The only thing to figure out is if the Raptors play Washington or Milwaukee. If the playoffs started today, it’d be Milwaukee (standings). If you’re of the belief that the Raptors are better off facing the Wizards, you’ll have to cheer against them tonight since the Bulls (who we are tied with but lead on the tie-breaker) are facing the Sixers.
If the Bulls win and the Raptors lose, they’ll have a game edge and the Raptors would drop back down to face the Wizards.
Chicago’s last two games are in-form Brooklyn and Atlanta. The Hawks are likely to rest starters, but the Nets are trying to hang on that last playoff spot.
As for the game itself tonight, Miami is two games back of the final playoff spot, with Indiana between them and Brooklyn. So, it’s a must-win for them and you would anticipate them to play like that. The Raptors are on a back-to-back, and are understandably a 3-point underdog for this.
Let’s see what Casey handles Lowry, given that he played him 33 minutes the night before. He did note that he didn’t intend to play Lowry 33 minutes and that it sort of happened;
“For us, next week is way more important than right now. We wanted to get him some run, but we didn’t want him going 33 minutes and that was a major concern going down the stretch.”
How does that even happen? Doesn’t one of the assistant coaches lean over and say, “Um, Lowry has played 30 minutes in his first game back in three weeks, is that really OK?” Not very good management of a player that’s key to our playoff success.
A win gives the Raptors home court advantage, and matches club records for wins at 48, and road wins at 22. That’s all I got really, enjoy the game and I’ll be back with the Quick Reaction. Now, I have to attend birthday parties that are causing me to miss Arsenal!
