<font color="darkorange">New York Knicks(13-21)</font> at <font color="indigo">Toronto Raptors (12-24)</font> Air Canada Center, Toronto, Canada Sunday, Jan. 15th 1:00pm, MSG, TSN, NBALP <div align="center"> @ </div> <font size="2">Coming into this game, the Knicks are still the NBA’s only undefeated team in 2006 winners of six in a row. The Raptors, just like the Knicks, have started the season off cold, but have been hot as of late winners of six of their last ten. Will the Knicks make it seven straight or will the Raptors end their streak?</font> [div=50%] <font size="3"><div align="center"><font color="indigo">Toronto Raptors</font></div></font> Projected Starters <div align="center"> </div> Backcourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/mike_james.jpg[/imgl]<font color="indigo">PG – Mike James </font> 16.7ppg, 3.2apg, 45.7%fg He kind of reminds me of Dave Chappelle both being black, bald, and have pointy ears. He’s Mike James, b****! James received the Player of the Month award and for the season, averages close to 17 points averaging career highs in percentages from the field and downtown. The Knicks will have to keep a close eye out for him. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/morris_peterson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="indigo">SG – Morris Peterson</font> 14.1ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.8apg The former Spartan is a tough defender and a threat from downtown. Peterson’s 40.4% from downtown makes him one of the league’s better threats from downtown. The question is how will he shoot against the Knicks sometimes awful and sometimes great perimeter defense? FrontCourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/joey_graham.jpg[/imgl]<font color="indigo">SF – Joey Graham</font> 6.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 0.7apg Another tough defender who has taken Rose’s spot in the starting lineup. Graham stands at a rock solid 225 pounds. His offensive game is somewhat raw, but he can take it to David Lee in the post. He’s shooting 81% from the free throw line, so the Raptors will probably want to exploit any mismatches they can. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/rafael_araujo.jpg[/imgl]<font color="indigo">C – Rafael Arajuo </font> 2.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 0.2apg Although he’s struggling to average more than 2 points a game, Arajuo, at 6’11, 290 pounds, is just as big as Curry. Unlike most centers he’s faced, Arajuo can’t get easily pushed around. His number one nemesis, however, has been fouling. If he can stay out of trouble and play good defense on Curry, it can change the outlook of the game. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/chris_bosh.jpg[/imgl]<font color="indigo">PF – Chris Bosh</font> 22.4ppg, 9.3rpg, 2.6apg The former yellow jacket is now a purple jacket. Chris Bosh comes into tonight’s game putting up franchise big man numbers. Then again, he is their franchise big man. How fitting. It’ll be up to him to anchor the offense – draw fouls, create fouls, and basically wrecking havoc out there. <u>Keys To Game</u> <font color="indigo">Rebounding:</font> The Knicks are second in the NBA in rebounding while the Raptors are dead last. The Raptors can’t let some Knick kids bully them around at home. <font color="indigo">Defense</font> They allow 102 points a game and let their opponents shoot 49% from the field and almost 38% from the arch. That usually spells bad defense. Allowing a confident Knick team to get open shots isn’t the way to win. [/div] <font size="3"><div align="center"><font color="darkorange">New York Knicks</font></div></font> Projected Starters <div align="center"> </div> Backcourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/nate_robinson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkOrange">PG – Nate Robinson</font> 9.0ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.9apg Nate’s been doing his thing again. He dropped 17 points against the Hawks including that "should’ve been a dunk if his back didn’t hurt." His shot selection has improved and he’s now shooting at good percentages. It should be fun seeing him and Mike James go at it. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/stephon_marbury.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">SG – Stephon Marbury</font> 18.9ppg, 6.9apg, 3.4rpg Will Marbury lead the troops to victory again? He’s doing everything you would want from your floor general. He’s scoring, passing, playing good defense, and being a leader out there on the court. Now that he’s found his scoring touch again, he should be dangerous no matter who’s playing him. Frontcourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/david_lee.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">SF – David Lee</font> 4.7ppg, 4.8rpg, 0.7apg Even as a rookie, Lee has been an important part to this team and his presence is why the Knicks can boast the NBA’s best record in 2006. Will he get pounded in the post by Graham, or will he use his high basketball IQ (and his footwork) to remain two steps ahead of him? [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/eddy_curry.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">C – Eddy Curry </font> 14.4ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.0bpg ’06 has been big for Curry, too. He’s putting up 17.1 points and 7.8 rebounds. He’s just the type of post presence the Knicks need to get quick, reliable buckets. Now going up against someone his own size, will Curry be able to bully his way in the paint, or will Araujo have none of that? [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antonio_davis.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">PF – Antonio Davis</font> 4.7ppg, 4.8rpg, 0.29bpg Making his return back to Toronto, Davis will probably be matched up against Chris Bosh who has the quickness advantage over the 50-year-old Davis. Davis, however, has been playing well as of late and has done a decent job on opposing power forwards. <u>Keys To The Game</u> <font color="darkorange">Focus:</font> The Knicks need to stay hungry and take every game at a time oblivious of what kind of record they might have. Toronto, just like New York, isn’t in a position to take any game lightly, so the Knicks must remain focus and play their hearts out again. <font color="darkorange">Late Game Closing:</font> Toronto is one of those young, feisty teams that is sometimes able to make runs at the end. If the Knicks have a lead, they must sustain it with timely hoops and locking down defensively. Prediction: Post them below.
close game. two of the league's hottest teams going head to head for a matchup. i, because i am a raptors fan, predict them winning because the game's at one and the knicks are bound to check out the *ahem* toronto nightlife. hahahahaha win by 5 or less
they both are hot right now toronto is starting to take their game seriously and this was evident from our last 10 games NY is unstoppable my prediction: this is going to be a tough game and will be a close matchup however--i being a raptor fan predict raps by 5 and Bosh/Mike james to come out strong
Oh really now? I dont watch Raptor games and i havent heard anything about them playing well so pardon me.
The game against Charlotte was ugly, and I wasn't too impressed with the game II Saw before that. However, I think the Raptors wil be cming very prepared, hungry and focused in this game. It'll most definitely be a very close game. Raptors will most definitely be in this game for the long run, and I think we can win in the dying seconds.
raptors is one of the hottest teams right now, i know they won like 5 or 6 straight like 2 weeks ago, and i would love to see chris bosh vs channing frye!!! 2 of my favorite young pf's in the league, and btw mike james is a ball hog
Mike James isn't a ballhog, he is Toronto's best scorer along with Bosh. He's one of the main options, he's going to shoot quite a bit, but it doesn't mean he's a ballhog. Anyways, I'm predictiong a 7 point Raptor win. I think they will come out hungry and will take it to the Knicks.
how about, can you say embarassment lol mike james isnt a ball hog...he's our 2nd best scorer right now. he's shooting the ball lots, but he's also knocking down more then half his shots as of late...so let him shoot the ball. he's still deferring to bosh more. he also takes it to the rack quite a bit. trust me...as someone who watches EVER raptors game, he's not a ball hog
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">What happened? I didn't catch the game.</div> imagine the ACC going crazy and the raptors knocking down everything and having fun ok? now imagine the knicks playing like they gave up when the game started. ok now imagine the raptors winning 129-103, knicks didnt do too bad on offence but on defence... over their winning streak they allowed 106.3 pointer per game
mrJ if you didnt catch the game its gonna be re aired tonight on msg i forgot what time i think like 8? or 11? but i suggest you dont watch it cuz we sucked on defense!!! we struggled shooting, jamal struggled, nate struggled, frye struggled... but he got offensive boards and went to the freethrow a lot though
