<div align="center"> Toronto Raptors: 10-19 Los Angeles Lakers: 14-12 Date: Tuesday, December 28th Time: 7:30 PM TV: FSN, NBALP, SCORE Previous Games: Raptors @ Suns 106-94 (LOSS) Heat @ Lakers 104-102 OT (LOSS) <font color="Red"><font size="1">(Sam Mitchell)</font></font> C - <font color="red">Rafael Araujo</font> (1.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.3 APG) PF - <font color="red">Chris Bosh</font> (13.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.4 APG) SF - <font color="red">Eric Williams</font> (12.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.2 APG) SG - <font color="red">Morris Peterson</font> (8.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.1 APG) PG - <font color="red">Rafer Alston</font> (13.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 6.5 APG) <font size="4">VS</font> <font color="Purple"><font size="1">(Rudy Tomjanovich)</font></font> C - <font color="Purple">Chris Mihm</font> (11.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 0.4 APG) PF - <font color="Purple">Lamar Odom</font> (14.7 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.6 APG) SF - <font color="Purple">Caron Butler</font> (13.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 APG) SG - <font color="Purple">Kobe Bryant</font> (27.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 7.2 APG) PG - <font color="Purple">Chucky Atkins</font> (11.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.7 APG) RAPTORS - <font color="red">Jalen Rose</font> Predicted Stats: 15 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists LAKERS - <font color="purple">Jumaine Jones</font> Predicted Stats: 9 points, 5 rebounds, 0 assists RAPTORS - <font color="red">Chris Bosh</font> Predicted Stats: 13 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks LAKERS - <font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font> Predicted Stats: 28 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists </div> Honestly, I haven?t seen much of the Raptors this year, but from the live game stats I?ve been watching, I?m not impressed. Chris Bosh has been given the huge push by Babcock, and this was proven by the VC trade to the Nets. Bosh is now the future of this team, with Rafer Alston and Jalen Rose?so the Raptors could be looking into the 2005 draft to pick up the missing pieces. This spells E-A-S-Y-G-A-M-E for the Lakers?but Kobe and Co. can?t run into this game with the mindset of the Spurs earlier in the year, who lost to the Raptors after suffering from a little NBA disease called ?underestimating.? The Lakers need to keep Bosh away from the rim. Tonight, this will be Odom?s job?and what?s so special about this matchup? Neither Bosh or Odom are tough, bulky and physical guys?in other words, you won?t see a Malone vs. Barkley matchup tonight?but you may see some quick moves to the hoop and maybe a great matchup on the glass. Mihm?s at home (where he plays best) and he?ll have to go head-on with Loren Woods and rookie Rafael Araujo. This should be Mihm?s better game?where he gets in a few dunks (please Mihm, more physical) and can drop 15 and 10 against the Raps. Message to Toronto: don?t double team Kobe. I?m not sure how you are going to stop him, but the double team will prove to be a mistake tonight. Instead, Toronto should keep an eye out for Atkins and Jumaine Jones making their way around their defender and trying to get open for a three. The double team will allow Kobe to find the open man?and if the Lakers are hot early, they?ll take a big lead going into halftime and could stay on fire to close out the game. Jalen Rose will be vital off the bench for Toronto (yes, I said off the bench). His shooting and PG skills may be tough for our bench players to handle late in the quarters, so expect to see a starter playing a little more than expected when Jalen is in the game (wherever Mitchell decides to stick Rose when he enters the game). The Raptors seem like an easy win, but I?m not sure if that?s the way it?ll turn out. The Lakers may struggle in the third, and Jalen?s hot hand from the three could pull it close in the 4th, but Kobe will have something to say about that, and Butler will prove to be fatal in the final 3 minutes, as the Lakers beat the Raps at home, 96-90.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Predicted Stats: 23 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks</div> Geez, how in the world is Bosh going to put up these numbers?
Hehe...Bosh's numbers were supposed to be 13 points and 11 boards. I had a 2 instead of a 1...my bad.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheNextJordan8:</div><div class="quote_post">Im looking at the Raptors Starting 5 PPG. They must get a lot of help from the bench.</div> You wouldn't know how much bench help the team get's, the bench is: Donyell Marshall, Jalen Rose, Lammond Murray, Matt Bonner, and <u>MILT The Dean of Layups PALACIO</u> Also Rafael Araujo is starting today over Loren Woods
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">You wouldn't know how much bench help the team get's, the bench is: Donyell Marshall, Jalen Rose, Lammond Murray, Matt Bonner, and <u>MILT The Dean of Layups PALACIO</u> Also Rafael Araujo is starting today over Loren Woods</div> 100% sure he's starting today? Yeah, why isn't Jalen starting, btw?
Jalen likes to hog the ball, and Eric Williams is a better defender than him, end of story lol. The managament wants to see how this group of guys play together, Jalen is not in the future plans of the team, so he's basically been demoted to the bench. I'm pretty sure Araujo is starting, Loren Woods has been injured anyways, his finger is broken or sprained or something, and he misses too much in the lane. Not like Araujo is much better, but he's big and can set screens
I'm starting to think that Chris Mihm washes his hands with butter before every quarter... SHOOT: Time for Lamar and Caron to step up..I seriously doubt Kobe will be returning in this game, that looked pretty serious, he looked like he was in a lot of pain...crap NEVERMIND: He is back out on the floor, I hope he doesn't shoot much.
1SO far is some ugly Laker bball. KB is ok has a sore shoulder, so they say. Ten turnovers already for the Lakers, still going crazy over how many threes they take, damn stop with the threes.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm starting to think that Chris Mihm washes his hands with butter before every quarter... SHOOT: Time for Lamar and Caron to step up..I seriously doubt Kobe will be returning in this game, that looked pretty serious, he looked like he was in a lot of pain...crap NEVERMIND: He is back out on the floor, I hope he doesn't shoot much.</div> Araujo might not be super skilled, but he's a beast, Mihm is trying to battle for position with him and has no balance when the ball get's passed to him, and Araujo was getting to them before him. Also with Chucky Atkins, you don't throw passes that low to a big man lol. The Jalen Rose show has begun...I don't know why we have Jalen guarding Kobe
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jesseca328:</div><div class="quote_post">1SO far is some ugly Laker bball. KB is ok has a sore shoulder, so they say. Ten turnovers already for the Lakers, still going crazy over how many threes they take, damn stop with the threes.</div> Credit about 3 TO's to Mihm...
Kobe is doing what he should be doing all year...attacking the basket..he can't settle for jumpers when he can get inside...he has three 3 point plays. 18 points total, I would love to see him attack the basket all game, that will really open up looks for other people..like just now he dished it out to Cook who just hit a 3.
Kobe is on fire...28 footer to end the half...25 points in the first half..anyone think he will top 50? 59-55 Lakers
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe is doing what he should be doing all year...attacking the basket..he can't settle for jumpers when he can get inside...he has three 3 point plays. 18 points total, I would love to see him attack the basket all game, that will really open up looks for other people..like just now he dished it out to Cook who just hit a 3.</div> That's what happens when you have Jalen Rose and Lammond Murray guarding him, and then you play zone and have mismatches like Matt Bonner on Kobe, and without a shot blocker, the zone's ability to contain penetration is just lessened. Ahh... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">i have confidence in Aroujo. He'll be something in the future</div> lol, maybe, who knows, at least he played good in his time on the floor, and had the nice scream and backboard slap on the put back. If I see Jalen or Lammond on Kobe again I'll flip, but the thing is that it's going to happen whether I like it or not.
