Magic at Raptors: Preview & 3 things to hope for

The Magic are at the Air Canada Centre closing out another disastrous season. The Raptors are only worried about keeping everyone healthy heading into the playoffs. Who’s going to win?

I’m changing the headline of this preview, because there’s little or no point in worrying about winning this game. The Toronto Raptors are home and cooled out, as they say at the race track. The Eastern Conference #1 seed is in the books, meaning the last three games of the season have no meaning.

On the flip, the Orlando Magic punted an excellent 8-4 start to their season, and have been out of the playoff hunt for months. They have been racked with injuries to key contributors like Evan Fournier and rookie Jonathan Isaac. Terrence Ross is listed as “probable”; if he dresses, it will be his first game since a nasty knee injury in late November. We don’t know who will play for Orlando, and it’s not relevant to us Raptors fans anyway.

More from Raptors Rapture

• Scottie Barnes talks Raptors expectations after bumpy 2022-23
• Raptors’ Dennis Schroder completes Cinderella story, wins FIBA World Cup with Germany
• 3 players Raptors could replace OG Anunoby with at trade deadline
• NBA insider praises Raptors’ hiring of “star” Darko Rajakovic
• Raptors fans will love Markquis Nowell’s insane confidence on Instagram

So, let’s enjoy the luxury of considering this game in terms of shoring up some weaknesses.

3 things to watch for

1. C.J. Miles must make a few shots. Our veteran long-range bomber has been a bust lately. He’s been a dreadful 4 of 25 from deep in his last five games. Maybe he needs his first shot of the game to be a ball-fake expedited drive to the bucket, or a pull-up jumper. Miles needs to see a shot drop in order to relax. His shooting is critical to the success of the entire bench mob.
2. Speaking of making a few shots, what is going on with DeMar DeRozan lately? His mid-range jumper has been MIA. In NBA parlance, to call someone a “volume shooter” is not a compliment. The term carries a connotation of a player who can’t make shots, but won’t stop trying. He looks like the DeRozan of Year Two, someone who couldn’t put the ball in the ocean if he was standing on the shore. Yes, he’s dishing the ball extremely well, but it’s possible to do that while finding the range. Please do.
3. It’s past time for Jonas Valanciunas to show off his scoring chops. He’s been handling defensive rebounding well, but he needs to make a long ball or two, and hit some mid-range shots. The Raptors are best when everyone is chipping in on the scoresheet.
4. OK, 4 things. More Lucas Nogueira, please. His length is extremely bothersome to opposition shooters in the paint, and he’s handsy enough to deflect passes.

Prediction

This is the regular season’s final home game, and it’s Fanapalooza, so I predict a love-in. Every Rap who dresses will see the floor. The G League guys have a game Sunday, as their finals begin…well done once again, Raptors 905. As a result, we won’t see Lorenzo Brown, Malcolm Miller or Malachi Richardson.

The Magic got blown out at home by Charlotte. There’s little reason to think they will be interested or capable of providing a match.

Toronto 117 – Orlando 102