Both the Raptors and Bobcats have one thing in common: they both just beat up on the Pacers heading into tonights match. This was a game I had highlighted on my calendar once the Stephen Jackson trade went through. Regardless of what you thought of them before, you have to respect them now. This team already had some talent, and if Chandler can find a way to stay healthy, they will be a darkhorse in the East – sorry, but when Nazr Mohammed is your starting center, you don’t strike fear into my heart on a day by day basis.
The Raptors are coming off a blow out (without the blowout feel) against the Pacers, and head straight into the Bobcats waiting hands, who have been well rested since playing last on Sunday. These Raptors are an interesting bunch: they are on pace to being the best offensive and worst defensive team in NBA history. It’s quite the accomplishment, but also a sure fire recipe to drive the lot of us steaming mad.
Defense shouldn’t be a big issue tonight for the Raptors since Charlotte can’t seem to score the ball worth a lick. Iverson would have been a great fit here, imagine sporting a lineup of:
PG – Felton
SG – Iverson
SF – Wallace
PF – Jackson
C – Boris Diaw
That is a match-up nightmare, something to consider. My gift to Jordan and Higgins, no worse then what you’re doing now, think about it…
Match-ups
The Point: Felton and Augustin have been tough SOB’s against us in the past, being quick and all. Calderon and Jack have been balling like champs. They are attacking the rim, hitting their shots, dropping dimes and generally doing all you can ask of them (you can always ask for defense, but I’m beyond that). I have no hate left for Jack given his play the last few games, he looks like the guy I thought he would be. So this match-up will come down to who does more damage: my money is on Jose and Jack given how they have been ripping it up the last few games.
The Edge: Toronto
The Wings: I grouped these two together because I really don’t know who plays what. Both Jackson and Wallace are 3s, but the fact that they can be interchanged at a drop of dime means that DeRozan will be in for a long night – or a shorter then expected one. Rebounding is a big issue at the wing spot. Wallace and Jackson grab about 16 a game boards between the two of them, and our wings don’t even come close. Factor in their tough kamikaze attitude, and this does not look favourable for the Raptors, even considering Turkoglu’s solid play of late.
The Edge: Charlotte
The Bigs: What does a poor game by Bosh look like this season? 16pts 12rebs 4ast 4blks … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1 … LOL. So the guy is a legit elite/max player this year … With Chandler, the Charlotte front court is good, without him, they are Boris Diaw and a bunch of air puppets. Bargnani wont have anyone zeroing in on him like Foster did in the first half of last nights game, and since Nazr Mohammed can’t defend a bowl of pasta against Il Mago, this should be a big night for our boy.
The Edge: Toronto
The Reserves: I expect to see a lot of Wright, as he will either need to keep Wallace away form the rack, or Jackson out of his comfort zone (not sure where that would be). The combo of Belinelli and Johnson (#freeamir) has been a surprising one. I like the chemistry these guys have together. Belinelli launches ridiculous passes at Amir, he catches and dunks em. The two get into the game and make an impact quickly. I like seeing them teamed up together, and hope they bring hell tonight.
The Edge: Toronto
Injury Report
Raptors
Reggie Evans
Bobcats
Tyson Chandler
The Line
Bobcats are -2.5 with an over/under of 194.5
Prediction
Visser’s sims are 12-3 this year and this time the crystal ball is predicting a 96-88 Raptor win. I’m on board, it wont be an easy win, and this will probably be a along, ground out, boring one; but the Raptors will take this one on the road, and get back to .500 on the year.
28 Raps
this will be a resounding win. i can tell the future laddy.
you sure can ..
Well, the second night of a back-to-back. Not expecting much other than a lower (a I use “lower” very loosely) scoring affair. The Bobcats lack of offense might allow us to keep an opponent under 100 points for a change. Problem is, Charlotte’s defense is one of the best in the league. So, even though the Cat’s are 4-9 that record isn’t indicative of the talent on that roster. I don’t think we’ll win tonight not entirely because of Charlotte’s defense, but because its also the second night of a back-to-back.
BTW RapsFan, according to Chandler’s ESPN profile he is playing tonight.
Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=984
That is concerning for me. At time of posting, he was day-to-day. Bargnani should be able to attack him from the perimeter, but rebounding becomes a bigger issue.
The Raptors will be welcoming back “.500″ tonight!
Will they?
No. Good Lord what happened.
Has a team ever needed a PG as bad as the bobcats? Nothing better than a shoot first pg who can’t shoot.
It would be a nice one to have. Might be our last crack at 500 for a while with the Celtics, Suns, Wizards and Hawks on the horizon.
