<table border="1" class="gamePreview"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="center" colspan="2"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana">When: Sunday November 18th, 2007 @ 1:00PM EST Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON TV/Radio: The SCORE, FAN 590</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="center"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"> </font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">Golden State Warriors (1-6)</font></p> </p> </td> <td class="center"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"> </font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#c8362d"><font face="Verdana">Toronto Raptors </font><font face="Verdana">(5-4)</font></font></p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4 align="center"><font face="Verdana"><center>PROJECTED STARTERS</center></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="roster"> <td> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font> <font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">PG-Baron Davis SG-Kelenna Azubuike </font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">SF-Matt Barnes PF-Al Harrington C-Andris Biedrins </font><font color="#b90456"><font face="Verdana"> <font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font></font></font></p> </td> <td> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font> <font face="Verdana"><font size="2"><font color="#c8362d">PG-TJ Ford SG-Anthony Parker SF-Jamario Moon PF-Chris Bosh C-Maceo Baston</font> </font> </font><font color="#b90456"><font face="Verdana"><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font></font></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana"><center>SEASON STATS</center></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">Scoring:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">109.3PPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">Field Goal %:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">46.0 %</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">3-Point %:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">35.3 %</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">Rebounds:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">40.0 RPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">Assists:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">23.1 APG</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Scoring:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">99.1PPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Field Goal %:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">44.3 %</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">3-Point %:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">45.9 %</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Rebounds:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">40.3 RPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Assists:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">23.6 APG</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana"><center>TEAM LEADERS</center></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">Points:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">Davis (24.9 PPG)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">Rebounds:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">Biedrins (10.7 RPG)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">Assists:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#DB9A4A">Davis (9.4 APG)</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Points:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Bosh (16.8 PPG)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Rebounds:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Bosh (6.4 RPG)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Assists:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Ford(8.0 APG)</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><center><font face="Verdana">KEY MATCHUP</font></center></h4> <h4><center><font face="Verdana"><font color="#DB9A4A">Baron Davis</font> vs. <font color="#c8362d">TJ Ford</font></font></center></h4> <center> <font face="Verdana"></font></p> </center><font face="Verdana"> This just looks to be a classic mismatch against TJ: Baron is bigger, stronger, and a dual threat on the offensive side of the ball. I think its fair to say that he will get his points. However, the Raptors need TJ Ford to play with a level head and not make the game into a personal battle. If Ford begins holding the ball too much and trying to do everything himself on offense (eg: the Utah game), we become far too predictable and the Warriors will probably run us out of the building.</font></td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana"><center>PREDICTION</center></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="prediction"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana">It's easy to be fooled by Golden State's record, but I honestly believe this will be a tough matchup for the Raptors. Stephen Jackson is returning for the Warriors and he was their emotional leader last season, so we might be in for a fired up opponent. The Warriors are the highest scoring team in the league, but they also give up the most points in the league, and the Raptors will need to make sure none of their players has an explosive night. However, this team has been far too inconsistent to confidently predict that they will. I think Toronto has the ability to come out on top, but I'm not willing to go out on a limb for them. </font></p> </p> <center><font size="4" face="Verdana"><font color="#DB9A4A">Golden State wins 111 </font>- <font color="#c8362d"106</font></font></center></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p>
Where is the girl, Chut? Come on now! Good write up though and nice to see previews back on here. I'll have to get the Bulls forum rolling again. As for this matchup, I think the Raps will actually come away with the win.</p>
Nice game thread Chutney.</p> While I think this will be a tough game, I have to think the Raptors can pull this one out. I like the Moon - Barnes matchup a lot. 2 athletic guys who can play defense and score. I'm going out on a limb here and saying Bargnani has a big game. I think he will be able to get the best of Harrington and make his shots.</p>
I knew I was forgetting something!</p> <div align="center"><font size="4"><u>Something to look at while you wait for the game.... </u></font></div>
Just some random notes:</p> -I'm not exactly sure about the starting lineups, but that's my best guess. Stephen Jackson could start, but I was assuming that they'd want to ease him into the lineup. And I'm not sure if Maceo starting was a situational thing against Indiana or Mitchell made it a permanent move (also, I'm not sure about Rasho's injury situation). -It's officially "Italy Day" at the ACC today, because Marco Bellinelli and Andrea Bargnani will be facing off against each other for the first time in the NBA. The Raptors are supposedly busting out their Italian-themed jerseys from the preseason. -I actually like Toronto's chances of coming out with a win. We've been an improved defensive/rebounding team and that should help us slow down the Warriors. However, we need all of our key players to shoot well today and that's been a difficult thing to predict so far this season.</p>
