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I didn't have post-game thoughts about last night's Heat game because it was another shitshow and I'm taking a vacation day tomorrow (for the obligatory shopping) so there won't be post tomorrow unless something exceptional happens... you know, like a Raptors win over the Magic tonight.
Orlando is 18-6 going into this game, so it looks like swapping Hedo Turkoglu for Vince Carter has worked out just fine for them. They're an interesting squad because they have the fifth-best offence in the NBA (110.5 points per 100 possessions) despite not having a single player that averages 20 points per game. OK, I'm splitting hairs here because Vince averages 19.9 per game. Regardless, Vince has settled comfortably into a second banana role in Orlando — just like I thought he would. Like Chris Bosh, this is the kind of role he was always meant to play on a championship contending team.
The Magic launch 28.5 three-point attempts per game — more than any other team in the league. They're also tied for sixth in the NBA in three-point percentage, so it's clear they're still killing their opponents with the long ball. That's almost definitely what they'll try to do to the Raptors tonight.
Start time: 7:00pm ET
Channel: The Score
Liveblog: theScore.com with James Borbath
Probable starting lineups
Toronto: Jarrett Jack, DeMar DeRozan, Hedo Turkoglu, Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani
Orlando: Jason Williams, Vince Carter, Mikael Pietrus, Rashard Lewis, Dwight Howard
Five questions
1. Should the Raptors use a "hack-a-Howard" strategy? He's shooting a career-low 58.4 percent from the free throw line this season.
2. Can Chris Bosh snap out of his funk that limited him to just two rebounds in 31 minutes last night?
3. Are the effects of a back-to-back lesser or greater when both games are in Florida?
4. Will Jay Triano get so mad about a missed rotation tonight that he'll snap his clipboard over Andrea Bargnani's head?
5. I was unaware until now that the Magic played in a place called Amway Arena. Do fans at Amway Arena get discounts off tickets based on how many people they bring with them to the game?
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