Game Thread! (Toronto @ Indiana)

Discussion in 'Toronto Raptors' started by Chutney, Jan 16, 2009.

  1. Chutney

    Chutney MON-STRAWRRR!!1!

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    <div align="center">[​IMG] <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto</span> </span></span><span style="color:#c8362d">(16-24)</span> vs. <span style="color:#0A355E"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Indiana</span></span></span> <span style="color:#0A355E">(14-25)</span> [​IMG]</div>
    <div align="center">
    When: Friday January 16th, 2009 @ 7:00PM EST
    Where: Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
    TV/Radio: TSN, FAN 590 </div>

    <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center">
    <span style="font-family:Impact"><u>THOUGHTS ON THE GAME</u></span></div></span>

    The return of the full-fledged game preview coincides with the return of Jermaine O'Neal. I think we're all anxious to see how this works out. Andrea Bargnani's been on a tear for the past 9 games but everybody around the franchise has kind of been edgy about his ability to continue that play when JO came back. We all know the dude's ridiculously streaky and there's no telling how a minor chemistry change in the locker room might affect him. To his credit, O'Neal's said all the right things and acted professionally in his return from the mysteriously long injury absence. Hopefully his actions follow his words and this team can continue to gel together. Even though they've lost winnable games (Milwaukee, Chicago, the second Boston game), there's no denying that the Raptors have looked much more cohesive and energetic of late.

    On the topic of former starters accepting bench roles, I thought it was interesting to note that TJ Ford will most likely be coming off the bench tonight. It is from a lower back injury, but I still find it funny that he can come off the bench for Indiana and have an amazing game (23 pts, 6 rebs, 5 ass vs. Detroit) while he had to act like a complete dipshit when we tried to get him to do the same.


    <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>STARTING LINEUPS</u></span></div></span>

    <div align="center">[​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

    <span style="color:#c8362d">Will Solo-man - Anthony Parker - Jamario Moon - Chris Bosh - Andrea Bargnani</span>


    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

    <span style="color:#0A355E">Jarret Jack - Mike Dunleavy Jr. - Danny Granger - Troy Murphy - Jeff Foster</span></div>


    <span style="font-family:Impact"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><u>KEY MATCHUP</u></div></span></span>

    <div align="center">[​IMG] [​IMG]

    <span style="color:#c8362d">Anthony Parker</span> vs. <span style="color:#0A355E">Mike Dunleavy Jr.</span></div>

    Danny Granger is the bread and butter of this Pacers offense as he's starting to emerge as one of the more talented swings in the NBA (we should have drafted him!). That's why its surprising when you remember that we actually did an excellent job of shutting him down the last time we played Indiana, turning him into a low-percentage, high-volume jumpshooter. The key to replicating that defensive performance is to limit his backcourt partner, Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy is damn versatile player and he's only recently started to put that skillset together. When he's consistently creating penetration and stretching the defense with his jumpshot, Granger tends to go buckwild. AP will have to have one of his often-heard-but-rarely-seen defensive performances and limit his trademark dribble penetration. Wouldn't hurt if he hit open jumpshots on the other side of the court either.


    <div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>MARTY YORK'S INSIDE INFORMATION OF THE DAY</u></span></span></div>

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Chutney

    Chutney MON-STRAWRRR!!1!

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    Ugly, ugly defense. We're not cutting off penetration, and are defenders are flying all over the place in a vain attempt to contest shots. We need to box out better and set up better offensive sets in order to limit their fast break.

    Watching Joey Graham pick up 3 fouls guarding Danny Granger, makes we wish their jerseys were switched (like they should've been!).
     
  3. takman_777

    takman_777 Raptors Blogger and Geek

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    man we suck, murphy is at 10/9 already lol we suck
     
  4. Kaz

    Kaz Member

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    no raps dont suck, JO is cancerous and Kapono is dirt GO TO MIAMI ***GOTS!
     
  5. shookem

    shookem Still not a bust

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    Garbage game but on a positive note, Bargnani is averaging 22.1 ppg and 6.9 rpg in his last 10 games.
     
  6. Chutney

    Chutney MON-STRAWRRR!!1!

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    The most encouraging thing about Bargnani is that this was probably his poorest performance in the past 10 game. His shot wasn't falling and his rotation on the pick-and-roll was weaker than usual. And while this would've led to a forgettable statline in the past, he made something out of it by producing during that key 4th quarter run and getting to the free throw line. Those 20 points were well-earned and the fact that he was +2 despite playing more minutes than anybody else on the team (40 minutes) points to his positive impact.

    This kid's legit.
     

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