3 In the Key – Toronto Raptors Game Day Preview vs. 76ers

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST in 3 in the Key

Apologies for the late postings the past two days but I’ve been forced to finish over lunch between training sessions at my 9 to 5 gig. Perhaps one day this site will BE the 9 to 5 gig for Howland and I but until then, we’ll just have go with the flow.

In an unusual scenario, the Toronto Raptors face the Philadelphia 76ers tonight in what’s starting to look like a must-win January game for the Dinos. Toronto has dropped their last two, including as we all know, a horrific collapse to the Cavs on Sunday and things in the East are really starting to tighten up for playoff spots. This means that Toronto needs to start putting together a string of wins if they want to separate themselves from the pack. Around this time last year Toronto was really starting to gel, get healthy and hit their stride which enabled them to roll towards the playoffs.

This year the Raps haven’t been able to do that as of yet but with games against the Knicks, Kings, Hawks and these same 76ers again in the next 10 days, Toronto has a chance to get back on track.

In fact besides a date in Detroit with the Pistons and their final meeting with the Celtics on January 23rd, there is a real opportunity here for this club to step up and be counted amongst the best in the East. The Hawks, Nets and Wizards remain as inconsistent as Toronto, the Heat and Bulls are already seeing the playoff light at the end of the tunnel disappear and Orlando is in a free-fall as well.

The Magic executed a near-miraculous comeback last night against the Kings but in the end came up short. It reminded me once again of just how impressive Lebron’s performance was in Cleveland’s comeback Sunday as he was solely responsible for erasing Toronto’s lead. In the Kings-Magic game last night it was a group affair as everyone from Dwight Howard to JJ Redick got in on the action.

Speaking of JJ and the Magic, while watching the game another interesting idea for a trade crept into my head regarding the back-up point guard situation. What about Keyon Dooling? The Magic have three border-line starting caliber point guards at this time and will probably need an upgrade at some point if they wish to take the next step as a club. Watching the team last night it’s obvious that neither of the three are getting the job done. The other thing is that it’s criminal that JJ Redick doesn’t play more, and I’m not simply saying this as a Duke and JJ fan. He’s averaging only about nine minutes a game yet shooting almost 47 per cent from the field and 85 per cent from the line. He came in for the Magic in desperation time last night and was lights out scoring 10 points in eight minutes on 50 per cent shooting.
It got me wondering if a deal of Kapono and Martin would bring both Redick and Dooling to Toronto. JJ is essentially the same player as Kapono only smaller and better at creating his own shot. He would be a lot cheaper as well and on a shorter contract. Dooling would essentially be a rental as his deal is up at the end of the year giving BC some extra money to work with for Jose and Carlos Delfino. And of course, Dooling could both initiate the offense for the second unit, score, and play the 2 in a pinch. Some may say like Luther Head (who went off last night for Houston) that he’s no more of a point guard than Juan Dixon but that’s not true. Both Head and Dooling played the 1 in college at Illinois and Missouri respectively. Dixon on the other hand never played point at Maryland as Steve Blake was his back-court-mate. Therefore it’s really no surprise that Dixon has struggled as he’s basically trying to learn the position as a 29 year-old veteran.

And wouldn’t the Magic jump on this? Another proven perimeter scorer would shore up a Magic second-unit in need of help, Martin would play the third-stringer role for the rest of the season, and hey, Kap-One could get his tan back in Florida!

This is a trade I’d do in a flash if it was available, especially because it deals with the immediate point guard situation, yet also helps the club’s future financially. Some would perhaps feel that moving Kapono would be akin to BC admitting he made a mistake when he signed the former Bruin sharp-shooter but I don’t think that’s true. I think it’s more a case of "hey, this trade makes sense for the club and would improve its current and future situations."

The big thing for Colangelo besides the long-term outlook of TJ Ford is going to be salary issues. In the back of his mind the Legomaster knows that he needs to have enough money to keep Calderon and possibly Delfino around so taking on a large contract is highly improbable.

Wouldn't Franchise be happy to see JJ in a Raptors uniform?

This 76ers team is one of the worst in the league, 26th in offensive efficiency in fact, and that’s where our first key to the game starts.

1. Force this team to shoot jumpers. While Louis Williams is starting to look like a legit NBA player the rest of the 76ers amount to perhaps the best group of chuckers in the league. Willie Green? Rodney Carney? Reggie Evans? Even both Andre’s, Miller and Iguodala are hardly snipers. If the Raptors can limit Philly’s penetration to the hoop and easy put-backs, this should be a romp. Let’s hope we see the same sort of defensive intensity that we saw from Toronto against Cleveland…except minus Lebron James and through four quarters this time.

