by Jack Armstrong
-- raptors.com, April 19, 2002

Raptors analyst Jack Armstrong provides a detailed look at the matchups by position for the Raptors first-round playoff series with Detroit.

POINT GUARDS

Williams

Alvin Williams has done a fabulous job for the Raptors. Down the stretch, he has played great basketball, making clutch shots, playing solid defence and serving as the heart and soul of the club. Alvin has been pushing the tempo in transition game and really making this team take on a little bit of his personality. Chris Childs has played with new-found energy, accuracy and consistency. He struggled with turnovers early in the year, but he is a good quarterback off the bench, making big shots and his decision-making is much improved. Defensively, he has improved significantly since the beginning of the year. He was being exploited early in year off the dribble, partly because he was hobbled with injuries but when healthy, he's outstanding defensively. His performance last year was major, allowing Alvin to move to the two spot. Jermaine Jackson, what a find! He does everything a backup point guard is supposed to, like making high percentage decisions, playing all out defensively and serving as an extension of the coach on the floor.

Atkins

Chucky Atkins is a guy who plays with great energy and enthusiasm. The opportunity to play in Detroit has been a great one for him. He sets the tone for them defensively, pushes the ball in transition, makes solid decisions in the halfcourt game and has done a nice job running the show. For the backups, Damon Jones is a good combo guard and gives them nice energy off the bench. He's had some big games for the Pistons this year. They've also got Dana Barros, a scoring-minded point guard who is dangerous in transition. You've got to get out and take away his three-point shooting.

WING PLAYERS

Peterson

Morris Peterson is playing the best ball of his pro career. He's doing an outstanding job of hunting down his shots, yet not forcing things. Mo is letting the game come to him a little more. He's doing a better job of moving without the ball, using screens, running the floor hard and finishing in transition. One thing that is noticeable is that he's doing a much better job of competing hard on every defensive possession, and he is taking a few charges every game. The thing I love about Jerome Williams is his versatility. He can defend any kind of player at the small forward spot. He has the size to guard bigger players and the foot quickness to guard small players. Jerome is a load on the offensive boards, a good finisher in transition, he's making good decisions on the break and is demonstrating an improved face-up game with the 12-foot jumper. Dell Curry, the consummate pro, can catch and shoot and uses screens very well. He has a lightning-quick trigger. You can always count on him to come in and make good decisions because he is clever with the ball and has an excellent basketball IQ. In one game he could have a dramatic impact in helping the Raptors win, just like he did in Game 1 for the Raptors in Philadelphia last year.

Stackhouse

Jerry Stackhouse is just an explosive scorer and is becoming a much better player coming off the best all-around season of his career. Forget the numbers, they are meaningless now for him. The only number that matters is 50 wins, that's the only number that defines Stackhouse this year. He can score inside and out, draw fouls, make free throws and is a dogged competitor and defender who does it all. Stack deserves a lot of credit for how he has matured as a player. Michael Curry is a great leader, a defender and utility man, the glue of this team. He doesn't need a lot of touches, so don’t judge him at all by his stats. Jon Barry is a very dangerous shooter who the Raptors must guard in transition. He is an excellent all around player, but most importantly a great shooter.

POST PLAYERS

Davis

Antonio Davis has been the Raptors MVP this year by the sheer will of his personality. He has a fierce determination and is a great rebounder in traffic. AD gets a lot of 50-50 balls, rebounds where two or three guys have a chance to get it. He's done a better job of getting the ball in the post and is really confident both with his face-up game and his back to the basket. Antonio's just playing great now, blocking shots, rebounding, doing whatever it takes. He brings all the tools to do any kind of fixing that is needed. Keon Clark, the Gumby Man, is the X factor in this series. Here's a guy who was persona non grata last year in playoffs but will now get real playoff minutes for the first time in his career. If the Raptors are going to win this series, they are going to need him to really show up, not just each game, but each possession. Keon is going to have to deal with the physicality of Detroit's frontline. Toronto needs him to play with a lot of emotion and energy, yet play at a controlled speed. He had a great year moving without the ball, but he'll need to hit that mid range shot in order to have the defence come out and play him. Hakeem Olajuwon is playing his best ball of the year right now and that's when it maters, that's why he was brought here. He still has the quickest hands in the NBA. He's doing a much better job of late at being more decisive in the post. I think he has bought in to his role and accepts it, giving this team a lift. Eric Montross play good post defence and rebounds well so you can count on him for a few solid minutes.

Wallace

For Detroit, it starts with Ben Wallace. He's just a beast who gives great second, third and fourth effort. He's got incredible rebounding instincts, quick feet and great reaction in terms of blocking shots. Wallace has significantly improved offensively, and plays more under control and with more confidence. Cliff Robinson has been a major key to their turnaround. He can play all three frontcourt positions and, just as important, can guard all three frontrcourt positions. This guy poses a significant matchup problem because he can stretch the D with his shooting ability, but is also a nifty passer who plays unselfishly. He was a steal by Detroit when he was acquired from Phoenix last summer. Corliss Williamson is arguably the sixth man of the year in the NBA (along with Bobby Jackson of Sacramento). He has fit perfectly in the role as a second unit power forward. Corliss has a low base when he sets up in the post and is very quick and strong with a good face-up game. He is a tough matchup at either the three or four, just a rugged competitor with good scoring instincts. After two subpar seasons, this was a turnaround year for him. They've also got Zeljko Rebraca inside, a skilled banger who has adapted better than people thought he would to NBA game. He provides scoring punch and is a good post defender, but a bit foul prone.

COACHING

Wilkens

Lenny Wilkens did a remarkable job adapting on a number of occasions this season in order to keep things together and was voted coach of the month for April. Interestingly enough, if you look at the Raptors regular season, it was really split into a number of seasons in one. His ability to keep the team focused and on the right track is so important. Obviously he's got lots of playoff experience and doesn't push the panic button. Lenny does a nice job of making subtle adjustments from game to game. He has instilled confidence in the club and, conversely, that confidence has been rewarded down the stretch. So many things were broken during the season and yet he was able to fix them, the sign of a good teacher, meaning that he is someone who will adapt to the various scenarios that will arise during the playoffs

Carlisle

Rick Carlisle has done a great job of getting his team to play unselfishly, especially Stackhouse, and has them playing great team defence. After being disappointed at not getting the coaching job with the Pacers, he has really taken advantage of this situation. Carlisle communicates well with his players and has just had an outstanding rookie year as head coach. This guy is humble and all about the players getting the credit. For the Pistons, the sum is more important than the parts which shows that coaches can still have an impact. In the rotisserie society we live in, Detroit has shown that team chemistry, cohesion, effort and teamwork matter more than plugging player X and player Y into the equation.

SUMMARY

For the Raptors to be successful they need to keep score in the 80s. They've shown down the stretch that they can win close games, play in a situational style, and put themselves in position to win every game. I'm picking Toronto in five games, because I think the team will do a good enough job of keeping the tempo at their pace. The Raptors are on a mission right now.