Post by doc on Oct 13, 2008 8:36:06 GMT -5
A big, new rivalry
Brand introduced himself to the Raps in a particularly vicious moment during the first quarter when he hit a driving Jamario Moon up around the head as the second-year forward went in for a dunk. Moon was sent crashing to the floor, but got up and made the two freebies from the line. Brand, however, had sent the message he wanted.
Moon shines bright
What he brought yesterday was a rebounding presence, finishing with a game-high 10 boards, getting in passing lanes and playing the edge that made him such an endearing figure last season.
"The pressure is always on me,'' Moon said. "I'm always going to play like I'm trying to make the team."
"The pressure is always on me,'' Moon said. "I'm always going to play like I'm trying to make the team."
Courting England
"Although we have no plans on the drawing board, it has been suggested to us that we should schedule in the next three years or so some regular-season games here -- more than just one -- on some regular basis," Stern said before the New Jersey Nets- Miami Heat pre-season game at the O2 Arena.
Raptors have some work to do
Just as he elevated to take his shot, he spied a wide-open Chris Bosh out of the corner of his eye with his man sealed off behind him, a perfect opportunity for O'Neal to make a little dump pass for an easy basket.
But the recognition came a fraction of a second too late, O'Neal was caught between shooting and making the pass, and the possession was lost, an opportunity wasted.
It was a perfect example of the learning process that's still going on between the two Raptor big men as the NBA pre-season continues to unfold.
But the recognition came a fraction of a second too late, O'Neal was caught between shooting and making the pass, and the possession was lost, an opportunity wasted.
It was a perfect example of the learning process that's still going on between the two Raptor big men as the NBA pre-season continues to unfold.
Brand gives Sixers a lot more bang
"I don't know who's going to make more of an impact. I know they're both going to make an impact," said Cheeks of the division's two key acquisitions. "Jermaine O'Neal's an excellent player and you put him with Chris Bosh and they're already good. That makes them a little better. Same thing with Elton Brand. Bring him to our team and it makes for a tougher division."
Sixer still steamed over Rautins snub
"I think it would be very immature to just let one person ruin the great things that we have here," Dalembert said.
But asked if he would consider playing for Rautins, Canada's head coach, Dalembert said, "No. If you have one slap, you never know when you're going to get another slap."
But asked if he would consider playing for Rautins, Canada's head coach, Dalembert said, "No. If you have one slap, you never know when you're going to get another slap."
Raptors display a need for speed
The Toronto Raptors still have five preseason games remaining to get up to speed, but the question is whether they can get fast enough no matter how much time they have.
Most of the optimism surrounding the Raptors in the buildup to the regular season has centred around the acquisition of Jermaine O'Neal to shore up Toronto's interior defence and rebounding.
But as a roster such as Philadelphia's shows, the Raptors remain a team with just average athleticism among its perimeter players.
But as a roster such as Philadelphia's shows, the Raptors remain a team with just average athleticism among its perimeter players.
Raptors Notebook: Moon busts out of pre-season funk
Jamario Moon, who had struggled up until the game, enjoyed a seven-point, 10-rebound, high-energy game.
"This is by the best Jamario has played," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said. "Not the stat line, but the energy. Deflections, blocked shots, rebounding the ball."
"This is by the best Jamario has played," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said. "Not the stat line, but the energy. Deflections, blocked shots, rebounding the ball."
O'Neal, Brand feel each other out in preseason tilt
It came early in the third quarter, with the pace as fast as it had been all game. Elton Brand, Philadelphia's major off-season acquisition, grabbed a rebound over Jermaine O'Neal, Toronto's major off-season acquisition. Brand then gathered himself and threw down a two-handed dunk over O'Neal, hanging on to the rim a little longer than necessary in celebration.
"That's a tech. That's a tech," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell yelled, wanting the officials to give Brand a technical foul.
"That's a tech. That's a tech," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell yelled, wanting the officials to give Brand a technical foul.
76ers, Raptors offer preview of regular-season opener
The Sixers' signing of Brand has been generally acknowledged as the No. 1 move in the NBA's Eastern Conference, but O'Neal could be nearly as significant to the Raptors. Still, neither team is anywhere close to that projected improvement at this point.
"All in all, I think we saw a little bit of them," O'Neal said of the Sixers. "You really can't take a whole lot from it because obviously they played some [reserves] extended minutes. But we kind of got an idea of what they want to do, and they kind of got an idea of what we want to do. I'm sure both teams will be a lot stronger on the 29th of this month."
"All in all, I think we saw a little bit of them," O'Neal said of the Sixers. "You really can't take a whole lot from it because obviously they played some [reserves] extended minutes. But we kind of got an idea of what they want to do, and they kind of got an idea of what we want to do. I'm sure both teams will be a lot stronger on the 29th of this month."
Young scores 17 in 76ers' win over Raptors
Thaddeus Young scored 17 points, Andre Igoudala added 13, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 85-79 in an NBA preseason game Sunday.
Toronto's Chris Bosh was held to just four points in 23 minutes, going 1-for-5 from the floor. Jermaine O'Neal had nine points in 25 minutes for the Raptors, who lost for the first time in 12 preseason games at Air Canada Centre.
UMM Girl of the Day - 10/13/08