I was thinking maybe Jackson would start, but we'll see. I would of went to this game if it weren't for work... But, I still predict a win.</p> <font color="#ff0000">Here are some articles about this afternoon's game:</font></p> <u><font size="4">Battle-ready Warriors</font></u></p> <font size="3"><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></font></p> The Golden State Warriors won their first game of the season on Friday night, a 122-105 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, but Toronto head coach Sam Mitchell certainly will not take them lightly when the California outfit touches down this afternoon at the Air Canada Centre.</p> The Warriors are a freewheeling, high-energy scoring machine. Despite a record of 1-6, the Warriors lead the NBA in points per game (109.28), while shooting 46% from the floor.</p> "They're tough, man. They're just so talented. They score the ball so well," Mitchell said. "Baron Davis is just a beast. Al Harrington is playing well, they get Stephen Jackson back and (Andris) Biedrens, and all those guys.</p> "And they don't have a conscience," Mitchell added. "The tough thing about that team, they can get you down. But the good thing about it is, you're never really out of the game because they're not going to change the way they play."</p> The Warriors are giving up a league-worst 116.28 points per game.</p> Raptors starting centre Rasho Nesterovic had an MRI done on his sprained right ankle on Friday and is expected back within a week, although he surprised Mitchell by jogging up and down the side of the court after practice yesterday.</div></p> The Toronto Sun</p> ------------------------------</p> <u><font size="4"><span class="headlineArticle" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder_article_NavWebPart_Article_ctl00___Title__">Run 'n' gun Warrior offence poses tough task for Raptors' D</span></font></u></p> <span class="subhead1" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder_article_NavWebPart_Article_ctl00___SubTitle1__">Last thing Mitchell wants is to get into an all-out shootout</span></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>There is every chance this afternoon's Raptor game against Golden State will be a wildly entertaining offensive affair.</p> The Warriors don't spend a lot of energy defending people ("they can't guard a chair," one scout said Friday night) but they do lead the NBA in scoring and the Raptors can fill it up, too, especially if they don't have to worry about pesky defenders getting in their way.</p> So, it'll be fun for everyone, right? Lots of baskets, lots of layups, a few dunks, scoring, scoring, scoring.</p> Right, Sam Mitchell?</p> "No."</p> Figures a head coach, especially one who has to figure out a way to stop the Warriors, or at least contain them, would have issues with looking forward to a game dominated by offence.</p> "How do you prepare for them?" Mitchell wondered about the Warriors, who average 116.3 points per game but give up 109.3 per outing. "They're not going to run but two or three plays. As a coach, you like to be able to prepare.</p> "You like to be able to say, `Hey, they're going to do this, this, this and this. And we can do this, this, this and this.' We can't tell exactly what they're going to do."</div></p> The Toronto Star</p> ------------------------------</p> <font size="4"><u>Raps need Bargnani on defensive</u></font></p> <font size="4"><font size="3"><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></font></font></p> A group of Italian journalists are in town to see home boys Andrea Bargnani and Marco Belinelli face each other this afternoon at the Air Canada Centre.</p> Their timing couldn't be worse.</p> Bargnani, who was moved to the bench after starting the first five games at centre, is in a funk, while Belinelli, the Golden State Warriors rookie, hardly is playing at all.</p> What Belinelli has to do to get more minutes is up to Golden State coach Don Nelson. But for Bargnani, who has averaged just 10 minutes the past two games, the answer is simple, and it has very little to do with scoring.</p> "The thing we're trying to get Andrea to concentrate on is defence and rebounding," Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell said yesterday.</p> "The offence will come. We know he can score the basketball. We're not worried about him scoring.</p> "And I'm not worried about him missing a wide open shot," Mitchell added. "That doesn't get you taken out of a game. Your breakdowns on defence and not rebounding is what gets you taken out of the game."</div></p> The Toronto Sun</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Just some random notes:</p> -I'm not exactly sure about the starting lineups, but that's my best guess. Stephen Jackson could start, but I was assuming that they'd want to ease him into the lineup. And I'm not sure if Maceo starting was a situational thing against Indiana or Mitchell made it a permanent move (also, I'm not sure about Rasho's injury situation). -It's officially "Italy Day" at the ACC today, because Marco Bellinelli and Andrea Bargnani will be facing off against each other for the first time in the NBA. The Raptors are supposedly busting out their Italian-themed jerseys from the preseason. -I actually like Toronto's chances of coming out with a win. We've been an improved defensive/rebounding team and that should help us slow down the Warriors. However, we need all of our key players to shoot well today and that's been a difficult thing to predict so far this season.</p> </div></p> </p> I love those jerseys they look really nice, hope its true. Maybe when we play Memphis we get out the Spanish jerseys.</p> </p>
^ I was thinking the same thing. 4 of the 5 Spanish Team starters will be playing in that game. The Bargnani bobblehead looks nothing like him.</p>
Lol, it really doesn't. Baston with another start, which is fine with me.</p> Oh man, who is loving "Stronger" better then that crappy U2 song.</p> Also, gotta love the "Mooooooooooooooooooooon" from the fans.</p> 10 am in GS, wow, that is so early. I woke up at 10, but man.</p> </p>
Damn, the Warriors are really shooting well early on. We can't let this get away from us. Golden State's playing Bosh similar to the way they played Nowitzki.</p> </p>
I really want Moon to get in to a good motion. He needs to drive more, and less jumpers.</p> Bargnani, what can I say. 2 fouls, not what you want to see if you are Sam Mitchell. Another thing, is we need to get on the glass. We give up way to many rebounds and it is unexceptable.</p>
Raps made an excellent run. Nasty block by Bosh and some great ball movement on the other end. But did Chuck just say Ka-Moon?</p>
Ford is playing excellent right now. He's actually moving the ball and pushing the tempo at the right times. Crap! Rasho is out 1-2 weeks.</p>
Moon, I called a huge dunk one game. Right over Beans, that is what I'm talking about. That dunk was so dirty.</p>