After that stretch the schedule gets a little easier. If we can go into that with a little momentum things should be good for this team.
Agreed, but the Wizards are a write-off as far as I’m concerned though. Hopefully they can steal against the Suns.
Tinman, liquidate your house, put the money on the Raptors on Friday against the C**tics. Come to SCC and you’ll have enough to buy a private jet to drop me home on your way to wherever Tinman likes to go on vacation.
ssshhhh…i’ve got the same feeling about friday (don’t know why, since i’m assuming they lose to the bobbies…), but let’s keep it on the ‘ole d-low, k? i’m perfectly happy flying under the radar, leaving teams to make up excuses how they lost to such a shitty team (see: cavaliers, cleveland).
Well, you gotta admit this team has shown you it can win and lose games.
But if you gut is correct, than odds are that we are at least 500 after the first 20 games.
Nobody thought that was realistic at the end of preseason. How come there is so much negativity out there. Calls for change. DeRozan to the bench, who by the way is being exposed perfectly to the NBA by Triano. Jack to start. Belinelli? Christ, on the PODCAST posting there talking trading Bosh for Yao.
Things are going OK for this team. Has shown a will to win. We are closer to 50 W’s than 40.
Can’t believe those jokers at ESPN have our boys with only a 30% of pulling this out!
raps haven’t exactly lit it up when playing the 2nd of a BtoB against rested opponents (what is that, the 3rd time in two weeks the raps are doing this? bananas.).
raps will need to work hard in the paint to control wallace, he’s been insane on the glass this year. i’d feel more comfortable if the raps had put away the pacers early last night & had been able to rest some of their key guys…would’ve been nice to see POB & PM-B (& more rasho) last night.
…and this is a home and away back to back which makes it even more of an uphill battle….truly idiotic sched. I expect a close match with tons of maddening moments.
well, you were half right…
You can’t?
Thank you for the shout-out Raps Fan. I shall be a force tonight – will help keep Wallace, Diaw and Chandler off the offensive glass (each averaging 2.2 off boards).
Charlotte is the 2nd WORST 3pt shooting team in the league – this should make the matchup favorable for us.
Raymond Felton not being able to throw a beach ball into an ocean has something to do with it. If your PG can’t hit the 40% mark at all (36%) on FGs and is 6′1″ it limits your offensive options a lot. He still hasn’t had that jumper going ever since 2005. Who knows if he might have an abberation, but Jose, don’t let him drive on you please.
Interesting comparison here, comparing the division winning 06-07 team to this one.
http://raptorsrepublic.com/forums/showthread.php?p=900#post900
one of the things that made that team so drastically different was the average point differential – it showed that when the raps when, they had a tendency to blow teams out, which allowed them to rest key players. i know we all have our backs up re. hollinger (btw – it’s not like he’s been inaccurate in his assessments of the raps, whether those assessments are based purely on stats seems a bit irrelevant, no? they are what he says they are), but he’s a very strong believer in margin of victory of the long-term as a predictor of team strength…it’s shown to be a remarkably consistent benchmark.
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I think this game will be closer than we think (or hope).
It’ll depend on our Bench – we need another good game from them. Plus we’ll also need a big game from CB, as I’m guessing Andrea will have an off night. After listening to his post game interview, and taking into account this is a back-to-back situation, I suspect his energy level will not be there.
Bargs’ flu symptoms may be gone, but it takes time (and rest) to bounce back. It’s possible he sucks it up, like he did in the 4th last night, but I wouldn’t bet the farm just yet.
Turk will be tested, so hopefully the CalderJack experience shows some moxie once again.
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Bosh will return to his usual production and shooting percentages tonight.
Chandler has been stinking out Charlotte this year – should be glad if he’s back – Nazr has outplayed him.
Jackson has been averaging 17 points since joining the Bobcats – leading scorer on the team. Bobcats are 1-3 with Jackson.
This might be “another” back-to-back but its the Raptors first back-to-back against 2 weak eastern conference teams.
No excuses, Raptors must win!
Kinda going out on a tangent here, what would you think of trading Jose & DD for Monta Ellis? He would be an excellent complement to our big three of Bosh, Bargs & Turk. We could really use a PG who can break down the defense and get a good look for one of our big 3.
Monta Ellis is not a PG. Think Ben Gordon. This is not a good trade. Especially since we don’t know what DD’s ceiling is yet. But moreso because Ellis is a scoring guard who doesn’t fit our “sharing the ball” offensive style.
Only if the Raps also get Andris Biedrins in the deal.