The Raptors can stretch their winning streak to 11 games tonight, before leaving the friendly confines of Air Canada Centre for a 6-game road trip.
To close out the highly successful homestand, the Toronto Raptors face a team they haven’t met so far this season. In an extreme scheduling quirk, the Detroit Pistons and Raptors clash three times in less than 30 days. The only other teams the Raptors haven’t faced are the Portland Trail Blazers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Detroit has been a bad team for years but is enjoying a solid season to date. Their 25-22, I don’t think it’s a fluke, record places them seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. They placed a lot of faith in OKC’s point guard Reggie Jackson,first trading for him then locking him up on a long-term deal. That faith has been rewarded. He’s been a difference-maker for them, and will give Kyle Lowry all he can handle. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has taken a long time to find his footing but has arrived as a useful slashing shooting guard. Ersan Ilyasova is a 3-&-D man at one forward spot, while the happier Morris twin, Marcus, handles the other. Both are competent, neither is spectacular.
That leaves the centre position, where we find Andre Drummond, Detroit’s lone All-Star. He leads the NBA with 15.2 rebounds per game , though sits only 17th in blocked shots. How a monster like this guy can’t get more blocks is beyond the scope of this post; suffice it to say I don’t understand it. Nor do I understand how a professional can shoot 35.2% at the free-throw line, which he “accomplishes”. I’ve always been interested in Drummond’s career development because I felt sure he would be chosen by Bryan Colangelo in the 2012 draft. Instead, to the shock of all us in Maple Leaf Square watching the draft on the monster screen, the choice was Terrence Ross. The Pistons, no doubt thinking they had died and gone to heaven, snatched Drummond with the next pick.
Detroit’s bench isn’t the league’s worst, but that’s damning with faint praise. Brandon Jennings, a point guard I’ve never had much use for, backs up Jackson. He’ll shoot from anywhere, and some attempts go in. Jennings is like Kyle Lowry, minus the passing, defense, hustle, leadership…Stanley Johnson, a rookie swingman, looks like a keeper. Aron Baynes, an Australian big man, will wrestle with Bismack Biyombo. Baynes has some skills, and may be a player to watch. Joel Anthony, a Canadian forward, keeps getting NBA jobs but never minutes. Steve Blake, a veteran backup guard, may not see the floor. He’s a useful player when he does get there. Don’t expect a lot of mistakes from him.
This will be a stern test for the Raptors and their gaudy 10-game win streak. The Pistons dropped the first game of this back to back at home against the Cavaliers, so will be in a nasty mood. Fortunately for Detroit, the trip to Toronto is a breeze; maybe a one-hour flight.
The Raptors can head on their nasty road swing having run the table at home if they…:
- …tie up Drummond when he looks set to score. I detest deliberate fouls, but when a player is as bad as he is at the free-throw line, you have to tie him up. The problem is that you put the Pistons in the bonus early. So…
- …don’t foul at the perimeter, or in the backcourt. Don’t let their skilled players have a bunch of trips.
- …let the Pistons shoot from deep. Detroit sits 23rd in 3-point shooting percentage, although they are ninth in attempts. Their long shooting is not reliable, but that doesn’t matter so much. The Pistons lead the league in offensive rebounding with 13.6 PG (thank you Andre, who is the individual leader with 5.3). Can the Raptors minimize the Pistons’ second chance opportunities?
I predict a chippy game. The Raptors will ease away late. Toronto 104 – Detroit 100.