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Date: Wednesday, January 30th, 2008
Time: 7:00pm (Eastern Time)
Television: CSN, NBALP
Radio: WTEM 980 AM
Internet: http://www.sportstalk980.com/main.html
In-game Chat: Click here to chat


Air Canada Center, Toronto (Ontario)

Washington Wizards (24-19) Starting Lineup


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Toronto Raptors (24-20) Starting Lineup


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Match-up of the Night

VS.

Our player spotlight focuses on the point guard match-up in Wednesday's contest: Antonio Daniels and Jose Calderon. The reason the matchup of the night isn't featuring some combination of Bosh and a Washington Wizards power forward is because I feel Chris will be very tired and slowed down due to playing 50 minutes in Washington's win in game one. Calderon, however, played 42 minutes and didn't have to carry as much of the heavy lifting. He will be somewhat fresh and so will Antonio Daniels. In terms of what to watch for, let's see if AD can try and stay in front of Calderon. When Jose gets a step on his defender, he becomes lethal, since he is both an excellent finisher and an incredible passer. On the other end of the floor, I'd like to see AD be less eager to shoot the ball and more interested in getting everyone involved while running the Princeton Offense.

Miller's 3 Keys to the Game

*As you'll notice, they are the same 3 keys. In our previous game, we did a decent job of getting out on Toronto's shooters (though to be fair, they missed a good portion of wide open shots) and only doubled down low on a few occasions (and on those occasions, Toronto usually ended up with an open 3). Songaila, to Wizards fans displeasure, got plenty of 2nd quarter minutes and didn't have what one would call a good game. He was basically giving Bosh 2 points every trip down the court and only hit one shot. He was, however, used sparingly in the 2nd half, as McGuire was the 1st forward substitution off the bench - and boy did he make the most of it.

1. Get out on the damn shooters - Toronto is one of the best perimeter-oriented teams in the association. The Wizards are notorious for leaving good 3pt shooters wide open as if they've never hit that shot before. Recognize the shooters, get out on them, and don't take breaks.

2. Don't double down low - This, in a way, goes with Key #1. Toronto is going to score...a lot. But don't give them open shots. By trying to help Haywood or Jamison in the post, you're practically asking them to shoot wide open 3pters. If Bosh or Bargnani score in the paint, so be it, but don't let what could be a stop or a 2pt make be a 3.

3. Play Songaila sparingly - This might be a game where Andray Blatche plays big-time. In fact, he might be the best player on our team to guard Bosh, since he's both semi-quick, semi-strong and semi-competent on defense. Even if he's missing his shots or playing a bit out of control on offense, keep the kid in and let him try his best against their star. God knows Songaila will just be lost, as he always is. If all goes well, I'd like to see 22-25 minutes for BSB.

I expect Toronto to shoot much better at home so that's a concern. Also with Jamison playing so hard on the boards tonight we could see more Songaila. Maybe Blatche getting into foul trouble could actually help us since it saved him some minutes.

Still, I think that we'll need one of the rooks to step up if we're gonna win this one. Either McGuire has to be big on the boards again or Pesh has to get hot from three or Young has to flat out take over the scoring load at times. We'll need one of those three to step up to win again.

This one is on Young. He should see plenty of minutes as he sat on the bench for most of tonight's game. We need 15+ points from him if we want a chance.

House money. Play loose and hope for the best.

Let's save the temper tantrums if we lose, ok girls?

So are we essentially counting Caron out for tomorrow? He looked awfully hobbled in DC.

miller31time wrote:So are we essentially counting Caron out for tomorrow? He looked awfully hobbled in DC.

I see no reason why they would rush him back especially since we won tonight. More than likely he'll be back on Friday night against the Jazz. Well that is as long as the team doctors don't break his hip or anything.

We've beat them without GA. We've beat them without GA and Tough Juice. Might as well sit Jamison tomorrow then, too and see if we can beat them.

Seriously, though, if we win manana I'll be pleasantly surprised. I'm more than happy with a 9-6 January, all things considered.

Let's kick that Craptor ass one more time!!!

fishercob wrote:House money. Play loose and hope for the best.

Let's save the temper tantrums if we lose, ok girls?

This game Pecherov, Young, and a confident McGuire should all get some PT.

Jamison just played 51 minutes and I don't care if he doesn't play 30 tomorrow. In fact, I hope EJ gives him enough rest regardless of the game's outcome.

Parker can't shoot badly like that again and DeShawn won't hit 5 threes.

The Wizards can't hope to rebound the same way without fouling a lot.

The hope for tomorrow I think will come from Haywood and Young. Raps haven't seen Young and will be shocked at how easily he scores.

I expect a tough game, but a loss.

Butler is out for this game.

LOSS.

L - O - S - S

We should pick this guy up to start in Carons place.

Nice victory tonight, you guys deserved it. But tomorrow we'll have the energy from our home crowd. We should win this one by a fair margin, then again we should have won tonight's game big too. Anything is possible I guess, after tonight...

Kosta wrote:Nice victory tonight, you guys deserved it. But tomorrow we'll have the energy from our home crowd. We should win this one by a fair margin, then again we should have won tonight's game big too. Anything is possible I guess, after tonight...

You should have won tonight? Please, can you possibly talk more ****.

We were missing 2 all stars and still dominated all night, a couple of prayer 3's at the end from Moon and Parker and you some how made it to an extra 5 minutes but even with the emotion from that shot you got killed in OT.

Toronto fans

A. Blatche > KG wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



You should have won tonight? Please, can you possibly talk more ****.

We were missing 2 all stars and still dominated all night, a couple of prayer 3's at the end from Moon and Parker and you some how made it to an extra 5 minutes but even with the emotion from that shot you got killed in OT.

Toronto fans

Yo Andray, I said you guys deserved to win last night. But I was trying to say coming into the game this was a game we should have took. And you had one very good quarter, probably the best quarter of Blatche's life where you guys really took it to us (and O.T). The rest of the game was pretty even or in our favor if anything.

G.L tomorrow, seeing how you guys clearly dominated us last night, you should have no problem beating us tomorrow...

... and the Craptor trolls peek their heads out of their caves.

Ratpro fans will never change...

Toronto Raptors winning yet another poll. w00t!

we should win because of the fact that Toronto has 3 people in the starting lineup who don't have a normal picture for the game thread.

but i doubt that we win 2 in a row against toronto, especially since the 2nd game is in CanAda. Toronto will throw in a bunch of crap shots in the end even if we are up with a minute to go anyway.

stupid stupid stupid

zards get blown out tonight to avoid game ending drama