After posting a mark of 58 regular season wins(T-2nd in the NBA) in the calendar year of 2014, the Toronto Raptors look to begin a new year of dominance as they face likely their toughest test on the season as they head into Oakland to take on Stephen Curry and the league’s best, the Golden State Warriors.
The last time the Raptors played at the Oracle was one of the final games in the Rudy Gay era, a game in which they blew a 27 point lead held midway in the 3rd quarter going on to lose the game after a ballistic barrage of 3-pointers in the 4th. Fast forward 13 months, and these two teams, both holding down the 2nd best offence in the league, are two of the brightest, most exciting teams in the NBA. This matchup could be a…gasp!… NBA Finals preview.
So far the Raptors have gone 2-2 on their World Junior road trip of death. On a trip that many believed could very well have exposed the team as beneficiaries of a light opening schedule, the Raptors have proven they can hang with the best. After an unimpressive defensive effort in Chicago, the Raptors dispatched the Clippers and Nuggets in dominating fashion and took the Portland Trail Blazers to the absolute brink before falling in overtime. The trial by fire will continue tonight as the Raptors head into one of the toughest venues in the league. Let’s get to the…
Cage’s Keys to the Game:
Inside…Inside…Inside
While the Warriors have been known for their transcendent offense, the team’s Achilles heal has rested firmly on the less than solid knees of Andrew Bogut. With young center Festus Ezeli also on the shelf, the Warriors will be going to Marreese Speights at the starting 5 with David Lee as the only capable center off the pine. With such a great lack of rim protection, the Raptors need to attack the paint early and often. The team would be wise to go to numerous post ups with Jonas Valanciunas and Amir Johnson, and give James Johnson many opportunities to slash. It may also be the perfect time for Dwane Casey to finally go to “the Big Science” for meaningful burn down the stretch in the 4th
Turnovers
Squeezing the orange will also be a key for tonight’s tilt. While the Raptors and Warriors post identical points per game, the Warriors are a bottom 5 team at taking care of the ball while the Raptors are 2nd in fewest giveaways. Both teams, however, are in the top 10 in forcing turnovers. If the Raptors can navigate the Warriors deceptively stifling defense, while tightening the screws themselves, they can create a legitimate chance of victory for themselves.
Balanced Attack:
The only other team with as potent a bench as Toronto happens to be the Golden State Warriors. With the Dubs having Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala, and David Lee off the bench, to go with their incredibly balanced scoring starting lineup, the onus will be on the Raptors’ usual scoring suspects to match. Down the stretch against Portland, it was abundantly clear that the Raptors were missing All Star DeMar Derozan, who is another consistent scoring threat to take the pressure off of Kyle Lowry. While it’s clear Lowry is perfectly content being a one-man monsoon, he needs the help. Lou Williams, Terrence Ross, and Greivis Vasquez will need to stick their open looks and provide their characteristic punch if the Raptors are going to keep up.
X Factor: Greivis Vasquez
Vasquez’s struggles with his shot and overall consistency have been well documented this season. In the past 5 games he has had a pattern of one good game/ one bad game. The Raptors will certainly need the best of Vasquez where he is driving, distributing, and hitting the outside shot like he did so well most recently with a 21 point and 5 assist performance against the Knicks. Of course, the Warriors, however, a far different animal.
