at Toronto Raptors (30-43) at Indiana Pacers(55-20) Friday April 2, 2004 7:30 p.m. EST Venue: Conseco Fieldhouse Probable Starters PG: Jalen Rose (TOR)/Jamaal Tinsley (IND) SG: Morris Peterson (TOR)/Reggie Miller (IND) SF: Vince Carter (TOR)/Ron Artest (IND) PF: Donyell Marshall (TOR)/Jermaine O'neal (IND) C: Chris Bosh (TOR)/Jeff Foster (IND) Coaches Kevin O'neill (TOR)/Rick Carlisle (IND) 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. [*]Don't Rely on Long Jumpshots: 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, this has been a key for a long time, mainly because it keeps happening. [*]Contain Jermaine O'neal: The Raptors post players need to do a good job covering Jermaine O'neal in the low block and boxing out while rebounding. He's a proven scorer who puts up 20 points a game, and does a great job on the glass. If the Raptors want to win this game they need to limit the Pacers chances on the glass, and it starts with this man. [/list] <font color="red">thefranchise3's Prediction:</font> With eight games left, the Raptors are 3.5 games back of Boston for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. There play as of late hasn't been all that great due to a tough schedule, and it continues tonight. The Raptors need to play with maximum intensity to win this game, but I don't see that happening. Pacers by 12.
decent offensive first quarter. no D, but we only down by 5 i was surprised to see vince is shooting 46% against the pacers...which basically means, when ron ron is guarding him, hes still avg'ing 24 points at 46% thats pretty damn good against arguably the leagues best on the ball defender
complete blowout. I didn't even see it. But NBA.com socreboard says it all. 84-64. Damn. The Raptors were done and are done..too bad...Now we wait for hte off season. Unless for some strange reason we get into the playoffs *prays*
It pains me to see the Raptors like this, I've been impatient because I have to wait a long time for the season to begin again. Hopefully we can pick up some good players in the off season and have another shot at the playoffs next year. One thing that puzzled me though, is that they've lost all intensity. Remember when we won 5 straight when Rose and Marshall came, all the way back in December? That seems like such a distant memory, things changed pretty quickly.
Pulseless Raptors clobbered <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"The people it's toughest on are those guys in the locker room. If you ask them, every one of them thinks I'm going to get fired after all the articles have come out," he said, alluding to the firestorm of criticism from unnamed players and front office sources recently. "Unfortunately, it puts those guys in a tough position because they don't really know, or have a feeling who, they are going to play for. I don't know what my situation is, that's something we'll deal with at the end of the year." Last night, it looked like no one wanted to deal with anything resembling a full effort. The Raptors scored 10 points in the second quarter and 10 in the fourth as they simply did not compete. "We brought nothing to the floor tonight," said Carter, who finished with 21 points but only 12 in the final three quarters. "Our energy, our effort was just not there. We talk about where we want to go, but yet we're not showing it."</div>
