<div align="center">@ <font color=""Blue"">New Jersey Nets</font>@<font color=""Purple"">Toronto Raptors</font> Date & Time: Friday, November 4th 2005, 7:00 PM Away/Home</div> <div align="center">The Teams: Starting 5</div> <div align="center">PG: vs Jason Kidd vs Mike James SG: vs Vince Carter vs Jalen Rose SF: vs Richard Jefferson vs Joey Graham PF: vs Jason Collins vs Chris Bosh C: vs Nenad Krstic vs Loren Woods</div> <div align="center">6th Men</div> <div align="center"> vs Marc Jackson vs Charlie Villanueva</div> <u><div align="center">Matchup To Watch</div></u> <div align="center"><div align="center"> vs </div> <font color=""Blue"">Vince Carter</font> vs <font color=""Purple"">Jalen Rose</font></div> Both players are going to have their hands full guarding each other, because both are very good scorers who can shoot from around anywhere on the floor. Both, though, are also not-so-good defenders, so there are going to be a lot of double-teams to help out on both of these guys. Carter still has a chip on his shoulder as he tries to prove the media wrong and show everybody that he can still play like he used to, and Toronto is the perfect place to prove that. After a solid 25 point, 7 rebound performance against the Bucks, Carter has some momentum and should use that as a source of energy. He'll need to take Rose to the basket a lot and get Bosh in foul trouble when he comes to help. Rose should try do the same thing: drive to the basket and try to get some fouls out of Krstic, Collins, and Jackson, and if he sees he's not going to get one OR score, pass it out to Mo Peterson/Villanueva/Graham for a wide open shot. Both are solid three point shooters, too, so there is going to be a need for good team defense from both sides trying to shut down Rose/Carter, and trying to get the other guys to take some shots. The key for both players is going to be having a good inside/outside game, and being constant threats throughout the game. <u><div align="center">Other Key Players</div> </u> <font color=""Purple""><u>Chris Bosh</u></font>- Bosh might just be the best player in this game. That's saying a lot, since there are 3 or 4 potential all-stars other than him in the bunch. He's going to need to use his talent and size to get the Nets' bigs into foul trouble, make them work more cautiously, in order to get easy baskets. <font color=""Blue""><u>Marc Jackson/Jason Collins/Nenad Krstic</u></font>- All three of these guys will need to focus on one thing: shutting down Bosh without getting in too much foul trouble. They're going to need to work together in order to grab some boards, because Bosh's height and athleticism enable him to easily grab boards. Also, if they'll need to use fouls eventually, another key is going to be SHARING FOULS. If they can get each guy to have 2 or 3 fouls apiece, instead of one guy having 4 or 5 and the others having 1, they'll be able to stay in the game as much as possible, thus giving Bosh a harder time. <u><font color=""Blue"">Jason Kidd/Richard Jefferson</font><font color=""Purple"">/Mo Peterson/Joey Graham</font> </u>- These four players are going to get a LOT of looks tonight, off passes off the drive by VC and Jalen Rose. And they're going to need to hit them. If they can prove to be a threat, the opposing team won't be able to key in on Rose or Carter and double-team them all the time, thus giving Carter and Rose easier shots and better looks. If the defense DOES key in on either, then RJ, Mo Pete, J-Kidd and Joey will have to make them pay. Also, expect to see a lot of give-and-go's where Kidd passes the ball to Carter, Carter drives and passes back out to Kidd, who either shoots or passes to the open man. Since Kidd's another man will probably come to help on Carter, Kidd can shoot or pass to the guy who's man went to double-team. <div align="center"><font color=""blue""><u>Nets' Keys to the Game</u></font></div> Solid Team Defense on Rose VC can't handle Rose alone, so there's going to be a need for good team defense by the Nets. As they needed to do with Redd and Milwaukee, they need to do with Rose. Kidd will need to cut off Mike James' court vision so that Rose will get the ball less, and one of the bigs will need to double team on the drives and try to cut off passes off drives. Shutting Down Chris Bosh It isn't going to be an easy task for the Nets to shut down Bosh, but if they work together, I feel it can be accomplished for the most part. Defensively, the bigs'll need to double up on him in the paint, and force him to pass out to a perimeter guy or to Woods/Arajuo, who are far less dangerous inside. On the boards, they'll need two guys to block him from getting to the ball, which means that the perimeter guys will need to help out and grab some rebounds. As I said before, the team will need to share the fouls evenly so that nobody gets into serious trouble. Not Forgetting About the OTHER Guys The Nets can't allow Graham, James, Villanueva, or Peterson to get hot, or they'll pay for it. They'll need to balance out the defense by trying to keep Rose from getting too much looks, but also playing solid one-on-one defense against their own man. <u><font color=""purple""><div align="center">Raptors' Keys to the Game</div></font></u> Solid Team Defense on Carter The Raptors will need to try and pressure the Nets into getting the ball inside, away from the dangerous perimeter players. If that's not possible, then they'll need to guard Carter very well as a TEAM. If he drives, Bosh needs to come out and help. If he goes up for a shot, there's going to have to be a hand in his face. They'll need to pile up the pressure on VC and force him to pass. But then another problem arises..... Guarding Threat #2: Jefferson The Raptors will have to guard Jefferson well, too. If he's left open all the time, then he'll score. He's another potential all-star, so you can't leave him alone. His man won't be able to help as much as the others on VC, so the rest of the players' work load is larger. If the Raps can guard Jefferson and STILL play good team defense on Carter, than the game becomes much easier for them. Forcing the Nets' Bigs to Get Into Foul Trouble A big key. If Bosh can force Collins, Jackson and Krstic to get into early foul trouble, than he'll be able to have a monster game, and Toronto's chances would go flying up. <u>Prediction</u>- Nets 96-Raptors 87
Great Preview, I have a feeling the Nets will win and won;t have a night like they did with the Bucks.
