3 in the Key: Raptors' Game-Day Preview vs. Cavs
by Adam Francis on Dec 26, 2011 8:59 AM EST
in 3 in the Key
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PrintWith the marquee matchups of opening night over and done with its time for the rest of the NBA's teams to begin their seasons. Game 1 of 66 starts tonight as the Raptors travel to Ohio to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The HQ's Sasha Kalra weighs up the action...
Our favourite basketball team has returned and they will play their first game of the season tonight.
There are many storylines that we should all be looking forward to seeing develop throughout the course of the season. Can Dwane Casey's methods make a difference on the court, most notably on the defensive end? Can Ed Davis and DeMar DeRozan build on the promise they showed in the second half of last season to further cement their places as members of our core going forward? Can Jerryd Bayless improve his game and challenge Jose Calderon for the starting gig? How will the new acquisitions work out?
This game represents a perfect chance to figure out just where this team is currently at in terms of its cohesion and development. After going 0-2 over the preseason against a division rival, we start the season with a game on the road against another rebuilding team.
Despite their terrible year last season, the Cavs have every right to be optimistic heading into the future. Kyrie Irving was a no-brainer with the 1st overall pick in the draft and if he is given the right time and tools to develop Tristan Thompson can grow into a great player. Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejao and Anthony Parker aren't the most talented of players, but they bring a crucial know-how to how things work in the NBA. Byron Scott remains one of the more respected head coaches in the league and with a bench capable of putting up points quickly, the Cavs represent a perfect initial acid-test for this Raptors team.
Without further ado here are the 3 keys to the game:
1) Move the Rock:
This one might seem like a bit of a no-brainer but the Raptors have a tendency to go through in-game transitionary phases where their offensive schemes become a two man game. DeRozan and Bargnani are clearly established as the lead scoring options but that doesn't mean they should simply take turns with the ball on offense. It will be crucial to get guys like James Johnson and Jose Calderon going early to ease the scoring burden on the rest of the team, and moving the ball on offense allows this to happen much easier.
2) Bench Play:
Many of the team's offseason moves were aimed at bolstering our bench play. The likes of Gary Forbes, Jamal Magloire, Aaron Gray and Rasual Butler won't be expected to start but will be expected to contribute when called upon. The Cavs have a bench that can hurt the Dinos and with Omri Cassipi, Daniel Gibson and Irving getting the majority of those minutes, they can be a streaky and dangerous bunch. Many of our players have the potential to be game changers when they step on the court and it is no coincidence that many of our wins last season coincided with a big performance by a reserve.
3) Stay Focused:
One of the biggest themes of the offseason, especially since the appointment of Dwayne Casey, has been the narrative of a young team growing together while learning a new system. They showed in spurts against the Celtics that they are able to play great defence at times, relatively speaking, and I would like to see some of the same against the Cavs. That means being locked into your matchup and duty on both sides of the ball and hopefully for an extended period of time. The crowd will be fired up and it will be up to the Dinos to suck the life out of the Quicken Loans Arena.
Here's to spurring a Dan Gilbert rant of the highest order!
SASHA KALRA
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a bit unrelated
and I don’t mean to distract from Franchise’s great work. But watching ball yesterday made me realize why I love the NBA.
- putting your chest in the way of a superstars elbow is a technical foul (Carmelo)
- Tyson Chandler may have the greatest franchise altering influence in history
- not trading your superstar after he demands a trade has a positive effect on a team (Dwight)
- Luol Deng has the greatest clutch ‘jump stop’ in the history of the NBA
- playing Hack-a-shaq (or hack-a-jordan), half way through the 3rd quarter of the first game of the season no less, keeps a game exciting and interesting.
All sarcasm aside there were some real good games yesterday (Boston vs NY in particular). And watching them made me realize (again) just how far the Raps have to go.
by Not so Friendly Stranger on Dec 26, 2011 9:34 AM EST reply actions
Just Curious
Are you allowed to stay up past 10:00 PM EST?
DJ’s 10 blocks though I think he only got credit for eight was the highlight of yesterday’s action.
Boston – N.Y., It was a good game and the Knicks won because Pierce was out. The way that Chandler played last night the Knicks would have done better with Bargnani or maybe even Gray.
Bad Back BD and long time over-the-hill HB won’t help when they return. D’Antoni teams will never play defense even with Chandler. RR 31 frigging points. I bet he doesn’t top that all season except maybe when the Knicks play in Boston this season. LOL
Battle Of The Ping-Pong Balls
Tonight’s opener could be the deciding game with regard to who will get the most ping-pong balls in the lottery come next May?
Raptors need a loss here.
can we establish beforehand
if we play to win or to lose and comment accordingly thereafter?
Why Did You Bring This Up?
