The Toronto Raptors last three losses have come from a combined seven points including a five-point, double-overtime loss to the Spurs on Sunday.
On Tuesday, they are back on the road in Houston to face a Rockets team that is coming off an impressive 131-103 thrashing of the New York Knicks.
Here are few things to consider ahead of tonight’s game:
Homecoming game
Point guard Kyle Lowry spent three-and-a-half seasons in Houston before a falling out with Rockets head coach Kevin McHale forced the team to ship him out.
The Raptors are the veteran point guard’s third NBA team so having been around the block it is not surprising that he was fairly low-key ahead of his return to Houston.
“I understand this is a business,” Lowry told the Toronto Sun. “I never take anything personally involving the sport. In this league you can’t get too caught up with what happens when you are traded or moved.”
While Lowry chose his words carefully, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey stated that this game will be different for Lowry.
“Anytime a player goes back home or goes up against a former team it means something,” Casey said. “I’m sure he’s too proud to say that or maybe he’s not. But we don’t make a big deal about it. We just hope he produces and plays the way he’s capable whether it’s Houston, Memphis or Phoenix.”
Andrea vs. Ed
As Michael Grange notes, Andrea Bargnani has had his struggles thus far into the season, with his toughest outing coming in Sunday’s loss to the Spurs when he shot 2-19 from the field.
On the flip side, Ed Davis had one of his best games that afternoon, hitting seven of his 11 shots while scoring 15 points and collecting 14 rebounds.
Which raises the obvious question, with Bargnani struggling should Casey not have yanked the struggling forward in favour of Davis?
“He is our guy and I’m going to go with him just as I would with DeMar or Kyle Lowry or Jose (Calderon) or some of our leading scorers,” Casey told the Toronto Sun. “In a one-possession game where you do need scoring, I trust Andrea and it should mean we believe in him.”
Casey said he was also worried about who would guard Tim Duncan on the other end of the floor.
“If he hadn’t been defending Duncan the way he had – our best defender – he had length on him, it bothered him to a certain extent. (Jonas Valanciunas) is learning to guard that position but Duncan has too many tricks for a rookie. Andrea did an excellent job of using his length and not getting tricked in the post in guarding Duncan.”
Tough times
The Rockets will be wearing green arm bands over their shoulders tonight to mark the passing of Sasha McHale, the 23-year-old daughter of head coach Kevin McHale.
“I talked at length with Kevin today, kind of a father-to-father talk,” Rockets acting coach Kelvin Sampson told the Hosuton Chronicle. “He’s doing funeral arrangements for his daughter. Tough time. Tough time for he and Lynn and the family. But you know Kevin is a stud.
“He’s very emotional. That’s his baby girl. Nothing else needs to be said.”
Rockets players, coaches and staff will fly to Minnesota after Tuesday game to attend the funeral for Sasha McHale Wednesday morning. — Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) November 27, 2012
Rockets players, coaches and staff will fly to Minnesota after Tuesday game to attend the funeral for Sasha McHale Wednesday morning.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) November 27, 2012
Delfino out
As expected, Carlos Delfino out tonight. Aiming for weekend. — Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) November 27, 2012
As expected, Carlos Delfino out tonight. Aiming for weekend.
