@ <font color="Navy"><font size="2">Toronto Raptors @ Los Angeles Clippers Tip Off Time : 3:35 Pm et, 12:35 Pm pt Arena : Staples Centre Channels ( Localy ) : In LA ( KTLA ) , In Toronto ( Sportsnet Ontario ) </font> </font> .... <font size="1"><font color="DarkRed">NBA.com's Preview:</font></font> LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Toronto Raptors hope to avoid a seventh loss in eight games Sunday when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. On Friday, the Raptors opened a three-game road trip with a 97-94 overtime setback at Utah. Vince Carter scored 30 points and Jalen Rose added 18 and eight assists for the Raptors, who had just three offensive rebounds, tying a franchise low. Carter sent the game into overtime with a layup just before the buzzer but was held scoreless in the extra session. The Clippers are coming off a 101-98 triumph over Philadelphia on Friday that opened a six-game homestand. Quentin Richardson scored 22 points and Elton Brand added 20 and nine rebounds for Los Angeles, which has won its last five home games. The teams split their two games last season, with each winning at home. .... Starting LineUps : The Raptors : Jalen Rose/Alvin Williams/Vince Carter/Donyell Marshall/Chris Bosh 6th Man : Morris peterson Coach : Kevin O'Neill ... LA Clippers : Marko Jaric/Quentin Richardson/Corey Magette/Elton Brand/Chris Kaman 6th Man : Bobby Simmons Coach : Mike Dunleavy Sr. ............. Injuries : TOR - C Megnkee Bateer IL PF Michael Bradley IL C Eric Montross ( Retired ) IL LAC- C Olden Polynice Neck IL PG Eddie House Foot IL C Josh Moore Back Out ........... Marquee Matchups : Vince Carter vs Corey Maggete vs Two explosive players going at each other . Corey is having his best season and doing alot of things to Coach Dunleavy, and his most improving catogory is his defence, which he needs to bring when he goes Toe To Toe with Vince who's coming out of a 30 point game against Utah last friday, this is a matchup to watch ! Chris Bosh vs Chris Kaman vs Two rookies with a great amount of talen and potential, Chis Bosh is doing excelent job for coach O'Niell in the paint, he rebounds, blocks shots and scores, but today, Kaman's size could make the difference, but Chris Bosh could use his quickness against him as well , the winner of this matchup will give a big advantage to his team to win the game ! .... Keys To The Game : * Raptors has to bring their interior defence to its highest to have a chance at getting the victory, Elton Brand, Wilcox, and Kaman are very tough and athletic big men, and the Raptors are gonna be destroyed if they play the same way they did vs Utah ! * For the 100th time, Jalen shouldn't rush in transition, if u get a fast break we should take full advantage and get an easy lay up or dunk, not pull up a 20 footer ! * Big game from Alvin and Marshall, those two will be the X factors in this game, they have to contirbute offensivly and more importantly defensivley * Frees not threes ! .. there is no way in hell .. Raptors are going to win if they attempt more three point shots than free throws, be agressive and try to intiate the foul, Clippers are a young team and they'll foul if we play aggrisevly * Rebound, rebound, rebound, rebound, rebound, rebound, rebound, rebound, rebound, rebound, We got killed on the boards against bad rebounding teams , lets see how the guys bring it today against Mr.Double Double and his boys ..... ... My Take : I really think that we're gonna bring it defensivly today, if we get a very good contributions from Alvin, Chris, and Donyell .. we'll win ! Raptors by 5 .. peace
I'm taking the Raptors by 4 points, and Vince will score 28. Hopefully Donyell and get some boards today.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Skip:</div><div class="quote_post">Im goin with Raps, they're due.</div>I don't believe in that. You have to work for wins. Just because you havn't won in a while, it doesnt mean you will. Look at the Magic's 19 game losing streak.
