Controlling the paint key for Raptors in UtahBy Michael Hoad The Toronto Raptors notched just their third win in Sacramento in franchise history on Tuesday night, simultaneously bringing their first “losing streak” (if two consecutive losses qualifies) of the season to an end. There is no time to savour the victory, however, as Kyle Lowry andBy Michael Hoad The Toronto Raptors notched just their third win in Sacramento in franchise history on Tuesday night, simultaneously bringing their first “losing streak” (if two consecutive losses qualifies) of the season to an end. There is no time to savour the victory, however, as Kyle Lowry and Co. are right back at it tonight, headed north up the Pacific coast for a date with the 5-13 Utah Jazz, losers of six straight. When the Raptors and Jazz squared off at the Air Canada Centre on Nov. 15, Toronto emerged with a 111-93 win on the strength of a big second half. This time around—playing the second night of a back-to-back without DeMar DeRozan against a squad desperate for a W—theyll need a similarly gritty performance. With LeBron James and the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers in Toronto on Friday, its critical for the Raptors to return home with a victory in Salt Lake City. Catch the game on Sportsnet 360 at 9 p.m. ET. Major Storyline 1: Tortoise and the Hare. The second leg of a back-to-back is grueling anywhere, let alone while also dealing with Utahs altitude. The Raptors run a high-octane offence, but if fatigue sets in, expect to see Jonas Valanciunas and Amir Johnson with more touches than usual in an attempt to slow the pace. The Jazz had a night off on Tuesday, so look for Gordon Hayward and Trey Burke to push the tempo when possible. Major Storyline 2: Chasing Utah out to the arc. Both teams know how to get the job done around the basket, ranking in the top half of the league in points in the paint. Shooting 61.8 percent, the Jazz are the fifth-most efficient team in the NBA within five feet of the rim. The Raptors need to force Utah to the perimeter where they connect on just 33.2 percent of three-point attempts—good for 23rd league wide. Major Storyline 3: Sluggish starters. If you think the Raptors are prone to slow starts, get ready for the Jazz to make them look like the Road Runner. Utah averages a meager 23.2 points in first quarters, the fourth-lowest mark in the NBA. Meanwhile, Toronto has improved in this department, averaging 27.8 first-quarter points in their last five games, so the opportunity should be there for the Raptors to run out to a quick lead. Marquee Player to Watch, Toronto: Jonas Valanciunas. The big Lithuanian loves playing the Jazz. When these teams matched up on Nov. 15, Valanciunas posted a line of 17 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks in a season-high 34 minutes. The 22-year-old has been battling Utahs starting centre Enes Kanter since the two were teenagers in Europe and it seems the familiarity brings out the best in JV. Marquee Player to Watch, Utah: Derrick Favors. He may not be a household name playing in Utah, but the third-overall pick in the 2010 draft continues to produce solid numbers, averaging 15.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game on 56 percent shooting. Favors also does a presentable job as a rim protector, swatting away more than a shot per contest, while his PER of 22.5 leads the Jazz. Role Player Who Will Make a Difference, Toronto: Patrick Patterson. Patterson has been playing well of late, posting double-doubles in two of his last three outings. After a slow start to the season, the Kentucky product is now shooting over 40 percent from three-point range. If he can draw Favors out to the perimeter, it will open more lanes in the paint. Role Player Who Will Make a Difference, Utah: Rudy Gobert. If youre a seven-foot-tall professional basketball player—and your name isnt Andrea Bargnani—chances are you can pull down rebounds in your sleep. Gobert has the height and athleticism to do some damage on the boards, so the Raptors will need to gang rebound while the Frenchman is on the court. When these teams met earlier this season, Gobert corralled eight boards in just 18 minutes of run. Season Series: Raptors lead 1-0 Raptors Stats Leaders: Points: Kyle Lowry (19.6) Rebounds: Jonas Valanciunas (8.6) Assists: Kyle Lowry (6.9) Jazz Stats Leaders: Points: Gordon Hayward (19.6) Rebounds: Derrick Favors (8.6) Assists: Trey Burke (5.7) Verdict: Utah is rested and desperate to snap its six-game slide, but Toronto is the superior team, even without DeRozan. Having split the first two games of their three-game road swing, the Raptors should be able to fly back to Toronto on a winning note. ift.tt/1gB4pon
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 16:40:35 +0000
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