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

[Nightman]

I don't understand why Orlando is taken lighlty here. They have a lot of arguments : Isaac , Gordon , Iwundu and Birch, long and athletic players that are bothering the Raptors offense.
Ross will shoot like his life depends on it from 3 and make it rain on the Raptors.
Vucevic is gonna drop 30/10 on this series.
Siakam will be lockdown by Isaac and Kawhi by Gordon.Lowry will go to his usual self and will wander on the court like a dead whitewalker.

So don't be surprised if my prediction will shock some people :

4-1 Raptors

If by miracle all those things happens we might snatch one game.

Gordon is going to lockdown Kawhi?

I personally don't think Kawhi will be "locked down" but Gordon has defended him will this season.

Against the Magic this year, Kawhi averages 18.0 PPG (his 2nd lowest vs any team) on a 51.6 TS% (2nd lowest vs any team) with a +/- of -6.9 (3rd lowest vs any team). Playoffs are a different animal but AG is very underrated as a defender.

[BoBBo!]

Raps in 5.

Even with the Magic firing on all cylinders since the all-star break, TO destroyed ORL with Kawhi in the lineup last game. Nurse rested the starters from the mid 3rd Q onwards - none of them even played 30 minutes. The Magic have been on a tear and have great team chemistry but they are very much a poor man's Raptors team. Their players match up well with TO but they're just a lesser version (with the exception of Vooch although Gasol should help neutralize him in the paint).

This is a fun series and I see Orlando winning game 3 to make it a little exciting but ultimately the Raptors will close it out at home in game 5.

[15Years]

this aint your uncles raptors

[Magic_Johnny12]

Listen, I'm as homer as they come and I truly appreciate the optimism here, BUT...



All we can ask for from our guys is to put up a competitive battle/series with one of the best teams in the league. I'll go on record for ALL Magic fans even if they dont want me talking for them that we fully expect to lose and some games might get ugly if our offense isn't clicking.

We might squeeze one win due to great coaching, but the playoffs is a different animal. Tempo is slowed down and rotations are tightened. Out of all the teams we could have faced Toronto was the absolute last team I personally didn't want to go up against and I'll happily admit that.

On the bright side and for realists this will show us a few things that are as equal as winning a game.

1) Does Vucevic continue his all-star play and show why he should be considered one of the premier bigs in the league and warrant his next contract (possibly near max).

2) Does coin-flip Ross (hate that name btw) continue his hot stroke and gets revenge from the team that traded him or are the bright lights too much for him and disappear as past history has shown?

3) Do our young guys show *playoff promise and learn from mistakes and adapt on the fly?

4) Does Clifford turn on another switch to accommodate for the playoffs and redeems himself from a lot of unwarranted criticism from his days with the Hornets?

Believe it not though we match up pretty well with Toronto and it will be a fun series.

I can not stress enough though how ecstatic I am when and if Orlando wins a game the total meltdown/servers down that will take place here.

For our sake let's hope the Toronto Barneys show up to play.

[Magic_Johnny12]

I don't understand why Orlando is taken lighlty here. They have a lot of arguments : Isaac , Gordon , Iwundu and Birch, long and athletic players that are bothering the Raptors offense.
Ross will shoot like his life depends on it from 3 and make it rain on the Raptors.
Vucevic is gonna drop 30/10 on this series.
Siakam will be lockdown by Isaac and Kawhi by Gordon.Lowry will go to his usual self and will wander on the court like a dead whitewalker.

So don't be surprised if my prediction will shock some people :

4-1 Raptors

If by miracle all those things happens we might snatch one game.

Gordon is going to lockdown Kawhi?

I personally don't think Kawhi will be "locked down" but Gordon has defended him will this season.

Against the Magic this year, Kawhi averages 18.0 PPG (his 2nd lowest vs any team) on a 51.6 TS% (2nd lowest vs any team) with a +/- of -6.9 (3rd lowest vs any team). Playoffs are a different animal but AG is very underrated as a defender.

SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK

[Durant Durant]

i think the Raptors will put on a better show this season after being Thanos-ed by Lebron the past couple of seasons. The other half of the disappearing duo in Lowry is still around.

season series is tied so this matchup will be epic as they're evenly matched. breaks will be key. Game 1 will define the outcome of the series.

