The Air Canada Centre will be pumping tonight when the Toronto Raptors host the Orlando Magic in Game #3. The Magic won the first two games at home, but the Raptors know that this is a must win game. If the Raptors fall behind 3-0, they’ll find themselves booking tee times with the Maple Leafs next week.
It’s obvious that the Raptors need to get out to a better start in Game 3. The Magic have outscored the Raptors 78-41 in the first quarter so far this series. A change to the starting line up will most likely happen.
Dwight Howard has two straight 20-20 games to start this series and is showing no signs of slowing down. The Magic’s supporting cast wasn’t as impressive in Game 2 as they were in Game 1, but you can bet they brought their best north of the border.
Starting 5 (Masterjuddi’s version):
Jameer Nelson/Jose Calderon
Maurice Evans/Anthony Parker
Hedo Turkoglu/Jamario Moon
Rashard Lewis/Chris Bosh
Dwight Howard/Rasho Nesterovic
Key Match-ups:
The Raptors bench was huge for them in Game 2. Jason Kapono, Carlos Delfino and Jose Calderon combined for 54 points. These three will need to repeat their out put if the Raptors want to get back in the series.
The Magic cooled off from beyond the arc in Game 2. After tying a NBA playoff record with 9 triples in the first quarter, the Magic managed only 9 in the entire game. The Raptors will need to continue playing tough defense on the Magic shooters.
Game Notes:
The Magic shot 43% from the field, 29% from beyond the arc and 82 % from the charity strike in Game 2; Dwight Howard has a total of 8 blocks in the first 2 games; Rashard Lewis shot 7-21 from the field and 0-9 from 3-point land in Game 2.
The Raptors shot 46% from the field, 38% from beyond the arc and 90% from the charity strike in Game 2; TJ Ford is 2-16 in the series; Anthony Parker was held scoreless in Game 2; Raptor centre Rasho Nesterovic started in Game 2, but only played a total of 5:06.
Technorati Tags: Anthony Parker, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson, Jose Calderon, Orlando Magic, Rashard Lewis, Rasho Nesterovic, Sam Mitchell, TJ Ford
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April 24th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
the raps are a glorified D league team with some over paid clowns. TJ Ford is stinking up the place, Rasho was playing well,but the raps choice of small ball takes away the second most consistant scorer over the last month, kapono is dropping 3’s and that’s always fun to watch.
howard will get 20-20 yet again and the raps will lose a heartbreaker at home. Mitchell will be booed off the court in his nice suit and BC will have a huge headache over why he signed his head coach long term and why he drafted Andrea “dont call me Darko” bargnani
April 24th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Raps need a better start and they’ll need to makse some changes to the starting rotation. TJ just isnt doing it and maybe he’ll fit better with the second unit. Bosh is the man, gotta love em