Total Prayer: Could Toronto still make the playoffs?

Indiana lost, but Washington and Miami won.

So now Toronto and Washington are 1 1/2 behind Indiana with the Raptors having Philly, Chicago, Chicago up and Washington has Dallas and Lakers I believe.

Next for Indiana is Miami without O'Neal still, here's hoping Zo rips them a new one

 

Toronto is 4-11 now without Carter, doesn't hold true. Carter needing surgery and being shut down just forced the players to relize Carter wont be riding in on a silver horse to save the day and the Vets are starting to step up. And with no perimeter guys left (Carter, Dell Curry and Tracy Murray all gone the season), Lenny's flawed outside in Offense needs Mo more than ever and he's delivering.

 

Peudlfor

Those 20 / 20 games v Miami...their chief rival of the later 90's...were not leading his team?!

It's a myth they played better without him...simply ONE series V Indiana suited their faster line up.

If Ewing hadn't of carried them through the Miami series, they'd of never have even got as far as the Pacers.

 

It looks like this wish of Toronto making the playoffs got harder....Jordan returned to the Wizards and they looked good in beating the Bucks.

Of course, it didn't help the Bucks that Allen was out with the flu and that both Big Dog and Sam I Am got ejected. Cassell got booted when he gave the basketball a boot and hit the scoreboard.

So, now we not only have to worry about the Raptors winning but holding off the Wizards...*sigh*....I was hoping that Jordan's season would be done.

 

Wizards next 4 games are murderous:

Dallas, Lakers, @Milwaukee, @Charlotte

Here's a breakdown of the remaining schedule for the Wizards, Pacers, and Raptors

Washington Wizards
Record: 34-38 (2 game win streak, 2 games back)
Games left: 10
Games vs playoff teams: 8 (including Indiana)
Games vs. lottery teams: 2
Games vs. key opponents: 1 (Indiana)
Home Games: 6
Road Games: 4
Back-to-Backs: 3

Notes: Lots of games vs. playoff teams, and their next 6 games are 3 series of back to backs. They have 2 games vs. Philly as a playoff team without Iverson, which are winnable.

Toronto Raptors
Record: 34-48 (4 game win streak, 2 games back)
Games left: 10
Games vs. playoff teams: 6 (including 2 Indiana)
Games vs. lottery teams: 4
Games vs. key opponents: 2 (Indiana, @Indiana)
Home Games: 6
Road Games: 4
Back-to-Backs: 2

Notes: one of their playoff games is @Philadelphia without Iverson. 2 games with the Bulls follow that. 2-0 vs. Indiana, so if they split the final 2 games, and end up tied at the end of the season, would own the tiebreaker. Most momentum going into final stretch.

Indiana Pacers
Record: 35-36 (3 game losing streak, 8 seed in playoffs)
Games left: 11
Games vs. playoff teams: 3
Games vs. lottery teams: 5
Games vs. key opponents: 3 (@Toronto, Toronto, @Washington)
Home Games: 7
Road Games: 4
Back-to-Backs: 3

Notes: On the surface, their schedule appears easy, but the head-to-head matchups could hurt them. Among the lotto teams is Pat Riley's Miami team they'll have to play with Jermaine O'Neal. They end the season against Philadelphia.

 

RAPTORS WIN

but Pacers won too, still in it though!!!

At least the Wiz and Heat lost, so thats some heat gone from their backs


LETS GO RAPTORS

 

Yup. The Raptors are tearing it up. In another dominating performance, the they shoot a mind-boggling .372 en route to brilliant 72 - 70 victory.

 

Just think of it this way, it was a brilliant showing of defensive skills

 

Hey, why not? At least they won.

 

Hey what was it that the Vancouver Grizzlies did today? Ooooh thats riiiight. Never mind. Sorry!

 

I think the Raptors also have a shot at catching Philadelphia.

With 9 to go, they are only three behind Philly, AND hold the tiebreaker against them (3-1).

76er's schedule
Phoenix
Detroit
Milwaukee
@Milwaukee
@Washington
Washington
@Orlando
Chicago
@Indiana

The only 2 real winnable games for them would be Phoenix and Chicago. Washington has MJ back, so assuming he remains healthy, thye'll hang tough. Phoenix may even play spoiler.

Assuming they win Phoenix and Chicago, that means they went 2-7. So, to make the playoffs, the Raptors would need to go 5-4, since they hold the tiebreaker.

Raptors' schedule
Chicago
@Chicago
Indiana
Charlotte
@Indiana
Atlanta
New Jersey
@Milwaukee
Cleveland

The Raptors must win 5 of the games if Philly wins 2. Chicago, @Chicago, Atlanta, and Cleveland are easy games. That means they'd just need ONE game out of:
Indiana
Charlotte
@Indiana
New Jersey
@Milwaukee

3 of those games are on their court.

The Raptors season could very well be decided in their 2 games with Indiana. A split would likely get them a playoff spot. A sweep would lock a spot up. If they lose both, they must win against Charlotte, NJ, or @Milwaukee.

 

Grrrrr.....

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/s/2002/0402/1362011.html

ESPN has a monitor on the Race for 8th too

 

Atlanta may play spoiler as well

They have been playing well and have a lot of talent

 

Indiana lost after leading by 18

Bucks lost to Atlanta

Miami lost to Detroit

Washington lost to the Lakers

GREAT NIGHT

 

HALF A GAME BABY!!

Oh and Miami/Washington are out of the playoff Race and the Raps are riding the playoff horse!

 

Let's go Raptors. Get us the pick. It would be nice if Chicago also gave us the pick or picks they owe us to. The picks will not be used for players but for leverage to move up

 

Atlanta upset special!!

Reset the records, Indiana and Toronto are tied!

Remember, if Toronto and Indiana split their 2 games, Toronto will have the tie-breaker. They just have to remain tied! Toronto also holds the Eastern Conference edge too.

Go Toronto! #14 pick all the way!

 

HELL YEA BABY!
I watched the game too. Com'on Toronto. Lets hope with Vince out, Dream shows some of his championship game. I didn't think I'd ever root for him this much considering how he burned us. But what the hell, it's really about that measley little pick they own.

GO RAPS!