<font size="5">For Starters: </font> <u><font color="Purple">Raptors: </font> </u> <div align="center"> <font color="Purple">PG:Rafer Alston SG:Morris Peterson SF:Eric Williams PF:Chris Bosh C:Rafael Araujo</font></div> <u><font color="SeaGreen">Timberwolves:</font></u> <div align="center"> <font color="MediumTurquoise">PG:Anthony Carter SG: Trenton Hassell SF:Latrell Sprewell PF: Kevin Garnett C:John Thomas </font></div> The Raptors are coming off a nice comeback win against the lowly Hornets Sunday afternoon, and should look to take this game against the injury-ridden Timberwolves team. Sam Cassell is out with a strained right hamstring, Olowokandi is out for 3 more games including this one due to the league suspension. Wolves still have their two core guys in Sprewell and Garnett and the Raptors are on the back end of a back-to-back series so it is absolutely imperative that the Raps set the tone early in the game and come out with passion and energy. Raptors NEED to keep the Wolves under 100 points, as we are 0-18 when giving up more than 100 points. 20 and 100 is the magic number for Bosh and the Raptors. <font color="Red">Interesting Matchups:</font> <div align="center">Chris Bosh vs. Kevin Garnett </div> Bosh is always up for challenges such as this. He loves playing against Garnett and again, he should stay aggressive and demand the ball. I predict a new career high in points for Bosh in this game. <div align="center">The Red Rocket vs. Kevin Garnett </div> Remember the game at Air Canada Centre when the Red Rocket yanked KG down and KG made all that fuss? It'll be interesting to see how Bonner plays from behind the "enemy line". <font size="3"><font color="Blue">The X-Factor:</font></font> <div align="center"><font color="Red">CB4 delivers 20+, Mo Delivers Mo Onions</font> </div> Raptors are now 9-0 when Bosh scores 20 or more points and Bosh is coming off his 7th consecutive double double with Mo Pete looking to join the 9-0 club. Bosh needs to continue to deliver his amazing performance and Morris Peterson needs to continue to mix up his game by driving and nailing the long range bombs. Hopefully by now everybody on the Raps roster except Lamond Murray knows that the only way to win on the road is by working the inside-out game staying away from ill-advised shots. CB4 & Mo are becoming a nice duo and they will need to continue to thrive off of each other to win this game. I predict a close one, Raptors win 101 - 98.
nice preview, since bosh is facing garnett, im predicting another big game, Bosh goes off for 30 points 14 rebounds! Raptors win by 4
Bosh has a career high of 65 points!!! This will be my first loss prediction, I think Raptors the Raptors lose by 10. I think the defending MVP will defend his home ground against Bosh. I think KG goes for 28. Wolves 97 Raps 87 Bosh has a tendency to be more agressive against elite players, so we'll see. NOTE! this is the 2nd game of a back to back, which also factors into my decision.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SkiptoMyLue11:</div><div class="quote_post">Bosh has a career high of 65 points!!! This will be my first loss prediction, I think Raptors the Raptors lose by 10. I think the defending MVP will defend his home ground against Bosh. I think KG goes for 28. Wolves 97 Raps 87 Bosh has a tendency to be more agressive against elite players, so we'll see. NOTE! this is the 2nd game of a back to back, which also factors into my decision.</div> 65 points eh? I wish... Granted, the Raps are on the back end of the back-to-back series but keep in mind that Wolves are missing Sam Cassell and Michael Olowokandi.
OH YAH! Kandi man is out and Anthony Carter looks like zo, or Zo is playin for the wolves??? lol is gonna be fun. Wonder how its gonna be with matt he was scared SH!! when KG wa going after him. i say raps in OT, im always optomistic
It'll be funny if Hoffa does it this time. Garnett and Sprewell's got nothing on Hoffa. Nodda, period.
I'm taking the T'Wolves in this one. We have this new lineup that Flip was made which was been effective in it's only two games in which we defeated the Nuggets and the Blazers. The lineup now has a more defensive look to it with Anthony Carter as the starter at pointguard and Hassell the starter at SF. We have some weapons now off of the bench with Hudson and Wally. Hudson has stepped it up in the past 2 games, scoring 15+ points in each of them. Garnett really hasn't had big games offensively, yet he is doing the right things to help this team to a win. Spree is finally on track, hopefully, scoring 25+ in his past two games. I take the T'Wolves in this one. Minny: 95 Toronto: 87
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinKanaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">It'll be funny if Hoffa does it this time. Garnett and Sprewell's got nothing on Hoffa. Nodda, period. </div> i would pay to see hoffa go at it with them
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DerfZ:</div><div class="quote_post">i would pay to see hoffa go at it with them</div> Man o Man, Hoffa is a beast! THe brazilian beast aint no one gonna mess with him!
this ones a no brainer imo. despite our play of late...we still stink it up on the road....mini have won a couple lately, and struggling hudson and spree are playing better. plus the fact that mini already lost to us this season...i dont think KG will let it happen again.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dj_premium_plus:</div><div class="quote_post">this ones a no brainer imo. despite our play of late...we still stink it up on the road....mini have won a couple lately, and struggling hudson and spree are playing better. plus the fact that mini already lost to us this season...i dont think KG will let it happen again.</div> I think if we were to draw a few iso plays on whoever Anthony Johnson for Rafer, so he can get some easy drives would be great. Of course feed Bosh, and Arujo should also be able to outplay whoever there center is. Mo Pete should be able to cover Spree decently, and Hudson isn't the greatest offensive player. It could be ours if the price is right!
even though minny has been playing bad as of late. i believe thay have to come out of this slump i predict a win for minny.
Well we're on the road, so that's not a good thing, I just can't see us winning on the road, I see Bosh getting less than 10 shots again, and us losing it in about the 3rd-early 4th quarter. Twolves 98 - Raptors - 92
58-45 Toronto at the half. They got Chris Bosh going early, Rafer's doing fine, Marshall has 11, only player that doesn't have much going for them is Mo Pete with foul trouble.
A big surprise since we're on the road playing back-to-back games. Solid 1st half's for bosh, donyell, and rafer. Seems like mo pete still has trouble getting a good start on the road, but a good first half for us.