<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="DarkOrange">Knickerbockers:</font></u> <div align="center"> <font color="DarkOrange">PG:Stephon Marbury SG: Allan Houston SF:Jerome Williams PF: Kurt Thomas C:Nazr Mohammed</font></div> The Raptors are coming off another impressive win in Minnesota against the reigning MVP Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves. It looked like for a start Rafer finally figured out how to play the point on the road and the veterans stepped up huge in fourth quarter to seal the win for Toronto. Raptors and the Knicks split the season series 1-1 with both of them winning a game at home, and Knicks have Allan Houston back finally. Tim Thomas was replaced with the Junk Yard Dog in the starting lineup and Jamaal Crawford was activated from the injured list to play as the 6th man. He struggled mightily against the Bulls however, going 4-14 from the field and 0-7 from beyond the arc for a total of 8 points in 27 minutes of playing time. He is a streaky shooter, and the Raptors will need to contain him and Allan Houston and contest every shot he takes, in order to continue their home cooking. <font color="Red">Interesting Matchups:</font> <div align="center">Chris Bosh vs. Kurt Thomas </div> Another opponent that Bosh enjoys playing against: Bosh's summer workout mate Kurt Thomas. Bosh isn't the same Bosh that Kurt Thomas and the Knicks faced a month ago. No, he hasn't grown up. No, he didn't put on 10 pounds of muscle. But yes, he matured so much during the past month or so and is averaging a double double of 18.2 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 1.38 bpg since the Vince Carter trade. We can certainly look forward to some home cooking for CB4 and the Raps in this game. <div align="center">Morris Peterson vs. Allan Houston </div> Ah, Mo-Pete, the chef in the Raptors home cooking of late. He's shooting 50% at home and just had his career high renewed with 37 points against the Celtics at Air Canada Centre. We can look forward to another stellar performance by Mo' in this game, both offensively and defensively. <font size="3"><font color="Blue">The X-Factor:</font></font> <div align="center"><font color="Red">Inside-Out Approach to Game & Defense</font> </div> The Raptors always play well at home and should be able to take this one as long as they keep giving Bosh the touch and they work the inside-out game. Bosh just had his 8th consecutive double double of the season, which ties Donyell's record set last season, and should look to be aggressive going to the bucket, which no doubtly would allow Bosh to set a new franchise record with 9 consecutive double doubles. Mo feeds off of the 'Killer Crowd' at ACC and Bosh's passes, so if Bosh has a big game, watch out - Mo will have a huge game as well. Rafer Alston should seriously consider framing the stat sheet from the game in Minnesota, because that was by far his best performance in not just this season, but his career with 18 points (6-12 FG 2-3 3PTFG), 15 assists, 2 steals and just 2 turnovers. He should have learned a lesson that if he takes bad shots, so does the team as a whole, which usually results in a loss, and look to drive, distribute the ball first and take shots only when it is necessary. On-ball defense against Marbury, Houston and Crawford is absolutely mandatory to keep the Knicks under 100 points, and stats don't lie - Raptors are 0-18 when opponent scores over 100 points. I predict the Raptors take this one, 110 - 98.
good preview.. i really think the Raptors can pull off an important win at home against the strugling knicks 96-89 Raptors
I hope that the Knicks are too disheartened from last night's loss to the Bulls that they play sloppy so the Raps can take advantage. 93-88 raps
I'm cautiously optimistic about this game. We're at home and this is a big game, so you'd expect the players to be up for it, however this team has lost many games that were suppose to win. How ironic would it be if the Knicks lose tommorow and Lenny gets fired right after! Raps win by 14.
We're at home, I just can't envision a loss at home, really I can't. Raps win 103 - 96 Stephon Marbury will get his IMO, but the rest of the Knicks team won't do the same. I'm looking for a bounce back by MoPete, since he didn't do much last game, the home cooking should do some good for him.
It's about time we saw mrj18 isn't it? lol og15 I'm scared you're going to jinx the game tomorrow night. You said "I just can't envision the Raps winning on the road" and the Raps won last night. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed on this one that the opposite of what you said doesn't happen.
Ahhh this could not have come at a better time. The Raptors need this win against a division rival and I just had a little debate with Mj18 in the Knicks forum. The Knicks will be looking to bounce back from a bad loss to the Bulls so expect them to come out firing on all cylinders. This will be a tough game but I say the Raptors pull out a tough one. 101-99. PLEASE WIN THIS ONE!!!!!!
Should be a good game for the Raptors. I think that Mo will have a great game along with Araujo. Yes, I said it Araujo. He is do big time and I am expecting a nice double-double from him. Mo will get his points probably around 23. Alough, the Knicks are going to get a win especially since they just lost to straight by two. Marbury will do awesome, but wont pull his team to a victory. I believe that the Raps will pull this one out in a close one. Raps- 95 Knicks-89
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinKanaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">It's about time we saw mrj18 isn't it? lol og15 I'm scared you're going to jinx the game tomorrow night. You said "I just can't envision the Raps winning on the road" and the Raps won last night. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed on this one that the opposite of what you said doesn't happen. </div> lol maybe I should just have kept my mouth shut, man!
