The Raptors gameplan so far this season has been simple. There has been a great deal of continuity with how they played a year ago with the one simple adjustment that DeMar DeRozan has been shooting like prime Michael Jordan. Gosh, hasn’t that been neat? In the past, I’ve been one of the first to criticize an offense that relies so much on DeMar’s taking of questionable two point jump-shots, but as long as they’re continuing to go in over 60% of the time like they have this season, I feel like I probably need to just shut up and enjoy the ride. And the Sacramento Kings, current owners of the 27th ranked defense that they’ve become so well known for, aren’t the best candidates on paper to bring DeMar’s SI-fueled scoring rage to an end. Dave Joerger has struggled so far to implement the defense that he ran with Marc Gasol and Tony Allen in Memphis with a group in the Kings that has made a reliable habit of not being particularly interested in excelling on that end of the court. DeMarcus Cousins is capable of being a good defender when he’s trying (and not fouling 6 times in one quarter), and Willie Cauley-Stein is one of the most physically talented defenders in all of basketball, but the Kings are woefully thin on wing defenders.
The Kings ability to guard the rim with those two mammoth players inside has been undercut so far this year by their fouling as well. Sacramento has given up the 3rd most free throw attempts so far this year. That’s music to DeRozan’s ears. Cousins has traditionally had success against Jonas, but there is nothing that gets under Cousins’ skin like another big man having success against him. Jonas’ place in the offense so far this season has been kind of all or nothing, with him being a featured or forgotten figure. But it could make sense to give him some early play even just to see if you can get a DeMarcus Cousins’ pouty faced technical foul out of it. Cousins has lead the league 4 years running in making that face that looks like he’s angrily realizing that he’s just smelled somebody else’s fart whenever he gets called for a foul, and a few of those early you-smelt-it, you-dealt-it calls against him can take him out of the whole game.
The Raptors bench unit will also have ample opportunity to build upon leads against a backup Sacramento unit that has struggled so far. The b-squad featuring Garret Temple offers a chance for the backup unit’s featuring Kyle Lowry, which had been struggling out of the gate, to continue to find their footing. Poetl will also have the opportunity to continue to find his comfort zone on defense against a team that doesn’t move the ball particularly well.
You’re not going to believe this, but things haven’t been going well for the Sacramento Kings so far this season. As it turns out, bringing in yet another group of veteran players that don’t make sense together and another new coach to surround DeMarcus Cousins still isn’t a recipe for success. Who woulda thunk it? This doesn’t make the Kings an unentertaining team to watch. However, having seen the Kings live in person several times over the last few years (if you’re wondering if that’s because they’re perennially one of if not the cheapest tickets all season, the answer is yes!) I can comfortably endorse the viewing experience. This matchup offers you the satisfying combination of being surprised in person at just how physically dominant and talented that DeMarcus Cousins is, while never really fearing that the Raptors will lose. Cousins came seem almost small for a big man at times on television, but he seems like the largest person on the court by far in person with the way he asserts himself at will despite whoever happens to be trying to foolishly stop him. Rudy Gay will have moments where you want to curse him for looking great, but then even more moments when you get to think back warmly upon the Rudy Gay trade and enjoy him playing that distinctly Rudy Gay style of basketball for not your team. And then, almost definitely, the Raptors—being the actual professional basketball franchise between the two teams—will pull ahead and take care of business at home. It’s not always an aesthetically pleasing event, but all-in-all it makes for a satisfying in-game fan experience. I, for one, am looking forward to it.
