The Toronto Raptors play their third of eight games in the pre-playoff series against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. After a couple of tough games, this one should be less of a slog.
The Magic’s roster is a mystery to me. I don’t have a sense of how they want to play. I don’t know how seriously to consider a team with D.J. Augustin as their starting point guard. The man is 32, and has suited up for eight teams (including the Raptors).
Augustin enjoyed a fine outing (10 points, 8 assists, 0 turnovers) in the Magic’s first game, a healthy W over the Sacramento Kings. And we all remember his dagger 3-ball in Game 1 of the playoffs last year. But that’s the problem, isn’t it? He does just enough positive stuff to keep his job, but his teams don’t win.
The guy who saved Orlando from defeat against the Kings was another ex-Raptor, Terrence Ross. He popped off the bench to pour in 25 points, which included 5 of 9 from distance.
Nikola Vucevic is Orlando’s signature player, if anyone is, and will command double teams on the low block, or beyond the arc. He can score from both places, and will be a handful for our centers.
This isn’t the 1980s. Having two low-post beasts on the floor isn’t done much anymore, so what are the plans for Mo Bamba? If Orlando doesn’t figure out what he can do (and they won’t unless he plays), they will have wasted a high draft pick. He should be in the grouping of Big Young Guns like DeAndre Ayton and Bam Adebayo. So what’s with 6+ minutes and no points against the scuffling Kings, and 4+ minutes against the Nets?
Evan Fournier didn’t enjoy his second game back, but they shouldn’t worry about him – he’s a solid high-teens scorer once he regains his sea legs.
Then there’s Aaron Gordon, a veteran Magic swingman, an athlete like TRoss, and a disappointment.
Their bench consists of reclamation project Markelle Fultz, vast-potential Wes Iwundu, retread Michael Carter-Williams, and so on.
The Magic’s top executive is Rick Weltman, who did excellent work for years in Toronto as Masai Ujiri’s second in command. He’s been in central Florida since May of 2017, and if he’s got a road map to success, he’s certainly keeping it a secret from me.
[Time Out: I’ve given up trying to figure out front office titles, and won’t publish them anymore. I used to do so as as courtesy. However, titles vary wildly from team to team, and determining the hierarchy from them is all but impossible. “top executive” it is.]
3 keys to Raptors victory
- Get better performances from the second unit. This group can’t continue going minus against their counterparts. Terrence Ross is wildly inconsistent, but if he heats up from outside, a healthy lead could disappear fast. Time for some benchings? Free Chris Boucher!
- Throw lots of defensive looks at them. Orlando was piling up big numbers before the break, and hasn’t stopped in two bubble games. Toronto’s D has been stalwart already, having stymied the Lakers and Heat. The Raptors’ NBA-leading defense against 3-balls is going to be severely challenged.
- Play fast. While that notion might seem counter-intuitive when facing a team scoring at will (“slow them down”, screams the coach), it works here. This is likely to be a last-basket-wins shootout, so the Raptors might as well pile up the points too.
Forecast
I’ve made my thoughts clear above: if you like action, this could be your game. However, the Magic haven’t faced ball pressure, quick switches, and (possibly) zone defenses like the Raptors will offer.
Raptors 126 – Magic 119
- Tags: Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors
