OGT Feb 6: Clippers (33-17) @ Raptors (33-17)

[Legends66NBA7]

Game Preview: http://www.nba.com/games/20150206/LA...fo.html?ls=slt

Two losses to start this five-game homestand have the Toronto Raptors feeling frustrated, but coach Dwane Casey doesn't think it'll take much for the Atlantic Division leaders to get back on track.

Casey is looking for the Raptors to remain focused as they try to sweep the season series from the slumping Los Angeles Clippers for the first time in five years Friday night.

Toronto (33-17) has a large margin for error, currently atop the Atlantic by 12 games over second-place Brooklyn. However, the Raptors aren't taking their recent struggles lightly, with Monday's 82-75 loss to Milwaukee and a 109-93 defeat to the Nets two days later coming after a six-game winning streak.

"There's a sense of frustration because we're losing games that we know we're capable of winning," said guard Kyle Lowry, who's totaled 15 points on 6 for 20 shooting in the losses. "When we lose games like this, it's always difficult to swallow."

Casey isn't too concerned.

"Right now, this time of year it's mental," he said. "You can either steal some games or you can lose some games right before the All-Star break. A lot of our mistakes are all correctable. It's more mental than it is physical.

"I don't think that we're not together. It's not that. It's just the mistakes that we're making."

The schedule, however, isn't getting any easier. Toronto's three games before the break come against Los Angeles (33-17), San Antonio and Washington, which all sport winning records.

"I don't care what their records are," Casey said. "They can be under .500, over .500. We gotta approach the game the same way for us. We gotta build consistency in the way we play."

Shooting from long range is one area in need of improvement after Toronto converted 28.3 attempts over the past two games after hitting 36.4 during its win streak.

DeMar DeRozan is having a tough time from the field, shooting 33.3 percent while averaging 14.7 points in three contests. The guard was scoring 21.8 per game over the previous four, and he had 36 with eight assists in a 118-105 defeat at Los Angeles on Feb. 7.

A torn left abductor forced DeRozan to miss a 110-98 win there Dec. 27, but Lowry picked up the slack with 25 points, seven assists and three steals.

The Raptors have not swept the season series from the Clippers since 2009-10.

Los Angeles is trying to shake out of its recent funk, losing three of four games after opening this season-high eight-game road trip with a 94-89 win at Utah on Jan. 28.

The Clippers' latest defeat was their worst since, trailing by as many as 32 points in the third quarter before falling 105-94 at Cleveland.

"We just got our butt kicked," coach Doc Rivers said. "It's on all of us. We have to do a better job. Clearly, I didn't do my job. We weren't prepared from the beginning."

Point guard Chris Paul had a forgettable game with 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting and nine assists, and he likely will face some sort of league discipline after sharply criticizing referee Lauren Holtkamp, who whistled him for a technical foul in the third quarter.

"The tech I got was ridiculous," Paul said. "That's terrible. There's no way that can be a technical. We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court. When we did that, she said, `Uh-uh.' I said, `Why uh-uh?' and she gave me a technical. That's ridiculous. If that's the case, this might not be for her."

A meeting with Toronto may not be for Paul, who is averaging 9.8 points on 30.0 percent shooting in his last four matchups.

[Legends66NBA7]

Another Purple night. Also on NBA TV, got to get off this slump and get back to playing good basketball.

[Kungfro]

What a brutal start. Probably gonna pay more attention to the Warriors/Hawks game tonight, especially if this keeps up.

[Young X]

SMH @ this start for the Raps

[Sakkreth]

[Legends66NBA7]

At least make some shots. Not like their going to play defense this game.

[LoneyROY7]

Keep feeding Blake.

[Legends66NBA7]

Well what do you know ?

James Johnson plays and the defense gets much better on both the perimeter and post.

Shocking.

[Legends66NBA7]

And wow, James contributing on offense by making high % shots.

Shocking, so shocking.

[Kungfro]

And wow, James contributing on offense by making high % shots.

Shocking, so shocking.

He's the only guy on this team that looks to attack the rim every time he has the ball.

[qrich]

Blake

[Legends66NBA7]

He's the only guy on this team that looks to attack the rim every time he has the ball.

Well, DeMar and Amir are too. DeMar is trying to be too hard pressed by posting up and making tough fall away jumpers, but he is getting to the line and rebounding/passing well.

Bench was awesome overall, 30 points between James, Lou, and Pat. I thought Ross did a good job doing other things to besides not scoring.

Got to get JV and Kyle more involved. They didn't play well in that first half.

[qrich]

Paul needs to obliterate Lowry

[qrich]

Oh lord, what is being reviewed now

[Legends66NBA7]

It's good to see Ross starting the 2nd half. Vasquez starting wasn't going to be a long term situation.