The Toronto Raptors (25-21) are headed south to take on the struggling Miami Heat (9-37). The last time these two teams met was April 3rd of last year when the Heat knocked off the Raptors 92-89. Coming off a loss to the Lakers, 121-101. A game in which both teams decided not to play defence. Kobe Bryant had another huge game against the Raptors, scoring 46 points. Andrea Bargnani continued his impressive play as of late, scoring a career high 28 points.
The Heat are officially the worst team in the NBA. With the loss to the New Jersey Nets on Friday night, the Heat fell 1/2 a game behind the Timberwolves for the worst record in the NBA. A sorry site for a franchise that has won their Division three years in a row and were NBA Champions in 2006.
Starting 5:
Jose Calderon/Jason Williams
Anthony Parker/Dwayne Wade
Jamario Moon/Dorell Wright
Chris Bosh/Mark Blount
Andrea Bargnani/Earl Barron
Key Match-ups:
Chris Bosh’s life is much easier when teammate Andrea Bargnani is putting up big numbers. Bargs has led the Raptors in scoring the past two games and it seems that his confidence is back. Bosh and Bargs should be able to torch the depleted Miami front court tonight.
Dwayne Wade is a phenomenal basketball player. He can score, pass, rebound and play top notch defence. The problem is that nobody else on the Heat roster is giving him much help. Anthony Parker will try and slow the all-star down.
Game Notes:
Raptors forward Jamario Moon was named NBA Rookie of the Month for January. Amongst rookies Moon ranks first in steals, second in rebounds and third in minutes; forward Jason Kapono makes his first return to Miami since signing as a free agent in the off season. Kapono played 118 games for Heat; the Raptors are 11-12 on the road this season.
Heat centre Shaq has missed the last 5 games because of a Left hip, quadriceps acute inflammation; Heat forward Udonis Haslem has missed the last 2 games because of a sprained ankle; the Heat are 5-18 at home this season.
Technorati Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Jamario Moon, Jason Kapono, Miami Heat, Shaquille Oneal, Udonis Haslem
February 4th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I found your site on google blog search and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. Just added your RSS feed to my feed reader. Look forward to reading more from you.
- Randy Nichols.
February 4th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
TJ is back baby!! I couldnt believe it when i saw it. so now the debate can begin. Who is the Raps starting PG? I’m down with the man from Spain, but TJ is pretty awesome. the raps are the only team in the nba that have this problem and you cant go wrong either way