How we can catch Boston in the Atlantic and repeat!

peteyjones13 · Post #1 » by **peteyjones13** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:03 am

I am just wondering if any of you guys think we have any chance of beating Boston, and repeating as Atlantic division Champions?

After doing some research, these are the basic steps that I have outlined for our route to catching up with Boston in the Atlantic. First of all, let me just say that they are currently 10 and a half games ahead of us.

Step 1-Cut it to approximately 6 or 7 games back before the all star break.

Our schedule up to the all star break is one that we have a chance of dominating. Other than San Antonio at home and Detroit and Boston on the road, we have a great shot to win every remaining game. Will that happen? Probably not. But we could very well go 10-4 or 11-3 in our remaining games before the all star break. Even San Antonio at home is a highly winnable game with their 6-8 road record so far this year. Our 4th toughest remaining game before the all star break is, arguably, Washington on the road. So let's say for argument's sake that we manage to complete step 1 and cut it to 7, let's say by the all star break.

Step 2-Play great ball after the road trip, and hope that Boston falters in their tough 2nd half schedule.(Especially in their 2 western road trips)

After the all star break, Boston has 2 western road swings to go through where they have to play in Denver, Golden State, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and New Orleans.

I feel that they are an excellent team, but to some degree have overachieved a little bit.

If we can cut their lead by the all star break, then continue playing great ball after it, with Boston struggling in their tough 2nd half schedule, then we can possibly pull one of the great comebacks of all time.

Despite everything I've just posted, and my best efforts to convince myself otherwise, I still think Boston will win the division. I do feel though that the salami and cheese is still in the fridge, and that it is by no means over.

Do you guys think we have a shot?

ldnk · Post #2 » by **ldnk** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:07 am

Yes. Yes we do. All that we need is for Boston to get into a horrible plane crash. Aside from a true catastrophe, we aren't catching them. What the Raptors have to hope for is that they avoid them in the 1st/2nd round of the playoffs and hope that the Celtics run into injury troubles if they want to fluke their way into the NBA finals.

The Notic · Post #3 » by **The Notic** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:07 am

If the Celtics go .500 the rest of the way (unrealistic), they're still a 53 win team.

This means we can only lose 12 games for the rest of the season, basically go 33-12 the rest of the way.

Or, we have to play like Boston the rest of the way and Boston has to play like we have been playing the rest of the way.

What I'm trying to say is, hell no.

99 Problems · Post #4 » by **99 Problems** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:10 am

I believe Boston will hang on to not only the divison lead but the conference lead, despite their recent struggles..

And if we want to go to the ECF we will have to go through Detroit or Boston in the second round barring an upset, and I would much rather face Boston...

Post #5 » by **5DOM** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:16 am

So basically all this topic is saying is that we need to win more?

Spicy P · Post #6 » by **Spicy P** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:19 am

maybe if Garnett or Pierce somehow get injured for the rest of the season

Mack11 · Post #7 » by **Mack11** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:20 am

5DOM wrote:So basically all this topic is saying is that we need to win more?

and them lose more, you know the basic concept of every team

jrizzel · Post #8 » by **jrizzel** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:34 am

TONYA HARDING ANYONE?

DIEHARD_005 · Post #9 » by **DIEHARD_005** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:35 am

Realistically it is going to be very tough. But the last few games have shown that the Celtics are indeed a team made up of human beings and not supernatural beasts. I'll admit I was confused for a little while.

Seriously though, Rajon and Allen are banged up. KG and Pierce have a lot of weight on their shoulders as long as RR and RA are not at 100%. The bench is very streaky especially with the likes of Eddie House being one of the top options coming off the bench. I think this might be the signs of the honeymoon officially being over. It's a long sched and BOS had a the first couple months very light. Fatigue is starting to take its toll and the C's are going to lose a bit of steam. Enough for the Raps to catch them in the Atlantic? Maybe but as a pesimist likely not. Enough for Detroit to catch them at the top of the east? Definitely IMO.

BTW, how good does WAS look? I think the Raptors main goal with the All Star break approaching fast is to keep pace with the Wizards for 4th in the east and not look ahead to BOS until they've taken care of Washington first.

Egg Nog · Post #10 » by **Egg Nog** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:56 am

Win as many games as possible? Good strategy.

Illuminati · Post #11 » by **Illuminati** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:57 am

YOU CAN'T CATCH BOSTON.

Toronto is a great team though.

Sun Tzu · Post #12 » by **Sun Tzu** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:05 am

jrizzel wrote:TONYA HARDING ANYONE?

I actually thought this thread was going to be about buses and brake lines.

thecc · Post #13 » by **thecc** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:17 am

Who cares about winning the division title in the regular season. That's meaningless. We should be worried about trying to win a playoff round. I think our best chances are against Atlanta or Orlando, so I hope we play one of them.

jaymeister15 · Post #14 » by **jaymeister15** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:27 am

@ the "plan"

Step 1: Win as many games as possible before the All-Star game, while hoping Boston loses a lot of games.

Step 2: Win as many games as possible after the All-Star game, while hoping Boston loses a lot of games.

But, seriously, the chances are very, very, slim.

peteyjones13 · Post #15 » by **peteyjones13** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:54 am

jaymeister15 wrote::lol: @ the "plan"

Step 1: Win as many games as possible before the All-Star game, while hoping Boston loses a lot of games.

Step 2: Win as many games as possible after the All-Star game, while hoping Boston loses a lot of games.

But, seriously, the chances are very, very, slim.

hahaha, that is funny. Ya, I there were definitly stupidly obvious things that I pointed out in my original post. Ya, the chances are extremely slim, and even if it somehow miraculously happened, I'm not sure I would want it to happen, because it would mean the Raps having to put absolutely everything into the regular season, and might not be up for the grind of the playoffs.

Double Y · Post #16 » by **Double Y** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:39 pm

We can catch Boston by winning as many games as they do overall at the end of the year.

We can beat Boston by winning more games than they do overall at the end of the year.

I can't think of any other way.

nordique · Post #17 » by **nordique** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:46 pm

Only if some Monstars steal their abilities ala Space Jam

EnigmaticProblem · Post #18 » by **EnigmaticProblem** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:55 pm

If we pull off a trade for Kobe Bryant without giving up Ford, Calderon, Bosh or Bargnani. Now, what are the chances of that happening?

Tom Baker · Post #19 » by **Tom Baker** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:01 pm

EnigmaticProblem wrote:If we pull off a trade for Kobe Bryant without giving up Ford, Calderon, Bosh or Bargnani. Now, what are the chances of that happening?

Logically, the only answer to your question would be to give up Ford, Calderon, Bosh AND Bargnani.

Hope that helps.

theonlyeastcoastrapsfan · Post #20 » by **theonlyeastcoastrapsfan** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:10 pm

Let's see. route the team bus into the Atlantic and bait hook with whoppers,

EDIT: spelled whopper correctly, remove some words that could be construed as racist. Perhaps should have just said " faster boat". My bad.