NYC Pay Back For The Raps???

When we started this for real on Oct 27th the Toronto Raptors let one slip away vs the Knicks. Some people have begun to believe the playoffs are possible. If they truly are, a game like today is one the Raptors have to get. The Knicks are improved and making the playoffs is almost required for them after they paid a ton of money to Amare Stoudemire. Both teams come into this Sunday afternoon game on winning streaks. One will continue and one will end.

The Basics: New York 11-9 ( 7-4 vs East) Toronto 8-11 (6-4 at the ACC)

When Last We Saw Them: I was a witness to the Raptors win vs the KDless Thunder. It was Calderon and Bargnani having nice nights. While the Young Onez sparked the rally to get the Raptors in position to win. Good help D and great passing helped make it happen.

Key Match-ups: Raymond Felton vs Jose Calderon. In this match-up Jose should/can win it on the offensive end and if the Raptors play D behind him like they did on Friday he won't lose it on the defensive end. Both guards will be encouraged to push the pace and get their teams going in transition. The team that can do that the most and the best will likely win this game. Demar DeRozan vs Landry Fields. Landry who? Exactly...Demar needs to take advantage of this match-up. 2 straight good games for Demar and I heard from him myself the hamstring is feeling much better. Time to go out and shine on both ends of the floor. Andrea Bargnani is coming off a double double. Yes Bargnani had a double double. Today he lines up against Amare and to make it 2 straight double doubles will be no easy task. Two bigs that can score the ball easily but both are taken to task at times for their effort on the glass and their defence. Also for the Raps they need to pay attention to the other Italian on the floor in Gallinari he can do damage from 3 if you allow him to get open looks.

Other Things Of Note: Raptors all time have a 18-11 (At ACC Raps are 18-5) advantage vs New York all time in Toronto. Both teams average scoring over 100 points ( Knicks 106.7 Raptors 101.3) and also give up over 100 (Knicks 106.1 Raptors 102. 1). But when the two first hooked up the score remained in the 90's. Knicks average almost 9 makes from 3 point range, and that means perimeter defence will be vital for the Raptors. I am doing this game for The Score.com and ScoreMobile so come join our Live Blog of Raps and Knicks.

Case you missed it: We had short interviews with newest Raptor Jerryd Bayless and a long time former Raptor favourite in Morris Peterson. So if you have not read them go check them out. More to come with stuff from Sonny and Demar and working on a feature about our Canadian kids playing at Texas featuring Kevin Durant.