Raptors at Atlanta Hawks: Preview and 3 keys to victory
By Graeme Klayh
The Atlanta Hawks hold the Eastern Conference’s third seed as the Raptors come in looking to sweep the season series.
The Toronto Raptors are looking good coming through the last stand before the playoffs. After dropping a game in San Antonio while resting Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, they came back to defeat the Charlotte Hornets of Tuesday evening in convincing fashion. If it weren’t for a late game surge by the listless Hornets, the game’s score would look a whole lot different. In any event, you have to tip your cap to the Raptors, who held Charlotte to 59 points through the first 3 quarters.
The Raptors may be looking to rest one of Kyle Lowry or DeMar DeRozan tonight. This is the first game of a back-to-back, with the second half at home against the Indiana Pacers. There really is no point in playing anyone too much in this situation, as the Raps are virtually locked into the second seed for the playoffs. If Toronto runs the table while Cleveland stumbles, first place is possible. Is such a scenario anything more than a pipe dream? Um…no.
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On the Atlanta Hawks side, since winning 12 of their last 14 contests on their way into the ACC, they have dropped their last two before resurfacing against the lowly Phoenix Suns. They offer one of the top defenses in the league and an offense that is continually getting better. The Hawks have lost 4 straight in the series against the Raptors as the matchups seem to favor the Raps. In the matchup last week, DeRozan had his way with the Atlanta wings, as no one could seemingly guard him. Al Horford and Paul Millsap comprise one of the best front courts in the league, yet neither are the kind of hyper-athletic players who usually give the Raptor front court trouble. The Hawks’ guards are the real reason they have come on strong the last few weeks. Both point guards, Jeff Teague and backup Dennis Schroder, are jet-powered, and Kyle Korver and Kent Bazemore can shoot from anywhere.
This isn’t the Raptors’ most important game of the season, but it is fun to build on the franchise-best win total. They will be able to take this one if they…
- …keep the Hawks under 100 points. Atlanta was on a 9 game streak when getting over 100 points before they played the Raptors. They are 37-9 in those games.
- …watch the 3-point line. The previous game in Toronto, the Hawks shot 42% from downtown, and even set an NBA record for having 10 players hit at least one 3 in a game.
- …play strong on the inside. Jonas Valanciunas is having some kind of run into the playoffs. His defense is looking good and his confidence is soaring. Playing the bigs in Atlanta will be fun to watch for the big fella’.
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If Kyle Lowry and/or DeRozan rest this game, I can’t see how the Raptors can win, but if they can limit the Hawks under 100 points, then expect a close one.