If the Nets lose this game, I think that they are going to have to re-evaluate themselves to a certain degree. Its good that they were able to get off to good start last game, but this game they should not only have a good start, but dominate the rest of the quarters. The Nets should not be alarmed however if they get off to so-so start this season. If you think about it, Frank implemented a lot of changes in the off season offensivly and defensivly, so the team might need some time to get used to in. I personally predict that the Nets should win this game with a fair large margin (15+ points)
Nice preview. I honestly think this is a pretty evenly matched game. It al depends on the pace that the Nets' big three set out there. I think Joey Graham and MoPete are good enough on defense to hold RJ in check, so Kidd and VC are going to have to assert themselves. Both teams have there stengths. The Nets have 3 players who can carry the team on there back and have a slightly better frontcourt. The Raps showed last night that there very versatile and have a much stronger bench than last year. I think the Raps inexperience and lack of discipline will hurt them down the stretch. Nets 103 Raps 96
My Prediction: Bosh comes out big..along with Joey Graham and CV31..the booes get to Carter, and his numbers fall Raptors: 92-87
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">u have us beat at four out of the five starting spots but our bench is better than yours.</div> I don't really agree with that statment. To me, they look pretty even.
I think our benches are actually pretty even. Your Mo Pete is our Murray, your Hoffa is our Robinson, your CV31 is our Jackson, your Calderon is our McInnis, your Bonner is our Wright, and beyond that, it's STILL pretty even.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobimel:</div><div class="quote_post">I think our benches are actually pretty even. Your Mo Pete is our Murray, your Hoffa is our Robinson, your CV31 is our Jackson, your Calderon is our McInnis, your Bonner is our Wright, and beyond that, it's STILL pretty even.</div> ROFL i dont see how this is possible.. MO-PETE > MURRAY...he is a LOT better Robinson> Hoffa CV31=Jackson..pretty even Calderon>McInnis ( BY A LOT) however.. Wright>Bonner..that is IF he gets playing time...bonner will get playing time but if Wrights more than 10 he should dominate
Well, Mo-Pete is OBVIOUSLY better, but their roles are a lot the same: they're put in for the points. Both are good shooters. I'm not convinced Calderon is better than McInnis. Right now, they're pretty even.
A very nice game from Jefferson. As a team, the Nets played fairly well with the exception of not dominating the Raps in the fourth quarter. A win is win.
Jefferson had a great game but the turnovers were a killer. BTW im wondering how does Kidd get only 4 assists.
WOW, what a game by RJ. Unbelievable. He's really improved his shot the last two seasons. And Vince did well, too, also 9-17, which is great %, and he also had 7 and 6. As for J-Kidd, I don't think he should be playing so much minutes. I think 31 or 32 mpg are better; 36 mpg is way too much, it's too much of a risk injury wise. We have a great backup, why not use him? I think the bigs, though, did a very good job on Bosh. Also, Marc did well on the boards coming off the bench, which is exactly what we need. Krstic, on the hand, just continues to improve. 14 and 9 are better numbers than expected, but it's just one game, so hopefully he keeps it up.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thedude9990:</div><div class="quote_post">did carter get booed like last year? i wasnt home</div> He did everytime he had the ball. In the 4th quarter the boos started to die down though.
I know the media tried to get a rivalry going between the Nets and the Raps, but after a year most Rap fans don't hate VC as much. Both teams don't consider the game a special game, and eventually there won't be as many boos for Carter.
