Post by beatonz on Jan 27, 2022 16:38:45 GMT -6
Coming into Season 2 the Raptors had high hopes, coming off of a season which saw them a top of the Central Division but being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs to the Bulls. Season 2 was a disappointment, squeaking into the playoffs (although in a loaded Eastern Conference) placing 8th.
In large part the make up of the team has remained the same, with the key addition of JR Smith to fill the gap at SF, allowing Michael Redd to slide back into his natural SG position and Ben Gordon to man the point.
Heading into the Season 2 playoffs, the Raptors are faced up against none other than the team that eliminated them in Season 1, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are considered the favourites, and deservedly so. They had an outstanding season, led by scoring sensation Luke Jackson. He's not the only player on the team who snagged them the #1 spot in the East and the league. A solid defensive front court of John Salley and Robert Traylor has shut down opposing bigs all season. Harrison Barnes and Kris Middleton, maybe the two most overlooked players in the league in my opinion, have been putting up great numbers while providing good defensive effort. And then you have the Ron Harper, the show stopper, you can put him on any teams best backcourt player and he will put up a fight.
How the Teams Match Up:
C: Brandon Haywood vs. John Salley
Tough match up between two defensive bigs. Advantage goes to Haywood as he is capable of putting the ball in the basket.
PF: Rafael Araujo vs. Robert Traylor
It will be interesting to see how this match up plays out, may be the deciding factor in the series. If Traylor can slow down Araujo from putting up a typical 30+ ppg performance, the Raptors don't have much front court scoring.
SF: JR Smith vs. Harrison Barnes
Big advantage on the side of the Bulls here. As previously mentioned, Barnes can straight up score and with JR's weaker than average defense he may be taken advantage of here.
SG: Michael Redd vs. Ron Harper
Again, a tough match up against one of the leagues best defenders. An all offensive player in Redd up against a defensive star in Harper. Unlike the center match up of Haywood and Salley, Harper is no slouch on offence.
PG: Ben Gordon vs. Luke Jackson
Two "out of position" converted PGs here who are lighting the league up with their scoring ability. Similar players with respect to scoring ability and defense. Look for the majority of the series scoring to come from these two.
Bench: Kris Middleton, possibly the best sixth man in the league. The Raptors don't have a comparable scorer off the bench.
Summary:
Overall, this series is up in the air, in my biased opinion it could go either way. It is a very offensively talented team in the Raptors vs. a very talented offensive team in the Bulls, only the Bulls have the defense.
I think this series comes down to two key match ups, 1) Araujo vs. Traylor and 2) Smith vs. Barnes. Between Araujo or Barnes, whoever can take advantage of their opposing players the most I think will come out of this series victorious.
Gordon and Jackson will get their points and be the stars of the series, but those two match ups could be what sways the series.
Prediction/Guarantee:
Raptors take it in 4. Lock it in.
1st team article.
In large part the make up of the team has remained the same, with the key addition of JR Smith to fill the gap at SF, allowing Michael Redd to slide back into his natural SG position and Ben Gordon to man the point.
Heading into the Season 2 playoffs, the Raptors are faced up against none other than the team that eliminated them in Season 1, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are considered the favourites, and deservedly so. They had an outstanding season, led by scoring sensation Luke Jackson. He's not the only player on the team who snagged them the #1 spot in the East and the league. A solid defensive front court of John Salley and Robert Traylor has shut down opposing bigs all season. Harrison Barnes and Kris Middleton, maybe the two most overlooked players in the league in my opinion, have been putting up great numbers while providing good defensive effort. And then you have the Ron Harper, the show stopper, you can put him on any teams best backcourt player and he will put up a fight.
How the Teams Match Up:
C: Brandon Haywood vs. John Salley
Tough match up between two defensive bigs. Advantage goes to Haywood as he is capable of putting the ball in the basket.
PF: Rafael Araujo vs. Robert Traylor
It will be interesting to see how this match up plays out, may be the deciding factor in the series. If Traylor can slow down Araujo from putting up a typical 30+ ppg performance, the Raptors don't have much front court scoring.
SF: JR Smith vs. Harrison Barnes
Big advantage on the side of the Bulls here. As previously mentioned, Barnes can straight up score and with JR's weaker than average defense he may be taken advantage of here.
SG: Michael Redd vs. Ron Harper
Again, a tough match up against one of the leagues best defenders. An all offensive player in Redd up against a defensive star in Harper. Unlike the center match up of Haywood and Salley, Harper is no slouch on offence.
PG: Ben Gordon vs. Luke Jackson
Two "out of position" converted PGs here who are lighting the league up with their scoring ability. Similar players with respect to scoring ability and defense. Look for the majority of the series scoring to come from these two.
Bench: Kris Middleton, possibly the best sixth man in the league. The Raptors don't have a comparable scorer off the bench.
Summary:
Overall, this series is up in the air, in my biased opinion it could go either way. It is a very offensively talented team in the Raptors vs. a very talented offensive team in the Bulls, only the Bulls have the defense.
I think this series comes down to two key match ups, 1) Araujo vs. Traylor and 2) Smith vs. Barnes. Between Araujo or Barnes, whoever can take advantage of their opposing players the most I think will come out of this series victorious.
Gordon and Jackson will get their points and be the stars of the series, but those two match ups could be what sways the series.
Prediction/Guarantee:
Raptors take it in 4. Lock it in.
1st team article.
