Predictions: Celtics vs Raptors

[A Future of Stevens]

 I got Celtics in 7, assuming Lowry is ready to go. Without Lowry, I think they could be in a lot of trouble. We are going to miss Hayward's playmaking a lot more in this series than we did against the Sixers. Celtics in 7, and this is going to be a GREAT series.

[hpantazo]

Scrubbing the internet for news on Lowry’s MRI results.
I trust I’ll see a post on the blog as soon as news drops.

sprained left ankle, severity to be announced later today:

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1297934941456662528

[Briantir]

Can't wait for Thursday if Toronto does lose I really hope Celtics make the Finals... I can't stand the Bucks and Mike Budonhozer I want Giannis to leave....

Do you want Giannis to leave because you think he'll join the Raptors?  Or you just don't like Milwaukee?

I'd be scared of Giannis leaving and forming a new superteam somewhere else, making a path to a championship for everyone else that much harder.  I think the best thing for 29 other teams in the league is for Giannis to stay in Milwaukee.

But obviously if you think he'd be leaving Milwaukee for Toronto, I'd understand where you're coming from.

Until I actually see a superstar MVP sign with the Raptors I'm not gonna assume anything because free agents like Giannis usually never willingly go to Toronto.

I just don't like Milwaukee that team gives me a bad vibe everyone on that team except geroge Hill and Giannis I do not like.

[PhoSita]

 It's a really tough series for me to make a decision on.

I think the Raps are a deeper team that was without question a better overall group over the course of the season. 

However, the Celtics will have the best player in the series.  It's entirely possible that Kemba and/or Jaylen Brown could also outplay Lowry or Siakam.

The Raps have a great coach, though the Celts' guy is no slouch.

The Celts seem like they matchup well, but Hayward won't be playing in this series.


Generally speaking, talent beats depth in the playoffs.  I'm just not sure how to call this.


I expect this series to go 6 or 7 and be close.  I'm going to say Celts because when it's close and in doubt I'd rather be wrong because I believed too much in my team.

[Tr1boy]

I got Celtics in 7, assuming Lowry is ready to go. Without Lowry, I think they could be in a lot of trouble. We are going to miss Hayward's playmaking a lot more in this series than we did against the Sixers. Celtics in 7, and this is going to be a GREAT series.

I'm really surprised when folks think that this will go this far

Raptors without Leonard or a legit alpha superstar is just slightly better team than the Pacers/Mavs

Their backcourt duo of Lowry/Van Vleet will face a mountain of issues at the defensive end vs Smart, Brown, Tatum and even Wannamaker. We saw it all year long

I'm worried about the Heat and Bucks from the east.  Raptors not so much

[Redz]

It's a really tough series for me to make a decision on.

I think the Raps are a deeper team that was without question a better overall group over the course of the season. 

However, the Celtics will have the best player in the series.  It's entirely possible that Kemba and/or Jaylen Brown could also outplay Lowry or Siakam.

The Raps have a great coach, though the Celts' guy is no slouch.

The Celts seem like they matchup well, but Hayward won't be playing in this series.


Generally speaking, talent beats depth in the playoffs.  I'm just not sure how to call this.


I expect this series to go 6 or 7 and be close.  I'm going to say Celts because when it's close and in doubt I'd rather be wrong because I believed too much in my team.

The Raptors definitely have a bit of the disrespected champion chip on their shoulder too.

[CFAN38]

Theis and to a lesser extent Grant shooting and hopefully making 3s are going to be a key to this series and making the the Raptors bigs uncomfortable.

[wiley]

4-2 C's

more talent.

[soulman]

I honestly think we are not good enough for Toronto right now. I think Toronto will win the East. If we manage to get pass Toronto i think we can go all the way and grab the ring.

[Quetzalcoatl]

4-2 C's

more talent.

Yeah Celtics in 6 is my guess too.  I think Tatum is going to son them

[SparzWizard]

Can't wait for Thursday if Toronto does lose I really hope Celtics make the Finals... I can't stand the Bucks and Mike Budonhozer I want Giannis to leave....

Do you want Giannis to leave because you think he'll join the Raptors?  Or you just don't like Milwaukee?

I'd be scared of Giannis leaving and forming a new superteam somewhere else, making a path to a championship for everyone else that much harder.  I think the best thing for 29 other teams in the league is for Giannis to stay in Milwaukee.

But obviously if you think he'd be leaving Milwaukee for Toronto, I'd understand where you're coming from.

So far been hearing rumors or speculations about Giannis to the Warriors but that's that.

[GreenEnvy]

I honestly think we are not good enough for Toronto right now. I think Toronto will win the East. If we manage to get pass Toronto i think we can go all the way and grab the ring.

Couldn’t disagree more. I think Toronto is a good regular season team (depth), and playing the roster the Nets put out made them look better than they are. I have the C’s favored even without Hayward (with or without Lowry). Even if Toronto were to beat us, Milwaukee handles them without difficulty. I could also see Miami possibly beating them.

[soulman]

What makes you say that, last year Toronto had 58-24, this year 53-19, last year they beat Bucks 4:2. Do you think they won the ring only because they had Kawhi Leonard, i am not sure about that.

[wdleehi]

What makes you say that, last year Toronto had 58-24, this year 53-19, last year they beat Bucks 4:2. Do you think they won the ring only because they had Kawhi Leonard, i am not sure about that.

No one wins a ring because of just one player.


But take any other one player off the Raptors, they likely still could have won.

Take off Kawhi, not a chance.


Raptors have talent and depth, but no longer has the one guy they can go to carry them in the hard playoff spots.


I think the Celtics have two of those players. 

[Briantir]

I honestly think we are not good enough for Toronto right now. I think Toronto will win the East. If we manage to get pass Toronto i think we can go all the way and grab the ring.

Couldn’t disagree more. I think Toronto is a good regular season team (depth), and playing the roster the Nets put out made them look better than they are. I have the C’s favored even without Hayward (with or without Lowry). Even if Toronto were to beat us, Milwaukee handles them without difficulty. I could also see Miami possibly beating them.

Lol Miami wold not beat Toronto in a 7 game series c'mon man they lost the finals MVP and arguably the best player in the world and have a better record then the Celtics and swept their first round fairly easily and have also only registered one loss in the bubble...

The disrespect is real!