Atlanta Hawks at Toronto Raptors

Is it a little dramatic to call tonight’s game a must win? Considering the schedule ahead, I will certainly feel better if they hit the road out west with a 8-7 record. Winning any of the games on the upcoming trip will be very hard so it is key to bank one at the ACC tonight against a Hawks team that destroyed the Raps a few weeks ago.

Friday night games are becoming a bit of a disaster for Raptors fans and all I can see in my head is endless threes from Bibby or Johnson tonight. Have the Raps learned anything since the last time they faced the Hawks?

JO will probably not play so that means Bosh has to go for 40 and 15 for the Raps to have any shot. Joey G is not going to score 17 points again so hopefully Bargnani or Calderon put up close to 20 points. The Raps won their last game but it was not that comforting. Charlotte is not good and if it was not for Bosh, the Raps would of lost.

So yes I think this is a must win because Kobe and the Lakers are up next and that thought is kind of scary.

Here is everything you need to know for tonight’s game.

The goods

  • Bosh is averaging a career-high 27.6 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting a career-best 55.6 percent from the field and 82.6 percent from the line.
  • Al Horford had 21 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots to lead the Hawks to a 102-96 win over Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
  • Joe Johnson is seventh in the league in scoring with 23.4 points per game.
  • Bosh got the better of Horford and the rest of the Hawks’ frontcourt in the teams’ first meeting this season, scoring 26 points with eight rebounds. Atlanta, however, had five players in double figures in its 110-92 home victory.
  • Both teams would likely benefit from the return of one of their star players for this game. Toronto’s Jermaine O’Neal sat out Wednesday with knee and ankle injuries, while Atlanta’s Josh Smith has been sidelined for 10 straight games with a sprained ankle. Their status for tonight is uncertain.

For bettors

  • Favorite is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 meeting.
  • Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in Toronto.
  • Over is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings.
  • Home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

Prediction

I hate to say it but the Raps have given me no reason to think they can beat a good team. Friday night’s have been a bad scene overall for Toronto and if you throw in how athletic the Hawks are it is the perfect storm for a Toronto loss. Bosh will do it all once again but it won’t be enough as Atlanta will win 105-97 and send Toronto out west on a sour note. Maybe you should get in on the When Sam will get fired pool??

Other links

Raptors Republic - Tonight’s revenge mission.
Doug Smith’s blog - Talking about all things Raptors.
Raptors Talk - In search of Scottie Pippen.
Raptors HQ - Game day preview.
Raptorblog - Yesterday’s shootaround.
AltRaps Blog - All of today’s linkage.
Hoop Heads North - My fave five.

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