<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto Raptors</span> </span></span><span style="color:#c8362d">(20-17)</span> vs. <span style="color:#006BB7"><span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Detroit Pistons</span></span></span> <span style="color:#006BB7">(28-10)</span> </div> <div align="center"> When: Tuesday January 15th, 2007 @ 7:30PM EST Where: Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI TV/Radio: TSN, FAN 590 </div> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:Impact"><u>GAME PREVIEW</u></span></div></span> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Central Division-leading Detroit Pistons are looking to rebound from their worst performance of the season. A home date with the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night might be exactly what they need. The Pistons (28-10), whose 13-3 home record ranks second in the Eastern Conference behind Boston (16-2), have defeated the Raptors (20-17) eight consecutive times at the Palace of Auburn Hills since April 2, 2003. The eight victories have come by an average margin of 11.2 points. Detroit also took the first of four meetings this season with the Raptors, a 101-85 victory on Jan. 4 at Toronto. ...................... Led by a surging Chris Bosh, the Raptors are looking to match their longest winning streak of the season, a four-game run from Dec. 9-14. Bosh, Toronto's leader with 21.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, had 38 points and 14 rebounds to engineer a 116-109 double-overtime win over Portland on Sunday. Two nights earlier he scored 40 points and grabbed 11 boards in a 99-90 win at New York. "He's had the saddle on the last couple of games and we've been riding him," said Raptors swingman Anthony Parker, who had 25 points Sunday. Bosh is averaging 29.0 points and 9.0 rebounds over the last six games, including 23 points and 15 rebounds against Detroit on Jan. 4. The big man didn't get much help in that contest from Parker, who made 2 of 11 shots and finished with seven points. Parker has been stellar in the four games since, though, averaging 20.0 points. Toronto's Jose Calderon, who had a season-high 22 points Sunday, has also been hot of late. He's averaging 15.3 points and 9.9 assists over the last seven games, including a 15-point, nine-assist effort against the Pistons.</div> <div align="center">Source: Yahoo!Sports</div> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>STARTING LINEUPS</u></span></div></span> <div align="center"> <span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon - Anthony Parker - Jamario Moon - Chris Bosh - Andrea Bargnani</span> <span style="color:#006BB7">Chauncey Billups - Rip Hamilton - Tayshaun Prince - Rasheed Wallace - Antonio McDyess</span></div> <span style="font-family:Impact"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><u>KEY MATCHUP</u></div></span></span> <div align="center"> <span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon</span> vs. <span style="color:#006BB7">Chauncey Billups</span></div> This is a terrible mismatch for Jose, as Chauncey's much bigger and stronger than him and still has the ability to take him off the dribble. In fact, if I check back a few threads, I'm sure I selected this matchup for the last game these two teams played against each other. I can see Toronto using some sort of soft zone defense to prevent Chauncey from carving up our defense and to keep the Pistons shooting perimeter shots, but Jose still has the responsibility of moving his feet on D. Billups may very well beat him, but he can't afford to take plays off on defense. On the other end of the court, he simply needs to continue his stellar play, keep on consistently hitting that elbow jumper off the screen, and open up the floor for Bosh. <div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>PREDICTION</u></span></span></div> <div align="center"><span style="color:#006BB7">Detroit 99</span> - <span style="color:#c8362d">Toronto 95</div></span>
<div align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">Something to look at while you wait for the game......</span></div> <div align="center"></div>
Sam Mitchell takes a time out... Raptors then go and give the ball back to Detroit with the 24 shot clock violation!!!!!!!!!! Can we please get a good coach???
I like Delfino's aggressiveness so far and Calderon has been lights out so far! Bosh however is shying away from the paint and is settling for jumpers too often.
Great run by the Raptors, I like how Mitchell decides for us to go small with Bosh playing centre lately because you might as well put offensive weapons on the floor in place of Rasho and Humph if we cant rebound anyways. Watching Derrick Martin play really frustrates me, I would definitely like to see his plus/minus this season because every-time he is on the floor the opposition goes on a big run to either close the gap or widen the lead.
Considering the amount of minutes he's given, Martin's +/- is usually terrible. He's very efficient at being a liability. I also like this small lineup. Not only does it spread the floor, but it also allows us to put some of our best perimeter defenders on the floor at the same time (Delf, Parker, Moon).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MosDefinitely @ Jan 15 2008, 08:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Great run by the Raptors, I like how Mitchell decides for us to go small with Bosh playing centre lately because you might as well put offensive weapons on the floor in place of Rasho and Humph if we cant rebound anyways. Watching Derrick Martin play really frustrates me, I would definitely like to see his plus/minus this season because every-time he is on the floor the opposition goes on a big run to either close the gap or widen the lead.</div> I agree that DM is frustrating to watch... I know there's a lot of Juan Dixon haters, but I for sure would rather see him back up Jose than DM!!! Raps down by 1 at the half... hopefully they get off to a good start in the third!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jan 15 2008, 05:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That one's for Shake. Enjoy!</div> I cried and died a little inside when I saw that. Pistons up by 11, but 6:30 left. If Bosh can continue to attack the basket, we should get closer. Delfino with another great game and Moon playing some solid ball.
