The Toronto Raptors (34-33) will have all-star forward Chris Bosh back in the line up tonight when they host the worst team in the NBA, the Miami Heat (12-54).

Bosh has missed the last ten games with a knee injury and his team has struggled without him. The Raptors have gone 2-8 without their franchise and now find themselves only a half game up on Washington for the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Heat, on the other hand, will not have their franchise player in the line up tonight. Dwayne Wade was shut down for the remainder of the regular season because of a ailing left knee. The Heat will also be without forward Udonis Haslem because of an ankle injury. Haslem is considering going under the knife, which would put an end to his season.

Starting 5:
Jason Williams/Jose Calderon
Daequan Cook/Anthony Parker
Ricky Davis/Jamario Moon
Shawn Marion/Chris Bosh
Mark Blount/Rasho Nesterovic

Key Match-ups:
It’s hard to say how much playing time Bosh will get tonight. The last thing the Raptors want to do is rush him back too quickly and risk losing him down the stretch. If Bosh does play the depleted Heat roster will struggle to contain him. A combination of jump shots and drives to the basket will keep them guessing and fouling.

Shawn Marion is the only real threat on the Heat, but the best numbers in his career have been put up with a great point guard getting him the ball in high percentage scoring areas. If Jason Williams can penetrate the defence and get Marion some good looks, then this combo could create problems for the Raptors. Look for Jose Calderon to bounce back and have a strong game on both ends of the court against Williams.

Game Notes:
The Heat are 2-8 in their last 10 games; Earl Barron is averaging 18.5 ppg in his last 2; Mark Blount failed to score in double digits for the first time in 6 games Tuesday against the Bucks; point guard Marcus Banks has missed the last 5 games because of a hamstring injury; the Heat are an Eastern Confernce worse 6-26 on the road.

The Raptors are only 1 game up on Altantic Division rival Philadelphia 76ers; TJ Ford left Sundays game to a standing ovation from the Jazz faithful after arguing a call a recieving consecutive techical fouls. It was rather entertaining; no more game notes…I just want to see Bosh back in the line up.

Technorati Tags: Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Jason Williams, Jose Calderon, Marcus Banks, Mark Blount, Miami Heat, Shawn Marion, TJ Ford, Udonis Haslem

A classic Raptor win: 60% from the field, 53% from behind the arc and 84% from the line. The Raptors ran into a horrible Miami Heat team, and dropped the hammer on their weak asses. This game was more a testament to how bad the Heat are, than how good the Raptors are. I mean, they still shot 60% from the field, but not because of anything other than weak defense by a team full of players I have never heard of.

The Heat still managed to out-rebound the Raptors, scoring most of their points inside of 15 feet, uhm…Sam Mitchell looked extra greasy on the sidelines, his curls were popping. Yea, I got nothing, hard to analyze a game where the Raptors go on a 26-6 run to start the game against a team that has lost 19 of their last 20.

The Raptors have the next 4 days off, when they play the Clippers in another game they should take down. As Arsenalist wrote, the Raptors have an easy schedule this month, and are on well on their way to taking advantage with an cake walk in Miami. If you are interested, here’s my wrap-up:

1st Quarter:

• On a serious note, if the Raptors lose to The Mild Heat, I’m going to boycott something, or start a petition or something.
• Moon starts the game shooting fade away one-handers from the foul line.
• Bargnani forces Blount into Bosh for a missed hook, then comes back down and hits a jumper.
• Bargnani take it baseline for a dunk.
• Parker is butter from behind the arc.
• Bosh finishes a nice feed from Bargnani +1.
• Parker and Bargnani run the pick and roll to perfection for an open jumper.
• Calderon steals the ball, that leads to an open Bosh facial.
• Bargnani penetrates and kicks to Parker for an open trey.
• I’m actually embarrassed for the Heat right now. The Raptors are shooting off the chain (83%), and have a 20 point lead (26-6) in the first.
• Bosh completes a tough layup from the Calderon entry pass, should have got a foul.
• The Heat are clanking shot after shot, FUGLY.
• Some guy on Miami I have never heard of finishes the break with a dunk, and Smitch calls a TO.
• Jack Armstrong likes his men clean shaven.
• Bosh gets a really easy layup in the paint, Shaq looked upset.
• Wade needs to step up and take over, the Heat suck.
• This is a perfect game for Andrea to drop 35, and for TJ to ease back into the swing of things.
• Bosh posts up some guy (don’t know who he is for the life of me), and decides to jack a fade instead of attacking the youngsta, idiot.
• 33-12 at the end of the 1st, lol.

