khandor’s sports blog

RAPTORS

Adv

BUCKS

RATIONALE

STARTERS

Jack, PG

=

Jennings, PG

Both are solid on Off and Def. Although Jennings more explosive offensively, Jack is a veteran who should be able to use his savvy to keep the rook in check.

DeRozan, OG

=

Delfino, OG

DeRozan is more explosive on Off; although, Delfino is the better all-around player at this stage [i.e. vet vs rook].

Turkoglu, SF

ß

Mbah A Moute, SF

Turkoglu SHOULD be the better player. If he is not, the Raptors will be at a major disadvantage going with any other wing player in this spot.

Bosh, SF

ß

Ilyasova, PF

Bosh is the superior player. Period.

Bargnani, C

=

Bogut, C

Bargnani is much better on the perimeter. Bogut is solid in the post. Bargnani is a more explosive scorer; while Bogut is a superior Rebounder and Team Defender. Conflicting Styles make for a good fight.

KEY SUBS

Calderon, PG

ß

Ridnour, PG

El Matador SHOULD be the better player. If he is not, the Raptors will be at a major disadvantage and will probably lose this game.

Belinelli, OG

=

Bell, PG-OG

Belinelli’s better offense is cancelled out by Bell’s better defense and rebounding.

Wright, SF

=

Stackhouse, SF

Stack was once a vastly superior player to Wright; but, Stack has played very little over the last 2 years.

Johnson, PF

=

Warrick, PF

Johnson is the better defender/rebounder. Warrick is better offensively.

Nesterovic, C

=

Elson, PF-C

Nesterovic has more veteran savvy; but, Elson is a moderately effective, lively [i.e. relatively athletic], still-youngish player.

RESERVES

Banks, PG

=

Meeks, OG

Neither is going to have an impact on the outcome.

Weems, OG-SF

à

Thomas, PF-C

Weems is a better player than Wright but is not being used properly at-present. Thomas is a solid vet with a great deal of tenacity and savvy.

COACH

Jay Traino

à

Scott Skiles

Skiles is an experienced NBA head coach, who was a tough-minded, former NBA player; Triano is neither of these 2 things.

QIR/QR

#23/66

à

#19/55

TOR = 17^th/PDR, 26^th/PAR, 23^rd/RDR; Mil = 18^th/PDR, 15^th/PAR; 22^nd/RDR.

Home

Yes

ß

No

TOR Home = 13-6; Mil Away = 5-16

EXPECTED RESULT
TORONTO should win outright.  Covering the final number [-7.5/-105], however, might not be a sure proposition.

Legend: QIR – Quality Index Ranking [No. 1-30]; QR – Quality Rating [PDR + PAR + RDR]; PDR – Points Differential Ranking; PAR – Points Allowed Ranking; RDR – Rebounding Differential Ranking.

Rank

Name

School/Team

Hgt

Wgt

Wingspn

Vertical

1

James

Harden

Arizona State

6-5 1/4

222

6-10 3/4

37

2

DeMar

DeRozan

USC

6-6 1/2

211

6-9

38.5

3

Gerald Henderson

Duke

6-5

215

6-10 1/4

35

4

Terrance Williams

Louisville

6-6 1/4

213

6-9

37

5

Wayne

Ellington

North Carolina

6-5 1/4

202

6-6 1/2

38

6

Jermaine

Taylor

Central Florida

6-4 3/4

207

6-8 3/4

37.5

7

Jodie

Meeks

Kentucky

6-4

211

6-4 1/2

37

8

Chase

Budinger

Arizona

6-7

206

6-7

38.5

9

Marcus Thornton

LSU

6-3 3/4

194

6-5

33

10

Sergei

Gladyr

Mykolaiv (Ukraine)

6-5 #

198 #

N/A

N/A