If you are thinking that I commented about playing to win or lose you read my post incorrectly. Go and re-read it.
I was commenting upon a possible outcome of tonight Raptors’ game and how that could affect the ping-ball count in the lottery. I never said that the Raptors should play to lose. Read my posts I don’t believe I have ever suggested that the Raptors or any other team should play to lose ever.
I was not specifically referring to you
There are plenty of people who want us to tank but get upset if we… do…
I want to see the Raptors play well tonight. If they lose a close one to a Cavs’ team that plays better, fine. If they win, I’m fine with that too.
For me, I want to see improvement in some capacity this year, even if it’s not reflected in wins and losses when all is said and done.
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
by Adam Francis on Dec 26, 2011 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
improvement
+1
Show me something guys. It seems like we are at the bottom of the league with the worst team…but if you believe in the future and look closely this team has a chance to be very competitive, very soon and to be that way for a long time.
But for the new guys who are expected to come in next year, to quote an old Bonnie Rait song; “Let’s give them something to talk about.” For those who watch closely and aren’t bandwagon jumpers, this group needs to show some character and fight and talent. Then when JV and Barnes (?) arrive, they will be excited at the “NEW” direction this team as taken under Casey. That starts tonight!!! Go Raps.
by defensive rap on Dec 26, 2011 6:23 PM EST up reply actions
So what you are saying is that you want the outcome to be 'marginal'?
Up in the skyscrape, me and my apes, bake cakes.
DO NOT SHOOT
oone on one basketball.
I see this was one of THR first suggestions by Adam Francis.
But HOW do you stop possession killing one pass and the shoot the ball players?
Unlike many here, I am NOT a fan of Bargnani going 4 for 14!!!
In fact I detest it!
The same idiots think they are SHOOTERS and should shoot their way out of slumps and in fact the percentage doesn’t matter!
MADNESS!!!
You don’t hit and keep shooting…sit the hell down!
So IMO…Stop this insane shooting.
Pass the ball until you find THE best shot.
Fianlly…WAIT on your screener to be set. Wait for the screen!!!!!
Guards are always giving their screeners fouls because they will not wait for the screen to set. Then the poor guy gets the foul and the real reason was the idiot dribbling the ball.
Pass the ball.
Pass the ball.
Pass the ball.
Set and wait for screens and the team will do fine.
If not…forgetaboutit!!!
I see fellow players begin to stop moving. Why should they? They ain’t gonna get rewarded for it!
When Andrea and DeMar give up a bad shot to pass to a player with a better shot then fireworks go off at the ACC. However, I don’t think that the MLSE Purchasing Department has ordered a lot of fireworks for the Raptors this season.
They don't have any money for fireworks because they blew their budget on a 10Tonne Granite boulder for the locker room...
Up in the skyscrape, me and my apes, bake cakes.
Casey says he has given each player a specific role and their minutes will be determined by how well they fulfill their role. However he also that that Andrea And DeMar really have no competition for their minutes
+1
That being said, we’ll see if that continues as the season goes on.
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
by Adam Francis on Dec 26, 2011 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
ISTM that the Raptors will have to find a way to replace Andrea’s and DeRozan’s scoring before their defensive weaknesses mean anything with regard to their minutes.
I will admit that Andrea did step it up on defense in the pre-season. How long that will last remains to be seen. If it does last how it may negatively impact Andrea’s jump shooting also remains to be seen. Playing good defense requires a lot of energy. Does Andrea have enough energy to bring it both on defense and offense. We shall see
how can there NOT be competition at any position????
I mean, really?
You mean the staff didn’t get talent at every position …at least enough that you can tell a pro player IF he doesn’t tow the company line, he sits?
The pro today can get pretty stupid and selfish. Sometimes enough that he totally ignores a coach or his teammates! He would rather listen to his agent and posse of buddies than a coach.
I say even if the second guy isn’t as talented…if the idiot still doesn’t do as told…put the sub in and go till it ends.
I have seen great coaches teach these lessons regardless of the win/loss.
You need to take control of the team.
Yo need to set a point.
The other players all respond to who ever really leads the pack. If they see a continuation of selfish play and no punishment, the whole asylum goes crazy.
The patients begin to rule the hospital.
Come on coach….play hard ball!!!
Raps vs Cavs
Looking forward to seeing Irving play. He’s only 19 and shows lots of promise.
Looking forward to seeing Ed Play. He’s a year older than Kyle and has the best upside of any big in the game. Thompson will also be fun to see play although I fear they drafted him too high.
And then DD, JJ, Bayless and Amir all have something to prove and Forbes is a wildcard.
Right now, as painful as it is to say, I am not watching to see a team effort yield a victory. Right now, it’s the details and individual player development that are interesting to see so we know what we have moving forward.
