Before I start this post I’d like to send a shout out the National Champion University of Kansas Jayhawks, who knocked off the Memphis Tigers to win the NCAA Tournament on Monday Night. The Tournament is the best basketball in the world to watch and it didn’t disappoint.
The Toronto Raptors (38-39) are struggling down the stretch. They’ve fallen below .500 for the first time since losing opening night against the Boston Celtics. If they don’t pick up their play soon, they’ll play the Detroit Pistons in the first round, which will most likely see another first round defeat.
The Milwaukee Bucks (26-50) are coming to town and it’s a perfect time to get back on track. The Bucks are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and SHOULD fall to the Raptors Wednesday Night.
Starting 5:
Mo Williams/TJ Ford
Michael Redd/Anthony Parker
Desmon Mason/Jamario Moon
Charlie Villanueva/Chris Bosh
Andrew Bogut/Rasho Nesterovic
Key Match-ups:
Since returning from injury, Chris Bosh is averaging 23.2 ppg and 8.8 rpg. If the Raptors want to finish strong and make some noise in the playoffs this year, they’ll need Bosh to play the best basketball of his career. Bosh should take a look at the rest of the games as warm up for the post season.
Michael Redd is one of the purest shooters in the NBA. Give this guy an open look and he’ll more often then not, knock it down. Anthony Parker held Redd in check the last time these clubs met, but Redd is still extremely dangerous and you can’t slack off on him.
Game Notes:
This will be the second of a back-to-back for the Bucks. They’ll play the Celtics bench on Tuesday night; starting point guard Mo Williams sat out with an abdominal injury against the Pacers on Sunday. He’s considered day-to-day; forward Yi Jianlian will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury. The Chinese rookie was averaging 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds this season; the Bucks are 7-31 on the road this season (going into Tuesday’s game vs. Boston).
Raptor centre Rasho Nesterovic is averaging 22.0 ppg and 9.3 rebounds in his last 3 games and has scored in double digits in his last 13 games; the Raptors have lost 15 of their last 21 overall; the Raptors finish off the season against NJ, DET, MIA, CHI; the Raptors are 22-16 at home this season.
+0
April 9th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
The kansas / memphis game was amazing and insanely intense basketball. There was so much heart on both sides of the court. I came into the game not really rooting for anyone but was definately hoping kansas would win in the last few minutes of regulation and overtime.
April 9th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
college ball is much more pure than the nba. guys play their ass off, and don’t take any days off because every single game counts. always can be counted on for a great show.
i was hoping for ucla to win it, but kansas has always been one of my favourite teams since mashburn played there. they have a solid program.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
sorry to say that I’m a Duke fan even though I havent liked their team for the past few seasons. college ball is awesome!! Rapsfan said it right “college ball is much more pure” every guy is playing for something, where as in the NBA a lot of the players are playing for a pay check. it seems weird that bball is the only sport that gets worse when you become a professional.
oh yeah GO RAPS GO
April 9th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
duke has a great program, very few of their guys go on to nba success, but the ones that do, are solid (carlos boozer, grant hill, elton brand).