The Raptors are coming off their what, 3rd tough loss so far this season? 4th maybe? Either way, Bosh doesn’t want anything to do with ‘taking something away from a loss’, and I don’t blame him:
Some games you just lose, I don’t know why, and you go on from there…We pretty much have to beat every team, that’s how I feel. I take a loss as a loss…You lose too many and you get tired of taking a positive out of a negative.
I like hearing that from Bosh, the man is all about business this year.
The Raptors host Indiana on the first night of a back-to-back, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth to say so, but we have to take this one. Indiana is currently sitting a half game ahead of us, holding on to the 8th spot in the East. Since we sit a game and a half ahead of Charlotte, the next two games are crucial for the Raptors if they intend to make the playoffs. They have to beat these types of teams.
Match-ups
The Point: You all know I was (still am) in Ford’s corner when the Forderon controversy erupted two seasons ago, but you have to feel for the guy. He lost his starting role, on two different teams, to two different players he has to match-up with today. He’s having a decent season, but from what I’ve seen (through limited exposure), he hasn’t hit his groove in Indiana. Regardless, he will be a handful tonight. When he takes Calderon off the dribble, he will have lots of options to kick out to for a good shot. I actually like Calderon/Jack in this match-up, but TJ’s speed, and playmaking ability can’t be slept on.
The Edge: Toronto
The Skill: With Belinelli and Wright questionable, DeRozan will have little relief chasing Jones around the court. While some thought that DeRozan played passable defense on both Wade and Carter, I think we can all agree that it wont be getting any easier for our boy as the season continues. Jones is having a career year and is a nice defensive player. I thought he was a great pick-up by Indiana in the off-season, and he hasn’t disappointed with a career year so far. As long as DeRozan slashes to the rim, grabs some boards, and stays in front of Jones, he should be alright. He wont win this match-up, but he can play Jones tight.
The Edge: Indiana
The Wing: This will be an interesting match-up. Granger is a high-volume shooter, he is quick off the hop, and likes those threes. Hedo has done a great job of distributing the ball over the last few games, and can really put a hurt on the Pacers off of the pick-n-roll with Bosh.
The Edge: Even
The Power: Don’t like this match-up for one reason: Murphy will be pulling Bosh away from the basket on defense, leaving defensive rebounding in the incapable hands of Bargnani. Murphy is a poor man’s Chris Bosh, but he’s slow. Bosh can attack him on offense, and should. With our boy coming off a 5 rebound showing against Orlando, and what he’s been saying in practice the last two days, I expect him to come out like gangbusters.
The Edge: Toronto
The Big: Foster is being inserted in the starting lineup to counter Bargnani’s quickness. Hibbert wouldn’t have been able to keep up with our boy. Great call by O’Brien. For all the points Bargnani will score, I shudder to think of all the rebounds and cheap garbage points he will concede to Foster. I don’t like this match-up one bit.
The Edge: Indiana
Injury Report
Raptors
Reggie Evans
Marco Belinelli *
Antoine Wright *
Pacers
Mike Dunleavy
Travis Diener
The Line
The Raptors are -5 with an over/under of 213.
The Prediction
Visser’s sims are 11-3 this year and this time the crystal ball is predicting a 114-94 Raptor win.
As far as my prediction: It wont be a walk in the park, but the Raptors have this one, not in the bag, but they should pull it out: 106-98.
28 Raps
Apparently according to the Fan 590 this morning Raps Fan, both Wright and Marco are a go. :)
If there was a night when Bargnani needed to boxout, its tonight against Foster. Should be interesting.
Does Hedo have any post moves? I wouldn’t seeing him take Granger to the blocks while Bargnani pulls Foster/Murphy out to the perimiter.
Yes he can post up but usually against smaller players
Not really no.
Hedo has less of a post up game than Bargnani does. Let’s put it that way.
thats not true
How about putting Bargs on Murphy on the defensive end with CB on Foster?
that would make too much sense.
Should happen. Right Triano?!!
Oh… and how’s about KEEPING Bargs on Murphy and CB on Foster instead of conceding switches on every screen to the point where we have Calderon on Murphy and Mop Girl on Foster. Just a thought.
What part of Foster scares you the most – his .7 points per game or his 2 rebounds per game. Andrea should win this match up hands down.
I understand many of you at the RR hate AB but enough of the doom an gloom.
Raptors should win this one by a large margin, we’re at home coming off a loss and Bosh seems ready for a monster game.
But enough doom and gloom …well said.
Old habits on judging Andrea game are difficult to get rid off for those that called him a bust on his second year . I do not have any particular fan in mind but too many wanted instanteneous gratification (the # 1 pick syndrome) not being aware of two things :
1. He was not brought up in his formative years as a center (this is well documented).
2. Sam was doing his out most to make sure Andrea was not the answer at center to the eyes of management (let him sit on the bench instead of playing more and learn from his mistakes) thus the failed experiment with JO.
Guess who is out of work right now ( but drowning in easy cash).
