The Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors face off at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
After missing the playoffs last year, the Indiana Pacers have exceeded expectations and are in the NBA playoffs.
Indiana earned the No.7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and a first-round meeting with the Toronto Raptors.
With Indiana and Toronto getting ready for their best-of-7 series today at 12:30 p.m., we spoke with Raptors Rapture’s Brian Boake about what to expect from the Raptors.
We only saw DeMarre Carroll once this season, and that was in October. What can he give this Toronto Raptors team that we haven’t seen so far this season while he’s been out injured?
Brian Boake: Your guess is as good as mine. I’m not sure coach Dwane Casey knows what Carroll can provide. His knee injury is far from over, as he has problems with severe swelling after even light exercise. If he can provide 15-20 minutes per game, and make life miserable for Paul George, that’s probably as much as we can expect.
The Raptors offense has functioned quite well in his absence, so I wouldn’t expect to see any plays run for him. He’s very good at presenting at the hoop for passes, and can also hit 3-balls from the elbow. Happily, he’s not one of those guys who gets bent out of shape if he’s not scoring.
The Raptors are an excellent 3-point shooting team, but Indiana has one of the league’s best defenses in stopping that. What do the Raptors do if the Pacers take that away from them?
Brian Boake: The Raptors won’t win shooting long balls only. They function best when they are getting points from everyone. Centre Jonas Valanciunas is a critical member of the offense, so if he gets the ball down low and hits some hook shots, Indy is in trouble.
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The Raptors second unit has provided a lot of offensive punch throughout the season. Patrick Patterson is a threat if he hits a few early 3-balls, because he’ll force the defender out to the arc. Patterson then uses the ball fake to freeze his man and can hit the runner in the paint. Terrence Ross (more on him later) can bury the long ball, or hit a mid-range jumper. He’s effective at penetrating and dishing.
Speaking of penetrating, Cory Joseph bears watching. He can give defenses fits.
Finally, DeMar DeRozan was a well-deserved All-Star, but the long ball is his least important tool. He’s a slasher.
For the most part the Raptors took care of business in the regular season, but we saw one game with a 46-point swing in Indiana’s favor, an OT win for the Raptors, and the Toronto JV squad beating the crap out of Indiana. Which Raptors team will we see the most of this series?
Brian Boake: The young Raptors (or the JV, as you note) presented Dwane Casey with a pleasant problem late in the season. Norman Powell, a second-round draft pick out of UCLA, seized the starting Point Guard spot and wouldn’t let it go. His emergence has allowed the Raptors to bring back Carroll slowly, and station DeRozan as the SF.
This experiment is ongoing, so I can’t answer your question with any confidence. Suffice it to say the team has kept winning, and found minutes for Delon Wright, our other rookie. He’s turning out to be an NBA-ready point guard, with length and defense to carry him.
Our other All-Star, Kyle Lowry, has been bothered with fluid on his right elbow, but the Raptors have given him lots of rest. He should be rarin’ to go, and a determined Lowry is a wonderful player.
Luis Scola was with the Pacers as a backup a year ago, but now he’s getting regular run as a starter in Toronto. Were you surprised by the impact he’s had?
Brian Boake: Yes, very. Patrick Patterson had been pencilled in as the starting power forward after Amir Johnson went to Boston, and Scola was insurance. However, Patterson shot the ball badly in pre-season, Scola was on hand and got the chance , and the team won. Why change? Scola has been useful as a stretch-4, but is limited otherwise.
I can guarantee you that Patterson, not Scola, will be on the floor to close games out. He’s a dandy defender; he’s got quick feet for a big man, and can rebound and block shots. Casey has huge trust in him, and in backup centre Bismack Biyombo.
Who is the X-factor in this series for the Raptors?
Brian Boake: Terrence Ross. He’s the most gifted athlete on the team, and is finally learning how to use those gifts effectively. If he gets into a groove, he can score from anywhere.
Next: Searching for a Smallball Four: The Case for Using Solomon Hill Against the Raptors
Though his concentration wanders on D too often, he can shut down anyone when he’s focussed.