3 in the Key- Raptors' Game-Day Preview vs. Heat
by Sasha Kalra on Feb 5, 2012 8:00 AM EST
in 3 in the Key
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PrintThe Raptors have taken their limited talents to South Beach for an early match against the Miami Heat. Do they have what it takes to cause a massive upset? The HQ's Sasha Kalra weighs in on their chances...
It's Super Bowl Sunday and most of the sports world will be focusing on the impending game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots tonight. There is a basketball game to be played and most of the matches today have early start times so that fans don't have to choose. (Although for some the choice is rather easy)
The Raptors are fresh off a morale-boosting win against the woeful Washington Wizards and now embark on a small two game road trip. After they wrap it up on Monday night in Washington they will return home for 7 straight games.
The team turned in a dominant performance last time out and their bruising inside play in particular stood out. Amir Johnson had easily his best game in the last few weeks and looked like he had put those "personal issues" to bed, but that was against the Wizards.
The Heat started off the season on fire but have since cooled off to join the rest of the pack. Their core hasn't changed and they have made some shrewd off-season moves, notably obtaining Shane Battier and Norris Cole. Keeping pace with the Heat in front of their energetic home crowd is going to be a challenge for this young Raptors team, particularly without Andrea Bargnani.
Do they have a shot at pulling off a surprise win? Here are 3 things they should think about doing if that's the goal:
1) Force Others to Step Up: Playing a team with one all star is hard enough for the Raptors, let alone three. The Dinos will have to do their best when defending James, Wade and Bosh and Dwane Casey is undoubtedly running various defensive schemes in practice. The supporting cast that Pat Riley has surrounded them with is pretty good, yet prone to blow hot and cold. By doubling up on the stars the Raptors can hopefully force more unheralded players to make shots and keep the defense honest.
2) Bench Play: The Raptors truly live and die with the play of their bench. Wins usually coincide with a big night from one of Jerryd Bayless, Leandro Barbosa or Linas Kleiza. The Heat's defensive play was excellent last year but this year it has taken a step back. They do average the second highest points per game in the league however, and bench scoring will be very important if the Raptors plan on keeping up with them.
3) DeMar DeRozan: I feel like every two game previews that I write I end up using DeRozan as one of the keys to the game. His play has been up and down this year and it seems like we are witnessing a player who is still coming to terms with what he is truly capable of. He will have his hands full with Dwyane Wade all game and should be tested extensively on the defensive end. With Andrea Bargnani set to miss yet another game, DeRozan's importance is paramount, and if there was ever a game for him to step up in, it's this one against Wade and co.
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Look for Wade to score 30+ points and have 10+ assists...
Triple Double Time on their schedule, they had this one circled…
"the Truth"
How has derozan been up and down?
If by up and down you mean, started the first 6 games well adn then its been all down hill, I’ll agree. For the last 18games of the season he is averaging 12.4ppg, shooting 4-29 for three point land for a staggering 13%, and 34% from the floor, with 1.3apg, 3.5rpg and a stl and over 2turnovers. In that time frame I think he has had three good games, IND (jan 13), UTH (jan 25), and NJ (Jan29). 3 good games out of 18, thats not up and down, that’s consistently bad.
The only way this is a game is if the Heat don’t show up to play, but seeing as its in Miami, I’m sure the Heat will come out with some energy. As much as I would love to see us beat Bosh and ruin the Heat’s superbowl party plans, I am really just hoping this does turn into another Boston massacre.
Bayless/Calderon have also had trouble against guards that can really pressure them and Chalmers is excellent at extending the D, if we do go small that means that Derozan has to cover Lerbon (gulp), and Johnson would have to cover Bosh (gulp) and Bayless would have to cover Wade (gulp).
If we go with the usual line up of Calderon, Derozan, Johnson, Davis and Gray…Davis has to cover Bosh and Derozan Wade, while Johnson is a good matchup for Lebron but realistically we can only hope to slow him down.
Lets chalk this one up as a win for the pingpong balls.
I don’t think James Johnson on Bosh would be bad. It’s not like Bosh is an animal operating in the low post. He usually end up spinning away from the key and taking a baseline J.
Barbosa should check Wade (not that well, but he often gets up for the big match ups) James Johnson should check Bosh. Good luck with LBJ…
Hopefully, we throw a healthy amount of zone at them…
Talkinf fantasy bball on twitter http://twitter.com/FinalsFantasy#
agree
and well said with the numbers on derozan.
sometimes you begin to think its just you that is seeing it…but then once somebody like you puts it down in real numbers…it confirms you ain’t going nuts.
As for Gray…I don’t feel good about it as this is yet another team that IMO intimidates the refs and so the opposition players are given more tacky fouls than Miami. And gray, fleet o foot as he is (!) has no chance against this ref thing.
But our problem is Amir will be just as biased against as well. Refs seem to give a shift in the wind call against him as well!
My only hope is we do get some help from the Supreme Ball Gods and out outside shots fall…it will be the ONLY hope we have. And lately, these same Supreme Beings seems to be having a little mean spirited fun toying with the Raps…so the win looks unlikely.
I don’t know if any of you youngsters here ever saw the movie: The Mouse That Roared…but this is kind of what I am hoping for here.
Attempt at opptimism.
First post was a tad negative, so here are what the raps need to do to keep this competitive.
Turnovers: The Heat have the personnel to play defence unlike the majority of the NBA. While they may be small they are all long, fast and athletic, which allows them to put a ton of pressure on the ball and not be worried about being beat because they know help will be there. Then when they rotate they do an outstanding job and getting steals on the pass. If the Raptors want any chance today they have to limit their live ball turnovers. If you haven’t watched the Heat play this year, they are outstanding in transition and if they do get out on the break it is nearly always 2 points and they are usually the TSN honour roll variety.
Fakes and Cuts: Since the Heat play such aggressive defence it usually means they are gambling and will jump at pass fakes and be denying the wings. If we are able get them to reach and jump, whether they are shot or pass fakes it should open up some more lanes for us.
Matchups: We aren’t going to have alot of great matchups but there are some that are not horrible. Pellico will like this one, but I think we need to goto Gray early beacuse Anthony is not a great on ball defender nad is undersized, he is great off the ball but you can expose him on the ball. If the Heat start to double than hopefully we can get the ball going inside/out. Also JJ will have to sacrifice his offence this game beacuse he is realistically our only matchup on Lebron. Our bench is quicker/faster than theirs so hopefully they can expose their lack of foot speed and experience and manufacture some cheap points.
no...i don't like it
i mean, i like the idea of going inside…but then why am I afraid?
Look…your talking to one nervous Nellie here.
probably the only guy who needs to take a sedative before sex…fear of failure and still not understanding why the girl even is thinking about having it…with me!?
Gotta be a catch or planned ambush!
so I am very afraid!
you are supposed to say that more delicately..
Americans are…well, challenged.
Valanciunas leads Lietuvos Rytas in massive win over Enisey
Lietuvos Rytas strengthened its position in the VTB League standings, easing past Enisey 101-62 (27-16, 23-16, 19-12, 22-18) behind a dominating performance from Jonas Valanciunas in Vilnius on Saturday.
Valanciunas scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added two blocked shots in for the home team,
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