<div align="center"> - <font color="Navy"><font color="Navy"> Dallas Mavericks (30-15) @ Toronto Raptors (20-27) TV: Toronto (Rogers Sportsnet), Dallas (FSNSW) National TV: Canada (Raptors TV), United States (Telemundo) Venue: Air Canada Centre Date: Sunday, Feb. 6th, 2005 TipOff time: 1:10 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: J.Rose - 16.2 Rebounds: C.Bosh - 8.4 Assists: R.Alston - 7.1 FG%: M.Bonner - 54.7% FT%: J.Rose - 85.4% 3PT%: L.Murray - 44.3% 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 Mavericks:</font> <font size="1">Jeson Terry-Michael Finley-Josh Howard-Dirk Nowitzki-Erick Dampier</font> <font color="Black">6th Man:</font> <font size="1">Jerry Stackhouse</font> <font color="Black">Coach:</font> <font size="1">Avery Johnson</font> Team Leaders: <font face="Comic Sans MS">Scoring: D.Nowitzki - 26.8 Rebounds: D.Nowitzki - 9.8 Assists: J.Terry - 4.8 FG%: E.Dampier - 53.1% FT%: M.Finley - 87.7% 3PT%: J.Terry - 46.0% Blk: D.Nowitzki - 1.5 Steals: M.Daniels - 1.5 </font> <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="6">.......</font></font> <font color="Red">Keys To The Game:</font> - Switch Pick n' Rolls: More often than not, we must switch on all the pick n' rolls that involve Finley, Terry, or Nowitzki. Dallas has quick dead shooters who could fire a shot in less than a second. Contian their poenetration and make them eat up the shot clock. - Don't Dig a Hole!: Ok now, the comebacks against Indy and Washington were thrilling, but my heart can't take another one of them games. Dallas won't allow us to get back in the game with their offensive powers. We need to play the FULL 48 minutes to get the win. - Transition D: The Mavs like the Raps, are a run n' gun team. However, they always look for the open long range shot when they're on the fast break, and they make them. We have to start on the offensive end by taking high quality shots, and if they get the board and run with it, every body has to run back and contain the shots/lay ups. <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="6">.......</font></font> <font color="Red">MatchUp Of The Game:</font> vs Dirk Nowitzki vs Chris Bosh Two incridibly talented forwards who have different sytles of play. Nowitzki likes to fade away and stay on the preimeter but he could also take you off the dribble. What Chris has to do on defence, is basicly just stay infront of Dirk. Put a hand up and contest his shots or play him straight and tough if he wants to post him up. Unless Nowitzki is absolutly dominating, we don't need to double team him and leave guys like Finley and Terry wide open. On offence, Chris has the quickness advantage. Despite Dirk's great mobility for a 7-Footer, Chris could take him out side, and then drive to the basket. He's a tough matchuup for every one and all throughout the season, he seemed to play great and outplay every elite power forward he faces, and Dirk is no different. <font color="Red">Say What?! (Prediction)</font> After two consecutive comebacks against great teams, the Raps will look to come out strong and not dig themselves a hole early on. Dallas lost to Indiana on Friday and will look for a victory to wrap up their Eastern mini road trip. I call a Raptor victory, 111-101. </div> <div align="center"> ...</div>
Yah, this is gonna be real challenge for the raps, It is becoming a trend for them to dig themselves a hole. Hopefully that doesnt happen on sunday. I say raps win 98-90.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting urbannomad23:</div><div class="quote_post">Yah, this is gonna be real challenge for the raps, It is becoming a trend for them to dig themselves a hole. Hopefully that doesnt happen on sunday. I say raps win 98-90.</div> Emmmmm, holding the Mavs to 90 points? I don't think that's gonna happen unless they're really off from the field. Also, from watching few of their games this season, their defence has improved tremendously.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting urbannomad23:</div><div class="quote_post">^^ didnt New Orleans do that a couple days ago??</div> They did, because the tempo of the entire game was slow, and that's what Byron Scott was trying to do becuase he was limited talent wise, and Dallas still won the game. Even against us last year, we held them to 71 points, while they were averaging 100+. 30 points under their average!! But we're one of the very few teams that allow opponents to score 100+ points, and becuase of our uptempo offence, I'll be in a shock if we hold them to 90 points.
Hoffa will probably get into early fould trouble dampier will have a big game. Raps lose from start to finish 103-91
Unless Nowitzki gets ejected for tossing the ball at a ref's knee cap, then I'd say Dallas will win this in a close one. I think Jalen will have another solid game but Bosh will have his hands full trying to contain Nowitzki. However, Dallas did lose at Indiana by one and we beat the Pacers at Indiana by one, so by my fail-proof calculation, we will win this one by 2. Raps 101 Mavs 99
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dunksworth:</div><div class="quote_post">Unless Nowitzki gets ejected for tossing the ball at a ref's knee cap, then I'd say Dallas will win this in a close one. I think Jalen will have another solid game but Bosh will have his hands full trying to contain Nowitzki. However, Dallas did lose at Indiana by one and we beat the Pacers at Indiana by one, so by my fail-proof calculation, we will win this one by 2. Raps 101 Mavs 99</div> I think Bosh can check Nowitzki as well as anybody can, i'm not too worried there. I think Hoffa will have a big game in this one. I'm calling 11 points 16 rebounds. Rose will be clutch and Mo is gunna be the leading Raps scorer. Bosh will be solid with 16 and 8.
I don't think we can take this one, Bosh should to good against Dirk, but Dirk will also do good against him on the other end. I'd like to see how the Araujo and Dampier matchup goes, and Rafer will have a nice time defending the Mavs PG's, Dallas 101 - Raptors 97
I havent checkd the game yet, but iwill still offer my prediciton: a blowout first quarter by the Mavericks, and the Raptors claw their way back into it. But Disco Dirk shows up and ruins it for Raptors fans.(well... take out that disco dirk part). either way, Raptors lose by less than 15 points.
Bosh had a great game and all but man, all I'm thinking about was when he slipped and turned the ball over when we were only down by 4 late in the fourth. It's kinda funny because when I saw him driving to the bucket I kept saying, "please don't turn it over, please don't turn it over".... and low and behold, Bosh ends up slipping on the floor . But despite his frequent fourth quarter fumbles, I still think we should get him involved in crunch time situations. It's only a matter of confidence so the more experience he gets, the better.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's kinda funny because when I saw him driving to the bucket I kept saying, "please don't turn it over, please don't turn it over"....</div> I was actually thinking the same thing. At that time, I thought we should of ran a play for Jalen Rose, but he didn't get the ball a lot in low post situations in the 4th, so it was a more logical choice to goto Bosh. He'll get more chances like that as he progresses throughout his career, a great game overall for Bosh though. Same old story though...it's our Defense. We can't outscore opponents if they score on every possession. Terry got into the lane at will today, Howard ate us up as well, and Finley turned it on in the 2nd half. And Dirk...well he was Dirk, taking off balance shots and all, he's unguardable when he gets going. You have to avoid him the ball, but then again, they have 3, 4 other players on the court that can create their own shots.
what is up with the Raptors falling behind by over 15 points in almost every game now? almost pulled off another remarkable comeback... but its tough to do that on the Mavs.. unless ur the old Lakers ha
