The Toronto Raptors (21-18) host the Atlanta Hawks (17-18) Friday night at the ACC. The Raptors won the first meeting of the two clubs 100-88 on December 10th in Atlanta. It was the last time Raptor fans saw TJ Ford suit up. Ford scored a game high 26 points before being fouled hard by Al Horford. Ford has missed the last 17 games.
The Hawks are coming off an 87-80 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. Andrew Bogut had his 17th double-double of the season, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
The Raptors knocked off the suddenly healthy Sacramento Kings Wednesday night, 116-91. Carlos Delfino scored a career high 26 points on 8-11 from the field, including five 3-pointers.
Starting 5:
Anthony Johnson/Jose Calderon
Joe Johnson/Anthony Parker
Marvin Williams/Jamario Moon
Josh Smith/Chris Bosh
Al Horford/Andrea Bargnani
Key Match-ups:
Joe Johnson scored 23 points against the Raptors in their first meeting, including 5 triples. Johnson can play either guard position and enjoys having the ball in his hands. He’s averaging 21.9 ppg and 5.4 apg so far this season. Anthony Parker will get the job yet again of shutting down the oppositions #1 offensive threat.
Chris Bosh is a monster for the Raptors right now. The Franchise forward is averaging 29.2 ppg and 9.2 rpg in his last five. Josh Smith was matched up against Bosh in the first meeting and couldn’t stop CB4 from scoring 20 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Game Notes:
Josh Smith averages 14.2 ppg and 2.6 bpg in 11 career games against the Raptors; The Hawks haven’t scored 100+ on the road yet this season; The Hawks are 5-10 on the road this season.
Chris Bosh was 9/10 from the free throw line. CB4 surpassed Vince Carter on the Raptors all time free throws made list; Jose Calderon recorded his 1000th career assist against the Kings; The Raptors out rebounded the Kings 42-29, you don’t see that too often; The Raptors average the second fewest turnovers in the NBA, Detroit is #1; Friday nights game can be viewed on Raptortv; the Raptors are 11-8 at home this season.
Technorati Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Jose Calderon, Josh Smith, Sacramento Kings, TJ Ford, Toronto Raptors
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January 18th, 2008 at 9:10 am
http://cuzoogle.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/raptors-game-day-hawksraps/
what are we thinking about the Hawks tonight?
January 18th, 2008 at 10:23 am
can i venture another bold prediction and say a win? i know the hawks are a good team, but like the kings, this is a game they have to win in order to be taken seriously as a team on the rise.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Should be a good test for our team. These are the games the Raptors have to win to prove they are better then a .500 team. Plus if we can win this & carry some momentum into the Philly game we could string together a 3 game winning streak. Whoaaaa… I’ll try not to get a head of myself.. one game at a time Raptors!
January 18th, 2008 at 11:33 am
arsenalist and me said it in our podcast that this is a 4 of 5 week. anything less, and you really have to question this team from top down….
…more so than we already do, lol.
January 18th, 2008 at 11:51 am
By the way… nice PodCast. I can still get work done and listen to a analysis. I !!!never!!! blog. I just don’t have the time at work, but lately work has slacked a bit! No internet at home. But the last couple games you and arsenalist hook me. Keep up the quality rollin’… You guys reminder me of my buddies and me debating the Raptors. A lot of people still don’t follow basketball!! It’s hard enough finding a good court to play at in my town… Go Raptors Go…
January 18th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I’d like to see the Raps play extremely tough and aggresive in this one. Perhaps a few facial dunks; perhaps some trash talk; perhaps a couple hard fouls. Do it for TJ!
January 18th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
PapiJulio > try living outside the GTA, the (Raps) following is practically nil. No bars here (SW Ontario) show ANY bball games (not even the Raps), and I’m happy that they at least show MMA (UFC, etc.) for me to watch anything that isn’t related to Hickey (NHL, OHL, CHL, QMJHL, etc.).
January 18th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I really hope we don’t boo Horford because it’ll be totally classless.
January 18th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I’m really excited to play the Raptors tonight. You guys are a bunch of pansies no doubt. I’m gonna throw my weight around, and who knows maybe I’ll end Jose Calderon’s career on an arrant foul. I”m not scared. Y’all aint gonna do nothing about it. Shit, you will probably invite me to the hospital to hang wit y’all. Anyways, Y’all suck ass.
January 18th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Whatever… we know your not Al Horford!!! Ha ha…. just another shit talker. I welcome the chanllange with open arms, within the rules… I know you feel threatened by Calderon and think you have to hurt him to win. That’s ok… I have a tissue for you after the game… Oh did I mention my real name is Micheal Jordan (:-0)
January 18th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
LOL @ horford. i can almost guarantee a horford booing arsenalist. classless as it may, someone other than mitchell needs to defend him.
January 18th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I wish it was on The Score. I love to count how many movie references Adnan can get in during the pregame and highlight packs.
January 18th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
i make it a policy not to watch the pre-game, regardless of who is doing it (except if i catch it on the fan590). as far as post game, i only watch the sam mitchell/opposing team coach interviews.
January 18th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
the only thing I say is they can’t be afraid of getting blocked
way to try and ruin Al Horford’s image of being a decent human being
January 18th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Al Horford > lol, I applaud your “classiness”. sorry bud, you’re in the wrong forum if you wanted a lame war of words/flame war. btw, this was one of the places that actually thought horford made a legit mistake, instead of a dirty play.
as Shrugz mentioned, way to go to discredit the real Al Horford’s image.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
5:55 in the 3rd, and I’m beggining to be embarrassed. What’s it going to take to get the team and the crowd up?
January 18th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Last 22 sec. in the 3rd … finally, some life.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
AP & CB4 are our 2 bright spots on offense. AP outside, CB4 inside. Sick play by Calderon, passing to Moon on a drive for a dunk.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Nice move by Calderon on Horford @ 1:25, driving and faking under the basket for a lay-up.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Whoah. Calderon showing lots of life in the dying seconds. Wished he played like this all the time.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
he plays mega minutes, get’s hard to maintain a solid level of play for … ever, lol