vs Toronto Raptors (25-33) at Boston Celtics (24-36) Sunday February 29, 2004 1:00 p.m. EST Venue: Air Canada Centre Probable Starting Lineups PG: Milt Palacio* (TOR)/Chucky Atkins (BOS) SG: Roger Mason* (TOR)/Paul Pierce (BOS) SF: Morris Peterson* (TOR)/Jiri Welsch (BOS) PF: Donyell Marshall (TOR)/Brandon Hunter (BOS) C: Chris Bosh (TOR)/Mark Blount (BOS) *in for an injured player. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics try to hand the Toronto Raptors a ninth straight defeat when they play the back end of a home-and-home series on Sunday at the Air Canada Centre. On Friday, the Celtics rolled over the Raptors, 88-75, for just their second victory in 15 games and second in 14 under interim coach John Carroll. Paul Pierce scored 21 points, Brandon Hunter added 11 and 16 rebounds and Mark Blount had 12 and 11 for Boston, which limited Toronto to 34 percent shooting (25-of-74). Donyell Marshall contributed 19 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Raptors, who made only 3-of-19 3-point attempts. </div> Click here for the complete NBA.com preview Injury Report <u>Toronto</u> Lonny Baxter - Knee Vince Carter - Ankle Jalen Rose - Hand Alvin Williams - Knee <u>Boston</u> Raef LaFrentz - Knee Michael Stewart - Throat Keys to the Game From a Raptors Perspective <ul> [*]Get the Ball in the post: The Raptors need to take advantage of the Celtics weak front court and score some points in the paint. Donyell Marshall and Chris Bosh need to get the ball early for some easier points. [*]Limit Pierce's Free Throw Attempts: On Friday Paul Pierce hit 11-12 free throws in a winning effort against the Raptors. They have to find some way to limit his chances at the line if they have any hope in winning. [*]Limit turnovers: The Raptors need to be smart with the ball and try to limit turnovers to limit the Celtics fast break chances. Limiting fast break points has been a key for a long time, mainly because they continue to lose games with either a lot of turnovers or too many fast break points given up. [/list] <font color="red">thefranchise3's Prediction:</font> The Celtics played an excellent game on friday at home, showing the Raptors that it wouldn't be an easy game. The Raptors will try to break their losing streak at home with newly aquired Dion Glover, however I don't think he will be the answer, with all these injuries I'm picking the Celtics to win by 2.
I don't even know if this game has started or not, but I'll take the Raptors by 5. BTW, I thought Glover was going to start?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Boston 91, Toronto 82 Celtics Take Home-and-Home Series TORONTO, Feb. 29 (Ticker) -- This time it was much closer, but the result was the same for the depleted Toronto Raptors against the Boston Celtics. Boston won the season series from Toronto for the first time since 1997-98. The teams were playing the back end of a home-and-home series, with the Celtics dominating Friday's game, 88-75. </div> Click here for the complete nba.com recap Box Score Dion Glover's first performance as a Raptor was fairly impressive. He scored 13 points and grabbed 9 rebounds and dished out 4 assists. The only downside to his game today was the 5-16 shooting. The Raptors played fairly well, but they lost their 9th straight game. Injuries are killing us this season just like they did last season, and at the end of the season 2 years ago. Hopefull Vince Carter can return this tuesday at Miami. PS. Look for the Raptors at Miami preview in the coming days.
tough loss after getting so close in the 4th....highlight of the night was that SICK dunk Bosh had + the foul Oh man that was sick, wicked, and nasty!
Where's the frenchise when we need him .. last 5 minutes would have been completeley different if Vince was on the floor .. ! Hopefully @ Miami we could enjoy a " Valuble " win !
Hopefully Carter will be back by tuesday at Miami, that won't be an easy game without him... By the way... What happened to all the Raptor fans? There used to be atleast 30 replies to a game thread, and this is only the 7th.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thefranchise3:</div><div class="quote_post">Hopefully Carter will be back by tuesday at Miami, that won't be an easy game without him... By the way... What happened to all the Raptor fans? There used to be atleast 30 replies to a game thread, and this is only the 7th.</div> no kidding man, i was totally noticing this too goddamn bandwagon-pretend fans people like them should be abolished from the forum. fake ass "fans"
Just because we are having hard times they ditch us. Shows their not "die-hard". Lets hope Vince will be back Vs Miami. We played sucky again against Boston
Where are the people ... So casual ! .. Through all these losing streaks and all those disappointments, I still give KO full credit for coaching who ever is there and preparing them for the game , Kevin is a great coach, and with a fully healthy line up, we would be top 5 in the East under him !
Im not so sure about KO really. Our record at this situation is what it would be with any coach with our lineup. KO has done nothing to make us better than we are. Butch Carter was a real good coach other than his mishap with GG. KO should be like Larry Brown and have a personal relationship with the players, cuz if u'r so impersonal to players in general, do u think Carter would give his all? He just barks orders impersonally, and players wouldnt give their all to impersonal coaches.
Yeah, Vince, we so need you right now.. never realized how vital vince was, but you take the guy off and we have no movement from any player during our offensive schemes (whatever offensive schemes that we have). Poor Mo-Pete, Marshall and Bosh. Let's cross our fingers that we are still in the playoff picture when Vince and Jalen return.
