As division rivals, the Celtics and Raptors are lots accustomed to each other.
This week, with two conferences scheduled in a three-day span at TD Garden, that familiarity ought to solely deepen. And in the event that they meet within the postseason subsequent week, aggressive contempt is certain to comply with.
Pending the regular-season scores set to be settled later this week, and the play-in match that may comply with, the Celtics might face Toronto within the first-round of the playoffs. Boston began Wednesday all however assured to clinch the No. 2 seed within the East, whereas the Raptors have already clinched a spot within the play-in match. Toronto entered tip-off trailing Miami by two video games for the No.7 seed and tied with the Hawks with a 40-39 document.
Miami didn’t play Wednesday. The Hawks hosted Washington and can go to the Celtics on Sunday of their regular-season finale.
Although the Raptors would enter a first-round sequence as heavy underdogs, their wing-heavy roster tends to place atypical strain on a Boston group constructed round Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Their defensive depth nearly clipped the Celtics in two Boston wins captured earlier this season by a mixed eight factors. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla summarized Toronto’s roster-building philosophy with a single crack Wednesday.
“They measure everybody’s wingspan before they draft them and then bring in guys with massive wingspans,” he mentioned.
Raptors coach Nick Nurse provided a extra detailed evaluation in his pregame press convention.
“We like to think one of our strengths is our depth at wing defenders, when we have them all ready to go. Scottie (Barnes), Pascal (Siakam), OG (Anunoby)… we got some depth, and that usually enables us to move those guys around a little bit, switch,” Nurse mentioned. “It gives us a chance sometimes to put some size on what you would call on bigger guards.”
By and enormous, Toronto’s defenses prevents the Celtics from searching favorable mismatches by means of Tatum and Brown, a chief Boston tactic. The Raptors are robust throughout the ground, rating eleventh in defensive effectivity and second in turnovers compelled. Toronto additionally fortified its rim safety by returning middle Jakob Poetl on the commerce deadline.
Joe Mazzulla targeted on what Celtics can management getting into closing week of standard season
Though, the Raptors’ woes offensively stay fixed: they wrestle to attain within the half-court. If Toronto will not be changing its bounty of turnovers into factors, it could wrestle to generate beauty in opposition to high quality defensive groups just like the Celtics.
Meanwhile, the Celtics offense has advanced round Tatum and Brown, including gamers like Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon and taking pictures huge males Blake Griffin and Mike Muscala since its final playoff sequence versus the Raptors within the 2020 bubble. Less isolation, extra drive and kick, run and gun.
“They’re so good in so many areas offensively. They’ll beat you in transition, they’re really good from the perimeter, got so many guys that can take it off the bounce to the front of the rim and score, got bigs that can shoot,” Nurse mentioned. “Then they acquired some guys they may give the ball to and say they will step again and hit a 3. There’s lots to dissect and prepare for.”
Nurse added it is essential for Toronto to play the lengthy sport defensively versus the Celtics and stay affected person within the face of inevitable mid-game barrages of three or 4 3-pointers.
Or perhaps by means of the sting of a regular-season loss figuring out a possible playoff rematch might await subsequent week.
Source: www.bostonherald.com