@ Time: 3:30 Eastern Place: The Staples Center TV: Local ============================= Probable Starting Lineups Jalen Rose/Marko Jaric Alvin Williams/Quentin Richardson Vince Carter/Corey Maggette Donyell Marshall/Elton Brand Chris Bosh/Chris Wilcox ============================== Injuries: Tor- C Mengke Bateer Knee IL C Eric Montross Foot IL PG Roger Mason Groin IL PF Michael Bradley Knee IL Lac- PF Melvin Ely Flu IL PG Eddie House Foot IL C Josh Moore Back Out ============================= Notes*- Tor- Now that the honeymoon is over for Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall, the Raptors are desperately seeking size. Lamond Murray? Morris Petersen? They aren't attracting much attention. Lac- There may be some late nights that Mike Dunleavy fantasizes that Gilbert Arenas did sign with the Clippers, but the thing is, they're playing pretty well anyway. *thanks to Sporsline.com ========================= Keys of the bench: <ul> [*]Peterson is averaging 7.1ppg and 2.1rpg in 19minutes a game [/list] <ul> [*]The Rookie Center didnt start last game, he is averaging 6.7ppg and 6.0 boards a game in 20 minutes. ========================= Key Starters: Vince Carter is an explosive player, he can turn it on at any given moment, he will need to do so today. He is averaging 22.5 points a game, 4.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. <ul> [*]Elton Brand can dominate a game from start to finish, he might have some trouble today though because Donyell Marshall is very physical, he will have to hit his mid range jumper, hit the boards, and attack down low for the Clippers to be successful. [/list] ============================== Keys to the Game: Tor- Vince Carter needs to get going early, Jalen Rose needs to make good decisions, he has the advantage over his Defender so he could have a big game. THe big men need to box out and limit the second chance opportunities for the Clippers. Lac- THe big 3(Q rich, Maggette, and Brand) need to all play well. I think the big key here will be Chris Wilcox, he is going up against the skinny and less powerful Chris Bosh, Wilcox needs to use his weight as an advantage here and toss Bosh around, i think Wilcox could possibly go for 20 today. =============================== Prediction: The Clippers take this by 5
Peple dont realize that Bosh is now 230 pounds. He didn't get knocked around by Big Z so Wilcox wont knock him around. Clippers by 2 or 3. VC will miss a clutch shot.
The Raptors are comming up and are hungry, but then again the Clips are getting too hot to handle. Clippers by 5
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I expect Brand to dominate inside.</div> I'm with allnet - Brand will have a monster game. Clippers win 97-90.
did u see that play by richardson?? wow... lol...lonny baxter shot it over the backboard. I mean completely over the backboard btw... its 30-23 Clipps, still early of course...
45-41 at halftime Raptors with the lead Simmons leads the clippers with 7 points, Brand has 8 boards and 7 assists. Carter has 12 points..Raptors are playing better than i thought they would, but we still have a whole other half to play
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting jump:</div><div class="quote_post">Should be a close game for the most part, but the Raptors are not hot at the moment. Clippers by 8</div>Raptors win!
that game was shocking i though for sure the clippers would win <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">-- Vince Carter extended the lead for Toronto Raptors with his well-known athleticism and preserved it with his underrated instincts. Carter scored nine of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and drew a key offensive foul down the stretch as the Raptors snapped an 18-game road losing streak against Western Conference teams with a 94-88 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Toronto had not defeated a Western Conference foe on the road since winning in Memphis on December 1, 2002. It had lost seven road games against the West this season before Carter took over down the stretch at Staples Center. </div> Full Recap Box Score
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Skip:</div><div class="quote_post">Raps are better team than Clips, what's there to be surprised about?</div> yea but the Clips have been playing pretty good ball, they are starting to jell...i thought they would win this
Originally Posted by Skip <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Raps are better team than Clips, what's there to be surprised about? </div> I'm not sure about that, if anything they're equal. Clippers have more depth and size, Raps play better defense. Toss up. Toronto just managed to shut down the Clippers offense. * Toronto is a .500 team in the east, Clippers are a near .500 team in the west. Clipps could have 16 or 17 wins if playing in the eastern coference.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Skip:</div><div class="quote_post">Raps are better team than Clips, what's there to be surprised about?</div> Don't let the Clippers playing in the west fool you.I was very surprised to see Clippers lose this game.They have the better talent and inside game.Some people don't realise how tough it is in the west.Clippers have played 500 ball in the west while Raptors have played 500 ball in the east....Enough said right there. I would take the Clippers roster over the Raptors without thinking about it twice.
