Golden State at Toronto

[Real Deal]

TIME: 6:00 PM ET

TV: NBALP

[Real Deal]

Although facing the Toronto Raptors usually brings out the best in Golden State, it might not be enough to get the Warriors' struggling offense on track in the season's first meeting.

 

Golden State, which could again be without Stephen Curry, hopes to break out of its funk Sunday night against a Toronto team playing much better defense under first-year coach Dwane Casey.

 

After averaging 104.3 points in winning two of three games prior to the All-Star break, the Warriors (14-19) have since averaged 82.0 points on 38.4 percent shooting in dropping two of three.

 

Against Philadelphia on Friday, Golden State trailed by three points at halftime but scored just 36 in the second half of a 105-83 loss.

 

"We have to be on all the time," coach Mark Jackson said. "We have to be aggressive. We have to play with force."

 

Part of the reason for Golden State's sluggish offense stems from Curry's injured right foot.

 

Curry, third on the team with 15.7 points per game, has played all of three seconds in the last three contests and could be sidelined again. Sitting out Sunday could be trouble for Golden State because Curry's career average of 30.3 points in four games versus the Raptors is easily his best against any team.

 

Led by Curry's scoring exploits, the Warriors have averaged 120.2 points in winning the last five meetings with the Raptors. It's their longest active winning streak over any opponent.

 

Monta Ellis also has played a big part in Golden State's success in this series, having scored 55 points on 55.9 percent shooting in two meetings last season. His 24.1 career scoring average versus the Raptors is his second-highest against any opponent.

 

While Golden State has regularly frustrated Toronto, winning 10 of 12 meetings since 2005-06, its offense - with or without Curry - could have problems this time.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/preview/NBA_20120304_GS@TOR

[Built Ford Tough]

Not particularly thrilled with the win, especially since Bargnani is supposed to be back in a week or so, as it is looking more and more likely that a bottom 4 finish is out of reach for this team.

 

However, if the Raptors are going to win a game, I'll take wins like this one where it is the young players contributing to the win over the Hornets won earlier in the year. In that Hornets game it was Kleiza and Barbosa who led the way and won the game for the Raptors in the 4th. Tonight, it was the young guys:

 

DeRozan: 25 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists on 9/17 shooting and 6/6 from the line

Davis: 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block

JJ: 12 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block

Bayless: 4 rebounds, 4 assists and played great defense on Ellis holding him to very poor shooting numbers

Amir: 11 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks

 

The only vet who played well was Barbosa with 18 points, other than that it was the young guns show, which I can live with even if I would prefer to see a loss.

 

I am starting to come to terms with the fact that unless they are lucky in the lottery, the Raptors will be picking around the 5-8 area instead of in the top 3, though.