Craptors/Cheat 2016

[Lamrock]

Raps get by with a little help from their friends (the refs) and will face Miami in round two. Have they finally shaken off their playoff anxieties or will Casey casey it up? Personally I'm rooting for Toronto.

HOWEVER Miami in 6

[Kevin]

They don't deserve that win. Heat in 6.

[Andrew]

Must concur with you both. I'll take the Heat in 6, despite the Raptors' home court advantage and franchise best season.

Cavs/Heat in the ECF is the more interesting match-up anyway, given the history.

[JaoSming]

Raptors in 7, just for supposed homecourt advantage

[ThePointForward]

Heat in 5. Who needs raptors when you have a dragon.

[[Q]]

Hard to root for the Heat when I was just rooting for the Hornets, but they showed they still got skillz, especially with Deng's shooting, Vintage Wade, and the coming out party for Dragic at the end of the series

[NovU]

RAPTORS IN SIX

Yep, you heard me right.

[Sauru]

heat win this one in 7 only to get destroyed by the cavs.

[PeacemanNOT]

Miami in 6.

[mp3]

Heat in 6.

I was very disappointed with the Raptors in there first round battle, both Lowry and DR both turn into Melo shooting wise.

Wade and Deng both come alive in the playoffs and if Whiteside keeps a level head I think they put away the Raps

[Stress Fracture]

I was very disappointed with the Raptors in there first round battle, both Lowry and DR both turn into Melo shooting wise.

It's been like this for the past years now. That's why people were skeptical again when they lost Game 1 against Indiana.

[Andrew]

RAPTORS IN SIX

Yep, you heard me right.

Nice try, but...

[NovU]

LoL, you got me there.



I am really surprised at how overwhelmingly people are favoring the Heat. The Raptors were a very very good team this year, definite top 2 team from east, though Lowry the key guy is struggling.

My heart says heat in 6 but my brain says raps in 6. Either way, I think I will be a happy man as canadiens deserve some fun. I just hope we get some quality competitive basketball with stars rising,

[air gordon]

I think this will go 7 games

Lowry and DD must be happy they are done with Hill and George defending them

DD could have some monster games. Wade guards... Patterson?

Whiteside beast. I have more faith in wade with his hero ball than Lowry snapping out of his funk

[Andrew]

Heat take Game 1, but Lowry had the play of the game, I'd say.

phpBB [video]

[ThePointForward]

Well... A bit lucky to force the OT, but then 12-6 for Heat.

[NovU]

Is Lowry really unhealthy? There is no clear report on his injury status but perhaps the Raptors are downplaying it as it could be used against if exposed? I cant see any other reason he's struggling so bad or he's really gotta be choking on big stage. Damn. The Raptors are at their best obviously when Lowry is playing like superstar he is.

[air gordon]

I hope it's an injury. Someone can't be that bad on offense (and defense) unless they are hurt (or dRose bazing). Casey should just go back to the regular lineup sans Lowry, who seems to only make improbable shots.

[Andrew]

Not surprising, but since there had been whispers about a possible return: Bosh officially declared out for remainder of Heat season

Chris Bosh's season is now officially over, regardless of how far the Miami Heat advance in this postseason.

The Heat and Bosh made the announcement Wednesday afternoon after the team practiced in Toronto, ending rampant speculation in recent days that Bosh would try to return to the court during the playoffs.

Bosh has not played since the All-Star break after a blood clot was discovered in his left leg. It's the second consecutive year that Bosh's season ended at the break because of problems with clotting, and the joint statement came one day after the National Basketball Players Association urged Bosh and the team to resolve any issues they have about his immediate future.

''The Miami Heat and Chris Bosh announce that Chris will not be playing in the remainder of the 2016 NBA Playoffs,'' read the statement. ''The Heat, Chris, the doctors and medical team have been working together throughout this process and will continue to do so to return Chris to playing basketball as soon as possible.''

[NovU]

Just yesterday same media reported Bosh was pushing to play. Ofc, I didn't think he had a chance and neither it would help the Heat all that much anyways.

[Andrew]

Wade's just gone down with an apparent injury.

[NovU]

lol What a sick joke.

All the best players are banged up for both teams.

DeRozan: thumb prob, horrendously inefficient
Lowry: elbow prob since forever, even more horrendous

Wade: knee, leg, almost died today
Hassan: elbow, knee, soon to be max big man gets schooled by valancinuas
Dragic: stitches on lips + fucked up teeth, Tragic indeed


bloody hell, how is this series any different from Sauru's wheel chair basketball tourney.

[[Q]]

Dammit, fell asleep and missed another nailbiter. Judging from the highlights, Wade is still playing like it's 2006

[air gordon]

Such ugly brand of play. Miami is playing good defense and Lowry can't play bully ball with whiteside waiting at the basket. Jonas has been the hero for the raptors

Does Spo feel pressured into going Iso ball with Wade since he started hitting 3's?

[NovU]

So Whiteside will have an MRI done on his knees. "My knee went two different ways," It sounds he's not going to be healthy for the series let alone against the Cavs if survives this round.

Even though people want to see Cavs destroying the Heat in the next round, it might be for the best that Raptors advance to the next round. Healthy Raptors could put up a better fight.