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The Celtics Stack Up Just Right With the New Look Raptors

By Jordan Karnes

Feb 26, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) controls a ball during the first quarter in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) controls a ball during the first quarter in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kyle Lowry’s injury helps the Celtics matchup with the new look Raptors

The talk of the trade deadline for the Boston Celtics was whether or not they’d cash in on a trade that could help them in the short term and hopeful second round appearance in the NBA playoffs for the first time in the Brad Stevens era with the Celtics.

Well, it turned to 3pm on February 23rd, the day of the trade deadline, and nothing came to be for the Celtics. Later that day, Celtics General Manager and President of Basketball Operations spoke to the media saying that he’s okay with no big moves and that he’s rather save his assets for the draft (Via Boston.com). His biggest statement of all was that he believes the Celtics have yet to reach their full potential with their current team and that he is excited to see what “this” team can do going forward.

The Celtics entered the 2017 NBA all-star break second in the Eastern Conference, with a 37-20 record and did most of this first half winning with injuries to key parts of the team at various points. While what Ainge said about the status quo of the team indeed rings true, many fans and followers of the Celtics were baffled at the fact that for the second straight season all this trade talk, which got pretty heated at various points, led to absolutely nothing. Throughout the first half of the season, the rumors were that three biggest potential suitors for the Celtics were possibly the Knick’s Carmelo Anthony, and the two most talked about were the Bull’s Jimmy Butler and the Pacer’s Paul George.

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Both Butler and George are two of the best all-around forwards in the NBA and without much problem they could’ve helped an already very good Celtics team past the first round of the playoffs and maybe even beyond. Nothing was truly gained for the Celtics at the deadline, but nothing was truly lost either. With this being said, the Celtics have to hope what they have now can maintain a top spot in the Eastern Conference and not let Eastern Conference teams gain ground on them as the home stretch of the season quickly approaches.

While the Celtics went quietly through the trade deadline, a huge competitor in the East, and a team the Celtics could now have some trouble matching up to, the Toronto Raptors didn’t go as quietly. The Raptors acquired former Thunder and Magic power forward Serge Ibaka in a deal that sent Terrence Ross and a first-round pick to the  Magic. The Raptors also acquired an average scorer and a great defensive guy in P.J Tucker, while they sent big man Jared Sullinger and two second-round picks to Phoenix.

Feb 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) reacts after scoring during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Toronto won 92-91. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) reacts after scoring during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Toronto won 92-91. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

While the Raptors had a great first half of the season, going into the all-star break with a record of 33-24 and a fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, these acquisitions could really help propel this Raptors team in the second half of the season. With a 2-1 record post all-star break, with one of the wins being over the Celtics, the Raptors can already see that they are matching up differently to teams. With the unfortunate news that Raptors all-star guard Kyle Lowry needs wrist surgery and hopes to be back by playoff time, this changes a lot for the Raptors, and could in fact help out with where the Celtics hope to end up finishing in the Eastern Conference.

Averaging 22 points per game this season for the Raptors to go along with just under seven assists and five rebounds, Lowry has been a huge cog in the wheel that has helped the Raptors to a top-five spot in the Eastern Conference so far this season. With DeMar DeRozan by side, that duo has truly been a top-three backcourt in the NBA this season.

With the injury to Lowry, the Raptors are hopeful that there two new acquisitions have the ability to fill in wherever needed and help fill a huge hole in the Raptors offense. With Lowry on the floor, it seems to me that the Celtics don’t fully match up with Raptors due to the amount of scorers on the floor at one time with Lowry, DeRozan, Carroll, Ibaka, and Valanciunas, but without Lowry to run the show for the Raptors and add 22 points per game, the Celtics stack up just right with the Raptors or maybe even better.

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If Lowry does become 100% by playoff time and the cards play out so that the Celtics and Raptors play in the Eastern Conference Finals it will be much different. For now, without Lowry, I am not too worried that the Raptors could be team altering the position in the Eastern Conference that the Celtics end in.

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