3 in the Key – Toronto Raptors Game-Day Preview vs. Cavs

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Jan 6, 2008 12:00 AM EST in 3 in the Key

Oh the things you can learn from the Sports Pack.

For instance, did you know that in both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, Chris Bosh has averaged 21 points and 10.5 rebounds against the Cavs?

Ok...maybe you did.

But did you know that for the Cavs’ "Guys Night Out" promotion, Cleveland is giving out a Cavs Girls Calendar in addition to the usual tickets to the game, drinks and food?

Bet not.

It’s the Toronto Raptors against the Cleveland Cavaliers this afternoon in a match that pits two teams hovering around the .500 mark in the East and fighting for playoff positioning.

With a win over the Atlanta Hawks last night the New Jersey Nets have pulled even with the Raptors in the Atlantic with a record of 17 and 16 and besides the Knicks, the division is starting to shape up like many had predicted prior to the season. It should be a tough battle from here on out for seeding and the Raptors need to get on a roll.

Hopefully that starts today with a win over the Cavs.

Cleveland looks to be getting their mojo back now with Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic in the fold, and besides the brick houses being build in Akron by Larry Hughes, the offense under coach Mike Brown has improved as well.

"See, I CAN hit a jump-shot Lebron"

The Raptors on the other hand are coming off a loss to the Pistons and looking to take their aggression out on someone.

I actually caught the Pistons/Celtics game last night and it just beat into my head how superior these two teams are from the rest of the conference. You get the feeling watching them that they could play 20 games and the end result would be 10 wins for each. However I’m going to say right now that I think the Celtics have the advantage in the long run. Until Jason Maxiell develops a consistent back-to-the-basket game, the Pistons lack interior scoring and as those who watched last night saw, Detroit is too reliant on the jump shot. You could argue that Chauncey Billups is the Pistons’ best post-up player as Rasheed Wallace seems to prefer to spend more time on the perimeter these days.

So if Detroit and Boston are the cream of the crop in the East, who’s next?

I’d love to say Toronto, but the Raptors need to prove themselves first and a win over the Cavs, one of their main competitors on the next tier, would be a great start. Let’s get to the keys:

1) Make Lebron a scorer. King James was absent the last time these teams met but in their first match Lebron terrorized the Raptors by breaking down the defence and finding open gunners for easy 3-point looks. Well the good news is that one of those gunners, Damon Jones, is indefinitely benched for refusing to enter a game in garbage time last week. The bad news is the Cavs still have long-range weapons like Daniel Gibson and now Sasha Pavlovic who can get it done. The Raptors probably won’t mind if Lebron gets 50 but his team-mates barely touch the rock. However a 30, 12 and 10 night for James could prove deadly as it means getting the rest of the Cavs involved on O. Anthony Parker will probably draw the assignment on Lebron and hopefully he does a better job than he did on Friday against Rip Hamilton. I’d like to see Carlos Delfino get some time as well and perhaps a cameo from Joey Graham.

2) Dominate the paint. The Cavs have always given Toronto problems on the inside. Between the size of Gooden and Big Z, and Lebron’s ability to slash to the basket, the Raptors have had their hands full. Add on a now "in-game-shape" Sideshow Varejao and Andrea Bargnani instead of Rasho manning the 5, and it could be a long night for the Raps in this area. Cleveland is the seventh best rebounding team in the league so Toronto not only needs to box out, but on the opposing end, Chris Bosh and co. must make a concerted effort to attack the rim and get the Cavs’ "bigs" in foul trouble. Cleveland is one of the worst offensive teams in the league so the Raptors need to make them into a jump-shooting club and prevent easy put-backs.

3) Get that ball moving. The Cavs are a solid defensive club so the Raptors can’t rely on the long-range bomb all night. Good ball movement and offensive execution is essential for the Raptors, who’ve had problems in this area of late. This means getting Bargs going early and hopefully getting a much bigger contribution from the bench. As mentioned, Cleveland is not a great scoring team and average only 19 assists a game. If the Raptors can get production from both the starters and the bench in this department, it should be a huge advantage and may force Lebron into trying to do too much himself in terms of carrying the scoring load.