Go Raps, playoffs next year with the youngest team in the league….sky’s the limit from there…
Ed's upside
Best upside of any big in this game, not the NBA in general.
I hope he will become to be known as 'Honest Ed'... It works while he is a Raptor
Up in the skyscrape, me and my apes, bake cakes.
DD vs Cleveland
23 pts
8 for 14 shooting
2 for 4 from three
5 for 6 from the line
6 rebounds and 3 assists
Player of the game
Starters
Any word on starters for tonight? I’ve been off Twitter the last few days…
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
Haven't Seen Anything
Probably no word yet on tonight’s finishers for the Raptors either.
We will probably know who the starters are about 2.5 – 3.0 hours before we know who the finishers are. LOL
28. Raptors (0-0, LW 28). Going into opening day, nobody is really sure what the starting lineup for Toronto will be. That’s not a good sign.
29. Cavaliers (0-0, LW 29). Kyrie Irving will be thrown to the wolves be the Cavaliers starting point guard and learn on the job beginning day one — he got the starting job.
30. Bobcats (0-0, LW 30). Just to add to the fun, Tyrus Thomas will not start in the opener Monday due to injury. This team is snake bit right now.
is there a live stream
where we can all banter with each other while watching?
I truly enjoyed this with the Hornets last season.
Lots of fun.
and PLEASE
forgive my spelling when live.
I suffered a stroke 4 years ago and the whole eye finger thing is not really all there yet.
No worries man!
Live stream…hmm…
http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/99740/1/watch-cleveland-cavaliers-vs-toronto-raptors.html
That’s the only one I could find but hopefully it works!
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
by Adam Francis on Dec 26, 2011 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
Yahoo Sports Considers Jose A Building Block For The Raptors Future
Ultimately, that could lead to some turnover in Toronto, but the Raptors have several pieces they hope to build around, including a talented backcourt in DeMar DeRozan and Jose Calderon.
Calderon averaged 9.8 points and 8.9 assists last season, but shot 44.0 percent, the worst since his rookie season. DeRozan is entering his third year in the league, having doubled his rookie scoring average to put up 17.2 points per game last season.
The wild card could be Andrea Bargnani, who is being shifted from center to forward in hopes of improving his rebounding. The Italian 7-footer averaged a career-best 21.4 points last season, but only 5.2 rebounds.
According To Casey - Triano Was A Horrible Coach
or at least that is what he is implying
* Casey said, "We have so many fundamentals that are lacking — screening, physical style of play. To even think about the playoffs, we have to build that. Once we build that, then we can start thinking about making the playoffs and being a top tier team."
Triano
Probably was always destined to be a good assistant, but never a true leader. What Triano lacked more than anything else was the perception of being in charge and holding players accountable. Casey can talk all he wants about defence and he is right, but he needs to be in charge of the team. Triano always “seemed” to have BC chirping in his ear and he looked like a puppet at times. Casey needs to send the message first to the players, then to the front office and finally to the fan base that he is the one who decides PT and usage. No one else.
Then we can build a defence minded team…….
by defensive rap on Dec 26, 2011 6:16 PM EST up reply actions
There was talk about which actor would play key figures in the Raptors Organization if a movie (a la MoneyBall) was ever made. My choice is MITCH PILEGGI to play JAY TRIANO
Coach Triano is seen here sneaking up on Coach Sam Mitchell (played by Denzel Washington). In this scene that is reminiscent of the ‘Gilbert Arenas v Jarvis Crittenton’ gun play incident. Not many people knew of the inside dealings and violent powerbroking within the secret Raptor franchise…
Up in the skyscrape, me and my apes, bake cakes.
Amir
He looks great in the first few minutes. And despite Amir’s NBA years logged, he’s very young and relatively unused in Detroit, so hopefully his body will hold up. He looks bigger and quicker than last year. Quicker and Bigger is usually a good sign.
Jose just shut Irving down
Could coaching help more than just Andrea’s D?
Win!!!
Yeah, we won. We held a team on the road to under 100 pts.
What we learned
1. Amir and Ed looked good. Even really good, both of them. Ed will earn more and more minutes and Casey will have to play him and Amir more and more.
2.JJ can play sick D.
3. Demar showed glimpses at the end of being an elite scorer.
4. Bayless showed he can score but not sure he can pass.
5. Jose can pass and still shoot.
6. AB got less minutes than last year and was less of a focus on O. He also played better D, slightly better. He needs to shoot a higher percentage but the effort seemed there. He played like a solid third option although a couple more shots could have fallen for it to be a good game for him.
The only problem is we did this against Cleveland and they didn’t look very sharp. The next game vs Indiana will give us a better idea of where we are truly at.
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