A preview of the upcoming week for Canadian ballers in the Association.
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="696"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span>Date</span></b></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span>Visitor</span></b></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span>Home</span></b></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span>Time (ET)</span></b></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span>Canadians in Play</span></b></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Tues. Feb 18</span></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Cleveland Cavaliers</span></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span><font color="#262626" face="Arial"><span>Philidelphia 76ers</span></font></span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>7:00 p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> Tristan Thompson (Toronto, ON) Anthony Bennett (Toronto, ON) </span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Tues. Feb 18</span></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><img src="http://www.basketball.ca/files/maple_leaf.png" width="19" height="20" alt="" style="background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: none; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-family: Arial; line-height: 18px;">Toronto Raptors</span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><font color="#1d1d1d" face="Arial">Washington Wizards</font></span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>7:00 p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> N/A</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><font color="#1d1d1d" face="Arial">Tues. Feb 18</font></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Orlando Magic</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Milwaukee Bucks</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>8:00 p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> </span><span>Andrew Nicholson (Mississauga,ON)</span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Tues. Feb 18</span></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Miami Heat</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Dallas Mavericks</span></span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>8:30 p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> Samuel Dalembert (Montreal, QC)</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Tues. Feb 18</span></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>San Antonio Spurs</span></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>L.A. Clippers</span></span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>10:30 p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> Cory Joseph (Toronto, ON) </span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Wed. Feb 19</span></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Orlando Magic</span></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Cleveland Cavaliers</span></span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>10:30p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> Andrew Nicholson (Mississauga,ON) </span></span><span><span>Tristan Thompson (Toronto, ON) Anthony Bennett (Toronto, ON) </span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Wed. Feb 19</span></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><font color="#1d1d1d" face="Arial">Chicago Bulls</font></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><img src="http://www.basketball.ca/files/maple_leaf.png" width="19" height="20" alt="" style="background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: none; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-family: Arial; line-height: 18px;">Toronto Raptors</span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>7:00 p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> N/A</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Wed. Feb 19</span></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Boston Celtics</span></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Phoenix Suns</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>9:00 p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> Kelly Olynyk (Kamloops, BC) Joel Anthony (Montreal, QC)</span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Wed. Feb 19</span></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>San Antonio Spurs</span></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><font color="#1d1d1d" face="Arial">Portland Trail Blazers</font></span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>10:00 p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> </span><span>Cory Joseph (Toronto, ON) </span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Fri. Feb 21</span></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>New York Knicks</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Orlando Magic</span></span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>7:00 p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> Andrew Nicholson (Mississauga,ON) </span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Fri. Feb 21</span></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Cleveland Cavaliers</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><img src="http://www.basketball.ca/files/maple_leaf.png" width="19" height="20" alt="" style="background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: none; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-family: Arial; line-height: 18px;">Toronto Raptors</span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>7:30 p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> Tristan Thompson (Toronto, ON) Anthony Bennett (Toronto, ON) </span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Fri. Feb 21</span></span></p> </td> <td width="120"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>Boston Celtics</span></span></p> </td> <td width="117"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>L.A. Lakers</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>10 :30 p.m.</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="248"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span> Robert Sacre (North Vancouver, BC)</span></span><span><o:p></o:p></span><span><span> Kelly Olynyk (Kamloops, BC) </span><span> </span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Canadian Die-Hards Top 3 Games
Wednesday, February 19th
Magic at Cavs
Two Canadians will be battling on the block in this one. Andrew Nicholson and Tristan Thompson, both growing up in and around Toronto, will face off in what should be a must-win game for both teams. As the Magic have played above expectations recently and the Cavs are fighting for that 8th and final playoff spot, we should be in for quite the battle between two of the up and coming young teams in the NBA. Playing time is on a steady increase for Anthony Bennett as he continues to show promise and improvement. With a team like the Magic, who are fast and undersized, expect to see just as much time or more if he can get it going.
Friday, February 21st
Cavs at Raps (CB NIGHT) (Tune in: TSN)
This should be a special homecoming for both Tristan Thompson and Anthony Bennett of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both are natives of Toronto, ON and for Bennett, it will be the first time he returns to Canada as a professional in the NBA. Another cause for excitement is CB night at the ACC. Canada Basketball will honour three new inductees to the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame as well as show appreciation for our present Men’s and Women’s National Teams. Assuming both play in the bout, Tristan Thompson will have to deal with wily vet, Amir Johnson, on the starting unit. As Anthony Bennett deals with the emotion of playing his first game back home, he will have to help slow down an impressive Raptors second unit.
Friday, February 21st
Celtics at Lakers
Another NBA game this week will be heavy in Canadian content. Kelly Olynyk and Joel Anthony of the Celtics will be in Los Angeles to take on the Lakers. With Nash still sidelined with back problems, Robert Sacre will be the only canuck suiting up for L.A. Coming off a good performance in the rising stars game, Olynyk will be primed to have an even better second half of the season, as the Kamloops, BC native has been impressive in his rookie year. As the trade deadline nears in the NBA and with Pau Gasol in the center of many rumors, Sacre will be trying to show coach Mike D’Antoni how valuable he is to the Lakers franchise.