Raptors meet familiar foe in Pacers
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 | 12:09 PM ET
by Brandon Hicks, CBC Sports
The Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers should be pretty familiar with each other.
Pacers point guard T.J. Ford spent two solid seasons in Toronto, splitting time with Jose Calderon quarterbacking the Raptors' offence (2006-08).
On its end, Toronto signed the dependable Jarrett Jack from Indiana this off-season, along with centre Rasho Nesterovic.
In fact, since he became the Raptors' president and general manager in 2006, Bryan Colangelo has acquired at least one player from the Pacers in each of his four off-seasons.
The two squads are linking up again on Tuesday, this time on the court in their first meeting of the season, as the Raptors host the Pacers at the Air Canada Centre (7 p.m. ET).
As an already thin Raptors bench turned thinner with the losses of guards Marco Belinelli (groin) and Antoine Wright (ankle), who are both day-to-day, Jack has been a solid backup to Calderon.
Jack, 26, tied a career-high with 11 assists against Orlando on Sunday, but the other backups couldn't follow suit as the Raps fell 104-96, with the Magic's bench outscoring Toronto's to the tune of 37-22.
"I thought they did a pretty good job throughout the whole game," Raptors head coach Jay Triano said afterward. "Their defence is one of the best. That is why they are 11-3."
Defence a problem
Toronto lost for the fifth time in six games, and have given up at least 100 points in all six contests. The Raps are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to both ends of the court, as they sit fourth in offence but are 28th in team defence.
The Raptors are 5-0 when they give up fewer than 100 points, and 1-8 when the opposition breaks the century mark.
Indiana (5-6) and Toronto (6-8) are also close in the Eastern Conference standings, with the Pacers holding down the eighth and final playoff spot with the Dinos only a half game behind in ninth spot. The two teams split their season series last year, with each winning twice at home.
The Pacers have lost three straight after winning their previous five, their latest defeat coming to Charlotte on Sunday.
Indiana is dealing with some injury trouble of their own, something Toronto could exploit on Tuesday. Centre Jeff Foster is playing in his second game since missing more than three weeks with a sprained ankle, and Troy Murphy is only suiting up for his third straight game after missing six with a back injury.
The veteran forward Murphy and rookie Tyler Hansbrough are slated to cover Toronto's Chris Bosh, which could yield more dividends for the Raptor star who is already off to the best start in his career.
Bosh, 25, leads the team in points (26.6) and rebounds (11.7), the latter total good for second in the league. Both will be career-highs if he maintains that pace.
Indiana's Mike Dunleavy has been cleared to return to the lineup, but coach Jim O'Brien is being cautious with the swingman, who is bothered by a troublesome right knee.
"He has not practised enough fullcourt that we're comfortable just throwing him out there," O'Brien said. "When he feels like he's in NBA shape, then he'll be back."
Tuesday also marks an unofficial Turkish Night at the Air Canada Centre centred on native son Hedo Turkoglu, who signed with the Raps in the off-season.
With files from The Associated Press
