Opponent Scouting: Toronto Raptors (7-7)
Tonight at 7:00 pm EST the Detroit Pistons will be hosting the Raptors of Toronto at LCA. This will be the Pistons 3rd game in 4 nights and 4th game in 6 nights, and its the same for the Raptors. Both teams are coming off a loss.
The Them:
The Toronto Raptors seem to be in a similar spot as last season. They have some real talent, good coaching, and generally do not suck, but it isn’t clear if they have the top-end guys (yet) to push into any sort of contender. They come into tonight with the league’s 11th-best offense and 14th best defense which backs up this notion. A clearly above-average team, but not top ten in either category.
The Pistons will get a boost in this game with Precious Achiuwa, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet all listed as out for tonight’s game, with Khem Birch being questionable. Given Cade Cunningham is out for Detroit they could use every boost they can get.
With that being as it is, the Raptors are mostly a hodge-podge of role-players trying to hold things together. Scottie Barnes is still exceptionally talented, he’s got length for days and skill to go with it, but he hasn’t taken a big leap in productivity. OG Anunoby is fulfilling the Zach Lowe prophecy as an awesome two-way wing who does some of everything and with their injuries, he is probably the best player on the team. Otto Porter still has good size on the wing and can shoot, Thaddeus Young is old but can still score inside. Although Young is probably overmatched playing minutes at center. Gary Trent Jr. can shoot. Off the bench (and starters vs. bench may swap up given all the injuries) Chris Boucher is a sea of limbs and bounciness, Malachi Flynn shoots threes and plays hard defensively, and Juancho Hernangomez has some skill as a big man.
The version of Toronto that will be on the floor tonight should struggle to generate looks in the half-court, but they have tons of length and fight defensively. If the Pistons had Cade I’d feel like this is a great opportunity to win, but alas.
Matchups to watch:
THE KILLIAN HAYES BELIEF O’ METER: Killian has strung together some good games, and with Cade out for a few more this may be his last, best, chance to prove he can be anything truly worth-while. We’re all rooting for you kid.
Pistons vs. OG Anunoby: Once again, with their two primary offensive engines out, Anunoby is the main scoring threat. Bey and/or Bojan will get the duty for much of the night and keeping Anunoby from having an outlier game is key.
Pistons vs. Turnovers: This Raptors team has tons of length and Nick Nurse has them playing hard consistently. The way the Pistons get blown out by this depleted Raptors squad is by tossing lazy passes that let the Raptors run in transition.
Bey and Bojan vs. Hitting threes: Both guys have hit a bit of a slump, Saddiq much more than Bojan, but with Cade out they need to be on their respective games to help generate something out of the half-court.
Energy levels: Brutal stretch of games in quick succession for both teams. It is entirely possible that either team may have their legs fail them tonight.
So in conclusion…
Run for the hills if:
The Pistons have a dozen turnovers in the first quarter
The Raptors are getting out in transition
The Pistons can’t create anything in the half-court
Wink knowingly at your friends if:
Saddiq Bey finds his shot
THE BELIEF O’ METER RISES
Marvin Bagley starts getting inside looks.