Expansion Cousins Face Off - Memphis Grizzlies vs. Toronto Raptors

It’s always a special matchup when teams that entered into the NBA in the same year go head to head. If you were to compare these two franchises, the Toronto Raptors have been the more successful by a long shot. The Grizzlies franchise never got off the ground in Vancouver, but that happens when you draft Big Country Reeves in the first round and Stu Jackson gives him the keys to the franchise.

Toronto has been playing great ball of late, and have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference over the past few weeks. They’ll be looking to kick off the second half of their season tonight versus a struggling Memphis team at the Air Canada Centre.

The Raptors have something that they didn’t have in the early part of the season, and that’s an identity. Early on it they just hadn’t gelled and it showed on the court. But once they started picking up some momentum and everyone figured out their roles on the team, they’ve been one of the most electrifying teams in the NBA. The Raptors are fifth in the Eastern Conference standings and 4 1/2 games behind Boston for the Atlantic Division lead.

They have won the first games of a four-game home stand and are a 12-5 over its last 17 games overall. A victory tonight will give Toronto nice straight wins at home which would be a franchise record for their most consecutive at home. They entered into the All-Star break with a 104-93 win over Philadelphia last Wednesday with their All-Star, Chris Bosh, leading the way with 23 points and 12 rebounds. This current streak right now isn’t their best ever as they won 9 in a row from February 23 - March 8, 2000 but they are playing their best basketball in franchise history. Since December 13 the Raptors are 14-1 on their home floor and tied a team record with 29 wins prior to the All-Star break.

Bosh will be coming off the All-Star break with some confidence as he made a game-winning free throw with five seconds remaining to help the Eastern Conference take the game. He finishing with 23 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes and was a candidate for the MVP award.

Memphis is having a decent season (26-26), but have hit a bit of a skid. They have lost five straight games and come into this one fresh off a 109-95 setback at the hands of the Phoenix Suns last night. Rudy Gay registered 21 points and All- Star Zach Randolph contributed 18 points and 15 boards for Memphis, which has lost seven of eight overall after winning 15 of the previous 19 contests.

The Grizzlies are still in the hunt, currently four games behind Portland for the final postseason spot in the Western Conference. They have won 10 of the past 14 meetings in the series and beat Toronto at home in late October, but they are also winless in its last three trips to Air Canada Centre.

The NBA oddsmakers have the Raptors as a 7 point home favourite, which is coverable in my mind. With the confidence they’ve been playing with and the momentum they’ve been able to pick up over the last months plus, I’d say they handle the line and take out the Grizzlies by 10.

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