<font size=""4"">School of hard knocks</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"It's tough," said Bosh, who will be in Vegas this weekend for the league's all-star festivities. "I just have to make sure I do my part studying how teams play me. "Sometimes I have to be a decoy, maybe drive for the basket, draw a double team. I'm curious to see how I do. It's not that easy -- that's why legends are made in the playoffs." </div> <font size=""4"">Bosh isn't missing Carter</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Chris Bosh believes if that if Vin-sanity still ruled, his own development to an elite player may have been a little slower. "I'd still do my part, but (Carter) would still be the main guy," Bosh said yesterday. "I'd have been the same player but would I have developed as fast as I have? Probably not, because I wouldn't be put in as many tough situations. "I'd still be the same player, it just would have taken a longer time time to develop." </div> <font size=""4"">Bosh thrilled he's centre of attention</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"It's real exciting, because everybody knows now that if you don't pay attention to me I can score all day. But to be the game plan is even more special," he said. "The intensity's picking up." Actually, the intensity of yesterday's practice in the lead-up to a back-to-back set that begins tonight in Chicago and ends tomorrow against New Jersey at the Air Canada Centre was up for debate. Mitchell didn't much appreciate the effort level, apparently. ("Coach got on us a bit," said Bosh. "We were a little sluggish.")</div> <font size=""4"">Raptors at Bulls</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">You all know the story: Chicago's beaten Toronto 15 times in a row; Bulls likely won't have Andres Nocioni for the game, his brawn and shooting will be missed; Chicago's coming off an impressive win Sunday night in Phoenix, but it's their first game home after a long western road trip and those are always troubling games to play.</div> <font size=""4"">Nash opts to pass on all-star tilt</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Steve Nash has withdrawn from Sunday's NBA all-star game because of lingering inflammation in his right shoulder. The league's two-time defending MVP has missed the last three games because of the injury and the Phoenix Suns said yesterday he won't play at Seattle tomorrow night, the club's last game before the break.</div> <font size=""4"">Decision day looms for Colangelo</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But with the trade deadline just 10 days away, Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo says the team's recent success won't alter his mindset as he decides whether to make a move with his roster. "Without jeopardizing our position here for the future, you always want to improve," he said. "If there is an opportunity, you weigh all the circumstances: team chemistry, the salary picture going forward. We want to maintain that flexibility and not make a move that will be too expensive in terms of length of contract."</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Logic suggests, however, there could be some tinkering at the bottom end of the roster if there's a chance to move players with salary commitments beyond this season who could be part of a rotation elsewhere, moves that could affect little-used Fred Jones or Kris Humphries.</div> <font size=""4"">Raptors can finally feast in the East</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Raptors probably aren't going to win 50 games. But who should they be afraid of ? Yes, Detroit is a good team, and playoff-tested. Miami, once the playoffs roll around, should be a dangerous team. And Chicago, who host Toronto tomorrow night, has beaten the Raptors 15 straight times dating back to 2002. But none are a Dallas-like machine, or a Phoenix-like supernova, or even a San Antonio- like dark horse. The rest of the pack -- watery Washington, inconsistent Indiana, uninspired Orlando, neutered New Jersey --can be had. In the East, anyone can be had.</div> <u><font size=""5"">Covers.com</font></u> <font size=""4"">Raptors at Bulls</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When Chicago ended a 16-game losing streak to Toronto more than four years ago, the win began a run of complete Bulls domination in the series. Now Chicago looks to equal the Raptors' earlier win streak against it when the teams meet at the United Center on Tuesday night. Oddsmakers have the Bulls listed as 4-point favorites. The total is set at 195 1/2.</div> <font size=""4"">A little taste of Europe</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Tonight, the West Siders return home to the foreign invasion of the Toronto Raptors, a Canadian club that numbers five Europeans and shows signs that it wants to be the new kid on the Eastern Conference playoff block. The Raptors (27-24) have won eight of their last 10 games and trail the Bulls (29-23) by 1 games in the conference race.</div> <font size=""4"">Fleming: Watch These Six in Vegas</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors: Bosh may be the best forward in the Eastern Conference but he's also very quiet and people don't give him the credit he deserves. Sound strange for a guy voted in by the fans? It all depends on where you live; in the northeast Bosh gets love and respect, but go south or go west and fans will appreciate him as a good player but not a great one. A solid showing as an All-Star starter matched up with Tim Duncan will change that and earn him the respect he deserves throughout fans of the entire league.</div> <u><font size=""4"">Relevant News which could help the Raptors</font></u> <font size=""4"">Kidd's back is hurting</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As if the Nets don't already have enough problems with long-term injuries to Nenad Krstic and Richard Jefferson, they are looking at undoubtedly their worst-case scenario when Tim Duncan makes his lone appearance of the season in New Jersey. For the first time this season, the Nets could have to play without Kidd. How bad is it? Kidd wasn't available yesterday to answer that question, so no one knows if this means he'll be out both tonight and tomorrow night against the Raptors in a critical Atlantic Division showdown in Toronto. "It's been hurting him the last couple of games," Lawrence Frank said after practice. "Then it was really hurting him against Orlando (Saturday night)."</div> <div align="center"><u><font size=""5"">Sunshine Girl - 2/13/07</font></u> </div>
