Game Advantage NBA Preview: Washington vs. Toronto

After a wild NBA trade deadline and with the playoffs rapidly approaching, US Sportsbook Review odds are the hot topic for many NBA fans. There are several key match ups in the NBA this Saturday. Here is a preview of the Washington Wizards versus Toronto Raptors game.

Washington Wizards @ Toronto Raptors

Saturday, February 20, 7:00PM (ET)

Eastern Conference rivals meet as the red hot Raptors hit the hard court against the basement dwelling Washington Wizards. After remaining dormant on trade deadline day, the Toronto Raptors are hoping to continue their recent streak and close the gap between division leading Boston. Washington, who is well outside the playoff picture looking in, is in desperate need of a win against the Raptors.

What Toronto needs to do to win

Sportsbook Odds: NO LINE YET

Play Strong Defence: Throughout the 2009-2010 season, the Toronto Raptors have not struggled to score. What this team has struggled with, is defending against their opposition. Although the Raptors are averaging more than 104 points per game, they are allowing on average more than 105 points per game. One of their weakest defenders this game has been Jose Calderon. Calderon, along with Raptors big man Chris Bosh, must step up their defensive coverage in order for this team to succeed.

Get scoring from the bench: With three solid scoring threats from Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, and Hedo Turkoglu, the Raptors have a wealth of primary scoring. To continue their recent winning ways, the Toronto Raptors need secondary scoring from their bench. The Raptors need scoring from bench players including Jose Calderon, Sonny Weems, and Amir Johnson. If the Raptors can receive scoring from their bench, they will likely be too powerful for the Washington Wizards.

What Washington needs to do to win

Online Sportsbook Odds: NO LINE YET

Find a new team cohesion: Following a wild NBA trade deadline, the Washington Wizards are a brand new team. The trade deadline saw the Wizards ship out a half dozen players and welcome in many new faces. If the Wizards want to succeed against the Toronto Raptors, they will need to find some instant team cohesion. Playing with unfamiliar faces will cause confusion in both the offensive and defensive zone. Coach Flip Saunders must find a way to pull his team together if they want to have any chance of finishing the season strong.

Shut down the Raptors top scorers: For the first time in years, the Toronto Raptors are a legitimate offensive threat. With so many new faces on the Washington roster, defensive coverage might be an issue. Shutting down star Chris Bosh must be the top priority for new faces Josh Howard and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. These two big men will have their hands full with Bosh, Bargnani, and Turkoglu. Bosh is averaging close to 25 points per game while Turkoglu is averaging almost 18 points per game.

With a completely new roster, it is hard to say what the new Washington Wizards will look like. The roster changes are definitely a step in the right direction and could make the difference against the surging Toronto Raptors.

Champions League Betting News - Bayern Munich beat Fiorentina 2-1

Bayern Munich beat Fiorentina 2-1 today with a goal from Miroslav Klose in the 89th minute in the first leg of the knockout stages of Champions League football, which also won its thirteenth consecutive victory.

The wards of Louis Van Gaal hits in recent weeks, it had very serious approach to the complicated defensive Italian rival, which came as a "victim" to the tie, after accumulating five defeats in six matches thus far.

The local first goal came in stoppage of the first half, in a move that ended in a local invalidated both Mario Gomez, who converted a penalty moments later before the Dutchman Arjen Robben in the 48 '.

Just after the restart, the Fiore reacted with both the Danish Per Kroldrup (50 '), the network headed in a corner after a Bavarian defensive error, but the local fair at the end got the victory thanks to Klose, who took area up the rebound after a shot by Robben.

The late both "saved" the night for Bavarians, who will play the return on Tuesday March 9 in Florence with advantage, though aware that the short range leaves open the tie.