Sacramento at Toronto

[Real Deal]

TIME: 7:00 PM ET

TV: NBALP

[Built Ford Tough]

This is a huge game for the Raptors tanking plans (or, at least, Raptor fans tanking plans).

 

If the Raps find a way to lose this game, which isn't far fetched considering this is the 3rd game of their back-to-back-to-back and they seem to completely lay eggs against the worst of the worst (see NJ and Washington games), they will be 4-7 on the season. That doesn't seem too terrible, but when you look at their schedule to finish the month of:

 

vs. Pacers

@ Bulls (back to back)

@ Hawks

@ Celtics

vs. Blazers

@ Clippers

@ Suns

@ Jazz

@ Nuggets

@ Nets

vs. Hawks

 

it isn't unfathomable to think that the Raptors could go something abysmal like 3-8 during this stretch. Even that could be considered optimistic.

 

We could be looking at a Raptors record of 7-15 or something similar by the end of the month. If that is the case, we might see Colangelo start to ship out veterans (looking at you Barbosa) and start to push a few of Casey's buttons to ensure that the Raptors blow a close game here and there.

 

Or, at least, that is what I hope happens.

[Built Ford Tough]

^^^ Forgot to mention in that post that Kleiza is in the lineup for tonight.

 

He won't be starting, or likely won't even play much, but it will be nice to see him return since Rasual Butler is as scrubby as they come. He plays competent defense, but his bread and butter is his shooting, an area where he is below 30%.

[Built Ford Tough]

With the Kings trying to hide Jimmer defensively, the Raptors should really bring James Johnson into the game and force the Kings to have Jimmer guard somebody.

 

If they put him on Calderon, pick and roll him to death.

If they put him on DeRozan or Johnson, post him to death.

 

Then again, it would probably best best for the tank if they continue to allow the Kings to hide Jimmer on Butler since he doesn't have the skillset to take advantage of him anywhere.

 

PS: This is the emptiest I have seen the ACC for a long, long time.

[Built Ford Tough]

Bargnani's shot is off to start. He doesn't appear to have his legs underneath him as basically every shto has been short so far.

 

Lol, Magloire gets beat off the dribble by Cousins and then bear hugs him and throws him to the ground. I thought for sure that DMC would've went right at Magloire and tried to start something and it looked like Magloire thought he would too.

[Built Ford Tough]

Bargnani's shot is off to start. He doesn't appear to have his legs underneath him as basically every shto has been short so far.

 

It sounds like there may have been a reason for that and it wasn't just an off night.

 

Bargnani left the game near the end of the 3rd with a strained calf and will not return.

 

I'm liking how Kleiza has played in this game. Making good decisions, not forcing things, running the break and playing physicaly on the glass and on defense.

[Built Ford Tough]

On Bargnani's injury:

 

WolstatSun Ryan Wolstat

Bargnani will get an MRI tomorrow, he said it feels like last year's calf injury but isn't sure. didn't blame the heavy minutes

 

For those of you who are wondering, his calf injury that he had last season occured March 26th. He sat out a game or two, came back played like crap and sat out the rest of the season.

 

Now, I don't know if he sat out because he couldn't play or if it was a decision on managements part to sit him out for the "tank".