Final: Houston Rockets 88 - Toronto Raptors 101

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/object3/...77660_9368.jpg

http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.pngHouston Rockets @ Toronto Raptors http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/TOR%20Small.png

13-9, 2nd Southwest, (Road: 8-5) --- 10-15, 2nd Atlantic, (Home: 6-5)

WHEN: Sun., Dec. 13, 2009 at 12:30pm ET
WHERE: Air Canada Centre
TV/Radio: CBC, CBC HD, FAN590 Radio


http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png TORONTO RAPTORS http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png
(click on logo for team stats)

Starters
http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/2768.jpghttp://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba...rs/65/3978.jpghttp://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/862.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/1977.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/2987.jpg
(L to R): Jack, DeRozan, Turkoglu, Bosh, Bargnani

Bench
http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba...rs/65/3190.jpghttp://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba...rs/65/3467.jpghttp://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba...rs/65/2165.jpghttp://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba...rs/65/2769.jpghttp://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/598.jpghttp://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba...rs/65/3053.jpghttp://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba...rs/65/2801.jpg
(L to R): Belinelli, Weems, Banks, Johnson, Nestrovic, Mensah-Bonsu, Wright

Team Injuries/Inactive List
http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba...rs/65/2806.jpghttp://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba...rs/65/1828.jpghttp://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba...rs/65/3019.jpg
(L to R): Calderon, Evans, O'Bryant

http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.png HOUSTON ROCKETS http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.png
(click on logo for team stats)

Starters
http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/3192.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/2426.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...ers/65/976.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/1781.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/2834.jpg
(L to R): Brooks, Ariza, Battier, Scola, Hayes

Bench
http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/3012.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/3217.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/3968.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/4205.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/1998.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/4014.jpg
(L to R): Lowry, Landry, Budinger, Andersen, Cook, Taylor

Team Injuries/Inactive List
http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/3421.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...ers/65/532.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/1722.jpg
(L to R): Dorsey, McGrady, Ming

Who's Hot

http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png TORONTO RAPTORShttp://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/1977.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/2768.jpg
Bosh: 23.4 PPG IN LAST 5 GP / Jack: 14 PPG IN LAST 3 GP

http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.pngHOUSTON ROCKETShttp://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.png

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/2426.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/3217.jpg
Ariza: 17.4 PPG IN LAST 14 GP / Landry: 19.7 PPG IN LAST 3 GP

http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.png Key Match-ups http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png

http://www.nba.com/media/act_aaron_brooks.jpghttp://www.nba.com/media/act_jarrett_jack.jpg
Aaron Brooks vs. Jarrett Jack

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/medi...arl_landry.jpghttp://www.nba.com/media/act_amir_johnson.jpg
Carl Landry vs. Amir Johnson

http://www.mts.ca/file_source/mts.ca...rld%20logo.gif Fox Sports World's Head to Head Match-ups http://www.mts.ca/file_source/mts.ca...rld%20logo.gif
(click either player photo to see numbers against one another)

http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png PG http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/2768.jpg vs. http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/3192.jpg PG http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.png

http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png SG http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/3978.jpg vs. http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/2426.jpg SG http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.png

http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png SF http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...ers/65/862.jpg vs. http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...ers/65/976.jpg SF http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.png

http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png PF http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/1977.jpg vs. http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/1781.jpg PF http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.png

http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png C http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/2987.jpg vs. http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/2834.jpg C http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.png

GAME PREVIEWS

http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~gsc1/ESPN_logo2.jpg
(click on image for preview *NOTE: only available on "Game Day")

http://images.ballhype.com/media/upl...ogo_design.png
(click on image for preview *NOTE: only available on "Game Day")

Prediction

http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png - 94
http://www.ebsports.net/eze/team/HOU%20Small.png - 109

Hmmm ... Rockets are a great physical team and playing physical is definitely something we lack. I don't see us keeping up to them tomorrow afternoon at the ACC.

Any of you fine folk attending the game tomorrow? :confused:

ESPN Game Preview is now available: Click here

And Arsenalist's Pre-Game is also available: Click here

Gotta love Pops -- I'd like him to be the fourth big in the rotation

Quote:

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Dave wrote:

Gotta love Pops -- I'd like him to be the fourth big in the rotation

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Loved that block on Andersen. The look back at the Rockets bench wasn't needed though. I hope that doesn't come back to bite us in the arse. ;)

Battier can't guard Hedo in those pick and rolls. He isn't moving well enough away from the basket tonight.

Edit: Houston should keep Ariza on Hedo and have Battier guard the other wing.

The Raptors quickness + activity is vastly improved when they have Pops out there as a power forward alongside one big man (Bosh/Amir/Bargs).

Huge difference from Bosh/Amir alongside one of Bargs/Rasho.

The team's defense kicks up a gear and they become much more dangerous in transition + aggressive offensively. Contagious energy.

Pops needs to have a larger role in this team. He's being underutilized.

But is it too late for Pops now Dave? You think a strong performance today can salvage him for the remainder of the season? It might be a little too late for him unfortunately. :(

Quote:

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Doc Naismith wrote:

But is it too late for Pops now Dave? You think a strong performance today can salvage him for the remainder of the season? It might be a little too late for him unfortunately. :(

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Yeah, it looks like he's done for.

Triano clearly doesn't see a role for him on the team and that situation will only become more precarious once Reggie Evans returns. Not much point in keeping Pops in that/this situation. Unfortunately.

It's a pity because Pops could be a solid role player for the Raptors. His athleticism and quickness is sorely needed.

Quote:

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Dave wrote:

Yeah, it looks like he's done for.

Triano clearly doesn't see a role for him on the team and that situation will only become more precarious once Reggie Evans returns. Not much point in keeping Pops in that/this situation. Unfortunately.

It's a pity because Pops could be a solid role player for the Raptors. His athleticism and quickness is sorely needed.

---

I agree Dave.

As someone mentioned weeks ago, the whole Reggie Evans injury reeks of Eric Montross all over again. An injury that everyone thought was so minimal to start with and all of a sudden seems to be more serious that originally thought. Because nothing much as been said, I'm not expecting him back anytime soon still. Thank god for Amir. Johnson's insurance is proving to be a factor again for us today. :)

haha ... BRAWL, BRAWL.

See ya Ariza. :)

WOW ... thank god Ariza's elbow never connected with the back of DeMar's head.

Guaranteed Ariza's getting a suspension for that. No need for that at all. :mad:

I'm quickly starting to crush on Jarrett Jack big time. ;)

It's starting to get a little too close for comfort right now. :(

Oh and I absolutely love Carl Landry. He's a fantastic player and love the effort right now in trying to get this Rockets back in the game. All over the glass.

Jack sitting on Landry is amazing defence. Good on ya Jarrett. :D

Who's your "Player of the Game" today? Click here

I gotta be honest, I didn't think the Dinos would pull out the W in this one. But they played great team D and got good performances out of JJ and Hedo (sorely needed). Bosh showed again why he deserves to be the starting PF in the All Star. Weems made the most out of his mins. Great game