Details: When: Friday, November 19th Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto Time (Seattle): 4:00 TV: Fox Sports, League Pass Projected Starters: <font color="green">Seattle (8-1)</font> Luke Ridnour Ray Allen Rashard Lewis Reggie Evans Jerome James <font color="Purple">Toronto (4-5)</font> Rafer Alston Jalen Rose Vince Carter Chris Bosh Loren Woods Injury Troubles: <font color="green">Seattle</font> Vitaly Potapenko: Broken hand, ruled out. Ibo Kutluay: Knee tendinitis, ruled out. Flip Murray: Quadricep strain, ruled out. <font color="Purple">Toronto</font> Alvin Williams: Inflamed knee, ruled out. Donyell Marshall: Strained hamstring, ruled out. Roger Mason Jr: Sprained ankle, ruled out. Brief Notes: <ul> [*]In their first meeting of the season exactly a week ago, both teams went head to head as two of the hottest squads in the league, with Seattle coming out with a one point victory. How times can quickly change; the Sonics are still smoking, with eight in a row, while the Raptors have lost their last three since that game. However now the ball is in Toronto's court, literally, as they summon Seattle north to Canada, in a bid to win their third straight road game, and keep their streak going. [/list] <ul> [*]Their last meeting was marred with some contentious refereeing on both sides of the coin, but this time it's the Raptors who have the home court advantage. Don't expect to see Ray Allen foul out again, it happens once in a blue moon, as does Vince Carter actually driving to the rack, coincidentally, and he looked for a call that never came on an attempted gamewinner last time around. [/list] <ul> [*]Both Carter and Allen had their offseason packed with trade rumours, but things have quietened down considerably in the Ray camp. Carter on the other hand continues to drift away from his own team, and as a result rumours of him going to Portland have gotten hotter and hotter. Can Vince pull the proverbial finger out and lead his team again? I say no, I think he's past the stage where he's going to be able to repair his damage in Toronto, but you can never completely count a guy with that much ability out. [/list] <ul> [*]Ridnour Watch: Luke struggled a bit against Rafer Alston last time they met, but still hit one of the biggest shots of the game with a clutch three in the final period, and his overall statline was quite good too. He comes off 10 points and three steals in an ugly win over New Jersey, and will hope he is well prepared for Alston the second time around.[/list] <ul> [*]Toronto's squad is back to full strength with Donyell Marshall placed on the IL to make room for the return of electrifying forward Pape Sow.*[/list] All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread. <font size="1">*Just to clear up any misunderstandings, this is also a joke, and I'll be here all week. Try the steak.</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post"> <font size="1">*Just to clear up any misunderstandings, this is also a joke, and I'll be here all week. Try the steak.</font></div> Mushroom sauce?
No reason the Supes can't pull this one out. The Raptors have been reeling lately and there is a rumored bad blood between Vince and coach Sam Mitchell. As long as we continue to defend the way that we have been we should be in a position to beat inferior opponents. But I don't want to get too optimistic b/c that is when we will have a let down.
I think the Sonics will be in for a surprise as Pape Sow should be able to use his quickness to take Reggie Evans off the dribble, and put up some big numbers. Pape Sow should put up something in the lines of 27 points, 3 blocks and 11 rebounds in a winning effort as the Raptors take this game 98-97.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">I think the Sonics will be in for a surprise as Pape Sow should be able to use his quickness to take Reggie Evans off the dribble, and put up some big numbers. Pape Sow should put up something in the lines of 27 points, 3 blocks and 11 rebounds in a winning effort as the Raptors take this game 98-97.</div> You're correct. The presence of Pape "Reap What You" Sow can never be overlooked. The Sonics need to throw some double or even triple teams on him in the paint. Other than Sow however, the Sonics should be able to match up with the Raptors nicely just like the last game they played (which the Sonics won )
If VC is really going to be traded he will likely not play tonight and neither will Jalen Rose. Either way, both players will be well aware of the trade rumours and could likely be destracted.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post"> Either way, both players will be well aware of the trade rumours and could likely be destracted.</div> Or unmotivated.
Who the hell is Pape Sow??? You guys mock him all the time but I have never-ever heard about the guy.
This was one of the first games where I could see Flip fitting back into the rotation, but only for 5 or 10 minutes at the most.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">Another day, another win, another notch on the AD 6th man of the year belt.</div> He had to battle Hedo Turkoglu We all know why the Raptors lost: P. Sow DNP - Coach's Decision Since when did Antonio Daniels become a Raptor killer? Why was Jalen Rose launching like a mad man, Milt still sucks, Carter actually played decent today but didn't get the ball in the 4th, the Raptors half-court offense is too disorganized, what's with Sam Mitchell's substitutions, and Bosh needs to take it easy on the turnovers.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">This was one of the first games where I could see Flip fitting back into the rotation, but only for 5 or 10 minutes at the most.</div> To take a quote from Jadakiss, "Calm down before I calm you down." Flip will work his way into the rotation just fine, and I'm hoping that the Sonics will continue their winning ways once he does. We're playing exceptionally well w/o Flip, but don't discredit the contributions that he will make once he gets healthy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">To take a quote from Jadakiss, "Calm down before I calm you down." Flip will work his way into the rotation just fine, and I'm hoping that the Sonics will continue their winning ways once he does. We're playing exceptionally well w/o Flip, but don't discredit the contributions that he will make once he gets healthy.</div> They're playing so well I would hate for him to come in and somewhat disrupt the chemistry of the team.