2. Rebound the basketball. It didn’t take a genius to know this would be one of the keys, especially in the wake of the Cleveland fiasco. Philly is a fairly good rebounding club with players like Evans and Samuel Dalembert (who will apparently be honoured tonight) capable of grabbing 10+ boards easily. The Raptors need to keep these guys off the glass and therefore I’m hoping that Andrea Bargnani is over his flu and ready to do the dirty work in the trenches. If not, this game sets up as a perfect one for lots of Hump.

3. Second Unit play. Another gimmie. Philadelphia is not a deep club and therefore Toronto should have an advantage in this realm. However the second unit has hurt the Raptors of late and I’ll be quite interested to see which second unit shows up tonight. If Dixon struggles and once again the bench is a non-factor, this means 40 + minutes for Jose and co. again this evening.

I’m not quite ready to pencil this in as a W quite yet, but there’s absolutely no reason Toronto on paper should lose this game. As we’ve mentioned on the site, any team is capable of beating another in the NBA though so in a way, this is a true test of the Raptors mental toughness. Can they bounce back at home from a bad loss that perhaps has festered over the past few days?

I guess we’ll find out in a few hours.

FRANCHISE

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Comments

Michael Grange's post in today's in deep has some interesting stats. If the Raptors don't take tonight's game, they don't deserve to be in the playoffs. BTW, I like the JJ Dooling trade idea.

by tfan on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

To me, Dixon's problem is not that he is learning the position, it's more that he's never met a shot he doesn't like.

by Sergi P on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

I love that jj dooling idea. they're exactly the same player and raps get a pg. don't think orland would bite though

by budddybuddy on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Sort of a last second post but one of my co-workers just informed me of a friend of his who has tickets to tonight's game but can't use them.

It's a pair of Platinum tickets (SEC 108, dead centre court.) He wants $250 for the pair so if anyone is interested, call Andy 905-362-6214. (work number.)

I'll post as cell number as well as soon as I get one from him.

Face value of tickets is $220 ea.

by Franchise on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Great Preview and I like the trade scenerio. We previously mentioned the sonics as they have 3 pgs and while I was watching the Magic play the Kings a similar idea came to my head.

I think Kopono can earn his contract however he needs a player like TJ to break down guys of the dribble to open up the game for him.

Also Beno Udrih will be a restricted free agent this summer....I wonder how much it would cost us to get him although I think that situation is highly unlikely...

Did luther head really play the point? I thought it was Dee Brown or Deron Williams?

I think this should be a win for the raps....they need this...its amazing how quickly the rage dies down with a win. However if they lose its fuel to the fire.

The 76ers lost Korver for basically salary cap flexability...we'll have to do a better job on the boards than we did against the cavs at both Sam and Reggie Evans are beasts underneath.

Last game Louis Williams killed us and almost picked up the win....can't let that happen this game...and if he even starts going off a bit I bet a few of the raps will be thinking uh oh here we go again.

The raps are playing a weak team at home....they really need to lock the 76ers down and keep their foot on the throat...

I'm predicting a raps win by 10

by wtf on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

At the end of the day there are a ton of Backup quality point guards in the league that could be had for very little. If Toronto wants to really take a step forward they could make a pitch to Philly who are in rebuilding mode. I ran a trade through the trade machine a few weeks ago that might work.
Miller and Iguadala for Bargnani, Rasho and (I think it was ford). Obviously that trade wouldn't work now as Ford is out but maybe the Raps can package a couple other players in the deal.
Here is why I think it would work. Philly would love to ditch Miller who is getting up there in age. Andre would be a bit more of an issue except he is going to be a restricted free agent as he turned down Philly's extension offer last summer. Yes they can match any offer but what if he opts for a single year contract? Rasho gives them a decent backup to Dalembert and Bargnani would actually improve big time as he would play in his more natural position (in his mind anyway) at the 4. With another body or two thrown in for good measure Philly would actually be a better team down the road. Given that they are probably a lottery team, they could easily pick up another great player in the draft to compliment Bargs and Williams.
I know this trade would never happen but both teams would win in the long term.
More realistic options, what about Jarret Jack or one of the million pgs that Portland has? We have gone to that well before (Dixon)so why not go there again?

