<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#006A8F"><span style="font-family:Impact">Washington</span> </span></span><span style="color:#006A8F">(23-19)</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto</span></span></span> <span style="color:#c8362d">(24-19)</span> </div> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Game 1</span></span> When: Tuesday January 29th, 2007 @ 7:00PM EST Where: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. TV/Radio: TSN, FAN 590 </div> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Game 2</span></span> When: Wednesday January 30th, 2007 @ 7:00PM EST Where: Air Canada Center, Toronto, ON TV/Radio: The SCORE, 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 Washington Wizards were expected to struggle after Gilbert Arenas underwent knee surgery in November. The Toronto Raptors didn't have a much brighter outlook after T.J. Ford suffered the latest in a series of neck injuries the following month. Both teams, however, remain among Eastern Conference contenders. The Raptors go for their eighth win in 10 games on Tuesday when they visit the Wizards in a matchup of teams that have overcome the loss of their starting point guards. Arenas had surgery on his left knee for the second time in seven months on Nov. 21, leaving Washington without its leading scorer from each of the last four seasons. Without Arenas, however, the Wizards (23-19) have gone 20-14 to take over sixth place in the East. They're directly behind the Raptors (24-19), who have gone 12-9 since Ford had to be taken off the court on a stretcher after an awkward fall in a game against Atlanta on Dec. 11. Ford, who suffers from a spinal cord condition, missed the entire 2004-05 season after undergoing neck surgery because of a similar fall. Ford and Arenas both plan to return this season, but each player is expected to miss at least another month.</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:#006A8F">Antonio Daniels - DeShawn Stevenson - Caron Butler - Antawn Jamison - Brendan Haywood</span> <span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon - Anthony Parker - Jamario Moon - Chris Bosh - Andrea Bargnani</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:#006A8F">Antawn Jamison</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d">Chris Bosh</span></div> Outside of Jamison, the majority of the Arena-less Wizard's scoring comes from their guards. Jamison, though, is the type of versatile and quick power forward that gives Toronto fits. Last season, Bosh often had a difficult time containing him on the offensive end and staying with him as he moved without the ball. Toronto needs Bosh to continue his excellent work on the offensive end, but equally as important, will be the taks of contesting Antawn's jumpshots and keeping him off the offensive boards. <div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>PREDICTION</u></span></span></div> This is a team that matches up very well against Toronto and, despite having key injuries, both teams are playing excellent ball right now. These matchups tend to be fairly close, so I'm predicting a split with both teams winning on their home court.
<div align="center"><u><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Something to look at while you wait for the games....</u></span></span></div> <div align="center"></div>
I figured it'd be easier and make more sense to create a single thread for both games. These should both be interesting games. Washington and Toronto have been neck and neck in the standings for a while now, and these two games could impact playoff seedings down the road. Also, I should note that if the Raps win both games, they will have matched the 9-4 record that a bunch of us made in the January prediction thread. [/knock on wood]
I really want to take these two games and distance ourselves a little bit from the rest of the East but I wouldnt mind if we slip the home and home because Washington has been playing some great basketball, their defense is really solid this season...Gilbert Who? Butler and Jamison have been very impressive without Arenas.
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!!!!!!! PARKER WHAT A SHOT!!!!! Oh man, I was going nuts. That was one of the greatest shots I've ever seen him shoot. I thought it was air, but NOPE! Straight in!
Raptors can't make a shot, and Bosh isn't getting any calls. The Raptors need to capitalize on the Wiz turnovers.
Nice step back by Bosh, but not a smart play. I can understand why we are shooting so many outside shots because the refs aren't giving us shit. Bosh, Parker and Calderon are driving and very little will be called. While, you touch Jamison on a 3, it's a tragedy and he deserves some shots.
We can't grab an defensive rebound for our life. That is really costing us and I hate it. We need to win this game and we need to step it up.
We lost this game because of piss-poor rebounding and ridiculous refereeing. I don't understand how none of our forwards were ever taught how to box out their man. Bosh and Humphries are athletic and great natural rebounders, but there's no way their marks should even have a chance to tip the ball. Against such a long team, you absolutely need to seal them off.
