8 is MORE THAN ENOUGH!!!

After awhile you just forget what it was like when your team wins a game. If this happens you are in the middle of a long season. In case you forgot last time it happened it was against the Sacramento Kings on January 9th 2011. Since then the Raptors have not made it to the winner's circle. Although they have had some great efforts in attempting to do so. Tonight's opponent can relate to how the Raptors feel. The Sixers limped out of the gate but have battled there way to a playoff spot in the pitiful Eastern Conference. Doug Collins has been known as a guy that can make teams instantly better. He has never been a guy that has been able to lead a team to ultimate success though. But if you want a good coach to change the culture of your organization he has an excellent track record. The Raptors roster for tonight will be a bit of mystery and that is not new. Alexis Ajinca the latest Raptor did not practice with his new team yet and then you have you long list of injured, sick and recovering Raptors. Toronto does have a 2-0 series lead on the season. But those games came early in the year and roster is much different both in terms of health and the Raptors roster moves since.

The Basics: Philadelphia 19-25 (5-18 on Road) Raptors 13-32 (1-9 in Last 10)

When Last We Saw Them: This Happened (Be Advised Language in This Clip)....

Some how that makes this loss sting a little less. As you saw Rudy Gay hit a game winner and sunk the Raptors. It was the 8th straight loss and 3rd straight at home. Normally I will not post things with profanity but that was just to funny not too post f-bombs or not.

Key Match-Ups: Thankfully for the guy in that clip...no Rudy Gay to worry about. But there will be Jrue Holiday to deal with for Bayless or Jose depending on the status of Calderon. I admit I am surprised and how Holiday has developed. I remember he was one of the guys that got a lot of talk for the Raptors to select in his draft year. I was not a fan of the idea of him as Raptor. But he has proven me wrong. He may not be Russell Westbrook but he is pretty good to decent in his own right. Andre Iguodala has had a down year by his standards but he always seems to show up when he sees those Raptor Jerseys on the other end of the floor. Again depending on who is healthy they will have a tough time with him passed on his history against the Raptors alone. Also beware of Lou Williams coming off the bench he gets hot shooting and he could go off like a Mike Miller did to the Raptors.

Other Things Of Note: Sixers come in off wins over the Suns and Jazz after dropping a contest to Bobcats who sit just behind them is the Eastern Conference Playoff race. Sixers unlike the Raptors have had the good fortune of health having only 29 man games lost due to injury or suspension. After a 3-13 start the Sixers are 16-12 since.

I will be Liveblogging this game for The Score.com and ScoreMobile and you can join me by clicking this link as we will get rolling just about 10 minutes before 7pm. At that time will have all the roster news for this one.

Where Is It On? TSN 2 (Wayne Gretzky's Birthday is a National Holiday for TSN so this is understandable....Happy B-Day Wayne)