<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#0B355E"><span style="font-family:Impact">New Jersey</span> </span></span><span style="color:#0B355E">(4-6)</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">(6-5)</span> </div> <div align="center"> When: Friday November 21st, 2008 @ 7:00PM EST Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON TV/Radio: TSN, FAN 590 </div> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:Impact"><u>THOUGHTS ON THE GAME</u></span></div></span> You know what's fun? Beating the New Jersey Nets. Don't ask me to explain it, though. Vince Carter is irrelevant to me these days. I don't even find him interesting enough to hate him. The team isn't anywhere close to being a contender. We really don't have any attachment to them whatsover, when you think about it. And yet, I always enjoy beating them. We blew them out 3 out of the 4 times we faced them last season, and those games might've been my favourite memories from an otherwise mediocre '07-'08 season. I would read posts by Sportstwo's Nets fans before the game started, and if we won, I'd always make sure to return to their forum and read the overreaction and histrionics. If you're as into schadenfreude as me, it's a lot of fun. So umm, Toronto. If you want to help me forget the flaws I've noticed in your roster the past week or so.... beat the Nets. <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:#0B355E">Devin Harris - Some Dude - Bobby Simmons - Token Asian Guy - Brook Lopez</span> <span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon - Anthony Parker - Andrea Bargnani - Chris Bosh - Jermaine O'Neal</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:#0B355E">Devin Harris</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon</span></div> The two games of the "Will Solomon Turnover Extravaganza" might've singlehandedly prevented anyone from taking Jose Calderon for granted ever again. Its felt routine over the past season and a half, but Calderon's ability to set his teammates up for open shots without ever really turning the ball over, drives this team's offense. I think we're all hoping that he's a little less rusty in his second game back from injury, because the team needs him to look for his offense more often. He showed that in the 4th quarter a little bit and there's no reason for him to not build on that tonight. Defensively, Jose needs to recognize his matchups and adjust accordingly. He has slow lateral quickness, so he should play off Devin Harris and let him beat us with his poor outside shot. <div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>LEO RAUTINS' INSIGHTFUL THOUGHT OF THE DAY</u></span></span></div>
Sorry about the lack of game threads this week, guys. I'd been a bit busy with schoolwork. That's over with for now though, so I'll be able to post them up consistently again. Your turn to post the girl Bas.
trying to sneak the other lopez brother in there? I'm onto you Chutney. Should be a fun game. And hopefully the Nets will get me a win for my birthday.
Man, with all these Blazer fans, we've missed the good ol' rivalry with you Nets fans. Well, LETS GET IT ON! Raptors need to take this one. I don't like hovering around .500 and we need to start making a run. With beating the Heat on Wednesday, we should have the momentum to beat NJ. If Parker can keep some dude named Wince Carter under control, we should take this game easy. I can't wait to see Brook and Yi try to guard Bosh and JO. 20 rebound for JO tonight anyone?
being a fellow Canadian, I do follow the Raptors and it's good to see JO starting to concentrate on rebounding more as it's been an issue for the Raptors early on. Now if they could just find a reliable back up PG.... oh and beating the Nets is always a sweet thing to hear. Go Raps Go!! The countdown is on for the Celtics/Raptors rematch and the sig bet
lol, good eye. I didn't think anyone would pick up on that. Also, happy birthday. JO's definitely stepped it up lately. I think our new bigger starting lineup will inevitably be exposed against some of the better SF's in the league. But against teams like the Heat and Nets, it allows us to really create some mismatches and dominate the boards.
Well, I've got one with WarPoet over whether or not JO will play at least 70 games this season. And then one with the Celtics forum over the Boston-Toronto matchups. But I'll take a week-long sig bet GMJ.
Vince is getting booed. I doubt people are still hurt over him, and rather I think it's just something fun to do at games.
