by Leo Rautins
-- raptors.com, April 21, 2002
(updated: May 1, 2002)

During the regular season, the Pistons defeated the Raptors in three of four meetings. Raptors analyst Leo Rautins provided the keys to the series for Toronto to turn that around. We've added commentary about how these will impact the decisive Game 5.

1. Get to the free throw line and make them count

In the regular season series between Toronto and Detroit, the Pistons got to the line 19 more times and made 17 more free throws. That difference of more than four per game basically accounted for the difference in the score. So, the Raptors have to get to the line more and allow the Pistons to get there less, particularly Jerry Stackhouse. They need to try to make him a jump shooter, get a hand in his face, contest his shots and prevent him from getting in the line. Mo Peterson's defence has been getting much better and that will help the Raptors from a defensive standpoint because he'll be the one primarily guarding Stackhouse.

What does this mean for Game 5? Even in the games the Pistons lost they were still pretty effective in getting to the line and efficient once they got there. In four games, they are shooting nearly 83% from the line, compared to 74% for Toronto. The Raptors must narrow that gap.

The Raptors should attack at Ben Wallace, as Vince Carter did in this earlier meeting. Ron Turenne, NBAE/Getty Images

2. Make the extra pass

It's really important for Toronto to continue to play the way they've been playing on offence during the winning streak. The team did a great job of ball movement and making the extra pass. This will be a different Raptors team than the one that played Detroit earlier in the season. Toronto really helped the Pistsons in those previous meetings with poor shot selection.
What does this mean for Game 5? Through the first four games, the Raptors have been even better in distributing the ball. Over 65% of the team's field goals have drawn an assist, an improvement over the final 14 games of the season when that figure was closer to 60. However, Toronto must continue to play offence that way in order to win.

3. Force tough shots

During their final 14 games, the Raptors held opponent to 85 points a game and 43% shooting, right around what Detroit is doing for the season. The team was winning games with defence and will have to continue to do that to give them a chance to win. That will come by forcing the Pistons to take tougher shots. That is difficult to do because they spread the floor well and get open looks. If you force them into tough shots you will be able to get some more blocks. As a case in point, Antonio Davis had no blocks against the Pistons in the four games this season and he is too important a defensive player to have that happen again.

What does this mean for Game 5? The Raptors defence has been excellent in the series, holding Detroit to just 41.3% from the field. Every single Piston is shooting at a lower percentage in the playoffs than he did in the regular season and all but Chucky Atkins have a lower scoring average. By comparison, Davis, Clark and Childs all have superior stats in the postseason.

4. Crash the boards

The big thing will be rebounding. Detroit has done great job on the offensive boards, especially in key situations when Ben Wallace and his teammates go to the glass. Toronto has to dominate the glass. Even though the Pistons have the NBA's rebounding leader in Wallace, they are not a great rebounding team overall.

What does this mean for Game 5? The Raptors have won the battle of the boards with a rebounding margin of nearly six per game, split evenly at both ends. However, in a single game it doesn't always spell the difference. Toronto had a huge edge in Game 2 which it lost and a fair edge in Game 1 but that was because the team missed so many of its shots.

5. Attack Big Ben

Ben Wallace is a very deserving Defensive Player of the Year and a real presence. I thought in the head-to-head games, Toronto allowed him to stay in games. The Raptors should try to go at him and get him in foul trouble.

What does this mean for Game 5? Wallace has not really been in foul trouble, nor has anyone else. After a monstrous game by him in the series opener however, he hasn't been as much of a presence. The primary reason is that Antonio Davis and Keon Clark have each had great offensive games which involved going at him in the post as well as drawing him out of the paint. At least one of those two threats will need to repeat that performance.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I think this series will go five games. Detroit has had a great season and exceeded expectations. The Raptors underachieved, but finished in remarkable fashion for many reasons. Now Detroit will face a different team. If you look at the two teams on paper right now you'd probably have to say Toronto is the better team and would probably pick them. This will be a tough series, probably five games. It's very important for Toronto to sneak one of the first two games because the Pistons are a very good road team. What it will come down to is that whichever team defends the best and gets to the line the most will win.