With their win over Philadelphia combined with New Jersey’s loss to Chicago, the Raps clinch their first ever Atlantic Division crown. Now the Raptors focus will be on holding off the Miami Heat and clinching 3rd overall in the Eastern Conference.
If the Raps are able to clinch 3rd, they could meet the Washington Wizards, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic or Indiana Pacers. The Wizards are injury ridden and hold a 4 game lead on the Nets for 6th, but with seven games remaining including a home and home series with the
Nets, it will be tough for them to hold 6th place. The Magic aren’t deep at all and they would need Dwight Howard to put up monster numbers if they wanted to make any noise in the playoffs. The Pacers don’t really have an identity right now, but they do have a talented squad and I wouldn’t want them to come alive in the first round.
I feel confident that the Raptors would do well against any of those team in a playoff series. They have a deeper bench, better team basketball and a building that has proved to be a tough place to play. GO RAPS GO
Technorati Tags: Atlantic Division, New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls, Idiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards
April 9th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Isn’t it nice to be a rap’s fan right now with the leafs demise… Now I can provide my full attention to a team with heart.
April 9th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
It is funny to say that…the Raptors have heart. That hasn’t been the case since Oakley was here. Leafs suck.
April 9th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
How else could you describe their play this year? - the way they deal with injuries, bosh, ford, garbajosa, bargnani… the record they have… the players stepping up. The team has heart no doubt.
April 9th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
the raps have a tough place for visitors and hopefully a warm place to leafs fans who will watch the raps carry the banner for the city of toronto in the playoffs.i wonder how many leafs’ fans will cheer for the raps ?
April 9th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I wasn’t implying they don’t have heart. Clearly they do. I was just saying that ‘heart’ hasn’t been a label used to describe this team for a while. I am working on 4 hours sleep, me no think good…
April 10th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Heart is a good term, but I feel that “character”. From the starting 5 right down till their 12th bench player, every player in that locker room is willing to accept roles and cheer on their teammates. there isnt any cancerish players or overpaid underachievers. its just a bunch of good guys playing ball behind a very smart GM. I love the Raps right now