<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> January 26, 2007 - 7:00 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(12-29)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo, Sebastian Telfair, Brian Scalabrine, Allan Ray, Leon Powe</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Toronto Raptors</span> <span style="color:#000000">(21-22)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Jose Calderon</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Anthony Parker</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Jorge Garbajosa</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chris Bosh</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Rasho Nesterovic</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Morris Peterson, Andrea Bargnani, Joey Graham, Fred Jones, Kris Humphries</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce will not play (stress reaction in left foot)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak will not play (knees and ankles)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen is out for season (torn ACL/MCL)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff is out for season (back surgery).</span> <span style="color:#000000">TOR:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">T.J. Ford will not play (sore right ankle)</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 14.1 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 15.8 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 1.7 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Last 5 Games: 20.2 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 2.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 12.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.9 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Last 5 Games: 19.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.4 spg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 8.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.9 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 13.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.4 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chris Bosh</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 22.1 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 2.2 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Anthony Parker</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 11.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Andrea Bargnani</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.9 bpg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 21</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">4.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.2 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Leon Powe</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 49</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">3.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Allan Ray</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">5.2 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">TOR:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Andrea Bargnani</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 1</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">10.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.9 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">TOR:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Jorge Garbajosa</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">8.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">TOR:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Uros Slokar</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">0.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 8.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.9 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 13.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.4 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">I'm going to have Gerald as our X-Factor until he has himself a good game. He has been struggling a ton lately. However, he always has had good games against the Raptors, so hopefully that continues tonight, so maybe he can get back on track to how he was playing a week and a half ago.</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Toronto's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Morris Peterson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 11.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Mo-Pete is definitely classified as a "Celtic killer." He always shoots the lights out against us, so I'm assuming the tables won't turn tonight.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chris Bosh</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Al has been playing like a flat out star lately, a star in which Bosh is. Bosh was named the East's starting PF for the All-Star game. Al hopes to be that some day, an All-Star, and he may very well be, but the future means nothing tonight. Tonight Big Al has to play tough against Bosh and he has to play well through the ankle pain.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes - We are on a 9 game losing streak. - Toronto has won 7 of their last 10 games, including 2 straight wins. CelticBalla's Prediction We are due for a win. Will the losing streak REALLY get to 10? God, I hope not. Toronto, however, has been rolling lately. This is going to be a tight game, but I guess I'll go with us winning this one. I just don't see us losing 10 in a row, and I think our guys will come out and fight to the end. These guys deserve a win.
I strongly disagree with you guys winning this game. Have you seen Calderon lately? Hes playing like a TJ Ford and handling 40+ minutes a game. West is going to have trouble handling him tonight, and Al Jefferson, whos coming off an injury, and wont be 100%, will have his hands full with Bosh.
I think it's time for this losing streak to finally end, and I see Boston stopping the Raptors tonite.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Jan 26 2007, 02:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I strongly disagree with you guys winning this game. Have you seen Calderon lately? Hes playing like a TJ Ford and handling 40+ minutes a game. West is going to have trouble handling him tonight, and Al Jefferson, whos coming off an injury, and wont be 100%, will have his hands full with Bosh.</div> And visa-versa. Calderon will have a lot of trouble with Delonte, and especially Rondo. Al will have trouble defending Bosh, but Bosh won't have an easy night either. Have you seen Al Jefferson this year? Watch out. Also, Al isn't really "coming of an injury." He only missed the end of the game on Wednesday night and he practiced yesterday.
Ok Ill give you Al is getting better this year, (on the defensive side as well), but there is no way your convincing me about Calderon, he has been playing some excellent, excellent, ball as of late, it'll be close though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Jan 26 2007, 03:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Ok Ill give you Al is getting better this year, (on the defensive side as well), but there is no way your convincing me about Calderon, he has been playing some excellent, excellent, ball as of late, it'll be close though.</div> You don't think Calderon will have any problems defending Delonte West and keeping up with Rajon Rondo (who absolutely took T.J. Ford out of the game on both ends 2 weeks ago)? All I can say is... you are in for a treat. Calderon has improved, and he has been playing well, but to think that he'll waltz right through guards like West and Rondo, you've got another thing coming my friend.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Jan 26 2007, 03:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You don't think Calderon will have any problems defending Delonte West and keeping up with Rajon Rondo (who absolutely took T.J. Ford out of the game on both ends 2 weeks ago)? All I can say is... you are in for a treat. Calderon has improved, and he has been playing well, but to think that he'll waltz right through guards like West and Rondo, you've got another thing coming my friend.</div>Im taking you up on this. :winkglasses:
Can someone give me admin powers so I can post this all over the board? <u><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">THE TORONTO RAPTORS ARE NOW A .500 BASKETBALL CLUB!</span> </u> Im so happy!. And now we look to Indiana to become over .500 for the first time in nearly 3 years. P.S I got to love the Celtics effort, they were trying to tie the game up with less than 30 to go, I even got scared when Telfair scored that three to make the lead four, but hey, a win is a win!
