Wednesday November 26 2008 - 1:30pm Eastern
I wasn’t at shoot-around this morning - had some personal stuff to take care of - but the FAN’s David Alter was there and he told me the word on Jermaine O’Neal is that the big man will likely sit out tonight’s contest against the Charlotte Bobcats.
O’Neal said yesterday his knee is actually feeling alright … it’s his ankle that his hurting more than anything else.
Sam Mitchell said “I’m not 100 per cent sure he’s not going to play but it’s just a feeling.”
O’Neal tried to give it a go against the Celtics on Sunday but left the game in the 2nd quarter and did not return in the 2nd half.
If he does end up missing tonight’s game, Jamario Moon will likely get the start alongside Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, and Jose Calderon. Kris Humphries would be the first (and only) big off the bench and may fill that role of the 3rd “big” in Mitchell decides to throw him out there with Bosh and Bargs.
Unfortunately, while it sounds like the Raps are losing one key guy, it sounds like the Bobcats are getting back a key cog. Jason Richardson will likely play tonight for Charlotte. He has missed the last 6 games after having minor arhtroscopic surgery on his right knee a couple of weeks ago.
The Raptors beat the Bobcats earliest this month - in Charlotte - 89-79. Bosh had 30 points and 15 rebounds in that game, and for what it’s worth, O’Neal played a season-low 19:36 minutes in that game (not counting Sunday’s early exit against Boston). Based on that, the Raps should be okay without J.O. tonight, but there’s no denying … they need the big man back as soon as possible - especially with that daunting December schedule staring them down!
E. Smith
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Imo Parker, Kapono and Calderon need to take more shots early in game .. all 3 are good shooters ..
- Chas CalzThis will open up inside for Bosh and O’Neal
Bargnani is showing nice signs of developing .. getting rebounds ..being more aggressive
In all of this lebron sweepstakes… don’t the raptors have 25+ million cap space in 2010?
If lebron wants to leave cleveland he can come to T.O. and even nash can come home to canada for a swan song.
just a thought!
Eric, I know you don’t like discussing phantom trades but you gotta luv the possibility :)
- SidEric, I heard you on the post game show and you seemed hang up on some callers?
- andrewWe don’t hang up on callers - we “dump” callers. The 7-second delay is a magical thing.
People that try to derail the show with immature comments, vulgarity, or general ridiculousness will not make it to air. They’ll be lost in the vapor of radio delay forever!
- E. SmithThen i’m just wondering what made you ticked off that you had to dump the callers off the air?
- andrewIf I’m not going to allow it on the air, do you think I’m going to discuss it here?
Sorry Andrew, I won’t get into it here and give the immaturity and idiocy any forum or fuel.
- E. SmithLebron james is has alot of good players on his team right now. If he was not such a ball hog they would be alot better. Any team this guy plays for will lose when he has a bad night. Let new york take him, they will be lucky to make the playoffs.
- Rob from brantford