Playoff Picture

[tenforthewin]

Right now we are 4th in the Eastern Conference, 2nd in our own conference. If playoff were to start today, we are
up against the Hawks.

Raps VS Hawks
Lowry > Dennis Schroeder - Lowry should be able to contain Schroeder
DeRozan > Tim Hardaway Jr - DeRozan will hit his open jumper and drawing foul against this weak opponent
DMC < Ersan Ilyasova - DMC plays tough defense but Ilyasova has the better shot
Ibaka = Millsap - Both are great PF
JV < Howard = Howard playoff is not regular season Howard, I believe JV will have a hard time

Raps 4 Hawks 2. Raps advance

If we were to play with the Bulls
Lowry > Rondo - Lowry will outshine Rondo but given Rondo delivers when it comes down to playoff, who knows
DeRozan < Wade - DeRozan and his Raptors beat the Heat when it comes down to playoff last time around but this
time Wade will seek revenge and will guard heavily on DeRozan
DMC < Jimmy Butler - Jimmy Butler will be a tough matchup for DMC but given the fact that we have two defensive SF in DMC and PJ Tucker, Butler will have a hard time hitting his shots
Ibaka > Nikola Mirotic - Ibaka would crush Mirotic
JV > Ryan Lopez - Lopez can't contain JV

Raps 4 Bulls 3. Raps advance

If we were to play with the Pacers
Lowry > Jeff Teague - Lowry guarded George Hill last time around but I believe Lowry will have that extra edge
over Teague
DeRozan > Monte Ellis - DeRozan should be able to contain Ellis
DMC < George - George will once again be a tough matchup for our Raptors
Ibaka > Thaddeus Young - Young can't contain Ibaka
JV < Myles Turner - Turner has become a really good player so I don't think JV will be able to contain him this time around

Raps 4 Pacers 2. Raps advance

So as you can see, no matter which team we play, we will advance and play either Boston or Washington. Although I would love to see the Raps play vs Pistons but only one can dream.

[Nilanka]

Just have to avoid finishing 4th/5th at all costs. Even dropping to 6th is more desirable than 4th/5th.

[Bonus Jonas]

They need to move into 2nd/3rd to avoid Cleveland in the second round

[KeonClark]

Right now we are 4th in the Eastern Conference, 2nd in our own conference. If playoff were to start today, we are
up against the Hawks.

Raps VS Hawks
Lowry > Dennis Schroeder - Lowry should be able to contain Schroeder
DeRozan > Tim Hardaway Jr - DeRozan will hit his open jumper and drawing foul against this weak opponent
DMC < Ersan Ilyasova - DMC plays tough defense but Ilyasova has the better shot
Ibaka = Millsap - Both are great PF
JV < Howard = Howard playoff is not regular season Howard, I believe JV will have a hard time

Raps 4 Hawks 2. Raps advance

If we were to play with the Bulls
Lowry > Rondo - Lowry will outshine Rondo but given Rondo delivers when it comes down to playoff, who knows
DeRozan < Wade - DeRozan and his Raptors beat the Heat when it comes down to playoff last time around but this
time Wade will seek revenge and will guard heavily on DeRozan
DMC < Jimmy Butler - Jimmy Butler will be a tough matchup for DMC but given the fact that we have two defensive SF in DMC and PJ Tucker, Butler will have a hard time hitting his shots
Ibaka > Nikola Mirotic - Ibaka would crush Mirotic
JV > Ryan Lopez - Lopez can't contain JV

Raps 4 Bulls 3. Raps advance

If we were to play with the Pacers
Lowry > Jeff Teague - Lowry guarded George Hill last time around but I believe Lowry will have that extra edge
over Teague
DeRozan > Monte Ellis - DeRozan should be able to contain Ellis
DMC < George - George will once again be a tough matchup for our Raptors
Ibaka > Thaddeus Young - Young can't contain Ibaka
JV < Myles Turner - Turner has become a really good player so I don't think JV will be able to contain him this time around

Raps 4 Pacers 2. Raps advance

So as you can see, no matter which team we play, we will advance and play either Boston or Washington. Although I would love to see the Raps play vs Pistons but only one can dream.

Ahh. Reassuring

[psrs1]

Just have to avoid finishing 4th/5th at all costs. Even dropping to 6th is more desirable than 4th/5th.

In 100% agreement.

[rightsideup]

Just have to avoid finishing 4th/5th at all costs. Even dropping to 6th is more desirable than 4th/5th.

We dropped the homecourt in the first two series anyhow

[deebee]

pretty good chance Lowry doesn't return for the first round

[Ball]

pretty good chance Lowry doesn't return for the first round

Not too sure about that. Most guesses I've seen pegged him at about 4-5 or 5-6 weeks. And thankfully Raptor players have returned from injury on schedule (Carroll, Sullinger, Demar...)

[KeonClark]

Not too sure about that. Most guesses I've seen pegged him at about 4-5 or 5-6 weeks. And thankfully Raptor players have returned from injury on schedule (Carroll, Sullinger, Demar...)

The clock starts tomorrow! Hopefully he's an April fools day return

[psrs1]

The clock starts tomorrow! Hopefully he's an April fools day return

We really need him to get back to play minimum 3-4 games prior to playoffs to be in optimal position for first round.