Wizards at Raptors, game-day Dino-bytes

Our post-shootaround updated look at tonight’s Wizards-Raptors game.

 

WASHINGTON (17-37) at TORONTO (23-33)

Air Canada Centre

TIPOFF: 7 p.m.

TV: TSN; RADIO: FAN590

WEB: The usual jocularity and insight of the in-game blog commences here just before 7 p.m.

 

Probable starters

Washington: John Wall, Bradley Beal, Martell Webster, Nene, Emeka Okafor; Toronto: Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay, Amir Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas.

 

Key backups tonight

Washington: Trevor Ariza (vet had 18 points off the bench Saturday), AJ Price (backup guard can hurt you); Toronto: Landry Fields (if Beal gets going, Fields’ defence will be needed), Andrea Bargnani (surely, he can make some shots, no?).

 

Season series

Toronto leads, 1-0

It wasn’t particularly pretty but the Raptors did eke out a 92-88 win right after the all-star break in the first of four meetings this season. Of note that night: Gay and DeRozan each had 24 and Wall was a putrid 1-12 from the field with seven turnovers.

All-time? Toronto is 22-10 vs. the Wizards and Bullets in the Air Canada Centre and has won five straight.

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What happened this morning?

New kid’s in town

Recovered from the flu, Sebastian Telfair took part in this morning’s shootaround and will be in uniform this evening.

We’ll have a bit more in him in a short story whenever I get to it t his afternoon but here’s Dwane Casey’s take on Telfair and his role:

“Right now, he’s behind Kyle (Lowry) and John (Lucas),” said the coach.

But it’s a comforting thought to Casey to have a third point guard available in case of injury or foul trouble.

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What’s this mean?

Probably nothing but when Sebastian Telfair plays, he will be the fourth guy who was drafted directly out of high school to wear a Raptors uniform.

The others?

Amir Johnson, Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O’Neal.

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A stat, for what it’s worth

Toronto is 7-3 in February and with two games left until the calendar turns, the Raptors can match the greatest February in franchise history with two wins.

The 2006-07 team went 9-3 in February.

Both records came without benefit of a Feb. 29.

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What’s up with the Wizards?

From the great Michael Lee, some homage to Bradley Beal.

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Because we always do …

Rodney Mott, Kevin Cutler and Gary Zielinski are tooting the whistles this evening.

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And another stat

In 10 February games, the Raptors are holding opponents to 92.9 points per game, fourth fewest the NBA. The others? Indiana, 87.3; Memphis, 88.4; and Philadelphia, 90.3.

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And more Andrea

Yes, the Raptors will find a way, they hope, to get him more involved in the offence by calling a few specific plays for him.

That just makes sense, perhaps put him in the post and see what they get.

But, no, they won’t do it at the expense of other guys all the time.

“It’s about the Toronto Raptors,” said coach Dwane Casey today. “We’re more concerned with how we function rather than just one guy.”

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Comments

[Geoff Read]

I might get to watch the game tonight. I hope they don't suck.

I feel a bit for Andrea... I don't like the booing. But God I wish he'd just play better.