Raptors at Nuggets, game-day Dino-bytes

Our quasi-traditional, mid-week, post-shootaround look at the Raptors.

 

TORONTO (4-13) at DENVER (8-9)

Pepsi Center

TIPOFF: 9 p.m.

TV: TSN2; RADIO: FAN590

 

Probable starters

Toronto: Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Linas Kleiza, Andrea Bargnani, Jonas Valanciunas; Denver: Ty Lawson, Andre Iguodala, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, Kosta Koufos.

 

Key backups tonight

Toronto: Ed Davis (will have to match Faried’s quickness and rebounding), Terrence Ross (his three-point shooting could be huge); Denver: JaVale McGhee (mercurial big man has potential to score), Jordan Hamilton (shooting almost 40 per cent from three-point range).

 

What happened this morning

Maybe a change forced upon them

Linas Kleiza was a no-go at the shootaround this morning because of a sore hip.

They’ll re-evaluate him tonight and if he can’t go, Mickael Pietrus will move into the starting lineup.

It’s going to be interesting in another couple of weeks when Alan Anderson and Landry Fields get healthy and they have a glut of small forwards to deal with.

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Season series

First game of year between the teams; Toronto has lost eight straight at the Pepsi Center.

Yes, it was Dec. 30, 2003 that the Raptors last one a game in Denver.

Check out the boxscore from that one and see what names jump out at you.

Yes, that is the one and only Lonny Baxter who shows up.

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What they’re reading

Here’s this morning’s offering from the Denver Post.

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So, how about those Nuggets, Dwane Casey?

“They’re a typical George Karl team. They play fast, they’re small, aggressive, they play hard every possession and his style fits Denver, the altitude and all that stuff.”

Kind of like every Denver team?

“That’s been the history, whoever’s been the coach here and his team fits that style of play. He was that way in Seattle when we were there, play fast, play up tempo, defensively they do a lot of different things.”

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Odd stat of the day

Courtesy of the Raptors crack PR staff:

Lowry and DeRozan have combined for 10 or more rebounds in six games this season, including three of the last four. Together, they rank first in the Eastern Conference in total rebounds by a starting backcourt.

Not sure what that’s worth but …

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A team of streaks

So far this season, Denver has won three then lost seven, won four then lost three, won four and have currently lost three in a row.

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The guys with the whistles are ..

James Capers, Olandis Poole and Sean Wright.

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Comments

[Lorie]

The 'quasi-traditional' is getting a pass just because with every game, well, the 'tradition' becomes self-fulfilling or establishing or something. And 'post-shootaround', we'll take you at your word on that. But, Doug, 'mid-week'? It's Monday. Well, at least it is where I am. Where are you? Miles high and days ahead? :)

[KX]

"that the Raptors last one a game in Denver. " - won

Having watched a lot of Denver games this year I would say Andre Miller is more important than both Javale and Hamilton, but that's just my opinion.

[AC`]

>>Lowry and DeRozan have combined for 10 or more rebounds in six games this season, including three of the last four. Together, they rank first in the Eastern Conference in total rebounds by a starting backcourt. Not sure what that’s worth but …

I think it means their starting power forward should grab some rebounds on occasion.