"Hollinger outlined the many tiebreakers and different possible scenarios that could decide the Eastern Conference standings, including a wild six-team tie, but also noted, 'What I think is more likely, however, is that Atlanta and Toronto carry their slight edge in the standings through the finish line, and the Raptors end up fifth and the Hawks sixth.'"
"Finishing fifth promises a chance at first-round success. If the Raptors finish fifth in the Eastern Conference, they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round-unless the Cavs somehow jump the Knicks and/or Celtics in the standings."
"The Raptors don't have a great track record against the Celtics and Knicks. Boston beat the Raptors three times this season despite playing all of those games without Jayson Tatum."
The Eastern Conference playoff race is tightly contested, with only 2.5 games separating the fifth-placed Raptors from the tenth-placed Heat. The Raptors seek to avoid the play-in tournament, which could jeopardize their postseason chances. Predictions suggest that the Raptors may finish fifth, allowing them to face the Cavaliers in the first round, a matchup that offers a better chance for playoff success compared to facing the Celtics or Knicks. The Raptors' history against these teams raises concerns about their playoff viability.
Read at Raptors Rapture
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]