TONIGHT: WIZARDS-RAPTORS
By Shaun Fletcher
The Wizards once again will need to dust off their passports as they travel to Air Canada Centre tonight to square-off against the always dangerous Toronto Raptors. Lest we not be fooled by the Toronto Raptors 22-23 record on the season - the Raptors are still tied for the lead in the Atlantic Division and are looking to extend their home winning streak to four games.
And, do I need to mention that Chris Bosh is turning into a bona fide superstar and will be introduced as a starter later this month alongside Gilbert at the All-Star game? Nah, you already knew that right? But, I’d be willing to bet you didn’t know that the Raptors are an impressive 10-2 at home against Eastern Conference teams this season. Now be honest, who really knew that?!
A telling statistic coming into tonight’s game is that the Wizards are 18-3 when leading games at the half this season, while Toronto has a similar record of 18-8 when leading at the break. Both teams have not had much success and are sub-.500 in games when trailing at the half.
This game may come down to who can get off to the fastest start. The last time the Wizards faced the Raptors they dropped the game 116-111 back in January. Caron Butler had this to say about the performance of Chris Bosh the last time they played, “Chris Bosh is a handful…he’s got potential for greatness. He’s a mismatch every night.†Having missed 12 games this season, Bosh is still hovering around the top of the league in points per game (22.3), rebounds (10.9), and double-doubles (20) at his position. The x-factor may be the combined play of Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood in slowing down Bosh.
The last time the two teams met up in Toronto, many Raptors players attributed the win to it being one of the few times the team was at full strength. Well, that won’t be the case tonight folks, as long as T.J. Ford is sidelined with an ankle injury that has caused him to miss the teams last four contests. I’m sure the Wizards can feel their pain however, considering that the Wizards will also be without 1/3 of the vaunted “Big Three†due to the knee injury suffered by Antwan Jamison in last nights win over Detroit.
As for Jamison’s replacement, it’s possible that Calvin Booth could take his spot in the lineup tonight after playing some big minutes in last night’s win. Jarvis Hayes is also a possible candidate.
The Wizards won’t again face the Raptors for a while until they play for the last time this season at the Verizon Center in March. Clearly, a lot of different scenarios may factor into who comes out on top in tonight’s contest. Sounds like an amateur-analysts dream! Who said dreams don’t come true?! Have at it…
Posted: January 31st, 2007 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from Anonymous
Time January 31, 2007 at 1:00 PM
c bosh will run wild on the zards … raps by 20!
Comment from Anonymous
Time January 31, 2007 at 1:23 PM
Much focus has been on Jamison’s injury (why can’t he get the MRI done today instead of tomorrow? is it because the Wiz docs are going to Canada as well?). I want to know where Ruffin went. He’s been out for so long and no one is talking about his return. Even Songalia is getting more coverage about his injury than Ruffin.
I thought the Wiz bench played pretty good last night against the Pistons. Jarvis and AD are expected to take more shots against Toronto, so they have to be ready with more focused. Arenas played a lot of minutes last night due to the Jamison injury, so he could be a bit wild with his jump shots.
The Raptors size give the Wiz problems. Most of their big guys can shoot the ball from the perimeter (including Bosh). Anthony Parker is a sneaky player that can make threes and score if you back off playing defense on him.
Comment from Nancy
Time January 31, 2007 at 1:35 PM
I’m not buying *any* of this, guys. Toronto’s not so far away and we’re determined and we’re playing well. We’re just in a mood to dig deep. We’ll win.
Comment from Shon
Time January 31, 2007 at 1:37 PM
I think we will win tonight, all wizards players want to send out coach to all star, and they want to win for Jamison. as long as we can play good defense (in the last 3 games, we put all 3 teams lower than 100 points), we can beat Toronto. I am sure Gilbert Aneras will score over 35 points.
GO WIZARDS!!!
Comment from Andrew
Time January 31, 2007 at 1:50 PM
Silly Toronto fans…that kool-aid up north must be NICE!!
Wiz win in a close one…102-96.
Comment from Mehdi
Time January 31, 2007 at 2:01 PM
Okay it’s back to back, okay it’s in Canada, but we want to beat on the road cuz you all know how hard it is to beat them in Canada… But the Wiz are quiet hot right now and if they can combine for a hot performance such as yesterday or the ten last minutes of the previous game against the raptors, it’s okay!! I think the Wiz can make it, now I’m waiting to see who EJ will choose to start, I would say Calvin…
Comment from Nancy
Time January 31, 2007 at 2:21 PM
Very interesting. The fear of Gilbert in Toronto is such that, in their minds — or at least the minds of their sports writers — Gilbert has already scored 50 points against Portlant in the upcoming 2/11 game! Check it out — I found an article here that includes this text:
GAGA OVER GILBERT
Much of yesterday’s post-practice interviews with the media concerned Wizards all-star guard Gilbert Arenas and how he can be stopped.
The answer is you can’t.
“What do you take away from him?” Anthony Parker asked. “He can shoot two feet behind the three-point line and he can finish in the paint.”
Arenas has been extremely vocal about making any of those he felt responsible for denying him a spot on this past summer’s USA Basketball world championship team pay.
Assistants Mike D’Antoni and Nate McMillan, head coaches with Phoenix and Portland respectively, already have payed the price, with Arenas scoring 50-plus against both those clubs.
Parker said he was pretty sure Arenas doesn’t have any beefs with any of the Raptors.
“I think we’re safe … at least I hope we are.”
LOL — that’s how they think about it — if they are “safe”?!? Good. Keep thinking that way. Believe that if you’re really really nice to him he won’t score.
Bosh — posh! Fear the Gilbert.
Comment from chemsynking
Time January 31, 2007 at 2:45 PM
The Raps are also on tear right now winning 7 of their last 10 games. They are also playing on new found confidence compounded by their last win againt us off a back to back. The diff this time is AJ is hurt, EJ deserves to goto the all-star game. The is another clutch situation for the wiz and the wiz seem to come-back very well this season by diggin deep.
My prediction: game can go 2 ways. Either the wiz go neck and neck and come out w/ win by no mre then 5-6 pts or we get caught cold w/ our bench not picking up AJ slack and get stomped by no more then 10.
Comment from Shon
Time January 31, 2007 at 6:26 PM
I heard Jamison will be out 2-8 weeks depends on how bad his spains knee, it will hurt us a lot
Comment from Anonymous
Time January 31, 2007 at 10:02 PM
That it is what you said of Calderon, Arenas? 6 or 7 points? jajajaja
24 points and 11 assists is the answer.
In your face Arenitas.
Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time January 31, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Raptors troll..oops, fans - gotta love ‘em. 
Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time January 31, 2007 at 10:19 PM
ATTN: Red Dragon
Thanks for your comments - you’re done for the night. See ya!
Comment from Anonymous
Time January 31, 2007 at 10:20 PM
no hard feelings … thanks for the posts
red dragon
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 1, 2007 at 10:50 AM
nice prediction there.. agent 0 got nothin on the raptors … raps took it!! 2-0 against the wiz.. whos next ?
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Comment from WizDom
Time January 31, 2007 at 12:52 PM
I’m a little worried about this one. Remember last game?
Now, no Tawn, Raptors are well rested.
This is our 2nd of a Back to Back AND have to travel to Canada. TJ Ford is back and Gil has a hard time against him. Toronto is actually favored by 4.5 right now.
But I say, Wiz dig deep and take this one.. Eddie to the Allstar Game!