Sixers vs Raptors- Raptor Rewind

So here we go Sixers vs Raptors. This is not going to be exciting and I think both teams have been made aware of the fact when we start for real this is the team they will be against. So I think it makes sense to think we are not going to see a lot as far as set plays and coaching genius in this game. So I expect a wide open game that will not look anything like the game that we are going to October 29th.

Raptors start this one with the same starting line-up we have seen for all the pre-season games thus far. That is Bosh, O’Neal, Moon, Parker and Calderon. The Sixers also have the line-up we likely will see on October 29th as well. Sixer first chance to score was ended with a shot clock Violation. Bosh hooks Jermaine O’Neal on a high low feed and Raptors opening up the scoring. The Sixer would run off 6 straight points to jump out to an early 6-2 lead. Jamario Moon would put an end to that with a 3 point shoot in which Moon seems to have worked on over the summer. Anthony Parker after a few missed chances for both scored another 3 pointer. Parker is perfect from 3 point range for the pre-season for what it is worth. Raptors were taking off on a run of 11-0 thanks to turnovers by the Sixers and good defense by the Raps. Thaddeus Young would get a dunk on the transition and Raptors held a 13-8 lead at the first time out of the day.

Jermaine O’Neal gets tagged with an Illegal defense call and Iggy made the free throw for the Sixers. Bosh than takes a shot and head to the line for a pair of free throws and he hit them both. Andrea Bargnani checks in with just a little over 4 minute to play in the quarter. Jamario Moon drives to the hoop with purpose and draws the foul on Elton Brand and he cashed in both. Raptors out to an early 17-9 lead thus far. Jose Calderon makes a jumper as Jason Kapono checks into the game. Raptors only have 10 active bodies for the game today so everyone should be able to get a good run that is healthy.

The hair is gone but Hump is not as he checks in to the game and heads to the line missed a one of a pair free throws. Will Solomon is also in the game as Andrea Bargnani gets his first points on a short jumper. He followed that up with a 7 footer driving with a finger roll. It may not have looked pretty but it counts all the same. But the bench was not doing as well as the Sixers were able to cut the lead to 24-20 at the end of the quarter.

Raptors held the Sixers to shooting on 32% from the field and The Raptors were slightly better shooting 41%.  Will Solomon would start the quarter hitting a long 2 point shot. Kapono makes a nice basket on a curl with the Raptors facing a short shot clock. It was a sloppy start for both teams but the Raptors had the only 4 points of the quarter. Willie Green would break the ice for the Sixers in the second tih a short leaner. Reggie Evans would score and draw a foul. But Reggie is of the Shaq school of free throws so he could not convert the 3 point play. Raptors would have a 30-24 lead at the first break of the second quarter.

Will Solomon had a steal and an uncontested lay-up. Thaddeus Young countered on the other end for the Sixers. Young had been the best Sixer in this game so far. Bargnani would add to his scoring total for the Raptors giving them a 36- 28 lead. Philly was getting it done in the paint out scoring Toronto 20-8 despite still being behind 36-32. Some of the starter returning for Toronto as Bosh and O’Neal both checked back in. In fact all the starters with the exception of Moon were on the floor. But the bricks were flying from every where as the score remains the same. Calderon would get to the line and finally we had some points after over a 2 minute drought for both teams. Jermaine O’Neal picked up his 3rd foul of the half and he would be replaced by Kris Humphries. Meanwhile Elton Brand would make the free throws for the Sixers making the score 40-36. A Bosh turnover turns into a couple for the line for Andre Iguodala he would split a pair. Another turnover for Raptors and Iggy is at it again with a dunk for two. That would be all as a Moon long range shot would not fall. The score at halftime is Raptors leading 41-39.

Interesting Interview at halftime. Bosh says he wants to be M.V.P and he wants to do what he can to be in the conversation. If he can do that Raptors are going to be in great shape this year. Many will recall that Bosh was joking with Kobe Bryant about borrowing the trophy for a day(On Tonight Show With Jay Leno). But it seems Bosh has plans on taking the trophy. It is easy to run down the fact that Bosh and is odds at the M.V.P would be long but the fact he has his mindset thinking in that direction is a good thing. I am not going to count CB4 out of the running as he has always proved he can reach the goals he sets for himself in the past.

