Coming off a 120-112 loss versus LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, the Toronto Raptors (38-23) will look to get back in the win column as they visit the Charlotte Hornets (26-33). Although this Hornets team only sits in the number eight spot in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors know that this one won’t be easy. Despite their sub-.500 record this season, the Hornets have simply had Toronto’s number as of late. Charlotte has won three consecutive games, and Toronto holds a 2-6 record since the All-Star break. One team is playing with desperation, while the other has only looked like a shell of its former self in the past couple weeks. It isn’t all bad for the Raps though— the Cleveland loss saw the team play its most inspired basketball in recent memory, and Kyle Lowry will be making his return to the lineup tonight. There’s 21 games remaining for the Raptors to find some rhythm prior to the postseason. Let’s see what this potential first round preview brings.
Cage’s Keys to the Game
Smart Shot Selection
The Charlotte Hornets may not be all that imposing on the offensive end, but they’ve found a niche on the defensive side of things. Al Jefferson and company boast a 102.8 D-rating this year— good for eighth overall in the Association. Their play may not be all that flashy, but it’s a style that can get the job done. It’s worked against the Raptors in previous meetings over the past couple seasons. This is why smart shot selection will be of the utmost importance for the Raptors tonight. One of the positive takeaways from Wednesday’s loss was the ball movement. Toronto came away with 24 assists on 43 made shots in that game, and the result was an offense that looked relatively sound for the vast majority of the game. For tonight, moving the rock with a purpose will be integral. One on one setups should still be utilized if advantages present themselves, but the Raptors need to make sure that they focus on giving “okay” shots for great ones. Attacking the hoop should help too. Keeping the Charlotte defense honest with DeMar DeRozan drives and smart Jonas Valanciunas post-ups should work twofold— to help both of these players get some rhythm, and to space the floor if the Hornets counter by packing the paint.
Contain Big Al
Although Mo Williams has been scorching over the past two weeks (21.6 ppg, 8.9 apg in the past seven games), the aforementioned Al Jefferson will probably be the toughest Hornet for Raps to slow down. Jefferson didn’t suit up in the previous meeting between the two teams – which resulted in a 103-95 win for Charlotte – but it’s safe to say that Dwane Casey and the rest of the Raptors coaching staff will be crafting a gameplan to make things difficult the Hornets big man. With Kemba Walker still sitting out as he recovers from knee surgery, and Kyle Lowry returning, Big Al will likely be the primary option for the Hornets offense. Slowing down Jefferson will be more than just limiting his scoring total— his impact on the glass will be something to keep an eye on as well. With Cody Zeller suiting up for the opposition’s frontcourt as well, the Raptors bigs will have their hands full when it comes to defensive rotations in the effort of keeping Jefferson from putting up 20 and 20. The individual defense of Toronto’s power forwards and centers will be key.
Dictate the Tempo
One thing worth noting from Wednesday’s loss was how Coach Casey didn’t allow the Cavaliers to dictate what sort of Raptors lineups saw the floor in particular moments. Jonas Valanciunas was on the court in a relatively fast-paced game, and he performed quite well. One has to wonder how the Raptors will attempt to dictate the flow and tempo of this matchup, whether through lineups or an overall emphasis on pushing the ball in transition versus a very solid defense. If the Raptors put themselves in the driver’s seat in terms of controlling the speed of this game, they may be able to ease the daunting task of scoring against an opponent that prefers to grind things out.
X-Factor: Jonas Valanciunas
As if it hasn’t been alluded to enough in this preview, JV’s play could be a huge factor versus Charlotte tonight. After dropping a cool 26 points alongside 11 rebounds two nights ago, it’ll be interesting to see how the center follows up on one of his best performances of the season. He seems to prefer matchups versus more traditional bigs, and Al Jefferson is about as old-school as they come these days. In addition to that, Cody Zeller won’t exactly make Valanciunas play out of his comfort zone.
