5 Things to Keep an Eye on: Raptors at Magic, Game 5

In another of our continuing series, five things to keep an eye out for tonight in the Raptors-Magic game tonight.

1. Sultan Of Swat: Dwight Howard had 8 blocks last game. That's today's "Matt repeats himself so you can let that sink in" phrase of the day. Dwight Howard had 8 freaking blocks in a playoff game in Toronto on Saturday. Chris Bosh can get all the mid range J's and weakside layups he wants. It's been clear from the start of this series that Howard owns the paint in this series. If the Raptors are going to pull out the semi-miracle and pull this thing back to Canada kicking and screaming, they're going to have to attack the basket and get some fouls on Howard. Because letting him sit back there, legal or not, is only going to result in more jumpers, which you can't rely on in a game like this.

2. Dónde Está Jose?: You remember Jose Calderon, right? The guy all the Raptors fans wanted to start after Game 2, before TJ Ford scored 21 points to help the Raps take Game 3? The guy who in that same game had a dou-ble-dou-ble? Yeah, well, if you see him, holler at your boy, okay? Because Calderon vanished in Game 4. 2 points, 5 assists, 1 for 7 shooting in 21 minutes. I kept searching a box score for something tangible I could attribute the Game 4 Magic win to, beyond my own observations watching the game which were a. Dwight Howard is not of this world and b. Rashard Lewis can pop off when he wants to. The only answer I can come up with Calderon. He's got to step up and be the man tonight along with Ford if the Raptors want to win. Well, that and ...

3. The Outsiders: The Raptors hit 12 three-pointers in their Game 3 win. In Game 4, they hit 2. That's quite a difference. Especially when you consider that they were in double digits for the first two games of the series, both of which they had a legitimate chance of winning in the final minute. There is talk of Jason Kapono starting tonight for the Raptors, and given the way Anthony Parker has played in this series at both ends of the floor, it may not be a bad plan. Jason Kapono has worked well both as a spot up shooter and with the ball, creating his own shots. If Kapono can come out raining, it'll quiet a desperate Orlando crowd and build a lead the Raptors can protect with Bosh.

4. Who's Overpaid Now?: Rashard Lewis decided to put his stamp on this series, and he put it down so hard, it broke the table, went through the floor, and marked the earth itself with the impact. 27 points on 10 of 19 shooting, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a block. Them's Josh-Smith-esque stat-stuffin' numbers, they are. If Lewis, Howard, and Hedo Turkoglu are all firing with efficiency and precision? There are only a handful of teams that can beat them. And guess what? Toronto's not one of them. The Raptors better get Bargnani to play some defense and keep Lewis cool.

5. Close Out: That's the word for the night for the Magic. The Magic have to close out this series, which will get a huge monkey off their backs, winning a playoff series for the first time since 1996. They have to close out on the Toronto three-point shooters and make the Raptors beat them with jumpers and layups at the basket. They have to close out on rebounds, and continue to dominate the Toronto frontcourt on the glass. It's close out time for the Magic. It's desperation time for the Raptors. Whatever they've got left, they better throw on the court tonight.