(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
On most teams when a player expected to average 12 to 18 minutes per game is lost due to injury, it isn’t considered to be a big deal. There is almost always another player who can play additional minutes for a few games without a noticeable drop off in the team’s success.
The loss of Reggie Evans may not fall into that category.
In the Toronto Raptors’ home opener they face last year’s best regular season team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. A team whose core of players has stayed together and has added veteran depth to play with the league’s best player, LeBron James. Shaquille O’Neal and Anthony Parker will make the Cavaliers an even better team.
Unfortunately for Toronto, last year the Raptors were an easy 20 point victim of the Cavaliers incredible regular season run. But with nine new players in Toronto, at least some of the match-ups have changed.
At point guard, the Cavaliers feature all-star Mo Williams who is an effective scorer and should benefit from the additional attention given to Shaq this season.
The Raptors have their own effective point guard in Jose Calderon. Calderon is the better passer and shoots for a higher percentage than Williams.
Advantage Raptors.
At shooting guard last year, the Cavaliers relied on the under-sized Delonte West. This year West has gone through a host of offseason problems but there are no worries in Cleveland. Free agent and former Raptor Anthony Parker steps in as the more than able veteran replacement.
This season the Raptors are giving their new rookie DeMar DeRozan his chance to shine. DeRozan should have the speed and endurance advantage over the 34-year-old Parker, but youthful exuberance isn’t likely to overcome veteran savvy.
Advantage Cleveland.
LeBron James is the best small forward in the league, with all due respect to Kobe Bryant who plays shooting guard. LeBron has beaten the Raptors virtually by himself in the past.
With the addition of Hedo Turkoglu, the Raptors are much better at small forward than at any point in their history (counting Vince Carter at shooting guard). But even though Turkoglu’s Magic beat LBJ’s Cavaliers in the playoffs, the advantage still goes to the King.
Advantage Cleveland.
Anderson Varejao is a tall, long, energetic big man who often gives his opponent fits. He’s not likely to out score his opponent’s power forward, but he will wear him down.
Chris Bosh should own this match up, but he averaged 3.7 points and 3 rebounds per game below his season averages against Cleveland last year. Still that is significantly more production than is expected from Varejao.
Advantage Toronto.
This is one area where Reggie Evans could have had a significant impact on the game. Evans can match Varejao’s hustle and annoyance factor potentially letting Bosh get off against Cleveland’s significantly weaker second string. Amir Johnson has yet to show he can hang with a veteran like Varejao.
The upgrade at center by the Cavaliers to Shaquille O’Neal is significant. Even at 37-years-old, Shaq is still the immovable object and a great distributor when double teamed. Last year, the Raptors couldn’t deal with Big Z. This year Big Z is the back-up.
Andrea Bargnani continues to improve his game and features a skill set that will challenge the Cavaliers big men. None of the Cavaliers big men like to cover the three-point line. So Bargnani’s shooting touch from range needs to be on the mark all evening for the Raptors to see any balance at the center position.
Advantage Cleveland.
This is another area where Reggie Evans will be missed. If Bargnani and Nesterovic either get in foul trouble or can’t deal effectively with the Cleveland centers down low. Evans was the guy the Raptors would have called on.
Reggie Evans may not be big enough to push Shaq out of the paint, but he is fast enough to disrupt Shaq’s game. If necessary, Evans could have been counted on to take six fouls against Shaq to disrupt his effect on the offensive end and protect Bargnani’s minutes.
In the final analysis, even if Reggie Evans was available, the Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to easily handle the Raptors on most nights.
But for the home opener, Cleveland will be coming in the day after playing Boston at home. A statement game for both Boston and Cleveland that hopefully goes down to the wire and taxes the endurance of Cleveland’s older veterans.
With any luck, the Cavaliers will be running on empty for Toronto’s home opener.
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