Toronto Raptors Roundtable: Orlando Magic preview

As the Toronto Raptors prepare to face-off against the Orlando Magic in round-one of the playoffs, we asked our contributors the five most pressing questions heading into the series.

It’s easy to brush off the Orlando Magic. The Toronto Raptors are the more talented team, and if everything goes to plan, should be able to handle them in four or five games. But these are the NBA playoffs. Things don’t always go to plan. And if Toronto doesn’t come to play, anything can happen.

As the Raptors prepare to play the first real, meaningful games of the season, we asked our contributors the five biggest questions heading into round one.

Matchup to watch this series

Mark Birdsell:

Pascal Siakam versus Jonathan Isaac is one of the key matchups to keep an eye on. Isaac is still a work in progress offensively. However, at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, he is one of the few players with the size and agility to keep up with Siakam. Siakam has struggled against Orlando this year. In the last 3 games, Siakam has shot a combined 6-27 or 22.2 percent from the field.

Mike Bossetti:

The Raptors centers, primarily Marc Gasol, against Nikola Vucevic. The Magic don’t have many options other than Vuc offensively, and if Toronto can negate his impact, Orlando will have a hard time getting to 100.

Toronto holds a clear advantage against the Magic defense. If they can control Vucevic, it could get ugly.

Jordan Skuse:

Pascal Siakam v. Jonathan Isaac. The Magic’s longgggggg four has given Spicy P issues in the past.

Evidence of this can be found in Siakam’s 85 offensive rating versus the Magic this year – by far his worst rating against any opponent this season. Siakam’s usage in four meetings with the Magic was 16.4. Only Phoenix and Dallas saw No. 43 used less. Siakam posted his lowest field goal percentage against any opponent (34.2) against Orlando as well.

All this to say, I think, eventually, Siakam gets the better of Isaac in these playoffs, as the soon-to-be MIP will prove too crafty a talent for Isaac over the course of a series.

Raju Byfield:

The matchup to watch this series will undoubtedly be Marc Gasol/Serge Ibaka vs. Nikola Vucevic.

Vucevic averaged 20.8 points,12 rebounds, and 3.8 assists on .518 shooting during the regular season. Somehow he was even better against the Toronto Raptors, averaging 20 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, on .550 shooting.

He was held in check in their last meeting putting up a 13 point, 13 rebound line on .357 shooting, a contest Marc Gasol was +24 in.