Toronto Raptors Season Preview: Game 14
re: How an astute NBA observer might expect the first part of the schedule to unfold for the Raptors this year
Game 14 – vs Orlando [Sun Nov 22]
|
RAPTORS |
ADV |
MAGIC |
||
|
PG |
Calderon |
ß |
PG |
Nelson |
|
OG |
DeRozan * |
à> |
OG |
Carter ^ |
|
SF |
Turkoglu $^ |
= |
SF |
Pietrus |
|
PF |
Bosh |
= |
PF |
Lewis |
|
C |
Bargnani |
à |
C |
Howard |
|
|
|
|
||
|
PG |
Jack # |
= |
PG |
Johnson |
|
OG |
Belinelli ^ |
= |
OG |
Redick |
|
SF |
Wright ^ |
= |
SF |
Barnes $ |
|
PF |
Evans ^ |
à |
PF |
Bass $ |
|
C |
Nesterovic $ |
à |
C |
Gortat #R |
|
|
|
|
||
|
G/F |
Douby |
= |
G/F |
Williams $ |
|
PF |
Johnson ^ |
= |
F |
Anderson ^ |
|
|
|
|
||
|
HC |
Triano |
à |
HC |
Van Gundy |
|
|
|
|
||
|
+1 |
OUTCOME |
+6 |
||
|
Legend: ADV – Individual match-up advantage; * - 2009 NBA Draftee; ^ - Acquired via trade; # – Restricted free agent; #M – Restricted free agent, matched offer; $ – Unrestricted free agent; $R – Unrestricted free agent, re-signed; $^ – Acquired via Sign & Trade; Italics – Returning player. |
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The Magic’s 2nd trip to the ACC this season should prove to be more enjoyable for the visitors. Knowing full well what it feels like to play and lose a 1:00 PM game on Sunday afternoon, after spending the previous night in Toronto, should produce a much more determined effort from Orlando this time around … especially, with Rashard Lewis back in the line-up [i.e. following his league-imposed early season suspension].
Raptors expected W-L Record: L, 5-9
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PS. During the 2006-2007 season Orlando [40-42/.488; 3rd Southeast] and Toronto [47-35/.573; 1st Atlantic] finished as the 8th and 3rd seeded teams in the EC playoffs, respectively. Since then, however, the fortunes of their franchises have gone in completely opposite directions.
2007-2008, Orlando [1st Southwest; Lost 2nd Rd of Playoffs to Detroit]; Toronto [2nd Atlantic; Lost 1st Rd of playoffs to Orlando]
2008-2009, Orlando [Southwest, 1st; NBA Finalist]; Toronto [Atlantic 4th; missed playoffs]
2009-2010, Orlando [plus .500?]; Toronto [minus .500?]
With:
1. Vince Carter [G-F] now in Orlando and Hedo Turkoglu [SF] now in Toronto;
2. Dwight Howard [C] in Orlando and Andrea Bargnani [C] in Toronto;
3. Rashard Lewis [PF] in Orlando and Chris Bosh [PF] in Toronto;
4. Jameer Nelson [PG] in Orlando and Jose Calderon [PG] in Toronto;
5. JJ Redick [OG] in Orlando and DeMar DeRozan [OG] in Toronto;
6. Stan Van Gundy [head coach] in Orlando and Jay Triano [head coach] in Toronto;
7. Otis Smith/Dave Twardzik [as the management team] in Orlando and Bryan Colangelo/Maurizio Gherardini in Toronto [as the management team]; and,
8. Rich DeVos [as the owner] in Orlando and MLSE [as the owners] in Toronto;
it is going to be very interesting to see how these two franchises compare over the next few seasons.
Tags: Amir Johnson, Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Johnson, Antoine Wright, Brandon Bass, Bryan Colangelo, Chris Bosh, Dave Twardzik, Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson, Jarrett Jack, Jason Williams, Jay Triano, JJ Redick, Jose Calderon, Marcin Gortat, Marco Belinelli, Matt Barnes, Maurizio Gherardini, Mickael Pietrus, MLSE, Orlando Magic, Otis Smith, Quincy Douby, Rashard Lewis, Rasho Nesterovic, Reggie Evans, Rich DeVos, Ryan Anderson, Stan Van Gundy, Toronto Raptors, Vince Carter