<div align="center"> <font color="Purple">Toronto Raptors</font> (3-1) @ <font color="Blue">Utah Jazz </font> (4-0)</div> When: Wednesday 10th November, 9:00PM (EST) Where: Delta Center, Utah Local TV: rsn National TV: NBALP, RTV <div align="center">Projected Starting Lineups</div> <div align="center"><font color="Blue">Utah Jazz</font></div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><font size="1">Keith McLeod, Gordan Giricek, Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, Jarron Collins</font></div> <div align="center"><font color="Purple">Toronto Raptors</font></div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><font size="1">Rafer Alston, Vince Carter, Jalen Rose, Chirs Bosh, Loren Woods</font></div> Key Matchup Jalen Rose vs. Andrei Kirilenko Both of these guys are extremely versatile and can play many positions. Rose can score a lot, and is a big part of the Raptors offense. However Andrei Kirilenko has been swatting shots left, right and centre. If Rose can somehow overcome Kirilenko's defense, the Raptors will have a good shot at winning this game, if he can't then others are going to have to step up. Prediction The Jazz are at home and have had a chance to rest. The Raptors will have just played a game vs. the Kings on the road. I think home court advantage and energy levels will come through in the end. Jazz 103 Raptors 90.
I'm not gonna miss this game thats for sure, these teams are the best in the NBA as of right now and are on win streaks. Im all hyped for this one, Im gonna cheer on the raptors though, my prediction Rafer gets a double double 20 points 14 assists, raptors take it 99-97.
This should be the toughest game the Jazz have played thus far. The Jazz have the homecourt advantage and a day off. I figure the Kings will come out ready to do some damage after their horrible start, so I think they will tire out the Raptors. Rafer will be alot for the Jazz PG's to handle, yet I think that will be about the only advantage the Raptors have. I say the Jazz will pull this one out 102-93
I wouldn't be surprised to see the Jazz shift AK47 to Shooting Guard to make things difficult for Vince Carter. Harpring, who is another good defender, would then take Jalen Rose.
The that concerns me the most is Utah's offinsive explosion. Over the years, Utah have been known for their great defense, but the last couple of games they exploded offinsivley and torcherd Denver twise. It'll be a shock if AK doesn't guard VC for the majority of the game. I'll be very happy if we're down by 10 or less with 5 mins to go in the game.
Last year, Kirilenko guarded Vince during their last meeting. The result, Vince shot over 50%, and he dunked over Kirilenko, and eventually won the game. If Vince drives, hes still unstoppable. The X-factor is VInce. If its another performance like against Sacremento, Raptors will be down by 40, no jokes.
The Marquee matchup is Vince Versus AK, and AK versus Vince. Even though they are not matched up at the same posistions, there's no way Rose will be able to contain Andre. Kirilenko will take on VC, and hopefully Vince will give him another facial with the left hand like he did last year My Prediction: Utah 99 Toronto 92 Boozer will tear up Bosh inside and will be the player of the game with 23 Points and 14 Boards and 2 blocks.
AK would most likely guard VC. Even though i want the raptors to win i think utah will come out on top. i also expect much better games by bosh and carter. prediction: jazz 100 raptors 95.
raps on the back side of a back to back going into utah is a tough situation. the odds are stacked agains the raps thats for sure. we do match up well with this team though, because i think we have the advantage at the point, the 2 spot and are pretty evenly matched at center. bosh is due for a big game since he started the season on fire, but struggled the passed 2 games, so i expect big things from him. the raps arent going to let what happend last night happen again. they got embarassed and im thinking they will come out on fire. im gonna go out on a limb here and predict a 95-92 victory for the raps.
Jazz have been pretty ugly so far tonight, and are lucky to be leading 79-76 at the end of the 3rd. The Raports have played better in previous games than what they are right now as well. Boozer and AK47 were struggling early on, although they're starting to get going now. Keith McLeod is playing great with 16 points, but he only has 2 assists and really should be passing more for a starting PG. Gordan Giricek and Raja Bell are both playing well for Utah.
raps win, cb4 dominates and lammond leads the benchwarmer revolt. i loved seeing vince and jalen sitting the last quarter, they didn't share the ball at all.
I hope that Sloan tinkers with the Jazz' rotation after this game, because some players are performing better than others. Jarron Collins is starting, but contributing little and I tihnk Okur should replace him as the starter, Okur had another good game today with 10 rebounds, 7 points in 21 minutes. Arroyo should be back for our next game, which will be a welcome return as Keith McLeod is far more of a bench player than starter. Something just isn't working for the Jazz, they went to the line 35 times to the Raptors 15. There were some positives to come out of the game, and the Jazz need to make sure this is just a bad game and not the start of a trend of bad games.
Okur entered training camp out of shape. He worked hard to get in shape, and how he is in shape. But just before the season started, he got a nasty eye injury which he's only just recovered. The eye injury meant limited minutes and preformance for him, but now that he is fully healthy and has learned the Jazz system, I see no reason why he shouldn't start. Utah are paying him 48 million over 6 years after all.
I found it interesting how the Raptors were making a run at the end of the 4th quarter but Jerry Sloan never once called a timeout. There were obviously struggling but he kept them in there and never once did they regroup. The final 2 minutes in the game and not one timeout was called. Just an observation.....