this wasnt an example of our heartjust an example of bad coaching and inexperienceDoc brougth Al in WAY too late and taking Rondo out and Telfair in was a bad idea
We had it going in the 3rd, big time. Big Al had a dominant 3rd quarter (and a great game all around), especially. But we just fell apart at the end of the game, as usual. That 19-0 run by Toronto was just killer, and Bosh played some serious defense in that stretch. Doc: WTF were you thinking at the 5 minute mark? When we are in need of defense, mind you, and he has only played 3 minutes all game... you put in Bassy??? WHY? WTF is wrong with you, you idiot?!? Al Jefferson <u>20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block on 10-16 shooting</u> So, Al, how's the ankle feeling? Al showed no signs of pain tonight. He was moving very well. But WOW did he have a good game or what? Not only did he score down low a ton, not only did he rebound, but he impressed the hell out of me with his passing tonight. All night long, he made some outstanding passes out of the post and in double teams. Beautiful job. If Al can pass like this consistently and improve that little 10 foot pull-up jumper, he'll be unstoppable. Delonte West <u>15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block on 6-14 shooting</u> Delonte had a solid game. Not great, but solid. Basically normal Delonte tonight - he knocked down a few shots, he played hard, he made some nice passes, and he hustled every second he was out there (which was 42 mins). Allan Ray <u>17 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist on 6-12 shooting, 3-4 3FG in 24 mins</u> Allan Ray started off absolutely stroking it like his name was reversed to Ray Allen. My god... he just came out firing, and he sunk everything. I am so happy for A-Ray, I'm happy that he's playing so well lately (despite that 0-8 or 0-9 shooting performance the other night). No reason he should have went undrafted. No way. Gerald Green (21st birthday today, by the way) <u>12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist on 5-16 shooting, 2-10 3FG</u> Gerald got pulled early for turning the ball over. I didn't agree with the pull that early, but hey, A-Ray came in on fire, so it is what it is. But in that second quarter, Gerald Green was sensational. He hit shots, he hustled, and he made a great pass to Big Al on the break. In the second half, he did nothing but throw up 3's, and I was pissed. Exploit that beautiful mid-range game, Gerald! So, a great second quarter, and a horrid second half for Gerald. Happy birthday though. Ah, yet another Celtic is old enough to drink lol. Ryan Gomes <u>12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists in 4-7 shooting</u> This was by far the quietest game I have seen all year from Ryan Gomes. If you asked me after the game, before I looked at the box score, how many points he had, I would have guessed 4. Brian Scalabrine <u>4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block in 20 mins</u> Welcome back, Scal, and AWESOME job defensively tonight. Scal, once again, was the only guy that played solid defense on Chris Bosh. Very good game from Scal tonight. Rajon Rondo <u>8 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal on 4-7 shooting in 13 mins</u> Rondo's numbers look very solid throughout, but he didn't have a great game. Of course, he made a few nice plays, but Allan Ray and Delonte were playing well too, so Doc had no choice but to play them. I expected more from Rondo on a night where he played a quiet Calderon and Darrick Martin. Kendrick Perkins <u>2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists on 1-2 shooting in 20 mins</u> Perk really made some beautiful passes into the paint tonight, like he has been doing for 2 years now, but the aggressiveness and energy wasn't there. The reason why is because he got into foul trouble, and when Perk gets into foul trouble, he takes himself out of the game. He gets frustrated and it negatively effects his game on the court. That's what happened tonight. Sebastian Telfair, Leon Powe, Michael Olowokandi Bassy should not have been in there in the 4th, Doc is an idiot. Rondo easily should have been there. Powe/O played too little to even say anything about. <div align="center">Player of the Game: Al Jefferson 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block</div> EDIT: Congrats to the Raptors for accomplishing the impossible: a .500 team in the Atlantic Division!!! WOW! Next Game: Sunday (1/28/07) at home vs. Washington at 6:00 pm ET.
that gtame was so exciting, I thought Boston would come back with under 1 min, but the fouls they got cost them and the raps become a 500 team wooooooraps=playoffs. Bosh wil get his first playoff experiance
Nice good comeback in the 4th quarter. I was starting to get worried during the 3rd when Celtics had their run. But then there was a whole change around in the 4th. Jorge with a steal, Bosh with a 3 point play. Then the whole momentum swung and went our direction. Mo Pete and AP were doing very well. Playoff here we come.
