<div align="center"> - <font color="Navy"><font color="Navy"> Washington Wizards (26-18) @ Toronto Raptors (19-27) TV: Toronto (Rogers Sportsnet), Washington DC (CSN) Venue: Air Canada Centre Date: Friday, Feb. 4th, 2005 TipOff time: 7:10 PM Eastern</font></font> <font color="Red">- Starting LineUps</font> <font color="Black">The Raptors: </font> <font size="1">Rafer Alston-Morris Peterson-Jalen Rose-Chris Bosh-Rafael Araujo</font> <font color="Black">6th Man:</font> <font size="1">Donyell Marshall</font> <font color="Black">Coach:</font> <font size="1">Sam Mitchell</font> Team Leaders: <font face="Comic Sans MS">Scoring: Jalen Rose-16.0 Rebounds: C.Bosh-8.2 Assists: R.Alston-7.1 FG%: M.Bonner-55.0% FT%: R.Araujo-90.9% 3PT%: R.Araujo-50.0% Blk: C.Bosh-1.3 Steals: R.Alston-1.4 </font> <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="6">.......</font></font> <font color="Black">The Wizards:</font> <font size="1">Gilbert Arenas-Jarvis hayes-Jared Jeffries-Antawn Jamison-Brendan Haywood</font> <font color="Black">6th Man:</font> <font size="1">Juan Dixon</font> <font color="Black">Coach:</font> <font size="1">Eddie Jordan</font> Team Leaders: <font face="Comic Sans MS">Scoring: G.Arenas-24.2 Rebounds: A.Jamison-8.2 Assists: L.Hughes-5.3 FG%: B.Haywood-52.8 FT%: S.Blake-100.0 3PT%: S.Blake-41.7 Blk: B.Haywood-1.8 Steals: L.Hughes-2.8 </font> <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="6">.......</font></font> <font color="Red">Keys To The Game:</font> - REBOUND, REBOUND, REBOUND: Every single time we play the Wizards, we get beaten badly at both ends on the glass. They have a big, athletic front court in Haywood, Jamison, Thomas, Jefferies, and Ruffin. Boxing out and hustling after every loose ball is mandatory in order for us to win. - Welcome Back Skip': Rafer's return could affect the team in two different ways. He has to come out with the right attitude not to play and try to do everything himself just to prove something to Mitchell and the brass or get in a 1on1 battle with Arenas. He has to run the offence and play aggressive and check his ego at the door. - Attack The Rim': The Wizards have a very deep front court, but when you attack they always get in foul trouble. Considering that Arenas and Hayes are not the best defenders in the league, we should always try to go inside strong for a high percentage shots, and putting the Wizards' big men in foul trouble. <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="6">.......</font></font> <font color="Red">MatchUp Of The Game:</font> vs Gilbert Arenas vs Rafer Alston This is the typical LA vs NY point guard matchup. Throughout the first 43 games, Rafer Alston seemed to get caught up in some of those matchups when he's facing an elite point guard. This can't be the case on Friday night. Washington has multiple weapons at both ends, and what Rafer has to understand is that his main job is to distribute the ball and make sure the right people are getting the ball at the right time. As of his own offence, Skip can beat Arenas off the dribble any time he want to, and it's proven that once he channels his mind to doing so, the team benifits big time. He has to penetrate to the basket for easy layups or attract the double team and kick it out to the open man. On defence, Gilbert will attempt many long range shots in transition and half court. But also he has a quick first step that could get him to the basket in a hurry. Just contain his shots and don't commit to him, also, the help defence should be there early in case Rafer gets beaten. <font color="Red">Say What?! (Prediction)</font> Coming off a great comeback victory at Indianapoliss, Raptors have the momentum to try to beat the overachieving Wizards for the first time in four trys. We should come out with intensity and passion since we're playing at home. I'm optimistic about this game, and I call a Raptor victory. Raps win 101-97. </div> <div align="center"> ...</div>
This will be the last game I'll be able to watch before flying to Korea for a month, so we better win!! Keys to Win: 1. The 'D' word. Rafer needs to go back to Distribution, not Domination. Everytime Rafer had 10 or more assists, the Raptors won. 2. Bosh needs to go at Haywood and Jamison and get them in foul trouble early in the game, much like he did to Jermaine O'Neal, Scott Pollard, and.. well pretty much the entire front court of the Pacers. 3. Rose needs to think back and remember why Sam Mitchell put him on the bench: Shot selection. On the bench, Rose shot over 50%, but whenever he's starting, he shoots low 40% or sometimes even high 30%. He needs to stop jacking up shots early in the clock even if he's feeling it and go back to the team basketball and move the ball around. 4. Morris Peterson is due for a huge home game, and it couldn't be a better timing if he can come up with a Vintage Mo performance in this game. 5. Matt Bonner needs to get his confidence back and keep shooting the ball when he's open. If he keeps avoiding jumpers, the opponents are going to get off of him and make it harder for him to drive when he really needs to drive. 6. It's not magic, it's called defence. Raptors need to contain the Wizards and hold them under 100 points, as the Raptors are a woeful 0-22 when opponents score 100+. By the way, thanks for taking over the previews again Purple Fever
This team have so long bench... start with Dixon... to Thomas... also without Hughes- who scored Triple-Double and 33 pts at the ACC... But don't think that without Hughes we will go to trip in ACC, they have Hayes, another great player. We need looking for help from bench- D-Marsh, E.Williams and Fire Milt.
