GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

<h3>Raptors aim to end three-game home skid</h3>

Indiana (3-5 at Toronto (4-4) 7:00 pm EST


TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Raptors were one of the EasternConference's toughest teams at home last season. But that hasnot been the case this season.


Chris Bosh and the Raptors look to end a three-game home losingstreak Friday when they host the Indiana Pacers.


The reigning Atlantic Division champion, Toronto went 30-11 lastseason at Air Canada Centre - the conference's second-best homerecord.


But the Raptors have gone just 1-3 here this season and havedropped three straight home decisions since a season-opening winover the Philadelphia 76ers.


Toronto suffered a 92-88 loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.Anthony Parker scored 19 points and Bosh scored 14 for theRaptors.


Bosh, an All-Star last season, shot just 1-of-8 in the firstthree quarters before hitting all four of his shots in the finalperiod for Toronto, which is mired in its longest home losingstreak since dropping five in a row from March 29-April 9, 2006.

The Raptors look to end their home woes against the Pacers, whoare struggling through a five-game losing streak.


Indiana, which opened the campaign with three straight wins,dropped a 103-90 decision to the Washington Wizards onWednesday.


Jermaine O'Neal scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds forIndiana, which is averaging 91.6 points and 39.9 percentshooting during its losing streak.

 

Re: NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

I think this is a definite bounce back game for us. We'll need to box out against their bigs, but I liked the way Bosh closed out the game against the Jazz and it sounds like he's committed to getting to the line against the Pacers. I'm not as sure about Bargnani. Sure, he could come out shooting better and have a solid offensive performance, but the quotes from Mitchell in the papers suggested that he isn't going to change the way he's used on the court. If that ends up being the case, Andrea will probably still be floating out at the top of the 3 pt. line playing like a small forward. Also, TJ Ford can't get into a personal battle against Tinsley (the way he took that Deron Williams bucket off an inbounds pass as a personal insult made me sick). Hopefully Garbo gets some burn tonight too.

The game's on at 7:00 PM (Sportsnet/Fan 590).

I predict a Raptors win: 102-95.</p>

</p>

 

Re: NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

<div align="center"><font size="4"><u>Something to look at while you wait for the game....


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Re: NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

Chutney, You need to ask me before posting my women on the Internet.</p>

Anyway, this will be a good game from a Raptor fan prospective. We should win this one and have big games from Il Mago and Bosh. I really want to see Jamario Moon have another good game tonight, he has been something special.</p>

 

Re: NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

I really hope we come out of the game with a win, right now the season is still young so anything can happen but I predict a Raptors victory not only today but Sunday as well.</p>

 

NBA: INDIANA at TORONTO

<div class="pre">INDIANA AT TORONTO - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


INDIANA TORONTO

F Mike Dunleavy F Jamario Moon
F Jermaine O'Neal F Chris Bosh
C Jeff Foster C Maceo Baston
G Danny Granger G Anthony Parker
G Jamaal Tinsley G T.J. Ford

OFFICIALS: Mark Wunderlich
Kevin Fehr
Bill Kennedy</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at TORONTO

<div class="pre">INDIANA VS TORONTO - INACTIVES

INDIANA TORONTO

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
M DANIELS SORE LEFT KNEE D MARTIN COACH'S DECISION
I DIOGU CALF INJURY R NESTEROVIC SPRAINED LEFT ANKLE
C SIMS COACH'S DECISION J GRAHAM LEFT QUAD CONTUSION</div>

 

Re: NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

I would've expected Hump to start tonight (he's earned it, IMO). Not sure what Smitch is thinking by starting a player that hasn't played a minute this season.

And Shake, I can't deny that girl's yours. The crown she's leaning against could only fit your head. </p>

 

Re: NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

I really thought Sam would put Bargnani into the starting lineup or go with Garbojosa as this would be a good game to see if he can get back to the form he was in last season with Rasho out now but BASTON?!?! Just because he played with O'Neal doesnt mean he can defend him! Anyways I want to see Garbo get some minutes today.</p>

 

Re: NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

I would've expected Hump to start tonight (he's earned it, IMO). Not sure what Smitch is thinking by starting a player that hasn't played a minute this season.

And Shake, I can't deny that girl's yours. The crown she's leaning against could only fit your head. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

Why not start, oh I don't know, Bargnani? If I'm Il Mago, I take this as a slap in the face. Like, you suck so much, we want Baston to play.</p>

What is that? A crown for ants! It needs to be at least...2 times bigger!</p>

 

NBA: INDIANA at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 7
TORONTO 2 8:52 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 13
TORONTO 6 6:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 23
TORONTO 12 2:54 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

Re: NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

Oh man were playing horrible defense so far, im so so concerned with our offense but the Pacers are scoring pretty much every possession because apparantly no-one has learned how to boxout and rebound.</p>

 

NBA: INDIANA at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 30
TORONTO 22 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
INDIANA 30 30
TORONTO 22 22 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

IND - JERMAINE O'NEAL 8, TROY MURPHY 5, DANNY
GRANGER 5
TOR - CHRIS BOSH 9, JASON KAPONO 4, CARLOS
DELFINO 3</div>

 

Re: NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

Down by 8 after the first, I actually dont think were playing too bad just the Pacers are outhustling us and are surprisingly hitting alot of their shots. Once there or if their shooters cool down we should be able to pull ahead, also other notes would be that Bosh is playing really aggressive coming out of the game going to the line I believe 8 times already and our bench should outplay their bench.</p>

 

Re: NBA: INDIANA (3-5) at TORONTO (4-4)

Anybody want to start a different thread? I hate talking between the sportsticker.</p>

I don't know what to say about this performance so far other than we deserve better. To come out your first couple of possessions of the game and be so poorly set up says volumes about the coaching job being done this year. Kapono and Parker are running around the 3 point arc like high school players trying to get shots off. Ball movement is how we won last year, and that's what we need again to get things going this year.</p>

I wasn't exactly ever a smitch fan but, when's the earliest we can get away with firing his ass? I have to wonder whether this was even BC's call or whether the board of directors stepped in with their brutal back door management of MLSE sports teams and had a play in this.</p>

 

NBA: INDIANA at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 32
TORONTO 29 9:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>