FRANCHISE

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A loss today and a Pacer win will bring some interesting reading on Monday.Will Rasho play today? Will be a good time to play against a good rebounding team like Cleveland. Go Raptors Go

by Davl on Jan 6, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Watched detroit boston last night too and totally agree the benefit of experience, execution and outright aggression puts them head and shoulders above the raps.

Even the refs call the game different, they have to, there's just way more contact and bodying from the opening tip. Love that fire they have. Was cheering for detroit.

Going to the cavs game today. We need this one. GO RAPS!!!

by axl on Jan 6, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Franchise: I don't disagree about the slashing bit, but all those extra missed MoP shots would have meant fewer shots for Bosh - which I felt happened a lot when he was on the floor. I guess we'll have to leave it at that.

So earlier in the season I thought AP was getting off scott free during the TJ vs JC debate. TJ v JC is not a raptor problem. Even Bargs isn't the problem. It's always been the Small Forward and Shooting Guard. However this pile-on on AP now maybe misguided as I think expectations for him are a little high. There are reasons he didn't stick in the NBA, and this is probably more indicative of AP's true abilities. And if Garbo were healthy I probably would have predicted the same for him. That's why I was hoping we were able to pull off a trade with those two at peak value. Really can't imagine those two being on this team if the raps are to contend for a championship (not that they couldn't contribute to a championship team, just not enough time for it to be this one).

I still see where people are on this JD juice? Yikes.

Be tough today trying to watch most of the Raps game, as I've been a life long NY Giants fan. (They were the team that help me win my first sports pool in 1987 - with the Big Tuna)

Bargsbust: That'd also mean TMac was a bust after 2 seasons too. Also Kobe, Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, Chauncey Billups, Kevin Martin, Tyson Chandler, Leandro Barbosa... off the top of my head (that Franchise didn't already list)

go giants.

by ustation on Jan 6, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

this crazy why is management not doing something about Ford being out how many games do we have to loose before they do some thing

by Marcia on Jan 6, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

"Marcia says:
January 6th, 2008
this crazy why is management not doing something about Ford being out how many games do we have to loose before they do some thing
"

umm maybe because management is concerned about his health and don't want to rush him in?

or MAYBE..whta Marcia means by "doing something"... Marcia is finally implying that management should Trade TJ

by Better Looking Aaron on Jan 6, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Better Looking Aaron ..Why would I imply that management should trade TJ, he is one of the best player we have, what I mean is that he is clear to play and he should get his behind out on the floor and play, the Raptors team cannot win a game like they are now, how are they going to win without their best player, I just think we need some back bone players instead of all these soft player who are not use to play with tough NBA players, BC has to get tougher player all the other teams that are winning has tough and gutsey players the Raptors has a bunch of players that don't know how hussle and play like some of the players we had in the past Oakley for example, we need to knock out some of the oposition player. I am tired of this loosing teams, and even if I choose a nother team I live here I can't avoid seeing them play.

by Marcia on Jan 6, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Ustation, last time I checked all those players that you mentioned had better second year starts that Bargnani. And most of those players that you mentioned was not a #1 pick.

Franchise, Bargnani was only runner up because Chuck Swirski is a HOMER. His choice is so biased.

Bargnani is a bust because he's supposed to be the next Dirk Nowitzki, but he plays like he should be in the D-League. He scored 4 points against Cleveland, that's horrible. His shooting percentage is horrible. 39.5% for the season.

I'm sorry, but when one of your core franchise players is Bargnani then there's greater expectations for the player than an average player.

For instance, look at Kevin Durant. He's playing better ball than Bargnani, he's playing out of his position and will win rookie of the year. The expectations for him are much higher than say Yi Jianlin.

I just don't see Bargnani part of the Raptors future 5 years from now. J. O'neal was traded away from the Trailblazers, so was Chandler. These players were traded away because they didn't meet expectations.

Finally, when I say a bust, I mean not meeting expectations. Our Raptors future is on Bargnani's shoulders and he's not meeting the expecations. Therefore one can conclude that he's a bust.

He's not playing at Dirk's second year level of skill level.
Il Mago is supposed to be a good shooter but his shooting percentage is really low and just worsened today.

by BargsBust on Jan 6, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions