Final: San Antonio Spurs 86 - Toronto Raptors 91

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http://www.raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/spurs.gifSan Antonio Spurs @ Toronto Raptors http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png

20-11, 2nd Southwest, (Road: 6-6) -- 16-18, 2nd Atlantic, (Home: 11-5)

WHEN: Sun., Jan. 3, 2009 at 6:00 pm ET
WHERE: Air Canada Centre
TV/Radio:SCORE, SCORE 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
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(L to R): Jack, DeRozan, Turkoglu, Bosh, Bargnani

Bench
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(L to R): Belinelli, Weems, Jack, Johnson, Nestrovic, Mensah-Bonsu, Wright, Banks

Team Injuries/Inactive List
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(L to R): Evans, O'Bryant, Calderon

http://www.raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/spurs.gif SAN ANTONIO SPURS http://www.raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/spurs.gif
(click on logo for team stats)

Starters
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(L to R): Parker, Bogans, Jefferson, Blair, Duncan

Bench
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(L to R): McDyess, Mason, Ginobili, Hairston, Hill, Ratliff, Haislip

Team Injuries/Inactive List
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(L to R): Bonner, Finley, Mahinmi

Who's Hot

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

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Andrea: 21.7 PPG IN LAST 3 GP / Bosh: 27.7 PPG IN LAST 3 GP

http://www.raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/spurs.gif SAN ANTONIO SPURS http://www.raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/spurs.gif

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...ers/65/215.jpghttp://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshot...rs/65/1015.jpg
Duncan: 21.9 PPG IN LAST 10 GP / Parker: 16 PPG IN LAST 7 GP

http://www.raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/spurs.gif Key Match-ups http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/medi...ony_parker.jpghttp://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/medi...rrett_jack.jpg
Tony Parker vs. Jarrett Jack

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Tim Duncan vs. Chris Bosh

GAME PREVIEWS

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(click on image for preview *NOTE: only available on "Game Day")

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(click on image for preview *NOTE: only available on "Game Day")

Prediction

http://raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/TOR%20Small.png - 95
http://www.raptorsforum.com/f/images/icons/spurs.gif - 106

Call me crazy, but after last night's piss poor effort I'm not getting the feeling that this a team ready to compete against one of the league's elite tonight. :(

The Dinos will bounce back and win a close one.

Raps 104
Spurs 103

LET'S GO RAPTORS!

My god, Matt Devlin is annoying. It surprises me every time. How can a commentator be that irritating? It doesn't make sense.

Are the Spurs even a .500 team without Tim Duncan at this point? given how many of their players + team defense is under-performing?

Superb opportunity to steal a win away from a top team.

I think the Spurs will need a massive performance out of Ginobili tonight in order to get a win.

A big offensive night from DeJuan Blair would also be a big difference maker for them.

Oh, Tim Duncan is coming off the bench tonight. I presumed he was out injured once he wasn't in that starting lineup. Okay, Spurs are the favourites then.

Raps leading 31-19 early in the second.

Nice win

Raptors win!

Raptors win!

Raptors win!!!!!

Player of the Game: JJ for sure. I loved how he attacked the basket tonight and was able to find his teammates.

...And congrats to CB for becoming the all time Raps leading scorer!!! :D

Quote:

---

.40 Cal Flakes wrote:

Player of the Game: JJ for sure. I loved how he attacked the basket tonight and was able to find his teammates.

...And congrats to CB for becoming the all time Raps leading scorer!!! :D

---

JJ did play like a man possessed but I'd still have to give my vote to Bosh yesterday. Persistent all night long and even Duncan couldn't stop him. :)

Great game, great win. Now we gotta just find a way to play with the same effort against teams like the Magic and Celtics. :(

^ The Raps definitely need to find a way to win against those teams. If they do end up playing either of those teams in the 1st round it'll be a nice confidence boost to now that they can beat them. Sadly, I don't think they have much of a chance those two games. Specifically against boston. After Friday's game it's apparent that the celtics just completely own the Raps on a physical and it seems psychological level.