Before the Raptors have a chance to prove they're the best team in the East, they'll have to prove they can stop Nikola Vucevic. loung_s breaks down the matchup:
To understand exactly what kind of monster the Raptors will be dealing with, we need to look no further than a Nov. 25 affair the Magic played against the Los Angeles Lakers.
His effectiveness in pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop situations, where his deceptive quickness and three-point stroke make him a nightmare for opponents to guard:And, lastly, but perhaps most importantly, his prowess cleaning up the defensive boards that lets his team get out in transition and use its youth, speed and athleticism to its fullest:Now let’s look more specifically at how he’s performed against the Raptors this season and which matchups he’s likely to see.
A similar trend can be seen in the matchup this season between Vucevic and Gasol, albeit in a smaller sample size. The fact that both Raptors centres are able to be just as effective against Vucevic as he is against them creates a neutralizing effect, something that could be big for the Raptors.Of course, just because you can go shot for shot with a guy doesn’t mean you should settle for letting him get his.
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