Toronto Raptors’ Bismack Biyombo goes up for slam dunk against Orlando Magic’s Ersan Ilyasova, left, during the first half of NBA basketball action in Toronto on Sunday, March 20, 2016. Obviously, this strategy proves to be foolhardy at best, and downright idiotic at worst.
Advertisement
First, let’s identify what’s at stake. “Our goal before the season was to make it into the playoffs”.
Chris Paul and J.J. Redick each scored 24 points, and Paul also had 13 assists for the Clippers, who lost in Memphis on Saturday night and were playing their second game in less than 24 hours. This is a team that we have a bunch of pieces and they all have their role.
In ATS trends, the Magic are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games against a team above.
An important thing to remember, and something they haven’t forgotten despite their recent success, is that they’re not the Cavaliers. Internally, the Raptors’ expectations are different and, as a result, so are their priorities. The point here is simply to note that for all his flaws (and they do exist), Valanciunas is both the better player overall, and the better starting option for the Raptors. Few big men are as unsafe on the pick and roll as Valanciunas, and fewer still have the hands and soft touch to finish at the rim like he does. But with some added depth and all-star guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan in the midst of career years, the Raptors have been a much more consistent team this time around. Health is the priority first and foremost. Though the Magic kept it close, they were ultimately buried by sloppy turnovers and fouls; The Raptors turned 14 turnovers into 26 points, and shot 29-of-45 from the line.
“I think I got the last word on that”, Lowry said.
“It was a good feeling”, Thompson said after the game. “It’s a double-edge sword”.
That’s the challenge for Casey and his staff over these last three and a half weeks. The others are: Gregg Popovich (1,080 with San Antonio), Erik Spoelstra (390 with Miami), Rick Carlisle (372 with Dallas) and Frank Vogel (241 with Indiana). The Toronto Raptors won 105-100.
“We have to get better, this is the time of the year when we have to get better”, DeRozan said. They’re 39-30 and suddenly in sixth place in the East. They have winnable games against Philadelphia and Orlando Sunday and Monday but then a game against the Raptors Wednesday at the Garden before heading out West. Lowry scored 15 points in that span to help Toronto to a 19-point lead before checking out of the game.
The 5-foot-9 guard and his teammates were quite vocal with officials on Friday over the lack of calls they drew as compared to the hosts. “But they found a way”.
“We’re going to try to be strategic”, Casey said. And that’s the definition of how we’re playing.
At one time, it looked like the Raptors could be major players in free agency this summer.
“It’s definitely a tough thing”, DeRozan added.
At least on paper, their remaining schedule appears much tougher than Cleveland’s.
The Celtics are on their first four-game losing streak of the season. Thomas led the comeback with 12 points. It’s just not at the top of their wish list.
Advertisement
“We didn’t hit him (Biyombo) enough, and well, I’ll leave it at that”. “At the end of the day we’re going to have home-court advantage [in the first round] regardless”. Our biggest focus is just getting everything we need to get together, especially defensive-wise as a team.
