Feb 19, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers rookies Kyrie Irving (2) and Tristan Thompson (13) stand on the court during a break in the action against the Sacramento Kings at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The last time the Cleveland Cavaliers (12-32) took on the Toronto Raptors (16-27), it made me look at how Kyrie Irving played defense completely differently. Sure, I knew Irving had troubles with defense before, but in the previous meeting I watched the Raptors Jose Calderon own Irving in the pick-and-roll game. Calderon is a solid veteran, but he is not even close to being the player that Irving is. Tonight is the night we see how much, if it all, Irving has improved on the defensive end of the floor – not to mention a chance for the Cavaliers to go on their first three-game winning streak of the season.

Opponents Blog:  Raptors Rapture

Venue: Air Canada Centre – Toronto, Canada

Tipoff:  Saturday, January 26 at 7 p.m.

Betting Line: Raptors by -6.5

Where you can watch: Fox Sports Ohio

Where you can listen: WTAM (1100), WFUN (970 AM)

This game also marks a homecoming of sorts for Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson, who hails from Canada. On the inside, expect Thompson to have a big game. There is no one on the Raptors roster that can rebound like Thompson does. Coming off a game where he only played 28 minutes (3.6 below his season average), I am expecting Thompson to be fresh. I did like that he got some rest, but I hope Coach Byron Scott goes back to playing him 30-plus minutes a night. As the Cavaliers best inside player, he needs to be on the floor as much as possible.

As a whole, there is a lot that could be improved from the last time these two teams met.  In a 113-97 loss, six Raptors scored in double figures, and Toronto shot a cool 50 percent from beyond the arc. As mentioned before, a lot of that started with the stellar play of Calderon, who led his team with 23 points. Off the bench, guard Alan Anderson really hurt the Cavaliers, as he scored 18 points. If the Cavaliers hope to win tonight on the road their overall defense will have to be improved. Three pointers will need to be contested, as will their overall pick-and-roll defense.

This game is definitely one that the Cavaliers can win. Irving is playing the best basketball of his career as of late, and I am very intrigued by the addition of Marreese Speights to the roster. On the inside, the Cavs now have a three-deep rotation again, which they have been lacking since Anderson Varejao got hurt. That means we will see different lineups, and players like Thompson will remain fresh for any fourth quarter arction.

If the Cavaliers are to win tonight, it will be about defense. Toronto cannot be allowed to get open looks, and Irving will need to contain Calderon as best he can.  Expect this to be close, and decided in the fourth quarter. And I think we all know who will have the advantage there.

Statistics

Advanced Statistics

Four Factors

Players to Watch: 

Jan 25, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) attempts a shot in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving

1. 24.0 – Points Per Game

2. 47.4% – Field Goal Percentage

3. 35.7 – Minutes Per Game

Opponent: DeMar DeRozan

1. 17.3 – Points Per Game

2. 44% – Field Goal Percentage

3. 36.8 – Minutes Per Game

Key Matchup: Kyrie Irving vs. Toronto’s Point Guards

Irving has been on a hot streak over the last 10 games – averaging 26 points per game. Tonight, he will be matched up against Jose Calderon and Kyle Lowry. Both are big contributors at the point guard position and Irving will have to be aware defensively. Combined, the two average over 13 assists per game.

I will give a quick synopsis of each team’s roster, some of their statistics from last year and why I think they will finish in the position that I predicted. Agree or disagree, stay tuned to RDE to see where your team lands in the 2012 Offseason Team Rankings.

No. 12 – Toronto Raptors (5th in Atlantic Division)

2011-12 season: 23-43 (.348), 4th place in Atlantic Division (7-8)

Offensive Efficiency: 98.5 (25^th)

Defensive Efficiency: 101.5 (12^th)

2012-13 roster:

F – Quincy Acy

F-G – Alan Anderson

F – Andrea Bargnani

G – Jose Calderon

F – Ed Davis

G-F – Demar DeRozan

F – Landry Fields

C – Aaron Gray

C-F –Amir Johnson

F – Linas Kleiza

G – Kyle Lowry

G – John Lucas

G – Terrence Ross

C – Jonas Valanciunas

The Raptors, with the exception of Leandro Barbosa who was sent to the Indiana Pacers last season, are returning top scorers and veterans in Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan and Jose Calderon. That’s where the problem lies. Bargnani may be the most explosive scorer on the team, but at 7-0 he should really focus on being the big man that the Raptors need down low. He became a better defender last season, but he needs to be able to play in the middle rather than on the wing. Toronto has many players, even without Barbosa, that can fill that role. This team won’t move on from the post-Chris Bosh era until they find someone to stick down low. Rookie Jonas Valanciunas could be that guy, but he’s apart of another problem as to why the Raptors will finish last in the Atlantic this season.

This Raports team is very young. No players on the current roster has NBA experience over seven years, and we could see a very important piece and seven-year veteran Calderon could be heading out the door very soon with the pickup of point guard Kyle Lowry. Lowry, who has played in the NBA for six years, has career averages of 14.3 points, 6.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds. He started 38 of the 47 games he played in last season. Calderon averaged 10.5 points, 8.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds, but I think that Lowry has more room to improve. Calderon has spent all of his seven seasons with the Raptors, so losing him would be a huge blow to a team that is trying to build chemistry with young players such as Quincy Acy, Landry Fields and Terrence Ross.

I’m not saying that Calderon will be gone, but he’s very likely to be splitting time with Lowry, and the longtime Raptor won’t like that very much. Although the Raptors were one of the better defensive teams in the Association last season, they will struggle this year with trying to work in the new additions to the team. They lost one of their better defenders when small forward James Johnson was traded to the Sacramento Kings.