<font size=""4"">Raptors hope Bargnani's return gives them a spark</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Last time we checked we can't predict the weather," Mitchell said. "But if everything happens the way it is supposed to happen he'll be back (for tonight's game)." </div> <font size=""4"">Raptors look to limit Arenas</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Those guys (like Arenas) don't shoot a lot so you've got to make it so the shots they do get are low percentage shots," he said.</div> <font size=""4"">Bosh feeling the pinch in the post</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But while Mitchell suggested his all-star might be well-served to pre-empt the double team with a quicker attack ? "If he catches and holds (the ball) he's not going to get an attempt," said Mitchell ? Bosh bristled at the concept. "That's tough sometimes," said Bosh. "Most of the time when I attack quickly I'm off balance. I only attack quickly if I'm comfortable. I'm not going to force the issue. If I feel I don't really have a quick attack, I can wait a couple of seconds, and then take my guy. Or if the double team comes, move the basketball." Of course, it's all moot if Bosh moves the ball and ? with the flick of a reliable shooter's wrist ? it's in the bucket. Still, Mitchell pointed out that his perimeter players weren't running the floor hard enough in the Cleveland loss, abandoning the successful principle of running to the corners to spread the defence and pose the threat of a baseline three-pointer. "T.J. and Jose were bringing the ball down, and our twos and threes were behind them," said the coach.</div> <font size=""4"">Raptors at Wizards</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">They'll throw all kinds of looks at the high-scoring Wizards guard but Ford will have to try to limit his touches, and his shots; one thing the Raptors can't do is let Arenas live at the foul line, that's when 25-point games turn into 35-point performances.</div> <font size=""4"">Bargnani, Parker sorely missed</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"You're talking about the leading three-point shooter [Parker] on our team, and probably our best three-point shooter [Bargnani] from the top [of the circle]," Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell, who gave his team Sunday off, said yesterday. "Of course it affects your team. . . . [Other teams] are going to pack it in a little more until other guys prove they can shoot the ball, that's what you do."</div> <font size=""4"">M-V-3?</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There's a logical argument that Nash's assist totals have benefited significantly since the return to the Phoenix lineup of 20 point-per-game scorer Amare Stoudemire, who missed virtually all of the 2005-06 season after major reconstructive knee surgery. But while Stoudemire's absence undoubtedly hurt Nash's assists average last year, those totals didn't exactly take a nosedive ? they dropped by one per game. Instead, Nash became the MacGyver of point guards ? take away his biggest weapon and he simply creates new ones with whatever's around him.</div> <font size=""4"">Haywood to Return Against the Raptors</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Center Brendan Haywood practiced yesterday and will start against the Toronto Raptors tonight after missing Sunday's win over Golden State with lower back pain.</div> <div align="center"><font size=""5""><u>Sunshine Girl - 3/6/07</u></font> </div>
Man ... they just keep getting hotter. Having Bargnani back tonight is huuuge news. It almost temps me to say we have a chance tonight.
