there it wouldn't hurt. Also, his 18 foot jump shoot needs a bit of work, but its there.</span><u><span style="color:#009900">RF1's 3 Keys to the Game</span></u><span style="color:#CC0000"><u>Toronto</u>1. Take your time. It seems that Mitchell was telling this team to rush threw plays at the beginning of the season, in the past couple games, they seem to like setting a play, and taking their time to get quality shots, if so, then do it.2. Get open above the 3 point arc. Lately we havent been sinking our threes because we have been shooting them with opponents hands in our faces, if you shoot from 3, be open.3. Be aggresive on the glass, when the Raptors rebound more than another team, it usually creates 2nd chance points.</span><span style="color:#663300"><u>Cleveland</u>1. Block the inside lane, if anything the Raptors are looking to attack the rim nowadays, stop them from doing so.2. Use James, most of the time James likes to play unselfish, feed him the ball, he is one of the best in the league for a reason..3. Use the size advantage, the Cavs frontcourt is bigger than ours, they can take advantage of our small forwards like Bargnani, Humphries. </span>My thoughtsWe need this win, espcially for confidence, because if we do win, I can see the Raptors winning alot from now. We also are in position to take over the Atlantic, if we can get a good winning streak going, we could get an early lead over the Celts and Nets.<u>Pre-Game Notes:</u> Raptors looking for 3rd win in a row. Plus 1st in Atlantic. Won last 4 of 5 <u>Past 5 Game Outlook:</u> Nov. 26: (W 92-83) Nov. 28: (W 94-77) Nov. 29: (L 98-117) Dec. 1: (W 02-111)Dec. 2: (W 103-100)<u>Forward 5 Game Outlook:</u> Dec. 8: Dec. 10: Dec. 11: Dec. 13: Dec. 15: </div>
Very nice thread.And good luck tomm.Where a tough team to beat at home but hey, N.Y did it, I'm sure TOR will give one heck of a fight.And Cavs without Hughes gives TOR a better shot.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Larry Hughes @ Dec 5 2006, 11:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Very nice thread.And good luck tomm.Where a tough team to beat at home but hey, N.Y did it, I'm sure TOR will give one heck of a fight.And Cavs without Hughes gives TOR a better shot.</div>I put him in the lineup, they say hes doubtful, who usually plays intstead?
Believe it or not. Our Rookie S.Brown will get the go ahead once again. Unless Hughes feels good tomm.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Larry Hughes @ Dec 5 2006, 11:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Believe it or not. Our Rookie S.Brown will get the go ahead once again. Unless Hughes feels good tomm.</div>How is he doing? Sorry I dont know much about him, Was he a first rounder?
Yeah, he was our 1st round pick.Dan Gibson (man in my sig) has been doing great. He was out 2nd rounder and we where thinking about going for him 1st round. But we just got lucky to get both.Brown is starting to do well, I need my fav player to play tho. He needs to prove those haters wrong.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Larry Hughes @ Dec 5 2006, 11:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, he was our 1st round pick.Dan Gibson (man in my sig) has been doing great. He was out 2nd rounder and we where thinking about going for him 1st round. But we just got lucky to get both.Brown is starting to do well, I need my fav player to play tho. He needs to prove those haters wrong.</div>who Hughes? When I used to watch him in Washington, he was very soft, and couldn't sink that jumper. Looks like he has come along a long way, eithier way, I cant seem him dropping thirty with Lebron there, though he is a very skilled player, I think James has most of the spotlight.
Yeah, James is the star for sure there in Cleveland. I have always been a Cavs fan but Also watched Hughes from day 1 of his career. James is always looking to pass so if Hughes can come off that pick and nail that jumper, Cavs would be very hard to beat. Hughes needs to work up to be 100% so we can get back with the flow.
Should be a good game. We beat them before, it'll be harder on the road though. Hughes out will be a benefit, so I just say let Lebron do his thing and play good team defense. Expecting a close one tonight.
Hey, we beat them last time, heck we can do it againIf we win this, we get 1st place in the Atlantic and 3rd place in the East!
I'm glad Larry Hughes isnt playing. Maybe the Cavs will struggle offensively like they did last time we played them. Lebron will be hungry, but you never know...Any news on Bosh? btw, ive got exams tomorrow, but ill watch part of the game because it's only an english exam lol..just gotta read some poems to study for it..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Larry Hughes @ Dec 6 2006, 04:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hey, if the Cavs win they are in 1st place too. lol3 hours t'll tip off, once again, good luck.</div>I really hope we can get an early lead on that 1st place spot. Maybe the Nets arent cutt out this year, we dont know. But I hope that we can get that spot.
Yeah, Nets are just off this season.I hope it keeps up tho, they are hard to beat if they can keep losing ball games and knock them out early that would be sweet.
Yeah, if we win this game, we own the 1st seed in the Atlantic. When was the last time we were first in the Atlantic after 18 games?
Tough loss, heres a bit fo review:Bosh: Silent but Deadly today, he just didnt make an impact on todays game, his defense is ok.Parker: he was in love with his fadeaway jumper, I think he scored 16 out of 18 from that jumper.Calderon: showed some real leadership skills out there, he uses the pick and roll alot, though he sets the pick to far outFred Jones: had a great game, first good one in a while, he really stepped up for the RaptorsBargnani: had some very good defensive plays, abit too confident with that shot, though he drains it sometimes, he does drive it occasionally.Peterson still DNPFord: his usual self, though he really went cold with that shot in the 4thGarbajosa: Im really liking Garbos game these past few outings, he really make those hustle plays that make the team better, his drive needs to be used more often, also his shots need work.
Yeah, I had to study so I couldnt see the whole game, but I saw bits of it..Bosh was good in the first half, but he couldnt make a jump shot at all in the 2nd halfAnthony Parker's fadeaway was money today. Another great gameBargnani had another solid shooting day. He had 2 3pters that I saw.TJ Ford was passing the ball well as always..Fred Jones had a much better game. He let it come to him, and he had some nice drives, and a key 3 pter that could have gave us the win.But Bosh kept on missing jumpers in the closing minutes, and we choked..I didnt expect to beat Cleveland though. I think we could win the Bulls game, and if we dont, wer're in a hole again.
