Legends66NBA7
03-16-2015, 06:51 PM
Game Preview: http://mi.nba.com/preview/#!/0021400990
Poor defense has led to a string of ugly losses for the*Toronto Raptors, though they had little trouble with the*Indiana Pacers*in two earlier meetings this season.
Since the most recent one, however, Indiana has completely turned around its season.
The Raptors will try to get back on track Monday night with a repeat performance against the Pacers, whose season-best win streak ended in their previous game.
Toronto (39-27) has eased past Indiana (30-25) so far in 2014-15, winning 106-94 at home Dec. 12 before a 104-91 road victory Jan. 27. The Pacers have now failed to reach 100 points in their last 10 meetings with the Raptors, going 3-7 in those contests.
Things have changed dramatically for both clubs since that January meeting, with Atlantic Division-leading Toronto going 6-12 and Indiana 13-3 since Feb. 1.
The Raptors fell to Portland 113-97 on Sunday for their 10th loss in 12 games.*DeMar DeRozan*had 22 points, but*Kyle Lowry*scored just 10 -- more than eight below his average.
Defense has been the primary culprit for the swoon. While Toronto already ranked in the bottom 10 at 101.3 points allowed per game, it's surrendered 108.0 over the last nine.
"We've got to worry about defense first," DeRozan said. "I'm thinking everything else will come into play because coach lets us play. It's on us to get stops so we can get out, get easy shots and easy buckets."
The Raptors, whose offense is still excelling at 104.3 points per game over the last seven, have dropped from having the league's fourth-best record on Feb. 20 to its 10th-best following Sunday's defeat.
"We have enough scorers. I'm more concerned about getting stops," coach Dwane Casey said. "That's what we've got to do. You've got to make sure you get stops, and if you don't, it's going to be a long night."
Indiana had won a season-high seven straight games before being cooled off Saturday in a 93-89 home loss to Boston that also ended a seven-game home streak.
Two nights after coughing up 20 turnovers in a 109-103 overtime win against Milwaukee, the Pacers committed 17 against the Celtics -- their worst two marks in the last 20 games.
"We really couldn't find that edge tonight,"*George Hill*said. "Sometimes you have those games. Normally in the past we've been able to win games like that ... We'll be OK. It's a good team in this locker room. We just have to play a good brand of defense and allow each other to move the ball. Once we do those things, it's all in our control."
Indiana's hot stretch has moved it into the Eastern Conference playoff picture with 17 games to play. Currently sitting seventh in the conference, the Pacers own a half-game lead on Charlotte and one-game leads on both Miami and the Celtics.
They'll cap off a four-game homestand before embarking on a quick two-game trip.
While their offense has been only marginally better at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Pacers have enjoyed far better defensive performances at home, especially in recent games. They've allowed 94.4 points per game at home this season, but just 88.3 in the last eight.
"We still think we're one of the best teams in the NBA,"*C.J. Watson*said. "We've just got to take it one game at a time."
Poor defense has led to a string of ugly losses for the*Toronto Raptors, though they had little trouble with the*Indiana Pacers*in two earlier meetings this season.
Since the most recent one, however, Indiana has completely turned around its season.
The Raptors will try to get back on track Monday night with a repeat performance against the Pacers, whose season-best win streak ended in their previous game.
Toronto (39-27) has eased past Indiana (30-25) so far in 2014-15, winning 106-94 at home Dec. 12 before a 104-91 road victory Jan. 27. The Pacers have now failed to reach 100 points in their last 10 meetings with the Raptors, going 3-7 in those contests.
Things have changed dramatically for both clubs since that January meeting, with Atlantic Division-leading Toronto going 6-12 and Indiana 13-3 since Feb. 1.
The Raptors fell to Portland 113-97 on Sunday for their 10th loss in 12 games.*DeMar DeRozan*had 22 points, but*Kyle Lowry*scored just 10 -- more than eight below his average.
Defense has been the primary culprit for the swoon. While Toronto already ranked in the bottom 10 at 101.3 points allowed per game, it's surrendered 108.0 over the last nine.
"We've got to worry about defense first," DeRozan said. "I'm thinking everything else will come into play because coach lets us play. It's on us to get stops so we can get out, get easy shots and easy buckets."
The Raptors, whose offense is still excelling at 104.3 points per game over the last seven, have dropped from having the league's fourth-best record on Feb. 20 to its 10th-best following Sunday's defeat.
"We have enough scorers. I'm more concerned about getting stops," coach Dwane Casey said. "That's what we've got to do. You've got to make sure you get stops, and if you don't, it's going to be a long night."
Indiana had won a season-high seven straight games before being cooled off Saturday in a 93-89 home loss to Boston that also ended a seven-game home streak.
Two nights after coughing up 20 turnovers in a 109-103 overtime win against Milwaukee, the Pacers committed 17 against the Celtics -- their worst two marks in the last 20 games.
"We really couldn't find that edge tonight,"*George Hill*said. "Sometimes you have those games. Normally in the past we've been able to win games like that ... We'll be OK. It's a good team in this locker room. We just have to play a good brand of defense and allow each other to move the ball. Once we do those things, it's all in our control."
Indiana's hot stretch has moved it into the Eastern Conference playoff picture with 17 games to play. Currently sitting seventh in the conference, the Pacers own a half-game lead on Charlotte and one-game leads on both Miami and the Celtics.
They'll cap off a four-game homestand before embarking on a quick two-game trip.
While their offense has been only marginally better at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Pacers have enjoyed far better defensive performances at home, especially in recent games. They've allowed 94.4 points per game at home this season, but just 88.3 in the last eight.
"We still think we're one of the best teams in the NBA,"*C.J. Watson*said. "We've just got to take it one game at a time."