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Probable Starters
Toronto
PG - Kyle Lowry
SG - DeMar DeRozan
SF - Norman Powell
PF - Pascal Siakam
C - Jonas Valanciunas
Boston
PG - Marcus Smart
SG - Avery Bradley
SF - Jae Crowder
PF - Amir Johnson
C - Al Horford
For anyone who recalls my performance tracker from last year (will be debuting this year's version today sometime): odds of Raptors winning game = 54%. Back to back on the road always tough, but with Isaiah Thomas out with a groin injury, this should be winnable, even with Carroll presumably sitting the back to back.
Fun facts:
Boston, as predicted, has really struggled on the glass this year - their total REB% of 47.9% ranks 5th worst in the league. The Raptors, surprisingly, have also struggled there, placing 12th from the bottom with 49.9%. The Celtics give up the 3rd most 2nd chance points in the league (14.9/100 possessions), while the Raptors give up the 9th most (14.2).
For all the talk of the Raptors' struggling defence, Boston's is not much better - they have a DRTG of 104.4 to Toronto's 104.9, and rank 15th to Toronto's 17th. Meanwhile, Boston has a 107.3 ORTG (7th) to Toronto's 114.7 (2nd).
Boston is a team that passes the ball - a lot. They have the highest AST ratio (assists per 100 possessions) in the league outside of the exception to every rule, Golden State. The Raptors rank 21st in assist ratio, with 16 assists per 100 possessions to Boston's 18.7. Both teams take great care of the ball, in a virtual tie for 3rd lowest turnover rate in the league (12.3 and 12.4 turnovers per 100 possessions), though technically Toronto has a lower rate, so take that, Celtics. Either way, a clash of offensive styles tonight.
Boston is not a team that likes to push the ball - they rank 23rd in fast break points per 100 possessions (probably due to having to gang rebound on the defensive end). The Raptors, meanwhile, rank 6th, with 15 FBPs/100 to Boston's 11.
Toronto
PG - Kyle Lowry
SG - DeMar DeRozan
SF - Norman Powell
PF - Pascal Siakam
C - Jonas Valanciunas
Boston
PG - Marcus Smart
SG - Avery Bradley
SF - Jae Crowder
PF - Amir Johnson
C - Al Horford
For anyone who recalls my performance tracker from last year (will be debuting this year's version today sometime): odds of Raptors winning game = 54%. Back to back on the road always tough, but with Isaiah Thomas out with a groin injury, this should be winnable, even with Carroll presumably sitting the back to back.
Fun facts:
Boston, as predicted, has really struggled on the glass this year - their total REB% of 47.9% ranks 5th worst in the league. The Raptors, surprisingly, have also struggled there, placing 12th from the bottom with 49.9%. The Celtics give up the 3rd most 2nd chance points in the league (14.9/100 possessions), while the Raptors give up the 9th most (14.2).
For all the talk of the Raptors' struggling defence, Boston's is not much better - they have a DRTG of 104.4 to Toronto's 104.9, and rank 15th to Toronto's 17th. Meanwhile, Boston has a 107.3 ORTG (7th) to Toronto's 114.7 (2nd).
Boston is a team that passes the ball - a lot. They have the highest AST ratio (assists per 100 possessions) in the league outside of the exception to every rule, Golden State. The Raptors rank 21st in assist ratio, with 16 assists per 100 possessions to Boston's 18.7. Both teams take great care of the ball, in a virtual tie for 3rd lowest turnover rate in the league (12.3 and 12.4 turnovers per 100 possessions), though technically Toronto has a lower rate, so take that, Celtics. Either way, a clash of offensive styles tonight.
Boston is not a team that likes to push the ball - they rank 23rd in fast break points per 100 possessions (probably due to having to gang rebound on the defensive end). The Raptors, meanwhile, rank 6th, with 15 FBPs/100 to Boston's 11.