The ACC will be at full capacity Wednesday night when the Central Division leading Detroit Pistons (50-20) visit the Toronto Raptors (35-35). If the playoffs started today the Pistons would host the Raptors in the first round, a match up that Raptor fans do not want to see.
The Raptors have dropped from 5th to 7th in the Conference and find themselves in third place in the Atlantic for the first time all season. If the Raptors want to avoid a first round battle with the Pistons, then they’ll have to outplay the Wizards and 76ers down the stretch.
Fortunately, the Raptors have the more favorable schedule than both the Wizards and 76ers over the next 12 games. They only play 3 games against teams with winning records (Detroit twice and New Orleans); besides those games their opponent’s record is a combined 223-404.
Starting 5:
Chauncey Billups/TJ Calderon
Rip Hamilton/Anthony Parker
Tayshaun Prince/Jamario Moon
Antonio McDyess/Chris Bosh
Rasheed Wallace/Rasho Nesterovic
Key Match-ups:
The Pistons kill you with great team defense and balanced scoring. They have too many weapons to focus on just one player, which means that all five Raptors need to bring their defensive A game’s.
It will definitely be fun to watch the match up at the point guard position Wednesday night. Jose Calderon and TJ Ford will need to keep in front of “Mr. Big Shot” Chancy Billups if they want to win. Billups has a knack of knocking down back breaking shots against the Raptors.
The Raptors need Andrea Bargnani to be more consistent throughout the game. In Sunday’s loss to the Nuggets, Bargnani started the game 7-8 for 16 points, but completely disappeared in the second half. When Bargnani plays well it takes pressure off of Chris Bosh making his life easier.
Game Notes:
Pistons guard Rip Hamilton missed Mondays game against the Suns because of a sore hip. He is a game time decision; all 5 Piston starters average double digits in scoring in their careers against the Raptors; the Pistons are 31-1 in games in which they score 100+ points; the Pistons are 22-14 on the road this season.
Raptors forward Jamario Moon scored 15 points and added a career high 15 rebounds against the Nuggets; the Raptors matched a season high 38 points against in the 4th quarter against the Nuggets; Carlos Delfino has been held scoreless in his last two games; Anthony Parker has scored in double digits in 14 straight games; the Raptors are 20-14 at home this season.
Technorati Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, Carlos Delfino, Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosh, Detroit Pistons, Jose Calderon, Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, TJ Ford
March 26th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
3 games in 4 nights makes the Pistons vulnerable this evening … but, Detroit’s quality depth will probably pull them through, in the end … as long as Rasheed doesn’t lose his head (for no good reason), which he’s been known to do, from time to time.
IMO … this is precisely the type of game last year’s team really benefitted from having Morris Peterson in the line-up.
khandor’s last blog post..Round and round the Raptors go
March 26th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
No way for the Raps to win tonigt ….except maybe if Sam will use Brezec !
coach’s last blog post..Raptors Below Standard !
March 27th, 2008 at 12:46 am
Brezec will save the Raps!
March 27th, 2008 at 9:12 am
looks like he’s gonna save the bench from getting cold. doing a good job too!
May 9th, 2008 at 10:45 am
how come anthony parker can dunk..can u tell me how can i dunk and work out
Jonathan Quindipan’s last blog post..By: Raps Fan