Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors (Oct. 29, 2021): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic hit the road again as they start a three-game trip in Toronto against the Toronto Raptors and a manageable trio of opponents.
Orlando Magic (1-4) at Toronto Raptors (2-3)
Time/TV: 7 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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Line: Raptors by 8
Tickets: $23-$382 on StubHub
2021 Season Series: Raptors 115, Magic 102 in Orlando on Jan. 31; Raptors 123, Magic 108 in Orlando on Feb. 2; Raptors 113, Magic 102 in Tampa on April 16
2022 Season Series: Tonight in Toronto; Dec. 20 in Toronto; April 1 in Orlando
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 99.2 | 101.6 | 115.9 | 49.9 | 27.6 | 17.1 | 24.4 |
| Toronto | 98.9 | 104.6 | 100.4 | 47.1 | 36.8 | 15.3 | 22.6 |
OMD Prediction
The Toronto Raptors are a team in transition and a team figuring themselves out. They are hoping Pascal Siakam can return to All-Star form. They have some solid guards and players who can spread the floor in Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. And a lot of their hopes and future rest in the development of OG Anunoby and the emergence of rookie Scottie Barnes. There are a lot of things the Raptors are still figuring out with a very talented group. Everyone is still establishing their roles.
That has led to some struggles. The Raptors, despite all these weapons, have struggled to score for much of the season. And while Toronto remains a tough defensive team, they still have to put the ball in the basket. And that part has not been easy. Siakam has been out and remains out with a shoulder injury. And the team is seeking consistency.
That is a small gap for the Orlando Magic to get through. This game will have its rough offensive moments for both teams. It may well come down to effort, which both teams should be trying to hang their hat on. It may well come down to who shoots better.
81. Prediction. 109. 38. 108
3 Keys To Watch
Rebounding, rebounding, rebounding
Wendell Carter was especially frustrated with himself at the end of the Orlando Magic’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets. He put it on himself that Mason Plumlee was able to collect several offensive rebounds down the stretch that cost the team critical time and critical points. If Carter was not going to get the rebound, he needed to prevent the offensive rebound.
This has been a problem well beyond the loss on Wednesday. Rebounding has been an issue throughout the entire course of the season. Orlando currently ranks 22nd in the league with a 72.0-percent defensive rebound rate. The Magic give up 14.0 second-chance points per game (25th in the league).
Orlando put its focus on stopping transition play to compete with Charlotte on Wednesday. That focus paid off with a strong effort in slowing down the speedy Hornets. In this game, the Magic need to put their focus on the defensive glass against a versatile and aggressive Raptors team that attacks the offensive glass well.
Suggs vs. Barnes
Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors fans have had this game circled for one of the great what-ifs? in the franchise’s histories. The Raptors surprisingly took Barnes with the fourth pick in the draft, leaving Magic fans to celebrate Suggs’ selection at No. 5. It is quite a sliding doors question to ask what if the Raptors had gone chalk.
The two are going to get compared — even if Barnes insists he is very friendly with Suggs and there is no rivalry between those two — no matter what because of this. And both are going through some struggles to start their professional careers. Barnes is averaging 17.0 points per game and 8.2 assists per game while shooting 53.7-percent from the floor. He is not shooting threes yet (1 for 6 overall in five games). But Barnes’ versatility is as-advertised, especially on defense.
Suggs’ struggles are well documented to start the season. He is averaging 11.6 points per game and 3.6 assists per game. But he is shooting 28.6-percent from the floor, shooting 21.6-percent from deep and averaging 3.6 turnovers per game. There is a lot Suggs needs to work on beyond just slowing down and reading the game better.
But these are rookies. They will both need time to grow into their roles and the league.
Settling the rotation
It is going to continue to be a drum the Orlando Magic are going to have to beat and figure out through the course of the early season. Coach Jamahl Mosley is still settling on and figuring out a rotation that can sustain the team throughout the entire course of the game. He at least has a starting lineup he can build around. But everything else is in flux.
Despite the Magic’s poor record and poor statistical profile, the team’s starting unit of Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter and Mo Bamba has the best net rating of any lineup in the entire league that has played at least 50 minutes so far this season. That group has a +26.9 net rating (114.8 offensive rating/87.9 defensive rating) so far this season.
That is good. And it just shows how much the team’s bench units are struggling. Why this group is successful is still a bit of a mystery — Franz Wagner might have a lot to do with it. But the team is going to have to break them up to try to figure it out and create lineups that enable the whole group to succeed.
Next. Orlando Magic must focus on the simple things and remain patient. dark
The Magic could really use some more healthy players. But unfortunately, Chuma Okeke remains listed as out for the game as of Friday morning.