After posting a sterling 3-0 record against the terrifying 3-game stretch of Bulls-Knicks-Bulls, the Raptors host the 9th seeded Magic. The Magic’s desperation to slide into the last playoff spot in the East makes them seem like a difficult game. That’s without even factoring in Nikola Vucevic, who has eaten the Raptors for breakfast in the two previous matchups – which were both Magic wins. The only game the Raptors have taken off the Magic this year came during a 93-91 slogfest that saw a Danny Green gamewinner lift the Raptors to victory.
The trouble with containing Vucevic, is that he’s so damn good. He’s tireless when getting after his own offense and his passing game has come into full bloom this year. Even though 3-pointers and the pick n’ roll are all the rage (as they should be) there’s few things that can dismantle a defense faster than a skilled big man who’s hellbent on getting his. Vucevic has been successful dismantling the Raptors of late, last time out he teamed up with former Raptor, Terrence Ross to pour in 51-points combined. The game before that he poured in 30, 19 and 8. The Raptors struggle guarding him. Serge Ibaka doesn’t have the physicality to bang with him for a full game, and in Gasol’s start against him in February, Vucevic proved too agile.
It’s important, though, for Nick Nurse to trot out a fix to this Vucevic problem. There hasn’t been a great deal of problem solving asked of him this year. Things have been low pressure for the most part, and the Raptors have rested on their talent laden laurels at times. It would be meaningful to see Nurse provide a solve for a top-30 player before the playoffs roll around. It doesn’t have to be domination, but providing intuitive change that pays dividends is one of the things coaches are asked to do. Both Vucevic and Blake Griffin have had their way with the Raptors this year, and I’m patiently waiting to see how Nurse approaches defusing an All-Star big man.
The Magic are 7-1 in their last 8, and Aaron Gordon’s performance has been a big part of that. He’s been really dynamic playmaking lately, and as Vucevic’s shooting from distance has dipped over the past month, Gordon’s 3-pointer has seen a bump in production to help provide the Magic with as much spacing as they can get.
The Magic are a really good defensive team, and I think the odds are that if Gasol starts, which seems likely, the Magic will force him to be the scorer in the first unit if the Raptors hand him the ball. I love Gasol’s fit on the Raptors and what he means to the sharpshooting month they’ve had, but he’s been objectively bad when looking for his own offense. The Magic have a pretty good stable of young, disciplined defenders and I don’t see a version of tonight including clever passes and back cuts without Gasol forcing the issue and demanding the attention.
I’m beating a dead horse here, but the gameplan will speak volumes to me on what Nurse is bringing to the table as a coach. If he cooks up something good, the Raptors should be able to dispatch the Magic in Scotiabank Arena. If not, I could see the Magic taking the season series 3-1 in a frustrating game to watch.
Gonna be kind’ve cute here and quote Terrence Ross from his player tribune piece and act like it’s about this year:
“And the East,’ I’ll tell them – I’ll promise them: ‘It goes through this team. Through this city.’ ‘It goes through Toronto.”
Cold-Ish Take
Ross hits 5 triples in this game and wins the Mitchell Robinson Award, coming full-circle and finally achieving his dream of being a villain – he’s always loved comic books.
Raptors Updates
OG Anunoby (concussion) is questionable, Patrick McCaw (thumb) is out indefinitely, Kawhi Leonard just had a child, so maybe he’ll miss this game? I’m not super sure.
PG: Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Jeremy Lin, Jordan Loyd
SG: Danny Green, Norman Powell, Jodie Meeks
SF: Kawhi Leonard, Malcolm Miller
PF: Pascal Siakam
C: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Chris Boucher
Magic Updates
Markelle Fultz (shoulder) is out, Isaiah Briscoe (knee) is out, Mo Bamba (leg) is out, and Timofey Mozgov (knee) is out.
PG: DJ Augustin, Jerian Grant, Michael Carter-Williams
SG: Evan Fournier, Terrence (Terry) Ross
SF: Jonathan Isaac, Wesley Iwundu
PF: Aaron Gordon, Khem Birch, Jarell Martin
C: Nikola Vucevic
The first good game in some time, should be fun.
Have a blessed day.
