vs Toronto Raptors (27-37) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (28-36) Wednesday March 10, 2004 7:00 p.m. EST Venue: Air Canada Centre Probable Starters PG: Milt Palacio (TOR)/Jeff McInnis SG: Vince Carter (TOR)/LeBron James (CLE) SF: Michael Curry (TOR)/Eric Williams (CLE) PF: Donyell Marshall (TOR)/Carlos Boozer (CLE) C: Chris Bosh (TOR)/Zydrunas Ilgauskas (CLE) Coaches Kevin O'neill (TOR)/Paul Silas (CLE) <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers try to extend their season-high winning streak to five games and improve their playoff positioning on Wednesday when they visit the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. The Cavaliers, who are tied with Miami for the eighth and final Eastern Confernce playoff berth, are coming off a 108-102 triumph at Atlanta on Monday. Rookie sensation LeBron James scored 34 points, Carlos Boozer aded 25 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas 20 for Cleveland, which held a 19-point lead after one quarter but trailed by one at the break. ----- The Raptors slipped into 10th place in the East with a 94-84 overtime setback at Indiana on Tuesday. Only two games separate sixth place from 11th. </div> Click here for the complete preview at NBA.com Keys to the Game From a Raptors perspective <ul> [*]Limit turnovers: The Raptors need to be smart with the ball and try to limit turnovers to limit their fast break chances. Limiting fast break points has been a key for a long time, mainly because the Raptors continue to lose games with either a lot of turnovers or too many fast break points given up. They can't win playing careless basketball. [*]Contain Big Z: Last time the Raptors played the Cavs Zydrunas Ilgauskas got off to a quick start in the first quarter, so it will be important to stop Big Z early in the game to prevent the Cavs easy chances. [*]Get the Ball in the post: Donyell Marshall and Chris Bosh need to get a lot touches for some high percentage shots, and more consistent scoring. Live by the three, die by the three, in this case the long two, inconsistent scoring has put the Raptors into a hole as of late. There have been many times when the Raptors have constantly forced up jump shots, causing them to shoot a lower percentage a lose the game because of it, one example was last night at Indiana. [/list] <font color="red">thefranchise3's Prediction:</font> The Cavs have won 4 games in a row and are on a recent hot streak, if the Raptors can get off to a good start, and continue their success late in the game, they have a good shot at winning. Raptors by 3 in a close one.
Wow...2 games speereate 11th and 6th spot...what a pitiful eastern conference.. Both teams are in a battle for the last couple of play off spots. Hopeuflly this will be an exciting game. Although Cleveland seems to have a very good chance at making the playoffs, and have been on a win streak, I too think that this win will get the ball rolling for some Raptors wins. I think it will be a very close 2 point win for the Raptors
I hope the reason Michael Curry is in the starting lineup is so that he could guard Lebron instead of letting Carter guard him. If it is then we'll have a much better chance at winning this game. If Strickland can give us a repeat performance and we can crash the boards and gang rebound like we did in the first half of the Indiana game, then we should come out with a win. CB4 also has to do a good job containing Big Z the way he did against JO last night. On the other hand, the Cavs have been hot lately winning 8 of their last 10 games. Lebron is especially hot right now showing he can finish in clutch situations as well. We have to find a way to contain him. The Raptors also do poorly in the tail ends of back-to-back games. Especially in overtime last night, we looked absolutely gassed out. I think the fatigue could ultimately decide the winner of tonight's game. I want the Raptors to take this game but I have a feeling we'll run out of energy at the end and the Cavs will take advantage of that. Cavs by 4.
Goddamn, if Heat lose to Hornets and Raps beat Cavs(likely to happen) THREE teams will be tied for that last 8th spot. Ha, this is why I love the East man, so unpredictable it's hilarious. Oh, and my friend's brother got a courtside ticket for this game man, AHHHH!!!!