2nd Quarter:

• The Raptors need to step it up and take it to Miami, put them away early, and clear the bench. Joey Graham is getting antsy at the end of the bench.
• True to form, Chris Quinn hits an open jumper to start the 2nd.
• Bargnani answers with a jumper from the elbow.
• The Lord is good, TJ to check in.
• Bargnani drops a sweet dime to Bosh for an open jumper.
• Kapono steals the ball, and Calderon finishes on the break.
• The Raptors are playing sloppy defense, fouling another no name Heat player driving to the rim.
• Ford is officially back in action.
• Ford drops a sick backdoor pass to Kapono.
• Delfino misses a three from the corner off of TJ’s no look pass.
• Hump shoots an airball as time winds down on the clock.
• I didn’t understand a word Lucas said.
• Kapono steals another ball, and hits a jumper on the other end.
• Kapono nails a jumper off of TJ’s penetration.
• Kapono misses a TJ backdoor pass, stopped running.
• Kapono is all over the place, running around a screen for an open jumper.
• Kapono. Kapono. Kapono…lol. He got a bullshit foul called on him. He stripped Wade of the ball, but the refs didn’t think so.
• Wade finishes an alleyoop in transition, Smitch TO.
• Bosh hits a jumper out of the TO. Contrary to what Jack claims, a jumper is not a high percentage shot.
• Johnson takes it to Bosh on the net play.
• Bosh commits a charge.
• Davis hits an open layup off of Wade’s penetration
• Calderon misses an open Bargnani twice in a row. Seems like he only likes to pass to Bosh.
• Humphries blocks a wide open Cook. He is the only guy who contests.
• Not quite what I was hoping for when I said the Raptors have to take it to the Heat, but they go into the half up 18.

3rd Quarter:

• Broken record time: the Raptors need to step up and put the Heat away right now.
• Blount crowns Bosh in transition.
• Bosh is a black hole tonight. At least he is producing…getting fouled on a drive to the rim, he hits both from the stripe.
• Calderon nails the jumper on the pick-and-pop with Bosh.
• Williams hits a wide open three from the elbow extended.
• The Heat are hanging around, trading baskets with the Raptors.
• Wade is warming up…Raptors need to make a couple stops, this is getting ridiculous.
• Bosh grabs a defensive board in traffic, and draws a foul.
• Bosh puts a sick dunk over Wright from a nice entry pass by Parker.
• Calderon hits a trey at the 5:42 mark, and Chuck is calling the game. Second time in a week he has the balls to call the game when it isn’t so obvious. He’s still a pussy.
• Calderon tosses a nice alleyoop to Moon.
• Bargnani nails a trey off of Parker’s penetration.
• Moon misses an easy layup attempt over a no-name Heat player.
• Wade bricked a three from the corner.
• Moon’s jumper is FUGLY.
• Parker hits another trey from the corner.
• This game is boring the shit out of me, the Raptors are only winning because Miami sucks, don’t get it twisted.

4th Quarter:

• Swirsky actually got out the Proscuitto and Provolone, lol.
• Heat front court are taking it to Hump and Bargs on the boards.
• Bosh and Parker were dancing like idiots on the bench.
• Smitch’s soul glow is dripping down his face.
• Delfino gets fouled on the break, converts both.
• TJ dishes a sick behind the back pass to Hump in transition, wow.
• Joey G finally gets in the game with the Raps up 35.
• TJ got out on the break, pump faked, and banked in a shot from a foot.
• RaptorsTV goes to Super Bowl Ads in the middle of the game, that is how bad this game has got.
• I’m uhh..done taking notes.
• Uhmmm…sick dunk by TJ on the baseline…ok I’m done now.

Technorati Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, Carlos Delfino, Chris Bosh, Jack Armstrong, Jamario Moon, Jason Kapono, Joey Graham, Kris Humphries, Mark Blount, Miami Heat, Sam Mitchell, TJ Ford