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The Raps have played one of the toughest schedules in the league to date, but it all pays off now. Over the next 20 games the Raptors have just about the easiest stretch possible in the NBA.

So let's sit back, relax, and enjoy the wins!

(Note to actual Raptors: you are not allowed to relax)

In the following schedule I've broken down the games according to how I think games should be handicapped (I've tried to do this from the point of view of a neutral, not a fan):

No stars: Raptors heavy favorites
One star: Raptors slight favorites
Two stars: Raptors slight underdogs
Three stars: Raptors heavy underdogs

Fri, Jan 25 Milwaukee 7:00 PM
** Tue, Jan 29 @ Washington 7:00 PM
* Wed, Jan 30 Washington 7:00 PM

** Fri, Feb 1 LA Lakers 7:00 PM
Mon, Feb 4 @ Miami 7:30 PM
Fri, Feb 8 LA Clippers 7:00 PM
Sun, Feb 10 @ Minnesota 6:30 PM
*** Mon, Feb 11 San Antonio 7:00 PM
Wed, Feb 13 New Jersey 7:00 PM
* Wed, Feb 20 Orlando 7:00 PM
Fri, Feb 22 @ NY Knicks 7:30 PM
Sun, Feb 24 NY Knicks 6:00 PM
** Mon, Feb 25 @ Indiana 7:00 PM
Wed, Feb 27 Minnesota 7:00 PM
Fri, Feb 29 Indiana 7:00 PM

* Sun, Mar 2 @ Charlotte 6:00 PM
** Tue, Mar 4 @ Orlando 7:00 PM NBA TV
Wed, Mar 5 @ Miami 7:30 PM
* Fri, Mar 7 Washington 7:00 PM
Sun, Mar 9 Seattle 1:00 PM

As you can see, I've got one game in which we are a heavy underdog, four in which we are very slight underdogs, or possibly favorites, four in which we are favoured by a fair margin, and an extraordinary eleven games in which we are heavy favorites.

Personally, I will be disappointed with less than 15 wins over this stretch. The third seed is there for the taking if the Raps go out and grab it!

** Mon, Feb 25 @ Indiana 7:00 PM

Really? I'd think we'd be favoured if anything. Especially with JO possibly out for the season.

There have been many people waiting for this stretch. Nice that it started with an unlikely win in Boston.

I read, more that once, that if the Raps were .500 by Jan 1 2008, the playoffs were a lock. Looks like that is true.

Having Bargs back will ice that sentiment.

Mr. Perfect wrote:

** Mon, Feb 25 @ Indiana 7:00 PM

Really? I'd think we'd be favoured if anything. Especially with JO possibly out for the season.

All of the "slight underdogs" were really close to being "slight favorites."

This is the second game of a back to back for the Raps, away, against an energetic scrappy team that will want some revenge against us. O'Neal is not the player he once was, they'll beat us through hustle if it happens.

But we could easily be favored in this one.

Efman wrote:There have been many people waiting for this stretch. Nice that it started with an unlikely win in Boston.

I read, more that once, that if the Raps were .500 by Jan 1 2008, the playoffs were a lock. Looks like that is true.

Having Bargs back will ice that sentiment.

Total lock for the playoffs. Hollinger's number crunching machine has us winning 49 based upon our schedule and our margin of victory.

Hopefully the Raps use this stretch to build confidence and get loose - especially Bargnani.

I think they will gel as a team if they are focused and play all of these games the right way.

Good thread Pierrot, but I think "2 **" should be a neutral game, not a slight underdog for the Raps, since we have 2 stars as well (Bosh, and who ever decides to be his sidekick for the night).

I got all excited when I saw this thread, I went and got some mashed potatoes...and I open it and what I find is noooo gravy...

so if anyone else is upset by this....please enjoy




I have been saying since the season started...if we can hang around the .500 mark till the end of january...we are set up to make a nice run..

Now is the time to do it....everyone is playing pretty healthy.. (come back soon TJ....and Garbo) Our offense is playing together, our D is sharper than last year and a bunch of cheery games ripe for the pickin.

