Raptors Take Their Talents To South Beach

It is the most talked about 5-4 team in the history of basketball vs the Toronto Raptors. Chris Bosh for the first time in his career will suit up against the team that drafted him. Bosh claims he would not change a thing in how he left. I would venture to say in terms of his start with the Heat there is a lot he would like to change. The Raptors come in with a new attitude snapping a 6 game losing streak and likely feeling like they have nothing to lose vs Miami. The Heat are the team under a microscope and feeling the heat of the media with none more than Bosh himself.

The Basics: Miami 5-4 ( In South Beach 3-2) Toronto 2-7 (Snapped 6 game losing streak)

When Last We Saw Them: It was the best effort of the season last night vs the Orlando Magic. Andrea Bargnani started thing in the first half and Demar DeRozan with a little help from Sonny Weems and everyone else closed the door. A career high 26 for DeRozan and a surprising 110-106 win in Orlando the first road win of the year for the Raptors.

Key Match Ups: Bosh has heard all his doubters and would like nothing better then to use his former team to shut them up. Amir Johnson and Reggie Evans will likely draw the assignment of making sure Bosh does not get to help his super friends with a big night. The book on Bosh as they well know is to play him physically and Evans and Johnson are capable of that. The key will be to do that without fouling. The Young Onez vs the Great Ones. If Kleiza is still unable to go it will be Sonny Weems and Demar DeRozan with the task of stopping King James and D-Wade. Demar has saved some of his best for the NBA's best. While Sonny has been looking good of late. Will be more about their D tonight though.

In Case You Missed It: I couldn't help myself not to do this. Speaking of missing I will be for this game. Have to be doing some work for The Score so will have to catch the replay of this one. However, more people can watch this one as for the first time this year the Raptors will appear on a network without a 1 or a 2 behind it. On the main TSN tonight.

Other Things Of Note: It has been well documented the lack of rebounding by Chris Bosh. Just 6 a a game and only 1.1 of that on the offensive glass. Bosh's worst numbers as a Raptors were 7.9 rebounds in his rookie season and he never averaged below 2 offensive boards in a season with the Raptors.His worst season on offensive glass was his 2nd averaging just 2.4. The Miami Thrice make up 61 of the 102 points the Heat average on the season which is 59.8% of the Miami offence. James Jones has been the guy that has filled the Miller role as the 3 point shooter he is hitting 49% from beyond the arc.

Canadian Content: I was hopeful for one guy in the MWO and it was Canadian Joel Anthony. But things have not worked out like they did for a Rondo and Perkins in Boston when the big 3 came to the Celtics. Anthony on the season averaging just 17 minutes with just 1.7 points and 3.8 Rebounds with 1.2 Blocks.