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

[B-Ball Freak]

What's with the 2 days in between games? Travel day for game 3 I guess.

[fourones1x]

I've already told my supervisor I would be calling in sick if Raps lose game 2. My heart can't take this lol

[bigheadburton]

Felt like Raptors played fine in the first game, nothing seemed broken. Created a bunch of open looks they should have made. But, like Zach Lowe mentioned in his article today, the fact Magic shot better than expected from three and the Raptors worse shouldn't matter. If the Raptors are as good as a lot of people believed (me included) they should still beat the Magic.

I still expect the Raptors to win this series, but if they don't make a statement in game two, like the sixers did, I might start to doubt them.

And this is not meant as disrespect to the Magic, but if the Raps are a legit title contender they should fairly easily beat a seventh seed even if Orlando has been better than that the last 30 games or so.

[Duffman100]

Felt like Raptors played fine in the first game, nothing seemed broken. Created a bunch of open looks they should have made. But, like Zach Lowe mentioned in his article today, the fact Magic shot better than expected from three and the Raptors worse shouldn't matter. If the Raptors are as good as a lot of people believed (me included) they should still beat the Magic.

I still expect the Raptors to win this series, but if they don't make a statement in game two, like the sixers did, I might start to doubt them.

And this is not meant as disrespect to the Magic, but if the Raps are a legit title contender they should fairly easily beat a seventh seed even if Orlando has been better than that the last 30 games or so.

This is pretty much where I'm at. If the Raps can't knock off Orlando, there was no way they were going to even make the finals, let alone win it.

[Tracymcgoaty]

Lowry going off this game i bet everything i got.

10/5 Redemption game for Lowry

[basketballRob]

Orlando won game 1 behind superior 3-point shooting, while Toronto struggled from 3-point. Over the long term, those shooting percentages will normalize. I expect Toronto to prevail, but will watch with interest.

It helps that they had a man running at them on the three point line. The Raptors were 9-18 on uncontested threes, meaning no one within 6 feet. If the trend continues at some point you'll have to give credit to the defense.

The rest of the threes were contested.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

[aboveAverage]

I have a hard time seeign the Raptors losing game 2. They know their season is on the line. They'll come out motivated.

I bet Lowry makes a three within the first minute or two and then settles down a bit.

[Magic_Johnny12]

JUST IN CASE

Here's the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the event Orlando wins tonight.

This is not a joke and I'm not making fun of suicidal people, but with some of the comments I have seen here and on the Raps board some of you genuinely might need it.

1-800-273-8255

[binjumper]

JUST IN CASE

Here's the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the event Orlando wins tonight.

This is not a joke and I'm not making fun of suicidal people, but with some of the comments I have seen here and on the Raps board some of you genuinely might need it.

1-800-273-8255

I know its not a joke, but if you saw the raptors board some people love to be negative about everything. It's mainly the fans who became fans within the last 5 years. They never experienced the dark days when making the playoffs was a pipe dream.

[basketballRob]

Get ready for the Lowry complain and flop show tonight.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

[Vampirate]

I'm literally bracing for the worst at this point as a Raptors fan.

[dynamic duo]

Lowry going off this game i bet everything i got.

10/5 Redemption game for Lowry

[RookieStar]

Felt like Raptors played fine in the first game, nothing seemed broken. Created a bunch of open looks they should have made. But, like Zach Lowe mentioned in his article today, the fact Magic shot better than expected from three and the Raptors worse shouldn't matter. If the Raptors are as good as a lot of people believed (me included) they should still beat the Magic.

I still expect the Raptors to win this series, but if they don't make a statement in game two, like the sixers did, I might start to doubt them.

And this is not meant as disrespect to the Magic, but if the Raps are a legit title contender they should fairly easily beat a seventh seed even if Orlando has been better than that the last 30 games or so.

This is pretty much where I'm at. If the Raps can't knock off Orlando, there was no way they were going to even make the finals, let alone win it.

I kinda disagree.. I mean WHEN/IF you advance in this series, you will.meet up either an undersized Nets or an injury-plagued Sixers.

Once that is over you meet up the winner of the slugfest that would surely be between the bucks and celts.

[Tracymcgoaty]

Lowry going off this game i bet everything i got.

10/5 Redemption game for Lowry

The original BBB

Big-Booty-Bitches

Edit: Oh crap can i get a strike for saying the B word here? Im risking it damn it all to hell!

