khandor’s sports blog

Cleveland 91
TORONTO 101
Game Scoreboard

Keys to Victory for the Raptors

1st QUARTER

* Got off to a quick start on the strength of the individual match-up advantage held by Andrea Bargnani [13 pts, superior quickness] over Shaquille O’Neal [6 pts]; TOR 27, Cle 22

2nd QUARTER

* Built a 21 point lead [00:32.9, 57-36], shooting 10-17 [58.8/FG%] while limiting their opponent to 6-22 [27.2/FG%]; TOR 57, Cle 39

3rd QUARTER

* After Cleveland completely erased the deficit by the 2:22 mark [69-69], closed the period with a 7-0 run of their own, keyed by an offensive rebound putback from Chris Bosh [2:04, 71-69]; TOR 78, Cle 71]

4th QUARTER

* Took advantage of a questionable coaching decision by Mike Brown, who inexplicably elected to open the frame by going “Big” [i.e. O'Neal and Ilgauskas vs Bargnani and Bosh], which resulted in a 9-3 run by the Raptors to start the the quarter [10:15, 87-74] 

* Hung on gamely down the stretch, despite Cleveland cutting the margin to just 6 points [1:37]

OVERALL

Effectively used multiple pairings of Bigs:

PF AND C, +/-
Bosh and Bargnani, +12
Bosh and Nesterovic, +3
Johnson and Bargnani, +3
Turkoglu and Johnson, +2
Bargnani and Nesterovic, +2
Johnson and Bosh, + 1
Turkoglu and Nesterovic, 0
Wright and Nesterovic, 0 
Turkoglu and Bosh, -3
Wright and Bargnani, -3
Turkoglu and Bosh, -7

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The Cavaliers will need to find a way to neutralize the Raptors superior quickness at the PF and Center positions. If not, Toronto will present a match-up problem for Cleveland each time they meet this season. Going “Big” is not an option for the Cavs this season, with their present roster, unless Mike Brown wants to find himself in the unemployment line lickady-split.

Despite the uneven nature of their play, Toronto has to be ecstatic with this W. The first 20 games on their schedule is filled with quality opponents. To be able to withstand a 3rd quarter push from a team like Cleveland is a positive sign that the Raptors just might be able to navigate this stretch of games in a way that will allow them to remain in contention for a playoff spot throughout the season.

Opening night for the 2009-2010 NBA regular season is a little more than 1 month away.

At this point, how might an astute NBA observer expect the first part of the schedule to unfold for the Raptors? … considering that virtually the entire team was changed this off-season.

[i.e. only Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani, Quincy Douby, Patrick O'Bryant and Marcus Banks return from last year's final roster.] 

Game 1 – vs Cleveland [Wed Oct 28]

Raptors expected W-L Record: L, 0-1