Dude, it has nothing to do with gloom and doom. Foster is a hustle guy who has KILLED us in years past. He has a nose for the offensive glass and hustles. Bargnani can’t cover active players well. Fortunately Foster isn’t much of an offensive threat, but will do damage when he sneaks and makes the garbage plays. That’s his track record.
At the end of this game, Foster’s impact might be felt more, and that is all I’m saying here.
If you are making an intelligent observation based on comparing the current game of Andrea vs Foster then I cannot argue (I am not knowledgeable enough to do such comparison). Andrea nearly got a double double 3 games in a row , that must be some school for thought.
That’s all I’m saying. We haven’t been that negative on Bargnani, other then game-to-game thoughts. The guy is playing great this year. BUT, if it gets down to a situation where he has to beat a hustle guy to loose balls, well I’m sorry, I don’t like him in that sort of match-up.
It says something about Foster, that Hibbert is being taken out of the starting lineup in his favour for this match-up with Bargnani. Since Hibbert has been playing so well to start the season. Things to think about.
Then we agree to disagree because if AB just puts up his average numbers from this year he wins the Big match up and you pickied Indy.
If this match up was only hustle then I’d agree with you.
But don’t throw out this crap about him being put in the starting line-up so this indicates how good he is. The opposite is just as true, Indy is afraid of the AB/Hibbert match up and bringing in a reserve.
Any time the opposing team plays around with its starting unit to “match up” better with another…it’s basically a nicer way of saying “we’re fuked” and playing right into the Raps hands I think.
man i love your posts…but giving the edge on Bigs to Indiana?!??! Foster over Bargs?!?!? Indiana’s backup C over Bargs!?!? Cmon man lets get serious here LOL
bargs has as much trouble defending perimeter-oriented bigs as other bigs have defending him out there.
actually, murphy’s a pretty good example of a big with range who also rebounds. in 4 games vs. the raps last year (2 Ws, 2 Ls), murphy averaged 16 pts, 15 boards, with high FG%, and an excellent combined +/- (overall, a +41). of note: in the first game (raps’ W), bargs was still coming off the bench (JO was starting then), and played limited minutes (and did zero in those minutes). bargs started & played the same minutes as murphy in the 2nd game (41), and had a pretty good game (20/5, +1) in the loss, though murph went for 15/15 & +17. 3rd game (raps’ W), bargs had one of his best games of the year from a statistical perspective (27/9 & +18); murph: 16/10, -14. 4th game, indy blew away TO, bargs sat with an injured heel, and murph went for 14/14 & +33.
of course, those are just #’s – they don’t account for who was defending who. in any respect, considering that bargs is a far superior defending down in the blocks vs. the perimeter, it would probably make sense to have him defend whoever occupies space in the paint; of course, this means bosh is pulled out to cover the perimeter big, leaving bargs to man the glass on his own…which could turn ugly. he’ll have to keep up his recent success on the glass if that’s how they approach things.
I was gonna make the same point about Murphy — he’s a big that lives on the perimeter and still manages to grab 11 boards a night. I’m not as familiar with his game as I am Bargnani’s and I know they’re not the same, but he’s a guy who’s book Andrea could try to take a page from.
If Amir is ready to go, he needs to see lots of PT. Indiana wins by slashing and banding boards at both ends. They are not a great shooting team (bottom quartile in both FG% and 3pt FG%). It’ll be like the Chicago game – control the paint and boards (not easy against Indy) and it should be a relatively easy win.
You’ll be a happy man because Koreen just reported that Amir is likely a go for tonight. Also reaffirming Wright’s and Marco’s statuses as being available too. :)
Link: http://twitter.com/ekoreen/status/6014271219
Raps win in a blow out.
Great write up, RapsFan.
Great article Rapsfan. Personally, I think Bosh is going to have a hard time guarding Danny Granger (if O’Brien goes with Foster Granger Jones Rush and Ford).Even with Murphy in, Hedo can’t guard Danny either. I see the Grange putting up some big numbers, 30+pts, so all the raps need to do to open the game is pound the ball inside, as Granger will have an equally hard time stopping Bosh (Murphy is a shiat post defender as well), and hope to put the Pacers in early foul trouble. Additionally, I like to see Bargs establish postion in the low block early in a possesion and demanding the ball. To many times against Orlando he was getting the ball from 18-20ft out, and we all know Bargs is pretty easy to step in front of and grab a charge when he;s made up his mind to go to the bucket. Anyone else think Triano should have more sets for Bargs in the post?
Ran into Belinelli on Sunday..said he’s back “for sure” against Indiana. We definitely missed his spark when our offense went cold against the Magic.
well said cesco….let’s not forget people that with Bargs as the starting center this season, as a team the Raps are only just barely getting out rebounded on average per game. Is Bargs a rebounding machine? absolutely no…Would I give him the edge over Foster? absolutely yes…come on I know he’s an energy guy, but really? Foster?
I think raps take this game the hard way. They are a better team than Indiana, from stem to stern. The only thing the raps have to do is not let their lead evaporate in the 3rd (and they will have a lead, and they will let Indiana pull up).
I smell that happening too, just like Miami. And Triano calls no timeouts until a 25 point lead goes to a 10 point lead.
You can see the future!