Toronto Raptors Season Preview: Game 17
re: How an astute NBA observer might expect the first part of the schedule to unfold for the Raptors this year
Game 17 – at Boston [Fri Nov 27]
|
RAPTORS |
ADV |
CELTICS |
||
|
PG |
Calderon |
à |
PG |
Rondo |
|
OG |
DeRozan * |
à |
OG |
Allen-R |
|
SF |
Turkoglu $^ |
à |
SF |
Pierce |
|
PF |
Bosh |
= |
PF |
Garnett |
|
C |
Bargnani |
= |
C |
Perkins |
|
|
|
|
||
|
PG |
Jack # |
= |
PG |
House |
|
OG |
Belinelli ^ |
= |
G |
Allen-T |
|
SF |
Wright ^ |
= |
SF |
Daniels # |
|
PF |
Evans ^ |
= |
PF |
Davis $R |
|
C |
Nesterovic $ |
à |
C |
Wallace $ |
|
|
|
|
||
|
G/F |
Douby |
= |
SF |
Hudson * |
|
PF |
Johnson ^ |
ß |
PF |
Scalabrine |
|
|
|
|
||
|
HC |
Triano |
à |
HC |
Rivers |
|
|
|
|
||
|
+1 |
OUTCOME |
+5 |
||
|
Legend: ADV – Individual match-up advantage; * - 2009 NBA Draftee; ^ - Acquired via trade; # - Restricted free agent; #M – Restricted free agent, matched offer; $ - Unrestricted free agent; $R – Unrestricted free agent, re-signed; $^ - Acquired via Sign & Trade; Italics – Returning player; ? – Injured, status uncertain. |
||||
When healthy, this group of Celtics is too much for the Raptors to handle, with the only match-up advantage, in Toronto’s favour, deep on the bench.
Since the baseline 2005-2006 season …
|
Season |
Boston Celtics |
Toronto Raptors |
||
|
2008-2009 |
62-20/.756, 1st |
= |
33-49/.402, 4th |
↓ |
|
2007-2008 |
66-16/.805, 1st |
↑↑ |
41-41/.500, 2nd |
↓ |
|
2006-2007 |
24-58/.293, 5th |
↓ |
47-35/.573, 1st |
↑ |
|
2005-2006 |
33-49/.402, 3rd |
|
27-55/.329, 4th |
|
these two teams have, in fact, gone in opposite directions in the Atlantic Division, with the Celtics re-asserting themselves as the dominant organization in the EC, on the whole, and the Raptors sinking back towards the bottom of the standings.
In sharp contrast to a large percentage of other Raptors fans, unfortunately, yours truly does not see this situation changing in the immediate future, given the different ways in which these two organizations operate.
Raptors expected W-L Record: L, 6-11
Tags: Amir Johnson, Andrea Bargnani, Antoine Wright, Boston Celtics, Brian Scalabrine, Chris Bosh, Demar DeRozan, Doc Rivers, Eddie House, Glen Davis, Hedo Turkoglu, Jarrett Jack, Jay Triano, Jose Calderon, Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett, Lester Hudson, Marco Belinelli, Marquis Daniels, Paul Pierce, Quincy Douby, Rajon Rondo, Rasheed Wallace, Rasho Nesterovic, Ray Allen, Reggie Evans, Tony Allen, Toronto Raptors
October 14th, 2009 at 10:11 am
What do you think about Boston this year? I don’t know if they did enough to get back to the finals. I definitely think they are behind Cleveland and Orlando at this point.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Raps Fan,
If the C’s have all hands on deck for the playoffs this year they are every bit as good as Cleveland and/or Orlando.
Health, coaching and crunch time execution will determine which of these three outfits goes the furthest this season. At this point, however, it’s too close to call with any degree of accuracy … because all three are absolutely terrific!
———————————–
PS. If Garnett returns to full strength, do not forget for a moment that last year’s Celtics were actually neck-and-neck with the Lakers, as the best team in the NBA, followed by the Cavs then the Magic. To that group of players, they’ve now added Rasheed Wallace + Sheldon Williams + Marquis Daniels and Lester Hudson. Rasheed Wallace is a very intelligent person and when he says that this group of players and coaches in Boston has a chance at topping the Bulls’ legendary regular season total of 72 wins, it is not something to be taken lightly … if Garnett is back to full strength!