TheToronto Raptors Currently positioned 7th in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors are trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers by just one game, which stands between them and a guaranteed playoff berth. However, they are 6.5 games behind the top-seeded Miami Heat.
After losing Kyle Lowry over the summer, many predicted a tough season for the Raptors. Yet, the team, along with their coaching staff, has excelled in honing the skills of emerging players while keeping the competition in view. Their rookie sensation,Scottie Barnes has been nothing short of remarkable, , while both OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam have made noticeable strides in their personal performances.
As the regular season begins to wind down, it’s the right moment to shift our focus to the playoffs and consider the potential contenders the Raptors might face in the first round.
PROLINE+ is presently the only source forOntario sports betting . However, the full rollout of the regulated iGaming market is on the horizon.
The Ontario market is set to officially launch on April 4. Anticipation is high as betting on the Raptors will likely gain traction as the playoffs approach. The postseason kicks off on April 16, with a preliminary play-in tournament scheduled for April 12-15.
Play-in Tournament Format
If the season ended today, the Raptors would find themselves in the play-in tournament against the Brooklyn Nets. Before assessing their chances in that matchup, it’s useful to understand how the play-in tournament functions.
In this format, the 7th seeded team competes against the 8th seed, with the victor claiming the 7th playoff slot in their conference. The team that loses this matchup will then face off against the winner of the game between the 9th and 10th seeds, with that winner earning the 8th spot in the playoffs.
Here's a simplified breakdown of the tournament structure:
- 7 plays 8
- The winner becomes 7th seed
- 9 plays 10
- The winner plays the loser of 7 vs. 8
- That winner becomes the 8th seed
Although the Raptors might be somewhat outmatched against the Nets, they still have a path to the playoffs by defeating either the Charlotte Hornets or the Atlanta Hawks, provided the current standings remain unchanged. Regardless of the rival, it’s evident that if the Raptors fail to secure a sixth seed before the season wraps up, their journey to the postseason will be a challenging one.
Potential Playoff Opponents
If they enter the playoffs as the eighth seed—which seems likely—the Raptors could encounter heavy hitters like the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, or the Boston Celtics. At the time of writing, the latter three teams were trailing the Heat by just 1.5 games.
For simplicity, let’s envision a scenario where the Raptors face off against the Sixers and manage to win; their next opponents could be the Celtics or possibly the Chicago Bulls. Should Toronto prevail in that series, they could find themselves matched up against a formidable team like the Bucks or Nets in the conference finals. While this may seem far-fetched, the playoffs often give rise to unexpected teams performing well, and there's certainly a chance the Raptors could be this year's surprise contender. It's worth noting that several key players on the team have playoff experience from their championship victory in 2019, and they are guided by one of the top coaches in the league, Nick Nurse.
However, bookmakers see things differently, currently placing the Raptors' chances at +5000 odds to win the Eastern Conference this season.DraftKings Sportsbook Ontario At this stage, it’s becoming clear just how challenging it will be for the Raptors to reach the NBA Finals this year. Nonetheless, 'unlikely' does not equate to 'impossible,' making it worthwhile to examine the odds and potential matchups that lie ahead for the team.
NBA Championship Odds
The odds provided by DraftKings for Toronto clinching the championship this year stand at +13000. Given the difficult path the Raptors would need to navigate in order to reach the postseason, these odds seem justified. Assuming Toronto does the unthinkable and makes it to the Finals, they will face a contender from the powerhouse Western Conference, with teams like the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, and Golden State Warriors among the leaders, not to mention the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks who also pose significant challenges.
The Raptors would certainly be considered underdogs in any of these playoff matchups, but if they were to face the Memphis Grizzlies, it would present their best shot at claiming the Larry O'Brien Trophy this season. Both teams are considered ahead of schedule and are largely comprised of young or inexperienced players. A seven-game series between Toronto and Memphis could be very competitive, putting the onus on coaching for a strategic advantage.
It's essential to remember that while it's exciting to consider such possibilities, the Raptors will have a steep hill to climb just to enter the postseason. The journey to the NBA Finals remains unlikely this year, but history shows us that anything can happen.
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