You could circle this game as the toughest on this year’s schedule and no one would chastise you. After the Warriors slipped last night at home to the Boston Celtics, ending their home unbeaten run, the San Antonio Spurs remain the only undefeated team at home in the entire league.
The reason they’ve been so brilliant at home comes down to their perfect blend of midtier glue-guys, superstars, all-stars, hall-of-famers, and savvy veterans. There’s more – their on-court product is even greater than what they are on paper. Led by an all-time great coach, the Spurs form a unique cohesiveness and boast the league’s best defense which holds opponents to just over 92 ppg.
The Raptors will take some comfort in knowing they were one of the few teams this season that was able to overcome Greg Popovic’s well-oiled machine – a 94-97 triumph in December fueled by an efficient team-wide effort which started with DeMar DeRozan’s 28 points and ended with the Raptors winning despite taking just 64 shots.
Beating the Spurs while taking just 64 shots is… something. That statistic screams efficiency on a night where the Raptors shot 57.8% from the floor – well above the average at which San Antonio’s opponents normally hit.
On the other end of the court, everything the Raptors did simply worked. The Spurs had difficulty coping when Kyle Lowry and Cory Joseph shared the floor together, and Joseph in particular fought through every single screen while annihilating Manu Ginobili with his quickness.
More good rotations from the Raps. pic.twitter.com/GlZEbGtevP
— Raptors Republic (@raptorsrepublic) December 10, 2015
Popovich was calm in the post-game presser that night, playing down the loss at the Air Canada Center, pointing to a ‘sharper’ and ‘more aggressive’ Raptors team.
“It’s as simple as that, there’s no hidden mystery there.”
The Spurs worked hard for their 94 points, but it’s also telling that the Raptors were hitting everything while the Spurs were playing sound defense themselves. It was a night where great offense overcame good defense – something that you can’t consistently depend on.
Kyle Lowry breaking ankles. Danny Green best call @GoldfingerLaw pic.twitter.com/94QhiDopcY
— Raptors Republic (@raptorsrepublic) December 10, 2015
The other twist here is that Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs’ best player, was playing through a bout of gastroenteritis and wasn’t himself for his 27 minutes of floor time.
That 25-12 road record the Spurs currently carry on their backs isn’t nearly as efficient as their flawless 38-0 record at the AT&T Center. The Raptors are heading into a colossal arena looking to spoil San Antonio’s unbeaten run at home the same way their Atlantic Division rivals did last night in Golden State.
When asked about the home streak after the Spurs’ win over the Pelicans on Wednesday, Pop downplayed the whole thing, as he’s so good at doing.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “Absolutely nothing. Maybe a cup of coffee, maybe.”
What Boston did last night behind Isiah Thomas’ 22 points to end the Warriors’ run will surely stir some motivation around Dwane Casey’s squad. San Antonio’s game tonight marks the first of three tough tests the Spurs face to keep their clean sheet at home. After this, they also have to face the Warriors and Thunder at the AT&T Center.
Pop loves strategically resting his players, but given the Spurs haven’t played since Wednesday, they should go into tonight with a full and healthy roster without resting anyone or restricting anyone’s minutes. Plus, according to Tony Parker, the Spurs will probably rest everyone from Tim Duncan to the water boys against the Warriors on Tuesday anyway.
“I think no one will play (versus the Warriors). To Pop (Gregg Popovich), the most important thing is that the players are rested for the playoffs. As for first place, he does not care.”
Assuming that’s all true, here are tonight’s matchups.
Kyle Lowry vs Tony Parker. Edge: Lowry
At this level, prime Lowry takes the cake over post-peak Parker, and I fully expect Lowry to attack Parker as often as possible. The Spurs though, do a pretty great job of hiding Parker on defense, and might switch Danny Green onto Lowry with Parker diverting over to DeRozan.
Still, advantage Raps.
DeMar DeRozan vs Danny Green. Edge: DeRozan
Oouuf, is Danny Green ever a pest defensively. This will be a tough guard for DeRozan, especially against a team that not only has a really solid individual defender to guard him, but also has some of the best team defense you’ll see. Tough guard for DeRozan, but I’m giving him the edge based on talent and his performance against the Spurs earlier this season.
Norman Powell vs Kawhi Leonard. Edge: Leonard
It almost seems unfair that rookie Powell is continually drawn against the opposing team’s toughest matchup – but hey, that’s a high compliment to him. Powell faces the ultimate test tonight against an MVP-caliber player, and the Raptors probably won’t be too hard on him.
Powell has been ubber-impressive this season, and this actually looks like a really fun matchup.
Luis Scola vs LaMarcus Aldridge. Edge: Aldridge
Scola is expected to be back tonight, and that’s a scary thought given he’ll be going up against the beast that is LaMarcus Aldridge. Scola against any starting four in the league is scary, if we’re being quite frank, but against Aldridge, things could go wrong fast. Aldridge can really drag Scola out of his comfort zone beyond 15-feet and is versatile enough to cause the Argentine problems all over the floor.
To his credit, Scola had a really nice two-way performance against the Spurs earlier this season, and he can stretch LMA out to the perimeter offensively.
Aldridge though, has looked more comfortable in Pop’s scheme as the season has progressed.
Jonas Valanciunas vs Tim Duncan. Edge: Valanciunas
Tim Duncan is gray, and yet, still looks younger than he actually is, but I’m not ready to give him an edge over Valanciunas this season. JV had a great performance against the Grizzlies last night, and I’m excited to see him make Duncan sweat.
Tip-off is at 8:30 EST.