If the Wizards had Larry Hughes it would be a scary matchup since they already beat us twice, but we're at home, and they don't have Larry Hughes. Raptors should take this one by 2, hopefully we can keep the scoring under 100. Arenas will probably have a big game, but if Jamison can be held in check, and no one else blows up, the Raptors should win 100 - 98.
Milt leads us to victory solidifying his spot as a All-Star with a 20/5/10 performance as he hits the game winning layup.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">Milt leads us to victory solidifying his spot as a All-Star with a 20/5/10 performance as he hits the game winning layup.</div> I think Lebron said he will give up his starting position to Milt. We are at home, we're coming off a nice win at Pacers, I think we'll win it Raps 107 Wiz 99
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple Fever:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center"> Team Leaders: <font face="Comic Sans MS">Scoring: Jalen Rose-16.0 Rebounds: C.Bosh-8.2 Assists: R.Alston-7.1 FG%: M.Bonner-55.0% FT%: R.Araujo-90.9% 3PT%: R.Araujo-50.0% Blk: C.Bosh-1.3 Steals: R.Alston-1.4 </font> </div></div> araujo a 50% 3 point shooter, shouldn't there be a minimum attempts the raptors will win their first game when the opposition scores more than 100 and have fun in korea vinkanaddy maybe the raps will win one for u
i should have one of those hotlines because i gurantee the raps will lose, not because the wiz are better but its a friday and they have lost on four consecutive fridays. i guess the players are too busy thinking about the night ahead, party at Jalen's condo!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SkiptoMyLue11:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Lebron said he will give up his starting position to Milt. </div> WHAT! i heard VC was gonna give it up to Milt the tilt palacio!!! and wha! Hoffa is a 90% FT shooter wtf is this world coming 2 j/k that is kool. i say raps win 105-92 bosh solidify his spot at the all star game with a 30-10-4-3 performance! fingerscrossed
Since rafer gonna be back and we're playing at home we should have an advantage. I predict a close game with the raps winning 103-100.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rim-Rocca:</div><div class="quote_post">Since rafer gonna be back and we're playing at home we should have an advantage. I predict a close game with the raps winning 103-100.</div> it's gonna be interesting to see rafer come off the bench and give his energy to the second unit...i like what the raptors were doing the last 2 quarters in the indiana game...we need to play like that ALL game... tight defence more drives high percentage open shots when we do those things our team looks great (obviously any team would be great doing that), but our team is very capable and has the talent there to do that, and even where we lack some talent, just straight out husstle will improve the game...
Man...the wizards always destroy us. I just don't see us winnning this game. Final score: Wiz 108 Raps 96
56-43 halftime wiz winnin, man gilbert's killing us and it looks like almost every shot is falling for them. We'll just have to hope for a another run like last game vs indy and keep this close. EDIT: Gilbert Arenas just got tossed from the game, raps get a huge break. Now we gotta make a big run.
Its the beginning of the 4th and we are still in it! When will this team realize that bosh is there first option for success. Very simple equation i found out like 2 weeks ago R(bosh)=Bosh+ball Where R is Raptor wins! How easy is that! i mean yah kinda nerdy, but my math teacher makes calculus look like a piece of cake! i think our team can go on a 22-12 streak now! GO RAPS!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rim-Rocca:</div><div class="quote_post">I predict a close game with the raps winning 103-100.</div> My prediction was right!!!, anyways a big win for us, jalen came big for us in the 4th and once gilbert got ejected we made a big run and came through with the win.
^^ woah! gilbert got ejected wtf! why? i didnt get the game, i was going off NBA.com can someone tell me why he got ejected? and what happened to bosh in the 4th? he was very quiet! BIG win for us im so happy Toronto has Veterans!
lol rim-rocca nice prediction wow i just cant see why we cant play like this for 48 minutes every game anyways big win for us...and bosh just keeps impressing me every game
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">i should have one of those hotlines because i gurantee the raps will lose, not because the wiz are better but its a friday and they have lost on four consecutive fridays. i guess the players are too busy thinking about the night ahead, party at Jalen's condo!!!</div>
Yay!! Raps got one for me... not haha anyway it was nice to see Rafer back on the floor as he was huge in the second half along with Rose, Marshall and Bosh. Props to Sam Mitchell for putting in Palacio and Alston at the same time to try to break down the Washington D. Gilbert Arenas should have known better than to throw the ball at the official after a technical. Now I think I can sleep without having nightmares on the flight!!
Gil's ejection was huge. We outscored something like 44-26, after he got ejected, so that definitely changed Washingtons game, and helped us. Mr.Clutch, Jalen Rose. Comes up huge again in the 4th. Big games by him and Rafer in the 2nd half. This is exactly why I would like to keep Jalen on the team (unless we get a nice deal). Who cares if he's overapaid, so are 75% of the other players in the league. He's the only guy on the team that can get his shot up at will, and he's a very good goto guy in the clutch. Raps climbing up on the standings, hopefully they'll be number one soon in the division
