Matt Tierney - Raptors.com
Time: (7:00PM ET - SNET1, TSN1050)
The road trip continues tonight as the Raptors (5-0) take on the Magic (1-4) at Amway Center in Orlando. Toronto is coming off impressive back-to-back wins out West over the Mavs and Thunder to enter tonight’s contest as one of two undefeated teams left in the league, alongside the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. Orlando’s record is deceiving, having played some good basketball and lost two games in overtime to top-ranked teams in the Rockets and Thunder.
WHO’S HOT?
Evan Fournier – Fournier is a pesky player who's made the most of his starting role on a young Orlando team. So far this season the small forward has led his team in scoring in three of five games, averaging more than 20 points and 5 rebounds. In their most recent matchup last November, Fournier was a thorn in Toronto’s side scoring 18 points in a tight encounter.
DeMar DeRozan – The Raptors All-Star has been doing his thing all season, but it wasn’t until Wednesday night’s victory over the Thunder that DeRozan took a game over almost single-handedly. He struggled early with his shot but turned it on in the second half by driving the lane. He was rewarded with 15 trips to the foul line, more than the entire Oklahoma City team combined. DeRozan has had success against the Magic in the past, including 29 points in last year’s 101-99 win in Orlando.
GRIND
Sometimes when your team is battling a strong opponent and things may not be going your way, the tendency is to try and beat them at their own game. Fool’s gold.
Toronto was an offensive force last season and at times would score at will. Problems arose when the offence wasn’t clicking against other offensive-minded teams, the tendency was to try and out-score them - with varying results.
That scenario unfolded Wednesday night in Oklahoma City as the Raptors came out the gates cold and couldn’t buy a shot. The Thunder thrive in a fast-paced game where their superstars, Durant and Westbrook, can get out and run and attack the paint.
What was different Wednesday, and with this team, is how they recognize the situation, slow the pace down and rely on their defence. “It was a grind-it-out-type game. That shows mental toughness, when you can win when everything’s not clicking,” was how Dwane Casey put it.
The other bright spot was seeing a new tough side to this team led by big man Bismack Biyombo. Russell Westbrook appeared to take a cheap shot at Biyombo late in the game, prompting an immediate response from the Raptors forward. Biyombo explained the encounter post game.
“They’re tough, but we’re tough too. We’re not backing off from nobody. One thing is, nobody is going to punk me.”
NBATV Canada’s Paul Jones summed this team up perfectly.
“Dwane Casey now has a team in his own image.”
SUNNY DAYS
A 5-0 start. Chests are out. Tails are up. Off to Florida and the warm weather.
Perhaps the Raptors can be excused for sitting back and enjoying how things are going so far, but as quickly as that can happen, Coach Casey is there to remind them of the bigger picture.
“No running around shopping in Orlando, enjoying the sun. We’re on a business trip,” was Casey’s message to his team postgame after the Thunder win.
Toronto now face an athletic young Orlando team followed by a trip to South Beach to meet up with ex-Raptor Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat. This will be a tough test for the Raps before returning to the comforts of Air Canada Centre on November 10th. This is again exactly what Casey is trying to preach to his team.
“It seems like December/January but it’s November," said coach. "It’s early. It’s a marathon not a sprint.”
Ahead of the big game tonight, we’ll leave you with this DeRozan game winner vs. Orlando to whet the appetite…