Raptors win by 5, they started off slow, but if they can slow Cleveland down, they will win. Like Rautins was saying, so many people underrate Cleveland and think its only Lebron, but don't realize they had 2 of the best Eastern bigmen in their starting lineup, have a good pg, then Lebron and Eric Williams who is a good defender and can also score.
I was workin again, so whut happened, Vince got hurt AGAIN?? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Im not even gonna front, I love my team, but this is too hilarious.... AGAIN??
Vince didn't get hurt, anyways it was all Ilguaskas, Boozer and McInnis, Lebron and Carter didn't do much and Toronto lost another game due to lack of intensity and obviously their futile small frontcourt. Z with 30 points, Boozer with 11 points and 13 boards, McIniss with 11 points, 7 assists and 0 turnover, and Nailon with 15 points off the bench. Marshall recoreded a double double for Toronto with 18 points and 12 boards.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Skip:</div><div class="quote_post">Goddamn, if Heat lose to Hornets and Raps beat Cavs(likely to happen) THREE teams will be tied for that last 8th spot. Ha, this is why I love the East man, so unpredictable it's hilarious. Oh, and my friend's brother got a courtside ticket for this game man, AHHHH!!!!</div> I was at the game, I had platinum seats, its just unfortunate that it had to happen tonight. The Raptors played awful defense, no intensity at all, they gave the Cavs tons of open shots and easy buckets. Big Z roasted everyone tonight. As for Vince, he didn't get hurt again, overall it was a boring game, nothing exciting happened.
I asked why he left the game early, he was holding his jaw. I am sure he did not leave early to catch the early flight.
He got nailed pretty good by Boozer there toward the end!! I read somewhere in a recap that it was his Braces.......Tank
Yea he always goes out when he gets hit because you can't bleed on the court. The Raptors lose in a game that was doomed from the start, the Raptors let the Cavs gain a big first quarter lead and never recovered from that. The Cavs were led by Ilguaskas who had a game high 30 points and looked unstoppable against the Raptors. The Raps were again manipulated in the paint, and were outrebounded 48-38. Boozer and McInnis were also good for the Cavs and Lee Nailon had 15 points off the bench for them. The 2 players people came to watch, Vince and Lebron had 16 points on 6-16 shooting and 14 points on 4-13 shooting respectively. The Raptors cut the lead down at times, but again went back to taking long jumpers and gave the Cavs control again. Donyell Marshall again was the only consistency for the Raptors recording a double double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.The Cavaliers shot 51.9% to the Raptors 42.4%, but committed 10 turnovers to the Raptors 5. Highlights of the game: Milt Palcio was held to 8 minutes with hurting teamuncitis Raptors Game to Game Consitency: Donyell Marshall, and Vince getting hit in his face and bleeding because of his braces Box Score Big O Recap Recap
We just flat out STUNK tonight. I knew we would most likely lose, but I didn't think we'd be THAT bad. You got to tip your hats off to the Cavs though. Ever since the trade they've turned themselves around and are now a pretty tough team to beat. They have a lot more talent than I actually thought they do. We did a good job containing Lebron but as expected, the Big Z proved to be too much to handle. We got to regroup and bring our A game for Sunday's match-up against Atlanta.
No energy, no heart and too many jumpshots. Raptors defence has been able to hold off opponents in the past but their legs just weren't there. The Cavs just wanted it more than the Raptors did.
Jumpers Jumpers Jumpers Jumpers and more Jumpers have been taken by the Raps! .. I hear KO screams at them " Drive Inside .. Drive Inside " .. they drive for one time and then take 7 jumpers!! .. As Wade once said : " Settling for the J shows weakness, Driving shows your mentality " .. This thing really pisses me off .. are they afraid of contant .. and I mean everybody except Milt and Rod
I predicted a loooong time ago (before we started that 9 game losing streak) that the Raps would most likely NOT make the playoffs. If we lose on Sunday against the Hawks, you can book it.
Ecpect more from the Raptors next time they face the Cavs, Raps were tired from the Pacers game and it showed.
