Raptors (23-10) at Spurs (27-7): Preview

Two serious contenders clash in Texas. The Raptors try to go positive for their road trip, while the Spurs want to regain their winning ways after a disappointment in Georgia.

The Raptors officially step into a nasty 5-game stretch of their schedule with a date in San Antonio. The Spurs are the best of the 5 opponents Toronto will face, but 3 of the other four are well above .500, and the other, Chicago, has given our team fits in recent seasons.

San Antonio has been the best-managed franchise in professional sports for two decades. Their worst record since 1999-2000 was 50-32 in 2009-10, and they have won four championships in this century.

They keep their players (and their coach) forever, and the success of the Spurs means players know they must check their egos if they want to get on the floor. They also have the market cornered on finding gems among later picks in the NBA draft (Tony Parker #28, Manu Ginobili #57, Kawhi Leonard #15 by Indiana, then traded…oops).

This year’s Spurs have shrugged off the retirement of Tim Duncan by back-filling with Pau Gasol. LaMarcus Aldridge provides stellar frontcourt scoring and defense, and the backcourt passes and scores without regard to who’s actually playing there.

3 keys to Raptors victory

Jan 1, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Pau Gasol (16) shoots the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in overtime at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 114-112 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Conclusion & Final Score

I’d like to tell you about how the Raptors are going to end their long drought in San Antonio with a win – but I can’t. The Spurs are going to be out of sorts after blowing a late lead in Atlanta to lose in OT. Coach Pop will be all over them to get this game.

Patrick Patterson is once again going to be out of the lineup. The Raptors were able to cobble together some oddball fivesomes to fend off the Lakers without him…but these are the Spurs.

Spurs 114 – Raptors 108