at Toronto Raptors (31-49) at Detroit Pistons(54-27) Tuesday April 13, 2004 7:30 p.m. EST Venue: Air Canada Centre Probable Starters PG: Jalen Rose (TOR)/Lindsey Hunter (DET) SG: Morris Peterson (TOR)/Richard Hamilton (DET) SF: Vince Carter (TOR)/Tayshaun Prince (DET) PF: Donyell Marshall (TOR)/Rasheed Wallace (DET) C: Chris Bosh (TOR)/Ben Wallace (DET) Coaches Kevin O'neill (TOR)/Larry Brown (DET) 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. [*]Fast Break Points: Lately the Raptors have settled for their weak half court offense, and have struggled. Tonight they need to earn some fast break points or get to the line while doing so, if they can play with that kind of mentality they can jump on a huge lead. [*]Contain Richard Hamilton: In three games against the Raptors this season Richard Hamilton is averaging 25 ppg leading the Pistons to a 3-0 record so far against the Raptors this season. If the Raptors want a win tonight they'll need to shut him down, especially in the fourth quarter. He had 20 points four days ago against the Raptors in a Pistons 74-66 win, but late in the game he scored some quick buckets that iced the game.[/list] <font color="red">thefranchise3's Prediction:</font> With nothing but pride to play for, the Raptors will head into the off season looking for a new GM, a new coach, and a stronger lineup. Considering the Pistons are 3-0 this season against the Raptors I think they'll come out of this game 4-0. Pistons by 8. <font size="1">All player photos courtesy of NBA.com</font>
Our games are just for fun now and maybe we can give Lamond some time so he can be more marketable, will KO do it, no. Anyways I say the Pistons take this one by 6, we put up a good fight last time and this time we're home.
No way Raptors would win, they look like they have given the season up, and for a good reason, with job security so thin now. Pistons by 11.
22-19 raptors after one quarter, another bad start shooting wise. (40%) 15-13 rebounding advantage though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AirJordan:</div><div class="quote_post">Toronto won...ha, proved you all wrong. </div> Why should it be a surprise? No Sheed No Billups Starters being rested most of the game Darko playing when only down by 7 The main offensive threat heading into the game Mike James, was off I'm surprised you guys even played Carter at all, but I guess you want to end the season on a high but surely the draft is more important.
^ EXACTLY Detroit wasn't even playing at half of its full strength...and i scorn at them for doing so cause it lead to a victory for us. Oh well...last home game, so a win is ok i guess for all the dedicated fans. And yeah, it seems like Vince isn't even trying when he pulls off a sick dunk like that. But did you guys see the dunk Ham did??? VICIOUS
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Why should it be a surprise? No Sheed No Billups Starters being rested most of the game Darko playing when only down by 7 The main offensive threat heading into the game Mike James, was off I'm surprised you guys even played Carter at all, but I guess you want to end the season on a high but surely the draft is more important.</div> Vince played the least minutes out of the starting five, and didn't play much in the fourth. A win is a win I dont care who they have on. P.S - Darko got the crap blocked out of him by Chris Bosh?
Yea its good that we also put Vince on the bench early, don't want him getting some injury while out there. He's actually been pretty injury free for a while, not even any of those small ones like the braces injuries. ...and yes Bosh did reject Darko like their was no tommorow.
lol i was excited when i saw vince on the break away, but after seeing the dunk....surprising i was kinda unimpressed... It just looked too easy lol, not saying its bad or anything but i think he could of done better or just slammed it in harder. i just miss the days where he would slam it in with authority and style with power and then scream on the way back, vince with an edge
I think he should be the first player to do a 540 dunk in an NBA game. It doesn't look like it would be a stretch for him at all, seeing as he glided effortlessly for that sweet one hander tonight. Good stuff.
He puts not effort into doing spectacular dunks, its like nothing for him. When you see other guys doing it, its like they're trying so hard but Carter is just chilling.
That was nice dunk, so fukin smooth the way he just glided like that 360... see, that's the difference between him and the rest of the dunkers. Guys like TMac, JRich and Kobe can heat it up but when they dunk, no matter what kind of dunks they do, 360, off the board, windmill, it's just not the same as when Vince do it... it's like when HE jumps, he dont jump, it's like he rides the air, there's no force in it. So no matter how hard Kobe or any other dunkers try to do a spectacular dunk, it cant measure up to his... only dunker who coulda gone against VC is MJ, period. P.S. his legs were kinda crippled tho when he was in the air, eh?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">He puts not effort into doing spectacular dunks, its like nothing for him. When you see other guys doing it, its like they're trying so hard but Carter is just chilling.</div> see Ricky Davis
You gotta show some love for CB4 too, he did a pretty good dunk as well ..... I think one reason why VC's dunks look so effortless compared to say J-Rich and Kobe is because he probably has bigger hands than them. If you look at how VC does a windwill and compare it to other player's windwills, you'll see that everyone else starts off with two hands and ends up with one. Carter has the bigger hands to palm the ball all the way through the windwill so that's why it looks so effortless. His 360 dunk did surprise me though. It took me back to the good ol' days......