by McGateway on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

I also love that trade, but don't think it would happen because Kap isn't enough to get that much back. A trade that works (at least from a salary perspective) would be: D-Mart, Joey G and Kapono for JJ, Dooling and Pat Garrity. Essentially the same trade except that the Magic get "potential" back in the form of Joey-G, who I still believe will find a niche in the league, perhaps just not with us. A change of scenery might be just what he needs, and judging by the way JJ's career has unfolded thus far the same might be said of him. Judging by the way players have developed once acquired (ie. Delfino, K-Hump and Jose to a lesser extent) JJ might just flourish in our system.

by RaptorsAddict on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

I honestly don't care if the Raps lose ten in a row.

I like the long term plan.

Bargnani is still sick skillswise, no matter his lacklustre year.

The TJ sitch sucks for now, but that's the way love goes.

He'll be back; We'll win a playoff series and ultimately that will have made this season a progression from last.

NO TRADE NECESSARY
(But don't mind the possible tinkering...interesting scenarios put forth all)

If there was a trade the only players I wanna see on the way out are: Graham, Dixon, maybe Rasho,Hump,AP if the price was right...(and hand Martin a clipboard)...I know that doesn't get us jack shizzy tho, does it?

Kapono is awesome dude (Cali accent)...honestly we aren't using him yet; he is a freak. He will be on the contending squad of 20XX.

by DayOner on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

@DayOner

I hear you, anyone who shoots over 51% from three should have plays run for him. Often.
I literally want to see him hoist 6-8 3s per game. People need to fear him when he steps on the court (which frees up Bosh inside), and I don't feel that we are utilizing him in such a way to make that happen.

by the styling assassin on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

1st quarter just finished and all I can say is wtf.

Our interior defence is really pathetic....everytime Andrea's man sets a screen both Andrea and the guy (usually parker or calderon) both end up carrying the ball handler and reggie evans is by himself down low.

Andrea continues to lose sight of his man down low and can't seem to stay between his man and the basket. Always seems to be out chasing the ball...partly his fault partly perimeter defence's fault (more so andrea's) he needs to help but still remeber to get between his man and the basket.

by wtf on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

still weak on the boards....still weak defensively on the inside....however a win is a win and I'm happy we were able to break away from the 76ers.....

if we're trying to develop talent....play bargs

if we want to win games play rasho.....

if we want to do a combination then we play bargs and rasho and kris gets forced to sit like what happened tonight.

by wtf on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

decent win, but the rebounding was weak and should completely disillusion the real fan. beating up on a bad team is okay, but it doesn't mean anything.

the rebounding problem isn't going to go away anytime soon.

by papa on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

you know Franchise, I would rather have a recap of how Boston managed to lose to CHARLOTTE then this ho-hum win over Philly. By twelve points. No Ray Allen. That important? What happens when KG goes down?

by gerry on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Nothing to do with the game but I thought i'd add to the good news

TJ will resume basketball activities

http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/ford_010908.html

going back to train with John Lucas who helped him get back into the nba after his spinal fusion.....

i'd say it'll probably be another 2-4 weeks before he gets back.....however TJ will probably have a better idea after he gets in a few workouts....

http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/ford_010908.html

by wtf on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Thanks for the TJ update. Great news indeed.

On a somewhat related note,
Doug Smith mentioned something about Ukic's buyout being cleared up in his blog.
So it looks like we'll be seeing him in a Raptor uniform starting in summer league.

I think wtf hit the nail on the head when he laid out the three different directions we can go with our bigs.

It looks like their committed to bargs as a starting centre, and while his minutes will fluctuate, they'll be more at the mercy of his improvement /lack there of, as opposed to matchups.

A bitter pill short term, no doubt. Especially when the best matchup in a particular game is sitting on the bench.

by yardley on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

I wonder after watching the game last night how much it would cost the Raptor's to pry Louis Williams away from the Sixer's? He is young, able to penetrate and would be cheaper than all the other proposed acquistions that have been proposed.
The do need some outside shooters and we seem to have a plethora of those hanging around!

by Chongo on Jan 10, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions

I have to say the refs seem to call a lot of questionable fouls on andrea. Seems like many of them are ticky-tack or could go either way when he's battling for position. But hey at least he's battling for position and trying to be an inside presence.

Considering bosh's and other starter's limited minutes, this was a great win. But that said, what would we do without caldy? TJ hurry back!!

by axl on Jan 10, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions