Yes. You read that correct.
I think this is the most important game of the year. They embarrassed the Wiz on Friday night playing exceptionally well against weak competition - as Randy Wittman said the Raps beat them in every way possible in the game. Yesterday they gave a really good effort against a team they really had no right to even ben within striking distance with 3 minutes left (as Arse said in his write up on the homepage, the HEAT were 16 point favourites - that is huge for odds makers).
So here we are tonight with a rematch against the team they embarrassed 3 nights prior (don't you think they'll be out for a little redemption?), it is the 3rd game in 4 nights, AND they are on the road.
Why is it the most important game of the year? Because we'll see how much pride they collectively have after the shit-kicking they were subjected to on their last stop in DC. This will give us an indication of how much culture change has really gone so far this year. Finally we'll see if they have the ability to beat the teams they are 'suppose' to beat (although one could make the argument that the Wiz should beat the Raptors minus Bargnani and a healthy Barbosa). The Wizards are also entering the game getting blown out by the Clippers at home (yes that was on the return from the romp in TO).
ESPN Preview of tonight's matchup:
For what its worth I think this game will be close and ugly. My crystal ball is not giving me a score or winner though.
I think this is the most important game of the year. They embarrassed the Wiz on Friday night playing exceptionally well against weak competition - as Randy Wittman said the Raps beat them in every way possible in the game. Yesterday they gave a really good effort against a team they really had no right to even ben within striking distance with 3 minutes left (as Arse said in his write up on the homepage, the HEAT were 16 point favourites - that is huge for odds makers).
So here we are tonight with a rematch against the team they embarrassed 3 nights prior (don't you think they'll be out for a little redemption?), it is the 3rd game in 4 nights, AND they are on the road.
Why is it the most important game of the year? Because we'll see how much pride they collectively have after the shit-kicking they were subjected to on their last stop in DC. This will give us an indication of how much culture change has really gone so far this year. Finally we'll see if they have the ability to beat the teams they are 'suppose' to beat (although one could make the argument that the Wiz should beat the Raptors minus Bargnani and a healthy Barbosa). The Wizards are also entering the game getting blown out by the Clippers at home (yes that was on the return from the romp in TO).
ESPN Preview of tonight's matchup:
The Washington Wizards haven't earned many wins this season, but recorded a decisive one at home against the Toronto Raptors last month.
The Raptors turned the tables on the Wizards in lopsided fashion last week.
That loss is part of a four-game skid that Washington will try to end when Toronto visits the Verizon Center on Monday night.
Washington (4-20) ended an 0-8 start with a 93-78 home victory over Toronto on Jan. 10, but fell 106-89 at the Air Canada Centre on Friday.
Friday's win was the only one in the last four games for the Raptors (8-17), whose comeback attempt in Miami fell short Sunday in a 95-89 defeat. Toronto cut a 15-point deficit to three with 3:23 remaining but missed six of its final eight shots.
"It just shows that we can play with anybody, even the best players in the league," said swingman DeMar DeRozan, who had a team-best 25 points. That was a challenge for us and we definitely stepped up. It (stinks) that we didn't get the win, but it just shows what we're capable of."
The Raptors will try to bounce back by snapping a three-game losing streak at the Verizon Center. These teams have split their last six overall meetings since the start of last season.
Washington heads into this one after suffering another blowout defeat Saturday. One day after the loss to Toronto, Washington fell behind by 24 points at halftime in its return home en route to a 107-81 defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Wizards scored just 38 points in the first 30 1/2 minutes Saturday, and were outrebounded 53-32 for the game. Their 17 assists were barely half the Clippers' total of 32.
"We all should have been embarrassed. We were on our home court -- and they came out and did what they wanted," said starting forward Rashard Lewis, who finished with two points to match his season low. "As a unit, none of us came to play."
Lewis scores 15 points in last month's win over the Raptors, when he was one of four Wizards in double figures. Toronto's leading scorer from that game, Andrea Bargnani, is now out indefinitely with a strained left calf.
Toronto's bench shined during Friday's victory over Washington, with Leandro Barbosa scoring 19 points despite dealing with flu-like symptoms. Amir Johnson added 18 points and 13 rebounds, and starting guard Jose Calderon had a season-high 17 assists.
The Raptors topped 100 points for only the third time this season, but have done so only once in their last six visits to Washington. They've scored at least 102 in 12 of the last 14 matchups between these teams in Toronto.
The Raptors turned the tables on the Wizards in lopsided fashion last week.
That loss is part of a four-game skid that Washington will try to end when Toronto visits the Verizon Center on Monday night.
Washington (4-20) ended an 0-8 start with a 93-78 home victory over Toronto on Jan. 10, but fell 106-89 at the Air Canada Centre on Friday.
Friday's win was the only one in the last four games for the Raptors (8-17), whose comeback attempt in Miami fell short Sunday in a 95-89 defeat. Toronto cut a 15-point deficit to three with 3:23 remaining but missed six of its final eight shots.
"It just shows that we can play with anybody, even the best players in the league," said swingman DeMar DeRozan, who had a team-best 25 points. That was a challenge for us and we definitely stepped up. It (stinks) that we didn't get the win, but it just shows what we're capable of."
The Raptors will try to bounce back by snapping a three-game losing streak at the Verizon Center. These teams have split their last six overall meetings since the start of last season.
Washington heads into this one after suffering another blowout defeat Saturday. One day after the loss to Toronto, Washington fell behind by 24 points at halftime in its return home en route to a 107-81 defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Wizards scored just 38 points in the first 30 1/2 minutes Saturday, and were outrebounded 53-32 for the game. Their 17 assists were barely half the Clippers' total of 32.
"We all should have been embarrassed. We were on our home court -- and they came out and did what they wanted," said starting forward Rashard Lewis, who finished with two points to match his season low. "As a unit, none of us came to play."
Lewis scores 15 points in last month's win over the Raptors, when he was one of four Wizards in double figures. Toronto's leading scorer from that game, Andrea Bargnani, is now out indefinitely with a strained left calf.
Toronto's bench shined during Friday's victory over Washington, with Leandro Barbosa scoring 19 points despite dealing with flu-like symptoms. Amir Johnson added 18 points and 13 rebounds, and starting guard Jose Calderon had a season-high 17 assists.
The Raptors topped 100 points for only the third time this season, but have done so only once in their last six visits to Washington. They've scored at least 102 in 12 of the last 14 matchups between these teams in Toronto.
For what its worth I think this game will be close and ugly. My crystal ball is not giving me a score or winner though.
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