ECQF | P1 (2) Toronto Raptors vs (7) Orlando Magic

[basketballRob]

I do like the Magic and I don't want to **** on them. But if you check their stretch down the end of the season,

Quality wins against the 76ers, Warriors and Celtics, good.

But it's also a lot of wins against crap teams. Atlanta twice, Cleveland, New Orleans, Memphis, Miami, Dallas, New York.

Their hot streak should be taken with a slight grain of salt considering who they faced.

Not saying they won't give the Raptors issues.

I agree and the Magic have no excuse about being tired like in the two losses to the Raptors this year. Like in the first loss on the third game in four days and second game fifth in eight days. This time both teams should be rested and no excuses.

If the weren’t back to backs (and they weren’t), they aren’t legit excuses and it doesn’t matter.

That's true, it should be more interesting with both teams rested instead of just one.

[IllMagic04]

We are going to fight but Raps in 5. I think Raps win the first 3 and we man up and get game 4 before they close in 5.

[orlando_joe]

Toronto has by far the hardest matchup of the top 4. Toronto in 6 but I wouldn't be surprised at all if it went 7

This made me laugh. Pacers are toughest team there all day long son.

well magic beat pacers 3-0 since magic hot streak jan 31 to end of season...there is that

[Steelo Green]

Good luck Magic! I think it happens in 5, because we have a lot to throw at Vuch and Kawhi will turn into shut you down, eat your lunch, playoff D Kawhi, but could see it pushed to 6.

[Zombiesonics]

14 page thread on a likely sweep #rapsgm

[15Years]

Do people understand the playoffs are different than the regular season? ESPECIALLY for a team that severely lacks playoff experience? It's as if people see the word toronto and go back retorts of choking EVEN THOUGH DeRozan and casey are gone, and this team save lowry is pretty brand new with championship experience. But yeah lets keep trying to **** on toronto for no reason but give teams like the bucks a pass that haven't had a successful run since 2000-01

[Scorpion King]

Watch on YouTube

[/quote]

Damon Jones amazing insight on how Magic will beat the Raptors in 7 games.

[basketballRob]

Do people understand the playoffs are different than the regular season? ESPECIALLY for a team that severely lacks playoff experience? It's as if people see the word toronto and go back retorts of choking EVEN THOUGH DeRozan and casey are gone, and this team save lowry is pretty brand new with championship experience. But yeah lets keep trying to **** on toronto for no reason but give teams like the bucks a pass that haven't had a successful run since 2000-01

Toronto has everything going for them. More playoff experience, older team, better record, higher payroll. They should easily win.

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[SK21209]

Love the Saturday morning Raptors playoff games, they feel like a tradition at this point. Magic are respectable but I think they're about to run into a buzzsaw.

[Detective]

[ajones9219]

Do people understand the playoffs are different than the regular season? ESPECIALLY for a team that severely lacks playoff experience? It's as if people see the word toronto and go back retorts of choking EVEN THOUGH DeRozan and casey are gone, and this team save lowry is pretty brand new with championship experience. But yeah lets keep trying to **** on toronto for no reason but give teams like the bucks a pass that haven't had a successful run since 2000-01

Personally for me it's nothing against Toronto and everything about my respect for Orlando. They are no joke

[basketballRob]

I agree and the Magic have no excuse about being tired like in the two losses to the Raptors this year. Like in the first loss on the third game in four days and second game fifth in eight days. This time both teams should be rested and no excuses.

If the weren’t back to backs (and they weren’t), they aren’t legit excuses and it doesn’t matter.

That's true, it should be more interesting with both teams rested instead of just one.

Not sure were to find the stats but I'm sure teams on the 3rd game in 4 nights and 5th in 8 are substantially lower than 500.

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[Shady Franchise]

Do people understand the playoffs are different than the regular season? ESPECIALLY for a team that severely lacks playoff experience? It's as if people see the word toronto and go back retorts of choking EVEN THOUGH DeRozan and casey are gone, and this team save lowry is pretty brand new with championship experience. But yeah lets keep trying to **** on toronto for no reason but give teams like the bucks a pass that haven't had a successful run since 2000-01

Toronto has everything going for them. More playoff experience, older team, better record, higher payroll. They should easily win.

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I don't think any win will be easy. Orlando is focused and hungry. They are riding momentum, and even though they are young, Cliff has them running a tight ship. Most importantly is their comradery. I have Tor winning in 6, and lets be honest here, the Magic are playing with House money. This playoff experience is far more important than anything else because it will make the young players hungry to repeat this success, and want to reach new heights (2nd round, Finals, etc) in the years to come.

[ORL_on_FIRE]

Every year these games end up being way more competitive than people think.

[Shady Franchise]

14 page thread on a likely sweep #rapsgm

Not surprising. Both teams are well liked and have knowledgeable fans.

[Shady Franchise]

Every year these games end up being way more competitive than people think.

Except it's been several years in regards to Orl.

[Duffman100]

OG out now for the series, most likely.

Not a MASSIVE blow to our team, but we'll miss his size coming off the bench.

[raptor jesus]

Every year these games end up being way more competitive than people think.

Yeah I expect a competitive series. Raps only blow teams out when they ramp up their transition game, which the Magic defend well. Raps aren't as scary in the half court. I think the key question is whether the Magic can score enough.

[PhilBlackson]

ORL is the hottest lower seed in the East (even more than the Pacers). They playing much more closer to the level of a 4-5th seed.

Won’t be easy but they’ll lose in 5-6 which is ok...this is just for them to get a taste. Just to get a feel of the environment, excitement, and be competitive is good enough. It’s just to plant the seed for the future to give them the taste of what they’ll be hungry to get back to and if they were in fact competitive the hope/believe they can do more in the future (ie/ advance especially as Isaac and Bamba develop).

I just can’t see Kawhi (in particular), Gasol and Danny allowing themselves to get shown up, honestly not trying to bash DeMar but this isn’t a team led by him anymore. Those guys are cut from a completely different cloth...

[HBK_Kliq_33]

Aaron Gordon can be a lockdown man to man defender when he's focused in on somebody, I've seen Gordon in the past give Harden, Durant and Kawhi trouble. Leonard vs Gordon is the most exciting matchup of the 1st round by far.