Raptors

[2014olympicgold]

Sounds like the Bucks could pull a Pittrsburgh Penguins and lose to the bottom seed.. if they are only 3-7 in their last 10 they are obviously not playing their best.

TOOOO be fair for the Bucks, they were never going to lose top seed going into these 8games. Giannis Alotofletterso missed a couple of games during that 8 game stretch. And he is the team pretty much.

The difference between 1 and 8 in the NBA is much larger than 1 and 8 in the NHL. It's a huge upset if 6 beats 3. I'd be absolutely floored if Bucks lost in the first round.

[Eskimo Brother]

Yeah, I think the expectation is the Bucks and the Raps again. Unless it's Boston or Philly. Odds on the East finals not including those four teams is probably what, 10%?

[PenguinHunter]

Yeah, I think the expectation is the Bucks and the Raps again. Unless it's Boston or Philly. Odds on the East finals not including those four teams is probably what, 10%?

Including none of those 4 teams.... I would say 1%

[The Comish]

Go little dinosaurs go!

[metaldude26]

Raptors are perhaps the best defensive team in basketball. They have so much length and intelligence that they give people serious problems and it allows the coaching staff to implement all kinds of unique wrinkles that can give them a slight edge. This is also one of the best transition teams in the league. All that length, speed and intelligence leads to quick leak outs to take advantage of a scrambled opponent. There are a few problems for the Raptors, however. They allow a large number of threes, and generally they are able to push those allowed threes towards select weaker shooters but against great opponents there won't be a weaker shooter to expose. Also, better prepared and smarter teams will take away those transition edges. Lastly, the Raptors really don't have that alpha #1 like they did with Kawhi would can score and create when the game bogs down. The Raptors offense is mediocre in the half-court and they'll struggle for points against top opponents.

I think they are fodder for the Celtics, who can downsize with impunity against the Raptors and deploy their fast, smart creators/shooters while not losing anything on the defensive end. There's a reason that the Celtics went 3-1 against the Raptors, including crushing them by 22 in the bubble. The Celtics are the #3 seed and will probably get past the flawed/banged up 76ers in R1, setting up a R2 matchup that doesn't bode well for the Raptors.

It's been a spirited and delightful title defense. The Raptors absolutely will not go quietly. But there's a reason that this sport is built around alphas like Lebron and Kawhi. When everyone is smart, athletic, skilled and well coached, it's the guys who have that ability to conjure something from nothing that give you that edge. The Raptors have some wonderful players, but lack the true alpha to get that edge.

[hockeyrobot]

Raptors are perhaps the best defensive team in basketball. They have so much length and intelligence that they give people serious problems and it allows the coaching staff to implement all kinds of unique wrinkles that can give them a slight edge. This is also one of the best transition teams in the league. All that length, speed and intelligence leads to quick leak outs to take advantage of a scrambled opponent. There are a few problems for the Raptors, however. They allow a large number of threes, and generally they are able to push those allowed threes towards select weaker shooters but against great opponents there won't be a weaker shooter to expose. Also, better prepared and smarter teams will take away those transition edges. Lastly, the Raptors really don't have that alpha #1 like they did with Kawhi would can score and create when the game bogs down. The Raptors offense is mediocre in the half-court and they'll struggle for points against top opponents.

I think they are fodder for the Celtics, who can downsize with impunity against the Raptors and deploy their fast, smart creators/shooters while not losing anything on the defensive end. There's a reason that the Celtics went 3-1 against the Raptors, including crushing them by 22 in the bubble. The Celtics are the #3 seed and will probably get past the flawed/banged up 76ers in R1, setting up a R2 matchup that doesn't bode well for the Raptors.

It's been a spirited and delightful title defense. The Raptors absolutely will not go quietly. But there's a reason that this sport is built around alphas like Lebron and Kawhi. When everyone is smart, athletic, skilled and well coached, it's the guys who have that ability to conjure something from nothing that give you that edge. The Raptors have some wonderful players, but lack the true alpha to get that edge.

Well that's a great way to put it!

[PenguinHunter]

The Title defense begins today!

[2014olympicgold]

American reporters have tweeted out along the lines of...

Raps have faced the Nets twice in the Lowry era, they are 0-2, both times Raps have been the higher seed. Why are they still favoured in this series?

It's actually exhausting reading what the American reporters think about the Raps.

[PenguinHunter]

American reporters have tweeted out along the lines of...

Raps have faced the Nets twice in the Lowry era, they are 0-2, both times Raps have been the higher seed. Why are they still favoured in this series?

It's actually exhausting reading what the American reporters think about the Raps.

yes. Extremely biased and unintelligent reporting for sure.

hey, the Blazers beat the Lakers in a playoff series in 1977, they actually swept them. Why are they not the favourites in that series?

[2014olympicgold]

Bleacher has Raps below the Celtics....

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...y-playoff-team

[hockeyrobot]

So I guess they're pretty good.....

[PenguinHunter]

Can’t wait to hear all the excuses from those reporters now

[The Comish]

Let's go Raptors!

[PenguinHunter]

Wow. The stat line looks like the dominated. I never saw the game how was it?

[metaldude26]

Wow. The stat line looks like the dominated. I never saw the game how was it?

Destruction in the 1st half, almost let it get away in the 2nd half, but put the hammer down. Nice to see them win a Game 1 for once.