Preview: Toronto Raptors Veterans Face Off Against the Kids From Memphis

How often will the Toronto Raptors be listed as the “veteran” team going into a NBA contest this season? Tonight in Memphis will be one of those nights.

The Memphis Grizzlies have a 15-man roster with only four players 25 years old or older versus the grizzled veteran Raptors squad with nine at 25 years plus. Both teams have only two players older than 29.

Not surprisingly, this very young team of Grizzlies isn’t expected to win a lot of games this season and was blown out in their home opener by Detroit  96-74. Last season, the Grizzlies maintained a three-year tradition of winning 20-29 games.

The Toronto Raptors, coming off a very disappointing 2008-09 season, have rebuilt their roster and are looking at returning to the eastern conference playoff race. Starting out strong by beating Cleveland 101-91 at the ACC in Toronto on Wednesday night.

Strangely since moving to Memphis in 2001, the Grizzlies have owned the Raptors at home, going 5-2.

Missing from tonight’s contest will be the Grizzlies second-year power forward, Darrell Arthur who is expected to miss four months with a torn pectoral and Allen Iverson is being held out to allow his injured hamstring to fully recover. Reggie Evans is not expected to play for Toronto as he is still recovering from a sprained foot and Sonny Weems is also likely to be unavailable.

Comparing the teams starting lineups.

At point guard:

Mike Conley is the Grizzles 22-year-old starting point guard. At 6-foot-1, 185 lbs and entering his third NBA season, Conley hasn’t exactly set the NBA world on fire. Last season he averaged 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in just over 30 minutes a game.

Jose Calderon, the Raptors 28-year-old starting point guard is entering his fifth NBA season after putting up career numbers last season of 12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. At 6-foot-3 and about 200 lbs, Calderon should have little trouble dominating his younger, less experienced opponent.

Advantage: Raptors.

At shooting guard a pair of USC Trojans face off:

The Grizzles O.J. Mayo, 6-foot-4 210 lbs, is entering his second NBA season after a successful rookie campaign. Last season he averaged 18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 38 minutes per game and started 81 times.

DeMar DeRozan is the Raptors’ rookie shooting guard whose primary advantage over O.J Mayo will be his size. At 6-foot-7 and 220 lbs, DeRozan should be able to challenge this former Trojan defensively and have the advantage in the post. But most nights DeRozan will face an experience deficit and O.J. Mayo will have learned a few things the Raptors’ rookie doesn’t know.

Advantage: Grizzlies.

At small forward:

At 6-foot-8 and 230 lbs, Rudy Gay is the prototypical NBA small forward. Athletic and strong, Gay has been a successful points producer on a very bad NBA team. Last year Rudy Gay averaged 18.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 37.3 minutes per game as his production slipped slightly from his sophomore season.

This offseason the Raptors acquired former Orlando Magic small forward Hedo Turkoglu. Entering his 10th NBA season after being to the NBA Finals last year, Turkoglu brings the kind of NBA experience the Raptors had been lacking and the Grizzlies desperately need. Last season, Turkoglu averaged 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.

Advantage: Raptors.

At power forward:

The Memphis Grizzles acquired eight-year veteran Zach Randolph this summer. Best known for putting up 20 points and 10 rebounds almost every year since his third season, Randolph is now on his third team in three years. Considered an offensive black hole, Randolph’s production is often offset by his poor team play. At 6-foot-9 and 260 lbs, Randolph does have an effective low post game.

Toronto’s all-star Chris Bosh has been reliably putting up 22 points and 10 rebounds over the past four seasons. This past offseason, the six-year veteran made it known that he wasn’t happy with missing the playoffs and put it on himself to get better, arriving in camp some 10-20 lbs heavier and stronger than last season.  The 25-year-old Bosh is listed at 6-foot-10 and 230 lbs but may be closer to the 245 to 250 lb range presently.

Advantage: Raptors.

At Center:

When Memphis traded Pau Gasol for Marc Gasol, they traded the present for the future. Marc Gasol, in his second NBA season, is expected to become a very good NBA player over his career. At 24 years old, 7-foot-1, and 265 lbs, Marc Gasol has all the tools required of an NBA center. In his rookie year, Gasol averaged 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 30.7 minutes per game.

Marc Gasol had a great first game for 2009-10 season with 21 points and 15 rebounds in the loss to Detroit.

The Toronto Raptors former No. 1 draft pick, Andrea Bargnani, broke out over the second half of 2009-10 for 19 points and six rebounds per game. The 24-year-old Bargnani is listed at 7-foot 250lbs and is entering his fourth NBA season. Last season he averaged 15.4 points and 5.3 rebounds and was one the top scoring centers in the NBA.

In Bargnani’s first game of 2009-10 he scored 28 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 101-91 win.

Advantage Raptors.

The Grizzlies’ starting line-up includes two sophomores and two third year players. This is not a line-up that should give many NBA head coaches much hope for a successful season. Against the more experienced Toronto Raptors, the Memphis Grizzlies should be expected to struggle.

Facing a team they should beat in a building they have not enjoyed much success in, look for the Toronto Raptors to keep the Memphis Grizzlies’ 2009-10 home losing streak alive.

Check here for a Recap of Raptors v Cavaliers in the Home Opener.

And It's Time to Cheer for the Raptors! Go Turkogluuuuuu!