10/29 INJURY UPDATE & NOTES & QUOTES
Toronto Raptors - Jamario Moon is dealing with a sore right achilles but will play against the 76ers. Hassan Adams and Willie Solomon are both questionable. Nathan Jawai is out indefinitely with a heart issue.
Calderon, who proved he was more than capable of running the offence when he stepped in for the injured Ford last season, was finally handed the starting job with Ford's departure. The six-foot-three Spaniard, who was one of the league's most efficient point guards last season, ranking eighth in assists and leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio, signed a multi-year contract in the off-season.
But with no proven backup, the Raptors are keeping their fingers crossed that Calderon stays healthy. Roko Ukic and Will Solomon are battling to back up Calderon, but neither has significant NBA experience, leaving the backcourt precariously thin.
The Raptors are 7-6 on opening night, with a 1-3 record when starting on the road.
Both O'Neil and Bosh have looked good in pre-season. This game will be a testament of how well they have gelled.
The scoop on Roko Ukic: underrated defensive player; better than average wingspan for a guard and lateral quickness; will make a good combo guard in the NBA as he is an excellent 1-on-1 player; not a good distributor, over dribbles, inability to keep the offense fluid and sometimes takes too long to set.
Philadelphia 76ers - Thaddeus Young has a strained back but will play in the home opener. Samuel Dalembert is questionable witha sprained right knee. Royal Ivey is serving a 2-game suspension. Jason Smith is out for the season from a knee injury.
The 76ers split 2 home games against the Raptors and lost 2 games in Toronto in the 2007-2008 season.
The scoop on Marreese Speights: This is the guy behind Joakim Noah and Al Horford when they were National Champions 1.5 years ago. Not as aggressive as Noah and as polished as Al Horford. Resembles Al Jefferson. Has a set of very good jumpshots to score over his defender(s). Can score with both hands. Still a defensive liability at this point, poor defensive rotation and stance, and unable to hedge pick-and-roll moves.
What the Sixers lacked last season was that solid low-post threat that Elton Brand brings with him from Los Angeles. He signed a five-year deal worth nearly $80 million, and his presence should help erratic center Samuel Dalembert while taking some of the pressure off a blossoming starting lineup that includes Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young.
"Just bringing him in was going to make us better," Iguodala said. "I think we're starting to understand how to get movement around him when he gets the ball inside."
New Jersey Nets - Josh Boone is probable, dealing with a rapid heartbeat issue. Keyon Dooling is dealing with an upper respitory infection and is probable on Wednesday. Jarvis Hayes has a strained hamstring and dealing with flu like symptoms; he is probable. Stromile Swift is doubtful with a sore lower back.
The remade Nets, who open the regular season Wednesday in Washington, have three rookies, two second-year players, eight new faces total and only one All-Star in Vince Carter.
In the preseason, the Nets were bad defensively and committed too many turnovers. Injuries and illnesses to veterans Josh Boone, Keyon Dooling, Eduardo Najera, Jarvis Hayes and Stromile Swift have kept the Nets from having one practice with their full roster, so cohesiveness could be an issue.
Washington Wizards - Gilbert Arenas is expected to miss 1 month due to a knee injury. Brendan Haywood is out 4 to 6 months while recovering from a wrist surgery to repair a torn ligament. Nick Young is dealing with a sore knee but is expected to start in the Wizards' home opener.
The scoop on Nick Young, 1 year later: Resembles Jamal Crawford and have step and jab moves that seems to emulate Kobe Bryant. Very athletic, can definitely run with the team in transition. Good fade-away skills makes him a deadly mid-range shooter. Still not a good defender. But if the Wizards is mostly about scoring then Nick Young have been a profitable draft pick. This could be the year it pays off.
Without Arenas and his career average of 22.8 points per game, the 6-foot-7 Young is one of the team's best hopes for generating consistent offense off the bench.
Young had a decent rookie season when he averaged 7.5 points on 43.9 percent shooting and he periodically flashed all-star talent, but he also struggled to learn Jordan's offense and remains a work in progress defensively.
The veterans similarly see the talent Young displays in practice and have let him know that they expect to see the same in games.
"Oh, they're always on us," Young said. "Day and night, they be on us. After practice, they come up to me: 'What did you do today? I didn't see you do what you normally do.' I don't want to hear that so I have to go out there every day and give it my all."
I appreciate the info but that is only 25% of the games on the board for the day, what about the rest, and what sources are you using because breaker listed his sources which were mainly local team news agencies.
Suns +2 -106 225/212
Warriors +5½ -110 for 2nd Half 275/250
Established in 1995,
Hot Forum Topics
