Game #45: Toronto Raptors 109 - Minnesota Timberwolves 115

[007]

After an ugly win against the Spurs, the Raptors hit the road for a quick two game swing, beginning tomorrow night in Minnesota. The Timberwolves are 4th in the West, but after a strong five game win streak they have lost their last two, on the road against Orlando and Houston


PROJECTED STARTERS






























KEYS TO THE GAME


1. Buckets: The Raptors have struggled to score the last two games, and against a very talented Minnesota team it will be imperative for the Raptors to snap out of their current funk

2. Serge: Speaking of funks, Ibaka's has probably been the most notable. After playing (and shooting) lights out in December, the big man has struggled to start the new year. The Raps need him to be a consistent third option, as the better he plays the more space DeRozan and Lowry will have to work with

3. Race for #1: The Raptors are now 2.5 games back of Boston, with two games in hand. With Cleveland looking very unlikely to challenge for the first seed, it looks like the Raps are the Celtics only opposition in the fight for Eastern #1. Since they briefly grabbed the top spot on Christmas Day the Raptors have struggled a bit, can they mount another charge and keep the pressure on Boston?

[consmap]

I think we win this one if Serge gets back on track. DeRozan and JV might struggle with Jimbo and KAT, the rest of the team needs to pick up the slack if that happens.

[planetmars]

New look Timberwolves.. B2B on the road though will be tough for the Raps. Hope they can pull it out. Butler has DD's number but defensively overall Minny isn't that great.. maybe that defense will help get our offensive groove back. Seems like forever since that Cleveland pounding.

[inthepaint]

A second night of a B2B is not the most likely bounce back game for Serge. We could see a good one form him vs the Hawks on Wednesday though, after a longer rest period.

Though I think we win this if:
1. Someone else other than Lowry & CJ can knock some down from deep. Maybe Delon? (the tricky part here is that DD, OG and Serge all cooled off from deep almost in sync).
2. We don't let them get way on the scoring early because the legs might not be there to mount a comeback.
3. We dig in defensively and control KAT and butler
4. And --Never thought I'd say this -- Fred plays and comes back with no rust.

[Scraptor]

Helps to have date and time in the title OP. Also if you say Raps @ Wolves people will know it's on the road. But kudos for a good post. Let's crush these pups.

[The Great One]

Here's the thing about the Timberwolves. Andrew Wiggins ALWAYS play like he's Kobe Bryant against us and against the Cavs. But against the other 27 other teams, he's just another guy.

If he could bottle that compete level against all the other 27 teams not just against the Cavs and the Raptors then he'd be a perennial all star.

I'm expecting another huge game from Wiggins tonight

[golden]

Serge is clearly the x-factor for this team. Need to find a way to get him going early.

[3inthekeon]

Walton's going to have to run some better schemes for free throws

[IMG]

Lakers: 2-14 FT on Friday, the lowest FT pct (14.3%) in a game in NBA history (min. 10 FTA).

VIA @EliasSports

Lakers FT on Friday
Kyle Kuzma 0-3
Jordan Clarkson 2-3
Julius Randle 0-2
Tyler Ennis 0-2
Larry Nance Jr. 0-2
Brook Lopez 0-2

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) 20 January 2018

[/IMG]

[Demographic Shift]

Well the good news is that the Spurs game was a 7PM start, that the raps can pre clear customs in YYZ and that they get an extra #fakehour going west. They should have been into the hotel by midnight local time. The tip is late as well .. 9PM EST.

We should see Freddy back tonight to with fresh legs ....and there are no matchups that the 11 to 12 man deep Raps can't easily counter.

The less than stellar news is that Minny is waiting and had the night off.....and Karl Anthony and Andrew and Jimmy are pretty fair ball players...

This can be rightly looked at as schedule loss.. but the Raps are a resilient crew. More than half the team are 25 and under. They are in shape.... While maturing if I could have a big mac and a strawberry shake from McDo's to take the edge off the previous nights bender for jesus.. so can these guys....

Its close.. It'll take everything they got.... Raps W.

[3inthekeon]

KAT's going to be a tough counter. Shooting 40% from 3 on almost 4 per game. Is JV going to be able to guard him on the perimeter? Is Poeltl going to be able to stop him inside the paint?

Minny, just like us, haven't lost 3 in a row all season. They're on a 2 game losing streak.

[rocwell]

Today is a good day if you're a basketball fan

[SkywalkerAC]

Should be a good game.

[Demographic Shift]

KAT's going to be a tough counter. Shooting 40% from 3 on almost 4 per game. Is JV going to be able to guard him on the perimeter? Is Poeltl going to be able to stop him inside the paint?

Minny, just like us, haven't lost 3 in a row all season. They're on a 2 game losing streak.

For the same reason there are 13 clubs in my bag.. each one supposedly helping me to make the right shot with the right club... LOL... so too do the raps have 12 guys.... Bebe and Jacob are better matchups on KAT ... KATs a lot of things but physical he is not... so its athleticism vs athleticism on the perimeter with Bebe and Jacob.....and if JV is still going well.. he can punish KAT inside physcially...
Minny is a really good team...
Looking forward to it...

[G__Deane]

Today is a good day if you're a basketball fan

Bucks/76ers would be fun to watch. Raps/Wolves too!

[tDotted]

Would be seriously impressed with a W here. Bracing for a loss