The NBA defending champions Toronto Raptors look quite well going into the 2020 playoffs at the ESPN Wide World of Sports bubble in Orlando. The Raptors, as the #2 seed, will take on the Brooklyn Nets. No Barclay Center or Scotiabank Arena for the teams.
The Raptors went 3-1 against the Nets in the regular season.
The regular season finish in Orlando kept the Raptors in its #2 seed position. Toronto went 7-1 in Orlando with the only loss a "home" loss, going 23-9 at Scotiabank Arena. The NBA, NFL, and MLS don't have distinct differences between home and road on neutral territory. MLB (last at-bat) and NHL (last change) do have distinct home circumstances.
The Raptors finished 53-19, 2½ games behind Milwaukee and 5 games ahead of Boston. Toronto gained 4 games on Milwaukee, which had little to play for in Orlando, and 2 games on Boston. Toronto's only loss in Orlando was to the Celtics.
The team went 46-18 before play was suspended on March 11.
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Raptors lose Kawhi and are going to end this season with the best winning percentage in franchise history. How has Masai not been signed long term yet? How? How? How?
— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) August 14, 2020
The Raptors core is a lot of the players who brought the title to Toronto in 2019. Pascal Siakam has shown remarkable improvement. Kyle Lowry is the leader on many levels. Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, Marc Gasol, OG Anunoby, and Serge Ibaka have stepped up their game.
Brooklyn might not be a significant threat on paper. Kyrie Irving is out; Kevin Durant never was. Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince, Wilson Chandler, and DeAndre Jordan aren't in Orlando.
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Nick Nurse, in his second year as the Toronto coach, gave the reins to Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin for the Philadelphia game in the bubble. The Raptors pulled off a strong comeback for Griffin in the win over the 76ers.
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The 2018-2019 Toronto Raptors championship parade is still a beautiful memory. Gorgeous weather and a cast of millions at Nathan Phillips Square.
No Jurassic Parks in Toronto, Regina, Halifax, Windsor, or anywhere. Celebrate safely.
"We just miss the fans in general," Lowry said. "Our fans in Toronto are the best fans in the NBA, I truly believe that … and Jurassic Park, the atmosphere, the electricity around the city, the buzz around the city, that's definitely gonna be missed, and we wish we could have it."
CanadianCrossing.com NBA coverage
No travel or customs in this series. No back-to-backs either. The Raptors aren't in prime time early on in the series.
| (2) Toronto vs. (7) Brooklyn Series tied 0-0 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Matchup | Time | U.S. TV | Cdn TV | |||||||||||||
| August 17 | Brooklyn @ Toronto | 4p | ESPN | Sportsnet | |||||||||||||
| August 19 | Brooklyn @ Toronto | 1:30p | NBA TV | TSN | |||||||||||||
| August 21 | Toronto @ Brooklyn | 1:30p | NBA TV | Sportsnet One | |||||||||||||
| August 23 | Toronto @ Brooklyn | 6:30p | TNT | TSN | |||||||||||||
| August 25 | Brooklyn @ Toronto+ | TBD | TBD* | Sportsnet One | |||||||||||||
| August 27 | Toronto @ Brooklyn+ | TBD | ESPN | TSN | |||||||||||||
| August 29 | Brooklyn @ Toronto+ | TBD | TNT | Sportsnet One | |||||||||||||
Times are Eastern Daylight
+ if needed
*Game 5 will air either on TNT or NBA TV
The Raptors did lose to Brooklyn in 7 games in 2014 and New Jersey in 6 games in 2007. Those series feel like a much different team in a way different time.
Toronto Raptors playoffs history
| 2020 | Brooklyn | 0-0 |
| 2019 | Golden State | 4-2 |
| 2019 | Milwaukee | 4-2 |
| 2019 | Philadelphia | 4-3 |
| 2019 | Orlando | 4-1 |
| 2018 | Cleveland | 0-4 |
| 2018 | Washington | 4-2 |
| 2017 | Cleveland | 0-4 |
| 2017 | Milwaukee | 4-2 |
| 2016 | Cleveland | 2-4 |
| 2016 | Miami | 4-3 |
| 2016 | Indiana | 4-3 |
| 2015 | Washington | 0-4 |
| 2014 | Brooklyn | 3-4 |
| 2008 | Orlando | 1-4 |
| 2007 | New Jersey | 2-4 |
| 2002 | Detroit | 2-3 |
| 2001 | Philadelphia | 3-4 |
| 2001 | New York | 3-2 |
| 2000 | New York | 0-3 |
logo credit: Toronto Raptors
Twitter capture: @Sid_Seixeiro
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