There was not much M.V.P like from anyone in the first half of this one. Sixers get the first points of the half from the line courtesy of Brand to tie the score at 41. O’Neal would than take it to Dalembert and score for the Raptors.  Raptors would score the next 5 points until Thaddeus Young would score on a dunk in transition of a Raptor turnover. Anthony Parker was struggling from the field but he would hit a 3 pointer to give the Raptors a 49-43 lead. Elton Brand would respond with a monster jam. Which would be responded to by a highlight style dunk from Jamario Moon on the other end making the score 51-45.

Bosh had about a 17 foot jumper from the top of the key giving the Raptors an 8 point advantage. Andrea Iguodala would pick up a silly offensive foul and the Raptors would take advantage as Jose Calderon would score with Iggy on the bench and Raps now up 10. Bosh and O’Neal erased an Andre Miller attempt but Brand trailing would get the easy dunk. Raptors had a 57-49 lead with just about 2 and a half minutes to play in the 3rd quarter. Will Solomon checks in and drains a 3 point shoot and the Sixers Thaddeus Young answered with on of his own. But Young was not done as he would make back to back 3 balls and Sixers now trailed by just 3 points with the score 60-57. A buzzer beat attempt caused Will Solomon to make a silly mistake sending Philly to the line for 3 shots. They would make 2 of the 3 and the score would end up tied at 60 after 3 quarters of play.

Ugly shooting for both sides as the Sixers were shoot 35% and the Raptors 34.5% from the field.  Sixers would try to get off to better start in the 4 th quarter nailing there first shot. The would get another until Jason Kapono would hit a 3-ball. Thaddeus Young again answered with a 3 of his own. Thaddeus is playing his way on to my fantasy roster somewhere.  Will Solomon would score 5 straight for the Raptors getting it to within one for the Raptors at 69-68.  But bad transition defense the other way and an easy score for Lou Williams. Time out on the floor with the score 71-68 for the Sixers.

Just over 8 minute for the Raptors to find a way to remain undefeated for the pre-season.  Jason Kapono quickly gets the Raptors back to even with a 3 pointer. Despite the ragged play this was a pretty interesting game. Kris Humphries enters the game and the score sheet that was followed by a Kapono fade jumper and Raptors were back in front 75-73. Lou Williams back the other way scores and Sixers get another so they now lead 77-75. Jason Kapono hits another and he was the lone Raptor making shots. But the Raptors give up yet another dunk in the paint. Raptors reserves would be given the task of trying to come up with this win. The would trail 81-77 with 3 minutes to play. Bargnani who was having a rough day made a shot. But the Sixers would respond with yet another dunk in the paint. Interior defense down the stretch with no Bosh or O’Neal on the floor was truly brutal. Hassan Adams was getting a bit of time he was fouled hard by Reggie Evans battling for a rebound but the Raptors could not cash in on the offensive end they still trialed by 4 and it would become 6 on an Iguodala jam and it was done. Raptors loss their first of the pre-season 85-79.

The Raptors really never took advantage of the chances they had to put this game away. The Sixers would make them pay shooting 55% from the field in the final quarter on play. But this games was much like you would have expected. The thing that most stood out for me was the play of Thaddeus Young and the fact that Elton Brand looked to be running at 100% in the time we saw him on the floor. Young lead the Sixers with 17 points and Jason Kapono was the high scoring Raptor with 14. The entire boxscore full of goodies is below:

Sixers/Raptors Boxscore

No Podcast for today as I am going to prepare for the Dino Nation Blog Fantasy Draft and catch a bit of football. If you are in the draft see you at 7:00, if you are not I will see you the next time you visit. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your families. There will be a blog tomorrow with a Thanksgiving Theme.  So try not to O.D on turkey and all the best to you till the next time you visit us at the Dino Nation Blog.

Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Jason Kapono, Jermaine O'Neal, Raptors, Raptors Preseason 08/09, Sixers, Thaddeus Young