[PhilBlackson]

Felt like Raptors played fine in the first game, nothing seemed broken. Created a bunch of open looks they should have made. But, like Zach Lowe mentioned in his article today, the fact Magic shot better than expected from three and the Raptors worse shouldn't matter. If the Raptors are as good as a lot of people believed (me included) they should still beat the Magic.

I still expect the Raptors to win this series, but if they don't make a statement in game two, like the sixers did, I might start to doubt them.

And this is not meant as disrespect to the Magic, but if the Raps are a legit title contender they should fairly easily beat a seventh seed even if Orlando has been better than that the last 30 games or so.

This is pretty much where I'm at. If the Raps can't knock off Orlando, there was no way they were going to even make the finals, let alone win it.

Sorry but you're the second poster I've seen word things this way and I'm honestly not trying to make fun of you but...

What you're stating is rhetorical.

Obviously if we "can't knock off Orlando" then "there's no way they were going to the Finals" LOL You wouldn't have to rationalize/deduce we can't make it...it would already be so by the simple fact we were eliminated lol.

I know it's just poor wording but like I said I seen another poster phrase things the same way that I couldn't help but point it out.

[Duffman100]

Felt like Raptors played fine in the first game, nothing seemed broken. Created a bunch of open looks they should have made. But, like Zach Lowe mentioned in his article today, the fact Magic shot better than expected from three and the Raptors worse shouldn't matter. If the Raptors are as good as a lot of people believed (me included) they should still beat the Magic.

I still expect the Raptors to win this series, but if they don't make a statement in game two, like the sixers did, I might start to doubt them.

And this is not meant as disrespect to the Magic, but if the Raps are a legit title contender they should fairly easily beat a seventh seed even if Orlando has been better than that the last 30 games or so.

This is pretty much where I'm at. If the Raps can't knock off Orlando, there was no way they were going to even make the finals, let alone win it.

Sorry but you're the second poster I've seen word things this way and I'm honestly not trying to make fun of you but...

What you're stating is rhetorical.

Obviously if we "can't knock off Orlando" then "there's no way they were going to the Finals" LOL You wouldn't have to rationalize/deduce we can't make it...it would already be so by the simple fact we were eliminated lol.

I know it's just poor wording but like I said I seen another poster phrase things the same way that I couldn't help but point it out.

No what I mean is I don't buy this 'it was a poor matchup' nonsense.

[Hoopstar23]

JUST IN CASE

Here's the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the event Orlando wins tonight.

This is not a joke and I'm not making fun of suicidal people, but with some of the comments I have seen here and on the Raps board some of you genuinely might need it.

1-800-273-8255

I want you to be alive
I want you to be alive
You don't gotta die today
You don't gotta die
I want you to be alive
I want you to be alive
You don't gotta die
I just wanna die

[Young Stapler]

Game hasn't even started and yall are like

[basketballRob]

The Magic should be rested and I expect them to shoot much better.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

[PhilBlackson]

This is pretty much where I'm at. If the Raps can't knock off Orlando, there was no way they were going to even make the finals, let alone win it.

Sorry but you're the second poster I've seen word things this way and I'm honestly not trying to make fun of you but...

What you're stating is rhetorical.

Obviously if we "can't knock off Orlando" then "there's no way they were going to the Finals" LOL You wouldn't have to rationalize/deduce we can't make it...it would already be so by the simple fact we were eliminated lol.

I know it's just poor wording but like I said I seen another poster phrase things the same way that I couldn't help but point it out.

No what I mean is I don't buy this 'it was a poor matchup' nonsense.

Which is fair enough...

It's not that it's a "poor matchup", ORL is simply better than what their record indicates. They are clearly a team on the upswing that has figured out their brand of basketball and how to play together. I truly believe that they are the best of the lower seeds in the East right now (assuming IND doesn't have Vic ofc). BUT that doesn't mean there's any excuse for losing the series to them, we should still hold a clear advantage.

Really their tough/"poor" matchup for anyone due to all their length on defense that as long as they play tough on that end they give themselves a chance to win a game (hence being the #1 defense since ASB and a record that reflects that). But we have that ability too and on paper should be the superior offensive team considering we have more weapons and the best one (in Kawhi). While I understand being frustrated that we got probably the toughest match up, I agree there should be no excuses when you're supposed to be the better team.