Lets put some distance between us and the rest of the leastern conference

Efman wrote:There have been many people waiting for this stretch. Nice that it started with an unlikely win in Boston.

I read, more that once, that if the Raps were .500 by Jan 1 2008, the playoffs were a lock. Looks like that is true.

Having Bargs back will ice that sentiment.

Barring major injury, it is difficult to imagine that this team will finish with fewer than 45 wins...there are eight teams currently below .400, and 15 of our remaining 40 games are against those bottom feeders. Even an 11-4 record in those games and 11-14 against the rest of the league will see us finish 45-37.

Absolutely agree.

Yesterday I checked the hollinger ratings, and our strength of schedule to date was .536.

For reference, it was #1 in the league in terms of difficulty. So much more difficult than our competitors, in fact, that there were just 2 eastern conference teams with an SOS above .500, (the Knicks & Sixers) and both of theirs weren't even close (.504 & .506).

A lot of those who say we are dissappointing have to take this into consideration.

BTW - title is not at all helpful

I'll take some biscuits as well please.





Edit: Man the more I look at that pic, the more my stomach churns. Sausage gravy? Honestly? I've never really gotten it.

Must be too much Maple Syrup in my veins.

dude, that's not gravy! wtf!

i'm really looking forward to bustnani busting out of his slump during this stretch. small victories for bustnani would be:

1. avoid foul trouble
2. aim to average at least 30 mpg
3. being a "+" overall on the +/- system
4. aim to average at least 5 rebounds per game (provided that he plays 30+ mins)
5. score on high percentage shots while playing within the system--hopefully bringing up his aggregate FG% to at least 43% before season's end (or at least 45+% from now on)
6. diversifying his offensive arsenal
7. becoming a legitimate defender by altering opposing shot selection--averaging 1 block a game would be ideal.

How are we underdogs against the Pacers?

sh00n wrote:How are we underdogs against the Pacers?

Playing on their court (even though Indy is sub-.500 at home), and we'll be on the second night of a back-to-back, which is never easy against a fast-paced team. If we blow out the Knicks the night before and can rest the starters, we should have the edge. Fight for the win against New York, and the Pacers game becomes a bit more difficult.

i was looking at the schedule yesterday and i have to agree.

the only real tough challenges i see for February are against LA, San Antonio and Orlando. all of which are at home. that's a huge plus.

also, the home and home against washington will be tough, but i would be happy with a split. at least the back end of it is on our home court also.

Hendy15 wrote:i was looking at the schedule yesterday and i have to agree.

the only real tough challenges i see for February are against LA, San Antonio and Orlando. all of which are at home. that's a huge plus.

also, the home and home against washington will be tough, but i would be happy with a split. at least the back end of it is on our home court also.

I really want us to take both of those games against washington. I feel like those are a couple of important games - we have the chance to put one of our rivals down in the standings ... plus sweeping a home and home is a great way to make the statement "we are better than you."

no jinxing allowed. one game at a time.

Anyone think we can hit 50? = \

pierrot wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I really want us to take both of those games against washington. I feel like those are a couple of important games - we have the chance to put one of our rivals down in the standings ... plus sweeping a home and home is a great way to make the statement "we are better than you."

Yes. I agree. That Boston game could be the turning point of the season for us but the Washington games can define our season we need to come on their homecourt and show them how to get it done by shutting down Caron and Jamison. The game at home against them on our homecourt can be tough depending on how hard we are scrapping for the game before.

Fri, Feb 22 @ NY Knicks 7:30 PM
Sun, Feb 24 NY Knicks 6:00 PM
** Mon, Feb 25 @ Indiana 7:00 PM
Wed, Feb 27 Minnesota 7:00 PM
Fri, Feb 29 Indiana 7:00 PM
* Sun, Mar 2 @ Charlotte 6:00 PM

This is the stretch of schedule that could put us over the top - we could be 33-24 by the time that finishes.

In March, we still have a tough road trip out west against L.A., Golden State, Sacramento, Denver, and Utah, and then return out east for a road game against Cleveland and home games against Detroit and Utah.

But April is smooth sailing again - the Raps could easily go 6/8 to finish the year. Pretty soon we'll be talking about playoff opponents hopefully...