Lol yea, but we'll see, Vince is supposed to blow in the game tho, that's how it works. He hasnt won a game or scored much last few games so esp against the team where they dont got any1 who can guard him defensively, there's a better chance...
first half is over .. Raptors up by 5 ( 44-39 ) .. Vince is leading the way with 3 .. and Jalen & Alvin playing really good .. espicially Jalen .. However .. Donyell went out with an injury and he seems in real pain .. it's his leg .. the Raptors are getting killed on the offensive glass .. we need a better rebounding effort in the second .. we were down by 7 most of the half but a late second quarter run gave us the lead ! GOOD DEFENSE was the key in the first half .. more detailed stats after the game .. the second half is about to start ..
<u>During the 4th</u> Toronto up 74-71. Vince has 13 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists. Rose has 18 points.
HAHAHA what did I say? We won! For all you who said Clippers gon win, just SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP like that chick from Black Eyed Peas sing. God dammmn, that song's annoying.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting jump:</div><div class="quote_post">Clippers will take it by 8.</div>My wonderful prediction skills demonstrated again.
You don't often see a team get outrebounded by 16 and still lose the game.Not enough shots for Brand was the difference...
Michael Curry was huge on Elton Brand. He made his fouls count. Jalen had a very prdustive game with 23 points. Alvin Williams hit clutch free throws. Donyell Marshall is becoming a 20 and 10 player with playing time. The Raps snapped a 18 game winless streak on the road against western conference teams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Skip:</div><div class="quote_post">Im goin with Raps, they're due.</div> That's so true. Raps by 6. VC coming out clutch with the charge. Great game for the raps.
Ohhhh yes, Skip against all odds. Pretty much all of the almighty basketball manias choosin Clips ova Raps, one person by tha name of Skip rises above all once again, what a surprise. Lol, seriously, was there any mad plays during the game, I didnt even catch the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Skip:</div><div class="quote_post">Ohhhh yes, Skip against all odds. Pretty much all of the almighty basketball manias choosin Clips ova Raps, one person by tha name of Skip rises above all once again, what a surprise. Lol, seriously, was there any mad plays during the game, I didnt even catch the game.</div>Wilcox had a nice dunk. Q-Rich had 2 nice ones one on a break away. Vince had 1 nice dunk. He also he a crazy play at the end of the game and he hung in the air for a while.
All i can say is that we wouldn't have won the game if it wasn't for Michael Curry. For a lot of the game i was watching him and Brand instead of the ball. Curry just played as hard as he could on Brand even though he was undersized and underpowered. He fouled Brand at all the right times and got great position many times to avoid Brand from gobbling up the offensive boards like he did in the 1st quarter. My hat goes off to him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">My Take : I really think that we're gonna bring it defensivly today, if we get a very good contributions from Alvin, Chris, and Donyell .. we'll win ! Raptors by 5 </div> damt I was right ! ( Learn people ) .. My player of the game is Michael Curry .. probs go to Kevin O'Neill .. he messed up Mike Dunleavy's 4th quarter plan he put Curry at the 4 spot to guard Brand , and by that .. coach Dunleavy thought it would be a mismatch since Curry is much smaller than Brand.. and the Clippers stoped running their regural offence rotations, and gave the ball to Brand in every position because they thought they had a big advantage .. well it worked the opposite way !! Curry prevented Brand from getting to the offensive glass , made the Clippers go deep in the clock because of his perfect positioning, and KO made sure if the Clippers wanna take a premiter shot, it'd be contested and late in the shot clock so .. I think this move by coach O'Neill and Curry's fourth quarter defence were the keys to the victory .. also Vince and Jalen came big in clutch .. and Vince scored 7 straight points late in the fourth to seal the deal this victory marks Raptors' first road win against a western team since Dec 22nd, 2002 !!!!! and that was @ Memphis when Vince scored the winning dunk and had 27 points .. good effort from everybody and I hope they bring it again when they face Carmello and the Nuggets Tuesday night
