Sixers at Raptors game-day Dino-bytes

Our now-traditional, post-shootaround look at tonight’s Raptors game.

 

PHILADELPHIA (3-2) at TORONTO (1-4)

TIPOFF: 7 p.m.

TV: TSN; RADIO: FAN590

 

Probable starters

Philadelphia: Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Dorrell Wright, Thaddeus Young, Lavoy Allen; Toronto: Jose Calderon, DeMar DeRozan, Dwane Casey Won’t Say, Andrea Bargnani, Jonas Valanciunas

Key backups tonight:

Philadelphia: Spencer Hawes, Nick Young; Toronto: John Lucas III, Amir Johnson.

What happened this morning

A depleted group

Kyle Lowry is taking it slow and sure with his sore right ankle and he’ll miss his second game. Most interesting thing about it is he said he originally hurt it in the summer and is now being careful not to rush back.

And Landry Fields won’t play. He’s got some soreness and discomfort in his right wrist; he saw a doctor Friday who referred him to a specialist he’ll see next week. No, there is no prognosis yet and, yes, it has contributed to some of his early-season results.

Trickle down effect

The absences are forcing Dwane Casey to tweak his starting lineup but he probably would have made changes anyway and there may be more coming.

The coach, mindful that we’re so well read here that the Sixers will be checking, is holding his cards close to his vest and said we’d have to guess who his starters will be. He’ll tell us around game time.

So, let’s guess.

To be a bit of a contrarian, I’m going with Calderon, DeRozan, Dom McGuire, Bargnani and Jonas Valanciunas but I think Valanciunas only gets about five or six minutes to start.

Tune in tonight to find out.

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Here’s one for you:

The last time these teams played was April, late in the season and Toronto trotted the likes of Justin Dentmon, Ben Uzoh, Solomon Alabi, James Johnson and Gary Forbes off the bench in a 93-75 loss.

That’s an average D League team.

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Sixers are hot.

After averaging about 83 points a game in their first four, they exploded for 106 in a win in Boston on Friday night. The guard duo of Holiday (21 points, 14 assists) and Turner (25 points, 11 rebounds) was pretty good.

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Fashion warning

It’s camouflage jersey night as a way to recognize the Canadian armed forces and tomorrow’s Remembrance Day. It’s one of two times the Raptors will wear those delightful uniforms this season.

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Ooh, it’s a tiebreaker!

The all-time series between the Raptors and Sixers is tied 32-32.

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Zach Zarba, Sean Corbin and JT Orr are the officials, if that matters to any of you.

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Comments

[Wilf Tonsmann]

Who the refs are doesn't matter. What really matters is the Raps get the visitor's whistle (read - negative bias) even when they play at home.

Blogger's note: In the opinion of a fan

[David H]

Does the 32-32 record include or not include the play-off series?

Blogger's note: Nope

[Bo Klymkiw]

I'm glad to see Dominic might get the start. Hope Terrance gets more minutes, too.

[Duncan H]

Hey Doug

Noticed your comment re: Toronto-Philadelphia “The last time these teams played was April, late in the season and Toronto …..off the bench …(brought) an average D League team.”

Just left the game, where the Raptors shot 28% in the first half to fall behind for good – I think a D-League team could have done better. Any idea why Dwayne kept the starters sitting in the first half until the Raptors lead had been eliminated? And why Jonas played very few minutes in the 2nd half? I thought the game was poorly coached and poorly played by the Raptors. If you’re going to bring the team along slowly, fine, but if that’s what you’re doing, then give a discount on early season tickets.

[ron morissey]

Doug,

What we are seeing in the first 6 games is a team and a coach searching for an identity and being knocked off the rails by an early injury to their on court leader, ghastly play from the starting 3 man (oh where have you gone James Johnson), horrendous shooting from a newly acquired 2 guard who has been thrust into an uncomfortable role as a backup point guard which has surely adversely affected his shooting, a questionable decision by the coach to go with a raw rookie in the pivot when one proven veteran and a vastly improved second year man are available, lack of offensive firepower in the second unit because of the key player (JC) forced to be a starter and et. cetera, et cetera.

The solution? a healthy Lowery and wait and see what then transpires. If the tailspin continues until game 41 then changes need to be addressed. But for now, patience.

RSM