We'll I'm not mrj18 but I'll be the first one here to call the Knicks to win this game. I heard someone say that the Knicks will be disheartened by their loss against the Bulls but their logic is backwards. The Knicks have had a full day to think about that loss and I'm sure they realize just as I have realized that their next three games are winnable and winning these games will put them back at .500. So they will be coming out aggressive and with some "fire and desire". I dont see how Bosh will have a "huge" game considering we defend his position best and I'm not sold on Araujo. Peterson will have a decent game but I think Houston will have a pretty good game. It's only a matter of time until he gets that jumpshot going and I think he'll get it going agains the Raptors. The inconsistent Crawford played poorly against the Bulls which means he's about due for a good game. Marbury will rack up alot of assists and the bench, especially Sweetney and Ariza, will play well. I say Knicks win this game 98-88.
I really don't know what the "It's about time we saw mrj18" joint is about but I'm predicting a win for the Knicks. We have lost a lot the past couple of weeks and seeing the Boston, and Philadelphia have really caught up, I see us playing well tommorow. It's all good if I'm not liked up in this forum, I don't really come here that often anyways. Most of you guys I don't know. I don't remember ever seeing someone named VinKanady but I'm glad I left a lasting impression on ya. I see the Knicks wining in a bounce-back like performance for the same reasons Tribute mentioned.
Raptor fans predict Raptors win, Knick fans predict a Knicks win. I say the Raptors blow out the Knicks by 20. 118 - 98. 1. Raptors are at home, and they have been really hot there lately. 2. Knicks have been throwing together any lineup possible lately with JYD starting, not sure if he still is, TT out, Crawford I think came back but struggled. The Knicks need to develop some more chemistry with a consistent starting five. I say the Raptors take advantage of the Knick's poor defense! Now I'm a Raptor fan in a Raptor forum, so my viewpoint is absolutely correct! I think this will be a great game if both teams bring it. Two Atlantic rivals with an important game to keep progressing towards the almighty amazing .500 mark! Even if the Raptors lose I think I will be highly entertained. I think even Knicks fans can agree on that.
I'm crossing my fingers for the Raps and Knicks to meet in the playoffs. Renew the rivalry from a few years ago.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SkiptoMyLue11:</div><div class="quote_post">Raptor fans predict Raptors win, Knick fans predict a Knicks win. I say the Raptors blow out the Knicks by 20. 118 - 98. 1. Raptors are at home, and they have been really hot there lately. 2. Knicks have been throwing together any lineup possible lately with JYD starting, not sure if he still is, TT out, Crawford I think came back but struggled. The Knicks need to develop some more chemistry with a consistent starting five. I say the Raptors take advantage of the Knick's poor defense! Now I'm a Raptor fan in a Raptor forum, so my viewpoint is absolutely correct! I think this will be a great game if both teams bring it. Two Atlantic rivals with an important game to keep progressing towards the almighty amazing .500 mark! Even if the Raptors lose I think I will be highly entertained. I think even Knicks fans can agree on that.</div> I don't think it will be a blow out. Nowadays you never know what team will blowout the Knicks, but the Knicks have extra fight in themselves and more of a will. They were even trying to defend Lenny and drop all of the firing speculation. TT was injured and playing like a bum so he was expected to be removed from the starting lineup. Crawford had just returned from that turf toe injury in which he missed 10 games. You're right, the Knicks defense is not good at all, but I think that will is what will propel them to victory. I'm going with a 100-88 win over the Raptors. Had the Knicks had a bigger gap in the Atlantic, we would probably be in a wire to wire fight all throughout the whole game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post"> I dont see how Bosh will have a "huge" game considering we defend his position best... </div> maybe so. But with the Knicks having one of the 5 worst defenses in the league saying they defend that position best doesnt carry as much weight. And besides...Bosh can explode, and he's been doing it has of late, so Kurt Thomas aside, Bosh could have a HUGE game.
the raps better watch out for Jamal and Marbury...last yr...JC scored 50, the raps r weak in facin PG's. Nazr Mohammed might have a good outing too
well Tony Delk scored 53 vs Sac-town in 2001, i dont think it matters though. JC is no more likely to go off for 50 vs us then vs phili, boston or any other likeminded team. Marbury will be a problem. I dont think Nazr will be cause Aroujo can put a body on him, keep him off the glass and make him shoot/post up farther out. Bosh can more than match Thomas in pretty much everyway so i dont see that being a problem. I predict Bosh and Eric Williams explode in this game with great numbers and defensive play. I also predict +12 boards for Hoffa
Yea the last time we played new york, Crawford had 19, and he is coming off an injury and struggled in his last game. It would be unlikely for Crawford to go for more than 30. If Crawford proves to be back to his regular game shape he should be a hard defensive job for mo pete due to his quickness.
