Game 49: Raps vs. Magic - Pre-game
Coming off an inexcusable loss to the Bucks and then having to face the Magic could be a good thing for the Raptors. After all, the first thing you want to do after a bad loss is come back with a great game and what better way to come back with a great game than have a great team to play against?
Now that might sound ridiculous, especially considering that while the Magic are continually (and inexplicably) overlooked as one of the best teams in the NBA, but if the Raptors are able to pull off the win, that loss to the Bucks might just appear as a little blip and they will still be moving in the right direction. If Miami can run the Magic up and down the court and put a loss on them, the Raptors might be able to do it (again) too.
There’s something about the Magic that brings out the best in Chris Bosh. Whether it’s trying to outdo his friend Dwight Howard, whether he just likes the competition or whether he is auditioning for a spot in the Magic’s lineup, he comes to play when the Raptors face Orlando. In 15 career regular season games versus Orlando, Bosh is averaging 23.9 points and 9.9 rebounds. Back in November, he went off for 40 and 18 against the Magic, which might be the kind of numbers the Raptors will need on Sunday.
While the Raptors tend to pay a lot of attention to Dwight Howard whenever they face him, the thing that usually kills them isn’t so much Howard as it is the outside shooting. The Magic have some snipers who get a lot of open looks against the Raptors because they are so focused on the inside game. If Rashard Lewis or Hedo get hot, they can put things out of reach early as Howard will start cementing the game down low. It will be important for the Raptors to have some energy and get out on the perimeter.
With Jameer Nelson being selected as an All-Star, he is finally getting his due. He has shown steady improvement throughout his career and his dribble-stop jumper gives the Raptors fits. Let’s hope that Jose’s hammy doesn’t get reaggravated trying to start and stop with Jameer.
3 in the Key
1. Get out on the perimeter and get your hands up. The Raptors can’t afford to give up open looks.
2. Feed the beast. Bosh will need to get his touches if the Raptors are going to have a chance.
3. Don’t continually double-team Howard. The Magic have enough weapons that they can hurt you if you over-focus on the big man.
2 Comments
The AltRaps Blog » Blog Archive » Toronto Raptors Linkage for February 1st from 08:09 to 23:49 on February 2nd, 2009
[...] Game 49: Raps vs. Magic - Pre-game - There’s something about the Magic that brings out the best in Chris Bosh. Whether it’s trying to outdo his friend Dwight Howard, whether he just likes the competition or whether he is auditioning for a spot in the Magic’s lineup, he comes to play when the Raptors face Orlando. In 15 career regular season games versus Orlando, Bosh is averaging 23.9 points and 9.9 rebounds. Back in November, he went off for 40 and 18 against the Magic, which might be the kind of numbers the Raptors will need on Sunday. [...]
Linkage for Jan 31 5pm to Feb 1 12pm - Raptors Republic on February 1st, 2009
[...] Game 49: Raps vs. Magic - Pre-game [...]