The Toronto Raptors will look for win number 35 tonight as they take on the Detroit Pistons. A couple weeks back, the Raptors took down the Pistons by a score of 111-107, headed by DeMar DeRozan’s 29 points. This time around, the Raptors head to Detroit where they will hope to keep the winning ways going.
The Pistons are no slouch, sitting at 27-25. This will likely be a tough one – let’s get to the Cage’s Keys to the Game.
Depth
With James Johnson and DeMarre Carroll sitting out again, Norman Powell will likely get the start. As one could expect, he has created a huge hole in the lineup, but we have been seeing extended minutes from Terrence Ross and Cory Joseph. The bench guys will really need to continue to pick up the slack, especially considering the Pistons’ depth.
Box Out
The Pistons are an elite rebounding team, mostly due to Andre Drummond. It will be critical for Jonas Valanciunas and Bismack Biyombo to really do their job on the glass. Offensive rebounds can really demoralize you, and the Pistons are excellent on that front, as they have the 2nd highest offensive rebounding rate in the league.
Play to your strengths offensively
The Pistons are a mediocre defensive team – quite average on most fronts. Their biggest struggle is likely perimeter defending – fortunately, the Raptors have an elite backcourt. Really, the Raptors need to stick to their gameplan and feed their two stars.
X-Factor: Jonas Valanciunas
As aforementioned, JV will square off against Andre Drummond. These two are widely regarded as the two brightest upcoming centers in the East. Lately, JV’s minutes have been cut down. Tonight, the Raptors will really need him against Drummond.