UPDATE: Stephenson is out tonight with a hip injury
The Toronto Raptors will get their first glimpse at the reestablished Charlotte Hornets tonight at the Air Canada Centre. Fresh off their first three-game losing streak in over a year, the Raps (24-10) look to get back on track and reclaim the Eastern Conference’s number one seed from the Atlanta Hawks. On the flip side, Charlotte (13-24) has fallen well below expectations for the season and is positioned at number eleven in the conference. Toronto will be without star guard DeMar DeRozan, who is reportedly fully healed from his groin injury but wishes to log additional practice before returning to official play. The Hornets are in a similar boat as their opponents, as dominant big man Al Jefferson is out indefinitely with a groin strain.
It’s the first of six straight home games for the Raptors following a disappointing 2-4 road trip to start the new calendar year. Let’s dive into the Cage’s Keys to the Game:
Guard the guards
Kemba Walker is an undeniable threat on the offensive end. The emerging point guard is capable of high-volume scoring (18.4 PPG) and enabling his teammates through smart ball distribution. Over the recent stretch of games, Toronto’s defense has looked sluggish and ultimately mediocre. An explosive player like Walker cannot be ignored- look for defensive assignments from Terrence Ross and Lou Williams to slow the production of UConn’s finest. Furthermore, in case you forgot, Lance Stephenson was once a relevant and productive player. While his output has been immensely lackluster this season, now is not the time for a breakout performance. Don’t take Stephenson lightly.
Get to the stripe
The Raptors rank fourth in the NBA in free-throw attempts at 25.8. Although the category specialist DeRozan will be absent tonight, Kyle “Vote me into the All-Star game as a starter” Lowry is notoriously excellent at drawing contact at the basket. The team general is averaging a career-high 5.7 free-throw attempts per game this year. There’s no doubt that looks from the line are a major factor in the outcome of a game and its momentum. If Toronto can keep up its aggressive play, it will hold an incredible advantage throughout tonight’s contest.
Be cautious
Buzz City is ranked 15 spots ahead of the Raps in blocks per game (4.9). Granted, Jefferson is out, but you can’t be loose around the likes of Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo. In this case, looks from mid range and beyond the arc are probable. Toronto fans should hope that Lou Williams returns to the player they’ve come to love instead of a streaky shooter with an obsession for attempting low percentage buzzer beaters.
X-Factor: Patrick Patterson
2Pat has been rather quiet lately. The young forward is averaging 8.1 PPG and 4.1 RPG over the past 10 games. He has yet to justify his recent contract extension and truly step up for his team. Let’s hope tonight is a breakout game for Patterson.