[Magic_Johnny12]

The magic have Vucevic, Fournier, Gordon, Isaac, Ross, Augustine.

We have Kawhi, Siakam, Lowry, Gasol, green, Ibaka, FVV, Norm, Og.

This should easily be Raptors.

Please don't include Norm and OG like they have any relevance to this series. If we're playing that game you might as well included Iwundu , Birch and MCW on our side

[Shady Franchise]

Gotta go with the famous "Raps in 4."

You mean INFAMOUS right?

[Uncle Dennis]

i think the Raptors will put on a better show this season after being Thanos-ed by Lebron the past couple of seasons. The other half of the disappearing duo in Lowry is still around.

season series is tied so this matchup will be epic as they're evenly matched. breaks will be key. Game 1 will define the outcome of the series.

But Lowry was good last year.

[Scorpion King]

Raptors should win this games max 5 games.

Playoff choker Derozan and Casey are not there. Green/Kawhi/Gasol playoff experience should help Raptors nerves especially Lowry.

[Uncle Dennis]

Gotta go with the famous "Raps in 4."

You mean INFAMOUS right?

Notorious!

[Smitson]

i think the Raptors will put on a better show this season after being Thanos-ed by Lebron the past couple of seasons. The other half of the disappearing duo in Lowry is still around.

season series is tied so this matchup will be epic as they're evenly matched. breaks will be key. Game 1 will define the outcome of the series.

Lowry isn't counted on to be nearly the impact scorer that he was previously though. Even if he pulls his usual disappearing act, he's still usually a pretty solid playmaker and floor general which is what we really need from him.

[Duffman100]

The magic have Vucevic, Fournier, Gordon, Isaac, Ross, Augustine.

We have Kawhi, Siakam, Lowry, Gasol, green, Ibaka, FVV, Norm, Og.

This should easily be Raptors.

Please don't include Norm and OG like they have any relevance to this series. If we're playing that game you might as well included Iwundu , Birch and MCW on our side

Well Norm is much better than any of those guys and is a key bench player. He shot 40% from behind the arc this year.

OG's offense is ugly, but his defense is incredible.

[Shady Franchise]

Gotta go with the famous "Raps in 4."

You mean INFAMOUS right?

Notorious!

[Shady Franchise]

The magic have Vucevic, Fournier, Gordon, Isaac, Ross, Augustine.

We have Kawhi, Siakam, Lowry, Gasol, green, Ibaka, FVV, Norm, Og.

This should easily be Raptors.

One would think, but strange things happen everyday!

[Duffman100]

I don't understand why Orlando is taken lighlty here. They have a lot of arguments : Isaac , Gordon , Iwundu and Birch, long and athletic players that are bothering the Raptors offense.
Ross will shoot like his life depends on it from 3 and make it rain on the Raptors.
Vucevic is gonna drop 30/10 on this series.
Siakam will be lockdown by Isaac and Kawhi by Gordon.Lowry will go to his usual self and will wander on the court like a dead whitewalker.

So don't be surprised if my prediction will shock some people :

4-1 Raptors

If by miracle all those things happens we might snatch one game.

Gordon is going to lockdown Kawhi?

I personally don't think Kawhi will be "locked down" but Gordon has defended him will this season.

Against the Magic this year, Kawhi averages 18.0 PPG (his 2nd lowest vs any team) on a 51.6 TS% (2nd lowest vs any team) with a +/- of -6.9 (3rd lowest vs any team). Playoffs are a different animal but AG is very underrated as a defender.

Fair! Didn't realize Kawhi struggled that much.

I still think Kawhi will turn it up a notch...

[blind prophet]

Raps in 4, however think there may be a real close game or two, so keep an eye on the line.

[ORL_on_FIRE]

About how many minutes into game one until Ibaka blacks out from anger and starts punching the air?

[j_n]

Most likely: Raptors in 6

But F that Magic in 7

Time to change your sig...

[basketballRob]

I don't think Magic fans, or RealGM fans in general realize the House of Mouse related memes and joke art our fanbase is going to make during this series in the spirit of friendly banter. Should be great.

Orlando has Shamu and Toronto has a whale too.

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