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Raptors [2-0] at Spurs [2-0]: PREVIEW – Alamo city is wasteland for Toronto

By Brian Boake

SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 10: Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during a preseason game against the Orlando Magic on October 10, 2017 at the AT
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 10: Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during a preseason game against the Orlando Magic on October 10, 2017 at the AT /
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The Raptors visit San Antonio, where they have almost never won. However, the Spurs may be vulnerable this time around.

December 28, 2007 – that’s the date of the Toronto Raptors last victory over the Spurs in San Antonio. The men in black, white and silver have been all but unbeatable for our guys, and a whole bunch of other hapless visitors, for a long time. Last season, the Spurs were 31-10 in the AT&T Center, before that, 40-1 (their only loss was to the Warriors), 33-8, 32-9…you get the picture.

The best franchise in major professional sports in this century is the San Antonio Spurs. I’m not sure who’s in second place, but they aren’t close. The latest superstar for these guys is a Sphinx-like small forward named Kawhi Leonard. One supposes he’s not smiling because playing for coach Gregg Popovich seems like a lot of work. However, there’s no arguing with the results.

Leonard is out indefinitely with a quad injury, which should be positive news for the Raptors. But there are no easy wins against the Spurs. They are ball-movement, tough-D, people in their bones. Everyone has the green light to shoot, but you can’t be a Spur for long if you don’t pass the ball to  open teammates.

TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 24: LaMarcus Aldridge
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 24: LaMarcus Aldridge /

Jonas Valanciunas’ sprained ankle will keep him out of this game. Lucas Nogueira will likely start, as Jakob Poeltl seems better suited to come off the bench. Bebe will be hard-pressed to stay on the floor against crafty veteran (and future Hall of Famer) Pau Gasol. Serge Ibaka will be defending LaMarcus Aldridge, who has scored 53 points in the Spurs’ pair of victories. The Spurs don’t have a lot of secondary scoring, so keeping Aldridge under control is essential.

Rudy Gay has provided much of the Spurs’ modest bench scoring. Manu Ginobli is still around at 40 years of age to provide some spark.

3 Keys to Raptors victory

  1. Close out on shooters. The Spurs don’t have much in the way of basket-attacking swingmen. They hit one 3-ball on Saturday night, and racked up the win only because they were playing the hopeless Bulls. The Spurs rank 24th in points scored per game; the Raptors are second.
  2. Play fast. Gasol is 37, Aldridge is 32, Gay is 31, and Manu needs a rocking chair. You want to beat the Spurs, simple – run these guys into the ground. The Raptors have been diligent about turning the ball back up court after surrendering a basket. Keep doing that. The payback may not occur until the final few minutes, but it will be there.
  3. Bother their ball handlers. Young Dejounte Murray has been pressed into the starter’s role with Tony Parker’s lingering aches and pains. Murray hasn’t faced a ballhawk like Kyle Lowry this season. Delon Wright can have an impact here as well.

Prediction

Both teams are undefeated, but only one can continue like that. The Raptors will never have a better chance to knock off the offensively-challenged Spurs than tonight, and I say they will.

Raptors 110 – Spurs 101

[all stats courtesy www.nba.com]

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N.B.: I will begin my weekly Power Rankings next Monday, as doing so after just a few games seems silly.

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