Are the Raptors currently the 2nd best team in the East?

[OGLife]

What dude? Gordon Hayward is a bonafide all star and a two way player. Are you suggesting that he's only marginally better than Bradley (who I love, by the way).

he’s a better finisher and playmaker. However, as I said, was he needed for the way the roster is built?

We will see how the Irving Brown Tatum Hayward Al line up does next year. You still need a bench and you’re hoping Hayward does well at the 4

Tatum will be playing the 4, not Hayward

Not after Hayward’s injury. Also good luck with that. Your team will get broken on the boards.

[strudel forever]

he’s a better finisher and playmaker. However, as I said, was he needed for the way the roster is built?

We will see how the Irving Brown Tatum Hayward Al line up does next year. You still need a bench and you’re hoping Hayward does well at the 4

Tatum will be playing the 4, not Hayward

Not after Hayward’s injury. Also good luck with that. Your team will get broken on the boards.

Toronto's not really a good rebounding team and we're doing just fine in the wins department. Boston will be okay. Their big tough guards get after it.

[Kabookalu]

Well, yeah lol. People were legit saying the Celtics "had fight" because they won Game 3 when LeBron was sick . The year before when the Raptors tied the series 2-2 people were still hating, on the Raptors for being lucky and LeBron for letting it happen.

As I always say, you take this EXACT same Raptors team but them in Knicks jerseys, and the NBA would be sucking them off.

Yeah, it's interesting how that works. I do believe the ECF was an easier series for us (despite going 5 games) than the semifinals vs. the Raps.

The funny part about it is - I'd say the EC teams that gave the Cavs the hardest run were the ones people didn't get hyped about. 2014-15 it was the Bulls in the semifinals (I legit thought we might lose that series), I'll give 2015-16 to the Raps because it went 6 games, but I was actually more worried during the Pistons series in the 1st round. And then with 2016-17, the Pacers series in the 1st round was scariest for me.

Agreed. The one EC series in the past few years I legitimately thought we could lose was against the Bulls in 2015. When Rose hit that shot against us to go up 2-1, I was terrified of it. And I think the Pacers and Pistons played us the toughest in 2016 and 2017. Even though they were sweeps, all those games went down to the wire, and the Cavs were giving solid effort, too.

I also thought the Bulls were going to win. Thibs always just knows how to scheme against LeBron, though there was always a random ass player that would go off on them, like Chalmers and Norris Cole. I believe it was game 5 where the Cavaliers barely squeaked out a win. If Chicago won that it'd have been 3-1.

[itrsteve]

As I always say, you take this EXACT same Raptors team but them in Knicks jerseys, and the NBA would be sucking them off.

100%. I look to the Christmas game of the NBA declaring the who’s who (although not accurate). It’s pretty laughable that NY and 76’ers have a Christmas game (and the Knicks last year) but they have to take ratings into account, just the way it goes. You can see it year after year, the raps are a perennial playoff contender but never get a Christmas game (I’m not looking it up, but nothing comes to mind over the past 4 seasons)

As a C’s fan, I sure as hell wouldn’t want to see Toronto in the playoffs this year, but that’s not to say it wouldn’t be a highly-competitive series.

[username_taken]

he’s a better finisher and playmaker. However, as I said, was he needed for the way the roster is built?

We will see how the Irving Brown Tatum Hayward Al line up does next year. You still need a bench and you’re hoping Hayward does well at the 4

Tatum will be playing the 4, not Hayward

Not after Hayward’s injury. Also good luck with that. Your team will get broken on the boards.

You have no idea what Hayward will look like post-injury, and Tatum has looked just fine playing the 4 this year. Learn what you're talking about before making definitive statements.

[RaptorsLife]

I hope Hayward back this year. Celtics gotta give the cavs a competive 2nd round series. make them work.

2nd and 3rd seed

raptors vs bucks 2nd round 1-4 seed matchup will be fun series

I just came from the future

[Detective]

This thread is somewhat invalid now.

[Splashin]

Does anyone(other than raptors fans) take this team seriously anymore? No one is fearful of this team. They have a 0% chance of beating the cavs. Why does this squad fool nba fans every year?

[RaptorsLife]

Does anyone(other than raptors fans) take this team seriously anymore? No one is fearful of this team. They have a 0% chance of beating the cavs. Why does this squad fool nba fans every year?

thread says 2nd best team. Who's saying anything about cavs

Everyone and there momma knows it's warriors vs cavs in finals. there's not changing

[yeahM8]

Rooting for the raps to get another division banner tbh

[Tha King]

Another year where the Raptors look like an elite team early in the season....

They might be top two in the RS but I'd take the Celtics, Wizards, and healthy Bucks over them in the playoffs.

[RaptorPride]

Another year where the Raptors look like an elite team early in the season....

They might be top two in the RS but I'd take the Celtics, Wizards, and healthy Bucks over them in the playoffs.

I agree with you but this year we are actually a different team

[DG88]

Regardless if we finished 1st overall or not Cleveland is still the best team in the East as long as LeBron has anything to say about it.

That being said the Raptors have changed their offense and it's brought a positive change to this team. The other thing that people are not looking at had been the defense. Currently ranked 6th overall in the league. Last year our defense wasn't good until the trades for Tucker and Ibaka. The true test comes in April when the playoffs begin.

[batman54]

never mind

[CelticsWin5]

he’s a better finisher and playmaker. However, as I said, was he needed for the way the roster is built?

We will see how the Irving Brown Tatum Hayward Al line up does next year. You still need a bench and you’re hoping Hayward does well at the 4

Tatum will be playing the 4, not Hayward

Not after Hayward’s injury. Also good luck with that. Your team will get broken on the boards.

explain why Tatum wouldnt play the 4. He's a great fit and they played that lineup in the preseason with success